Green's dictionary of slang. Volume 2 F-O [2] 9780199829941, 0199829942

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Greens

Dictionary of Slang

Greens

Dictionary of Slang Jonathon Green

Volume 2

F-O Chambers

CHAMBERS An imprint of Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd 338 Euston Road, London, NWl 3BH Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd is an Hachette UK company. © Jonathon Green 2010 Chambers® is a registered trademark of Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. An earlier version of this book without citations first published by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd 2008. The right of Jonathon Green to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. Database right Jonathon Green. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, at the address above. You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Volume 1 ISBN 978 0550 10443 4 Volume 2 ISBN 978 0550 10441 0 Volume 3 ISBN 978 0550 10584 4 Three-volume set ISBN 978 0550 10440 3 10 9 8 7 6 5 43 2 1 We have made every effort to mark as such all words which we believe to be trademarks. We should also like to make it clear that the presence of a word in the dictionary, whether marked or unmarked, in no way affects its legal status as a trademark. Every reasonable effort has been made by the author and the publishers to trace the copyright holders of material quoted in this book. Any errors or omissions should be notified in writing to the publishers, who will endeavour to rectify the situation for any reprints and future editions. www.chambers.co.uk

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F F n.M

a generic term for swearing, i.e. using fuck n., fuck v. or FUCKING adj. (cf. EFF D.; EFF V.). 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 94: China was so moved that he forgot his f. and b. adjectives. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 163; Every sentence was well sprinkled with F. C. and B. 1956 'Ed Lacv' Men from the Boys (1967) 76: F. Frank Flatts. All f's - his mother must have had that on her mind. 1977 (con. late 1960s) Nicholson & Smith Spend, Spend, Spend (1978) 195: It didn't help his language, although he gradually stopped using the 'F's' so much. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 7: Now there was time to scream at people [...] to get the F down. Fire off a few shots if they didn't get the F down.

2 as infix. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 214: It would have been hi-F'nlarious [...] grown men, boozers all probably, drinking their girlie drinks.

F n.^ [abbr. SE fifty] (US) a $50 bill. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

f n.^ (abbr.) (US black) a felony; thus catch an f v., to be arrested for a felony. 1998 Big L 'Ebonics' [lyrics] If you caught a felony, you caught a f.

f n.^ see eff n. (2). f V. see EFF V. (1). F.A./f.a. n. see fanny adams n.^. faas V. (also fass) [SE fuss] (W.l.) to be nosy, inquisitive; as n., impudence, cheek. 1933 (con. 1900s) C. McKay Banana Bottom 146: Owl man, you come slap into mi yard fer fass wid me? You bettah get outa mi yard befoh ah ferget meself. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 19: Faas to be inquisitive: u. yuh love faas eena people business,

faastie adj. (also fasty) [? Surinam Creole festi, nasty, or FEISTY adj. (1); but note SE fuss and thus FAAS v.) 1 (W.I., Jam.) rude, impertinent, impudent. 1980 (con. 1950s) M. Thelwell Harder They Come 50: But she did also faastie so that none of the man dem she see satisfy her. 1981 N. Farki Countryman Karl Black 29: The conductress was still quarrelling. 'Damn fasty shit-house!' 1991 L.E. Adams Jam. Patois 42: No bada fas' wid mil - Don't meddle with me.

2 (UK black) unpleasant, distasteful. 2000 personal correspondence 10 July: Some more stuff for your files. . . I heard 'faystie' used by kids in Stockwell in the sense of horrible.

faastiness n.

[faastie adj.] (W.l.) rudeness.

1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 315: Annoying as the waiter's faastiness had been, something far more had set him off.

FAB n.

[fat-ass adj. (1)/eak£-ass under fake adj. + bitch n.^ (la)] (US black) a derog. term for a woman. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fab Definition: a fake ass bitch/broad Example: Man you need to stop wastin your time with those fab ass hoes.

fab adj. (also fabbo, fabby, faboo) [abbr. SE fabulous, but Hancock, 'Shelta and Polari' (1984), suggests Sp.fabulosa, and sees it as orig. Polari] a general term of approbation, first popularized by the Beatles C.1963 but still used, often with an ironic intonation. 1959 D. Hewett Bobbin Up (1961) 99; 'Where'd you get that locket thing with the chain on it?' 'Only two and six at Coles.' 'Really, isn't it f-a-a-b!' 1960 K. Williams Diaries 28 Sept, 164: Show evening — packed. We're doing fab. business still! 1962 Mersey Beat 20 Sept.-4 Oct. n.p.: We all had a geer time. The pay wasn't too fab. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 77; fab fabulous, fantastic [...] fabby. 1975 S. Roberts 'The Boss' Outside Life's Feast 71: So ... Mauritius. That's fab! 1975 L. Rosten Dear 'Herm' 91:1 know you are 'with it' [...] because some of the things you write that I have read are just fab! 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 19: How simply fab divine and rare to gobble the waiter. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer Si. [Internet] fab or faboo — short for

Fabulous, a favorite word of many queens. 1999 Indep. on Sun. 27 June 5: The fab two tie the knot on 4 July. 2001 P. McCabe Emerald Germs of Ireland 346: It's going to be the fabbo party of all time! 2006 D, Mitchell Black Swan Green 2: Dad's got this fab pencil-sharpener clamped to his desk.

fab! exc/.

[fab adj.] a general excl. of approbation.

1965 J.P. Carstairs Concrete Kimono 17: She murmured 'Fab' every now and then and was utterly entranced. 1999 Observer Screen 17 Oct. 20: He spends the programme saying 'Mega fab!' 2001 Indep. Rev. 20 Feb. 3: 'Spiffing' or 'fab' or 'far out',

fabric n. (US black) clothes. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: fabric n. clothes; wearing apparel; attire: some boss fabric.

fabu adj.

[abbr. SE fabulous] (US) excellent.

1995 Eble Campus SI. Dec. 2: fabu - fabulous, brilliant; 'Anne's performance in Icecream was fabu'. 2004 nyc.rr.com [Internet] About the most FABU mag - not Avenue, T&C, or Quest - there is anywhere has got to be 'Leaders'.

fabulOSO adj. (also fabulosa)

[cod Ital. version oi SE fabulous] (orig.

gay) wonderful. 2002 Indep. 12 Nov. 18: That was fabuloso, letting down their car tyres before they could get there. 2003 (ref. to 1960s) Baker & Stanley Hello Sailor! 99: Shipmates might talk to each other in Polari about who was fanciable: their dolly eek (pretty face), bona riah (nice hair), fabulosa ogles (fantastic eyes) and shapely lallies (legs).

fsbuloUS drop n.

[the comparison is with a good drink, 'a good drop' (of liquor)] (Aus.) an attractive young woman. 1957 'Nino Culotta' They're a Weird Mob (1958) 46: Dennis and Pat knew a couple of 'fabulous drops' that they were going 'ter take ter the pictures'.

faburrific adj. (SE/abulous -f terrife] (US) excellent. 2004 posting at One Sixth Warriors 6 July [Internet] Just a faburrific job, especially with the weathering and the repaint of the Tom Sizemore RPT head. Excellent indeed,

facata adj. see farkakte adj. face n. 1 (US) (also facial area) audacity, impudence. 1617 Middleton & Rowley a Fair Quarrel II ii: I that had face enough to do the deed. Cannot want tongue to speak it. 1668 Etherege She Would if She Cou 'dl'r.l admire thy impudence, I could never have had the face to have wheadled the poor knight so. 1676 Etherege Man of Mode V i; I am amazed to find him here! How has he the face to come near you? 1702 Defoe Shortest Way n.p.: You have butchered one king! Deposed another king! And made a mock king of a third! And yet, you could have the face to expect to be employed and trusted by the fourth [F&H]. 1714 Spectator No. 566: A man has scarce the face to make his court to a lady, without some credentials from the service to recommend him [F&H]. 1838 'Extra-Ordinary' in Bentley's Misc. IV 500: Would Tom but try, the brutes must rue it; / I'm sure Tom has 'the face to do it!' 1854 F. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship 370: I can hardly suppose even Phil Tirrett would have the face to throw me over and ride for O'Brien. 1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 200: I wonder you've got the face to ask such a thing. 1870 London Figaro 3 June n.p.: 'Look at that girl in pink, Sancho,' he said, 'that's Lord Rubric's daughter. Ran away with the family organist—that's he with her. I like their face, though, to come here; its awfully good,' [F&H]. 1887 Lantern (N.O.) 29 Jan. 2: He has the face to think he's a masher. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 16: face n. Audacity, impudence, yiteto/ area Same as 'face'. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 214: Acourse I parted me arf jim — couldn't have ther brick face t' do less under ther circs. 1912 G.R. Chester Five Thousand an Hour Ch, xviii: 'I knew it would be a deuced lot of bother for you,' regretted Eugene apologetically. 'It's a lot of face in us to ask it. So crude, you know.' 1922 Joyce Ulysses 698: Then he wrote me that letter with all those words in it how could he have the face to. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 1: Today

face they've got real face. They're standing — bangin’ more like — bang on my home run,

2 credit at a public house. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 Si Diet.

3 {US) the mouth, as a source of speech; in phrs. below. 4 {US) the mouth, as used for eating and drinking. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 34; He trowed schooners

down his face.

5 {US) a person, with ref. to interference, nosiness. 2000 J. Baker Chinese Girl (2001) 191: And keep your face out of his

business or you're brown bread.

6 a general term of address, e.g. Hello, face. 1910 WODEHOUSE Psmith in the City (1993) 58: 'Sit down, fice!' roared

the pleasure-seekers. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 205: 'Hallo, face,' I said. 1934 E. Raymond Child of Norman's End (1967) 36: 'Hallo, Face!' cried the others,

7 {Aus.) one's personal appearance. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

8 {US black) a stranger, esp. a white stranger. 1945 Lou Shelly Flepcats Jive Talk Diet, n.p.: face: white man,

9 {US) fellatio or cunnilingus; usu. as get face or give face. C.1930 (ref. late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 89; These items

of sexual life had various names over the years. [...] If the guest was the active partner, he was muff-diving, a face-man, or after sea¬ food-mama. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 6 Feb. 24: Hey, I bet you give great Dutch face, right?

10 {US black) a white person. 1944 'liver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

11 {US) a cosmetics kit, thus make-up. 1972 (con. 1965) E. Newton Mother Camp 83: Skip re-appears in

'face' but men's clothes. 2001 Indep. Mag. 12 May 62: Unless I'm going to a function or out to dinner, I don't put a face on.

12 a person; esp. in police use, a known criminal. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 45: I don't want no Dills Hotel whore queerin the joint fer all the respec'bul faces. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 22:1 eventually managed to catch up with this face I new. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 52: While I was rabbiting to this face another face came in. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 120: Sneed wasn't interested in the flasher [...] Not even in the face who was selling pills to a head in the entrance to the underground station. 1983 J. Sullivan 'May the Force be with You' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] The face who dropped a microwave oven in the market! What did he look like? 1999 Guardian Guide 1218 June 89: Vic Dakin, a gangland face not a million miles away from Ronnie Kray. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 251: Risteoir, there's a new face on the landing.

13 {US Und.) a respectable image, a 'front'.

face

2

■ Pertaining to oral sex ■ In compounds face artist (n.) 1-artist sfxl {US Und.) a fellator or fellatrix. 1928 C. Panzram Journal of Murder in Gaddis & Long (2002) 115: I

have met every sometimes face artist, a sexual Appendix VII in 15: face artist

kind of a crook there is [...] can-opener artists and artists. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 37/1: Face pervert. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Henry Sex Variants. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms (n.): A fellator. (Slang.). 1972 B. Rodgers Queens'

Vernacular.

face cream (n.)

[cream

n.^ (1)1 {US gay) semen, esp. when

ejaculated onto a fellator's face. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

face job (n.) {US) cunnilingus. c.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 244: That always seemed to please the trade that wanted a face job in a black muff.

face-maker (n.) a counterfeiter. 1855 'Joskin's Vocab.' in Yokel's Preceptor 30: Face makers, Coiners,

face-painting (n.) the ejaculation of semen over one's partner's face. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 12: face-painting v. To

adorn one's spouse with jelly jewellery (qv).

face-pussy (n.) [pussy n. (1)1 (US gay) fellatio. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

m In phrases face the nation (v.) {US black) to perform cunnilingus. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

give up one’s face (v.)

[face n. (9)] to permit oneself to indulge in oral intercourse at the insistence of a partner. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

■ Pertaining to the mouth ■ In phrases

open one’s face (v.) (US) to speak, esp. to speak rudely. 1896 Ade Artie 26: If you open your face to this lady again tonight I'll separate you from your breath. 1917 Wodehouse 'Making of Mac's' in Man with Two Left Feet 123; He just thought a heap without opening his face. 1931 D. Runyon 'Blood Pressure' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 81; Nobody as much as opens his face from the time we go in until we start out. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 784: Out our way a man can't open his face without stirrin' up a hornets' nest. 1967 (con. 1950s) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 43: Don't let me catch any of you guys openin' you

face to anythin' different.

shut one’s face (v.) (a/so close one’s face, shut one’s face up) to be quiet; esp. as imper. shut your face! 1892 in Punch 26 Nov. 252: Shut yer face, you pattering josser! 1896 S.

C.1950 K. Howard Small Time Crooks 53: You better start up a face

Crane George's Mother (2001) 122: Close yer face while I gits me

pretty damn quick, or else.

smoke! 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 27: You shut your face. 1911 G. BronsonHoward Enemy to Society 295: You keep your face closed, George, and you too, Morgy. 1916 T. Burke Limehouse Nights 308: Shut yeh silly face. 1920 F. Packard White Moll 172; 'You close your face. Pinkie!' he snapped. 1927 'Max Brand' Pleasant Jim 50: 'You, Chuck, shut your face,' said the marshal peremptorily. 1935 C. Odets Awake and Sing! I i: Shut your face! 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 106: Shut your face up, sonny, 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 15: If you're holding me on a charge, name it or shut your face. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act I: Shut your face, 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 77: Shut ya face or you'll get it too. 1984 P, Barker Blow Your House Down 1: Brenda rounded on her, 'Shut your face, you.' 1994 F. Mac Anna Ship Inspector 205; 'Fuck off.' 'Shut your face.' 2000 Indep. 3 June 8: Just shut your face and leave it all to me. 2009 Observer Mag. 4 Jan. 14; A guy like that should shut his face.

14 a recognizable person. 1969 N, Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 88: You only had to be a face. And what was a face? Roughly, it was when you walked into any snob restaurant anywhere and everyone sensed you come in behind them and automatically turned round. 1979 New Musical Express 17 Nov. n.p.: There'd be all the faces and people that I knew. A face is just someone you recognise, you might not even know his name, but he's known as a face. 1981 J. Sullivan 'Go West Young Man' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] I am often up West Del, I'm one of the faces! 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 87: The other face we had in today is a character bereft of honesty, integrity, vision and truth. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 69: He saw it as a bonus to run into a face he knew.

15 a fellow member of a mod gang, esp. one who is considered particularly fashionable. 1964 The Who 'I'm the Face' [lyrics] I'm the face if you want it, dear.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

All the others are third class tickets by me baby, is that clear. 1973

face-ache (n.) [despite the apparent rudeness of the phr., the ache

The Who 'Sea and Sand' [lyrics] on Quadrophrenia [album] I am the

face, she has to know me. I'm dressed up better than anyone within a mile. 1999 Guardian Guide 17-23 July 65: Every mod's favourite film; the tale of Jimmy, a would-be face in mid-60s London. 2004 M. Heatley John Peel 47: Feld had been a face on the London Mod scene since the early 1960s.

presumably comes f. laughter] 1 a joc. form of address or nickname. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 37: Face Ache — I mean Uncle Ambrose — is paying. 1937 E. Raymond Marsh 46: Kick off, Faceache. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 162: 1 said, look here, face-ache. 1975 D. Nobbs Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 283: I'm very worried about you, face ache. 1992 D. Pinckney High Cotton

16 {UK Und.) a professional criminal, usu. an armed robber with no territorial ambitions.

(1993) 72: The Americans asked, 'What do you boys have against the flag?' and the British said, 'You, face-ache.' 1996 K. Lette Mad Cows

1990 (ref. to

1960s-70s) D. Campbell That Was Business, This Is Personal 3: The end of the sixties and early seventies saw the emergence of the 'Face', the armed robber who worked in a small team, [and] had little interest in controlling territory beyond a nice mansion house in Hertfordshire or Essex. 2007 N. 'Razor'

103: Jack [...] gave her one of his dubious, 'Cut the crap, face-ache' expressions. 2006 posting at forums.goritlaz.com 31 July [Internet] Hey, face-ache! didn't I tell you to pay the heating bill before my birthday?? 2 a beating-up.

Smith Raiders 52: A south London face who was big in the porn industry.

1977 S. Stallone Paradise Alley (1978) 47: He and his brothers stood an odds-on chance of being waltzed into the alley and given a

face

face

3

professional face-ache that would last them the rest of the summer.

1922 Edwardsville

(IL) Intelligencer 14 Sept. 4/4: The Flappers' Dictionary [...] Face Stretcher: Old maid who tries to look young.

1961 R.A. Norton Through Beatnik Eyeballs 25: Fair near knocked a

■ In phrases as many faces as a churchyard clock

chick's fise-box off one time,

faces on all four sides of a rectangular tower] used of anyone seen as

facebox (n.) the head.

face-card (n.) {US black) $100 bill.

duplicitous or unreliable.

1998 Big L 'Ebonics' [lyrics] Genuine is real, a face card is a hundred

dollar bill.

face fannies (n.) [fanny n.'' (1)) sideburns. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 12: face fannies n. Bugger's grips: sideburns. As sported by 'Rocket' Ron Haslam, Sir Rhodes Boyson and the singer out of 'Supergrass'.

face fart (n.) 1 (N.Z.) a belch. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 75: face fart 1. A belch.

2 (N.Z.)

a general term of abuse.

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 75: face fart [...] 2. Ugly person.

face-feeder/-feeding see feed one's face v. (1). face fins (n.) a moustache, presumably a large one that protrudes 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 372/2: late 0.19-20.

face fittings (n.) (Aus.) a beard and/or moustache. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

face-fuck/-fucked/-fucking see separate entries, face fungus (n.) (a/so fungus) male facial hair, i.e. a beard and/or moustache; occas. as a term of address. [1915 S. Ford Shorty MeCabe on the Job 199: The front office door

opens easy, and in slips this face herbage exhibit.] 1917 'Taffrail' Sub 132: Neither are the 'young gentlemen' encouraged to grow their face fungus. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 106: Few people have ever looked fouler than Bingo in the fungus. 1926 'Sapper' Final Count 860: Now then, face fungus, what the hell does it mean? 1938 J.B. Booth Sporting Times 74: He was a stout man, with a wide countenance adorned with grey, mutton-chop whiskers — a species of 'face fungi' much in vogue at the time. 1946 R. Rivett Behind Bamboo 396/1: Face fungus, beard. 1963 A.E. Farrell Vengeance 67: D'ya think 'e'll reck-ernise ya wiv' out ya face fungis? 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 86: 'Just better put on this false beard.' 'How come all the face fungus, doc?' 1993 K. Lette Foetal Attraction (1994) 266: There's three inches of face fungus on his chin. 2006 S. Farndon Escape Inc. 228: Andy did a spot of the driving while 1 got rid of the face fungus,

face-lace (n.) whiskers; a beard. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 445: Face lace, Whiskers. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 187: You couldn't expect a tart to look twice at a bloke with face-lace like that. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 79: face lace Whiskers; a beard,

face-maker (n.) a father of an illegitimate child; thus face-making, conceiving a child illegitimately. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Face¬

Begetting children. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1822 Tom And Jerry: Musical Extravaganza 53: Face-makers, fathers of bastards. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 177: The overseers, with tremendous frowns and black looks on their brows, threatened Sporf/ng BETSEY [...] that if ever she committed more sins in the FACE-making'* line—QUOD, and nothing else should be her portion. (*Slang phrase for bastard children), making.

face-man (n.) [note the character faceman in the 1980s US TV series

The

A-Team] an attractive man, a 'pretty boy'.

1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 113: Face man A sexually attractive person, male. A socially adept person. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 153: Dah youth over deh by de bar. You see how 'im have face? Prety bwai, nice in 'im face. Is a faceman dat. 1991 Guardian Weekly 15 Sept. 21: Your fellow drinkers back at the bar, for instance. Are they students? [...] They won't be drunk at the end of the evening, they'll be combooselated. They may be facemen (handsome) or fugly (fat and ugly).

face-plaster (n.) [it 'bandages up' a miserable face] (Aus.) an alcoholic drink. 1941 K. Tennant Sfl«/ers 173: It was Uncle who insisted that, as Snow was just out of hospital, they should all stop at the first hotel and get

him a 'face plaster',

face-prickle (n.) (Aus.) facial hair. 1990 T. Winton Human Torpedo 31: He didn't look old enough for a

job, even with all the face-prickle, face rape (v.) |on model of SE date rape] (US campus) to kiss passionately. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 31: Some compounds are grammatically ambiguous. Facerape 'kiss passio¬ noun

+ verb or noun + noun.

face stretcher (n.) (US) an old woman who attempts to look young.

1925 Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases 56:

CHURCHYARD CLOCK, AS MANY FACES AS A: Used of an unreliable man (Old Navy). 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 721/2: C.19-early 20. face like... see separate entry.

face made of a fiddle a phr. used to describe someone who is irresistibly charming. SMOECETt Sir Launcelot Greaves \ 165: Your honour's face is made of a fiddle; every one that looks on you loves you. get one’s face in a knot (v.) (also have one’s nose in a knot) (Aus.) to get angry, excited or over-emotional (cf. get one's cuts in a KNOT under cut n.). 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1948 D. Ballantyne Cunninghams

on either side of the cheeks.

nately' can be analyzed

[church clocks can have

(1986) 135: 'What a face!' she told her eldest son, who came in with his nose in a knot about something. get out of someone’s face (v.) (also get out of someone’s ass) (orig. US black) to stop pestering, to leave alone, esp. as imper.; vars. are ad hoc, see cits. 1928 and 1979; thus in someone's face below. 1928 in P. Oliver Songsters and Saints (1984) 33: Take those scroungers

out of my face. 1932 Lonnie Johnson 'Cat You Been Messin' Around' [lyrics] Yes woman you've been messin' around / So woman get out of my face / Or I take my fist and knock you down. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 4: Jim Crow just wouldn't get out of my face. 1954 (con. 1920s-30s) J.O. Killens Youngblood (1956) 38: 'Man, get outa my face,' Joe Youngblood said. 1956 L. Hughes Simply Heavenly I iii: Melon, I say, get out of my face. 1961 O. Davis Purlie Victorious in Black Drama I ii: Get outta my face, boy - get outta my face, before I kill you! 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 274: I cold-cocked her with a water jug. She wouldn't get outa my face. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 44: If you so slick, why you here, motherfucker? Get out of my face. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 38: You jive flat-backing zero bitch, stay out of my face! 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 95: Tell 'im get out you face. Jus' righteously ride 'im down to the ground! 1987 ICE-T 'Rhyme Pays' [lyrics] Came into the party just to rock the place / And your big zombie lookin' freak still won't get out of my face. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 174: Git ootay ma face. Tell us it wisnae you thit turned Tommy oantae Sekker n that crowd. 2004 B.K. Ray Cold Wing Dinner 169: So get out of my face with that bullshit, go off one’s face (v.) to collapse with laughter. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted I i: Jees I had to laugh. Nearly went off my face, go on one’s face (v.) see run (on) one's face (for) below,

have a face on one (v.) 1 to be ugly, e.g. she's got a face on her like... 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1982 J. Davis Kullark 65: Sour faced ol' cow. 'Ad a face on 'im like death. 2 to be in a troubled, nervous mood. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 4: He didn't mind the song. But Jimmy had a face on him. 2000 F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 45: Myles noticed Jarlath Boon skulking in the far corner with a face on him like a boiled squirrel. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carrol I-Kelly (2004) 177: Clementine [...] is sitting there with a big face on him. have ne’er a face but one’s own (v.) (also have never a face but one’s own, have no face but one’s own) [the faces' are those on coins] to be penniless. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: N’are-a-face-but-his-own Not a Penny in his Pocket. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. c.17501882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: No face but his own: a saying of one who has no money in his pocket or no court cards in his hand. 1801 'Modern Diet.' in Sporting Mag. May XVIII 100/1: [as cit. 1785]. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant n.p.: Ne'er a face but his own not a farthing in his pocket. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. in someone’s face (also in someone’s business) [cft out of someone's face above; ult. basketball use, when a defensive player crowds his opposite number. The term, while ostensibly a negative use, can sometimes be considered positive by its primary users, the young; note also FACE V. (2)] (orig. US black) in a confrontational manner, used of one who forces their attentions on another; often as get in someone's face V., to confront, to provoke. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 143: Down here in prison, one of these rums, one of these idiots, he's not going to get in my face, 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 135: What the fuck you doing

face here in my face? 1988 Ice-T 'Power' [lyrics] I'm outspoken, no jokin', get in my face your jaw will get broken. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk! 19: She's always in my face! 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 187:1 wish 1 had never stole from her or cussed her out 'cause she be in my business - you know, telling me to calm down and don't do this and take care of the children. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 146: Some yob is always in his face. 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 11: Look, I'm sorry I got in your face before,

in-your-face (ady.)

1/n someone's face above]

(orig. US) 1 aggressive,

intense, confrontational. 1977 Wash. Post 25 Feb. Dl: Pipkin was the epitome of the 'hot dog', interested only in a personal, in-your-face confrontation with the defender of the moment. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 64: That's Bold Gold. Worn gangsta-style. Up-front and InYour-Face. 2000 Guardian Editor 21 Jan. 19: Asking in-your-face

2

faced

4

questions to outrageous guests. unashamed. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 21: Stacy had graduated to in-

your-face fat, and these days you wouldn't even figure he owned a shirt.

off one’s face (adj.) 1 under the influence of drink or drugs. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 78/1: off one's face stoned on marijuana. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 148: Marcello's wide awake now, but

still off his face. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 33: Foof, am off me fuckin face . . . this is just fuckin incredible. [Ibid.] 106: Am just pissed off mi ferce. 2 in fig. use, extremely enthusiastic about. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 19: My project's in turnaround at the

Sundance Institute [...] Redford is apparently off his face over it! He's zonked. Like totally. 3 crazy. 1982 H. Beaton Outside In Act II: Fucken off their faces, I reckon, 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 39: Off his (or her) face: Mad. on one’s face (adv.) [US) on credit, for free. [1873 SI. Diet. 156: Face entry the entree to a theatre. From the FACE

being known, as distinguished from free-list entry.] 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 56: I went through all the regular pockets - not a sou-marquee. 'This is nice,' I thought, 'I can't do the Continent [...] on my face." 1918 'Ian Hay' Last Million 149: 'How do we get there?' inquired her practical friend. Miss Lane [...] smiled seraphially. 'I guess we can do it on our faces.' out of one’s face (adj.) under the influence of drink or drugs. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 46: Both of them were goofballed out of

their faces. 1984 Totally True Diaries of an Eighties Roller Queen [Internet] 6 Aug. [Internet] I went to the beach with Karey L. We got smoked up. Holy shit - were we ever stoned out of our faces, 1999 Guardian Rev. 13 Aug. 19: You don't even try to get up in the morning / You just reach for your skins and you're out of your face. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 36: Greta and I [...] got loads of brown and got smashed out of our faces, out of someone’s face (UK black) absent, away. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 201: I'm outta your

miserable face.

push a face (v.) [ext. use of SE push one’s face forward] to obtain credit through deceit or bravado. 1760 O. Goldsmith 'Serious reflections on the life and death of the

late Mr. TC ' in Coll. Works (1966) III 47: There are three ways of getting into debt; first by pushing a face, as thus, 'You Mr. Lutestring, send me home six yards of that paduasoy, dammee; but harkee, don't think I ever intend to pay you for it, dammee.' run (on) one’s face (for) (v.) [SE run, to enter into a race, i.e. to bet one's face, as the agent of obtaining credit] (or/g. US) to obtain credit. [1795 J. O'Keeffe Life’s Vagaries 24: Well, I didn't run in debt for my

face.] 1840 Morning Herald (N.Y.) 7 Feb. 2/2-3: At the better place, many of them can run their face for drinks. 1846 D. Corcoran Picking from N.O. Picayune 76: He is never loth to 'run his face' whenever the credit system leaves an aperture into which he can insinuate it. 1862 J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd series (1880) 66: Men whose word wuz full ez good's their note, / Men that can run their face for drinks. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 94: He would start on a spree, and keep it up as long as he had a cent or could run his face for a dram. 1905 'Central Connecticut Word-List' in DN III:i 17: run one's face, v. phr. To make use of one's credit. 1942 W.L. McAtee Dial. Grant County 53: Run one's face...use one's credit, buy on tick [DARE]. 1965-70 in DARE.

soak one’s/the face (v.) see under soak v.\ suck face (v.) see under suck v.\ suck one’s face (v.) see under suck v\ up in someone’s face (orig. US black) arguing with, confronting face-to-face. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971) 102: You oughtta see how nice my old man been now [....| Remember how the cat use to all the time be

up in my face and standin on my head? 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 74: All I'm sayin' to you is that when some motherfucking two-ton toad gets up in your face, starts [...] playing you, you're gonna want some righteous woods to stand up for you.

■ In exclamations in your face! (also in your gob! your face!) a dismissive rejoinder. 1952 J. JONES From Here to Eternity (1998) 38: 'Your face,' Leva said. 'Your mother's box,' Milt said. 1978 Eble Campus St. Apr. 2: in your face, facial - exclamation: That's unfair. That was unsuccessful. 1991 M. Myers et al. Wayne's World [film script] Wayne: New York. 'Yo! Taxi!!! In your face!' 1996 (ref. to 1963) D. Healy Bend for Home 174: Oh but I do. You do in your gob. 1999 Indep. Rev. 10 July 8: Yo' Momma! In yo' face! 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 158: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Take you there. In your face,

your face and my ass! (also your face and my arse! ...butt! my ass and your face!) [the implication is kiss my arse! exc/,; however, the original use of the phr. is as a derog. retort to a request for a match (i.e. a light), the implication being that the face and ass are a 'match' (i.e. look the same)) a general dismissive excL, often following a real or imagined request for a match. 1967 Southern Folklore Quarterly Vol. 31 29: Do you have a match? Your face and my ass. Your breath and my farts. My socks, your breath. Not since Superman died. 1986 S. King It (1987) 348: 'Your f-f-face and my buh-buh-butt, T-T-Tozier,' Bill said and hung up. 1989 (con. 1960) P, Theroux My Secret Hist. (1990) 175: 'Give me a match, shit-for-brains.' 'Your face and my ass,' Larry said, and punched him on the arm. 1996 (con. 1970) G. Moxley Danti-Dan in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) I iii: Your face and my ass. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 292: 'Have you a match?' I said. 'Your face and me arse, Homer.' 2004 Beastie Boys 'CraswIspace' [lyrics] Here's a match - my ass and your face,

face adj. see facey adj. face V. [15C SE face, 'to show a bold face,

look big; to brag, boast, swagger' (OfD)] 1 (Irish) of a man, to pay court to a woman. 1925 L, Mackay Mourne Folk 114: 'D'ye think, Thomas, wud Miss

O'Hara 'face?" said John [...] 'Ye know as well as me she's long past her market.' 1983 W.F Marshall 'Me an' Me Da' in Livin’ in Drumlister 33: Yo Bridget I went back, / An' faced her for it that night week.

2 (US campus) (also face down) to outperform, to correct, to show up, to humiliate, to insult. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 79: He'd face down Old Horny himself. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 121: If you gon fuck black you gon face black. 1982 Eble Campus SI. Spring 3: face - to take advantage of; to embarrass, 1999 Indep. Rev. 9 Aug. 4: Does Stothard have the bottle to face him down? 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 265: Hes sittin there vex as fuck, facin me down.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases face and brace (v.) (also face it and brace it) to bluster, to defy, to bully verbally. 1513 Skelton Agaynst The Scottes 31: Such boste make To prate and crake. To face and brace All voyde of grace. 1549 H. Latimer Sermon before Edward VI (Arh.) 152: Men [...] woulde face it and brace hand make a shewe of vpryght dealynge. a.1563 Becon Fortr. Faithf. (1844) 599: They gripe, they nip, they face, they brase, they semble [...] to maintain and set forth their unnoble nobility [OED].

face the music (v.) see under music n.

-face six

[note earlier uses from 17C are more literal, such as BRACKET-FACE

n.; CARBUNCLE FACE n.; CHITTY-FACE D.; FISH-FACE n.) a sfx used in comb, with an abusive epithet to form a derog. term of address, e.g. Hello, dickface (cf. bumface n.; cuntface n.; fart-face n.; FUCKFACE n.; pissface n.; PIZZA face n.; shitface n.’’). 1938 implied in fart-face n. 2001 Eble Campus SI. Fall 10: SKANK common nickname or greeting: 'Hey, SKANK, how was class today?' Also SKANKFACE.

face!

exc/. [face v. (2)[ (US campus) an excl. delivered to a person whom one has just insulted or humiliated. 1987 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1989 P, Munro SI. U.

faced adjj

[abbr. shitfaced adj.] 1 (US teen) extremely drunk.

1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 1970 Current SI. IV:2. 1980 Eble Campus SI.

Fall 3: faced - very drunk. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 40: He was completely faced.

2 (drugs) stunned by the potency of a drug, usu. cannabis. 1986 S. King It (1987) 42: I was pretty 'faced, you know?

faced adj^

[face v. (2)[ (US campus) humiliated, embarrassed.

1985 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: face - prevail over someone [...] 'That

guy got faced on that last play.' 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2001 Campus SI. Fall 4: FACED -- denied or refused.

Eble

face-fuck face-fuck

facey

5 v.

{also fuck someone’s face)

[fuck

v.

(1)] to be the

active partner in an act of fellatio.

2 a glass that holds a single dram of spirits. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 156: Facer [...] In Ireland, a dram.

1974 (con. 1945) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 493; He began to really

fuck her face, not caring a damn for her. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 277: Billy [...] slammed her up against the cage's wire mesh, which he clutched to facefuck her for all he was worth. 2002 an 1662 'First Time' on Nifty Erotic Stories Archive [Internet] I nearly dropped to my knees, the person on the bed getting face fucked was my butch big jock brother. 2005 E. White My Lives 234: One day T burst into the filthy, shit-streaked [...] toilet and started fucking Teach's face,

face-fucked adj.

[fucked adj.^ (5)/fucked adj.^ (3)] {drugs) so intoxicated by drugs that one is incapable of controlling one's facial movements. 1994 I. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' in Acid House 250: Ronnie was facefucked [...] lolling his tongue around his mouth and rolling his eyes like he was having some kind of stroke,

face-fucking n.

[fucking n. (1)[ fellatio in which one partner lies on their back with an opened mouth. 2002 AN 1662 'First Time' on Nifty Erotic Stories Archive [Internet] The

guy doing the face fucking, wasn't my brother, he had black hair, brother was blond, the guy was pumping away and the banging was the head on the headboard.

face like... n. ■ In phrases ...a bull’s bum {also ...a chook’s bum) (N.Z) a phr. used to describe a very ugly face. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 75: face like a bulTs/chook's bum

3 a glass of whisky punch. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 28/1: After another 'facer'

we each took a bottle to use on the way, and started for the steamer. 1873 SI. Diet. 156: Facer ]...] whisky-punch. Possibly from the suffusion of blood to the face caused by it.

facer n.^ 1 a blow in the face; thus as v., to hit in the face. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1818 N.-Y. Eve. Post 17 Aug. 2/1:

We do not understand the technical phrases he makes use of, such as nobbing each other in fine style — a good set-to — a clean hit — a facer — a floorer and unable to come-to in time, &c, &c. He had better make his complaint to the police office, whose business it is to attend to such affairs. 1820 Jack Randall's Diary 54: Just like a vice. You held the old boy while you facer'd and fibb’d him. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 199: Pat planted a 'facer,' which t'other return'd. 1837 R. Barham 'The Bagman's Dog' in Ingoldsby Legends (1840) 334: Blogg, starting upright, 'tipped' the fellow a 'facer'. 1842 Flash (N.Y.) 10 July 2/3: Lilly got a pretty hard one on the pimple, dodged another and [...] planted a severe facer. 1853 G.J. Whyte-Melville Digby Grand (1890) 86: I dealt him [...] such a 'facer' between the eyes, as sent him down upon the pavement prostrate. 1868 Reade & Boucicault Foul Play 124: This was followed by a quick succession of staggering facers, administered right and left, on the eyes and noses of the subordinates. 1873 SI. Diet. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 154: I remembers stoppin' a facer that showed me pin-wheels.

2 {US Und.) a criminal who stalls those in pursuit of their

Ugly, dreary, drenched in misery.

...a festering pickle (N.Z.) a phr. describing a face that is covered in severe acne.

accomplices [Si face off]. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 30: facer, a staller, or one who places

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. St.

himself

...an abandoned quarry (N.Z.) a phr. used to describe a very

in

the

accomplices.

way

of persons

who

are

in

hot

pursuit

of

his

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

ugly face.

3 an unexpected problem or obstacle, anything to which one must

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

...a smacked arse a phr. used to describe someone who looks

face up. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 70: Yet it is a tiny facer.

very depressed. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 41: She's

1832 Egan Bk of Sports 170: Two or three of the London journalists,

wearing the Allure by Chanel that I bought her [...] and a face like a well-slapped orse. 2005 N. Griffiths Wreckage 4: We're four fuckin grand to the better [...] an you've gorrer face liker smacked friggin arse. ...a stopped clock {UK/Aus.) a phr. used to describe a very unattractive (usu. female) face; also of one who is momentarily stunned.

imitated by a few country flats, occasionally give us a facer. 1853 G.J, Digby Grand (1890) 94: What a facer! £2900, — and where to get the money? 1862 Thackeray Adventures of Philip (1899) 608: In the battle of life, every man must meet with a blow or two; and every brave one would take his facer with good-humour. 1882 'Thormanby' Famous Racing Men 115: His first 'facer' was received before he was of age. [...] he had lost £33,000 - not a bad beginning for a lad of twenty. He was already popular, and the expressions of condolence were many. 1899-1900 H. Lawson 'The Babies in the Bush' in Roderick (1972) 408: 'Did Walter ever tell you about the fairies taking the children away?' This was a facer. 1905 Sporting Times 11 Feb. 4/1: Your bill for boots was a bit of a facer. 1913 A. Lunn Harrovians 192: That was a facer. Apparently pork-pie was beginning to pall. 1934 D.L. Sayers Nine Tailors (1984) 135: But - it's a bit of a facer, isn't it? Puts rather a different complexion on the crime, eh? 1945 'Henry Green' Loving (1978) 36: It is a bit of a facer isn't it? 1958 M. Allingham Hide My Eyes (1960) 84: 'A bit of a facer at any time,' murmured her visitor. 1970 P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 12: Quite frankly, you're a bit of a facer. 1975 D. Davin Breathing Spaces 10: This was a facer. They were afraid he'd get wild,

1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 24: Face like a stopped clock: The person being referred to is either ugly, or stunned, or both. ...a stripper’s clit a derog. description of the face of an unattractive woman. 2000-02 Amatory Ink [Internet].

...a twisted sandshoe (N.Z.) a phr. used to describe someone who is exhibiting great disgust. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. ...a yard of tripe (N.Z.) a phr. used to describe someone looking very depressed. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z, SI. ...half-past six {also ...nine o’clock) [the corners of the mouth point down, or form a straight line as would the hands of the clock) a phr. used to describe someone with a miserable look; usu. constr. with have a!

wear a. 1895 W. Pett Ridge Minor Dialogues 38: One of them pleecemen with a fice like - well, you know, like 'alf-past six. 1898 W. Pett Ridge Mord Em'ly 150: Got a face on him like 'alf-past six. 1908 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Sept. 34/2: She wore a face like nine o'clock and a pair of out-size feet, / And she stood up at the butcher's block and bought five pound o' meat. ...yesterday a phr. decribing a very miserable-looking face. 1914 W.L. George Making of an Englishman I 93: Why don't you wait till you're asked? 'Stead of sitting there with a face like yesterday,

facer

n.^

[all are

poured into the

face)

1

a brimming glass.

1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia II ii: There's a facer for you [Drinks

the glass clear off, and puis it to his face], c.1698 B.E, Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Facer, a Bumper without Lip-room. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1731 C. Coffey Devil to Pay III iii: Let every Bumper be a Facer. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1790 'Larry's Stiff' Luke Caffrey's Cost 7: If he hadn't a make, his neck-cloth he'd pop for a facer. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. C.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

Whyte-Melville

facety adj. [SI feisty but ? note Surinam Creole fiesti, dirty, nasty; and SE fist, a fart; note FACEY adj.] {W.I./UK black) cheeky, impudent; thus facetyness n., impudence. 1942 L. Bennett 'South Parade Pedlar' in Jamaica Dialect Verses 8: Yuh fast and facety to. 1966 (con. 1962) L. Bennett 'Independance' in Jamaica Labrish 169: Matty say it mean we facety. 1976 'In the Melting Pot' in P. Ashton et al. Our Lives (1982) 166: 'Yes mother, anything else mother?' 'Yes, don't be so facety.' [Ibid.] 168: Don't come facety with me miss, and don't come home too late tonight. 1986 O. Senior 'Do Angels Wear Brassieres?' Summer Lightning 70: No pickney suppose to come facety and force-ripe so. 1990 L. Goodison Baby Mother and King of Swords 43: You really is a facety dirty dog. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 248: 'He facetyness jus' gi's me a . . .' he tailed off. 2001 Guardian G2 3 Aug. 3: The kids says that [...] if you is facety you is rude,

face-up n. {also facing-up) [var. on SE face-off] {US) a gang-fight, inch single-person combat. 1958 H. Ellison Web of the City (1983) 15: There was going to have to be a face-up soon, and he wasn't sure he was man enough. 1968 J. Herndon Way It Spozed to Be (1970) 48: One kid flipped over the desks, a brief facing-up, that was all.

facey adj. [SE face, effrontery) (W./.) cheeky, rude, impudent; thus faceyness n., impudence. 1929 M, Beckwith Black Roadways 88: Only a bad spirit is 'facey'

enough to show himself to you. 1933 (con. 1900s) C.

McKay

Banana

Bottom

fade

6

facial

fade n. [SE; note SE phr. faded glory] 1 (US) a former dandy, now

What right you hab fer interfere heah, you facey fellah? 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 373/2: C.17-20. 1953 W.G. Ogilvie Cactus Village 42: Every day you is gettin' more facey. [...] 1 is askin you to please oblige me by not cornin' back to me with no more of you' dyam faceyness. 1983 V. Bloom Touch Mi, Tell Mi 76: Facey — 263:

fallen on hard times and thus less resplendent. 1778 Mme D'Arblay Diary (1891) I 27: There was a fade, empty fellow at table with us, a.1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 126/1: A young lady employed at one of the Exposition displays rather took the shine off of a fade the other day. The fade, recently a dude, walked up to the place where she was stationed

impertinent.

facial

[? FACE v. (2)| {US campus) an insult, a rebuff.

1978 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: Facial - exclamation: That's unfair. That

was unsuccessful. 1996

Eble

2 (US black) a derog. term for a white person.

SI. and Sociability 60: A facial is 'an insult

1929 C. McKay Banjo 217: We have words like ofay, pink, fade,

or rebuff', as in 'Ben got turned down by that girl again —what a

spade, Mr. Charlie, cracker, peckawood, hoojah, and so on. The stock is always increasing because as the whites get on to the old words we invent new ones. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 55:

facial!' facial n? ISE facial, cosmetic treatment for the face] ejaculation in one s partner's face. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language 14: Facial, to Get a^W perform fellatio. 2001 Guardian Weekend 17 Mar. 9: I used not to do facials, but I do

Fade Term for a white person.

3 (US black) a black person who becomes immersed in the white world and thus 'fades away'.

them now.

facial area n. see face n. (1). facialist n. [facial n.^] (W.i.) a

1994 C. Major Juba to Jive.

4 (US black) short-cropped black hair, pioneered by the hip-hop woman who likes fellatio.

culture, usu. featuring patterns delineated through an even closer

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 19: Facialist (Ja.) a

shave [it fades into the skull], 1988 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 40: The driver and the guy in the passenger seat are both [...] black. Their haircuts, called 'fades,' are highly styled, carefully constructed flattops with geometric designs etched into the closely shaven sides. 2001 UGK 'Choppin' Blades' [lyrics] In a black 'Lac mackin' wit' a bop in a fade. 2009 Observer Mag. 4 Jan. 18: An oversized gold medallion, a

woman who indulges in oral sex.

facing-up n. see face-up n. facker n. see fucker n. facking adj. see fucking adj. fack off V. see fuck off v. factor n. see fater n. -factor six [US campus) in comb,

with a relevant n., the quantity of, the degree of, e.g. dork-factor, the number of fools; dog-

1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Fade; A poorly dressed person.

factor, the number of ugly women. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Fall

3: factor - abundance of the noun preceding it; book-factor, food-factor, noise-factor. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 76: The squeeze-factor in that game was awfully high / The skank-factor at the party was good. 1990 (con, c.l970) G. Hasford Phantom Blooper 37: 'R.P.G.,' I say - rocket-propelled grenade. Beaucoup pucker factor.

factory n.^

[resemblance to the architecture of 19C factories -F the work performed by the inmates of sense 1[ 1 {Aus.) a prison, 1847 A. Marjoribanks Travels in New South Wales 225: There is a large penitentiary erected for the female convicts, called the female

factory at Parramatta.

2 (UK Und.) a large, forbidding Victorian police station in the London Metropolitan area. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 426: A stranger of foreign aspect whom a plain-clothes D. from 'the Factory' would most assuredly have catalogued as 'suspicious'. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 330: FACTORY (the): The police-station. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 25: Although Sneed and DC Gordon had both started in CID together, the latter having followed him to Divisional HQ from their previous factory, that was the only parallel in their careers, 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 12: You'd better call the Factory and I'll have his property sent over. 1989 J. MORTON Lowspeak.

factory

1

n.^ (drugs)

the kit used by a narcotics addict for

injections. 1937 B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI.

(rev. edn). 1959 J.E,

Schmidt

Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1971 E.E.

Tandy

Underground Diet. (1972). 2 a place where drugs are packaged, diluted or manufactured. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und, Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang.

Und. (1981) 102/T. factory. [...] 2. A wholesale distributing depot for peddlers where caps are filled. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1977 B. Davidson Collura (1978) 13: An incredible eightyeight per cent-pure sample of heroin, direct from one of the big 'factories' in Marseille. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Factory — Place where drugs are packaged, diluted, or manufactured.

factotum

n. [SE factotum, a man of all work; a servant who has the entire

management of his master's affairsl the vagina. v. [finagle

v.

6 see fadeaway n. fade v.^ 1 (gambling) in dice games, to bet against the player holding the dice; or, in poker, to match the previous bet; thus

fader n., the person who covers the bet. 1890 DN I 61: To fade [...] to bet against the player shooting. 1898

'Game of Craps' in Current Lit. XIII:6 558/2: The person who covers a thrower's money is a 'fader.' 1912 Van Loan 'Little Sunset' in TenThousand-Dollar Arm 74: As crap-shooters they were more to be feared than 'faded', 1920 H. Wiley Wildcat 28: An' I six-aces fo' my home is high! Fade me, niggers, fade me. 1939 R. Chandler 'Pearls Are a Nuisance' in Spanish Blood (1946) 106: 'I will wage you a full quart of Old Plantation' [...] 'I'll fade you.' 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 49: He never faded in a crap game unless the percentage was with him. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 13; The sweaty little man in overalls didn't want to fade the square. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 119: 'Who got it?' he asked around the table. Bill Grumsley was the first to fade him. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 105: He tried to get faded for a hundred and twenty dollars. 1986 H. Selby Jr Song of the Silent Snow (1988) 11: Everytime he threw another pass he'd roar and yell shoot, come on ya bastads, fade me. I'm hot. 2004 'Animated Dominoes, Dice' at Old and Sold [Internet] Some crap-shooting terms fade but a few have proved durable: Fade: cover the bet of the thrower.

2 (US) to put at a disadvantage, to cause problems for someone; esp. in phr. don't fade me; thus have someone faded, to have someone at a disadvantage. 1897 Ade Pink Marsh (1963) 135: Befo' I sprung 'at wheel game, Gawge Lippincott had me done easy—had me faded. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 118: I had one of the principal contractors sufficiently faded to extract from him a promise of work. 1909 Daily Trib. (Bismarck, ND) 5 Aug. 8/6: Why, my boss has all the slang artists in this town faded to a whisper. 1915 H.L. Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) 99; Don't it fade you? 1967 J. Breslin World of Jimmy Breslin (1968) 21: Lew king said, 'Hey, Breslin, this bum is fading you.' 1994 UGK 'Three Sixteens' [lyrics] Kinda craaazy, never letting niggas fade me / I'm a little fast on the trigga. 1996 S. Frank Get Shorty [film script] Don't fade on me now. Bear. Not unless you wanna hold Farrah on your lap in a room fulla felons.

3 fig. use of sense 1, to respond, to counter.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fadangle

fade haircut, and puffy Air Jordans.

5 (US campus) a badly dressed person.

1921 H.C. Witwer Leather Pushers 43: Do you fade me? 1935 Z.N,

(1)] (US black) to cheat, to do wrong.

Hurston

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fadangled Definition; to do wrong, cheat. Example; That lady tried to fadangle

2000

me out of my loot.

Mules and Men (1995) 66: He looked me over shrewdly. 'Ah

see dat las' crap you shot. Miss, and Ah fade yuh.'

4 (US Und.) to hold up with a gun. 1929 in N.Y. Times 22 Aug. 25: 'A cannon fades a mark.' A gunman

fad-cattle

n. [dial, faddle, to make much of (a child) generic term for sexually available women,

+

SE catt/e[ a

holds up a citizen [HDAS]. 1949

Monteleone

Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

5 (US) to put up with, to manage something, to handle a situation.

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant n.p.; 'old

1968 in B. Jackson In the Life (1972) 289; But, he said, he just

slang'. 1890-1904

couldn't fade it (handle it), looking at that head, 1969

faddle n.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues n.p.; 'old',

[Midlands dial, faddle, an over-particular, fussy personi

trifling person; a busybody. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 373; ca. 1800.

2 an affected and/or homosexual man. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 373: ca. 1800.

1

a

B. Jackson

Thief's Primer 69: 'If the Rangers get you, they're going to get a confession.' [...] 'I can fade 'em.' [...] 'You want to stay here and fade the beef.'

fade v.^ (also fade away) [SE fade, to grow dim, faint or pale[ 1 to leave, to vanish.

fade 1900 Ax)E More Fables in SI. (1960) 101: The Bookie told him to Back Up

and Fade, 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Nov. 11/4: Just before the patient died the nurse faded altogether, and hasn't been seen or heard of since. 1908 Shields & Help 'Make a Noise Like a Hoop and Roll Away' [lyrics] Kiddo, just skidoo, / Fade away like the sun on a cloudy day. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'Duck an' Fowl' in Moods of Ginger Mick 16: But the

toff's too shick or silly fer to 'cave 'is carkis out, / An' to fade while goin's good. 1916 J. Lait 'One Touch of Art' In Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 220: She wants to know are you gonna fade away to-morrow, 'cause they's another ham wants to move in here. 1925 N. Lucas Autobiog. of a Thief 118: I deemed it best to 'fade away' also, which I did by diving through the open door of a house [.,.] and out at the back. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 146: If they 'tumble' me before I get the tray out you fade away. 1928 Phila. Eve. Bulletin 5 Oct. 40/3: Here are a few more temrs and definitions from the 'Racket' vocabulary: [...] 'Fade,' to disappear. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 247: 'Everybody not associated with the team, please fade!' he commanded. 1935 R. Chandler 'Nevada Gas' in Spanish Blood (1946) 169: They faded. 1935 S. Horler London's Und. 81: Scotland Yard were put on (o them and they faded away. 1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 140: One of the dealers [...] puUed out that big .45 of his and the gentleman with the knife faded. 1943 Baker 'Influence of Amer. SI. on Aus.' in AS XVIU:4 253: The Sydney Telegraph of July 14, 1936, palmed off on the public as Americanisms current in Australia: [...] to fade away. 1952 C. Harris Death of a Barrow Boy 140: What game yer think you're playing. Scarper [...] Yeah. I'm telling yer. Fade. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Repeat (1989) 3: Please excuse me, but-comes on like 'we the PEOPLE' riffs like whiraway, cool like snow white and fades like gang busters. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: fade - To go away; to disappear. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 22:1 saw Willie fading away fast. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2004 T. Dorsey Cadillac Beach 254: 'We have to go now.' Mahoney nodded. 'Blow, hoof, dust, fade, breeze, slide, heel and toe, grab sidewalk, leave leather, drivin' the shoe car . . .'

2 (US black campus) to stop talking. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Fade away ... Be quiet.

3 (US) to die. 1940s in Campbell & Campbell War Paint 166: [aircraft nose art] 'Shoot! You're Faded.' 1941 'More Tennessee Expressions' in AS XVLl Feb. 447/1: fade. To die. 'Aunt Mittie faded last night.' 1944 R. Olds Helldiver Squadron 69: I'm fighting! Shoot you bastards! You're faded! 1970 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 58: Now it's been eight long years since Dolomite's been faded, / the average motherfucker would a long long been dated. 4 (US campus) to miss a class; to waste time rather than work. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 113: Fade Miss class. Waste time, not study. 5 (US Und.) to obtain a verdict of 'not guilty'. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 131: It's hard to fade a jury trial when you've got a record. 6 (US black) to drop a topic of conversation, to change an unpalatable subject. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 7 (US black) to remain sufficiently silent not to be noticed. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive.

really soon. 9 (US) to let down, to renege. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 11: Hey, you were the one who bought the program. Don't fade on me now, goddamm it! v.^ ISE fader, a slider on the mixing board; if one pulls the fader down (US black) 1 to

it gradually reduces the volume; note also FADE v.^ (2)1

ignore, to erase, to get rid of. 1993 Dr Dre 'Bitches Ain't Shit' [lyrics] But I and her know that they can't fade this.

2 to shoot dead. [fade v.^ (1)1

fade v.^.

to grow pale] (US black/campus) 1 drunk, under the influence of drugs. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 113: Faded Drunk and passed out. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Faded; 1. Feeling the effects of alcohol or drugs; drunk, intoxicated. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 59: Silas got drunk [..,] Rah was ready to punch him out. 'He was faded,' he explains. 'He was disrespecting.'

2 unfashionable. 1994 G. Smitherman Black Talk.

3 used to excess. 1994 G. Smitherman Black Talk.

fade-out n.

[film imagery -F FADE v.^ (1)1 (US)

1

a disappearance, a

departure, an escape. 1924 Hecht & Bodenheim Cutie 24: Then slowly in his dream the windmill and the snake did a fadeout. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 211: That is preparing the way for my final fade out. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 61: [We] walked around so chesty we would have made Miss Peacock pull a fade-out. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 96: One by one they'd pull a fadeout, just drift away. 1960 Mad mag. June 50: Take your chops and do a fadeout, move your backside from my door! 1965 (con. 1930s) R, Wright Lawd Today 212: And that Blanche dame did a quick fadeout, 1993 A, Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 4: 1 don't know wha' chu gonna do when we gotta do a sudden fade-out. 2006 Kiss & Blog 24 July [blog] Funny that. The way she did a fadeout on you before you even got in.

2 death. 1936 L. Pound 'Amer. Euphemisms for Dying' in AS XI:3 200: Made

a fadeout. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 (con. 1923) G. Fowler Schnozzola 129: Madden [...] had been made a scapegoat for Little Patsy's fade-out.

■ In phrases on the fade-out (Aus.) evading the police, on the run. 1955 N. Pulliam 7 Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 236/2: on the fadeout - hiding out from the police. 1984 W. Diehl Hooligans (2003) 21: All my boys get is to kiss the horse at the fadeout.

fade out

v. [film imagery] (orig. US)

1

to leave.

1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 310: We faded out into

the nippy, frosty street. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 41: I just fade out, leavin' no word, an' yu take hold an' run the ranch. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1937 P. CnEYNES Dames Don't Care (1960) 14: Fade out for the border by car. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 67/1: Fade out, V. To slip away unobtrusively. 1956 R.T. Hopkins Banker Tells All 32: Some, a few of them bank clerks and officials, 'fade out' with money which does not belong to them. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Got 75: OK, Flash, since you really go for one another. I'll fade out of the picture. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad.

2 to die. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn), 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in

Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 36: My hate's not hot enough / to shove a knife in this ponce's gut / I'll let him fade out like the dinosaur.

fadge n.''

Ipron.l a farthing.

Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1834 'I Am A Blowen Togg'd Out So Gay' in Flare-Up Songster 16: I never goes one fadge under my price. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1896 "Arry on African Affairs' in Punch 22 Feb. 90/2: I'll wager a crown to a fadge. 1906 E. PuGH Spoilers 5: All you got. An' if you stick to half a fadge I'll ... No, I won't drown you. 1908 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Aug. 24/1: A 'fadge' 'ill buy a ha'p'ny loaf - it's them wot's stale, I mean - / An' the other bloomin' farden buys yer bloomin' margerine.

fadge

1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

fadeaway n. (also fade)

fade away v. see faded adj. jSE fade,

1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 161: Farthing A fadge. 1796 Grose

8 (orig. US) to become tired, to feel increasingly exhausted. 1989 P, Monro SI. U. 76: 1 am fading. I should probably go to bed

fsdB

fadge

7

(US) a departure, an escape;

usu. as do/pull a fadeaway v. 1911 H.S. Harrison Queed v 56: She had only pretended to die in order to make a fade-away with the gate receipts. 1920 C. Sandburg 'The Sins of Kalamazoo' in Smoke and Steel 52: Kalamazoo, both of us will do a fadeaway. /1 will be carried out feet first. 1926 E. Walrond Tropic Death (1972) 60: An' me standin' right by him, doin' a fadeaway. 1932 K.C. Times 25 Feb. 20: For instance, you can put a peck in a pan, add a few drops of water and set it on a hot stove and it immediately begins to do the fade-away [DA]. 1933 H. Craigie 'Reverse English' Detective Nov. [Internet] Come on, fella—do a fade! 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 184: The cat pulled a fadeaway. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 264: He also pulled the same kind of a fade back in the seventeenth century.

n.^

[?

fadge v.j

(UK Und.)

a trick.

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

fadge

v. [ety. unknown] to suit, to work out, to 'do'.

1594 Lyly Mother Bomhie I i: He haue thy aduice, and if it fadge, thou

shalt eate. 1599 Nashe Praise of the Red Herring 55: It would not fadge, for then the market was raised to three C. 1600 Look About You xi: Gloster hath plotted means for an escape. And if it fadge, why so; if not, then well. 1607 Middleton A Trick to Catch the Old One IV v: Hoyday! this geer will fadge well. 1616 W. Haughton English-Men For My Money B: Wilt fadge? What, will it be a match? 1640 T. Heywood Love's Mistress IV i; I keep a dozen Journeymen at least [...] yet 'twill not fadge. 1669 R. L'Estrange Fables of Aesop XLII 44: He saw it would not Fadge. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras Pt III canto 2 lines 255-6: But found their Light and Gifts more wide / From fadging than th' Linsanctify'd;. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: It won't fadge or

fadger doe. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698], 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 136: fadge, to suit or fit; 'it won't fadge,' it will not do. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

fadger

n. [fadge n.^j a farthing.

1911 J.W. Horsley Memoirs of a ‘Sky Pilot' 254: Other [words] were

new to me, such as [...] 'dadla' or 'fadger' for a farthing. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 159: What did he have when he kicked it? [...] not a fadger in the world.

fadoodle

n. [cited in Manchon, Le Slang (2001); OED has one SE citation for 1670] a nothing, a trifle. 1692 J. Hacket Memorial of John Williams Pt 11 131: When all the Stuff in the Letters are scann'd, what Fadoodles are brought to light? 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang. 2001 Theatre in City Pages XXII: 1098 19 Dec. [Internet] [They] apparently didn't think it was necessary to concoct much of a story to connect the songs. They have, instead, tossed off some fadoodle about a girl on a Greek island inviting three of her mother's former lovers to her wedding, believing one of them to be her father.

fadoodling

n. (a/so fadoodle) [fadoodle n.; the term is used in Thomas Middleton's The Roaring Girl (see cit. 1611) when, midway through a scene in which the whole canting vocabulary is paraded and properly translated, the authors back away from explaining wapping (see WAP n.) and niggling (see NiCCLE V.), dismissing them as 'fadoodling, if it please you'] a euph. for sexual intercourse. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: moll.: Wapping and niggling is all one, the rogue my man can tell you. trap.: 'Tis fadoodling, if it please you. 1925 E. Field 'A French Crisis' in Facetiae Americana 19: She'd dance the 'Shaking of the Sheets,' fa-doodle, wap and shag.

fag

nf [school use fag, a junior boy who performs (menial) tasks for his elders; ult. SE fag] 1 (US) an errand boy or clerk. 1813 P. Hawker Diary (1893) 1 7 Jan. 66: Mr. Macintosh [...] a good fag, an old sportsman. 1827 Sporting Mag. May 12/2: Though by no means good fags, a French chasseur will be in the field before daylight [OED]. 1839 W.A. Miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime; Report 113: No. 17, aged 16, was the fag for an older thief named Jones. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 171: Bob Trotter, the diminutive fag of the studio, who ran all the young men's errands. 1859 Matsell

Vocabulum.

2 a young female fish seller [abbr.

fishfac under fish n.^].

1836 'Jack of Horslydown' in Flash Casket 59: And you top sawyer

'mongst the fags, / Shall ride about the town. 3 (US/Aus.) a lawyer's clerk. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1941

Baker

Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

fag

r?.2 [SE fag, to tire, to perform a wearisome task; ? ult. flag v., to droop, to tire] 1 a bore, a chore, an unpleasant, tedious task. 1780 Mme D'Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) I 340; This was my fag till after tea. 1798 H. Nelson Letters (1814) II 233: As no fleet has more fag than this, nothing but the...greatest attention can keep them healthy [OED]. 1827 J.M.F. Wright Alma Mater I 248: This afternoon's fag is a pretty considerable one, lasting from three till dark. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 178: Nectar and ambrosia for tea and bread-and-butter, could not tempt them from the Christian enjoyment of a feather-bed after the fag of such a day. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 188: fag. Time spent in, or period of, studying. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 12 Aug. 730: And bicycling began to be a fag. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Jul. 14/4: Miss Jenkins found the theatrical life irksome in the extreme, the moving of goods and chattels a frightful fag. 1915 C.E.W. Bean Anzac Book 109/1: It must be a fag getting the oil you liked so much. I suppose you have to walk some distance from the firing-line to the nearest shops. 1919 Marvel 3 Mar. 7:1 don't want the additional fag of shutting it myself. 1922 (con. 1900s) S. Leslie Oppidan 56: A year passed before Peter glanced at one of those well-established preventives of brain fag. 1936 'George Orwell' Keep The Aspidistra Flying (1962) 208: It's too much fag to shave every day. 1942 A. Christie Body in the Library (1959) 63: Don't usually bother [...] Such a fag putting a car away in a garage. 1950 A. Buckerldge Jennings Goes To School 243: It's a bit of a hairy fag, of course. 1960 (con. c.1920) D. Holman-Hunt My Grandmothers and I (1987) 116: What a fag! I wish we hadn't got to do it. 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 123: Sometimes I don't think I can bear it a minute more. It's such a fag. 1999 Guardian G2 5 July 6; Exercise is so dull and such a fag.

2

fag

8

a hard worker. 1793 J. O'Keeffe London Hermit (1794) 17: You were always a dead

fag [i.e. at Cambridge University], and I was a blood, 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 188: fag, A diligent student. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 114: Fag A person who studies a great deal.

■ In compounds brain fag (n.) mental exhaustion. 1901 W. Irwin 'Prologue' in Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum n.p.: Brain-fag wrecks who want to keep it dark Just why their crop of thinks is running small. 1922 E. Dyson Missing Link [Internet] Ch. xiii: He passed quite easily for a dramatic artist taking rest and change to dissipate brain fag, the result of too studious application to his art. 1942 Whizzbang Comics 73: I'm on war work. Down here with brain

fag.

■ In phrases stand a good fag (v.) to resist tiredness, to persevere. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fag

n.^ [abbr. FAC END n.

(3)] 1

a cheap cigarette, usu. as issued to

troops in WWI. 1888 Sat. Rev. (London) 30 June 786/2: They...burn their throats with the abominable 'fag', with its acrid paper and vile tobacco [EDD]. 1898 J.D, Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 145: Me an' Mick wos smokin' our fags agin the door. 1905 cited in J. Wright EDD II 'iTll\\ Here [i.e. at Redruth] we are often asked by youngsters to 'chuck' them 'a fag' and whole cheap cigarettes are also often called fags. 1911 G.R. Sims Off the Track in London 211; Most of them are smoking 'fags'. 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 42: Fags are issued every Sunday morning, and you generally get between twenty and forty. The brand generally issued is the 'Woodbine.' Sometimes we are lucky, and get 'Goldflakes,' 'Players,' or 'Red Hussars.' Occasionally an issue of 'Life Rays' comes along. 1921 (con. WWI) E. Lynch Somme Mud 106: The corporal [...] hands over three packets of fags. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 91: Fag Issue: The official ration of cigarettes (fags) allowed to troops serving overseas. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier 23: Fag.—Cigarette. Certain brands of cigarettes, of inferior quality, were issued to the troops. 2 any cigarette; thus fag-card n., a cigarette card. 1900 Marvel 21 Dec. 15; Ide ad sum luck wid the boss bein out, and leving is fags at mi merci; so, wiv a smoak on [...] i trotted that trotter-storl gel to the Mo. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 154: They will have money in their pockets [...] and 'fags' between their lips, and maybe a Cockney blowen on their arm. 1916 N. Douglas London Street Games 123; Fag-cards are cheap, and no mistake. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 30: The first thing I noticed was Bourne [...] quietly smoking a fag. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 74: Can you roll yourself a fag? 1948 C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident 154: What, no fags? 1958 Galton & Simpson 'The Election Candidate' Hancock's Half-Hour [radio script] I didn't have this trouble with me fag cards. Complete set of footballers within the fortnight. 1958 C. Himes Real Cool Killers (1969) 63: His eyes lit on Choo-Choo's half-smoked package of Camels [...] 'Dump out those fags.' 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 48: I'm going to give our Brian a fag. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 16: I struck a match and lit her fag. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 101: I went down the road to get the Sunday Mirror and some fags. 1994 D. Fallowell One Hot Summer in St Petersburg 64; She petulantly stubs out her fag. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 137: Coughing up blood [...] with a fag in her hand.

■ In compounds fag-ash (n.) cigarette ash. 1970 J. Laughlin New Directions in Prose and Poetry 92: Is it the smell of fag-ash in my hair / next day? 1998 M. Burgess Smack 34; My old dad's eighty-two, he smokes like a chimney and he's the colour of fag ash. 2005 S. England Professional Misconduct 178: [...] the girl [...] letting her fag ash drop onto Melissa's lap. 'Oh sorry, love,' she said. Fag-Ash Lil (n.) a nickname for a woman who smokes heavily. 1973 Poetry Wales IX 77: You are famous in the Rhydfelen pubs as Fag-Ash Lil, painted bag whose charms were blown, 1989 N. Sanders Short Summer in South America 116: You know, fag ash Lil doing a rasher of bacon and a very dead egg and you asked for a breakfast. 1997 M. Paton Alan Rickman 147: Rima owes her deep, rather thrilling voice to her smoking habit: she can be a bit of a FagAsh Lil and has been known to puff away during speeches. 2004 V. Artsrunik Monaco's Wild Child 230: The paparazzi started referring to her as 'Fag-Ash Lil' because she was often seen hanging around the caravan with a cigarette in her mouth, fag-butt (n.) a cigarette end. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 67: The tramp [...] has an eye for a rabbit and a chicken, as well as a fag-butt. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 80; He flicks his fag-butt with his finger and thumb away into the roses. fag-hag (n.) see separate entry, fag-hole (n.) the mouth. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 75: They employed an argot which was peculiarly their own [.,.] a 'fag-hole' signified the mouth. 1996

fag

fag

9

T.

Beck

'Bryan the Gardener' on Nifty Erotic Stories Archive [Internet]

Well, I ain't had fag hole for a while. Get over here, man. I'll give ya what you want. [...] "Suck my dick," he commanded, fag-paper (n.) a cigarette paper. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 235: His brand of fag-papers was the

'A.G.' and he would have none other. 1928 H.M. Kieffer More Laughs 63: Besides, 'ow do I know 'ow long this war's goin' to last, or when I'll see a fag or a fagpaper again? 1933 M. Marshall TrampRoyal on the Toby 239: I've got some hard-up and fag papers. 1943 J. Phelan Letters from the Big House 57: Anyway 'e's on the hook [...] Makes engravin'-plates, for Dicker. Turnin' orf tenners and fifties like fag-papers. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 320: Got a fag-paper, Paddy? 2004 BBC News 6 Mar. [Internet] You couldn't put a fag paper between Jack McConnell and David McLetchie. fag-topper (n.) a cigarette end. 1900 Marvel 21 Dec. 15: I would ave guv er the last puff ov mi fag-

topper, I lurved er so.

fag

n.^ {also faggio) (abbr. faggot n.^ but note comments in ety. there] 1 (or/g. US) a male homosexual; thus fag-bait, one who is an object of homosexual desire. 1921 Lichtenstein & Werner Medical Rev. of Reviews in Katz Gay/ Lesbian Almanac 401: Does the 'fairy' or 'fag' really exist? 1933 C.W. WiLLEMSE Cop Remembers 53: Don't think for one moment that some of those fags can't put up a battle. 1947 Kerouac letter 13 Sept, in Charters I (1995) 127: One night I pulled it [i.e. a gun] out on a fag and told him I was 'Nanny-Beater Kelly' from Chicago. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 60: What a crew! Mooches, fags, fourflushers, stool pigeons, bums - unwilling to work, unable to steal, always short of money, always whining for credit. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 24: He was always reading, and was probably a fag - went around with the Village artists. 1961 M. Terry Old Liberty (1962) 7: This guy was a little faggio. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 48: Next to Franchot were a fag and a Puerto Rican, who obviously thought the fag was a real woman. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 14: Two fags walked by, heading towards the men's rooms. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 17: He wears no underwear under those hip buggers. Bum-boy. Fag-bait. 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 12: Some poor small frightened fag / protect him and you've got his bum for life. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 34: Louie stared after him, marveling that it must be true, fags could outsuck any broad. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 33: Sat in a darkened alcove with his court of mincing fags, chicken hawks and their little chicks all buggering and fellating away. 2002 K. Wells Compression Scars 8: They call Duncan fag-bait and say, 'Bend over, Joy Boy, I'll drive'. 2009 Intelligent Life Spring 97/2: Right-wing bloggers said he was a 'shreiking fag'. 2 [US campus/teen) an offensive or unpopular person. 1958 W.B. Miller 'Gang Delinquency' in Short Gang Delinquency and Delinquent Subcultures (1968) 141: The use of the local term for 'homosexual' as a generalized pejorative epithet (e.g., higher class individuals or upwardly mobile peers are frequently characterized as 'fags' or 'queers'). 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: fag n. [...] 2. a person who is unpopular. 1989 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 2002 (con. 1980s) i80s.com [Internet] fag gay, queer. This term for the most part, was not meant to describe homosexuals or homosexuality.

■ Derivatives faggish (adj.) (US) homosexual in manner. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 84: He didn't come on faggish.

faglish (n.) [abbr. SE English] (US gay) gay slang. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

fagola (n.)

[-ola

sfx; but note feicele n.l (US) a male homosexual;

also attrib. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [...] feigele (fr Yid = birdie), variant spelling fagola. 1977 P. Hamill Flesh and Blood (1978) 26: They gonna come on strong, the Fagola Army, and try and make you a jailhouse punk. 1986 S. King It (1987) 32: He would probably call Springsteen a wimp or a fagola.

■ In compounds fagamuffin (n.) [ragamuffin n.j (US/UK black) a black homosexual person, usu. male. 1993-2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] Fagamuffin "Fag-a-muff-in" An insult used people of great disrespect. You are a bloody Faggamuffin! fag-bagging (n.) [bag v. (2b)) (US) to beat up and rob a homosexual. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 290: You're big and bad enough you can play them along and get them alone and pow! There's a couple of dudes around making a living from fag-bagging, fag-basher (n.) (orig. US gay) 1 an ostensibly heterosexual man who specializes in beating and terrorizing gay men. 1988 T. Harris Silence of the Lambs (1991) 309: He's a fag-basher. Had a couple of scrapes in Harrisburg. 1991 M.A. Humphrey My Country.

My Right to Serve 32: The man that killed him was probably what we would call a modern-day fag-basher. 2006 W. Banks waxbanks.type pad.com 18 Apr. [blog] One of the accused is a convicted fag-basher. 2 any anti-gay spokesperson. 1999 Guardian G2 4 Aug.

17: Maybe she was too gay [...] for unvarnished bigots and fag-bashers.

fag-bashing

(n.)

1

the beating up of male homosexuals.

1980 G. Vidal View from a Window 242: In most American states, a

criminal, fag-bashing is bound to be popular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 145: He may even turn someone out or put the boot in while indulging in a fit of fag-bashing. 1993 R.D. Hare Without Conscience 39: Oh, yeah. I've been fag-bashing since I was fourteen—but I don't do anything bad, like beating women or children. 2002 (con. 1980s) iS0s.com [Internet] fag bashing Beating up homosexual or gay people for the fun of it.

2 in fig. use, any anti-gay behaviour or speech. 1992 D. Jarman diary 25 Sept. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 226: We could expect the Tories to go in for more fag-bashing,

fag-hag see separate entries. fag hot (n.) [? hot stuff n? (3) -f play on faggot n.^ (3)] (gay) cheap pornography aimed at the male homosexual readership. 1979 Maledicta III:2 244: Marcel Proust's classic if closet [...] fag hot

(homosexual novel).

fag rags (n.) (US black)

smart casual clothing.

1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 22: fag rags An expression used by a

thug to distinguish his casual dress up clothes from his gang banger or hoodlum type dress. 'Ain't bangin', got these fag rags on tonight.'

fag show (n.) (US carnival)

a carnival show featuring men in

women's dress. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 97: fag show [...] show with men

who impersonate women.

fag Stag (n.)

[stag n.'' (1); var. on fag-hag n.^j (US) a heterosexual male who enjoys the company of homosexual men. 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] fag stag (noun) heterosexual male who enjoys the company of homosexual males,

fag tag (n.) (US campus) the small loop (ostensibly for hanging the shirt when no hanger is available) on the upper back of many shirts; such a loop, supposedly, can be used to hold a victim ready for buggery. 1980 L. Birnbach Official Preppie Hbk 219: Fag tag n. The loop on top of the back pleat on a button-down shirt. 1981 Z-Link 30 Oct.-l Nov. [Internet] Elsie's Lunch [...] Private club, but they won't check if your fag tag's in the right place. Major St. Grotlesex crowd here you won't have to worry that he's N.O.C.D. 2001 R.G. Fletcher Calif. Purples 34: But the fashion highlight was a blue/green Madras three button pullover shirt from Varsity Imports over on Westwood Boulevard - the kind with the 'fag-tag'. 2002 (con. 1980s) i80s.com [Internet] fag tag The little loop on the back of your polo shirt.

fag water (n.) (US)

cologne.

1986-7 Maledicta IX 161: U.S. gays sometimes confuse pissy with

prissy ('that pissy queen in Bloomingdale's sampling fag water,' i.e. cologne).

■ In phrases play the fag role (v.) (US prison) pretending sexual interest in another inmate; the aim is to annoy a third party. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Fag Role:

Acting as if one was sexually interested in another inmate, as in 'playing the fag role.' This is usually done in order to tease or provoke a peer.

fag adj.

[fag n."* (1)]

1

homosexual; pertaining to homosexuality.

1933 E. Hemingway letter 8 Apr. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 387: She

told me she had heard an incident, some fag story, which proved me conclusively to be very queer indeed. 1947 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 87: There once was a man of Sag Harbor / Who used to go with a fag barber. 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 234: From the dirty snows of 'frosty fagtown New York' as Neal called it. 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 45: They had gone down to Verdi Square to a fag joint (a bar frequented by homosexuals) and picked up a queer. 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: So everything goes with him! He just puts on the fag bit to cover what he really is. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 183: Whaddya want? You fag bastard you! 1972 R. Barrett Lovomaniacs (1973) 326: 'Not until you kiss me, you little bitch,' he fag-voiced me back. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 283: George Ginger. Sounds like a fag name to me. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 19: A dead building by day but a fag club by night. 2001 in N. Tosches Where Dead Voices Gather (ms.) 206: A lot of guys thought Chauncey was a fag name. 2 in fig. use, effeminate, although also used of objects, i.e. lacking power.

fag end

fag 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Original Scroll) (2007) 304: The car

was what Neal called a 'fag Plymouth,' it had no pickup and no real power. fag v.^ ISE/eague, to beat, to whip; ult. Ger. fegen, to polish] (UK Und.) to beat; thus fagging n., a beating, C.1698 implied in fag the fen below. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205; Fag, to beat. Fag the bloss, i.e., bang the wench. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 109: to the boats did run / To fetch for Jove a hot cross-bun; / Knowing their bones he'd soon be fagging / Should they not keep his chaps a wagging. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose’s Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE

TALTHiBious

(1984) 374/1: fagging. A beating, thrashing, thumping.

■ In phrases fag the fen (v.) |fen n. (1)| (UK Und.) to beat up a prostitute. c,1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fag the Fen, drub the Whore. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, ete. (1926) 205: Fag the Fen, i.e., drub the whore. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. C.I69S]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. fag V? [fag n.^ (2)] 1 to make someone work hard. 1779 Mme D'Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) I 262: With hard fagging perhaps you might do that. 1816 W.T. Moncrieff All at Coventry 1 i: No old maid's footman was ever more nagged and fagged. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple (1911) 13: Pon my soul I pity you: you'll be fagged to death. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.; Fag to tire, to weary, to ill-treat,

2 to work hard (in other than academic contexts). 1788 Mme D'Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) III 12: The rest of the day was all fagging. 1797 'T.B. Junr.' Pettyfogger Dramatized II v: Credulous is as able to work, as I am; let him fag as I do. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase ete. 55: After six hours of hard fagging, he found himself in possession only of the mangled remains of a rabbit. 1841 'Miseries of a Lord Mayor' Dublin Comie Songster 278: His duties increasing, / He fags without ceasing. 1859 E. Eden SemiDetached House (1979) 74: Having made Mrs. Hopkinson fag herself all over the house, to examine the attics, and the kitchen [...[ and do all the heavy work of the business, she dismissed her with the blandest apologies. 1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 83: However much I might be fagging about during the day, rest came with the evening. 1879 "Arry on the 'Igher Education of Women' in Punch 5 Apr. in P, Marks (2006) 151: Our sisters and wives / Gets too

fine for the fireside and faggin'. 3 to work hard academically. 1795 Gent.'s Mag. 20: How did ye toil, and fagg, and fume, and fret, / And — what the bashful muse would blush to say. 1803 'A Pembrochian' Gradus ad Cantabrigiam 60; Dee, the famous Mathe¬ matician, appears to have fagg'd as intensely as any man at Cambridge. 1827 W.T. Moncrieff Bashful Man I v: I fagged d—d hard at college. 1828 R. Barham 'London University' Ingoldsby Legends (1847) 76: And Gilchrist, the great Gentoo - / Professor, has a lot in town / Of Cockney boys, who fag Hindoo. 1837 'The 'Original' Dragon' Bentley's Misc. Mar. 232: A topic for future historians to fag on. 1867 T. Carlyle Reminiscences (1887) II 285: He [had) been, for several continuous years, toiling and fagging at a Collective Edition of his Works. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 4 Mar. 363: If we fag a bit and train hard I don't see why we shouldn't at least hold our own. 1901 'Rolf Boldrewood' In Bad Company 357: They will not fag at their books to the same extent as a Britisher. 1919 Aussie (France) XIII Apr. 17/1: 'Say, Guy, you seem to have a tight hold on this 'ere lingo! It's got me licked to a frazzle; how did yer learn it?' / 'Oh! just fagging it from books, and sprooking with the Mademoiselles,’ said Dinkum. fag v.^ (a/so fag along) (US) 1 to move quickly, to leave in a hurry. 1920-23 in J.M. Hunter Trail Drivers of Texas (1963) 1 333; Moving fast

is 'faggin'. 2 to move when it requires an effort. 1910 WODEHOUSE Psmith in the City (1993) 91: What absolute rot! We can't fag back there. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 65: Heaviness: hot day coming. Too much trouble to fag up the stairs to the landing. 1930 'Spotter' Bird Up 231: You need not fag to go down to the village with your letters, our Post-Orderly wil take them. 1939 J, Campbell Babe is Wise 93: I'm damned if I can be fagged starting all over again with someone else.

1968 G. Cuomo Among Thieves 216: It was to your benefit that someone like Penney tried to fag you early, as long as you could cut him down. The word got around, and people left you alone. 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 53: The urge to come out of the

closet and go fagging only comes on him every so often.

■ In phrases fag around (v.) (US) of a heterosexual man, to play at acting in a 'homosexual' manner. 1968 G. Duay Fruit Salad 122: All their free time is spent/aggin ’ around [HDAS]. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: Fag around (v.) (Offensive, derogatory) When two or more heterosexual men joke around like gays. Usually only done by very close friends who know that nothing is really meant by the playing,

fagan

n. (also fagin) Ithe character Fagin from Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist (1837-9); despite Fagin's poss. homosexual paedophilia and the use of 'fag', no specific gay context is implied] the penis. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 89; They'd be there till the Lord would call them before he'd get down to introducing fagan. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 36: I've never had much time for social intercourse with any woman who has neither Fagan or a frying-pan in her hand.

■ In phrases bury old Fagin (v.) of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 161/2: C.20.

introduce her to Fagan (v.) of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 2000 Roger's Profanisaurus [Internet] Fagan n. Penis. As in "How did

you get on last night. Did you introduce her to Fagan?".

fagela/fagele(h) n. see feicele n. fag end n. [SE/ag, to droop, to decline,

to flag) 1 (also butt-end) the

last part or remnant of anything. 1600 Weakestgoeth to the Wall line 420:1 am the fag end of a Tayler; in plaine English a Botcher. 1607 A Knight's Conjuring Ch. Ill E2: Hee wold signify to their fathers how course the threed of life fell out to be no we towards the Fagge ende. 1614 R. Taylor Hog Hath Lost His Pearl I i: Yes there's the fagg end of a leg of mutton. 1622 Massinger Virgin-Martyr II iii: The a-—, as it were, or fag-end of the world. 1637 J. Taylor Drinke and Welcome 9: I shall abruptly conclude [...] with the fagge-end of an old man's old will. a.1661 'The Re-resurrection of the Rump' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 4: A Rump's a Fag-end, like the baulk of a Furrow, / And is to the whole like the Jail to the Burrough. 1675 Head Art of Wheedling 206; This felllow is the fag-end or Pug of a Conjurer. 1678 Scourge for Poor Robin 6; You shall infallibly finde him and his Tribe about the Fag-end of the day at the Rendezvouze. 1682 Buckingham Chances Epilogue; Perhaps you Gentlemen, expect to day The Author of this Fag-end of a Play. 1698 N. Ward 'A Trip to Jamaica' Writings (1704) 165: If I compare the Best of their Streets in Port-Royal to the Fag end of Kent-Street, where the Broom-men Live, I do them more than Justice. 1708 True Characters of A Deceitful Petty-Fogger et al. 3: Writing Bills, Bonds, and Acquittances from Presidents at the Fag-end of an Almanack. 1713 J. Gay Wife of Bath I i: I hope, the Rogue hath not begun at the fag end of the Ceremony. 1730 J. Gay Wife of Bath (rev. edn) I iv; I came just in the nick! [...] unless they have begun at the fag-end of the ceremony. 1759-67 Sterne Tristram Shandy (1949) 562: The account of this is worth more, than to be wove into the fag end of the eighth volume of such a work as this. 1771 Smollett Humphrey Clinker (1925) II 25: To effect a conjunction with an old maid, who, in all probability, had fortune enough to keep him easy and comfortable in the fag-end of his days. 1780 H. Cowley Belle's Stratagem TV i: Adieu! then I'm come in at the fag end! 1796 Sporting Mag. Aug. VIII 283/2: Then humm'd to myself the fag end of a song. 1803 'C. Caustic' Petition Against Tractorismg Trumpery 66: Perkinism [...] had its birth and education Quite at the fag-end of Creation! 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 41: Our game-laws [...] the very fag-end of the old feudal system. 1836 D. Crockett in Meine Crockett Almanacks (1955) 52: I jumped up and snapped my fingers in his face, and telled him that I didn't care the fag end of a johnny cake for him. 1849 G.G. Foster N.Y. in Slices 33: Our wife buys a new frock [...] which she is assured is the real French chintz, warranted fast colors, and which, after the first washing, looks like the fag-end of a consumptive rainbow. 1850 'Ned Buntline' G'hals of N.Y. 9: That large an hapless class who can boast of inheriting and possessing the fag-ends only of this world's goods. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 117; The fag end of the season, when the gay idlers of London had gone to the sea-side. 1861 J. Hollingshead Ragged London 110: Where the links of new

fag v."* |FAC n.^l to supply with a cigarette, to smoke a cigarette. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise Crack Diet. 8: Fag me—Give me a cigarette. 1940 'Smokers' SI.' in AS XV:3 Oct. 335/2: To smoke is [...) to fag. 1954 (con. WWIl) W. Faulkner Fable 361: 'Fag me again.' The corporal gave him another cigarette,

buildings have not yet joined each other you can see fag-ends of courts. 1870 L. Oliphant Piccadilly 127: Only the fag-end of the diplomatic corps had responded. 1874 M. Clarke Term of His Natural

fag v.^ IFAC (1)1 (US) a derog. term, meaning to engage in or subject another to homosexual practices.

1899 J.W. Davis Gawktown Revival Club 3: The fag end of some

Life (1897) 12: It was the fag end of the two hours' exercise graciously permitted [...] by His Majesty King George the Fourth. remnant of a 'higher civilization'. 1899 R.

Whiteing

No. 5 John Street

fag-end 33; A ridiculous fag-end of the shirt, itself a shred, sticks tailwise out behind. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 24 Mar. 24/1: Dr. Neild broke into the fag-end of the musical programme with a few sweet remarks concerning the buxom identity and her determination to see what Dear Old England is made of. 1903 G.D. Chase 'Cape Cod Dialect' in DNll'.v 301: tag end, n. Fag end. 1907 Gem 16 Mar. 1: It was the fagend of a drowsy, oppressive summer's afternoon. 1909 R. Service 'The Wood-Cutter' Ballads of a Cheechako 97: I'm holding it down on God's scrap-pile, up on the fag-end of earth. 1915 E. Pound letter 12

Sept, in Read Letters to James Joyce (1968) 56: Again you will get the fag ends of my mind. But 1 have spent the morning doing 2000 words on you and your play. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 91: There w'as fag-end of sunset still functioning. 1939 'Flann O'Brien' At Swim-Two-Birds 116: At the butt-end of a year's wandering in the company of each other, 1944 P. Larkin letter 8 Oct. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 93: Christ, the blasted wireless is loud. The fag end of the bloody news. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'The Fishing-Boat Picture' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 74; I was at home, smoking my pipe in the backyard at the fag-end of an autumn day. 1966 P. White Solid Mandala (1976) 156: With the fag-end of her intelligence Dulcie could have sensed this. 1986 S. King It (1987) 276; All that was left now was the butt end of autumn. 1999 Guardian Rev. 25 June 8; One of the many riotous parties which marked the glowing fag-end of the 60s.

2

a fragmentary part of a speech or conversation that one might

overhear, just as it tails off. 1821-6 'Bull Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 41: I'll tip you the fag-

end of a Common-Garden ditty. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy 1 274: Will Stewart, the poacher, was just humming himself to sleep with the fag end of an old ballad. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 225: He was always introducin' neck-and-crop some fag-end of a Latin line or another. 1848 G.W.M. Reynolds Mysteries of London II (2nd series) 30: Catching the fag end of a laugh accompanied by the loud cries of 'Silence!' 1859 'Case of Circumstantial Evidence' Town Talk 1 Nov. 413: I'll just reel off my yarn, and whip the fag-end of it in half a minute. 1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 339: There was nothing much to trouble me in the fag-end of the conversation I had heard. 1891 H. Lawson 'Bogg of Geebung' in Roderick (1972) 21: The drunkard [...] broke out into something like the fag-end of a song, 1922 Joyce Ulysses 594: That worthy, picking up the scent of the fagend of the song or words, growled in wouldbe music, but with great vim, some kind of chanty or other in seconds and thirds. 1937 W.M. Rainb Cool Customer 115: I got in at the fag end, just in time to hear the other man say that they had waited long enough for Haskell to act,

3 the butt of a cigarette or cigar. 1853 'CUTHBERT Bede' Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 39: The Kidderminster carpet [.,.) had been charred and burnt into holes with the fag-ends of cigars. 1865 W. Archer Pauper, Thief and Convict 123: A man wearing a billycock hat, and with the fag end of a cigar in his mouth [...]. 1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 73: She took my tumbler from the bar [...] And poured it out upon the floor dust, / Among the fag-ends, spit and sawdust. 1916 J. Hargrave At Suvla Bay Ch. xiii: The other seven men came crawling out of the bushes to light up their 'woodbines' and fag-ends. 1929 J.B. Booth London Town 302: He has with his Own hands removed the paper from the fag ends of the cigarettes he has collected. 1933 'George Orwell' Down and Out in Complete Works I (1986) 202; 'I owe you some fagends' [...] And he put four, sodden, debauched, loathly cigarette ends into my hand. 1943 A. Lewis Last Inspection 144: The washbasins were still littered with rusty blades and fag-ends. 1946 S. Jackson An Indiscreet Guide to Soho 42: They trudge along with eyes lowered but usually the only dividend is a few lag-ends. 1954 J. Phelan Tramp at Anchor 185: Trains a jackdaw to fetch in fag-ends. 1960 J.R. Ackerley We Think The World Of You (1971) 22:1 'ad a dog once what ate up all the fag-ends in the street. 1963-74 B, Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 87; I'll be after him soon as I've washed that fag-end down the plughole. 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 150; The affluent threw their fag-ends to the rabble. 1982 P. Theroux London Embassy 151: Picking up fag-ends can't take him anywhere. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 12: Bumper: A cigarette butt. However, a bumper harvest is not one of fag ends. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 35: A Dublin fishwife in tattered nylons, holding up a doorway with a fagend on her lip. 1999 Guardian Weekend 28 Aug. 3: Dropping fag ends out of moving car

windows.

■ In compounds fag-end man (n.) a man who collects cigarette ends from the pavement. 1908 A.N. Lyons Arthur's 46: Old Flashlight, the fag-end man, as broke 'is collar bone.

fagger

11

■ In phrases pick up fag-ends (v.) [sense 2 above, but pun on sense 3) to listen in to Other people's conversations and attempt to comment upon them or join in; esp. as don't pick up fag-ends. [1867 S. Smith Clives ofBurcot 126: The old mischief-maker [...] He's always picking up fag-ends of gossip.] 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 877: [...] from ca. 1910. 2008 R. Taylor'Not very toothsome: Politics Blog' Guardian 17 Jan. [Internet] The best moment - clearly scripted - is Ruddle's deadpan introduction to Pierce's Westminster Whispers segment. 'Andrew Pierce does his favourite thing trawling around quite a rainy Westminster picking up fag ends,' he says, deadpan.

fag-end

adj. [fag end n. (1)| final, last.

1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May 9/1: The whole affair wound up with a farce, 'You'll find him out.' As a rule, when the fag-end farce comes in at 'nigger' entertainment, you see most of the middleaged, respectably dressed people make for the door. 2000 Observer Rev. 9 Jan. 13: It revels in the absurdities of the century's fag-end decade.

fagged (out) 1762

Bridges

adj. [SEfag + ? corruption of SE/at/guec/l

1

exhausted.

Homer Travestie (1764) II 44: Mean time tydides Pallas

found / Quite fagg'd and stretch'd upon the ground. 1780 Mme D'Arblay D/ary (1891)1255: I felt horribly fagged. 1812 T.H. 'Punch's Apotheosis' in Smith Rejected Addresses 127: I'm fagg'd to death, and out of breath. 1814 Austen Mansfield Park (1926) 267: You look tired and fagged, Fanny. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1833 C.A. Davis Letters of Major J. Downing (1835) 68; I am eny most fag'd out myself, and I begin to think [...] I have done enuff for the country. 1836 D. Crockett in Meine Crockett Almanacks (1955) 47: I then cut my line, and rose to the surface pretty well fagged out. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms 132; fagged out. Fatigued; worn out. 1856 M. Griffith Autobiog. of a Female Slave 144: Her old faggedout frame ain't worth the waste of my leeches. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 224; They were completely fagged to death, and wishing they were at home. 1867 Harper's Mag. Aug. n.p.: The [opium] habit is gaining fearful ground among our professional men, the operatives in our mills, our weary serving women, our fagged clerks, our former liquor drunkards, our very day laborers, who a generation ago look gin. 1874 J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 199: They were enabled to put on an appearance so fagged and woebegone. 1884 (con. c.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 51: Pretty soon he was all fagged out, and fell down panting. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 14/3: Ninety-nine men out of every hundred had lost money - were thirsty, hungry, dusty, and faggedout. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) IV 662: Sarah was then much fagged and dilapidated. 1896 G.M. Fenn Sappers and Miners 173: Hardock, you're fagged out, and had better stay. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 259: I wish they'd remember that we get fagged out. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 40; The sea-water bath, distributed over her fagged limbs. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 72: Plumb fagged out, kid? 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 105: He's absolutely fagged out. 1918 F. Dunham diary 12 Feb. Long Carry (1970) 127; We were out for two hours, and arrived back thoroughly 'fagged'. 1925 Odum & Johnson Negro and His Songs (1964) 266: What's a matter - fagged out? 1929 B. Duffy Rocky Road 63: I feel a bit fagged after the night, as you can imagine. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 174: The corn chandler, who was looking a bit fagged. 1938 D. Runyon 'For a Pal' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 576; Blind Benny is very much fagged out. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 101; I'm feeling rather fagged. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 114: Let me walk you back - you must be fagged out. 1950 A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 61: Well, I'm feeling a bit fagged out after foxing into town. 1953 F. Paley Rumble on the Docks 0955) 100: They think [...] we're all fagged. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 71: I can't think. Just pooped. Haven't eaten. Feel fagged out. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 61:1 was fagged out from the mental effort of steering it along. 1996 N. Blincoe 'Ardwick Green' in Champion Disco Biscuits (1997) 10: I'll tell you, you're looking a bit fagged.

2 shocked, mentally destroyed. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Founded on Fact' Sporting Times 5 May 1/4: That fair one, / Perceiving how fagged was his nibs, / Said 'At that sort of thing she's a rare one. / Leave off, Alice, telling such fibs!'

fagger

n.^ (also figger, figure) [SE fag, to work (for another)] a small boy used by robbers to enter a house through a window that would be too small to allow a man to climb through it. 1608 Dekker Belman of London G: The Diuer workes his fugling feates by the help of a boy, (called a Figger) whom hee thrusts in at a casement [...] this Figger deliuers to the Diuer what snappings he Andes in the shop or chamber. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fagger, a little boy put in at a window to rob

fagger the house. [Ibid.] Figger. A little boy put in at a window to hand out goods to the diver. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant n.p.: Figure a little boy put in at the window to hand the goods out to his accomplices in the street. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 13: Figure - a little boy put in at a window, to hand goods to his accomplices. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835]. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, [as cit. 1809]. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 30: fagger A small boy put into a window to rob the house, or to open it for others to rob. [Ibid.] 31: figger A juvenile thief put through side-lights at outside doors to unbolt the door and admit other thieves to the house,

fagger n.^

faggot

12

(fag v."*] a person who smokes.

1947-53 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man (1995) 246: I'm an ole fagger from

away back.

fagging n. see fac v.'' (1). fagging adj. [SE/ag| exhausting. 1892 H. Nisbet Bushranger's Sweetheart 154: We had a long and fagging journey after this,

fagging law n. see figging law n. faggio n. see fag ni*. faggot n.^ (also fagot) [the 'homosexual'

use at sense 3 (plus extensions at senses 4 and 6) is usu. seen as a US coinage, but faggot has an older, if debatable, UK etymology. One, somewhat fanciful, version suggests that a faggot was used in the burning of heretics, and thus became transferred to the name of an embroidered patch (like the pink triangles of the Nazi concentration camps) worn by unburned heretics; homosexuals are certainly considered as fig. heretics, therefore faggot means homosexual. More feasible is the descent from the 18C use of faggot as a pej. for a woman in sense 1 (thus playing on homosexual effeminacy), esp. in the derog. form of a 'baggage', which stems from the faggots that one had to haul to the fire. The abbr. fag may be linked independently to the British public school use fag, a junior boy performing menial tasks and poss. conducting homosexual affairs with the seniors. Rodgers, The Queen's Vernacular (1972), acknowledges all these and adds 'fr WW I si fag = cigarette, because cigarettes were considered effeminate by cigar-smoking he-men.' Finally, there is the Yid. FEIGELE n., orig. meaning little bird (thus the synon. birdie), and thence homosexual] 1 a general term of abuse, usu. of women or children.

[1591 T. Lodge Catharos 4b: A filbert is better than a faggot, except it be an Athenian she handfull] [OED].] 1722 N. Ward Parish Gutt'lers in Misc. IV 48: One Dol Gulpin, big with Child, a Faggot-Drab. 1820 'Peter Corcoran' 'King Tims the First' in Fancy 16: I have got a faggot here, / Aye, and quite a bad one; Were I married, p'rhaps my dear / Might think that he too had one. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple (1911) 30: So, Master Simple, old Trotter and his faggot of a wife have got hold of you - have they? 1838 W. Holloway Diet, of Provincialisms 10/1: Fagot, An opprobrius name applied to a woman, as 'get out you fagot'. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 248: 'Take that, you owld faggot!' cried Matty, as she shook Mrs. Rooney's tributary claret from the knuckles. 1853 C.R. Read What I Heard, Saw, and Did 92: The old man [...] crying out every now and then, 'give the old faggot plenty, for she might not have the chance again'. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1876 G. Lander Little Gerty I i: You nasty little faggot! 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1896 G.F. Northall Warwickshire Word-Book 74: Faggot. A degrading and contemptuous epithet applied to a female. 1908 L. Doyle Ballygullion 110: 'Ye ould faggot, ye,' sez he, 1918 K.F. Purdon Dinny on the Doorstep 25: You'll not have any truck wid that ould faggot of a wan. 1923 P, MacGill Moleskin Joe 34: The poor nuns [...] Raped! Ah, the dirty faggot, that Kaiser! 1929 B. Duffy Rocky Road 216: The ould faggot that opened the door said I was mistaken. a.1954 'Mexicana Rose' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 42: 'Quiet,' said Smitty, 'or I'll draw you on a bead.' / 'Faggot,' said Rose, 'your heart's a mustard seed.' 1958 H.E. Bates Darling Buds of May (1985) 68: One or two of the old faggots might try a bit of cheek on you. 1970 C. Brown Down All the Days 12: 'The oul faggots!' his mother would mutter darkly under her breath. 1996 D. Healy Bend for Home 66: Mrs Smith wants a cherry cake at five, my mother would say. Does she, the faggot. 2 a prostitute. a,1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795).

3 (US) (also faggart) a homosexual man; in general use the term covers any gay man, in gay use the implication is of overt effeminacy. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocah. Criminal SI. 30: drag [...] Amongst female impersonators on the stage and men of dual sex instincts 'drag' denotes female attire donned by a male. Example: 'All the fagots (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight'. 1919 Transcript Foster Inq. in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 54: He had attended a party where 'indiscreet things' took place; 'it was,' he explained 'what they might call a faggot party'. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 16: fagot. A chorus man; an effeminate

man. 1934 H. Sebastian 'Negro SI. in Lincoln University' in AS IX:4 288: faggart (or faggot, fagot). A sexual pervert. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 950: He wiggled his hips like a woman when he talked. The first thing Margo thought was how on earth she could ever have liked that fagot. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 67: The late Brigham Young was no neuter — / No faggot, no fairy, no fruiter. 1957 P. Moore Chocolates for Breakfast 15: I probably would still dislike women, and it would be an awful mess to be a faggot. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 192: Esmeralda Drake the third — she was that nelly. Oh, babe, she was such a faggot! 1970 E, Tidyman Shaft 32: The silly faggot jumped about three inches out of his bright blue raglan sweater. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 20: The kids would called me faggot, sissy, freak, punk. 1989 Kirk & Madsen After The Ball 103: In small-town Lewiston, Maine, in 1985, a gay man was set upon in his own home by a rabid gang of youths screaming 'Faggot! Faggot!' 1999 J. Poller Reach 96: You got that, you fucking cocksucking nancy-boy faggot! 2009 Intelligent Life Spring 96/1: He [.,.] would solve the faggot problem by urging gay men not to act like fags.

4 (US) a lesbian. c,1953 Hughes Lodge 121: One, a faggot, a chick dressed like a man

[HDASJ. 5 (US) a general term of abuse, irrespective of sex, although implication is of weakness. a.1953 'Death Row' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 117: He was the dude who wasn't afraid to die, / But we all heard that big faggot cry. 1962 (con. 1953-7) L. Yablonsky Violent Gang (1967) 82: You guys are nothing but a bunch of mother-fuckin' faggots. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 123: But now I'm gon call you a fartn shiteater faggot whore kike apeshit thievin Jew. 1985 Tracks (Aus.) May 3: If you faggots can't stand sharing breaking sections with the opposite sex, then we suggest you dig the nose of your board in the sand and sit on the tail until your feet touch the ground [Moore 1993]. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 126: A brawny black sergeant stood over him, calling him a faggot, a pussy, a dickless wonder. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 96: You ain't shit, faggot. 2000 (con. 1974) Z. Smith White Teeth 11: 'You play like a faggot,' said Samad, laying down the winning queens, 6 (US gay) (also faggotina) a heterosexual woman who associates with male homosexual men. 1976 Warren 'Women Among Men' in Levine Gay Men (1979) 229:

Fag hag (in different regions the term may be fruit fly or faggotina).

7 (US teen/campus) an unattractive young woman. 1970 Current SI. IV:2.

■ In compounds faggot-ass (adj.) [-ass sfx] (US black) weak, cowardly, contemptible. 2003 50 Cent 'In da Club' [lyrics] I'm that cat by the bar toasting to

the good life / You that faggot ass nigga trying to pull me back right?

faggot-lover (n.) (Aus./US) one who has no feelings of homophobia. 1992 Daily Illini Online 26 Oct. [Internet] To tolerate a fag is to be a

faggot-lover. And to love a fag is to be a fag. 2000 F. Hunter National Nancys Ch. i: 'You tell that pansy-ass' faggot-lover that if he gets elected, he's a dead man!' snarled one caller. 'I'll do that, sir,' I said wearily. 'And can I give him your name?'

faggot-master (n.) (also faggoteer) a pimp, a lecher. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues II 367/2: Fagoteer

(also Faggot-master) subs, (venery) - A whoremasler.

faggot’s lunchbox (n.) (US gay) an athletic supporter. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 15: faggot's lunch box (n.): Athletic supporter. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

faggot

n ^ (SE faggot, a bundle (usu. of sticks) bound together] a man mustered for duty in the army (and thus 'bound' to service) but not yet formally enlisted. 1672-1719 J. Addison quoted in Imperial Diet, n.p.; There were several

counterfeit books which were carved in wood, and served only to fill up the number like fagots in the muster of a regiment [F&H]. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Faggots Men Muster'd for Souldiers, not yet Listed. a.1704 T. Brown Comical View of London and Westminster in Works (1760) I 154; Faggots summon'd in from all parts of Westminster, whores and bailiffs busy to pick up the military sparks as soon as the show is over. t714 T. Lucas Lives of the Gamesters (1930) 182: He (being then [i.e. 1710] a Faggot in Colonel Charter's Company, in the Foot-Guards). 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 61: The Father [...] being, as you have rightly observ'd, a Military Faggot. 1730 Hist, of Col. Francis Charteris 15; He had not above One third part effective Men in his Company, the rest being what the military Gentlemen term Faggots. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.; Faggot, a man hired at a muster, to appear as a soldier; to faggot, in the canting sense, means to bind, an allusion to the faggots made up by the woodmen.

faggot which are all bound: faggot the culls, bind the men. 1811 Lex. Balatronkum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

faggot

n.^ I? supposed resemblance to SE faggot, a stick] the penis.

1768 Gentleman's Bottle-Companion 8: He quickly gain'd the cover'd

way; / He batter'd the breach, but miss'd his reach, / His faggot too small could not fill up the ditch. 1788 'The Gobbio' Chap Book Songs 7: The Champion came as a champion should, / In two platoons he kneeled, stopped and stood, / He filled up the ditch with a faggot of strength, / And rammed his charge with a rammer of length,

faggot

ad/, (faggot n.^ (3)] 1 (US) pertaining to homosexuality or homosexuals. 1948 H. McCoy Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye in Four Novels (1983) 118: 'You faggot son-of-a-bitch,' I said to Mason. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 44: A cell that existed in the State Department and which still, despite denials and purges, is considerably more than 30 per cent faggot. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 15: I'm not going to that faggot party. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 21; The James Boswell of his faggot world. 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 10: Why don' we drive down that street where all the hookers and the faggot whores hang out? 1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 26: We'd be buggered and beaten up by redneck cons who thought hippies were faggot commie scum. 2 in fig, use, weak, ineffectual. 1969 H. Rap Brown Die Nigger Diet 20: Even J. Edgar Hoover, with his faggot ass, admits that more Black folks kill Black folks than Blacks kill whites. 1971 T. Whitmore Memphis-Nam-Sweden 134: I was just another one of those motherfucking, faggot. Commie deserters. 1983 N. Proffitt Gardens of Stone (1985) 296: Nobody puts his shit on my desk unless I say so, especially no faggot officer. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 133: Pussy little faggot gun be shootin pussy little bullets, 1999 J. Stahl Perv (2001) 303: I'll knife your faggot guts all over the car! 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 70: Come on shamless faggot butt-hole!

faggot

faike

13

v. ISE faggot, to tie up bundles of wood] (UK Und.) to bind, to

tie up.

2 cowardly, useless, second-rate. 1964 J. Baldwin Blues for Mister Charlie 42: Every one of them's got some piss-assed faggoty white boy on a string somewhere. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 130: This faggoty D.A. [...] kept calling me a murderer.

faggy adj.

[fag n."' (1)] (orig. US) effeminate, homosexual.

1949 'Hal Ellson' Duke 111: The faggy guy that let me in went for

the stuff. 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 6: You could hear them all yelling, deep and terrific on the Pencey side, because practically the whole school except me was there, and scrawny and faggy on the Saxon Hall side. 1968 Jagger & Richards 'Memo from Turner' [lyrics] I remember you in Hemlock Road in 1956 / You're a faggy little leather boy with a smaller piece of stick. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 149: I think it's faggy and uppity to talk like that. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 116: Yes, there was definitely something puppyish, something almost faggy, going on up there, when like plays with like. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (^9BEi) 304: Not enough to have some gay-ass manager lookin' at me that way [...] I know his faggy ass as black as mine. 2004 Guardian Rev. 16 Oct. 27: The verbal curlicues, the faggy flippancy all fall away,

fag-hag nj'

1607 G. Wilkins Miseries of an Enforced Marriage Act TV: Did they not

bind your worship's knighthood by the thumbs? then faggoted you and the fool your man back to back, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Faggot the culls c. Bind the Men. [Ibid.] when we enter'd the Ken. we leapt up the Dancers and Fagotted all there, c. when we got into the House, we whipt up Stairs and Bound all the People there. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious FUghway-men, etc. (1926) II [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.; faggot to bind Hand and Foot; as Faggot the Culls; i.e. Bind the Men. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: To faggot in the canting sense, means to bind: an allusion to the faggots made up by the woodmen, which are all bound. Faggot the culls; bind the men. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

m In phrases faggot and stall (n.) (also faggot and storm) [SE stall, to confine/ storm (one's way in)] (UK Und.) the act of breaking into a house, tieing up the residents and robbing them. 1676 A Newgate ex-prisoner A Warning for House-Keepers 4: They truck up the dancers, which is run up stairs and bind all in the house, and some they gagg, which they call faget and storm. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 4: Some are good Artists at Faggot and Stalk, which is, breaking into Peoples Houses, then Binding and Gagging all therein, Rob them. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 266; The Faggot and Storm, which is, breaking into People's Houses, and tying and gagging ali whom they find,

faggoter

n. [faggot nl' (3) but note fagoteer at faccot-master under FAGGOT n.^] (US black) a pimp who specializes in selling the services of male homosexual prostitutes. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

faggotina n. see faggot n.^ (6). faggotry n. (faggot n.^ (3)] (US)

[fag

n.^

(2)

-f

SE hag] (Can.) a woman who smokes

excessively. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: fag hag . . . girl who smokes frequently. 1955 W. White 'Wayne University ST' AS XXX:4 303: fag hag, [...] Female cigarette smoker.

fag-hag

[fag n.^ (1) -f SE hag] (orig. US) 1 a woman, prob. heterosexual, poss. ageing, who courts and indulges the company of male homosexuals. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 15: fag-hag (n.): A nonhomosex¬

ual female who likes consorting with homosexuals. 1976 Warren 'Women Among Men' in Tevine Gay Men (1979) 229: The men were more likely to use the gay woman than the 'fag hags' for stigma evasion. 1982 Grandmaster Flash 'The Message' [lyrics] Eating out of garbage pails / Used to be a fag hag. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 185: I can only stand there like a fag-hag outside the bogs of some nancy-boy meatpacking disco. 2000 Indep. Rev. 5: I don't use the expression 'fag hag.' I think it's demeaning and insulting to heterosexual women who have homosexual male friends. 2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr.

2 a heterosexual man, irrespective of age, who prefers the company of homosexuals to that of his peers. 1983 R. Price Breaks 46: 'Are you some kind of a fag hag?' 'I thought you had to be a woman to be a fag hag.' 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 40: There's always a group of middle-aged queens at the bar, whooping it up with the fag hag bartender.

fag-hag

v. [fag-hag n.^ (1)] of a woman, to associate with and choose one's close friends from homosexual men. 1994 I. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' in Acid House 222; This burd wis really fag-hagging ays oot. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 29: A couple uv gay blokes 00 work in thuh Arts Centre [...] must be gettin fag-hagged out by er.

fagin n. see pagan n. fagingy-fagade n.

[pig Eat. version of fade n. (2)| (US black) a

white person. homosexuality.

1949 'SWASARNT Nbrf' Gaedicker's Sodom-on-the-Hudson 1: New York

is the World Capital of [...] Faggotry. 1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado (1960) 122: Faggotry here reaches almost pyrotechnical heights. 1973 T. Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow 668; A last fading echo of the 175Stadt Chorale goes skipping away down the road singing some horrible salute to faggotry. 1994 T. Willocks Green River Rising 70; This was treading close to faggotry - normally an unacceptable perversion. 2004 M. Ishay Hist, of Human Rights 239: The forces of faggotry, spurred by a Friday night raid on one of the city's largest, most popular, and longest lived gay bars, the Stonewall Inn.

faggoty

1931 N. Van Patten 'Vocab. of the Amer. Negro' in AS VII: 1 28: faggoty. M. adj. Perverted. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 67/1: Faggoty. Of, like, or pertaining to fags, i, e., effeminate. 1959 M. Richler Apprenticeship of Buddy Kravitz (1964) 209: They have their special little faggoty nightclubs in every city. 1962 P. Crump Bum, Killer, Burnt 292: That big, muscle-bound, faggoty-assed bastard. 1967 W. Manus Mott the Hoople 206: I extended a limp faggotty hand and said Enchante. 1974 C. Token Come Monday Morning 59: That rich yellowbelly Martin an' the faggoty Jew what's his name. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 57: He lifted his hands in a faggoty two¬ fingered clawing motion. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 48: Bobby, the faggoty young chef who called himself an artist. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 217: Get that faggoty one [i.e. jersey] off you.

ad/, [faggot n.^l (US) 1 (also faggoty-assed) effeminate,

homosexual |-E -assed sfx (2)]. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 36: And there is two things in Harlem I don't understand / It is a bulldycking woman and a faggotty man.

1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 208: Took at duh spagingy-spagade

talkin' wid duh fagingy-fagade. 1931 N. Van Patten 'Vocab. of the Amer. Negro' in AS VII: 1 28: fagingy-fagada. V. n. A white man.

fagot n. see faggot n.\ fagoteer n. see faccot-master under faggot n.\ fags! excl. see Tfecks! exci. faguen n. [? Dickens's character Fagin, from Oliver Twist vagrant]

(1838); or ? SE

(UK Und.) a villain, a depraved character.

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Faguen a rascal, a cheat, a depraved character of any kind,

faigelah n. see feigele n. faike n. [? fake n.^ (1)] (UK Und.)

an experienced, senior criminal.

1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 118: They are always taken in hand by the old 'faikes' (old experienced criminals), trained

fair

faiking_2^ in all the ways of theft, and fixed for life in a circle of reproductive crime.

faiking n. see faking fail V. (US campus)

n. to fail to understand, to be unable to

understand. 1989 P. Munro S/. U. 77: The teacher just went off on a complete tangent. I fail.

fains!

1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec. 7/2: When I starts 'ome ag'in I 'ad a fair (v.) see die in the furrow under furrow n.

fain it! fainites! fainits! fainitz! fainlights! fains II faix! fannies! faynights! fens! finns!) (SE exc/.

cook, he's going to be a fair cow to get rid of.

2 (Aus.lN.Z.) as sense 1 applied to inanimate objects, e.g. fair cow of a day, often in phr. it's a fair cow.

■ SE in slang uses u In phrases fail in the furrow

disagreeable. 1943 Baker 'Influence of Amer. SI. on Aus. in AS Xvni:4 255: An Australian may tell you a tough sergeant is a fair cow. 1950 (con. 1936-46) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 230: The manageress. Miss Sheepshanks, is a fair cow. 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 69: [She] was all right when she was drunk and a fair cow other times. 1978 J. Dingwall Sun. Too Far Away 41: If he can't

(also fain 1!

fen, to forbid; ? ult. f. fend, forbid] (UK juv.) a call for a truce during a game, or a statement that one is ineligible for a given duty or command. 1860 C.J. lever One of Them I 235: He was suddenly aroused by the telegraph clerk's demand for thirty francs. 'Thirty francs for four words?' 'You might send twenty for the same sum,' was the bland reply. 'Faix, and so we will,' said Joe. 1870 Ne^Q Ser. 4 VI 415/2: 'Fains', or 'Fain it' - A term demanding a 'truce' during the progress of any game, which is always granted by the opposing party. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1912 E. Pugh Harry The

Cockney 75: 'Fainitz!' he spluttered. 1913 C. Mackenzie Sinister Street I 103: He could shout 'fain T to be rid of an obligation. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act II: milty, also shouting quickly, topping split and

cow of a time. I was tired an' couldn't cuss more'n a hundred yards. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: cow. The vilest of invective; to refer to anything as a 'fair cow' was the worst that could be said of it. 1943 Baker 'Influence of Amer. SI. on Aus.' in AS XVIII:4 255: It's also a fair cow when the babbling brook (cook) makes a crook (bad) stew. 1950 'Neville Shute' Town Like Alice 172: It's a fair cow up there [...] It s got an air-strip, anyway. I don't suppose it's got much else. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 88: Some of them dark sayings was a fair cow. 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up 110: She's a fair cow of a day. 1980 H. Lunn Behind Banana Curtain 45: [ch. title] A Fair Cow of a Turnout. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 12: Terms such as stoush, fair cow, bonzer and offsider were listed, each with four possible meanings, fair cow [...] had the following meanings; a pin-up girl, something very disagreeable, butterfat, or something valuable, 2003 C. McCullough Touch 76:

holding up crossed fingers'. Fens! No akey! No akey! 1948 J. Betjeman 'Beside the Seaside' Sel. Poems 82: 'You ask him, Jennifer.' 'No -

This is a fair cow of a place. 3 (N.Z.) a call for fair treatment. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 44/1: fair cow another variation on the

Michael? - Anne?' / 'I'd rather not.' 'Fains I.' 'It's up to you.' 1959 I.

egalitarian thirst for reasonable treatment; eg 'Fair cow, sir. I've

& P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 160: The truce term

swabbed down the boats twice and Jimmy hasn't even done it

'fains', 'fannies', or 'faynights'. 1980 Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer

Tongue 65: 'Fainits' [...] is a key word in East End children's lore, and means 'truce'. 1989 H. Harrison Bill [...] on the Planet of Robot Slaves (1991) 18: 'Finns . . . Uncle!' Praktis gasped. 1999 (con. 1920s30s) G. O'Neill My East End (2000) 101: And crossed fingers and 'fainlights' gave you protection. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] faynights, fainites a 'shout' (often accompanied by crossed fingers) created temporary immunity from being made 'it' when playing sticky toffee, stuck in the mud, tag, etc.

faint

adj. (US) a euph. for drunk.

a.1856 Burlington Sentinel in Hall (1856) 461: We give a list of a few of the various words and phrases which have been in use, at one time or another, to signify some stage of inebriation: [...] faint,

fainting fits

n. [rhy. si. = tit n.^ (1)1 the female breasts.

1971 Daily Tel. 17 Sept, n.p.: faintingfits = the bosom. 1978 Maledicta 11:1+2 (Summer/Winter) 118: Elsewhere Aylwin lists a few more 'Vulgarities': [...] words for breasts (brace and bits, east and west, Jersey City, thousand pities, towns and cities, fainting fits). 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] I get down close to Dionne's fainting fits and give them a captain cook: the tips are sticking out

n. (US black) a light-complexioned individual.

1864 J.F. Brobst letter in Brobst Well Mary, Civil War Letters 85: Those fairs of the south will tell a very pitiful and heartrending story and the boys must marry them to get them out of their misery,

fair

1954 T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of the Wind 8: Yeah, he's a fair cuss,

too. [...] I've bucked some hard ones in my time, and I guess I'll buck him, too.

fair fair fair fair

dink (adj.) see fair dinkum adj. dinkum see separate entries, go see separate entries. nark (n.) [nark n.'' (5)1 (Aus.lN.Z.) something or someone

inexpressibly tedious or baffling. 1942 Meet N.Z. 'How We Talk' [Internet] FAIR NARK: a very unpleasant person.

fair treat (n.) something or someone highly enjoyable or satisfactory; also used ironically to describe something or someone quite the opposite. 1899 C. ROOK Hooligan Nights 62: Fair ole treat, wasn't it? 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 60: Lumme! Ain't it a fair treat? 'Idden treasure ain't in it!

fair treat, a (adv.) (Aus./N.Z.) to a great extent; also exceedingly well, 1911 L. Stone Jonah 243: I 'eard a bloke at the 'Tiv.' play a fair treat.

like cigar butts.

fair

once.' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fair cuss (n.) (Aus.) an unreasonable person.

adj. (FAiRac/v.) (orig. Aus.) absolute, complete, usu. in combs.,

see below and under relevant n. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 106: Classed as a 'fair beaut.' amongst his semi-larrikin 'push' [...] he was then as active as a cat. 1910 WODEHOUSE Gentleman of Leisure Ch. xxiii: 'Something h'up,' he said

1946 P.L. SouakN.Z. 115: Colloquialisms common to New Zealand

and Australian English [...( fair treat: exceedingly: e.g. he went crook a fair treat: he became very angry. 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up 200: This husky great Hori started tumbling me about a fair treat.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fair cop (n.) see separate entry. fair deal (n.) [deal nl' (1)l (orig. US) an honest transaction, a fair

box-up - that's wot it is. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 2: After

bargain. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 21/4: You know. Jack, English is too new for Mick; it isn't a fair deal to the old boy to ask him to try and understand it. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 18: Ronnie

you have a fair bit to drink of an afternoon the future is sort of

dealt for a living, but not big ones and he gave a fair deal, no shit, no

to his immortal soul, as he moved upstairs. 'Been a fair old, rare old row, seems to me!' 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 147: This 'ere's a fair

blank. 1992 I. Rankin Wolfman 49: Made a fair old packet today, Rhona.

1997

(con.

1960s)

A.

Frewin

London Blues 154: He

accelerated forrd at a fair old lick.

aspirin and no OD.

fair itch (n.) an absolute imitation. 1909 ,1. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

■ In compounds fair cow (n.) 1 (Aus./N.Z.) (also fair lizard) a general negative,

fair one (n.) (UK/US gang) a (street gang) fight conducted under

applied to persons or animals to which the speaker takes great

verbal argument.

exception, e.g. he's a fair cow. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec. 7/2: 'I once 'as a 'oss,' said McBride, 'an' she was a bay mare an' a fair cow, an' no mistake.' 1906 Gadfly (Adelaide) 14 Mar. 9/1: 'Well, the agent cove didn't like it. My! He didn't spring off her neck a bit! But the filly chucked him. He was a fair lizard.' / He paused, evidently expecting me to query the 'lizard,' but 1 let it pass and he went on. / 'So he was - a fair cow.' 1915 C.E.W. Bean Anzac Book 31/2: 'Blime, there's old "Beachy" at it again,' breaks in another. "He's a fair cow, 'e is. Made me spill two buckets er water this mornin', and our flamin' cook told me I was too lazy to go down for it.' 1926 J. Doone Timely Tips For New Australians 22: TO BE A 'FAIR COW.'—To be excessively

some sort of mutually recognized rules and poss. preceded by a 1955 'Hal Ellson' 'Tell Them Nothing' Tell Them Nothing (1956) 6:

Supposed I challenged Bullet to a fair one and whipped his butt? 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! l60: He ducked, kept his palms up, stepped forward and challenged. 'Fair one?' 1960 in J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed (1973) 123: The term amongst the New York gangs is apparently 'a fair one' defined as a 'fight between one or more members of a gang in which weapons are not involved' (New York City Youth Board). 1962 (con. 1953-7) L. Yablonsky Violent Gang (1967) 64: Guys sometimes say when they're gonna rumble, that they'll give you a fair one: that's when one guy from one team will meet another guy from another [..,] nobody else is supposed to butt in. 1979 H.C. Collins Street Gangs 221: A Fair One A fair fight

fair

fair crack of the whip

15

between gangs or gang members, fought in accordance with prevailing rules.

fair-play artist (n.) [SE fair play

+

-artist sfxl a trustworthy, honest

person.

1891 B, Bellwood in Ware (1909) 126/2: Oh, the yeroines o' them penny novelettes - yer good old penny ones - none o' yer apenny ones for me - o' them yeroines - arn't they fair trod on?

1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 113: The deal I had made with that fair-play artist, the fat captain.

fair pop (n.) [pop

n? (3b)] a good opportunity, a fair chance.

1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 196: ft's not a fair pop. I think it's beyond a joke.

fair shake in.) see separate entries, fair trade (n.) see trade, the n. (1). fair whack (n.) [whack n.’' (4)1 (N.Z.) an appeal for equable treatment. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi Si. 44/2: fair suck of the sav/saveloy/ sauce stick/fair whack are some more appeals for fairness. 2003 McGill

fair trod on (adj.) abused, treated very badly.

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

[as cit. 1988].

■ In phrases fair crack of the whip see separate entries, fair dos (also fair dew, ...does, ...doos, fair dues) [SE fair + do, dealing, treatment] (Aus./N.Z.) a general statefnent of agreement, acceptance; occas. as n., decent treatment. 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 103: When excitement led the players to forgetfulness of the pannikin [he would] remind them that 'fair dues was fair dues,' and not to bilk Joe. 1862 C.C. Robinson Dial. Leeds 282: 'A shabby dew', says a man who has had twopence given him lor getting a waggon-load of coals in. 'A fairish dew', says another who has got a shilling and a lot of victuals away with him for the same. 1885 D.C. Murray Rainbow Gold Ilf 133: I'll pay you back again, fair doos. 1891 F.W. Carew Autohiog. of a Gipsey 195: Thee sh'lt keep her, hut I'll take t' eggs. Fair does, ye know, fair does. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 114: No fear. Cocky. Fair does is fair does. 1906 Gadfly (Adelaide) 28 Mar. 9/3: But these 'ere upcountry beaks ain't got no bloomin' sense uv fair do's. 1907 P. Fitzpatrick Jock of the Bushveld 16: There was a kindliness and quick instinct of 'fair doos' which tempered the wind. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'Rabbits' Moods of Ginger Mick 92: 'Fair doos,' 'e sez, 'I joined the bloomin' ranks / To git away frum rabbits.' 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 205: Fair do's all round. 1951 A. Garve Murder in Moscow (1994) 15: There's no 'nobs' there; it's fair do's for everybody. 1966 C. Wood Fill the Stage With Happy Hours (1967) Act IV: Fair do's - you've done a lot for this theatre. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 60: Well, fair-dos, Mr Sneed, fair-dos, that's what I say. You can't work with someone for a long time then just get fucked-off out, just like that. 1983 A. Payne 'Willesden Suite' Minder [TV script] 12: Fair do's. Father, moderation in all things. 1999 Guardian Media 21 June 10: The mix is hard to get right. But, fair dos. 2000 Guardian 20 Jan. 22: Fair dos, Frank. 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black 322: 'Fair dos,' Gavin said,

fair fucks (to) (Irish) good luck (to). 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 64: You could've tried to click with her yourself. But yeh didn't. An' Joey did. So fair fucks to him. 1999 D. Healy Sudden Times 198: The boss at Liverpool Street had kept my job, fair fucks, so I worked like a dog and went to find him, my mate. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 1: Fair focks to him, roysh.

fair suck of the sauce bottle (also fair suck of the sauce stick) (Aus.) a phr, meaning 'be fair, give us a chance'; occas. as n., a fair chance. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 67: Fair suck of the sauce stick! Where did all these flamin' kiddies come from? 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 44/2: fair shake (of the dice)/ fair suck of the [...] sauce stick/fair whack are some more appeals for fairness. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 4: We still speak of the fair go, of doing the right thing, of having a fair SUCK OF [...] THE SAUCE BOTTLE. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 2005 C. Hindrum in Tasmanian Times 4 Feb. [Internet] I mean, fair suck of the sauce bottle, we've been here a couple of hundred years and we act like we bloody own the place, fair suck of the sav (a/so fair suck of the pineapple, ...sausage) [SE sav, a saveloy) (Aus./N.Z.) a phr. meaning 'be fair, give us a chance'; occas. as n., a fair chance. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 63: Fair suck of the pineapple! I got to earn a crust somehow. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 44/2: fair suck of the sav/ saveloy/sauce stick/fair whack are some more appeals for fairness. 1996 S. Maloney Brush-Off (1998) 52: Isn't it time that someone else got a fair suck of the sausage? 1999 G. Seal Lingo 4: We still speak of the fair go, of doing the right thing, of having a fair SUCK OF THE SAV. 2003 McGiLL Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 2006 N.Z. Herald 19 June [Internet] [headline] Netball: Fair suck of the sav, says Ellis, NZ attitude's better.

that’s fair (US campus) an ironic comment

that something is not

fair. 1978 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: that's fair - a sarcastic expression which means the exact opposite; He ate your dinner too? That's fair. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 67: That's fair is a sarcastic expression that means 'that's unfair'.

fair

adv. very, absolutely, really, e.g. fair tasty, fair gorgeous.

1880 Henley & Stevenson Deacon Brodie IV tab.VII i: My back's fair

broke. 1887 "Arry on the Jubilee' in Punch 25 June 305/1: By Jingo she'll see that I'm fair in the know. 1897 W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 56: Well, it fair frightened my old man. 1903 Bulletin (Sydney) 23 July 17/1: 'E was lying on the rails, and the train cut him fair in two, [...] but they put him together somethink beautiful out in the platform. 1906 Marvel 22 Dec. 636: He's fair off his chump - mad as a bloomin' hatter! 1911 L. Stone Jonah 187: An' fair gave me the creeps thinkin' I could see the people scratchin' their way out of the coffin. 1923 'Bartimeus' 'In the Dog-Watches' in Seaways 19: Tricks! Gorblime, you'd fair bust yourself with laughin'. 1935 (con. 1920s) McArthur & Long No Mean City 147: 'You're fair crazy about the fighting,' he said. 1937 E. Garnett Family from One End Street 129: I'm fair upset. 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 84: This town's fair bulgin' at the seams. 1954 J. Phelan Tramp at Anchor 92: Some of them inside parties is fair Weedin' murder. 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 130: They never caught him. Fair sent them up the wall, it did. Be an annoying thing that. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 71: You've fair spoiled my day.

fair cop

n. [SE fair + cop n.^ (2)) (orig. UK Und.) 1 a justifiable arrest; usu. in the tongue-in-cheek phr. it's a fair cop guvnor, put the bracelets on... 1889 Standard 9 Oct. 3/7: Prisoner remarked it was 'a fair cop' [EDD]. 1899 E.W. Hornung Amateur Cracksman (1992) 33: All right, guv'nor [...] don't excite. It's a fair cop. 1905 Sporting Times 7 Jan. 1/1: Larf? So would you. I'm really innercent of this 'ere. The other times, it was a fair cop, an' yet yer got me orf! 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 79: Put the pop-gun away, guv'nor [...] It's a fair cop, and it might ruddy well go hoff. 1925 E. Jervis 25 Years in Six Prisons 44: It was a 'fair cop,' as the boys call it. 1932 D.L. Sayers Have His Carcase 127: Lord, Inspector! How you startled me! All right, it's a fair cop. 1940 J.G. Brandon Gang War 91: Most arrests by the inspector seemed to be accepted philosophically as a 'fair cop'. 1956 R.T. Hopkins Banker Tells All 76: 'It's a fair cop,' he moaned. 1961 'Frank Richards' Billy Burner atButlins 208: It's a fair cop, and I ain't giving no trouble. 1976 H. Leonard Time Was (1981) Act I: Of course there were burglars [...] And when you caught them they said: 'It's a fair cop. I'll come quietly'. 1982 J. Sullivan 'The Long Legs of the Law' On/y Fools and Horses [TV script] Well I'll come quietly, miss - it's a fair cop. 1991 Desperate Dan Special No. 7 28: It's a fair cop. Guv! 2005 www. bristol.indymedia.org 20 Oct. [Internet] [heading] It's a Fair Cop. Inspector's Honesty Scunners G8 Case in Glasgow. 2 any situation seen as fair and about which there is no complaint. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 182: It'll be a fair cop for

'im [...] 'E's treated us all pretty mean, one time or another. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Aug. 13/1: Whitewash: My ole man's goin' ter China. I call it a fair cop bein' paid fer stoushin' Chows. 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 162: I tell you I thought I was on a fair cop. 1919 Marvel 3 Mar. 16: Well, it was a fair cop.

fair crack of the whip

n. (Aus.) an equitable opportunity, a

reasonable chance. 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] FAIR CRACK OF THE WHIP—Just treatment. 1929 K.S. Prichard Coonardoo 179: I'll see you get a fair crack of the whip now, Mr. Watt. 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 2: I am sorry to have to tell you the Lord's had a fair crack of the whip and He's missed the bus. 1959 Baker Drum. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 52: Eh, dickin on it. Lord! How's about givin' a man a fair crack o' the whip. 1982 J. Davis Dreamers 117: You've had a pretty fair crack of the whip and it's time I started puttin' my foot down. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 24: Fair crack of the whip: Someone is not giving the utterer of the phrase a fair go. 1999 Guardian G2 12 Oct. 6: He has not been given a fair crack of the whip. Nobody is doing anything to help him. 2003 (con. WWII) D. Conroy Best of Luck 294: Even the cynics amongst us (about 95%) felt honour bound to give the adj. a fair crack of the whip, as the saying went.

fair crack of the whip phr.

(Aus./N.Z.) a phr. meaning 'be fair,

give us a chance'. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 21: Cripes — fair crack of the whip — like no — but I'll give it a burl. 1974 D. Ireland Burn 102: 'Fair crack of the whip,'

fair dinkum McAllister says. 'He's talkin' about past and present.' 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 75: fair crack of the whip/shake of the dice and fair suck of the saucestick/saveloy Appeals for fairness. ANZ.

fair dinkum

adj. (also fair dink, square dinkum) [fair dinkum!

exc/.j (Aus.) completely honest. 1914 E. Dyson Spats' Fact'ry (1922) 65: Well, I'm blue-blinded [...] what price fair dinkum 'n' square dealin' in woman after that? [Ibid.] 89: Goldmighty! [...] whatsa matter with the offer? It's fair dink, I tell yeh. 1921 N^Q 12 Ser. IX 347: Square Dinkum. On the straight. 1922 T.E. Spencer 'Liza' in Budgeree Ballads 83: It's fair dinkum what I'm tellin' yer. 1933 (con. WWI) A.E. Strong in Partridge SI. Today and Yesterday 287: Joe. Anyhow, to give you the fair dinkum guts I put across a beauty when I found the double¬ headed penny in the ring. 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats xi: I couldn't believe it was fair dinkum. I thought one of the boys was having a joke. 1956 T. Sutherland Green Kiwi 126: No, that's fair dinkum - without a word of a lie. 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 13: Did I ever tell you about the only fair dinkum raffle ever run in Australia? 1971 B. Crump 'Bastards I Have Met' in Best of Barry Crump (1974) 272: A fair-dinkum crackerjack possum-dog, he reckoned. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 36/2: dinkum genuine or fair, often expressed as fair dinkum, dinky-di and dinkum oil (the truth), 1999 Guardian 28 Oct. 20: Australians like it fair dinkum [honest], 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 171:1 mean, these are fair dinkum, 'She'll be sweet, mate' bloody Aussies.

fair dinkum!

exc/. (a/so dinkum! fair dink! square dinkum! straight dinkum!) [fair adj./FAiR adv. -f dinkum adj.] (usu. Aus.) honest! really! on the level! 1894 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May 13/3: 'And did yer stouch him back?' 'No.' [...] 'Fair dinkum?' 'Yes.' 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Dec. 15/4: Your real name is Gawd; now, straight dinkum, ain't it? 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 64: 'Meanin'?' he pointed to the centre of his breast, and his eyes were round with inquiry. 'Fair dinkum,' telegraphed Linda. [Ibid.] 119: Fair dink, I wouldn' be surprised iv 'is Jills reaped off his tangled web iv whiskers. 1911 L. Stone Jonah 106: 'Fair dinkum?' cried Chook. Pinkey nodded her head. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Push' in Moods of Ginger Mick 4\: An' they're drillin' 'ere together, men uv ev'ry creed an' kind. / It's Australia! Solid! Dinkum! that 'as left the land be'ind. 1917 W. Muir Observations of Orderly 222: I could see he knew I'd clicked a packet, square dinkum, this trip. 1925 (con. WWI) Eraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 268: Square Dinkum: True. Straightforward. Correct. 1932 'William Hatfield' Ginger Murdoch 259: But dinkum! You're the prettiest girl about these parts, know that? 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 132: Now come on Cho, or I'll makim big-feller trouble. Fair dinkum. 1941 N.Y. Flerald Trib. 29 June 9/2: 'Fair dinkum' is the traditional Australian equivalent to bona fide or 'honest injun'. 1959 (con. WWII) B. Cochrell Barren Beaches of Hell 41: 'Fair dinkum,' Chick said. 1964 N.B. Harvey Any Old Dollars, Mister? 75: 'Crikey. That's awful.' 'Dinkum,' he said, and nodded. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 186: 'Fair dinkum?' said Ritchie. 'Or are yuh bull-dustin'?' 1973 (con. 1930s) F. Hublin 'Keep Moving' 28: 'He's the JP who sentenced us,' 'Dinkum!' 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 54: 'A hundred? You kidding?' asked the barmaid. 'Fair dinkum,' we said solemnly. 1986 R, Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 19: Dinkum: Absolutely authentic as in the expression, 'Fair dinkum mate, I wouldn't lie to you now would I?' 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 23: Fair dinkum, compared with some of these prison officers, I could have been a Rhodes scholar. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 141: Fair dinkum, some of the Wolvo posse did help set this up.

fair go

fair shake

16

n. (also open go) [a call in a game of 'two-up' that indicates all

relevant rules were satisfied and that the coins could be spun] (usu. Aus.)

1 any situation that meets a basic requirement of impartiality to all without fear of favour or prejudice. 1899 H. Garland Boy Life on the Prairie 176: It was a fair go, and you're whipped. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 July 14/1: A little thing like that put a second storey on me sentence, [...] You'll finish th' call f'r another? Very well, Bluey, swing y'r pot to 'appy days 'n' a fair go et th' finish! 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 22: fair go (n.) — Equitable treatment; a fair field and no favour. [Ibid.] 36: open go — See fair go. 1929 J. Devanny Riven 185: She hated burdening herself with a child [...] but she was going to have a 'fair go'. 1933 (con. WWI) A.E. Strong in Partridge SI. Today and Yesterday 287: Joe. I always believe in giving a man a fair go. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 100: 'Anyone who likes to come,' Sam Little shouted back as he moved away. 'It's an open go.' [Ibid.] 237: You ask a man not to work, and then one of your own mates goes out and gets a job scabbing. Call that a fair go? 1951 D. Stivbns Jimmy Brackett 124: That bloody bunch of Orangemen wowsers we had in Parliament now were anti-booze, anti-betting, and anti-protectionist—anti anything

that would give a bloke a fair go. [Ibid.] 292: I had given Nan an open go with any redecorating she wanted to do. 1955 D. Niland Shiralee 2\8:1 came in with you. I gave you a fair go. 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 80: No matter who you are, the Australian will give you a fair go. 1977 in K. Gilbert Living Black 198: They got a fair go at nothing, eh? 1985 Tracks (Aus.) May 5: I happen to live in the Blue Mountains and 1 enjoy the travel and clean-air but I don't enjoy such gems as Piss off westies, so how about a fair go? [Moore 1993]. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 4: We still speak of the fair go, of doing THE right thing, of HAVING A FAIR SUCK OF THE SAV Or [SUCK OF] THE SAUCE BOTTLE. 2005 C. HiNDRUM in Tasmanian Times 4 Feb. [Internet] The Eureka Stockade was about nothing if it wasn't about tryin' to get a bloody fair go.

2 a fair fight. Cautious Amorist 173: What the pair of you needs is a fair go face to face will ease your hearts an' feelin's. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 21: A fair go, a fight. 1961 F.J. Hardy Hard Way 106: 'I'll kill the commo bastard,' one of Healy's men shouted, shoving his way towards me. The young man gently lifted his girl's hand from his arm, confronted the would-be basher and said: 'Give him a fair go.' 1974 D. Ireland Burn 74: The city has not taken away his belief in a fair go. 1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 88: I'll give 'im a 1934 N, Lindsay

fair go too.

fair go phr. 1 (Aus.)

be reasonable, be fair. Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 28: Fair go!, be reasonable! Give him (it, etc.) a chance! 1947 'A.P. Gaskell' 'The Big Game' in Big Game and Stories 11: 'No, fair go,' said Bob seriously, 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 110: 'Fair goes, fair goes now,' the Cobber said. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 19: Fair go, Sarah, give a bloke a break. 1973 (con. 1930s) F. Huelin ‘Keep Moving' 29: You're trying to pinch work off South Australians — an' yous are going crook about dagoes and poms. Fair Go! 1987 M. Bail Holden's Performance (1989) 280: 'I saw her face.' 'Fair go. She would have been doing a hundred and twenty miles an hour.' 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 458: No, no, mate. Fair go. You paid for the beers. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 142: Fair go. Heather [...] This isn't Murray's fault. 1941 Baker

2 (N.Z.) interrog.: really? B. Crump Hang On a Minute, Mate (1963) 87: Sam said [...] Bloke I know made over a thousand quid by not being able to count 1961

properly. Fair go? said Jack,

fairground

n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases up the fairground [? the fairground's gambling sideshows] likely to be lucky. 1989 in G. Tremlett

Little Legs 198:

UP the fairground going to be

lucky.

fairish adj.

considerable in amount. (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 291/1: I sell Lloyd's and Reynold's pennies - fairish, both of them. 1890 'Rolf Boldrewood' Colonial Reformer I 74: You remember me a fairish time, Joe. 1891 H.B. Marriott-Watson Web of the Spider 235: 1861

A fairish heap of gold, collected over many years, n. ISE/a/r roebuck, a roebuck in its fifth year] a woman at

fair roebuck

the peak of her beauty. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: FMR-Roe-Buck [...] in a Canting Sense, a Woman in the Bloom of her Beauty. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725].

fair shake n.

[the image of an honest throw or 'shake' of a dice cup] 1 a fair or acceptable situation; thus antonym rough shake, an unfair or difficult situation. 1830 Central Watchtower 22 May n.p,: Any way that will be a fair shake [DA], 1834 D. Crockett Narrative of Life of D.C. (1934) 55:Itook no more clothing [...] so that if I got into an Indian battle, I might not be pestered with unnecessary plunder, to prevent my having a fair shake with them. 1863 T. Winthrop Life in Open Air 145: This is a free country [...] Every woter has a right to a fair shake. 1902 S.E. White Blazed Trail 102: 'That ain't a fair shake,' cried the man excitedly. 1909 R.A. Wason Happy Hawkins 6: I mean it ain't a fair shake. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 111: That wouldn't been a fair shake for the firm. 1949 A.I. Bezzerides Thieves' Market 182: You're not giving me a fair shake. 1950 B. Spicer Blues for the Prince (^ 989) 103: It's been a rough shake for you. All round. 1960 (con. WWII) G. Sire Deathmakers 175: I'll call it a fair shake. You can't con me. 1977 B. Jackson Killing Time 200: Also I think society doesn’t give a guy a fair shake either. Coming out. 2 (also decent shake, full...) equable treatment. W.T. Thompson Chronicles ofPineville 34: Give Bill Sweeny a fair shake, and he can whoop blue blazes out of ye. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 90: In America a fair shake is a fair trade or a good bargain. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 1872 Schele 1845

fair shake of the dice

fairy

17

De Verb Americanisms 601; Fair shake, a local vulgarism in some parts of New England for a fair trade. 1898 Binstbad & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 77: I cannot deny that waiters, of one sort and another, got a full shake in the last chapter. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 175: It is no Fair Shake [...] Why should he spend more for

Florida Water every week than I pull down in Stipend? 1943 J. Mitchell McSor/ey's Wonderful Saloon (2001) 28: He gave everybody a fair shake, and he didn't have a thing to hide. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 138: When a guy gives them a decent shake they get a loyalty like a hound dog. [Ibid.] 52: This girl is the most faithful [...] woman in the world if you give her a fair shake. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 18: How'm I gonna get a fair shake when they're all black? 1979 G. Wolff Duke of Deception (1990) 15: Dr. Wolff is said to have left the staff of St. Francis because a Jew couldn't get a fair shake from the catholics. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad.

fair shake of the dice n. (Aus.) equitable treatment. (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 163: Whoever played in any of his games was sure of a fair shake of the dice, fair shake of the dice phr. (Aus., N.Z.) -a phr. meaning 'be fair, give us a chance'. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 44/2: fair shake (of the dice) [...] fair whack are some more appeals for fairness. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 2000-02 Macquarie Diet. [Internet] fair shake of the dice, an appeal for fairness or reason, fair shakes! excl. (Aus.) a general statement of agreement, acceptance. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 90: 'Pretty fair shakes,' is anything good or favourable. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. fair-weather drink n. [one toasts actual and i\%. fair weather] a small celebration before initiating some project or journey. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183; Fair-weather drink Small celebration with intimates before some enterprise or holiday, fairy n? [SE] 1 (later use US) a young woman, with a poss. implication of promiscuity. C.1655 'Merry Mans Resolution' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) II 486: At Cow-crosse and Smithfield, I have much pleasure found, / Where wenches like to Fayeries did often trace the round. 1675 F. Fane Love in the Dark li i: I'm jealous of your Fairy. 1691 'The Vindication of Top-Knots and Commodes' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) I 123: Then silly old Fops, that kiss but like popes, / And call us Night Walkers and Fairies, / Go fumble old Joan, and let us alone, / And never come near our canary's. 1793 J. O'Keeffe Sprigs of Laurel 7: She's my darling, only dear / bewitching little fairy. 1836 'No More Shall the Schicksters of Eady Sing' in Comic Songster and Gentleman's Private Cabinet 24: He poulticed and doctor'd each poor fairy thing / With remedies slap up and prime! 1886 Lantern (N.O.) 20 Oct. 3; Poor Charles Ernest is so stuck on a fairy named Emma Brown, that she can make him do anything she wishes. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 138: The patient didn't seem to be suffering from much [...] when I saw him with a beautiful fairy in a box at the Empire a few nights ago. 1909 J. Washburn Und. Sewer 204: Men often call us their fairies. 1916 Kemmel Times 3 July (2006) 107/2: Is he [...] writing to fairies he never showed me. 1925 N. Lucas Autobiog. of a Thief 53: At the 'Cosmopoliotan Club' I 'picked up a fairy,' who seemed anxious to teach me to fox-trot. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 28: Oh, you fairy, will that complexion rub off? 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 137: Fairies, be it noted, are ladies of questionable morality. 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 82:1 must be off, boys: I've promised to feed a fairy and take her off to some charity do. 1958 A. King Mine Enemy Grows Older (1959)' 14; It comes to lisping Southern fairies who act like probationers from a booby hatch. 1981 J. Bradner Danny Boy 80: Bet she ain't half the fairy he's making her out to be. 2 a drunken old hag. 1952

1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

3 (orig. US) a homosexual man. C.1890 'The Bastard King of England' in Bold (1979) 23: He swore he was a fairy / So the King let drop his pants. 1895 Amer. Journal Psychology VII 216: The peculiar societies of inverts. Coffee-clatches, where the members dress themselves with aprons etc, and knit, gossip and crotchet; balls, where men adopt the ladies' evening dress, are well known in Europe. 'The Fairies' of New York are said to be a similar secret organization. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 109: This class is composed of those whose propensities, viler than animal since they have no counterpart in the animal kingdom, place them outside of any human category. They call themselves 'fairies.' Such a wretch [...] gives himself a female appelative, imitates woman's voice and ways, and as far as he dares wears woman's attire. He [...] uses rouges, powders and cosmetics and all the artifices a woman might use to enhance her charms.

Corsets, high-heeled shoes and bracelets are generally worn and in his room he dons complete female attire. This effeminate creature is in love with an equally despicable wretch of his own sex. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Si 46: Not to be confounded with the jovial exclamation, 'Whoops! my dear,' of fairies and theatrical characters. 1919 transcript Dunn Inquiry in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 213: If a man was walking along the street in an effeminate manner, with his lips rouged [...] a man would be right in forming the opinion that that man was a 'fairy'. 1924 (con. 1880-1924) F.J. WlLSTACH Anecdota ero'tica 22; A fairy is seen with a dwarf. What's that asked one of his friends? he replies: 'Mind your own business. I'm dieting.' 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 125: I guess you doan know 'at Frenchy's a fairy (homosexualist). 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 147: Fairies with their sailors or marines or rough trade. 1939 T. Wolfe Web and the Rock 551: Was it all done gracefully to the tune of jolly jokes about the fairies and the lesbians? 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 271: Coupla fairies [...] talkin' like a bunch of women. 1953 C. Brossard Bold Saboteurs (1971) 156: The place was jam-packed with Lesbians and hysterically delighted fairies. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 13: Look at all the great artists who were fairies! 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 175: You're bloody tripping like a constipated bloody fairy! 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out 145: Two shaven¬ headed youths began to taunt him. 'You're a fairy,' said one. 1999 Indep. Rev. 20 Aug. 5: A drunken bishop called me over at a party. 'Here's a poem for you, Andrew', he said: 'I thank you. Lord, that I am not a fairy. My willy is not brown. My arsehole is still hairy.' 2004 T. WiNTON Turning (2005) 138: People thought it was funny to hear him call his brother a fairy, a retard, a waste of skin. 4 (N.Z.) a blonde-haired woman. 1923 F. Anthony 'Helping Out Gus' in Me And Gus (1977) 12:1 could see Gus's eye following a tall, willowy fairy as she waltzed round. 5 a young boy tramp who accompanies an older homosexual tramp. 1927 Nichols & Tully Twenty Below Act I: You little Broadway fairy! You unwashed son-of-bitch! You cock-eyed preliminary bum. 1934 T. Minehan Boy and Girl Tramps of America (1976) 143; I have seen wolves and their little 'lambs' or 'fairies,' and their relationship seems to be one of mutual satisfaction. ■ In compounds fairy hawk (n.) [SE hawk, an aggressive person] (US gay) one who attacks (and robs) homosexuals. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

fairy house (n.) (also fairy joint) [house (1)/joint n. (3b)] (US gay) a male brothel for homosexuals. C.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 236: Miss Carol was the partner in a fairy house; the madam there being a man who was known only as Big Nellie - Miss Big Nellie. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 66: Fred announced what was to be the crowning event of the evening, a visit to a 'fairy joint' in Christie Street. fairy lady (n.) (US) a lesbian, esp. a 'feminine' one. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular 137: the passive lesbian [...] fairy lady. 1982 Maledicta VI:1-f2 (Summer/Winter) 133: Here are some obsolete or

nearly obsolete terms which careless lexicographers continue to list as current [...] fairy lady. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Fairy Lady - Term used in the mid-1900's [i.e. mid-20C] for a lesbian bottom. fairy loop (n.) [despite the link to homosexuality implicit in fairy, the term is sometimes capable of more fanciful interpretation, i.e. the practice cited in DARE as regards a Utah high school where 'a group of girls... will run a contest. They were to pick a boy, usually in their class. The girl who gets the most of his 'fairy loops'...would be the one to marry him'; however, note synon. FRUIT LOOP n.^ (1)1 (US) the small loop on the upper back of many shirts; such a loop, supposedly, can be used to hold a victim ready for buggery.

[Internet] fairy loop n. the 'loop' on the back of a boys/mans 'Oxford' type shirt. 2003 Lodestar Quarterly Spring [Internet] Then John D. lifted me into the air by the fairy loop Mama had sewn inside my purple hand-knitted sweater with pink hearts. fairy-shaking (n.) [shake down v. (1)] (US) blackmailing married men who frequent gay bars and similar places. 1998 the data lounge 27 Jan. [Internet] Threats against closeted gay men, a practice known as 'fairy shaking,' entailed officers casing gay bars and running the license plates of 'family-type' vehicles - such as those with child seats - through patrol car computers. The men driving these vehicles were then contacted and threatened with exposure to families and coworkers unless paid large sums of money. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI.

fairy’s phonebooth (n.) ISE phonebooth, but note telephone n. (2) and BONE PHONE under BONE n?] {US gay) a public lavatory cubicle. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. fairy’s wand (n.) {US gay) any phallic object carried by a cruising

gay man, e.g. a cigarette holder, a rolled umbrella (on a dry day), a long-stemmed rose. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 78: fairy's wand any phallic staff carried by a homosexual. Fairy wands include cigarettes stuck into rhinestone-studded cigarette holders, umbrellas carried when there is no possible chance of rain, pencils, long-stemmed American Beauty roses or even joss sticks. The hand holding a fairy wand usually performs wildly exaggerated gestures.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fairy dust (n.) [synon. angel dust n.| {drugs) phencyclidine. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 2002 Ali 'Addict' on Kingdom of Tula [Interent] Maria had only done Fairy Dust in low, low, low amounts. It was too costly and she wanted the money for heroin.

fairy powder (n.) {drugs) any form of powdered narcotic. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1975 Hardy & Cull Drug Lang, and Lore. fairy-story (n.) (a/so fairy pipe, ...tale, ...yarn) 1 (or/g. US) a

fanciful, mendacious tale, often in aid of obtaining money or favours (cf. fairy n.^). 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Feb. 6/2: Now, why, dear Ted, when you can't fail, / Indulge in such a 'fairy tale'? 1892 A.C. Gunter Miss Dividends 143: You told fairy tales. 1895 .1. London 'And 'Frisco Kid Came Back' in High School Aegis X (4 Nov.) 2-4: Mebbe yer linkin' I'm tellin' yer a fairy story. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' Down the Line 36: In a minute the three of them were fanning each other with fairy tales about the goods they sold. 1908 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox II 272: I feel like a fool believing such a fairy story as you've been telling me. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine 240: It ain't no fairy pipe, old pal, 1911 S. Ford Torchy 52: I don't know what kind of fairy yarns Mr. Robert's been tearin' off at home about me. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 170: That's a fairy story the grafters shove at you every time they want to rob you some more. 1914 'Ian Hay' Lighter Side of School Life 77: It sounds like a fairy tale, sir. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 190: Probably I've told one or two fairy stories in my time. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 161: In a paper I bought I read all about myself: 'A desperate character'; 'Dangerous' [...] Fairy-tales! They made me laugh. 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 83: Aw, can your fairy story. Jack. 1936 Hotspur 11 Jan. 42: I did not ask you to spin me a fairy-tale. I want to hear the truth, not lies. 1939 Franklin & Cusack Pioneers on Parade 215: I knew it was a fairy story. 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 104: We've probably got to go and wave a beautiful fairy story to the blondes. 1948 T. Thursday 'Movie Stuff' in Detective Story Apr. [Internet] You wouldn't want me to make up a fairy tale, now, would you? 1950 J.T. Farrell 'Milly and the Porker' in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 197: Well, who ever told you that fairytale? 1956 'Hal Ellson' 'Cool Cat' in Tell Them Nothing (1956) 97: He ain't your friend like you think. That's a fairy story all around. 1960 C. Himes Big Gold Dream 43: The sergeant looked again at the colored detectives. 'Do you believe that fairy tale?' 1960 1. Fleming For Your Eyes Only (1962) 161: No doubt she had to pay heavily for her 'fairy story'. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 118: Where're you getting this fairy story? You flying or something? 1974 'P.B, Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 125: Either of you two berks come near this house again with your fairytales I'll shove your faces down your bloody throats. 1984 W.J, Caunitz One Police Plaza 243: Don't tell me fairy tales. 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 220: What do you think you're going to do with this fairy tale?

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1906 Marvel 20 Oct. 359: And now what's the meaning of this fairy¬ tale business? a.1955 'Good-Doing Wheeler' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 77: Now there you sit talking that fairy-tale shit, / You must be the world's biggest lame. 1967 F. Salas Tattoo the Wicked Cross (1981) 195: You better give up that Sunday school stuff [...] all that fairy-tale shuck.

■ In phrases fairy on the iron (n.) {US short order) boiled chicken. 1886 St Louis (MO) Globe-Democrat 31 Aug. 10/1: At the 'Beanery,' the famous Bohemian resort in St. Louis [...] oysters fried are 'the salt seas over,' or stewed, 'a briny float,' and a boiled chicken is 'a fairy on the iron'.

go a fairy (v.) |SE fairy, very small] to toss coins to see who buys a round of halfpennyworths of gin. 1909 ,1. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

fairy

fake

18

fairy

{US drugs) a lamp for preparing opium.

1892

Campbell, Knox

&

Byrnes

Darkness and Daylight in N.Y. 565:

The little lamp on the tray is called 'the fairy' [...] its flame was used for cooking and burning opium. n? [fairy-story under fairy n.^l (Aus.)

fairy

1 a fanciful tale, a tall

story'. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Oct. 24/1: He had told the inquiring stewards a lot of 'fairies,' though they didn't save him from being 'rubbed out' for 12 months. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 66: Don't hand me none o' that fairy stuff, for I ain't gwine to swallow it. 1940 H. Drake-Brockman Hot Gold III i: Who told you that fairy, sergeant?

2 the teller of fanciful tales. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Oct. 24/2: A wish to be seeing this tipstering being, / Impelled me behind the partition to glance, / And there stood a hairy and beer-sodden 'fairy,' / Beguiling a swell with his little romance.

■ In phrases pitch a fairy (v.) to tell a 'tall story'. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Nov. 31/2: After that, we nicknamed each one accordin' to his perktickler perculyeraraty, an' uster pitch 'em fairies about how we wur teamin' colonyal, an' gettin' remittances from 'Ome. 1965 B. Wannan Fair Go. Spinner 103: He'd pitch 'em lots of 'fairies'. adj. [fairy n.^ (3)1 effeminate, homosexual. 1925 R. McAlmon Distinguished Air (1963) 19: He [...] began soon to relate a variety of fairy stories which he had heard while in the army. 1931-4 J.T. Farrell 'Just Boys' in Short Stories (1937) 98: Just a nigger fairy party, and one of the shines slashed a white pansy s throat. 1942 H, Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 284: That fairy brother of Tania's. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 371: Montclair is a punk! Montclair Boles is my fairy sister! 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 138: 'Them fairy fags,' sneered Hook. 1971 F. Hilaire Thanatos 182: Oh, you fairy bastard! 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 19: I call dancing fairy sports. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 71: Lots of little fairy boys like you back home then, Pat? 2005 H, Mantel Beyond Black 164: Anybody showing his

fairy

legs like that 'as got to be of the fairy persuasion,

fairy bower

n. [rhy. sl.l (Aus.) 1 a shower of rain. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 91: fairy bower is a shower. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fairy bower: a shower.

2 a shower for washing. 1990

Tupper

&

WORTLEY

Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fairy bower.

Rhyming slang for shower.

3 an hour. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 7: She had been posted on the possie for over a fairy bower and had not cracked it.

fairydiddle

n. ISE fadoodle, nonsense] (US) nonsense, rubbish. 1936 'Virginia Expressions' A5 XI:4 372: 'Stop that fairydiddle!,' i.e., stop that flattering complimentary talk. To tell someone he 'talks fairydiddle' is to tell him, in a light refined way, that he talks nonsense.

fairy snuff phr. a joke corruption of SE colloq. phr.

fair enough. 1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SL 99: Fairy snuff'lair enough' is certainly a true rhyme. 2001 'Dr John Dee' 'Black Eye' 25 Aug. on BlackArab.org [Internet] Dave Harper then made the decision that we would not be allowed in. Fairy snuff, it's his decision to make, but the one thing that irked me was his decision to talk to us like we were stupid.

faix! exc/. see fains! exc/. fake n.^ [FAKE v.^] 1 a dodge, a swindle, some form of fraudulent money-making scheme. 1829 'Pickpocket's Chaunt' (translation of 'En roulant de vergne en vergne') in Vidocq IV 262: With the mots their ogles throwing. And old Cotton humming his pray; And the foglehunters doing, [...] Their morning fake in the prigging lay. 1845 J. Lindridge SixteenString Jack 206: For 1 am the gal for a fake and a cly, / And I lush til the dew is falling, c.1850 'Bates' Farm' in Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues I (1890) 141/2: I'm up to every little fake, / But in me there's no harm. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 352/2: My pal cut with the gold ring the first day, and I never had another go at that fake since. 1871 London Figaro 21 Oct. n.p.: Yet theyve been known for many a fake To coolly set a trap [F&H]. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 12/1: 'No hurry, old toucher,' said the applicant affable; 'only I want to be in this fake. You can just put me through the hank-panky part, and I'll be anything you like. A sergeant or captain - it's all the same to me.' 1890 Sporting Times 15 Mar. 2/1; Presently they'll be trying the good old rent and laundress-bill fake that we all remember so well. 1901 'Rolf Boldrewood' In Bad Company 100: The beggar's been squared or 'copped' for some bloomin' fake [...] He's goin' to turn dog on us, after all, 1906 Marvel 10 Mar. 172: You worked the fake very nicely, Tom. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con

fake

fake

19

296: The fake. 1. A short-con game practiced by news-butchers on trains. The prospective customer buys a cheap book for two dollars because he thinks he sees a five-dollar bill protruding from it. 2. Also FAKUS or MR. FAKUS. Any cheating mechanism used in shortcon games, especially on gambling devices and flat-joints. 2 (US) an invented newspaper story or false rumour. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I

22'il2: After that we had a fine 'fake' - that was the fire of the Tower of London - it sold rattling. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 62: O, cut that fake. 3 any form of action, often a trick, varying as to context. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 131/2: Joe [...] was doing

the double 'fake' by balancing Harriet on one knee and Jenny Dempster on the other. 1879 "Arry on Crutches' in Punch 3 May 201 /1: It's genius, that's wot it is, spots new fakes in deportment and dress. 1885 "Arry on 'onesty' in Punch 31 Jan. 60/1: If I worked the theatrical fake—which I don't [...] wus luck. 1892 "Arry in Venice' in Punch 27 May 88/1: Friend Imre's a spanker, you bet, and quite fly to the popular fake. 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 32: 'What will you do with it. Job?' I says to him. 'Same ole fake,' he says to me. 1937 D. Fuchs low Compatjy 242: It's a fake! [...'] Once and for all, it's a trick. We should show people like him they should know. 1986 S. King It (1987) 840: Richie held out his hand. 'No fake, Jake. Can I have some?' 4 in fig. use, any situation (the underlying image is of trickery or deception). 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 11/4: Prisoner: 'Yes; he got me tight and kidded me to leave the band and join this fake.' [i.e. the Army] Major Kyer: 'Fake!' Prisoner: 'Yes. Said all I would have to do was blow when I was told. And now look at it!' 5 (US) a patent medicine. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 13: Another article which he keeps by him [...] corn [as on a toe] 'Fake'. 6 (US) cheap, esp. worthless, merchandise sold by street vendors. 1897 J. London 'The Road' in Hendricks & Shepherd Jack London

Reports (1970) 311-21: We all remember the Frenchman who made flea powder out of pulverized brick — this is the nature of the 'fake'. 7 (US) (also fake merchant) an impostor or insincere person. 1888 N.Y. Mercury n.p.: Both ladies then came to the conclusion that

the fortune-teller was a fake, and they decided to notify the police [F&H]. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 386: He could see himself whittling the big fake down to his own size. 1944 J. Stafford Boston Adventure 281: She isn't southern at all [...] she's just a terrible fake [DA]. 1997 (con. 1930s) D. Farson Never a Normal Man 332: Henry was a liar, describing himself in an early story as 'a fake merchant'.

fake

C.1838 G.W.M. Reynolds 'House Breaker's Song' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 122: Let Davy's dust and a well-faked claw / For fancy coves be the only law. 1855 Broadway Belle (N.Y.) 29 Oct. 1/34: My knibbs has been faked by the napping cullys for being budgey, and, in default of tipping ten slums, I have been sherried in this quisby cap for ten days. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 425/1: This is a grand racket - the way he fakes them. 1874 M. Clarke Term of His Natural Life (1897) 248: 'If you mean fake up that paper,' returned Frere, unconsciously dropping into prison slang. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 10/2: He did not trot out the ague idea; but he mentioned in a casual sort of way that he was a prominent member of the Salvation Army, and the Bench passed the case on for seven days to allow the prisoner to leave Collingwood. We consider that statement of Alfred's a clear proof that his ague dodge was faked up. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Straight Tip' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 176: Suppose you screeve, or go cheap-jack? / Or fake the broads? or fig a nag? 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Aug. 11/4: Last year France produced from grapes, 23,000,000 hectolitres of wine, and herself consumed 45,000,000 hectolitres, to say nothing of the exportations. In other words, she 'faked' [...] 40 or 50 millions of hectolitres. 1905 Sporting Times 15 Apr. 2/4: Do the canaries an' git put away for three months! Me! Me, as has stood in Club Row, Befnal Green, every Sunday mornin' for the las' fifty-seven years an' never faked a bird in me pleadin' natural! 1915 J. Buchan Thirty-Nine Steps (1930) 11: When I was left alone, I started to fake up that corpse. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 41: It includes working at odd jobs, peddling small articles, street faking, 'putting over' old and new forms of grafts, 'working' the folks at home, 'white collar' begging, stealing, and 'jack rolling'. 1936 in C.R. Cooper Here's To Crime in Hamilton Men of the Und. 20: I don't fake the customers. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 49: There were no buyers. The district was 'faked out'. 1962 (con. 1940s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 106: Raymond became a big thing around the neighborhood by making a fool of him with a football. One time Raymond faked Jimmy all the way up on top of the hood of a parked car. All the guys got a bang out of that. 1972 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 199: This was one bitch that was getting ready to get faked completely out of her whore boots. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 30: We don't need to carry a felony for this fool. We just fake.

2 to shoot, to wound, to hit or cut; to poison. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: To fake a person, may also imply to shoot, wound, or cut; to fake a man out and out, is to kill him; a man who inflicts wounds upon, or otherwise disfigures, himself, for any sinister purpose, is said to have faked himself. 1873 Si. Diet. 157: Fake in the sporting world, means to hocus

8 (US) a confidence trickster. 1888 N.Y. Mercury Both ladies then came to the conclusion that the fortune-teller was a fake, and they decided to notify the police [DA]. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 141: Jack, a con man, a cannon [pickpocket] or a fake of any kind. 9 (US drugs) (also fake-a-loo, fake aloo) any form of substitute for a

or poison.

3 (Ling. Fr./Polar!) to make, to do. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: fake [...] also describes doing any act, or the fabricating any thing, as, to fake your slangs, is to cut your irons in order to escape from custody [... ] to fake a screeve, is to write any letter, or any other paper; to fake a screw, is to shape out a skeleton or false key, for the purpose of screwing a particular place. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 50: I've stagged Fuzzy faking the block ornaments in Newgate-market. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 36: FAKE [...] to do anything [...] to make or construct. 1862 Mayhew & Binny Criminal Prisons of London 6: The term 'fake' (to do anything) is merely the Latin facere. 1873 SI. Diet. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 78: Did you ever hear a fiddle faked finer? 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 309: The camps at Boswell were full of people who 'faked' or 'dropped' small articles: artificial flowers, belts made of kangaroo skin, brooches made of feathers, patent polishing powder—anything and everything to

hypodermic syringe. 1938 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in AS XIII:3 184/1: FAKE or fake-a-loo. The medicine dropper, probably socalled because so often it is used as a substitute for the regulation glass tube in constructing a home-made hypodermic. 1949 MonTELEONE Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 80: fake aloo A hypodermic syringe made from a medicine dropper. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. n.^

fake

[dial,

fake, to hurt; fakement,

pain]

(Ulster) cancer.

1997 Share Slanguage.

fake

adj. (US campus) bad, disappointing, negative.

1997-2001

Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fake [...] adj 1. displeasing.

('Man, that was fake!').

■ SE in slang uses u In compounds fake-ass (adj.) |-ass sfx] (US) fraudulent, fake, trying too hard,

bring in ready money.

4

disappointing. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 273: I got a fake-ass family. They're as fake as fuck. 2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] 6 April: wanksta - A fake-ass foo trying to be hard.

fake bandager (n.) (US Und.) a beggar who poses as a cripple to elicit sympathy. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 110: The 'fake bandagers,' who pose as cripples, go to the shopping district, where they work upon the sympathies of the women, (3)1 (US) a roll of money in which small bills (or even paper cut to the right size) are surrounded, for

fake boodle (n.) [boodle

ostentation's sake, by one large one. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1903 S. Clapin New Diet. Americanisms.

v.^ [prob. fig. uses of SE feague + Ger./egen, to furbish up, to clean, to

sweep; or Ital./acc/o, I make] 1 (also fake up) to cheat, to deceive, to swindle, to counterfeit; thus faked (up) adj., counterfeit, spurious.

to steal, to rob. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: fake: To fake any person or place, may signify to rob them. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1875 T. Frost Circus Life and Circus Celebrities 279: 'To fake,' means, in the thieves' vocabulary, 'to steal'. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 12/1: The piece, however, which brought Mr. Grundy the most notoriety was the 'Glass of Fashion,' a piece also 'faked' from the French, and intended to satirize Edmund Yates of the World. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: fake. [...] to steal. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 143: Whate'er your little game, I fake it just the same, 1906 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IlLii 135: fake, v. To steal. 'We fake eggs every night and then roast 'em.'

5

(US) to malinger by feigning illness. 1889-90 Barrerb & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant.

fake 6 to dress the hair, to make up the face. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Founded on Fact' Sporting Times 5 May 1/4: We may grant that her features / Were 'faked'. 7 to pretend, to make up. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 9/1: You can always hear a good song with pleasure, and so, when Amery, or Brahman, or Porter 'show off,' with Nick (the best all-round nigger 'faking' man this side of Spitzbergen) to lead the accompaniment, you listen night after night, and applaud. 1915 R. Bolwell 'College SI. Words And Phrases' in DN IV:iii 233: fake, v. To attempt to recite as if prepared. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 13: 'What's your front?' he asks. 'I'm fakin' to come from Magdalena, Mexico.' 1945 J. Fishman Bullets for Two 17: He told us he wanted to fake a kidnapping to have some fun with him. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Tit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 14: fakin' it - (...) to bluff or pretend to be able to know something; you do not know what you're doing so you improvise. 2002 J. Ridley Conversation with the Mann 44: We gotta fake how we eighteen.

8 to fail to meet someone. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] take v 1. to fail to meet someone at a designated location. ('Don't fake onta me.').

■ In compounds fake-bake see separate entries, fake-man (n.) {Aus.) a confidence trickster. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Feb. 18/3: Later the publican remarked to the monte-man: 'That was a good snap, kiddin' 'em I was buyin', eh? Now, let's have that four quid! [...]' 'Not much!' said the fakeman. 'Yer bought the blanky purses all right, and yer don't get a stiver out of me!'

■ In phrases fake a cly (v.) [cly n. (2)] to pick or search a pocket. 1812

fakement

20

Voeab. of the Flash Lang. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Rookwood (1857) 231: Fake his dies, pals. 1841 'Nix My Dolly' Dublin Comie Songster 3: No dummy hunters had folks so fly, / No knuckler so deftly could fake a cly. 1851 G. Borrow Lavengro II 29: 'What do you mean by cly-faking?' 'Lor, dear! no harm; only taking a handkerchief now and then.' 1859 Calif Police Gazette 23 Jan. 2/3; Once more at liberty, he renewed his former habits, consisting of 'cly faking,' 'going through lushes,' and not staying in one place more than eight days, to avoid prosecution for 'vagrancy'. 1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe II 88: He goes out cly-faking and such. He's a prig, and a smart one, too. 1873 SI. Diet. Vaux

Ainsworth

fake a pin (v.) [pin n. (2)1 {UK Und.) to injure one's own leg in order to obtain some kind of medical discharge or support. 1812 Vaux Voeab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: To [...[ fake your pin, is to create a sore leg, or to cut it, as if accidentally, with an axe, &c., in hopes to obtain a discharge from the army or navy, to get into the doctor's list, &c. (2)] {UK Und.) to pick a pocket.

fake a poke (v.) [poke

1896 People 6 Sept, in Ware (1909) 127/1: He denied that when entering the music hall he was accused by a lady of picking her pocket, and further said that when called out he did not say he had never 'faked a poke' in his life,

fake a screeve (v.) see under screeve n. (2). fake a screw (v.) see under screw n.\ fake down (v.) (N.Z.) to carry out a crime. 1862 C.R. Thatcher Dunedin Songster I 3: And to let all the Londoners see / How the new-comers here at night fake down: / Three blankets from Jones and Bird's place, / Constituting what's termed here a shake-down [DNZE].

fake it (v.) to pretend. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 231; We were beginning to think she was faking it. 1954 J. Blake letter 2 May in Joint (1972) 51: Me on the bass drum. I'll never learn to read music. Mostly I try to fake it, till Willie catches me. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 90: Some of the counsellors were trying to make fun of Papnek, but they were faking it. 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 11: We had regular drawback lessons with Sue's brother, but we were still faking it. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 161: I'm fakin' it [...[ I been pretendin' like it doesn't hurt so bad. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff229: This here is Bucknaked / life expectancy of a fly / ready to die / so no time for faking it.

fake oneself (v.) to injure or harm oneself for a criminal purpose. 1812 Vaux Voeab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239; A man who inflicts wounds upon, or otherwise disfigures, himself, for any sinister purpose, is said to have faked himself.

fake one’s slangs (v.)

[slang (1)1 to cut off one's chains or irons to make an escape from prison.

1812 Vaux Voeab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fake on someone (v.) {US black, west coast) to ignore.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 108: Fake on someone — to pretend not to see another. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Faked on me: Broken promise; failure to act.

fake out see separate entries, fake the broads (v.) see under broads n. fake the duck (v.) [SE (decoy) duck] to adulterate drink, to cheat, to swindle. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

fake the funk (v.) [funk n.' (5)[ {US black) to pose as more sophisticated than one actually is. 1993 Source May 55; That's not real, that's fakin' the funk in the worst way. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fakin' the funk Definition: pretending to be a certain way in order to cover up your true self Example: Hey. I thought that nigga was down, hut he was just fakin ' the funk the whole time.

fake the rubber (v.) [rubber n? (2)1 to stand treat. 1864,1867,1870

Hotten

Si. Diet. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its

Analogues.

fake the sweeteners (v.) [sweetener n.^ (4)] to kiss. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

fake up (v.) see sense 1 above. ■ In exclamations fake away (there’s no down)! carry on! don't stop! 1812

Voeab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: fake an intimation from a thief to his pall. during the commission of a robbery, or other act, meaning, go on with your operations, there is no sign of any alarm or detection. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 177: Nix my dolly pals, fake away. 1841 Comic Almanack July 275: Nix, my Dolly, pals, fake away - / Ni-ix, my Dolly, pals, fake away. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 325: Cut it my covey, fake away. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 36: 'fake away there's no down,' go on, there's nobody looking. 1861 Melbourne Punch 'The Lay of the Lags' 14 Mar. n.p.: So my tulips, shake the shiners, / Speel the drum and fake away. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1904 Marvel 12 Nov. 8; Now, Vaux

away, there's no down:

my dolly pal, fake awayl

fake

v.^ [dial, fake, to hurt] to hurt, e.g. this shoe fakes my foot, this shoe pinches my foot. 1812 Vaux Voeab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: If a man's shoe happens to pinch, or gall his foot, from its being overtight, he will complain that his shoe fakes his foot sadly,

fake!

exc/. {US campus) an expression used by the trickster to underline that someone has been tricked or duped. 1989

Eble

Campus SI. Mar.

fake-a-loo/fake aloo n. fake-bake n. [fake-bake v.]

see fake n.^ (9). {US campus)

1

a tanning salon.

1989 P. Munro si. U. 2 a fake tan. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1997 K. Kainulainen 'University Euphemisms in Calif. Today' [Internet] 'Look at Tiffany's fake-bakel' suggests that Tiffany has paid a few visits to a tanning salon,

fake-bake

v. {also fake and bake) (fake v.^ (7) -f SE bake] {US campus) to get a tan in a tanning booth. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 41: Examples of rhyme from college slang are [...] fake and bake 'get a tan in a tanning booth'. (Ibid.) 71; Fake bake 'get a tan in a tanning salon'. 1997-2002 Hope College 'Diet, of New Terms' [Internet] fakebake v. intrans. To tan in a tanning bed. [...] 'If you fakebake too often, you're going to end up with skin like leather.'

fakeloo 1931

n. (US) a spurious tale, a 'fairy story'. Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 70; FAKELOO.-See 'fairy story,' and dance.' 1940 R. Chandler Farewell My Lovely (1949) 93: A

Irwin

'song

fakeloo artist, a hoopla spreader, and a lad who had his card rolled up inside sticks of tea, found on a dead man.

Soeial Welfare 77: fakeloo.

fakement

n.

[fake

Hobo.

v.^ (1) +

sfx

A

1948

E.F. Young

Diet.

beggar's tale of woe.

-ment]

1

any act of robbery or

swindling. 1812

Voeab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964)' 239; to fake signifies to do any act, or make any thing, so the fakement means the act or thing alluded to, and on which your Vaux

fakement: As

discourse turns; consequently, any stranger unacquainted with your subject will not comprehend what is meant by the fakement: for instance, having recently been concerned with another in some robbery, and immediately separated, the latter taking the booty with him, on your next meeting you will inquire, what he has done with the fakement! meaning the article stolen, whether it was a pocket-book, piece of linen, or what not. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1837) 137: We're all ready for the fakement. 1838 W.N. Glascock Land Sharks and Sea Gulls II 4: That's right: I see you're fly to every fakement. 1841 'Ax My Eye' Dublin Comie Songster 100: Stow your gab and guffery, / To every fakement I am fly,. / I never takes no fluffery. 1857 'Leary Man' in 'Ducange Anglicus'

fake out

faker

21

Vulgar Tongue (1857) 41: Go first to costermongery, / To every fakement get a-fly. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 228/2: Those infernal peelers are down to every fakement, and the flats are getting scarcer. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 254: Well, you worked that little fakement in a blooming quiet way. I'm blowed if you havn't. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 109: Does anyone know that you boys was in the fakement? 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 37: He was up to every fakement from 'trucking' to house-breaking. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 May 12/3: Lilley is the Adonis who was the centre of a huge political fakement about a year ago. 1912 'R. Andom' Neighbours of Mine 18: The 'fakement'— that's what he called the process he was employing— was resorted to, he informed me with a grin, to 'do the buffer'.

Victorian Era 127/1: Fakement Chorley (Dangerous Classes). A private mark, especially on the outside of houses and in thieves' kitchens.

fakement dodge (n.) (dodge n. (1 )1 the writing of spurious begging letters; thus fakement dodger, the individual who does so. 1861 (con. 1841-51) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor (1862) IV 447/2: Many 'screevers, slum-scribblers, and fakementdodgers' eke out a living by this sort of authorship [i.e. fake 'tales of woe']. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 376/1: mid-C. 19-20 ob.

fake out

2 a forged signature.

fake out

forgery. Tell the macers to mind their fakements: desire the swindlers to be careful not to forge another person's signature. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1862 E. de la Bedollierb Londres et les Anglais 314/1: fakement, fausse signature. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Armf (1922) 71: Marston, Starlight, and Company — that's the fakement.

4 scraps. 1835 G. Kent Modem Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid

Open. any form of printed material. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 283: 'Here, take back this "fakement".' He flung 'Lorts on Stonehenge' on the floor.

6 an object, whether or not uncommon. the Push 46: Oh, I was thinkin' they [i.e. ears] might be handles 'r fakements t' swim with. 7 a false begging petition, a begging letter. 1839 W.A. Miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime: Report 156: He draws up fakements for the high-fly, at the padding kens. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 39: Lawyer Bob draws fakements up; he's tipped a peg for each. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 269: There were women, too, whose living depended upon an imaginary daughter, whom they were taking to London to get cured of the king's evil; and others whose supposed husbands had fallen off scaffolds, or been injured in a railway accident. The writings, or 'fakements,' which testified to these mournful narratives, were to be obtained for a few shillings at any of the principal towns, so that when one story grew stale, it could easily be changed for another. 1863 Story of a Lancashire Thief 9-. Brummagen Joe was [...] a patterer; and he could likewise screeve a fakement with any one. 1873 SI. Diet. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/1: The Schoolmaster draws fakements up; he's tipped a peg a-piece. The Schoolmaster draws up begging-letters and placards; he is paid a shilling a-piece for them. 1889 Answers 27 Juy 137/1: I have drawn up fakements for sham members of almost every trade, always using a leading name at the head of the list of

1957 P. Moore Chocolates for Breakfast 109: Sorry we faked out [...] You drank us under the table. 3 {US campus) to cheat on an exam. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 114: Fake out Cheat on an exam,

fake out and out

Vulgar Tongue.

faker

you're with real mugs. [Charlie

n.^ (1)1 a

private sign or mark. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: fakement-charley; fakement: Speaking of any stolen property which has a private mark, one will say, there is a fakemant-charley on it; a forgery which is well executed, is said to be a prime fakement, in a word, any thing is liable to be termed a fakement, or a fakemantcharley, provided the person you address knows to what you allude. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the

n. [Fr. faire, to make, ult. Lat. /aceo; cf. FAKIR n.j

1

a maker.

1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms

used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Faker, maker. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1902 H. Baumann 'SI. Ditty' Londinismen (2nd edn) v: Piratical fakers / Of bosh by the acres, / These muck-worms of trash / Cut, oh, a great dash.

2 a forger; earlier uses implied in bene feaker

n., bit faker under bit

n.\ 1970 R. Fabian Anatomy of Crime 193: Faker: Forger.

3 {US) a thief. 1851 G. BORROW Lavengro II 29: We never calls them thieves here, but prigs and fakers. 1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer (2007) 570: Them pusses is mannyfactered express for the convenience o the fakers. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 173: The sand-bag faker was moved by particular love of linnets. His spoil was got rid of as soon as the bird-shops opened in Club Row, 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IV:iii 201: faker, a thief.

4

a street salesman of cheap goods. 1889 Century Diet. 1912 R.H. Thornton Amer. Gloss. 1923 N. Anderson

Hobo 43: The faker appeals to the crowd. The faker is a salesman. He 'pulls' a stunt or makes a speech to attract the crowd. [...] His wares consists perhaps of combination sets of cuff buttons and collar buttons, or some other such 'line'. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 445: Faker, A peddler who attracts a crowd by a speech, song, or acrobatic performance and then proceeds to sell them some wonderful article. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Si. (rev. edn).

10 {UK Und.) burglar's tools.

■ In compounds fakement charley in.) {also fakement chorley)

v. [fake v.^ (2) -f SE out and out, complete,

extreme] to kill, to murder. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 239: To fake a man out and out is to kill him. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the

the Road' in Punch 9 Aug. 83/1:1 tumbles to every fresh fakement as

1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 266: I could tell you of any gauze quantity of patent fakements, but all on 'em's best left alone unless

to fool, to get the better of.

2 to sneak away.

donors [F&H]. any action or problem. 1864 Derby Day 48: Something's upset you, LittTun [...] what's the fakement. Let's have it straightforward, and no kid. 1879 "Arry on

easy as go and be blowed. 9 a trimming, a superfluous thing. 1882 G.A. Sala in Living London (1883) Mar. 87: His corduroy 'kicksies,' with the 'artful fakement' at the bottom, are in strictest accordance with the aesthetic traditions of the 'Cut'. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 128: The original out-and-out benjamins, or the celebrated bang-up kicksies, cut saucy, with artful buttons and a double fakement down the sides. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 158: The owner's fitted this 'ere tower up with all manner of scientific fakements - telescopes an' like that.

1

Nature's a fraud and a fizzle, that is if yer can't fake her out / With the taste of a Man about Town, ony sort as knows wot he's about. 1949 F. Leahy Notre Dame Football 69: If they are faked out they are lost temporarily [HDAS]. 1956 'More USAF SI.' AS XXXI:3 228: faked out, part. adj. Someone who gets into the traffic pattern before you, or taxies out in front of you, has 'faked you out' or 'beaten you to the draw.' 1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 142: We had been faked out before, and took it with a grain of salt, 1974 D. Goines Daddy Cool (1997) 13: The problem lay with faking out the two elderly women who worked in the storefront with him. 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 169: About the time that Sidney Blackpool and Otto Stringer were in the desert getting faked out of their loafers by a foxy owl. 1996 S. Frank Get Shorty [film script] Whatta you mean, he faked them out? 2001 N. Green Shooting Dr. Jack (2002) 53: The other kid faked him out, scored on him.

1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 390: I make this fakement to let you know I and morning spread are waiting.

1873 SI. Diet. 1911 E. Dyson 'The Truculent Boy' in Benno and Some of

v.

1885 "Arry on the Merry Month of May' in Punch 16 May 229/1:

3 a letter, a note.

8

{US) a bluff, a deception, an unpleas¬

a fake-out.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Fakement. A counterfeit signature. A

5

n. [fake out v. (1)]

ant surprise. 1969 Current SI. IV:1 7: Fake out, n. A bad experience. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 101: What

5

a confidence trickster, a fraudster. 1881 Trumble Man Traps of N.Y. 30: New York is celebrated for its

large army of petty swindlers, or, as they style themselves, 'fakers'. 1910 'O. Henry' 'What You Want' in Strictly Business (1915) 308: Say, you old faker [...] I don't know what your game is, unless you want change for a bogus $40,000,000 bill. 1916 J. Lait 'Canada Kid' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 174: There he was, a sidewalk curbstone faker, peddling with droning voice two-bit swindles to the Christmas crowds. 1928 M.C, Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 150: I had met an American faker, named Shaw, and an Oxford boy, a good sport. 1934 B. Appel Brain Guy (1937) 149: The grifters, chisellers, fakers, fags, business men on the tear. 1947 R.O. Boyer Dark Ship 227: When I get out of the bucket some of these fakers shoot one of

faking

fall

22

our guys. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 110; I had made him for a faker when he walked in the room. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner das 130/2: crip-faker n. A professional beggar who pre¬ tends bodily injury to gain attention. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather

1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec, 20/4: The card-fakir was struggling to

frame a suitable reply when Solly whispered something in his ear which surprised him. a person feigning illness or injury. 1912 A. Berkman Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist (1926) 457: 'You

5 (US)

139: Your crew of gypsy fakers hit my wife for seven grand.

fakir, we're next to you, all right.' [...] He murmurs plaintively, 'Yis,

6 a pimp.

sir, me seek, very seek.'

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer

&

Henley

fakus n.

[? fake n.^ (3)1 1 (Aus.) something, without a specific name, that has been 'thrown together' or 'knocked up'.

SI. and Its Analogues.

7 {US) a person feigning illness or injury.

1911 E.S. Sorenson Dissertation of Travellers in Life in the Aus. Backblocks 71: 'Goreny grease on yer, mate?' he asked. 'Th' bloomin' squeak o' this fakus [i.e. 'a brandy-box on four wooden wheels'] is

1933 N. West 'Miss Lonelyhearts' in Coll. Works (1975) 254: He felt better, knowing this, because he had begun to think himself a faker and a fool. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: faker-

enough to give a cove th' blues.'

One who shams or pretends. 8 (US campus) one who poses falsely in order to gain status.

2 deceptive acts that contribute to a confidence trick. 1963 A.S.

Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 208: Maggie had rehearsed me well; I found myself going through all the fakus.

1995 Eble Campus SI. Apr.

faking

n. (also faiking) [fake v.^1

1 (UK Und.)

thieving.

1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London II i: shut.: What the deuce

brought you here? covey.: Oh, a little screen faking, that's all. 1841 'Bon Gaultier' 'The Faker's New Toast' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 127: Come all you jolly covies, vot faking do admire. 1851 G. Borrow Lavengro II 30: Do you think my own child would have been transported [...] if there had been any harm in faking?

2 (UK Und.) cheating (e. g. at a card game). 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 30: faiking Cutting out the wards of a key. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 111/2: Keeip than 'lyghts'

open, wilt thau? an' iv thau 'pypes' any bloody 'faikin" at wurk 'sling' mi t' 'office'. 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 145: Another and more means

of

'fetching

the

farm'

is

termed

'faiking'

(malingering).

4 making, constructing. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 91: My old man was a romany and

got his dudder by chinay-faking and mush-faking.

■ In compounds faking-boy (n.) (also faking kid) (UK Und.) a thief. 1841 'Bon Gaultier' 'The Faking Boy to the Crap is Gone' in Farmer

Musa Pedestris (1896) 124: The faking boy to the crap is gone, / At the nubbing-cheat you'll find him. c.1850 'Wakefield Gaol' in R. Palmer Touch of the Times 250: My fakin' kid, what brought you here?

fakir n.

[vars. on FAKER n.; note the additional exotic tinge of SE fakir, a Muslim or Hindu holy mendicant] 1 a Street salesman of cheap goods, an itinerant repairman etc. 1875 Cincinnati Enquirer 21 June 1/4: Our Street Fakirs.* The fakirs

here meant are neither Persian dervishes nor Hindoo ascetics. Fakir is the technical term for a street-peddler—the men who, behind their stands at the street-corners, solicit by voice and gesture the patronage of the public. [Note] *Mayhew, the only writer on this subject, uses the term Fakement to designate a statement drawn up for the purposes of deception; hence the word Fake—goods made for the street sale, so the vender is called Fakir. 1887 H. Frederic Seth's Brother's Wife 107: You just everlastingly gave it to that snide show to-night [...] The sooner those fakirs understand that they can't play Tecumseh people for chumps, the better. 1897 J. London 'The Road' in Hendricks & Shepherd Jack London Reports (1970) 31121: Another division [...] is that of the 'Fakirs'. There are tinkers, umbrella menders, locksmiths, tattooers, tooth-pullers, quack doctors, corn doctors, horse doctors — in short, a lengthy list. Some sell trinkets and gew gaws and others, 'fakes'. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 220: A fakir has a satchel containing a number of small boxes, each holding a cake of soap. 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 131: The fakir closed his bag hurriedly and beat it; as somebody in the crowd said a cop was coming. 1935 X. Petulengro Romany Life 240: The taso-fakir, the china-mender [...] the cane-fakir, the old man or sometimes woman who mends you cane-seated chairs. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 27: You are on the bum and happen to hit up some nice, kind holy fakir who is bursting over with sentiment and sob-stuff and advice and you hit him up for the price of a meal. 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 232: When the garbage workers - the fakirs pitching vegetable cutters - got hungry they could feed on the display.

2

a confidence trickster, a fraudster. 1894 S. Crane in N.Y. Press Nov. in Stallman (1966) 104: Say, that

magic lantern man is a big fakir. Lookatim pushin' ads in on us. 1928 M. Bodenheim Georgie May 236: She could spot the fakirs in a minnit.

3 (US) an actor. 1887 Daily Trib. (Bismarck, ND) 23 Oct. 4/1: The actor seldom refers

to himself as such: he is a 'professional' or a 'fakir,' 4 a street cardsharp.

n. Irhy. si. = GAL n. (1)1 a young woman. 1909 (ref. to 1868) in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

falairy adj.

(SE floury] (Ulster) unpleasant.

1997 Share Slanguage.

falconer

n. (UK Und.) a confidence trickster, spec, one who poses as a poor scholar and thus persuades his victims to put up money in order to back the printing of some spurious learned pamphlet. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 5: He that casts up the

Lure is cal'd the Falconer. The Lure, that is cast up is an idle Pamphlet,

Falkirk n.

3 (UK prison) counterfeiting illness. frequent

fal

■ In exclamations get to Falkirk! see get to fuck! under fuck n.

fall

n.

1

an act of sexual intercourse.

1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk IV 69:1 could with this same

Youngster tall, / Find in my heart to try a Fall. / [...] / This only (not the mince the Matter) / Has made my Jiggambob to water.

2 (UK/US Und.) an arrest. 1894 Reminiscences Chief-Inspector Littlechild 204: This man [...] is now

in prison on the Continent. The story of his last 'fall' is interesting [OED]. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 32: fall [...] An arrest. [...] Example: 'He was soused when he attempted to pull off the stunt and got a fall.' 1928 J. O'Connor Broadway Racketeers 65: On a fall he'd bump into the same bit they gave me. 1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (VJSb) 36: If on the way home a member is pinched [...] he stands the fall personally. 1946 W.L. Gresham Nightmare Alley (1947) 278; They don't print you on vag and peddling falls. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 180: Hassan met a decent cop every time he took a fall. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 29: On each fall he had been 'jacked up' for either strong-arm robbery or 'till tapping'. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 31: Joe's fall was bad luck for me, too. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 182: I know they set up Ernesto Cabal for a fall. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J, Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 199: An endless, selfserving soliloquy [...] always ending in the Fall, the convict term for his arrest. 3 problems, difficulties, a 'fall from grace'. 1919 'Sapper' Mufti 195: I had meant to punish you; I had meant to

[...] teach you a lesson — and give you a fall. 1990 S. Homeboy 94: This Humpty Dumpty's got a fall comin.

Morgan

4 the consequences, esp. blame taken on behalf of another; see TAKE THE FALL below.

5 (UK/US Und.)

a conviction and the concomitant spell of

imprisonment. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1938 D. Runyon 'Butch Minds the

Baby' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 344:1 cannot stand another fall, what with being away three times already. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 80: fall [...] a conviction in court. 1959 J. Thompson Getaway in Four Novels (1983) 19: One more fall, one more prison stretch and — and that would be that. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 119: Say, dad, I heard about you just before your little old fall. / Say, that C-note I sent you, you didn't lose in a crap game at all. / [They] tell me you pitched a party with some punk named Bess, / tell me you bought that no-good whore a dress. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of'Eddie Coyle (1973) 142: He didn't talk then, but he had a fall coming and he knew it. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 39: Sugar Babies, most of you are hip that I just got up from a fall. 2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 150: The first fall I took, it was basically what it usually is, some wise young punk goes to jail. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 109; That's an automatic fall [,..] they catch you with shaved numbers, you goin back in on a felony charge.

■ In compounds fall bitch (n.) see fall guy n. (2).

fall

fall

23

fall dough (n.) [dough n. (1)] (US Und.) money set aside by a criminal for bribing policemen or obtaining bail if he is arrested. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vomb. Criminal SI. 32: fall dough [...] A

fund kept in reserve tor protection, to be expended in procuring legal representation, bail, or bribery of officers or court functionaries. Example: 'No one can join out unless he puts up five centuries for fall dough.' 1920 F. Williams Hop-Heads 76: He got a 'rumble,' too. Came near to being 'ditched.' But the 'fall dough' saved him. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS VI:6 438: falldough, n. Money used for lawyers, bail and fixers. 1937 (con. 190525) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (1956) 30: It is the boss's privilege at any time to hand the member the fall-dough he has put up and discharge him. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1951 Parole Chief 83: Many mobs have a central fund, a sort of community chest, called 'fall dough.' fall-gink (n.) see fall guy n. (2). D. Dressler

fall guy (n.) see separate entry. fall money (n.) (US Und.) bail and legal fees, just in case one is arrested. 1893 L.W. Moore His Own Story 197: If any accident happened to us, Hall was to stand his part of the 'fall' money [OED]. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 62: The 'fall money' of two pals, left in his keeping. 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 129: Course I let Mother know and she had a mouthpiece there with the fall money. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 1 53: Greasy even put up 'is own fall-money. 1932 V.F. Nelson Prison Days and Nights 23: Get a pinch when you haven't got fall money [...] and where do you get off? 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 239: Many con men [...] deposit a large sum of money with some legitimate person whom they can trust [...] This is known as 'fall money'. 1955 'Blackie' Audett Rap Sheet 162: Fall money was the stake we always tried to carry - generally $5,000 or so - to buy our way out of jams we might get in. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 213: I've got five 'G's' in fall money. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. fall partner (n.) (US Und.) one of two or more people who are arrested or sentenced to prison at the same time for the same crime; also one of a pair of thieves working together. 1951 J. Blake letter 25 Feb. in Joint (1972) 13: My fall partner was a

Southerner. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 171: Mitchell and Ivan Sullivan [...] were fall partners when they came here with thirtyyear sentences. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 72: When I finally got to Palacios, there's all my narcotics and the tools and all this stuff just sitting there. And there's my fall partner. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 203: fall partner, n. - an accomplice arrested with another. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 40: also Fall Partner When two or more people are involved in the same crime, fall scratch (n.) [scratch n? (3)] (US Und.) money that is held ready for use as bail, e.g. by a pimp for one of his whores. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 62: Whatta you think I got this ass pocket full of 'fall' scratch for?

fall togs (n.) [togs n. (1)1 (US Und.) respectable/smart clothing worn for a court appearance. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 445: Fall togs. Good clothes to be worn when on trial so as to create a favorable impression. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. il: Fall Togs. - Clothing especially selected by a criminal or by his lawyer to give him a good appearance on trial and so possibly influence the jury or judges in his favour. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: fall togs - Clothing especially selected by a criminal or his lawyer to give him a good appearance on trial and thus possibly influence the jury or judge in his favor.

■ In phrases give someone a fall (v.) of a man, to lie a woman down prior to sexual intercourse. 1748-49 Cleland Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1985) 113: He led her to the couch, 'nothing loth,' on which he gave her the fall; and extended her at length.

make a good/bad fall (v.) to have a piece of good or bad luck. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

take a fall (v.) 1 (US Und.) (also get a fall, take a drop) to be arrested, to be imprisoned. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Take a fall - to gel jailed. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 8: Nobody'll ever take a tall for this jam. 1938 D. RUNYON 'The Three Wise Guys' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 399: In all this time he never gets a fall. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 267: All the punk's done, since he took that bad fall by Gold's, is steer guys into Schwiefka's. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 32: Jack had taken a fall on a safe job and was in the Bronx county jail. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 220: Beeker called to say that Ace has taken a fall. 1961 M. Braly Felony Tank (1962) 34: Now they had taken their first bad fall, hundreds of miles from home.

1972 (con. 1930s) N. Algren 'The Last Carousel' in Texas Stories (1995) 140: When hit with the swag when the hooks were out, they could take a drop without hollering cop. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 71: I've heard that your father took a fall fencing. 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Detroit Redhead' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 111:1 took a fall for possession of a five-dollar bag of heroin. 1988 Ice-T 'Soul on Ice' [lyrics] 'Member when your boys took that fall, and I posted the bail. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 269: How that niggah gonna take a fall, come back, and get a better gig. 2003 G. Pelecanos Soul Circus 312: [He] told me he was protected. Which is why he goes about his business down here and doesn't take the long fall.

2 (US) to tumble, to slip over. 1930 E. Caldwell Poor Fool 27: If you don't lay off that wench of yours you'll take a fall next Friday night. 3 (US) to find oneself in difficulties, to come to grief. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 78: Any number of people would like to see Terry Sneed take a fall, including some news reporters. 1982 O. Marshall 'The Master of Big Jingles' in Ace of Diamonds Gang (1993) 14: He resented Creamy's ability [...] he'd like to see Creamy take a fall. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 225: It was time, high time, for Daymond to take a fall. 2001 (con. 19648) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 534: I take falls . . . race horses , . . many headaches. 2007 UGK 'Chrome Plated Woman' [lyrics] With a bitch this bad, how could a nigga take a fall? take a fall out of (v.) (US/Aus.) 1 to get the better of someone. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 May 8/3: But I do [forget him] now that I have heard James Bain's parody on the ditty and seen his Hop-like caricature of the singer. How the house 'tumbles to it' when Bain takes a fall out of 'Pie, pie, pie!' 1906 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IILii 160: take a fall out of, v. phr. To get the better of. 1908 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 10/4: poet and pug. / 'So that's Burns, is it? Blime, I think I could take a fall out of 'im meselfl' 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 20: This Janissary, seems by way of being influential, don't you think? Jupiter Olympus! I'm not terribly keen on taking a fall out of him. 2 (also get a fall out of) to involve oneself with something. 1889 A. Daly Great Unknown 29: You just see me take a fall out of my 'Universal History' [DA]. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 325: I'll get a fall outa whatever it is. 3 to reprimand someone. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmle Fadden Explains 77: De Duchess looked like she'd take a fall Gutter me de first chanst she'd get. take the fall (v.) (a/so take a fall) (US) 1 to volunteer oneself as a victim, usu. as the alleged perpetrator of a crime, in the place of the real villain. 1927 C. COE Me - Gangster 77: 1 kept my mouth shut and took the fall for the whole gang, and now Slug was putting the rap on me with the old man! 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 140: They arrested my housekeeper, Skinner, and she took the fall. 1930 E. Caldwell Poor Fool 28: Ah's a little scared of taking a fall for another guy. They might doublecross you. 1944 D. Runyon Runyon a la Carte 23: He only takes the fall for others. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 233: I took the fall for you, Tom. But he's the one made me do it. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 155: I am prepared to take the fall for this one. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 87: One time Clark Gable killed a guy drunk driving. So Louis Mayer just points at some guy, some duty bug at MGM and says 'You're taking the fall.' 2 to be accused (and condemned) unfairly of a crime. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 29: Who d'you pick to take the fall? 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 130: I thought he took the fall on that [...] last month or something. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 100: Chloe's been killed and you're afraid you'll take the fall.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases dead fall (n.) see under dead adj. fall v.^ 1 (orig. UK, 20CJ- mainly US) to be caught in illegal activities and subseq. arrested, tried and convicted. 1879 'Autobiog. of a Thief' in Macmillan's Mag. (London) XL 502: A little time after this I fell (was taken up) again at St. Mary Cray. 1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 43: Billy the Snide an' 'is missis bofe fell. 1901 J. Flynt World of Graft 97: I fell for the first time down South. The tumble hurt pretty bad, 'cause I'd got to think I was never goin' to get caught. 1909 F.H. Tillotson How 1 Became a Detective 88: To 'fall' is to be arrested. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 15: I had worked for pounds, and had fallen for a penny. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 133: It would make him look a dead mug if he were to fall. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 247: When the Yellow falls [...] there is always a lot of notoriety connected with the case. 1951 J. Blake letter 25 Feb. in Joint (1972) 14: The remains of the proceeds from a gas station we pilfered before we fell. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996)

fall

fall

24

118: When you get useless [i.e. as an informer], you fall harder than anybody. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 20: 'Depends what you've got in mind after Manso - if he's likely to go, that is.' [...] 'He'll fall all right, Terry. I've a lot of faith in your ability.' 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 52: You've fallen together on several raps. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 106: He had fallen on agg assault. 2 to lose status, to be deprived of a comfortable situation. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 22: Ultimately, DeAndre McCullough fell at the hands of his own mother.

fall fall fall fall fall fall

for (v.) see separate entry, in the furrow (v.) see under furrow n. in (the shit) (v.) see under shit n. in the thick (v.) see under thick n. into (v.) see separate entries. off the Christmas tree (v.) 1 (US campus) to be amazed.

1896 W.C.

Gore

Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 13: fall off the Christmas

tree To be very much surprised.

2 (also come down off the Christmas tree) to be stupid, to be foolish; usu. in neg. phrs., such as / didn't fall off the Christmas tree,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fall-downs (n.) fragments of a pie that fall from the larger piece or

I'm not stupid, don't take me for a fool. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 588: since mid-1940s. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 173: You reckon I came down off the

slice when it is being cut up; plates of such fragments were sold at a halfpenny a plate in cookshops. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

fall off the roof (v.) see under roof n. fall off the (water) wagon (v.) [play on water wagon n.l 1 to drink

■ In phrases fall about (v.) {orig. US) to collapse in laughter. 1946 Mezzrow Er Wolfe Really the Blues 98: They all fell about at this

funny gag. 1958 J. Osborne Epitaph for George Dillon Act II: Can't say I've heard you falling about with mirth since you came here. 1971 J. Mandelkau Buttons 89: She [...] ended up on her butt in the middle of the highway with us falling hysterically about. 1983 (con, 1940s) D. Nobbs Second From Last in the Sack Race 144: 'Cricketer,' said Webster, and everybody fell about. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 154: They all fell about. Only Jane fell about noisily, other two kept their smirking a bit quieter. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 19 Mar. 62: We all fell about laughing.

fall all over oneself (v.) to make extreme, if chaotic, efforts to achieve what one or another wants. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 13: fall all over one’s self To get confused.

fall apart (v.) (a/so come apart) to collapse emotionally, to lose control of one's feelings. 1938 Pic (N.y.) Mar. 8: beat to the socks. — all fogged out. Prima's band falls apart between sessions. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 187: The smell of linoleum, for some reason, will always make me fall apart and collapse on the floor. 1953 J. Thompson Alcoholics (1993) 26: If I don't get a drink fast I'm going to fall apart. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 186: Some of them seemed to be coming apart from sheer outrage. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 265: He's fallen apart since his wife walked out on him. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 98:1 did tough bits, but I didn't fall apart. 1976 R. Price Blood Brothers 116: When she showed us how to wipe the dummy's ass MacDonald totally fell apart. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 362:1 see the guy starting to come apart. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 104: He slowly began to come apart. 1998 D. Hecht Skull Session 491: He fell to pieces in my hands, Paulie, he came apart. 1999 Indep. Information 21-27 Aug. 47: He can no longer take the unrelenting pressure of his job. 'This is all I do, day after day, just to stop the whole thing falling apart,' he shouts with increasing desperation. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 39: When Jimmy was killed, he pretty much fell apart, fall back (v.) (US) to run off. 1812 'Hector Bull-us' Diverting Hist, of John Bull and Brother Jonathan 45: It was found necessary to fall back - a cant phrase of John Bull, who is famous for cant and slang - and which means running away as fast as legs can carry you.

fall down (on) (v.) 1 (US) to fail, to blunder, to 'come to grief'. 1873 J.H. Beadle Undeveloped West 704: We'll reach Sioux City by 5 o'clock, if we don't fall down. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the ExTanks 122: I fell down pretty hard this afternoon on that Gotham thing. 1907 J. London Road 178: It was our turn to fall down, and we did, hard. 1920 F. Packard White Moll 183: You're too old a bird to fall down. Nan. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Vmcr'e.u. Judgement Day vci Studs Lonigan (1936) 560:1 never fell down on a job for Paddy Lonigan yet. 1947 'Big Buffer' 'Boomerang' in Eve. News (Trinidad) 19 Oct. in Selvon (1989) 83: Solly is really falling down on the job these days. 1953 J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 50: If I fell down [...] I'd never live to fumble another one [i.e. a criminal 'job']. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 137: Bathroom right in the kitchen, some kind of planning [...] Another thing Ruby fell down on. 2 (US gang/black) to attack. 1969 (ref. to 1950s) in R.L. Keiser Vice Lords 4: Now see, by him being tight with us, when the Cobras or the Imperials fall down on

us, they going to fall down on him too. 3 (US) to experience, to enjoy. 1959 H. Ellison 'No Game tor Children' in Gentleman Junkie (1961) 78: Hey, man, you wanna fall down on some laughs? Treppe herunterfallen, to fall downstairs; the si. is found in Cer. areas of the US] (US) to get a haircut. 1950 WELS [DARE].

fall downstairs (v.) ICer. die

fuckin' Christmas tree?

heavily, usu. in the context of resuming drinking after a period of abstinence. 1899 W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 15: The minute I got into that suit, I fell off the water wagon with an awful bump, although I hadn't touched a drink for thirty-seven days. 1908 N.Y. Globe 20 May in Fleming Unforgettable Season (1981) 71: Mike Donlin had fallen off the water wagon with a dull thud. 1920 R. Lardner Big Town 188: I seen Mercer and you wouldn't of never knew he'd fell off the wagon. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 146: Uncle Ned, who was continually going on the water-waggon and continually falling off it again. 1942 R.L. Bellem 'Color of Murder' Dan Turner Hollywood Detective Dec. [Internet] You paid her a stack of cabbage to make him fall off the wagon, c.1943 'Bill O. Lading' You Chirped a ChinfuU! n.p.: Flown the Pole: Off the water wagon. To start drinking again. 1953 A.J. Liebling Honest Rainmaker (1991) 62: Bartenders ]...] say they never take a drink. But sooner or later [...] they fall off the wagon. 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 267: The mother'd been in AA for years, but she fell off the wagon and had to be locked up. 1989 A. Higgins 'The Bird I Fancied' in Helsingor Station and Other Departures 157: They fell off the wagon with a hell of a crash. 1992 B. Gifford Night People 159: Wes [...] immediately thereafter fell off the wagon on which he had been a brief passenger. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 245: The writers would send the main character into a bar so that he could fall off the wagon again for an episode or so.

2 in ext. use, to abandon any good resolution. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' Get Next 14: I'm going to fall off the sense wagon and break a five dollar bill,

fall fall fall fall

of the leaf (n.) see under leaf n. out see separate entries. over backwards (v.) see bend over backwards under bend v.^ . over oneself (v.) to go out of one's way to do something (usu.

altruistic). 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Dec. 11/4: And then Fortune frowns, and the wide-awake landlady produces the letters, and - the man's counsel falls over himself in his rush to accept a nonsuit. 1904 Brooklyn Standard Union 2 Aug. 6: The bonafide independent element is not falling over itself to come to Parker's assistance [DA]. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Nov. 44/1:1 knew what cruelled me. I didn't look a bloke what used fifty quids for mornin' beers; but if I had a new suit on an' a cigar stuck in me face they'd bin failin' over themselves ter serve me. 1917 'A-No. 1' From Coast to Coast with Jack London 112: Folks fairly fell over each other to pay homage to Buffalo Bill. 1921 R.D. Paine Comrades of the Rolling Ocean 130: The thirsty outlaws fall over themselves to hand you ten or twelve dollars a quart for it [DA]. 1934 S.N. Behrman Three Plays 157: They fall all over themselves to buy the stock. You can't print the paper fast enough. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 131: The new generation of City spivs fell over themselves [...] to overpay.

fall through one’s (own) asshole (v.) see under asshole n. fall to (v.) 1 (US Und.) to notice. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 260: The gun had just lifted his mitt when the conny fell to the graft and tipped the sucker to the lay.

2

see fall for v. (2).

fall to pieces (v.) [19C Leicester dial.; 1940s-F use is Aus.j to go into labour, to give birth. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 75: FELL TO PIECES: vulgar slang meaning that the woman alluded to has undergone confinement in childbed. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 28: Fall to pieces, [...] to undergo confinement, to give birth to a child. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: If, though, she should be afraid of getting ducky and falling to pieces, she may be satisfied with French kissing.

■ In exclamations go fall on yourself! (US) a dismissive excl.

fall

fall guy

25

1893 S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 41; 'Oh, hell,' said Pete, easily. 'Go fall on yerself.'

fall

fall out see separate entries. fall up (v.) {US black) to arrive, to turn up.

v2 1 to commit oneself.

1958 H, Ellison Web of the City (1983) 177: Let's fall up to your pad,

1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 135: He didn't fall that night, nor the

1961 L. Block Diet of Treacle (2008) 137: Fall up around six or so for

next night, 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 48: Joe looked to her like a Bushel of Oats until he began to pull down at the Works, when she and her Maw suddenly sat up and exchanged Glances and fell to the Fact that they were harbouring a Live One. 2 to get married.

dinner. 1999 R. Glenn 'In Your Arms' Phase 3 on Britney Press [Internet] When he got back to New York Nick pieced up Freeze and they fell up in Some Joint in Queens.

fall

1962 C. Rohan Delinquents 150: Who would think I'd be so stiff as to

1912 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 103; I thought I'd like to get married [...] I've been thinking it over and I think I'm going to fall.

fall again? 1967 N. Dunn Poor Cow 78: Do you know you can fall with a white man and have it with a coloured bloke when you'e carrying and it'll turn out a half-caste? 1970 H.E. Bates A Little of What You Fancy (1985) 581: He didn't think they fell nowadays, what with the Pill and all that. 1981 J. Sullivan 'Big Brother' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Do you know she was 39 when she fell for you? 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

3 to fall in love. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 148; I fell pretty hard. She was so—er, dainty.

1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 116: Just when a

dame thinks I'm failin'

—

Your Ass in the Water

(1974)

well, I usually ain't! 101:

1964 B. Jackson Get

She lamped my roll

[saw my

money], fell heart and soul, / and wanted to dance with me.

fall

v.^

1 {US black)

to leave.

v."* (also fall for) labbr. SE fall pregnant) to become pregnant.

1959 D. Hewett Bobbin Up (1961) 24: Thank Christ I'm too old to fall.

fallen angel n. see angel n. (1). fallen on adj. [fall v."*] pregnant.

1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 296: Tell me, pa-pa, Ise you' ma-ma,

1976 New Society 15 Jul. n.p.; As soon as a woman realised she had

/ Yaller gal can't make you fall. 1953 L, Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 1: Let all the ickies drape in shape and fall from the pad hip to the tip and most mad. 1959 A. Anderson 'Dance of the Infidels' in Lover Man 159: Come on, let's fall down to my pad and get happy.

'fallen on' or 'got caught' she would take action. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 377/1: since ca. 1930.

fallen soldier n. fall for V, 1 to fall

2 (Aus.) to arrive suddenly, usu. of the police.

1903 'Hugh McHugh' I Need The Money 27: When Bunch propounded

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1375/2: since late 1940s.

his scheme [...] Ikey fell for it in a minute. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew Pt 10 [Internet] When it comes to finance we're sure the fattest suckers that ever fell for the get-rich-quick bunco. 1917 WODEHOUSE 'Crowned Heads' in Man with Two Left Feet 94: I fell for you directly I seen you. 1920 F.S, Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald III (1960) 69: He was going to fall for her . . . Sally had published that information to her young set. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 70: I fell for him after I thought I never could fall for a man that way. 1945 'Henry Green' Loving (1978) 104: Look dear I could fall for you in a big way. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 78: Don't tell me you fell for that one. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 30: The girls all fall for you, isn't that so? 1966 C. Stead Cotters' England (1980) 169: You fell for that bugger in the office. 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 256: He's a pouf. He might fall for you, but he won't give you anything. 1982 P. Bailey Eng. Madam 69: He never thought there was going to be a tomorrow, like most of the men I've fallen for. 1992 D. Jarman diary 29 June Smiting in Slow Motion (2000) 159: Pat fell for Gerald, Gerald fell for me. 2000 Guardian G2 14 Jan. 6: Europe has never fallen for crisps in the way we have.

■ In phrases fall by (v.) (orig. US black) to visit without prior warning, to drop in. 1955 S. Allen Bop Fables 37; I'd like you to fall by grandma's joint

this afternoon. 1958 J.C. Holmes Horn 220: I fell by here looking for a chick. 1963 T. Southern 'You're Too Hip, Baby' Red Dirt Marijuana (1973) 75; I've got a box, man [...] and some new Monk — you know, if you ever want to fall by. 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 33: They decided to fall by Tonys pad. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 27: Like you fall by dis little ol' party and dey be wall-to-wall-niggas—gettin' down to the ground! fall in (v.) 1 (orig. US black) {also fall on in, fall out, fall over) to arrive, to go to, to visit; thus fall-in n., an entrance. C.1850 'Wakefield Gaol' in R. Palmer Touch of the Times 251: When service was over, all came back; At eight fell in for skilly and whack. 1856 C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 33: Hem! did you ever fall in with any Yankees? 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 383: We'd all fall in in a bunch at 4:27 in the morning, 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 59: Pimps and simps would fall in from here and there and everywhere. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 158: When he falls in at the dance tonight it won't be like anybody ever fell in before. [Ibid.] 162: Gangs from all over the city gathered and their entrance - or 'fall-in' - was of vast importance. That which made the most impressive fall-in soared up the social ladder and found favor in the eyes of the girls. 1956 H. Ellison 'Made in Heaven' in Deadly Streets (1983) 179: Maybe I’ll fall over to the clubroom. 1958 G. Lea Somewhere There's Music 34: Why don't you fall out with your axe some night? 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 79: When she crawled out of a flophouse she fell in the nearest bar. 1965 H. Huncke in Huncke's Journal (1998) 31: Phil called yesterday and said he might fall over — maybe cop some boo. 1972 'Soulful Spider' 'Pimp in a Clothing Store' in Milner & Milner (1972) 286: Diamonds sparkling, oh, lookie here, look like stars on his fingers, you understand me. He fell on in high-sidin' with his hands off in his pockets, his hand mini-high off in his pants, you understand me, and he fell on in. [Ibid.] 288: And he falls on down. Jack, took his hands off in his pocket, pulled his pants halfway all up his chest and falls on in the store. 1980 (con, 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Russian Blackie' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 101: Once he fell in and spoke to me directly about doing him a favor. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 34: Yer the first person I've recognized since 1 fell in at this reunion. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 72: The night with its Clockwork Orange gangs and skinheads and hippy dealers falling in and out of Ward's pub.

2 {also fall to) in fig. use, to become involved. 1837 Marryat Snarleyyow I 50: We were boozing [...] at the Pint in Portsmouth—and so you see, falling in with him, I wished to learn something about my new skipper. 1840 R.H. Dana Two Years before the Mast (1992) 200: He said that, a number of years before [...] he had fallen in with a pamphlet on the subject. 1861 M.E. Braddon Trail of the Serpent 363: Von day vhen me and Jim vos at a public, ve happened to fall in vith a sailor. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 27: After we'd done Dukey invited the loafers in the pub to fall to and have a thumb-piece. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Oct. 43/1: That's where we fall in - or, rather, it's where those hundreds you were fluting about disappear.

fall into (v.) see separate entries.

see dead soldier under soldier n.

in love with a person or an idea or plan.

2

{also

fall to) to be fooled by a plan or trick,

1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 81:1 don't fall for that old

gag. 1910 'O. Henry' 'The Poet and the Peasant' in Strictly Business (1915) 78: You don't think I'd fall to that, do you? 1917 Wodehouse 'Crowned Heads' in Man with Two Left Feet 102: He fell for it right away, c.1921 T. Norman Penny Showman 6: Anyway, I fell for his tale. 1938 D. Runyon 'What, No Butler?' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 393:1 am surprised you fall for etchings [...] one of the oldest build¬ ups of a doll in the world. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 236: A man in some love scene fell for the jive some chick was putting down. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 266: If he knew Jerry he was shooting a line, the bastard, and no doubt like the rest of her sex she was falling for it. 1963 G, Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 30: I gave him this line [...] about having to lubricate my vocal cords. He fell for it. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 76: You fell for that one. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 51:1 tried to put the blame on some local punks. Maybe Fat Dog would fall for it. 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 191: How the hell I let you drag me into this sick shit [..,] is beyond me. I can't believe I fell for it. 2000 Guardian 20 Jan. 13: They fell for it, hook, line and sinker.

fall guy

n. [accordingtoBentley&Corbett, Prison s/angd992), there was a real-life/a// guy, Albert Bacon Fall (1861-1944), who in 1922 took upon himself the entire blame for the Teapot Dome Scandal; despite the involvement of many top government officials. Fall was the only one to serve time, a sentence of one year and one day; this, however, does not match available and earlier citations; note FALL v.^ (1)1 (orig, US) 1 a victim who is chosen or forced to suffer punishments or difficulties that are, in fact, due to another person. 1883 J.A. Mitchell Life n.p.: The president is the country's fall guy.

He cannot call his soul his own. He has to swallow his personal views and remember he is a party man. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 226: I never thought I'd be the fall guy for such raw work. 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 293: We ain't goin' to be th' 'fall guys' fer Steve [...] If we've got to do time, so has he! 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 163: Our respected Neighbour has got it into his Bean that a Raw Deal has been framed and that he is the Fall Guy. 1928 J. O'CONNOR Broadway Racketeers 182: The fall

falling

guy now-a-days looks sure for a stretch. 1939 V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 38: So you've just roped in those two hundred lags as fall guys for us. 1945 R.M. Lindner Stone Walls and Men 106: He served them well by becoming the 'fall-guy' for the ring. 1945 R.L. Bellem 'Coffin for a Coward' in Hollywood Detective Dec. [Internet] [of a woman] You wanted to lure this blonde cutie up to that apartment and make her the fall guy. 1950 A. Christie Murder Is Announced (1958) 71: A [fall guy,' if I understand it rightly, means someone who will be blamed for a crime really committed by someone else. 1969 C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 74: His father was just a figurehead and a fall guy in case someone had to take a rap. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 137: We know they used you as a [...] fall guy. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 126: And he was quite nice in a way, the fool, the poor foal. Guy: the fall guy. 1990 .1. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 366: 'She said you were jist perfect. A perfect ...' 'Fall guy.' 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 217: Theys settin me up as a fall guy.

2 (also fall bitch, fall-gink) a person who is easily duped, a victim. 1908 B. Fisher 'A. Mutt' [comic strip] I am tired of being the fall guy.

All I got for my coin so far is indictments. 1915 Lincoln (NE) Daily News 2 Aug. 3-A: I figger dat he's a fall-gink f'r de Jav' t'ing, an' so I slips him wot I call de Mocha mace. 1916 'A-No. 1' Snare of the Road 120: 'Here comes my fall-guy,' I mused. 1921 P. & T, Casey Gay-cat 54: What you t'ink — make fall-guy out o' me? 1933 W.R. Burnett Dark Hazard (1934) 48: [He] went around yelling [...] 'Extra! Extra! Lake Michigan on fire,' and laughing at all the fall-guys who turned their heads. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 H. McCoy Corruption City 13: You're made to order for him because you're not after his job. You're the fall guy. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 325: He'd promised Belly a comeback and used her as a fall bitch. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 105: His lawyer [...] does his pro bono best to paint a picture of Ischi as the fall guy.

falling n. (US black)

acting insanely. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] failin' Definition: acting crazy. Example: Nigga, you crazy! Stop fallin '.

falling den n.

[SE/a//l (US black) a bed. and His Songs (1964) 190: What's stirrin', babe: stirrin', babe? / Somebody in my failin' den -. 1925 Odum & Johnson

falling sickness

n. (also falling evil) [SE falling sickness, epilepsy]

sexual intercourse. 1594 Gesta Grayorum in J. Nichols Progresses and Processions of Queen Elizabeth (1823) III 337: If any woman be trobled with fallinge sicknes, let her not travayle Westwardhoe, because she must avoyde the Isle of Man; and for that it is an evill only outward into her, let her for a charme alwayes have her leggs acrosse when she is not walkinge, and this will healpe her. 1615 T. Overbury New and Choise Characters n.p.: [A Maquerela] Only her beds are most commonly in print: she can easily turne a sempstresse, into a wayting gentle¬ woman, but her Ward-robe is most infectious, for it brings them to the Falling-sicknes. 1624 Fletcher Wife for a Month I i: There's no such cure for the she-falling sickness As the powder of a dryed Bawds Skin. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 9 26 July-3 Aug. 84: A young Shameshitter [i.e. sempstress] [...] having the falling Sickness comming upon her, slid backward into a Ditch, where by chance, a young man came to comfort her; her Fitt was very strong upon her, but by the young mans help she soon recovered, ever since she wearing green Ribbins at her elbows because that with lying along on her back in the Fitt, she had worn out all her gown and elbows. 1661 G. Rogers Horn Exalted 24: [Parsley] doth cause in men the Falling evil: Coition too is a petty Epilepsy. 1673 Head Canting Academy 158: What’s the best remedy for a woman that’s troubled with the falling sickness? - It may be cured by a spell of the only crossing her Leg. 1705 N. Ward Fortune’s Bounty 10: [Physicians cannot cure] The Falling Evil in their Wives; Who when their Frensies were upon 'em. And on their backs their Fits had thrown 'em. They could not rise ... Whilst any Man was standing by 'em.

fall into

v.^ to come upon, to obtain. 1938 D. Runyon 'Lillian' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 291: He marries his old doll [...] and falls into a lot of dough,

fall into

v.^ (US) 1 to stay. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Ed Leary' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 126: It would give him a place to fall into should he 1980 (con.

return to the city.

2 to visit. 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Bill Burroughs Part IF in Eve. Sun

Turned Crimson (1998) 157: Bill had half-heartedly mentioned the possibility of his falling into Houston sometime Saturday afternoon,

fall-out n. 1 (Aus.)

false

26

the threat of pieces falling from an old, unsafe

automobile. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 376/2: since ca. 1955.

2 (or/g. Aus.) of a woman's breasts, their falling out of a badly secured or overly low-cut bikini or swimsuit.

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 376/2: since ca. 1960.

fall out

V

1

to leave.

1935 H. McCoy They Shoot Horses, Don't They? in Four Novels (1983) 17:

When a contestant falls out and has to go to the pit, the partner will have to make two laps, 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 292: Zutty and Benny fell out, and we dashed right over to Harlem. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 3: Don't nobody move holler or shout it's time for the cats to fall on out. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 72: The night with its Clockwork Orange gangs and skinheads and hippy dealers falling in and out of Ward's pub.

2 to enthuse, to be delighted by. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: fall out: to be overcome with emotion. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 138: fall out: to be aroused emotionally. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 66: I understand kids today falling out behind the Rolling Stones. 2007 J. Stahl 'Pure' in Love Without 161: Instead of 'the Lord is my shepherd,' he busted out

'Jesus is my pimp!' and everybody fell out. 3 (US black) to faint; to collapse, to fall asleep; often when overcome by drug consumption or excessive drinking. 1941 W. Attaway Blood on the Forge 41: Gonna drink red pop till I

falls out. 1959 A. Anderson 'Dance of the Infidels' in Lover Man 164: That simple motherhubber done fell out, 1964 B. JACKSON Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 146: She shot a speedball toddy and fell out at the party, 1973 M. Agar Ripping and Running 145: Cause like anybody falls out, I'm tellin you right now that I'm throwin you out the window. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 22: fell out [...] 'Nigger stole on me, I moved a few feet, then fell out.' 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 15: I [...] marched into the bedroom and fell out. 2001 G. Pelecanos Right As Rain 57: If the shit was eighty-five, ninety per cent pure for real, you'd have junkies failin' out dead all over the city. 4 to be overcome with laughter. 1946 Mezzrow 8- Wolfe Really the Blues 369: fall out: be tickled to death. 1959 J. Blake letter 6 Aug. in Joint (1972) 142: He didn't fall out at my small polished witticisms. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 17: He didn't say anything, and everybody fell out with a laugh kick. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 58: Theopolis fell out laughing. 1980 E. Folb Riinnin' Down Some Lines 236: fall out Laugh uncontrollably. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: Fell out (v.)

Laughed hard. 5 (US black) to be surprised. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 138: fall out: [...] to be taken

by complete surpise. 1975 E. Torres Carlito’s Way 73: She fell out when she saw my white Lincoln. 1992 R. Price dockers 66: You gonna fall out when I tell you who I'm talking about. 6 to relax, 1952 T. Southern 'The Night the Bird Blew for Doctor Warner' in

Southern (1973) 55: I got big eyes to get on and just fall out someplace where the cats are blowin'.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fall out of one’s standing (v.) (Irish) 1 to collapse from exhaus¬ tion. 1995 P. O'Keeffe Down Cobbled Streets, A Liberties Childhood 74: It's hard times to be out on the streets, and some of them nearly failin' out of their standing.

2 to be surprised, stunned. 1997 Share Slanguage.

faloose/falouse n. false n. [SE falsehood:

see feloose n. note 16C-18C SE false, a lie, a deception] (US

black) a lie. 1923 C. Greer-Petrie Angeline Doin’ Society 2: If he had told a false, Lum wanted to be able to tell

[...] about hit when he got home

[DARE]. 1927 R.E. Kennedy Gritny People 20: I ain' tellin' no false [DARE]. C.1938 H.M. Hyatt Hoodoo (1970) 1 12: Dey'll go, prob'ly uptown an' tell a false' on me an' have me put in jail [DARE],

false adj. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds false face (n.) (US campus) a hypocrite, an insincere person. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L: 1 /2 58: false face n One

who is insincere.

false hereafter (n.) [pun] (US society) a bustle. a.1889 National Police Gazette (N.Y.) n.p.: The scheme worked to

perfection. In the large bustles which they wore, the dudes carried off their wardrobe in large false hereafters, and passed the lady of the house on the way out [B&L]. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

false false

V. [obs. SE false, to cheat, to betray, to defraud, to break one's word]

(Aus.) to pretend to be what one is not, to act under false pretences; thus falsing n., shamming, malingering. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 36: 'Don't give us that. I tell you it's all

I got, "Lucky". You'll go in and lose it on the first.' 'Perce,' said 'Lucky' earnestly. 'You knew me well in Sydney. Have you ever caught me falsin?' 'Well - no,' said Perce, frowning. 1955 'No. 35' Argot in G. Simes DAUS (1993). 1962 C. Rohan Delinquents 104: 'He's in the States.' 'Yes, sure.' 'He is. Dawn, no falsing.' 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: falsing: Pretending, feigning illness. 1971 J. McNeil Chocolate Frog (1973) 40: Shirker: Remember? Tosser: (wryly) Whadder you think? Course I do [...] all of it. Shirker: (doubtfully) I reckon yer falsin', china.

false!

exc/. (SE but note truelfalse answers required in various forms of examination! [US campus) no! impossible! that's not true! 1989 P. Munro si. U. 77: I was so thirsty this morning I drank a

whole gallon of milk. — False!

false alarm nf'

(play on SE]

1

a braggart, a boaster.

1902 O. WiSTER Virginian 5: Schucks! You're a false alarm. 1907 W.M.

Bucky O'Connor (1910) 46: That coyote,.won't pester you any more. Will you, Mr. False Alarm Bad Man? 1922 Appleton (WI) PostCrescent 3 May It A: Flapper Dictionary false alarm - A girl who trys to be a Scandal Walker. 1928 M. West Pleasure Man (1997) II ii: I know you're nothing but a false alarm. 1931 R.E. Howard 'Texas Fists' Fight Stories May [Internet] How about it, amigo? Will you mosey back up in the hills with us and flatten this big false alarm? 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 67/2: False alarm. Any insincere or disloyal person. Raine

2 something or someone that does not live up to expectations. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. 170: [title] The Fable of Lutie, the False

Alarm, and How She Finished about the Time that she Started. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 120: I'm what you would call a false alarm, Torchy. I've been tried out and haven't made good. 1913-14 Van Loan 'No Business' in Taking the Count 155: Tierney says Callahan is a false alarm, and that the first fairly good boy he meets will lick him in a round. 1924 C.S. Montanye 'The Dizzy Dumb-Bell' in Top Notch 1 Aug. [Internet] You said then that he was a case for the fire department—a false alarm. 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer's Colt 179: 'Searchlight' of the Racing Omniscient said that the horse was a false alarm and couldn't beat a carpet. 1940 T. Thursday 'There's Hicks In All Trades' in All Sports Feb. [Internet] Fire—hell! It was just another false alarm—like Blood Thirsty McGaff. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

false alarm

n.^ [rhy. sl.j (orig. milit) the arm.

1917 W. Muir Observations of Orderly 225: A man's arm is his 'false

alarm'. 1942

Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 1960, 1975 & Flexner DAS. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 106: His 'false alarm' [is] his arm. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 248: false ALARM (n) Arm. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. St. Wentworth

falsies n. 1

pads placed in a brassiere that accentuate the shape and dimensions of otherwise diminutive female breasts. 1949 I. Shulman Cry Toughl 173: 'Mitch,' he said as he leaned toward

Iris [...] and grasped a breast, 'this babe is stacked.' Mitch smiled. 'No falsies?' 1956 A. Childress Like One of the Family 66: Since I'm a wee bit flat-chested. I'm supposed to buy 'falsies'. 1967 G. Freeman Undergrowth of Lit. (1969) 143: Cloth falsies, concealed in the dress, complete the deception. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 143: Hey! [...] This bitch wears falsies! She ain't got titty-one! 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 77: cheaters, which can refer to [...] falsies or other padding for deceptively enhancing one's physical attributes. 1990 J. Naidoo Coolie Location 62: One day he brushed past her and swore that they were genuine: 'Nah, that cherrie doesn't need falsies'. 2004 J. Canfield et al. Chicken Soup for the Girlfriend's Soul 19: Once in the bedroom, I tried on my bathing suit with the falsies in place.

2 {also falsie) anything fake added to a body, e.g. false eyelashes.

3

fam

27

1946 H.A. Smith Rhubarb 131: He wears a falsie. 1957 R. Prather Always Leave 'Em Dying 117: You also forget they aren't going to get away with it, since if they try, to-morrow at three o'clock I shall be right there in the thick of things, yanking off falsies or whatever, and raising all kinds of hell. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey, But the Season's Over 107: How to make falsies look real. 1971 New Scientist 1 Jan. 5: Those pretenders who stick on their crowning glory with adhesive can be recognised in overheated carriages when the temperature raises itchy hell under their head-falsies. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 111: Anyway thee gave her a falsie, y'know, like a glass one [i.e. eye]. ]Ibid.] 211: This one-armed feller; he's probly wearin a falsie, inny? One a them false limbs, like. padding inserted in the trousers to resemble large genitals. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 157: They all wear enormous falsie baskets. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and

Phrases.

4 false teeth. 1986 T. Winton That Eye, The Sky 102: Taking the Michael out of his

girlfriend for being ugly and dropping her falsies in the washing. 1993 K. Lette Foetal Attraction (1994) 102: Come on, Gillian. Are you really going to tongue-kiss a bloke with falsies?

fam

n.^ {also famm, fern, feme) (abbr. famble n. (1)]

1

a hand.

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered

32: Famms, Hands. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account of the Malefactors executed at Tyburn 18th March 1740 part II 7: A Gentleman who was a very Rum-muns ]...] who had a very handsome Glim Star, (that is, a Ring) upon his Feme, (that is. Hand). 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1 774) 42: Tip us your Fam; give us your Hand. 1764 Bloody Register III 169: [as cit. 1741]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 28: And allowing for delicate fams, which have merely / Been handling the sceptre. 1826 J. Bruton 'My Mugging Maid' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 99: The flask that in her fam appeared / The snore that her conk betrayed, / Told me that Hodge's max had queered / My mugging maid. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 178: Ne'er was there seen such a dashing prig ]...] With my fawnied famms, and my onions gay. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 59: Pipe my fams! nanty bano quester! 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 36: famms, the hands. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten St. Diet. [as cit. 1859]. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: With fawneys on your dexter famm - / A mot's good-night to one and all! 1897 C. Whibley 'Vaux' A Book of Scoundrels 185: A fawney sparkled on his dexter fam. 1914 E. Wittmann 'Clipped Words' in DN IV:ii 119: fam, from famble. The hand. 2 a ring. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Fam, a Ring. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 12: Fam, a Ring. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account 31 July [Internet] [We] found upwards of 15 * Ridges, besides a f Rum Fern upon his Finger [...] f Diamond Ring. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 12: I heard she made a Fam To-night, a Rum one, with Dainty Dasies, of a Flat from T'other Side. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 142: You'll buy a dozen or two of wipes, dobbin cants, or a fam or a tick, with any rascal, from a melting-pot receiver in Duke's place, to a fence shop in Field Lane. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

■ Derivatives fammer (n.) {UK Und.) a pickpocket. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 60: cracksman: She's a dodge above a

gonniff, and touches nothing below a cracksman and a swell fammer.

■ In compounds fam-cheat (n.) see famblinc-cheat n. fam-cloth (n.) a handkerchief. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fam-grasp (v.) to shake hands (and make up one's differences). 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Famgrasp, c. to agree or make up a Difference. Famgrasp the Cove c. to agree with the Adversary. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [...] Famgrasp, to agree,, or make up a difference. Famgrasp the cove, i.e., to agree with the adversary. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 15: To agree with a Man - Famgrasp the Cove. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Famgrasp, to shake hands, (cant) figuratively, to agree or make up a difference; famgrasp the cove, shake hands with the fellow. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford I 135: Go home to the Mug, and fam grasp the old mort. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 31: fam grasp To shake hands. 'Fam grasp the cove,' shake hands with the fellow. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). fam-lay (n.) [lay n? (1)] pickpocketing or shoplifting; thus famlayer, a shoplifter. 1708 J.

Hall Memoirs (1714) 6: Fam. Layers, Such as go into Goldsmiths Shops, with pretence to buy a Ring, and several being laid upon the Counter, they Palm One or Two by means of a little Ale held in a Spoon over the Fire, with which the Palm being daub'd, any Light thing sticks to it. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Fam Lay. Going into a goldsmith's shop, under pretence of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by daubing the hand with some viscous matter. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 59: Why, before I'd impose on the public in that 'ere famming fake and do the shisy dodge for scran and dossery. I'd pad the road with barkers and fake the denarley from the stiffum's cly. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1873 SI. Diet. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fam-rust (n.) [fig. use of SE rust] {UK Und.) a lack of practice at thieving (esp. pickpocketing). C.1850 DUNCOMBB New and Improved Flash Diet.

fam fam-snatcher (n.) a glove. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 309: Also, lo Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., 1 resign

my fam-snaichers, i.e.,

my gloves.

fam-squeeze (n.) throttling. 1889- 90 Barrere & Lbland Dia. of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904

&

Farmer

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

famblers

a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795).

fam-strings (n.) (UK Und.) gloves. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 19; Famstrings, alia.s Gloves. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Gloves.

Tyburn Chronicle

II

in

Groom

[N]. 1712 'Black Procession' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 38; The thirteenth a famble, false rings for to sell, / When a mob, he has bit his Cole he will tell. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: famblers a Species of Viliams that go up and down selling counterfeit Rings, &c. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1869 'Thief-Catcher's Prophecy' in W.H. Logan Pedlar's Pack of Ballads 143: [as cit. 1671]. n. (also fumbles) (famble n. (1)] a pair of gloves.

fam-sticks (n.) (UK Und.) gloves.

(1999)

xxix:

Famstrings

1786 Whole Art of Thieving.

fam n.^ [abbr.l 1 (US black/gay/teen) the family. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 79: fam 1. family 'Maybe I'll go

straight someday and raise me a fam.' 1993 Shaquille O'Neal 'I'm Outstanding' [lyrics] If they can't say Shaquille O'Neal then make 'em scream, 'Shaq!' / Like the fam' do, in the stands who / When I freak the funk on a dunk they, 'Ahhh! Oooh!' 2001 Source Aug. 100: How did it affect your tarn when you were getting into so much trouble?

2 (US gay) a large number [ext. of sense 1|. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 79: fam [...] 2. the whole shebang: a bunch.

fam

family

28

famble n. (1)] to feel, to handle; to grope a woman. Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 117: To feel a Woman where they generally have a fancy To fam. 1812 Vaux Vocab. V. [abbr.

1741

of the Flash Lang.

■ In phrases fam a dona (v.) (also fam a donna) [dona n. (1)] to take liberties with a woman. 1890- 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

famble n. [? SE fumble] 1 a hand. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall

(1907) 87: There was a proud Patrico and a nosegent, he tooke his Jockam in his famble, and a wapping he went. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching A2: Fambles, hands. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: Which word Cheate, beeing coupled to other words, stands in verry good stead, and does excellent seruice: [...] Fambles are Hands and thereupon a Ring is called a Fambling chete. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: Cut benar whids, and hold your fambles and your stamps. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush II 1: Thus we throw up our nab-cheats first, for joy, / And then our filches; last we clap our fambles. 1637 Dekker Canting Song in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) 02: White thy Fambles, red thy Gan. 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Fambles, Hands. a.1674 'The Rogues . . . praise of his Stroling Mort' Head Canting Academy (1674) 19: [as cit. 1637]. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 198: [as cit. 1637]. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: Fams, or Fambles, hands. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: fambles [...] the Hands are also called Fambles. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 17: Hands - Fambles. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1815 (con. 18C) W. Scott Guy Mannering (1999) 149: If I had not helped you with these very fambles (holding up her hands) Jean Baillie would have frummagem'd you. 1828 'The Song of the Young Prig' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 171; Fine draw a coat-tail sure I can't, / So kiddy is my famble. 1843 W.T. Moncrieff Scamps of London 1 Hi: Good evening to you, Ned - give us your famble. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1906 A, McCormick Tinkler-Gypsies of Galloway 104: The following words appear to be still in use in one form or another amongst Galwegian tinkler-gypsies - Fambles (pronounced fammels) - Hands. 2 (UK Und.) a ring. 1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia II ii: You don't know what a famble, a scout or a tatler is, you put! 1724 J. Harper Frisky Moll's Song 23: A Famble, a Tattle, and two Popps, / Had my Boman when he was ta'en, 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 32: Famble, Ring. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: fambles Rings, c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Fammilies [sic] rings.

■ In compounds famble-cheat (n.) see famblinc-cheat n. fambler n. (also famble) [famble n. (2)| a dealer in fake 'gold' rings. 'L.B.' New Academy of Complements 205: The thirteenth a Fambler, false Rings for to sell. 1693 Poor Robin in Nares Gloss. (1822) n.p.; A most plentiful crop [...] of hectors, trepanners, gilts, pads, 1671

biters, prigs, divers, lifters, filers, bulkers, droppers, famblers, donnakers, cross-biters, kidnappers, vouchers, millikers, pymers, decoys, and shop-lifters, all Newgate-birds, whom the devil prepares ready fitted for Tyburn, ready to drop into the hangman's mouth

1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 38: Famblers, a paire of Gloues. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 107: Fumbles, gloves.

fambling-cheat

n. (also famble-cheat, fam cheat) (famble n.

(1) -F CHEAT n. (1), lit. 'hand thing'] (UK Und.) a ring; a glove. c.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 82: a fambling chete a rynge on thy hand. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching n.p.: [as cit. c.1566]. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: Fambles are Hands and thereupon a Ring is called a Fambling chete. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 42: My bong, my lowre, & fambling cheates / Shall be at thy command. 1637 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (8th edn). 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Famble chears [sic]. Rings or Gloves. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Fambling cheat, a Ring. 1694 J. Dunton Ladies' Diet, n.p.: Famble-cheats, rings or gloves. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Famhle-cheats c. Gold-rings. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [...] Famble-cheats, gold rings, or gloves. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 115: Rings or Gloves Fam Cheats. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 18: Rings or Gloves Famble-cheats. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Famble cheats, rings or gloves. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].

familiars n.

lice.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

family n? 1

the criminal fraternity; thus family matters n., criminal

concerns. 1749 B.M. Carew 'The Oath of the Canting Crew' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 50: No dummerer, or romany; / No member of 'the Family'. 1793 Sporting Mag. Mar. I 348/2: The depredations of the well-known family, who are eternally preying upon, and dividing the feathers of every pigeon that becomes a victim to their various devices. 1807 letter in J. Mackcoull Abuses of Justice 111:1 have had the gout; and other things in family matters has been the cause of my not seeing you. [Ibid.] 112: The cant phrase of family matters is well understood by thieves and their associates, being used by them when alluding to their thieving concerns. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 206: Family (the) — the whole race of theives. 1838 W.N. Glascock Land Sharks and Sea Gulls II 100: This house [...] was a favourite resort of 'the Family', or, to speak with less reserve, it was a thieves' house. [Ibid.] Ill: My eyes. Jack! why this here cove is one o' the family. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1908 Denton (MD) Journal 7 Mar. 3/6: I knew enough of thieves' slang to know [...] that the 'family' was the time honored expression for a gang of thieves. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 97: That was family money. 1990 M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 171: 'How many members are there of this . . .' [...] 'family [...]' 'It's an army,' Cobb repeated. '.About 300 people.' 2 an intimate, whether related by blood or ties of friendship; usu. in phr. he/she's family etc. 1916 J.G. Cruickshank Black Talk 31: Relation, relative. 'He is any family to you?' 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 14: (THE) family - Your own super 'in' crowd. 1971 Current SI. VI 4: Family, n. A group of close friends. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183:

Family Closely related. Used in this sense: 'Don't say things like that about Gert, she's family.'

3 the American Mafia. 1952 /. Mobster 33: Only he didn't say Mafia - he called it the family. 1963 N.Y. Times 29 Sept. E5: The ruling commission [of Cosa Nostra]

has until recently consisted of twelve men, each called the 'capo' or 'boss.' Each boss is in charge of a 'family', the generic name for the operating unit in a specific geographic area. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 209: It was a different sort of family Pierce was currently pre-occupied with. It was a horses-head-in-your-bed-no-kneecaps type family. Pierce owed the local LA drug mafia a lot of money. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 20: The family had asked him to leave Jersey, set up a little business out of town. 2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 10: Family rule — we do not conduct such business.

4 (US black) a pimp and the women who work for him. 1973 E. Droge Patrolman 196: To show he's a good sport he takes the whole 'family' out for dinner and a night on the town once a year.

family 5

fan

29

{US gay)

the world of homosexuality.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular!9-. family 1. 2. (adj) trustworthy

'Go ahead, you can talk in front of Tommy—he's family'. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] family — a code word referring to gays or the gay community, as in, 'Ellen Degeneres is Family'. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Family - Meaning being part of the lesbian and gay community. As in, 'He's a member of the family. He's gay.' 2003 K. Cage Gayle.

any incestuous relationship or sleeps with more than one female from the same family. family-style (adv.) [it supposedly mimics 'missionary position' hetero¬ sexual intercourse] {US prison) describing a face-to-face style of anal intercourse, where the passive partner's legs are thrown over the head. 1972 (ref. to mid-1960s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 89: laying

1857 in Punch 'Dear Bill, This Stone-Jug' 31 Jan. n.p.: In a ward with

with legs thrown over the head [...] family style (mid '60s, fr standard heterosexual position). 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Family Style: Performing sodomy in the 'missionary' position.

one's pals, not locked up in a cell, / To an old hand like me it's a family hotel.

■ In phrases family of love (n.) [SE family of love, a 16C-17C religious sect, based in

■ In compounds

family hotel

(n.) [hotel n. (2)) a prison.

family man (n.) (also family woman) 1

a member of the criminal

fraternity; a thief. 1794 Sporting Mag. Aug. IV 278/1: Several of ihi family-men were put

into a prodigious panic, on account of a number of horsemen appearing at the inn-door. 1801 Sporting Mag. Aug. XVIII 247/2: The English family-men are so vulgar [...] The foreign sharpers [...] are bred up runners in people of quality's houses. 1809 J. Mackcoull Abuses of Justice 91:1 set persons to sound what are called family mem, but they were wholly ignorant of such a character. 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) III 50: Should any one dare to present himself in a great coat, unless a family man, he would be sure to depart skirtless, or only in his waistcoat. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 148: This well-known character in the flash world [...] a ‘family woman'. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 163/1: Family men - thieves. Family people - ditto. 1857 J. Archbold Magistrate's Assistant 444: Thieves: Family-men. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/2: Sue flimped a soot bag and a prop. She's the flyest wire in the mob, and all the family men are spoony on her. Sue stole a reticule and a brooch. She's the smartest lady's pocket thief in the company (or 'school '), and all the thieves are smitten with her. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 37/2: Family man, an ex-convict. 1959 Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 105: Giacomo Marconi once told on a 'family man'. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183: Family [...] in an ironic sense it means dishonesty generally: 'He's a family man' may mean 'He's a thief' or 'He is one of us'; in other words, similarly dishonest. 2 a receiver of stolen goods. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Family Man. [...] A [...] receiver of stolen goods. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). family people (n.) [Vaux glosses this as 'persons living by fraud and depredation'] thieves, robbers. 1812 Vavx Memoirs in McLachlan (1964) 77: My knowledge of life, as it is termed by the knavish part of mankind, and my acquaintance with family people, every day increased. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Family-man, or woman Belonging to the family; i.e. he or she are family people. 1839 H. Brandon 'Diet. Flash or Cant Lang.' in 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857). 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 37/2: Family people, burglars and thieves.

■ In phrases

play in the family

(v.) {US black) to indulge in a bout of ritualized name-calling, based on insulting each other's mother. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' in Novels and Stories (1995) 1003: Don't play in de family. Sweet Back. I don't play de dozens. I done told you.

family disturbance

(n.) [the supposedly deleterious effects of alcohol on

family organ. (n.) [SE (silver) plate, silver coins] silver coins.

1890- 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1935 A.J. Pollock

Und. Speaks 37/2: Family plate, money. (n.) (SE pound, an enclosure] a family grave.

family pound

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

family ram

(n.) [SE ramlRAM n.^ (2)1 (W.l.) an incestuous male; a man who sleeps with two or more female members of the same

family. 1981 N. Farki Countryman Karl Black 149; A 'familyram' and two stopped.

for the entertainment of the family of Love, are moreover extream necessary, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Family of love Lewd Women, Whores. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

family

n.^ [note the prostitute's phr.: 'Sleep with that pig and you'll end up with a family to feed'] (US) crab lice. 1972 (ref. to 1940s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 55: crab lice infecting the pubic areas [...] family Ifr pros si, '40s: 'Sleep with that pig and you'll probably end up with a family to feed'),

family Jewels n. 1

the male genitalia.

1916 H.N. Cary SI. ofVenery. C.1935 'Mae West in "The Hip Flipper'"

[comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 97: His Nibs is ready to surrender the family jewels to our Lotta, especially that three piece set he's got up Lotta's flue right now. 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 2: I got booted in the family jewels playin' football. 1964 R. Helmer Stag Party 82: Pickle me bloody agates, would you believe it? The bullet has caught the old boy clean in the family jewels. 1985 (con. 1968) D.A. Dye Citadel (1989) 330: Not a scratch on the family jewels or the scepter that goes with them. 1992 (con. 1920-57) Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore II 787: Other common names for the male organ are [...{family organ [or family jewels]. 1993 S. King Dolores Claiborne 111: He looked like I'd hoicked my knee right up into his family jewels. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 307: He also suffered third-degree burns on his family jewels. 2 wealth, ready money. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 92: Fifty-two dollars was the family jewels. 3 in fig. use, something very valuable. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 74: It might just cost us our family jewels if this stud ain't cool,

famm n. see fam n.^. fan n.^ [? Fancy, the n.

(1) who sported such garments, or its fan-like expanse across the frame] {Aus./UK Und.) a waistcoat. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 163/1: Fan - a waistcoat. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. c.1863 gloss, in Occurence Book of York River Lockup in Seal (1999) 37:1 pulled down a fan and a roll of snow. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Policel 321: A waistcoat ... A fan. n^ [fanny n.^ (1)] the vagina.

1837 'He'll No More Grind Again' in Ri-tum Ti-tum Songster 30; Red-

family life] {US, Western) whisky. 1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. family jewels (n.) see separate entry, family organ (n.) [pun| (US) the penis. 1992 (con. 1920-57) Randolph 8- Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore II 787: Other common names for the male organ are [...]

sisters

1683 Whores Rhetorick 75: These by-places, these dark Conventicles,

fan

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

family plate

Holland, and very popular in England; its main tenets were that religion could best be realized through sex and that all governments, however tyrannical, must be obeyed] prostitutes, considered as a group or occupation.

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet.

Family-ram (derog.)

19:

incestous males; any male who indulges in

haired Moll, his sole delight, / Chief blowen of the train, / Rubs up her precious Fan., and cries, / 'Poor Bill will never grind you again'. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 183; Then there are the euphemisms used in more respectable literature [...] what were presumably originally pet names such as her fan (short for fanny probably the commonest semi-polite term for the tenuc [backslang] in the U.K. In the U.S.A. this word more commonly refers to the posteriors),

fan

v.^ [SEfan, to wave a fan] 1 (US 20C-f) to beat; also in fig. use, as in excl. fan my jawbone! [underpinned by SEfan, to winnow or thresh corn). 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1816 W.T. Moncrieff All at Coventry I ii: Should certainly have made play to fan Sam; only recollected he had fanned the Chicken. 1829 Vidocq Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) III 111: If any accident should happen to him, he would fan me well. 1883 G.W. Peck Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa (1887) 48: Pa fanned the dust out of my pants. 1897 Daily Tel. 2 Feb. in Ware (1909) 127/1: Miss Lulu Valli made a hit at once as the demon child, Birdikins, who is is threatened to be 'fanned with the slipper' of her devoted but erratic mother. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 75: He's out to bet [...] that he has Herbert Kelcey fanned to a finish. 1910 F.P.

fan

Fancy, the

30

Dunne Mr Doo/^ Saj/s 48: How will y'r honour have [...] breakfast in

th' mornin' when I'm through fannin' ye? 1919 H.C. Witwer Smile A Minute 178: It looks like we got the game all sewed up in a bag, but keep your seat, Joe, they's a few more guys gotta be fanned yet. 1927 (con. 1914-18) L. Nason Three Lights from a Match 176: 'Go fan yourself with an alley-lily,' said Rouge calmly. 1935 N. Algren 'A Place to Lie Down' in Texas Stories (1995) 59: White folks' park, migger. Git a-goin' 'for ah fan yore fanny. 1947 I. Shulman Amboy Dukes 76: Bill'll really fan me if I get him into trouble. 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 30: Ought to fan your seat for you. Sneaking off from your mother. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 135: I'd have done a little fanning [...] On the seat of her pants, that is. 1982 W. Wharton Midnight Clear il: What's this? Father Mundy bucking for Section Eight? Well, fan my jawbone, 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fan someone's ass out Definition: to cause physical harm to another Example: That nigga keep.s talkin shit, I'mma fan his ass out!

fan the hammer (v.) [the action of fanning the hammer of a pistol or revolver in order to fire more speedilyl (US) to act in a brilliant but unscrupulous manner. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 127/1: Fanning the hammer {W. Amer., 1886). Brilliantly unscrupulous. Instanta¬ neously active, equal to energetic in the highest.

fan

v.^

1

(US) to move around quickly, to run, to escape.

1899 in B.W. Green Virginia Folk-Speech (1912) 169: Fan [...] To stir

about briskly. 1905 R. Beach Pardners v (1912) 120: He saw I was drunk, and fanned out, me shootin' at him with every jump [DA], 1929 C. CoE Hooch! 215: He says she got her dough from him an' fanned the town as soon as Dopey passed out. 1938 D. Runyon 'Baseball Hattie' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 652: You fan yourself into the kitchen and wash the dishes. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 70: I fanned out the door. 2 (US) to flaunt oneself deliberately in order to gain sexual interest.

2 to run one's hands over a potential victim's clothes to see if they

1902 'Billy Burgundy' Toothsome Tales Told in SI. 65: Maxine fanned

have anything in their pockets that can be stolen; thus fan out of v., to steal while 'fanning' Iposs. link to fam v.|. 1847 in National Police Gazette 16 Jan. 149: They'll have you fanned out of your dimmv and your thimble. 1861 H, Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 319/1: Joe 'fanned' the gentleman's pocket., i.e., had felt the pocket and knew there was a handkerchief. 1886 A. Pinkerton Thirty Years a Detective 44: The thief lightly runs his hand across the front of both pockets of the 'mark' - and this operation of feeling for a pocket-book is called 'fanning'. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI.. Jargon and Cant. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet. ofAus. SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 32: fan [...] In pickpocket parlance. To surreptitiously feel a victim's' pockets, or inadvertently brush the person for the purpose of locating an object sought, as pocketbook, watch or, weapon. Example: 'Fan the pratt for a poke.' 1927 B. Cormack Racket Act II: Did you fan him? 1930 (con. 1910s) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 42: One of the pickpockets will then 'fan' the intended victim. 'Fanning' means running the hands over the person. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 71: Fanning a Sucker.Searching a victim's clothes for loot which he has not disgorged on command, 1944 D. Runyon Runyon d la Carte 151: One of the others fan me to see if I have any funds or valuables. 1951 D. Dressier Parole Chief 245: You've got to fan him. You feel around very easy, until you locate the poke. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: fanning a sucker - Searching a victim's clothing for loot. 1968 J. COLEBROOK. Cross of Lassitude 101: The termites of the life [...] who 'prat' and 'fan' and 'shade the stick' in crowds. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 83: The Wrecker and Ruffy hurriedly hit their pockets, searching frantically for money, [...] Ragged remarked: 'The way you're fanning yourselves, you both look as though you've been in the company of Father Wiz.' 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 76: Raise your arms as high as your shoulders [...] and hold them there until my mate's finished fanning you to see if anyone's packing a heater. 3 (or/g. US) to conduct a search of a suspect's clothes, possessions

the blissful bloke along in good style. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 15: FAN (v.): To stroll about with the purpose of being noticed. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 79: fan 1. to wiggle the posterior in order to be noticed [...] 2. (rare) to parade about

or premises Iposs. link to FAM v,|. 1914 J. McCreb 'Types' Variety Stage Eng. Plays [Internet] I have frisked him for his rod and gat and fanned him for his chiv. 1923 J. Fishman Crucibles of Crime 128: Frequent 'fanning' or 'frisking' [...] of the trusties themselves is necessary. 1936 N. Marsh Death in Ecstasy 81: They don't fan a man neater than that in the States. 1945 J. Hoyt Cummings Fatal Pay-off 53: We fanned him for a gun and found two books of policy slips in his pocket, 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 124: [He] fanned me expertly with his left hand. He said surprised, 'He's clean. Imagine that. Pretty boy's clean.' 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: fan - To search, especially a person or his clothes, 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183: Fan To feel clothes for valuables, to pass one's hands quickly over such clothing and, by extension, any quick body search. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 79: You fan the magazines before you burned them? 1999 G. Seal Lingo 50: Other terms that remained fairly firmly in the little lingo of the crims included [...] FAN, to search, stir for gaol and copper's nark, meaning a police informer.

4 (a/so give the fan) to pick pockets Iposs. link to

fam v.].

1920 F, Williams Hop-Heads 53: I was watching you give 'the

stranger' the 'fan'. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183: Fanning Stealing as a pickpocket. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 5 to shoot. 1934 G. North 'Gun Guile' in Greater Gangster Stories Feb. [Internet] Plugged him when he didn't have a chance to fan you back.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases fan the breeze (v.) see under breeze n.\

flagrantly to be noticed and possibly admired. 3 (US campus) to play truant, to miss a class. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 77: Let's fan chemistry. I'd rather hit the beach.

■ In phrases fan one’s foot (v.) see fan-foot v.

fan

v.^ (SE/an, a supporter; ult./anat/c| (US) tO converse, to chat, usu.

about sport. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' Down the Line 36: In a minute the three of them were fanning each other with fairy tales about the goods they sold. 1912 Van Loan 'McCluskey's Prodigal' in Ten-Thousand-Dollar Arm 262: That he did not join in the usual 'fanning bee' [ ...] Ball players, like all other performers, talk shop at every opportunity. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 419: Squeal. To talk, tell, inform [...] fanning. 1937 J.M. Cain Serenade (1985) 150: We were fanning along. 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 40: I'd come over to fan with Sand-o

a little.

fan v."* [US)

to calm someone down.

1971 (con. 1930) D. Wells Night People 50: If we had been on good

terms with the rooming house and restaurant the last time, he wouldn't be gone long, but if he had to rub them down (or 'fan' them, as Buddy Tate would say), he would be gone just about all day. [Ibid.] 117: Fan. mollify.

fanciness

n.

(W./.) items of clothing or jewellery that are

expensive or flashy. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 19: Fanciness jew¬

ellery, expensive clothing, etc.

Fancy, the

n. lorig. used of any adherents of a given amusement, thus ). Moore, Columbarium (1735) 40: 'These Pigeons by their Flight afford an admirable Satisfaction, to those Gentlemen of the Fancy that have time to attend them'] 1 the sporting fraternity; thus fancy house n., a public house where 'the Fancy' gather. 1807 Southey Letters from England (1836) 166: The Amateurs of Boxing, who call themselves the Fancy [OED]. 1812 Egan Boxiana I 1: The Fancy [...] simply means, any person who is fond of a particular amusement, or closely attached to some subject; a lively instance fortunately presents itself in illustrating the phrase beyond all doubt — as the old woman observed, when she kissed her cat, that it was ‘her fancy'. 1824 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 24 July 2/3: We fear that we shall forever be debarred the privilege of ranking with 'the fancy,' since instead of going to the great foot-race between Lawrence and Warren, on Tuesday, we were vulgar enough to go on a fishing party. 1824 'Geoffrey Crayon' Tales of A Traveller (1850) 204: I fell in company with a special knot of young fellows, of lively parts and ready wit [...] and become initiated into the Fancy. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 24: This match [...] had excited considerable interest throughout the Fancy. 1841 F.L.G. Swells Night Out n.p.: His parlour is [...] visited not only by every man of note belonging to that class of characters called 'the fancy,' but by a numerous and highly respectable company of neighbouring tradesmen. 1854 'Cuthbert Bede' Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) II 153: The Pet (...] having been proclaimed victor in more than one of those playfully frolicsome 'Frolics of the Fancy'. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor II 66/2: He sometimes put a bird or two in a fancy-house. These are the public-houses resorted to by 'the fancy'. 1874 J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 21: [chapter heading] Sunday Evening with the 'Fancy'. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Jan. 14/1: The English authorities seem to be remarkably easy-going in the matter of boxing matches, and as the New York police are now down on the sloggers, we should not be surprised to see the 'fancy' change their scene of

fancy operation. 1891 F.W. Carew Aiitobiog. of a Gipsey 409: I told 'em's how it were only a couple of gents of the Fancy, but they says 'Square-coves is square-coves, and if'— 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 89; I subsequently told one of the 'fancy' that I would give him a couple of pounds. 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 130: They glared at each like fighting terriers in the 'pit' of some Shoreditch tavern frequented by the 'fancy'. 1918 Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 Aug. 5/2: There was a large attendance of the 'fancy' and every move in the ring was followed keenly and critically.

2 {Aus./US) the underworld. [1841 W.L. Rede Sixteen String Jack I iii; You're werry good in the

fancy line—in the light part of our business—such as robbing a kinchin of it's coral, filching an old lady's redicule [...] But you von't do for the heavy line—that is, vhere the pops are at vork.J 1849 J.P. Townsend Rambles in New South Wales 231: Professing to be men of 'the fancy,' they made converts of two promising men. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 June 9/2: Flemming is known as the 'Spider' amongst the 'fancy.' He is the mildest mannered man that ever waited on you with a dark-lantern and a knuckle-duster. 1886 Lantern (NO) 10 Nov. 2: Isaac Sontheiner an,d Grace Richards [...] concluded, in the parlance of the fancy, to double-up. 3 (US) the aristocracy, the wealthy and powerful. 1862 'Artemus Ward' Artemus Ward, His Book 114: Mike gits as drunk as a biled owl & allows that he can lick a yard full of the Veneshun fancy before breakfast, without sweatin a hair. 1947 B. SCHULBERG Harder They Fall (1971) 73; The Vanderbilts and the Goulds and the rest of the fancy who knew when to break a law and when to make one.

4 (US) the world of professional boxers. 1859 Ho'tten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 36: Pugilists are sometimes termed THE FANCY.

fancy

31

1860 HoTTEN Diet, of Modem St. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 1873 J.

Wanderings of a Vagabond 287: At the same time straightening his right arm and throwing out his clenched fist with a jerk in imitation of that movement known among the 'fancy' as 'delivering from the shoulder.' 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 90: 'He's one of the milling coves.' 'A lad of the Fancy, is he?' 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 110: The members of the fancy [...] need each other, not only for the money, but they need each other so they can, ultimately, test themselves against themselves. O'Connor

■ In compounds fancy lay (n.) [lay n? (1)] 1 the sport of boxing, prize-fighting. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 36; Why We,

who're of the Fancy lay, / As dead hands at a mill as they, [..,] Should not be there, to join the chat.

2 (UK Und.) any form of swindling or robbery. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 271: Well, ain't that what I'm trying to tell you: the importance of his face and his clobber to a man that takes on any fancy lay. Such as poge-hunting, for instance.

fancy ring (n.) (UK Und.) a boxing arena. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

fancy n? 1 the vagina. 1657 Thornley Longus 124: [She] directed him to her Fancie, the place so long desired and sought. 1660 Wandring Whore 113: Catching hold of his trap-stick, she, (when she saw him stiff and strong, and itching to be at her,) taught the unskilful rustick to loose his maidenhead by guiding him to her fancy. 1709 N. Ward Rambling Fuddle-Caps 3; And as for the Rudders that steer our Affections, As Fancy, that Pilot, shall give 'em directions.

2 a girlfriend; a mistress. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 190: The extravagant Fancy [...] trying to take the shine out of all the other females in the circle, merely to show the taste and liberality of her keeper. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 53: Caprice, m. A lover or mistress; 'a fancy'. 1908 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 July 14/2: 'Ow's th' fancy?' Ponto spat viciously. 'T' 'ell with th' fancy! She's been 'n' slung me.'

3 (US) a prostitute. 1963 (con. 1870s) Miller & Snell Why the West was Wild 14: The names by which the frontiersmen referred to the ladies in question [...] soiled doves, fancies, calico queens.

4 see FANCY man n.’’. ■ In compounds fancy-bit (n.) see under bit n.\ fancy house (n.) [house n.’ (1)1 a whore-house, a house of illrepute, a brothel. C.1864 'Couldn't Stand the Press' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 95; I went

in a fancy house, / But still I had ill luck. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 218: Perhaps [... ] he prefers visiting one of the fashionable bagnios. Your roper and sharper is at home there; he knows all about the principal fancy houses, and is personally acquainted with all the inmates. 1907 J.W. Carr 'Word-List from Hampstead, N.H.' in DN III iii 187; fancy house, n. A house of bad repute. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 136: I don't have to be bought

like a flossy dame in a fancy house. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: [,..] fancy house, fleshpot, gaff. 1988 (con. 1940s) C. Bram Hold Tight (1990) 67; 'Getting arrested didn't cure you of whorehouses, boy?' 'Me and fancy houses suit each other fine.' fancy work (n.) [play on sew v. (1)| 1 prostitution; thus take in fancy work V., to work secretly as a prostitute. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 sexual intercourse. 1896

Farmer

Vocabula Amatoria

(1966) 170: Labeur,

m.

The sexual

embrace: 'fancy-work'.

3 the (usu. male) genitals and pubic hair. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.

fancy fancy

n.^ see fancy man n?.

adj. [Fancy, the n.| pertaining to boxing or prize-fighting. 1822 'A. Burton' My Cousin in the Army 142: Another in a romping fit. Plants on his breast a fancy hit. 1826 N.-Y. American 25 Apr. 2I5\ It is said that the little man in the brown coat belongs to one of the numerous fancy-companies, organized in various quarters of the city: that he is a very forward scholar in the manly art. 1827 'The Black Fogle' in Egan Anecdotes of the Turf the Chase etc. 34: Long life to the Champion from Ireland so dear: / Strike up, ye fancy coves, and be all jumping.

■ In compounds ■ Pertaining to the sporting world or prostitution; often underpinned by SE fancy fancy bloke (n.) [bloke n. (3)11 a member of the sporting world. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 161/1: Fancy Bloak - a fancy man. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 36: FANCY BLOAK, a fancy or sporting man. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1873 SI. Diet. 2 (also fancy boy) orig. a prostitute's boyfriend; then a male lover, not always adulterous, but the relationship usu. refers to a married or older woman; cit. 1901 refers to a Chinese man. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 25: Fancy bloak—a fancy man. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 140/1: Their intended victim came forth [...] accompanied by Lady Bet, and her fancy bloke, as Michael designated a fast-looking individual, whose honourable method of obtaining a livelihood was living on Bet's iniquity. 1873 SI. Diet. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Feb. 9/1: And Loredan - the Creole's fancy 'bloke' - extracts from his part every atom of fun (and a trifle more) it contains. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Jul. 11/2: A 17year-old damsel was lately before Ballarat Bench for vagrancy and, while awaiting trial, her fancy Chow brought her a toothsome breakfast, after enjoying which she rewarded him with kisses and hugs to the great scandal of the blushful beholding bobbies. 1934 E. Raymond Child of Norman's End (1967) 440: P'raps the Admiral's her fancy boy. 1997 Corrie.net [Internet] She's on the phone to her fancybloke, Ray, and they're making a date. 2005 Gazn 'Chat' at ABCtales. com [Internet] For all I know you might be seeing some fancy bloke from the office tonight. fancy cove (n.) [cove n. (1)] 1 (also fancy fellow) a pimp, a procurer. 1821 'Miscellaneous' in Fancy I IV 101: So down to Cateaton-street went she, accompanied by all the fillies and fancy-coves. 1842 'The Swell Coves Alphabet' in Nobby Songster 28: F. for fancy fellows - did you ever see one green. 2 a boxer. 1827 'The Black Fogle' in Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 34: Long life to the Champion from Ireland so dear; / Strike up, ye fancy coves, and be all jumping, 3 a thief. C.1838 G.W.M. Reynolds 'The House Breaker's Song' in Farmer Mmsa Pedestris (1896) 122: Let Davy's dust and a well-faked claw / For fancy coves be the only law. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 264: I know some fancy coves as 'd open the Bank of England with a toothpick, almost. fancy Joseph (n.) [generic use of loseph or ? link to JOSEPH n, (2)1 a boy or young man who is a favourite of prostitutes (but not a customer or a pimp). 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. fancy lady (n.) see fancy woman n. fancy man (n.) see separate entries. fancy piece (n.) [piece n. (1)11 a prostitute, a mistress [note Egan, Life In London (1821): 'A sporting phrase for a "bit of nice GAME" kept in a preserve in the suburbs. A sort of BIRD OF PARADISE!'] 1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda (1994) 406: That the likeness is certainly striking - but this seems to be a fancy piece. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 74; Tom ]..,] smiled with indifference at the rolls of soft which his most capitivating fancy-piece drew from him. 2006 The Sleaze Aug/Sept. [Internet] Apparently every time he started banging his

fancy fancy piece on the side. Princess Diana would appear above the bed and start screaming 'Adulterer!' at him.

2 a girlfriend, a 'best girl'. 2002 C. Jinks Gentleman's Garden 354: 'One of their privates had the

ill sense to bring his fancy piece on board, stowed with the luggage,' he related. 'When she was discovered, they were married.'

fancy woman (n.) see separate entry. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fancy affair (n.) see fancy woman n. (3). fancy-ass [adj.) {also fancy-assed) showy, smart.

boy? fancily, affectedly.

1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 290: 'Well,' he says,

picking the stuff over very fancy. 1953 W.P. McGivern Big Heat 126:1

of your fancy-assed women. 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 97: You think I'm not worth shit, right? You come here in that fancy-ass car of yours.

fancy crib (n.) [US black) a fashionable, chic, well-designed home. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Si. [unpub. ms.],

Dan (n.) see separate entry, girl (n.) see separate entry, pants see separate entries, smile (n.) see smile n?. stroll (n.) [stroll n. (1)1 {US black) the main street on which

the high life happens. 1996-2000 (con. 1940s) Deuce Ofay Productions 'The Jive Bible' at JiveOn.com [Internet] If'n de eagle didn't fly in trey dims an' brights. I'd be puttin' my woman out on de fancy stroll! fancy trim (n.) see fancy woman n. (3).

fancy v. [SE/ancy, to take a liking to] 1 to find attractive; esp. in phr. / could fancy that, used of a passing attractive member of the opposite sex; thus fancy the knickers/pants off v.; fanciable adj., attractive. 1674-80 'The Cumberland Lass' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) 1 152: Her Father lov'd her passing well, / So did her Brother fancy Nell. 1894 G. du Maurier Trilby 328: I suppose she'd already begun to fancy you, my friend. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 5: I had on a rather sprightly young check that morning, to which I was a good deal attached; 1 fancied it, in fact, more than a little. 1959 F. Norman Fings I i: Fank gawd she fancied me. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 57: Colonel Bulbul [...] fancied her like mad. 1977 (con. 1940s) O. iVlANNiNG Danger Tree 181: I must say [...] I rather fancy him. 1984 S. Caudwell Shortest Way to Hades (1986) 80: She was looking quite fanciable. 1989 in G. Tremlbtt Little Legs 21: She can see that I really am fancying her. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 36: All the girls in school fancy the knickers off Paul. But I prefer George, he looks more sad. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Real Life 23 Jan. 4: Everyone else is heterosexual and involved in snogging and fancying members of the opposite sex. 2001 Indep. Mag. 12 May 62: I'm one of those women who men either fancy the pants off or they don't get it at all. 2004 P. Pisces Desperately Seeking Sex and Sobriety 81: She is flirting with me but I am still sober, I don't fancy her.

2 for a gambler to select as worthy of a bet, usu. of a horse or dog. 1959 F. Norman Fings I i: Wot d' yer fancy for the two fifteen? So do I? Ah, Pretty Girl. 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out fancy for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket?

not mistaken that youngster's got in him the stuff to lick you, though you fancy yourself so much. 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 118: He rather fancied himself in towels. 1925 WODEHOUSE Carry on, Jeeves 45: 'Not the blue with the faint red stripe, sir.' 'But I rather fancy myself in it.' 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 175: Fancies himself, the bloody Commo. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 243: This Dr Rossi cunt fancies himself. Swarthy eyetie bastard. 2001 Guardian G2 20 Mar. 18: Fancy yourself, do you, big

fancy adv.

1984 J. Dailey Silver Wings (1985) 309: No one needs you or the rest

fancy fancy fancy fancy fancy

fancy girl

32

87:

What do you

■ In phrases don’t fancy yours (much) a joking reflex comment when two young men see two women, irrespective of their real charms. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 145: 'Don't fancy yours,' he smiled with a grimace. 1989 Viz June/July 3: Oh dear, I don't fancy yours much. 2005 posting at www.allthingszombie.com 18 Sept. [Internet] I like the redhead... but I don't fancy yours much.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases fancy one’s chances (v.) to feel confident of success. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Mar. 26/1: [He] had a horse called Perisher

entered for the big handicap. Blank had gone to great trouble over his training, and fancied his chances. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 167: Against Mr Little, whose chances he does not seem to fancy. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 92: You fancy not my chances with this Kong? 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 113: Remember when you're on his show that old Clive fancies his chances as a comic, fancy oneself (v.) to have a (smugly) good opinion of oneself.

worked for my living. Living. That's putting it very fancy,

fancy!

exc/. [abbr. of SE fancy mel/fancy that!] an excl. of surprise.

1901 Boy's Own Paper 27 July 674: 'Just fancy!' he said to himself. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 203: Fancy! Really, her father would want to kill me. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 201: Fancy that poor woman and the boy coming to find the father! Fancy, now! 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Aw Fancy...What the hell? (phrase) What??

Damn! [Oxnard High School, Oxnard, CA].

fancy Dan

n. [SE fancy -f Dan as a generic for a man) (on'g. US)

1

a

flashily dressed man, a dandy. 1941 A. Lomax Ms/erJe//yRo//(1952) 49: Then you could observe the fancy Dans, dressed fit to kill. 1951 L.R. Morris Incredible N.Y. (1975) 35: In his leisure hours, on parade, [the Bowery Boy] looked like a fancy-Dan, He wore a tall beaver hat, an inordinately long black frock coat, loud, checked, bell-bottomed pants [etc.]. 1983 J. Ciardi A Second Browser's Diet. 96: Fancy Dan. A flashy dude. 1993 A.L. Cohn From Sea to Shining Sea 278: Annie fell head over heels in love with that fancy Dan. 1998 B. Carton Beyond the Brooklyn Bridge 36: Her gentleman friend [...] was really 'a fancy Dan, a spender, believe me,' out to show her a 'swellegant night on the town.' 2002 Donald 'Ben' Hogan Letters to Lou - the Sequel 132: The 'Fancy Dan's' from Maine, the perfect gentlemen, had better be careful with the red¬ eyed and rowdy animals from the decks and bilges.

2 a showy but ineffective sportsman or worker. 1933 W. Winchell in Havana Eve. Telegram 3 May 2/2: Add Baseball

Slang. [...] 'Fancy Dan' — one who poses and puts on airs. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 245: A regular fancy Dan [...] but he's got natural ring sense. 1973 (con. 1923) T. Loughran in Heller In This Corner (1974) 115: I always thought you were a Fancy Dan, but now you're on your way to the title. 1983 J. Ciardi A Second Browser's Diet. 96: Fancy Dan. [...] 2. Boxing. A fighter who boxes artfully and has fancy footwork, but who cannot deliver a powerful punch. 1998 R. Hundley You Gotta Love It Baby! 206: Hughes was a ballyhooed showman, a Fancy Dan who took all kinds of crazy shots.

3 anything showy. 1978 S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 225: Those local firms are fancy dans ... they represent Ford and General Motors.

fancy-Dan adj. {also fancy-damn, fancy-dan)

(fancy Dan n.) of

people and things, showy, pretentious. 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 255: That's one a them eastern Fancy Dan colleges like Van Prick went to. 1966 J. Susann Valley of the Dolls 295: I know this is one of those fancy-Dan rooms that don't serve booze while the act is on. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 148: Snooty bastards! [...] I don't like these fancy damn hotels. They all treat you like you smell bad. 1971 1. Faust Willy Remembers 57: The fancy-Dan newspapermen were living on Easy Street at the Tampa Bay. 1976 Z. Hollander Encyc. Sports Talk n.p.: A leading hot dog is Reggie Jackson, and going back a few years there was nothing like Vic Power, a fancy-dan first baseman who had the habit of catching every ball with one hand [R]. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 140: I think it would be a pity to waste all your fancy-dan trappings on people with one foot in the grave. 1997 Mad mag. Oct. 45: Hey, where'd you get them Fancy Dan sneakers? 2000 Guardian Weekend 25 Mar. 50: Forget all those fancy-dan pastries and souffles. 2005 Guardian 8 Feb. [Internet] I'm roaring abuse at the fancy-dan Patriots when they dare to mock the Eagles' victory wing-flap.

fancy girl

n. [SE fancy + girl; note US use pre-Civil War fancy girl, a slave girl or woman used for the sexual enjoyment of her master] 1 a man's girlfriend or mistress.

1879 G.R. Sims Dagonet Ballads 77: He fancies hissef in a orfice,

1821-6 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 97: The never-ending

a-fillin' o' books with his scrawl. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 280: Along with the whacking big reward that was offered for all of us, a good many coves as fancied themselves a bit had turned amateur policemen. 1897 Daily Tel. 14 Dec. in Ware (1909) 127/1: They had never known a Government which, if he might use the language of the street, 'fancied itself' to the extent to which the present Government did. 1906 Marvel 13 Oct. 328: If I'm

merry stories of [...] my fancy-girl of Gosport. 1862 W. Cunningham Glen Snowden's [...] Magistrates Assistant 107: His 'jomer' or fancy girl was also tried. [Ibid.] 114: My fancy girl stood close by me and screened me from observation. 1892 H. Nisbet Bushranger's Sweet¬ heart 31: A fancy girl of mine [...] found them [i.e. boots] rather tight and small for her tootsies.

2 {US) a prostitute.

fancy man 1855 C.G. Parsons Inside View of Slavery 182: You know she is a high

priced fancy girl. 1931 A. Bontemps God Sends Sun. 65: Della was one of the youngest and best-looking fancy girls on Targee Street. 1949 A Key Wrath and the Wind 117: Most times when a man wants him a fancy girl, a prime first-rate one, he goes to a dealer. 1953 A.J. Liebling Honest Rainmaker (1991) 24: He had bribed a fancy girl to wheedle the formula from the Boston Club bartender. 1961 Ty Cobb My Life in Baseball (1993) 131: You do see the old-timers sketched as hooligans with a fancy girl on either arm. 1973 D. Ponicsan Cinderella Liberty 134: It took two New York fancy girls to separate him from his shipping-over pay. 3 {W.l.) a materialistic woman.

3 in weak form of sense 2, a (younger) man who is befriended by an (older) woman. 1821-5 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 24: Thank you stars in being the fancy-man of [...] Missis Susan Soft-tack.

4 a sexually attractive man. 1818 'A. Burton' Adventures of Johnny Newcome III 154: The Jews advanced the chink, and then The Sweepers e'en, were fancy men! With all the Girls in all the Town The Capricorn's alone went down! 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 242: He is a great fancy man, amongst his own class of society, and most of the female vomen set their caps at him.

fancy man

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehal! Diet. 19: Fancy-girl material

girl (a la Madonna).

fsney man n.^ (also fancy) (SE fancy + man, lit. one who is fancied] 1 a man who lives on the earnings of a prostitute. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 70: Although One of the Fancy, he was not a fancy-man. 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) 111 49: There is no out and outer thus attired, but it is the fancy man of these ladies. 1837-8 'The Mot Is On The Turf Again' in Cuckold's Nest 29: Outside the bawdyken, so snug, / Her fancy man is waiting. 1842 'The Man About Town' in Nobby Songster 23: And next as Polly's fancy man, why 1 was taken on; / 1 hooked it out from room to room, when friends by chance dropt in. / And when they'd gone, my poll and 1, we gaily spent the tin. 1856 N.Y. Daily Trib. 1 Jan, 2/5: A great many street-walkers, attracted by the lights and the shouts, had come in, some in company with their fancy men. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 351/2: A twelfth of the whole number of cabdrivers are 'fancymen' [...] They are the men who live with the women of the town, and are supported, wholly or partially, on the wages of the women's prostitution. 1865 T. Archer Pauper, Thief and Convict 25: A mere child of thirteen perhaps, who is half street hawker halt prostitute [...] seen flaunting on the streets [...] adopting him [i.e. a pickpocket] as her 'fancy.' 1885 Indoor Paupers 38: When their mistresses come to grief, and are placed under lock and key, which happens frequently, the fancy man usually manages to skulk out of the mischief and escape scot-free. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 12: Alphonse, m. A prostitute's bully: 'a fancy-man', c.1930 (ref. to 1917) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 330: There was talk that the whores and the fancy men were going to burn the place down when they had to leave it. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1960 C. MacInnes Mr Love and Justice (1964) 24: If you can get the woman to testify against him - then you've got him! And as women have all sorts of reasons for losing interest in their fancymen.

2 a male lover, not always adulterous, but the relationship usu. refers to a married or older woman; occas. homosexuals.

fancy woman

33

used of male

1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Fancy Man. A man kept by a lady for secret services. 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) III 80: You know him, the rip Riboulet, Manon's fancy man. 1834 'The Old Maid And Her Monkey' in Flash Chaunter 11: Among the rest, a Monkey she call'd Pan, / Who was, forsooth, this lady's fancy man. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 101/1: Why [.,.] he was my fancy-man years before you ever saw him. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Policel 295: The police had no difficulty in recognizing the handiwork of Matilda - and her 'fancy' man, George. 1898 W. Besant Orange Girl I 228: If [...] I choose to bring my fancy man here, am I to ask the Bishop's leave? 1917 G. De S. WentworthJames Man Market 118: If Lady Benedden wanted a 'fancy man' whom she could marry and entirely keep and pay for, she must look round again. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 310: Belle in her bloomers misconducting herself and her fancy man feeling for her tickles and Norman W. Tupper bouncing in with his peashooter just in time to be late after she doing the trick of the loop with officer Taylor. 1947 R. Goffin Horn of Plenty 121: Perdido's flashy 'fancy man,' who had wore diamonds down to his garters, had been killed by a jealous wench. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'Loneliness of the LongDistance Runner' in Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 19: Mam was with some fancy man upstairs on the new bed she'd ordered. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 44: That'll be one less for your fancy man when he calls. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 95: It had to be a rich woman who'd chosen him for a fancy man I decided. 1980 (con. 1940s) O. Manning Sum of Things 461: That's good, coming from Lady Hooper's fancy man. 1994 (con. 1930s) K.C. Kearns Dublin Tenement Life AA-. In the vernacular of the tenements an unfaithful husband would have a 'fancy woman', or the wife a 'fancy man'. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 39: Does your fancy man kiss you like that, you crazy fucking nancy boy? 2003 S. Rose Accidental Heroine 41: Dad answered the door and shouted, 'It's your fancy man!' It was so embarrassing.

(also fancy) (Fancy, the n. (1) -f SE man] a member of the fashionable sporting world. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 143: Such a bang-up cove as your fancy man. 1846 Durivage & Burnham Stray Subjects (1848) 87: The company proved a heterogenous conglom¬ eration of [...] editors, lawyers, auctioneers, indescribables, and 'fancies' - with a sprinkling of 'none-such's'.

fancy man n.^

[SE fancy, over-adomed, ornamental -F man] (US) a male homosexual or transvestite. 1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 225: Nancy was reinforced by being a female forename and by the rhyme with fancy (fancy man, fancy pants = sissy).

fancy pants n.

ISE fancy adj. -F pants] 1 an overdressed man, erring towards the effeminate in this preoccupation. 1941 J. Archibald 'Dog Collared' in Popular Detective Oct. [Internet] Look, Fancy Pants, Why don't you do something around here to earn that soup and fish I bought for you, huh? 1949-51 in M. Daly Profile of Youth 73: He's considered a fancy pants, a mother's boy or maybe even worse. 1950 ref. in H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 141: An effete, overdressed man, as in Fancy Pants (film 1950). 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 225: Nancy was reinforced by being a female forename and by the rhyme with fancy (fancy man, fancy pants = sissy). 2000 D.L. Noble Lifeboat Sailors 35: He was called 'Fancy Pants,' because he always wore his uniform and was straightlaced. 2 (orig. US) the social elite, the aristocracy; thus, someone who puts on airs. 1935 Peters & Sklar Stevedore I iii: All right, fancy pants. You stay put on yo' tail. 1957 Kerouac letter 11 Nov. in Charters II (1999) 84: They ain't nothin compared to Holmes, who knows how to write a virile sentence ... and who has a big heart and doesnt pose as some cool, careless, agnostic-type fancypants. 1965 R. Gary Ski Bum 113: The poodle was sure getting a lot of attention. Fancy pants, he thought. 2000 C, Cook Robbers (2001) 191: I'm Johnny Ray Matthews, and I won't sit around with my thumb up my ass watching you and Miss Fancy Pants ride a bicycle made for two. 2005 www.lanceandeskimo.com [Internet] Ah, the call of the fancypants! Who hasn't passed a [,..] co-worker who wears a cambric neckerchief and flourishes a gold-headed cane, and [...] said, 'I wish I were that guy'?

fancy pants adj.

[fancy pants n.] smart, pretentious.

1951 'John Ross MacDonald' Moving Target 151: You're getting awful fancy-pants since he took you off the street. 1952 K.C. Lamott Stockade 48: The army's getting fancy-pants these days. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 76: I've never been to a fancy-pants party like this. 1968 (con, c. 1900) J. Thompson King Blood (1989) 94: That fancy-pants dude had gotten to Little Sis first. 1981 C. Hope Separate Development 9\: This girl, sorry, woman, fancy-pants woman, I should have said. 1998 (con. 1960s) G, Washington Blood Brothers 13: Fight you bastard, fight! I said to myself, don't let some fancy pants diplomat take your girl away from you. 2000 Guardian Rev. 27 May 12: When ah'm wi' mates in sum fancy pants west end restaurant eating foie gras. 2002 R. Haddock Arkalalah 50: Well, Sheriff, [...] maybe you can teach this fancy-pants lawyer a thing on two about real detective work.

fancy pants

v. [fancy pants

n.]

to play around, to 'mess about'.

1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 16: Don't nobody try to fancy pants.

fancy sash

v. [rhy. si. = bash

v.)

(Aus.) to hit.

1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Jan. 16/3: A heavenly plan [...[ fancysashed the girl-abductor on his bundle of socks. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fancy sash: to bash,

fancy woman n. (also fancy lady)

]SE fancy + woman]

1

a man's

favourite girl or woman. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1839 W.A. Miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime; Report 136: Their dress varies according to their luck - a thief can be told if he has been at work by the alteration of his dress; above all by that of the woman, then fancy women. 1841 'The Mill! The Mill!' Dublin Comic Songster 104: Where ev'ry kiddy whistles a

fandangle

fang

34

tune, / And spouts away in his blue shaloon, / And tells of the joys he once espied, / With his fancy woman by his side.

2 a prostitute. 1835 'The Spring Bedstead' in Knowing Chaunter 17: I lately came to town, / In very decent trimming, / And thought to do it brown, / Among the fancy women. 1908 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox I 373: The mothers [...] knew what the 'fancy lady's' life really meant. [Ibid.] 383: Dan [...] had attracted the attention of what Cassatt called 'a fancy lady' who lived two floors below them. 1973 R. Todasco Intelligent Woman's Guide to Dirty Words. 2001 (con. late 19C) C. Jeffords Shady Ladies of the Old West [Internet] Other names [for prostitutes] were [...] 'fancy women', [etc.],

3 (a/so fancy affair, fancy trim) a mistress, a 'bit on the side'. 1892 Daily News 1 Mar. 2/4: He brought home a female, whom he introduced as his 'fancy woman'. 1907 J.W. Carr 'Word-List from Hampstead, N.H.' in DN III iii 187: fancy woman, n. A kept woman. 1930 W.R. Burnett Iron Man 298: She was Lewis's fancy woman. 1939 H.E. Bates My Uncle Silas 66: He was reputed [...] to have a fancy lady in Nice. [Ibid.] 68: I haven't got a fancy affair in Nice! [...] She lives in Monte Carlo! 1943 'Myles na gCopaleen' Faustus Kelly in 'Flann O'Brien' Stories ^ Plays (1973) 141: Is he going to be wheeled in on to the ratepayers' backs just because he's related to the Chairman's fancy woman? 1953 W. Brown Run, Chico, Run (1959) 6: You couldn't go into the room because the old man had his fancy trim in there. You knew because you could smell her perfume through the crack of the door. 1958 A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 34: The dirty bogger! He's got a fancy-woman! 1982 P. Barker Union Street 192: Her Dad had a fancy woman a lot older than himself. 1996 .1. Cameron It Was An Accident 219: She think you got a fancy woman? 2005 Guardian 5 Nov. [Internet] A public figure [...] running on a platform of the end of her marriage, her own canonisation and the humiliation of her husband and his fancy woman. fandangle n. 1 nonsense, excessively ornate speech. 1895 E. Pugh Street in Suburbia 42: I ain't much of a speaker [...] an' it ain't in me ter make a long fandangle.

2 (W./.) any form of fussy ornamentation, whether of clothes, buildings, automobiles etc. 1943, 1957 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

3 [W.l.) stupidity, foolishness. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). fandango n. ISE fandango, a boisterous, energetic Spanish/SpanishAmerican dance, which was associated with dancehalls, which, in turn, were seen by their critics as quasi-brothels]

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds fandango de pokum (n.) sexual intercourse. 1884 Randiana 63i: We both seemed to be so au courant of each other's little ways and modes of action as though we had mutually performed the 'fandango de pokum' for years, fandango girl (n.) (US) a prostitute. 1955 (ref. to c.1850) O. Lewis High Sierra 264: Few of the [mining] camps [...] were long without their quota of ladies of joy, euphemistically termed 'fandango girls.' fanfoot n. [fan-foot v.j (US black) a promiscuous woman, one who openly seeks sex. 1942 Z.N. Hurston Dust Tracks On a Road (1995) 693: Fan-foot, what you doing with my man's hat cocked onj'ot/r nappy head? [...] Yeah I sleeps with my men, but they pays me. I wouldn't be a fan-foot like you. 1948 Z.N. Hurston Seraph on the Suwanee (1995) 744: What do Jim mean by listening to all that rigmarole from that fan-foot, the street-walker, that brick-bat for? 1960 V. Williams Walk Egypt 282: She said instantly, fiercely, 'Fan-Foot Alley can miss you this trip.' [DARE]. fan-foot V. (also fan one’s foot) (fan v.^ (2) -f SE foot] (US black) to openly seek sex, to play around. 1933 Z.N. Hurston Gilded Six-Bits (1995) 995: Ah never thought well of you marryin' Missie May cause her ma used tuh fan her foot round right smart. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Hoodoo (1995) 180: She all de time way from dat house - off fanfootin'whilst he workin' lak a dog! fanfuckingtastic adj. [SE fantastic -f fucking adj. (4)] extremely fantastic, an intensified form of SE. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 280: 'It sucks,' they say, or very occasionally, 'fan-fuckin'-tastic.' 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 98: 'Not jes good,' said his ponytailed friend, 'fan-fucking-tasticl' 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 146: Fanfuckintastic acoustics, fang n [SE fang, an animal tooth; the pointed tapering part of anything which is embedded in something else] 1 a tooth, 1739 R. Bull Grobianus 14: Let ev'ry Tooth in sable Pomp appear: Those Fangs, bespeckled like some Leopard's Skin, c.1790 'Larry's Stiff Luke Caffrey's Gost 7: She taut he would sqeeze her to deth, / So darted her fangs in his throttle. 1815 D. Humphreys Yankey in England

71: There's One will snatch me from your fangs. Death! 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 417: He disclosed among his toothless gums a few such fangs as should have been a dog's or rat's. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 'il: When he ran to his mother's cabin to escape from the fangs of Dick Dawson, there was no one within. 1862 Thackeray Adventures of Philip (1899) 377: Just open your mouth [...] What fangs! what a big one! 1893 K. Mackay Out Back 237: He got the toot in me fisht, 'And there ut is,' continued Mrs. Murphy, laying an immense fang on the table. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 363: Three cheers for the sister-in-law he hawked about, three fangs in her mouth. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 73: Willie nodded dourly, baring his tobacco-fouled fangs in a formal smile. 1940 O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 46: The thin lips drawn back from the tobaccostained fangs were animal-like in their savagery. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 44:1 asked him who the man with the fangs was and he knew you, so I asked him to introduce me. 1964 H.S. Thompson letter 11 Mar. in Proud Highway (1997) 443: Your concepts have lost their fangs - for me, anyway. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 9: Kep your chops chipper and you'll have boss looking fangs. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 253: Tammy smiled, showing her decaying fangs. 1987 B. Chatwin Songlines 83: Get your fucking fangs into that steak! 1996 D, Healy Bend for Home 50: The long fang, yellow and topped with black, sat in a saucer. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 6: It's purely and only because of his teeth. Our Ratter's nickname is down to his fangs.

2 a finger. 1830 B.M. Carew Gypsey of the Glen I iii: Be charitable, and put your fangs into your bungs, and throw us a croaker - All of us poor cripples. 3 (US black/jazz) in pi., the lips; thus, in fig. use, the equivalent of CHOPS n.^ (3). 1958 Down Beat 6 Feb. 31: The trumpet section includes [...] all the guys with — to use the hip vernacular — they're saying 'fangs' now instead of chops. 4 the penis; thus bury the fang, to have sexual intercourse. 1950 'No. 35' Argot in G. Simes DAUS (1993) 80: fang [...] The penis. 'He hit her with the fang.' 'First thing i do when I get out is bury the fang.'

■ In compounds fang artist (n.) see separate entries. fang bandit (n.) (also fang carpenter) [-bandit sfx (3)] (Aus.) a dentist. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/1: fang carpenter (gum digger, gum puncher) - dentist. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 107: The Sheiks go in for bigamy in a big way and none of the sheilahs seem to mind the set-up, so long as they've got a Harrods charge card, a colour TV in the back of the limmo and a new set of gold choppers from some Harley Road fang-bandit. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 76: fang bosun/carpenter Dentist. Originally in ANZ navy and army respectively, C20. fang chovey (n.) [chovey n.) a dental surgery. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 378/2: from ca. 1850. fang factory (n.) a dental surgery., 1974-5 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 113: I'll let me teeth rot in me skull before I go to the fang factory next. fang faker (n.) [faker n. (5); cf. 20C milit. \ar%on fang-farrier, a dentist] a dentist. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 378/2: from ca. 1850. fang job (n.) criticism, esp. a critical article. 1964 H.S. Thompson letter 31 Jan. in Proud Highway (1997) 437: The Observer is down on me for a fang-job I did on Congress, fang-lifter (n.) (US Und.) a dentist. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI.

■ In phrases put the fangs into (v.) [var. on put the bite on under bite n.^] (Aus.) 1 to pressurize, to blackmail. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 1965 J. O'Grady Aussie Eng. (1966) 39: 'Putting the bite on' somebody is also 'putting the tangs in'. 2 to demand a loan or favour. 1924 (con, WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: put the fangs in. To request a favour or loan. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang.

fang v.^

[fang n.

(1);

note SE fang, to tear or seize with the teeth] (Aus.)

1 to demand money, to cadge, to beg for a loan; thus fanging for, desperate for. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 199: When I slipt the joint, and fang'd the arm, he strengthened the sinews, and dibb'd the tenpennies. 1918 Aussie (France) 4 Apr. 3/2: Well, I wanter put th' fangs into yer fer yer blanky chopper ter carve some wood for th' bleeding brazier. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 22: fangs (n.) — 'To put in the

fang

2

fangs' — to demand money, etc. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: fang; To borrow from a person. Whereas a snip is only a small loan a fang is a large 'bite'. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 120: A welcome 'cuppa' (tea) when one is 'fanging for a drink' 'just wets my sides'. to eat. 2002 M. Miller on Gum Tree Lodge (Internet] This has got me

hungry! Think I'll go and fang one now!

fang

[abbr. of proper name of the Argentine racing driver )uan Fangio (1911-95)] {Aus.) 1 to drive fast; also as n. 1960 A. Buzo Front Room Boys Scene i: I'd be down by the pool or out

for a fang in the Jag. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted I hi: Let's hop in the B and fang up to the beach. 1981 Bulletin 10 Nov. 43: We pick up sheilas, get drunk, steal cars, fang 'em (drive them fast) [...] anyfink! 1984 National Times 14 Sept. 14: They've had half a dozen drinks and, you know, they want to impress the girls and their mates at how fast they can fang their car around the corner [GAW4],

2 to do something fast, to send something quickly. 1991 Sydney Morning Herald 29 Apr. 20: He fanged a fax to Quentin Dempster of the 7.30 Retort [GAW4].

fang artist n?

[fang

v.^ +

-artist

sfx] (Aus.)

1

one who is

particularly adept at obtaining loans. 1972 A. Chipper Aussie Swearers Guide 24: Fang Artist, applied to (a) a glutton, (b) a constant borrower, or (c) a lecher.

2 a glutton. 1972 see sense 1. 2002 M. Miller on Gum Tree Lodge [Internet] The real 'fang artist' could do the whole thing one handed, effortlessly changing hands to lick fingers or to scoff a chip (french fry to you) or potato cake or to take a swig.

fang artist

[fang

n. (4) +

-artist

sfx] (Aus.) a lecher, a

womanizer. 1972 A. Chipper Aussie Swearers Guide 24: Fang Artist, applied to [...] a lecher.

fannie n. see fanny n.\ fannies! excl. see fains! excl. fanning n. [fan v? (1)] 1 a beating,

a thrashing.

1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1904 Number 1500 Life In

Sing Sing 248: Fanning, spanking. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 265: A cop came along and [...] gave us such a sound fanning that we were up and on our feet in a jiffy. 1947 I. Shulman Amboy Dukes 108: Shut up [...] or you'll get a fanning.

2 (US Und.) a pickpocket's preliminary running of their hands over a victim to find a wallet or bankroll. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Fanning. Locating purse. 1924

G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Fanning. Locating a purse. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

3 a search of a person, usu. for weapons. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in A5 VI:6 438: fanning, n. A search, or frisk, by the police or prison guards. 1938 D. Runyon 'The Brakeman's Daughter' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 509: Big False Face gives The Humming Bird a quick fanning,

fanny

n.^ [ety. unknown. DSUE suggests link to Fanny Hill, the heroine of [ohn Cleland's Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1749)] 1 (UK only) the vagina. 'Luscious Fifteen' Knowing Chaunter 40; So one day she inspected the sweet little part, / Where she found some soft hair had begun there to sprout, / Which tickled her sweet little Fanny about. 1879 'Sub-Umbra, or Sport among the She-Noodles' Pearl 3 Sept. 2: She playfully pulled up their chemises, exclaiming: 'You shan't look at my fanny for nothing.' 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) II 274: 'So my fanny's small?' she asked several times. 18901904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 204: A buck for a fuck, / Fifty cents for a suck, / And a dime for a feel of her fanny. 1956 'Salome' in 'Count P. Vicarion' Bawdy Ballads LX: She's a great big cow, twice the size o' me / Hairs on her fanny like branches of a tree. 1962 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 151: She said, 'I won't break Stackolee's luck.' / She shook her fanny for a dime, / Making bail for Stackolee. 1970 C. Brown Down All the Days 134: Yeah - that her bloody fanny's bald as an egg! 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 182: Don't touch anything under there [.,.] Not even your fanny. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 588: The only one dancing was a little daisy jumping around like her fanny was itching. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 464: 'Cunt' is a harsh, brutal werd. Wharrif someone referred ter you as a cunt ]...] As if that's all yerrah, nuthin eT, juster fanny like. 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black 157: With Morris around I really need some sort of 1835

fanny guard.

2 (US) (also fannie) an old(er) woman. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Intermittent Fusser' in Ade's Fables 43: The Target was a dry-seasoned Fannie old enough to be his

Godmother.

fanny

35

3 (US) (also fannie, fannyolo) the buttocks; thus fanny-shaker, a bellydancer. 1919 I2th US Infantry 73: They made us all get in a circle and stoop over while a guy ran round and hit us on the —never mind where — with a strap — I believe they call the game 'Bat the Fanny' and they sure did bat me [HDAS]. 1922 E. Hemingway letter 20 Mar. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 64: The temptation of course is to tell him to take his whole damned family and jam them as far as they will go up some elephant's fanny. 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 273: They can take all their Sam Browne belts and hang them on the Commanding General's fanny for all I care. 1930 R. Whitfield Green Ice (1988) 82: Look out that gun doesn't go off in the folds of your dress and send a bullet through your fanny. 1933 Hecht & Fowler Great Magoo 166: That fanny-shaker got him down. 1935 H. McCoy They Shoot Horses, Don't They? in Four Novels (1983) 47: The only time we need you you're sitting on your fanny. 1937 T. Thursday 'The Wild Whampoo of the Whampolo' Blue Ribbon Sports Dec. [Internet] If he gets knocked on his fannyolo, the Old Man can hoist him up, 1944 H.B. Hersey G.I. Laughs 204: After riding for three days in the back of a truck, my fanny is completely ribbed. 1949 1. Bolton Christmas Tree in N.Y. Mosaic (1999) 273: He loved it dearly: 'Who slapped Annie on the fannie with a flounder?' 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 56: My fannie is like a red-hot stove. I won't be able to sit down for a week. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 133: Nothing to do but sit on our fannies in the wine bars jacking up a signorina for the night. 1969 Max Romeo 'Wet Dream' [lyrics] Give the crumpet to Big Foot Joe, leave the fanny to me. 1978 R. Caron GoBoy! 140: The guards [...] will sometimes pat one on the fanny for a laugh. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 119: 'No, sir,' she said and patted her haunches, 'this little fanny is harder'n married life.' 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 115: She shot her hip, plucked a kiss from her lips and planted it on her fanny. 2000 Guardian G2 21 Jan. 18: Which, to everyone else is, as schoolboys say, a fanny. 2008 Sun. Times (S. Afr.) 6 Jan. 9: All I need is to take care of the essentials face, fanny and feet, which is why I will bring along wet wipes. 4 (US) one's self. 1925 (con. C.1912) G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 114: If you don't fly your flannies [sic] out o' town pretty quick [...] I'll throw you all in the jug. 1947-53 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man (1995) 278: Le's jump up an' scoot our fannies outta here. 1969 J. Broughton Thud Ridge 76: We managed to haul our fannies out of there. 1978 L.K. Truscott Dress Gray (1979) 241: You've got exactly five minutes to get your fannies up to your rooms and into full dress. 5 women, considered simply as sex objects. 1994 1. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' Acid House 283: The City Cafe [...] was full of fanny and I hadn't had a shag in five months. 2001 Guardian G2 9 July 22: There's a busload of fanny turning up. 2006 I. Rankin Naming of the Dead (2007) 374: 'Fanny alert.' Four pairs of eyes looked up at Siobhan. 6 a fool, an idiot, a general term of abuse. 2001 C. Brookmyre a Big Boy Did It and Ran Away 5: An absolute fanny. Risking his life in an attempt to overtake before the crawler lane ends. 2007 A. Guthrie Hard Man 194: Thinking about plants, now. Like a useless fanny.

■ In compounds fanny-artful (n.) (also fanny-fair) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fanny batter (n.) vaginal secretions. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.; fanny batter n. Crusty

residue found on a hairy pie (qv). 2002 J. Mercurio Bodies 213: Substance K is a chemical present in breast milk or fanny batter or something. fanny flaps (n.) the labia; thus fanny-flapped, a derog. epithet for a woman. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 16: Ya fuckin dirty fanny-flapped faced auld hoor! 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fanny flaps n. labia. fanny hat (n.) [the dent in its crown; euph. for CUNT-HAT under CUNT n.) a trilby. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 379/1: since ca. 1930.

fanny magnet (n.) see under -magnet sfx. fanny nosher (n.) [nosh v. (2)1 a lesbian. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 12: fanny-nosher n. A woman in comfortable shoes who takes the other bus to dine at the Y. A tennis fan (qv). fanny nudger (n.) a vibrator. 1999 Observer 29 Aug. 27; This nine-inch fanny-nudger is perfect for

mothers.

fanny pack (n.) (also fanny flask) (US) a small pouch-like bag strapped around the wearer's waist. 1959 SKI Feb. 53: Just the right size for carrying personal items is the

'Fanny-Pac' offered by Trans World Airlines. 1971 Outdoor Life May

fanny 32: For the backpacker, there are many new or improved packs plus belt pockets, fanny packs, and dufflebags. 1988 Newsweek 5 Dec. 81: Her company put out [...] larger fanny packs that hold lunches or tennis shoes. [...] The concept started with skiers' fanny flasks that evolved into belt packs for nonliquid essentials as the walking craze sent people into the streets. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 119: Fanny pack 'pouch for valuables worn on a belt around the waist'. 2000 Guardian G2 27 Apr. 6: They're fanny-packs. The behind is known as the fanny over there. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 71: She wore a fanny pack on her waist. (8th edn) 379/1: since ca. 1945.1999 C.

Wyburn

review of Brown Cruel Britannia [Internet] As Arthur sleeps, Stanley is forced to watch Marie slit his throat from ear to ear, tear out his heart, and put a fanny rag in its place. 2006 posting at www. frothersunite.com [Internet] You foreigners fucking disgust me. I would rather suck on a used fanny rag.

fanny rat (n.) 1 a pubic louse. 1977 (ref. to 1940s) G. Melly Rum, Bum and Concertina (1978) 97:

Crahs [...] were referred to by such synonyms as 'fanny rats', 'minge mice', 'mobilized blackheads' and 'mechanized dandruff'.

2 the penis. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: fanny rat n. 1. Penis.

3 a promiscuous man. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: fanny rat [...] 2.

Sexually promiscuous male. 4 a general term of abuse. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 140: That little fanny-rat Ocky has vanished off the face of the Earth. 5 a womanizer. 2005 www.b3ta.com 2 Sept. [Internet] One of the lads, a known fanny-rat, scuttled off into the darkness to find the best-looking whore he could find.

■ In phrases hang one’s fanny out (v.) see hanc one's ass out under ass n. pain in the fanny (n.) see pain in the arse n. shake one’s fanny (v.) 1 (orig. US) to hurry up. 1933 J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 336: Come on, shake your

fannies,

2 to have sexual intercourse. 1962 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 151: She said, '1 won't break

Stackolee's luck.' / She shook her fanny for a dime, / Making bail for Stackolee.

■ In exclamations my fanny! (also my old fanny! my sister’s fanny!) a general excl. of disdain, dismissal, arrogant contempt. 1939 'Flann O'Brien' At Swim-Two-Birds 247: No offence but that class of stuff is all my fanny. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 415: He was convicted, with recommendations for mercy 'cause he was a sick man. [..,] Sick man, my fanny. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 20; Distinguished me fanny, Dalgety's only a jumped-up bitch. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 125; Official business, my old fanny. 1966 B, Reckord Skyvers 1 ii: colman: 'E was best on the field last night, brook: Best on the field my sister's fanny. fanny n.^ [? fig. use of fanny n.^ (3) on model of ballocks n. (3)] 1 verbal effusiveness, usu. nonsensical. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 202: All this fanny about wrestlin', all this madam. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 62; Since leaving school Joe has been a grafter and he can 'spiel his fanny' with the best of them. 2 any form of story (poss. mendacious) designed to elicit money or sympathy, to provide excuses etc. 1930 (con. 1910s) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 86: She was without

money or food and the kiddie was ill. As she told the 'fanny' (story) the members of the gang all reached for their 'kicks'. 1936 H. Corey Farewell, Mr Gangster! 280: Slang used by English criminals [...] Put up the fanny - told false story, 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 84: All a fanny, may I be topped if it ain't. 1977 G.F. Newman Villain's Tale 8: He could brazen out any sort of fanny that he put up to the filth, or stand a quizzing from a silk in court, but this situation was different. 1982 J. Sullivan 'A Losing Streak' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] And don't give me that old fanny about a losing streak. 1999 'Problem Drug Use and Probation in London; An Evaluation' at www.kcl.ac.uk [Internet] People can feed you the biggest load of fanny. 2005 Guardian 8 Feb. [Internet] PR types relentlessly hammer home the message that American football is 'conquering the world'. And it's all a load of fanny.

3 a fit of temper. 2001 Online Did. of Playground SI. [Internet] fanny, dicky fit n.

variation on radge.

■ In compounds fanny merchant (n.) (merchant n. (1)1 one who offers only empty boasts and promises. 1998 C. Brookmyre Not the End of the World 96: It reminded him of the corpses-in-waiting you saw on telly at Conservative Party conferences, chuckling vacantly at some fanny-merchant's dismal, scripted one-liner. 2000 Sun. Herald mag. (Glasgow) 11 June [Internet] These moments are interspersed with the wide eyed retellings of stories he heard from Dalgish - scoring against England at Wembley, psyching out Vinnie Jones ('a fanny merchant' apparently).

fanny rag (n.) (Aus.) a sanitary towel. 1984 Partridge

fannyolo

36

fanny mob (n.) [mob

(3)1 (UK Und.) confidence tricksters.

1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 78: You take a

real worker — one ov the fanny mob or a cracksman or even a dip, anybody wiv a bit ov class, he'll tell yer.

■ In phrases spin a fanny (v.) to tell a deceitful story. 1933 G. Ingram 'Stir' 65: 'Spin a right fanny to the "Croaker",'

advised Smith [OED], 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 83; You better say you work for the firm and all - Aberdonian Transit. Spin them a fanny. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 37: College Harry arrived [...] and span a fanny about how he was expeaing a friend from the North who was coming straight on from Euston.

fanny

n.^ (camp gay) a proper name, with its si. allusions, used for a variety of camp nicknames, e.g. Fanny Fed, the FBI. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 229: Other old names [for homosexual men] are Flo(rence), Lily, Fanny, Alice,

fanny

v. [fanny n? (2)] to deceive or persuade by glib talk.

1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 84: Try to fanny it out the way this

bloke had said. 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 28: They were passing a screw, so Stringy kept quiet for a few paces before going on, still fannying they were discussing other blokes. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 156: It was his own money, saved up from a lifetime of blagging and fannying suckers, 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 128: He'd talk to the girls and, in the words of somebody who knew him then, 'fanny about'. v. (a/so fanny around) [euph. fuck about v. (1)1 to

fanny about

waste time, to act aimlessly. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 158: The right moment went and still they fannied about. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 74: Don't fanny about on the sidelines, get stuck in. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 308: I ain't fannyin' about fer the likes o' you.

fanny adams

n.^ [the brutal murder and dismemberment of eight-yearold Fanny Adams, at Alton, Hampshire, on 24 August 1867; the murderer, one Frederick Baker, was hanged at Winchester on Christmas Eve; 5000 people watched the execution] (ong. Royal Navy) tinned mutton. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SL, Jargon and Cant. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine 3: They had nothin' better'n an old bum tiger from Injy [...] an' callin it 'Fanny Adams'. 1914 'Bartimeus' 'The Greater Love' in Naval Occasions 216: Fresh grub to-night: no more 'Russian Kromeskis' and 'Fanny Adams'! 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 92: Fanny Adams: Tinned boiled mutton. Fanny Adams [...] was in real life a young woman, murdered by a solicitor's clerk named Baker a hundred years ago (circ. 1812) who cut her up and flung the pieces into the river at Alton in Hampshire. Seamen of the period applied the name 'Fanny Adams' by way of grim jest to the pieces of salt-junk or pork supplied as rations. Later, when tinned meat became a naval ration, the name was transferred to that. 1930 G. Aylmer Wells Naval Customs and Traditions 56: FANNY ADAMS A name given to tinned meat in the Royal Navy. 1962 W. Granville Sailors' SI. 46/1: Fanny Adams, general nautical slang for stew or hash.

fanny adams

n.^ (also F.A., f.a.) [for ety. see prev.) a euph. for FUCK all n., i.e. absolutely nothing. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 22: f.a. [...] 'Fanny Adams' or

'Sweet Fanny Adams' — nothing; vacuity. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty G/oss. of SI. [...] in the A.LF. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.:'F.A. [...] Fuck All; Fanny Adams; Nothing; vacuity. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 163; So I starts playing about; [...] tickling him, and all that Fanny Adams. 1946 R. Rivett Behind Bamboo 396: F.A. (sweet), nothing at all [...] Fanny Adams, nothing at all. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brackett 219: What he knew about education was F.A, 1970 G.F, Newman Sir, You Bastard 92: There's FA wrong with my morals. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

fanny blair

n. [rhy. si.] the hair.

1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 106: His 'Fanny Blair' [is] his hair,

fannyolo

n. see fanny n.'' (3).

fanqui fanqui n.

[lit. 'foreign devil'] (Anglo-Chinese) a European.

1864, 1867, 1870

fantabulosa

Hotten

1887 Daily News 25 Aug. in Ware (1909) 144/1: Another sort of man

SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

adj. [Polari; SE fantastic + fabulous] excellent, perfect.

1966 Took & Feldman 'Bona Books' Round the Horne 20 Mar. [BBC radio] juhan: We'll call it - Vole Flanders, The Story of an Eighteenth-Century Water Slut, sandy: Fantabulosa! 1968 Took & Feldman Round the Horne 24 Mar. [BBC radio] Now look. Turn, Jule. Watch him, Mr. Horne. He's on the turn. Now that's beautiful. Isn't that beautiful, that's Fantabulosa. 2003 P. Baker [bk title] Fantabulosa.

fantabulous

adj. [SE fantastic + fabulous] incredibly wonderful.

1953 Chicago Trib. 23 June 15: [advert] 'Fantabulous' is the word for a Delta-C&S vacation. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 81: 'How does it feel to have the world at your feet?' 'Fantabulous!' I said. 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 9: 'Fantabulous!' squealed Connie. 1981 (con. 1940s) O'Day & Eells High Times Hard Times 119: 'One hundred and twenty-five dollars a week.' 'Fan-TAB-ulousI' 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 42: Personally it [i.e. Ecstasy] gives me the most fan-tab-u-lous orgasms. 2004 T. & B. Donaldson Coming Of Age 83: So, we did that and looked absolutely fantabulous if I do say so myself.

fantadlins

n. [SE tantobUn, a sweet tarti a pastry. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

fantail

n.^ [naut. jargon fantail, 'the projecting part of the stern of a yacht or other small vessel when it extends unusually far over the water abaft the stern post' {Century Diet., 1889)] 1 a coal-heaver's or dustman's hat, resembling a sou'wester. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London II 393: A pipe of tobacco in the other [hand], which he occasionally smoaked, stooping forward to light it at one of the candles in the fantail hats of his two front supporters. The rear of this ludicrous procession was brought up by several other dustmen and coalheavers. 1837 'The Werry last of Dustmen!' in Sam Weller's Favorite Song Book 7: My fantail caster— / My gaiters tight, and stockings vhite, / Go seek another master. 1842 J. Labern 'The Lamed Dustman' Comic Songs 28: You'd scarce believe a Brougham's Head / Lies underneath my Fantail. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1877 'The Fashionable Coaley' in Laughing Songster 99: My fantail-beaver I threw off. 2 the buttocks; only found in combs, below.

■ Derivatives

fantailer (n.)

[sense 2 above] a person whose tail coat is excessively

long. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 74: Fantailers — fellows with long-tail coats, which may have been made for much taller men, and which fly up in the faces of others passing by.

■ In compounds

fantail-banger

(n.) [sense 2 above

-e banger n?] (Aus.)

a morning

coat. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 10/2: The Parson is on the highfly in a fantail banger and a milky mill toy. He got the cant of togs from a shickster whose husband's in a bone-box. He'll gammon the swells. He touched one for an alderman the first ten minutes. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 23/1: The staff of the 'leading' paper of Adelaide [...] have been ordered by the saintly proprietors to attire themselves in that description of long-tailed black coat commonly known as the 'hallelujah garment.' By their fan-tail bangers shall you know them. It is well, O pekeha. No more shall the wolf prowl round in the vestments of the sheep, fantail-boy (n.) (a/so fantail-gentleman) [i.e. the sou'wester that was part of his 'uniform'] a dustman, a coal-heaver. 1810 Sporting Mag. XXXVI. 243: The two fan-tail Gentlemen soon gave in. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc.

fantail n.^

Ifan one's ass under ass n. + highly promiscuous prison homosexual.

tail n.

(1)] (US prison) a

1983 R. KLEtN Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub, ms.],

fantasia n.

[the hallucinogenic effects] (drugs) dimethyltryptamine.

2001 ONDCP Street Terms

9:

Fantasia — Dimethyltryptamine.

fantastic

adj. [loose use of the SE| excellent, good beyond expectation. 1938 M. Allingham Fashion in Shrouds 175: Oh, Val, isn't it fantastic? [...] It's amazing, isn't it? 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 115: Fantastic Extraordinary, unusual, hard to believe. 1984 A. Sayle Train to Hell 44: Hey! [...] it's fantaaastic, rilly, rilly, fantaaastic. 1999 Guardian G2 4 Oct. 6: It's fantastic they've given John Barnes the job. Fanbloody-tastic.

fantastic plastic n. (Aus.) 1999

G.

fardel

37

Seal

Lingo

126:

In

a contraceptive sheath, a condom. Lingo,

condoms

are

[...]

PANTASTtc

plastic.

fanti

adj. (also fantee) [SE go fanti, to 'go native', to adopt the habits of a native tribe; ult. W. African Fantee, a tribe in Ghana] crazy, insane; usu.

as go fanti, to go crazy, to run amok.

simply 'goes Fanti,' like the Rev. John Greedy, M,A., Oxon, and reverts to savagery. 1891 Kipling Departmental Ditties 59: 'Went Fantee'—joined the people of the land. / Turned three parts Mussulman and one Hindu. 1896 R. Devereux Ascent of Woman 124: Only to take it out of its hand-box seemed to induce a tendency to 'go fanti.' [...] I gave it away to an enemy who was going abroad. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 29: When he got on his feet again, he went abso-bloody-lutely fanti. 1930 G.K. Chesterton Four Faultless Felons 190: He was a white man, or a whitish man, who had gone fantee and wore nothing but a pair of spectacles and and worshipped a god of his own that he had made out of an old umbrella. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier.

fantod

n. (also fantods) [SBfantod, a crotchety way of acting; ? ult. f. SE fantasy, fantastic] (US) a feeling of uneasiness, a feeling of

depression. 1839 C.F. Briggs Adventures of Harry Franco I 249: You have got strong syptoms of the fantods; your skin is so tight you can't shut your eyes without opening your mouth. 1867 W.H. Smyth Sailor's Word-Bk (1991) 289: Fantods. A name given to the fidgets of officers. 1884 (con. C.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 66: I catched a glimpse of fire away through the trees. [...] By and by I was close enough to have a look, and there laid a man on the ground. It most give me the fantods. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 336: Moreover, it done gives Dan Boggs the fan-tods. 1908 E.S. Sorenson Quinton's Rouseahout 116: This ain't no jim-jams, I ain't tasted a drop since five months ago, when I got blind drunk at Paddy Flynn's; an' I didn't see any jumpin' fantods then. 1916 T. Burke Limehouse Nights 305: Old man's got the fair fantods to-night, c,1930 (ref. to 1868) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 61: He called me a country jake with the fantods. 1940 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh Act I: You and the other bums have begun to give me the graveyard fantods. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 52: What the hell's wrong with me? [...] I got the fantods, or something? 1967 C. Dair Design with Type (2001) n.p.: He has a root-canal case of the fantods. His sphincter is fluttering, he is breaking out in a sour sweat. 1975 L. Rosten Dear 'Herm' 113: Apropos of the Watergate 'fantods' - I will not even comment on your feeble humor. 1987 J. Ciardi Good Words 113: The Fantods. The condition of being unstrung, ill at ease. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 134: Predictably, the after-effects of the grog are the subject of some colloquialising: the jimjams; the dts; the fantods; the shakes (joe blakes in rhyming slang).

fsp

adj. [ety. unknown] drunk. C.1597 Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor 1 i: I say, the gentleman had drunk himself out of his five senses. [...] And being fap, sir, was, as they say, cashier'd. 1818 J. Brown Psyche 44: Getting daily fap with ale [OED]. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 296: fap seems by the context to mean drunk, but has not yet been fully traced. It was probably a cant term.

far and near

n. [rhy. sl.j (US) beer.

1892 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Rhyme of the Rusher' in Sporting Times 29 Oct. n.p.: He stuck to the I'm so to drown his cares, / While I went for the far and near. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SI. 99: Beer can also be [.,.] far an' near.

far away

adv. [the hymn 'There is a happy land, / Far, far away', which was often parodied in such lines as 'Where are my Sunday clothes? / far, far away'] in pawn; also as v. 1909 (ref. to 1884) in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

far away! exd. see far out! exc/. farblondjet adj. (also farblundjet)

[Yid. farblondzhen, to lose one's way, to go astray] (US) confused, lost, astray. 1951 S. Levenson Meet the Folks 126: farblundjet A kosher butcher in Scarsdale. 2001 Jewish News Weekly (S.F.) 15 June [Internet] 'I want to make sure members don't get farblondjet when us alter kakhers of the Assembly make a megillah about our bills,' Hertzberg said in a statement.

farchardet

adj. (also farchadat) [Yid. fartschadat, confused; ult. Slavic, chad, smoke, daze] (US) confused, befuddled. 1968 L. Rosten Joys of Yiddish (1970) 112: Farchadat [,..] Dizzy, confused, dopey, 'punchy.' 'That guy walks around all farchadat.' 1987 in DARE File.

farcing

n. (also farsing) [SE/orce| (UK Und.) the picking of a lock. 1591 Greene Second Part of Conny-Catching in Grosart (1881-3) X 86: In Lifting Law. The Pickelocke is called a Charme. He that watcheth, a Stond. Their engins, Wrefters. Picking the lock, Farsing. The gaines gotten, Pelfrey. 1608 Dekker Belman of London F4: Picking of the locke is called Farsing.

fardel n.

[OE/e'orda dae'/, fourth part) (Irish) a farthing. 1975 E. Brady All in! All in! 167: Says my old one / To your old one, / Will you come to the Waxies' Dargle. / Says your old one / To my

farden old one, / Sure I haven't got a fardel, [...] Up to about 1890 the waxies of Dublin held an annual gathering at Irishtown Green. 1997 Slanguage.

Share

farden

n, (also varden) [pron.l a farthing. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 179: He shan't ever have a morsel of meat of mine, or a varden to buy it. 1766 Colman & Garrick Clandestine Marriage III ii; I'll ladyship her indeed! a little creppin, cantin - She shan't be the better for a farden of my money. 1815 'The Yorkshire Irishman' in A Garland of New Songs (28) 8: Without in my pocket a farden. 1825 Egan Life of an Actor 60: IVlutton is not worth a single/d/'den if you let it get cold. 1831 Mr Mathews' Comic Annual 25: I'll lay ye a farden, that the brick-dust neddy vins. 1842 Comic Almanack Sept. 327: They knock him down, and crack his crown, / And leave him not a farden. 1851 'Taking Tea in the Arbor' in Jolly Comic Songster 210: For the smell of a garden, I care not a farden. 1866 Wild Boys of London 124/1: 'You hit me, that's all.' 'Hit yer. Why yer five farden rasher of bacon. I'd roll you hup.' 1878 G. Leybourne 'Parisien Harry' in Comic Songs 9: I wouldn't give a farden for the lot, boys. Gay Paree is the place for me. 1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag & Co. 80: And don't you pay me a farden' if you h'ain't. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 15 July 667: They only charge a farden a pail up town. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 July 32/1: Well, what on airth more jer want? You'll 'ave the farm when I'm gone, and not a farden before. 1914 R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 143: A fardensworth of everlasting stickjaw torfee. 1935 H.E. Bates Poacher (1944) 157: Anybody'd think you'd lost a sovereign and found a farden. 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 10: One 'n' 'leven-pence threefarden. 1983 V. Bloom 'Hag Trial' in Touch Mi, Tell Mi 26: Now mi life

no wut two farden. far-down n. [County Down, one of the six counties of Northern Ireland] 1 (US) an Irish-American Catholic whose forebears come from Northern Ireland; thus fardownianism. 1834 Baltimore Eve. Star 20 June 20 2/5: [headline] The Corkonians, or Longfords, and the Fardowns again. 1838 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 3 May 2/4-5: In the morning there was a match fight between two bullies, one a 'Far-Down' and the other a 'Corkonian'. [Ibid.] 2/5: They may talk of Far-Downism, Corkonianism, Catholi¬ cism, Protestantism, and all the other isms which are supposed to lead to these outrages. 1846 D. Corcoran Picking from N.O. Picayune 67: 'Divil burn him,' says Mick, 'I took him for a Fardown and [...] laid him as flat as a pancake.' c.1880 'Drill You Tarriers, Drill' [lyrics] The boss was a good man all around, / 'Till he married a great big fat far down. 1931 (con. 1900s) C.W. Willemse Behind The Green Lights 135: 'Not only does he bless me, but he invites me to come and se him. Think of that, and me a Far Down.' A Far Down being an Ulsterman. 2 (Aus.) Ulster, 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Aug. 15/2: You who are Scotch and those who come from the Far-down never know well wherein that guide is summarily comprehended. 1898 F.P. Dunne Mr Dooley in Peace and War viii: In this community you can hear all the various accents of Ireland, from the awkward brogue of the 'far-downer' to the mild aisy Elizabethan English of the southern Irishman,

fare n.

farm

38

[someone who 'pays for a ride'] a male or female prostitute's

client. 1959 F. Norman in Encounter n.d. in Norman's London (1969) 64:

You're very bold, darling, but it won't do you any good to camp around here. Why don't you go and get yourself a fare, and leave us alone.

■ In phrases pick fares (v.) (W.!., Bdos) to work as a prostitute. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

Far East Two-step n. (US)

diarrhoea; dysentery.

1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 227: Members suffering from the Far

East Two-step, known in Egypt as the Pharoah's Revenge [etc.],

farger n.

[play on se forger) (UK Und.) a false die.

1591 Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage 38: Their Cheates, Bard-

dice, Flattes, Fargers [,..] and many others,

far gone adj. 1

exhausted, worn out.

must assist us with their own imagination, and suppose the night as well as the guests, to be somewhat far gone. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis II 43: You didn't say a word that anybody could comprehend - you were too far gone for that. 1853 Dickens 'Slang' in Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2: For the one word drunk [...] fargone, tight, not able to see a hole through a ladder, three sheets in the wind [etc.]. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar Till: As for Joe and myself, we were too far gone to venture an appearance at the hotel. 1890 Kipling 'Black Jack' in Soldiers Three (1907) 106: I made feign to be far gone in dhrink. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 36: His mother, influenced by that unwonted quartern of gin the occasion sanctioned, wept dismally over her boy, who was much too far gone to resent it, 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 49: You can guess how far along I was when I did n't shy at it. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Dec. 14/2: A woman sitting in the bar was far gone, and only smiled a vacant but friendly smile when I spoke to her. 1904 Kipling 'The Bonds of Discipline' in Traffics and Discoveries 69: 'I can't open my eyes, or I'll be sick,' said the Marine with appalling clearness. 'I'm pretty far gone.' 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight. 1978 J. Webb Fields of Fire (1980) 21: This dude is so far gone he could take a picture of me and still not remember me. 1988 P. Califia Macho Sluts 30: That one looked too far gone for Maybelline or methadone to fix what was wrong with her. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 56: You said a girl called. I was too far gone to get the scoop. What happened? When did she call? 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 269: When the phone rang I was so far gone it took fifteen minutes to remember where it was.

3 mad, eccentric, insane. 1857 J.E. Ritchie Night Side of London 51: She is too far gone to have any decency left. Drink and sadness combined have tortured her brain to madness. 1933 N. West 'Miss Lonelyhearts' in Coll. Works (1975) 269: Some of you, perhaps, consider yourself too far gone for help. 1953 J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 126: If a guy was that far gone, there wasn't much use in trying to use him. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'The Fishing-Boat Picture' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner {I960) 86:1 [...] became even too far gone to turn religious or go on the booze. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 203: The guy's so far gone,

he'd let us yank out his kidneys if we wanted,

farkakte

adj.

(also

facacta) [synon. Yid.] (US)

unpleasant,

disgusting. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 251; Those farkakte goyim jailers don't know from good nova lox. 2004 Mad mag. Sept. 41: Facacta people who believe that are all meshugga goyim.

farking adj. see fucking adj. Farm, the n. [Monash, which

opened in 1961 with 363 students, was orig. set on a rural campus where cows still grazed and wildlife was a common sight] (Aus.) Monash University, /Vlelbourne, 1964 Sydney Morning Herald 28 Aug. 2: Third University for Melbourne. La Trobe joins 'the Shop' and 'the Farm' [GAW4].

farm

n.^ ySE farm, an institution for poor children] 1 a prison infirmary; thus fetch the farm v., to have oneself admitted to the infirmary. 1879 'TICKET-Of-Leave Man' Convict Life 167: After his conviction [.,.] he can 'fetch the farm', which is thieves' language for obtaining admission to the infirmary. 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 142: 'Fetching the farm' (obtaining infirmary treatment) is the one thing in the lagging which the worst type of these men will strain every nerve and resort to every possible device [...] to get. 1888 R. Barnett Police Sergeant C 21 246: The convict shook his head. "Tain't the farm (it is by this name that most prisoners designate the infirmary) as would cure me. What I want is fresh air.' 1934 L. Berg Prison Nurse (1964) 68: Get him transferred to the prison 'farm' up at Greenkill for convalescence.

2 a clinic for alcoholics or drug addicts to take 'the cure'. 1958 A. King Mine Enemy Grows Older (1959) 88: Manny, down at the narcotics farm, would be enmeshed in his own private nightmares. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 18: He's up at the farm [...] I checked him in and he was as bombed as you can get.

farm

n.^ labbr. SE work farm) (US) a prison; thus junk farm, a Federal rehabilitation institution.

C.1629 R. Brome City Wit III i: Shee's very farr gone I feare, how do

1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Of Good Address' Sporting Times 20 Jan. 1/4;

you find her disease Sir? 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 39/2: Our stomachs used to ache with the

His epistle's dated from a farm near Pentonville, / He's no doubt compelled to give his right address. 1910 L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 66: Chopsey: I'd sooner bring a moon than work for a dirty Dago. / Smithy: I don't want to go up to the farm. 1924 'Digit' Confessions of a Twentieth Century Hobo 88; To be seen even near a freight train was enough to be pulled and landed on Brown's Farm for thirty days. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 69; We found that Jackson is the place where the state Penitentiary or Farm is. 1943 W. Guthrie Bound for Glory (1969) 309: Give you an awful good chance to rest up out on the County Farm. 1958 H. Ellison Web of the City (1983) 49: No sense in my getting picked up

hunger, and we would cry when we was werry far gone. 1883 Entr'acte Apr. in Ware (1909) 127/2: Miss Gilchrist, who has now matured into a well-formed young woman, is what I should call a vocal defaulter, her singing being 'far gone'. 1959 A. Zugsmith Beat Generation 13: She was pretty far gone. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 142: We climbed up there some more and I was far gone. 2 (a/so far along) drunk or otherwise intoxicated. 1741 'CONNY Keyber' An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews 49: Parson Williams would be pretty far gone. 1830 W. Carleton 'The Station' Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry II 295: Our readers

and tossed in the farm. 1967 L.

Bruce

Essential Lenny Bruce 266:

farm Thirty days on the farm aren't gonna hurt you at all. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 25: Dolan and Morrissey [...] were trying to get Artie Van turned around when he was up at the farm there. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 287: The county farm was minimum security. farm labbr. funny farm under funny adj?] (US) a psychiatric institution. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 170: She's ready for the farm, but she won't file charges. farm v. [one 'harvests' the CROP n.^l (US campus) to drink alcohol; thus farmed v., drunk. 1988

far out!

39

Eble

Campus SI. Oct. 4: farmed - drunk,

farmer n.^ [SE/arm, to lease or let the proceeds or profits of customs, taxes etc. for a fixed payment] 1 an alderman. 1821 Plash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 2 a churchwarden. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet farmer n.^ 1 (US) a derog. term for a peasant, an unsophisticated country person, whether an actual farmer or not. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten Si. Diet. 131: Farmer [...] In London it is used derisively of a countryman, and denotes a farm-labourer, clodpole. Both senses are different from the general acceptation. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 349: It was fierce, the way 1 got jerked around for a farmer that time. 1902 Greenough & Kittredge Words 285: In this country (...] 'farmer' is sometimes jocosely applied to a greenhorn, or to a person who has made himself ridiculous, particularly by awkwardness or stupidity [DA]. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 211: Now you . . . farmer! Get your hands up! 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 134: Those farmers. They coulda used that time better tryin' to score. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 141: And she's such an old farmer, all she can think about is she don't like my language. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 192: As for country dwellers, in addition to hick, names and nicknames that have been used disaparagingly as generics include: [...] John Farmer (or John Family, John Hoosier, or simply John—or, for that matter, simply farmer). 2 a Stupid or unsophisticated person. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains Al: Mr Paul is a farmer -1 don't tink. Why he's slick as dey makes em. 1900 A.H. Lewis 'Politics' in Sandhurrs 96: On d' dead! I was farmer enough to t'ink I'd t'ank him for bein' me guide. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1947 N. Algren 'Depend on Aunt Elly' in Texas Stories (1995) 105: In his first fight there he gave away fourteen pounds against some farmer and cut him down in eight rounds. 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 16: Carroll was nothing but a big farmer at heart. 1968 'Hv Lit' Hy Fit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 14: farmer - A square. 2001 Guardian G2 21 Aug. 4: 1 worked in a couple of those bars where you hustle champagne. They were business men, they weren't naive farmers. 3 (US black) recently arrived Southern farm workers who persist in their country ways despite the pressing sophistication of the Northern cities. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 178: They hadn't been in New York long, and they didn't know anything. Most of them were really dumb — farmers. 1967 A. Baraka Tales (1969) 14: Enty and Mazique are playing bridge with the farmers. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street St. [unpub. ms.].

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds farmer’s alliance (n.) (US) pumpkin pie. 1897 L.A. Times 9 Apr. 5: 'Wake up,' he cried, 'one brown stone front, side of a funeral; two Irish lemons with all clothes on; plate of punk; an easy smear of axle grease and draw one in the dark, cap it all off with a farmer's alliance.' farmer’s beef (n.) (US) illegally shot deer, butchered and eaten by its hunter. 1967-68 in DARE.

farmer’s haircut (n.) [the farmer's outdoor life gives the tan] (US) a short haircut that leaves a white strip of skin showing between the bottom of the hair and the tanned portion of the neck. 1984 MJLF 10.150: Farmer's haircut. A closely trimmed cut which leaves a band of light skin contrasting with the tanned portions of neck and face, especially above the ears [DARE], farmers’ time (n.) (US) 30 minutes fast. 1940 J.W. Yoder Rosanna 199: They were all in the carriage ready to go very soon after eight o'clock, farmers' time, and that is always at least a half hour fast [DARE].

farmer’s wine (n.) (also farm liquor) [joc. euph.] (US) illicitly distilled whisky.

1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 243: farm liquor: n. Ordinary homespun whiskey, neither aged nor artificially coloured. 1985 DARE 360: farmer's wine, field whiskey,

farmer Giles n. (also farmers)

[rhy. si. = piles] (UK/Aus.) haemorrhoids. 1956 M. Durack Keep Him My Country cited in DSUE (1984). 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog. 1972 Gallon & Simpson 'Loathe Story' Steptoe and Son [TV script] I used to sit there for hours on end [...] Ten years old and I already had a touch of the Farmer Giles. 1979 C. Dexter Service of all the Dead (1980) 92: You'll get a touch of the old Farmer Giles sitting there, sir. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Farmer Giles Piles. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: farmers rhym. slang Piles. From Farmer Giles. 2003 Guardian G2 10 June 22: When Mo complains bitterly in EastEnders (BBCl) about her farmers they are not, as 1 thought, her farmer's onions/bunions. Rather, her farmer Giles.

farmisht adj. [Yid. farmisht,

confused] (US) confused, mixed up. '\%0Mad mag. Sept. 30: Hey, how come 'Gutsy' Famisht didn't come along on this job? 1982 L.C. Rosten Hooray for Yiddish 120: Farmisht . . mixed up. . . Confused; all balled up. 'I'm so farmisht I don't know whether I'm coming or going." [DARE]. 1983 in DARE File,

farm liquor n. see farmer's wine under farmer n.^. Farms, the n. (US Und.) The New York City Reformatory. 1955 R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 105; The Farms was what the East Side guys called the city reform school. [Ibid.] 112: I got paroled out of the Farms.

farmyard confetti n.

[euph. for bullshit n. (1)l (Aus.) nonsense,

rubbish. 1973 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 30 Dec. 35: Lots of farmyard confetti has been spoken and written about this young man's selection [GAW4]. 2002 JOYZiNE Aus. Diet. [Internet] farmyard confetti - nonsense, rubbish; foolish talk. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

faro-bank

n. (US Und.) a form of cheating whereby the victim is allowed to win, but never as much as he loses; also as v. 1866 implied in faro-banker below. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 296: FARO-BANK. 2. To take a mark's money by allowing him to win and lose, always losing more than he wins. Also to bankroll. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 67/2: Faro bank. (Carnival) The process of letting swindle victims win at a crooked game often enough to keep interest high.

■ Derivatives faro-banker (n.) a confidence trickster specializing in this. 1866 Night Side of N.Y. 39: A couple of well-known Broadway 'farobankers' follow the procession, for the body was one of their craft,

far out adj.^ 1

bizarre, eccentric, strange. 1925 L. Mackay Mourne Folk 109; Now there was a lump of a hussy [...] a far-out friend of Peter's wife, lived in the house with them. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 273: Grack told me you're far out, boy. 1959 A. Zugsmith Beat Generation 24: Maybe we'll meet again some day - and you'll read your gone poetry or far-out philosophy. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 5: As if they sensed some violent far-out freakishness thrashing around in his hectic yellow eyes. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 123: The whole idea [...] It's pretty far out. 1991 B. Stewart Broken Arse 1 ii: Hey bro, that's a far out name of mine—very far out. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] far out adj [...] 2. strange. ('That movie is really far out.'). 2002 D.H. Sterry Chieken (2003) 102: Wow, that sounds ... far out. 2 extreme. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 61: Seven of the farthest-out Tillie and Mac books I'd ever seen. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 64; Between the farout things you saw or heard and what you personally lost out of all that got blown away, the war made a place for you that was all yours.

far out adj.^

[with its implication of 'other-worldliness' - and thus hallucinogenic drugs - the term became a staple of the white HIPPIE n.^ (3) vocabulary of the 1960s and faded, other than in ironic use, by the 1970s| (orig. US black) excellent, wonderful, first-rate. [1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 25: She was as far out of this world as a Louis Armstrong trumpet ride.] 1957 E. Horne [bk title] For Cool Cats and Far-Out Chicks [W&F]. 1960 'Lord Buckley' Hiparama of the Classics 9; Now Jack, you may have heard many a far out Jam Session. [Ibid.] 19: Don't Bug me with the Christian Cats, [...] they ain't as far out as I is. 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 188: 'Far out,' said Brodie. 'But ours is bigger, ain't it?' 1986 H.B. Gilmour Pretty in Pink 29: He thinks you're pretty far out. 1999 Observer 24 Oct. 29; Dope and acid heads were cool and far out. 2000 Indep. on Sun. mag. 9 Apr. 16: Hey, honey, dig my far-out John Lennon review,

far out! excl. (also far away!)

[the mental 'space' entered under the influence of hallucinogens! amazing! remarkable! wonderful! 1970 D. Mitchell Thumb Tripping (1971) 51: Far out! That's fantastic. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 159: 'Far out!' Francis exclaimed

farputst as they soared through a cloud. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 243: Far out [...] Far fucking out, 1993 T. JONES Pugilist at Rest 84: 'Far out,' I said. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 157: 'Far out,' they told me. Saying that's a craze right now.

farputst adj.

fart

40

(Yid. farpotshket, sloppy, messy; ult, Cer. Patsche, a slap]

(US) dressed up to excess. 1969 in DARE.

Farringdon hotel

n.

[ironic euph.)

the

Fleet

prison,

in

Farringdon Road, London EC4. 1836-7 Dickens Pickwick Papers (1999) 546: You wouldn't think to

find such a room as this, in the Farringdon Hotel, would you?

farshtinkener adj.

[Yid.; ult. Cer. verstinken, stink up] (US) stinking.

1998 S. Isaacs Red, White and Blue Ch, 1 at MysteryNet.com [Internet]

Wind whooshed past his face, swiping the air in its wake, so he could hardly fill his lungs. Jump into this? Or face those farshtinkener cowboys—with their guns? 2006 P. Tellstrom sermon 9 July at Irvine United Congregational Church [Internet] But when I hear that schpeel on the sanctity of marriage from that Farshtink¬ ener religious right and his Feinshmeker friends, I want to plotz.

farsing n. see farcing fart n. [fart v. (1)1 1 an

n, act of breaking wind.

C.1386 Chaucer Miller's Tale line 3806: Nicholas anon leet flee a fart,

As greet as it had been a thonder-dent. c.1510 Colyn Blowbols Testament line 150: And other whiles such a f ... he lete. That men wend verely he had shete. 1538 J. Bale Comedye Concernyng Three Lawes (1550) Bi: No, no, it was but a fart. 1546 J. Heywood Proverbs I Ch. xi: I shall get a fart of a dead man as soone / As a farthyng of hym. [Ibid,] II v: They that wyll be afrayd of every farte, / Must go far to pisse. 1568 Hist, of Jacob and Esau II iv: And Jacob first to haue a fart syr reuerence. 1575 'Mr. S' Gammer Gurton's Needle in Whit¬ worth (1997) III iii: Chill not this twenty years take one fart that is thine. 1592 Greene Quip for an Upstart Courtier D4: Queasie maister veluet breeches cannot haue a fart awrye, but he must haue his purgations, pils, and glisters. 1608 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) I i: Di Horse farted in my face, and dow knowest, an Irishman cannot abide a fart. 1614 Jonson Bartholomew Pair II iv: The Windmill blown down by the witch's fart! 1627 G. Peele Merrie Conceited Jests 30: As she put out her arm to take the capon, George sitting by her, yerks me out a huge fart. 1633 J. Howell Familiar Letters (1737) I 3 June 252: The Spaniard have an odd saying [...] A Portuguese was engender'd of a Jew's Fart. 1645 'An Encomium' in Wardroper (1969) 203: Music is but a fart that's sent / From the guts of an instrument. 1655 Mercurius Fumigosus 40 28 Feb.-7 Mar. 313: A Fart is an audible creature, gives ease, and breaketh wind, like Maids over-charged with Nature, be sure a way it will find. 1658 Mennis & Smith 'Old Song' Wit Restor'd (1817) 294: A fart cannot tell, when its out where to dwell, Unlesse it be in your nose, Unlesse it be in your nose boyes. 1661 Wandring Whore V 8: Well, I am bound to tell a Tale or let a fart, therefore give ear to this following. 1672 'On a Fart' in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) II 127: I sing the praises of a Fart, That I may doo't by terms of Art. 1682 'The Gelding of the Devil' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) HI 65: Upon her Belly there crept a Flea: / The little Devil he soon espy'd that, / He up with his Paw and gave her a pat: / With that the Woman began to start, / And out she thrust a most horrible Fart. 1691 'The Rump' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 262: Why a Fart hath a tongue, and a Fiest hath none. 1700 N. Ward London Spy XVI 391: Tho' a very Windy fellow himelf he has a great Aversion to a Fart. C.1707 'Aminta One Night Had Occasion To Piss' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 203: Says Joan 'ods-heart, / You have P---d a Quart, / And now you make ado for a F--t. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 28: [title] The fart; Famous for its Satyrical Humour in the Reign of Queen ANNE. [...] The Fart you late heard, / Laid to one of the Guard, / That of late did the Court suprise. 1722 Benefit of Farting 1: A Fart, though wholesome; does not fail, / If barr'd of Passage by the Tail, / To fly back to the Head again. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen et. 129: The maid [...] happen'd to thrust out her Posteriors a little beyond the Cloaths, and at the same Time to let a rousing Fart. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 198: Your politics [...] I despise them as much as 1 do a f—t, 1759-67 Sterne Tristram Shandy (1949) 479: The old mule let a f---. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) I 159: Most modern farts, I ever knew, / When set on fire, burn only blue. 1775-7 'Yankee Doodle' in S. Foster Damon Yankee Doodle (1959) 1: Dolly Bushel let a Fart. 1782 'Peter Pindar' 'Lyric Odes' Works (1794) I 31: He laughed at all the hounds —And left them, with a f---, behind. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) 11 135: ]as cit. 1762]. 1807 Merry Tricks of Leper the Taylor 10: The imock powder began to operate and she let out a great fart. [...] 'My faith,' says the Laird, 'Margaret, your arse would take a cautioner.' C.1825 Friar and Boy 11: Then straight her b-m did roar, / At which the very table shook, / This sham'd her more and more. / The boy replied, dear mother take / A cup before we part, / For I am

confident you'll break / Your twatlings with a f--t. 1837 'Mrs. Bond' Ri-tum Ti-tum Songster 32: My very f-ts have learned to trump the praise of Mrs. Bond. 1863 'Jeff Davis' Dream' in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994) 49: The fart it smelt so strong, / And sounded so much louder, c.1875 'The Ball of Kirriemuir' in Bold (1979) 15: The chimney sweep was also there, / He didna care a hoot: / He blew a fart behind his cart / And filled the hall with soot. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 31: She finishd one night with such a loud fart, that we laughed out loud, 1922 Joyce Ulysses 714: I wish hed sleep in some bed by himself with his cold feet on me give us room even to let a fart God or do the least things. 1939 H. Ranfurly diary 12 Oct. To War With Whitaker (1994) 8: Dulcie made a tremendous fart, plunged forward and departed at a gallop with Whitaker clutching the saddle. 1945 K, Amis letter 15 Dec. in Leader (2000) 24: Shakespeare letting a fart. 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 21: This guy sitting in the row in front of me, Edgar Marsalla, laid this terrific fart. 1968 P. Imsoti Apprentices (1970) I iv: All that Chinese food I ate [,..] sitting in the parlour with Mam and Dad holding in a fart for three hours. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 172: His awareness was magnified by a year of smelling nothing fragrant except farts. 1986 F. Taylor AufWiedersehen Pet Two 110: But you lot have made us about as welcome as a fart in an astronaut suit! 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 177: Nostrils long stuffed with dirty socks and dayold farts. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 66: One of those methane swamp-gas farts. 2007 M, Rowson Stuff 93: The most revolting smell in the world, of farts and rotten eggs and cheesy socks moulied up with shit, piss and sick.

2 a fool, an unpleasant person, often older than the speaker; thus synon. old fart. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) 181: Thou dog in face! thou deer

in heart! / Thou called a fighter! thou a f—t! 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 146: I tried to hurry the little fart away. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 143: I think you're a goddamned old fart and I hope you croak, good-night! 1945 in T. Shibutani Derelicts of Company K (1978) 228: What the hell can a guy do? Is he supposed to sit on his ass and watch five guys beat up a little fart like Yasuda? 1958 W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 196: 'Hey fart, whatever became of your art?' 'O, haven't you heard, turd?' 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 82: Cut that swish fart off the air. 1961 C. Cooper Jr Weed (1998) 201: That's what you are, just an old fart and an old witch! 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 35: He hoped the little fart was a karate champion. 1974 P. Larkin 'Posterity' in High Windows 27: I'm stuck with this old fart at least a year. 1981 (con. 1920s) P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Out! 219: A little fart of a fella (small). 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 42: He didn't mean to scare the old fart. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 30 Jan. 2: The fact that 1 could identify each song within about two seconds [...] made me feel both hip and like an old fart at the same time. 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 1: Jesus, he's a creepy old fart in real life.

3 as sense 2, but used affectionately. 'Laurel and Hardy "Doing Things'" [comic strip] in B. Tijuana Bibles (1997) 83: Atta boy. Give it to me, you fat ol' fart. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 31: 'You get any good ass?' Nunn grinned. 'You horny old fart.' 1971 T. Thackrey Thief J52: Sid was a real good old boy and I liked him [...] that old fart had gone and buried $70,000 in loot from the last heist he pulled. 1981 S. King Cujo (1982) 218: 'Don't forget the young fart,' Vic said, grinning. 1989 R. McDonald Rough Wallaby 157: Mate, you are a fart. C.1935

Adelman

4 something worthless. 1943 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 203: 'I got only a buck, / Is that

good for a fuck?' / She replied, 'Not a fart will it cost ya.' 5 something important, worthwhile. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 16: He had been determined to make a nice show, get the man nicked, become a detective highly rated by everyone who mattered a fart. 2000 R. Antoni Grand¬ mother's Erotic Folktales 134: De Berrio didn't find a fart again as usual. 2005 A. Wheatle Island Songs (2006) 14: Don't lissen to him, Hortense. Jacob ah talk pure fart,

■ In compounds fart-arse(d) see separate entries. fart-blossom (n.) see fart-face n. fart-box (n.) [SE box/BOX n.^ (1)]'(L/S) the anus or rectum. 1968 in DARE.

fartbreath (n.) see fart-face n. fart-catcher (n.) [the job requires walking closely behind his master or mistress] a footman. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1977 S. Stallone Paradise Alley (1978) 26:1 ain't walkin' behind nobody -

I ain't nobody's fart catcher! 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 103: They fucking hate me like I was Hitler's fartcatcher.

fart fart-daniel (n.) [? misprint for dial,

fare-daniet, a suckling pig that is the

youngest of a litter) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer 8- Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fart-face(d) see separate entries, fart-hammer (n.) see fart-face n. fart-head (n.) (also farthook) [-head

+

play on fat-head n.'l

1962 (con. 1940s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 118: Why

you little farthead, just wait till I get you to the station. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 115: Farthead A person who always fools around. 1972 B. Hannah Geronimo Rex 194: What does that old farthook Silas do, by the way? 1973 in C. Browne Body Shop 155: Keep it down, man, old farthead'll hear.

fart-knocker (n.) [SE knocker, i.e. one who knocks or makes farts; created or at least popularized in the 1990s TV cartoon Beavis and Butthead] (US) 1 an obscure person. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 255: Seabags, you old fart knocker - we

thought you was dead. 2002 posting at Logic Users Group! Jan. [Internet] Who's that fartknocker next to Steve Jobs? 2 someone who does not know what they are talking about. 1996 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fartknocker - joking name for a person or animal that made a mistake. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: Fartknocker (n.) A jerk. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fart knocker n. A stupid person, jerk. f. One of Beavis and Butthead's many wonderful insults. 2006 posting at www. youthink.com 29 Mar. [Internet] See, the government knew that people were starting to get wise to the 9/11 conspiracy, so they took this dumb fartknocker and had him speak up about it.

fart off see separate entries, fart-sack (n.) 1 (also farter) a bed. 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 294: Hey, Joe, the guy

from the next bed was prodding him, get out of that fartsack. 1952 J. From Here to Eternity (1998) 42: Preem is passed out on his fartsack full a vanilla extrack all a time. 1960 (con. 1940s) D. MacCuish Do Not Go Gentle (1962) 117: The lousiest drag-ass bunch of mother-eatin' piss-drinkin' fart sack-lovin' pack of homos I ever seed. [Ibid.] 145: That's all ya think about. That and your fart-sacks and nooky. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 24: The flabby old Minister of War snoring away in her half of the fart sack. 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 137: The origin of the term fart sack / farter is nowhere explained in the dictionaries: cadets, however, consistently asserted that it is so called ‘because it's the place where you fart'. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 389: Four walls/ two fart sacks/ two nightstands/two lockers/one shitter/one sink. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. Jones

2 a sleeping-bag. 1989 FIackforth & Sherman About Face (1991) 63: You'd be asleep almost before you'd zipped up your feather-down fart sack.

3 (US) a sheet, bedding. 1973 D. PoNicsAN Cinderella Liberty 162: He was a bed-wetter. He kept stuffin' his skivvies and fartsacks inta his locker. One of the other boots reported the smell. [...] I gave him his piece and covered him with his pissy fartsack. 4 a term of abuse. 1943 Kerouac letter 7 Apr. in Charters I (1995) 59: I still think that stooge is a piss-complected, broad-assed fartsack. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 71: There was [...] Mit Jasper, Fartsack Robinson,

fart’s end (n.) a term of abuse. 1700 in Wit's Cabinet 120: Make a fool of a Fart's end, won't I?

fart-sucker (n.) a toady, a parasite. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1975 J. Wambaugh

Choirboys (1976) 24: 'How about fartsuckers?' 'Not rotten enough.' 'Slimeballs?' 'That's getting old.'

■ In phrases crack a fart (v.) (US campus) to break wind; thus crack-farter n. 1682 'The Whigs' Litany for St. Omer's' in Bbsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1885) V:1 195: From every cursing, swearing Carter, / And from Roger, the Crack-farter, 1989 P. Munro SI. U.

give a fart (v.) to care. 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 15: You

think Keith gave a fart / no fear,

give the farts out of one’s ass (v.) to treat with contempt. 1970 in P.R. Runkel Law Unto Themselves 27: They all piled out of the car and started givin' me the farts out of their ass.

go like a strangled fart (v.) (N.Z.) to go very slowly. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

I dare not trust my arse with a fart I have diarrhoea. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Egan

1935 J. Conroy World to Win 208: They won't git t' first base with

their strike. They'll last about as long as a fart in a whirlwind. 1965 (con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 62: Nigger, you'd last as long trying to overthrow the government as a fart in a windstorm!

like a fart in a bottle (also like a fart in a colander, ...in a fit) s6( (1)

(US) a contemptible person.

Lex. Balatronicum. 1823

fart

41

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

last as long as a fart in a windstorm (v.) (also ...whirlwind) (Can./US) to give up quickly, to be defeated quickly.

twitchy, nervous, agitated. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 25: Fart in a bottle: Someone is behaving like a... 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 69/2: like a fart in a fit in hopeless if not desperate trouble; eg He ran from room to room, like a fart in a fit. 2001 T. Van Mersey Talk [Internet] Similes, in and out, like a fart in a collander, or up and down, like a fart in a bottle. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 127: like a fart in a bottle/fit Agitated state. ANZ.

like a fart in a phonebox

persistently.

1986 R. Fitzgerald Pushed from the Wings (1989) 121: We've been

hanging around like a fart in a phonebox.

like a fart on a curtain-pole (N.Z.) in a great hurry. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

like an Irishman’s fart (US) (1).

of a family, always making a stink n.

1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 14: If he mentions his family, they're like an Irishman's fart: always making a lot of noise and raising stink, and never want to go back where they came from.

not a fart’s chance in a windstorm (also ...whirlwind) (Can./ US) no chance at all. 1950 J.T. Farrell 'Milly and the Porker' in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 197: Say, if he ever got into a fight with anybody at all, he wouldn't have the chances of a fart in a windstorm. 1962 J. Quirk No Red Ribbons (1968) 89: He hasn't got the chance of a fart in a windstorm. 1988 (con. WWII) S. Hynes Flights of Passage 197: 'We haven't got a chance,' he said. 'No more than a fart in a windstorm.' 2001 A. SiLLiTOE Birthday 169: The kind of people which those who ran the television business hadn't a fart's chance in a whirlwind of meeting,

scared fartless (adj.) see scared shitless under

scare v.

fart

V. [cognate with various words in Teutonic and Indo-Cermanic languages, e.g. Skrt pard, MHC venen, ON freta, Lith. perdzu, Rus. perdet] 1 to break wind; also in fig. use, to expel. C.1386 Chaucer Miller's Tale line 3337: He was somdel squaymous Of

farting. 1562 Jacke Juggler Dili: If you beat me tyll I fart and shyt againe you shall not cause me for any payne. 1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) I iv: Tell me, by the mass! or I'll make thee to fart. C.1580 A, Montgomerie Invectiues Capitane Allexander Montgomeree and Pollvart in Parkinson (Poems) (2000) II line 3: Thou flyttis and thou freittis, thou fartis and thou flingis. 1596 'Misdiabolbs' Ulysses upon Ajax 58: You look like a sturdy hostler that could gird a mare till she f—t again? 1602 J. Withals Dictionarie in Eng. and Latine 288: To fart, pedo [...] Hee that doth fart when as he will. When fart he would not, farts his fill. 1611 Davies of Hereford Scourge of Folly 220: All night she sleepes, she snores, she farts, past care. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush III i: Ere a man could fart twice, I had made him a hog. 1640 Fletcher Night-Walker \l i: Tis the Devill [...] Sure he farts fire. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk II 307: The holy Pope to everyone gave liberty to fart at his own ease. 1669 R. L'Estrange Fables of Abstemius (1692) CCCVI 276: I'll Fart with That Puppy for his Commission, and leave it to Judgement [...] which has the Clearer, and the Better Scented Pipe of the Two. 1673 Rochester 'Signior Dildo' in Works (1999) 252: Tom Killigrew's Wife, the fine Flowre of Dort, / At the sight of this Signior did Belch, Fart, and Snort. 1681 'Worcestershire Ballad' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) II 999: He Farts and he Flusters, / He Belches and Blusters. 1699 'On a Fart in the Parliament-House' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy I 346: Quoth Sir Henry’ Poole 'twas an audacious trick / To Fart in the Face of the Body Politick. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 1:4 9: Three Tuns, that very lately started, / A huge white Horse that never farted. [Ibid.] 2 III 9: Drums ratling, Lott'ryTrumpets farting. 1722 Benefit of Farting 10: As for the Lawfulness of Farting, none I hope will dispute the point. 1732 Thoughts upon Reading the Lady's Dressing-Room and the Gentleman's Study 7:1 find all the Knowledge we have by what's writ Is, that both Male and Female, sweat stink, fart, and sh-t. a.1749 Robertson of Struan 'Letter from St--n to Lord James Murray' Poems (1752) 285: Whereat he storm'd, he star'd, he stamp'd, / He farted and he slang. Sir. 1754 A. Hamilton Tuesday Club Bk XHI in Micklus (1995) 309: Though it bears a human Shape, / Has not the Judgement of an ape, / For soon as it has op'd its Eyes, / It eats, speaks. Grumbles, farts and dies. 1761 Nancy Dawson's Jests 8: A country squire [...] pull'd down his breeches and farted. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 94: [He] In a passion hobbl'd on, / And farted all the way he run. c.1790 'The Coughing Old Man' Luke Caffrey's Cost 3: Like a hog in a sty he does grunt and puff, / A wheezing and harking both sneezing and farting. C.1800 'The Rakes of Stony Batter' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 224: He play'd her such a tune, which made her fart and caper. 1835

fart...!, a

farter

42

'Peas, Beans, & Cabbages' Knowing Chaunter 10: But since the young bitch / Has won the first heat, / I'll challenge her out to f-l, 1846 Swell's Night Guide 68: They are the rankest narks vot ever God put guts into, or ever farted in a kickses case. 1865 'I Dreamt Last Night As I Lay On My Bed' Rambler's Flash Songster 36: 1 dreamt last night as I lay on my bed, / That I saw an old lecherous codger, / Who scarcely hear himself fart at my head, / And he said that he wanted a roger. 1879 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 138: There was a young man of Bhogat, / The cheeks of whose ass were so fat / That they had to be parted / Whenever he farted, / And propped wide apart when he shat, 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) II 352; You're frightened of farting, 1909-17 T,S. Eliot 'Colombo & Bolo' Inventions of the March Hare in Ricks (1996) 317: Columbo showed his disrespect / By farting in a barrel. 1928-41 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 155: Do you fart when you pee? 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 149: He's as squeamish as a newly-minted nun. One is not even permitted to fart when he's around! 1945 D. Vining A Gay Diary (1996) 5 May 473; He thinks farting is funny, 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 62: Lest the unfortunate patient be reduced to fart and shit in his teeth. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 63: I just have it in for Germans because they belch and fart and roar with laughter. 1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 186: Dave got excited and started to fart loudly. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 71: The cars farting families in VWs and Fords. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 207: That stuff makes you all fulla gas [...] Probably fart polka dot tomorrow. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 125: The engine farted an odious cloud of blue smoke. 1999 (con. 1953) C. Logue Prince Charming 149; Said the Nabob of Trincomalee: / 'Young man, do you fart when you pee?' 2000 Indep. on Sun. 9 Jan. 28: Women find themselves belching, farting and scratching their bellies. 2006 G. Iles Turning Angel 342; No woman is a goddess. They shit and fart just like we do. 2 (UK black) to suffer. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 202: In the winter you will fart when it gets cold.

■ In phrases fart about (v.) (a/so fart around) 1 to dawdle, to mess around. Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 360: What the hell do they want to be fartin' around here for? 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 23: The first wave's still farting around. 1949 P. Larkin letter 24 Mar. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 1932 (con. 1917-19)

152:1 fart about at College, drink little, read rather too much, smoke hardly at all, & feel tired most of the time, 1951 S.H. Bell December Bride 184: So what's the use of all this farting and fiddling around? 1955 J.P, Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 120: I'm not up to farting about at this godforsaken hour of the morning. 1966 W. Wilson LBJ Brigade (1967) 66: Ya fart around this jount long enough un your hair rots. 1967 K. Amis letter 23 Oct. in Leader (2000) 9: Choose about 6 chaps and know them pretty thoroughly, rather than farting about with a bit of everyone. 1979 C. Dexter Service of all the Dead (1980) 160: Why fart around with all that piddling nonsense. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 157: They'll fuck around and fart around and grab-ass around. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 329: Wheezer was running the show, here, while Guy was farting round in alternative medicine. 2001 (con. 1945-6) P. Doyle Devil's Jump (2008) 184; Weeks of farting around, and now things are beginning to happen. 2 to irritate. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 197: I'm sorry if you lads have been farted around a bit. fart along (v.) (US) to dawdle, to proceed slowly. 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] fart along (verb, intrans.) - to do something very slowly, without conviction. Like other terms using 'fart', this expression is almost neutral: 'John just farts along writing his thesis.' 'That car in front of us holding up traffic is just farting along.' fart sparks (v.) (Aus.) to be very angry. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 88: One who is farting sparks is very angry indeed, possibly even more so than someone spitting chips. fart through silk (v.) (also fart in silk) (US) to live prosperously, to feel happy, to be important. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 181: She never farted through silk all her life, c.1953 D. Hammett 'Tulip' Story Omnibus (1966) 242: I'm pretty well fixed right now, sweating through silk, as the boys used to say, only that isn't exactly what they said. 1979 G. Wolff Duke of Deception (1990) 138: I sleep in a trailer, his wife farts through silk. 1991 P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores 4: Vote for me, folks, and you'll be farting through silk. 2001 ,1. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 185: We keep half this shit and sell the other half, we're fartin' in silk! We'll be high and money! 2005 P. Astre Artifact 123; 'Stick with me sweetie,' he whispered, 'You'll fart through silk, for I'm truly the scourge of the internet.'

fart...!, a excl. a dismissive excL, usu. as a fart for...! line 419: Straw for thi councell, torde, a fart! Trowist I wyll gyf up my plow or cart And folow thy folysh appityte and mynde? c.1538 Thersytes (1550) D i: Folyshe frederycke furberer of a farte Dynge daniell deintye to deathe wyll with a darte, 1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) If v: A fart for you all! 1599 Greene George-A-Greene C2; [He] cast vp both his heeles, and let such a monstrous great fart, that was as much as in his language to say, A fart for the pound, and a fart for George a Greene. 1632 R. Brome Covent-Garden Weeded II i: Fart for his undertaking; all the world is bent to crosse me. 1658 Mennis & Smith 'Poeticall Poem to Mistresse Bess Sarney' Wit Restor'd (1817) 219: A fart for all perfumes, a turd for roses. c,1662 'Honest Tradesman's Honour Vindicated' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1893) VII: 1 37: I am a gallant Blade indeed, and gay apparel wear, / A fig for Trade, and a crown for a maid, and a fart for sorrow and care. 1698 N. Ward London Spy 1 2: A fart for Virgil and his Elegancy. 1702 T. Brown Letters from the Dead to the Living in Works (1 760) II 184: A fart for our creditors. 1742 Fielding Joseph Andrews (1954) I 64: 'Common charity, a f--t!' says she, 1751 F. Coventry Hist of Pompey Little I 103: I have been called to account for my Words [...] I must not say what 1 please against the Government. Talk with Decency indeed! a Fart of Decency! fart-arse n. [fig. use of fart v. (1) -f arse n. (1)1 a general term of contempt, e.g. a fool, an incompetent. 1946 K. Amis letter 1 5 July in Leader (2000) 79: *FARTARSE. fart-arse v. (a/so fart-arse about/around) [fart-arse n.) to dawdle, to mess around, to waste time. 1978 (con. 1940s) O. Manning Battle Lost and Won 260; We'd been fart-arsing around. 1983 S. Gee Never in My Lifetime in Best Radio Plays (1984) 80: I didn't want to sit at home fart-arsing around, I wanted to get a gun and go over myself and do something. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 123: The fart-arse, one who fart-arses about very busily but gets nowhere [...] For example, [...] 'Will you stop fart-arsing and come here?' 2006 Ask Captain Sensible at www.offtcialdamned. com [Internet] I've got better bloomin' things to do with me life than fart-arse about on a poncy bleedin computer all day. fart-arsed adj. (also fart-arse, fart-arseing) [fart-arse n.] useless, incompetent, 'half-baked'. 1950 C. Harris Three-Ha'Pence to the Angel 127: Talk about the Black 'Ole of Calcutta: fine advert for a plumber if anyone comes to see 'im on business, this fart-arsed miserable glimmer. 1981 C. Hope Separate Development 119: He takes the cash out of Black man's pockets for his fart-arse zoot suits. 1995 B. James Detective is Dead (1996) 39: His illness and the lay-off have gravely reconstituted all his fine, fart-arseing principles from fairy-land. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fart-arse adj. When somebody fart arses around they waste time, or only put in half the effort. For example, 'He did a fart-arsed job and 1 had to do it again after he finished!' 2003 T. Coleridge Martin Hubbel We Love You 15: [...] his work had none of the fart-arse timidity of other artists. He made a statement and made it beautifully. ■ In compounds fart-arsed mechanic (n.) (mechanic n. (1)] a clumsy incompetent, an oaf. C.1525 J. Rastell Gentleness and Nobility

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 380/1: from ca, 1925.

farteen n. [fart

n. (4) -f Irish dimin. sfx -een| (Irish) anything totally insignificant. 1969 T. Mac Intyre Charollais n.p.; C nodded towards the farteen of a bedroom. The door was shut [BS]. farter n. [fart v. (1)11 someone who breaks wind (in a noticeable and even ostentatious manner). a.1661 'Arsy Versy' in Rump Poems and Songs (1662) ii 48: It endured the first heat, and proved no starter [...] And whisk'd the Tayl like a terrible Farter. 1664 C. Cotton Vhgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 9: He was, in fine, the loud'st of Farters. 1909 Joyce letter 9 Dec. to Nora Barnacle, in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) 186: My little naked fucker, my naughty wriggling little frigger, my sweet dirty little farter, c.1918 'O Dear What Can the Matter Be' in Bold (1979) 154: The third whore was Miss Penelope Carter / She was renowned as the world's greatest farter, 1938-48 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 152: There was a young fellow from Sparta / A really magnificent farter. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 146: There was a young girl of La Plata / Who was widely renowned as a farter. 1963 C. Wood 'John Thomas' in Cockade (1965) Act 1: A quartet of foul farters and to my astonishment, a loud compulsive breather. 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 204: I was going to tell you my latest yarn 'the fantastic farter from Finnigan's Falls'. 1989 (con. 1960s) M. Kingston Tripmaster Monkey 235: Was Ngok Fei a farter? 2006 Wikipedia [Internet] A Professional farter is a performer who receives payment for expelling flatus in an amusing and/or musical manner. They may also be referred .to as Flatulists or Fartistes.

fart-face 2 the anus. 1927-41 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 3: There was a young fellow

named Charteris / Put his hand where his young lady's garter is. / Said she, 'I don't mind, / And up higher you'll find / The place where my fucker and farter is.' 3 see FART-SACK under fart n.

fart-face n. (also fart-blossom, fartbreath, fart-hammer) [fart n. (1) + -FACE s/x] a general term of abuse. 1938 'Justinian' Americana Sexualis 21: Fart. n. [...] Also, a symbol of

contempt; a person of little significance. Also, in latter sense, fartblossom, fart-face, et al. 1961 R. Cover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 170: That fart face done flipflop his Whiteass lid ter sure! 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 332: Your old lady was tellin me how you stuck up for her when old fart-hammer over there got fresh with her. 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 82: I have a dog-and-pony show for fartface Siegel this morning. 1982 R.M. Brown Southern Discomfort (1983) 36: That fartface gave me a spiritual ulcer. 1983 S. King Christine 539: What about in the fifth grade when Tommy Deckinger used to call you Fart-Breath? 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 225: Major-Drongo-Dlckhead-Ratbag-FartFace-the-Third. 1999 Indep. Rev. 29 May 7: Keep away from my letterbox in future, fart-face. 2003 M.D. Blair Tiara of Thorns 57: I said nothin', fartface.

fart-faced adj. [fart-face n.l a general epithet of abuse. 1961 N. Mailer Advertisements for Myself 22: We're a nation of [...]

homosexuals, hoodlums, fart-faced Southern governors [etc]. 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 7: Some day, we may be able to freak out our fartfaced colleagues with Maledicta Lives! T-shirts. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 169: You are a bloody lop-eared [...] pig-headed, fart¬ faced flip of a fucking galah! 1981 D. Barthelme 'The Glass Mountain' Sixty Stories (2003) 173: Fart-faced fool. 2008 C. HardyMENT Dream Babies 295: 1 noted 'fart-faced, roly-poly fluffy po' on Mumsnet before the present ban.

fartful n.

fashion arrest

43

[fart

n.

(1)] a very small or insignificant amount.

1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 97: You won't get [a conviction] farthing under brass ad/.\

fartleberries n. [fart n. (1) -f joc.

use of SE berries] pieces of excrement clinging to the anal hairs. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1974 in J.H. Byrne Mrs. Byrne's Diet. (1979). 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2002 'Cap'n Willard' on Brains Trust 11:37 27 Jun. [Internet] Rob, You never heard of winnetts or fartleberries then?

fart-off n. [fig. use of FART n. (1)] (US) someone who shirks responsibilities, a loafer. 1946 F. Eikel Jr 'An Aggie Vocab. of SI.' in AS XXI: 1 33: Fart-off, n. An insult, vt. To insult. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 115: Fart off A person who always fools around. 1972 Dahlskog Diet. Contemp. and Colloq. Usage. V. [FART-OFF n.l (US) to idle, to avoid responsibilities.

1966 Current S/. 1:1 HI: Fart it off Don'I be concerned about it. 1967-8 Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 58: I've decided to fart off

1888 J. Runciman Chequers 80: Garn, you farthin' face! Shet your neck. 1995 P. O'Keeffe Down Cobbled Streets, A Liberties Childhood 127: 'You've a little farthin' face,' she would declare as she wound the rags around my stubborn hair. 1999 G. O'Neill My East End (2000) 79: My father's generation of East Enders - he was born in 1919 do not speak the dull, uniform, flat-vowelled Estuary English [...] He will still use what is essentially Victorian idiom - phrases such as 'daddler mooey' and 'fard'n face'. farthing taster (n.) the smallest available portion of ice-cream as

sold by street vendors. 1909 (ref. to 1870) in J.

Ware

Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

farthing adj. [the relative worthlessness of the pre-decimal coin, worth one-quarter of a penny] worthless. 1837 Comic Almanack May 92: At least 'twas so / Some years ago, / Ere wisdom oped our eyes; / And farthing folks, with penny mags, / Made people penny wise.

fartick n. (also fartkin) [fart n. (1)1 a small act of breaking wind. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. [fart v.

1948 K. Amis letter 29 Mar. in Leader (2000) 168: He is an entire fartleberried fool.

Baker et al. CUSS 115: Fart o^'Waste time, not study. 1975 G.

farthing-face (n.) [SE farthing, i.e. the minimal value of the coin; 'as insignificant as a farthing' (Ware)] mean-faced, pinched features.

farting adj.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fartleberried adj. [fartleberries n.l a term of disdain.

fart off

on the fartful you have there,

farthing n. see brass ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

be - white dress shirt and collar, cummerbund, black shoes, black dinner jacket and corresponding farting crackers', (from 'Dubreft's Guide to Etiquette', by Buckridge Pottinger). farting strings (n.) (also puckering string) a fig. part of the body, which can be damaged by some form of excess, usu. laughter, e.g. If you don't stop that, I'll bust my farting strings! 1910 'Word-List From West Brattleboro' in DN IILvi 454: puckering-string, n. To 'break one's puckering string' means to lose control of one's self and burst into hysterical giggling. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 302: Couldn't loosen her farting strings but old cod's eye was waltzing around her showing her how to do it. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: farting strings n. An imagined part of the body which can be damaged by over exertion through laughter, e.g 'Hey! Stop it will ya, before I bust me farting strings'. 2006 posting at www. boardgamegeek.com 12 Apr. [Internet] A.A. Milne must have snapped his farting strings laughing at all these kids reading about the exploits of Pooh. farting-trap (n.) (Anglo-Irish) a light two-wheeled vehicle carrying four people, seated two on each side, back to back.

(1) -f

sfx -ing] a general pej., piffling, trivial,

irrelevant. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 312: The British, in their usual fumbling farting way, had kept us on pins and needles. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 37: Fartn Jew slumlord. 1977 R. CoovER Public Burning (1979) 245: Is Richard Nixon a Farting Quacker who dreamt of selling his pajamas at Coney Island? 1999 K. Sampson Powder 1: So Sensira did a couple of farting little one-off gigs with the Grams. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 129: None of them farting tin efforts where the tea leaks all over the fucking table the moment you pour.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds farting-crackers (n.) [cracker n.^

(D) (UK Und.) breeches,

trousers. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Farting-crackers c. Breeches. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 13: farting crackers n. Trousers 'When invited to a Black Tie function, the correct mode of attire for gentlemen would

studying for the test.

fas’

V. (also fass) [faastie adj.] (W.l. Rasta) to be rude or impertinent, to meddle in somebody's business, to be forward. 1983 V. Bloom 'Name Shame' in Touch Mi, Tell Mi 19: But people fas' yuh know man [...] An' dem come call mi fool. 1986 O. Senior 'Ballad' Summer Lightning 112: Is force-ripe woman this? What you want to fass in big people business for? 1994 M. Montague Dread Culture 41: Bwoy, yuh fass.

fascio n. [? abbr. of '/uck ass' or link to Jamaican fas, fassy, dirty] (UK black/teen) a derog. term for a homosexual, used as a general insult. 2002 Blak Twang 'Sum Ah Dem' [lyrics] Sum a dem fascio. 2004 Skinnyman 'It's Over' [lyrics] So many little fascios want to step to me.

fash

V. [Scot, fash, to concern oneself, to worry about] (orig. UK Und.) to

trouble, to bother. 1786 Young Coalman's Courtship 8: They ne'er fash'd wi' us nor we wi' them. 1803 R. Anderson 'A Weyfe for Wully Miller' Cumberland Ballads (1805) 86: Hout, Wully, lad! cock up thy head, / Nor fash thysel about her. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy (1883) 415: I'll ne'er fash mysell, not lose my liking for sae feckless a matter. 1823 Proceedings of Jockey and Maggy 3: I think your father was a fool for fashing wi' him. 1834 T. Hood 'Tylney HalT in Works (1862) III 172: 'Never fash yourself, Tibbie,' said the Mistress, 'wi' the likes - you're no at Glencosie.' 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 318/1: He believed that [...] now the Almighty did not 'fash' (trouble) himself about his creatures at all! 1863 G.A. Sala Breakfast in Bed 154: They don't 'fash' themselves. 1882 'Thormanby' Famous Racing Men 80: Don't fash yourself, Mr. Trenholm. 1891 G.R. Sims 'A Tale of a Tub' Dagonet Ditties 149: A solemn silence reigns around / When thoughts my Willie fash. 1910 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Guid Advice' Sporting Times 2 July 1/3: Dinna fash yoursel' aboot ma deeds. 1918 R.D. Paine Fighting Fleets 283: Dinna fash aboot me. 1923 W. Holtby Anderby Wold (1981) 96: Now then don't go fashin' yourself about your chair covers. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 170: Could it be she's fashed about something? 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 47: The Scots word is occasionally used in its correct sense of bother or trouble. Don't fash yourself.

fa’ sheezy! exc/. see fo' sho! exc/. fashion arrest n. (orig. US campus) a fig. 'arrest' (most likely heavy verbal criticism) of one whose style is considered unacceptably unfashionable; usu. as make a fashion arrest.

fashion criminal

fast

44

1989 P. Munro si. U. 126: When I saw Belinda in her pink spandex

miniskirl, 1 decided to make a fashion arrest. 2003 E.W. Miller Food Lover's Guide to Florence 163:1 usually try to avoid entering anything on this street, lest they put me under fashion arrest.

fashion criminal n. (a/so fashion mutant) (US campus) one whose style is considered outside the bounds of acceptable fashion. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 77: fashion criminal/fashion mutant person

who tries unsuccessfully to make individualistic fashion statements,

fass n. see faas v. fast n. (drugs) amphetamine. 2002 'Drug SI. Vault' on Erowid.org [Internet] Fast amphetamine,

fast adj.^ ['A fast man - a person who, by late hours, gaiety and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out [...] a fast young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment, - talks Slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c.' (Hotten, 1859); the Saturday Review (28 July 1860) defines a fast woman as 'a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect also'] 1 of a woman, acting in a 'masculine' and thus socially unacceptable/unnerving manner. 1856 M. Griffith Autobiog. of a Female Slave 139: You has put more questions to me than a Philadelphy lawyer could answer. 'Pon my soul, Jane, you is a fast 'tin. 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 223: The fast young girl [...] affects masculine habits, talks slang, drives fast horses, and advocates Women's Rights.

2 immoral, illegal, corrupt; hedonistic. 1844 A. Smith Adventures of Mr Ledbury III 16: The great aim of

Pageant's life was, to be considered a 'fast man'. 1849 Lytton Caxtons 11 Pt xiii 324: Bolding had lived a year and a half at Oxford as a 'fast man;' so 'fast' had he lived that there was scarcely a tradesman at Oxford into whose books he had not contrived to run. 1852 C.A. Bristed Five Years in an Eng. University 23: A fast man [...] dresses flashily, talks big, and spends, or affects to spend, money very freely. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 4: These were not the men to get any hold on the fast set who were now in the ascendant. 1876 F.W. Green 'Naughty Young Man' [lyrics] We fast boys love a lark! 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) 11 283: What a lot of fast¬ looking chits there are in the fields. 1899 A. Binstead Gal's Gossip 101: Mrs Terence Wortonhunt, whose shockingly fast husband ran away with Petty Bunn from the Gaiety. 1902 W.N. Harben Abner Daniel 249: She had been so spoiled by the 'fast set' of Atlanta during her stay. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) 1 vi: Roue, gambler, leading a double life of the fastest kind. 1920 F.S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald 111 (1960) 222: A rather fast crowd had come out, who drank cocktails in limousines and were promiscuously condescending and patron¬ ising toward older people. 1930 K.S. Prichard Haxby's Circus 312: They [...] were known as 'the fast set' because they smoked, were addicted to high balls, 'spots,' and cracking jokes with men. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 154: Perhaps things would be better when the fast crowd who had come to the Stainford for the races departed, taking their loud jollity and their cards and drink and big cars with them. 1954 J. Thompson Swell-Looking Babe 4: The Manton got more than its share of the fast crowd. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 114: Johnny was fast and way ahead of everybody else. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 13: A good heroin connect [...]. would make a young, fast black man rich. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 20: This bus station is too fast a place for a trustin young lady like yourself. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 299: She knew the meager extent of Paducah's fast life.

3 of a man or woman, promiscuous. 1859 E. Eden Semi-Detached House (1979) 149: Yes, Sir! 1 can waltz! 1 can flirt! [...] Pa' says I'm a romp, Ma' says I'm a pert, / / say, I am fast! I am fast! c.1867 'New Act of Parliament' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 87: Any Milliner, dress maker or fast young girl who may be seen walking with a chignon larger than a porter's knot. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India I 83: Have you not seen common or fast women, who dare to do what your own wife or sister dare not, and nobody says more than that they are fast? c.1895 F. Norris Vandover and the Brute (1914) 58: Ida was [...] as jealous of her reputation as only fast girls are. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Feb. 14/3: Proverbs of the block. Johnny: 'Fine feathers make fast woman!' 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 July 11/4: Bunkered. / She: 'When we first met you thought I was fast.' / He: 'Oh, no, I didn't. I only hoped you were!' 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 36: He was a bit fed up throwing his kale around on fast women. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 378: He kissed her again. 'You're fast,' she said. 1941 K. Tennant 151: Those two fast pieces she invited up with her, the Cliprell sisters. 1953 J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 12: What's a fast guy like you doing at a tank-town teachers' college? 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS

115: Fast A sexually expert male. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 102: The first thing a make-out artist asked: is she fast? 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 186: Someone told me you were a bit of a rake. That [...] you were a bit fast. 1999 Indep. Mag. 9 Oct. 6: A fur coat and red shoes were seen as very fast in those days. 2001 (con. late I9C) C. Jeffords Shady Ladies of the Old West [Internet] Other names [for prostitutes] were [...] 'fast women', [etc.].

4 (US black) illegal, obtained through crime, spec, of money. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 212: So, let's get together [...] and make some fast pesos. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 136: It's hard to move slow with fast money.

■ In compounds fast dollar boy (n.) (US) one who is unscrupulous as to the source of their income. 1949 R. Chandler Little Sister 187: We've got the [...] percentage works, the fast dollar boys, the hoodlums, fast house (n.) (house n.'' (1)] (US) a brothel. 1869 G. Ellington Women ofN.Y. 206; I say, officer, can you tell me where there are any 'fast' houses around here? 1917 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox II 209: A fast-house parlor dress of pink cotton silk. 1942 Davis & Wolsey Call house Madam 266: Hers is a story of a 'madam' of fast houses. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 201: She's working a fast house up there. 1999 Village Voice (N.Y.) 5-11 May [Internet] Last week, two cops from the Midtown South precinct were indicted on charges of receiving cash and free services in exchange for protecting a 39th Street 'fast house.'

fast life (n.) (US) the worlds of gambling, drug-dealing, prostitution etc. 1894 G.A. Sala Things I Have Seen II 72; That 'fast' life which has been so divertingly depicted in Pierce Egan's 'Life in London.' 1972 O. Hawkins Ghetto Sketches 20: That fast life will put lines in your face. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 108: Daddy, this is Terri. She's 21 and ready for the fast life,

fast Stuff (n.) cheating, swindling. 1934 R.L. Bellem 'Sleeping Dogs' in Spicy Deteaive Sept. [Internet] You thought you could come out here and pull some more fast stuff on Leneta. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 35: I am wonderin' if somebody has been doin' a little fast stuff with the cards.

■ In phrases get fast (v.) to act in an illegal or unsanctioned manner, to 'play fast and loose'. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 136: Looks like a drug hit — maybe the kid was getting fast with the bank.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fast alec (n.) (also fast aleck) [var. on smart aleck n.| (US black) anyone who moves fast. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 167: Boy, he sich a fast Aleck, he grabbed de bridle and wen on down tuh de lot tuh ketch ole Bill.

fast-ass (adj.) [-ass sfx] (US) fast, quick. 2000-2002 J. Whetzel Reviews wake-zine.com [Internet] The tight unit

does a good job of slow, sick-ass guttural riffs and fast-ass grind that will make you want to kill your neighbor, fast black (n.) see under black n. fast buck see separate entries, fast fast (adj.) [redup.j (W.l.) very fast. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. fast food sex (n.) (US gay) spontaneous, short-term sex, e.g. that enjoyed in lavatories, bath-houses and similar places of anonym¬ ous assignation. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. fast freddie (n.) (US drugs) phencyclidine. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. fast fuck (n.) [fuckh. (1)1 of a man, one who is unable to delay his own orgasm until his partner is satisfied too; a premature ejaculator; a rushed lover. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 2006 T. Wooten White Men Can't Hump 211: Miranda- 'You were not a fast fuck.' Robert- 'No, you're right,J wasn't. I was nice... and slooow... just the way you liked it.' fast lane(r) see separate entries. fast mouth (adj.) [faastie adj.] (W.l.) cheeky, impertinent. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'Peaces' in Jamaica Lahrish 106: FaasmoLit Edna clip yuh long tongue / Lie an back-bitin noh pay. 1983 R. Abrahams Man-of-Words in the West Indies 125: 'He ain' easy' [...] may refer to someone's propensity to rudeness, especially stealing, playing smart, or its verbal equivalent, having a fas' mout' (that is, gossiping, t'iefing someone's name), fast one (n.) see separate entry.

fast fast quid (n.) see fast buck n. fast-rod (n.) [rod n. (2)] (US) someone who is quick to use a gun; also attrib. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 246: The stud is got a rep as a fast-rod joker,

fast-sheet joint (n.) (also fast-sheet setup) are always in use] (US) a cheap hotel that rents

fast one

45

[the pillows (and beds) out its rooms by the

hour to prostitutes and their clients or to illicit lovers. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 29: There was a 'Fast sheet' joint with the

trick rooms in the rear. [Ibid.] 264: She ran a fast sheet setup for a dozen whores. They tricked out of her joint, fast-talking Charlie (n.) see under Mr Charlie n. fast track (n.) see separate entry.

fast worker (n.) (also quick worker) a successful womanizer, one who achieves his seductions quickly; occas. of a woman (see cits. 1926, 1937). 1918 J.M. Grider War Birds (1926) 223: Mac made a date to call on a pretty little nurse. That boy is a fast worker. 1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 137: When you get started, Mary, you're certainly a fast worker, unless you've been holding this sheik out on me. 1928 R. Carr Rampant Age 311: You like the fast workers, huh? 1933 J. Spenser Limey 33: Jiminy crickets! [.,.] he's a fast worker all right. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 110: It looks to me like this dame is failin' for me too fast even if she is a quick worker. 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 89: I've always heard you were a fast worker. Captain Drummond But really! 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 157: You got to kiss her the other night. Probably fancy yourself as a fast worker, but you're wasting your time, bud. 1963 W.H. Pearson Coal Flat 149: You watch yourself. Flora! He's a fast worker in the dark! 1975 A. Mendoza Unforgettable Legal Stories 4: Watch out - he's a fast worker. He's already asked me for your address and telephone number. 1999 L. Morrell Steel Storage (2004) 336: 'But I warn you that he's a fast worker.' She tossed her strawberry curls and blushed slightly. 'I can take care of that boy.' 2006 'Hot Lips Hot Legs and Hot Jokes' at mtww,sexylegsplaygirl.com [Internet] He's a fast worker. When he hits a new town, he just walks over to the first girl and says, 'Can you direct me to your house?'

■ In phrases fast as beans (adj.) see like beans under beans nP. fast as greased titties (adj.) very fast. 1961 Longman'Power of Black (1962) 138: You're crazy goin' up before a gun like Colonel Jones! He's fast as greased titties.' 'Fast sure, but facing a man with a gun isn't like shooting glass balls.'

fast adj.^ in financial difficulties. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 13: Fast Not to fast, not to want money. 'Well, now, if you are fast, come to me.' Gen. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fast adjP [FAASTiE adj.] (US/W.I.) 1 interfering, meddlesome. 1873, 1924, 1933, 1943, 1956 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

2 cheeky, rude, impertinent. 1942 L. Bennett 'Buy Somet'ing' in Jam. Dialect Poems 6: Noh tink me fas' mah but de way / How fe her head peel aff / She musa had a double dose / A enemy air-crai'. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 371: He had one of the fastest mouths in the Department of Corrections, and it occasionally got him into trouble,

fast v.^ [FAST ad/.^j to be out of pocket. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue.

fast v,^ [FAST adjP] (W.l.) to interfere, to meddle. 1900, 1956 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

after a fast buck. 1971 J.D. Horan Blue Messiah 315: If you are only looking to make a fast buck, I would advise you to forget it. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 138: A publisher greedy [.,.] enough to let down an old friend in order to make a quick buck. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 356: Books: one way to make a fast quid. 1993 D, Jarman diary 11 Jan. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 291: Culture never had a chance, no one ever had any value other than the quick buck. 1999 Observer 11 July 30: We ail want a fast buck. 2000 Guardian Weekend 8 Jan, 12: The quick buck may have been tempting to the [...] Nationwiders.

fast-buck adj. [fast buck n.| (US) greedy, 'get rich quick'. 1965 N.Y. Times 4 Feb. 50: The dealers were guilty of schlock, sleazy, bargain-basement, fast-buck advertising. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonif 98: Kenneally was a fast-buck guy who had a reputation for hot loads. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 108: Fastbuck merchants from the City, publishers, the odd egghead sewer rat. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 84: An untested, ungrateful [...] fast-buck shit-ass like minimum. 2001 Indep. Rev. 17 Apr. 4: The fast-buck sale of his space journal.

■ In compounds fast-buck artist (n.) [-artist sfx] (US) anyone keen on (and successful in) making a great deal of money. 1977 WINS Radio 23 Aug. [radio] Then the fast-buck artists had jumped in [HDAS]. 1981 (con. 1940s) O'Day 8- Eells High Times Hard Times 114: All the fast-buck artists had opened up, giving the place the worst characteristics of a boomtown. 1984 J. McNamara First Directive (1985) 30: We drove through an endless sea of new condominiums put up by fast-buck artists. 1998 Goldman & Papson Nike Culture 114: [...] the most egregiously offensive sports merchandising business in the world, presided over by a messianic fast-buck artist named Phil Knight. 2002 E-Mag. XIII:4 [Internet] The International Year of Ecotourism is a time for reflection. Will your trip be arranged by a dedicated, conservation-minded tour operator, or a fast-buck artist who exploits the local community?

fastener n. see fastner n. fastidious cove n. [ironic use of SE fastidious + COVE n. (1)) a fashionable swindler, who poses as a member of the class he deceives. a.1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 128/1: You can always tell the 'fastidious cove' by his sending twentyseven cuffs and collars to the laundry accompanied by a single shirt.

fast lane n. 1 the active, competitive and ruthless world fought over by those of ambition and intent; also attrib. 1978 Parade 16 Apr. 20: Except for her, however, not a single person arrested fit the image usually associated with the superjet, 'fast-lane' set. 1989 Kirk & Madsen After The Ball 303: The typical fast-lane gay [...] begins to seek sources of energy and experience that are unhealthy and illegitimate. 1998 C, Fleming High Concept 211:1 was just another slug who got caught in the fast lane. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 190: Pimping and living in the fast lane was me. It's what I do best. 2 the world of hedonistic pleasures. 2007 N. McCall Them (2008) 25: He liked to soak up stories about wild adventures in the fast lane.

fast lane v. [fast lane n.] (Aus. prison) to indulge in a crime spree. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fast lane. To

set off on a crime spree.

fast laner n. [?

to live in the fast lane n.|

(US campus) one who

takes illegal hard drugs. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Oct.

fastner n. (also fastener) a warrant (of arrest).

fast and loose n. a gambling and cheating game, often

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fastner c. a Warrant. 1719 A. Smith

practised by thimbleriggers, in which a garter is folded and held out to the punter who bets that by pricking with a pin they can hit the place where the material is folded. Almost inevitably they fail and lose their money. 1579 Act of James VI of Scotland c. 12 in Ribton-Turner (1887) n.p.: All ydle personis ganging about in ony cuntrie of this realme, using subtill, crafty, and unlauchfull playis, as Juglarie, fast-and-lowiss, and sic utheris. c.1595 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost III i: To sell a bargain is as cunning as fast and loose. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) 1 297: FAST and loose, a cheating game, whereby gipsies and other vagrants beguiled the common people of their money. It is said to be still used by low sharpers and is called pricking at the belt or girdle.

Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: Fastner, a warrant. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1780-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures n.p.: fastener a warrant. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 Flash Diet. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 114: 'Fastner.' A warrant. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

fast buck n. (also fast quid, quick buck) [SE fast -f buck nP (1)1 (orig. US) money that is earned quickly, and poss. illicitly. 1949 in New Yorker 5 Nov. 82: Tryin' to hustle me a fast buck. 1951 N. Algren Chicago: City On the Make 67: The swifter type thief approach

their work with the same lofty hope of [...] making a fast buck. 1952 I, Mobster 38: It was Prohibition and everybody all over town was making a quick buck peddling alcohol. 1960 J.P. Donleavy Fairy Tales ofN. Y. I i: And I'm on the pier pushing a cart where every guy's

fast one n. [orig. milit. use, to malinger] any scheme seen as amoral, corrupt, underhand. 1923 implied in SUP A fast one (over) below. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 64: That was a fast one. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 10: I give a man a square shake till he tries a fast one. 1959 J. Thompson Getaway in Four Novels (1983) 23: He was afraid Doc had a fast one up his sleeve. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 55: Watch yourself, Mitch, Make that the last fast one of the evening. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 52: You're a smooth

fast track

fat

46

number, Des, that's exactly what I told Chet. No fast ones on Des Spellacy.

■ In phrases pull a fast one (v.) 1 (also spring a fast one, work..., pull a fast switch/shuffle) to get away with something, usu. a slightly nefarious scheme. 1928 M. West Pleasure Man (1997) Act 1: Hey, lay off o' dat stuff. Where the hell is your card? Tryin' to pull a fast one around here? 1930 R. Whitfield Green Ice (1988) 107: Cherilli had been a little guy, and he'd tried to work a fast one. 1931 (con. 1900s) C.W. Willemse Behind The Green Lights 91: May worked a fast one on me. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 88: I had to stay under cover in the yards, because I knew the coppers would know I'd pulled a fast one on them. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime ly. Pulling a fast one on a comrade is not a breach of etiquette. 1946 T. Thursday 'Raw, Medium, and Well Done' in Blue Ribbon Western June [Internet] He'll spring a fast one, and then blow. 1951 W. Burroughs letter 28 Jan. in Harris (1993) 80: How did Jack get out of the nut-house? He certainly pulled a fast shuffle there. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 154: Sure, Paro got in too deep and then tried to pull a fast switch. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 132: This sneaky bastard is trying to pull a fast one. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 100: That wise punk Wilson tried to pull a fast one and 1 had to straightenim out. 1978 F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 120: It was only by pulling a fast one that 1 succeeded in escaping from her clutches. 1982 P. Theroux London Embassy 154: That was how Cary seemed to me - as if he was trying to pull a fast one on me. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 70: Be sharp. Can't have 'um think we pullin' a fast one. 1998 D. Hecht Skull Session 174: 1 thought 1 saw you pull a little fast one. 1999 Guardian 16 Oct. 1: They should think twice before trying to pull a fast one. 2004 J. Best More Damned Lies and Statistics 36: People who present information in this way are probably either themselves confused or trying to pull a fast one.

2 to stage a crime, e.g. a hold-up. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 109: He reckoned to get over the border one day an' pull a fast one on the Arizona mail cart.

3 to make an escape, to run away. 1932 R. Fisher Conjure-Man Dies 167: Block that door—he's pullin' a

fast one!

slip a fast one (over) (v.) (also put over a fast one) to take advantage of someone by trickery, to hoodwink. 1923 H.C. WiTWER in Cosmopolitan Nov. 98/1: He's trying to put over a fast one! 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 102: We put over a fast one t'night. 1949 R. Park Poor Man’s Orange 125: 1 won't put a fast one over you. 1950 S. Murphy Stone Mad (1966) 137: The wife slipped him a fast wan a few times and he was taking no chances. 1951 N. Algren Chicago: City On the Make 67: The swifter-type thief approach their work with the same lofty hope of slipping a fast one over on everyody. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 15: 1 respect his opinion, but 1 want to see if he's slipping over a fast one. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 196: She looked at me as if I was trying to put over a fast one.

fast track n. [track

(1)] (orig. US) 1 (also big track) those streets or blocks in a city where prostitutes work; esp., in US, differentiating the East Coast cities from the slower world of the West, esp. California. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 82: We're going to the big track in the city. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 47: The fast track is the tough, fast-paced hustling world of the big cities back East, such as New York or Chicago. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 3: Pimps call it [i.e. 42nd St, NYC] the fast track. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 37: One good year out here on this fast track dressing good and smelling like a French whore is all you need to get on your feet. 2 the lifestyle pursued by the ambitious and successful; also attrib. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 74: I had to get on that fast track to pimping. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 31: I'm ready for the fast track now, baby. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 187: That wee slag thinks that crawling up ToaTs erse is the way on to the fast track. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 193: 1 was the writer as man of action [...] a fast-track fictioneer.

fasty adj. see faastie ad/, fat n. 1 (Aus./US) money. 1845 J.J. Hooper Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs (1851) 58: 'That

brings in the fat in great sleeks as big as my arm!' observed the Captain, as he won the fifth consecutive bet. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 31: fat. Money. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: fat: Money. 2 (Aus./N.Z.) (also fatman) a generic term for the business elite, the wealthiest members of the community. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 June 15/3: Sorry we cannot invest you with

imagination and give you to understand how Fat Man and his daily

press would deal with you were you thus demonstrating in a workers' cause [...]. Had the cause been other than that of the unbounded Money Grub, you would have found yourselves the objects of virtuous diatribes against these 'brainless ruffians,' 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Aug. 38/2: Then everything will start to burn and crackle, and Satan will appear in the Post Office tower and stop the clock. All the people will be gathered together from the workshops and the mines and Paddy's Market, and Fat will dock their time.

3 (Aus./N.Z.) an erection; esp. in phr.

crack a fat

below.

1960 A. Buzo Front Room Boys Scene i: You'd get a fat as you went in

and it'd take about twenty minutes to have a squirt, 1974-5 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 116: Lookin' up at youse like this [is] enough to give a bloke a sleepin' fat. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 69: As a matter of fact it gave me a fat. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

4 (usu. gay) a fat person; esp. used in small ads, usu. in comb with 'ferns' (i.e. effeminate rather than macho men), e.g. no fats or ferns. 1943 1. Wolfert Tucker's People (1944) 203: As he turned, Badgley, who was standing nearest, shoved him and said 'Hurry up, fat!' 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 84: No fats, ferns or dopers, please. I'm sincere. Ron. 1979 J. Rechy Rushes (1981) 203: The tough guards blocking out 'undesirables' — 'Strict Dress Code No Fats Femmes Over35s'. 1998 Q (S, Afr.) 25 Nov. [Internet] Gay male gym culture is as hegemonic in South Africa as it is in the US. And the warning in personal ads is as threatening: 'no fats or ferns' and then 'no chancers' so that the message is clear: 'You must be straight-looking' and above all 'straight-acting.' 2001 R. Kim in Nation 5 June [online] He also indicated an interest in 'bi-scenes, one-on-ones, three-ways, groups, parties, orgies and gang bangs,' but not in 'fats and ferns.' 2006 Gay Sex Personals at M4SexNow.com [Internet] Fats and Femmes please do not respond. I am in search of masculine average to great physical shaped straight, bi, and Masculine gay men for DL

action.

5 (US) the vagina. a.1968 'School Ma'am on the Flat' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells

Were Ringing (1995) 54: He took his dallies from around horn and opened her hondoo / He took John Henry in his hand and placed it in her fat,

■ In phrases crack a fat (v.) (Aus.) to achieve an erection; note mis-defined as a n. in cits. 1988, 2001, 2003. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip[ in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 39: The way I feel now I don't reckon I could crack a fat. 1974 Adamson & Hanford Zimmer's Essay 54: He laid on the bed on his back and -57 stood over him and cracked a fat, and said, 'Suck this'. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 98: I've been bending over with my head under the carpet for at least ten minutes and you haven't even cracked a fat! 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 31/1: crack a fat, a male erection and/or ejaculation. 1999 'Dr Dick' in Bug (Aus.) 24 Feb. [Internet] Besides, if it's okay for you to crack a fat, it's okay for me to have a fat crack. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground St. [Internet] crack a fat n. an erection'. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988],

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fat is in the fire, (all) the see separate entry, fat scraps and glorious bits (n.) (UK Und.) a sound beating. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 40: Scrappes, fatte and glorious bittes:

sound blowes and bangings. The muggill will tip you fat scraps and glorious bits, the Beadle will well bumbast you.

■ In exclamations fat’s a-running! (UK Und.) a phr. used to indicate that a loaded van is passing along the street and may be robbed, to the greatest possible extent, by opportunists. [C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fat, the last landed, inned, or stow'd of any sort of Merchandize whatever.] [1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fat, the last landed, inned or stowed of any sort of merchandise, so called by the waterside porters, carmen &c.] 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 116: At odd

times he would play the scout among the practitioners of the 'fat's a-running' industry [...] A quick-witted scout stood on the look-out for such vehicles as went with unguarded tailboards. At the approach of one such he sent the shout 'Fat's a-runnin" up Luck Row, and, at a quick signal, a gang scuttled out [and] seized whatever could be snatched from the cart. 1937 E. Raymond Marsh 50: They waited till you come by with no-one on your tail-board, and then one of 'em cries, 'Fat's a-runnin'l' and that's the signal for his mates to swarm on your tail and drag all they can from the van.

fat adj. 1 in fig. senses of positive assessment, (a) a general positive epithet, good, first-rate, excellent.

fat

fat

47 C.1610 Middleton Works II 422: O, for a bowl of fat canary, Rich

each of which he will run a most successful last, and on this running

Aristippus, sparkling sherry! Some nectar else from Junos dairy, O, these draughts would make us merry [F&H]. 1756 W. Toldervy Hist, of the Two Orphans III 157: He [.., ] sings as many fat songs as the best man in the Garden. 1851 Melville Moby Dick (1907) 150: Grand snoozing to-night, maty; fat night for that. 1877 E.L. Wheeler Deadwood Dick in Beadle's Half Dime Library 1:1 80/3: Redburn |...] had already learned from study and experience how to guess a fat strike, 1890 Speaker 22 Feb. 212/2: As good in English is fat in Australian, the story is probably true about the missionary not a story of Dr. Lumholtzs. After many years of work in the field, this good missionary was taken apart by some anxious but meagre inquirers in his flock. Sir, said they, must a man be very fat to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? He was able to reassure them [F&H], 1900 Sporting Times 31 Mar. 2/1: Workers, shirkers, everyone copped the tale, / 'It's just as fat as sin; / E'd fall down twice an' win'. 1915 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 103: There's a guy back there with a fat hand and this is his station. 1923 M. Garahan Stiffs 230: There is a nice fat ten-pound note. 1933 W.C. Scott 'Take 'Im Alive' Und. Mag. May [Internet] Lissen, Jake—I got a’fat deal for you. 1950 A.B. Guthrie Way West 230: Waugh and Jesus Christ! Them was the fat days. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 88: Bill Ash [...] gets himself a fat promotion after twenty years of hard work. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 195: I have a memory of two fat years, 1964 and 1965, when you did nothing but run loose and waste time, buy new clothes and over-eat and gab, when you thought you'd never have to work in your life again. 1980 (con. 1971) W. Sherman Times Square 59: He [...] commented that business was 'pretty fat'.

being made known to a strange handicapper, he will naturally enough vote the horse a duffer, and let him into a fat handicap with something like a 'feather,' 1891 A. Day Mysterious Beggar 265: The old duffer's a fat goose, and he must shell out handsome. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 211: 'You might be fatter,' the robber admitted, stepping back with the plunder in his left hand. 1914 Joyce 'A Little Cloud' Dubliners (1956) 79: She'll have a good fat account at the bank or she won't do for me. 1927 'Max Brand' Pleasant Jim 69: He does the financing - at damned fat interest. 1933 H. Asbury Barbary Coast 209: Both runners and crimps waxed fat and sassy [...] some of the runners earned as much as five hundred to eight hundred dollars a week. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 56: Mr. Ryan [...] brings in only the fattest of marks. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 20: On skimpy weeks I wouldn't be able to afford it. And they come—in between the fat ones. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 74: For years that bastard got fat offa what Coke did for him. 1972 Nova Apr. 97: I just get a little sad about people who come over here to make a fat buck. 1983 A-Team Storybook 55: There's shysters would argue that the sun comes up in the west if the fee was fat enough. 1999 Guardian 12 July 18: These mags pay fat money for the interviews. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 5: Everyone gets fat together, very fat, baby-chubby. (b) well supplied with drugs. 1971 Illinois Legislative iNVESTiGA'nNG Committee Drug Crisis in Spears (1986). 1989 J, Morton Lowspeak. 3 self-obsessed, smug. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 214: You're always worrying those fat brains of yours with suspicions. 1919 Marvel 1 Mar. 6: Don't be a fat owl. 1958 W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 71: That puff ball and his fat words. He griped me. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 60: Everybody was fat and sassy. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 10: Too fat with themselves to know shit. 4 (US black) pregnant. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

(b) a general intensifier, e.g. a fat damn. 1810 'Bundles of Truth' Batchelar's Jovial Fellows Collection of Songs 6:

Boney a fat lie can tell. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 102: Two men came in after me, gave the mayor a fat hello, then parked and talked shop. 1957 'Ed Lacy' Lead With Your Left (1958) 2: That's the trouble today, nobody gives a fat damn about anything. 1960 J.D. Macdonald Slam the Big Door (1961) 187: We have been having big fat arguments about what the surprise is. 1978 L.K. Truscott IV Dress Gray (1979) 409: Take a fat guess.

■ Derivatives fatness (n.) wealth.

(C) (orig. US black) a general term of approval, excellent, fantastic,

1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904

attractive etc (spec, black use is a more emphatic version of sense 1).

Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

1971 T. Rhone Smile Orange i i: She fat, you see! So I decide to check

her. 1991 N. George 'CRT Time' Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 62: They aren't going to get paid grabbing their groins and yelling, 'New York is fat!' 1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 7: The trouble funkin' Harmless imprint are bumpin' fat reissues like it ain't no thing. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb, 46: That would be fat. That would be a first and I'm into firsts.

■ In compounds fat tape (n.) see phat tape under phat adj. ■ In phrases cut it fat (v.) see cut it spicy under spicy adj. get fat (v.) (US black) to become rich. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

go fat (v.) (S.Afr.) to go wild, to 'let off steam'.

2 in senses of possession, (a) substantial; wealthy, rich; thus fat cull,

1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 75: They employed an argot which

a rich man.

was peculiarly their own [...] 'to go fat' was to go wild,

1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 30: He hath greata acquaintance of men of the country [.,.] and, at the beginning, would every day fill the case with jolly fat cousins. 1613 Dekker Bankrouts Banquet F3: Another crew of boone Companions as the former, as fat in the purse and as lavish in spending. 1693 Dryden Persius III 38: And after, envy not the store Of the Greaz'd Advocate, that Grinds the Poor: Fat Fees from the defended Umbrian draws, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fat Cull, c. a rich Fellow. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. c.1698]. c.1790 'De Kilmainham Minit' Luke Caffrey's Cost 6: And when dat he mill'd a fat slap, / He me-ri-ly melted de winner. 1802 G. Colman Yngr Poor Gentleman III i: You had better be influenced by a rich old uncle; unless you think the sun likely to leave you a fat legacy. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1838 J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches (1865) 140: I'd like to have a fat salary, 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries ofN.Y. I 114: 'Fat.' Rich. 'Fat cull,' a rich fellow. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII:37 315: His practised eye searches out his man. He approaches him and says 'Friend, do you know of a fat crib'. C.1858 J.H. Green Secret Band of Brothers 88: They are well paid for their villany by the job, which they take care to make a fat one. 1862 letter in Silber & Sievens Yankee Correspondence (1996) 66: These Northern contractors & politicians want fat offices and fat jobs by & by. 1869 N.Y. Times 12 Apr. 2/1: On the way to the prison the [police] officer 'feels' the prisoner, as to how much money he can afford to pay for counsel. If the inquiry brings out the fact that the prisoner is a 'fat one,' to use the vernacular. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 207: [The tables] are only a sham, and no food is set upon them unless some extra fat customers are in one of the dens, giving up their money freely to a two-card box. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 17/3: For example, suppose a 200 sov. prize is put up at Dubbo, the prudent owner of a crack will knock him out of condition, and then start him for three or four paltry prizes about the district, for

sit fat (v.) (US) to be successful and powerful. 1995 Nine 'Whutcha Want?' [lyrics] on Nine Livez [album] I gets banned if I do gets banned if I don't / So sometimes I will and sometimes I won't / Puff mad stick crack a forty down the back / Sit fat and relax and plan my attack.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fat ale (n.) strong beer. 1845 Marryat Rattlin, the Reefer Ch. 58:1 was stupefied as much as if

I had committed a debauch upon fat ale.

fatarm (n.) see under arm n. fat-arse/-ass see separate entries, fatboy (n.) (US) the penis. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 241: She lowered

herself, easing his fatboy up her snatch.

fat-brain (n.) see fat-head n.^ fat-brained (ad/,) see fat-headed adj. fat cat see separate entries. fat chance (n.) see separate entry. fat city see separate entries. fat cock (n.) see separate entries. fat-face (n.) a general term of opprobrium. 1741 Richardson Pamela II 179: Answer me, fat-face!

fat-fancier (n.) (a/so fat-monger) a man who prefers plump women. 1890- 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fat farm (n.) (orig. US) a slimming clinic. 1968 Wash. Post 14 Jan. G3: Now, Toni Hatfield thinks she would like to open a less expensive kind of 'fat farm' outside Washington. 1969 Time 11 Apr. 42: Last week the First Tuesday segments dealt with a weight reduction 'fat farm' and a Christian anti-Communist crusade. 1970 Time 2 Mar. 64: As waistlines keep expanding, so too do beauty resorts — the places that thin people like to call fat farms.

fat

fat-arse

48 1978 A.

Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 124: Here's old Bink, wallowing in luxurious misery at America's most elegant fat farm. 1983 J. CiARDl A Second Browser’s Diet. 97: Fat farm. A luxurious country estate where the overweight rich pay heavily to be starved thin. 2000 B.L. Jackson Dieting a Dry Drunk 124: During that time,

my mom offered to send me a 'fat farm.'

fatgut (n.) a derog. name for a fat person; also attrib. 1955 B. SCHULBERG On the Waterfront (1964) 43: Old man Foley, a fatgut who had started out doing a job on these waterfront cases. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 20: Dead, With some fat-gut cop spitting

tobacco juice in their faces.

fatguts (n.) (also gutfatty) (cut n.j a term of abuse, used of one who has a fat stomach. C.1597 Shakespeare Henry IVPt 1 II ii: Peace, ye fat-gutsl 1667 'Ballad'

in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 11: Old fatguts himself, / With his tripes and his pelf, / With a purse as full as his paunch. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 26: The next a Usurer, / Old fat Guts he came grunting, c.1800 'British Spy' in Collection of Eng. Ballads 86: Here's fat guts the butcher. 1821 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Wife (1868) 272/2: 'Tis said he's Farmer Fatgut's child. 1858 G.W. Harris 'Sut Lovingood's Chest Story' Nashville Union and American XXIX June in Inge (1967) 122: In jumped Gut Fatty in his shut tail. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 64: Did you see old fat guts run? 1980 Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 90: He may also be called [...] 'fat-guts'.

fat-gutted (ad/.) a general abusive epithet, describing someone

1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 67: I was going to collect five fat ones for my pleasant night's work. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 80: She picked out a leather coat for two hundred fat ones.

3 (US drugs) (also fattie, fatty) a marijuana cigarette, esp. a large one, 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 94: fatty A thickly rolled

cigarette. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: fattie - marijuana cigarette. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 56: Vivian held out the fatty. 1999 Indep. Rev. 9 Nov. 12: So if pot was legal, why wouldn't celebrities be on the cover of our magazine smoking a big fattie? 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 27: They like to roll a fattie. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 93: We passed a fatty back and forth to take the edge off. Speed and weed. 2003 Hashbash.com [Internet] ****WARNING! THIS IS A SMOKEIN**** No, it is not legal (yet) to smoke marijuana at the HASH BASH. [...] We do realize that some of you will come and as an act of civil disobedience LIGHT UP A BIG STINKY FAT ONE. 2008 T, Dorsey Atomic Lobster 15: Coleman twisted a fat one in his lips. MARIJUANA

4 (US) a large cigar. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 310: Old guys who used to be players [...] smoking fat ones.

Fat Stuff (n.) see Fats n. fat-tailed (adj.) (US) overweight. 1953 W.P. McGivern Big Heat 40: Me, the fat-tailed moneybags, so they say.

fatwad (n.) (US) an aristocrat, a wealthy person. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 93: Our toniest fatwads is sittin' around the

with a fat stomach. 1713 W. King York Spy 48: [In] came hobbling up another Fiery-

faced, Tun-bellied, Gossiping Legate to club her Groat, who entring the Chamber, thus accosted her tipling fatgutted Gammars, I'm glad to find you so merry, Neighbours. 1815 'Shufflers' in City of London Colleaion 7: Of the fat-gutted butcher we cannot say much.

mahogany votin' to raise the price of chewin' gum.

■ In phrases fat around the heart (adj.) [fat around the heart clogs the arteries and makes one's blood, fig, courage, flow more slowly] (US black) cowardly. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 50: Jack looked at de hund'ud dollars and put down five hund'ud and says, 'Man, Ah ain't for no spuddin'. You playin' wid yo' stuff out de winder. You

fat-head/-headed see separate entries. fat knacker (n.) [knacker n. (1)] (UK juv.) an unattractive, promiscuous woman.

fat 'round de heart. Bet some money.'

fat as a buggy-whip (adj.) (US) very thin.

2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fat knacker n. I) fat old

tart.

1967 in DARE.

fat as a match (adj.) (US) very thin,

fat knot (n.) (US black) a substantial roll of dollar bills.

1899 B.W. Green Virginia Folk-Speech (1912) 23: Fat as a match. 1942

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

(con. 1890s) W.L. McAtee Dial. Grant County 25: Fat as a match [...]

fat lip (n.) a bruised and swollen mouth, the result of a blow.

not fat at all. 1967 in DARE.

1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service St. n.p.: A fat lip [...] a sock in the puss.

fat as Sir Roger (adj.)

1947 W. Motley Knock on Any Door 201: Say, are you looking for a fat

S/r Roger Tichborne, 'star' of the 1871 'Tichborne claimant' case) extremely

lip? I told you to beat it! 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 330: You wanna fat lip. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 47: 'I promise tight lips if—' Paul straightened up and clipped Gil against the wall, 'And I promise fat lips.' 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 49: If you want to argue you can end up with a fat lip on. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 27: As a result of the fracas I ended up with a black eye, a bloody nose and a fat lip. 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 221: She was alive like always. Had a fat lip and a new space in her smile. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 57: He was a whole lot wiser with his fat lip. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 27: Fat lips and black eyes and broken teeth are commonplace,

fat. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

fat on top (adj.) (US gay) 1 intellectual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 79: fat on top 1. intellectual.

2 drunk. 1972

fatman (n.) see fat n. (2). fat-monger (n.) see fat-fancier above, fatmouth see separate entries. fat one (n.) 1 (also fat ’un) an especially noisy breaking of wind. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8 edn) 381/2: fat one or un. A particularly

rank breaking of wind C.19-early 20.

2 (US) a $100 bill.

B.

Rodgers

Queens’ Vernacular 79: fat on top [...] 2.

intoxicated.

■ In exclamations fat show! (N.Z.) no chance at all! 1972 G.W. Turner Eng. Lang, in Aus. and N.Z. 108: New Zealand has

some slang of its own [...] a fat show 'little chance'. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/1: fat show little or no chance, or 'fat chance'. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fat lot (n.) [an ironic reversal] not very much, if anything at all; often as phr. a fat lot of good (that will do). 1876 M.E. Braddon Dead Men's Shoes I 179: 'A fat lot Marion teaches me!' said the incorrigible child. 1889 B. Mitford Fire Trumpet 1 75: A fat lot of good he'll do. 1898 E. Pugh Tony Drum 192: A fat lot I care about him! 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 10: Fat lot o' good tailin' you up! 1915 J. Buchan Thirty-Nine Steps (1930) 72: They can have the money back [...] for a fat lot of good it's done me. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 701: O let them all go and smother themselves for the fat lot I care. 1935 B. Bunting 'The Well of Lycopolis' Complete Poems (1868) 29: He used to cuddle me. Fat lot of good its done me! 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 222: You're going to tell us about this conference and that conference that passed resolutions calling for better treatment for the unemployed. And a fat lot of good that's been. 1950 A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 210: Fat lot of good that'd be if it bit you in the foot. 1960 I. Fleming For Your Eyes Only (1962) 40: Fat lot Bill cares. 1975 D. Davin Breathing Spaces 37: A fat lot you care for Dad's plants. 1991 Desperate Dan Special No. 7IV. A fat lotta good! 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 76: fat lot of good Extension of the British phrase 'fat lot', usually a caustic expression,

[the weighty Arthur Orton (1834-98), self-styled

fat adv. 1 (US campus) successfully. 1834 'Girl of the Town' in Bang-Up Songster 24: Then vot Countess or duchess of wealth and renown, / Comes it half so fat as a girl of the town? 1889 H. Lawson 'Sleeping Beauty' in Roderick (1967-9) I 60: 'Tis very plain he'd struck it fat, / This dufferin' London muff. 1902 P.L. Dunbar Jest Of Fate (1903) 167: When, as she would have expressed it, 'everything was going fat,' she suddenly paused. 19972000 Da Bomb [Internet] 5: Busting fat: Doing something very well.

2

comfortably. 1903 J. London People of the Abyss 92: 'There's mugs never go out of

Kent,' spoke a second voice, 'they live bloomin' fat all along.' 1911 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 Days 136: There he flourished and waxed fat. 1952 W. Sheldon Troubling of a Star 35: You guys in the Air Corps really have it fat. 3 very, extremely. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacutar 79: fat righteous (adv) 1. a lot 'I dig you fat righteous' 2. really, truly.

■ In phrases do it fat (v.) to pose as a gentleman. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

fatal tree n. see triple tree n. fat and wide n. [rhy. sf] a bride. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

fat-arse n. (also fat-ass, fat-bum) (fat-arse adj.] a very fat person; also as a term of address.

fat-arse [1672 J. Howard All Mistaken V i: Why my most Extream Fat Asse, dost thou not find that I have fool'd thee All this while?] 1923 D.H. Lawrence Kangaroo 364: Look at 'em, and you'll see they've got

good, heavy-weight sit-upons [...] Greedy fat-arses, mates if you'll pardon the vulgarity for once. Greedy fat-arses. 1931 J.T. Farrell 'Big Jeff' in Short Stories (1937) 46: Jeff the fatass of Fifty-eighth Street. 1938 'Justinian' Americana Sexualis 21: Fatass, n. A broadbuttocked person, generally a woman. 1945 J.B. Priestly Three Men in New Suits 56: Little Lizzie Fat-bum there is off to Canada soon. 1962 B. McGhee Cut and Run (1963) 157: 'A minute. Fat-ass,' he shouted, waving his open razor. 1966 F. Elli Riot (1967) 101: How'd you get in the gang, fat-arse? 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 389: 1 could've plowed a furrow right up fat-ass's behind. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 171: 1 knew that if fatass could get his gun out of the cash register he might of hurt somebody. 1970 H.E. Bates A Little of What You Fancy (1985) 484: 'Yes!' Pop shouted. 'You old fat arse.' 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 13: Hey, Fatboy? How much you weigh. Fat-ass? 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 97: Fatass, if you blink your eyes I'll blow your head into your lap. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective, 144: fat ass. A broad-beamed person. 2000 'Case SC94004' Appeal on Florida Courts [Internet] You're going to get your fat ass picked up because they're hot as hell. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 43: 'Hey, fat-ass?'

fat-arse adj. (also fat-arsed) |SE fat + arse n. (1 )/-arsed sfx (1)] fat, large-buttocked; also of objects, large, 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 1:10 11: Some fat-ars'd Sows and lusty Loobies / Were got on Galloways and Hobbies. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 564: That fat-a—se b—, my Lady Bellaston. 1837 'He'll No More Grind Again' in Ri-tum Ti-tum Songster 29: A kid, he bolted from his home [...] With red-haired Moll, the fat a--e mot. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) 111 524: I [...] admired even at one time a fat-arsed middle-aged woman who sold us bull's eyes. 1970 C. Brown Down All the Days 111: You big fat-arsed coward! 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 27: Boss bein the fat-arse ponce with brown socks. 2001 A. Sillitoe Birthday 150: The drivers no doubt fed up with seeing the same fat-arsed pantechnicon.

fat-ass adj. (also fat-assed) [SE fat -t

ass

n.

(2)/-ass sfx/-ASSED sfx)

(US) 1 of people, fat. 1930 J.T. Farrell 'Meet The Girls!' in Short Stories (1937) 279: 'She's a fat-ass cousin of mine,' Dolly answered. 'Now 1 remember her, the fat bitch,' Marie said. 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 52: That fat-assed Ed Banky. 1957 'Ed Lacy' Lead With Your Left (1958) 7: Him and [...] those fat-assed kids who acted like a couple of fags. 1961 (con. 1945) G. Forbes Goodbye to Some (1963) 81: Giant, fatassed, blubbery, disgusting warthogs from Cape Cod. 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 94: Them fatass cops don't go nowhere a car don't go. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 186: The boy runs back to shoo the fatass dude away. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 43: Those fat-assed cocksuckers that you saw so often back in the world. 1994 (con. 1980s) G. Byrne Pictures in my Head 123: Give me a cigarette, you fatass motherfucker. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 108: Cause you know that fat-ass heifer do like to eat. 2 of objects, large in size or quantity. 1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 125: She do her a lotta fatass book readin. 1973 C. Gaines Stay Hungry 217: You gon get a ticket you leave this fatass car here. 1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg 'Gin and Juice' [lyrics] Dr. Dre came through with a gang of Tanqueray / And a fat ass J, of some bubonic chronic that made me choke. 3 in fig. use, comfortably off. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 204: Her and the rest of that fat-assed crowd she hung around with. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 335: Teaching at some fat-ass girl's college in the North. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 40:1 save your place every day and make a whole bunch of fat-ass committee chairmen park onna street. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 8: We got to kick out all the priests and the fat-assed merchants here at home. 4 lazy, self-indulgent. 1961 R. Cover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 125: She do hera lotta fatass book readin, oncet in awile.

fat ass V. [FAT-ARSE n.] (US) to loaf, to idle. 1971 Playboy June 60: Man is going to need bigger and better weekend stimulation than fat-assing it in front of his TV set [HDAS[. 1995-1997 FatAss Funtime Productions Fatass.com [Internet] Hi. I'm the fatass. This is my web site and this is my homepage. 1 got the nickname fatass from my college roomates who claim 1 was always fatassing around, whatever that means.

fat-ass adv. [fat-ass adj.] a general intensifier. 1961

(con. early 1950s) J.

Peacock

Valhalla 320: Broke. Fat ass

broke!

fat-assing adj. |fat ass v./fat-ass adj. (3)1 money grabbing, superficial, fake.

fat city

49

'ChRisTin3' Guestbook on Courtney's OhTheShame: AntiBritneySpears [Internet] Wow...your websites pretty good on details on that fat assing bitch!!You saw the way she acted at the MTV awards next to Aguilera? Real bitch!!! 2000 'Case SC94004' 2000

Appeal on Florida Courts [Internet] OK, you fat assing bitch, if you want to know, if you want to take those diamonds and put 'em in a wedding band of your choosing and not let the jeweler do it that I had planned out, then you're going to get your fat ass picked up because they're hot as hell.

fat cat n. (orig. US) any successful, wealthy, influential person; recent UK use has tended to imply a degree of self-serving corruption to such individuals; thus also as v. 1925 Denton (MD) Journal 1 Nov. n.p,: The Republican party promises the finest fat cat fight ever seen in this State [...[ It ought perhaps to be explained that fat cat is the significant and revealing name [...] as candidate or backer, the magic words 'fat cat' ring throughout the wards [...] Soon or late every fat cat in the party will likely be involved. 1931 C.B. Yorke 'Mob Murder' in Gangland Stories Mar. [Internet] 'Mark Sands is the Big Shot—State senator and biggest fat cat in politics.' 1946 H. Boyle 8 Jan. [AP synd. article] 'Fat-catting' is a term applied in the lower ranks to high leaders who try to guide their military personal careers back into the easy pre¬ war days of Colonel Blimp by padding themslves with special privileges and comforts. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 315: The new Fat Cat was known as Smiling Matt Bailey. 1969 N. Spinrad Bug Jack Barron 20: You freeze fat cats, shade fat cats. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 170: Catching Foxy Farrell blowing some fat cat in the dressing room. 1986 B. Geldof Is That It? 258: The room was full of Hollywood fat cats and their wives. 1991 D. Jarman letter 28 July Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 43: Who gives a fuck for these fat cats who have built their careers. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 238: She's a fat cat [...] a big contributor to the guy running against the Orange County DA.

fat-cat adj. [FAT cat n.] (orig. US) prosperous; esp. when the implication is that such prosperity has been gained by corruption. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 20: You figure the Mafia is in a fat-cat position around here? 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 380: I'm not your father or your fat-cat husband! 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 32: Fat-cat politicians from Virginia and North Carolina [...[ ridiculed the the District of Columbia relentlessly. 2000 Observer 9 Jan. 3: 'Fat cat' stars force BBC to seek new talent.

fatcha n. [!tal. faccia, face) (Ling. Fr./Polari) the human face; thus fake the fatcha v., to shave, to put on make-up. 1996 H. Young Lex. ofPolari [Internet] fatcha face. 2002 Juha 'Polari'

[lyrics] on Polari [album] Beach in the screech. Alamo jo! / This dizzy hoofer gonna dowry jeebo. / Varda me fatcha, meshigner bona. / Savvy you gettin fericadooza.

fat chance n. (a/so fat likely, hot chance) no chance at all; also as excl. 1905 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 35: The sports outside the ropes had a fat chance of seeing anything, c.1905 J. Furphy BulnBuln and the Brolga (1948) Ch. i: [Internet] 'Thought you was goin' to take me kneelin',' observed Wes indifferently. 'So I am. One hand, kneelin'.' 'Fat likely!' he retorted. 1913-14 Van Loan 'No Business' in Taking the Count 148: 'Didn't see you at the fight last Tuesday night, Tirney,' 'A fat chance!' said the proprietor [...] 'A fine, fat chance!' 1918 J.E. Rendinell diary 21 Sept, in One Man's War (1928) 167: 'If you will give me pass, I will go up & find them.' He said, 'Fat chance.' 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 54: I'd be tickled to death if she'd really go making love with somebody. Fat chance! 1928 Thurman & Rapp Harlem in Coll. Writings (2003) 327: Hot chance I gotta vamp, what with Basil messin' 'round an' — 1933 W.R, Burnett Dark Hazard (1934) 3: Fat chance of him ever getting away. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 50: A fat chance she had of catching Him. 1944 E.S. Gardner Case of the Crooked Candle (1958) 16: Mason laughed. 'Fat chance.' 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 157: 'If they lay a hand on any of you I'll see they go to jail.' [...[ 'Fat chance.'1962 H.S. Thompson letter 28 Aug. in Proud Highway (1997) 350: Fat chance, considering the fucking mails here. 1973 A. Buckeridge Speaking of Jennings (1989) 7: A fat chance we've got of going fishing. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 536: 'He wants to throw me out of the building.' 'Fat chance.' 1998 Guardian Media 7 Dec. 2: Fat chance. I knew 1 had to act fast. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 20: Where will I go? What will do? My mom? Fat chance. She doesn't want me around.

fat city n.^ [SE fat, abundant, stimulating -F -CITY sfx] success, wealth, often from criminal activities. [1961 Wash. Post and Times Herald 13 Apr. Al: 'Wow, this is Easy Street in a fat city,' said a white Peking duckling, lying back Maharajah-style.] 1963 F. Kohner Affairs of Gidget 62: He's living in fat city [...] accosted by all the hot tickets in college town to hit the sack with them. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 19: I wanted to go back to

fat city America feeling in fat city. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 18: Our home-grown Oz fillum producers were on Easy Street, Fat City. 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 241: You guys hit these motherfuckers it's fat city. 2005 Expressions mag. Mar.-Apr. [Inter¬ net] All you need for these stamps are your acrylic blocks and you're in Fat City, baby.

fat city

father (and mother) of...

50

(SE fat, overweight + -CITY sfx] (US) the process of gaining

weight or the state of being fat. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 82: 1 wish 1 could eat stuff like that. 1 just

have to look at it, you know? . . . Fat City. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 279: He grabbed a gloveful of Reynaldo Flemm's belly roll [...] Paydirt. Fat city. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 20/2: Man, this club is fat city, 2005 WCBS 880 17 Feb. [Internet] While there may be nothing funny about fat, the dieters call Fat City the 'Lourdes of Lard.' But the city is better known as Durham, NC.

fat city adj. 1973 G.V.

[fat city

n?] excellent, splendid.

Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 92:

He's Fat City and

everybody else's full of shit,

fat cock n.^ [SE/at -F

COCK n? (4)] a fat old man.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fat cock n.^ [SE fat -F COCK n."* (1)1 the labia minora, esp. when prominent. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fater n. (also factor, fator, faytor) (Fr.faiteur, maker; 'the Second (old) Rank of the Canting Crew' (B.E.)] (UK Und.) a cheat or impostor; a fraudulent fortune-teller, C.1621 Middleton Women Beware Women IV i: He's a factor! c,1698

B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Faytors, c. the Second (old) Rank of the Canting Crew. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: faytors, or fators The Second old Rank of the Canting Crew: A kind of Gypsies, pretending to tell People their Fate or Destiny, or what they were born to. Now obsolete: but reckon'd the Twenty-seventh Order of Canters. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725], 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Faytors, or Fators, fortune tellers. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocahulum.

fat head n.

[head

n. (4)j 1 a hangover.

1914 'Bartimeus' 'The Night Watches' in Naval Occasions 179: Now

put the cups back, and come and show me Arcturus - if you have shaken off your fat head! 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 112: Was 1 drunk last night? [,..] I've got a bit of a fat 'ead. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 86: I'll let you have something to cure your fat head.

2 a headache. 1917 'Taffrail' Sub 219: Our cabins [...] were distinctly frowsty. [...] 1 used to wake up with every symptom of what is generally known as a 'fat head,'

fat-head n.^ (also fat-brain)

ad/./SE/at + -head sfx (1)] a fool, an idiot; often used affectionately as well as derog. [fat-headed

1599 JONSON Every Man Out of his Humour 111 ii: You sky-staring

coxcombs you, you fat-brains, out upon you. 1840 R. Barham 'Nursery Reminiscences' in Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 135: You little Fat-head, / There's a top because you're good! 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor 1 228/2: Why look at it, says 1, fat-head -1 knew I was safe - and see if there's anything in it about the Queen or her coachman! 1885 Mrs J.H. Riddell Mitre Court II 124: He is a fathead—a great blundering John Bull. 1898 E. Pugh Tony Drum 26: I ain't a-crying, fathead. 1908 Gem 17 Oct. 17: What are you thumping me on the back for, you fathead? 1916 N. Douglas London Street Games 160: You've got to play something or other - unless you want to be a soppy fathead. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 76: Bicky, though a stout fellow and absolutely unrivalled as an imitator of bull-terriers and cats, was in many ways one of the most pronounced fatheads. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 379: He knew he would make a fathead out of himself, 1945 (con. 1923) R. Westerby Mad in Pursuit 60: Don't muck it up now, fathead. 1959 K. Waterhouse Billy Liar (1962) 144: 'I'm pretending I've got flat feet,' 1 said [...[ 'Fathead.' 1967 F. Salas Tattoo the Wicked Cross (1981) 255: You know I ain't no fathead. 1971 Wodehouse Much Obliged, Jeeves 22: I had always thought them rather fatheads. 1984 Columbia Journalism Rev. 5-6: [Talk show host Wally] George silences [guests] with shouts of 'Shut up, fathead' [R], 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 151: Ain't friskin' him fathead he's covered in shit. 2002 J. Deveraux Knight in Shining Armour 126: Instead, she had relinquished all control over the Stafford estates and married a fat-brain like Dickie Harewood. 2009 Observer TV 22 Feb. 10: They call each other 'chap' and sometimes even 'fathead'.

fat-head n.^ (also big-head) (UK black) a marijuana cigarette. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 16: There were some older kids who smoked weed and they used to wrap their fat-heads in the toilets at

dinner break. [Ibid.] 53: He then torched half a big-head and passed it on to me.

fat-headed adj. (also fat-brained, fathead) foolish, stupid; thus fat-headedness n. 1599 Shakespeare Henry V III vii: What a wretched and peevish

fellow is this king of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge! 1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth n.p.: The lazie Monkes & Fat-headed Friers, in whom was nought but sloth & Idlenes. 1748 Richardson Clarissa VII 108: This I leave to thy own fat-headed prudence. 1771 Smollett Humphrey Clinker (1925) II 160: Besides our company, there was in the house a fat¬ headed justice of the peace, called Frogmore. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1803 J. Kenney Raising the Wind II i: This fine fat-headed fellow arrested our flight through the town, to put into my hand this letter. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 399: It must be plain enough to the fat-headed comprehensions of those epicurean persons. 1865 G.A. Sala My Diary in America I 62: The gross, fat-headed brewer, Thrale. 1889 J.K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat 64: Get up, you fat-headed chunk! 1898 Kipling 'Stalky' in Complete Stalky &Co. (1987) 27: Speak the truth, you fat-headed old imposter. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 207: His chief exploded with low-voiced fury. 'When I ask your advice, give it, you fat-brained son of a brand blotter.' 1914 'Bartimeus' 'The Night Watches' in Naval Occasions 177: Wake up, you fat-headed blighter. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 285: A mess o' fat-headed white soldiers them was knocked off by apaches. 1935 A. Christie Three Act Tragedy (1964) 66: He dodged out of the house while one of the fat-headed constables [...] was taking forty winks. 1941 C.R. Prance Tante Rebella and her Friends (1951) 157: It was that which made Tante Rebella give tongue, calling the Minister and his She-Inspector a pair of fat¬ headed foreign frumps. 1953 A. Buckeridge Jennings' Diary 240: I've never met such fatuous fat-headedness in my life! 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 145: You're talking through the back of your fatheaded little neck. 1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 94: I'd expect something stupid from a fathead sucker like Bookworm. 1964 H.S. Thompson letter 11 Mar. in Proud Highway (1997) 442: It has taken me a while to get a grip after my fat-headed success in Latin America. 1968 (con. WWII) D. Westheimer Song of the Young Sentry (1969) 143: 'Because you're so damn fatheaded it chaps my ass,' Moran said. 1981 N. Farki Countryman Karl Black 95: Fat-head Charlie could not even read a plan. 1994 T. Fensch Conversations with John Updike xvii: Despite his willingness to grant roughly one out of ten interview requests, Updike told Sanoff that 'Too much talk can make you fatheaded.' 2001 G. Morris Parsifal's Page (2004) 93: 'Fatheaded dolts!' At that, the man disappeared behind the wall,

father n. 1 the owner of a common lodging house. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 381/2: since ca. 1840.

2 a receiver of stolen goods

[play on

uncle n. (1)].

1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

3 (US prison) the dominant lesbian of a small 'family' group. 1958 Kosofsky & Ellis 'Illegal Communication Among Institu¬

tionalized Female Delinquents' in Journal of Social Psychology Aug. 157: The father is very frequently known as the 'a stud.' The mother frequently is known as a 'frail'.

4 (US drugs) a large-scale drug dealer. 1969 Cressey & Ward Delinquency, Crime, and Social Process 821: And I

seen a chance where I can be father (big-time dope dealer).

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds father abraham (n.) the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

father confessor (n.)

[play on

SE

-F ? ref. to popular image of the venal

priest] the penis.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer

Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 37: confessor'.

Bichette,

f. The penis: 'the father

father-fucker/-fucking see separate entries, father-mucker/father-of-all (n.) see father-fucker n. father time (n.) 1 (US campus) an older man (but poss. still attractive). 1922 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer 14 Sept. 4/4: The Flappers' Dictionary [...] Father Time: Any man over 30 years of age. 19972000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Father time: A man over 30.

2 (US prison) the warden [play on time n. (1)j. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

father (and mother) of... n. (also mama and papa of..., mother and father of...) a general intensifier; usu. ...of a thrashing, ...of a row.

Father Christmas hold 1855 C, Kingsley Westward Ho III 297: Spoil sports! The father of all

manners of troubles on earth, be they noxious trade of croakers! 1893 H. Lawson 'Bill, the Ventriloquial Rooster' in Roderick (1972) 144: The game-rooster turned on him, and gave him the father of a hiding [...] and my father caught me [...] and he gave me the step¬ father of a hiding. 1895 S. MacManus Leadin' Road to Donegal n.p.: For three fardins I would take it from ye an' give ye the father an' mother of a good soun' blaichin' [BS]. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Mar. 11/2: Arming himself with the fire irons he fled down stairs, fell over the cat and finished the last round on his ear. Bursting into the kitchen he discovered the presiding female on her knees in the act of receiving 'a father of a bating' from some person unknown. 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 242: It would be a Christian act to save Folkestone from the father of a batin'. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec. 14/3: [H]e has not been known to raise his hand against man, woman or child till the afternoon when he met jovial Dr. Peabody in the street, dragged him from his buggy, and there, in the sight of the whole township, gave the medical gentleman the father and mother of a hiding. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Nov. 16/1: A teamster [...] had given a bull-camel the father of a hiding one afternoon. 1918 K.F. PuRDON Dinny on the Doorstep 214: Not that Brigit didn't resent her bruises as well as the torn-out locks of hair, rent from her young head during the course of what she described to Dinny as 'the father and mother of a row!' 1922 Joyce Ulysses 305: - Myler dusted the floor with him. Heenan and Sayers was only a bloody fool to do it. Flanded him the father and mother of a beating. 1926 'Sapper' Final Count 851: Getting ready, I don't mind telling you [...] tor the father and mother of scraps. 1939 J. Cary Mister Johnson (1952) 81: Oh my God, my dear bloody yamhead, what the father and mother of hell is seven and twopence from fifteen and a tanner? 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 110: Can't they bloody well see there's the father and mother of a counter-attack going to come down on Bel Hamed? 1965 F.J. Hardy Yams of Billy Barker 80: Oi took one over the noine and woke up with a mother and a father of a hangover. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 52: Gorblimey O'Reilly! Here's the father and mother of a storm blowin'. 1990 I. Rankin Hide and Seek (1998) 43: I've got the mother and father of a headache. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 93: It was the super de luxe extra fucking mama and papa of all carwashes. 1999 Indep. Rev. 9 Oct. 8: BBC's The Cops provoked the mother and father of all rows. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 137: mother and father of The ultimate.

Father Christmas hold n. see Christmas hold under Christmas n. father-fucker n. (also furthermucker) 1 (US gay) a synon. for MOTHERFUCKER n. 1963 J. Recity city of Night 335: Father-fuckers! I'll take you on

together or alone! Prove to Me what big men you are! 2 (US black) a positive epithet. 1982 G. Tate 'Beyond the Zone of the Zero Funkativity' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 41: Like I said upfront, however. Computer Games is one signifying furthermucker 20 times over. 1983 G. Tate 'Electric Miles' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 82: These furthermuckers were making it up night after night on the road, making new music every time.

father-fucking adj. (US gay) a synon. for mothereuckinc adj. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 329: I kept getting busted. Father-fucking cops! wont! leave me! alone!

Father O’Flynn n. irhy. si.] the chin. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

father something on someone v. (also father something at someone) to put the blame for something on someone else, to 'pass the buck'. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Oct. 10/4: [The yarn] has been told ov every swell pickpocket who ever existed. George Price had it fathered at him; [...] 'Pendragon,' of London Referee, has dished it up several times; and this scribe seems to remember it as an episode in the career of Thackery's Chevalier Balibari.

fatima adj. [ext. of SEl (S.Afr. gay) fat. 2003 K. Cage Gayle.

fat is in the fire, (all) the phr. 1 a phr. used to indicate that a plan has failed. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: All the Fat is in the Fire, of a miscarriage or shrewd turn. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 368: For heathen Gods, if you'll inquire, / Are pleas'd when all the fat's i'th fire. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: All the fat is in the fire; that is, it is all over with us: a saying used in case of any miscarriage or disappointment in an undertaking. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) II 151: [as cit. 1772]. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. a.1848 N.Y. Herald n.p.: But take care that you don't, like the Paddy, touch off your machine at the wrong end; for [...] then the fat would be in the fire, and you would be where the devil could give more reliable information about you than any

Fats

51

other of your near relations [B]. 1918 Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 Apr. 2/3: Well, the fat was in the tire then, I saw trouble looming ahead, when Three Stars said, 'Hurry up, rip the pelt off, and let's have half of it.' 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 122: Once they had him, the fat was in the fire. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 221: If you do nothing yourself there is no danger oi you making mistakes. But now the fat was in the fire. 2 a phr. used to indicate that the result of an action will be to provoke anger. 1887 "Arry in the Witness-Box' in Punch 5 Feb. 61/2: 'You ask me

another,' sez I, / Then, Oh, wasn't the fat in the fire, Charlie? Wigging? That isn't the word. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Oct. 25/3: Another letter from the legal manager contained a lovely series of questions and suggestions for answers re the company's properties and their prospects. But the officials didn't bite, and Parliament got hold of the documents, and all the fat was in the fire. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Outside and Declined' Sporting Times 8 Aug. 1/3: If any other man lands out, the fat is in the fire, / He and I are pretty sure to be colliders. 1920 Marvel 28 Aug. 10: Phew! The fat is in the fire this time! 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 258 The fat's in the fire in this country now. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 323: It would only need Claire to complain about appointments in private rooms during Salon hours and the fat would be in the fire. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 113: Bolan's (ha-ha) Indian had pulled the twenty-four-hour cop's fat out of the fire. For the moment, at any rate. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 195: That editress of his on the Examiner would have his guts for garters. Alex could almost smell the stench of fat sizzling in the fire. 3 a phr. used to describe an energetic situation, but with no negative overtones. 1953 A.J. Liebling Honest Rainmaker (1991) 114: The fat is in the fire, with Mr. Brolaski dilating [...] upon the opportunity [...] whereby we two could now make a whole ton of money,

fat likely! exc/. see fat chance n. fatmouth n. [fig. use of SE or lit. trans. of Mandingo da-ba, big, fat mouth; thus fig. excessive talking[ 1 (US black) a braggart, a boaster; the quality of being one, 1926 Blind Lemon Jefferson 'Dry Southern Blues' [lyrics] Take a trip down south and stop at a fatmouth's house. 1929 M. Levin Reporter 22: Wish to thunder the god-damn fat-mouth would brain himself. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 80: Diane, overrelaxed, began to ramble and called herself a fatmouth. 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: iris [to Sydney]: Fat mouth. 1968 T. Wolfe Electric KooTAid Acid Test (1969) 165: You've got a fat mouth and you don't know what to use it for! Ugly, that's your trip. 1983 C. Heath A-Team 2 (1984) 166: Hey, fat mouth. 1984 LaBarge & Holt Sweetwater Gunslinger 201 (1990) 189: Sundance bristled. 'How'd you like a couple of racetracks around your headlights, fat mouth?' 2 (US) verbosity. 1996 B. Woodward in Choke 5 Nov. 175: No, Hanson said, she suspected it was to give them fatmouth about the New York Times article.

fatmouth adj. (also fat-mouthed) [fatmouth n.] (orig. US black) boastful, noisy, verbose. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 203: Why, you fat-mouthed preacher! 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 110: He doesn't get some fatmouth bastard in there, fuck things up. 1977 A. Brooke Last Poke 93: That jive, triflin', no-account, fat-mouth bitch!

fatmouth v. [fatmouth n. (1)] (orig. US black) to argue, to answer back, to be cheeky, to talk excessively, to boast. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 67: Next time wait until you get those pounds before you start fat-mouthing, 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 38: Ah doan mind him fat mouthin that [TV] set. [Ibid.] 176: He sittin back fat mouthin while he gettin ready to do some more time. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 44: Lame talk refers to bad talk, in the sense of provocative or belligerent dialog. Expressions like smart mouth, fat mouth. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 197: He was just fat-mouthing. 2006 posting at Seattle Post-Intelligencer 30 June [Internet] I know this stuff because [...] [I] was in a position to accurately know what the story was as opposed to your ignorant, clueless fatmouthing.

fator n. see fater n. Fats n. (also Fat Stuff) (US) a nickname for anyone seen as overweight. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 109: Fats Ryan, a crimson-cheeked Irishman. 1953 L. Durst JtVes of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 4: From off the end comes 'Fats' and his buddy, 'Mule,' the duece [sic] that is able and from the righteous school. 1957 'Ed Lacy' Lead With Your Left (1958) 11: Fatstuff, you already made too many cracks bout my being young. 1960 (con. 1940s) G, Morrill Dark Sea Running 20: How are

fatso

faugh!

52

your sea legs. Fat Stuff? 1969 C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 156: But Fats didn't have any white women — he liked boys. 1971 N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 166: I think my ears are on the blink, Fats. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 119: Just can't get good help these days, huh. Fats?

fatso n. (orig. US) 1 a general derog. term addressed to a fat person. 1947 S.J. Perelman 'How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth' in Keep It

Crisp 140: Get in the groove, fatso, 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 123: Out of the way, fatso. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 145: You were sick, weren't you, fatso? 1975 D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 135: You little black fatso ... you're dead, boy! 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 257: If it's a killing you want Fatso, it's a killing you get. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 350: Ah, shut it, fatso! 2004 W. Whichelow Notso Fatso 1: Ahoy, there, Fatso!

2 a fat person; thus a nickname.

fatymus n. (also fatyma, fattyma, fattymus) [pig Lat.j a fat man or woman. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

faucet n. (US) a penis. 1759-67 Sterne Tristram Shandy (1949) 338: Are not trouse, and placket-holes, and pump-handles - and spigots and faucets, in danger still, from the same association? 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 14: Do you know he has a drippy faucet? [...] I happen to know that in Hollywood patrol right now the clap's as common as

a head cold,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases turn off the faucet (v.) see turn on the waterworks under WATERWORKS n. faugh! exc/, (also faw! figh! fogh! foh! fough! fugh! fuh! hough! paugh! pho(h)! phooh! poughi pugh! waghi) (early uses are no

1938 J.E. Hoover Persons in Hiding 104: A fellow worker named Fatso

more than aggressive throat-clearing, but later uses (perhaps mid-19C+)

Negri recognized a 'wanted' picture in a detective magazine. 1951 P. Whelton Angels are Painted Fair 45: Not that I think Mr. Fatso would leave the office alone. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 615: If Fatso tells you to eat a plate of shit, you eat it, and whats more, you like it, hear? 1960 E. De ROO Big Rumble 113; 'You shoulda kissed her goodnight,' Larry told him. 'Yeah. Let Fatso White do it,' Donald snarled. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 12: Willie walked, with head down, toward a florid fatso, 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 80: Another one is this fatso named David, who has a lot of money. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 37: Fatso waddles up to our cell, asks a question. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 115; The perpetual happy-go-lucky fatso funster.

seem likely to be a euph, for fuck! exc/. I an excl. of dismissal, derision,

fatten frogs for snakes v. see under snake n?. fattie n. see FAT ONE under fat ad/. fattoon n. ISE fat -f sfx -oon; on model of octaron, quadroon etc.] {W.i.) a very fat person. 1952 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fatty n? 1 a fat person, esp. as a nickname. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 262: FattyT--, better known as the sixpenny schoolmaster: a little fat man remarkable for his love of good living. 1847 J.M. Field Drama in Pokerville 102: Back went old fatty against the centre-table. 1858 R.S. Surtees Ask Mamma 470: The fatties, and funkers, and ticklish forelegged ones, begin who-a-ing and g-e-e-ntly-ing to their screws. 1874 F.C. Burnand My Time 103: The Biffords, whose names [...] were 'Fatty' and 'Puggy'. 1898 J.D. Bravshaw Slum Silhouettes 215: 'Wot cher, Jumbo!' 'Wot cher. Fatty! Seed Cocky Brown lately?' 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 243: 'Who'd go in at center?' 'Fatty Harris, perhaps.' 1916 Firefly 9 Dec. 1: It was easy to get to fatty's little feed that he had prepared for himself. 1918 F. Dunham diary 20 Aug. Long Carry (1970) 202: 'Fatty' Lewis, who was helping out with stores. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 23; Fatty was of all the new Freshman candidates the most useful to Digamma Pi. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket. Too 284; She'd have to find some other old fatty again. 1953 W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 44: Sore? You thinnies may be as sore as us fatties, but sure ain't as much sore. 1965 T. Wolfe Kandy-Kolored TangerineFlake Streamline Baby (1966) 65: Some kind of old short-armed fatty [...] with a spread collar shirt and a bald olive skull with strands of black hair. 1975 D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 7: A teenage fatty, one of those kids who everyone would pick on. 1999 Indep. Rev, 10 Sept. 11: Fatties, blacks and cripples are all simply there to make Mox look good. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 94: They was in The Monty the other night, trying to pull these two fatties.

2 as term of (derog.) address. 1882 E. Nye Forty Liars (1888) 31: Hulo, Fatty, is that you? 1907 W.M.

Bucky O'Connor (1910) 21: What's the matter. Fatty? 1939 P. Don't Get Me Wrong (1956) 10: Why don't yu take your weight off your feet an' sit down. Fatty. 1944 N. Davis Rendezvous with Fear 47: Hey, fatty! 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 14: Fatty, you're nine stone three. 1983 Beano 1 Oct. 10: Come and get this lovely cream cake. Fatty! Raine

Cheyney

■ In compounds

fatty bum-bum (n.)

[redup. bum n^ (1)] {W.I. Cren./Trin.) a fat person, esp. a woman with large buttocks.

C.1975 Diversions [song title] Hey Fatty Bum Bum. 1995 Francis-

Official Dancehall Diet. 21: Fatty bum-bum a term of affection for the attractively fat woman,

Jackson

fattycake

(n.)

(US black campus) a plump woman.

1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI.

fatty n^ [FATONE under FAT adj.\ [US drugs) a drug dealer. 1996 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 3: fatty [..,] a drug dealer: 'Who's your

fatty?'

fatty n^ see

fat one

under fat adj.

anger or surprise. C.1597 Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor I hi: 'Steal!' foh! a fico for

the phrase! 1601 Jonson Cynthia's Revels Ill ii; Fough! he smells all lamp-oil with studying by candle-light. 1601 Marston Jacke Drums Entertainment Act IV: Marry phoh, wil you match me to a foole? 1605 Chapman & Jonson Eastward Ho! I i: Marry faugh, goodman flat-cap! 'Sfoot! 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 4: Fuh cry all the Shearers, a pox on these Fox-furd Curmudgions. 1616 Jonson Devil is an Ass V iv: Fough! what a steam of brimstone Is here! 1619 Rowlands Well met Gossip B4: Fough, what a filthy smell. 1632 R. Brome Covent-Garden Weeded III i: Marry fough. Goodie Foyst. 1638 R. Brome Antipodes IV ii: Gip gaffer Shotten, faugh, / Take that for your coy Counsell. 3.1661 'A Psalm Sung by the People' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 88: Fogh! come let us bury't, / To th' hole we must carry't, / This Rump it stinks above ground. 1676 A Newgate exprisoner a Warning for House-Keepers 6: Mary faugh you son of a w,... 1681 Otway Soldier's Fortune I i: Faugh, ye lousy red-coat rakehells! 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian 39; He smells of his Country garlike! fugh, how he stinks of Spain. 1691 J. Wilson Belphegor II i; Hough!—jangle with you! 1693 Congreve Old Bachelor V v; Oh, foh! what does the filthy fellow mean? 1699 Farquhar Love and a Bottle I i: Faugh - it makes me Sick. 1700 Farquhar Constant Couple I i: Faugh! the nauseous fellow! 1709 S. Centlivre Busy Body II i; Po'gh for a hundred Things: I can't for my Life tell you for what. 1709 M. Pix Adventures in Madrid n 1: Pough! What a dismal Sound has that joyn'd to Love. 1709 'Phoebe Crackenthorpe' Female Tatler (1992) (9) 18: 'Fogh!' says he. 1710 A Society of Ladies Female Tatler (1992) (79) 157: 'Phough,' says she, 'I hate your formal ways of beginning and ending with a breath.' 1713 C. Shadwell Humours of the Army II 1; Faugh upon they nasty Weed, Sir. 1725 N. Ward Amorous Bugbears 26: Foh! reply'd Madam. 1731 C. Coffey Devil to Pay II i; Faugh! what a stink of Brimstone's here! a.1742 W, Somerville 'The Officious Messenger' in Chalmers Eng. Poets (1810) XI 227/1: Her ladyship began to huff [...] 'Tis wrong to make your kennel here - Dogs in their place are good I own - But in the parlour - foh! - be gone. 1754 T. Sheridan Brave Irishman I ii; Pugh, you great oaf, says I. 1760 G. COLMAN Polly Honeycombe 33: Filthy poison! don't mention it!— Faugh! I hate the very names of them. 1786 F. PiLON He Would be a Soldier V ii: Pho, pho! Father, do you think I know no better? 1788 G.A. Stevens Adventures of a Speculist II 3: Faugh! I can hardly forbear spitting at their memories. 1807 Irving & Paulding Salmagundi (1860) 366: Faugh! Allah preserve me from such beauties. 1814 1. POCOCK John of Paris II i: Yet to dine with a citizen—Faw! 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy (1883) 319; Ye may tak a bit o' the plaid - figh! she smells like a singit sheep's head! 1827 R.B. Peake Comfortable Lodgings I ii: That's your taste - faugh! 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 253: 'Kiss her!' exclaimed Mr Bumble, in strong indignation. 'Faugh!' 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 26: Scarcely had the stopper been withdrawn, when she gave a louder screech than she had yet executed, and, exclaiming 'faugh!' with an expression of the most concentrated disgust. 1843 'Madison Tensas' Louisiana 'Swamp Doctor' (1850) 162: I fear my eldest born has got - faugh! I sicken at the thought - the chill and fever! 1848 G.F. Ruxton Life in the Far West (1849) 13: The Pawnees made a raise of a dozen mules, wagh! 1858 F.W. Farrar EricII 218: 'Faugh!' said Eric. 1860 E. Eden Semi-Attached Couple (1979) 143: 'Pho! nonsense,' he said. 1862 Thackeray Adventures of Philip (1899) 318: Faugh! It's corked! 1864 G.A, Sala Quite Alone III 167: Faugh! how she smells of brandy. 1889 B. Mitford Fire Trumpet II 201: 'Faugh!' he continued. 1894 Somerville & Ross Real Charlotte II 139: Paugh! let her try! 1896 E. PuGH Man of Straw 4: Faugh! What do you care? 1898 Boy's Own Paper 19 Nov, 119: Faugh! Isn't it horrid! 1919 'Sax Rohmer' Dope 61: Gray turned an angry glance upon the brown packet [...] 'Faugh!' he exclaimed. 1933 N. West 'Miss Lonelyhearts' Coll. Works (1975) 218: I spit on them all. Phooh! 1935 E.F. Benson

faulkener Mapp and Lucia (1984) 173: Damn the woman! Faugh! 1948 J.F. Bardin Devil Take the Blue-Tail Fly in Bardin Omnibus (1976) 488: Faugh! It's positively insipid. 1960 Wodehousb Jeeves in the Offing 65: The thought was a bitter one, and I don't suppose I have ever come closer to saying 'Faugh!'

fsulkener n. {also faulkner) |? SE faulconer, who lures his hawks onto his hand or into a cage) {UK Und.) 1 one who lures an innocent player into a crooked gambling game. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Faulkner c. see Tumbler, first part [i.e. 'one that shows Tricks with and without a Hoop also one that Decoys, or draws others into Play']. 2 a juggler, a tumbler. c.1698 see sense 1. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: faulkner a tumbler, juggler, or shewer of tricks, (cant) perhaps because they lure the people, as a faulconer does his hawks. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet, n.p.: Faulkner, a juggler, tumbler. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

faulties n. [SE faulty] {US black teen) a cellular telephone that is being used illegally. 2003 A. Newitz 'Bay Area SI.' on Berkeley University Amer. Studies 102

Course Website [Internet] Faulties - A cellular telephone that is being used illegally,

faune adj. see phoney adj. Fauntleroy v. [Henry Fauntleroy, British criminal, hanged for forgery in 1824) {US) to act as a forger; also as n. 1825 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 25 Jan. 2/6: A young man who has been Fauntleroying, or committing forgery in Chester county. [Ibid.] 29 Jan. 2/3: [headline] Another Fauntleroy case,

fauny shop n. see fawney-shop under fawney n. faust n. (? the fictional Dr Faustus] {US black) an ugly person of either sex. 1938 Cab Calloway Eli De Ho 16: Faust: an ugly girl. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 218: Man she's faust to me, so skip it and

fergit it. 1956 S. Longstreet Real Jazz Old and New 148: Faust is not a poem, it means ugly [W&F].

faux n. [abbr. Er. faux pas, a blunder] {US campus) a mistake. si. and Sociability 77: Other borrowings are more complicated. Faux Hoi, a clipping ol faux pas, is a noun or a verb: 'That was a real faux'. 1996 Eble

faux

V. [faux n.] {US campus) to make a mistake. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: faux - make a mistake: I really fauxed that time. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 77: Other borrowings are more complicated. Faia Ifol, a clipping oi faux pas, is a noun or a verb: [...] 'I really fauxed that time',

fave n. [abbr.] (or/g. US) a favourite. 1940 L. Pound 'Guide to Variety' AS XV:2 204/2: pave. Favorite. 1952 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 6 Aug. [synd. col.] There have been a couple of big private bets [...] with Eisenhower the 9 to 5 fave. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 59: fave n Favorite person. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 244: Dog number three seemed like the fave round there. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 224: How much stress was involved [...] trying to keep Mayor Marge stocked with L'eggs panty hose, her absolute fave.

fave adj. [abbr.] (or/g. US) favourite. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 17 June [synd. col.] Their 'fave'

news reporter is (ahem!) and Gabriel Heatter is 2nd. 1989 M. Dibdin Tryst 45: The blood-streaked features of the demon beneath, like in Dave's fave video. 1989 Viz June/July 38: Bros are my fave group. 1993 Lerner et al. Diet, of Today's Words. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 125: It's me fave colour, yellow is.

■ In compounds fave rave (n.) {UK teen) most favoured person, most enjoyable experience, preferred food etc. 1973 Times 30 July 15: As soon as he was seen on screen he was snatched by the American fan magazine market, always at the ready to replace a current fave rave, 1996 P. Williams Bob Dylan 45: 'Visions of Johanna' or 'Gates of Eden' or whatever your fave rave happens to be. 2005 D. Mansour From Abba to Zoom 348: Referred to as the 'Os Bros' by teenybop magazines, the handsome brown¬ haired brothers, led by fave rave Donny, wore white-fringed Elvislike jumpsuits,

favour n. m In phrases I could do her a favour {also I could do that a favour) [the favour would, of course, be sexual] a remark made by a man of a passing woman. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 587: [.,.] since ca. 1930.

fawney

53

favourite vice n. one's preferred drink; usu. in phr. what's your favourite vice? what would you like to drink? 1885 Daily News 6 Oct. in Ware (1909) 128/1: When the bottles and

the cigar-case are to the fore, even a bishop may enquire of you, with a jovial smile of boon companionship. What is your favourite vice?

faw! excl. see faugh! excl. fawney n. {also faw/ny, forney) [Irish fain{n)e. a ring] 1 a ring. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1812 Vaux

Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1821 'Miscellaneous' in Fancy I IV 102: She departed the place then, and England soon after, in consequence of somebody's bothering her about a swell's fawney. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 243: He sports a diamond /b/'«ev on his little finger. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 58: She eased him of his fawney, tipped him the glue, officed her cullies, they pasted his nibs, and scarpered rumbo. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 38: He told me as Bill had flimped a yack and pinched a swell of a fawney. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 2511: For all his 'flashing' of 'thimble' of 'spark prop' and 'fawney,' and liberality in 'slinging' for wine [...] He couldn't 'come it' over Beckey. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: With fawneys on your dexter famm - / A mot's good¬ night to one and aU! 1897 'Price Warung' Tales of the Old Regime 59: A fawney - a wedding ring? Ain't you a honest 'ooman? 1906 Marvel 17 Nov. 467: Neepy, look at that fawney! (ring). 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn), 2 one who practises fraud involving bogus jewellery. 1961 Partridge DU 233/1: '1781 [.,.] app. f by 1890'.

■ In compounds fawney-bouncing (n.) selling a ring to a victim; the justification for the sale is a supposed wager, which the seller can win only by selling the ring. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 37: FAWNEY BOUNCING, selling rings for a wager. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he was to offer 'real gold sovereigns' at a penny a piece at the foot of London Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns in a tea tray, and sold only two within the hour,-winning the bet. This tale the fawney bouncers tell the public, only offering brass, double gilt rings, instead of sovereigns. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1873 SI. Diet.

fawney-dropper (n.) {UK Und.) one who practises the fawney-rig below. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 168: Fawney droppers gammon the flats and take the yokels in. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 39: [as cit, 1839]. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/1: Fawneydroppers gammon the flats and take the yokels in. Ring-droppers deceive the simple ones and take in the countrymen, fawney-man (n.) a seller of bogus jewellery. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 280: There were two welldressed tramps whom I immediately recognized as 'fawney men' fellows who sell bogus jewelry for more than it is worth. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 212: Fawney Man - pedlar of bogus jewellery.

fawney-rig

(n.)

{also fawney, fawney-drop, -dropping, -rigging)

[RIG n.^ (1)] a fraud involving dropping a fake ring; see cit. 1 796. 1781 G. Parker View of Society II 166: The Fawney Rig, A Ring Dropper: a fellow who has gotten a woman's pocket, with a pair of scissors, some thread, a thimble, and a housewife with a ring in it, which he drops for some credulous person to pick up. [...] He then comes the stale story of 'If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, you shall have the whole.' If you accede to this and swallow his bait, you have the ring and pocket, worth about sixpence. 1789 G, Parker Life's Painter 181: Fawny. An old, stale trick call, ring-dropping. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Fawney Rig. A common fraud, thus practised: A fellow drops a brass ring, double gilt, which he picks up before the party meant to be cheated, and to whom he disposes of it for less than its supposed, and ten times more than its real, value. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions 11 60: Various impositions, practised daily on the unwary [...] such as come the fawney. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1796]. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London 1 556: Your ring-droppers, or practisers of the fawney rig, are more cunning in their manoeuvres to turn their wares into the ready blunt. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 37: FAWNEY, or FAWNEY RIG, ring dropping. A few years ago, this practice or rig was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket book with some little articles of jewellery, &c. in it, and when he saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The Fawney says, 'if you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share the

fawnied things are yours." This the flat thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov. 535: I'll tell you a game that you might try [...] that is 'fawneydropping;' you know 'fawney' means a ring. 1873 SI. Diet. 1880 W. HOOE Sharping London 35: Fawney-Rig, another term for ring dropping. 1891 F.W. Carevj Autobiog. of a Gipsey 17: Shoful-pitching, fawney-rigging and the thousand and one ingenious devices whereby the impecunious endeavour to augment balances at their bankers. 1976 R, Sabbag Snowhlind (1978) 31: What Swan was engaged in here [...] was a very famous and time-honoured flim¬ flam - in the slang of the Victorian London rampsman, it was affectionately known as the fawney-drop. fawney-shop (n.) (a/so fauny shop) (US Und.) a shop selling fake or cheap jewellery. 1903 H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 57: Then he goes to a fauny shop (imitation jewelry) and buys a few diamonds which match the real ones he his noted.

Tongue.

feaker of loges n. see feager of loces n. fear! exc/, (US campus) a response to anything the speaker finds either distasteful or admirable. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 78: She's going out with Mark again? Fear! 1996 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 3: fear! - expression of approval or admiration,

all I hear is true. He's had some fearful frights, you bet,

jewellery. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 141: That's better to you than going upon the fawney.

Feargal Sharkey n. Irhy. si. = DARKIE n.; ult. Northern Irish pop star Feargal Sharkey (b.l958)] a derog. term for a black person. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

fearnought n. a drink to boost one's morale.

fawnied adj. (also fawney-fam’d) [fawney n. (1) -f fam n.^l wearing more than one ring on a single finger. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 240: fawnied, or fawney-fam'd having one or more rings on the finger, 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth (1857) 178: Ne'er was there seen such a dashing prig [...] With my fawnied famms, and my onions gay.

fay see under ofay. fay broad n. [ofay adj. + broad n.^ (3)] (US black) a light-skinned black woman or a white woman. 1966 R. Giallombardo Gloss, in Study of a Women's Prison 203: Fay Broad, A white inmate; esp. one who seeks the company of Negroes. 1970 in DARE.

faynights! exc/. see fains! exci. faytor n. see fater n. fazzey n. [ety. unknown] (UK Und.)

luck.

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

fazzled adj. (US) disconcerted, worried. 1929 W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 254: Fazzled, disconcerted,

f.b.i. adj. [abbr.l (US black) fat, black and ignorant, 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: F.B.I. «., adj. term used to refer to

one's mother in 'playing the dozens'; e.g. Your mother's in the F.B.I. (Fat, Black, Ignorant).

f.b.i.! exc/, [abbr.j a general term of abuse, fucking bloody idiot! 1978 Lieberman & Rhodes CB (2nd edn) 301: Funny Bunch of Idiots

—FBI [HDAS],

(US black) to have sexual intercourse.

2000 Ebonies Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] FDA Definition:

fuck / fuckin dat ass Example: Dat hoe got a nice ass ova there. Im a fda 2nite. n.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar

I shouldn't like to be in James Carey's boots - his trousers either, if

go upon the fawney (v.) to perform acts of fraud involving bogus

f.d.r.

feak n. [? link to feague v.] the posterior, the buttocks.

a,1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 128/1:

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

i/uck datass]

(3rd edn) n.p.: Feague. To feague a horse; to put ginger up a horse's fundament. 1801 'Modern Diet.' in Sporting Mag. May XVIII 100/1: Feague, to feague a horse, to put ginger up a horse's fundament, and formerly, as it is said, a live eel, to make him lively and carry his tail well. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1796[. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 75: To Feague a horse — formerly a live eel was used, ginger being then dear. [Ibid.] 76: Fig, figged — ginger; little lumps whereof are thrust into the rectum of horses to give them a short-lived vigour; they are then said to be figged.

fearful frights n. a kick in the posterior.

■ In phrases flash a fawney (v.) to wear a counterfeit ring.

f.d.a. V.

feather

54

(also roosevelt)

[abbr. franklin Delano/loosevelt (1882-1945);

one of the projects of Roosevelt's New Deal WPA programme was the building in deprived rural areas of new outdoor toilets]

(US)

an outdoor

feast of St Lubbock n. see St Lubbock's day under St Lubbock n. feather n. 1 (UK Und.) the hair; cit. 1865 may imply a general sprucing up rather than simply brushing one's hair. 1606 implied in MOULT one's feathers below. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 26/1: Tommy was below, and having 'brushed his feather' and put himself to rights, he made for the bar.

2 the pubic hair. [1691 R. Ames Folly of Love [She] thinks days are ages till the sport she's seen Altho her am'rous Nest is hardly Feather'd.] 1717 M. Prior Dove in Works (1959) I 437: O, whither do these Fingers rove. Cries chloe, treacherous Urchin, whither? O venus! I shall find thy dove, Says He; for sure I touch his Feather. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 221: The Shepherd he saw The bright Venus, he swore. For he knew her own Dove, By the Feathers she wore. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 35: The Spook pried open his clenched rump [...] 'My, my,' the Spook murmured, 'not a feather on him.

Some jocker's due to score.' 3 (UK tramp) a bed. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 111; The 'feathers'* clinging to his hair and whiskers, [footnote] Particles of the barley-straw which formed his bed. 1908 W.H. Davies Autobiog. of a Super-Tramp 211:1 never fail to get the sixteen farthings for my feather (bed), I get all the scrand (food) I can eat; and I seldom lie down at night but what I am half skimished (half drunk), for I assure you I never go short of my skimish. 1926 W.H. Davies Advefitures of Johnny Walker 191: Sixteen farthings for a feather - fourpence for a bed. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 4 see BULL'S feather under bull n.\

■ In phrases in the feathers (US) in bed. 1833 'Job Halls & Mike Hunt' Lummy Chaunter 83: In the Feathers

toilet. 1968 in DARE.

f’d up adj. see fucked up adj. (2). feager of logos n. [var. on fake v.’ (3) -f loces n.] a beggar, esp. one who backs up his fraudulent tales with especially created fake documents. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 38: A Feager of Loges ,one that beggeth with counterfeit writings [...] one that beggeth with false passes.

feague v. (also fegue)

1880 L. Wallace Ben-Hur iv x 231: This is the fear-naught of the

tentmen.

[SE

feague,

to beat, to whip; ult. Cer.

fegen,

to

polish] 1 to have sexual intercourse. 1668 Etherege She Would if She Cou'd III iii: Let us get 'em To lay

aside these masking Fopperies, and then We'll fegue 'em in earnest. [...] Love and Wenching are Toys, / Fit to please beardless Boys, / Th'are sports we hate worse than a Leaguer; / When we visit a Miss, / We still brag how we kiss, / But 'tis with a Bottle we fegue her. 1686 Dorset 'A Faithful Catalogue of our most Eminent Ninnies' in Works of Rochester, Roscommon, Dorset (1720) 31: Her noble Protestant has got a Flail, / Young, large and fit to feague her briny Tail. 2 to enliven, usu. of a horse. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Feague, to feague a horse, to put ginger up a horse's fundament, to make him lively and carry his tail well. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue

you'd find him soaking with Mike Hunt. 1903 Ade 'Hickey Boy and the Grip' In Babel 107; They had me in the feathers with many brands of dope shot mto me.

moult one’s feathers (v.) to lose one's hair through syphilis. 1606 Dekker Newes from Hell in Works II 104: In this passage through

the Citty, whet a number of Lord Mayors, Aldermens, and rich Commoners sonnes and heyres kept a hallowing out at Tavernewindowes to our knight, and wafted him to their Gascoigne shores with their hats only (for they had molted away all their feathers).

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds feather bed(ding) see separate entries, featherbrain (n.) see eeatherhead h. (2). featherbrained (adj.) see feather-headed adj. feather driver (n.) [his quill pens) a clerk. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 382/1: C.16-17.

feather duster (n.) [resemblance] 1 (US) a style of facial whisker. 1920 C. Sandburg 'Alley Rats' Smoke and Steel 20: They were calling certain styles of whiskers by the name of 'lilacs.' / And another

manner of beard assumed in their chatter a verbal guise / Of 'mutton chops,' 'galways,' 'feather dusters'.

2 (US) an American Indian [ref. to the head-dress].

feather 1934 (con. 1870s) E. Cunningham Triggernometry (1957) 61: The Indians were levying a tax of ten cents a head on all cattle crossing The Nation [...] It was decided to tell the feather-dusters where to go.

feather-eyed (ady.) see feather-headed adj. feather-legged (adj.) [i.e, one's legs are shaking like feathers in the wind] (US) terrified, extremely frightened. 1934 T.S. Stribling Unfinished Cathedral 56: By God, T m going down and organize every man on the outside against your damned feather-legged bunch! [DARE], 1950 in PADS [DARE], 1966-67 in

DARE. 1972 Cooper NC Mountain Folklore 91: Feather-legged— cowardly [DARE].

feather merchant (n.) [he cannot or does not 'pull his weight'] (orig. US milit.) 1 a physical weakling. 1939 S.F. News 22 Nov. 17: Offensively the Mechanics could be tougher [...] the problem seems to be springing loose Tom Ellis and Mert Dilly, a pair of 'Feather Merchant' left halfs [HDAS]. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: Feather merchant ... an undersized Marine. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 5: This customer couldn't weigh over a hundred and twenty-five pounds with a mortar on his back. A real feathermerchant. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. Dibner Admiral (1968) 241: To think I'd see the day a lousy feather merchant jaygee's got to help me put my shoes on.

2 a foolish, silly person. C.1943 'Bill O. Lading' You Chirped a Chinfull! n.p.: Feather Merchant Hot air artist. 1968 (con. WWII) W. Stevens Gunner 63: Some of the feather-merchants throw five- and ten-dollar bills.

3 a shirker. 1957 M. Shulman Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1959) 98: Yellowlivered, money-grubbing, fat-bellied feather merchants,

feather plucker

(n.) [rhy, euph. for fucker

n. (3)1

a general term of

abuse, usu. used to refer to someone unpleasant; thus

plucked

feather-bed

55

feather-

adj.

1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 70: Til be a juke box feather plucked nigger of an angel,' snapped Bunk. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. St. 41: feather plucker. F*cker (term of abuse).

featherweight see under lightweight. featherwood (n.) [play on PECKERWOOD n.; ?she 'flies in and out' of the jail or is clad in metaphorical feminine feathers] (US prison) 1 a white prisoner's wife or girlfriend. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Featherwood: A peckerwood's woman.

School-Days (1896) 221: Martin leads the way in high feather; it is quite a new sensation to him, getting companions, and he finds it very pleasant. 1876 'Mark Twain' Tom Sawyer 24: Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather. 1883 'Mark Twain' Life on the Mississippi (1914) 185: I ascended to the pilot house in high feather. 1896 Nation LXIII 485/1: Senator Wolcott has just come back from Canton in high feather. In fact, everybody who comes back from Canton is in high feather. 1904 G.B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island Act IV: broadbent: [in the highest feather). Not a bit. By George, Nora, it's a tremendous thing to be able to enjoy oneself. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 219: Hugh accepted the invitation and departed for the Parker summer cottage in high feather.

2 rich; thus out of feather, penniless. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 298: For altho' in high feather, the odds will soon tame. 1822 C. Dibdin Yngr Larks of Logic, Tom and Jerry I i: Clean'd out again, 1 came away, / Quite undismay'd, though out of feather - / At night I bolted to the play. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works III (1898) 276: As you are now in high feather, can you, dearest Algernon! lend me five hundred pounds? 1917 'Banjo' Paterson 'The Downfall of Mulli¬ gan's' Three Elephant Power 60: They were in high feather, having just won a lot of money from a young Englishman at pigeon¬ shooting.

not a feather to fly with [orig. university use, where to be plucked was to have failed one's examinations] ruined, penniless. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 314: [note] A run of ill-luck had so far prevailed, that poor-was completely cleaned ouf. He had not a feather left to fly with; and was compelled to borrow a bull to pay for a rattler to carry his unfortunate body home. 1861 (con. 1840s50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 424/2: Regularly smashed up, not a feather to fly with, they'd knocked down all their tin lushing. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 3 Dec. 36/4: My good man took it to himself, and turned on the minister, and didn't leave him a feather to fly with hardly. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1956 J.T. Lang I Remember 391: When Mr. Packer, snr., joined Smith's [...] he hadn't a feather to fly with. Now he walks out of their office with £173,000 worth of shareholders' property, 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 76: feather to fly with, not having a Broke, or lacking prospects or any excuse, from a 'feather' meaning a farthing.

take a feather out of (v.) [the pulling out of a feather will make a bird jump) (Irish) to confuse, to surprise, to astonish.

1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 35: Featherwood Can be used as

1922 Joyce Ulysses 153: Mrs Miriam Dandrade that sold me her old wraps and black underclothes in the Shelbourne hotel. [...] Didn't take a feather out of her me handling them. 1997 Share Slanguage.

a derogatory or friendly term for a white female inmate depending

feather v. [SE pht. feather one's own nest] (US) to curry favour with, to

2 a white female inmate.

on how it is used.

■ In phrases feather up (v.) [the action of birds] (US) to prepare to fight. 1935 H.L. Davis Honey in the Horn 105: He shot at the bear in the

toady to. 1968 in DARE.

feather (and flip) n. (rhy. si. =

kip n.^ (2)/kip

n? (4)] a sleep or a

bed.

dark, and when daylight came he found blood on the ground, so he

1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 188: 'What about slippin' up the apple

feathered up and trailed it across the mountains. 1952 F.C. Brown

and pears and gettin' in feather? I'm just about charvered.' [...] Feather was short for 'feather and flip'. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney 62: There's no time for a feather whilst reading it.

North Carolina Folklore 1 539: Feather up to [...] To show fight. 'He feathered up to them big fellers ecchin' (itching) for a fight.'

in full feather (also in feather) 1 (US) (also in full puff) in one's best clothes. 1784 J. O'Keeffe Fontainebleau in Dramatic Works (1798) II 236: Such

feather-bed n. (a/so feather-bed and pillows) [resemblance] (US)

a pair of Mademoiselles as they are making themselves, to receive

1877 J. Diprose London Life 45: Oh, isn't she von for cramming herself; blessed if she ain't a regular feather bed vot'll always hold more. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues II 380/1: Feather-bed and Pillows, subs. phr. (venery) - A fat woman. 1933 Nicholson & Robinson Sailor Beware! I i: wop: Too skinny, mattie: You polacks all go for them feather-bed mamas. 1950 WELS [DARE],

this French Colonel Epaulette, Egad here they come in full puff. 1786 F. PiLON He Would Be A Soldier III i: CALEB: Here I am, father, in full feather. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log (1862) 193: Old Gasket [...] had figged himself out in full puff. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI. Diet. 1886 Graphic 30 Jan. 130/2: On these generally convivial occasions, Watty, by reason of his office [butler], was of course always in full feather [F&H].

2 rich. 1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 110: If they find their customers there in good feather and high repute, they [tradesmen] venture to cover another leaf in their ledger. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 3 in top condition, very cheerful. 1821 'Memoirs of Ned Painter' in Fancy I XVII 399: It is not likely to be soon forgotten; for the Fancy lads went down in full feather, but many of them were so cleanly plucked that they could scarcely find

buoyant plumage enough to wing their way back to the metropolis. 1871 E.K, Wood Dene Hollow III 26: And now things went on swimmingly. Captain Clanwaring, in feather as to cash, at least, temporarily, was the gayest of the gay. 1873 SI. Diet. 1938 (con. 1910s) J.B. Booth Sporting Times 253: Your words carry me back to the days when I was in full feather,

in high feather 1 very cheerful. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 5: The Swells in high feather, and old Boney lagg’d. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's

an extremely fat person; also attrib.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds feather-bed jig (n.) sexual intercourse. [1611 J. Cook Greenes Tu Quoque Scene xiii: When thou art growne to bee An old Upholsterer unto Venerie, (A Bawd, I meane, to live by Fether-beds).] 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: The feather-bed jig; copulation, 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

feather-bed lane (n.) a notably rough road or track. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Feather-bed-lane, any bad Road, but particularly that betwixt Dunchurch and Daintrie. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

feather-bed adj. [feather bed v.l lightweight or easy-going as opposed to difficult or demanding, usu. of jobs; also describing the act of creating such easy tasks.

feather bed 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 63: The men would crowd in and buy soft drinks and woof at me, the stranger, but I knew I wasn't getting on. The ole feather-bed tactics. 1938 S.F. Examiner 3 June 25: He does feel that 'featherbed jobs' [...] should be abolished.

■ In compounds feather-bed soldier (n.) 1 (US) a soldier who avoids hard tasks.

feature

56

knows you're featherbrained. 1962 R. Hauser Homosexual Society 87: They are quite adult and completely removed in type from the mass of their featherbrained fellow homosexuals or bisexuals,

feathers n.^ [SE phr. feather one's nest; ? they money; thus featherless adj., penniless.

1917 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 37: There's a feather

bed soldier for your life.

feather bed v. [fig. use of the softness of the bed! to make things (unfairly) easy for a friend, relation or confederate; thus featherbedder n., one who makes things (unfairly) easy. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Oct. 10/2: This pampering is repugnant to people with any manliness or decency in their composition. But I am satisfied that the Australians are feather-bedders, growlers, grumblers, curled darlings, and no-account men. They were cracked up - by themselves - during the campaign, and now they want to travel first-class, and be feasted on chicken and champagne for evermore. Great Scotl 1998 I. Welsh Filth 220: Carry on feather¬ bedding vegetables [i.e. mental defectives), it's only a murder we're trying to solve here. 1999 Guardian Weekend 25 Sept. 39: Kitaj has always been so feather-bedded by everybody,

feather-bedding n. [feather bed v.) the practice of making things easy for one's associates, handing out easy 'jobs for the boys'. 1921 Bull. Bureau Business Res., Harrow 25: Feather bedding, getting

pay for work not done [OED]. 1943 Reader's Digest Mar. 26: For the union, featherbedding has become an established business proce¬ dure; it makes more jobs for more members who pay more dues,

feathered oof-bird n. [oof n. (1)] a source or supplier of a large amount of money. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 834/2: ca. 1888-1930.

featherhead n. [SE feather + se headl-HOKO sfx (1)] 1 (US) a Native American. 1859 S.P. Avery Comical Stories 57: Look at me, old featherhead! I'm

one of 'em [HDAS].

2 (a/so featherbrain) a scatterbrain. 1831 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus (1858) 154: Show the haughtiest featherhead, that a soul higher then himself is actually here. 1877 H. James American (1999) 327: Madame Urbain was not quite the featherhead she seemed. 1880 O. Wilde Vera, or the Nihilists Prologue: Many a young lad would have jumped at the offer in these hard times; but he, scatter-brained featherhead of a boy, must needs go off to Moscow. 1889 'Mark Twain' Connecticut Yankee 16: I said as much to Clarence; but this mocking featherhead only said 'An Sir Kay had had time to get another skin of sour wine into him.' 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 794; You know featherhead Culpepper, he never pays no tension to nothing. 1969 T. Murphy A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant (1978) Scene xi: You were a bright lad. Are you going the way of all feather-heads? 1983 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 5: space cookie - person who is out of touch. Also [...] featherbrain.

feather-headed adj. (also feather-brained, feather-eyed) [featherhead n. (2)1 scatterbrained. 1600 J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act II: What is the matter

with you? so feather-ey'd ye cannot let us passe in the King's high way? 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America n.p.: Many Gentlemenes. . . estates are deplumed by their featherheaded wives [R]. 1701 Cibber Love Makes a Man II i: Thou hast miss'd a Man (that is so bewitch'd to his Study) [...] so far above this feather-headed Puppy. 1768 Cleland Woman of Honor III 194: Billy Grinly, that egrarious feather-headed fop. 1863 G.A. Sala Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous 147: Surely there never did exist so volatile, lightspirited, feather-brained a race as these same Negro Blacks. 1905 N. Gale 'Doctor Cricket' in More Cricket Songs 35: Stupid lads debase their worth / In feather-headed Folly's thicket. 1910 F.P. Dunne Mr Dooley Says 156:1 can hardly imagine how he stayed feather-headed long enough to take th' villain's joolry. 1930 R. McAlmon 'Blithe Insecurities' in Knoll McAlmon and the Lost Generation (1976) 43: Pop

1 wealth,

1608 Dekker Belman of London H: The base Applesquire and his yong mistresse, laughing to see what a Woodcocke they puld, and sharing the feathers betweene them. 1632 D. Lufton London and the Countrey

1883 Sweet & Knox On a Mexican Mustang, Through Texas 247: I'm no

feather-bed soldier. 1887 E. Custer Tenting on the Plains (rev. edn 1895) 126: My husband [...] saying 'the officers will surely think you a "feather-bed soldier",' which term of derision was applied to a man who sought soft places for duty and avoided hardships. 1914 J.H. Brinton Personal Memoirs 49: I am afraid that I was in some respects a 'featherbed soldier.' 1941 T. Wadelton My Father Is a Quiet Man 67: My father didn't want to be a featherbed soldier. After a while he did get back to Camp Dix, New Jersey, and right after that he went to Europe. 1983 (con. 1776) W.M. Dwyer Days is Ours (1998) 4: With the new uniform and a title he adopted, 'assistant adjutant,' Private White proceeded to lead what he called the life of a 'featherbed soldier.' 2 a womanizer, a lecher.

help you flyl

Carbonadoed 58: They many times do make a bargaine: Hee loues those birds best, that ofnest cast their Feathers: to conclude, he is no Tradesman [... ] you shal not scarse finde a dramme of honesty, for a pound of craft. 1855 in J.P. Hambleton Biog. Sketch of Henry A. Wise 426: Sam and his wife [...] married each other for money, at first, or for'quills'as they say. But alas! (...) they found each other perfectly featherless!!! 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 13: The Cove has got Lots of Feathers in his Crib The man has plenty of money in his house. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 2

(US) fancy clothes; thus fine feathers. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 75: Feathers,

Clothes are so called, mostly applied to the women, loosely. "If I warn't going to church, nurse. I'd take and pull off every precious feather from Ma'am Bonish's back.". 1887 H. Caine Deemster I 20: How does the girl come by her fine feathers if her mother lives on charity? 1901 J. Flynt World of Graft 69: He frankly confessed to me that he wasn't living his own real life when he was wearing red neckties; he was trying to 'fake the feathers of the main guys' in the Upper World. 1953 S. Sterling 'The Kiss and Tell Murders' Popular Detective May [Internet) Get those feathers off, my pigeon. (...) Take your clothes off, my beautiful. 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 91: Bloom's Midnight Frolics Cafe was the flashiest drop in town. Here the hightoned Camilles came to parade their feathers and their loot.

■ In phrases his feathers (n.) (US) an important or self-important person. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' Down the Line 79: I (...) pulled up in front of the windows just about the time I thought His Feathers would be playing the overture,

feathers n.^ 1 (US) a bed or pillow. 1841 'A Lamentation For Nan's Sore Throat' Dublin Comic Songster 247: Ogh! what's your ailment dear? what keeps you in the feathers. Nan? 1902 Ade Forty Modem Fables 295: He would turn out the Cat, wind the Clock, fix the Damper on the furnace and connect with the Feathers. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 113: I might as well get this tackle ready before I crawl into the feathers. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 117: Edgar would emerge from the Feathers every morning to find his Parents all lined up to wish him a new set of Police Regulations. 1917 R. Lardner 'The Water Cure' in Gullible's Travels 180: I buried my good ear in the feathers. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 2: I've kipped in feathers just as ritz as this gingerbread bridal cell. 1946 R.L. Bellem 'Latin Blood' in Speed Detective Aug. [Internet) What's the idea of sending a pack of flatties to wrench me out of the feathers. 1983 R. Aven-Bray RidgeyDidge Oz Jack Lang 28: Feathers Bed.

2 facial or body hair. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular

79: feathers body hair. (...) Related terms: featherless possessing smooth, hairless body (...) feathery hairy. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 185: Common examples [of sexual 'addresses') include Cockshire, Cock Inn, Cupid's Alley, Hairyfordshire, Crown and Feathers, Shooter's Hill, Mount Pleasant, Love Lane, etc.

FesthBrston StreGt farmer n. [Featherston street in Wellington] (N.Z.) an absentee farm owner.

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 77: Featherston Street farmer Urban absentee farm owner, from a central Wellington business street,

feature n. [feature with under feature v.l (Aus.) an act of sexual intercourse. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip) in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 34: Do youse reckon you and me might negotiate a few frosties, a feed, and a feature?

feature v. 1 (US) to note, to pay attention to, to understand; often as phr. feature this. 1923 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 23 Sept, [synd. col.) My chauffeur (...) wants two nights' off a week and extra pay for Sunday. Can you feature a mucker like that? 1935 H. McCoy They Shoot Horses, Don't They? in Four Novels (1983) 19: Can you feature that? 1954 Hepster's Diet. 4: Feature - To comprehend. 1964 R.S. Gold Jazz Lex. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 79: feature (...) 2. to figure 'That's the one. Can you feature him and Doug making it for

the past two reels?' 2003 J. Ellroy 'Stephanie' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 56: And - feature this: Stephanie dies in Cheryl's bedroom (...) Was she the intended vie.

2 to like, to appreciate.

features 1952 (con.

1948) G, Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 78: I don't feature abusin little girls. 1958 H. Ellison Web of the City (1983) 32: Rusty shook his head. 'I don't feature that stuff, Ma. You know that.' 1970 Current SI. V;3 6: Feature, v. Like, appreciate (often with the negative).

■ In phrases feature with (v.) [coined by the Australian comedian and writer Barry Humphries (b.1934) for his strip character Barry Mackenzie] (ong. Aus.) to seduce a compliant woman. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry

McKenzie (1988) 22: (Thinks) You know something. I reckon I could feature with this sheila.

features n. a term of address, e.g. Hello, features. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

-features sfx [var. on -face sfxl a sfx used in comb, with an abusive epithet to form a derog. term of address, e.g. Hello, twat-features (cf. SHIT-FEATURES under SHIT n.). 1969 A. Buzo Rooted III iii: Hey poonce features! Are you there? 1993 A. Bleasdale On the Ledge 11: Come here, twat features. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 6: Tara Emersom Lake Dogshit-FuckFeatures coughed as the Mysterious Rock God blobbed-off on her tonsils.

feaze v. see feeze v. February adj. unfashionable. 1999 Indep. Rev. 8 June 4: Current American youth slanguage [...] February; out of style.

February face n. see Friday face under Friday n. feck n. a euph. for fuck n. in various uses. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 74: What the feck was Normski doing

last month?

feck v.^ [? OE feccan, to fetch; Cer. fegen, to plunder] (Irish/Scot.) 1 {UK Und.) to ascertain the best method of committing a robbery. 3.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. Si. and Cant n.p.: To feck to look out, to discover the best means of obtaining stolen goods. 1821 Flash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 13; Feck, to - to discover which is the safest way of obtaining stolen goods. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835]. C.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 2 to steal. 1916 Joyce Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 41; 'But why did they

run away?' [...] 'Because they had fecked cash out of the rector's room.' 1922 Joyce Ulysses 380: Kidnapping a squire's heir by favour or moonlight or fecking maid's linen or choking chickens behind a hedge. 1939 (con. 1880-90s) S. O'Casey I Knock at the Door 240: I fecked them, said Johnny gleefully [...] A nice thing if you'd been caught feckin' them, she said, in a frightened voice. 1963 L. Daiken Out Goes She 12: Scutting the whip, trespass, fecking (petty larceny), acts vicious or venturesome. 1981 (con. c. 1920) P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Outl 6\-. 'Give us another word for feck.' We shouted together 'RAWB' (rob). 1999 (con. 1916) R. Doyle A Star Called Henry (2000) 98: Someone had fecked them from the Waxworks. 2002 Indep. Rev. 23 Mar. 2: 'Feck' [...] is also slang for thieving ('Someone's fecked my pint!').

feck v.^ {mainly Irish) a euph. for fuck

feddy

57

v. in various senses.

1950 S. Murphy Stone Mad (1966) 121: They have enough to do feckin' around with all the soft jobs. 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 173: She doesn't feck about, that one doesn't. 1987 (con. 1930s) L. Redmond Emerald Square 237: 'G'wan you,' she snapped. 'Feck off, head a' sense, an oul' man cut short!' 1989 H, Leonard Out After Dark 147: There was a mutinous rumble and cries from the rear of 'Feck off'. 1990 R. Doyle Snapper 192: Even I'd've told them to feck off. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 17: Oh feck off out of here. Da said. 1996 (con. 1970) G. Moxley Danti-Dan in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) I v: cactus: Fag Ber? ber: No, you can feck off. Anyway you owe me. 2002 Indep. Rev, 23 Mar. 2: 'Feck' is a long-established Irish swearword that tends to be used in situations where the 'real' F-word would be excessive ('Would you ever feck-off!' one might say to ones granny),

feck! exc/. (a/so feck it! feck you!) {mainly Irish) a euph. for fuck! excl. 1981 (con. C.1920) P. Crosbie Your Dinner’s Poured Out! 51: Another

chant of ours as youngsters was a list of so-called curse-words [...] 'Feck, damn, blazes, cocky, piss and snots'. 1982 (con. 1930s-50s) E. Mac Thomais Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 153: 'Ah, feck it,' said my pal. 1987 (con. 1920s) L. Redmond Emerald Square 60: 'Feck you, y'oul get,' I shouted. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 10: Words like Feckit, just the way Da said it. 1991 B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 9: Oh feck, he should have closed his eyes for that bit. 2002 Indep. Rev. 23 Mar. 2: 'Feck' is a long-established Irish swearword that tends to be used in situations where the 'real' F-word would be excessive.

feck-all n. {Irish) nothing at all; a euph. for fuck all n.

1976 H. Leonard Time Was (1981) Act II: It has feck-all to do with me. 1986 (con. 1930s) P. O'Farrell Tell me, Sean O'Farrell 59; He roared

'Since you became a civil servant you do feck-all only sit on your arse like the rest of them.' 1999 D. Healy Sudden Times 35: And what use is the TV? Feck all.

fecker n. see fucker n. fecking adj. {mainly Irish) a euph. for fucking adj.-, also as adv. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 261: Fecking matches from counters to save. Then

squander a sovereign in dribs and drabs, 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 30: He was a feckin' awful nuisance. 1979 H. Leonard A Life (1981) Act I: They take this feckin' aeroplane. 1987 (con. 1930s) L, Redmond Emerald Square 288: 'That,' said your man, 'is his feckin' mail!' 1997 C. McPherson Weir 31: Me buying the drinks like a feckin eejit. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 69: Turn the fecking heating down next time,

feckinsl/fecksi exc/. see i'fecks! excl. Fecky the Ninth n. [feck v.^] {Irish) an utter fool. 2001 G. COUGHLAN Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fecky the Ninth

(n): complete idiot.

Fed n. (a/so fed) [abbr.] 1 (US) a Federalist. MZZ Mass. Centinel 31 Dec. n.p.: Antis, and Feds, usurp the glory. So long enjoy'd by Whig and Tory [DA], 1805 T.G. Fessenden Democracy Unveiled 143: Your friends, the Feds, are much delighted. [Ibid,] 148: Demo's and Feds would all be merry.

2 (US) a supporter of the Northern cause in the US Civil War, fighting for federal rather than states' rights. 1863 Army Police Record in Annals of the Army of the Cumberland 520: The Feds are coming! 1864 [letter] Maj. Gen. A.J. Smith in Hudson Humor of the Old Deep South (1936) 479: 'Tis certain. Miss Clemmie, whether Fed or Confed, / In the plain course of nature you're destined to wed [...] If Feds and Confeds will cease this vain strife, / And leave a man living to make you his wife, 1895 N.Y. Dramatic News 23 Nov. 3/3: What became of that comedy of yours which I produced under the title of Feds and Confeds? [DA]. 1909 (ref. to US Civil War) J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 128/2: Fed (Amer., 1860-65). Abbreviation of federal, given to themselves by the Northerners, whereupon the Southerners cut themselves down to Confeds, and met the Northerners at that. 3 (US) {also Federales) a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; often in pi. 1916 A. Stringer Door of Dread 53: Seein' Kestner and yuh'd told me

the Feds had ev'rything fixt, I give him the glassy eye and sez, 'Nix, my honey-boy, nix!' 1937 P. Cheyney Dawes Oort'f Care (1960) 60; The Feds are goin' to take it for granted that she pulled the counterfeitin' too. 1941 J.K. Butler 'Saint in Silver' in Goulart (1967) 64: The feds gave him seven years on a narcotics rap. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 242: His ticket was bought by the feds, his destination the parole. 1965 C. Himes Cotton Comes to Harlem (1967) 66: Why don't the Feds knock him off? Who's he paying? 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 20: Not to forget the hole the feds was diggin' under the floor. 1985 N, PiLEGGi Wiseguy (2001) 54: The feds claimed they had made over three million dolllars. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 21: Had a father I never told you about once played rabbit from the Federales. [...] The feds get sicked on you and those boys don't know quit. 2004 C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 330: They can kiss my ass them feds. 4 (Aus.) a federal police officer. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 81:

Bloody feds [...] Feds. Wouldn't feed 'em. If my dogs behaved like that I'd shoot 'em. 5 (Aus.) a member of the Federal government. Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 14/1: At themoment they're leaving it all to Joh, whom they can trust to se that the Feds don't pull any swifties. 1980 Sydney Morning Herald 11 Dec. 6/5: If you can't blame the Feds, blame your predecessor.

6 (US campus) money, i.e. Federal dollar bills. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Fed(s) (noun) Money,

7 {Irish/UK black/teen) a police officer. 1997 'Q' Deadmeat 342: 'Do you know what she did [...] ?' 'Called the Feds.' 2004 Shystie 'Bank Robbery' [lyrics] When the Feds come through I'm going to start a war. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 2: Fuck knows where they [i.e. crackhouses] all are now since the Fed clamp down.

Fed adj. [Fed n.] {US) pertaining to the Federal government. 1951 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 13 May [synd. col.] Justices Learned Hand and cousin August Hand [...] will soon leave the Fed bench. 1958 J. Blake letter 11 Feb. in Joint (1972) 114: He got out of Springfield (fed mental joint). 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 36: You do federal time, and a fed pen is nothing but badasses and lifers,

fed adj. see fed up adj. feddy n. [Fed n. (6)1 (US black) money. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 21; More words seem to be invented each

week, faster than any Webster's could keep track: [...] 'feddy'.

federal

feeb

58

'scratch', 'snaps', 'stack', 'chips', 'gravy'. It is the fecund vocabulary of desire.

federal adj. |SE federal, pertaining to the federal, i.e. national rather than state (local) government) 1 used of something of exceptional quality or of an extreme nature. 2003 A. Newitz 'Bay Area Si.' on Berkeley University Amer. Studies 102 Course Website [Internet] Federal - Going Federal, going major. Describes making it.

2 [US teen) criminal. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] Federal

against the law, or not right- 'Yo, I ain't stealing that money, that's federal!'

■ SE in slang uses

m In compounds federal building (n.) (US) an outdoor toilet. 1949 R.I. McDavid Jr 'Grist from the Atlas Mill' in AS XXIV:2 108/2: Federal Building. . . Privy. 1962 Atwood Vocab. TX 53: A number of local, individualistic, and imaginative terms occur occasionally. [Footnote: For example. Chic Sale, Congress. Federal Building (no doubt from unreconstructed Confederates.)] [DARE],

federal joint (n.) Iioint n. (3i)] {US Und.) a federal, rather than a state, prison. 2002 Charlotte (NC) Observer 9 Nov. [Internet] 'They only have one enemy in the federal joint and that's the federal government,' he said. 'Anybody who's stood up to the federal government is OK with them.'

■ In phrases make a federal case out of (v.) {also make a federal production out of) [in the US legal system the federal, rather than state, legislature often implies greater severity] {US) to take very seriously, esp. when the speaker feels that the problem is really minor, 'to make a mountain out of a molehill'; thus not make a federal case (out) of, to not make a minor problem into a major one. [1936 in Chicago Trib. 22 May 1: Please arrest and hold these parties, as the girl's folks are about crazy. If there is no law to hold Bartlett on we'll make a federal case of it.] 1950 Wash. Post 30 Dec. 11: I'm not trying to make a Federal case of it, but Mi Scandal and Petty Larceny won the two chief races on the Friday program [The lead to an article on the horseraces at the Charles Town track]. 1951 Sheboygan (WI) Press 28 Apr. 14/2: ('STEVE ROPER' comic, first panel): OKAY VANCE—SO YOU'VE FOUND SOME OLD EAR RINGS IN KIT'S DESK!...YOU CAN'T MAKE A FEDERAL CASE OUT OF THAT! 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 98: Jezz, whatta ya wanna do, make a Federal case? 1961 L.G. Richards TAC: the story of the Tactical Air Command 127: Why make a federal case out of a little leaky valve or seal, or whatever it was? 1975 Sepe & Telano Cop Team 162:1 didn't think you'd make a federal case out of it. 1976 R. Price Blood Brothers 234: I dunno what I'm makin' such a federal production for. 1986 M. Kenny Best of Mary Kenny 72: In past times [he] has been a little bit gay, sometimes without even realising it himself — but it has not been necessary to make a federal case out of it. 1998 R.W. Bates 'How 1 See It - Hey! Don't Make A Federal Case Out Of It!' [Internet] When I was young, I can vividly remember the common admonishment among my friends, 'Hey! Don't make a federal case out of it!' whenever one of us would start to make a big deal out of a particular thing that was bugging us. 1999 D. Rice Training Your German Shepherd Dog 70: They aren't automatons; they are intelligent beings, anxious to learn and to please you. Don't make a federal case out of each mistake Duchess make. 2000 P. Blackman A Private Piece of Sky 27: No need to make a federal case out of it. I'll ask Ma for a loan,

federating n. [SE federate, to join together] (Aus.) having sexual intercourse. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely

Land (1957) 233/1: federating - making love,

fedex n. [popular abbr. for the federal Express courier company] {US black teen) an individual who pays debts quickly. 1996-2003 A. Newitz 'Bay Area SL' on Berkeley University Amer. Studies

102 Course Website [Internet] Fedex- an individual that delivers quick mail (money).

feds n. {US prison) a federal, rather than a state prison. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 285: This isn't the feds. This is the

jungle.

fed up adj. {also fed) irritated, annoyed, bored; intensified as fed up to the back teeth, fed to the teeth and (orig. milit.) fed up, fucked up and far from home. 1900 Daily Tel. 20 Oct. in Ware (1909) 128/2: 'Oh, I'm about fed up with it' is the current slang of the camps when officers and men speak of the war. 1914 'Bartimeus' 'Captain's Defaulters' in Naval Occasions 14: 'Why did you desert?' 'I'm fed up with the Navy.' 1919 'Sax Rohmer' Dope 65: I'm fed up to the back teeth with this gun

from the Home office! 1921 Wodehouse Indiscretions of Archie Ch. i: Between ourselves. I've never done anything much in England, and I fancy the family were getting a bit fed. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 141: He cooked green pills for me, and I nearly passed out. I was fed up with dope, and I have never inhaled opium in any form since. 1929 J.B. Priestley Good Companions 586: She must be fed up to the teeth with the lot of us. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 48: I'm fed to the teeth with the game. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 203: You're getting fed up with it? 1942 J. MacLaren-Ross 'I Had to Go Sick' in Memoirs of the Forties (1984) 269: I was fed up with the whole business. 1950 C. Harris Three-Ha'Pence to the Angel 24: I'm fed up to the back teeth with the lot of yer. The whole bleedin lot of yer. 1952 C. FLarris Death of a Barrow Boy 64: 'You look fed,' said Beryl [...] Yes, June acknowledged, she was fed. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 134: Everyone is fed up with the way you've been acting lately. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Syndicate (1998) 64: He was fed up with Lilly short-changing him. 1960 G.W. Target Teachers (1962) 192: I'm fed-up to the back teeth with all this caper. 1970 T. Parker Frying-Pan 83: She was getting a bit fed-up then. 1975 D. Nobbs Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 147: I know you're fed up to the back teeth. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 416: They must've got a bit fed up like with her cornin' in the bridewell, so they posted her again. 1989 A. Higgins 'The Bird I Fancied' in Helsingor Station and Other Departures 152: 'How am I?' he said. 'Absolutely bloody well fed up to the back teeth.' 1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 21: After this tour being cancelled people are probably getting fed up with us. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 249: Fed up to the back teeth reading articles about how the Great sodding Famine still important in Irish psyche. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 229: 'I'd been hauling that psychotic bastard out of scraps for years.' [...] 'Until one day you got fed up, eh?'

■ Derivatives fed-upness depression, boredom, frustration. 1917 B. Adams Nothing of Importance (1988) 225: But it [i.e. a book]

leaves out bits [...] the utter fed-upness, and the dullness.

fed up

V. [FED UP adj. (1)1 {Aus.lUS) to annoy.

1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Oct. 14/4: This 'fed up' the skipper, and he

left New Guinea, only staying his flight to inspect a snow-covered volcano 30,000 feet high. 1939 R. Chandler 'Trouble Is My Business' in Spanish Blood (1946) 200: Ten minutes of opening and shutting drawers and looking at the backs of shelves [...] fed them up.

fed with a fire-shovel phr. {also with a shovel) a phr. used of someone who has a notably wide mouth. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Fire Shovel. He or she when young, was ted with a fire shovel; a saying of persons with wide mouths. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1900 Harry Champion 'What a Mouth' [lyrics] What a mouth, what a mouth / What a north and south / Blimey what a mouth he's got / Well when he was a baby, aw gawd luv 'er, / Well his poor old Mother used to feed him with a shovel. (1); ult. abbr. Federal (Bureau of Investigation)]

fedy adj. [federal adj.

{US black) aggressive. 2002 Luniz 'Diet.' at luniz.com [Internet] Fedy: Coming Hella Tight Or Federal.

Feeb n. {also Feebee, Feebie, Phoebe) {US) the FBI; thus an agent of the FBI. 1942 letter 27 Jan. in P. Jay Sel. Correspondence of Burke and Cowley (1990) 248: A publisher told me that a faithful phoebe had been going the rounds, presumably begging to be told that you were a C.P. because you didn't support Franco, 1968 Atlantic Monthly Jan. 36: On their left stands a man in a very dark suit, with very dark tie, very dark glasses, very white shirt, and very bald head: a cop, Feebie, CIA, something like that. 1984 W. Diehl Hooligans (2003) 18: Local cops [...] get the runaround from the Feebies. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 238: The clever Feebs used opaque envelopes. 1988 D. DeLillo Libra 45: Government cops, Feebees - the FBI. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 177: 'I pulled over a blue Ford sedan [...] Turns out to be a Feeb,' 'FBI?' Skink perked up, 'All the way down here?' 2003 N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 160: He had some guy from the feebies calling him. [Ibid.] 193: That's why the feebs don't follow him.

feeb n. [feeb adj. (1)| a feeble, useless person. 1910 J. London 'Told in the Drooling Ward' Complete Short Stories

(1993) III 1762: I'm an assistant, expert assistant. That's going some for a feeb. Feeb? Oh, that's feeble-minded. I thought you knew. We're all feebs in here. 1941 F.S. Fitzgerald 'Mightier than the Sword' in Pat Hobby Stories (1967) 159: Who'd make up the stories — these feebs? 1952 S.J. Perelman letter 20 June in Crowther Don't Tread on Me (1987) 130: A plumber and electrician, both of whom are the most exasperating feebs I've ever met. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: feeb - absent-minded person. 1989 (con. 1960) P. Theroux My

feeb Secret Hist. (1990) 110: I think he's a feeb. 1990 (con. c.l970) G. Hasford Phantom Blooper 231:1 get up into his face. I say, 'You shut

your mouth, you ridiculous feeb, or I will use your nose as pivot point for an amtrack movement.' 2005 J. Stahl 1, Fatty 178: Roscoe [...] don't be a feeb.

feeb adj. (also

feebly) labbr.] feeble.

1987 in Delacoste & Alexander Sex Work (1988) 56: She couldn't

have taken another feebly dick, pink, hairy son of a bitch if he's been shittin' fifty dollars. 2001 N. Griffiths Sheepshagger 73: How'd me faverit fuckin half-wit then eh? The world's best inbred backwoods feeb psycho mong?

Feebee/Feebie n. see Fees feeblo

feed

59

n. ISE feeble + -o sfx

n.

(2)1 (US prison) 1 one who is mentally

impaired.

1934 WODEHOUSE Right Ho, Jeeves 81: I noticed at dinner tonight you were a bit off your feed. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 406: He was feeling old, nervous, and off his feed. 1949 WODEHOUSE Mating Season 19: I've been off my feed for some little time now. 1958 H. Whittington Web of Murder (2000) 20: She'd said I was off my feed, that I snapped at her, that I never smiled any more. 1978 W. Diehl Sharky's Machine 217: You're a little off your feed. 1982 M. Braun Judas Tree (1983) 51: Carver's been off his feed lately. 2 incompetent, unskilled. 1907 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 iii: 'Shorty kin shoot plum' good - tain't

1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS VI:6 438: feeblo. n. A prison

intelligence test; a simple-minded person. 1946 W.L. Gresham Nightmare Alley (1947) 81: If I can't read a Bible-spouting, whoremongering, big-knuckled hypocrite of a church deacon [...] I'm a feeblo. 2 a drug addict. 1949 Montbleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins

Traffic In Narcotics 308: feeblo. A drug addict,

fee-chaser

Chimmie,' he says, 'what's ailing you?' 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 61: When we are slightly Off our Feed, we are likely to imagine that what we haven't got and can't get is the One Desirable Thing. 1929 E. Booth Stealing Through Life 259: They're just a bit off their feed.

feed

n. 1 food and drink, usu, as served in a meal, esp. a substantial one. 1818 H.B. Fbaron Sketches of America 192: I guess whiskey is all the

feed we have on sale. 1825 T.E. Hook Sayings and Doings 2nd Ser. II i 278: The Colonel was to give a feed that day [...] a grand blow-out. 1832 in Egan Bk of Sports 157: A devilish fine blow-out and d—d good feed! 1840 Comic Almanack Feb. 213: The feed, as I say, went off very well. 1852 A. Smith Comic Tales 2: Will you have a go-in at a drag to Epsom? It won't come to much - about 21. 10.s. each, including feed, 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. MAmEW London Labour and London Poor III 131 /1: What we call a mummer's feed is potatoes and herrings. 1870 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp (1873) 132: When the 'Skyscraper' arrived at San Francisco we had a grand 'feed'. 1885 J.S. Borlase Blue Cap, the Bushranger 65/1: First thing we want [...] is a feed. 1897 Boy's Own Paper 6 Nov. 86: Oh, no, bother fireworks [...] Let's have a good feed. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 86: The Swede, drunk, had bought her a feed of chop suey. 1910 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Dear Loaf Sporting Times 29 Jan. 1/4: She started out again, to give the market place a turn, / And to get the joint in for the Sunday feed. 1916 9 Dec. 1: It was easy to get to fatty's little feed that he had prepared for hunself. 1929 J.B. Priestley Good Companions 238:1 know a place where they'll give us a decent little feed. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 67: He never had a decent feed in his life till he come here, 1958 D. Stivens Scholarly Mouse and other Tales 45: 'What gives?' he cried happily. 'Lead me to a feed—I always work up an appetite in space.' 1962 M.K. Joseph Pound of Saffron 177: You're tight, you old goat. Come and have a feed. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 117: They put on a feed that was out of sight. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 10: After bogging in one can thank one's hostess by declaring, 'That was a bonzer feed, that was.' 1996 (ref. to 1963) D. Healy Bend for Home 177: She fried us up a feed. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 81: A distinctive Australianism is to HAVE a feed, meaning to eat and it seems that food and related products have been especially influential in our folk speech. 2 (US drugs) drugs. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

the

FEED BOX under straight adv.

2 food, a meal. 1922 M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 26: This is the first time I've been in front of the feed box today, feed joint (n.) [joint n. (3b)], (US) a cafe or restaurant. 1909 R.A. Wason Happy Hawkins 304: We sidled into a feed-joint. 1916 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 43: (IS: Watching two hard boiled eggs try to make a getaway in a feed joint without slipping the waiter a tip) They've got those 'one way' pockets. You can only get the change in — it can't come out.

■ In phrases off one’s feed

feed

V.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases feed a line (v.) see under line n.\ feed from home (v.) to commit adultery, C.1591 Shakespeare Comedy of Errors II i: Too unruly deer, he breaks

n. [their supposed primary interest] (US) a lawyer.

1967 in DARF.

■ In compounds feed bag (n.) see separate entry. feed-box (n.) [horseracing imagery] 1 the mouth; see straight from

him,' contradicted Billy. 'Yas - with a six-shooter. He's off'n his feed with a rifle,' explained Johnny.

(adj.) [horse stable jargon] 1 depressed, miserable, nervous. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log (1834) 265: Shall I fill you a cup of coffee, Obed? [,,.] Why, man, you are off your feed. 1863 C. Reade Hard Cash II 218: No, Doctor; I'm off my feed for once. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 J. Payn Grape from a Thorn III 252: I wont take a rasher this morning, thank you; nor yet any pigeon pie. I'm rather off my feed. 1897 E.W. Townsend Chimmie Fadden 36: You're off your feed.

the pale. And feeds from home; poor I am but his stale, (hot) lead (v.) see under lead n.

feed feed feed feed feed

one’s face (v.) see separate entry, one’s habit (v.) see under habit n. one’s pussy (v.) see under pussy n. someone chunks (v.) (US campus) to attempt verbal

deception. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 13: feed one chunks To impose on one, to tell a story too large to be believed. 'Do you think I believe you? You are feeding me chunks.'

feed someone stuff (v.) (US black) to deceive, to pass on false (and self-serving) information. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

feed the bears (v.) see under bear n. feed the chooks (v.) see choke the chicken under choke v. feed the dog (v.) 1 see fuck the doc (and sell the pups) under doc n?. 2 see SEE a man about a doc under see v.

feed the ducks

(v.) [the similarity in hand motions]

(US)

of a man, to

masturbate. 1997-99 AllAboutSex.org [Internet] 'Words for Masturbation' Feed the ducks. Fight the Champ. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: feeding the ducks euph. Wanking. From the apparent similarity in hand movements,

feed the dumb glutton (v.) see under dumb glutton n. feed the dummy (v.) [var. on feed the dumb glutton under dumb glutton n,] to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

feed the fishes (v.) 1 to die by drowning. 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) I 33: The officer in charge whom [...] we despatched to feed the fish of the Escaut with five strokes of the bayonet. 1883 'Mark Twain' Life on the Mississippi (1914) 321: [of a town] Swallowed up, vanished, and gone to feed the fishes, 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1936 L. Pound 'Amer. Euphemisms for Dying' in AS XI:3 199: Fed the fishes (died by drowning), 2000 Observer Rev. 2 Apr. 1: Or is what's left of Reg feeding the fishes at the bottom of the Caribbean? 2 (US) to vomit, esp. over the side of a ship. 1884 Home Tidings 22 Nov. 398: Although I fed myself shortly before arriving abreast of Eddystone, I fed the fish shortly afterwards [F&H]. 1900 Sporting Times 17 Feb. 1/5: I am going to cross the Channel tomorrow, and am afraid I shall feed the fish. 1917 J.E. Rendinell diary 1 Nov. in One Man's War (1928) 29: Fed fishes after supper. Got awful sick. 1919 A.W. Scherr diary 10 May [Internet] Up again at 5:30 a.m. on deck before breakfast - started to weather about midnight - the 'Bounding main true to life.' [...] Many are feeding the fish. 1926 Wood &■ Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1940 (con. 1918) S.J. SiMONSEN Soldier Bill 52: Several times he leaned over the railing and 'fed the fish', 1982 W. Safire What's The Good Word? 303: The ultimate in regurgitation is 'to feed the fish'. 1989 M. Belmonte Compter Science and Why (1993) [Internet] I was struck with [...] the plethora of words and phrases meaning 'vomit' and/or 'to vomit' [...[ At most American colleges and universities, a weekend cannot pass without seeing multitudes [...] feed the fish,

feed the goldfish (v.) (US) to vomit, esp. over the side of a ship. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. of SI. 130.32: Vomit. . . go

feed the goldfish [DARE].

feed the pigeons

(v.) |the image of a hand shaking out breadcrumbs] of

a man, to masturbate.

feedback

feel

60

2001 P. Meditzy 'A Day In The Life Of...' 29 Apr. [Internet). 'Feeding

and have his 'feeder' wiped out with a dirty sponge. 1909,1913 cited

the pigeons' is OK but not to the extent I had been doing it.

in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993). 1929 E. Caldwell Bastard (1963) 75: He

feed the pony (v.) see under pony n. feed the roots of daisies (v.) [var. on push up (the) daisies v. (1)1 to

1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1975 Hardy & Cull Drug

die. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 76: One guy's feedin' the roots of daisies,

feed the worms (v.) [although the image dates to the early 17C, the si. use is modern] to die. 1838 'The Life and Death of Dando' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 337: Dando, he's gone to feed the worms. 1993 The Weasels 'Have a Nice Day' [lyrics] The nitty's always gritty / Pestilence and germs / First you feed the kitty / Then you feed the worms, feed with a spoon (v.) to bribe. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

feedback

n. (US) cheek, insolence. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 29: You never got a bit of feedback from me.

feed bag

n. 1 (Aus.) the face; the mouth. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 54: The bloke that comes canoodlin' here gets that [i.e. a paste-pot] in his feed-bag! 2 (US) food, eating; esp. in phr. put on the feed bag below. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 178: 'How about the feed bag? Ain't we entitled?' 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 147: As I passed the Greasy Spoon, someone rapped on the window. It was Velma. She [...] sure loved the feedbag. 3 (drugs) a container for narcotics or marijuana. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore 59: Feed bag - A drug addict's container of narcotics. Also, the narcotics. 1971 J.T. Dunigan Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Feed bag — Container for marijuana. 4 (US campus) an appetite. 1998 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: feedbag - appetite: 'It's Thanksgiving, and I'm getting my feedbag on'.

■ In phrases put on the feed bag (v.) (also put on the bag, strap on a feedbag, tie on...) to eat. 1915 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 89: Not one of us can put on the feed bag until that guy gets back — and look at him killing time — You know what I mean — it ain't fair. 1926 R. Lardner 'Rhythm' in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 355: Fine! And now how about putting on the feed bag? 1927 (ref. to 1880s) Facts abt. N.Y. 10: Johnny Meehan, the bearded proprietor of Dolan's, had a wide acquaintance among politicians. [...] Frequently he paused to get some friend, perhaps Theodore Roosevelt, then Police Commissioner, or the Mayor, who had just arrived to 'put the bag on,' as the waiters would say. 1929 .LA. Russell 'Colloquial Expressions from Madison County, NY' in AS V:2 152: Tie on the feed-bag-, sit down to a regular meal. 'Let's tie on the feed-bag.' c.1935 Cab Calloway & His Orchestra 'Two Blocks Down, Turn to the Left' [lyrics] Say, Daddy-O, do you know where a cat can have a ball and put on a fine feedbag? 1940 E. O'Neill Long Day's Journey into Night II i: Come on. Kid. Let's put on the feed bag. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 107: I guess I'll go up and put the feedbag on. 1975 T. Berger Sneaky People (1980) 134: What say we put on the feedbag at Wong's Gardens? 1991 O.D. Brooks Legs 29: Coming back to the yard after putting the feed bag on, we heard a ruckus at the stock pens. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] strap on a feed-bag v 1. to eat a meal; go get something to eat. Origin: the way horses are fed: by strapping a bag full of food to their head. 2005 J. Stahl I. Fatty 60: 'Strap on your feedbag and come to Kelso’s!'

feedelo

[...] stuffed 'em down his feeder.

3 (US drugs) a hypodermic syringe.

n. [feeder n. (1)] (UK Und.) a silver punch-ladle.

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

feeder

n. 1 (UK Und.) a (silver) spoon. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 19: Feeders, alias Spoons. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1 774) 42: I'm a Sneak for Chinks and Feeders; I’m a Thief for Tankards or Spoons. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxix: Feeders Spoons. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Feeder. A spoon. To nab the feeder; to steal a spoon. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 98: The articles consisted of feeders, and other trifles. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 163/1: Feedera spoon. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1857 'Ducange

Lang, and Lore.

■ In compounds feeder-prigger (n.)

[priccer

n.'' (1)1 (UK Und.) a thief specializing

in silver spoons. 1823 'Jon Bee' Did. of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc.

feeding n. (W.l.) 1 sexual intercourse. 1977 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996). 2 a woman with whom a man wishes to have sex. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds feeding birk (n.) (? SE barrack] (UK Und.) a cookshop. a.1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 128/2: You have to be a bit cheeky to go into a feeding birk to order pannum good enough for a prince without a D in your dye.

feeding bottles (n.) the female breasts. 2000 Sex-Lexis [Internet]. feed one’s face v. 1 to eat, esp. to stuff oneself with food; thus face-feeding n., over-eating; face-feeder n., an (over-)eater. 1895 J.L. Williams Princeton Stories 39: In freshman year they say, 'Are you ready to feed your face?' 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 61: 'Will you feed the face, Dodey?' 'You betcha sweet!' Dodie replied. 1915 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Aug. 47/1: 'I was coming out of a Dago joint picking me teeth, when Big Thompson comes erlong an' says, 'Yer doing it well,' says he. 'Well,' says I, 'a man must feed 'is face sometimes.' 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 38: We asked our wobbly friend to feed his face with us. 1929 C. McKay Banjo 296: Ise got enough a them francs to blow fifty face-feeders with the few dollars I done change. 1930 G. Milburn 'Gila Monster Route' in

Hobo's Hornbook 159: Nothing in sight but sand and space; / No chance for a bo to feed his face. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 62: When yu boys have fed yore faces yu can start for home. 1947 R. Mealand Let Me Do the Talking 86: You just want money to feed your face and pay for your women. All you care about is Gabriel. 1955 D. Niland Shiralee 131: Come on, mate, and feed your face. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 100: He'll feed his face and go see the dames. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Did. of Hip Words 9: Buttermilk-bottom had best cut down on his face feeding. 1977 J. Rosenthal Spend,

Spend, Spend Scene 4; My dad always fed his face off the mantelpiece. He said it was because he never knew where the chairs were. 1980 Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 71: They'd been feeding their faces so much they could hardly move. 1992 J. Severson Getting the Best Out of Your Juicer 2: Just cut into strips and feed the juicer, then feed your face. 2004 R. Cox A Silent Struggle 111: All you ever do around here is feed your face, get drunk, and go to sleep.

2 to feed someone else. a.1948 (con. early 1930s) C. McKay Harlem Glory (1990) 46: To keep always in the white folks grace / [...] / You must know how to feed they face.

3 to indulge in oral intercourse. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1997 Solar Project 'Zeitgest' [lyrics] on ...in Time [album] You sit on my face, I

dine at your Y / Blow job, gob job, sixty-eight / You feed your face and eat my meat / My fist into your Dead End Street, fee-faw-fum n. [the favoured phrase of the Giant in the nursery tale of Jack the Giant-Killer] nonsense, spec, bloodthirsty, threatening nonsense. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 12/3: Parson Brown, he calls all these arguments lies. / Sez they're nothin' on airth but jest fee, faw, fum; / An' that all this big talk of our destinies / Is half on it ignorance an' t'other half rum.

feel n. (also feelee) [feel v. (1)] an act of sexual groping. , 1884 Randiana 49: The easy transition from a kiss to a feel, from a feel to a finger frig, and eventually [...] to a gentle insertion of the jock. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 11: Does every man kiss,

Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar

coax, hint smuttily, then talk baudily, snatch a feel, smell his

144/1: Now the clatter commenced, all hands enjoyed in scraping the tinnyest speck from their tins, and when spoons had done all that spoons could do, a piece of bread was used to sponge away any semblance of 'skilly' [,..] 'Twas during the noise occasioned by the dextrous use of their 'feeders' that we kept up a talk. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble si. Diet. (1890) 14: Feeders. Silver spoons or forks. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

fingers, assault and win exactly as I have done? c.1930 (ref. to 1898)

2 (US) the mouth or throat.

N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 265: The macks would follow a mark and try and pull him back to a window for a looksee or feelee. 1947 I. Shulman Amboy Dukes 19: He imagined what it would have been like if she'd let him give her a real feel. 1955 F. Brookhouser

Now I Lay Me Down 24: He slips in some more feels at the movies. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 92: Expeditions and forays and recces into foreign feels. 1983 W. Trevor Pools of Fortune 76: If you ever get

1902 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 103: (Doesn't It Seem

a feel of her, Quinton, will you tell me what it was like? 1995 J.

Strange) That a big burly football player will roll around in the mud

Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 68: Some blonde bit was walking

feel his way flashing her tits at him. His time for a feel. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 271; He'd have to battle for every lousy feel.

■ In compounds feel day (n.) (pun on

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

feel a draught field day] {Can.) heavy petting.

1930 J.T. Farrell 'Looking 'Em Over' in Short Stories (1937) 48: All

the boys around the beach here have a feel-day with her. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 146: Wouldn't it have been nice to have had her there and have her let us lay our heads in her lap, and have a feel-day. 1961 H.C. WOODBRIDGE 'Misc.' in AS XXXV1:3 227: feel-day, n. Petty party.

■ In phrases cop a feel (v.) {US) to indulge in some form of petting or sexual groping, but not intercourse. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 25/2: Cop a feel, a presumptuous

man, who will not let his hands behave when with an attractive girl. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 36; Christ, you can't even cop a feel from her. 1955 E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 97: All because the poor bastard tried to cop a feel. 1967 Realist Feb. 29/1: [cartoon caption] Ronald Reagan was in this big crowd and I copped a feel. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 196: He wanted to take Harold's place on Ora Lee's lap and cop a feel. 1988 N. Eastwood Gardener Got Her n.p.: Then he slid his lotion-slick hands down under her and cupped her ripe young tits. 'Hey, Mike, knock that off.' Lucy giggled. 'Can't blame a guy for copping a feel,' he chuckled. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 247: Lactameon was used to dudes copping a feel. 2004 D. Boyer Kings and Queens: Queers at the Prom 121: 1 knew she was a virgin, so if I did cop a feel, she might have been, "What are you doing? put the feel on (v.) {US) to sound out, to assess. 1938 D. Runyon 'The Brakeman's Daughter' in Runyon on Broadway

(1954) 509: 1 hear Big False Face is putting the feel on Cheeks Sheracki with reference to the brakeman's daughter until he finds out Cheeks knows this joke as well as he does himself,

feel V. 1 to caress sexually, whether or not the advance is desired. 1630 J. Taylor 'Bawd' in Works (1869) II 98: Touching or Feeling is a

very merry Bawd, and though a man or woman can neither Heare, See, Taste or Smell, yet Feeling may remaine' without which 'all the rest of the senses were but senslesse'. 1662 Pepys Diary 7 Sept, n.p.: [I] did feel her; which I am much ashamed of, but I did no more, though I had so much a mind to it that I spent in my breeches. 168588 'Fairing for Young Men and Maids' in Ebsworth Raxburghe Ballads (1893) VII: 1 111: The Maids were not unwilling, as far as I understand, / But Will was for kissing and feeling a Maid upon every hand. 1691 'A Medley' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 140: We'll play with Peggy and Molly, / Dance, and kiss, and Feel. 1703 N. Ward Infallible Predictor in Writings II 361: A great many strong Beasts will be there to be seen, and a great many worse Creatures to be felt. 1711 London-Bawd (3rd edn) 143: [He] would needs have been feeling where I was'nt willing to let him. 1870 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 6: Take your hand off my quim: / 1 much prefer fucking to feeling. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 56: Have you felt a woman before? 1904 Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 37: I stood still only spreading my legs and let him feel. 1934 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana II 26: I says 'Go 'long an' leave me be.' But he doan pay no 'tention, judge. He just keeps feelin' of me. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 228: Take those two kids [...] feeling each other in that booth. 1957 'Ed Lacy' Lead With Your Left (1958) 28: Keep your feelings for your girlfriends. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 49: She cornered me when we had our break, and I was forced into feeling her. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: Alternatively, she may like to play hot cockles or allow someone else to fumble, feel or finger-fuck her. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 166: Fucking beautiful birds some of them, got to feel a few at school only a feel's all you get unless you get it before nine o'clock. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 235: 'I hope you're feeling better soon.' 'I hope I'm feeling you soon.' 2 {US black) to empathize with; thus affirmatory phr. / feel you. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 215: 1 played my cool

role. I didn't feel the picture much. It was like mixing rice and beans with corned beef and cabbage. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 12: Why you walking so fast? Hurrying to help the kids with their homework? I feel you. The capital of Kansas is Topeka, that's all I remember. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] 'I feel ya' Definition; same as 'Yes, 1 understand what you are saying.' Example: Ayyo, man. I feel ya. Bitches are always trippin. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 183: I'm kinda feelin him [...] He's a sexy lil MC. 2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 45: I ain't feelin the word crib either cos that's what American babies sleep in. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 82: I'm not feeling any love from you right now. 3 to arrest. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 3: Ain't you got no villains to feel George?

feel

61

(v.) {also

feel a draft) 1

to feel insecure, esp.

financially. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 384/2: 1925.

2 {US black)

to sense racial antagonism in one's conversation or

dealings with whites; thus

drafty

adj., unfriendly to blacks (the phr. is

generally credited to the jazz musician Lester Young (1909-59)]. 1957 Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop The Clown [album liner notes]

Mingus feels the slightest draft, even when no draft is there. 1960 Esquire Sept. 91: The term 'I feel a draft' is used by Negro musicians when there's evidence in a restaurant — or elsewhere — of Jim Crow. Ironically, white musicians who have played with Negro groups have sometimes used the same phrse in order to tell each other that they're being frozen out of the conversation or an afterhours party. 1964 R.S. Gold Jazz Lex. xix: I feel a draft [...] usually means that the Negro speaker suspects hostility or discrimination directed against him by a white. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 83: About 70 items refer to whites or African Americans or to relationships between them. [...] feel a draft means 'sense racial prejudice'. 3 {US black) to warn one's friends that a white person has entered the room. 1994 (con. 1940s-50s) C. Major Juba to Jive.

feel all (a)round my hat

(v.) [? ballad 'all round my hat I wears a green willow'; thus ? ref. to the green pallor of an ill complexion] to feel unwell. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang. feel as if a cat had kittened in one’s mouth (v.) to feel the nauseous after-effects of drinking on 'the morning after'. 1890 Kipling 'Black Jack' in Soldiers Three (1907) 100: Whin I roused the dhrink was dyin' out inme, an' I felt as though a she-cat had littered in me mouth. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight. feel cheap (v.) see under cheap adj. feel froggy (v.) see under froggy adj.^. feel funny (v.) 1 to feel (unpleasantly) drunk. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 226: He is feeling funny. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 2 to feel very emotional. 1862 'Windham Lunacy Case' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 130; Oh, the money, the money, they wanted the money, / And that was the thing made the parties feel funny. 1948 N. Mailer Naked and Dead 280: It's gonna make him feel mighty funny, 3 to feel ill. 2002 'Pissed Off and Passed Out' Diary 31 Oct. on Jealous Monk

[Internet] I am feeling funny now, so I decide to head back to the bed room. I stand up, excuse myself, and head to the door of the dining room, but never make it. When I regain all senses, I find the world turned sideways. feel good (v.) (or/g. US) 1 to feel in good spirits or health; thus feel¬ good adj., life-affirming. 1839 Marryat Diary in America II 224: I don't feel at all good, this morning [DA]. 1854 Journal of Discourses II 224: You will see how good we will make the transient residents feel [DA], 1888 Texas Siftings 15 Sept, n.p.: The saloons are going Saturday afternoon, and the men feel pretty good before they come abroad [E&H]. 1904 N.Y. Eve. Post 28 June 3: The captain himself said, 'I feel good,' but he did not look well [DA]. 1924 Collier's 26 Jan, 8/4: I began to feel pretty good [DA]. 1999 Guardian G2 18 June 10: It combines a push-up effect with the all-important feel-good factor. 2000 Guardian Rev. 14 Jan, 4: Real, feel-good laughs. 2 to feel mildly drunk, to begin to experience a drug. 1887 G. Devol Forty Years a Gambler 246: The lad was feeling pretty good by this time, and he could not let a gentleman treat without returning the compliment, you know. 1927 E.C.L. Adams Congaree Sketches 84: He missed the water and got hold of the whiskey glass, and he got to feeling good and commenced to preach [DARE]. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. of SI. 106.7: Drunk. . . feeling . . good [DARE]. 1955 'Hal Ellson' Rock 86: A cat gets up [,..[ He's feeling good, singing. 1965-70 in DARE. feel it (v.) see mt one's stuff under stuff n.

feel like a ball of string

(v.) {also feel like a bag of string) Ipun on Aus. phr. ball of muscle, an energetic person + poss. pun on phr. all wound up, emotional, tense] {Aus.) to feel exhausted. 1955 'No. 35' Argot in G. SiMES DAUS (1993). 1959 'David Eorrest' Last Blue Sea 128: Your feet wear down to the ankles, and your get falls in like a bag of string, but your mind stays quite clear to the end.

feel like a boiled rag string) to feel III.

(v.) {also

feel like a piece of chewed rag/

1889 G.E. Wyatt Lionel Harcourt, the Etonian 263: I feel like a boiled

rag. If I once get into bed, I don't believe I shall get up again for a

feele

feeling no pain

62

week. 1898 J. Winter Heart and Sword 156; I feel like a boiled rag [...] I will tell you what it is, Violet, I want a holiday. 1907 Pall Mall Mag. XL 760/2: 'I always feel like a piece of chewed string afterwards.' The rest of us felt the same, and said it. 1912 P.C. de Crespigny Mark 187: 'I feel like a boiled rag.' 'As you played the same tune to four different songs, I should not have thought the strain would have been so very great.' 1916 A.W. Myers Capt. Anthony Wilding 213: Have gone too quick, and feel like a piece of chewed siring. 1942 G. Frankau Air Ministry, Room 28 239: And now I'd better try to get some sleep, otherwise I'll feel like a piece of chewed rag in the morning. 1964 E. Huxley Man from Nowhere 25y. I've got a heavy day tomorrow, I shall feel like a piece of chewed string and be about as useful. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 385/1; feel like a boiled rag [...] C.20. 1989 E. Davies in Baker Nightingales in the Mud on ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee [Internet] I never did like working with mentals, for it takes so much out of me. I feel like a piece of chewed string after duty ... Shell shock is fearful, worse than death. 2003 R. Bryant-Jeffbries on Bryant-Jeffries [Internet] Another important aspect of Collaborative Review is that it offers the opportunity for the practitioner to talk through difficulties with clients [...] whose level of neediness drains the practitioner and reduces their effectiveness in establishing a therapeutic relationship with clients ('I just feel like a chewed rag after being with him, I think I'm losing my boundaries somewhere'),

feel like a (fresh-)boiled owl (v.) (a/so feel like a stewed witch, look like a boiled owl) (US) to be extremely hungover, to be very exhausted, run down. 1857 Harper's Mag. Aug. 'i67l\: I felt, to use a certain figurative expression, 'like a boiled owl' [DA[. 1871 C.G. Leland 'Breitsmann in Holland' in Hans Breitmann in Europe 246: Dwo weeks der Breitmann studiet, / Vile he vent it on de howl, / He shpree so moosh to find de troot, / Dat he lookt like a bi-led owl. 1892 Journal of Amer. Folklore V 60: To feel like a stewed owl, or like a stewed monkey. More idiomatically, like a biled owl [DA]. 1907 J.W. Carr 'Word-List from Hampstead, N.H.' in DN III iii 187: feel like a boiled owl, v. phr. To be nervously exhausted, as from loss of sleep. ‘I feel like a boiled owl this morning.' 1909 L.W. Payne Jr 'Word-List From East Alabama' in DN IILv 375: stewed witch, n. phr. Used to indicate a very uncomfortable bodily condition or state or feeling. 'I feel like a stewed witch this morning.' feel like death warmed up (v.) (a/so feel like death on a bun) to feel absolutely appalling, often used by those suffering from hangovers (cf. look like death warmed up under look like... v.). 1921 N^Q 12 Ser. IX 503: Death Warmed Up (To Feel Like). To feel ill.

1925 Westminster Gazette 27 Apr. n.p.: When the wind changed it might be the Conservative Party which would be feeling the draught [OED[. 2003 Guardian 2 Jan. [Internet] Birmingham are none the less feeling the draught of suspensions on top of injuries.

2 to have serious money problems. 1941 N. Marsh Surfeit of Lampreys 103: 'Did he go bust?' [...] 'I don't

think so, Curtis, Must have felt the draught a bit.' 1966 Listener 9 June 831/2: With only so much national advertising to go round [...], the oldest commercial stations are feeling the draught as well. 1970 Financial Times 13 Apr, 13/3: If the BSC or the bigger firms in the private sector felt the draught and turned their attention to smaller orders, the lesser firms could suffer badly to the point of extinction [OED]. 1999 Guardian 1 Jan. [Internet] In the US, growth is slowing fast as the manufacturing sector struggles against cheap Asian imports. Moreover, the non-manufacturing sector is now feeling the draught,

feel the physics (v.) (US black) to get hurt. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

feel the steel (v.) [i.e. the stee/ syringe] (Aus. prison) to inject heroin. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Feel the steel.

Inject heroin,

feel up see separate entries. go feel around (US) a dismissive phr. 1880 'Tra-la-la-loo' [ballad] And when I bid her stay at home, she

says 'Go feel around.' feele n. (also fiela) lltal. figlie, children) (Ling. Fr./Polari) a child; thus donah and feeles, a woman and (her) children; feele omi, a young (and poss. underage) man. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 138: FEELE, a daughter, or child. 1861 (con, 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 47/2: 'Fiela' is a child; 'Homa' is a man; 'Done', a female, 1873 SI. Diet. n.'' [the victim feels the point] (US) a knife or other pointed

feeler

weapon. C.1848 J.H. Green Secret Band of Brothers 114; The word feeler [means] Dirk, sword, knife. small boy who pilfers small items, then hands them over to his elders in a gang for sale to a junk-shop. 1853 N.Y. Times 4 Mar. 2: Those who thieve, usually go in gangs and employ a small lad as 'a feeler,' i.e., he is sent ahead, and if a piece of cloth or a basket or any little article is lying out in front, he pockets or clutches it and carries it to the older boys, who sell it at once to the junk-shops and share the spoils among themselves.

feeler n.^ 1 (US Und.) a

2 a hand.

1946 Brickhill & Norton Escape to Danger n.p.: For hours and hours

1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 259: I one day asked a man if the hard work of prison did not spoil his hands for delicate manipulations. Oh, bless you, no! he replied; In a week or two a man can bring his hooks and feelers into full working trim again and no mistake. 1916 P. MacGill The Great Push 145: 'Not a word now,' said Teake, fixing one eye on me and another on the hen. 'I must get my feelers on this 'ere cackler.' 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 50: Creep joints where they'd put the feelers on a guy's clothes. 1981 J. Suluvan 'Russians are Coming' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Get yer feelers on that. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 401: Keith felt the soft arrival of sweat on the palms of

he had to stick to the controls, feeling like death warmed up, 1987 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: death [...] After last night's party I feel like death on a bun. 2000 Guardian 19 Dec. [Internet] 'We're both absolutely exhausted all the time,' he says, 'but I'm quite happy to feel like death warmed up to feel like a family.'

feel (like) shit (v.) (a/so feel shitty) see under shit n. feel moldy (v.) [SE mouldy] (US campus) to feel humiliated, embarrassed. 1989 P. Munro si. U.

feel no way (W.I., Rasta) don't take offence, don't be sorry, don't

his feelers.

worry. 1983 Peter Tosh 'Feel No Way' [lyrics] No bother feel no way / It's

3 a finger, usu. in pi. 1912 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 36: Hiram Hughes the

coming close to payday, / I say No bother feel no way.

cop was all a twitter [...] Just as he was about to slip his feelers around the artillery a deep voiced piped. If you are he is Salome. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1989 J. Hibberd Memoirs of an Old Bastard 156: Penny Goriot hopped in, rubbing her feelers, hoping that I'd order a bottle of La Tache.

feel off (v.) [SE off used to imply agency as in JERK OFF v. (3) etc.l to manipulate a sexual partner to orgasm. 1974 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: feel off - to manipulate another person's sexually sensitive areas of the body. 1998 'Bill E. Goodhead' Nubile Treat [Internet] He pressed his thumb against her clit, and she pressed his prick in reply. It was so nice for both of them that each was tempted to just feel the other off.

feel one’s piss (v.) see piss n. (1). feel someone’s collar (v.) [the physical act of grabbing a villaini (UK Und.) to arrest, to place under suspicion.

feel fine n. feelies n.

[feel n.[ sexual petting (and intercourse), esp. in a dark

cinema. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 384/2: since 1945. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 180: Down boy [...] Feelies are for upstairs. 1993 R. Shell Iced 45: To hang out and sneak feelies and kisses with the girlies,

1950 P. Tempest Lag’s Lex. 49: To 'get your collar felt (or touched)' is

to be arrested or stopped by the police. 1954 R. Fabian London After Dark 11: Next time it came my way to 'feel his collar' for possessing stolen goods I would see the judge was told. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 28: Transferring as a DCI might have been a prospect, only in the Squad they were generally administrative and rarely got to feel a collar. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 86: You miss the hurly-burly, getting out and feeling a few collars. 1997 C. Newland Scholar ITS'. They surged through the council flat like a human tidal wave, eager to feel some collars and seize some product. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 39: Some geezer tapped me on the shoulder. Fact he felt my collar [...] He was Karachi Old Bill,

[rhy. si.) £9.

1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 194: feel fine £9.

feeling no pain phr. (also feeling very little pain) anaesthetized by liquor] 1 drunk. •

[i.e.

1927 The Charleston Chasers [song title] Reelin' No Pain. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 333: Two cups later and Andy felt no pain. 1975

J. Gould Maine Lingo 28: A gentleman /ee//ng no pain might be bungs up on his way home. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 297:1 am certain that Mister Bush [...] would not have agreed if he hadn't been, as the saying goes, feeling veiy little pain.

2

unconcerned, casual; a state achieved with or without drugs.

feel the draught (v.) 1 to be inconvenienced, suffering the

1953 J. TTiompson Alcoholics (1993) 36: I'm feeling no pain, for the

consequences of something.

moment. 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 196: She [...] tried hard.

feeling right royal although obviously feling no pain at all, to make herself weep. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 35: A euphoric bunch smoking dope [...] (they were passing time with a friend who had a broken arm but was feeling no pain).

feeling right royal

phr. iSE/eeZ/ng + right adv. (1) + SE royal]

drunk. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 226: He is [...] feeling

right royal. 2003 Drunktionary [Internet] Feeling right / Feeling right royal.

feel up

n. [FEEL UP v.l an intimate caress, usu. of a woman by a

man.

expression for bird. 1995 R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 10: Kropotnik was sixteen and already a notorious fageleh in the neighborhood. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer Si. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Feigele - A Yiddish term for gay that is derived from the word bird. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hollywood Fuck Pad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 238: fx-caped ex-con with felonious faigelah brother. feint n. {UK Und.) a pawnbroker. 1821 Flash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks

of London Laid Open, c.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1859 Matsell 'Vocahulum. feist n. [FEISTY ad/. (1)] {US) a truculent, short-tempered person or

1981 W. Boyd 'Hardly Ever' On the Yankee Station (1982) 50: Just feel-

ups then. Big bloody deal. 1995 M. Simpson 'Prufrock Scoused' Catching Up with Hist. 24: Gettin orl gooey over the thort of a feel up / in the sand dunes,

feel up

V. to caress (usu. a woman) sexually.

[C.1915 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 60: I had many

'feeling' parties with various women in the subway.] 1926 A.C. Inman 28 Feb. diary in Aaron (1985) 294: Married the man she did

because he was the only one she knew wasn't always 'playin' aroun' to feel up my legs, an' such like'. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) DOS Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 76: She's awful hot. Jeez, I thought she was going to feel me up. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 115: Feeling her up, I lift her dress up until I have her ass bare. 1956 W. Burroughs letter 13 Oct. in Harris (1993) 335: I'm off to this restaurant where all the waiters and the cook are Arabian Fruits who keep feeling up the clientele. 1965 H. Huncke in Huncke’s Journal (1998) 15: He will entice them [i.e. two men] up to his court where he surreptitiously feels them up all the time. 1966 P. WiLLMOTT Adolescent Boys of East London 56: We started kissing and I started feeling her up and that led on to it. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 71:1 started feeling myself up. 1987 R. Campbell Afc in La-La Land (1999) 177: Why haven't you tried to feel me up? 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 72: She was feeling up Sylvester Stallone and scowling at the tart towering at his side. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 131: She conjured up aches and pains for the cute prison doctor in the hope that she'd get felt up.

feero

felch

63

n. [? pron. of SE fire] [US prison) an arsonist.

1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS VI:6 438: feero, n. A fire¬

bug; one who lights fires for the fun of it.

feese see under feeze. feet-casements n. ISE feet

-l- casement, a frame] boots, shoes.

1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si. and Its Analogues.

feet uppermost adj.

used to describe a woman lying supine, in the sexual 'missionary position'. 1890- 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

feevee

n. [pron. of SE] {US) $5.

1917 R. Lardner 'The Facts' in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 466: Billy [...] located his pocketbook. In it were two fives and a ten. 'I gotta have a feevee,' he said. 'All right. I'll get something for fifteen.'

feeze

n. {also feese, pheese) ]SE feeze, to frighten, to put into a state of alarm] {US) a state of worry or alarm. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 128: He was in a most awful feese. 1843 T. Haliburton Sam Slick'in England I 22: When a man's in a

feeze, there's no more sleep that hitch. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms 249: PHEESE. A fit of fretfulness. A colloquial, vulgar word in the United States.—Worcester. The adjective pheesy, fretful, querulous, irritable, sore, is provincial in England.—Forby. Also written feeze.

feeze

v. {also feaze, feese, feize, pheeze) (SE feeze, to beat, to flog; uit. OEfesian, to drive] to have sexual intercourse. 1613 Beaumont & Fletcher Coxcomb I vi; Marry, sweet love, e'en

here; lie down; I'll feese you. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues II 382/1; Feeze [also Feaze, Feize, and Pheeze] verb (old) to copulate,

fegala n. see feicele n. feggsl/fegs! exc/. see i'fecks! exc/. feigele n. {also fagela, fagele, fageleh, faigelah, fegala)

[Yid. feygele, little bird -F FAC n.^ (1); Yid. Feygel is also a woman's proper name) {US) a male homosexual; occas, as adj. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 114: Fagela An effeminate male. 1967 A. Rinzler N.Y. Spy 'ill-. 'Straightniks' (also known as normals) in New

York City are always trying to assimilate, to be a little colored, Jewish, gay, etc. But in-Madison-Avenue term for gay kid is fagele ('little bird' in Yiddish), sound-alike to the abusive 'fag,' 'faggot,' which terms come from the medieval use of sticks of wood to burn heretics, Jews, homosexuals, 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' 'Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [...] feigele (fr Yid = birdie). 1978 L, Kramer Faggots 128: You too are a fegala. 1988 H. Max Gay (S) language 15: Feigele—Jewish expression for gay—from the Yiddish

animal. 1850 L.W. Garrard Wah-to-yah and the Taos Trail 64: In our lodge

were three huge curs and four cross feists. 1913 H. Kephart Qur Southern Highlanders (1922) 94: You know a feist is one o' them little bitty dogs that ginerally runs on three legs and pretends a whole lot. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 135: A big¬ mouthed, silly little feist. feisty

adj. {also

fisty) [SE fist, a small dog; thus having the characteristics

of such a yappy, snappy, energetic creature; the dog shares an ety. with 15C

fist,

a foul smell, the breaking of wind, but whether, as Wentworth &

Flexner suggest in

Diet. American Slang (1960,

1975), the dog was so named

because one's own smells could be blamed upon it remains debatable. Equally feasible is the 19C suggestion that such dogs were not much bigger than a man's fist. Note dial,

feist,

to strut about, to flirt or show off] 1

{orig.

US) truculent, irascible, impertinent. 1895 DN I 372: Fisty low, mean, cross. 1903 DN II 313: Fisty [...] Impudent, self-important. 1913 H. Kephart Our Southern Highlanders (1922) 94: Feisty means when a feller's allers wigglin' about, wantin' ever'body to see him, like a kid when the preacher comes. 1926 E.M. Roberts Time of Man 152: That-there feisty bay mare jumped straight upwards and broke the tongue outen the plow [OED]. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 106: The adjective/eArp, used in some parts of the South to mean saucy or truculent [etc]. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 260: The feisty little crud said you was a ... 1978 L.K, Truscott IV Dress Gray (1979) 437: 'Oldest story in the book,' she said. 'Feisty old babe.' 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 6: She hoped that the after-school job might get her feisty young son out of the house long enough to keep him from bickering incessantly with his sisters. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 231: The desk sergeant told him the spooks were getting feistier. 2005 J. Stahl 7, Fatty 225: Mrs. Hubbard, a feisty old haybag.

2 (or/g. US) of a young woman, flirtatious (to a greater extent than the speaker sees as proper), showing off, putting on airs, of dubious morality; 1980s+ use tends to perceive this in a more positive light. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 79: fisty, adj. Pert, impudent, conceited, meddling. 'Don't get fisty'. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 106: The adjective/e/sfp [...] is generally applied to females in the Ozarks and means flirtatious or provocative. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 71: A feisty, round little ass. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 24: A young gal [...] with [...] a feisty freckled face that dared you to make something of it. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 129: Suzanne Somers as the feisty-bul-vulnerable love interest. 2001 Guardian Guide 17-23 Mar. 98: An attempt [...] to magic up another feisty female underdog shaking up the system. feize V. see feeze v. feke n. [/eke = fake, i.e. fake alcohol] methylated spirits; thus feke-

drinker, a drinker of 'meths'. 1932 T.B. Gibson Mackenzie 'The British Prison' in Fortnightly Rev. Mar. n.p.: This class represents the real human wreckage [...] Over twenty-five per cent, are 'jake' or 'feke' drinkers. They drink methylated spirits either in water or beer [... ] The jake drinker's life is a short one and most of it he passes in prison suffering the agonies of a terrible reaction. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 385/1: from ca. 1920. fel n. {US) abbr. fe/low, as a term of address. 1866 H.L. Williams Gay Life in N.Y. 8: Well, you see, here we are, old fel! 1873 J.S. William Old Times in West Tennessee 98: Taking hold of one of his great paws, he remarked: 'Old fel, you have made your last run'. 1883 Sweet & Knox On a Mexican Mustang, Through Texas 352: 'Why, ole fel,' responded one of the youths. felch V. [? echoic; but note this suggestion by the linguist Laura Wright (in personal correspondence), '"Filch" orig. meant to hook something out of something with a stick according to the OED and in the Bridewell it always involves the hooking of something with a stick covered in sticky lime, so when I heard about modern 'felch' [...] I figured that the two variants have a common source, and the usual P-DE meaning has lost the sense of hooking and kept the sense of stealing, whereas the homosexual sense has kept the sense of hooking and lost the sense of stealing'] {usu. gay) to lick out the

felcher semen from the anus of someone who has just enjoyed anal intercourse; the semen is then spat into the partner's mouth. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular. 1978 L. Kramer Pacjgots 17: 'Or

fuck my friend and I'll suck your come out of his asshole.' This suggestion Fred recognized as 'felching'. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 235: Felch = eat out the anus after pedication, perhaps returning the come or cum = semen, orally. 1997 theonion.com 16 Dec. [Internet] But 1 refused to cut the felching scene. That's the key scene in the whole picture. I mean, come on, it's 1997, and we've still got societal hang-ups about octuple-daisy-chain felching? 2006 'Happy Family' on asstr.org [Internet] He climaxed deep in the bowels of one of the girls and the other felched all the sperm out and drank it down, with plenty of loud sucking and lip-smacking noises.

■ In compounds felch queen (n.) [-queen sfx (2)1 a male homosexual who indulges in felching. 1970 J.P. Stanley 'Homosexual SI.' in AS XLV:l/2 53: The most popular compound formation involves some nouns plus queen [...] toe queen, felch queen, body queen, watch queen. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 2005 posting at www.SweetonGeeks.com 23 June [Internet] The lewd Venus-with-a-penis who pines for a delicate felch-queen to impose bone jumping and blind eye pouting,

felcher

n. [felch v.) (gay) a man who ejaculates into another man's rectum and then eats all of what he has deposited there. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 17: Was he interested in joining a felcher? 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet.

[Internet] feltcher (noun) A man who orgasms into another man's rectum and then eats all of what he has deposited. 2002 Treasure Island Media video catalogue [Internet] Knocked Up [...] KNOCKED UP features a whole congregation of the hottest big-dicked topmen I know. Steve Parker, Titpig, Tom Shannon, Erich Lange (in his video debut as a bareback top), Jeremy (our world-class cum-eater and felcher), [...] and a bunch of other testosterone-driven men with nothing on their minds but fuck-or-be-fucked.

felicia n.

[SE fellatio + ? ref. to FELIX n.^1 (US gay) a fellator.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

Felipe

n. [the common Latino name] (US black) a familiar name for a

Chicano or Latino. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 56: Hey Felipe, momma shit beans, da's how she got you, man!

felix

n.^ [ety. unknown; ? a nonce-word coined by Colin Macinnes in his novel Absolute Beginners (1959)1 the penis. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 9: Clean new concrete cloudkissers, rising up like felixes from the Olde Englishe squares,

felix n?

[? the cartoon character Felix the Cat (1931), known for his toughness, or onomat,, the dumpling makes a noise like 'flix' when one bites it] (W.l.) a very large, tough dumpling. 1959 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fellow

n.

feme

64

1

constr. with a, oneself, e.g. a fellow ought to get drunk

once in a while. 1815 D. Roberts Military Adventures of Johnny Neweome II 42: Such bl-st-d roads will make a fellow crazy! 1844 'Jonathan Slick' High Life in N.Y. 1 37: A noise that was enough to make a feller's teeth jump out of his head. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School-Days (1896) 270: It's deuced hard that when a fellow's really trying to do what he ought, his best friends'll do nothing but chaff him. 1863 G.W. Whitman in Civil War Letters 16 Aug. 102: We have had full accounts of the procedings [sic] of the mob in New York, and its almost enough to make a fellow ashamed of being a Yorker. 1870 Old Hunks in Darkey Drama 5 44: If it was on'y a grocery now [...] a fellow could collar de stock! 1886 M.E. Kennard Girl in the Brown Habit 115: It makes a fellow long for a real good bit of stuff. 1897 Boy's Own Paper 6 Nov. 86: Just you shut up now, and let a fellow go to sleep, 1912 E. Pugh Harry The Cockney 159: Can't you listen to a fellow when he is talking sense? 1928 Hecht & MacArthur Front Page 61: Jesus! Why didn't you tell a fellow! 1939 J. Steinbeck Grapes of Wrath (1951) 344: A fella got to eat. 1961 'Frank Richards' Billy Bunter at Butlins 83; I say, you fellows, don't hike off while a fellow's talking

to you! 2 a person, male or female. 1841 Dickens Old Curiosity Shop (1999) 264: Sally found you a second¬

hand stool, sir [...] She's a rare fellow at a bargain, I can tell you. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 151/1: Ikey Bob was good at kicking, and, having on a thick boot with a toe-plate, he punished a fellow's shins to any extent.

3 (a/so felly) one's husband or regular male partner. 1887 Lantern (N.O.) 9 July 3; My feller tells me that Watermeyer [...]

is looking for a fuss. 1903 H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 59: 1 was Mamie's first 'fellow'. 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer’s Colt 125: 1 know the little felly. 2001 Eve. Standard mag. 23 Feb. 42: My fella was

impressing me, picking winners and accumulating wodges of crumpled fivers.

4 (US gay)

a lesbian.

1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 103; I can walk in silk stockings

if I want - it don't make me any less a feller! 1972 B, Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 70: any gay woman [...] fellow.

5 (US gay)

an effeminate homosexual.

B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate

1972

homosexual [...] fellow (hetero si),

fellow commoner n. scholars, commoners were

[orlg. Cambridge Univ. use, as opposed to 'not in

general considered as over-full of

learning' (Grose, 1785)1 an empty bottle. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fellow

COMMONER, an empty bottle, so called at the University of Cambridge, where fellow commoners are not in general considered as over full of learning; at Oxford an empty bottle is called a gentleman commoner for the same reason. 1794 Gent.'s Mag. 1084: One [student at Cambridge] was a Harry Soph; another a fellowcommoner and senior Soph, and occasionally jocularly called an empty bottle, whilst e contra, a bottle decanted was, from time to time, denominated a fellow-commoner. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

fellow-feeling n.

irhy. sl.l a ceiling.

1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British

Soldier. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 385/2: late C.19-20; f by 1960.

felly n. see EELLOw n. (3). felon fodder n. (US

prison)

prison

inmates

(seen

as

an

indistinguishable mass). 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Felon

Fodder: Human beings subjected to incarceration,

felon swell

n. [SE felon +

swell

n.’’ (1)] (Aus.) a gentleman convict.

1849 J.W. Perils, Pastimes and Pleasures in DSUE (1984).

felony shoes n.

(also felony flyers) Ithe term is implicitly racist, suggesting that the (orig. black) teenagers who particularly favour such footwear are automatically up to no good] (US) any brand of the highpriced trainers (Nike, Adidas etc) worn by teenagers (cf. larcbny

SHOES under

larceny n.).

1989 (con.

1982-6) T. Williams Coeaine Kids (1990) 103: These younger patrons are sensitive to the older habitues' description of them as [...] 'kids in felony shoes [sneakers]'. 1990 M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 21: Expensive Nike sneakers, so-called felony shoes. 1995 R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 124: His feet, in size fourteen felony flyers, were up on [...] the desk. 2000 J. Stacy Inside 911 56: Make sure your track record is good and wear your best or favorite running shoes, also known as 'felony flyers'. 2001 J.R. Lankford Crowning Circle 259: They had on two or three layers of shirts, huge pants and the high-top sneakers Skeet had said the police call felony shoes. 2005 www.theweehsite.com 28 June (Internet] Athletic shoes come in many types and many nicknames [...] Felony Flyers, Felony shoes [...] whatever ye' calls 'em, I like Sneakers!

feloose n.

(also faloose, falouse, feloos, filoose, fils) (Arabic for

money) (N.Z.) money. [1801 Z. NakhshabI Tuti ndmah 127: Once on a time a man gave some feloose* to his wife, who went to a grocer's shop in the market to buy sugar [...] *Pieces of copper coin.] 1917 Chronicle NZEF 5 Sept. 32: W.M.R. consoled themselves by securing the largest amount of 'filoose' through their win [DNZE]. 1942 NZEF Times 27 Oct. 6: Johnny Enzed says [...] 'Mafeesh Falouse'. [Ibid.] 7 Dec. 6: Just telling them about things [...] Explaining the shortness of faloose and all that [DNZE]. 1944 Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 Oct. 13: I come now to a word which is among the first [...] that foreigners in Egypt learn -1 mean fils, which is the Arabic word for money [DNZE]. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 307: I've got a bit of feloos stowed away with noone to spend it on except myself. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 160: 'Yeah, dough — feloose, mazuma!' The derelict held out his dirty hand, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together. 1963 (con. WWII) R.P. Serle Second 24th Aus. Infantry Battalion 153: A challenge return pull [of tug o' war] in the afternoon gave us victory and a return, with interest, of all the 'feloose' lost on the morning pull. 1971 (con. WWII) Crimp & Bowlry Diary of a Desert Rat 197: Feloose - money,

fem n.^ see fam n.\ fem n.^ see femme n. female of the game n. see lady of the came under lady n. fembo n. (SE female -f BIMBO n. (1); ? or proper name of the 1980s macho film hero Rambo] (US campus) a homosexual man. 1989 P. Munro SI. U.

feme

n. see FAM n.\

fern fatale

fence

65

fern fatale

n. [adopted SE femme fatale] [US gay) an overtly effeminate male homosexual. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internetl Fern Fatale A

queeny queen.

femme

n. [also fern) [Fr. femme, a woman; note West Point jargon femme, a young woman] (orig. US) 1 a young woman [note synon. use in Kendall, Flowers of Epigrammes (1577): 'Which are three ills that mischief men |...] The fern, the flud, the fire'l.

Down Beat 17 Nov. n.p.: Another femme singer, who has been in trouble before, walked out [...] because her chauffeur was picked up with heroin capsules. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 20: Many female impersonators, or femme-mimics, work au naturel. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 55: Feminist author and activist Germaine Greer, reviled as a cliche pro-femme ballbuster in her time. 2 (gay) used of an effeminate male homosexual.

1871 O.E. Wood West Point Scrap-Book 357: Fern. -A wonian-girl-

1963 J. Rechy City of Night 100: Chuck the masculine cowboy and

yoimg lady. 1878 H.O. Flipper Colored Cadet at West Point 53: 'A fem,' 'femme.' — Any female person. 1897 in Lucky Bag No. 3 107: Drag To drag a femme to a hop is to escort her [HDAS]. 1905 'West Point SL' in Howitzer (US Milit. Academy) 292-5: Drag —To accompany; as, to drag a femme. 1913 Daily Nebraskan 22 Feb. in DN IV:ii 128: Unless the storm lets up cabs will be necessary in many cases to protect the thin wearing apparel of the 'ferns'. 1919 E. Hemingway letter 30 Apr. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 24: Had me practically married off and entangled with any amount of femmes. 1928 J.P. McEvoy Showgirl iv 52; Eight femmes and a pair of male hoofers take up the burden when she is off. 1937 P. CheVney Dames Don't Care (1960) 67: I was kinda sorry for her an' I think she is a swell femme. 1944 T. Thursday 'Twin Lose or Draw' in Popular Sports Spring [Internet] I never seen him in a barroom or even chasing the femmes. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: fem: Female. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 32: Ads for 'open-minded ferns, with whip fantasies'. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 86: Obviously having a thing for that femme in particular. 2 {also femmie) an effeminate homosexual man.

Miss Destiny the femme queen. 1972 Sat. Rev. (US) 12 Feb. 24: Today's homosexuals can be open ('come out') or covert ('closet'), practicing or uninhibited [...] manly ('stud') or womanly ('fem'). 1975 K. Jay 'A journey to the End of Meetings' in Jay & Young (1979) 453: They were not into butch/femme roles so prevalent in the fifties and sixties. 2001 P. Mortenson At Wanda's Insistence [Internet] It attracted TVs and those interested in fem men from all over Spain and Europe but mainly Brits. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 31: ‘Huh, Pansvhoy? Am I squeezin' femme-lard?' 3 (gay) used of a 'female' lesbian.

1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 354: They drew themselves closer together as a femme pushed in beside Clarence and tried 'to make him'. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 116: Fern [...] Femmie An effeminate male. 1979 J. Rechy Rushes (1981) 78: Was that the cowboy who turned femme so quickly? 1985 K. Vacha Quiet Fire 74: Also [...] the little male prostitute, prick peddler, if you say 'Hmmm, you're not what I'm looking for, fella, 1 like the ferns, the ladies,' they quickly find that maybe they could do that. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Femme - A lesbian or gay man who acts and dresses effeminately. 2001 Guardian 27 Jan. 22; He was an old-school masculine gay — the kind who embraced physical toughness in travel as an affirmation of character. No 'fem' he. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 104: Old Tony Z and Mini-Mac. Are they THAT WAY? Little lovebirds? Maybe they'll be bunkies in Lewisburg. Up there in Section Three, the Femme Tier. Bitch City. 2005 E. White My Lives 282: Butch-femme role-playing might have approximated traditional male-female interactions. 3 a feminine lesbian. 1947 in Katz Gay/Lesbian Almanac (1983) 625: Femme [is] common in

gay parlance. 1958 H. Greenwald Call Girl 118: Among female homosexuals the 'femme' acts the rofe of a woman. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 62: The bulldykes and the femmes is called the lower and the higher class [...[ The wife is the lower class. 1968 J. COLEBROOK Cross of Lassitude 266: 'You gotta be a Butch,' Stan advises Frankie, 'a stone Butch.' 'I'm no tackhead,' Frankie evades. 'You're no Fem either,' Stan compliments. 1988 P. Califia Macho Sluts 29: I don't consider myself a femme - I just turn on to aggressive and strong women. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 59; Fem An individual who takes on the female role in a homosexual relationship. 1999 Indep. Mag. 30 Oct. 39: Did I perhaps look 'butch' in my black jacket and trousers to Lynda's 'femme' in Miyake? 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 242; Talk to Greta, the barkeep. She'll set you up with two femmes for fifty. 4 the 'female' partner of a couple whether hetero- or homosexual. 1970 J.P. Stanley 'Homosexual SI.' in AS XLV: 1/2 57: femme, fem n Passive member, male or female, of a homosexual relationship. 1982 Maledicta VI:l-i-2 (Summer/Winter) 126: They object to [...] Butch. French anything. Femme, Stud, Submissive, Dominant, Hermaphrodite, and Soixante-neuf- which is 69, in case you didn't know: 68 is 'you suck me and I'll owe you one'. 1995 R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 210: Straight or gay, it's usually the femme who plays the tune and the men who dance to it.

■ In compounds fem sem (n.) {US campus) a female-only college. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 34: fem, n. A woman, dame. [...] 34; fem-sem, /i.l. A seminary for women. 2.

A girl at college or seminary. 1902 Ade Girl Proposition 1: He thought he had seen some 24-carat Tizums when he had attended College and hung around the Fem Sem, but the Girl that he now beheld was in a class by herself.

femme

adj. {also fem) [femme n.|

1

female.

1938 W. WiNCHELL 'On Broadway' 2 Sept. [synd. col.] There's a

school for femme criminals in Paris. 1945 'Campus SI. at Minnesota' in AS XX:3 Oct. 233/1: My femme friend was really dressed up. 1950

1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: FEM:-Short for feminine. This is the common expression of the lesbian denoting the submissive role. 1972 E. Newton Mother Camp 32: Female homosexuals also make a distinction between 'butch' and 'fem'. 1979 L. Block Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling (2005) 203: 'I wonder how you'd look with a ruby in your navel.' 'A little too femme.' 1987 in Delacoste & Alexander Sex Work (1988) 240: The 'feminist' interviewer would be appalled by fem whores or butch pimps. 1992 Daring Hearts: Lesbian and Gay lives of 50s and 60s Brighton n.p.: You always had a little finger ring, whether you were butch or fem. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] femme — [...] feminine, applied to both men and women.

femo n. [SE /emlnist

+ -o sfx (3)1 {Aus.) a feminist.

2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 244: 'You don't actually think she's

responsible, do you?' 'Probably one of her rabiod femo-nazi supporters,' he said.

fen n. [SE fen,

a marshy bog; the image is of the 'dirtiness' of the prostitute

or the receiver] {UK Und.) 1 a prostitute. C.1698 implied in FAC THE fen under fag v.^ . 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: FEN a Strumpet, or Bawd, a common Prostitute. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 2 a madame, a procuress. 1961 Partridge DU 235/1: '1725; f by 1880'.

3 a receiver of stolen goods. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 385/2: late C17-18.

fen V. see fend v. fen...! exc/. \fen, to forbid; ? ult. SE fend, forbid] a excl. stating that one is ineligible for a given duty or command or that one forbids it, e.g. fen play!, no playing. 1853 Dickens Bleak House (1991) 224: I'm fly, [...] But fen larks, you know. Stow hooking it! 1864 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms (1877) 212: A prohibitory exclamation used by boys in their games; as, 'Fen play', i.e. I forbid you to play. 1885 "Arry on the Elections' in Punch 12 Dec. 277/2: Fen brickbats, though, Charlie, old bloater,

fenagle v. see fence n.^ [? as a

finagle v.

middleman he provides a fence between the thief and the

buyer of the goods] 1 a receiver and seller of stolen property. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fence, c. a Receiver and Securer of

Stolen-goods. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 3: The successful Villains trudge [...] to a Fence, who is one of those honest Persons who gets a livehood by buying stolen Goods. 1718 C. Hitchin Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers 10: There are several Locks, Fences and flash Pawn Brokers, which are Dealers as well as my self in contraband. 1725 Hist, of Jonathan Wild 4: The Gentlemen of the Kid-Lay, File, Lay, Sneak and Buttock, together with the Locks, and Fences. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen et. 193: She turn'd Fence, that is to say, a Buyer of stolen Goods, 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account of the Malefactors executed at Tyburn 18th Mar. 1740 part II 8: The Gang [...[ consented to send them to their usual Fence. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 13: I carried them to Slockbridge, to another Fence of ours, i.e., a Receiver of stolen Goods. 1760 'Come All You Buffers Gay' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 53: But if you should slape his staunch wipe/ Then away to the fence you may go. 1768 (con. 171025) Tyburn Chronicle II in GROOM (1999) xxvii: A Fence, or a Lock A Receiver of stolen Goods, 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1812 Vaux Memoirs in McLachlan (1964) 60: I was not at this time acquainted with a Fence, to whom I could dispose of this property. 1829 Vidocq Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) II 247: I placed in the grasp of justice a band of twenty-two thieves, one of twentyeight, a third of eighteen [...[ not to say anything of the single ones, and the many 'fences' (receivers). 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966)

fence

136: What are you up to? Ill-treating the boys, you covetous, avaricious, in-sa-ti-a-ble old fence? 1842 N.Y. Herald 29 Jan. 1/5: A 'Fence' Arrested. - A man named Joseph Page, who has long kept a notorious 'fence' at No. 73 Laurens street [etc.]. 1855 W. Phillips Wild Tribes of London 65: No fences! no receivers! Why, just walk down the Lane [...] and if I don't show you a dozen thieves to one fence, and three fences to one honest man, call me a Dutchman. 1868 J.D. McCabe Secrets of the Great City 363: He, therefore, at once takes his plunder to his 'fence,' and receives from him, in money, such a price as is usually agreed upon. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 256: He had been a notorious 'fence' — one of the most extensive purchasers of stolen goods in London. 1884 A. Griffiths Chronicles of Newgate 468: The trade of fence, or receiver, therefore, is very nearly as old as the crimes which it so obviously fostered. 1896 M. Williams Round London 100: The 'fences,' who were principally Jews, did an enormous trade. 1900 Marvel X11I:322 Jan. 4: Lipie Lipskie, the Polish Jew fence-keeper! [Ibid.] XIII:325 Feb. 16: Why, he's making a fortune out of the job, the old fence! (receiver of stolen goods). 1914 W. Sickert New Age 19 Mar. 631: Luxury carried to its highest point if the 'fence' could be not too far away, to advance him a professional proportion of the value of his haul. The 'fence' is the dealer or receiver. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 265: Widespread syndicates, which work in an orderly, pre¬ arranged fashion, in league with 'fences' (receivers of stolen goods) and garage owners. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 5: I hadn't yet made the acquaintance of a good 'fence'. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 33: He was a 'go-between' to the 'fences' and their burglar customers. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 82: 'Now what?' 'We take them to the new fence,' 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Barker 39: They go to a fence, see, a receiver of stolen goods named Octopus McGillicuddy. 1975 Sun. Times Mag. 12 Oct. 25: Nobby sits with a friend who was a 'fence' - retired now, or so he says. 1989 (con, 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 40: We sold 'em to a fence for £1 apiece. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 172: The owner of the cafe was a wellknown fence for stolen goods. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 163: Legbreakers and burglars are a dime a dozen [...] So are fences.

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 314: I didn't

know he was coming out. I thought he had a guy handling the fence end for him out here. 3 (US Und.) (also fence-house) the place where stolen goods are received, kept and sold. 1823 'JON Bee' Did. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: Fence [...] the house is sometimes so designated in which the fence dwells. 1834 Sun (N.Y.) 20 June 2/2: Con.—Meet me to night at the 'Pigeon House' next to the new 'fence,' and I'll go and show you. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. 1 33: For many a year it has been known to the 'crossmen' and 'knucks' of the town as 'Jack Circle's watering place' and 'fence'. 1855 W. Phillips Wild Tribes of London 70: This, you see, is a fence-house; and those what we call Petticoat-lane fencers. 1901 C.R. Wooldridge Hands Upt 195: Wooldrige [...] received information that there was a 'fence,' which is a place where stolen goods are stored. 1917 S, Smith 'The Gumps' [comic strip] The Gumps' new home [...] The police think it is a fence for stolen automobiles. 1956 F.O. Beck Hobohemia 27: Pawn shops [...] were not unfrequently fences for stolen goods. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. III:2 23: Fence, n. A place where stolen goods are bought and sold; a pawn shop.

■ In compounds fence-ken (n.) IKEn n.^ (1)] (UK Und.) a house where stolen property is received. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1821 Flash Diet, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

fence-master (n.) (UK Und.) a receiver and seller of stolen goods. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov.

537: The 'fence-master"s the fellow who buys stolen property, fence-shop (n.) a shop where stolen property is on sale. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 142: You'll buy a dozen or two of wipes,

dobbin cants, or a fam or a tick, with any rascal, from a melting-pot receiver in Duke's place, to a fence shop in Field Lane.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fence con (n.) [con n.^ (8)1 (US prison) an escapee, a prisoner who is planning an escape. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison St. 108: Fence Cons Inmates who have escaped or attempted to escape,

fence-corner (adj.) (US) illegitimate. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 89: A little brassiereless beauty, a real fence-corner peach. fence-jumping (n.) [farmyard imagery, i.e. an animal jumping the fence

that separates different breeds] (N.Z.) race mixing.

fence

66

1992 Dominion (Wellington) 29 Aug. 9: The population [...] is mainly Inuit Greenlanders with mongoloid features, pale brown skin and black hair, but there has been much fencejumping during the past 300 years and the resulting mix has produced attractive people [DNZE].

fence parole (n.) (US prison) the attempt to make an escape by climbing the prison fence or wall; such efforts, inevitably, lead to death. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 177: Mira! Dude's goin for a fence parole. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Fence Parole: Escape.

fence-railing (n.) (US Und.) house-breaking. 1900 N.Y. Times 12 Aug. 12: A new type of burglar which has sprung up in the United States within the past few years, and whose operations are not alone confined to safe burglary, but to 'hold-ups,' 'house burglary,' and what is termed 'fence railing,' and are known to the police of the country as 'yeggmen.'

■ In phrases give the fence a run (v.) (the image of a bull smashing through or jumping over a fence on the way to a cow] (N.Z.) to fulfil one's sexual urges. 1972 J. McClenaghan Travelling Man 21: 'There's one or two goodlooking housemaids here.' [...] 'Thinking of giving the fence a run?' [...] 'And so are you if I know anything.' [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 87: give the fence a run Engage in sex, as the bull intends when he is running along the fence separating him from the cow paddock.

on the fence (also jump over the fence) in the process of turning from heterosexual to homosexual (or vice versa from a gay perspective). 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 15: fence, to be on the (V.): To be undecided as to whether one should forsake hetero¬ sexuality for homosexuality (or vice versa). 2000 R. Antoni Grand¬ mother's Erotic Folktales 77: They wanted to know what do we mean to say the Syrian was an old buller? Well Mrs Carmichael smiled and she said Mary, and I [...] said jump-over-the-fence, and Mrs Carmichael said sojiman, and I said borrow-the-Bishop's crosier.

over the fence 1 (Aus.) out of trouble. 1910 L,

Esson

Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 63: You

ain't over the fence yet. 2 (Aus.lN.Z.) extreme, beyond the bounds of taste. 1918 Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 May 4/2: There was the Dickens to pay in a mess hut [...] one dinner time, when the boys, who were green from Australia, saw myriads of tiny, white, boomerang-shaped objects in the stew. 'It's over the blinking fence,' cried one chap, and he voiced the general opinion. [Ibid.] 15 Aug. 17/2: 'Me!' I cried. 'Why, I'm weak as a kitten! It's over the blooming fence. I'll see Sister!' 1930 K.S. Prichard Haxby's Circus 79: I reck'n Bruiser's over the fence. He makes trouble. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 28: Over the fence, unreasonable, beyond the pale of common-sense or justice. 1950 (con. 1936-46) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 25: It was over-the-fence, Paddy pointed out, seein' all the hard work Bobby had done. 1974 J. McNeil How Does Your Garden Grow Act III: Swamper leaned out from the bottom bunk at Wocko and said . . . he said, 'Ah, you're over the bloody fence!' 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 80/2: over the fence unacceptable behaviour, which Partridge thinks from local rules for cricket. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

sweat the fence (v.) see under sweat v.^.

fence

n.^ [i.e. the collar provides a fence around the neck] (US) a man's

detachable collar. 1910 H. Hapgood Types from City Streets 36: A bloke ain't got no show wid a gal if he ain't good-lookin', wid good clothes, wid a fence (collar) round his neck.

fence

v. [fence n.^ (1)] 1 to buy and sell stolen property. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 38: To Fence property, to sell anything that is stolne. [Ibid.] 43: When we haue tipt the loure & fenc't away the duds / Then binge we to the bowsing ken / Thats cut the Robin Hood. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: Fence, to spend or lay out; also a receiver and securer of stolen goods. Fence his hog, i.e., to spend his shilling. 1735 Proceedings Old Bailey 11 Sept. 144/2: Now, says he, we wilt go over the Water, and Fence them. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account of the Malefactors executed at Tyburn 18th March 1740 part II 7: After they had fenced the Loges, &c. which was all carried abroad and disposed of by R---r J-n, since dead. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 20: Burk will show you where you may buss a Couple of Prads, and fence them at Abingdon Gaff; that is, Burk, will show you a Couple of Horses that you may steal, and sell them at Abingdon Fair. 1764 Bloody Register III 171; [as dt. 1741]. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 136: I only napt a couple of bird’s eye wipes, which I have just fenc'd to the Cove at that

fencer there Ken. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 60: Those necessary professional accomplishments, such as [...] how to scamp, peigg. floor, [...] mount, lumber, and fence. 1812 Vaux Memoirs in McLachlan (1964) 81: The stranger observing that he knew where to fence the book. 1824 'Sonnets for the Fancy' Egan Boxiana III 622: And with Nell he kept a lock, to fence, and tuz. 1834 'The Shickster To Her Dab Had Gone' Flash Chaunter 14: His Ticker she took care to bone, / His Fogle too, d'ye see? [...] With the bawd she fenc'd them both, / Who has stow'd them away, 1841 'Poll Newry, The Dainty Flag-Hopper' Gentleman's Spicey Songster 34: If a gent passes bye, she soon frisks his cly, / And she fences the lob with Sal Carey. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 38: He cracked a case last night and fenced the swag. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar Al 12: Tim, if he was 'sugared,' would stand for them himself, and afterwards 'fence' them in the Lane. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/1: Shallow fellows always fence their gift of togs. Beggars who go half naked always sell the clothes that are given them. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 117: The fat's a-running boys fenced their swag with a publican at Hoxton. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 202: I fenced the fawney for fifty. 1920 F. Packard White Moll 70: Put those sparklers away with the rest until we get ready to 'fence' them. 1933 C. Himes 'Prison Mass' Coll. Stories (1990) 167: He had driven across town to a garage where he could fence the bus. 1945 B. Frame Crown Jewels are Missing 38: It began to look as though no effort would be made to fence the gems until detectives had given up the search for them. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 121: Lupita fences on the side. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 88: When they steal stuff, they usually fence it through him, 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 71: I've heard that your father took a fall fencing. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 14: There'd be a crate of stolen toasters to be fenced. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 73: Too hot to hock [...] Too big to fence. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 26: I've had [...] policemen on a tip-off that am fencing stolen goods an dealin drugs, 2 to spend money. a.1674 'Of the Budge' Head Canting Academy (1674) 12: Then every man to the Boozing Ken / And there to fence his hog. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fence, to Spend or Lay out. Fence his Hog, to Spend his Shilling, 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 194: You Darkman-budge, will you fence your Hog at the next Boozen-ken [Night-budge will you spend your Shilling at the next Ale-house], 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 11 [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c,1698]. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 118: Friend, will you spend your two-Pence for a Pot of good Ale? Coll, will you fence your Duce for a Gage of Rum Bues? 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

3 (UK Und.) to pawn goods with a receiver. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: fence To pawn or sell to a receiver of stolen goods. The kiddey fenced his thimble for three quids; the young fellow pawned his watch for three guineas. To fence invariably means to pawn or sell goods to a receiver. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

4 (UK Und.) to hide (stolen goods). 1846 Swell's Night Guide 57: schikster: Where's the plant, cully? gonniff: Fenced in a dunnniken. schikster: What? Fenced in a

crapping ken?

fencer n. [fence n.^ (1)1 a receiver and seller of stolen property. 8: He shall strait waies be [,..] tane in his own purse-nets by fencers and cony-catchers. 1678 Four for a Penny 3: He is the Treasurer of the Thieves Exchequer, the Common Fender [sic] of all Bulkers and Shop-lifts in the Town. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 32: Fencer, Receiver of stolen Goods. 1753 J. POULTER Discoveries (1774) 42: I am a Locker, and a Dudder, and Fencer of Slop; / leave Goods at a House, and borrow Money on them, pretending they are Rum Goods, Goods made in London, and sell Tea. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving [as cit. 1753], 1855 W. Phillips Wild Tribes of London 70: This, you see, is a fence-house; and those what we call Petticoat-lane fencers. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1901 J. Flynt World of Graft 9\: Mother Mandelbaum was the most prominent 'fencer' New York has ever had. 1609 Dekker Gul's Horne-Booke

■ In compounds fencer’s wharf (n.) (UK Und.) a receiver's warehouse. n.p.: Fencer's wharf the place where on being received, stolen goods are instantly passed through a secret trap-door or wicket, to defeat the vigilance of police officers who may follow with a search-warrant. -fencer sfx [weak use of FENCER n. (1)] a (street) seller of various commodities, e.g. billy fencer n.; cakey-pannum fencer n. C.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet,

67

fender-bender 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 15/2: If they're going to keep running-in polony fencers for putting rotten gee-gee into the bags of mystery, I hope they won't leave fried-fish-pushers alone, fencing n. [fence v. (1) -f sfx -ing] receiving or dealing in stolen goods; thus fencibles n., stolen goods. 1799 'Cant Lang, of Thieves' Monthly Mag. 7 Jan. n.p.: Fencing of Prads Selling of Horses. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London II i: CRAIG: Aby Houndsditch. aby: Here, covey: Of the Rag Fair Fencibles. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 12/1: The Herald doesn't go so far as to say that Sir John Robertson is a 'fence,' but it says that 'fencing' is part of his system. Whether Sir John will answer through the Press or the law we cannot say, but - we await his answer. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 156: Bill [...] transacted his fencing via one man. 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 57: This isn't any pissy-ant fencing bit. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 41: A bit of rural screwing where the fencing came unstuck. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 24: Technical know-how or special knowledge which helps with 'fencing'. 1979 P. Hamill Deadly Piece 70: The cops think he's been working with the Cubans in coke, shylocking and fencing, out in Brooklyn. ■ In compounds fencing crib (n.) [crib n.^ (1)] the shop, house or room from which a receiver operates. 1837-8 'Slashing Costermonger' in Cuckold's Nest 11: I've made my sons quite gemmen, too, / And they're such slashing men, sirs, / One of 'em keeps a fencing crib, / And two a bawdyken, sirs. 1839 (con. 1724) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 249: It [i.e. a door] only leads to the fencing crib, 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 113: A 'fencing crib,' is a place where stolen goods are bought or hidden. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct, Vin:37 316/1: FENCING Crib, The residence of a person who buys stolen property. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 84/2: Among the curiosities of Granny Dixon's 'fencing crib,' we noticed a black hen, famous in its day for its shoplifting propensity. 1871 G.A. Brine letter 3 July in Ribton-Turner (1887) n.p,: It is there [i.e. criminal 'padding-kens'] they dispose of their ill-gotten gains, for great numbers of them are regular 'fencing-cribs'. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 256: It wasn't from the Nottin' Dale crib at all. None o' the boys at the ken there knew nothing' about it. fencing cully (n.) [cully n.^ (5)1 a receiver and seller of stolen goods. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Fencing Cully, One that receives stollen goods. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fencing Cully c. a Broker, or Receiver of Stolen-goods. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) (1926) 205: [...] Fencing cully, a broker or receiver of stolen goods. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 14: A Receiver of stoln Goods - Fencing-cully. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). fencing ken (n.) [ken n.^ (1)] the shop, house or room from which a receiver operates. 1676 A Newgate ex-prisoner A Warning for House-Keepers 4: Glasiers, are the right quarrel-pickers, they are a sort of cowardly thieves [...] very fearful of the least noise that is, so having got out, he makes all haste away to his fencing cins [sic], where he will brag of his bold attempt, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fencing Ken c. the Magazine, or Ware-house where Stolen-goods are secured. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet. ]as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796

Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 38: His

outside customers, many of whom were petty thieves [...] used his house as a fencing ken. 1871-82 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. fencing school n. see pushing school n. fend V. (a/so fen) [abbr.l (US black) to defend. 1922 A. Gonzales Black Border 301: 'Fen'—fend, defend. 1927 E.C.L. Adams Congaree Sketches 37: Kill him if he try to 'fend he-self [DARE], C.1938 in H.M. Hyatt Hoodoo (1970) 2.1477: Now, Peelee, ah want chew to 'fend dis case [DARE]. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso xv: 'fending and proving - serious reasonable disputation. [Ibid.] 138: When my mother came in [...] she started 'fendin' and provin' and found out the truth about that thing, fender-bender n. [SAmE fender (UK bumper) -F bender] 1 (US) a minor automobile accident. 1962 D. Dempsey 'Lang, of Traffic Policemen' in AS XXXVII:4 268: Fender bender, n. A minor collision; injuries. 1975 Manchester Guardian Weekly 16 Nov. 20: An automobile accident is unpleasant anywhere, but it would be hard to top the hassle of a Moscow fender-bender. 1981 S. King Roadwork in Bachman Books (1995) 349:

fenderhead Ralph [...] got in a little fender-bender accident. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 46: less got stuck in a traffic jam [...] caused by a two-car fender bender. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 282: The pile-up was impressive. A six-vehicle fender-bender. 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 86: We ain't talkin fender-bender, right?

2

ferny

68

[drugs] in fig. use, a barbiturate capsule. 1971 Illinois Legislative Investigating Committee Drug Crisis in

Spears (1986). 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 167: Many of these names call attention to the soporific effect barbiturates have on the central nervous system: |...] fender benders, stumble bumbles. fenderhead n. a fool. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 86: Listen, you slant eyed little fenderhead. fend off V. lone fends off the object from its owner so that one may keep

Jerkin. a.1661 'Arsy Versy' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 47; Old Oliver's nose had taken in snuff ]...] Then up went the Rump, and was ferkt to the quick. But it setled inspite of the teeth of poor Dick. 1700 'The Country-man's Delight' in Playpord Pills to Purge Melancholy II 122: Here's Harry and Doll, / With Brian and bonny Betty-, I Oh, how they did Jerk it, / Caper and ferk it, / Under the Green-wood tree, c.1940 Fucking Machine in Bold (1979) 96: Two balls of brass he filled with cream, / And the whole ferking issue was driven by steam. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 359: Ah, whats the difference? They all the ferkin same. 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 88; I was drunk and I knocked a ferkin' cripple off the line,

ferme

1612 Dekker 0 perse 0 N3: He is an angler for duds who hath a form in

the nab of his filch. 1637 Dekker Eng. Villainies (8th edn) M3: Every one of them carries a short staffe [...] which is called a Filch, having in the Nab or head of it, a Ferme (that is to say a hole). 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Ferme, A Hole. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Ferme, Hole, Cave, or hiding place, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Ferme A Hole. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 209; He taught his Pupil a deal of canting Words, telling him [.,.] Ferme, a Hole. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. KEm Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocahulum.

it oneself] (N.Z.) to take, to steal. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE. 1938 Press (Christchurch) (McNab SI.) 2 Apr. 18: [In local criminal slang] [...] 'to clout,' 'to pole,' 'to fend off' are to steal [DNZE]. 1988 (ref. to c. 1932) McGill Diet, of Kiwi S/. 45/1: fend off to take or steal; c. 1932. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. |as cit. 1988]. feng v. [Anglo-Saxon feng, a grasp, a hug] [UK Und.) to steal. C.1535 R. Copland Hye way to the Spyttel House Eiii: His watch shall feng a prounces nobchete. Fenian n. (also Irish cold, three cold Irish) (a pun on 'three cold Irish', itself referring to the hanging of the Fenians Allen, Larkin and O'Brien for the 'Manchester Murder' of PC Brett in 1867 or for three men, also Fenians, hanged for the Phoenix Park murders of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke, Under-Secretary for Ireland, on 6 May 1882] threepenny-worth of whisky and water; thus generic for any quantity of whisky. 1890 "Arry on ]...] the Glorious Twelfth' in Punch 30 Aug. 97/2: Them Moors is the spots for cold Irish, and gives you the primest of pecks. 1895 W. Pett Ridge Minor Dialogues 205: Will you kindly gi' me 'n Irish cold. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 129/1: Fenian [Peoples’, 1882 on). Three cold Irish, i.e., threepence worth of Irish whisky and cold water. fenky-fenky adj.

l? SE finicky + redup.l [W.l.)

1

fastidious,

painstaking. 1976 L. Barrett Sun and the Drum 20: A person who is meticulous or fastidious in appearance and habits is fenky-fenky.

2 ordinary. 1950 Bennett, Clarke & Wilson Anancy Stories and Dialect Verse 51: For after all Race-Course is not / No fenky-fenky place! 1966 L. Bennett 'Gay Paree' in Jamaica Labrish 208: Dem amount so fenkyfenky / me kean even feas me y'eye. 1973 A. Salkey 'Saturday in Kingston' Jamaica (1983) 54: Costa Rica Charlie / big time banjo, / big like any piano, / under them fenky-fenky fingers / he sportin'

wit' the goT ring. fenneh v. [also fenny) |Twi fene, to vomit; Fante fena, to be troubled; Lumba/eno, to faint] [W.l. Rasta) to feel physical distress or pain. 1943 Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. 175; fenneh, to suffer. 1986 O. Senior

'The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream' Summer Lightning

85:

Stan

still yu jumbo-head bwoy or a konk yu till yu fenny, fens! excl. see

fains!

fermedy beggars

n.

[also

fermerdy

beggars,

fermerly

beggars) [? Fr. farmer, to close; i.e. their skin is 'closed' or 'shut'] [UK

Und.) beggars in general, other than those who parade their (faked) open sores. c.1698 B.E. Diet Canting Crew n.p.: Fermerly Beggers c. all those that have not the Sham-sores or Cleymes. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: fermerdy-beggars all those that have not the sham Sores or Celymes. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fermerdy-beggars, all those who have not the sham sores or clymes. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1871-82 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.

fern

[?

n.^

ref. to SE maidenhair fern]

1

[US) the female genitals and

pubic hair. 1981 Maledicta V 254: Fern: female genital region and pubic hair.

2

[US campus) the buttocks. 1965 B. Adler Vietnam Letters (2003) 4 Nov. 107: The hardest part of

all this is the feeling of sitting around on our ferns, doing nothing, while all around us the war rages.

3

[US campus) a homosexual. 1964 in Current SI. (1967) 1:4.

fern

n? [image of flowers and 'love'] [US campus) someone who clings

to the styles of the 1960s; an environmentalist. 1996 Eble si. and Sociability 63; In the eighties and nineties people

exd.

feral n. [Aus.) a New Age hippie or environmentalist. 1995 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 1 Jan. 3: To the ferals, who travel up and down Australia's east coast looking for logging protests to attend, the Federal Government's decision is appalling. 1998 S. Maloney Nice Try 129: We still had our rough edges, our greatcoated winos and barefoot ferals, our ferret-faced teenage mothers and lingerie lunches, our dumb-fuck rev-heads and back-lane chop shops. 2002 S. Maloney Something Fishy (2006) 208; A pod of ferals was moving towards the exit, [...] soap-shy, low-tech, bush-dwelling hippies. Crusty chicks in shaman chic, feral adj. [SE feral, savage, untamed] (Aus.) disgusting. 2001 Sydney Morning Herald (Aus.) 6 Jan. n.p.: Totally feral (gross, disgusting). 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. ferculate v. [W.l.) to mess about; a euph. for fuck about v. (1). 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 19: Ferculate [Ja.) light

cuss word: u. don't ferculate/do« 'l play around. fergle v. see furcle v. feria n. ISE fare -f Hisp. sfx -ia\ [US) money. 1974 Fuentes & Lopez Barrio Lang. Diet. 65:

n. [Er.fermer, to shut, to close] [UK Und.) a hole; thus a prison,

a cave.

feria

Money, change,

ferk V. ISE frk/ferk, to move about briskly; to dance, to frisk about! lit. to dance about, but used as euph. for fuck v. (1); thus ferking adj. 1608 Merry Devil of Edmonton V i: 'Sfoot, it I do find knavery vnder's

cowl. I'll tickle him. I'll ferk him. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley II i: In good Decorum I had as good conuayance. And could haue ferd, and ferkt y'away a wench. 1656 Mennis & Smith 'The Louse's Peregrination' Musarum Deliciae (1817) 49: At last came a Soldier, I nimbly did ferk him, / Up the greazy skirts of's robustuous Buff

who clung to the styles of the earlier decade were described with gentle disparagement by things associated with the back-to-earth movement, for example, earth muffins, ferns, granolas, grape-nuts, groovers, and hey-wows.

fernleaf n.

Ithe SE silver fern, adopted as a national emblem, also seen on the uniforms of some representative N.Z. sporting teams] [N.Z.) a New Zealander, usu. a soldier. 1916 Chronicle NZEF 15 Nov. 127; Call them 'Overseas soldiers' or

'Down-under' men... Call them 'Cornstalks' or 'Fernleaves'—all out for a fight—But don't call them Anzacs, for that isn't right [DNZE]. 1917 Chronicle NZEF 17 Jan. 223: What strikes me most about the Fernleaf crowd is their beautiful humility respecting the merits of their own country [DNZE]. 1935 Mitchell & Strong in Partridge SI. Today and Yesterday (1935) 285: It [was] very generally believed by the New Zealand troops (Fernleaves or, as they preferred to call themselves. Diggers) that every English girl infallibly carried her return fare in case her soldier friend became mad. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/1: Fernleaf New Zealander, from the badge worn by WWI soldiers; replaced by 'Kiwi'. 1990 G. Langford Newlands 90: One third of all Fernleaves sent to luckdom come at Gallipoli died on Chunuk Bair [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fernrooter

n. [see prev.i (N.Z.) a New Zealander.

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

ferny

adj. [fern n.^] [US campus) clinging to the styles of the

1960s. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 4: ferny - characteristic of the sixties.

ferret

fescue

69

ferret

n? [SE ferret, a thief; ult. Lat. fur, a thief + image of a SE ferret, a predator used in the hunting of rabbits] 1 a tradesman who entices the

or he'l never bolt. 1672 J. Lacy Old Troop I 1: Thou art call'd Ferretfarm, because thou art so terrible valiant amongst the CountryBumpkins. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Ferreted c. Cheated. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: Ferret — to haunt one for money.

young and naive to spend money on credit, then promptly duns them for his bill. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 4: The commodities that are taken vp are cald Purse-nets. The Cittizen that selles them is the Ferret. 1659 Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony I iii: I [...] got a snap by a Neapolitan Ferret at the very same time, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Ferret, a Tradesman that sells Goods to young Unthrifts, upon Trust at excessive Rates, and then continually duns them for the debt. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.; ferret a Pawnbroker, or Tradesman that sells Goods to young Unthrifts, upon Trust at excessive Rates, and then hunts them without Mercy, and often throws them into Gaol, where they perish, for his Debt, 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. c.1750-1882 B.M, Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JoN Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: Pawnbrokers and Tallymen ate ferrets. 2 a low class pimp. 1611 Second Maiden's Tragedy II i: You should have seen a fellow, A common bawdy house ferret, one Bellarius, Steal through this room; his whorish barren face Three quarters muffled. 3 (also feret, ferrit) a pawnbroker. 1725 see sense 1. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 566: t Uncle, sometimes called the Ferrit, or the Frint—Cant terms for Pawnbroker. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet, n.p.: Feret, a pawnbroker. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 4 a young thief who gets into a coal barge and throws coal over the side to his confederates. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer &■ Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

f0rret

n? [SIl ferret-, like the animal, it burrows into holes; cits. 1599 and C.1650 are double entendres] 1 the penis.

1594 Gesta Grayorum in J. Nichols Progresses and Processions of Queen Elizabeth (1823) III 326; Capringe Kate, of Clarkenwell, claymes to hold [...] play for five Gentlemen Ushers, each of them with a ferret and two tumblers, weekly. 1599 H. Porter Two Angry Women of Abington F: And they put ferrets in the holes, fie, fie. And they go vp and dqwne where Connies lye. 1614 Jonson Bartholomew Fair II iv: Hear for your love, and buy for your money! / A delicate ballad o' 'The Ferret and the Coney'. 1620-50 'Off Alle The Seaes' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 8: The Coney then betwixt her leggs / did hold my fferrett ffast. 1637 N. Breton Packet of Letters in Grosart (1879) II 47/2: A Pedlar, a Parasite, and a Pandar? and now wouldest be Connie-catcher? Sir, I haue no game for your Ferret, and therefore hunt further, c.1650 'Of All the Seas' in Bold (1979) 160: I hunted up a hill, / A coney did espy; / My ferret seeing that, / into her hole did hie. 1660 Mercurius Fumigosus 4 28 Mar.-3 Apr. 26: [Something] to cover those naked Conneyberries from the fury of the enemy, or the rigour of the Ferrets that might otherwise torment the Forrests of comfort. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 198: The Ferret he goes in, through flaggs thick and thin.... The Cunny she shows play, and ... Like a Cat she does spit in his Face. 1947 implied in walk one's ferret below. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 93: The randy old bastard can't think of anything else but puttin' his fantom ferret through the furry hoop. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 186: I'm busting for a pee [...] So I did the obvious thing and slipped behind a couple of bushes, then gave my ferret a good run. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 56: You stand a good chance of getting the ferret through the furry hoop. 1995 A. Higgins Donkey's Years 153: He had an unclean mind and could make his tool stand up at will, a ferret stirring in a sack. 2 see CHUTNEY FERRET under chutney n.

■ In phrases walk one’s ferret (v.) (N.Z.) to masturbate. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 194: And how are you, you old bastard. You look seedy. Been walking your ferret too often, I expect.

ferret

n^ [SE ferret (out), to search] 1 (US) a detective.

1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 64: So the Main Detective called in a couple of Ferrets, who drew Twelve a Week, and they began to Shadow the Young Man. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparage¬ ment' in DN TV-.in 196: ferret, a keen and sly individual. 'They call detective No. 7 the ferret'. 2 (UK Und.) an informer.

1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 161: The 'ferrets', the stool pigeons and informers, nose among the warrens of gangland,

ferret

v. [ferret n.^ (1)1 to cheat, to defraud. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 3: They are glad [...] to tall to Ferret-hunting. 1664 R. Howard The Committee IV i: Ferret him.

ferreting n.^

[ferret n.^ (1) -f sfx-/ng] (UK Und.) a confidence trick that involves the offering of spurious credit and the subsequent profitable dunning of the victim who has taken it. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 3: Of Ferreting: or the Manner of vndooing Gentlemen by taking vp of commodities.

ferreting

n.^ [ferret n.^] sexual intercourse.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

ferriesdouzer

n. [Ital. fare cadere, to knock down -F dosso, back, or Lat./em, iron -F intensifier ca -F douse, a heavy blow. Hancock, 'Shelta and Polari' (1984), suggests an origin in Polari] 1 a knockout blow. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 228/1: No fear of a feiricadouzer for the butcher. (...) What does it mean? It means a dewskitch (a good thrashing). 1864, 1867, 1870 Rotten SI. Diet. 2 (also fericadooza) also in fig. use, anything outstanding or overwhelming. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 424/2: Oh! it does give them a ferrycadouzer. 2002 Juha 'Polari' [lyrics] on Polari [album] Beach in the screech. Alamo jo! / This dizzy hoofer gonna dowry jeebo. / Varda me fatcha, meshigner bona. / Savvy you gettin fericadooza. 2005 posting at http:// johnreppion.proboards33.com 8 Dec. [Internet] Did you varda that fericadooza review screeved by that old maunged fruit of an omipaloni tv critic in The Mail? That Pogy poncette had the cod temerity to call us 'no more menacing than a bunch of outsized orchids left over from The Muppet Show', the manky-eeked aspro!

Ferris Bueller n. m In phrases pull a Ferris Bueller (v.) [movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off campus) to cut class, to take time away from studies,

(1986)1

(US

1987 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 89: In 1987 to pull a Ferris Bueller became a way of saying 'to cut class, to take time off from studies'.

ferry n.

[many men get to 'ride on her']

1 (US black)

a homosexual,

1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 45: I suppose he was either a

2

ferry or a steamboat, one or the other, probably you would say a ferry because that's what you pay a nickel for - and that was the cause of him going to Chicago about 1906. He liked the freedom there. (Aus.lUS) a prostitute. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: (...] ferry (short rides).

ferryboat n. (US) 1

a large, clumsy shoe.

1903 'Hugh McHugh' I Need The Money 76: Didn't I work like a beaver to put the sparkle on his ferryboats.

2 a large automobile. 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. xvii; Sabrina [...]

alighted from a new big automobile. 'Pipe the ferry-boat. It's all mine; name on every piece.'

ferry dust

n. [? var. on

FAIRY DUST

under FAIRY

n?]

(drugs) heroin.

1984 Abel Diet. Drug Abuse Terms. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Ferry

dust — Heroin.

ferschlugginer careworn]

(US)

adj. (also furshlugginer) (Yid. farshlogn, worried,

confounded, darned, wretched.

1953-54 Mad mag.

Dec.-Jan, 4: Now maybe dot fershlugginer landlord send up some heat. [Ibid.] 6; Cutting up these fershluggi¬ ner bodies for autropsies and such. 1962 Mad mag. June 40: Living for Young Furshlugginers. 1978 L.A. Times 4 Jun, VII 5: Whosever [sic] got the fershluginer bug, put the fershluginer bug outta my bus [HDAS]. 1982 R. Rucker 57th Kafka 209: Where did you boys say you were losing that furshlugginer inertia-winder? [HDAS]. 1998 'Journal of the Hyperlinked Organisation' at www.hyperorg.com 9 Oct. [Internet] Like a special 'origins' issue of the Superman comic, Chris actually explains how we came up with such a ferschlugginer name for a 'zine. 2003 Mad mag. Feb. 4: Later in the day it is rumored he put to furshlugginer award up on eBay. 2006 GOPUSA 19 July [Internet] If you think I'm totin' that dingdong ferschlugginer computer to LaCrosse you'd better lake 2 aspirins and lie down.

fescue

n. [SE fescue, 'a small stick, pin, etc. used for pointing out the letters to children learning to read; a pointer' (OED)] the penis. 1613-16 Fletcher Two Noble Kinsmen II ii: Do but put / A feskiie in her fist, and you shall see her / Take a new lesson out, and be a good wench. 1641 J. Johnson Academy of Love 99: The young sparkish

fess Girles would read in Shakespeare day and night, so that they would open the Booke or Tome, and the men with a Fescue in their hands should point to the Verse. 1672-96 'Will the Merry Weaver' in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 132: 1 gave her a Fescue in her hand. And bid her use it her command. She said you best know where it should be. Come put it to my A.B.C. 1710 ,1. Dunton Athenianism II 263: [A] NIGHT WALKER ... half eat with the pox [...] too abominable to be touch'd with any thing but a Pair of Tongs, or a Fescue. 1748-49 Cleland Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1985) 73: I guided gently with my hand, this furious fescue, to where my young novice was now to be taught his first lesson of pleasure,

fess n.

[FESS v.

(2)1 {US campus)

a failure in a recitation.

1905 'West Point SI.' in Howitzer (US Milit. Academy) 292-5: Cold

Fess — Dismal failure.

fess

V. [abbr. SE cortfess] 1 to admit, to confess; esp. as fess up (to).

1860 T. Haliburton Season Ticket 250: Yes, half a dollar a day is poor

pay, but I must 'fess it's berry poor preachin'. 1871 O.E. Wood West Point Scrap-Book 64: When you and I and Benny, and all the others too, / Are called before the 'final board' our course of life to view, / May we never 'fess' on any point, but straight be told to go, / And join the army of the blest at Benny Havens', oh! 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 342: 'Cause to 'fess up, Cig, I ain't very proud o' this bummin'. 1903 'Hugh McHugh' Out for the Coin 104: Then and there I 'fessed up everything from Alpha to Omega. 1909 A. Bierce letter 1 Nov. in Pope Letters of Ambrose Bierce (1922) 157: You better 'fess up to your young friend. 1914 E. Wittmann 'Clipped Words' in DN IV:ii 142: fess. To confess, own up. 1929 S.J. Perelman Dawn Ginsbergh's Revenge 84: They "fessed' up that their name was not King after all. 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'Miles Franklin' All That Swagger 325: He means more to you than any one else in the world: 'fess up. 1947 N. Marsh Final Curtain (1958) 189: I've come to 'fess up,' like a good boy. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 45: Come on—fess up. Vomit on the table. I hear you're feeding him special soup! 1967 I. Rosenthal Sheeper 223: Tell the truth Smilowitz, 'fess up. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 116: Okay, fellas. Let's fess up. Who farted? [...] But a funny thing happened: nobody fessed up. 1986 S. King It (1987) 304: Fess up, Eds - who built the dam? 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 44: 'Why don't you just fess up?' I said. 2004 K. Rinehart Big Clean 6: Nevertheless, it's time to fess up to the mess your pad is in and own it.

2 (US campus) to fail in one's recitation, to admit that one has not prepared the lesson's work. 1834 in Military and Naval Mag. of US III 25 Mar. n.p.: My first appearance before the Blackboard—that terror to all 'fifth-section men:' that abomination of him who has to 'fess [DA]. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 195: fess. Probably abbreviated for Confess [...] to fail in reciting; to silently request the teacher not to put farther queries. 1878 H.O. Flipper Colored Cadet at West Point 53: 'Fessed,' 'fessed cold,' 'fessed frigid,' 'fessed out,' and 'fessed through.' — Made a bad recitation, failed. 1937 Banning West Point Today 295: Cadet Lingo [...] Fes, v. To fail completely in a recitation [DA].

3 (US black) to back down or decline. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

4 to complain, to whinge [suggesting an image of insincere or excessive confession, i.e. verbal manipulation]. 1984 Beastie Boys 'Party's Getting Rough' [lyrics] You're just fessin', man, I don't even want to hear about it. 5 to annoy or irritate someone [suggesting an image of insincere or excessive confession, i.e. verbal manipulation]. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 49: Don't fess with me or do and you're

through.

fessor n.

labbr.J (US black) a professor, i.e. male teacher.

1908 DN III 310: Fesser. . . Professor. . . Every man that teaches is

called a professor. 1930 'Handed-down Campus Expressions' AS VI:2 129: 'Fessor' is in common use, even by the townsfolk. "Fess' is less commonly, yet frequently heard. 1965-70 in DARE. 1976 A. Garber Mountain-ese 29: The fessor called Johnny inter his office fer throwin' spitballs [HDAS]. 2003 at www.unt.edu [Internet] Thomas P. Sovik, associate professor of music, won the 2002 'Fessor Graham Award, the highest honor bestowed by the student body at UNT. [...] It is named for the late Professor Floyd Graham.

-fest

fetch

70

sfx [abbr. SE festival] (orig. US) used in comb, with a relevant n.

to indicate a gathering or get-together. [1865 Harper's Weekly 5 Aug. 490/2: Arrangements were made for the Saengerfest, which will be celebrated at Philadelphia in 1867 [DA].] [1870 N.-Y. Trib. 15 June 5/5: Second Day of the Schuetzen Fest [DA].] [1880 Daily Inter-Ocean (Chicago) 1 June 7/6: The bundesvost was located at St. Louis for the next two years, and the same city was chosen for the bundesfest next year [DA].] [1893 Chicago Trib. 10 July 4/1: A volksfest was given yesterday for the benefit of the German Old People's Home [DA].] 1904 T.A. Dorgan

in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 17: Mr. James Britt will start his chirpfest at Boston next week. 1907 J. London Road 178: The mobs and the hoboes had a talkfest, fraternized, sang songs, and parted. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 284: What of you two hurleys breaking my husband's arms, then seeing him home and holding a love-fest with him. 1915 C. Sandburg letter 9 Aug. in Mitgang (1968) 103: On various beer-fests Masters has told me of your aversions to throwing the bull. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 105: Royce might be too tough for anything but a Coney Island spiel-fest. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 140: You will get 11% on your kale in this fun-fest. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 257: Christopher opens it up again during this slugfest in mid-ring. 1929 D. Hammett Red Harvest (1965) 34: We had a talk-fest. 1931 P. Stevenson Gospel According to St Luke's 204: It made Ethelbert furious, sometimes, to watch them [...] using old Herakles as a sort of punching bag in their kid-fests. 1937 J. Archibald 'Crash on Delivery' in Flying Aces Nov. [Internet] It took the combined efforts of Captain Howell [...] and a few other pilots, to keep the two from a fist fest. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 118: I was always on the lookout for new records to pep up those wax-fests of ours. 1954 Kerouac letter May in Charters I (1995) 412: We have a songfest and a hundred and two school children gather around to listen. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore 84: Hopfest - 1. A 'party' of drug addicts for the purpose of indulging in narcotics. 2. A narcotic spree of a drug addict. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 52: He and Mike had a music fest. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 135: Hollywood, notorious sinfest capital of the world. 1974 Birmingham (Ala) News 10 Mar. 27: The San Jose, Calif., streaking fest began Friday night and lasted into the early morning hours on Saturday. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 78:1 just got back from the beach. What a skinfest! 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 129: The panicky pace of the last couple of weeks accelerated into one big tremblefest. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 9: sweatiest - an overcrowded dance or party. 1998 Guardian 23 July 24: He's soon off in search of the 'suckfest par excellence'. 1999 Guardian Weekend 21 Aug. 53: The rest are at raves, snogfests and go-karting tracks. 1999 Indep. Information 4-10 Sept. 21: His aa is more of a pleasant ramble than a rat-a-tat-tat gagfest. 1999 Indep. Rev. 8 Oct. 12: You'd be forgiven for assuming that this is another gross-out gunk-fest. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 92: Sweeney's whipped 'em into a frenzy, man, it's a fucking passionfest out there. 2000 Guardian G2 18 Jan. 12: A couple from Manchester have a weekend birthday shagfest. 2000 Indep. Mag. 22 Jan. 14: The legendary drug fests. 2000 Indep. Rev. 14 Mar. 4: Pubs around the country prepare themselves for the all-day licensing swigfest. 2000 Indep. Rev. 17 May 11: A hilarious German splatter-fest with a body in a trunk. 2000 M. Amis Experience 92: This would become the era of the late-night carbofests, the twohour supersnacks. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 185: Having a freaknasty bronco-bucking-bonkfest in the backdoor of boy toy Lil Kim. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 324: She wants to eschew indie cheapies [and] sexploitation yukfests like Exit to Ecstasy. 2007 Guardian G2 18 June 3: Will Glastonbury be a mudfest?

festive

adj. 'loud, fast, a kind of general utility word' (F&H).

1874 'English SI.' in Eve. Telegram (N.Y.) 9 Dec. 1/5: Let us present a few specimens:- [...] 'My gay and festive cuss.' (Artemus Ward). 1879 "Any on Niggers' in Punch 15 Mar. 113/2: He's off with the 17th Lancers to kibosh the festive Zulu. 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. x: They just naturally decorated her with the festive bug and told her to take a whirl at vaudeville or something else real mean. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'Nocturne' in Rose of Spadgers 51: If you are flush in Spadgers, 'tain't good form / To git too festive. 1934 O. Strange Sudden 9: 'Don't get festive with me, fella,' he warned.

fetch

n.^ {UK Und.)

1

a trick, a fraud.

1568 Hist, of Jacob and Esau V iv: Ah hypocrite, ah hedgecreeper, ah sembling wretche: I will be euen with thee for this subtill fetche. 1617 Middleton & Rowley A Fair Quarrel V i: Was this your cunning fetch. To fetch me out of prison, for ever to marry me Unto a strumpet? C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fetch a Trick or Wheedle. A meer Fetch, that is far fetched, or brought in by Head and Shoulders. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1727 J. Gay Beggar's Opera II xiii: Be pacified, my dear Lucy - This is all a Fetch of Polly's, to make me desperate with you jn case I get off. 1737,1759,1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 18216 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 112: A mere fetch to gammon the tongues of the crew.

2 the act of eliciting secrets from a victim. 1823

'Jon Bee'

Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.

76:

A Fetch, a

heave, and a lifter would be synonimous [sic], if they stood without context. Finesse being used to obtain any man's secrets, is a fetch: if much labour is employed, resembling a heaving at the capstan,' 'tis a

fetch heave',

but a single effort, by which the person operated upon is

brought to think highly of self, is a

f©tch

n?'

[northern dial,

fetch,

Citizens [...] laugh at their Creditors and their Catchpoles, Yet your Black-smith can fetch them over the Coales. 1699 'The Black-Smith' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy 1 30: [as cit. 1656].

lifter.

an apparition, a double of a living person]

1 a success; one who appeals.

fetch

1888 "Arry at a Radical Reception' in Punch 12 May 219/1: Well,

2

fete down

71

mate, he may be a fraud, but I'm blowed if he isn't a 'fetch'. a likeness; thus the very fetch of, the image of. 1910 P.W. Joyce Eng. As We Speak It In Ireland (1979) the English call a double.

fetch n?

256:

[1573 New Custom II iii: Holde your handes you rude knaue or by goddes bodie I sweare, I wyll quickley fetche my fyst from your eare.] 1737 H. Carey Dragon ofWantley HI i: Come, Mr. Dragon, or by Jove I'll fetch you; / I'll trim your Rascals Jacket, if I catch you. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 486: Yet did the cudgel crack his crown, / And fetch'd him with a rattle down. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) 1 219: A knock I'll fetch you, if I can. 1819 'One of THE Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 25: In the Twelth and Last Round SANDY fetch'd him a downer. 1825 'West-Country Bumpkin's Description' Universal Songster I 230: I'd have fetch'd him a punch in the face. 1838 T. Haliburton Clockmaker II 250: She fetched me a deuce of a clip on the side of the face. 1853 Dickens Bleak House (1991) 143: In consequence of young Perkins having 'fetched' young Piper 'a crack'. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 19/2: Go it Pug; he hit you, he did; hit 'im agin. Fetch him a clout in the hie. 1874 J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 144: She fetched him a spank for tumbling over. 1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag & Co. 29: If I ever got such a ugly customer into my boat, I'd look out for my opportunity and I'd settle him [...] I'd fetch him a crack over the head with a stretcher. 1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 168: 'Er muvver took an' fetched 'er a clip over the 'ead. 1902 J. Masefield 'Sing a Song o'Shipwreck' in Salt-Water Ballads 10: So I says 'Dry up, or I'll fetch you a crack o' the head.' 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 136: Ole Cockles fetches him one with his gingham right across the snitch. 1926 Breton & Bevir Adventures of Mrs. May 109: Fetch 'im a oner side of th' 'ead. 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 384: Then and there would I have fetched him such a cuff on the jowls. 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 31: 'Ed fetched 'is ole woman a bash acrorst the jaw. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 75: Well, Mandy herself, fetch me a clip on the lughole, 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 169: Em fetches him a swipe with the spoon. 1989 H. Leonard Out After Dark 64: My mother fetched me a dirty look. 1999 Guardian Weekend 5 June 34: He'd fetch her one across the mouth. 2005 P. Hayden Conker Champ 4: I'll fetch him one next time I git hold of urn, chuckin things out an' not tellin me.

Fetch; what

[SE fetch, to draw forth] semen.

1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter)

196: There are many terms for the ejaculate [...] fetch, fuck, melted butter, honey, spunk and lather are all fairly common terms,

fetch n.'* {US black)

an illegitimate or abandoned child.

1944 Collier's 23 Sept. 13: A professional granny accepting anywhere

from 25c to $1 a week for taking in drops, rustles, fetches or whatever you've a mind to call them [W&F].

fetch

v.^

1

to attract, to interest.

1592 Greene Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher

(1923) 10: Cyrces had neuer more charms [...] the Syrens more subtil tunes, then 1 haue crafty slightes to intieagle a Conny, and fetch in a country Farmer. 1610 Jonson Alchemist 11 v: This will fetch em. And make them haste towards their gulling more. A man must deal like a rough nurse, and fright Those that are froward, to an appetite. 1727 J. Gay Beggar's Opera 1 viii: Give her another Glass, Sir; my Mama drinks double the Quantity whenever she is out of Order. This, you see, fetches her. 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 87: lady sm.: Miss, that's a very handsome gown of yours, and finely made, very genteel [...] miss.: Ay, 1 assure you, 1 won't take it as I have done, if this won't fetch him, the devil fetch him, say 1. 1869 C.G. Lbland 'Ballad' in Hans Breitmann's Party 30: Da/fetched him - he shtood all shpell pound; / She pooled his coat-tails down, / She drawed him oonder der wasser, / De maidens mit nodings on. 1876 B. Harte Gabriel Conroy 111 39: They did say that 1 used to sometimes fetch that congregation, jest snatch 'em bald-headed. 1877 "Arry on His 'Oliday' in Punch 13 Oct. 160/2: My merstrash is a coming on proper — that fetches 'em, Charlie my boy. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 13/2: As for Osman Digger, if the flash fivers and the pitch about the legacy don't fetch him, never call me Flymy any more. 1899 Kipling 'The Impressionists' in Complete Stalky & Co. (1987) 111: 'Con¬ sequences of what, sir?' said Beetle, genuinely bewildered this time; and McTurk quietly kicked him on the ankle for being 'fetched' by Prout. 1901 Boy's Own Paper 27 Apr. 471: This seemed to 'fetch' the elephant, for now he stretched his proboscis towards the man. 1908 A.N. Lyons Arthur's 110: That fetched 'em. 1913 Van Loan 'For Revenue Only' in Lucky Seventh (2004) 213: We told 'em they'd have to take those signs down [...] or we would n't hit any home runs [...] That fetched 'em, you bet. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 40: That one's been getting a big hand everywhere [...] and it'll be one of the bitterest disappointments of my life if it doesn't fetch you, sweetheart! 2 to excite sexually. 1878 "Arry on Pooty Women' in Punch 21 Sept, in P. Marks (2006) 149: The spicey-cut toggery fetches me, Charlie, that's poz. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) II 357: We used to fetch each other by talking over that night. 3 to produce orgasm either in oneself or a partner. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) X 1959: The lubricity and its clip fetched me [Ibid.] 2072: Oh you'll fetch me — don't. 4 to gain access to, to go to (esp. prison). 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 232: I'll show you how you'll fetch his place.

■ In phrases fetch a Tyburn stretch (v.) see under Tyburn n. fetch the brewer (v.) to become drunk. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fetch away (y.) to divide, to separate, to take away (something) from. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Us Analogues.

fetch mettle (v.) Imettle n.] to masturbate. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. 1823

Egan

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fetch one’s pennyworth out of (v.) to ensure that a person works hard for their wages, to get one's money's worth out of. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew.

fetch over the coals

(v.)

(the burning of heretics at the stake] to

reprimand. 1592 Greene Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher (1923) 28: Tush you men are foppes in fetching nouices ouer the coales.

1656 Mennis & Smith et al. Wit and Drollery 9: Your Bankrupt

V? 113C SE fetch, to give a blow] to hit; esp. as fetch someone

one.

fetched

adj. {US) a euph. for damned adj.

1854 M.J. Holmes Tempest and Sunshine 94: I've got such fetched big

corns on my feet, that I ain't goin' to be cramped with none of your toggery. 1860 M.J. Holmes Cousin Maude and Rosamund 155: I'se not gwine to spile what little beauty I've got with that fetched complaint.

fetch up

V. [orig. one's health.

naut.l

1

to recuperate from an illness, to recover

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant.

2

{orig. US naut.) to arrive at a destination, intentionally or otherwise. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms 136: to fetch up. To stop suddenly

[...] It is a nautical vulgarism, the figure being that of a ship which is suddenly brought to, while at full speed and with all her sails set. 1849 W.C. Hall 'Mike Hooter's Fight with the 'Bar" Spirit of the Times 10 Nov. (N.Y.) 452: The fust thing I diskiver, he fotch up kerlumpus down in the water in Cole's creek. 1850 'Ned Buntline' G'hals of N.Y. 11: There's no knowing, Mrs. Granger says, 'where he'll fetch up'. 1855 'See the Elephant' in Lingenfelter et al. Songs of the Amer. West (1968) 88: [I] then fetched up in Hangtown Jail. 1891 W. De Vere 'A Black Hills Sermon' Tramp Poems 21: I've fetched up with the 'Webfeet' way down here on old Puget Sound. 1901 'Miles Franklin' My Brilliant Career 145: It was not long before I fetched up at Dogtrap homestead. 1914 M. Glass Potash and Perlmutter 139: So I boarded a freight over to West Thirtieth Street and fetched up in Walla Walla, Washington. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 93: Fetch Up. To-. To arrive. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 31: Eventually we fetched up in Trafalgar Square. 1954 WODFHOUSE Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 46: The prisoner [...] would be lucky if he didn't fetch up on Devil's Island. 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 99: I didn't fetch up at journey's end till well past midnight. 1973 A. Bennett Habeas Corpus Act I: Then we fetched up in Rhodesia. 1996 A. Close Official and Doubtful 335: He was the one who fetched up at Jack's funeral. 2000 Guardian 14 Jan. 32: A group of under-10s fetching up in their school holiday at the training ground looking for autographs. 2002 M. Roddis Lonely Planet Valencia and the Costa Blanca 52: If a town has more than one post office, your mail will fetch up at the main one unless another is specified in the address.

fete down

v. [SE fete, a party] (W.l.) to go on a (lengthy) spree.

1996 Allsopp D/c/. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fete up fete

up V. [SE fete, a party] (W.l.) to take out and entertain in the hope of persuading one's guest to agree with one's plans, esp. in a political or business context. 1972 cited

in Allsopp

Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage

(1996),

fettled

adj. [SE phr. in fine fettle + note Cheshire dial, fettled ale, ale mulled with ginger and sugar] tipsy, drunk. 1889-90

Barrere

&

Leland

Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant.

fever

n. {also fever in the South) [i.e. fiver n.] 1 (US gambling) the point of five in craps dice. 1898 'The Game of Craps' in Current Lit. Xin:6 558/2: Nearly every point on the dice is named. [,..] five is called 'Phoebe' or 'fever'. 1927 Bridgeport (CT) Telegram 21 Nov. 4/5: De dice am clickin' so fast you'd think you was in a telegraph office, and Nappy makes ebery point on de dice and some dat wasn't on 'em - Little Joe, Feber in de South, Five and a Half, Sixty Days, Two Months and a Half, Fighter From Decatur, Eight and Three Quarters, Three Boxcars and the Caboose. 1937 Wash. Post 3 Oct. B8/6: [...] Five is either 'Fever' or 'Phoebe,' and an eight is an 'Fighter from Decatur.' 1958 Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 202: 5 - fever. 2002 'The Lang, of Craps' CasinoTips.org [Internet] FIVE: 'After five, the field's alive,' 'thirty-two juice roll' (OJ's jersey number), 'little Phoebe,' 'fiver, fiver, racetrack driver,' 'we got the fever,' 2004 'Animated Dominoes, Dice' at Old and Sold [Internet] Some of the bestknown nicknames in dice are: [...] Fever, Fever in the South (and no doctor): total of five. {US prison) a five-year sentence.

2

1976 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligeneer 30 Mar. 2/2: A five year term, aside from a 'fever' is known as a 'fin.'

fever cart

n. {UK Und.) an ambulance.

1906 O.C. Malvery Soul Market 284: The 'fever cart,' as the inhabitants of this court call the ambulance of the Asylum's Board,

feverish

adj. (US) a euph. for drunk.

a.1856 Benjamin Franklin quoted in Hall (1856) 461: Dr. Franklin, in speaking of the intemperate drinker, says, he will never, or seldom, allow that he is drunk; he may be [...] 'a little feverish, pretty well entered, &c., but never drunk'.

fevvers

n. (Cockney pron. of SE feathers, which adorn her hat| (Aus.) a Cockney woman. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialeets 23: fevvers (n.) — A Cockney woman. ('Where'd jer get the fevvers, Liza?'). 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: fewers. A Cockney woman,

few

adj.

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds few tickers (n.) [tick n.'’ (2)1 (US black) a few minutes. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D.

Burley

Orig. Hhk of Harlem Jive.

■ In phrases a few sheets in the wind see three sheets in the wind phr. few...short of a... (phr.) see under ...short of... adj.

few, a

n,

f.f.f.

72

1

someone extreme in manner.

1850 W.C. Hall 'Mike Hooter's Bar Story' Spirit of the Times 26 Jan. (N.Y.) 581: It was that feller Arch Cooly [...] Didn't you know that ar' hoss fly? He's a few! well he is. Jewhilliken! how he could whip er nigger! and swar!! whew!

2 a number, unspecified, of drinks; usu. as have a few below. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 211:1 took a few then and there before breakfast. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Aug. 15/1: He had driven into town, and had 'met a few.' 1 was asked by some of his friends to drive him home. And Simpson talked, turning his bleary eyes on me. 1914 R. Lardner You Know Me Al (1984) 88: I wish 1 was lifting a few with you to-night. 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer's Colt 90: He's a fine chap, but he can't carry too much and when he gets a few in he wants to fight somebody, 1959 G. Hamilton Summer Glare 50: The fathers returned home after their Saturday afternoon 'few'. 1960 A. Seymour One Day of the Year (1977) II hi: Y'r gettin' carried away. Just because a coupla blokes get a few in— 1969 J. Hibberd Dimboola (2000) 70: Let's crack a tew. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 171: There was nothing new in Scotland Yard hacks knocking back a few with the chaps. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 77: few, a Too many beers; have a few in, drunk. ANZ from early C20. 3 (US prison) a short prison sentence. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248; Few. Less than fifteen days, [Ibid.I 266: The month that has twenty-nine days in it is no longer counted as such, and if he has done one day of the last year his time is now 'eleven and a few,' or eleven months and a part of the twelfth. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 68/2: Few, a. A very short sentence; as days, in a workhouse; months, in a county penitentiary; two or three years in a prison.

4 a short time, i.e. a few minutes. 2001 G. Pelecanos Right As Rain 84: Back in a few.

■ In phrases

have a few (v.) (also have a few in) (orig. Aus.) to have a few drinks; thus have a few too many v., to be drunk (cf. have one too MANY

under one n.^).

1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 Aug. 35/1: 'Come an' have a drink, missus.'

/ 'I don't mind if I do have a lemonade,' she said, bashfully. / She had evidently 'had a few' already, by the scent in her breath. 1915 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Aug. 47/1: [0[ne night, when I 'ad a few in, a couple of Johns got onto a cobber of mine, an' I stuck fer 'im and stoushed one of the cops. 1929 J.B. Priestley Good Companions 210: Let me 'ave a few or a bit o' tinned salmon last thing, and I'm off, all night. [Ibid.] 422: I saw yon Morton Mitcham coming out of a pub and I could see he'd had a few. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 240: He was like me, he'd had a few. 1940 F. Sargeson 'Big Ben' in Coll. Stories (1965) 125: With a few in even Ben's wife would have something to say. [Ibid.] 'That Summer' 149: So we got to the pub and we both had a good few in by closing time. [Ibid.] 'That Summer' 175: Even his missis came and had a few. 1952 C. Harris Death of a Barrow Boy 178: Well, 'e'd 'ad more'n a few when 'e left the Arms. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 55:1 have a few [...] and I get carried away and the old fists start flailing. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. Dibner Admiral (1968) 233: He half-supported his bleached blond and bosomy wife who had already had a few too many. 1975 D. Davin Breathing Spaces 10: He's had a few in, all right. 1979 A. Payne 'The Dessert Song' Minder [TV script] 32: This geezer used to put a roof slate on the bar after he'd had a few, then smash it with his forehead. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 48: Barry? A boozer? 'I mean, 'as he had a few from time to time?' 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 52: We're just hanging out, havin' a few. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 33: A steep, darkly lit staircase that could have you going arse over tip if you'd had a few. 2006 P. Shanno.n Davey Darling 84: 'Well, you know I've been down to the pub.' [...] 'Yeah, Bryce. He was having a few.' put a few back (v.) (a/so put a few down) to have a few drinks. 1999 Reggie 'Beer Rev.' at BigBeefandBeer.com [Internet] Not many beers are as refreshing as a wheat, white, or weiss when the mercury passes ninety degrees. We've had quite a few days like that lately, so I've had plenty of chances to put a few down. 2001 S. Farrell Dallas Morning News 28 Jun. [Internet] The thought is to play the games, then go to sponsoring pubs and put a few back. 2006 Beer Advocate 30 July [Internet] Is there a brew you've got saved for today? [...] I've got some chores to knock out before I can put a few back.

few, a adv.

a good deal.

1761 A. Murphy Citizen II i: I [...] throw my eyes about a few [OED]. 1778 Mme D'Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) I 45:1 trembled a few, for, I thought, ten to one he'd say—'He?—not he—I promise you!' 1807 Irving & Paulding Salmagundi (1860) 232: The fact was - nor did he make any secret of it - he was determined to 'astonish the natives a few!' 1837 A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II ii: Well, I'm blowed if that ain't slap up. Lize, you can sing a few. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 49: I came the sentimental over him, and I think I'll make a few out of him! 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 601; Few, a, in slang means a little. 'Were you alarmed? No, but I was astonished a few.' It is in this case synonymous with rather, which is used more frequently in the South. J. R. Lowell [...[ traces a few back to the French im pen. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 1 30: I'm just throwing it into him a few to sort o' square up a personal grievance. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 201: I aim to let Santa surprise you a few. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 76: That was bear-meat [...] the real bear-meat. Say, we went a few, didn't we. Smoke.

few!, a

exd. a deliberately down-played rejoinder, an excl. of positive affirmation. 1853 Dickens Bleak House (1991) 280: 'I appeal to our mutual friend

Smallweed whether he has or has not heard me remark that I can't make him out.' Mr. Smallweed bears the concise testimony, 'A few!' 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 132: Few used in a Slang sense thus: — 'Don't you call this considerably jolly?' 'I believe you, my bo-o-oy, a FEW.' Sometimes the reply is, 'just a few.' Another expression of the same kind is rather. 1896 W.C: Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 19: few adv. Used in place of little. 'Are you sorry to leave?' 'A few.'

fews and twos

n. (US black) a very small amount of money.

1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: fews

money or cash in small quantity. 1944 D. Hbk of Harlem Jive 105: I'm suffering with the fews. fey n. see ofay n. AND two (n.):

f.f. n. see f.f.f. phr.

Burley

Orig.

fist-fucking n.

(abbr. /rigged, /ucked, and far from home or/orlorn, /amished, and far from home] (Aus.) utterly miserable (on account of the war).

F-40 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 23: f.f.f. — Completely miserable. ('Forlorn, famished and far from home'). 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. /.../ in the A.l.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: F.F.F. Completely miserable; frig[g]ed, fucked, and far from home; forlorn, famished, and far from home.

F-40

n. (the pharmaceutical identification stamped on the capsule] {drugs} a Seconal capsule. 1980 E. Folb Rimnin' Down Some Lines 168; Other terms associated Seconal with its commercial identification number (and potency) F-40s, Lilly F-40s, F-60s, F-66s. [Ibid.] 177: Like them little ol' '40s, they will set you on your ass and have your mind in a daze.

fhawkner

n. [? SE hawk] (UK Und.) a thief who steals poultry from

shops. c,1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Fhawkners fellows who steal from poulterer's shops geese, ducks, fowls, pigeons, game, and whatever may be within their reach.

fiasco

n. [joc. mispron.l a fiance; occas. fiancee.

1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Jul. 14/4: Two ex-mummers and their elderly hubbies, another ex-mummer and her 'fiasco,' and a racing magnate's wife brought down the glasses of galleries and circle on their respective heads.

fib

n. [FIB v.J a blow, a punch; thus fibbery n., boxing.

1790 'The Bowman Prigg's Farewell' in Wardroper (1995) 284: We will mill all the culls with our fibs / And teach them a new morrisdance, sir. 1814 Sporting Mag. XLIV 111: A fib [...] which he gave the Black under the left ribs. 1821 'Manful Exertions' in Fancy IXVII415: Down to posterity, he who of Fibbery I Details to the world its science and mystery, / Will weave (without fibbing) into his history / Neate valiant Neate, that extinguish'd the Gas.

fib

V. [Lancs, dial.; note Egan, Book of Sports, (1832): 'Technical, in the P.R.,

to hammer your opponent repeatedly in close quarters; and to get no return for the compliment you are bestowing on him'] to beat, to thrash; to box; thus fibber n., a prizefighter.

1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 N4: To Fib a Cones Quanons in the Rome pad for his Loure in his bung that is to say [...] to beate a man by the high¬ way for the money in his purse. 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Fib, To beat. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 194: [as cit. 1612]. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: Fib, to beat. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 32: Fib, to beat. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 115: To beat him To fib him. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 19: To beat Fib. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1800 'Tom the Drover' No. 30 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: I'm a lad that can Fib with the queerest. 1810 'A New Song Called The Mill' in Holloway & Black (1979) I 251: He's come to mill our champion Cribb, / And doth declare he will him fib. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress xvii: The Man of Colour, to prevent he'mg fibbed, grasped tight hold of Carter's hand. 1820 Jack Randall's Diary 32: My friend is once more putting in his claim to be considered as an accomplished Fibber, and that his declaration of ‘cutting his sticks,' is all - a Flam, c.1825 T. Jones 'The True Bottom'd Boxer' in Egan Bk of Sports (1832) 74/1: Fibbing a nob is most excellent gig, my lads. 1832 S, Warren Diary of a Late Physician in Works (1854) III 86: Slash, smash—fib away—right and left! 1848 Dickens Dombey and Son (1970) 712: He was severely fibbed by the Larkey one, and heavily grassed. 1853 'Cuthbert Bede' Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 118: He told Verdant, that his claret had been repeatedly tapped, [...] and his whole person put in chancery, stung, bruised, fibbed, propped, fiddled, slogged, and otherwise illtreated. 1865 G.F. Berkeley My Life, etc. I 311: As there was no room to hit out, in the phraseology of the ring, I fibbed at half a dozen waistcoats and faces with all my might and main [F&H]. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1892 in Punch 3 Dec. 262: Some smart fibbing, in which neither could claim an advantage, ensued. 1927 (con. 183540) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 135: He played the fiddle as if he was in chancery, fibbing at it with a punishing right until the lacerated catgut squeaked and squealed.

fibbing 1812

fiddle

73

n. [fib v.[ prize-fighting, boxing.

Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 240: fibbinga boxing match. 1818 T. Moore 'Epistle from Tom Cribb to Big Ben' in Fudge Family in Paris 167: The only one trick, good or bad, / Of the Fancy you're up to, is, fibbing, my lad. 1824 Emerald (N.Y.) 16 Oct. 109/1-2: Round IS. - Soon closed; a decent struggle, and severe fibbing. Kensett down. 1837 R. Barham 'Bagman's Dog' in Ingoldsby Legends (1840) 335: I say, could I borrow these Gentlemen's Muses, / More skill'd than my meek one in 'fibbings' and bruises. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 106: Fibbing, pummelling a head while in chancery. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 126: FIBBING. Short, quick blows when the parties are close to each other. 1860 'Sayers' and Keenan's Great Fight' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Vaux

MATCH

Street Lit. (1871) 124: Such fibbing and such up and down / Lor, how the swells did shout. 1864, 1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 132: FIBBING, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance — Pugilistic. 1873 SI Diet.

■ In compounds fibbing gloak (n.) [cloak n.[ a boxer. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 240: fibbinggloak a pugilist. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: Fibbing-gloak — a boxer professed, who misapplies his talents, fibre n. [SE wood fibre] (S.Afr.) a matchbox. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 387/2: C.20. fice n. (also fico, foyse) [foist n.’’; note 19C US dial./?ce, a small dog] a silent breaking of wind, 'more obvious to the nose than to the ears; frequently by old ladies charged on their lapdogs' (Grose, 1796). 1788,1796

Grose

Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue

{2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.:

Fice, or Foyse. A small windy escape backwards, more obvious to the nose than ears; frequently by old ladies charged on their lap-

1811 Lex. Balatroniaim. 1823 Vulgar Tongue.

dogs.

Egan

Grose's Classical Diet, of the

ficky-fick n. (also ficky boom-boom, ficky-ficky) FUCK n. (1) -F redup.l 1 sexual intercourse.

[pidgin var. of

1981 W. Boyd 'On the Yankee Station' in On the Yankee Station (1982) 127: She number ten, Johnny, she quick-time girl. No ficky-fick. 1983 (con. 1970) S. Wright Meditations in Green (1985) 195: 'Don't forget my trip to Saigon.' 'Or your ficky boom-boom.' 1990 (con. 1965-70) A.M. Hoffman Archives of Memory 155: You know, they'd come up to you and ask you if you wanted a 'ficky-fick,' [...] or ask you if you had chocolate or soap or Crations or K-rations. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1984 J. Krich Music in Every Room 263: The boys were scared of him he was so large - but they channeled their fear into taunts and 'ficky-ficky' gestures. fico, a n. see fic, a n. fid n. [abbr. SE fiddle] (US) a violin. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 24: I took the old fid out when 1 got to the hotel and strung her up. Fidas n. see Fiftas n. fiddle n.’' [SEfiddle, 1 the penis.

a violin,

i.e.

resemblance or sound or one 'plays' on

it]

1523 Skelton Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell line 740: What blunderar is yonder, that playth didil diddil? He fyndith fals mesuris out of his fonde fiddill. 1598 Marston Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Satyre 1 28: Tie not endure that with thine instrument (Thy Gambo violl plac'd betwixt thy thighes. Wherein the best part of thy courtship lyes) [...] Come, now let's heare thy mounting Mercurie, What mum? giue him his fiddle once againe. Or he's more mute than a Pythagoran. 1632 R. Brome Covent-Garden Weeded 1 i: Hells broke loose; this comes of your new fingle-fangle fashion, your preposter¬ ous Italian way forsooth [...] The very first twang of your fiddle guts has broke all, and conjur'd a legion of devils among us. 1654 T. Killigrew Thomaso Pt 1 IV ii: You let me cool so long upon't, my desire is over; and if she do's not use me mighty kindly, and put my toy in tune, my Fiddle will make no Musick. c.1690 'Seven Merry Wives' in Pepys Ballads (1987) V 413: He seldom will play His kind Wile a sweet Lesson, but ... complains that his Fiddle is still out of Tune. 1698 'No True Love between Man and Woman' Poetical Remaines of Rochester, Etherege, and Others 113: 'Tis her Men adore all, / That has the best Fiddle Priapus to tickle, c.1707 'The Merchant & the Fidler's Wife' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 154: O Robin thou'st lost thy Fiddle. / If I have lost my Fiddle, / Then I am a Man undone. 1721 'On the Death of Mr. Viner, by Dean Parnelle' in Pleasures of Coition n.p.: Those Fingers, which such Pleasure did convey, / Must now become to stupid Worms a prey: / The grateful fiddle will for ever stand / A silent Mourner for its Master's Hand. 1773 'Green Sleeves' Burns Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 84:1 shall rouse her in the morn, / My fiddle and I thegither. c,1800 'The Rakes of Stony Batter' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 224: Play me Bobbin Joan, or else I'll break your fiddle. 2 the vagina. 1601 Marston Jacke Drums Entertainment Act I: The wenches, ha, when I was a yong man and could tickle the Minikin, and made them crie thankes sweete Timothy, 1 had the best stroke, the sweetest touch, but now (I may sigh to say it) I am falne from the Fidle. 1632 R. Brome Covent-Garden Weeded I i: Were you but now all o'th heigh to set your self out for a signe with your fiddle cum twang, and promise such wonders, forsooth, and will not now be seen. 1639 J. Shirley Gentleman of Venice III iv: [Let them] wait and want The knowledge of thy fiddle my dear Dowsabel. 1655 Young-Mans Tryal in Williams Diet. Sexual Lang. I 478: [She wishes] for one to play on her Fiddle. 1660 Select Quaeries 2 9: Whether Diana his Mistris does not carry a Fiddle in her A-, because of the frequent fingering of her

fiddle Instrument. 1674 'Trap' in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 17: My little Fiddle should not be plaid on. 1686 'On the Ladies of Honour' Harleian Mss. 7319.428: A yard of a pizzle Is the length of the thing can best please her Fiddle. 1694 Comforts ofWhoreing 29: [She pleases her client] with her various Motions and Activity, that his Breech Dances, Capers and Firks it in as good Time as if she had a Fidle in her Commodity. 1707 'My Thing is my Own' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) 1195:1 thank'd him for nothing, but bid him be gone, / For my little Fiddle should not be plaid on. a.1749 Robertson of Struan 'A Song' Poems (1752) 275: You may thrum on the Fiddle, as she can well dance / And like two merry Beggars may feast, c.1800 'Duncan Macleerie' Burns Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 177: Duncan Macleerie has got a new fiddle, / It's strung wi' hair, and a hole in the middle, / An' ay when he plays on't, his wife looks sae cheery. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1929 Ethel Waters 'My Handy Man' [lyrics] He shakes my ashes, greases my griddle, / Churns my butter, strokes my fiddle; / My man is such a handy man! 1964 J. Thompson Pop. 1280 in Four Novels (1983) 478: That's what she keeps you around for, to diddle her fiddle. 3 a watchman's rattle (the precursor of the policeman's whistle). 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 4 (UK prison) a primitive 'machine' used in prison to 'pick' oakum. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 44: The taskmaster warder came in, bringing with him the 'fiddle' on which I was to play a tune called 'Four pounds of oakum a day.' It consisted of nothing but a piece of rope and a long crooked nail. 5 (Aus.) a maize grater. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn). 6 (N.Z.) a dressed hindquarter of mutton. 1937 (con. 1870s) 'Genus' Thomas (Ayson) 153: Jock Graham did a roaring trade in Dunedin by purchasing carrots in the Taieri and tying three of them to a hind leg of a sheep. This was known as a fiddle and he would hawk them through the streets and dispose of them for sixpence. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 77: fiddle 1. Hindquarter of mutton. From 1930s. 7 (N.Z.) a car radio. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

■ In compounds fiddle-bow (n.) [it 'plays' sense 2 above] the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledieta TV:2

(Winter) 194: Then there is the jargon of the [...] orchestra, such as fiddling stick, fiddle bow, fiddle stick, drumstick (used for beating the drum), organ and flute and even trombone (from the in-and-out action). fiddle-diddle (n.) [diddle n.^ (1)1 the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fiddlecases (n.) [resemblance] (US black) shoes, esp. large ones. 1944 'fiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orlg. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

fiddleface (n.) [the long face resembles the shape of a violin] a wizened, drawn face, a miserable face. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 W. Westall Larry Lohengrin I 67: 'No fiddle-face, 1 suppose?' added Esreourt, with a good-humoured smile. a.1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 129/2: Put on a fiddle-face and jaw to him about his future, and it's most likely he and his mates will slosh your mug for you and sneak your yack. 1952 B. MacMahon Children of the Rainbow 114: Little noises of endearment came from the fixed mouth in his fiddle-face. fiddle-faced (ad/.) wizened or miserable-looking. 1833 P. Pry Reminiseenees, Mishaps and Observations 17: There was carroty-poled, lantern-jawed Irishman amongst them and a fiddle¬ faced whitey-brown coloured Aberdeen man. 1840 E. Howard Jack Ashore I 297: Come, tramp with your dishclout, you fiddle-faced, dog-robbing, trencher-scraper. 1854 G.J. Whyte-Melville General Bounce (1891) 70: Zounds! you've broke it, you fiddle-faced brute! 1881 W. Westall Larry Lohengrin I 66: 'What in your opinion are parsons generally like? [...] 'White-chockered, strait-laced, and fiddle-faced.'

fiddle

n? [the victim must 'face the music'] a writ of arrest.

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fiddle c. a Writ to Arrest. 1725 New

Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fiddle

fiddle

74

n? [fiddle v.^)

1

a swindler, a card-sharp.

1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1873 SI. Diet.

2 (orig. US) a swindle, a fraud.

word fiddle alone has its own slang meaning, especially as a verb, viz., to obtain by illicit means, generally including bribery or petty crime. Very near the American 'graft.' 1959 F. Norman Fings II i: And 'e's only pulling all the fiddles Cochran used ter swing! 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 29: It served as a handy front when one was working the income tax fiddle. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 38: People [...] delighted in telling other people their little fiddles. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 176: If the Customs and Excise found out about Ally's fiddles, plus the rest. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 115: All that's left is the fiddle. 2002 (con. 1950) M. McGrath Silvertown 197: The whole East End is a complex web of scams with the docks at its hean. New terms have to be invented for the art of the fiddle. 3 an unrewarding, annoying job of work. 1999 Metro 3 Aug. 13: Say goodbye to the fiddle of taking off your nail polish.

■ In phrases on the fiddle (also at the fiddle) cheating, committing fraud, swindling. 1930 (con. 1910-20S) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 117: At the fiddle ... living dishonestly; trying to take advantage of. 1937 J. Curtis You 're in the Racket, Too 9: Others, who had yet to raise the dough, were getting ready to go out on the fiddle, 1966 P. Willmott Adolescent Boys of East London 148: The governor's on the fiddle. 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 209: The man before me had been cooking the wardroom wine accounts, not on the fiddle but because he did not know what he was doing. 1989 R. Dahl Rhyme Stew (1990) 54: Hey diddle diddle / We're all on the fiddle, 2006 BBC Radio Listings 8 Aug. On the Fiddle Tue 8 Aug, 10:35 pm - 11:35 pm 60mins [...] With executive access to the biggest ever operation against organised benefit fraud [etc.].

fiddle

n.'* [abbr. SE fiddlestick] a whip.

1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modem

SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864, 1867, 1870

Hotten

SI. Diet.

fiddle

n.^ [abbr. fiddler n.^ (2)] a sixpence. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fiddle fiddle

n.^ see FIDDLE (AND FLUTE) Cl. v.^

1

to take liberties with a woman; cits. 1673 and 1983

are double entendres. 1600-4 Chapman Bussy D'Ambois III ii: My chastity ... you shall neither riddle nor fiddle. 1611 J. Cook Greenes Tu Quoque Scene x: You come And fiddle heere, and keepe a coile in verse. 1625 Massinger Unnatural Combat IV ii: O Sir, you may in publique pay for the fidling You had in private. 1661 'Jovial Lover' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 10: I courted a riddle, she fancied a fiddle. The tune does run still in my brain. 1673 Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-Master I i: Your Dancing-masters and Barbers are such finical smooth-tongu'd, tailing Fellows, and if you set 'em once a talking, they'll ne're a done, no more than when you set 'em a fidling. 1680 'On Several Women about Town' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 32: There's commonly fiddlers as soon as 'tis dark. 1929 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 1 113: There was a jolly tinker, an' he come from France, / An' all that he could do was to fiddle, fuck an' dance. 1938 Max Miller 'She Shall Have Music' [lyrics] When she goes upstairs to do her daily dozen / I'll fiddle away there / With her pretty cousin. 1953 W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 39: He'd fiddled with some 'uns dah-h-ter. 1964 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 203: Some were fiddling, some were fie-deling, / Some were fucking on the bar room floor, / But I was up in the northeast corner / Putting it to the Winnipeg whore. 1983 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes 'Three Prominent Bastards' in More Snatches and Lays 72: And she liked my father's fiddling - and I am the result, 2 to abuse sexually, usu. a child. 1980 (con. 1966) W. Sherman Times Square 2i: The mandatory 'come

shot,'showing sperm splashing [...] was still four years away, as was the day of the famous 'Pork Girl,' the Danish star who fiddled with pigs and horses. 2001 N. Griffiths Sheepshagger 220:1 reckon that yer was some sort of abuse [...] Some, y'know, fuckin sexual stuff, likes. Kiddie fiddling.

■ In exclamations go fiddle yourself! see co fuckVourself! under fuck v.

fiddle

v.^ [SE fiddle, to swindle; the swindler can 'make people dance to his tune'] 1 to make one's living taking small jobs on the street, e.g. unloading a cart. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

2 to cheat, to swindle [prior use from 17C is SE],

1873 SI. Diet. 160: Fiddle [...] In America, a swindle or an imposture.

1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III

1946 St. Vincent Troubridge 'Some Notes on Rhyming Argot' in AS

130/2: We are generally fiddled most tremendous. 1868 'I Am A Downy Bird' My Young Wife and I Songster 43: Now to be sold or

XXLl Feb.

46: FIDDLE and flute

or

fiddle.

A suit of clothes. [...[The

fiddle

fiddler

75

'fiddled' / This covey knows too much, 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Straight Tip' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 176: Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or mack: / Or moskeneer, or flash the drag. 1890 "Arry on Equality' Punch 22 Feb. 85/2: Normans nicked? Landlords copped? Lawyers fiddled? Quite likely. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 139: They couldn't 'ave me, not for a single farden—not a farden, try an' fiddle as they would. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack

a bore [...] Farewell, domestic fiddle-de-dee! 1887 "Arry at the Sea¬ side' in Punch 10 Sept. 111/2: Sweet Home is dashed fiddlededee. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1934 D. Hammett 'Two Sharp Knives' in Nightmare Town (2001) 179: What's all this? [...] This fiddledeedee, this hanky-panky. 1955 J. Morrison Black Cargo 252: This meandering aboot the bush, this hypocrisy, this fiddle-dee-dee aboot unofficial stoppages sickens me.

210: The tick-off is a fiddling game. 1946 S. 2ackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 115: Men who will [.,,] 'fiddle' anything from sets of surgical instruments to books of clothing coupons. 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act II: Nothing to choose between you - except Bammo fiddles it to suit himself. 1966 B. Reckord Skyvers III iii: You go after the big things you know about, like rock 'n roll and football; even fiddlin'. 1975 Sun. Times Mag. 12 Oct. 25: Others are ripping off the tax and fiddling their expenses. 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 23: Plenty of people these days fiddled the rules; they had to, to survive, 1999 C, Dexter Remorseful Day (2000) 290: Could he have fiddled a few quid here and there? 2000 Indep. 23 Feb. 8: Labour was becoming associated with 'fix and fiddle' in the same way that the Tories had been linked to sleaze,, 3 to drug liquor.

fiddledeedee!

1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 62: One of 'em [i.e. glasses of wine] 'e tasted 'imself, so's to show me it wasn't fiddled. 4 {UK tramp) to beg.

fiddle-fart (around) v. see fiddle-fuck n. [fiddle-fuck

1937 J. WORBY Other Half 277: Fiddle, to go about begging from different people.

5 to cheat on one's expenses. 1945 'Henry Green' Loving (1978) 191: Fiddlin' 'er monthly books. No. You know that's serious this is. 1966 C. Wood Fill the Stage With Happy Hours (1967) Act VII: A bob or two a week is all he can fiddle on that fiddle diddle. 6 to work as a petty thief. 1962 R. Hauser Homosexual Society 158: The one who 'fiddles' tools from the factory or who 'wangles' an income tax return. 1966 P. WiLLMOTT Adolescent Boys of East London 147: Stealing from or defrauding one's employer - often dignified by being described as 'knocking off or 'fiddling',

fiddle v.^ see JIGGER v.^ (2). fiddle (and flute) n. [rhy.

sl.l {US) a suit.

1919 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 36: Its the rhyming

slang. Fiddle and flute that's a suit. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May: Her Story in Hamilton (1952) 132: Fiddle and flute - suit. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1946 St, Vincent Troubridge 'Some Notes on Rhyming Argot' in AS XXI: 1 Feb. 46: piddle and flute or fiddle. A suit of clothes. (Origin uncertain, but probably English.) Agreed as English, but always whistle and flute. The word fiddle alone has its own slang meaning, especially as a verb, viz., to obtain by illicit means, generally including bribery or petty crime. Very near the American 'graft.' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 106: 'Where'd you get the hairy fiddle?' Cabiness pulled at the front of his new suit coat. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 225: You can get slicked up in your new fiddle. 1999 R. Walton 'Cockney Jack' [Internet] He got up and put on his throw me in the dirt, his wool fiddle and flute, his Jackin-the-box and his daisy roots. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

fiddle-arse v.

{also fiddle-arse about/around, fiddle-fart (about/around)) [SE fiddle + arse about under arse v./fart about

under FART v.; note fiddiefoot, for a horse to make jumpy, skittish movements; thus fiddiefoot, to wander aimlessly] (Aus.) to mess around, to waste time. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn). 1968 (con. 1928) S. GORE Holy Smoke 93: Fot the sake of yer old man, don't fiddlearse around playin' the goat all the rest of yer life. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:I/2 59: fiddle fart around v phr Loaf, shirk responsibility. 1998 Rich Hull Journal 16 Sept. [Internet] I usually procrastinate and fiddle arse about until I only get half the things done that I wanted to but today I just seemed to be very organised. 1999 L.D, Jacobson Lower Lights 105: I'm not going to fiddle-fart around with you. I know what I want and I want the best to do it for me. 2000-02 Macquarie Diet. [Internet] fiddle-fart verb to waste time in frivolous activity. Also, fiddle-arse. 2005 Arkansas Times 21 July [Internet] As long as he'll just fiddle fart his term away, the country will muddle along just fine,

fiddle-britches

n. {US) anyone who is too clever for their own

good. 1954 Harder Collection n.p.: Fiddle-britches—A smart Aleck [DARE],

fiddledeedee

n.

{also

fiddlededee)

[fiddledeedee!

exc/.j

nonsense. 1878 "Arry on Himself' in Punch 21 Dec. in P. Marks (2006) 6: But to set up our style and then cut us, is all bloomin' fiddledeedee. 1883 E.J. Milliken Childe Chappie's Pilgrimage 8: AdieuI adieu! Home life's

exc/. {also fiddlededee!) [SE fiddle + a nonsense sfx] a mild excl. denying the validity of the other speaker's remark. a.1784 Johnson in Boswell's Life (1848) Appendix 837/1: All he [Johnson] said was, 'Fiddle-de-dee, my dear'. 1796 T. Morton Way to Get Married in Inchbold (1808) XXV 26: Fiddledeedee - Super¬ annuated old fool! 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I 182: Fiddle-de-dee then; I'll venter it! 1839 C. Dance Alive and Merry I i: Oh, fiddlededee the mourning! 1865 H. Kingsley Hillyars and Burtons (1870) 18: Fidledeedee about terrible rogues. 1886 M.E. Kennard Girl in the Brown Habit III 228: Fiddle-de-dee! That was an idiotic idea! 1905 L, Pound 'Dialect Speech in Nebraska' in DN IILi 61: fiddle, fiddle¬ sticks, fiddle-de-dee, interj. 'O fiddle, that's nonsense'. 1905 Sporting Times 20 May 1/4: 'No yarns about.' 'Oh, fiddledee, they only want finding,' she retorted, fiddle-arse v. around v.j {US) an

unpleasant

situation. 1987 (con. C.1967) J. Ferrandino Firefight 137: You ain't been home. You're still right in the fiddle-fuck here, so how do you know it's any better.

fiddle-fuck

v. [SE fiddle

+

fuck v. (2c)] to mess with, to cheat.

1979 (con. 1949) J. Hurling Boomers 18: He'll fiddle-fuck your rate

sheet till it looks like you should back on the farm.

fiddle-fuck around

v. {also play fiddly-fuck) [SE fiddle + fuck about V. (1)] to waste time, to shirk one's duties, to change something. 1949 W. Burroughs letter 16 Jan. in Harris (1993) 35: His neglect

takes the form of [...] expecting to take over until such time as he gets tired of fiddle fucking around N.Y. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 242: Cant you see he's in a hurry? You always fiddlef-- around. 1966 R. Stone Hall of Mirrors (1987) 313: I didn't come out to play fiddly fuck. 1979 (con. 1949) J. Hurling Boomers 84: I'm not going to fiddle-fuck around 'til those pricks come out from the office. 2006 wwwfunkylife.com 15 Mar. [Internet] [...] and still I fiddle fuck around, getting parts of what needs done, done and then putting off the rest.

fiddle-fucked

adj. [SE fiddle + fucked ad/.^j {US) a var. on damned ad/.; esp. in phr. I'll be fiddle-fucked. 1976 Atlee Domino 52: This is Korea's Nuclear Reactor One...and I'll be fiddle-fucked if I understand why it hasn't fallen down yet ]HDAS].

fiddle-fucking

adj. a var. on fucking ad/.

1970 P. RoTH My Life as a Man (1974) 19: I guaranfuckingtee you

gentlemen, not one swingin' dick will be leavin' this fiddlefuckin' area to so much as chew on a nanny goat's tithe,

fiddler n.^

[FIDDLE

(2)1

1

a ne'er do well.

1771 Smollett Humphrey Clinker (1925) I 216: He is also blest with an

only son, about twenty-two, just returned from Italy, a complete fiddler, and dilettante. 2 a cheat, a swindler. ]1659 Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony V iii: You shall play no more the sharking foist with me, you fumbling Fidler you.] 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. [1859 Matsell Vocabulum 126: fiddler. A pugilist that depends more upon his activity than upon his bottom.] 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 Si. Diet. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 113: A man may come in with a violin case but he is often a 'fiddler' in an unmusical way. 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 120: Me mates are all fiddlers. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 138: It would be safe with a timeserved fiddler like Punchy,

fiddler

n? a coachman.

1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 74: He was a perfect hero with the

whip; a first-rate Fiddler.

fiddler

n 3 [? the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler a farthing, and later sixpence] 1 a farthing.

1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI Diet. 1885 Household Words 20 June 155: Fiddler. This same word also does duty as equivalent to a farthing. 2 a sixpence. 1835 G. Yjent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1853 Dickens 'Slang' in Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2: Sixpenny-pieces are fiddlers and tizzies. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI. Diet. 160: Fiddler a sixpence. Fiddler's money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence. 1885 Household Words 20 June

fiddles and flutes

fiddly-fuck

76

155: Why a sixpence should be a magpie it would be hard to say. A more easily explained name is a fiddler. This probably derived from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence, and, moreover, fiddlers money is generally small money [F&H],

1632 T. Nabbes Covent Garden II ii: Thy Fiddie-sticke shall not save thee. 1775 Sheridan Rivals (1776) V ii; absolute: Sir, I'll explain to you [...] I intend, if she refuses to forgive me - to un-sheathe this sword - and swear - I'll fall upon its point, and expire at her feet! sir ANTHONy: Fall upon a fiddlestick's end! - why, I suppose it is the very thing that will please her. Get along, you fool.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fiddler’s curse in.) see under not worth a curse phr. fiddler’s damn (n.) see under not care a tinker's (curse) v. fiddler’s fare (n.) [SE/are, the wages paid to an itinerant fiddler] meat,

2 the penis. 1600 Marston Antonio's Revenge III iv; O love, come on, untrusse your points. My fiddlestick wants Rozzen. 1614 Jonson Bartholomew Fair in Works (1843) 338: My Fiddle-stick does fiddle in and out too much. C.1680 'Fumblers-HalT in R. l-aoMvsotT Pepys' Penny Merriments

drink and money. 1649 J. Taylor Wanderings to see Wonders of West 13; Mr. John Downs [...] gave me fiddlers fare, meat drink and money, for which 1 heartily thanked him. 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 86: miss.: Did your Ladyship play? lady sm.: Yes, and won; so I came off with Fidler's fare. Meat, Drink, and Money. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan

(1976) 262: [He] pulls it out and shakes it, and puts up his Fiddle¬ stick again. 1700 'The Irish Hallaloo' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 206: Their Wives are all nasty, and so are their C-ts: / But I'll keep my Fiddle-stick out of their Cases, / They stink like Privies, a Pox on their Arses. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 200: Their Wives are all nasty, and so are their [cunts] But I'll keep my Fiddle-stick out of their Cases. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 194: Then there is the jargon of the [...] orchestra, such as fiddling stick, fiddle bow, fiddle stick, drumstick (used for beating the drum), organ and flute and even trombone (from the in-and-out action).

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fiddler’s fuck (n.) {US) anything considered utterly insignificant, a DAMN n.; usu. in phr. not worth a fiddler's fuck or not give a fiddler's FUCK

below.

1961 H. Selby Jr Room 187: They ain't worth a fiddlers fuck. 1978 H. Selby

Jr

Requiem for a Dream

(1987)

183:

It

didnt

make

any

difference why [...] Why didnt makes a fiddlers fuck,

fiddler’s green (n.) (orig. naut.) paradise, a place of unlimited rum, women and tobacco, i.e. 'nine miles this side (or the other side) of heir. 1825 Sporting Mag. XVI. 404: My grannan [...] used to tell me that animals, when they departed this life, were destined to be fixed in Fidler's Green. 1837 Marryat Snarleyyow I 99: Oceans of punch, and rivers of rum, / Await the sailor at Fiddler's Green. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 47: He would as soon go into Squire Egan's house as go to Fiddler's Green. 1863 G.A. Sala Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous 280: 'Ay, and to a pleasant journey to Fiddler's Green,' cries out the Captain. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 133: Fiddlers' Green the place where sailors go to when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the land of COCAIGNE, mentioned in mediaeval manuscripts. 1884 Henley & Stevenson Admiral Guinea IV iv: Jack Gaunt [...] Its thanks to you I've got my papers, and this time I'm shipped for Fiddlers Green. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Dec. 26/4: Then the purple disappears, / And only the blue is seen, / That will send our bones down to Davy Jones, / And our souls to Fiddler's Green, 1918 R.D. Paine Fighting Fleets 327; Straight these drowned seamen went to Fiddler's Green where the souls of all good mariners go. 1925 (con. 1899) H.P. Bailey Shanghaied Out of Frisco 65: Why, yew jest go to Fiddlers Green and hunt grass. 2005 H.D. Stabler No One Ever Asked Me 33: And put your pistol to your head And go to Fiddler's Green,

fiddler’s money (n.) [the paucity or actual lack of fiddlers' pay] small change. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fidler's MONEY, all sixpences, sixpence being the usual sum paid by each couple for music at country wakes and hops.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

1823 Egan Grose’s Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1860 HoIten Diet,

of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 139: FIDDLER'S MONEY, a sixpences. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. I860],

fiddler’s pay (n.) |i.e. no

actual

lot

of

money] wine and thanks.

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fidlers-pay Thanks and Wine. 1725

New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fiddler’s wages (n.) no wages at all, but simply a thank-you. 1597 Return from Parnassus Pt 11 i: He [...] gave me fidler's wages, and

dismiste mee.

1932 V.F. Nelson Prison Days and Nights 25: We could all rot to death, and they wouldn't give a fiddler's so-and-so for us. 1962 B. Behan Brendan Behan's Island (1984) 44: The Owner turned and roared at me: 'I don't care a fiddler's ---k where it's being held'. 1965 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Confessions 1467: Nobody gave a fiddler's fuck for your connections. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 461: I don't give a fiddler's screw in hell who they trust. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 92: I never gave a flying fiddler's mickey about maths either, n. |rhy. si.) (Aus.) boots.

2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fiddles and flutes; the

boots.

fiddlestick

bars of his cell window.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

fiddlestick’s end

(n.) [a SE fiddlestick ends in a point] nothing; thus as

excl., a dismissive retort. 1760 G. Colman Polly Honeycombe 5: A fiddle-stick's end for Mr Ledger! 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue {2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Fiddlestick's End. Nothing; the end of the ancient fiddlesticks ending in a point; hence metaphorically used to express a thing terminating in nothing. 1797 Sporting Mag. June X 31: Me knighted! Fiddlestick's end. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose’s Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1838 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers Works III (1898) 342: 'Fiddlestick's end!' says Doctor Lamer; 'don't be blushing and pritinding to ask questions: don't we know you, Bullwig?' 1883 R.L. Stevenson Treasure Island 16: 'Wounded? A fiddle-stick's end!' said the doctor. 1900 Boys Of The Empire 11 Dec. 151: 'His ghost? Fiddlesticks ends!' exclaimed the stranger.

fiddley(-did)

n. (also

fiddlie)

[rhy. si. = quid n. (3)1 (Aus.) £1;

often in pi. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 28: Fiddley. 1944 L. Glassop We Were

the Rats 84: 'Smash, dough, fiddlies, coin, tin, hay, oot, shekels, sponduliks,' said Gordon. 'I'm still the highest paid member of this company.' 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 1 54; Gentlemen, I require two fiddleys in the old comic cuts. 1968 D. O'Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 6: We had to fork over eight hundred fiddly-bloody-dids for her. [Ibid.] 99: I had to shell out around two hundred and fifty fiddleys. 1977 (edn. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 297: One quid. One fiddleydid. One hundred ackers. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fiddley-did; a quid, one pound sterling (obs,).

fiddling

n.^ [fiddle v.^ (2)| gambling.

1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern

SI. etc.

(2nd edn).

1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

fiddling

n.^ [fiddle v.^ (1)] 1 picking up a variety of odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels etc. 1860

Hotten

Diet, of Modern SI. etc.

(2nd edn).

1864,1867,1870

Hotten

SI.

Diet. 2 buying cheap and selling dear. 1911 G. Stratton-Porter Harvester 113: Well, forever more! And

don't call that fiddlin' business for a big, healthy, young man,

■ In phrases not give a fiddler’s fuck (v.) (a/so ...a flying fiddler’s mickey, ...a fiddler’s screw in hell, ...a fiddler’s so-and-so, not care a...) (orig. US) to not care at all.

fiddles and flutes

3 (Scot. Und.) a spring saw. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 32: I [...] succeeded in giving Barney the fiddlestick. He made his escape that same night by cutting the iron

n. [resemblance]

1

a sword.

3 (UK tramp) selling matches. 1935 M. Harrison Spring in Tartarus 300: The selling of matches, curiously enough, is called 'fiddling',

fiddling-stick

n. [var. on fiddlestick n. (2)] the penis.

1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 194: Then there is the jargon of the [...]

orchestra, such as fiddling stick, fiddle bow, fiddle stick, drumstick (used for beating the drum), organ and flute and even trombone (from the in-and-out action),

fiddly-fuck

n. [var. on fiddler's fuck under fiddler n.-’l (US) anything considered utterly insignificant. 1973 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS I. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 355: They play fiddly-fuck for half a century before getting this far. 2006 www.dailyreckless.co.uk [Internet] This occurs when the compu¬ ter salesman explains sixteen bit digital processing to you and expects you to understand what the fiddly fuck he is on about. 2006 posting at www.thedugout.rv 2 May [Internet] I love that I can do

fidlum-ben

fiend

77

anything I choose to without giving a fiddly fuck what anyone (like the above type of person) thinks about it.

■ In phrases play fiddly-fuck (v.) see fiddle-fuck around v. fidlum-ben n. {also fidlam-ben, fidlam-cove) [fiddle v.^ (2) -f abbr. 'em + BENE COVE under BENE ad/.j {UK Und.) a petty thief, who will grab anything, irrespective of its value.

1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 243: field whiskey: n. Common moonshine, not aged or colored.

Field Lane duck

of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs' (Hotten, 1864)) a baked sheep's head.

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. c,1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

1781 G. Parker View of Society II 54: Fidlum Ben. These are a kind of

general tradesmen, who are likewise called Peter ’ Sons, with every’ finger a fish-hook. They watch all opportunities, rob at all times and all places, from a diamond ring on a lady's toilet down to a dishclout in the sinkhole. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fidlam ben, general thieves, also called St. Peter's sons having every finger a fish hook; {cant). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.; Fidlom Bens [sic] general thieves; called, also. Sons of St. Peter; id est, having every finger a fish-hook. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 31: fidlam bens. Thieves who have no particular lay, whose every finger is a fish-hook; fellows that will steal any thing they can remove. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

f.i.d.o.

phr. a term of emotional resignation: fuck it, drive on.

1983 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2: fido - Fuck it. Drive on. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] FIDO (int.) An acronym for F*** It, Drive On - a term of emotional resignation, getting past some set back or the like,

fido

Andrewes

field nigQ^f

workers and those who worked as 'house' servants]

use is a paradox, or an erroneous sense, since the usu. meanings are senses

1996

Street Terms 9: Fi-do-nie — Opium.

fiG-fie

adj. [SE exd. fiel, intended to express disgust or elicit shame] improper, of improper character, 1812 G. COLMAN Yngr 'Two Parsons' in Poetical Vagaries 115: What would become of all the fie-fiie Ladies? And all the Proprietors of paw¬ paw Houses? 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 386: This is a method which the Church-wardens of parishes sometimes take of shaming the pa-pa or jie fie ladies from their residences, or at least of discovering their visitors. 1861 Trollope Framley Parsonage (1866) 55: She had sometimes to whisper to Miss Dunstable, for there were one or two fie-fie little anecdotes about a married lady, not altogether fit for young Mr. Robarts ears. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Aug. 20/2: The Delilah, a fie-fie, florid, flashy grass-widow, who flaunted her 'aureoline tresses,' her powdered-painted cheeks, her kohl'd eyes, and her pinched-in waist on the quarter-deck, on sunny Sabbath mornings. 1891 "Arry on Wheels' in Punch 1 May 217/2: It's only the stuckuppy sort as consider it rude or fie-fie. 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 2\\\ Socially, she knew something fie-fie about most of our old nobility.

v. {also put on the fie-fie) (SE fie!] to make a fuss, to upbraid.

1879 "Arry on the River' in Punch 9 Aug. 57/1: I do 'ate your

hushabye sort-like, as puts on the fie-fie at noise. 1881 "Arry on Fashion' in Punch 10 Sept. 110/1: You fie-fie a cat about cream, and then give 'er a chance at the jug.

1

breeches.

1832 Egan Bk of Sports 158: Manuel, attired [...] in a red waistcoat

that looked like an infantry shell, and nankeen fie-for-shames that reached to his calves. 1847 Knickerbocker (N.Y.) XXIX 386: Following the general practice 1 usually, in pulling off my 'fie-for-shames,' hung them up to the ceiling of the state-room opposite the door [DA]. 2 the vagina (note the common use, e.g. throughout DSL/f, of the euph. Lat. pudendum (lit. 'that of which one ought to be ashamed'), as the definition for the many si. terms for the female genitals]. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 160: Ignomie, / The female pudendum-, 'the fie-for-shame'. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 183; A lot of the fun of sexual activity lies in its forbidden nature [...] Examples occur in such phrases as [.,.] party (or parts) of shame, fie for shame. 3 tights. 1942 (con. 1890s) S. O'Casey Pictures in the Hallway 295: An' how d'ye like me, she added roguishly, in a fie-for-shame costume?

fiela field

n. see feele n. n,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds field artillery (n.) see artillery n. (2). field turnup (n.) {UK Und.) a back-street robbery, a mugging. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Field-turnups

robberies committed in bye path-ways,

field whiskey (n.) {US) illicitly distilled whisky.

Allsopp

Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

2 {US black) working-class, street blacks, as opposed to black bourgeoisie. 1970 B. Seale Seize the Time 4\: I don't think Kenny Freeman liked us field niggers too much. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 48: Occupational Stereotypes: field-hand [19th century or earlier. Also field-nigger]. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] House negro. Field nigga. Hood rat. Rude bwoy. Ghetto Celeb. Big Willie.

3

n. [ety. unknown] {drugs) opium.

1954 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction. 2001 ONDCP

n. [all are things seen as shameful]

{W.l.) a term of

2 and 3].

edn).

fie for shame

1

abuse for a deferential black, who curries favour with whites [this

n. [Lat. fidus, faithful; as Fido, a dog's name] {US prison) a trusty.

fie-fie

n. [SAmE//e/d negrolnigger, a black slave who worked in

the fields; slavery distinguished between the rougher, less refined field

1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev.

fi-do-nie

n. [Field Lane, which once linked Holborn to

Clerkenwell; 'Field Lane is a low London thoroughfare, leading from the foot

{US black) blacks from the rural. Southern states rather than the Northern cities. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 112: Hittin em after school today just maybe snapped his little mind, if them cocksuckin field niggers done it right!

field of wheat

n. {also fields of wheat) [rhy. si.] a street.

1873 SI. Diet. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Jan. 16/3: As I was swiftly flowing up the field of wheat in the bread-and-jam. 1919 T.A. Dorgan in ZwiUing TAD Lex. (1993) 36: Field of wheat, that's street. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May: Her Story in Hamilton (1952) 132: Fields of wheat - street. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1942 Sidney Mirror 14 Oct. in Baker (1945) 269: The pitch and toss has gone down th' field of wheat. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1999 R. Walton 'Cockney Jack' [Internet] As Jack walked down the field of wheat to work his sighs and tears picked up the sound of someone crying for help!

fiend

n. 1 {orig. US drugs) an addict, esp. of opium; usu. in comb, with drug name [contemporary use tends to be ironic], 1882 H.H. Kane Opium Smoking 51: The effects of opium-smoking [...] upon an habitual and excessive smoker or 'fiend'. 1886 'Life in a New York Opium Den' in T. Byrnes Professional Criminals of America [Internet] The old saying, 'There is honor among thieves,' applies equally well to opium fiends. They never steal from each other while in the joint. 1895 W.R. Cobbe Dr. Judas, A Portrayal of the Opium Habit 128: The effects of smoking in the 'fiend' endure for about eight hours: he has no need to resort to the pipe more than twice daily. 1900 T. Dreiser Sister Carrie 404: Like the morphine fiend, he was becoming addicted to his ease. 1906 C. M'Govern Sarjint Larry an' Frinds 52: Was Oi iver afther tellin' you, lootinant, about de expereince Oi wanst had wit' a bino fiend [...] up in Batangas. 1908 N.Y. Times 28 Mar. n.p.: One of them, with the mendacity typical of morphine fiends, had stanchly declared himself cured of the habit and was about to leave the hospital when he heard of the experiments about to take place. 1914 N.Y. Times 8 Feb. n.p.: Most of these insane drug users [...] were the victims of morphine; whereas the negro drug 'fiend' uses cocaine almost exclusively. 1919 (con. 1914) 'Leda Burke' Dope-Darling 43: He said in a low voice: 'She is a cocaine fiend,' Beatrice whistled. 1919 H.C. WiTWER Alex The Great 291: They’re awful tough on hop fiends in this burg now. 1922 E. Murphy Black Candle 276: In the Western Provinces of Canada, 'fiends' foregather in certain drug stores and purchase decks of cocaine, morphine and heroin as if these were candies, no prescriptions being required. 1927 H. Asbury Gangs of N.Y. 323: He was a camphor fiend and a cocaine addict. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 276: I don't think he was a hop fiend. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 272: You ought to know not to camp with metho fiends by now. 1941 P.C. Wren Odd - But Even So 23:1 do not drink the black smoke, I am not an opium-fiend. 1952 (con. 1920s) G. Fowler Schnozzola 88: He called this turn 'The Hop Fiend's Easter'. 1952 J. Cleary Sundowners 264: I'll die decently drunk [...] a plonk fiend, maybe even drinking metho. 1954 E. Hunter . Or Leave It Alone' in Jungle Kids (1967) 59: Harry was a real fiend, an addict you know. 1964 J. Blake letter 13 Sept, in Joint (1972) 229:

fiend Looked like the star high school athlete who turns out to be a marijuana fiend, 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 137: A butt wouldn't finish rolling on the ground before it was scooped up and hoarded by some nicotine fiend. 1986 B. Geldof Is That It? 55: Murray's wasn't a nest of dope fiends, however. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 24: The scourge of grasshoppers and junk fiends everywhere. 1992 UGK 'Pocket Full of Stones' [lyrics] And then them fiends started hittin crack viles. 1999 J. Poller Reach 39: 'It's not ... bad for you,' I say like an ageing dopefiend lethargically defending his chosen drug. 2000 J. Hawes Dead Long Enough 153: If they happen to be coke fiends or smackheads, or E-chicks. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 25: [of crack] Sittin' around with a bunch of fiends, suckin' on that glass dick, a fool [fig. use of sense Ij. 1882 G.A. Sala in Living London (1883) Jan. 28: 'Pug' makes so many blunders, that at length his Gloomy Chief loses all patience with the 'lubber fiend'. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN 11:1 34: fiend, n. A fool, a blockhead.

2 (US campus)

3 an addict, an obsessive, other than of drugs. 1880 S.A. Mackeever Glimpses of Gotham and City Characters 51/1: The lunch fiend [i.e. a frequenter of free lunch counters] is always a man who has seen better days. 1884 World (N.Y.) 4 Jan. 19/7: THE POST-OFFICE FIEND. Every afternoon this crank can be seen busily engaged in writing letters (which are never mailed). 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 17: fiend n. A person wholly given up to one study or interest; an expert. 'A philosophy fiend!' 'A chocolate fiendr 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 34: fiend, n. 3. An instructor who makes his students work hard. [...] 5. An enthusiast. 6. A hard student. 1907 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 x: I hears yu an' Frenchy's reg'lar poker fiends! 1917 R. Lardner 'The Facts' in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 453:1 couldn't trust a cigarette fiend with a nickel. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 82: The habit had fastened on him. He became a fiend for gambling. 1935 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 27 May [synd. col.] Howard Chandler Christy is a frog leg fiend. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 262: They had me on the run, these crazy horsepower fiends. 1944 C.S. Montanye 'Shoulder Straps' in Thrilling Detective Feb. [Internet] I'm a fiend for a waxed floor and a gal to hoof with. 1951 J.D, Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 41: Old Brossard was a bridge fiend, and he started looking around the dorm for a game. 1953 C. Brossard Bold Saboteurs (1971) 149: He's a sex fiend. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 43: Juicers on the wagon are all big coffee fiends. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 113: Dragged their by snatch-crazed fiends. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: fiend - to have a great love or obsession for: 'Every time I visit you are sweeping; you must be a clean fiend'. 4 on bad = good model, (a) (US campus) a clever student, 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 34: fiend, n. One who excels in anything. 1905 'West Point Sl.' in Howitzer (US Milit. Academy) 292-5: Fiend - One who is very skillful or a pastmaster at anything. Fiendish - Clever, remarkable; also eminently O. K., as, 'a fiendish femme.' (b) (US black) a general term of praise for any person or thing. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 160: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Microphone fiend. Media assassin. 5 someone who smokes marijuana alone (since smoking is usu. a communal experience). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fiend — Someone who smokes marijuana alone,

■ In phrases hoosier fiend (n.) [hoosier n. (5)1 (US drugs) an inexperienced or naive drug user, one who is in the early days of their addiction to narcotics. 1938 D, Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Ft 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 104/1: HOOSIER fiend. An inexperienced addict; a yokel who has become addicted, perhaps accidentally, and doesn't know he is hooked until he is deprived of drugs and develops withdrawal distress. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 121: hoosier fiend An inexperienced drug fiend. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

fiend 1986

fierce

78

v. (fig. use of fiend n.j C.

Stroud

1 (US black)

Close Pursuit

(1988)

to steal, esp. in the street. 95:

They

called

their

work

'fiending the heads.'

2 (US drugs)

to be addicted to narcotics. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 357: His employers at Seapride [...] believed that he was more than just another fiending crudball. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Feenin — Behavior associated with a person craving cocaine or other addictive substances when they are unavailable.

3 (US prison) to need intensely; to be addicted to. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z The poor sucka's' for some crack, [Ibid.] 35/2: The young MC's fiendin' for a turn at the mic.

2000 Village Voice (N.Y.) 2 May n.p.: My younger brother, K, was

fiending for a turkey sandwich, 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] fiendin needing, like an urge. 'I'm fiendin fer some cigs right now.' 2007 UGK 'Like That' [lyrics] Damn this pussy drive me fuckin crazy / I'm fiendin to eat it baby. 4 (US black) to act aggressively. 1995 L. Stavsky et al, A2Z.

■ In phrases

fiend (on)

(v.) (US black)

1

to show off, to outdo a rival.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 99: Da's when a cat wanna

scene, get fiendin' on you. 1999 Dr Dre 'Bitch Ass Niggaz' [lyrics] The top notch nigga. I'm fiendin for that spot.

2 to covet, to lust after, to become obsessed with. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 287: My thigh ain't nowhere near white, nigger, so you might as well stop fiendin' on it. 1992 UGK 'Cramping My Style' [lyrics] Cause, I ain't about havin nobody feenin on my jock! 1995 Mack 10 'Based on a True Story'

[lyrics] Fienin for a hit, and you lookin for more.

fiendish(-back)

adj. |on bad = good model] (US black) excellent,

wonderful, admirable. 1905 Wash. Post 15 Jan. 4/3: One bright, beautiful girl [...] uses the word 'fiendish' to express the superlative degree of everything. 1968 'Sl, of Watts' in Current SI. III:2 23: Fiendish, adj. Attractive; good; more than words can explain. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 120: Like many other synonyms for fine and exceptional in black vernacular (fiendish, terrible, bad, tough, mean, wicked), [it] inverts standard white usage for the words. Bad becomes good,

fiendishly

adv. (US black) especially, very much so.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 235: fiendishly Especially (often used as positive intensifier).

fierce

adj. (orig. US)

1

very bad or unpleasant.

[1674 T. Duffet Epilogue Spoken by Heccate and Three Witches 31:1

pick'd Shop-keeper up, and went to th' Sun. He Houncht ... and Houncht ... and Houncht; And when h' had done. Pay me quoth I, Be damn'd you Whore! did fierce Mechanick cry.] 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 155: It's something fierce and savage to be broke in Omaha. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 21: Our room's kep' fierce. I'm goin' to stop summers else next time we play Noo York. 1910 Wash. Post 3 July 3/1: 'It's gettin' fierce,' he said [...] 'What's the matter. Hop, what's gettin fierce?' 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 83: These drills are somethin' fierce. Give me another iron! 1928 J. Callahan Man's Grim Justice 121: You don't know how to talk [...] Your English is fierce. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 710: 'It's fierce, fierce.' 'Gee, it's tough, all right.' c.1940-5 in 'Myles na gCopaleen' Best of Myles (1968) 41: Fierce language he uses sometimes. 1965 H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 59: My boy's head is smokin' sump'n fierce. 1977 W. Burrowes Riordans 93: Slurry disposal actually. It's a fierce headache. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 44: Fierce, the old coffin nails [...] The wife's never done at me about jackin' them in. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 74: J, you look fierce man, goes Duane like he was buildin up to payback for his short lock.

2 great, large, fast. 1905 Wash. Post 15 Jan. 4/3: Hully gee! De tief turned on de cop and

hit him a fierce poke in de slats! 1927 (con. 1914-18) L. Nason Three Lights from a Match 154: We're in a fierce hurry. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 139: It wasn't broken but snot and blood fell out of ft at a fierce speed. 2000 F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 273: 'Gosh you're a fierce height,' she said. 'How tall are you?' 3 a general adj. of approval: excellent, wonderful, first-rate [on bad = good model]. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Dec. 12/4: I guess 'Florodora' will take on, thanks to fierce (new synonym for smart) frocking and catchy songs and dances. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977)

51: Mutt won a couple of million more in bughouse money yesterday. The odds he gets in the daffy joint are something fierce. 1916 H.L. Wilson Somewhere in Red Gap 56: Ain't it fierce what music does to persons. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 166: We're goin' to get a fierce kickback on that. 1942 E. Cross Tailor and Ansty 123: Yerra, there used to be some fierce weddings in the old days. 1948 P. Kavanagh Tarry Flynn (1965) 67: 'The best turnips in the country,' he said; 'they're butting a dread; some of them as thick as your thumb. They're fierce turnips.' 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 114: Ece\m' fierce, coach. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 115: You looking fierce man. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 153: Fuckin' fierce or what?

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

fierce as a meat axe (adj.) see savage as a meat axe under meat axe n. fierce adv. (also fiercely) a general intensifier, whether positive or negative.

fieri facias [1743 Fielding Life of Jonathan Wild (1784) II 176: There were particularly two parties, viz. those who wore hats fiercely cocked, and those who preferred the Nab.] 1899 WJ. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 39; The band cut loose something fierce. The leader tore out about $9.00 worth of hair, and acted generally as though he had bats in his belfry. 1918 D.G. Rowse Doughboy Dope 45: And believe me, bo, they didn't rub it into yuh. Fierce. 1925 Wodehouse Cany on, Jeeves 177; Not what you would call a fiercely exciting spot. 1931 Z. Grey Sunset Pass 33: He razzed Ash somethin' fierce. 1948 P. Kavanagh Tarry Flynn (1965) 33: 'Fierce great weather, Molly,' said

Tarry. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 239: We're looking for a friend [,..] You know him. Needed it bad, fierce. 1961 G.L. Coon Meanwhile, Back at the Front (1962) 110: God, the overhead around here is something fierce. 1974 C. Token Come Monday Morning 113: You been fuckin' up somethin' fierce these las' couple years. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 88: I played the dogs something fierce when I was in school. 1989 P. Benchley Lush 111: He can mess her up something fierce. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 279: What'll they invent next? Somethin' like that, I really would say that's fierce handy, is it?

fieri facias

n.

■ In phrases

served with a writ of fieri facias

[legal jargon fieri facias, 'a writ

wherein the sheriff is commanded that he cause to be made out of the goods and chattels of the defendant the sum for which judgement was given' (Blackstone, Laws of England

1765-9);

for si.

use this

is punningly

mispronounced as 'fiery face'] having a red face; also in fig. use. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fieri facias, a red-faced man is said to have been served with a writ of

fieri facias. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose’s Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1840 T. Haliburton Letter-bag of the Great Western (1873) 85:1 assure you this ship is no 'clausum' frigid, but as regular a 'fiery facias' as you would desire to see, a perfect hot-hell, as the Scotch call it. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI Diet.

fiery lot

n. [var. on hot stuff n.^ (1)] a 'fast', 'sporting' man.

'My Berty' [broadside ballad] Berty isn't bad-tempered, though he's such a fiery lot; / And he's cool, though when he's spreeing, he's a boy that goes it hot [B&L]. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. a.1889

Fietas

n. [also Fidas, Vietas) [Afk.//e/a, a backward, slovenly person -F Du. vielt, a scoundrel ? and/or Zulu i-vila, a loafer] [S.Afr.) Vrededorp/ Pageview, i.e. Soweto District Six, an area from which the occupants were removed compulsorily under the Croup Areas Act. 1982 Pace May 158: They used to 'tune' it in the olden days around

Vrededorp alias Fidas [DSAE]. 1986 Star 23' Apr. 19: Verses from the pre-war campfire song, 'This is the place Jo'burg' [...] We've got some wonderful tramcars, / Wot shakes like boxes of nails. / They charge you a tickey by Fietas / And a fourpence by the end of the rails [DSAE]. 1989 Frontline Mar. 28: Vrededorp Vietas to its residents and Pageview to the map-makers was Joburg's last indiscriminate area, and one of the last in the country to be laid low before the Group Areas Act ran out of steam [DSAE]. 1990 J. Naidoo Coolie Location 209: My sister Ruby [...] was then living in Fietas.

fiezle n. see fizzle fife and drum

n.\ n. [rhy. si. = bum n.^

(1)] the buttocks, the

posterior. 1942 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 56: His muse was the bum of a bird

/ And his Lesbian wife / Would finger his fife. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1988 J. McDonald Diet, of Obseenity ete. 2002 M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 124: You sit there on your big fife-and-drum judging me according to the Law,

f.i.f.i.

phr. [abbr.l {US campus) an expression of frustration, anger;

fuck it, fuck it. 1983 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2: fifi - Fuck it. Fuck it.

fifi

fifty and a ten

79

n. [? Fifi, the cliched name of the stereotyped sexy French maid of farce

and fantasy; note Hotten (1864-70): 'Fi-Fi, Mr Thackeray's term for Paul de Kock's novels, and similar modern French literature']

1

{also

fiff)

an

effeminate or 'aesthetic' man. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 57: Well, there's no literary fiff that

can give me the elbow. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: Fifi n. effeminate gay man. 2 {US gay) one who enjoys oral sex. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 80: fifi ('40s, fr pros si = one who enjoys being blown) 1. anybody who derives pleasure from mutual fellatio or cunnilingus. 3 a French prostitute working in London. 1999 (ref. to WWII) Indep. Rev. 11 Nov. 6: During the Second World

War [..,] 'Fifis' - the professional Frenchwomen who then made up most of London's streetwalkers. 2001 (ref. to 1940s-50s) K. Waterhouse Soho 11: The war years and beyond, when [...] the girls, or

Fifis as they were known, were as thick on the pavements as the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. 4 {US campus) an attractive, sexy young woman, who dresses to match but is, in the end, considered superficial. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: Fifi . . . the current girl friend. Sometimes it might be her name. 1989 P. Munro SI. U.

■ In compounds fifi bag (n.) {also fifi) [sense 1 above] {US prison) a substitute 'vagina' for masturbation; one version uses a container stuffed with a towel soaked in warm water; for another see cit. 1990. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 79: fifi-bag (kwn LV, late '60s, fr Fr si girl's name Fifi = a tart) homemade masturbation utensil made with hot towels and vaseline or a well-lubricated slit sponge tucked into a baggie. 1981 Maledicta V:1-f2 (Summer + Winter) 265: Males, bereft of female comfort, sometimes resort to a fi-fi bag, a plastic sack containing a warm, wet towel used as a vagina. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 211: Fifi bag's a phony snatch. They take orange juice cartons [...] cut em in half and stuff em with a baggie loaded with hand lotion. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 63: Fifi Bag Some type of bag or container which is filled with a lubricant and used to masturbate. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Fifi Bag: An artificial vagina used for masturbation,

fifi water (n.) [sense 1 above, the presumed effeminacy of those who use it] {US prison) aftershave. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 299: The whiteboys splashed on fifi water and groomed their mustaches. fifi adj. {also fifi’d) [for ety. see FIFI n.] (or/g. US prison) effeminate. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' It's Up to You 11:1 found one of these pale boys draped over a sofa [...] handing out Fifi glances to my own particular Pattern of Dress Goods. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 16: Joe said he'd seen neither fifi'd hide nor moussed hair of Dwan. fifteen and two n. {also fifteen-two) [rhy. si.] {US) a Jew. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1946 St. Vincent Troubridge 'Some Notes on Rhyming Argot' in AS XXLl Feb. 46: fifteen and two. A Jew. (Origin uncertain, but probably American.) Almost certainly American, fifth, the n.

■ In phrases plead the fifth (v.) {also take the fifth) [the Fifth Amendment (i 791) to the US Constitution states that no person 'shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself'] {US) to avoid committing oneself, to refuse to take an action or make a statement. 1956 J. Stearn Sisters of the Night 55: I don't think he'd plead the Fifth. 1977 A. Brooke Last Toke 156: 'Take the fifth,' Richie jived. 1983 C. Heath A-Team 2 (1984) 87: Collins joked, 'I guess your engine's pleading the fifth.' 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 30: You don't have to say unless you want to say [...] You want to take the fifth with me? 2000 F. Kellerman Stalker (2001) 52: 'Was that a dig at present company?' Hayley smiled. 'I'm taking the fifth.' Fifth Avenoodles n. see Avenoodles n. fifth gear n. [rhy. si.) ear. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 128: Mum never reckoned this high on the clapometer, whacked me round the fifth gear. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 33: Her hot breath tickling round my fifth gear. fifty n. 1 {Aus.) a pint of beer composed of 50% old beer and 50% new. 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 82: Five schooners of fifty, thanks, love. 1978 R. McLelland Outback Touring 121: In New South Wales some pubs have both old and new beer on tap [...] A 'fifty' is a 50-50 combination of new and old, i.e. half a glass from one tap and half from the other [AND]. 2 {US drugs) a packet of a drug worth $50. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 47: I'm gonna make up all the twenties, the fifties [$20 and $50 packets]. 3 {US black) the police [five-oh n.]. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 174: Fifty came in and blew up the spot, next day my shit was ghost.

■ In phrases get a fifty (v.) [Gaelic football, a form of penalty) {Irish) to be rebuffed, rejected or 'stood up' by a woman. 2001 G. COVGB.LAN Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fifty (n): stood-up (I got a fifty).

fifty ways from the jack (adv.) see

forty ways from the jack under

forty adj^. fifty and a ten n. [the charge is $50 for services plus $10 per hour for a room] {US Und.) an act of intercourse with a prostitute (cf. five and TWO n.).

fifty cent bag 2000 W.T. VOLLMANN Royal Family 451: A fifty-and-ten [fn. Fifty dollars for the 'flatback' and ten dollars for an hour in the room].

fifty cent bag

n.

[cent

n. (1)

+ bag

n.^ (6)] (US drugs) $50 worth

of marijuana. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines

237: fifty-cent bag

Fifty-

dollar plastic bag's worth of marijuana,

fifty cents

n.

[cent

n. (1)1 (US prison) $50 worth of drugs.

1992 Bentleys- Corbett Prison SI. 75: In prison, dollar amounts are referred to as coin amounts. A nickel is $5, a dime is $10 and 50 cents is $50.

fifty-cent word

n.

(also twenty-five cent word)

(US)

a

polysyllabic or supposedly 'difficult' word. 1939 W. WiNCHELL 'On Broadway' 20 Jan. [synd. col] Avidly discussing the 'meaning' of the play during intermissions, with a sprinkling of 50 cent words. 1989 D. Waters Heathers [film script] VS: That's good, but Heather would never use the word 'myriad'. JD: This is the last thing she'll ever write - she'll want to cash in on as many fifty cent words as possible. 1996 E.A. Hamilton Newsletter Design 51: You've used so many fifty-cent words. How many Americans know what 'postprandial' means? Simplify. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 148: The man was a dictionary of 25-cent jawbreakers,

fifty-eleven

n. (a/so fifty-’leven) (US black) a large or infinite

quantity. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive 169: Fifty-eleven; fifty-'leven n. (1890s-1950s) a profuse or unaccountable quantity,

fifty-fifty

n. [SE adv. fifty-fifty, half and half] (gay) a sexual act in which the two partners alternately perform fellatio and sodomy on each other. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: fifty-fifty (adj.): To alternate between fellation and pedication; it is separate and distinct from SIXTY-NINE (q.v.). Usually means, 'I'll fuck you first; then do [i.e. fellate] you.' 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular &0: fifty-fifty 1. a split bill of ass-fucking and cocksucking; taking sexual turns with one another.

fifty-fifty

v. [SE adv. fifty-ffty, half and half] (US) to treat in a noncommital manner. 1931 J.T. Farrell 'Merry Clouters' in Fellow Countrymen (1937) 398: You got to kiss your mama, treat her right, / Or she won't be home when you call. / Now if you want my company, / You can't fiftyfifty me ...

fifty-one n. [ety, unknown) 1

(US short order)

hot chocolate.

1966 in Newark (OH) Advocate 21 May 3/3-4: fifty-one —hot chocolate. 2 (drugs) crack cocaine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fifty-one — Crack. 3 (drugs) a cigarette made from a mix of marijuana and crack cocaine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fifty-one — [...] crack sprinkled on tobacco.

5150

n. [police code, an insane person is annoying the public] (US black/ prison) someone in need of mental health treatment; an eccentric, a crazy person. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] 5150: A person needing mental health treatment, based upon the California Welfare and Institutions Code section for civil commitment. Other states will use different numbers, such as '730' in New York.

5150

adj. (also fifty-one fifty) [5150 n.] (US black/prison) psychotic; eccentric. 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 215: Only reason I ain't fiftyone-fifty is you been holdin' me all night. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 79: He looks all the way 51/50, certifiably insane. [Ibid.] 109: I hope she don't find it out 'cause she'd surely go fiftyone/fifty.

52-20 Club

n. (US) a notional club that took advantage of the US government's payment to ex-CIs of $20/week for one year (52 weeks) or until they could find a job. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 27: My real reason for going to the Veteran's Administration [...] was the 52-20 Club. The Government gave all ex-GIs $20 a week for a year or until they could find a job. The accepted smart-thing-to-do was to find an employer who didn't report your ages [...] then you could grab the $20 plus your salary.

52-26 Club

n. I? 52 weeks, i.e. 1 year, at ? $26 per week] (US) unemployment insurance. 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 185: He works as a labourer now and then, but only to stay eligible for unemployment insurance, known in outlaw circles as the 52-26 Club.

fig

fig, a

80

n^ [Ital. si. fca, the vagina (lit. a fig)] the vagina. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner B2: Some good Scholastique Diuines, think the fruite forbidden to be bitten, was not an Apple but a Figge: then surely as our first parents wilfully discouered their ambitious

minds by eating of the frute; so very witlesly thought and sought they to couer their shame with an apren of the leaues. 1608 Pennyless Parliament of Thread-Bare Poets in Harleian Misc. Ill (1809) 76: The grocers are plentifully blessed, for their figs and raisins may allure fair lasses by authority. 1612 Passenger of Benvenuto 271: There are but few descendants of Adam, that ... would have refused to taste of that figge [N]. 1672-95 'Joans Victory' in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 137: [Her] letchery was so hasty, that my love soon grew cold; She proffered me Figgs of the best sort, but I told her i'de have none. 1797 M. Leeson Memoirs (1995) III 172: Here lies honest Moll Hall, / Who once had a great call, I And a fig for you all. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si and Its Analogues. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 16: I push my cock into her ripe fig. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 193: Fig is used here, but it can also refer to the vulva.

fig ti 2 (also figthing) [colloq. phr. not worth a fg] a counterfeit coin. 1798 M. Edgeworth Practical Education 1315: Coiners give names to the various kinds of false money which they circulate; such as flats, or figs, or figthings [OED]. 1884 A. Griffiths Chronicles of Newgate 319: Figs, or fig things, were the lowest and meanest class [of counterfeit

silver coins] and was confined chiefly to sixpences.

fig n ^ ■ In phrases in full fig (also full fig) [SE//g out, to dress up; but note FEACUE v. (2)/FIC (A HORSE) V.) dressed up. 1836 M. Scott Cruise of the Midge II 280; In front of this shed - full fig, in regular Highland costume [...] marched the bagpiper. 1843 T. Haliburton Sam Slick in England I 243: I rigs up this morning, full fig, calls a cab, and proceeds in state to our embassy, 1850 (con. 1843) Melville White-Jacket (1990) 96; Matchless Jack, in full fig, bowed again and again, with true quarter-deck grace and selfpossession. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 8: He waits on me in hall, where we go in full fig of cap and gown at five, and get very good dinners, and cheap enough]. 1874 E.K. Wood Johnny Ludlow I 109: When our church bells were going for service. Major Parrifers carriage turned out with the ladies all in full fig. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May 6/2: The funniest part [...] was where a low comedy artist from Sydney, who turned up at the 'function' coatless and in a broad-brimmed hat while all other hands were in full fig, indulged in some characteristic pranks. 1892 F. Remington letter 5 Jan. in Splete (1988) 241: It is very rare that soldiers do live up to the awful possibilities of the 'full fig'. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 193/2: Peacock (Anglo-Indian). Walk up and down in full fig while the band plays. 1924 Galsworthy White Monkey 29: Rather! Full fig or dinner jacket? 1935 E.F. Benson Mapp and Lucia (1984) 124: Very distressing too, it was to see Lucia in full fig as Queen Elizabeth. 1955 Picture Post 26 Mar. 50: Julie Colbert [..,] and her escort Marty Topscott, in full fig. 1997 (con. 1916) D. Parson Never a Normal Man 15: All our embassy were there in full fig. 2002 Indep. on Sun. 21 July 23: Upper Eastside dames in full fig riding the 7 subway train to Queens.

fig n" [SNZE fig, tobacco, used as a unit of barter between settlers and Maoris in the mid-19C; note also Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life (1874): 'You may flog, and welcome, master [...] if you'll give me a fig o' tibbacky'; Warung, Tales of the Early Days (1894): 'Distribute that tobacco half a fig to a man'] (N.Z. prison) a 1 oz (28g) packet of prison-issue tobacco. 1878 J.H. Nicholson 'Bunkum in Parvo' in Opal Fever 110: We might stop for a fortnight and twiddle our thumbs, / And cadge figs of backy from shearers and others. 1973 J. Justin Prisoner 29: 'A fig?' 'A packet of boob - prison, to you - tobacco.' 1980 K. Berry First Offender 152: 'I got six figs for that load of rubbish.' Fig was a curious word, an Americanism that had somehow filtered into N.Z. [sic] penal institutions and survived. [...] There was no other word for the cellophane packet that contained around fifty grammes of offeuts and substandard tobacco supplied by the companies. Nobody spoke of a packet of tobacco - it was always a fig [DNZE]. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 248: fig (n) Packet of prison tobacco. A US tobacco-grower's term in the 1830s.

fig n.^ m In exclamations by fig! see by my ficcins! under figcins n?. fig, a n. (also a fico) [Ital. pco, a fig] a dismissive excL; usu. as a fig for... 1566 T. Drant (trans.) 'The fyrst Satyre' Horace his Satyres Bk I Aiiii: A figge for them [...] They hauke, they hem, they hisse at me, I weight it not an hawe. 1575 Appius and Virginia in Farmer (1908) 27: A fig for his uncourtesy that seeks to shun good company. 1584 Three Ladies of London II: Tush a figge for honestie. 1592 Arden of Feversham line 1584: grene.; The Lord of heauen hathe preserued him. will.:

Preserued, a figge, the L. Cheiny hath preserued him. 1604 Shakespeare Othello I iii: Virtue! a fig! 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley III

fig

fight

81 i: A lico for her Docke, youle not be ruld. 1619 Rowlands Well met Gossip B3: A Figge for wealth, tis Person I affect. 1632 T. Nabbes Covent Garden III i: A figg for these Physicall observations. 1640 The Wandering Jew 21; You cry, give me Tobacco and a figg for Physitians. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) 1 Bk I 151: Pish! [...] a fig for your chapter! 1661 Antidote Against Melancholy in Ebsworth Choyce Drollery (1876) 156: A Figg for Melancholly. 1677 The Batchelor's Ballad' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII:2 335: A fig for your beauty! your painting and patches. 1688-9 'The West-Country Miser' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) I 222: Friend, a fig for the poor, I value them not. 1698 N. Ward London Spy I 2: A fig for St, Austin and his Doctrines. 1707 Humours of a Coffee-House 25 June 6: But a Fig for the French king and all his Fortresses. 1713 J. Gay Wife of Bath I i: A Fig, say I, for that Conjurer. 1722 S. Centlivre Artifice Act V: A Fig for your Reflections; nothing wou'd go down with your Vanity, but a Lord, forsooth. 1735 'White Thighs' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 242: A fig for them all, they can never compare, / To my charmer's elastic white thighs. 1742 Fielding Joseph Andrews (1954) III 278: A fig for prospects! 1758 R. Dodsley King and Miller of Mansfield 17: A Fig for all Ceremony and Compliments too [...] let us drink and be merry. 1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield (1883) 78: 'A fig for the silver rims,' cried my wife, in a passion. 1779 in F. Moore Songs and Ballads of the Amer. Revolution (1855) 270: A fig for your noise, sir. 1780 M.P. Andrews Fire and Waterl (1790) 23: A fig for mine and his majesty's enemies. 1790 J. Freeth 'Casting Voice against Fortifications' Political Songster 40: A fig for Invasions, Or Fortifications, 1801 C. Dibdin Yngr Song Smith 137: Then a fig for French brags, and your great Buonapartes. 1812 'A Boxing We Will Go' Egan Boxiana I (1971) 482: A fig for BONEY — let's have done / With that ungracious name. 1822 (con. early 17C) W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II 30: 'Now, out upon your tender conscience [,..] and the fico for such outcasts of Parnassus!' 1827 J. Kenney Spring and Autumn II i: A fig for his tenantry! 1836 Comic Almanack Feb. 47: Come, buffers and duffers, and dashers and smashers [...] Come, Billingsgate sinners, and cat and dog skinners, / And play up a game to make Decency stare: / A fig for propriety, sense and sobriety! / They never were known at fam'd bartelmy fair. 1841 'I Came From The Roar' Dublin Comic Songster 66: So a fig for your laws, your starved Johnny Raws. 1856 C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 34: A fig for me being drowned if the kid is drowned with me. 1863 'The Irish Jig' in Donnybrook-Fair Comic Songster 20: Then a fig for your new-fashioned waltzes. 1870 'Hurrah! For the Life of a Soldier' in Songs for the Army 25: A fig for a man who would fag all the day. 1883 H. Smart Hard Lines II 174: A fig for your British army. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 July 12/4: St. James's Gazette says that the Victorian Balaclava subscription is 'another proof of the tie which' - but why should we take account of what that obscure little Tory rag says? [,..]. A fig for St. James's Gazette! 1900 Punch 24 Jan. 63/1: A fig for your school and your college. 1922 E. Raymond Tell England (1965) 179: Lord, how small my little vanities seemed now! A fig for them all! 1947 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 290: In his garden remarked Lord Dunedin, / 'A fig for your diggin' and weedin'. 1954 R. Service 'My Favoured Fare' in Carols of an Old Codger 43: A fig for love and greenery, / Be mine a song of things to eat.

fig V [SE feague, to overcome by trickery, to beat] to pick pockets. 1552 G. Walker Detection ofVyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 43: The chetor consulted with the land-lady in this case devised, that she should dally with the gentleman [...] till they might fig a link or two. 1799 Sporting Mag. Jan. XIII 219/1: The prisoner then said he had been figged at Bedfont. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 209: Swan walked off to take a .figging nap on the floor of his dungeon - a clean shirt and a dressing gown richer than when he came in.

■ In compounds fig-boy (n.) {UK Und.) a pickpocket or cut-purse.

1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 39: Then lead they the cousin to [...] the bear baiting at Paris garden, or some other place of throng, where, by five fingered figg boy, a grounded disciple of James Elis, picked shall be his purse, 1602 W. Watson Quodlibets Religion and State 61: Practicall science inuented by fig-boyes, and men of the Bernard high lawe. 1608 Dekker Belman of London H3: Whensoeuer any notable or workmanlike Stroke is stricken, though it were as farre as the North-borders, yet can the rest of the Fig-boies here resident in London, tell by whom this worthy Act was plaid.

fig (a horse)

v. (a/so fig a nag) (feague v.j 'to play improper tricks with [a horse] in order to make him lively' (Hotten, 1860); for detail see cit. 1823. 1793 Sporting Mag. July II 221/1: The whip before, and the aggravating stimulus of the ginger behind (better understood by the appellation of 'jigging'). 1804 Sporting Mag. Mar. XXIII 351/2: His

horse's cock'd tail, / Shows that all wont avail; / For, by Jove, there is no need oi figging. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: Fig, jigged—ginger; little lumps whereof are thrust into the rectum of horses to give them a short-lived vigour; they are then said to be jigged, and cany better while the stimulus lasts; but horses of any original breeding afterwards flag in their disposition, as if resentful of the beastly indignity shewn them. Fellows there are who traverse Smithfield of Friday evenings seeking for old jigs. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1876 C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 258; It was 'jigged, digged, and figged,' and as the horse was being run up and down by a jockey cove, Tom kept saying to the farmer, 'You wont buy him, he's got a nasty nose'. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Straight Tip' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 176: Suppose you screeve, or go cheap-jack? / Or fake the broads? or fig a nag?

figaro

n. [Beaumarchais' story Le Manage de Figaro (1784) and Mozart's opera Le None di Figaro (1786)] a barber. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1886 Globe (London) 18

Mar. 3/2: (Referring to a recent order of French War Minister permitting soldiers to wear their beards) There is wailing and weeping among a certain section of that army, the figaros, which has been despoiled at one fell swoop [F&H]. 1922 Contemp. Rev. Mar. 334: [He] one day asked his Figaro who he thought was the richest man in the town [OED].

figary

n. [lit. 'a fig garden', i.e. FIG n.^ ] the vagina.

c,1663 'On the Ladies of the Court' in Wilson Court Satires of the

Restoration (1976) 6: Scroope, they say, hath no good breath, / But yet she's well enough beneath, / And hath a good figary.

figdean

v, l? Fr.figer, to freeze] to kill.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar

Tongue. 1859

figger

n.

1

Matsell

Vocabulum.

(UK Und.) a pickpocket.

1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 40: They be but petty figgers and unlessoned lads that have such ready passage to the gallows. 2 see fagcer n.^.

figger v. see figure v. figging law n. (also fagging

law) [fig v. + law n. (1)1 (UK Und.)

the art of picking pockets. 1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 18: Thus they give their own conveyance the name of cheating law; so do they other terms, as sacking law, high law, figging law, and such like. 1591 Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage C2: In Figging law. The picke pocket, a Foist / He that faceth the man, the Stale / Taking the purse. Drawing / Spying of him, Smoaking / The purse, the Bong / The monie, the Shels / The Act doing, striking. 1608 Dekker Belman of London HI: The Parliament of these hell-hounds, it seemes wil soone break vp, for they stand now onely vpon the last lawe; which they call Figging-Lawe: in making of which law, two persons haue the chiefe voices, that is to say, the Cutpurse & the Pick-pocket. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: A diver with two fingers, a pickpocket; all his train study the figging law, that's to say, cutting of purses and foisting. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

figgins

n.’’

m In exclamations by my figgins! (also by my fig!) [? SE faith -f dimin. sfx -kins] a general excl. of astonishment or emphasis. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 15: By my figgins, godmother. 1759-67 Sterne Tristram Shandy (1949) 479: By my fig! said she, swearing. I'll go no furthur.

figgins n? see figs n. figh! excl. see faugh! excl. fight n. [abbr. BUNFICHT under 1890-1904 Farmer &

BUN n.^1 (US) a party, a brawl.

SI. and Its Analogues. 1901 'Hugh John Henry 87: One night recently I went out with Clara Jane to one of those progressive euchre fights. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1950 R. Starnes Another Mug for the Bier 18: The little girl had been a familiar figure at [...] the cocktail fights frequented by the old man. Henley

McHugh'

fight V ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fight-water (n.) [the

effect] (Can.) a spirit.

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 389/2: late C.19-early 20.

■ In phrases fight at the leg (v.) see under leg n. fight booty (v.) see play booty under booty n.\ fight in armour (v.) see armour n. (1).

fighting Irish

82

fight nob work

(v.) [? to act like a nob n? (1)] (UK Und.) to succeed without working in the respectable world.

_Fiji uncle fig up

V. Ifig. use of FIG (A HORSE) V. (1)] to invigorate, to cheer up, to

improve morale.

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 254: To act

1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 24; In vain

with such prudence and knowledge of the world, as to prosper and become independent without any labour or bodily extertion; this is termed [...] fighting nob work.

did they try to fig

fight off

(v.) (a/so aggression.

fight

up

with)

(W.l.) to attack with unexpected

1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fight the tiger (v.) see fight up oneself/with 1979

cited in Allsopp

buck the ticer under tiger n.

(v.) (W.l.) to struggle for survival.

Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage

(1996).

fight with the nails on your toes (v.) (also fight with your own toenails) (Irish) to be obsessively, continually aggressive. 1995 RTE Radio The GB Show 1 Nov. n.p.: She says she knows you and the two of you would fight with your own toenails [BS]. 1995 S. CONNAUGHTON Border Diary n.p.: 'Do you know what it is you'd fight with the nails on your toes.' 'Only when I'd be done stamping on yours' [BS].

fighting Irish

n. (racial stereotyping] (US) a boast.

1979 Maledicta III:2 162: Irish, fighting n [...] 2: [DA ca 1890] Proud boast.

fightist

n. [SE fight + sfx -ist] a prize-fighter, a boxer.

1877 Daily News 8 Oct. n.p.: Turkey had just acquired reputation enough as a 'fightist' to daunt half a dozen second-rate powers [OED].

fighty

adj. aggressive.

1844 G.W. Kendall Narrative of Texan Santa Fe Expedition I 133: Captain Caldwell [...] remarked to his men, in a low tone and in English, that 'these fellows looked ugly and fighty'. 1888 W.B. Churchward Blaekbirding In The South Pacific 108: I don't want no rowdy chaps in my ship; they annoy me, and then I get bad and fighty.

fig-lesf

n. [it covers the same area as the biblical fig-leaves employed by Adam and Eve] an apron. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 1:11 26: She underneath and he on top, / His Breeches down, her Fig-leaf up. 1873 Si. Diet. 162: Figleaf a small apron worn by ladies. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si. and Its Analogues.

fig me!

exc/. a euph. synon. for fuck me! exc/.

C.1597 Shakespeare Henry IVPtIV iii: I speak the truth: When Pistol

lies, do this; and fig me, like The bragging Spaniard.

f.i.g.m.O.

phr. [abbr.] fuck ;t, got my orders; sometimes bowdler¬ ized as finally /... or forget it... 1967 Current Si. 11:2 13: Figmo, Forget it. I've got my orders. Attitude of person in final days of old assignment. 1968 Army Times 'Army Talk in Vietnam' 10 Apr. n.p.: FIGMO: acronym for 'Finally I get my orders.' Especially in 'figmo chart,' a shortimer's calendar, usually a drawing of an undraped female form, with numbered sections which are filled in, one each day, as the shorttimer keeps track of days to go. 2002 N.Y. Rev. of Books 13 June 5/2: The 'shorttimers" abracadabra magic word was figmo — 'Fuck It, Got My Orders'.

fig (of Spain)

n, (also figo) a coarse gesture of dismissal whereby one sticks one's thumb up between two forefingers. 1576 U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 2nd dial. 8: For a token I thee sende / A dotinge Fig of Spayne. 1599 Shakespeare Henry Vlll vi: Die and be damn'd; and figo for thy friendship! [...] The fig of Spain! 1639 R. Davenport A New Tricke to Cheat the Divell I ii: If none be gall'd, you have no cause to wince. But if you be, then Figo.

■ In phrases

give the fig (v.) to stick one's thumb up between two forefingers as a gesture of derision. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 305: fig, to give the. An expression of contempt or insult, which consisted in thrusting the thumb between two of the closed fingers, or into the mouth, whence Bite the THUMB. The custom is generally regarded as being originally Spanish. According to some authors, it conveyed an insulting allusion to a contemptuous punishment inflicted on the Milanese, by the emperor Frederic Barbarossa, in 1162, when he took their city [...] But this has much the air of a fable,

fig-picker

n. (US black) a cadger.

2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fig-picka Defini¬ tion: one who is unemployed and depends on others for financial support Example: I ain ‘t givinyou no mo money you no account fig-picka.

figs

n. (also

figgins)

[his stock] a grocer.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si. and Its Analogues.

figthing n. see fig-trap n. (UK

fig n.^. Und.) watch-stealers.

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

dead

figure

up

the old lad,

/

'Twas like using

persuaders

upon a

prad. n.^ [St figure, a number] a sum of money, esp. a bill.

1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff

Tom and Jerry III ii: She wants the tippery - there - (gives money). There, that's the figure, Jerry! 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms. 3,1856 Thackeray Bk of Snobs 37: Accommodating the youngster, who had just entered the regiment, with a glandered charger at an uncommonly stiff figure. 1873 SI. Diet. 1886 Cornhill Mag. Mar. 304: About what is their figure? asked Mr. Corder. Slim and graceful, answered the lady. I don't mean that, said the ex-smoked-motherof-pearl-button manufacturer; I mean, what is each of them worth in money? [F&H].

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds figure-dancer (n.) [they make the 'figures dance' -F pun on SE figuredancer, one who performs in a figure-dance; i.e. a dance that offers representations of famous historical events] a forger who specializes in altering the figures on banknotes, usu. adding a zero to make 10 into 100. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.:

One who alters figures on bank notes, converting tens to hundreds. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 39/1: Figure dancer, one who alters value of checks or Figure Dancer.

bank notes.

figure-eight (n.) (? the twisting of the body] (US drugs) a fake fit or similar spasm, used by an addict attempting to persuade a doctor to give out drugs. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS XI:2

121/1: figure eight. A feigned spasm. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

figure-fancier (n.) a man who prefers plump women. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

figure-maker (n.) a womanizer. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

figure-waltzing (n.) (UK Und.) the writhings of one who is being publicly whipped as a judicial punishment. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

■ In phrases figure on (v.) to total up (a bill or account) against. 1773 Gent.'s Mag. XLIII 654: His antagonist [..,] figured on him (as his phrase is) at the game of two-handed whist, about £200. 1781 W. Cowper Correspondence (1904) letter 3 Oct. 360: Your draft is worded for twenty pounds, and figured for twenty-one.

miss one’s figure (v.) to miss a chance. 1829 in N.E, Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 135: Professors Mitchell and

Olmstead have missed the figure [...] in their speculations on the gold mines. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

figure figure

n? see facger n.’’.

v. (also figger) [SE fgure, to reckon, to calculate, to ascertain] (US) to think of a person or object in a given way; usu. figure him/ her for... 1927 H.C. WiTWER Classics in SI. 14: They got Pete figured for a hick. 1933 'Paul Cain' 'One, Two, Three' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2006) 10: He might figure me for a dick and scram. 1938 D. Runyon 'The Three Wise Guys' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 410: Everybody figures Joseph Hatcher is guilty. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 343: Figures you for some dough, I guess. You look sort of prosperous,

■ In phrases that figures (also figures, it figures) (orig. US) that's right, that adds up as it should. 1952 B. Wolfe Limbo (1953) IV 213: That figures, all right... It's kind of a startling idea, but it figures [OED]. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 23: Yeah, well, that figures. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 61: 'Harrington bought the ranch.' 'Figures.' 1999 Guardian Guide 13-19 Nov. 75; Even Daily Mail pin-up Carol Smillie guests in tonight's episode. It figures. 2000 P. Cornwell Last Precinct 233: That fucking figures,

fi-heath

n. [backsl.j a thief.

1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

[as cit. 1859]. 1873 5/. Diet.

Fiji uncle

n. (also uncle from/in Fiji) [one's refs, to 'when my uncle in Fiji...') (Aus.) a mythical figure whose supposed wealth is ready and waiting to bail one out of any problems.

filbert 1902 H. Fletcher Waybacks 6: 'Ain't yer got an uncle in Fiji?' demanded Dads, with scorn. 'Ain't yer got two hundred quid to give to the honest man who will trust you to the same amount?' [GAW4]. 1914 H. Lawson 'Mitchell on the "Situation"' in Roderick (1972) 716; They were both spielers [...] Their game was anything weaker or stupider than themselves that had cash or property, and when they were in Sydney their uncles lived in Fiji. 1928 A. Wright A Good Recovery 9: I'm beginning to think that rich uncle is like the one from Fiji, eh, Lance? [GAW4],

filbert

n. [SE filbert, a hazelnut, which in France trad, ripened on or near St 1 the human head [play on nut n.' (1)1. Philibert's day, 22 August (Old Style))

1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Intermittent Fusser' in Ade's Fables 59: He was on the waiting list for the Nut Club. Our Old Friend was flooey in the Filbert. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 292: Experts tell us that this is the first Sign of a general breakdown in the Filbert. 1936 J. Curtis Gi/t Kid 198: Get that into your old filbert. 1981 J. Sullivan 'A Slow Bus to Chingford' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Use your old filbert. 2 a fashionable dandy [pun on KNUT n.-, esp. in song 'Gilbert the Filbert/ Colonel of the Knuts', by Arthur Wimperis (1874-1953) featured in a 1914 version of The Passing Shove].

1915 Grey Brigade 20 Nov. 4/1: Agony Column — Young subaltern recently divorced is not averse to making the acquaintance of passionate actress. When not in camp wears soft hat, stock tie, pink socks and Oxford Shirt. The Filbert.

3

(US) a crazy person; a clownish person [play on nut

(1)].

1920 Film Fun 24 Apr. 1: All the FILM FUN filberts have it! They win!

■ In phrases

cracked in the filbert

(ad/.) eccentric, slightly crazy.

1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

filberts on

(adj.) keen on, enthusiastic about.

1879 "Arry on the River' in Punch 9 Aug. 57/1: I'm dead filberts, my boy, on the river. 1885 "Arry [...] at the Grosvenor Gallery' in Punch 10 Jan. 24/2: Don't know as I'm filberts on fairies, and dragons and toadstools and things.

filch

n. [a cant word of no certain origin; Ribton-Turner, A History of Vagrants (1887), suggests Welsh yspe/7/o, to steal, with a 'common' change from p/sp to f plus Lowland Scot, pilk, to pilfer] 1 a short pole with a hook on

one end,

used

to steal

small,

portable

items from

windows, stalls etc; note earlier filchman under filch v.

1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 42: Out budgd the Coue of the Ken, / With a ben filtch in his quarr'me. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush II i: Thus we throw up our nab-cheats first, for joy, / And then our filches; last we clap our fambles. 1637 Dekker Canting Song Eng. Villainies (8th edn) 03: To thy bughar and thy skew. Filch and lybes I bid adue. 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 62: Providing himself and me with a good lusty Filch or Stick with a hole at the end thereof, to put in a hook. a,1674 'A Wenches complaint for . . . her lusty Rogue' Head Canting Academy (1674) 17: [as cit. 1637]. 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Filch, [...] a Staff, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: A good Filch, a Staff, of Ash or Hazel, with a Hole through, and a Spike at the bottom, to pluck Cloathes from a Hedge or anything out of a Casement. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 200: [as cit, 1637]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 2 a thief. 1727 J. Gay Beggar's Opera I vi: filch: I ply'd at the Opera, Madam; and considering 'twas neither dark nor rainy [...[ made a tolerable hand on't. These seven Handkerchiefs, Madam. 1773 Rivington ‘s N.-Y. Gazetteer 15 July 2/3-4: Last Saturday Darcus, the rascal, who stole his Excellency Governor Tryon's silver cups as advertised in this paper, was brought to town from New-Haven, where he was apprehended: this same Filch had likewise been tolerably successful about the house of our late commander in chief [etc.]. 1811 J. Poole Hamlet Travestie H iii: A very Filch, that more deserves to hang Than any one of the light-finger'd gang. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 123: Ringers burglars teefs filches dips and deedees. Scammers an' skankers. Specialist form-fillers an' loophole operators.

3

that which is stolen, the booty of a theft. 1798 'Peter Pindar' 'Tales of Hoy' Works (1801) V 267: He put a fine parcel of money into the pockets of the Proprietors - quite a Filch!

filch

V.

filch

83

1

to beat, to strike.

C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 84: to fylche, to beate, to stryke. 1610 Rowlands Martin Markall 38: To Filch, to beate. A Filchman, a cudgell.

2

(orig. UK Und.) to steal; to rob. C.1561 Awdeley Fraternitye of Vacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 3:

A Prygman goeth with a stycke in hys hand like an idle person. His propertye is to steale cloathes of the hedge, which they call storing of the Rogeman: or els filch Poultry, carying them to the Alehouse, whych they call the Bowsyng In, & ther syt playing at cardes and dice, tyl that is spent which they haue so fylched. 1576 Tyde taryeth no Man in Collier (1863) II 47: But, cosen Cutpurse, if ought thou do get, /1 pray thee let me haue part of thy cheate. /1 meane not of thy hanging fare, / But of thy purse, and filched share. 1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) II i: He looked for his purse: The cosener had filched it and left him alone to pay for the reckoning. 1586 G. Whetstone Mirrour for Magestrates of Citties (2nd edn) Kl: These idle persons [...] haue yet handes to filch, heades to deceiue, and friends to receiue. 1595 Maroccus Extaticus To the Reader A3: A flat robberie [...] such a peece of filching as is punishable with ribroast among the turne spits at pie corner. 1604 Marston Malcontent I viii: The Welshman stole rushes when there was nothing else to filch. 1614 T. Tomkis Albumazar I i: I vnderstood his businesse Which I filch't closely from him, while he reueal'd T' his man his purposes and projects. 1622 J. Taylor 'Farewell to the Tower-bottles' in Works (1869) III 125: To filch or steal, I scarcely had a thought. 1635 Long Meg of Westminster 17: To filch anything out of a house [...] I hold it in scorn. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I xxxvi: Those allegories, which Plutarch, Heraclides Pontincus [...] squeezed out of him, and which Politian filched again from them. 1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 43: We come not [...] to filch Linen or Woollen, / Nor yet to steal away your Pullen. 1671 'On a Precise Taylor' in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) 85: If the Stuff allow'd fell out to large. And that to filch his fingers were inclin'd. a.1680 G. Etheredge 'Mr. E.'s Answer' in Sackville Poems (1979) 109: When they intend to make up Pack, / By filching Sheets, or Shirt from Back. 1692 J. Hacket Memorial of John Williams II 128: Books he filcht what he would; For four Cellars of Wine, Syder, Ale, beer, with Wood, Hay, Corn, and the like [...] he gave not an account of Six-pence. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 182; He [upright man] stands in statu quo, all the Morts, Dells, and Doxies, or Women of the several Degrees and Orders amongst them, are at his Command; as likewise the best of whatever they Filch or Maund, that is. Steal or Beg. 1725 'Vain Dreamer' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 46: Her gans were like to coral red, / A thousand times I kissed 'em; / A thousand more I might have filch'd. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen ek. 99: 1 could make what I filched, and enough left to Game all the Week. 1737 Pope Mother Gin 19: Wearied Cloyers, who recline In grassy fields suburbian all day-light. And snore away the filching toils of night. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 2: Scratching his pate the loon did stand, / With an old garland in his hand / Filch'd from a May-pole. 1780 T. Gray Candidate 2: His lying, and filching, and Newgate-bird tricks. 1798 'Peter Pindar' 'Tales of Hoy' Works (1801) V 250: The bang'd Thief, whose Friends had kindly filch'd him from the string. 1807 Irving & Paulding Salmagundi (1860) 409: Filched from the Spectator, who confessedly filched her from Otway's 'wrinkled hag with age grown double'. 1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) III 138: The very scullions were at free quarters, and filched whatever they pleased. 1816 J.H. Lewis Lectures on Art of Writing (1840) 88: None like he. Hath filched his works so copiously! 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) III 119: I could not have guessed your haunt had I not been told that you fdched some double-tripe (lead) on the boulevard Saint Martin. 1839 C. Dance Alive and Merry II i: Have you never had a man to your back that you must try to filch other people's? 1847 Thackeray Punch's Prize Novelists: George de Barnwell in Burlesques (1903) 148; The knave might filch his treasures, he was heedless of the knave, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 235: They would follow and mix themselves up in the throng, ready to filch any stray article they could lay their hands on. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Apr. 4/2: Yet so degrading is the infatuation of the hour that there are men not ashamed to urge that the provision made for such undeserved suffering should be filched away in order to swell the portion of the deserted wives and babes of men whose lust for excitement sent them in search of men to kill in foreign lands. 1898 H. Macfall Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer 13: He filched a staff of sugar¬ cane from a sleeping street-seller's basket. 1904 Kipling 'The Comprehension of Private Copper' Traffics and Discoveries 169: Quietly filching the English weekly from under Copper's armpit. 1918 K.F. Purdon Dinny on the Doorstep 179: Why, even the leisure that their young hearts needed [...] was being filched from them. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 198: It was the Old Story—a lot of Outsiders trying to filch the Profits of Honest Enterprise. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 179: The ponce filches from the prostitute and she in turn robs the roue. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 52: There is also the pest who imagines that his brain child has been

filcher filched. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 176; The petty, habitual filching of whisky, perfume, coffee, steaks. 1960 H. Pinter Caretaker Act II: I can run you to the police station in five minutes, have you in for [...] daylight robbery, filching, thieving and stinking the place out. 1975 C. Dexter Last Bus to Woodstock 134; The brands of writing paper so carefully filched from Crowther's personal store. 1979 P. Reading 'Inter-City' in Fiction 31: He fell / into the habitual practice of / filching his Sunday supper from the fridge. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 151: He hustled her to the ambulance, filched morphine and a hypo, shot her up while no one was looking. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 227: He was filching the dude's VA checks. 3 (US) to defraud, to cheat. C.1858 J.H. Green Reformed Gambler 203: Thus they are drawn into the game of faro, and seldom go away without getting filched. 1910 H. Hapgood Types from City Streets 234: We ought not to filch him.

■ In compounds filching cove (n.) [cove n. (1)1 a thief. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Filching Cove c. a Man-thief. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan

file

84

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

filching mort

(n.) [mort n. (1)] a female thief.

c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Filching-Mort. a woman thief. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [...] Filching-Mort, a woman thief. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

filchman

(n.) a cudgel or staff.

C.1561 Awdeley Fraternitye ofVacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 4: The trunchion of a staffe, which staffe they call a filtchman. 1589 Nashe Countercuffe to Martin Junior in Works I (1883-4) 80: A filch¬ man in his hande, a swapping Ale-dagger at his back. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching A3: He fylch the Cose without any fylch man. 1608 Dekker Belman of London (3rd) C3: A short Truncheon in his hand, which hee cals his Filchman. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 17: Sturdy knaues play in Towns, and complaine of neede, whose filchman or staffe, if it be once warme in their hands. 1669 W. WiNSTANLEY New Help To Discourse 131: The Upright-man is the Chief or Prince of the rest, who commonly walks with a short Truncheon in his hand, which he cals his Filchman.

■ In phrases

on the filch

working as a thief.

file n. [ety. unknown; despite chronology OED suggests abbr, FOIL-CLOY n., thence FILE-CLOY under FILE v.\ Weekley, Etymological Diet, of Modern English (1921), offers link to Er.filou, a pickpocket; DSUE suggests SE file, a metal tool used to cut through things, and file, a rascal; 18C Fr. argot also has///er doux, to flatter, wheedle, 'play the sleeping dog', i.e. lie in wait]

(UK Und.) 1 an act of pickpocketing. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 8: Lucifers Lansprizado stood aloof to behold the mustrrings of these Hell-hounds, took delight to see them Double their Fyles so nimbly. 2 a pickpocket. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 28: A whole gang of rogues, distinguished by Files, Lifts, Gilts, Budges, Runners, Heavers, &c. 1676 A Newgate ex-prisoner A Warning for House-Keepers 6: A File is a Pickpocket, a Bulk is his tame-Rogue, who goes alwaies with the File, for he can do nothing without the File, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: File, c. a Pick-pocket. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 11:5 16: Jilts, Shoplifts, Files and brimstone B—s. 1718 C. Hitchin Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers 14: It was my Opinion they were inclinable to turn Files, (alias Pick-Pockets). 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 28: As to Hulks, Finebones, Black Isaac, Etc. they were but Under-strappers, tho' Black Isaac could Bite a Clout, as dexterously as any File in Town. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: A file, or Bungnipper, Pick-pockets, who generally go in Company with a Rogue, called a Bulk or Bulker, whose Business 'tis to jostle the Person against the Wall, while the File picks his Pocket; and generally gives it to an Adam Tiler, who scowers off with it. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 12; harry: But who had you in your Ken last Darkee? moll: We had your Dudders and your Duffers, Files, Buffers, and Slangers. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 18: Partners to Files - Shoulder-shams. [Ibid.] 29: The File is the same as the Diver, tho' for the most part he goes without the Bulk, and was formerly known by the Title of the Bung-nipper, because of a horn Thumb and sharp Knife, he used to cut the Pockets clean off, with all that was in them. 1768 (con. 171025) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxvii: A File A Pick-pocket. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1790 'The Bowman Prigg's Farewell' in Wardroper (1995) 283: Then aideu to all kins and knots, / To kid-layers, files and trapanners. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 240; File, in the old version of cant signified a pockpocket, but the term is now obsolete. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: file A pick-pocket. The file is one who is generally accompanied by two others, one of whom is called the 'Adam tyler;' and the other the 'bulker,' or 'staller.' 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI. Diet. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. St. 72: File.-A pickpocket. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 3 a shoplifter.

1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 246: She were an out and outer in

1753 J. PouLTER Discoveries (1774) 29: To caution all Shopkeepers and

going into shops on the filch.

Salesmen against Shoplifters of both Sexes [...] There shall be generally three Persons together, called in Cant Prigger Lifts or Files [...] They will open a Piece of Stuff and hold it up between the Owner and their Partner that sits down with her Petticoats half up ready for the Word nap it; then she puts it between her Carriers (that is, a Cant Word for Thighs) and then gets up and lets her

filcher

n. (filch

v.

(2)] a thief, orig. one who uses a filch n.

1568 U. Fulwell Like Will to Like in Dodsley III (1874) 326:1 promised of late to come unto a company, / Which at Hob Filcher's for me do remain. 1573 T. Tussbr Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie (1878) 25: Beware [...] Purloiners and filchers, that loueth to lurke. 1598 JONSON Every Man in his Humour IV ix: How now, signior Gull! Are you turned filcher of late? Come, deliver my cloak. 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 L3: Filchers and Cloyers being all (in English) Stealers. 1636 W. Davenant Wits V ii: Th' old blade Skulks there like a tame filcher, as he had Ne'er stoTn 'bove eggs from market-women. 1645 Recreation for Ingeious Head-peeces (3rd) Epitaph No. 138: Andrew Turncoat, who was neither Slave, Nor Soldier [...] Nor Fencer, Nor Cobler, Nor Filcher. c,1661 A Beggar I'll Be in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 26: A Craver my Father, a Maunder my Mother, / A Filer my Sister, a Filcher my Brother, [...] A Litter my Aunt, and a Beggar my self, 1664 T. Jordan 'The Cheaters Cheated' A Royal Arbor 35: Good morrow, fellow Filcher / What! do we sink or swim? / Thou look'st so like a pilcher. 1694 J. Eachard (trans.) Plautus's Rudens II ii: Well met. Old Sea-Filchers, Oyster-Crackers, and Hook-Drivers. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 100: [as cit. c, 1661]. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: filchers the Villains using such a Staff; the same with ANGLERS. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1754 'The Beggar' Muses Delight 133: [as cit. c. 1661]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford III 241: They want to do away with all distinctions in ranks, to make a [...] gentleman highwayman class with a filcher of fogies. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1865 T. Archer Pauper, Thief and Convict 24: He becomes known to the police as a regular pickpocket and filcher. 1887 Ebsworth Cavalier Lyrics n.p.: Filchers, who grabble at other folks chink [F&H]. 1892 H. Lawson 'More Echoes from the Old Museum' in Roderick (1967-9) 1 181: And then 'Senile de Sails' rose — another hoary filcher.

Clothes drop [...] and so walks off.

4 (a/so old file upon the town) an experienced fraudster or confidence trickster. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 240: file: a person who has had a long course of experience in the arts of fraud, so as to have become an adept, is termed an old file upon the town', so it is usual to say of a man who is extremely cunning, and not to be over-reached, that he is a deep file. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 141: fOld files—A person who has had a long course of

experience in the arts of fraud, so as to become an adept in the manoeuvres of the town, is termed a deep file—a mm file, or an old file. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford I 147: A middle-aged man, though a very old 'file,' who was sentenced for getting money under false pretences. 1845 'Fight with Snapping Turtle' in Martin & Aytoun Bon Gaultier Ballads 65: The old experienced file [...] Answered with a quiet smile. 1857 Thackeray Virginians I 188: Will is an old file, in spite of his smooth face. 5 an artful, cunning or shrewd person, a man, a 'fellow'; thus old file, an old and/or experienced person. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry II iv: Well, I'm off - you're a

good old file - I'll give you a shilling for luck. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 160; Into the space tom ol—, the clever file, / Has stakd' and rop'd, and made for boxer's fit. 1843-44 Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1995) 179; 'Always a perverse old file, he was,' said Mr. Jonas, coolly, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple I 57: 'What kind of fellow is the cabman. Jack?' 'An old file, and well up to his work.' 1891 A, Day Mysterious Beggar 333: Oh you old snoozerl [.,,] Wouldn't I mop th' floor with yel Ye ugly old file!

file 1900 Sporting Times 13 Jan. 6/3: The knowing old file in Pretoria / Caught the 'Stater' with visions of gloria. 1906 Marvel 9 June 552: He's a decent old file, Frank, you know. 6 a pickpocket's assistant. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 13: Why, warn't none of the files on the tramp?

■ In compounds 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 390/2: ca. 1670-1800.

■ In phrases

1

under deep adj.

1659 Catterpillers of this Nation Anatomized 4: If he chance to espy a (loseph) cloak, hang in a shop any thing likely to be fil’d, it will go hard if it escape him. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 6: Next Morning we left our Company and went for West-chester on the File (A Cant Word for Cheating): We stayed on Purpose to rob a PackHorse. 1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 6: You'll grind the flats again, / And file the sharps unto the grain. 3 to break into. 1724 'Frisky Moll's Song' in J. Thurmond Harlequin Sheppard 22: He broke thro' all Rubbs in the Whitt, / And chiv'd his Darbies in twain / But hieing of a Rumbo Ken, / My Boman is snabbled again.

■ In compounds {also

file-cly) [cly n. (2)1 a pickpocket. 1712 'Black Procession' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 38: The sixth is a file-cly that not one cully spares, / The seventh a budge to track softly upstairs. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 19: A File-Cly, alias PickPocket. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen (dc. 193: She enter'd herself into the Society of Divers, otherwise call'd File-dyers, Cutpurses, or Pick-pockets. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 114: Pick-pocket A File or a Cly. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 30: The Sixth is a File-coy [sic] that not one Hick spares. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: File, file cloy, or bungnipper, a pickpocket. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1869 'Thief-Catcher's Prophecy' in W.H. Logan Pedlar's Pack of Ballads 143: The sixth is a File-cly, that not one cully spares,

file-cloy (n.)

(n.) {also

filing lay)

[lay n.^

(1)1

{UK Und.) pickpocketing.

1725 Hist, of Jonathan Wild 4: The Gentlemen of the Kid-Lay, File, Lay, ]i.e. file lay] Sneak and Buttock. 1743 Fielding Life of Jonathan Wild (1784) IV 258:1 am committed for the filing-lay, man, and we shall be both nubbed together. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 30: The great Trade or knowing Art called Filing: that is, picking Pockets.

■ In phrases {also file a cloy) [cly n. (2)] {UK Und.) to pick a pocket; thus cly-filing n. 1663 Wandering-Whores Complaint 2: If I meet a Cull in Moor-fields, I can give him leave to dive in my Placket whilst I Fyle his Cly, at which work my Fingers are as nimble as an Eele. 1680 Head Eng. Rogue IV 152: Which Arts are divided into that of High-Padding, Low-Padding, Cloy-Filing, Bung-Nipping, Prancers Prigging, DiidsLifting, Rhum-Napping, Cove-Cuffing, Mort-Trapping, StampFlashing, Ken-Milling, Jerk the Naskin. c,1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Filed a Cly of a Loge, or Scout, c. Pickt a Pocket or a Watch. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 294: Water-lane Divers, alias Pick-Pockets, contrive new stratagems to amuse unwary Passengers, till they File the Cly. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 255: Filing a Cly, which is, picking Pockets of Watches, Money, Books or Wipes, that's

file a cly (v.)

1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 390/2: — 1932.

■ In phrases file on (v.) {US Und.) to arrest; to charge.

to pick a pocket.

1622 J. Taylor 'Farewell to the Tower-bottles' in .Works (1869) III 127: 'Tis know you have been stabb'd, thrown in the Thames / And he that fil'd you beaten. a.1674 'Of the Budge' Head Canting Academy (1674) 12: And when that we have filed him / Perhaps of half a Job. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Do you Bulk and I'll File, if you'll jostle him, I will Pick his Pocket. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 270: She is to be candidly taught [...] the dark Mysteries of Harlotry: how to File a drunken Cully: sweeten an old Teacher: wheedle a constant Customer. 1712 'Budg and Snudg Song' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 31: But when that we come out agen / and the merry hick we meet / We file off with his cole / As he pikes along the street. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 G. Stevens 'A Cant Song' Muses Delight 177: We fil'd the rum codger and plumpt the queer cull, / And away we went to the ken boozie. 1760 'Come All You Buffers Gay' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 53: For if the cull should be down / And catch you a hieing his bag / Then at the Old Bailey you're found, / And d—n you, he'll tip you the lag. 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 2 {UK Und.) to cheat, to rob.

file-lay

pockets) in which he is reported to have had a very remarkable dexterity. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

■ SE in slang uses

deep file (n.) see

v.^ [FILE n.l

to say. Handkerchiefs. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c. n.p.: [as cit. 1714]. 1764 Bloody Register I 125: He [...] soon quitted that smutty employment [i.e. chimney-sweeping] for a cleanlier trade, i.e. Filing a Cly (picking

file onto (v.) (Can.) to grab hold of, to seize.

file-lifter (n.) a pickpocket.

file

fill

85

1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 92: Until a few years ago Texas didn't have a tool law. They could catch you with all the burglary tools in the world and they couldn't file on you for having them,

file v.^ {US campus) to throw away into a wastepaper bin. 1934 Weseen Diet. Amer. SI. 333: [General] File - To throw in the wastebasket. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: file it . . . make a straight toss to the wastebasket. 1982 Eble Campus SI. Fall 2: file - to throw away: File this can, please.

file v,^ [? 13C SE file, defile or f. SE vile] {US black) to act in a brutal, cruel manner. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. I1I;2 23: File, v. Top treat someone badly.

file v,'* [abbr. of PROFILE v.] {US campus) to show off, to dress up. 1978 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: file - to show off. He thinks he's cool. Look at him file! 1989 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 36: Slang words formed by clipping sounds from the beginning of the word are [...] //7e 'show off, dress up', from profile.

filer n. (a/so cly-filer) (file v.^ (1)) a pickpocket. 1659 Catterpillers of this Nation Anatomized 2: The Filer or Cloyer {alias) a common Thief, c.1661 A Beggar I'll Be in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 26: A Graver my Father, a Maunder my Mother, / A Filer my Sister, a Filcher my Brother, / A Canter my Unkle, that car'd not for Pelf, / A Litter my Aunt, and a Beggar my self. 1674 C. Cotton Compleat Gamester 6: Shoals of Huff's, Hectors, Setters, Gilts, Pads, Biters, Divers, Lifters, Filers, Budgies, Droppers, Crossbyters, etc., and these may all pass under the general and common apellation of Rooks. 1693 Poor Robin n.p.: A most plentiful crop [...] of hectors, trepanners, gilts, pads, biters, prigs, divers, lifters, filers, bulkers, droppers, famblers, donnakers, cross-biters, kidnappers, vouchers, millikers, pymers, decoys, and shop-lifters, all Newgate-birds, whom the devil prepares ready fitted for Tyburn, ready to drop into the hangman's mouth [N]. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 100: A Filer my Sister, a Filcher my Brother. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c. 24: His Fraternity being thus composed of Lifters, Pickpockets, and Filers. 1754 'The Beggar' Muses Delight 133: A craver my father, a maunder my mother, / A filer my sister, a filcher my brother. 1897 C. Whibley 'Moll Cutpurse' in Book of Scoundrels 59: She is remembered [...] not only as the Queen Regent of Misrule, the benevolent tyrant of cly-filers and heavers,

filet

n. [Fr. filet de boeuf, fillet steak -F ? joc. ref. to LAY n.^ (1)| {US campus) a very attractive young woman. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 78: filet girl, cute girl. 2000 Indep. 8 Jan. 5: I can't blame him because his wife is very thin. She's got a lot of money but she's not really filet mignon is she?

filiome n. [feele n. -f omee n. (2), lit. 'child-man'] {Ling. Fr./Polar!) a child that is under the age of consent. 2002 Juha 'Polari' [lyrics] on Polari [album] How's your double dippin? / Can you fit me & Rex inside without rippin? / This salty sea cave wanna fill with foam. / Jarry this bagada, filiome.

filipinyock n. [Filipino -f ? hunyak n.l (US) a derog. term for a Filipino. 1942 New Yorker 17 Oct. 19/2: Anyways, he happens to go under the name Joe—a Filipinyock. . . But still in all, he was strickly a wack from Wackland, that Joe [DARE].

fill n. ■ In phrases give someone a fill (v.) {UK Und.) to deceive. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 130/2: Fill, To give a (Thieves '). To deceive, e,g„ 'I gave the blue belly a fill' - would mean that you sent the policeman on a wrong scent.

fill V ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fill a blanket (v.) see under blanket n. fill an eye (v.) (Aus.) to punch in the eye. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 23: fill an eye — To punch in the eye. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 19211924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: fill-an-eye. To punch in the eye. 1938 X.

fillaloo

filth

86

Herbert Capricornia (1939) 371: If you don't shut up I'll fill your

blunny eye.

fill a woman’s pannier

(v.) to impregnate a woman.

then and there. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 111: Dawsy goat filled in up thair a wee bit back. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 38: Nicky you try to fill him in and he probably hit you with his sword,

1611 R. COTGRAVE Diet, of Fr. and Eng. Tongues n.p.: Emplir unefemelle.

fill in v.^ (Aus.) to make pregnant; thus filled in, pregnant.

To serve, bag, make her great, till her panniers, give her her

1955 'No. 35' Argot in G. SlMES DAUS (1993). filling station n. [lit. or punning use of SE/;7//ng station, a petrol or gas

paiment, get her with yong.

fill in see separate entries. fill one’s boots (v.) 1 to take

as much of something as one can. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 166:1 had a bag wiv me, didn't I? [...] Just filled me boots, din I? 1986 T.V. Olsen High Lawless 57: She set her cup down and said firmly, 'Now you fill your boots. Mister Thoroughgood, and get out what you want to say.' 2005 M. Fullick Bible Two 377: Go on, fill your boots, Bow. I am glad to be of some service.

Advocate 21 May 3/3-4: filling station — small town,

2 as a drinking toast. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 491: 'There,' grunts Eddie,

2 a place to eat or drink, esp. a nightclub,

handing Chalky a pint of best bitter, 'Fill yer boots, lad!'

1933 Ersine Und. and Prison St. 3 (US black) a liquor store. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 187: The liquor store [...] has a number of venacular names — [...] filling station, brew house, leeky store. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharnb Straight from the Fridge Dad.

fill one’s collar fill one’s pipe

(v.) see under collar n, (v.) [one can lie back and smoke] to attain a comfortable lifestyle, to amass wealth; thus ext. by ...and leave

others to enjoy it. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 110: Such persons, with very few exceptions, have lived just long enough, according to a vulgar phrase, to fill their pipe, and leave others to enjoy it. fill one’s shirt (v.) see under shirt n. fill someone up (v.) (US black) to gratify and satisfy completely; with obvious sexual overtones, although sex need not invariably be involved. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1984 Smiley Culture 'Cockney Translation' [lyrics] But through me fill up of lyrics and education / Right here now you go a get a little translation.

fill the funnel

(v.) (US) to attain a target, e.g. a given monetary

sum. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 34: All were addicts [...] they had to

work twice as hard, filling the funnel, (v.) [one's eyes are filled with tears] (Ulster) to be on the verge of

fill up

tears; thus filled up adj. 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to the Hill (1986) 66:1 filled up when I read the words and I truly felt a louse for lying to Mr. Hayes the way I did. 1974 C. Token Come Monday Morning 142: Till you get so filled up you gotta come down here an' spill your guts. 1997 Share Slanguage.

fillaloo

fill in (on) v. [i.e. to fill in blank spaces] (orig. US) to inform, to explain. 1945 E. Newhouse Many are Called (1952) 192: Can you fill me in on them? [OED]. 1958 R. Chandler Playback 185: Like to fill us in a litttle, Mr. Kinsolving? 1970 T. Parker Frying-Pan 152: What I meant by 'filling you in' was I thought you might like to know how it looked to a regular convict. 1982 G.V. Higguts Patriot Game (1985) 107: When I have scouted around Fahey a little, I will fill you in. But I will not tell you everything. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 178: Have I filled ya in on how much cashola I'm gonna make? 2001 N. Griffiths Sheepshagger 2: Well, enlighten us then, Danny [...] go on, fill us in, cos I'm dying to fuckin know, we all are. fillmill n. [SE fill + mill, a building characterized by the task performed within it, in this case 'filling'] (orig. US black) a bar, a saloon. 1944 D, Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 102: I'm doing a Tower of Pisa on the wall of the fill mill. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 147: This fillmill became the hangout for all of Chicago's hot men. filly n. [SE flly, a young woman] (US gay) 1 an effeminate male homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular Tii stereotype effeminate

n. (also phililoo) [SE hultabalto] a commotion, a row.

1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 460: She finds Poll having a

phililoo with him. 1825 T.C. Croker Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland (1862) 26: Then there was the phililoo. 1887 "Arry on the Jubilee' in Punch 25 Jun. 305/1: It's a rare fillaloo and no error, Q.J. is all over the shop. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

filled

adj. (US campus) of a woman, attractive. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Filled: Shapely woman,

fillet of cod

n. [rhy. si. = SOD nj' (2)] a mild pej.

1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book of Rhy. SI. 43: Cheeky little fillet of cod.

fillet of veal

n. [rhy. si.]

1

the treadmill [= SE wheel].

1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

2

station] (US) 1 an urban description of a small town [apart from its filling station, such a town holds no use or appeal to a passing city-dweller], 1927 C. Samolar 'Argot of the Vagabond' in AS 11:9 389: The advent of gasoline as a substitute for oats has brought the expressionsyi/i/ngstation to take the place of tank town or jerkwater. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 582: In the old days a small town used to be a tank or a jerkwater, but now it is a filling-station. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1966 'Railroads have "Slanguage"' in Newark (OH)

a prison, i.e. the site of sense 1 [= Steel, the n. (2)]. 1857 'DucANGE Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue.

3 (US) a wheel. 1944 Maurer & Baker '"Aus." Rhyming Argot' in AS XIX:3.

homosexual [...] filly (because a filly can be mounted).

2 a passive lesbian. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 137: the passive lesbian [...]

filly. film for your brownie n. [pun on the Brownie (camera) -F BROWNIE rtf' (4a)] toilet paper. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 194: This article and series devoted to sexual slang would be incomplete without some notice of catch phrases, both British and American: [...] film for your brownie (toilet paper), filoose/fils n. see feloose n. filter V. 1 (US) to catch on (to a story or joke). 1899 W.J. KountzBilly Baxter's Letters!-. Sarpo and his sons told some funny stories. My, but they were to the saddings! I told one of my best, and nobody filtered but Teddy.

2 to desert.

fillibrush

v. [? SE filibuster] to flatter, to praise ironically. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. ete. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI.

Diet.

fill-in

n. [FILL IN (ON)

V.

(1)]

information.

1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

f.i.l.t.h. phr. [abbr./ailed ;n London, try Hong Kong] used of one who is attempting to resuscitate their career, stalled in London, in the Far East.

1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 44: Now just give me a quick fill-in on Val

1997 AsiaWeek.com 20 Jun. [Internet] In recent years, Hong Kong

and Dulcy. 1975 Sepe & Telano Cop Team 83: That was all the fill-in

saw a large influx of FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong), who took advantage of their British passports to corner the job market in sandwich-selling, cappuccino-peddling, bar-tending and Englishtutoring.

D'Amico needed.

fill in

v.^ (US Und.)

1

to join a criminal gang.

1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 261: I did the grand to Chicago

and filled in with a yeg mob. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Fill in. To join party. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 68/2: Fill. To agree to join a gang of which one is not a regular member in a specific criminal action.

filth n. [SE]

1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (VJSB) 22:

When he beat the murder rap, he was filled in by a shake mob. v.^ [the image is of 'filling' one's victim's face with a fist, to give them

a black eye] (orig. naut.) to beat up. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 81: When the cowboys start to fill me in. I'll have you buzzed immediately for bail. 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 101: Her two brothers started filling me in. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 133: Where is he, the

sod? I'll fill him in. I'll fill him in! 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 133: If he hadn't been so small, he told him, they'd have filled him in right

a prostitute.

gentleman that id a nouice [...] to him some common filth (that neuer knew loue) faine an ardent and honest affection, till she and

2 to recruit into a criminal gang.

fill in

1

1591 Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage 44: If there bee anie yong

2

her cros-biters haue verst him to the beggars estate. 1608 A Yorkshire Tragedy I v: wife: O my sweet husband! hus.: Filth, harlot. 1611 R. Cotgrave Diet, of Fr. and Eng. Tongues n.p.: Fille perdue. A desperate filth, gracelesse flurt; or ... Fille de ioye. (Aus.) an objectionable, rude person.

1969 J. Hibberd Dimboola (2000) 79: Teach that Catholic filth a lesson, Angus. 3 (UK Und.) the police, esp. the CID (Criminal Investigation Department). 1968 J. Barlow Burden of Proof A1-. The waiter was also an earwig and

he whispered in Vic's ear, 'The filth is here. Table five'. 1970 G.F.

filth

fin

87

Newman Sir, You Bastard 164; The filth didn't gimme his card. 1979

K. Bonfigliou After You with the Pistol (1991) 332: Every [...] professional team of thieves has a [...] 'lighthouse', [...] He has but one simple, God-given skill: he can recognize 'fuzz', 'filth', 'Old Bill' or any other form of copper, however plainly-clothed. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 247: Thelonius seemed offended by Keith's mild hint that the filth would soon put two and two together. 1999 J. Poller Reach 139: Let's say [...] you get a whole bunch of parking tickets and get in a fix with the filth. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 134: It's

fi’muth

fi'muth and a thirst which I had no idea of assuaging,

fin

n? [SE refers only to fish; Grose (1785) defines it as'a sea phrase'] hand and sometimes the arm.

ad/. (Aus.) excellent, first-rate.

filthy

n. {Irish) a disapproving glare, a 'dirty look'. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 16: Old locking Lamb Chop throws me a filthy, basically telling me that I'm pushing my luck. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 18: Chloe gives her a filthy,

filthy, the

n. [abbr. SE filthy lucre] money. 1905 Bluefield (WV) Daily Tel. 11 Mar. 4/2: In addition [...] the following [names for money] are given: Soap, Long Green, Stuff, Duff, Dust, Wherewith, Plunks Grease, Mejum, Glue, Root, Toadskin, Shiners, Skads, Samoleons, Bones, Spon, Filthy, Needful, Rhino, Shink, Salt, Moppus, Blunt, Dirt, Means, Tar, Ready, Stivers, Hefty Genuine, Domes, Gilt, Desirable, Flimsy, Nuggets, Cadewy, Wampum. 1945 F. Fay How To Be Poor 20: I put away chunks and gobs of the 'filthy' for the 'rainy days',

filthy

ad/, [synon. DIRTY ad/. (9)1 1 (US Und.) in possession of incriminating items, esp. drugs. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 162: FBI, Tubbs. You're under arrest [...] I bet you're filthy, Tubbs. 2 {US campus) amazing, excellent [on bad = good model). 1987 K. Lette Girls' Night Out (1995) 188: 'Filthy waves,' agreed Bodge. 'Classic.' 1997 T. Winton Lockie Leonard, Legend (1998) 17: Have you heard Storytime yet? Filthy good band. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] filthy adj 1. very good, excellent; COOL, AWESOME. ('Those shoes are filthy!'). 1998 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 18 Jan. 29: The talent was filthy, the babes were lush and the mosh pit was going off.

■ In compounds Filthy MacNasty (n.) a nickname for an unpleasant man, esp. a

■ In phrases filthy on (Aus. Und.) furious with. 1993 Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 145: 'The only reason that he has agreed is because they have decided to empty him [throw him] out of the taskforce. He is filthy on them and wants to even up with them.'

filthy with [phr. filthy rich,

but note FILTHY, THE n. (1)] full with, over¬ loaded with, usu. money. 1917 E. Sterne Road of Ambition 137: Just filthy with money—that's their trouble—and the more they have the more they want. 1928 J.P. McEvoy Showgirl 163: Dough. She must be filthy with it. 1934 J. Archibald 'Time Will Tell' in Phantom Detective Sept. [Internet] There's an old guy runnin' a pawnshop [...] He's filthy with dough. 1943 T. Marvin 'College for Crooks' in Ten Detective Aces Feb. [Internet] You been taught better than to lift goods in a depot. They're filthy with plainclothes. 1951 R.L. Tobin Center of the World 92: Smug, self-centred, patronizing, cityfied, smooth, and probably filthy with money, 1996 in Stanton & Banham Cambridge Paperback Guide to Theatre 245: 'I'm filthy with money,' he confided, flashing his gross dress-ring. 2003 S. Oglesby Riding High 230: Don't ya worry. I'm filthy with money. I'm the uh, what's the word, Maxie

— eccentric type, right? n. [the image is of fumbling weakly for the excusel a

fimble-famble

lame, prevaricating excuse. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. adj. [ety. unknown] {US black) very ugly. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: fimpted adj.

fimpted

ugly, physically repulsive.

the

1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet,

'Anthony Pasquin'

1987 Tracks (Aus.) Dec. 5/1: Ya mag is filth! 1998 Underground Surf Crossover (Sydney) #2 35: You could say - mmm, awesome, faaark! Stoked, too good, unreal, buuullshit, or filth, mate!

'peeping tom' or 'dirty old man'. 1937 E. Anderson Thieves Like Us (1999) 120: If I ever catch old Filthy MacNasty peepin' [...] I'll kick his end clear off. filthy pillows (n.) the female breasts. 2002 RTW132 Maureen's Lusty Confessions [Internet] Please, please have a bit of giblet pie, while you fondle my filthy pillows. I have desires to bump uglies with you in my dreams, and I pray that my dreams may one day become a fantastic reality... Do you feel the same way??

1

of the Vulgar Tongue. 1791 Shrove Tuesday 87: Each had a whanghee 'neath his fin, I And breech'd from ancle to the chin: / And kept his pad, and drove his gig, / And up to ev'ry flashy rig. 1810 'Jonny Raw and Polly Clark' in Batchelar's Jovial Fellows Collection of Songs 4: Calls him spooney Jonny Raw; Ri tol de rot. / Then claps her fins and bullies him. 1819 'One ofthe Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 53: And here and there, explor'd with active fin t And skilful feint, some guardless pass to win, 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 77: Fin — the arm. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log (1862) 381: I see you have one of your fins in a sling. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 31: H'are you, boy? said he: give us your fin. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis II 165: [He] succeeded in getting the General's dirty old hand under what he called his own fin. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1879 Eve. Chronicle (Virginia City) 10 June in M. Lewis Mining Frontier (1967) 201: There was a sight o' racin' goin' on in them times and I wanted my fin in everything o' that kind. 1892 J. Newman Scamping Tricks 13: Now you have it. Shake fins. 1903 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Oct. 12/1: Where they dwell in naked modesty, and never deem it sin, / And extend unto the stranger a simple, friendly fin. 1904 Ade 'The Fable of the Boy with the Steadfast Ambition' in True Bills 44: He was a little slow in withdrawing the Left Fin and the Bumpers caught him. When he came out of the Hospital his Left Hand looked like a Pair of Scissors. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 95: Gettin' perked in Odgson's bes' funeral suit, 'n' cake-walkin' on their King's 'ighway with er flash tom on each fin. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Nov. 28/1: This massive watch, this priceless pin, / These rings which gleam on either fin, / I gained by 'stiffening' a lad / Whose mounts the public rushed like mad. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 34: 'You have saved my good name' [...] he said, massaging the fin with some fervour. 1931 E. Hemingway letter 1/12 Nov. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 344: With my damned finn paralysed 8 months or so. 1933 (ref. to 1868) H. Asbury Barbary Coast 220: The heavy knife sheared cleanly through the flesh and bone of his wrist [... ] Devine struggled to his feet, shrieked curses at Maitland for a moment, and then cried: 'Hey, Billy, you dirty bastard! Chuck out me fin!' 1944 C.S. Montanye 'Publicity for the Corpse' in Thrilling Detective Dec. [Internet] He stretched out the fin to shake hands. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 69/1: Fin. 2. The human hand. 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 40: [He] had taken Phyllis's hand in his [...] Hearing my 'What ho', he turned, hurriedly released the fin. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 251: Dinky old fin job. 1785,

gonna be crawling with filth. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 117: 'So you ain't the filth?' 'No, I am not the police.' 2006 I. Rankin Naming of the Dead (2007) 203: To Santal she was still 'a pig', 'the filth'.

filth

n. {US) a $5 bill.

1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 34: I had along with me a

2 {US black) a female hip that resembles in its opulent curve the fins of a 1950s model automobile. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

fin

n.^ {also finn) (abbr. finnif o./finnip n.]

1

£5, a £5 note.

1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov.

538: 'What are fins?' 'Five-pound notes, or flash notes.' 1879 'Autobiog. of a Thief' in Macmillan's Mag. (London) XL 503: About two moon after this the same fence fell for buying two finns (£5 notes), for which he got a stretch and a half. 1887 'Dagonet' 'A Plank Bed Ballad' in Referee 12 Feb. n.p.: One day I'd a spree with two finns in my brig, / And a toy and a tackle - both red 'tins. 1895 Western Champion (Barcaldine) 31 Dec. 9/5: A profitable profession it seemed, too, judging from the cool way they talked of 'John Dunns' (£1), 'thick 'uns' (sovs.), 'canarys' (halfsovs.), 'finn' (£5), &c [AND]. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.]. 2 {US) {also fin-spot, pfinif) a $1 or, more commonly, $5 bill. 1909 F.H. Tillotson How I Became a Detective 89: A 'pfinif' is a five-

dollar bill. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker 149: Fin - A dollar bill. 1935 N. Algren 'If You Must Use Profanity' in Texas Stories (1995) 46: You walked to Montgomery — unless you had a fin. 1947 J.F. Bardin Last of Philip Banter in Bardin Omnibus (1976) 253: I'd rather do without an extra finn at Christmas. 1959 M. Richler Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1964) 23: Only ten years ago he would have had to sweat blood before he coulda raised a lousy fin. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 17: I'll only charge ya a fin. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 182; Mash me a fin, gate, so I can cop me a fry. 1987 W.T. Vollmann You Bright and Risen Angels (1988) 313: They won't have nary a fin or a sawbuck to get home on. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 118: 'Deuce, hell,' he told me, 'here's a fin.' 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 76: The only foreign language that has contributed more than a sprinkling of slang terms is Yiddish, from which English has borrowed such varied informal vocabulary as jin 'five dollar bill'.

fina

final

3 {Can./US Und.) a prison sentence of five years.

1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 72: Fin [...] a five years' sentence. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 83-4: fin [...] finn A five year prison sentence. 1950 Goldin et al. PAUL 69/1: Fin. |...] 3. Five years in prison. 1962 Ragen & Ftnston World's Toughest Prison 798: FIN - A five-year sentence, or parole board setting. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 134: A fin eh? I guess that can be a long haul for a boy of your age. 1989 .1. Morton Lowspeak. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 21: Nickel A five-year prison sentence. In prison, the number of years of sentences are often referred to as monetary coin amounts. (Archaic: Jin, handful, pound). 4 {US) a throw of five in craps dice.

2001 Word for the Wise 31 Aug. [US radio script] That same drive to rhyme inspired twin fins for a roll of two fives.

■ In phrases fin up (n.) {US Und.) a sentence of five years to life.

1936 San Quentin Bulletin in L.A. Times 6 May 7: FIN UP, five-yearsto-life.

fina

v.

{also fenagle, finagel, phenagle) ['Finagle' has been

traced to an English dialect word, once widely known along the Welsh Marches and down into the West Country in a variety of spellings, including 'fainaigue'. The English Dialect Dictionary a century ago supplied two main meanings. One was to revoke at cards (that is, fail to follow suit despite being able to do so); the other was to shirk or to fail to keep a promise. A glossary of Herefordshire words dated 1839 says 'If two men are heaving a heavy weight, and one of them pretends to be putting out his strength, though in reality leaving all the strain on the other, he is said to feneague.'j (or/g.

US) to use dishonest or devious methods to bring

something

about;

to

fiddle;

to

'wangle',

to

scheme,

to

get

(something) by trickery; also as n.

1926 L.C. Wimberly 'Amer. Political Cant' in AS 11:3 139: The corruptionist has to endure the reproach of 'sculduggery,' 'pull,' •loot,' 'rake-off [...] and 'finagle'. 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 106: They do expect you [...] not to join in the petty conniving, grafting, fenagling, racketing, prison politics. 1937 D. Fuchs Low Company 20: See, I don't stand for no phenagling around when I'm with a dame, that's me. 1938 D. Runyon 'Baseball Hattie' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 653: You must both be daffy to think of such a thing as phenagling around with a baseball game. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 169: It took managing, finagling . . . and time. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 711: They find him a sweet young thing thats around handy to relieve himself on and they finagle and finagle till they got him married to her. 1952 Fait & Mortimer USA Confidential 11: The Sicilian conspiracy to master the underworld, with its finagling, killing, torturing and treachery, is history. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 7: He'd goofed off a week's careful finagling. 1975 L. ROSTen Dear 'Herm' 152: Mr. K gives her his open-skull smile, and finagels 'Miss Macintosh this job is in no peril.' 1985 O. Hawkins Chili 18: I finagled my way into her telephone number. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2001 J. Stahl Plaindothes Naked (2002) 58: The idea was to tell Zank about the money between Carmella's tits, then finagle Tony into going for it himself.

2

1933 'Paul Cain' 'One, Two, Three' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2006) 7: I finagled around for a half hour and talked to the sheriff and the clerk. 3 (a/so feniggle) to associate with (for hedonistic purposes). C.1935 'Joe Louis the Pride of Harlem' [comic strip] in B. Adelman

Tijuana Bibles (1997) 122: Joe, I don't approve of you fenigglin' around wid dese Harlem gals. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 157: I souldn't finagle with alcohol and sweets. n. {also phenogler) [finagle v, (1)[ 1 (US) one who plays

for time until a fellow-diner or drinker picks up a bill.

1922 Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent 3 May 7/4: Flapper Dictionary - A person who stalls until someone else pays the bill.

finagler

2

a trickster.

c.1935 'Betty Boop in "Flesh"' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 30: What an old phenogler this mug turned out to be. 1944 C.B. Davis Rebellion of Leo McGuire (1953) 165: He was a finagler and we just out-finagled him. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hot-Prowl Rape-0' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 265: Still a stud. Still a fast-track finagler.

final

n. the fourth round of a pub drinking session.

1936 M.

Harrison

New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway

(1976)

255:

final

(v.):

218; Come on Jack, let's final to my main stash,

finale

n. {US black) death.

1944 Dan Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 138: Finale—Death, last

out.

finale hopper

n. {US) one who arrives at the end of any situation, e.g. the paying of a bill, in time for the last dance. 1922 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer 14 Sept. 4/4: The Flappers' Dictionary [...[ Finale-hopper: Young man who arrives after every¬ thing is paid for. 1922 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 36: (IS: Chatting about the finale hopper as he eases his way over to the dance hall for the last hop) I thought they called them cake eaters. No — a finale hopper is a jobbie who never takes a twist to a dance but who horns in on the last dance as the band is playing Home

final trill

n. [SE final + trill n.^ (1)[ (US black) death.

finance

n. Ijoc. mispron.] a (rich) fiance(e).

1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of Si. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924

(rev. t/s) n.p.:

financial

finance.

Lover, corruption of 'fiancee',

adj. {Aus./N.Z.) in credit, solvent, 'in the black'.

1899 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 Dec. 14/3: No outback station refuses to sell rations; very few refuse to give when coin is not forthcoming [...] Stop the rations [...] and only 'financial' travellers will venture out, and these [...] can refuse work until offered suitable wages. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Nov. 1 3/3: Boozer (on first cadging visit to a newspaper office, observing a plaque labelled 'Financial Editor'): 'Financial Editor! Strike me, this is the first bloke in the office who doesn't say he's broke, and 'E's got his door locked.' 1926 J. Doone Timely Tips For New Australians 11: To describe a man as being 'financial' is to describe him as being possessed of means, while a 'financial' member of a club or organisation is one whose subscription is paid up to date. 1933 A.E. Strong in Partridge SI. Today and Yesterday 288: You never were a twister, because if you had been you could have denied being financial. 1955 N. Pulliam / Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/1: financial - having plenty of cash. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. SI. 77: financial Carrying cash or enjoying credit in the bank. ANZ mid C20.

financier n. see sponsor n. (3). find V. a self-serving euph. for to

steal.

1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 139: 'If takin' things [...] isn't

stealin', what is it?' I asked [...] 'Pinchin', findin', gleanin', some coves calls it,' put in Ripston. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1946) 42: When you find anythink [,..] just like you found that watch, don't tell nobody, an' don't let nobody see it. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 24 Mar. 24/4: Young Lieut. Roberts [...] gave a great account of a weedy Arab-blooded animal he had bought - or 'found' - at a Boer farm.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases find a home (v.) (US prison) of a prisoner, to be completely dependent on the prison system for stability.

to ask questions.

finagler

Cab Calloway

to leave, to go home. Ex., 'I finaled to my pad' (went to bed); 'We copped a final' (went home). 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues

1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

I'm finished!).

finagle

V. (US black) to move, to go, to travel.

1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 71: Got to final on home to her. 1944

Sweet Home.

adj. [abbr. SE finished] {S.Afr. gay) astounded, amazed.

2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: Fina adj. astounded, surprised (I'm Fina! =

1

find

88

A// the Trees were Green 271: Refusing an invitation

to drink a 'final'. 1938 Sun. Dispatch (London) 3 July n.p.: Publand... first round is known as 'one', second as 'the other half', third as 'same again', fourth as 'a final', fifth as 'one for the road', sixth as 'a binder', and seventh as 'swing o' the door' [DSUE].

1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 69/1: Find a home. (Ironically) To be more

comfortable in prison than in 'free society.' 'You don't wanta make the board (obtain a parole), bum, you found a home.'

find a stump to fit your rump see under stump n. find cold weather (v.) to be thrown out of a public house. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 131/1: Find cold weather (Public-house). To be bounced, or expelled; e.g., 'Yere you - if you ain't quiet you'll soon find cold weather I can tell yer.'

find fish on one’s fingers (v.) [i.e. 'something smells'] to make up an excuse. 1587 Greene in Works IV 140; Who (as the nature of women is,

desirous to see and bee seene) thought she should both heare the parle and view the person of this young embassadour, and therefore found fish on her fingers, that she might staye still in the chamber of presence. 1590 T. Lodge Rosalynde (Hunterian Club) 122: Ganimede rose as one that would suffer no fish to hang on his fingers,

find one’s sex and size (v.) [shopping imagery] (W./.) to mix with people of one's own age and class; thus not be sex and size with, not to fit in with on an age or social level. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

■ In exclamations find where you live! {also find your hole! ...place! ...yard!) {W.l.) an aggressive command; go home! go away! 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

finder find your bound-place! (also go back to your bound-place!) [bound-place, that part of a sugar estate in which indentured labourers were confined on their arrival; thus the image is of poverty and lowly origins)

(W.l.)

go back to where you came from! 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

finder n.

(find v.| meat-market.

1

one who gathers the scraps from the floors of a

255/2: Lads and young men, known there as 'finders.' They carry bags round their necks, and pick up bones, or offal, or pieces of string, or bits of papers, ot 'anything, sir, please, that a poor lad, that has neither father nor mother, and is werry hungry, can make a ha'penny by to get him a bit of bread, please, sir'. This is often but a cover for stealing pieces of meat. 2 a thief. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 140: finder, one who FINDS bacon and meat at the market before they are lost,

i.e.,

steals

1873 SI. Diet.

3 (US Und.)

that member of a safe-blowing team who actually blows the safe. 1926 'Und. and Its Vernacular' in Clues mag. 158—62: finder Member of a safe-blowing gang who blows the safe,

find the lady

n. (UK Und./gambling) the 'three-card trick', usu. played on the street, the 'lady' being a solitary queen alongside two nondescript cards. 1935 X. Petulengro Romany Life 245: The Finding-the-Lady Threecard-Trick is another game at which you cannot win. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2003 D. Swierczynski Complete Idiot's Guide to Frauds, Scams, and Cons 96: Three-Card Honte [sic] In Great Britain, it's known as 'Find the Lady'.

find the lady

v. [find the lady n.| the 'three-card trick'.

1 (UK Und./gambling)

to play

1899 A. Binstead Gal's Gossip 57: [He] hadn't been in the house two

2

hours before he was thumping the butler in his own pantry [...] because he wouldn't 'find the lady'. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 13: Having been warned by his grandmother about the danger of trying to find the Lady. in fig. use, to catch a culprit. 1919 'Sax Rohmer' Dope 218: We let Scotland Yard work night and

day, and then we present our rat-faced selves to Mr. Monte Irvin and say we have 'found the lady,' do we?

fine n. (UK Und.)

one who has been imprisoned for any offence;

thus a sentence. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum n.p.: Fine. A man imprisoned for any offence. A fine of eighty-four months; a transportation for seven years. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: FINE Imprisoned. 'The cove had a fine of two stretchers and a half imposed upon him for relieving a joskin of a load of cole,' the fellow was sentenced to imprisonment for stealing a countryman's money,

fine adj. 1

smart, clever.

1614 JoNSON Bartholomew Fair II v: Not a whit, these fellows were too fine to carry money.

2 (orig. US)

3

drunk.

1826 N.-Y. American 13 Jan. 2/2; By this time, to use the words of witness, he from the quantity of gin and whiskey punch they had drunk, was quite fine, and prisoner was very blue; as blue as a razor. 1861 Punch 30 Mar. [cartoon of youth addressing a drayman] Now then, Swipey! Are you going to stop there till you gel fine, afore you draw yourself ofp (orig. US black) attractive, good-looking. ]1699 N. Ward 'The Insinuating Bawd' in Writings (1704) 88: Yet to a beau, I could my Heart resign, / He looks so Prim, so Pretty, and so Fine.] [1852 C.A. Bristed Upper Ten Thousand 44: You could not call her a 'fine' or a 'striking' woman.] 1935 L. Hughes Mulatto in Three Negro Plays (1969) Act I: This here sewin's really fine. 1944 C. Himes 'Let Me at the Enemy' in Coll. Stories (1990) 37: She's strictly a fine queen, fine as wine. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 20: 'While folks [...] They're always talking about how fine their white ladies is.' 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 71:1 hope it's Gypsy Pearl, man, she's a fine babe! 1975 D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 80: A fine brown bitch, that's what she said. 1989 G. Tate 'The GOP Throws a Mammy-Jammy' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 104: Chuck Jackson is what you call fine. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 132: [of a man] You are one fine nigger. Are you sure I haven't seen you in the movies? 2003 Dizzee Rascal 'I Luv U' [lyrics] She looks decent,

she looks fine. first-rate, satisfactory. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 79: Fine—All right, okay, excellent. 1965 (con. 1940s) Malcolm X Autobiog. (1968) 143: We were out there Undying away and grinning at each other. It couldn't have been finer. 1972 Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective 201: Fine. An

4 (US black)

extravagant compliment: very good. 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Johnnie IT in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1980) in Huncke Reader (1998) 121: This is real fine, man. All New York right here before me. 2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 1: bangin' - great, awesome ]...] Also fine.

■ In compounds fine-ass (adj.) [-ass sfxl (US black) first-rate, excellent.

1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I

them.

fine

89

1972 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 275: Let's talk about all the fine-ass black ones. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 93: Her husband, he's running around [...] with some little fine-ass young girl. 1992 UGK 'Tm So Bad' [lyrics] Rollin down the street the other day / Saw this FINE ass bitch. 1999 Dr Dre 'Some L.A. Shit' [lyrics] One-time's, sunshines, and fine-ass bitches, fine banana (n.) see under banana n. fine brown frame (n.) [frame n.’' (2)| (US black) (the figure of) an

attractive black woman. 1940s Nelly Lutcher [song title] Fine Brown Frame. 1952 L. Hughes Laughing to Keep from Crying 52: What's your name. Miss Fine Brown Frame? 1968 Ruth Brown [song title] Fine Brown Frame, fine dinner (n.) (also fine fryer) Ishe is 'good enough to eat'] (US black) a good-looking black woman. 1944

New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: fine (n.): a good-looking girl. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 138: Fine fryers — Pretty young girls, fine-fine (adv.) [redup.l (W.L, Cuyn.) in infinite and thus irritating detail. Cab Calloway

DINNER

1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 48: The district where he lived has been hit hard by the hurricane. I asked him how he had fared [...] 'Fine, chief. Everything mash up fine, fine, fine.' fine-haired (adj.) (US) 1 arrogant, conceited. 1873 J. Miller Life Amongst the Modocs 38: You high-toned, fine¬ haired gamblers don't play me—not much you don't! [DA], 2 over-fastidious, pernickety. 1914 J.C. Ruppenthal 'A Word-List From Kansas' in DN IV:ii 106: fine-haired, adj. Fastidious. 'We can't please these fine-haired gentry.' fine people (n.) see good people under people n. fine Scot (n.) see scot n. (1). fine stuff (n.) [stuff n. (Sb)| (drugs) marijuana. 1955 H. Braddy 'Narcotic Argot Along the Mexican Border' in AS XXX:2 87: FINE STUFF, n.phr. Good marijuana, 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fine stuff — Marijuana. fine thing (n.) (Irish/US black) an attractive woman. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 115: He and Nelson and Hopper were planning a massive bonfire with loads of booze and joints as long as your arm; every fine thing on the hill would be invited. 1996 Irish Times 30 May n.p.: He told her she was 'a fine thing' but later called her 'a dry bitch' because she would not accept a drink from him ]BS]. fine weather (n.) (US black/Southern campus) an attractive woman. 1947 M.H.

Boulware

Jive and SI. n.p.: Fine Weather ... Comely girl,

fine wirer (n.) see under wirer n. fine worker (n.) see fine wirer under wirer n.

■ In phrases fine and dandy see dandy adj. fine as wine (adj.) (US black) 1 of an object or idea, satisfactory,

pleasing; of a person, pleasant, amusing, decent. 1944 C. Himes 'Let Me at the Enemy' in Coll. Stories (1990) 37: She's strictly a fine queen, fine as wine. c,1953 Babs Gonzales 'Manhattan Fable' [lyrics] Everything was fine as wine until he cut into Hollywood eyes. 1957 R.S. Gold 'Vernacular of the Jazz World' in AS XXXII:4 276: Jazz Lingo abounds in ]...] similes, e.g., [...[ fine as wine. 1964 R.S. Gold Jazz Lex. xxii: We should perhaps take note of the brief (c. 1935-c. 1940) vogue of rhyming slang in jazz which, unlike the British practice, was based generally on logical similes: e.g., mellow like a cello] fine as wine', like the bear. I ain't nowhere (i.e., an extension of the lumbering physical qualifies of the animal to the immobilized spiritual state of a man), 2 referring to any particularly attractive man or woman. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 65: They must've seen I'm fine as vines producing green wines. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 3: And everytime your heart beat the lush little numbers are fine as wine in the summertime and everybody is threaded down just like P on Poly pop, both ends and in the middle. 1962 (con. 1940s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 157: Jetan was a knockout ]...] Jetan had got as fine as wine and ripe for plucking. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 86: '^lis blond chick, fine as wine. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 138: He was as fine as wine. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 75: That girl is naturally fine as wine.

fine ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

fine as frog hair (adj.)

[pun on

SEfine, tU'm/fine,

well]

1 (US)

feeling

very well or very cheerful. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 79: fine as frog hair, adj. Extremely fine, 1933 W.R. Burnett Dark Hazard (1934) 143: He's as fine as frog's hair and his schooling's been good. He's only got one dog to beat. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 179: I heard the following: [...] fine as frog hair,

2 (US)

of a person, very attractive; of a place, first-class.

1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 145: The room we're in is finer than frog hairs. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] finer than frog hair adj 1. extremely attractive. ('That girl is finer than frog hair.'),

fine

V.

(UK Und.)

to sentence.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: The cove was fined in the steel for pear

making; the fellow was imprisoned in the house of correction for taking bounties from different regiments. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 275: A thief, convicted on the police act, of having illegal instruments or weapons about him, is said to be fined for the tools.

fine

adv.

1

2 (orig. US black)

looking or dress so fine, 1935 A.J.

[rhy. sl.j brandy.

Und. Speaks. 1944 Maurer & Baker '"Aus." Rhyming Argot' in AS XIX:3. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 96: I used ta mix an Aristotle of fine and dandy. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 9: 'I'll have a fine and dandy with a spot of squatters daughter, please,' he said to the female jump. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

finger

n.

1

Pollock

in senses of the shape,

(a)

the penis.

1604 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 1 III iii: I haue heard many honest

wenches turne strumpets with a wet finger.

(b) (orig. US) a measure abbr. to three (see cits.

of alcohol; thus 1901

three fingers of rye

etc;

and 1914) [the width of a finger,

measured against the side of the glass], 1818 M.L. Weems Drunkard's Looking Glass (1929) 67: ts four-fingered bumper of his beloved Helicon. 1856 Porter's Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 4 Oct. 73/1: We each took a first mate's drink—i.e. three fingers [DA], 1867 G.W. Harris Sut Lovingood's Yarns 33: I tuck me a four finger dost ove bumble-bee whiskey. 1878 F.H. Hart SazeracLying Club 104: He made his allowance considerably in excess of the 'three fingers'. 1888 Newport Journal 25 Feb. n.p.: Which is correct, spoonfuls or spoons-ful, uncle? Denver uncle Um er the fact is I dont know my boy. In Denver we dont use either, we say fingers [F&H], 1890 E. Field 'Prof. Vere De Blaw' Little Bk of Western Verse 166: With fourfingers uv old Willer-rum concealed beneath his vest. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 135: Old Monte gets about four fingers of carnation onder his belt. 1901 B. Pain De Omnibus 54: 'E [...] ordered two threes o' rum, as cool as anythink. 1905 E.W. Hornung A Thief in the Night (1992) 384: Very well, very well, [...] one finger, if I must. 1914 R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 262: He served two 'threes' of gin instead of one. 1916 J. Lait 'Canada Kid' in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 160:1 picks me my bottle o' my favourite rye, I pours four fingers, I takes a highball glass, I fishes up a bottle o' sizz. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 89: He tipped another three fingers of whisky into his glass. 1936 R. Chandler 'Goldfish' in Red Wind (1946) 170: Sunset reached for the bottle, poured two fingers of Scotch. 1945 P. Cheyney I'll Say She Does! (1955) 66: 1 [...] finish off my rye an' pour myself another four fingers. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 195: He served himself as a butler serves himself—three and a half fingers deep. 1968 G. Cuomo Among Thieves 118: He [...] poured some vermouth and about three fingers of gin over the ice cubes. 1978 F, Norman Dead Butler Caper 61: She returned shortly with a bottle and poured three fingers into a plastic cup. 1981 G. Young Slow Boats to China (1983) 205: I cured his affliction with two fat fingers of gin. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 36: Another six fingers of Spoon's bar whiskey. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 182: He downed three fingers of moonshine. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 52: Three fingers of wj^skey remained in my medicinal bottle of Jameson's. an individual, esp. in authority,

a shearing shed.

shearing shed the boss was the 'finger'.

(b) (Aus.) an amusing person. 1915 C.J.

Dennis

Songs of a Sentimental Bloke gloss. [Internet] Finger -

An eccentric or amusing person.

(c)

a person.

1911 L. Stone Jonah 125: No old finger's goin' to bustle me, even if 'e's your father. 1930 (con. 1910-20s) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 118: Finger ... a person. 1934 P, Allingham Cheapjack 308: 'When a Yiddisher finger gets caught napping like that, my boy,' he said, 'it's time he got spliced.' 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 107: A finger known as Harry the Thief. 1962 F, Norman Guntz 20: All-of-asudden a finger I know comes up to me. 1963 R. McGregor-Hastie Compleat Migrant 106: Finger: a clown or any amusing person. 1978 F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 134: If some finger 'as been duffin' yuh up - I don't know who it is and I don't give a monkies. (d) (N.Z.) one's father; often ext. as old finger. hit the roof. (e) an unpopular person. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 392/2: —1933. 1970 'Metropolitan Police SI.' in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 323: finger, a: a disagreeable person.

3 in the context of police work [SE phr. point the finger at], (a) a policeman.

attractively.

1938 N.Y. Amsterdam News 19 Feb. 17: He doesn't have to be good

fine and dandy n.

1897 Worker (Sydney) 11 Sept. 1/1: His boss he gives some funny names, when he can't hear the joke. He calls him 'joint' and 'finger', / and he sometimes calls him 'bloke'. 1920 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Jan. 20/2: Some Western Queensland slang of my day: [,..] in the

1921 Quick March (N.Z.) 11 July 15: I come home and the old finger

very well,

1899 W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 49: If some guy cuts in on your steady [...] you are going to call her fine and plenty, aren't you? 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 345: You know bloody fine what I'm talking about. 1970 G. Scott-Heron Vulture (1996) 8: Smoky [.,.] asked me how I would like to make some easy money, I said Td like it fine.

2

finger

90

(a) (Aus.)

the manager or boss in

1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 385: 'Finger' comes from the policeman's supposed love of grabbing offenders. 'They like to finger us,' a hobo said to me. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 260: It was a clean get-away for mine but for a finger who loved me like a Tommy. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 302: Fingers - policemen. From the policeman's method of fingering and frisking the arrested hobo. 1931 IRWLN Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 72: Finger.-A uniformed policeman, who enjoys 'fingering' or beating his prisoner, or who searches him before taking him into the station house, either in a search for weapons, or, which was not unusual in the past, to see what money he could thus obtain. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 69/1: Finger, n. 1. (Comparatively rare) A plainclothesman disguised as a member of the underworld.

(b) a police informer. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 33: finger [...] An informer; an investigator for officers. Example: 'He got the punk sneezed by mixing with a finger.' 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 60: I'm a good gun. I'm no fingers or elbow or stool. I'm one o' the good people. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in 45 VI:6 438: jhiger, n. A police informer. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 177: All I want's the finger. That will satisfy me. 1960 D. Hamilton Death of a Citizen 86: I've got a hunch she's the finger. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 121: I'm a police scientist and I sure she's the finger.

(c)

an identification.

1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (T988) 126: So many fellas with army clips around, I guess I figured it'd be harder to catch a finger with a clip than without. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 69/1: Finger, n. [...] 4. The act of pointing out, naming, or revealing the where¬ abouts of one wanted by the police; formal identification of a suspect in the police line-up or court. 'If it wasn't for a finger. I'd never fall (be arrested) on this rap (charge).' 4 (orig. US) usu. constr. with the, an obscene gesture of contempt created by extending the middle finger vertically while holding the others curled tight; esp. in phr. give someone the finger below. 1893 implied in give someone the finger below. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) SLA gallant gesture: a big, fat finger to the world. 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 15: Invitations of this kind are now commonly accompanied with a gesture meaning approxi¬ mately the same thing, and known as The Finger, in which the middle finger is held up with the others curled below. 1999 L. Gould Shagadelically Speaking 51: finger, the, Insulting gesture in which an individual extends the middle digit on his or her hand and directs it toward another individual.

5 in drug uses, (a) (US drugs) a quantity of drugs smuggled into prison in a rubber finger. 1937 B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 102/1: finger or finger of stuff, a rubber finger-stall or condom filled with narcotics and swallowed or concealed in the rectum. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore 61: Finger of stuff- A finger of a rubber glove or. less frequently a rubber condom containing narcotics and concealed in a body cavity, as by swallowing or inserting into the rectum. 1966 F. Elli Riot (1967)-2!:

finger

finger

91

'Must've been a finger job,' the con said. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z 970), (b) [US drugs) a finger-shaped piece of hashish. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). (c) iSAfr. drugs) a measure of marijuana sold 'retail'. 1974 H. Levin Bandiet 120: The bale tvould be broken up into about a dozen 'arms', each of which sold for as much as the original bale. Sometimes the 'arms' themselves were sub-divided into 'fingers' which would sell for as much as 25p. 1990 R. Malan My Traitor's Heart (1991) 70: You could bu'y zol on almost any roadside [...] A finger cost ten cents, an arm five rand, and it was very strong. (d) (US drugs) a marijuana cigarette. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Finger — Marijuana cigarette. 6 (UK Und.) a thief. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 199: Right finger Clever thief. 7 (Aus.) the manual stimulation of the vagina and clitoris [finger v. (1)1.

1979 Lette Er Carey Puberty Blues 23: He'd lead you outside for a pash on the front fence, or a 'finger' behind the Holden. 8 see FINGER AND THUMB n. (1). ,, 9 see FINGER MAN f). (1).

who can put the finger on the right party. 1940 W.R. Burne'tt High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 388: If you're putting the finger on me you're going to be the first guy to hit the carpet. 1951 M. Spillane One Lonely Night 73: I wanted to be able to put the finger on them and put it on good. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 200: I just bin around puttin' the finger on a few geezers who owe the firm a few bob. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 90: How did you put the finger on him? 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 62: We had the guy pegged for an asshole bandit and knew you'd put the finger on him when he started making passes. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 193: I'll know hurt when you point him out to me, sweat. That's how I work. You put the finger on him. 3 to murder. 1953 W. Hopson 'The Ice Man Came' in Thrilling Detective Winter [Internet] There's the possibility that, that mob back East found Joe and sent a man to put the finger on him.

■ Pertaining to genital stimulation ■ In compounds finger artist (n.) [-artist sfx] (US black) a lesbian.

■ Pertaining to police work ■ In compounds

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 80: finger-artist (les si) lesbian who masturbates her lover. 2002 The-House-of-Love.org 'Lesbian Names' [Internet] • femme • finger artist • fluff • fur-bumper, finger-bang (v.) [bang v.^ (1)] to stimulate the vagina with one's

finger egg

fingers.

(n.) [egg n.^ (1)] (US Und.) an informer.

1940 D. Maurer Big Con 198: If you are known as a finger-egg for some dick, it gets around, finger guy (n.) see finger man n. (1). finger man (n.) see separate entry,

finger-banging (n.) Iprev.j the stimulation of a woman's genitals

finger map

with the fingers.

(n.) [map n. (1)) (US Und.) a fingerprint.

1940 S. Longstreet Decade 317: He's had his pan sprung by a sawbones and his finger maps etched out in acid - but it's no dice. The Feds are on his tail, finger merchant (n.) see finger man n. (1).

finger mob

(n.) [mob n^ (3)1 (US Und.) a criminal gang who have paid off the police; they may also inform on rival gangs. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS Vl:6 438: finger-mob. n. A mob that works under police protection; usually these mobs inform police as to the doings of other mobs. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 69/2: Finger-mob. Any gang of thieves enjoying police protection by bribery or by supplying valuable information; thieves having the alzo or fix in.

1979 (con. C.1970) G. Hasford Short Timers (1985) 13: You days of finger-banging ol' Mary Jane Rottencrotch through her pretty pink panties are over.

1988 D. WOODRELL Muscle for the Wing 189: The lovebirds had experimented with tongues and touches and fingerbanging, finger-blasting (n.) masturbation. 2003 'Minor Threats' Yale Herald 4 Apr. (Internet] MT misses the days when Barnes would talk love around the Herald office... 'Oh yeah? You won't feel that way after I sex you both in the ass!' 'How about some finger-blasting?' 'You cum-dumpsterl' finger fuck(ing) see separate entries. finger job (n.) [iob n.^ (2)| (US) a young woman who allows her

vagina to be penetrated by fingers only. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 139: Real screw ball. Finger job. [...] No banging.

■ In phrases

finger pie (n.) the manual stimulation of the female genitals.

put a finger on

1967 The Beatles 'Penny Lane' [lyrics] Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes, / A four of fish and finger pie / In summer. 1976 (con. 1950s) J. Braine Waiting for Sheila (1977) 120: Didn't you do anything for her? No finger pie? 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: Alternatively, she may like to [...] allow someone else to fumble, feel or finger-fuck her. Girls go wild over finger pie. 1996 J. Baker Death Minus Zero (1998) 178: Then he would know more about John Lennon, could quote some of the words to Janet when he wanted some finger pie. 2004 R. Coover Adventures of Lucky Pierre: Directors' Cut 210: —Now, for dessert, we have finger pie served with a bit of jam, hot ba-nanas with crushed nuts, and very rich cherry pud. finger puppet audition (n.) see audition the finger puppets v.

(v.) 1 (US) to betray, esp, to the police. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 76: He tried to figure whether she would put a finger on Bruno B. if she knew it meant involving him with a murder. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 169: 1 was too pure in heart to put a finger on you. 2 (also have the finger on) to work out, to identify. 1935 R. Chandler 'Nevada Gas' in Spanish Blood (1946) 165: 1 want a finger put on the bird that had me grabbed. 1968 J. Barlow Burden of Proof 132: I don't ponce, but these people have the finger on me. A bit of post-puberty homosexuality and you're lumbered with these pathetic jokers. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 199: Nobody can put a finger on anything else he coulda gotten him and his wife killed over. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 63:1 knew it, but ljust couldn't put my finger on it. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead {t992) 106: Something was missing. 1 couldn't put my finger on it. 3 to identify someone; esp. as someone about to die. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 289: Ever since the quack had put a finger on me and told me to take things quietly I've had a lot more time to educate myself, put the finger on (v.) (orig. US) 1 to betray, to inform against. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 78: I'll rot in jail before I put the finger on you. [Ibid.] 116: Most of them would put the old index finger on you or me in a minute. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff \89: I was trying to figure out who had put the finger on me in the stickup which went wrong, 1949 A. Hynd We Are the Public Enemies 8: The madam of a house of ill fame [,..] put the finger on him, 1952 /, Mobster 22: Just like I couldn't ever swear that somebody put the finger on me. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 40: In the heat of the investigation my agent fell apart. She put the finger on me. 1973 E, Bunker No Beast So Fierce 180: One wife put the finger on her husband for a murder ten years after it happened. 1989 Beano Comic Library No. 176 51: We need a grass Gnasher [...] an informer, who can put the finger on Mr X. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison St. Gloss. [Internet] Finger. 2. To accuse, identify or inform upon. An abbreviated form of the original phrase ' to put the finger on', 2 to identify a target or possible victim, 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 47: The duty of the spotter is to 'put the finger' on a woman who has a rich purse. 1931 D. Runyon 'The Snatching of Bookie Bob' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 119: Guys who are on the snatch [...] make a connection with some guy

finger-stink see separate entries,

■ Other uses ■ In phrases give someone the finger (v.) (also do the finger, finger, flip the finger, get the..., make a..., shoot the..., whip the...) (orig. US) to

make a manual gesture (the raised middle finger in the US, the Vsign in the UK) to imply derision and disdain; also in fig. use, 1893 Standard Diet. 682: Finger [...] To give one the f.. To disappoint one after holding out hopes that his desires would be fulfilled, turn a cold shoulder to one. 1910 'O. Henry' 'Past One at Rooney's' in Strictly Business (1915) 258: If they got him before Corrigan came back, the big white finger could not be uplifted. 1941 B. Schulberg What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 84: Let me show you how to give that guy the finger. 1947 J. Douglas No Navel to Guide Him 72: moral: If you're deaf and dumb, don't talk out of turn or someone will give you the finger. 1956 H. Ellison 'Johnny Slice's Stoolie' in Deadly Streets (1983) 82: Johnny gave two-fingers of hello to old man Gorman. 1956 1. Shulman Good Deeds Must Be Punished 119: He's just giving you the finger. The old brush-off. 1961 L. McMurtry Horseman, Pass By (1997) 96: They were too silly even to bother giving them the finger. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 184: The [...] says I gave him the fuck-you finger. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 116: Finger [...] Finger, give the [...] Finger, make a [...] Finger, shoot the To geswixe with the middle finger. 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease 11 v: He gave him 'the finger!' 1976j8, Price Blood Brothers 16: One of the girls shot them the finger. 1980 E. Folb Runnln' Down Some Lihej 235: do the finger Hold up the middle finger at the same time one bends down the other fingers in a gesture that means 'fuck you.' 1981 H.

finger

finger Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 12: 'Sure, sure, go ahead and give me the finger,' Connolly said with quiet anger. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 185: He will never [...] give the finger to Mrs. Van Floot. 1983 R. Price Breaks 254: He dropped off the tire and shot a finger at me. 1986 S. King It (1987) 352: 'Sit on this, dear heart,' Bev said, and whipped the finger on them. 1992 in R. Graef Living Dangerously 190: 1 said, 'You fucking cunt!' and gave him the finger. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 21: A car rounded the corner. It honked

at Curtis, and all the boys fingered it and bawled curses. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 267: She flipped him the finger as went through the door. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 87: 1 give him some horn an' stick a finger at him. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 196: JoLayne congratulated herself for not flipping him the finger. 1999 NOREAGA 'Da Hustla' [lyrics] I'm like hip hop yall niggas is rap singers / and 1 hate yall you get the middle finger. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 242: Ray Bob glanced over and shot them the finger. 2000 Observer Rev. 2 Apr. 6: You look across [...] wave at the pilot up there, and he gives you the finger... 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 204: [...] giving the finger to cabs and limos as she strode toward the short-stay parking lot.

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds finger-bowl faggot (n.) see cuff-link queen n. finger-popping [adj.) see separate entry. finger-post (n.) [he points the way (that one should live one's life) but does not follow his own directions; 'like the finger post he points out a way he has never been, and probably will never go, i.e. the way to heaven' (Grose, 1785)1 a parson. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Finger

POST, a parson, so called, because like the finger post he points out a way he has never been, and probably will never go, i.e. the way to heaven. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

finger-smith (n.) [SE

finger + sfx -smith, an adept, an expert]

1 a

midwife. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of

the Vulgar Tongue. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 240: Sagefemme,/ A midwife; 'a fingersmith'. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: a finger-smith ... a midwife.

2 a pickpocket; a thief. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

have one’s finger up one’s ass (v.) [ass n. (2)] to idle, to loiter, to stand around doing nothing. 1967 (con. 1950s) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 320: Don't stand there with your finger up your ass all day long. 1977 First Sgt., U.S. Army (coll. J. Ball): Ever' time I drop by, you lazy fuckers are sittin' around with your fingers up your goddam asses [HDAS]. letting the finger ride the thumb too often [? finger and thumb n. (1) or ? supernaculum n. (1)1 getting drunk. 1832 S. Lover Legends and Stories 187: Throwin' up his little finger, I suppose?* ‘Getting drunk. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Us Analogues IV 183/1: To let the finger ride the thumb too often, verb. phr. (American). - To get drunk, pull one’s finger out (v.) (also get one’s finger out, take one’s..., remove one’s digit, pull finger, pull it out) lit is withdrawn, presumably, from the anus] (orig. Aus.) to get on with something, to stop malingering and commit oneself to positive action; esp. as command pull your finger out. 1919 Aussie (France) 12 Mar. 2/1: Tell the bloke who issues the prizes to pull his finger out. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 28: Pull out your fmgerl Hurry up! 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 20: Pull your finger out, man. 1956 J.E. Macdonneli. Commander Brady 83: 'Come on Torps - pull your finger out!' rasped Seymour. 1959 F. Norman Fings II i: Horace, take yer finger out. 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 250: He has decided the time has come to 'pull his finger out'. 1968 Current SI. 11:3 7: Pidl it out, v. To get busy; to start to function, to 'shape up' (command). 1969 N. Hilliard A Night at Green River 85: 'Money up or shut up!' he snarled; 'come on, pull your finger out.' 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 51: You'll just have to get them to pull their finger out if they want the publishing coup of the decade. 1983 S. May No Exceptions in Best Radio Plays (1984) 119; And who's going to win it this year? Us? We might, if Roger Burge pulls his finger out 119. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 88/2: pull finger command to hurry up; eg 'Right, let's pull finger and see if we can catch the fleet.' 1989 Wz June/July 32: Come on - pull your finger out you daft old cow! 2003 Bug (Aus.) Apr. [Internet] Let's hope there's some club out there somewhere prepared to give him another chance if he promises to pull his finger out and keep it clean for the rest of his career, sit there with one’s finger up one’s ass (v.) see under ass n. stand around with one’s finger up one’s ass (v.) see sit there WITH ONE'S FINGER UP ONE'S ASS Under

1887 J.W.

Horsley Jottings from Jail 4: The delicate expression 'fingersmith' as

descriptive of a trade which a blunt world might call that of a pickpocket. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 48: Fingersmith. A facetious term for a thief. 1979 (con. late 19C) J.T. Edson Gentle Giant 66: The scheme [...] would be ruined if

the 'fingersmith' was to fall into the hands of such an obviously efficient peace officer. finger wave in.) (UK Und./police) an anal examination for drugs. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

m In phrases fingers are made of lime-twigs [lime-twigs are sticky) a phr. used to describe a thief. 1596 J. Harington Metamorphosis of Ajax (1814) 65: A certain gentleman that had his fingers made of lime-twigs, stole a piece of plate [OED], 1633 T, Drake Bibliotheca Scholastica Instructissima 203: His fingers are made of lime-twigs. 1672 Walker Paroemiologia. 1737 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet.

get one’s finger out (v.) (a/so get one’s thumb out of one’s ass, have one’s finger out) [ASS n. (2) is implied] to stop dawdling or lazing about and begin some constructive activity. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 471: You men better get your finger out of your ass. 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 98: Yer gonna have yer finger out for the next day or two, I'm telling yer. 1960 G.W. Target Teachers (1962) 25: Glad they've got their finger out and lit the bloody fire. 1979 .1. Morrow Confessions ofProinsias O'Toole 19: My God! Is that the time? I'll have to gel my finger out. 1982 J. Sullivan 'A Touch of Glass' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Come on Rodders, get your finger out, we've got a long drive home. 1986 S. King It (1987) 87: Well, get your thumb out of your ass and do something about it. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 319: I suggest you and your colleague here get your fingers out of your arseholes. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 19: She is going to have to get her finger out in a major way. get one’s fingers nipped (v.) (a/so get one’s fingers burned) to get into trouble. x 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 193: Will you get your fingers burnt? 1959 .1. Osborne World of Paul Slickey Act I: If your words mean nothing, then your fingers won't get burned.

ASS

n.

finger v. 1 in senses of manipulating the fingers, (a) to indulge in sexual foreplay; usu. stimulation of the female genitals; cit. 1661 comes from a lengthy sexual metaphor; the '/vlistris' is variously a 'shittle-cock', 'nightingale', 'tennis-ball', etc all of which come with their own sexual double entendre. C.1608 Shakespeare Pericles I i: You're a fair viol, and your sense the strings. Who, finger'd to make man his lawful music. Would draw heaven down. 1656 'On the Praise of fat Men' in Wardroper (1969) 215: In winter morning you might catch— / Her hand on cod, he fingering notch, 1661 'The Character of a Mistris' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 61: My Mistris is a Virginal, / And little cost will string her: / She's often rear'd against the wall / For every man to finger. 1879 Pearl 1 ,Iuly in Bold (1979) 65: Finger them, fuck them, and do as you please / They have such an itching you never can tease. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 76; She told me of the pleasure I had given her when fingering her. 1904 Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 62: His fingering and manipulations soon got my desires almost pass bearing. 1928-47 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 210: For the half of that sum / You could linger her bum. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 7: She lay in Tottenham Court Road with her dress pulled up and fingered herself. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 86: He would finger and fuck one, / But never would suck one—He just couldn't get used to the smell. 1952 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 103: I met the parson's daughter; / The very first thought came into my mind, / That I could finger her hind quarter! 1965 K. Worthy Homosexual Generation Ch. xvi: Faggots feel toward a man as a woman does, meaning that some vyho have intercourse by rectum can 'finger themselves'. 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 25: He'd kissed me the first night. Titted-me-off the second night. And fingered me the next night. 1988 'Victoria Parker' Incest Schoolgirls [Internet] Hard fingers slipping into the panties, then between her pussy lips, fingering the cute youngster. 1998 Guardian G2 19 Nov. He'd already 'fingered' the girl. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] finger v. A post-pubescent (usu.) behind the bike sheds favourite pastime. Involves inserting your finger(s) into the genitalia of female (if willing). Act often followed by the 'lingerer' running over to his mates and inviting them to 'Smell my fingers!!' as proof of having done the dirty deed, (b) to steal; to rob. 1792 C. Dibdin 'Bonny Kitty' in Buck's Delight 53: They trick us poor Tars of our gold; / And when the fly gypsies have finger'd the

finger and thumb money, / The bag they give poor Jack to hold. 1863 Story of a Lancashire Thief 10: One of his best stories was about fingering Lord —'s ticker in St. George's Church, Hanover Square. 1883 'Mark Twain' Life on the Mississippi (1914) 278; We lit from our horses and fingered his pockets; we got twelve hundred and sixty two dollars. 1990 TUPPER & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Finger. 1. To steal.

(c) {US Und.) to arrest. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 386: 'They like to finger us,' a

hobo said to me [...] in a Western town where we were both doing our best to dodge the local police force. 1929 C. Coe Hooch! in Partridge DU (1949) 242/1: When a single bootlegger is fingered, he can't reach us because he won't even know us. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 16: The hoods liked him because he never fingered anybody big. 1983 C. Heath A-Team 2 (1984) 18: Those are the guys I want you to help me finger! 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 290: They fingered Jimmy Rose within hours.

2 in senses of pointing the fingers, (a) to identify a person or place as a good target for crime. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 224: finger—To identify;

usually, 'to put the finger on.' 1931 D. Runyon 'The Snatching of Bookie Bob' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 119: The finger guy must know the party he fingers has plenty of ready scratch. 1951 D. Dressler Parole Chief 126: His job was to get into swank bars, restaurants, and [,,.] parties to 'finger' jobs for the mob. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 68: Get me thinkin who we rob that night. Or try. Or why Uncle finger the gaff first place.

(b) {orig. US) to betray or inform on, to identify someone to the police. 1938 J.E. Hoover Persons in Hiding 154: I know a job that would bring you in ten thousand dollars, and all you'd have to do would be to finger a certain man for us. 1942 R. Mulvey 'Pitchman's Cant' in /4S XVII: 1 Pt 2 Apr. 91/1: FINGER. To point a man out to the police, who will arrest him. 'Some rat who was paying to work the town fingered him and now . . .' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 144: He didn't finger us, Arky. Leon is a double-crosser but he's a little squeamish about murder. No. We were fingered, all right, by somebody who knew, but I'm sure it wasn't Leon. 1966 J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 149: She'll go up there and finger the guy for us when he has the stuff on him, and we'll bust him. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 291: Fingered by the creep who obtained the getaway car. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 194: finger, to to grass or inform. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 113: You might get through the lineup without being fingered, but that won't stop you getting thirty days in Bridewell. 2000 Observer mag. 9 Jan. 13: The informant then fingered Orlando as the man who later shot Tupac. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 284: Dominique Lyon's girlfriend is in the process of fingering him for the Jamal White killing,

(C) in general use, to identify someone (as). 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 343: There were people in there I didn't much take to. Sure. But finger them for Harry? No way! 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 8: If he was crazy enough to finger himself he was crazy enough to do something worse. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 260: In the end, though. I'm fingering you for a Femme Fatale. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 188: A kilo of dope for the character who can finger the dudes who took down his theater.

(d) to put a curse on. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 82: He handles the bucket 'n

sponge 'n in between he fingers the guy I'm fightin', 'n if it's close he fingers the ref 'n judges.

(e) to point out. 1958 J. King Pro Football 129: Kiesling [...] passeed by the magazinecover kids to finger litle-known Glick [HDAS]. 1962 G. Mandel Wax Boom 12: Old Man fingers this platoon because we got Proctor. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 36: I was turning my head to yank the package he'd fingered. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 89: The sisters will finger the organisers for you. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 53: Keva breathed a sigh of relief that The Wheeze hadn't fingered him by name in his plan.

3 see avt someone the finger under finger n. finger and thumb n. [rhy. si.) 1 {also finger) rum. 1856 H. Mayhew Great World of London I 5: Splodger, will you have a Jack-surpasj of finger-and-r/ii/mZ). 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1877 J. Diprose London Life 74: [as cit. 1856]. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 48: I always indulge in a little brian or finger in my bohee. Saturday you see is pay day, so I always get a drop for me and old Bottle Nose then. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 94: Finger And Thumb: Rum. 1932 'P.P.' Rhy. St. 1944 Maurer & Baker '"Aus." Rhyming Argot' in AS XIX:3. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog.

finger fuck

93

1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

2 a road |= drum n.^j, 1937-84

DSUE (1984) 392/2: late C. 19-20. 1960 J. Diet, of Rhy. SI.

Partridge

Franklyn

3 a friend [= chum n. (1)]. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) Kirkpatrick

392/2:

since

ca.

1930.

2002 B.

Wicked Cockney Rhy. Sl.

4 one's mother; thus mum adj., quiet (SE mum in SE and colloq. uses]. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI. 30: finger and thumb

[...] keep quiet (informal mum). 2002 M. Cotes More Bible in Cockney 52: Mary the finger-and-thumb of Jesus.

5 a drum. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

fingerer n. [SE fmger or Lat. fmgere, to feign, to cheat] {UK Und.) the accomplice of a team of card-sharps, the fingerer appears as an old, poor man and dresses accordingly; he then allows himself to be lured into some form of gaming by a group of young confederates, and, through his apparent inability to win, persuades their victim to bet and, inevitably, lose heavily. C.1561 Awdeley Fraternitye of Vacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 8: They [...] will appoint one of their Fraternity, which they call a Fyngerer, an olde beaten childe, not onely in such deceites, but also such a one as by his age is painted out with grey heares, wrinkled face, crooked back, and most commonly lame. 1949 I. Shulman Cry Tough! 103: Shake-downers, lingerers, sluggers [...] they too had to obey.

finger fuck n. {also finger frig) [finger fuck v. (1)] the manual stimulation of the female genitals or of the anus (usu. male). 1884 Randiana 49: The easy transition from a kiss to a feel, from a feel

to a finger frig, and eventually [...] to a gentle insertion of the jock. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1974 Adamson & Hanford Zimmer's Essay 75: You know what you are bloody good for? A finger-fuck! That's all! 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Finger Fuck - The insertion of all or most of the hand into the vagina or the anus. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: finger fuck n. the insertion of the middle finger into the anus to stimulate the rectum and prostate gland.

finger fuck v. [SE finger -i- fuck V. (1)] 1 to stimulate the vagina with one's fingers; occas. of the anus. C.1682 'Scandall Satyr'd' Harleian Mss. 6913.211: [She] may wish she

had thought better on't. When she let! Mullgrave fingerfuck her Cunt. a.1796 'Green Grow the Rashes' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 261: She maws like reek thro' a' the week, / But finger-fucks on Sunday, O. c.1800 'There was a Pious Parson' in Burns Merry Muses of Caledonia (1843) 75: He finger f— the furies, / He bollock'd the bitches. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 139: Foutre en main = to masturbate; 'to frig' or 'finger-fuck', c.1915 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 63: One of the women that I finger-fucked in the subway was a model. 1926 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 142: When she reached the hop-joint / And she looked in the window so high, / There she saw Johnnie a-sittin', / Finger-fuckin' Nelly Bly. 1931 in Randolph 8- Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 482: Supplied [...] in 1931, by the hobo-song specialist, Godfrey Irwin, who stated he heard it 'on a ranch near Boise, Idaho, between 1910-12' [...] 'There sat her lovin' Johnny-boy / Fingerfuckin' Alice Fry.' a.1940 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 139; She ran along Fish Alley, / Looked in a window so high, / Saw her lovin' Johnny / Finger-fucking Alice Bly. 1957 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 481: Johnny was setting under the counter / Finger-fucking Nellie Blythe. 1967 I. Rosenthal Sheeper 88; ROY'S wife: He made it with other women, sheeper; He fingerfucked them. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 80: finger-fuck to ease the middle finger into the rectum and move it in and out in sham coitus; usually done simultaneously with sucking cock. 1986 B. Geldof Is That It? 37: I did. I fucking did. I fucking finger fucked her. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 98: I finger-fuck her roughly and get her to suck me off. 2000 'tifmadken' 'Jenny's Work' [Internet] 25 Dec. He put one of his strong fingers in her wet pussy and pumped her with it. Jenny could feel his cum sloshing around inside her. She thought that it must feel gross to him. She moaned and said nothing as he finger fucked her.

2 of a woman, to masturbate. 1965 in Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms. 1988 'Victoria Parker' Incest Schoolgirls [Internet] Both young girls were finger-fucking franti¬ cally now, lost in the heat and pleasure of their masturbatory action. 2001 'HornypigIO' 'Just a Bastard' [Internet] 1 had come just minutes before watching my little sister finger fuck her own pussy.

3 {S.Afr. prison) to make an anal examination. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 208: Usually they don't fingerfuck you, so

you bottle the biggest poke of snout and newspaper you can.

finger fucking

finishing school

94

finger fucking n. (finger fuck v. (1)1 the use of one or more fingers to stimulate the clitoris or penetrate the vagina.

home into the dawn [Bee notes that the owner, Carpenter, 'was a lecher,

1965 H. Huncke in Huncke's Journal (1998) 8: Licking — eating —

1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: The finish: a small coffee-house in Covent Garden, market, opposite Russel-street, open very early in the morning, and therefore resorted to by debauchees shut out of every other house: it is also called Carpenter's coffee-house. 1800 Sporting Mag. Apr. XVI 26/2: Made shift to reach the Finish, where we took coffee. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1828 Lytton Pelham III 112: Which shall we do? [...] stroll home; or parade the streets, visit the Cider-Cellar, and the Finish, and kiss the first lass we meet in the morning. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 128: Let us toddle to the Finish [...] and take an extra cup of coffee. 1859 G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 38: There was the 'Finish,'—a vulgar, noisy place enough; but stamped with undying gentility by the patronage of his late Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Great George 'finished' in Covent Garden purlieus; Major Hanger told his stories. Captain

jerking off — and finger fucking. 1988 P. Califia Macho Sluts 29: I love french kissing and finger fucking,

n. (3b)( 1 (or/g. US) (also finger, finger guy, finger merchant) a traitor, an informer; in

finger man n. (criminal var. on FINGER

criminal terms one who helps with a robbery 'from the inside'. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It's a Racket! 224: finger man—Spy sent to

meet, talk with, study the habits of, and observe the surroundings of someone. 1931 D. Runyon 'The Snatching of Bookie Bob' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 119: The finger guy must know the party he fingers has plenty of ready scratch. 1938 ,J.E. Hoover Persons in Hiding 174: Robbers had deemed it necessay to hire a 'finger man'. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 135:1 think Marriott was a blackmailer of women [...] And finger man for a jewel mob. [Ibid.] 171: The society finger, the boy who would cultivate the victims and set the stage. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 53: The finger was an old and dependable connection. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 16: Burglars cannot operate without 'fingermen' who stake them out and fences who dispose of the loot-jewels, furs or hot money. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 206: What had been Four Trey's motive in acting as fingerman for the gang? 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 44: And after three get heisted they'll figure out who's the finger man and string him up by his nuts. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 281: A cop finger man told them how the block search was breaking down. 2004 (con. 1982) N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 270: A couple of the robbery team, who didn't fancy spending the next decade in Parkhurst on the evidence of this disgruntled finger-merchant.

2 a safebreaker. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 121: That's a finger-man (a safeblower), he opens cans.

3 an assassin. 1953 W. Hopson 'The Ice Man Came' in Thrilling Detective Winter

[Internet] So you're the finger man for that Eastern mob who found Joe. But you didn't knock him off until you'd found the loot,

finger-popping adj. (the 'popping' or snapping of one's fingers in time to the beat] 1 (US) enjoying music intensely. 1955 Metronome July 22: Lord Buckley [...] addresses this album of classics in bop talk to Hipsters, Flipsters and Finger Poppin' Daddies. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 15: finger-poppin' - Snapping your fingers 'cause you are grooving to a sound. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 176: Teenage hands, finger-popping hands.

Morris sang his songs, there. In a peaceable gutter in front of the 'Finish,' Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Esq., M.P., lay down overtaken in foreign wines, and told the guardian of the night that his name was Wilberforce, A wild place, that 'Finish' [...]. 1868 J. Diprose Clement Danes I 98: We are writing of the days when the Elysium, Mother H.'s, The Finish, Jessop's, etc., were in their zenith and glory days.

2 any late-night/early-morning cafe. 1832 Times 6 Oct. 4/1: [He] was charged with having robbed a gentleman [...] of two sovereigns, at Rowbottom's 'Finish' at an early hour of the morning [...] George Chalton was then sworn, and stated that he was head waiter at the Finish. 1859 G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 166: The dreadful night-dens and low revelling houses of past midnight London, the only remnants [...] of the innumerable 'finishes' and saloons and night-cellars of a former age. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 131/1: Let us go to a finish - say Jessop's. Jessop's finally expired about 1885. It was the building afterwards occupied by the Echo newspaper. [...] In 1896, King William Street, Strand, saw the opening of a brilliantly appointed lounge entitled 'The Finale', assuredly good Italian for

finish.

finish n. [? it finishes one off] (UK tramp) methylated spirits; thus finish-drinker. [1875 Ure's Diet. Arts I 58: Methylated spirit can be procured also in small quantities [...] containing in solution 1 oz. to the gallon of shellac, under the name of 'finish'.] 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 393/1: —1932.

finisher n. 1 (also finisher of the law) the hangman.

2 dedicated. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 28: The houseboys were all hard-core finger-popping black-marketeers. 2005 Policy and urban

Design for Housing [Internet] It contained proposals from a variety of hipsters and flipsters and finger-popping daddy-o's,

his handy bar-maid Mrs. Gibson, a travelled dame'].

who were

purveying everything from asphalt to recycled aluminum.

■ In compounds finger-popping daddy (n.) one who affects to enjoy music but lacks any real knowledge/understanding. 1959 H. Ellison 'May We Also Speak' in Gentleman Junkie (1961) 34: The kid wasn't any finger-poppin' Daddy, either. He knew his

music.

finger-stink n. (finger-stink v.] the manipulation of the vagina with a (male) finger. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) IV 727: I never got my fingers

on to the girl's cunt-split further than the clitoris, — a feel and a shilling; (a finger-stink for a bob, as Fred used to call it),

finger-stink v. usu. of a man, to manipulate the vagina with the finger. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) III 519: We go through the ceremony of inspecting privates, and so fucking, looking, smelling, frigging, and finger-stinking.

fingy n. (on pattern of wingy/i.} (or/g. US Und.) a person lacking one or more fingers. 1918'A-No.

Mother of the Hoboes The Rating Of The Tramps. 14 Fingy or Fingers: train rider who lost one or more fingers. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 100: [From A No. 1, The Famous Tramp] 14. Fingy or Fingers. Train rider who lost one or more fingers. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. ly. FiNGY.-One who has lost one or more digits from the hand. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 19972000 Da Bomb [Internet] 10: Fingy: A person with a finger or two missing.

finif/finiph n. see finnif n Finish, the n. (a place where one finishes one's night out] 1 Carpenter's late-night coffee shop, sited in Covent Carden opposite Russell Street and ostensibly catering to the market porters, which closed only when the last customer had gone

1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 493: They will take pains to dance at a rope's end, providently to save charges, to the no small disappointment of the finisher of the law. 1734 Grub St Journal 2 May 1/1; I imagine [...] that in point of order..the finisher of the law ought to draw up the conclusion [OED]. 1833 Fraser's Mag. VIII. 30: Thistlewood was suspended by the finisher of the law [OED]. MS5 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Aug. 6/3; A born humourist was [...] lost to the world when Mr. Thomas Galvin, the genial, light-hearted 'finisher' of the noted Kilmainham (Dublin) Gaol, went under, full of years, 'rheumatiz,' and honours.

2 something that puts an end to, discomfits or 'does for' someone; in boxing, a knockout blow. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 28: He [...] delighted to

see the Whores now and then put to their Shifts, that they might learn to live, when the Finisher of the Law had topp'd all their Cullies. 1827 Sporting Mag. XX. 60: He gave him...four or five such finishers, as [etc.]. 1843 'Madison Tensas' Louisiana 'Swamp Doctor' (1850) 174: That war my wust enemy, waitin' for me to giv him a finisher, an' I cuddent git at him. 1906 Marvel 16 June 590: That'd be the finisher! 1911 E. Dyson 'The Fickle Dolly Hopgood' in Benno and Some of the Push 64: Never do nothin' else, but jab 'em with a straight left ez they come in, savin' me right fer a finisher. 1940 T. Thursday 'There's Hicks In All Trades' in All Sports Feb. [Internet] Next, the uppercut, [...] a counterpunch, and the one most used to score a finisher with. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 45: The crash put the finisher on Danny's chips. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 124: Ya know I can do things that will make ya talk, beg for the finisher! 3 something that settles a dispute. 1836 T. Hook Gilbert Gurney 247: This was a finisher.

finishing academy n. (also finishing school) [? pun on SE finish, to end a girl's education/to reach orgasm -F academy n. (1)] a brothel. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 2: Academie d'amour, m. A brothel; 'a finishing school'.

finishing school n. 1 (US Und.) a women's prison.

finito 1931-4 D. Clbmmer Prison Community (1940) 332/1: finishing school, n. A reformatory for young girls. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

2 (US Und.) reform school for boys. 1956 'ViN Packer' Young and Violent 48: He got sent off to finishing school. Came up this morning in lolly-pop court,

finite adj. [finito! exc/.l over, finished, completed. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 94: It's gone, finito, finished. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 217: Just let it be, Ernest. Finito. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 380:1 ken that we've pulled some shit in the past, but that's finito now. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 102: Her Soho's dead, gons, finito.

finite! excl. Uta\. finito, finished] an excl. used to signify the end, a completion. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 32: That was that —finito. 1989 (con. 1950s-

60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 179: If people don't turn up on time, that's it. Finito. 1998 (con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 24: Finito, kaput, ended baby.

fink n. [ety. unknown; although the American Mercury Qan. 1926) claimed that 'dating from the famous Homestead strike of 1892 is the odious fink. [It] according to one version was originally Pink, a contraction of Pinkerton, and referred to the army of strike-breakers recruited by the detective agency', that popular ety. is considered to be most likely spurious, since no citations of fink = strikebreaker have been found prior to 1914; for an alternative theory note HDAS: 'G Fink "student not belonging to the students association [,..] hence, not one of the guys"; [...[ or C. Schmierfink "a low dirty hack'"] 1 an unpleasant or contemptible person, one who cannot be trusted. 1894 Ade Stories of the Street and of the Town (1941) 33: Everybody

that's on to him says he's a fink [..,] a stiff, a skate. 1903 Ade People You Know 60: Anyone who goes against the Faculty single-handed is a Fink. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 33: fink [...] An unreliable confederate or incompetent sympathizer. 1929 E. Booth Stealing Through Life 259: 'That guy,' someone said, 'is a rat.' Another [...] added: 'So's the fink with him.' 1938 D. Runyon 'Cemetery Bait' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 521: A 22-carat fink, a fink being a character who is lower than a mudeat's vest pocket. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 325: A little knock-kneed, gin-mill fink. 1958 Mad mag. Sept.-Oct. 11: We think Santa Claus is a fink. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 80: You're just a fink [...] like all the other shitty bastards. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 102: She would certainly be turned off if he were [...] a fink. 1985 E. Leonard Glitz 193: They never go into any detail, they say here's the name of the fink, do him, 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 259: We do not refer to Judas as El Finko. 2 a strike-breaker, a company policeman. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 33: Fink, [...] an unreliable confederate or incompetent sympathizer. 1926 Amer. Mercury Jan. 63/1: Dating from the famous Homestead strike of 1892 is the odious fimk. [It] according to one version was originally Pink, a contraction of Pinkerton, and referred to the army of strikebreakers recruited by the detective agency, 1927 (con. 1911) H. Asbury Gangs ofN.Y. 361: A distinct class of men arose [...] earning high wages as strike breakers. They were called finks. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 208: The college boys who caipe into the plant were usually finks. 1941 F.S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1949) 143: A fink? That's a strike¬ breaker or a company tec. 1958 'ED Lacy' Room to Swing 41: He could make a fair living, even big money, if he wanted to be a rat and labor fink. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonif 69: One tall hillbilly tried to come after me one day for 'joining in with the power mad finks and rackets!' 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 212: You got caught out as a company fink and your life expectancy took a big drop. 3 a contemptible object or thing. 1971 B. Moyers Listening to America 220: This led some of the protesters to conclude that I was a member of the comission and an equally abominable establishment fink.

4 an informer. 1925 K. Mullen 'Westernisms' in AS 1:3 151: 'Fink' and 'stool' and

'fly-dick' designate the plain-clothes men. 1928 R.J. Tasker Grimhaven 33: 'There never was six gees got together in the world without at least one of them being a cat!' 'Cat?' 'Sure. A fink, stoolpigeon.' 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 106: The cons take it for granted that you are a fink — one who bears tales in secret, a stool pigeon, 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 33: Now he's looking for the fink that turned him up eight years ago. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 158: Pigeon. Fink. Rat. . . Informer. 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 104:1 stood casually near them, listening in on the family chitchat, when one of them suddenly bellowed, 'A newspaper fink! Get him!' 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 102: Then what've you got? One machinegun salesman and one dead fink. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 92: All your finks are still out looking to score. 1996 S. Frank Get Shorty [film script]

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Well, you had it down cold. [...| Even the fink part. I never met a fink and I hope to God I never do, but how you did it must be the way finks act. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fink n. v. someone who rats on a friend or another child by passing information relating to a misdemenour of some sort to an adult, e.g. 'You rat-fink!!' (a supposedly more mature term).

5 (US Und.) a confidence trickster's victim. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 143: Never advance political views unless the fink asks you to do so.

6 (US) (also fink-out) an act of backing down. 1967 New Yorker 24 June 43: The cop-out is like fink-out, only more graceful. It is getting away with a renege.

■ In phrases dead fink (n.) see under dead adj. fink V. (also fink on, fink out) [fink n.| (US) 1 to inform, to inform on. 1925 Flynn's 24 Jan, 119/1: Fink, to squeal; to inform on. 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 106:1 don't think the guards expect

you to fink. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 133: Where do you guys get off trying to make me fink? 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 56: Suppose you had to hire a private eye [...] Would you want one that finked on his friends? 1965 L. Bruce Flow to Talk Dirty 134: Felons ashamed of having finked out eagerly at their first sight of bars. 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 194: More lying, finking, framing, politicking by the constables than a body could believe. 1973 E, Bunker No Beast So Fierce 77: After vehemently denying that he'd finked on Lionel and Bulldog [...] he told of how he'd been the middle man in peddling some hot diamonds. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 36: The highest mark of a real partner was that the person didn't fink [..,] by informing. 1987 (con. 1967) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 111: He was, however, never [...] finked on by any of the GIs to officers. 1999 Guardian Guide 1 5-21 May 18: A Fox rep [...] asked us to fink on anyone seen videotaping the screen. 2000 F. Kellerman Stalker (2001) 557: Trying to get information about him only to fink to her dad. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fink n. v. someone who rats on a friend or another child by passing information relating to a misdemenour of some sort to an adult [...] As verb, e.g. 'You finked on me!!'

2 to back down, to let down, 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 38: Let him fink just once more go back on his Pachuco oath and Pico would stink a shank right into his stinking heart. 1966 Time 7 Oct. 38: When Castella Branco decreed that the next President would be elected by Congress, the opposition finked out. 1968 Current SI. 11:4 4: Fink out, v. To disappoint. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972) 78: fink out on [...] Fail to do something; stand someone up; make a promise and fail to keep it.

3 to brand as an informer. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 31: Goes to the screws, hell be finked all over the place.

finky adj. (also fink) [fink n.| (US Und.) given to acting as an informer, untrustworthy. 1940 S. Longstreet Decade 275: Call us vested interests, sweat shops, yellow-dog contractors, fink employers [...] but we made a damn good pot. 1956 J. Blake letter 22 Dec. in Joint (1972) 101: This is such a fink town, I despair of finding a straight fence. The stuff is too hot, the town too small. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 180: His dossier contains three pages of monikers indicating his proclivity for cooperating with the law [.,.] Ab the Fuzz Lover, Finky Marv, The Crooning Hebe. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 39: The philosophy of generations of Protestants was being scorned by executive orders, delivered by finky little bureaucrats from some alphabet office in Washington. 1972 M. Rodgers Freaky Friday 54: What's so great about a person who pulls that kind of finky trick? 1973 N. Algren Last Carousel (1997) 358: 'That finky cop,' she said.

finn n. see fin n.^. finna v. (also funna) [elision of SE fixing to] (US black) to get oneself ready, to prepare. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Funna (phr.) About to; going to. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] finna adj 1. about to. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite. com [Internet] finna Definition: contraction of 'fixing to' Example: I finna whup his ass.

finnif n. (also finif, finiph, finniff, finnuff, finuf, pheniff) [Yid./un/, five! 1 (UK Und.) £5; a £5 note; thus half a finnif, £2.10s. 1857 advert in 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857) 45: Upper

Benjamins built on a downy plan, a monarch to half a finnuff. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 140: FINUF, a five-pound note. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 25/1: I'll bet you a 'finnif' that I get her to go with me to the 'gaff' tonight. 1870 Hotten

finnip

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SI. Diet, [as cit. I860]. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 83: I was backed to scrap a cove bigger nor me for a finnif a side,

2 (US) $5. 1859 Matsell Vocahulum. 1871 J.H. Banka State Prison Life 492: Five

dollars, [...] Pheniff. Ten Dollars [...] Double Phenijf. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 212: Often we find that a few blank cheques and a 'finiph' or so are all a wallet contains. 1917 Van Loan 'Levelling with Elisha' in Old Man Curry 28: I had a finnif bet on friend Isaiah. 1928 Hecht & MacArthur Front Page Act I: How about a finif till tomorrow? 1929 M. Prenner 'SI. Terms for Money' in 45 IV:5 358: Five dollars is fmniff. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 73: FiNiF.-See 'fin.' Some claim this is a corruption of a Yiddish word, and it is generally used to indicate a five-dollar bill. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Finuf, five dollars. 1938 D. Runyon 'A Very Honorable Guy' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 418: He asks me if I happen to have a finnif on me. 1943 W.F. Whyte Street Corner Society (1955) 163: They are going to show you plenty of finifs, sawbucks, and double sawbucks. 1951 D. Dressler Parole Chief 2^7\ Occasionally (for an extra finif or so) a fight will start. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 798: finif = A five-dollar bill. 3 (US Und.) a five-year jail sentence. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Finif. Five years. 1910 Wash.

Post 3 July 3/1: If the rube hadn't been fixed to stay away and Hoppy had got a finif fer dippin' inter his prat-kick, he'd had plenty of time ter saw off his habit. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Finif. Five. Five years. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

finnip n. {also finnep, finnup) [Yid.funf, five] a £5 note; thus crossfinnep n., a forged note; note double fin n. 1839 W.A. Miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime; Report 112: If he finds any 'finnips' (5/. notes) in the skin or purse, he gives them to Nelson. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 38: He sent the yack to church and got three finnips and a cooter for the sawney. 1857 J. Archbold Magistrate's Assistant 444: Five-pound notes, finnips, tenpound notes, double finnips. c.1862 'Flash Lang.' in Snowden's Police Officers [and] Constables Guide 114: I took them to a swag chovey bloak and got 6 finnips and a cooter for the yacks. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 10/1: Jim cracked a case last night and fenced the swag for ten cooter. He told me as Nel Starlight had flimped a thimble from a lushy bloak who had been to the ball, and fenced it at Mother; S- 's for a finnip. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 321: Bad or forged notes ... Spondulics, flimsies, cross-finneps. 1908 Denton (MD) Journal 1 Mar. 3/5: 'What shall we say now — a finnup?' 'F'whjat'zs that, sor,' sez I. 'Oh,' sez he, 'I s'pose you're a new hand. Five quid onderstand that?'

fin ns! exc/. see fains! excl. finny n.^ {also phinney) [? abbr.j {UK Und.) a funeral. 1718 C, Hitchin Regulator 20: A Phinney, alias Burial. 1768 (con.

1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxix: A Finny A Funeral. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving.

finny n} [fin n.^ (1)] a £5 note. 1861 (con, 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III

386/2: The notes were all finnies, (51. notes),

fin-spot n. see fin n.^ (2). finuf n. see finnif n. fipn. [elision of SE fivepence] 1 (US) a fivepenny bit, the nickname for the Spanish half-real, worth about A'/i cents or 6 cents in some states; thus as a term for any worthless thing in phrs. such as not care a fip. 1822 Phila. Freeman's Journal 5 Sept, n.p.: A dispute now commenced between two persons respecting some cents and a 'fip,' which had fallen from his pocket [DA]. 1828 R.M. Bird City Looking Glass I iii: Here's one poor copper; 'tis all I have earned to day. So, if you'll deliver me a fip. I'll change it, 1836 D. Crockett Exploits and Adventures (1934) 167: 'How much do you charge,' said I, 'when you retail your liquor?' 'A fip a glass.' 1845 G.W. Harris 'The Knob Dance' Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) XV July in Inge (1967) 46: He [...] only axes a 'fip' for a reel, and two 'bits' fur what corn-juice you suck. 1857 Oregon Weekly Times in DN IV:ii 133: 'Do you want any meal, ma'am?' 'What do you ask for a bushel?' 'Ten cents, ma'am, prime.' 'O, I can get it for a fip,' 1864 in R.G. Carter Four Brothers in Blue (1978) 19 June 440: I must still run the bloody gauntlet, my life not worth a 'fip'. 1872 Schele De Verb Americanisms 291: The Spanish silver coins [...] have nearly all disappeared, and with them their local names, as the fip and the levy, coins representing six and a quarter, and twelve and a half cents, the former a contraction of five pence through the English fippence. 1891 S.M. Welch Recollections of Buffalo 1830-40 169: It was common, particularly in New England, to call a sixpence or half a dime, a fip. 1909 Carr & Chase in 'WordList From Aroostook' in DN lILv 41 l:fip, n. Five pence. 'I don't care a ftp.' 1989 C. Hyatt When Me Was A Boy 122: Plenty of us boys

woulda put 'fip' - that's threepence or six cents if y'like - inna Son palm.

2 see FIPPENCE n, fi’penny n. [? its original price] {Aus.) a clasp-knife. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fipp n. [ety. unknown] (US) a general derog. term. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' It's Up to You 115: In ten minutes' play those two fipps put all our bric-a-brac out of the show business.

fippence n. (also fip, fipance, fippenny, fuppence) [the earliest example of fip is found in US in 1822 and represents a coin worth 4.5 cents; poss, considered the contemporary equivalent of 3d (see FIP n. (1))] a threepenny bit. [1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) II i: orgal.: I had rather have found forty pence myself, that I had! [...] oenoph.: Is he gone? Gads sides! this is too bad; I'll give him his old fippens if it lie in my lot.] 1837 Comic Almanack Apr. 86: They cost me fippence ha'p'ny farden. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 256/1: 'Fip-pencel' exclaimed the lad, indignantly. 1870 'Rolling Home' in C. Elliot Songs of Yale 73: I've a jolly fippence, a jolly, jolly fippence. 1873 C. Rampini Letters from Jamaica 95: The negro nomenclature of coins is as follows: - [...] Fippence, three pence. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 238: Seven-an'fippence, a few 'air pins, an' a hadvertisement 'ow to improve the bust! 1907 W. Jekyll Jam. Song and Story 161: 'Fuppence' is fivepence, but means threepence. 1910 Anderson & Cundall Jamaica Proverbs and Sayings 4: Two bit neber braggin' as one fippenny. 1929 M. Beckwith Jamaica Proverbs (1970) 71: If you see fipance you know how dollar mek. 1938 (con. 1900s) J.B. Booth Sporting Times 191: On'y think of it — a ten-ounce pork chop and Ben Davies for fippence. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'Mout Taxes' Jamaica Labrish 69: An noh fegat de fip a week / Yuh get from Bungo Ward. 1989 C. Hyatt When Me Was A Boy 17: Then yuh get fippance that's like half a five cent.

fip-poun n. {also fippund) [elision of SE] five-pound (of money). 1855 J. Brougham Basket of Chips 158: Only a paltry fip-poun ten. 1880 J. Payn Confidential Agent II 193: I never saw no fippund notes so clean as this.

fir n. [? resemblance to fir leaves] (drugs) marijuana. 1984 Abel Diet. Drug Abuse Terms. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fir — Marijuana.

fire n. 1 venereal disease [the pain it causes]. [C.1386 Chaucer Parson's Tale line 429: Half the partie of hire privee membres were corrupted by the fir of seint Antony.] c.1591 Shakespeare Comedy of Errors TV iii: They appear to men as angels of light; light is an effect of fire and fire will burn; ergo, light wenches will burn. Come not near her. 1610 Jonson Alchemist II i: The decay'd Vestall's of Pickt-hatch ... That keepe the fire a-liue there. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 152: Akes in the ioynts, and ring-worme in the face. Cramps in the nerues, fire in the priuy place. 1658 Cokaine 'Nann Colt's Fire' 162: [He] carry perhaps Nann Colt's fire in his Breeches, have her claps. 1699 N. Ward 'The Insinuating Bawd' Writings (1704) 80: Your Extasies of Joy, with a Pox to 'em ]...] have struck up such an unextinguishable Fire in my most Pleasurable Apartment, that I fear it's past the Power of Tunbridge Waters, Aqua-Tetrachimagogon, or the Pick-a-dilly Engineer, to stop the Flames from consuming the whole Miserable Tenement. C.1700 London-Bawd (1705) 1: She has formerly been one of Sampson s Foxes, and has carried so much fire in her Tail, as has burnt all those that have had to do with her. 1705 London-Bawd (3rd edn) Ch. i: She has [...] carried so much fire in her Tail, as has burnt all those that have had to do with her. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 89: Poor Donald he rose up again, / As nothing did him ail. Sir; / But little kennd' this bonny Lass, / Had Fire about her tail. Sir. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 18: The Fire alas, broke out! 1744 Machine 2: Add Fire to what was all on Fire before. 1761 Nancy Dawson's Jests 36: There Nancy and Lucy no more can bewail, / The woful effeas of fire in their tail. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 533: Did not JOVE send down Madam iris, / The rainbow wench, whose tail on fire is. c.1864 'My Own Darling Kate' Rakish Rhymer (1917) 149: I've caught crabs from the 'shrubs' round the high German c—ts, / Caught the 'fire' from the Bridgets so nate. 1900 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 69: She'd left behind a souvenir. I'd have you all to know, / And in nine days, to my surprise, there was a fire down below.

2 the vagina. 1699 'The Old Mans Wish' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy I 17: A Fire (which once stirred up with a Prong) / Will keep the Room temperate all the night long. 3 (US Und.) danger, pressure, esp. from the police; thus on fire, very dangerous.

fire

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1859 Matsbll Vocabulum. 1929 D. Hammett Big Knockover (1972) 291:

1907 N.-Y. Eve. Journal 7 Feb, n.p.: They switched to the 'nanny goat'

Suppose you build as much fire as you can out here in front while I'm stopping this egg's bleeding, Milk River, 1957 R. Prather Always Leave 'Em Dying 108: The heat on me had been bad before, but it was

style then and after that went to the side boys, more commonly called 'fire escapes'.

really a fire now, an eighteen-alarm inferno. We'd read all the morning papers and listened to the news broadcasts; all of them had the latest developments, 1972 (con, 1930s) N, Axgren 'The Last Carousel' in Texas Stories (1995) 158: By rights, as one of the hands in the shearing, 1 ought to be right up there taking some of the fire, 4 pertaining to smoking, (a) (US black) a cigarette, 1944 'diver's Bible' in D, Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

(b) (US black) a marijuana cigarette, 1944 D, Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 66: We'd better put out the

fire, cause the man who rides the screaming gasser is in port,

(c) (US) matches or a cigarette lighter, 1940 'C,C,C, Chatter' in AS XV:2 Apr, 211/2: Common articles of

food lose some of their sameness when given figurative names: [,,,] Gimme some fire is a request for a match, 1958 C, Himes Real Cool Killers (1969) 45: 'Give me some fire and less of your lip,' Sheik said, Choo-Choo flipped a dollar lighter and lit both-cigarettes, 1968 'SI, of Watts' in Current SI. 111:2, 1994 Eble Campus SI. Apr, 4: fire - flame from a match or lighter, (d) a mixture of crack cocaine and methamphetamine, 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fire — Crack and methamphetamine,

(e) bad or weak crack cocaine [it burns the throat or play on BURN v, (1)1. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. Bourjois In Search of Respect 102: How you

gonna open up and sell fire? 'Cause that's what the customers said it is. The cracks taste like fire. That shit is nasty! (f) (US black/drugs) potent marijuana.

fire fluid (n.) (Aus.) strong liquor; spirits. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 July 8/3: This total represents 88 millions of pints, or 11 millions of gallons of fire-fluid. Or - just imagine it - a lagoon of grog six miles square and a little over three feet deep throughout!

fireplug (n.) see separate entries. fire power (n.) (US black) physical strength and ability. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 237: fire power Physical or mental strength and ability. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 88: This guy with more firepower'n the Sixth Fleet comes in. fire prigger (n.) (priccer n.^ (1)] one who robs those who are otherwise preoccupied with watching their, or someone else's, home burn down. 1781 G. Parker View of Society 11 131: Fire-Priggers. [...] These wretches who attend on fires, and rob the sufferers under pretence of coming to give assistance. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fire priggers, villains who rob at fires under pretence of assisting in removing the goods, 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1862 E. DE LA Bedolliere Londres et les Anglais 314/2: fire triggers, [...] voleurs qui, dans un sinistre, s'emparent de marchandises et de valeurs, sous pretexte de les arracher aux flammes.

fireproof (adj.) 1 (orig. US) invulnerable, guaranteed against failure. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 281: He pitches it into her most

[Internet] Fire (noun) Marijuana. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www. dolemite.com [Internet] fire Definition: some good weed. Example: Nigga this that fire, fire. 5 (US Und.) a firearm.

uncommon powerful [...] but she seems close and stubborn, and perfect fireproof. 1958 (con. 1890s) S.H. Adams Tenderloin 171: The Doc is fireproof. But there might be something doing with some of his gang. 1999 Sun. Tel. mag. 12 Dec. 18: It's terribly easy to make arrangements so you're fireproof. 2 (US Und.) having made one's peace prior to death. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 36: fireproofed, adj. having made

1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 91: You dudes gonna be packin all your fire to the meet?

fireproof peter (n.) (US Und.) a safe that is ostentatiously

1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

■ In compounds firelock (n.) (also tinder-box) the vagina. 1628 Robin Goodfellow, His Mad Pranks and Merry Jests E3: Maids in

your smocks, Looke well to your locks, and your tinder Boxe. c.1790 'The Manual Exercise' Irish Ballads 2: Make ready your cartridge observe what I say, / And also your firelock for that's my desire. 1834 'The Tinder-Box' Flash Chaunter 3: Said Roger unto Jane [...] Come, let me strike a light in your tinder-box. / Dear Roger, said the maid, my tinder-box is new, / It never has been open'd, but 1 cannot refuse you. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. fireship (n.) see separate entry.

■ In phrases go up in that fire (v.) (US prison) to have AIDS. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Went Up In That Fire: Has AIDS. pass through the fire (v.) to catch a venereal disease, i.e. to be BURNED ad/.^ (1). 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 858/1: C.19.

set on fire (v.) to give someone a venereal disease. C.1700 'The Poor Whores Complaint' in Holloway & Black 1 (1975)

218: If we set them on fire at both ends, / The devil he may quench them. C.1798 'Covent Garden Ramble' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 78: This little dirty stinking slut. Set me all on fire.

■ In exclamations fire on the line! (also fire on the walk!) (US prison) a warning that there is an officer in the vicinity. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner’s Diet. July [Internet] Fire on the

Line: Officer on the tier or in the area. Also, 'Fire on the Walk.' (MT).

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds fire-alarm (n.) (US) a divorcee. 1922 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer 14 Sept. 4/4: The Flappens' Dictionary [.,.] Fire-Alarm: A divorced woman. fire-burn(er) see separate entries. fire-catcher (n.) [such clothes are worth using only to light a fire] (W.i.) old, ragged, workclothes. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fire-eater/-eating see separate entries. fire-escape (n.) 1 a clergyman (the fire is that of hell; 20C-E use is naut. jargon]. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI. Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 (US) in pi., a style of side whiskers (visual resemblance].

peace with the world before dying,

fireproofed, but offers no real security from safebreakers. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 70/1: Fire-proof peter. A seemingly strong safe which is merely fireproofed but can easily be broken by safe¬ crackers.

fire queen (n.) (-queen six (2); they wish to 'set the world on fire'l (US gay) a militant gay activist. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

fire rage (n.) (W.I.) 1 intense anger, uncontrolled fury; thus pick up someone's fire-rage, to take someone's side in a quarrel as energetically as if it were one's own. 1989 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996). 2 of a man, one who loses his temper easily, who 'flies off the handle'. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fire-tail (n.) (W.i, Cuyn.) of a woman, one who loses her temper easily. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fireworks (n.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases give someone the fire (v.) see fire v.^ (3). on fire (adj.) doing very well, typically of a rock band, a sportsperson or some similar achiever. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 141: The basketball team has won eight straight — they're on fire. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 7: There'd been nights not so long ago, nights like Carlisle, when the Grams had been on fire.

fire v.^ (FIRE n. (1)1 1 to give someone a venereal disease. 1515-16 Skelton Magnyfycence line 2269: Some rybbys of the motion

be so ranke That they wyll fyre one ungracyously in the flanke. c.1600-20 'As I was Riding' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 13: Her Ct is grown so common; / have a care of your tarse, / Lest she fire it with her arse, / for she is free for all men. 1623 Dekker Wonder of a Kingdom IV i: He keepes a whore indeede, [.,.] he may be fir'd. c,1640 J. Day Parliament of Bees 10: Hee's burn'd himselfe (perhaps), [...] For he both keeps and is maintaind by th' stews [,..] He may be fir'd; his rotten hives are not. 1660 Man in the Moon 4 26 Nov. 29: [Those] that venter to fraight this Vessel be carefull their goods be not fired and themselves endangered if they come in her Fore-castle. For never any man did yet come nigh her. But by her heat she set his Goods on fire. 1707 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 323: To the Tavern we went, / A Curse on the Place; / For her Love was so hot, / It soon fir'd my A—. 1733 Laugh and Be Fat 83: A young Lady of the Town, who had fired her Tail by an immoderate Resignation of her Favours. 2 to contract venereal disease.

fire 1733 Laugh and Be Fat 83: A young Lady of the Town, who had fired

her Tail by an immoderate Resignation of her Favours, have privately taken a Lodging in the same House,

fire v.^ Ipun on SE fire, discharge (a weapon)] 1 to ejaculate semen. a.1704 T. Brown Upon a Lady's being Disappointed in Works (1760) I 67: The la visit Hero tir'd too fast [... ] That when three poor attacks were past / He wanted ammunition. 1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal III ii: I'd have you take care who you ravish [...] you may fire a great many Guns betwixt Wind and Water before you can make any one of them leaky. 1785 'Roger Ranger' Covent Garden Jester 20: Cast off all the tackling about the breech [...] that uncovers the touch hole. Next get the breech down upon the bed, then you have the muzzle high enough for close work [...] lastly take your rammer in your hand, thrust home, discharge, that completes the business for the present, till you are ready to fire again. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 159: The whoring rascal, safe and sound, / Prepares to fire a double round. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: I fired into her keel upwards; my eyes and limbs jack, the crown office was full; I s--k-d a woman with her a-se upwards, she was so drunk, that her head lay on the ground. 1842 'Nancy Dawson' in Nancy Dawson's Cabinet of Songs 10: Then cried my lads, come fire away, / Spank into Nancy Dawson. 1884 Randiana 120:1 found that it was my own sister I was rogering. I had, unluckily, got to that point where no man or woman could cease firing. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1900 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 69: I fired off my cannon into her thatch of hair. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 191: With those two little hands she worked on a friend of mine for a minute or two just to see what it looked like firing under water.

2 {Aus.lUS) to eject, in a non-institutional context. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July 12/1: [The] solicitor wrote to the bereaved citizen telling him that there was £3 8s. due for two weeks' rent of his own house, which sum had better be paid promptly if he didn't want to be fired out in the street. 1891 J.A. Riis How the Other Half Lives 22: 'Damma, manl' he said: 'if you speaka thata way to me, I fira you and your things in the streeta.' And the frightened Italian paid the rent. 1899 Eve. News 10 Feb. in Ware (1909) 131/1: Then they thought his objection to the spending of £20 on a lecture - and its necessary or needful accompaniments on the interesting and entertaining subject of' Bacteriology' too much of a good thing, so they had him ' fired' from the meeting. 1916 'A-No. 1' Snare of the Road 47: I had to thank a lanky cowboy for getting fired off the cars at Rexford. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Fire, To throw a man off a train.

3 (orig. US) {also fire out, give someone the fire) to dismiss from a job, to throw out or expel. 1871 Overland Monthly (CA) Mar. 285: The thought that I was fired by

some stranger [DA]. 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Sept. 10/7: Fired, Banged, Shot Out—When a performer is discharged he is one of the above. 1887 M. Roberts Western Avemus (1924) 143: I nearly fired him the first morning [...] I thought he wasn't any good. 1896 S. Crane George's Mother (2001) 119: Fired? Outa work? Why— George? 1900 Punch 21 Feb. 141/1: You come loafing around Montreal as if it belonged to you, and then you can't pay your board bill. Why, I've half a mind to fire you out myself. 1909 E. Pound letter 3 Feb. in Paige (1971) 7: Deer Bill: May I quote 'Steve' on the occasion of my own firing: 'Gee!! Wish I wuz fired!' 1911 S. Ford Torchy 6: The stiff gives me the fire. He said I was too fresh. 1911 E. Dyson 'At the Opera' in Benno and Some of the Push 92: 'You blighted ass, they'll fire you out in half a tick, and serve you good,' said the man on his right. 1913 S.F. Bulletin 10 Mar. 17: The Texas boy, who refuses to stay fired, just put one over on the public, not forgetting the Sox at the same time. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 573: Corley, at the first go-off, was inclined to suspect it was something to do with Stephen being fired out of his digs for bringing in a bloody tart off the street. 1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 192: Dis one jes' lately been worn by a jig dat's fired. 1937 E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief in Hamilton (1952) 109: A man is fired only if he jeopardizes the others. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 64: 'Fire that girl,' he told me. 'Get her out of here.' 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 66: We might get fired for this and never get to Okinawa. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 53: When Mr Anderson fired me, I just smiled. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 25: Maybe you'll be divorced and fired before

the book comes out. 1981 Beano 14 Feb. 19: That does it! You're fired. 1993 S. Armitage 'Hitcher' in Book of Matches 46: One more sicknote, mister, and you're finished. Fired. 2000 Observer 9 Jan. 24:1 can get you fired. 2007 N. McCall Them (2008) 133: [of a relationship] Nell said good-bye, and Barlowe left. It was the first time she fired him.

4 {drugs) to inject a drug.

fire

98

Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS Xl:2 121/1: To fire. To inject dope from a hypodermic. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 308: fire. To inject drugs with a hypodermic needle. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 32: He drew up the amber solution into the syringe's slender barrel. He was ready to fire. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fire — [...] to inject a drug. 5 {US) {also set fire to) to light a cigarette or marijuana cigarette (cf. FIRE UP V. (3a)). 1947 S.J. Perelman 'Farewell, My Lovely Appetiser' in Keep It Crisp 9: I [...] set fire to a cigarette, 1952 W.D. Overholser Fabulous Gunman 79: He fired his cigarette. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 61: He suddenly wanted another beer, but fired one of Deck's Shermans instead. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 33: Sharon [...] fired a joint with the crystal lighter. 6 {US black) to strike a blow. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. Ill:2 24: Fire, v. To hit someone, or something. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [,,.] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: fire, v. - to hit someone or to get hit: 'The BT will fire you (hit you).' 7 {Aus.) to excel. 1985 Tracks (Aus.) Apr. 3: A short note to tell you, your mag fires [Moore 1993], 8 {UK black) to prosper, to do well. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 64: Business firin' yeah? 9 {US) to have sexual intercourse. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fire v 1. to engage in coitus.

■ In phrases fire a shot (v.) [shot n.^ (2)] of a man, to ejaculate. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 393/2: C. 19-20. 1952 (con, 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 91: The postman came on the first of May; / The policeman came on the very next day. / Nine months later there was hell to pay: / Who fired that first shot, the blue or the gray? 1959 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 241: [as dt, 1952]. fire blanks (v.) see under blank n. fire in (v.) 1 to send in. 1919 'Sapper' Mufti 226: Fire in an application and I'll put it up tomorrow. 2 to fight, to throw a punch. 2001 1. Welsh Glue 89: The Polmont boy [...] jist stood thaire in the space lookin nervous whin every other cunt was firein in, fire into (v.) to approach sexually, to pick up, to seduce. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 150: I could have fired into her casually for a while. fire on (v.) {US black/campus) 1 to disparage, to ridicule. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972), 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 79: fire on to reprimand, argue with, tell off.

2 to hit, to assault, usu. with a weapon. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 92: I get restless. Then those bulls start looking easy to me. [...] Maybe I fire on one of them. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 93: Then this honky jist fired on the brother. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 56: Don't be callin' no ese Cholo or Chico if you don' knowin' d' dude, 'cause he'll righteously fire on you. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison Si. 90: Fire on Someone Used in reference to hitting someone in a fight, fire out (v.) see sense 3 above.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fire a gun (v.) [the firing of a warning gun -F the suddenness of the explosion] to push a topic unsubtly into the conversation. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Firing a Gun. Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the company. Hark! did you not hear a gun?—but now we are talking of a gun, I wiU tell you the story of one. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. fire a warmer into the bank (v.) [? orig. milit, the imagery is of the shooting range! (N.Z.) to take the first beer of a session. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 2008 A.J. AJ's Site [Internet] On these trips we meet in one of the rooms before supper for a quick warmer into the bank, fire up (v.) see separate entry, firing to (ad/.) (US black) eager (to), keen (to). a.1963 'The Fall' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 86:1 packed my shit, firing to split, / And this is what I said: [...].

■ In exclamations fire your tail! [tail n. (1)] (W./.) get out! go away! 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Dia. Jam. Eng. (1980).

1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal S/. 41: I must drop into the

fire V.^ ISE fire, to stimulate, to inflame with passion] {W.l.) used in several phr. to denote aggressive or decisive action; thus fire a

hotel donegan (lavatory) and fire (take a hypodermic injection), for I feel my habit coming on. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und.

blow/box/chop/cuff/hand/kick/lash, to hit hard; fire yourselffyour skin, hurry up.

fire 1948 H, Kirke gloss, in Twenty-five Years in British Guiana 350/1: Fire,

strike: 'He fire a kick at me'. 1953 R. White Our Virgin island 181: While struggling with him to the beach he get cross and seek my life he fire a lash at me i get a good cut under my chin. 1968 C. Graves Fourteen Islands in the Sun 84: A typical piece of police-court evidence is, 'He fired a box at me so I mashed him down with a spanner'. 1976 Guyana Chronicle 5 June 7: Alloo fired a blow with the cutlass at Singh's head. 1980 A. Clarke Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack 21: When the King want to wee-wee or fire a shit, all the King got to do is... 1984 Grenada Documents 1: [He] is alleged to have fired a cuff at the guard. 1987 J.W. Lurry-Wright Custom and Conflict 127: I raised the stick and fired a blow at his arm. BB ducked and the stick caught him on the head. 1996 Ali.sopp Diet. Carih. Eng. Usage 232/1: fire a blow/lash vb phr [...] To hit out at, to strike (sb) severely (with the hand or using any object) [...] Hence similarly fire a box/ chop/cuff/hand/kick/Iash/lick/some licks [...] fire yourself! [...] fire your skin! move yourself [i.e. Be off with you! take yourself out of my sight! Go away!]. 2007 E. Buntin Anu Bantu 141: He fired a blow at Anu's head. Anu blocked him, grabbed his hands, twisted them behind his back and threw him across the room,

fire v."* (orig. W.l.) 1 to obtain a drink, esp. of a barman, e.g. fire me a rum. 1977 A. Clarke Prime Minister (1978) 30: Fire some more liquor before you go to eat. 1980 A. Clarke Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack 29: Man, fire one! 1999 K. Sampson Powder 13: Keva got up to fire them in.

2 to drink strong liquor; thus fire a booze/drink/few/rum/the grog, to take a drink. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 274: Wilson fired down his

cognac. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 88: He fired it down and left the bar unsatisfied,

■ In phrases fire a slug (v.) see under slug nf'. fire the acid (v.) see under acid n,\ fi real adv. see for real adv. fire-alarms n. [rhy. si.] the arms. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy Sr Partridge Songs and SI. of the British

Soldier.

fire-burn n. [such a person might, when enjoying themselves, start a fire) (W.l.) a rowdy, riotous person. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fire-burn v. (UK black) to attack verbally. 2003 Indep. on Sun. 12 Jan. 5: Courtney Davis, 26, said that some in

the black community do 'fireburn' or verbally abuse, gay people. 'Some artists burn it and some condone it,' he said.

■ In exclamations fire burn me hand! (also fire bur’ me hand!) (W.l.) an excl. indicating that a major fight is in the offing, 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fire-burner n. (US Und.) a very enthusiastic, passionate lawyer. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 130: If I'm going to trial [...] I like to have me a little bitty young lawyer, a fire burner. You know, one that will go up there and really argue the case,

fired up ad/. 1 drunk. 1847 J.M.. Field Drama in Pokerville 50: Another whirl on the road announced Dr. Slunk, and that gentleman, tolerably 'fired up' and in evident ill humour, 'paraded himself.

2 (US) angry. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 83: Crip got all fired up about somethin'. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: fired up - angry. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 78: His mother frowned ]...] Fry didn't want to get her fired up, so he said nothing.

3 (also fired) energized; thus unfired, unenthusiastic. 1962 K. Amis letter 4 Sept, in Leader (2000) 606: I've been fired by

your example to attempt an 8 a.m. start to the writing day. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 117: Fired Sexually aroused. Eager for or looking forward to something or someone. [Ibid.] 217: Unfired Not eager for or looking forward to something or someone. 1972 D. Jenkins SemiTough 105: There never has been a more fired-up ball player than you. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 165: Our guys seemed to get all fired up. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 49: You gets fired up, like you can beat anybody up then. 1992 D. Pinckney High Cotton (1993) 7: Surrounded by fired-up types. Grandfather began to bother their heads with visions of his own, 1999 K. Sampson Powder 33: Few things gave him pleasure. He could not get fired up. 2000 Observer Mag. 25 Jan, 31: Their fired-up, wired-up new album. 2001 I. Welsh Glue 85: Even though [...] Spencer's stories wir shite, along wi the wine n beer they goat us aw fired up by the time we hit the streets,

fire-eater n. 1 a braggart, an aggressive person always spoiling for a fight.

fireship

99

1804 Morning Herald (N.Y.) in Spirit of Public Journals (1805) VIII 249: The Sieur W-d-m, fire-eater in ordinary to the troop [OED]. 1827 (ref. to 1777) J. Barrington Personal Sketches II 8: About the year 1777, the 'Fire-eaters' were in great repute [OED]. 1846 Quincy (IL) Whig 10 Jan. 2/3: Let Mr, Polk, father Richie, Judge Douglass, little Walker, and the other fire-eaters, be obliged to do their share of the fighting, and who does not know that the matter would be more likely to be amicably arranged without an appeal to arms [DA]. 1854 F. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship 371: Gently there - take it coolly! why, you're becoming quite a fire-eater. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1885 C.F. Lummis letter 5 Jan. in Byrkit Letters from the Southwest (1989) 228: The Georgia fire-eater is nowhere, the New York plug-ugly not a marker beside this chap. 1894 G.A. Sala Things 1 Have Seen II 32: [He] had been [...] both a lady-killer and a fire-eater in his youth. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Nov. 12/4:1 fancy that the fire-eater who ordered pistols for two and coffee for one usually felt sure of being able to sip the Mocha after the event. 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 118: There, there, you fireeater! [...] Go easy. You've had enough blood for one afternoon. 1916 Joyce Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 106: I can remember even your greatgrandfather, old John Stephen Dedalus, and a fierce old fireeater he was. 1937 E.V. Mitchell Horse and Buggy Age 147: Chief Eaton was a veteran of the Civil War, a fire-eater if there ever was one [DA],

2 a noticeably courageous person, with the supposed daring of the performer. 1869 'OuiDA' Under Two Flags 235: A soldier who irritated and annoyed him, but [...] was one of the most brilliant fire-eaters of his regiment. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Feb. 12/3: The story goes that a brush occured at [...] Smellbourne's most swaggah boarding-house. After the wine and chestnuts had passed round, somebody swung up to a popular officer [...] and insulted him. The professional fireeater told him summarily and simply to 'shut-up.' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 R. Bissell A Gross of Pyjamas (1954) 36: The old boy he's quite a fire-eater, ain't he? 3 (US) a firefighter. 1928 cited in J.A. Weingarten Amer. Diet. SI. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet,

of Und. SI. 1949

Monteleone

Criminal SI.

(rev. edn).

fire-eating adj. [fire-eater n. (1)| of a person, being aggressive and spoiling for a fight. 1854 G.J. Whyte-Melville General Bounce (1891) 176: Sir Ascot was none of your sighing, despairing, fire-eating adorers. 1863 N. Hawthorne Our Old Home 46: My fire-eating friend has had ample opportunities to banquet on his favorite diet. 1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle (1930) 135: My subalterns [...] were a lot of fire-eating young lunatics. 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 29: Got a fire-eating wife that hates him.

fireman’s hose n. see garden hose n. fireplug ni' [fire n. (1) -f pun] a man who is suffering from a venereal disease. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 78: Fire-plug: ordinary people would imagine this to be the F.P. stuck up against many houses, to tell how many feet distant water-plugs may be found, in case of fire; but, by the double, means the otherwise affected young fellows who may have laid out their money badly in the flesh-market.

fireplug n? [supposed resemblance[ 1 (US) a short, squat person, 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 36: They see me walking the

halls with someputo fireplug [...] normal is the last thing anyone is going to think. 2005 J, Stahl I, Fatty 29: That little fireplug in a purple turban. 2 (US drugs) a large piece of opium. 1937 B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 102/1: fire-plug. A large pill or ration of smoking opium, as distinguished from the common yen-pok. The pill is usually about the size of a very large pea; some addicts roll it in a cone-shape so that it fits snugly into the eye of the pipe. It is cooked on the yen-hok. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

fireship n. [fire n. (1) + pun[ a diseased prostitute. [1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 13 23-30 Aug. I 20: These Veneriall Pieces of Damnation [should be] shipped away into New England, especially being so light a Commoditie, that they need not much fear casting away: if they avoid but one mischief, that is, firing the Ship.] 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 363: 1 boarded her [...] mistake me not, I rummag'd not in her Hold, fearing she was a Fire-ship. 1672 Wycherley Love in a Wood II i: Are you not a Fireship? a Punk, Madam? 1687 'Julian's Farewell' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 201: Young men from this fireship keep yourselves free. 1691 City Cheat Discovered n.p.: Fire-ships and Friggots, with Top masts and Sails, / At Coffe-house-Bay they cast Anchor at Night; / The mistriss salutes them in nasty Night-rails / Come in hansome

fire up

Women, I know you are right. 1704 Athenian Spy 306: The Port-Holes are all up. The Tombkins out, primed, matched, ready. The little Fireship of a Woman opens her Lips ... There is no Remedy unless you get out of Gun-shot, but she has ye between Wind and Water, rakes ye fore and aft, and down you go to the Deep. 1707 N. Ward Barbacue Feast 17: The Commander's Lamentation for the Loss of his Rudder, [...] or. The Sea-Captain Burnt by a Wapping-Fireship. 1710 C. Shadwbll Fair Quaker of Deal III ii: I'd have you take care who you ravish [...] I don't care to attack a Fireship. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: Fire-ship, a Pockey Whore. 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 72: Damn your Fireships; I have a Wife of my own. 1748 Smollett Roderick Random (1979) 134: At that instant, a sea lieutenant came in, and seeing my plight, began to inquire into the circumstances of my misfortune; when this wit advised him to keep clear of me, for I was a fire-ship. 1754 Scoundrel’s Diet. 27: Born Beggars all thou dost excel, / Thy Swipestakes still shall bear the Bell, / No fireship yet abroad it fell. 1785 'Roger Ranger' Covent Garden Jester 30: A fine madam meeting him in the street, earnestly entreated the favour of a glass of wine, the baronet cursing her for a silly whore, said. He was well content with one fireship in a day. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1800 'Jolly Jack of Dover' in Jovial Songster 77: Perhaps you're a French fire ship, so sink me if 1 speak ye. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JoN Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1855 Yokel's Preceptor 9: She is a good-looking piece when dressed, and got the slap on, but as regular a fireship as ever sailed the coast. Take care of her! 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria 0966) 40: Boite a verole = a foundered whore; 'a fire-ship'. 1900 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 69: I played with her (or quite some time, and learned to my surprise, / She was nothing but a fire ship rigged up in a disguise.

fire up V. {US) 1 to commence, to set in motion, (a) to begin, to get ready. 1840 Knickerbocker (N.Y.) XVI 227: [At an auction] Come, gentlemen,

'fire up, fire up!' 1843 Knickerbocker (N.Y.) XXI 13: At the end of the third day, we came to the unanimous conclusion that it was high time to 'fire up' and depart. 1892 F. Remington letter 14 Oct. in Splete (1988) 208: Fire up [...] let your imagination play. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 30: The jail noise stopped, fired up, stopped, started. 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 230: By the end of the day everything's been covered, he's been fired up with a horse, a saddle and a bunk and he's looking forward to his first full day.

(b) to start up a mechanical device, e.g. a car. 1954 Mansell & Hall 'Hot Rod Terms' AS XXIX:2 96: fire up, v.t. To start (an engine). 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 176: He quickly fired up the Chevy's engine. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 85: Before the Weasel got the Toyota fired up and pointed in the right direction the Mercedes was already out of sight. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 44: Garvey started firing up his Nintendo. 2001 N. Green Shooting Dr. Jack (2002) 220; Come on, baby, fire this pig [car] up.

2 in emotional senses, (a) to become emotional, angry. 1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple III 240: She fired up in a way that to me was surprising [...] I never saw her show such a spirit, c.1905 J. FVR?m Rigby's Romance 092)) Ch.xiv: [Internet] 'Do the other (adj.) thing, then,' says I, gammonin' to fire up.

(b) to anger, to arouse emotionally. 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 40: But I fired up. 'You darn ungrateful pup,' I said. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison Si Gloss. [Internet] Fire up. Prepare for an argument.

(c) to excite in general; usu. as fired up adj. (3). (d) {US campus) to drink with the intention of boosting one's spirits. 1971 Current SI. V:4.

(e) (or/g. US black/campus) to excite sexually; to have sexual intercourse. 1980 L. Birnbach Official Preppie Hbk 219: Fire up, v. To engage in sexual relations.

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub.

ms.].

(f) {US campus) to get excited, to dedicate oneself; to be happy. 1989 P. MUNRO SI. U. 79: We really have to fire up for this event if it

is going to be a successful fund-raiser.

3 to apply a flame, (a) to light a pipe, cigarette or cigar. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 394/1: from ca.

1890. 1966 T.V. Hard Men (1974) 121: He ate unhurriedly and fired up his pipe. 1968-70 Current Si III-IV (Cumulation Issue). 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 239: Scuz fired up a fresh cigar. 1985 A. Payne 'Minder on the Orient Express' in Minder [TV script] 5: First panatella of the day fired up. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 216: Come on. Blood, don't be firing that thing [i.e a cigarette] up in the house. Olsen

fireworks

100

2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 128: Detective Dan Boyle fired up a cigarette off the dash lighter. {drugs) by ext., to pump the blood and heroin mixture out of the hypodermic into the vein or muscle, to inject a narcotic.

(b)

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1991 D.

Simon Homicide (1993) 279: Where the fuck did you fire up? 1 don't have all fucking day to look at your fucking arms. (C) to light a marijuana cigarette. 1962 (con. 1940s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 166: Jerome

handed over another joint. Raymond fired up. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 289: I non¬ chalantly took out a joint of marijuana [...] 'Here . . . fire this up,' I said. 1980 E. Pole Runnin' Down Some Lines 171: Roll you some righteous bombers! Fire up, pass around. 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco (1998) 220: As Elroy put it while firing up a foot long doobie, 'Yeah! Stupid yuppies.' 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 163: You figure they'll mind if I fire up a blunt in here?

(d) to heat up crack cocaine. 1992 R. Price dockers 67: Their faces flaring up yellow as they fired up the cocaine. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 245: Firing up our pipes, and getting that first rush. 2001 J.

Stahl

Plainclothes Naked (2002) 186: Mac had a feeling it was pipe residue, not the pallid nugget he'd fired up.

4 to hit; to shoot or kill. 1971 Current SI. VI 4: Fire up, v. To shoot or kill somebody. 1972 D.

Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: fired (me) up v. to strike another physically; to be hit as in a fight: He fired me up! 1981 Maledicta V:1-f2 (Summer + Winter) 266: He fires up another prisoner when he thrashes him or he fires on a person when he throws a sucker punch. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio 13th Valley (1983) 253: 'If I'd [...] just fired up someone I think I'd want someone to talk to.' 2003 (con. 1968) J. Corbett West Dickens Avenue (2004) 144: When a soldier is killed in action, we say he has been [...] 'fired up.'

fireworks n. 1 an emotional outburst, a state of intense excitement. 1601 Jonson Cynthia's Revels IV i: ana.; I shall garter my hose with your guts, and that shall be your all. mer.: 'Slid, what rare fireworks be here? 1682 Dryden Absalom and Achitophel II 383: In fireworks give him leave to vent his spite; Those are the only serpents he can write. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant I 363/2: Fireworks (tailors), a great disturbance, a state of intense excitement. 1908 'O. Henry' 'One Thousand Dollars' Voice of the City (1915) 75: If it had been ten thousand a fellow might wind up with a lot of fireworks and do himself credit. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 31: Ain't Frisco sore? Watch out for fireworks now. 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 123: Now for the fireworks, and I know they'll be good and plenty. 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 75: When he whipped out of his jacket pocket his de luxe note book, a sure enough dictionary of wicked words, a string of earthy words that had the bible going, he gave the other guy fireworks. 1937 J. Curtis There Ain't No Justice 262: That's what the public likes, just what they likes. Plenty of fireworks. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 83: The proprietor [...] lacks Pepe's fireworks but he is eager to please. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 146: So round he comes and turns on the fireworks. 1963 M. Spillane Return of the Hood 1: There wouldn't be any fireworks or tough talk no matter how big the beef was. 1985 E. Bunting Face at the Edge of the World 89: 'There'll be fireworks when the newspeople get hold of this,' he said. 2 {US) guns. 1853 'Philip Paxton' A Stray Yankee in Texas 128: The old woman said

Charley didn't take his fire-works. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Si (rev. edn). 3 (US) matches. 1873 J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 104: Fireworks, lucifer matches.

4 (US Und.) gunplay, shooting; in the context of war, a bombing raid. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Fireworks, Gun-play. 1937 W.M. Raine Cool Customer 158: Well, I'm not really expecting any fireworks tonight. 1944 C. Fluck 'Bubbles’ of the Old Kent Road 28: 'Did you get bombed?' I asked. 'Yes' [...] my wife and kids were windy, and after the fireworks had died down a bit I got out of the shelter to go indoors and make a cup of tea. [Ibid.] 42: In 1940 Hitler held a Brock's [firework manufacturer] Benefit over London. The fireworks were good in so much that round certain parts of the Elephant many millions of bugs were killed and vile property destroyed. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 68; John, the Finger, doesn't want anybody hurt [...] so no fireworks. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: fireworks - Gun play. 1965 S. Yurick Warriors (1966) 70: He hadn't heard any fireworks going off for a long time. Did that mean they had stopped shooting off because the neighbourhood was becoming loaded with Law?

firk 5 a police vehicle with flashing lights. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage.

firk

first

101

V. [S^firk, to move about briskly; to whip, to beat + euph. FUCK V. (1 )1

to have sexual intercourse; thus M/ng school, a brothel or any place of unrestrained sexual frolics. 1600 Dekker Shoemakers’ Holiday IV i: In faith I would haue yearkt

and firkt your Priscilla. 1610 JONSON Alchemist III iii: Firk, like a flounder; kiss, like a scallop, close: / And tickle him with thy mother-tongue. a.1640 R. Brome New Academy II i: And she ha' not good box and steel, I shall so grull her. And then at Mumbledepeg 1 will so firk her, c.1642 T. Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) I ii: If I had his heart-strings tied on a True-lover's-knot, I would so firk him till he found physick in a Rope. 1647 'Tom Nash his Ghost' in Grosart Works ofT. Nashe I (1883-4) Ixix: I am a Ghost, and Ghosts doe feare no Lawes [...] I had a yerking, firking, jerking veine. 1663 Wandring Whore VI 5: [One] who had rather be firkt on the bare floor thin a Feather bed. 1672 Villiers Rehearsal V i: Like Maggots in Filberds, we'l snug in our shell, / We'l frisk in our shell, / We'l firk in our shell. 1682 'Ballad' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 104: Bodmin blindfold knows the way / To her most secret place. / Her brother that he may be quits, / Firks Bodmin's sister's rump. 3.1700 'Mistery Discovered' in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1874) II 352: [She] would Firk it. Caper and jerk it. Though she seems cold in Carreses. 1710 J. Dunton 'The He-Strumpets' in Athenianism Project IV 89: The Cracks will rave and think it much / If the New Sodomitish Crew / Han't a brisk Firking Bout or two. 1863 in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994) 36: Tell Fred I want to know he get any nigger wench firking. 1960 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 97: The elders of the church, / They were too old to firk, / So they sat around the table / And had a circle jerk.

firking adj.

[firk v.l a euph. for fucking adj.

1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 23: Issall ones an firkin' zeroes ya li'l shitebag.

firkin of foul stuff

n. a very plain, fat, coarse woman.

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Firkin of foul Stuff a very Homely coarse corpulent Woman.

firkytoodle

v. [firk v. + SE toodle/tootle, to play upon] to indulge in

foreplay. 1873 SI. Diet. 162: Firkytoodle to cuddle or fondle. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1896 Farmer Vacabula Amatoria

(1966) 13: Amuser 1. To excite the senses; 'to firkytoodle'.

firm

n.

1

a criminal gang, large or small.

1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) II 173: His

funds were limited ]...] I therefore was the monied man of the firm: but then there was brass in his forehead for an inexhaustible coinage. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 221: The 'firm' - his own friends - keep filling up spaces. 1909 W. Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 38: After monte had got in pretty bad repute, I became a member of the firm which rejuvenated it. 1920 'Sapper' Bulldog Drummond 108: Is he one of the firm? ],.,] His face seems familiar. 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 32: 'The old firm,' said he, 'always there ter take yer com-commis-bets, and always 'ere to pay yer out.' 1959 F. Norman Fings II i: On the firm / A four quid perm. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 28: The poor old firm was going a bit unsteady. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 25: If a firm was at it, then they would obviously wait for him to pass by. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 123: He can stand up West and join the firm of grievous / rape / robbery and death / solicitors to the realm. 1990 D. Campbell That Was Business, This Is Personal 3: [Armed robbers] had little to do with the old family 'firms' and little interest in owning clubs and casinos like the Krays. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 6: To a lot of firms around London it's the one thing they have in common is a mutuai respect for Morty. 2006 D. Seabrook Jack of Jumps (2007) 272: Teddy Smith was on the Firm, and yet he wasn't really of the Firm. 2 any form of gang, e.g. of football hooligans. 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 97: If you do us we'll take you into the

firm. 1914 F. Slee diary 20 Oct. [Internet] We had some beer in a dixie and the steward found some bottles for our firm, who were always thirsty. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183: Firm ]...] humorously used to describe a particular squad of detective officers, especially a closely knit and comradely band. 1986 R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 21: There were other 'firms' of youngsters who were not necessarily associated with any one pub. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 84: The back-up firm can't like what they see, because they disappear. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 8: Out jumps this little firm, hired in and that, tool-handed, proper mob and that, 3 an influential group. 1978 Robins & Cohen Knuckle Sandwich 23: Long established local families ]...] they were undoubtedly the 'top firm', at least in their part of the estate.

■ In phrases get on the firm (v.) to charm, to please, to seduce. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 71:1 tried to chat her up but couldn't get on the firm.

odd-mark firm (n.) (UK Und.) a group or gang that includes various different types of minor criminals, and even a few non¬ criminal types. 1999 Guardian G2 10 Aug. 24: A pick and mix concoction of lesser criminals, minor criminals and even a couple of straight goers. What we call an odd-mark firm.

firme adj.

iSp.] (US) a general term of high approval; also used as a magazine name in 1970s-80s. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 35/2: firme - adj. (Spanish) first-rate ]...] firme heinas - n. (Spanish) hot young girls. 1997 Lil' Rob 'Jump in the Ride' [lyrics] Crazy Life [album] Yeah, it's time for jacking, my homeboys are-a packing / Your fucking carrucha got the fusca so keep trucha / Cuz if you got what we want / If it's firme as they say and it bumps in your trunk / Then hey man that shit is getting taken.

firming n.

[firm n. (1)] (UK Und.) an assault or beating by a gang.

1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

first, the n. (orig. US)

nothing, not a single one, usu. in negative.

1967 A. Baraka Tales (1969) 24: I don't have penny the first!

first adj. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds first and fifteenth (n.) (US black) those days in a month on which welfare cheques are distributed. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] first and the fifteenth Definition: the days of the month on which welfare

checks are distributed. Example: That bitch only buys her shit on the first and the fifteenth. first base see separate entries, first belly-pain (n.) see under belly n. first chop see separate entries. first feel (n.) (W.l.) the first chance, the earliest opportunity. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). first go-off, the (n.) see go-off n. (1). first line (n.) see under line n.\ first national bank (n.) [the resentment of the farming community towards the banks, which regularly repossessed their land when times became hard] (US) an outside lavatory, 1967 in DARE. first-nighter (n.) (US black) a one-time sexual encounter, unlikely to be repeated. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

first-timer (n.) (also first-time loser) (Aus. Und.) one who is serving their first sentence in prison; thus second-timer. 1881 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Oct. 9/3: In Darlinghurst [..,[ No. 1 yard contains men conviaed three times or more. No, 2, twice-convicted men; No. 3, what is called 'firsttimers'. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Aug. 25/1: Then one month's confinement to the 'Silvertail' man, who is generally hypersensitive, equals six months to the ordinary criminal who, even if he is a 'first-timer' here has probably been 'in' somewhere else. 1921 D. Grant Through Six Gaols 48: I was, in the language of gaols, a 'first-timer'. According to the generally accepted idea, as a 'first-timer' I should be guarded by the authorities from contamination with [sic] men who had grown old in crime [AND]. 1949 J.F. Dwyer Leg-Irons on Wings 52:1 would be taken to Goulbum Gaol, where all 'first timers' [...] served [AND]. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 70/1: First-time loser, A first offender; one who has not previously been convicted of a felony. 1978 H.C. Baker I was Listening 39; Nathan's a first-timer in quod, isn't he? [AND]. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] First-timer. Name given to person in prison for the first time.

■ In phrases first cab off the rank (n.) (also next cab off the rank) (Aus.) 1 a prime suspect. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 75: Judge Martin was the first cab off the rank, 2 the speediest one to react, the first one off the mark. 1966 Baker Aus. Lang. (2nd edn). 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 25: First cab off the rank: The person who is entitled to his or her reward because he or she is at the head of the queue. Sometimes this means that the person in question is the first to be sacked or shot. 1995 Hansard (Aus.) 2 May 49: We have said quite categorically that the VMOs are the first cab off the rank in savings right across the board in health. 2001 Wired News 12 Mar. [Internet] John Kane, spokesman for Afilias, the registry handling dot-info, says he fully expects dot-info to be the first cab off the rank of the seven new registry companies in entering the sunrise period.

first base

3 one's primary interest. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 9: A few sherberls was to be the next cab off the rank.

4

position to decline when with that innocent smile of his he then

1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 105: We were going to get

those railroad tickets first rattle out of the box. 1907 'Hugh McHugh' Beat It 87: First flop out of the box Mrs. Grlmshaw [...] told Aunt Martha that exercise was the only thing to keep down the weight. 1907 J.C. Lincoln Cape Cod 85: I heard how you'd rung the bell the first shot out the box and was rolling in coin [DARE]. 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. iv: If anybody did any shooting to save your life he'll get the chair the first throw out of the box. 1908 N.Y. Eve. Journal 4 Mar. in Fleming Unforgettable Season (1981) 26: Luther [...] knocked off Bresnahan's dicer the first crack out of the box. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 54: Dat poor kid gets fifty th' first rattle outer th' box. 1914 H.R. Garis Dick Hamiliton's Airship [Internet] 'You're not taking a very cheerful view of it," retorted Innis, 'to think that you're going to come a smash the first shot out of the locker.' 1922 P.A. Rollins Cowboy 79: The dicer's 'at the very first rattle out of the box' expressed prompt action, 1928 C. Panzram Journal of Murder in Gaddis & Long (1970) 34: The first crack out of the box after school opened up I gave the preacher-teacher warning to lay off me. 1933 J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 186: You know first crack out of the box on the night me and my wife got married, we connected. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 44: It was a dashed shame that he should have drawn something like Uncle Charlie first crack out of the box. 1950 WELS [DARE], 1965-70 in DARE. 1992 R. Price dockers 526: First bang out of the box and he'd given Jimmy what he wanted. 2001 J.W. Kutchin How Mitchell Energy and Development Corp. Got Its Start 616: Actually, we bought 10 the first rattle out of the box because we found that many opportunities. 2001 T. Fensch Television News Anchors 85: And the very first crack out of the box, the first social occasion we went to, we were sitting on the porch of this rich sponsor down there. first off (orig. US] a phr. meaning at the outset, to start with. 1880 'Mark Twain' Tramp Abroad 193: First-off, 1 thought it would

certainly give me the botts. 1897 W.D. Howells Landlord at Lion's Head 445: Fust off, you know, I thought I'd sell to the other feller, because I could see in a minute what a thorn it'd be in Jeff's flesh. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 39: Four's right. First off Neil, then the fellow I took to be the Wolf. 1929 E. Caldwell Bastard (1963) 40:1 took a liking to the cutie first off. 1951 L. Brown Iron City 94: 'First off,' Faulcon said, 'how many of you-all knows that good old church song, 'I Been Tramping'?' 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Time-card Trick (1977) 146: First off — here's your dough. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 53: 'First off,' he continued, 'the Club Utopia was insured.' 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 16: First off I went round Sherry's that same night,

first-rate (adv.) [adj. use is SE] excellently, very well. 1842 A.J. Allen Ten Years in Oregon (1848) 154: Esquire Crocker wishes me to say that he likes sleeping out of doors on a single blanket, very well; and feeding on fat buffalo meat alone, first rate [DA]. 1890 S.O. Jewett Strangers 9: I liked Tobin first-rate [DA]. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 118: I'd like first-rate to take you,

if you want to go.

first thing smoking (n.) (US black) a railroad train. 1942 Z.N, Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' in Novels and Stories (1995)

1008: First thing smoking: a train,

first-up (adv.) (Aus.) for the first time, at the first try.

first base n.

[baseball jargon] (orig. US) 1 a man's initial advances on a young woman, usu. implying just kissing, but sometimes also caressing some part of the body or even the removal of some clothing; such a 'base' is always above the waist; thus second base third base

under

third

adj.;

home run

2 the start of something, e.g. a relationship, usu. applied in terms of failure, e.g. he couldn't even get to first base. Farrell 'A Sunday in April' in To Whom It May Concern 150: The

boys at the Hall often try, but they don't get to first base. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 100: You're jealous and can't get to first base with Lucky. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 78: Four strikes I'd had at the guy, once on the phone, three times inside and I still hadn t made it to first base. 2001 (con. 1981) A, Wheatle East of Acre Lane 57: Me an' you won't even get to first base if you're still carrying on wid dem t'ings der. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 125: If you wanna get to first base with them bitches you have to chat about what kinda schools will your children go to.

first base

v. [first base n. (2)] (US) to take one's first steps towards

an objective. a.2003 Ainzfern 'A Strong Hold' on [Internet] The two men were on

the Commander's sofa, 'first basing it' as Tom had laughingly referred to it. [...] Chakotay was grazing his way across Tom's smooth, slender neck, running his hands over Tom's chest, his fingers stopping every now and then to flick open another button on his shirt.

first chop n.

the first opportunity.

[1542 Udall (trans.) Erasmus' Apophthegms (1564) Bk II 293: Doe ye

not here euen at the first chop se and knowe of old, the nature and facions of Alexander the great.] 1915 Kipling 'Sea Constables’ in Debits and Credits (1926) 30: Didn't care what he hugged, so long as I could lie behind him and give him first chop at any mines that were going,

first chop adj.

[from Hind, chhaap meaning a print, and thus a seal, notably that which is placed on first-rate merchandise; Scheie de Vere, Americanisms (1872), however, cites it as 'Canton-jargon of the AngloChinese'l excellent, first-rate; thus second chop, inferior. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II 80: 'Tain't fuss chop;' quoth a passenger. 1836 T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 48: They [i.e. nutmegs] were all prime, first chop. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sketch Book I 23: The Hotel de Lille, which may be described as a 'second chop' Meurice. 1843 R. Carlton New Purchase II 13: That speedy and elegant style in which young ladies copy maps at first chop boarding schools! 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 37: 'As for poetry, I hate poetry.' 'Pens is not first-chop,' says Warrington. 1862 J.A. Hardwick 'The London Scamp' Prince of Wales' Own Song Book 49: Not that I'm up to any dodges - not I: or I should n't tog up in this style, but come out, first chop, on the cheap, by swindling the tailor! 3.1872 N.Y. Times in 'Mark Twain' Roughing It (1872) 47: In addition to all that ordinarily makes up a first-chop dinner, had we not our antelope steak [etc.]. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 6/4: A party of local sportsmen had stayed over night at Mann's farmhouse, and found his whiskey and hospitality both first chop - especially the whiskey. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 199: If anything turned up that was real first chop, they could always find two or three more young fellows that would stand a flutter. 1895 "Arry on Harry' Punch 24 Aug. 90/2: Yer grammar may be quite O K, / All yer parts o' speech proper as pie, and yer spellin' fust chop in its way. 1897 R. Marsh Beetle 75: A first chop specimen of a low-down idiot. 1909 Gem 23 Jan. 9: I kinder reckoned all along I'd give Buck a first-chop English education. 1911 Gem 4 Nov. 7: 'First chop!' said Herries. 1945 (con. WWI) J.P. Marquand 'Good Morning, Major!' in van Wyck Fighting Americans (1945) 434: You second-chop shavetail! 1947 K. Amis letter 20 Mar. in Leader (2000) 119: Pope and Wordsworth

seem to me to be FIRST-CHOP compared with the others. 1950 R. Starnes Another Mug For the Bier 133: The [...] fountain that spent the whole night bubbling with imported champagne of the very first chop.

1945 Baker Aus. Lang.

adj.;

Street Talk 2 170:1 got to first base with her last night. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 78: Talking of being a loser

D. Burke

1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 112: They won't get to first base. 1944 J.T.

proposed that I should be the first cab off the rank,

first crack off the bat (adv.) see under bat n?. first crack out of the box (adv.) (also first bang out of the box, first flop..., ...rattle.shot.throw..., ...shot out of the locker) at once, immediately, at the first attempt.

second

Fine With the Boys 169: First base, n. (1) Kissing [...] (2) Lips. 1992

[.,.] you get to first base wid Carol?

the first to do something. 2005 B. Hetzel Chance And Commitment 246: [I] was hardly in a

under

first of May

102

n.

1929 J. Lait Broadway Melody 75: With all his jack I don't think he'd

get to first base with Queenie. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 147: He liked Cabby Devlin, but he couldn't get to first base with her. 1936 R.E. Sherwood Idiot's Delight 148: Did you get anywheres near to first base, Harry? 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 84: I knew she wouldn't let him get to first base with her. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 28: There's a couple of them I let take me to the movies, but they'll never make first base. 1978 S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 273: I've been married twice, both times tossed out on first base. 1987 G.A.

first of May

nf' (rhy. si. = SEsay] the tongue; ext. to firm speech as in 'have one's say'. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet,

of Cockney Rhy. SI. 27: first of May. Say; in expressions like I'll have my first of May when I get hold of him! (19th c.; still current),

first of May n? (also first-of-Mayer) (US tramp)

a novice; see cit.

1931; also in ext. use as anyone who does not stay the course. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 73: FIRST OF MAY,-Properly,

any one newly employed by a circus, where the season starts about the first of May. By adoption, any tramp but newly arrived in a 'push' or new to tramp life and as yet inexperienced. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 15: If you do stop, you're a 'heel' - or, worse, a 'First of May!' 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 100: Hey, you first-of-Mayers, Bud Williams is back! 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 573: Know what they call you behind your

firsts

back? 'First of May.' That's an old carnival term for someone who comes out in the spring but doesn't last through the winter.

firsts

n. 1 (US black) any blacks who are the first to take on a specific job in a formerly all-white world. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive.

2 the first chance, the first opportunity; often as excl. firsts! I want to do something first! 1953 J. Thompson Criminal (1993) 75:1 was going to call him myself if you hadn't got firsts on the phttne.

fisgig n. (also fizgig)

[SE fizz, animal spirits + gig, a frivolous person] amusement gained at the expense of others. [1800 Sporting Mag. Apr. XVI 2I/I: Major Hawkes's Ch. A. poney Fizgig.] 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 78: Fisgig—gig, or fun, made at or concerning another's phiz, or face. 1841 D. Boucicault London Assurance in London Assurance and other Victorian Comedies (2001) Act III: He catches her in his arms and kisses her. Enter Lady Gay Spanker lady gay: Ha! Oh! [...] courtly: Fizgig! The devil!

fish

n.' [fig. uses of SE fish] 1 pertaining to sex [sense la is derog. ref. to the supposed odour; senses Ib-i are ext. uses], (a) the vagina.

1546 J. Heywood Proverbs II Ch. iiii: Olde fish and young flesh (quoth he) doth men best feede. 1594 Gesta Grayorum (1688) 25: All such Persons as shall put or cast into any [...] Pits, Pools, [...] or River, salt or fresh; the same Fish being then of insufficiency in Age and Quantity. 1607 Shakespeare Antony and Cleopatra II v: 'Twas merry when You wager'd on your angling; when your diver Did hang a salt-fish on his hook which he With fervency drew up. 1678 J. Ray Proverbs (2nd edn) 81: No man ever cryed stinking fish. 1727 'The Martin and the Oyster or the Alsatia Amour' in 18C Collections Online n.p.: Thus out Alsatia Martin blends / His S---d with Fish and Flesh. 1780 'Earl of Funsborough' Covent Garden Jester 4: 'We have toiled all night, and have caught no fish.' The congregation looked at each other, some smiled, others stopped their mouths with their handkerchiefs, to prevent them from laughing, c.1864 'Paddy Miles and the Mermaid' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 14: She was only a female just down to her belly, / And what should have been mutton was nothing but fish\ 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1937 'Big Bill' Broonzy 'Down in the Alley' [lyrics] If you wanna somethin', smell like fish / Down in the alley you can find that dish [...] So take me down in the alley if you wanna satisfy me. 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 161: Oh, Reverend Riddick [...] Would you care for some of my fish? [...[ I like a man who loves fish [...] If a man loves fish, he's dependable. 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 10: I like to knosh. A little chopped liver, a little smoked fish. [Ibid.] 36: Go ahead [...] stick ya nose up her drawers. Whats the maita, donta ya like fish? 1990 Bill Hicks [performance] Wouldn't [you] love to see those two little hairless peach fishes locked in a sixty-nine? 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Fish (noun) A female's vaginal area, (b) a woman. 1595 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet I i: 'Tis know I am a pretty piece of flesh. — 'Tis well thou art not fish. 1721 N. Ward Wandring Spy 10: The fairest Ladies smell most fishy: If so, then who would not by marrying. Enjoy Fish, Flesh and good Red-Herring. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972) 78: fish 1. female. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fish. Female genitalia but sometimes generalised to the female gender.

(c) (US gay) a heterosexual woman, sometimes derog. 1923 in J.F. Dobie Coffee in the Gourd 47: When you go fishin', you

tryin' to flirt, / The fish you is fishin' for got on a skirt [HDAS]. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 150: Here one heard fruit, banana, meat, fish, tomato, cream, dozens of everyday words used with double meaning. 1949 'Swasarnt Nerf' et al. Gay Girl's Guide 9: fish A woman (usually excluding Lesbians). [Ibid.] 64: [He] therefore can't return anyone else's love [...] even [that] of an exotic and understanding fish. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 106: The homosexual, in inner-group language, is likely to call a heterosexual girl a fish. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 110: The hostess says Im the most beautiful fish she evuh seen. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish [...] 2. a straight woman; any woman 'I can't talk to a fish unless I think it's a boy in drag'. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 151; Women are not only characterized as land animals but as fish - trout, fish, tuna fish. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fish n 1. a gay male's best female friend. 2003 K. Cage Gayle. (d) a prostitute; a promiscuous woman. 1939 'Hotel SI.' in A5 XIV:3 Oct, 239/2: fish Prostitute. [...] fish BUSINESS Pandering. a.1940 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 139: She ran

along Fish Alley, / Looked in a window so high, / Saw her lovin' Johnny / Finger-fucking Alice Bly. 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 116: When I think of all the things I did, in the back seats of jalopies. What a fish I was, Nicky. What a reputation I built up. 1966 Trimble

fish

103

5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: [,..] fish. (e) (US gay) intercourse.

one who

masturbates while

performing oral

1972 (ref. to 1930s-40s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish [...]

5. (fr pros si, '30s-'40s) man who 'muff dives' while playing with himself. (f) (US gay) an effeminate male homosexual. 1932 'R, Scully' Scarlet Pansy 262: Miss Browning [...] broke forth gain - 'Once I thought I had a real he-man. I found out he was fish. It makes me sick to think of him.' 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 151: So I told this Nellie to go peddle her fish somewhere else.

(g) sexual intercourse. 1954 E. Hunter '. . . Or Leave It Alone' in Jungle Kids (1967) 62: She was dead from the neck down when it came to fish. (h) (US) a feminine lesbian. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 150: Here one heard fruit, banana, meat, fish, tomato, cream, dozens of everyday words used with double meaning. 1971 A. Karlen Sexuality and Homosexuality 546: The typical [...] butch [...] denied she had ever been a fish (femme). (i) (US gay) semen. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 110: Sometimes you push the fish

right up to the bulls eye. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish 4. (pros si) semen, [...] 'Don't you even have the decency to wash the fish out before you take me on?'

2 as money or a monetary token, (a) a gambling chip, 1728 Vanbrugh & Cibber Provoked Husband I i: I am now going to a party at Quadrille, only to piddle with a little of it [i.e. money], at poor two guineas a fish. 1751 E. Heywood Betsy Thoughtless 1230: She was just going to call for the cards and fishes. 1766 Anstey Bath Guide viii 90: Industrious Creatures! that make it a Rule To secure half the Fish, while they manage the Pool. 1816 Sporting Mag. XLVII 297: A notorious gamester [...] at a game of loo, accumulated a large quantity of fish. 1825 W. Hone Everyday Bk I 91: Mother-o'-pearl fish and counters. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 356: He took with his thumb and finger [...] a half eagle, which he tossed on the table with the utmost sang froid, at the same time crying out, 'Here, Robbins, give us fish for this.' (b) (US) a dollar.

1886 implied in white fish under white adj. 1919 Van Loan 'IOU' in Score by Innings (2004) 347: Believe me or not, it wasn't the seventyfive fish that hurt. 1927 H.C. Witwer Classics in SI. 19: My terms is five hundred fish—win, lose or draw. 1934 R. Sale 'A Nose for News' in Goulart (1967) 202; They promoted me to his forty fish a week. 1945 R.L. Bellem 'Coffin for a Coward' in Hollywood Detective Dec. [Internet] It isn't every night in the week a guy can pick up two hundred fish for doing nothing. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 8: Even at fifteen-to-one it adds up to a lot of fish. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: fish - Paper money. (c) a pound sterling [may exist only in the works of P.C. Wodehouse, living in the US and using its si., but usu. in a UK context], 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 116: He wished to see an additional ten fish in his pay envelope from now on. 3 a sailor; thus scaly fish, a rough, blunt sailor. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fish, a 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

seaman. A scaly fish; a rough, blunt tar. Egan

4 an individual, usu. male and often disliked. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1897-1900 (?) H. Lawson 'On the Tucker Track' in Roderick (1972)

With a sickly looking fish like you to stand by and look interesting and die slowly of consumption all the time. 1922 M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 22: Any woman that would ever take to that fish, would either be doing one of three things. 1939 J. Weidman What's In It For Me 143: This Armenian... sounded like some new kind of fish. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 130: She could be very valuable when we drag that fish into court. 1975 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 154: Our beneficient publisher hauled me into his office to answer this fish's edition of the perennial: 'Where is rock going?' 1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fish - a weak or unlikeable male. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L./l. Confidential 31; Krugman, Tucker, Heineke, Huff, Disbrow, Doherty - older fish to throw the D.A.'s Office. 1994 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: fish - loser, socially inept person. 228:

5 as sense 4, qualified by a descriptive adj., see also combs, below. 1857 C. Kingsley Two Years Ago I 198: 'Cool fish,' thought the customer. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1876 C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 56: Joe Poole, or Lushy Joe Poole, as he was generally called, was a strange fish. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Dec. 12/4: The Melbourne girls, at any rate, are chuckling at the tide

fish

fish

104

in the Federal affairs that brings such pretty fish to their Social basket. 1903 A. Adams Los Of A Cowboy 257: My, but you fellows are easy fish! 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 44/2: Booth's brigade lost a rare fish when it let Beasley slip through its fingers. 1920 Marvel 28 Aug. 5: You'm de funniest old fish I hab come across for a long time! 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 134: Strange fish, Jimmy,

(d) {US Und.) a prostitute's customer.

strange fish. 1927 C. COE Me - Gansster 205: You talk like a sweaty fish! 1935 R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 227: He was looked upon as a 'strange fish'. 1937 A. Christie Murder in the Mews (1954) 40: Bit of a stuffed fish [...] And a boiled owl. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 223: There was a set, a jump, going on —a few cats and broads, low lights, and a smooth fish playing.

blind date last night was such a fish. (f) a virgin or someone who has not even been kissed.

6 as a novice, i.e. a fresh fish, (a) (US) any form of novice or fool, esp. a gullible innocent; the potential victim of a confidence trick [note Greene, The Blacke Bookes Messenger (1592): 'He that drawes the fish to the bait, the Beater']. [1592 Greene Blacke Bookes Messenger n.p.: He that drawes the fish to the bait, the Beater.] [1722 Defoe Col. Jack (1840) 116: The subtle devil [...] found us proper fish for her hook.) 1849 Thackeray Pendennis 1 57: 'Ye've hooked 'um any how,' said the Captain, 'and let me tell ye he's not a bad fish.' 1876 in Dwyer & Lingenfelter Songs of the Gold Rush 189: But they like many another fish / Have now run out their line. 1887 G. Devol Forty Years a Gambler 90: We noticed that most of the fish were suckers, and did not bite so well at roulette. 1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage (1964) 20: They persistently yelled, 'Fresh fish!' at him. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 204: Oh, hell! don't talk like a fish! 1915 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Within Their Incomes' Sporting Times 9 Jan. 1/2: Keen on landing such a likely sort of fish, / She had talked as if she rolled in £ s. d. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 52: You make me feel like a fish. Why, Tm just from a country high school. Tm not in your class. 1929 W.R. Burnett Caesar {^932) 127: Willoughby's just one of Olga's fish. He's gonna back her in a big show. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 110: 'Did you ever get a sucker?' I enquired. 'There ain't so many fish running around now. 1 got one mug a couple of months ago.' 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 79: 'You knew what that meant?' 'Of course I did. I'm no fish.' 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 7: These fish would wet themselves and go running home to mamma. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 63: I'd caught a fish.

1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 21: The pimps, having

kissed their girls goodnight and sent them off to 'get some fish, come in to do some early drinking.

(e) {US campus) a socially inexperienced boy. 1976 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2: fish - socially unpopular male. Jane's

1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fish n [...] 2. a person who has

not had their first kiss or has never French kissed. Origin: a middleschool term used in the southern United States. ('Can you believe that she is a fish? Yeah, she's never Trenched a guy!'). 7 {US) a heavy drinker, one who drinks like a fish. 1914 Z. Grey Light of the Western Stars 102: Why, Danny was a fish fer

red liquor. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 233: A term for a drunkard [...[ fish. 1968-70 Current SI. Ill—IV (Cumulation Issue). 1985 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: fish - one who is able to consume massive amounts of alcohol. 8 {US) a Roman Catholic [the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays). 1932 L.W.

Merryweather

'Argot of an Orphans' Home' in AS VII:6

AOV.fish, n. A Roman Catholic. 9 {US) a derog. term for a Newfoundlander [the staple industry). 1974 M. Cherry On High Steel xiv: Evenings with the Fish (a not wholly complimentary term for men from Newfoundland).

10 a very unpopular person. 1979 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fish - an unlikeable person: He's such a fish - nobody can stand him. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fish n. derog. A surrealist derogatory name for an excessively stupid or unpleasant person.

■ Pertaining to prison m In compounds fish-bowl (n.) see separate entry. fish line (n.) {US prison) 1 a bus that brings in new inmates. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 219: When he came in on the fish line this morning I was walking the yard with a guy who knew him in Tracy. 1983 N. Heard House of Slammers 14: Sister, did you see the fish line today? [...] They brought back my ex-old man, honey.

1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 22: Some guards had been around too long for such things, but this one was a fish and it would be easy. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 46: Trick, fish, sucker, chump, and square carry with them a contemptuous and condescending attitude. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 181: Pretty soon they

2 a line used to pull items from one cell to another.

would be looking for a fish.

a new inmate. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 167:

(b) {US campus) a freshman. 1898 U. ofTenn. Volunteer 159:1 reckon one blip apiece will do fur the

kid, if he'll promise to help on the other 'fish' [HDASj. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN ll:i 35: fish, n. A freshman. 1946 F. Eikel 'Aggie Vocab. of SI.' in AS XXI: 1 33: Fish. n. A freshman. 1968-70 Current SI. III-IV (Cumulation Issue). (c) {Can.lUS prison) a new inmate; thus prison jargon fish number, the number issued to each prisoner by the US Department of Corrections; fish gallery, fish row, a segregated area of the prison where new inmates are housed [abbr. fresh fish under fresh adj.^]. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 39: The new arrival, or 'fish', is

always an object of interest. 1928 R.J. Tasker Grimhaven 14: It must be the name for new-comers. Fish! 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 230: Having spotted a possible recruit, preferably among the 'fish' or newly arrived prisoners, the gang leaders go to work. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 10: Word buzzed through the grapevine about the new 'fish'. 1955 'Blackie' Audett Rap Sheet 101: I acted like I was a new fish that just arrived inside and was afraid of his own shadow. 1961 M. Braly Felony Tank (1962) 16: A1 came heavily down the stairs, back from locking the fish up. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: fish gallery - Prison gallery in cellhouse where newly arrived prisoners are housed or celled. 1971 (con. 1920s) J. Brown Monkey Off My Back (1972) 39: Three weeks spent in the 'Fish Gallery'. 1971 W. Burk Thief 339: I was on fish row at Folsom. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 20: A fish is a newcomer and a target for ridicule by the hardliners in the prison population. 1981 E. Bunker Little Boy Blue (1995) 232: Run these fish down to the mess hall. 1984 Cardozo-Freeman & Deloreme Joint . n.p.: The 'keeper' does not prepare the fish ahead of time for the ordeal that awaits them in the tank . . . new fish who do not learn immediately how to swim will undergo a devastating initiation rite [R). 1999 E. Bunker Mr B/mc 132: About two dozen riding the prison

2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Fish Line: A

line used to pull items from one cell to another,

fish queen (n.) see separate entry. fish roll (n.) {US prison) the clothing and other necessities issued to Joe

[...]

was issued his fish roll: blue

work shirt, denim pants, brogan shoes, socks, underwear, tooth¬ brush and sack of state tobacco,

fish tank

(n.) see fish-bowl n.

m In phrases new fish (n.) {US prison) a new inmate. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 47: Dey tries ev'ry new fish dey gets

in dere - tries him th' first night an' sentences him t' carry th' bucket f'r a month. 1940 L.L. Stanley Men at Their Worst 187: One of our greatest problems in prison is that of keeping the 'fish' from the 'wolves,' or the young prisoners from the influence of the hardened criminals. (...) A glimpse into the Old Men's Ward should convince the 'new fish' that crime pays poor dividends. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 67: He was chock-full of good advice for new fish. 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 159: Well if it ain't doll face, that beautiful new fish. 1971 N. Cassady First Third 67: As a new 'fish' I was in for a time of it anyhow. 1983 N. Heard House of Slammers 2: Only the new 'fish' and the irregular visitors were disconcerted. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 26: Fish also Fish Number An inmate new to a particular corrections system in any given state. [...] (Archaic: new fish).

■ Pertaining to female sexuality ■ Derivatives fishy (ady.) pertaining to the vagina (during or after intercourse). 1884 Randiana 72: If ever there was a maidenhead cooked its been

done in this room since I've been out. Why, even the staircase smells fishy.

■ In compounds fisheunt (n.) a general term of abuse, aimed at a female. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 45: fishcunts. Bitches,

fish dinner (n.) {US gay) sexual intercourse with a woman; thus a

train, the weekly catch of fish en route to California's three prisons. 1999 Guardian Editor 28 May 20: Fish: A new inmate. 2000 J. Baker Chinese Girl (2001) 121: He has seen the crucifixion of a young Pakistani during the first month of his sentence, while he was still a

woman.

fish.

aimed at a woman; the implication is that her vagina smells.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish-diimer 1. sex with a

woman 2. any female.

fish-fanny (n.) (a/so fishy-fanny) [fanny nf' (1)) a general insult

fish 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 49:

Who’y'gonna do fishfannv? 2001 Online Diet, of Playground St. [Internet] fish-fanny, fishy fanny n. dirty unclean girl, sometimes accused of fanny farting.

fish fingers (n.) [play on SE] (UK juv.) a general insult, implying that someone has placed his finger(s) in a woman's vagina and then failed to wash them, so his fingers supposedly smell of fish. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fish fingers adj. name

given to person who incessantly 'fingers' girls but neglects to wash the boiled anchovy smell off his hands afterwards. 2003 www. thepantsman.com [Internet] Word had already spread wide and fast about the fish-finger manoeuvre. fish market (n.) 1 the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 a brothel. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 395/2: ca. 1850-1910. 3 (US campus) a women's dormitory. 1969 Current SI. III:3.

fishmonger (n.) 1 a womanizer, a promiscuous man. C.1600 Shakespeare Hamlet II ii: pol.: Do you know me, my lord? ham.; Excellent well; you are a fishmonger, pol’.: Not I, my lord. 1617

B. Riche Irish Hubbub 25: Him they call Senex Fornmicator, an old Fishmonger, that many years since ingrost the French pox. 2 a madame, a bawd. 1652 Mercurius Demoeritus 5 27 Apr.-5 May 36: The Fishmongers in

Thames-Street [...] doubt they shall not have a Maid left for them to trade with, and so by that meanes their Cod is like to lye upon their hands as a dead Commodity, fishmonger’s daughter (n.) a prostitute. 1986-7 Maledieta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: [...] fishmonger's daughter, fishpond (n.) the vagina. 1604 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 1 1 ii: I had not saild a league in that great fishpond but I cast vp my very gall. 1607 E. Sharpham Cupid's Whirligig II i: A horson otter, ile teach him fish in other mens ponds. 1650 H. Nevile Newes from the New Exehange 5: He that meanes to board her, must put off his doublet and swim, it being of the same size with a Fish-Pond. 1679-80 'Jenny's Answer to Sawney' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1893) VII: 1 15: Guid faith! Tse keep close my two-leav'd Book, Tse will not trust him to gang between: / Lest my Fish-pond is spoiTd with his hook, because he hath ligged with a london Quean. 1683 Shurly Compleat Courtier 25: [My] little Fish-pond, Where you may angle with your muckle wand. a.1700 'Hampshire Miller' in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 13: [She] was in a rage Because her husband he did Gage The Sluts Fish pond, that runs so clear. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) 1 175: That men may cease to do amiss, / And not in other fish ponds fish. [a.1800 Gentleman's Garland n.p: Fishing in the Pond It is all my Delight. Fish you to the Bottom, And I'm sure you'll Fish right.] fish queen see separate entries.

fish supper (n.) sexual intercourse, esp. in the context of a conjugal right. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: fish supper euph.

chauvinistic Carnival knowledge (qv) to which, by rights, a husband is entitled at the end of the day, See also get up them stairs. fish tank (n.) (US gay) the vagina of a heterosexual woman. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernaeular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

■ In phrases eat (the) fish (v.) (also chew (the) fish) (US) to perform cunnilingus. 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 172: I don't want Mamie to catch me

eating fish in her bed.

go fish (v.) (gay) 1 for an effeminate gay man to take the 'feminine', passive role during sex. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex

Variants.

2 of a male homosexual or lesbian, to give cunnilingus. 1965 K. Worthy Homosexual Generation Ch. xvi: A fish: A male homosexual who has a mouth homosexual relations with a female homosexual. 1994 R. Trouche Go Pish [film title].

3 (US gay) to become coy or flirtatious, i.e. to react like a teenage girl. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish 7. (adj) limp, heady, drooping, giddy [...] Verb forms to be [go] fish = to become coy, fluttery; to react to a situation as would an average teenager,

go fishing

(v.) to go out looking for a sexually obliging woman; also in gay use, to seek a sexual partner. 1977 J. Jackman 'Ports O Call' in Fag Rag (Boston) Spring No. 19 in Jay & Young (1979) 152: I didn't have to join the camping competitions or go 'fishing'. 1999 D. Lypchuk 'A dirty little story' in eye mag. 8 July [Internet] They were both happy until she discovered that he was just on a fishing expedition and had been bragging about cracking Judy's teacup to his friends.

fish

105

slip the fish of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1997 N.

Barlay

Curvy lovebox 119: You slippin' anyone the old fish?

■ General uses ■ In compounds fish-sticks (n.) (US

black) money.

2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flshsticks Definition: money. Example: That Ho has a nice ass, but she'll cost you alot of fishsticks!

■ In phrases big fish (n.) (US) 1 an important, powerful person. 1836 H.R. Howard Hist, of Virgil A. Stewart 139: He is a big fish— anything he says will be believed [DA]. 1866 C.H. Smith Bill Arp 174: That's the doctrine, the nigger may be a big fish, but the white man is a whale. 1902 J.D. Corrothers Black Cat Club 64: So many uv ouh girls is a-lookin foh de big fish wid de goTen gills; but de big fish don't alius bite. An so we's gittin' a lot o' crabbed, disapp'lnted ole maids. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 14: Biggest fish in the pond are the sharepushers, confidence men, and the expert jewel thieves. 1944 J. Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 108: I'm one of the big fish [..,] Because my stuff's the real stuff. 1960 N. Fitzgerald Candles Are All Out 34: You and I may be pretty big fish in Invermore. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 108: Newnes was a big fish. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 116: [They] had just about given up hope of finding one of the big fish. 1990 P. Hotz Muzukuru 89:1 can't understand why the big fish wants us to waste our time on you. 1999 Indep. Rev. 10 July 5: As attorney, his notoriety for ruthless prosecution of big-fish targets grew, 2 an important event, undertaking etc. 1864 J. Hay letter 30 June in Dennett Lincoln and the Civil War (1939) 198: I wish you to be there when they meet. It is a big fish. Mr Chase has resigned. 1925 Gleason & Taber Is Zat So? I i: He made a grand showing in the soldier bouts in France, though, so when we come back we starts to lookin' for big fish, bit of fish (n.) 1 the vagina. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

2 sexual intercourse; thus

SI. and Its Analogues.

have a bit of fish (on a fork), to have

sexual intercourse. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

cold fish (n.) see under cold adj. little fish (n.) (reverse of S/C FISH above] (US) an unimportant person. 1973 'Transcript of a recording of a meeting between the President and John Ehrlichman' 15 Apr. [Internet] ehrlichman: There was, there was a cover story which Mardian and others cooked up, and, uh. Porter, corroborated the cover story, is now indictable for perjury. He's a little fish who got caught in the net. 2001-2002 'Rev. of Mr Deeds' PopcornMonsters.com [Internet] This is his first time away from his small town and now he's a little fish in a big pond and plus the fact that he doesn't know what to do with all the money he's inherited.

loose fish (n.) [note whaling jargon loose fish, a whale that is fair game for anybody who can catch it) 1 a promiscuous woman. 1801 Sporting Mag. June XVIII 159/2: Mr. Garrow.-This Madame Mari was a model woman perhaps? A. Quite the reverse. Q. Was she a loose fish, as my learned Friend terms it? A. He took her away from two men who kept her at the same time. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) IV 682: Was she a loose fish, she who was thought so chaste?

2 a prostitute. 1800 Sporting Mag. Nov. XVII 88/1: A loose fish at Drury-lane, lately observing a lady angling in this new style [etc.]. 1810 The Satirist (N.Y.) July 60: Here you land [...] scarcely able to find your way through trunks, [,..] band-boxes, Jews, Gentiles and loose fish. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 524: Those who are not unacquainted with haddocks, will understand the loose fish alluded to, who beset her doors, and accosted with smiles or insults every one that passed. 3 one who has no settled way of life. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf the Chase etc. 72: A game known among the loose fish who frequent races by the name of 'the thimble-rig'. 1844 A, Smith Adventures of Mr Ledbury II 210: He is rather a loose fish. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis II 242: Our friend Clavering [...] who [.,.] is about as loose a fish as any in my acquaintance. 1856 C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 240: Mr. Miles was a loose fish; a bachelor who had recently inherited the fortune of an old screw his uncle, and was spending thrift in all the traditional modes, c.1864 'Paddy Miles and the Mermaid' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 12: You're a very loose fish tho' you look so delicious. 1882 G.A. Sala in Living London (1883) May 181:He is not precisely a scamp; but he is certainly a 'loose fish'. 1905 E.W. Hornung A Thief in the Night (1992) 284: 'They might be brothers,' rejoined Raffles, who knew all the loose fish about town. 1947 N. Algren Neon

fish

fish

106

Wilderness (1986) 191: Your average lieutenant is a loose fish, and a

promised the venerable fish-fag his mother to take especial care of

disciplinarian to boot, in.) an eccentric person. 1789 J. O'Keeffe Highland Reel 21: You're an odd fish. 1795 Sporting Mag. May VI 115/1: Odd fish, queer fish, strange fish, droll fish, / In short they be fish out of water. 1821 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Wife

his what do you call 'urns - morals. 1859 G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 14: An amazon of the market, otherwise known as a Billingsgate fish-fag. c,1864 'Paddy Miles and the Mermaid' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 14: You sweet little fish-fag. I'll give you fair quarter. 1873 SI. Diet. 162; Fishfag [...] now any scolding, vixenish foul-

(1868) 259/2: I'm an odd fish, but, to be free, / I'm not the only oddity. 1839 Comic Almanack Oct. 195: The noo orlines peepel is odd fishis. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 194: The next odd

fish-fry (n.) (US black) a party to which guests bring refreshment, or pay to attend, c.f. rent party; thus as adj., well supplied with

odd fish

fish stood forth.

poor fish (n.) a sorry person, a pathetic figure. 1913-14 Van Loan 'Out of His Class' in Taking the Count 184: I smiled

at him [and] The poor fish blushed all over. 1920 F.S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald III (1960) 43: I'm tired of being nice to every poor fish in school. 1920 S. Lewis Main Street (1921) 28: You've been gone and married this poor fish of a bum medic. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 30: Poor fish, working themselves to death for starvation money! 1948 C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident 47: We can borrow them, can't we, my poor fish? 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 52: Turn the other cheek, you poor fish. 1969 R. Rendell Best Man To Die (1981) 81: He tried to give me the impression his brother-in-law was something of a poor fish, queer fish (n.) an odd or eccentric person. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 186: That nabob of ours is a queer fish. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) II 329: There are some queer fish amongst them [i.e. cabbies]. 1909 Gem 23 Jan. 9: My uncle seems to be a queer old fish. 1929 M. Levin Reporter 63: Haines was a queer fish. 1935 A. Christie Three Act Tragedy (1964) 139: He's a queer fish,

timid fish (n.) (Aus.) a shirker. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 52: Timid fish: Someone who

does not like hard work.

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds fishbagger (n.) Ithey use their supposedly important briefcase to take home food, esp. cheap fish] a suburbanite who works in the City. 1884 Graphic 27 Sept, in Ware (1909) 131/2: The tradesman shook his head, and explained that 'fish-bagger' was a contumelious term applied to those who live in good suburbs without spending a penny there beyond rent.

fishbeliy (n.) (the colour of the stomachs of some fish] (US black) a derog. term for a white person. 1963 H.S. Thompson letter 22 Nov. in Proud Highway (1997) 419: Every fish-belly in the nation is out in the open tonight,

fish bits

(n.)

(UK juv.)

that portion of the hair that hangs down at

the back of a mullet n.^ haircut. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fish bits n. the long bits

of hair at the back of a mullet hairstyle,

fish-black (n.) (the Catholic tradition of eating fish on Friday -F the blackness of night] (US black) Friday night. 1946 Mezzrow & WOLFE Really the Blues 219: 1 know they're briny 'cause they dug me with a brace of browns the other fish-black,

fish-brained

(ad/.)

(UK juv.)

stupid.

1946 (con. 1912) B. Marshall George Brown's Schooldays 29: He must [...] see if the old man was really as fish-brained as he looked,

fish broth

(n.) water, esp. when salted.

1599 Nashe Praise of the Red Herring 44: The churlish frampold waues gaue him his belly full of fish-broath. fish-eater (n.) a Roman Catholic. 1932 L.W. Merryweather 'Argot of an Orphans' Home' in AS VII:6 401: fishealer, n. A Roman Catholic. 1958 (con. 1945) F. Davis Spearhead 118: The other man [...] looked like a priest. 'Janowicz, you're a fish eater. Go see what those two clowns are up to.' 1972 B. Hannah Geronimo Rex 242: 'He said a fish-eater.' [...] 'Some use that as an epithet, against Catholics.' 1983 Maledicta VII 22: Roman Catholics were tagged with [...] fish eater, and alliteratively, guppy gobbler. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 148: fish eater. A Roman Catholic, from the traditional R.C. abstention from meat on fast days,

fish-eye (n.) see separate entries. fishfag (n.) a fishwife, both lit, i.e. a fish seller, and as pej. 1786 'Peter Pindar' 'Bozzy and Piozzi' Works (1794) I 347: He [...]

deem'd himself of much too high a rank. With vulgar jishfags to be forc'd to chat. 1818 'A. Burton' Adventures of Johnny Newcome I 30: Here many a Fish-fag sat and stunk. 1828 G. Smeeton Doings in London 358: The drunken fish-fag, who takes the law on some of her companions for deformation of character. 1831 'Gallery of 140 Comicalities' Bell's Life in London 24 June 1/3: Get out, you wagabond! get out, you circumwenting ould fish-fag! 1838 R. Nicholson Cockney Adventures 3 Feb, 107: Sturdy Irish beggars, fishfags, smart-looking little prigs, 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open ]as cit. 1835]. 1850 F.E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh (1878) 196: I

mouthed woman.

money. 1929 T. Gordon Born to Be (1975) 117: The Ethiopeans of the district were having their annual Fish Fry. 1949 Louis Jordan 'Saturday Night Fish Fry' [lyrics] You don't have to pay the usual admission / If you're a cook or a waiter or a good musician. / So if you happen to be just passin' by / Stop in at the Saturday night fish fry! 1960 (con. 1940s) G. Morrill Dark Sea Running 11; Don't stand around like a flock of old whores at a fish fry. Move. 1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 22: He so fishfry flush he kin hardly git his mothahhumpin hands roun that wad! 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 156; Just some of us girls got together to fry some fish. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 90: Little was heard from the colored folk [..,] save for the occasional house-rent party or fish fry.

fish-head (n.) see separate entries. fish-hook (n.) 1 in pi., the fingers [the term, derived f. 19C naut. use, was UK and then moved to US black use by 1930s]. 1570 Marriage of Wit and Science V i: Gods fish hookkes and knowe you not mee. 1810 C. Dibdin Jew Pedlar 1: Vat do you do vid your fish-hooks in my box? 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 20: We observed a conish cove, who sported an elegant dross-scout, drag, and chats. This was too much for our fish-hook fingers. We attempted to snib. 1828 'The Song of the Young Prig' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 171: My fingers are fish-hooks, sirs. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 72: The shallow boy [...] darted his fish¬ hooks into his boddy-bag, and began angling under his armpits [...] 'I'm as chatty as a bencooling duck'. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1945 R.S. Close Love me Sailor 11: 'Here, dig your fishhooks into one end of the chest there, Ern.' We swung the chest off the floor between us. 2 (N.Z.) a problem. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/1: fish hooks difficulties; eg 'Any fish hooks in the report?' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fish-horn (n.) 1 (US) a wind instrument; cit. 1866 poss. refers to another instrument. 1856 F. CozzENS Sparrowgrass Papers 38: Mrs. Sparrowgrass asked me who that was 'blowing a fish-horn' [bugle]. 1866 Night Side of N.Y. 76: If any man had put down a tin whistle in the pot, it would have run to a wagon load of fish horns. 1902 L.A. Herald 2 May [Internet] Then another blew a blast from a fish horn in his ear [...] he joined in the fun, showered back the shimmering confetti, and blew his own fish horn. 2 (US, chiefly black) a saxophone.

,

1934 Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 31 July 6/8; Musicans have slang

terms for every instrument [...] Fish horn - soprano saxophone. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1996 Muskrat Ramblers Muskrat Ramblers Vol. Ill [album sleeve notes] Frank DeFranco on clarinet and fishhorn.

fish-pond, the (n.) 1 (Anglo-Irish) the Irish Sea; thus over the fish¬ pond, England. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 136: There is a sort of

friendship which is perhaps never known over the fish-pond.

2 see POND, the n. (1). fish scales (n.) [? resemblance to the flakes of crack cocaine] (drugs) crack cocaine. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 41: The kids out

here don't know a flake from a fish - if you asked them what fishscale is, they wouldn't know. [Fishscale is high-grade-cocaine powder with few rock-like chunks]. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 213: They say they're in a band. Told me they wanted fishscales. It took me a minute to figure out that meant crack.

fish-skin (n.) see frogskin nf' (1). fish-wrapper (n.) (also fried fish wrapper, meat wrapper) [the assumption that newspapers were good only for wrapping fish] (orig. US) a newspaper. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 22/2: We understand that the dirty

cur who runs the fried fish wrapper over the way objects to our name being placed on the hospital committee of this district, and he has also sobered up long enough [...] to empty on our devoted head a small quantity of that slime with which his dirty, bloated, whiskypreserved carcase is filled. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Sept. 28/1: Dear brothers, in conferring the editorship of this, our valuable meat-

fish

wrapper, upon you, we have only one request to make, i.e., that you keep it like Caesar's wile, beyond reproach. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Aug. [Internet] Of course, I am speaking with me dick in me hand or with me something in me something, as they say in those fancy barramundi wrappers they print stuff in, down Mexico way. [Ibid.] Sept. [Internet] It wasn't until reading the fish-wrappers in recent weeks that I recalled our encounter. 2007 T. Dorsey Hurricane Punch 21: 'Go to the fish wrappers — ' 'The what?' 'Newspapers.'

■ In phrases can a fish dig water? see can a duck swim? under duck n.\ die on a fish day (v.) see under die v. do fish swim?/does a fish swim? see can a duck swim? under DUCK n?.

drink like a fish (v.) fish ’n’ chip mob

see

unfashionable regiments]

(n.)

under

drink v.

[note Sandhurst jargon

(UK society)

anyone

psh 'n' chip mob,

considered

socially

unacceptable. 2003 posting at www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk [Internet] Afandou [...[

is lively without being over the top, and the 'fish and chip mob' tend to stay away in favour of Falaraki, a few miles up the coast,

give someone the fish (v.) see give someone the fish-eye under eye n.’'. mind your own fish (Aus.) mind your own business.

fish-

1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

not give a fish’s tit (v.) see under tit n.^. will a fish swim? see can a duck swim? under duck n.\ fish n? (also fisher) [fish v.^ (1)] (US campus) a toady, a sycophant. 1804 Monthly Anthology I 153: You besought me to respect my teachers, and to be attentive to my studies, though it shall procure me the odious title of a 'fisher' [DARE]. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 200: fish, fisher. One who attempts to ingratiate himself with his instructor, thereby to obtain favor or advantage,

fish adj^ [FISH

fish-bowl

107

n.^

(1)] (Can./USprison)

fresh, uninitiated, new, esp.

of a prisoner. 1933 J. Spenstr Limey 269: The 'fish' uniform is the pauper's badge in

San Quentin. It is the outward proof that the poor guy who wears it has no friends. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 46: All 'fish' new cons were housed here. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 102: I had to pull up short to give the right of way to a tight formation of fish screws [...] marching past. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 47: How 'bout I clarijy your sideways-talking mouth into chopped meat, you fish motherfucker!

fish adj.^ see fishy adj.^ (1). fish V.'' [? SE fish for compliments] 1 (US campus)

fish (out) (v.) (also fish up) 1 to obtain, to produce. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 10: He fished

out this old Mr. Howard [...[ and got him to come and keep school. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' it's Up to You 46: No matter in which direction I dipped, I was sure to fish up a ring. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 33: I fished it [i.e. money] out, and pushed it across. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 13: I fished out my master keys. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 4: Eddie fished the packet from his T-shirt pocket. 2 (US Und.) to rob. 1935 N. Algren Somebody in Boots 300: Norah would take him and then fish out the till,

fish

V? [SE| to shoplift, to steal.

1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 138: In October.

When you went fishing for a coat. 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 101: The termites of the life [...] who 'heel' and 'boost' in stores, who extract bundles of notes from banks by means of skillful 'fishing'.

fish v.^ (US)

to regard with scorn, dislike.

1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 119: They'd fish me. I'd fish them,

fish

v.’’ [fish n.^ (1)] (US gay) to practise cunnilingus.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: fish [...] 6. (v) to muff dive.

Syn: chew [eat] fish.

fish!

exc/. a general excl. of dismissal; a euph. for fuck! exc/. (1).

1896 G.F. Northall Warwickshire Word-Book 80: Fish! Expressive of to toady,

to

ingratiate oneself. 1774 T. Hutchinson Diary I 261: He courts me a good deal, and fishes

[DA]. 1795 will of Charle Prentiss in Hall (1856) 200: I give to those that fish for parts, / Long sleepless nights, and aching hearts, 1800 J.S. POPKIN letter 17 Oct. in Hall (1856) 201: The good conduct which I have advised you [...] may expose you to the opprobrious epithet, fishing. 1835 class poem in Hall (1856) 202: And since his fishing on the land was vain, / To try his luck upon the azure main. 1844 A. Peirce Rebelliad 35: Who would fish a fine to save! / Let him turn and flee. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 199: fish [,..] to seek or gain the good-will of an instructor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 35: fish, v. To try to get a favor from. [,..] To curry favor with instructors, 1932 P.G. Cresset Taxi-Dance Hall 101: They're such easy 'carp' I figure [...[ 1 need the money more than the others, and I might just as well be the one to 'fish' them. [Ibid,] 102: 'Fishing' and the 'sex game' become for these girls the accepted way of earning a living. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 47: Joe went back to Poundamore Downs [..,] offering to take the motherless Marigold to give her into the care of her grandparents. Oscar declined the offer, but paid the steamer-fares for which Joe was fishing when he made the offer. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 223: We fished real close and felt each other up. She had a couple of kids from some other cat, so she was hip on what a man dug. 2 to interrogate. 1892 H. Nisbet Bushranger's Sweetheart 185: Of course he came to fish you about Walker.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fish for food (v.) [food n. (1)[ (US black)

they were not large enough to fish they must be content to cut bait for Tammany. 1876 Congressional Record 5 Aug. 5226/1: Now I want you gentlemen on the other side of the House to 'fish or cut bait' [DA[. 1897 Denver Post 26 Apr. 4/2: (poem title] Fish, Cut Bait, or Go Ashore. 1904 N.Y. Eve. Post 15 Jan, 6: A visitor said the other day that it was to be wished that Senator Hanna would either 'fish or cut bait.' But the shrewd Ohio man will probably maintain for a time his ambiguous position [DA], 1948 Green Bay Press-Gazette 30 June 8/ 4: Our duly appointed delegates at the Philadelphia convention must have realized that they had to either fish or cut bait [DA]. 1955 B. SCHULBERG On the Waterfront (1964) 241: Fish or cut bait. Spill or button up. 1977Maledicta 1 (Summer) 9: The main thing is to [...] get down to the treal linguistic nitty-gritty, to fish or cut bait. 1997 R.L. Taylor Instrument Flying 255: You are at the Decision Height (DH) and you've got to make up your mind—either fish or cut bait! 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 123: Megan and Greg told Jeffy to shit or cut bait. 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 55: So you gonna fish or cut bait?

to gossip.

1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI.

fish or cut bait either carry out what you're doing to the fullest extent or let someone else more competent get on with it while you take a secondary role; note cit. 2004 which is a comb, of this phr. and shit or get off the pot phr. 1868 N.Y. Times 11 July 8: Ex-councilman MERRITT was in favor of indorsing the nomination: they must either fish, or cut bait, and as

contempt, disparagement [...] It is a euphemism, I believe, for a slang term for pudenda. 'Fish! to it.' 1999 Ian Dury 'Jack Shit George' [lyrics] Don't you feel ready to conquer the globe? / Oh fish. 2001 Indep. Rev, 3 July 1: There's the decaffeinated version: 'Crikey!' 'Fish!' 'Shivers!'

fish and shrimp n.

(rhy. sl.j a procurer, a pimp.

1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. '1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev.

edn). 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog. 1978 Maledicta II:1-f2 (Summer/ Winter) 118: Elsewhere Aylwin lists a few more 'Vulgarities': [...] pimp (fish and shrimp), love (heavens above), kiss (hit or miss again). 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

fish and tank n.

[rhy. sl.l (UK Und.) a bank.

1998 R. PuxLBY Fresh Rabbit.

fish-bowl n. 1 (US Und.) (also fish tank)

a holding cell in a police station [play on SE, the visibility of the prisoners], 1939 HowsLEY Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 18: fish tank [...] room containing prisoners awaiting investigation or their turn to be called to court. 1942 R. Chandler High Window 213: 'I'm going the way I always go,' I said. 'With an airy smile and a quick flip of the wrist. And with a deep and heartfelt hope that I won't be seeing you in the fishbowl. Good night.' 1949 R. Chandler Little Sister 68: Maybe I get tossed in the fish-bowl. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 192: Because if he wasn't, you'd be in the fishbowl right now. 2 (US prison) (also fish tank) the processing unit for new arrivals at a prison [fish ni' (6c)l.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 84: fish tank The main compartment of a jail where prisoners are first received. 1954 (con. 1941) C. Chessman Cell2455 217: We had our heads shaved [...] and then assigned single cells in what was then the 'Fish tank' section of the Old Prison. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 21:1 have already figured out from listening to the dawgs on the bench that the Fish Tank is the convict name for the intake processing unit at the prison. Like a boot camp barracks before being sent overseas or to a permanent station. 3 (US) steam baths frequented by homosexual men. 1969 C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 155: Next to it [...] was a steam bath establishment calling itself the Arabian Nights Baths. 'That a fish bowl?' 4 (S.Afr.) a sleek car, e.g. a Cadillac.

fished 1977 J.

WARING

HoM/r 26: We step into our Cadillacs [...] and sweep

off in our black fishbowls. [...] The Cadillacs, enormous cars, attract too much attention. So when you draw up at a robot [...] people peer into the 'fishbowl',

fished adj. (US campus)

drunk.

1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fished - drunk. 1987 Eble Campus SI.

Oct.

fisher

fish queen

108

n.^ (proper name of Sir Warren Fisher, secretary to the Treasury

c.1919-331 a banknote. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE.

fisher n.^ see Fisheries n.

fish

n^.

the Fisheries Exhibition, London 1883.

1883 "Arry at the Royal Evening Fete' in Punch 28 July 38/1: You'll

'ave 'eard of the Fisheries,

Charlie,

fisherman’s (daughter) n.

the Kensington Show,

(rhy. sl.i water (usu. as a drink);

occas. as v. 1880 D.W. Barrett Life and Work among The Navvies in DSUE (1984). 1932 'P.P.' Rhy. SI. 15: When a bloke's got his 'greengages' 'fisherman's' ain't no 'Robin Hood'. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 159:1 sees yeh got the fisherman's daughter laid on an' all. 1953 J. Franklyn Cockney 293: He may add that he will not get elephant’s trunk- or he may abbreviate to elephant's - (drunk) on it because it is \ia\i fisherman’s daughter (water). 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog 13: D'yer want any fisherman's daughter wiv yer pimple and blotch. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SI. 103:

fisherman's daughter 'water'. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney 17: You're to cover the whole nanny with tar [...] That should keep the fisherman's out. 2002 K. Lucas 'All my life I've wanted to be a Barrow Boy' in Obfuscation News Apr. Issue 20 [Internet] The only trouble with an animal is that everyday you have to feed and Fisherman's Daughter them.

fisherman’s luck

n. [popularly defined as 'a wet ass and a hungry

gut'l (Aus.fUS) no luck at all, bad luck. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Aug. 47/1: Of course, of course! 'Fish¬ erman's luck!' The saying is proverbial

fisher’s flimsies n. (Aus.)

currency notes issued during the government of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher (1862-1928). 1935 Parliament of Tasmania Report of Select Committee on Monetary

System n.p.: Supporters of the system try to discourage the idea that any reform or alteration is necessary. The foundation of the Commonwealth Bank, for example, was greeted with declamatory cries of 'Fisher's flimsies!'

fishery

n. [they are 'fishing' for souls] (US tramp) a mission hall.

1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Fisheries - Missions along

the main stem.

fish-eye

■ In phrases give someone the fish-eye (v.) (also ...the fish, ...the fishy eye, .. .the frozen eye, fish-eye) [the wide, round eyes of a fish] (US) to stare at (in a hostile manner). 1902 'Hugh McHugh' It's Up to You 43: It seemed to me that

everybody in the world was giving me the fish eye. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Aug. 16/1: She didn't cheek us once or give us the frozen eye like the usual city duchess-in-waiting, but just [...] straggled in and out with the food in a happy, savage fashion. 1920 R. Lardner Big Town 18: Every time one of them looked our way I give him the fish eye and the non-stop signal. 1941 in W.C. Fields By Himself (1974) 391: The girl gives him the fish-eye. 1944 W. Winchell 13 Oct. [synd. col] Reuben gave him the fishy eye, and then said [...]. 1956 H. Whittington Forgive Me, Killer (2000) 75: Two hoods [.,.] gave me the fish eye. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 12: Some of the lousy crumbs give me the fish. 1965 P. Carstairs Concrete Kimono 202: Roderick was giving me the fish-eye again. 1973 J. Yount Trapper's Last Shot (1974) 11: The driver gave him the fisheye and pulled off slowly. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 36: The two broads were fish-eyein' me. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 207: The house dick, a fat, bald-headed dude who'd given Matty the fisheye from time to time. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 71: Ronnie gave him the old fish-eye. 'You wouldn't be thinking of grassing us up, would you, Fred?' [supposed resemblance]

1

(US Und.) a diamond.

1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Si.

2 (US milit./prison) in pL, tapioca (pudding). 1941 N.Y. Herald Trib. 27 Apr. 20/2: Here is a list of navy 'slanguage':

[...] Fish eyes—Tapioca pudding. 1946 Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 2 Sept. 6/4: Psychologist James Hargan of Sing Sing prison has collected slang phrases from prisoners [...] 'Fish eyes and mud' chocolate tapioca. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 208: 'Rubber heels and fisheyes again' was the word on the meatloaf and tapioca.

n. a stupid or ugly looking person; also used as a derog.

term of address. 1619 Fletcher Humorous Lieutenant I i: Whether would you, fish face? 1913 C. Mackenzie Sinister Street II 687: O, shut up, fish-face. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 35: I'd picked out old D. K. Rutgers, the worst fish-face in the bunch. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 89: He gave his verdict: 'Fish-face'. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 358: 'I'll arrange a nice date for you,' she said [...] 'Yeah, I suppose with some fishface.' 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer's Colt 138: Sit down, old Fishface, and lissen to me. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 181: Better than campin' here with old fish-face on the verandah. Pity her poor cow of a husband. 1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 33: 'Hullo, fishface,' she chirped, 'Hullo, pieface,' returned Dolour unsmilingly. 1953 B. Behan Scarperer (1966) 94: Hey, fishface, 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 320: I went through fishface's pockets first. 1986 T. Philbin Under Cover 219: And Fishface would continue to operate. 1999 Indep. 26 Sept. 27: Shove over, Fishface. 2004 R.E. Higgins Hist, of Wally Stokes II: Just be a straight man, Fishface, feed me the lines, and watch me be funny!

fish-faced adj. 1928

[fish-face n.| stupid- or ugly-looking.

Female of the Species (1961) 90: Fish-faced Lizzie. 1934 L. Berg Prison Nurse (1964) 43: He thought, what a break, after all those fish-faced dames we had as nurses. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 132: To the extent of making him look anything but a fish-faced gargoyle. 2002 Astrozine [Internet] By the time mighty Mars squares mystic Neptune, you're so sick of their complaints (pots and kettles, little fish-faced miseries, pots and kettles) that you spike the coffee 'Sapper'

with drugs to anaesthetize them all.

fish-head

n? [all uses are derog.; their consumption of and/or occupation with fish] 1 (US) a native of the west Florida coast. 1950 in PADS [DARE].

2 anyone who lives alongside a river. 1950 R. BisSELL Stretch on River 77: The way he carried on the time that fishhead from Nauvoo got himself drowned [DARE]. 3 a West Indian. 1970 in DARE. 4 a worker in a fish cannery. 1979 Oregonian 23 Sept. Sec Al: 'Fish-head' (a worker in a fish cannery) [DARE]. 5 an East Asian. 1976 J. Stanley World War III (1979) 175: Let off the fishhead. We still got a deal 1987 Tour of Duty [CBS-TV] Hey, fishhead! [HDAS].

fish-head

n? [among the poor a fish-head was considered a treat or

delicacy] (W.l.) a bribe, a tip. 1956

n.^

fish-eye n.^

fish-face

fisho

cited in Cassidy

&

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

n. [SE fish + -o sfx (3)1 (Aus.) a professional fisherman; a fish-

seller. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE. 1999 Sea-Ex Aus. [Internet] Fisho-Speak — You would think it was another language, when fishermen get together and talk! [...] Following are some Fishing Terms and what they mean! [...] If you have any'Fisho-Speak'words or phrases that we can add to this list, please send us an e-mail! 2001 (con. 1945-6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 180: Now this Mealey bloke was a mad rock fisherman. Used to get around [...] all those spots the fishos like.

fisho

V. [FISHO n. (1)1 to fish professionally.

1963 'Nino Culotta' Gone Fishin' 127: 'I'll fish-o her,' 'I do not know what is meant by that.' 'Fish-o? Means pick her up fish an'll'

fish queen

n.^ [fish n/ (1c) -f -queen sfx] 1 a male homosexual who openly associates with women, with the supposed aim of appearing to be bisexual. 1949 'Swasarnt Nerf' et al. Gay Girl's Guide 9: fish-queen: [...] Any homosexual who makes a point of bringing women with him where they'll be seen by his friends, with the apparent aim of convincing himself and others he's bisexual

2 (US gay)

any man,

homo- or heterosexual,

who enjoys

cunnilingus. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1949 'Swasarnt Nerf' Gaedicker's Sodom-on-the-Hudson 11: For the benefit of fish-queens more dikes are likely to be found at Terry's. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 104: Best known among these words are faiiy [...] queen (an important variation being fish-queen). 1961 'Lou Rand' Gay Detective (2003) 88: He was suddenly lost to view as he buried his head in the girl's lap. [...] 'Get that fish queen!' simpered Johnnie. 1972 B. Vernacular.

Rodgers

Queens'

3 (US gay) a heterosexual man. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81: (pej) any heterosexual man.

fish-queen

(dated) [...] 2.

fish queen fish queen n.^

[fish n? (6c) + queen n. (2a)] (US prison) a gay inmate who has newly arrived at the prison. B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [...] fish queen (dated). 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 301: She holds orientation for fish queens Saturday nights, 1972

fish-queen

v. [fish queen n? (2)1 (US) to perform cunnilingus.

1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 389: I'm fish-queening this broad in

the car.

fishy

acf/.^ [one's eyes resemble those of a dead fish] looking ill, esp. around the eyes, after a drinking session. 1737 B. Franklin 'Drinkers Diet.' in Pennsylvania Gazette 6 Jan. in AS XII:2 91: They come to be well understood to signify plainly that A MAN IS DRUNK. [...] He's Fishey. 1852 F. Smedley Lewis Arundel 97: They are all more or less drunk, by the fishy expression of their optics. 1868 letter to Editor Dally News 25 Sept, in Franklyn (1960)

176: No more tight than we were, wasn't he? [...] then what made him so precious fishy about the gills, if he hadn't been out on the batter the night before? 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 87: Oh! hell, you always look fishy-eyed when I talk about the revolution.

■ In phrases fishy about the gills [gills n.’' (1)) hungover. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 131/2: Fishy about the gills (Street). Appearance of recent drunkenness. Derived from very

acute observation. Drink produces a pull-down of the corners of the mouth, and a consequent squareness of the lower cheeks or gills, suggesting the gill-shields in fishes.

fishy adj.^

[the smell of rotting fish or the slipperiness of fresh fish] 1 (also fish) suspect, dubious, unreliable, questionable; thus fishily adv. Punch XXXVI 82: The affair is decidedly fishy. However somebody must have the place, and so our friend Sam Warren takes the mastership, resigning his seat. 1849 De Bow Rev. VI! 274: Any person should regard the story fishy and doubt the residence of so important a personage. 1855 T. Taylor Still Waters Run Deep II ii: Galvanics at two-and-a-half discount. That's fishy! 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act III: Beautiful paper, most of it. One, two of 'em fishy. Well, I'll try them three doors down. 1873 SI. Diet. 162: Fishy doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a 'screw being loose,' or 'something rotten in the state of Denmark,' in referring to any unsafe speculation. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 June 14/2: The mare was in the best of health on the previous night, but could hardly raise a gallop when brought on the course for the big event. [...] The business is generally regarded as 'fishy.' 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 11: fishy a. Of the nature of a fish-story; smacking of the incredible. 1907 Gem 16 Mar. 4: I can't help thinking there's something fishy about him. 1915 J. Buchan Thirty-Nine Steps (1930) 18: I had lied to Paddock about him, and the whole thing looked desperately fishy. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 35: How can there have been anything fishy about this business? 1937 E. Garnett Family from One End Street 38: One lady went so far as to declare that, in her opinion, the whole business was 'fishy'. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 601: There was something fishy about this. 1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 41: I knew there was something fishy about her coming to my church. 1967 (con. 1951) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 6: He gave me a fishy look but I deadpanned it. 1968 J. Hersey Algiers Motel Incident 332: Putting words in the police's mouth - that weren't nothing but a fishy trial. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 280: For Abe of course smelled the something fishily off kilter. 1989 R. Dahl Rhyme Stew (1990) 23: The Rat said, 'Ho! I do believe / There's something fishy up your sleeve.' 1999 Guardian Editor 11 June 14: With a reference to match¬ fixing [...] 'it looks as if there is something fishy going on'. 2000 J..I. Connolly Layer Cake 61:1 realise that the whole thing smells a little bit fish. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 57: Her brother made up some fishy excuse. 1839

2 (US) supercilious. 1919 Van Loan 'The Bone Doctor' in Score by Innings (2004) 370: He gave 'em the fishy handshake and the frozen eye.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fishy fanny (n.) see

fist-fuck

109

fish-fanny

under fish n.''.

■ In phrases give someone the fishy eye (v.) see give someone the fish-eye under fish-eye n.\ fisk n. [ety. unknown] (UK Und.) a lie; thus fisk-smith, a notorious liar. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

fisk V. see frisk v? (1). fisle V. see fizzle v? (2). fisno n. [backsl. = OFFICE n.

(3)1 (UK tramp) a warning.

1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 412: That wouldn't a-suited

my book and I give him the fisno straight.

fist

n.

m SE in slang uses ■ Pertaining to violence ■ In compounds fist-burger (n.) (US) a punch. 1976 P. Conroy Great Santini (1977) 310: 'You going to whip my ass, Jim Din?' Mr. Dacus asked. 'Naw, Mr. D., I'm gonna let you slip out the back door before I commence to doling out fist burgers.' fist city (n.) (a/so duke city, fist holler) [SE fist! duke n? (2) -t -city sfx/SE hollow; an imaginary place where quarrels are settled with the fists] (US) a fist fight. 1930 in Botkin Folk-say 190:1 sez to him, sez I, 'You and me is going to Fist City.' Then I up and knocks a wit hair out of him as long as a hoe handle. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Repeat (1989) 1: Jump down Jackson if you want to go to fist city you can naturally naturally take off. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 244: When two men are said to be 'headin' for Fist Holler,' it means that they are about to fight. 1968 Loretta Lynn 'Fist City' [lyrics] If ya don't wanna go to fist city / If ya don't wanna go to fist city. 1975 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 48: Take the last all-Home duke-out. It was, distressingly enough, over ten years ago. Although there have been a fair number of fistfights in the capitol since, none has qualified as total Fist City. 1976 P. Conroy Great Santini (1977) 249: If you call me Bull, we'll be going to duke city. 1987 Lyle Lovett 'LA County' [lyrics] You better close your face and stay outta my way if you don't / Want to go to fist city. 2005 W. Childress Ozark Odyssey 137: Like the time he got into it with a skid row bum [...] and the two of them went to Fist City. fist junction (n.) (US black) that point in a confrontation when a physical fight takes over from mere words. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 104: The largest number of fight terms deals with fist-fights (to [...] go to fist junction). 2006 at www.source.unsw.edu.au [Internet] Hey peace brother, dis ain't no fist junction. E'erythin be Kool and the Gang, dig? fist oil (n.) (US) physical violence, to be administered by the fists. 1748-49 N.-Y. Eve. Post 6 Mar. 3/2: The Thief being in the Crowd, seeing the Pastime (and the Poor buyer undermost well loaded with Fist-Oyl) could not help calling out. That Mare stealer deserves to be heartily drubbed, drub him, drub him. fist sandwich (n.) see knuckle sandwich under knuckle n.

■ In phrases fist up (v.) to clench one's fingers into a fist, preparatory to fighting or hitting. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 80: She fisted up and hit her own sister.

■ General uses ■ In compounds fist queen (n.) [-queen sfx (2)] (S.Afr. gay) one who enjoys fisting n. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: fist queen n. a man who likes to be fisted during sex.

■ In phrases fist in (v.) to interrupt. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox Ti\ He starts awkwardly pro'ly expectin' Nood to fist in. fist it (v.) 1 of a woman, to caress a man's penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 (Aus./N.Z.) to eat with one's hands. 1846 C.P. Hodgson Reminiscences of Aus. 29: Some prefer a plate and knife and fork [...] others [.,.] seizing the lump of beef in one hand and the damper in the other, 'fist it'. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 July 10/2: We loved her in our heart of hearts - 'Tis a heart that 'twas always unruly / The quicker she 'fisted' the tarts. / We could not of her hand be a holder [...] / For 'wolfing' she wanted them both, fist one’s mister (v.) to masturbate. 2001 Mynx mynx.com 2 Aug. [Internet] When Dear Mynx first started, it was supposed to be a somewhat lighthearted forum for Quake advice. I came up with Mynxisms like 'fist the mister' and 'wonk the conker' because I wasn't sure I should say something like 'jerk off' on PQ when people started turning to me for help on eyebrow raising subjects.

fist-fuck

n. (a/so f.f., fist) [fist-fuck v.] 1 the insertion of the hand (and forearm) into the vagina or anus. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1979 Frank Zappa 'Broken Hearts are for Assholes' [lyrics] Fist fuck. 1981 J. Hayes in Chesebro Gayspeak 389: The greatest portion of the gay lexicon refers to gay male sexuality and associated activities: fist-fuck. 1999 Guardian Guide 12-18 June 30: FF ('fist fuck'). 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 31: Ah'm so Christian Samaritans come to me for a fistfuck. 2005 E. White My Lives 122: [classified advert] VGL XXX horny dominant top WS, FF, C&B torture, BB, verbal, 2 an act of masturbation.

fist-fuck

[1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 40: 'Back to the fist!' one shouted 'Go twiddle it like you did last night!' another screeched.) 1987 'Victoria Parker' Pay for Play Cheerleaders [Inter¬ net] 'Like this then, jerk up and down and stuff!' she gasped [...] 'Yes, like that, darling Nancy ... Fuck me with your fists! Gimme a

good fist-fuck!'

fist-fuck

V.

{also fist) [fist-fucking n.] 1 (gay) to insert one's hand

(and forearm) into someone's anus or vagina. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 277:1 could never understand why you liked to get fist-fucked and don't like to get regular fucked. 1981 J. Hayes in Chesebro Gayspeak 389: The greatest portion of the gay lexicon refers to gay male sexuality and associated activities: /ii-/-/i(cA. 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 189: I'm gonna [...] fist-fuck ya, and pull your heart out through your ass! 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Fist - To insert part or all of one's hand into the anus or vagina of a sex partner. 2005 E. WmTE My Lives 200: Jean had picked up an elderly Arab [...[ brought him home and convinced him to fist him. 2 see FUCK one's fist under fuck v.

fist-fucker n.

[fist-fuck v.|

1 (US)

a habitual masturbator.

1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964)

168: Corporal Solly, you old-fashioned fist-fucker. 1974 (con. 1940s) Tattoo (1977) 133: I feel plumb sorry for you poor Wichita fistfuckers, bein deprived of growin up without an ole cow, E. Thompson

sheep er sow er somethin.

2 {usu. gay) one who practises fist-fucking n. 1974 J. Harry [bk title] The Fist Fucker's Manual. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 224: If the keys were on the other side, he'd be the fist-fucker instead of the fist-fuckee, you dig? 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 134: I was going to go over to Fourteenth Street, looksee if our fist-fucker is back in business. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 17: It ain't a pretty sight when them Folsom Street fistfuckers get done

with him. 3 {US) a generally unpleasant person. 1993 A. Linson a Pound of Flesh 22: If that treacherous fist fucker ever comes back to life, he'll wish we'd had the good sense to nail him up on a frozen telephone pole.

fist-fucking n.

[fist-fuck v.l

1

male masturbation.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 {gay) the insertion of the hand (and sometimes forearm) into the anus of one's partner for purposes of sexual stimulation [popular in the 1970s but latterly in decline through fears of injury and hence the possibility of spreading AIDS; also found in heterosexual and lesbian sex, where the orifice is the vaginal. 1977 B. JUDELL 'Sexual Anarchy' in Blue Boy (Miami) Aug./Sept, in Jay & Young (1979) 135: The fuck bar seems to be reaching its high noon of popularity and notoriety [...] What goes on in such a place? [...] one can witness and experience cocksucking, regular and fist fucking, water sports, gang bangs, sadomasochism, beer sluiping, gum chewing, masturbation, group sex. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 224: A red handkerchief hung from his pocket [...] That guy's into getting fist-fucked. Red is fist-fucking. 1989 Kirk & Madsen After The Ball 305: The really jaded run rapidly through the milder versions [...] and graduate to whips, executioner's masks, and fistfucking. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 43: We'll graduate to jokes about paraplegics, pederasts and fist fuckin'. 2001 Dean & Lane Homosexuality and Psychoanalysis 378: The gay New York club The Mineshaft [was] legendary for its sexual extremism: I had never seen anything like it: fist fucking,

fistful

n. [the five fingers] {US Und.) a five-year jail sentence.

1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI.

fisting n.

[fist-fucking n. (2)] {usu. gay) the insertion of the hand and poss. forearm into the anus or vagina of one's partner. 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 74: And the fisting, with this or that customer. 1994 R.P. McNamara Times Square Hustler 99: Penetrating the rectum with the hand (known as 'fisting'). 2005 E. White My Lives 200: Hadn't Foucault himself said that fisting was the one thing that the twentieth century had added to the sexual repertoire?

fisty adj. see feisty adj. fisty palmer n. m In phrases have a date with fisty palmer (v.) [play on SE fist -f palm] to masturbate. 2003 Indep. Rev. 1 Oct. 5: My friend's sexual ambitions were doomed to end in a date with Fisty Palmer. 2003 Number One Adult Sexual Health Terms Advisor [Internet] Masturbation Slang Male Terms: [...] date Handrea or Palmela or Fisty Palmer,

fit n.’'

fit

110

[abbr. SE outfit] {US black) a suit of clothes, esp. a well-cut

garment. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: fit n. 1. dress: clothes: apparel. See also vines, weave. 2. a suit; complete outfit.

fit n?

[abbr. OUTFIT n.^ (3b)| {US drugs) the equipment (a needle, a

spoon, a dropper) required for injecting narcotics. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 289: I'm waiting for you to finish cleanin your fit [...] so I can use mine. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 13:1 bought five more cans of morphine, and he threw in a fit as well so i could hit myself. 1997 A. Highcrest Ar Home on the Stroll 186: The offer of needles ('fits') made some women uncomfortable. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner s Diet. July [Internet] Fit: Short for 'outfit' — a home-made contrivance for injecting drugs intravenously.

■ In phrases have a fit (v.) {also fit up) {US prison) to inject heroin. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fit. 1. The apparatus involved in drug taking, but may also be used to denote the act of injection, ie as in 'to have a fit', or 'to fit up'.

fit

n.^

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds fit house in.) {US Und.) a hospital for the criminally insane. 1929 C.G. Givens 'Chatter of Guns' in Sat. Eve. Post 13 Apr.; list extracted in AS VI:2 (1930) 132: fit house, n. Hospital for criminally insane. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

■ In phrases fit in the arm (n.) ['In June 1897 one Tom Kelly was given into custody by a woman for striking her. His defence was that "a fit had seized him in the arm", and for months afterwards backstreet frequenters called a blow a fit' (Ware)]] a blow, a punch; thus have a fit in the arm v., to aim a punch or blow. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. fit of the mazes (n.) {US black) a trance. 1892 J.C. Duval Adventures of Jack Dobell 117: How it happened I did not see them sooner, I cannot imagine, unless I had fallen into what the negroes call a 'fit of the mazes',

forty fits (n.) [forty ady.^1 an extreme loss of emotional control; thus have forty fits v., to lose all control. 1877 S.O. Jewett Deephaven 53: I should have forty fits, if I undertook it. 1919 C.J. Dennis 'A Morning Song' in Chisholm (1951) 113: While, up above, old Laughin' jack is havin' forty fits. 1934 E. Raymond Child of Norman's End (1967) 365: Wouldn't Mother have forty fits if she saw me here?

get fits (v.) 1 to become angered by defeat. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 140/2: Get fits {Peoples'). Vae victi.s - suffer rage from being conquered; impatient under defeat.

2 to be criticized harshly; to be humiliated. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 Aug. 24/4: Melba has been getting 'fits' from the critics for her death-scene in 'La Traviata.' [...] Melba prefers to take it standing, drawing herself up to full height, and giving the slashing 'back-fall' of melodrama, give someone fits (v.) (or/g. US) 1 to inflict a humiliating defeat on, to crush. 1837 A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II ii: I go fur Bill Sykesy 'cos he runs wid our merchaine - but he mustn't come foolin' round my gal, or I'll give him fits! 1859 'Timothy Titcomb' Letters to Young People 141: If a young man should 'kind o' shine up to you,' and you should 'cotton to him,' and he should hear you say [...] 'cut stick,' or 'give him particular fits,' he would pretty certainly 'evaporate'. 1867 J. Poole Ye Comedie of Errors I i: You black skunk, upon my life I'll give you fits if you say I've a wife. 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 602: To give one fits, or, as emphatic Yankees say, to give one very particular fits, suggests such severe punishment as will produce fits. 1892 B. Mitford 'Tween Snow and Fire 230: A cheeky nigger? Give him fits. Mister! Knock him into the middle of next week! 1901 Boy’s Own Paper 9 Feb. 290: Those [...] scoundrels have stolen about two thousand of our skins, and we mean to give them fits. 1905 'Central Connecticut Word-List' in DN IILi 9: fits, n. 'To give one fits' is to punish. 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 50: To give anyone fits is to annoy or embarrass him; as. The barrister gave the witness fits during his cross examination. 2 to scold vigorously, to reprimand. 1844 G.W. Kendall Narrative of Texan Santa Fe Expedition n.p.: The man ran after the thievish Indian, and the corporal cried out to him to give him fits if he caught him [DA], 1862 'Artemus Ward' Artemus Ward, His Book 115; Mrs. lago cums in just as Otheller has finished the fowl deed & givs him fits right & left, showin him that he has bin orfully gulled by her miserble cuss of a husband. 1885 C.A. Siringo Texas Cow Boy (1950) 46: He gave me fits for laying a negro out. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 3 June 563: I'm going up to give that chap fits. 1905 Sporting Times 13 May 1 /1: Admiral Fitz deserves to be given fits for his mischievous article in a German magazine. 1907 C.D. Stewart Partners of Providence 307: The Professor started right in and give us

fit

fit to...

111

fits about them [DA]. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 231; I'd just love to, but Ma would give me fits. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker li i: Paw gave me fits fer bein' out so late. 3 to cause pain. 1941 C.R. Bond 29 Dec. in A Flying Tiger's Diary (1984) 63: My eyes are giving me fits, conjunctivitis again. 4 to frighten. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 467: C.20. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You

94: Poor Moffitt—I give him fits. And he's such a worrier,

throw a fit (v.) (also throw forty fits) to lose all emotional control. 1897 C.M. Flandrau Harvard Episodes 132: I don't suppose the creature thought I was throwing a fit like that just for exercise [DA]. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 24: He jus' sat down an' t'rew a fit. Yelled like a stuck pig. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 180: The Family threw three individual Fits when the Producer showed them his Stack and warned them to get braced for a rattling good Bump. 1938 W. Smitter F.O.B. Detroit 32: The lady threw a high-toned conniption fit. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 94: If it was in there, Matthews would let me throw a screaming fit, but I knew damn well he wouldn't open the thing. .»

fit

adj. [note agricultural use fit, of fruits and vegetables, ready to pick, fullgrown, though not necessarily fully ripe; note Shakespearian use fit, of a woman, having an aptitude for love-making] 1 very well, healthy, usu. in response to the query 'How are you?' 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Checkers 56; You don't look very fit. 2 (later 20C-I- use is chiefly UK black) good-looking.

H. Blossom

1884 H. Smart Post to Finish I 26: Blame me, I do know whether

they're turned out all right when I see 'em, and mean my girl to look as fit as any of 'em. 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 220: 'She was like a wild rose [...] fresh and pink and full of the Irish and now she's a rather stumpy businesslike looking little woman.' 'And you're as fit as ever you were.' 1992 V. Headley Yardie 79: Dal girl yah fit, you know. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 27: Brenton had lost count of the number of fit girls who phoned his hostel-mate. 2005 A. Swartz 'Sweet, Tight and Hella Stupid' in S.F. University High School Update Mar.-Apr. 2: fit attractive or beautiful.

■ In compounds fit-batty (adj.) (UK black) very attractive. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 21: We could be driving convertibles

[...] riding with fit-batty chicks.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fit as a buck rat (adj.) (N.Z.) extremely healthy. 1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious (1974) 19: Grimy as a sweep, greasy as a butcher's pup manhandling ammunition, but oh I feel fine, fit as a buck rat. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 172: Fit as a buck rat. 1986 D. Davin Salamander and the Fire 6: Anyway it was a time when the chaps were so randy - death and the desert had something to do with it. I expect, and being young and fit as buck rats [DNZE]. 2006 N.Z. Herald 14 July [Internet] We are expecting their secret weapon to be assistant Kiwi coach Graeme Norton who is still as fit as a buck rat. fit as a fiddle (adj.) (also fit as a fiddler) (Aus.) extremely healthy. 1915 Carruthers letter in Phillips, Boyack & Malone Great Adventure (1988) 20 Mar. 260: 1 will be out of bed in a day or two now and am feeling fit as a fiddle. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn). 1999 Kentucky Post 7 June [headline] Injured champion musician hopes he is fit as a fiddler. 2000 CNN.com 1 Aug. [Internet] [headline] Fit as a fiddler, fit as a trout (adj.) (Aus./N.Z.) very healthy. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 223: Anyone would reckon he'd be

fit as a trout. Fancy getting bloody T.B. at his age. 1980 L. Leland Kiwi-Yankee Diet. 40: 'Old Sam is as fit as a trout, he walked five miles yesterday just to sink a few with me.' Old Sam is in good shape.

fit V. 1

to identify someone as the perpetrator of a crime; to convict of a crime. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 3: A sergeant of police was shot in our last scrimmage, and they must fit someone over that. 1919 V. Marshall World of Living Dead (1969) 83: Stretch— two-drags—coomyerlative. Three charges agin' me—righteous, vag, an' resistin'. Fitted on first two—turned up on third. 1953 K. Tennant Joy/«/ Condemned 25: Why they'd fit you with enough time for Methusaleh if they grabbed you with that! 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fitted Convicted.

2 to characterize; to identify. 1911 E. Dyson 'The Fickle Dolly Hopgood' in Benno and Some of the

Push 59: Benno grinned approvingly. 'Strike me. Feathers, you've fitted her in one!' he chortled.

3 see FIT UP v.^.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fit-me-tight (n.) (Irish) a journeyman tailor. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 61: A little drunken scut of a country fit-me-tight.

■ In phrases fit end to end (v.) (a/so fit ends to end) to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

fit someone for a jacket (v.) see under iacket n. fit! exd. (orig. W.l.) a general excl. of approval, excellent! first-rate! very good! 1956 cited in

Cassidy

&

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fitch n.

[SE fitch, the hair of a polecat] (US Und.) fur, as worn in a coat. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (T953) 108: She was covered in furs and blazing diamonds [...] Cockeye ran all around her [...] 'You look like a classy bitch in all that fitch.'

fitness

n. [fit adj. (2)] (UK black) attractiveness; an attractive (young) woman. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 175: Buy somet'ing to help yuh mek up wi' dat fitness y'ave, some jewellery or sumt'in'. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 86: I wanna chat to that masterpiece of fitness called Verna. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 19: If yous lot wanna see proper fitness you shoulda seen dis bitch I shagged last weekend.

fitshaced adj.

[play on shitfaced adj.; the idea being that one is too drunk to be able to say the word properly) drunk. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Fitshaced (adj.) Drunk, wasted, shitfaced,

fitted adj.

well-dressed. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fitted adj 1. dressed well. ('That boy is fitted!').

fitter

n. 1 (US Und.) a maker of skeleton keys. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: fitter A fellow that fits keys to locks for burglars. 2 (UK Und.) a corrupt supplier who provides criminals with disguises, weapons, transport etc. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 27: He's a fitter [...] He fits out the 'boys' with anything they want,

fit to...

phr.

■ In phrases fit to be tied [the image of one so hysterically furious that they need to be tied down] furious, enraged and in need, therefore, of restraint. 1894 Somerville & Ross Real Charlotte II 177: The old devil was fit to be tied. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Sept. 12/4: Marshall Hall's accusers are 'fit to be tied' when asked for proofs [...] of their bugbear's alleged devilishness, and seem as if they'd rather see him laid in his grave than shriven of his supposed guilt. 1918 K.F. Purdon Dinny on the Doorstep 109; She came back, double quick time, and she fit to be tied! 1929 D. Parker 'Big Blonde' in Penguin Dorothy Parker (1982) 209: The doctor, he says he could have you arrested, doin' a thing like that. He was fit to be tied. 1934 L. Berg Prison Nurse (1964) 62: He was simply fit to be tied. The more he screamed and raved at them, the more they laughed. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Pour Novels (1984) 428: Some of the boys that've been up all night are fit to be lied. 1943 G.A. Little Malachi Horan Remembers 95: There was a woman beyont and she after getting him to make her a churn [...] She was fit to be tied when she found it leaking. 1955 J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 277: I was fit to be tied on that Tuesday. 1961 (con. 1930s) D. Behan Teems of Times and Happy Returns 181: When Da heard, he was fit to be tied. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 126: We were fit to be tied. 1983 R. Price Breaks 355: At first they were fit to be tied, but when my father met Tony all that changed. 1991 A. Rice Witching Hour 576: And was he ever fit to be tied when he discovered that child was gone! 2004 G. Baxter Unhinged World of Glen Baxter 7: Trevor could tell she was fit to be tied. fit to bust (a/so fit to burst, ...split) 1 emotionally moved, either to rage or ecstasy depending on context. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works HI (1898) 242: She flung herself on a chair, and began to cry fit to bust. 1850 W.C. Hall 'Mike Hooter's Bar Story' Spirit of the Times 26 Jan. (N.Y.) 581: I never see enny thing so funny in all my life! There was I layin' down behind er log, fit to split. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 139/1: She came to see me once, and laughed at me fit to bust. 1871 E.K. WOOD Dene Hollow I 299: I got a drop too much inside me yesterday afternoon - and my head's fit to split. 1884 (con. C.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 213: Then he blubbers out a pious goody-goody Amen, and [.,.] goes to crying fit to bust. 1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 80: Kate larfin' fit to bust 'erself. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry ‘Ands 89: He came out on ther John's

fit-up

five

112

arm, 'igh kickin', 'n' singin' fit t' split. 1907 C.E. Mdlford Bar-20 ix; He cussed an hour frontways an' then trailed back on a dead gallop, with us a-laughin' fit to bust. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 13/4: At a pub in Little Bridge he shook a length of rope, sayin' a rope might come in handy if a bloke wanted to steal a horse. That man was chock-full o' jokes, 'n' I couldn't get along coz he kep' me laughin' fit t' bust. 1937 D.L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon (1974) 246: Standin' there 'e was [...] and laffin' fit to bust, and well 'e might, 'earin' Joe Sellon carryin' on that ridiculous. 1950 Kerouac letter 6 Oct. in Charters I (1995) 234: I was fit to bust t'see that old reprobate was still alive n' kicking. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 194: We all fell about laughing fit to bust. 1975 D. Nobbs Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 64: There was a picture of a very young and handsome Jimmy |...] grinning fit to bust. 1983 R. Price Breaks 12: When he got in this place - you know, what do they call it? The Harvard of upstate New York? - we were fit to bust. 1999 Guardian Guide 3-9 July 24: Jones still always suggests a child at ease - smiling fit to bust. 2003 R. White Jordan Freeman was My Friend 2: 'Better'n anybody in the whole village,' said he, cackling fit to bust.

starring in one-night performances in different theaters 2. a onenight

the grass, / Brought forth the magic stick, alas! / They look'd at it till fit to burst, / Then had a mill which should have it first. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works III (1898) 284: Before the Shevalier had finished smoothing his hat, staring at her, and sighing fit to bust his weskit. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 147: What with the vittels and drink I'm fit to burst. 1856 N.O. Weekly Delta 23 Nov. p.l in A.P. Hudson Humor of the Old Deep South (1936) n.p.; 1 [...] never pretends to quit till my bag is chock full, an' my britches pockets, too, fit to bust. 1880 'Edward Howe' Roughing It in Van Diemen's Land 46; They they was a-layin' about on their backs [...] a-gruntin' and a-snorin' like pigs fit to bust. 1886 R.L. Stevenson Kidnapped 194: You were running fit to burst. 1890 B.L. Farjeon Mystery of M. Felix 1 147: All the while she's eating and drinking till she's fit to bust. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 16 Sept. 810: We were fit to burst with laughter. 1901 'Miles Franklin' My Brilliant Career 258: Fancy a cove sitting down every morning and evening pulling a cow's tits fit to bust himself. 1905 Sporting Times 7 Jan. 1/1: 'You've just been sentenced to six months' hard and you're laughing fit to burst?' said the mouthpiece to his client. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'A Woman's Way' in Chisholm (1951) 89: Blackwood an' wattle trees is bloomin' gay, / Blotchin' the bonzer green with golden dust; / An' magpies in 'em singin 'fit to bust. 1933 N. West 'Miss Lonelyhearts' in Coll. Works (1975) 262: My pulling my god darned leg along the streets and down in stinking cellars with it all the time hurting fit to burst. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 7: Your head aches fit to bust. 1943 I. Wolfert Tucker's People (1944) 252: Let out a scream fit to split, threw the scissors on the floor and ran away. 1988 T. Jones Curse of the Vampire Socks 16: And I sneezed - fit to bust!

fit to kill (or/g. US) a phr. used of something done to excess, esp. of one's dress. 1837-8 'The Mouthful' in Cuckold's Nest 13; One morn in the summer

this old swell walked out [...] When he saw pretty Kitty, with looks fit to kill. 1865 M.L. Byrn Adventures of Fudge Fumble 100: When she took a liking to a man, she was very familiar, and would 'love fit to kill'. 1887 C. Chesnutt 'The Goophered Grapevine' in Conjure Woman (1899) 18: One er de niggers hearn hi laffin' wid de oberseah fit to kill. 1897 W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 69: Yer know, Liza, I love yer - fit to kill. 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 183: Denton [...] laughing fit to kill, danced off up the beach. 1911 G. StrattonPORTER Harvester 60: You are working fit to kill, the neighbours say, 1922 (con. 1917-18) S.V. Benet Beginning of Wisdom 226: We dress 'em all up [...] fit to kill. 1938 H. Drake-Brockman Men Without Wives II i: Dressed fit to kill, eh? 1942 (con. 1890s) S. O'Casey Pictures in the Hallway 306: He came dressed fit to kill, with a fine geranium or a dainty rose fast fixed in his buttonhole. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brocket! 203: All the week 1 had been laughing up my sleeve fit to kill, and then last night I decided to let 'em have the king hit. 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 243: They were laughing and slapping each other fit to kill. 1969 P. Theroux Murder in Mount Holly (1999) 28: He dressed fit to kill and was very well-mannered. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Spring 2: fit to kill - extremely dressed up. 2004 C.J. Harper My Mother's Sin 8: My parents say that he had me with him in his car in an outfit fit to kill.

fit-up n?

lorig. theatre use] any temporary structure, esp. a stage, boxing ring etc, which can be assembled, then knocked down for

assembly at another venue. [1864 P. Paterson Glimpses Real Life xxxiv 333: The theatre was what is called 'a fit-up', erected in the large room at [...] a small hotel of the town.] 1900 Sporting Times 10 Feb. 2/2; Must dress well on and off [stage], be handy with the brush, keep from drink, help with the fit-up. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 81; fit-up (Brit gay si) 1.

1977

G.F.

Newman

Villain's Tale 36: There were

fit-up n.2 [FIT UP v.^ (2)1 (UK Und.) a false accusation or perjured evidence used to have an innocent suspect (albeit one who has a criminal record) arrested and found guilty. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 71: [Barristers] rarely brooked any suggestion of police brutality or fit-ups. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 121: Chopper takes £500 round for her and it was a fit-up. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 59: This is a fuckin disciplinary fit-up. fit up v.^ (also fit, fix up) 1 (UK Und.) to prepare. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 7/1: Up we went to our bedrooms, where we 'fitted-up' our plans for the morrow. 1891 F. Harris Elder Conklin and Other Stories (1895) 3: I guess I'll have to go and fix up. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Significant Strains' Sporting Times 9 May 1 /4: They somehow couldn't find the right reply in half a mo', / And, ere they could fix it up, more music sweet / Burst upon them. 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 265: As for fitting up a joint like this. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 22: fittin Preparing

2 to a very great extent. 1836 'The Drummer's Stick' Frisky Vocalist 5: So he laid them all upon

stand.

managers and would-be promoters standing around the fit-up ring,

2

[...] 'I'm fittin' to get some chicken'. to incriminate by using false evidence, both physical and verbal. 'Rolf Boldrewood' In Bad Company 84: He'd fix up Bill Hardwick if it came to a trial - if any man had to do a stretch over it, he’d not get off. 1924 D. Hammett 'Death on Pine Street' Nightmare Town (2001) 203: I'll fix him up with a rep that will keep any jury in the world from ever believing him about anything. 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 49: They'd fit him one way or the other. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 153: I won't let 'em fit no mate of mine, Jacky, without a fight to protect him. 1970 G.F, Newman Sir, You Bastard 71: Every defendant claimed he was fitted. 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out 133; They said they were going to fit me up for something, just to get me out of the way. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fix-up. To frame. 1993 Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 202: This guy got in touch with me asking could I do anything for him as he was cold [innocent] on the blue. The cops had just thrown him in for the fun of it, but he looked like getting fitted with it. 1999 Guardian G2 11 Aug. 22; Gordon Goody was adamant that the police 'fitted me up'. 2008 Camden New Journal (London) 20 Mar. 2: He insisted he was an innocent bystander 'fitted up' by police. 1901

3 to make responsible (for). 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazel! and the Three-card Trick (1977) 91: Nah, we'll fit up Desperate for that end ovvit.

fit up v.^ see HAVE A fit under fit n.^. Fitzroy cocktail n. [Fitzroy is a suburb of Melbourne] [Aus., Melbourne) a drink based on methylated spirits with some form of mixer to mediate the taste. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 2002 Highland Way (Tallong, NSW) Online 30

Nov. [Internet] Fitzroy Cocktail - this uses metho, ginger beer and a teaspoon of boot polish, no wonder everyone had dirty boots. Fitzroy Yank n. [for ety. see Fitzroy cocktail n. -f Yank n. (2)1 (Aus.) a relatively unsophisticated person who attempts to ape the supposedly smart style of an American. a.1970 Phil Motherwell [play title] Fitzroy Yank,

five n.^ [abbr.l 1 a five-year prison sentence. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 281: I'm simply putting you wise to

how you can get off with a five. 1930 G. Milburn 'Toledo Slim' in Hobo's Hornbook 195: They sent me up the river to do my little 'V'! 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 177: When Harry came out from his five, 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 150: You can get at least a five and maybe even a seven for getting captured with a shooter. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 246: I heard Danny get a four-to-eight and four-to-ten, and Billy get a five-to-ten. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 68: When you got a five [...] what was the use of coshing a guard. 1998 J. Hoskison Inside 22: It was a right touch, thought I was looking at a five. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 22: After coming out of the boob having done his five and a bit.

2 five minutes. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 66: Don't move. Lips [...] Back to you in five. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 140: 'Got five?' he said, 'I can come back.' 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 243: Kay, man. I be there in less'n five. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 175; We're on in five,

five n.^ [BUNCH OF FIVES ft.)

1

(US) a blow with the fist.

1930 M. Bodenheim Naked on Roller Skates 112: You want five hard? 1967 F. Harvey Air War - Vietnam 163: Nobody, but nobody!, badmouths the Jolly Greens - unless he wants to get five propelled [...] in his teeth. 1973 Zap Comix 6 n.p.; Taste five in the fangs. Pappy! 1999 Bug (Aus.) 25 Aug. [Internet] If you're wondering why I'm

swearing so much at the good referee. I'm hoping he'll get his knickers in a knot and give me the big ten. I'll be more than happy to give him five straight back!

2 (US black) the five fingers, thus the hand.

five

1943 I. WOLFERT Tucker'S People (1944) 26: He held up his fist and

pointed to it with one finger. 'What are you going to do about this five after you get your fi' bucks?' 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 60: He lamped her [...] and then mugged behind five to his Jasper boy.

■ In phrases give five (v.) {also give someone five) [the five fingers] (or/g. US) to slap hands in order to seal a bargain or to greet a friend; occas. ext. as give ten, to slap both hands; give five on the sly, to slap hands behind one's back so as not to alert onlookers; give five on the black-hand side/the soul side, to slap hands on the back (darker) side or the palm side of the hand; thus excl. give me five! below. 1917 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox I 395: I'll give you five, said the

drunken man. 'Come along.' He grabbed her arm, waved his other hand at Etta. 1958 Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 527: Standin' on the corner / All full of jive, / When you meet old schoolboy / Ask him to give you five / Hit that jive. Jack! 1972 O. Hawkins Ghetto Sketches 90: The Afro-Lords snicker, give each other fives all around, half drunk on cheap wine. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 17: Not giving us five. Not giving the drummer some. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 76:1 felt his cold icy hands as we gave each other five.

have five on

five

113

(v.) [the lit./fig. use of one's five fingers]

{US campus)

to

help. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 15: I got five on it: I'll help you. I'll

meet you half way.

slap five (v.) {also five-slap, slap palms) {US) to indulge in a mutual hand-slapping ritual used by blacks (and some whites) for greeting, emphasis, congratulation etc; occas. as slap someone five; occas. as imper. 1973 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 145: I looked over at the band [...] and J. Ceils cued me right back - brother! slap me five! 1977 A. Brooke Last Take 96: They slapped palms, one up, one down, then repeated the jive with the opposite hand. 1985 (con. 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 122: Eltee Williams and Prophet slap a few fives. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 49: We burst into cheers and slapped five with each other. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 40: He five-slapped Mary's palm as he passed her in the aisle. 2007 N. McCall Them (2008) 33: Tyrone tilted slightly to one side and slapped him five,

slip someone five (v.) {also hand someone five, lay...) {US) to slap hands in greeting or for emphasis or congratulation; usu. in imper. excl. 1918 H. Simon 'Prison Diet.' in A5 VIII:3 (1933) 31/2: SLIP ME FIVE!

Shake hands! as in Ware yuh, buddy? Slip me five! 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 13/2: Slip us five - Request for a handshake. 1954 Hepster's Diet. 5: Hand me five - Shake hands. 1967 Ragni & Rado Hair 43: He put out his hand and said: 'Lay me five, man. I'm free like a cockroach.'

■ In exclamations give me five! {also gimme five!) {orig. US black) imper., let's slap hands to seal the deal or bargain! 1935 in H.T. Paxton Sport USA (1961) 202: 'Put it there, doc,' said the infant, 'Give me five. I congratulate you, doggone it.' 1954 (con. 1920s-30s) J.O. Killens Youngblood (1956) 104: 'Gimme five then,' Gus said, holding out his fat hand. 1959 L. Hughes Simply Heavenly I iii: Gimme five. Miss Mamie, gimme five! 1961 R.A. Norton Through Beatnik Eyeballs 37: This leader stud come forward. 'Give me five,' he say and extend his hand. 1967 Look 14 Nov. 114: With 'Gimme five' and 'Way to go!' he incessantly congratulates and cheers teammates and friends [HDAS]. 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 16: Gahd damn, give me five. Harry slapped the palms of Tyrone's hands and Tyrone slapped Harrys. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 27: Gimme five on d' soul side. Lay some skin on me, baby! [Slaps palms with another black.]. [Ibid.] 240: give me five (on the sly) [...] signal for the slapping of palms-usually between two black men-as a way of greeting or congratulating each other. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 13: Wayne danced a little, offered Barry his upturned palms. 'Give me five, then. C'mon, trade me some skin.' 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Gimme five. Shook ones,

five adj.

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds five-acre Tory (n.) (N.Z.) a very conservative small farmer. 1980 F. Glen Bush in Our Yard 107: 'Instant sheds, specially for the

small cocky just establishing himself, or perhaps the five-acre Tory,' [...] the auctioneer presented the four buildings [DNZE].

five-alarm {adj.) (Aus.) best, most impressive. 1963 C. Rohan Down by the Dockside 214: 'How much money have you got?' 'I haven't got any, I thought you'd pay.' I roared with

laughter. 'God! Charlie,' I said, 'you must think you're the fivealarm charmer.'

five alls (n.) a public house sign; for details see cit. 1788. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p,: The five alls is a country sign, representing five human figures, each having a motto under him. The first is a king in his regalia; his motto, I govern all: the second a bishop in pontificals; motto, I pray for all: third, a lawyer in his gown; motto, I plead for all: fourth: a soldier in his regimentals, fully accoutred; motto, I fight for all: fifth, a poor countryman with his scythe and rake; motto, I pay for all. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1812-71 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1878 Birmingham Weekly Post 2 Feb. n.p.: An inn in Marlborough has the sign 'The Five Alls.' They are—a king, with the motto, 'I govern all;' a bishop, with 'I pray for all;' a lawyer, 'I plead for all;' a soldier, 'I fight for all;' a labourer, 'I pay for all.' [OED]. five-and-dime(r) see separate entries.

five-barred gate (n.) [the majority of policemen were recruited from the countryside, home of such gates] a policeman. 1890 Daily News 2 July in Ware (1909) 132/1: The evidence against the defendant, given by Constable 308 A, was that whilst in company with a woman he abused him (the policeman) without reason, asking how long he had been away from a 'five-barred gate' (the country). five-bucker (n.) [buck n.^ (1)] {US) a $5 bill. 1947 T. Thursday 'Sing Sing Sweeney' in Crack Detective Jan. [Internet] He only slips a five-bucker in my pocketbook. five-cent bag (n.) (a/so five-cent balloon, ...paper) [bag n.^ (6a)/ BALLOON n. (7)/paper n. (12b)] {US drugs) a small amount of heroin, less than 28g (loz), sold for $5. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 5: Yeah, man, this is smooth, but we gotta do some better dealing; this five-cent bag ain't enough. Like man, we is strung out. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 94: five-cent paper [...] A quantity of heroin in a folded piece of paper sold for $5. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972) 78: five-cent paper [...] Usually five dollars' worth of a powdered drug that is packaged in a folded piece of paper or a packet. 1972 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 2: 5$ balloon - $5 worth of heroin. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Five cent bag — $5 worth of drugs, five-center (n.) {also five cent word) {US) a long and supposedly 'difficult' word. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 42: What's that fivecenter you called me. [Ibid.] 289: Not yet a victim [...] of fivecent words that didn't shoot back. five-dollar (n.) see separate entry. five-finger(ed) see separate entries,

five-fingers see separate entries. five-Fs (n.) see 4-Fs n. five hundred (n.) [a specific model number, the series 500] {US black) a B/VIW automobile. 1996 Master P 'Mr Ice Cream Man' [lyrics] on Mr Ice Cream Man [album] But I'm on that triple gold 9 thiller LEXUS / Master P in the 500 S E L with a triple beam, five-knuckle shuffle (n.) see separate entry,

five-letter woman (n.) a prostitute, i.e. w-h-o-r-e or b-i-t-c-h; see also FOUR-LETTER MAN 0. 2003 'Amer. vs British Eng.' on University of Tampere FAST Area Studies Program [Internet] A five-letter woman married to a fourletter man. five pennyworth (n.) {UK tramp) a jail sentence of five years. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 8: Five Pennyworth ... Five Years' Imprisonment. 5% Nation/Five Percenter (n.) see separate entry,

five-pot piece (n.) lorig. medical student use, f. the contemporary price of a quart or pot of mixed mild and bitter beer] two shillings and sixpence (2s 6d; 12y2p). 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. five-seven (n.) {US Und.) a .357 magnum handgun. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. five specker (n.) {US Und.) a five-year sentence. 1928 J. Callahan Man's Grim Justice 99: 'He'll let us off with about a "five specker.'" A 'five specker' is five years. 1938 cited in Partridge DU (1961). five-spot (n.) see under -spot six. ■ In phrases five against one (n.) {also five on one) [five fingers v. one penis or vagina] masturbation. 'Maxim Thesaurus' Maxim Jun. [Internet] Five against one: 'Forget these odds,' Albert said as he left the bar. 'I'll go home and have a little five against one.' 2002 Fingers Knott 'A Little "Five on One'" [poem] on S(c)htick.net 4 Oct. [Internet] Some will keep it 1998

five-acre farm

simple / and offer 'wanking' or 'self-help' / others talk of dolphin waxing, / and laugh until they yelp (...] or even if you're truly bold / a little 'five on one'.

five five five five

annas short of the rupee (n.) see under ...short of... adj. by five see separate entries, by two (n.) see five to two n. (2). in the south (n.) {US gambling) the point of five in craps dice.

2001

J. Burkardt

'The Bingo Code' Wordplay [Internet] Craps: 5

little Phoebe, five in the South, fever in the south, five miles of bad road (n.) see — miles oe bad road n.

five of clubs (n.) (US) the fist. 1947 J.W.

Arnold

five-finger(ed)

114

'The Lang, of Delinquent Boys' in AS XXII:2 Apr.

121: Five of clubs. One fist,

five on one (n.) see five against one above. five or seven (n.) Ithe popular sentence, a five-shilling fine or seven days in prison] a drunkard. 1886 Referee 17 Jan. in Ware (1909) 132/1: Another is, 'Arthur Roberts in dress allegorical of five or seven, as Mr Hosack.' Mr Hosack, as many of my readers may not be aware, is a magistrate, and 'five or seven' means - but no matter. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. five to six rush (n.) (a/so five to six swill) jSE fivelsix o'clock -f rushi swill] (N.Z.) the nightly rush to the public house, caused by severely restricted licensing laws. 1959 C. Bollinger Grogs Own Country 12: After World War II, a recently returned serviceman termed it 'the 5 to 6 oclock scrum'. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 90: The bar is crowded for the five to six rush is in full swing. 1963 Dominion (Wellington) 23 July 1: New Zealander's liquor hours, notably the 'five to six swill' produceddebate and plenty of laughs at the National Party Conference yesterday ]DNZE]. 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up W. How do you like our Five O'clock swill? Not like the old country. All evening to drink your pint.

five twenty-nine (n.) (US Und.) the sentence of five months and 29 days for 'jostling' a drunk, i.e. robbing them. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 156: Five-Twenty-Nine . , . Five months and twenty-nine days. This is the term in the workhouse that a lush-worker receives for 'jostling.' If a detective sees a lushworker approach or touch a lush, he places a 'jostling' charge,

five-acre farm n. [rhy. si.) an arm. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 169: In this curious language did they defy each other, speaking of the jaw as a 'jackdaw,' calling an arm a 'five-acre farm,' and terming a nose an 'I suppose',

five and dime n. (a/so five and ten) [the original such store was that opened (1879) by F.W. Woolworth (1852-1919)1 (US) a small Store where articles are all priced at five or ten cents. [1880 in Sat. Eve. Post 10 Feb. 1940 23/3: Woolworth Bros. 5 & 10 Cent Store [DA].] 1907 'O. Henry' Trimmed Lamp (1916) 115: Did you ever notice me [...] peering in the window of the five-and-ten? 1919 in Columbia Press Yank Talk 6: Why are you only a 5 and 10 cent store girl? 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 103: Did you buy it at a five and ten. Iky? 1932 J. Dixon Free To Love 30: Plenty of girls earn their living in the 5-and-lO's. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 208: The chain store, and the five and dime. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 49: You never wanted to help out wagon-bouncing 'r coppin' by the five-'n-dime. 1947 'F. Bonnamy' Self Portrait of Murder (1951) 169: Her emerald fakes from Murphy's - Washington's biggest Five-and-Ten. 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 66: Sometimes I see little kids around here with guns they bought in the five-and-ten. 1958 T. Capote 'A Christmas Memory' in Breakfast at Tiffany's 152: We can't afford the made-in-Japan splendours at the five-and-dime. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 20: Buddy was caught ringing a cash register in a five-and-dime store. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 45: Our god has no mother, no father, no manger in the five and ten. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 59: There's a grocery store there [...] and a five-and-ten. 1977 A. Brooke Last Poke 28: 'Ain't no five an' dime [...] Here-' she moved her hips'- you all the time pay top dollar'. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 1380: There had been no Christmas paper at the five-and-ten. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 85: Last I heard, she was working as a salesgirl in a five-and-dime. 1993 (con. 1969) N.L. Russell Suicide Charlie 36: Rather than a lifetime of punching the cash register at the local five & dime, they had taken the army up on its offer to let them see the world. 2000 N.K. Richardson Vampires and Oz 54: Anyway, I had landed a job at the local Five and Dime as a check-out clerk.

five and dime adj. (also five-and-ten-cent) [five and dime n.[ (US black) 1 insignificant, paltry. 1936 J.T. Farrell World I Never Made 116: That five-and-ten-cent edition of a man you call your brother. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 170: His brother and a five-and-dime prostitute! His square brother

and his slick whore! 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 237■. fiveand-dime 1. Small-time. 1983 N. Heard House of Stammers 2: An argument over a five and dime card game called Tonk. 2 badly dressed, cheap, unattractive, sleazy. 1929 F. Borden 'Guns of Gangland' in Gangster Stories Dec. [Internet] Look at yuh—You look more like the five an' ten cent store every day wit' them rings an' bracelets all over yuh. 1980 E. Folb Runnin Down Some Lines 92: Listen sucker, don't be buyin' my clothes in Woolworth like some five-and-dime nigger — five cent fo' yo' shirt an' dime fo' yo' pants!

five-and-dimer n.

[five and dime

adj. (1)[ (US) an insignificant

person. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 118: He'd gotten down to the sprouts, the five-and-dimers, the penny-matchers [...] who'd never come closer to going on a job than to lean against the same newsstand that Bruno Lefty leaned on. 1973 Waylon Jennings 'Old Five-and-Dimers (Like Me)' [lyrics] Too much ain't enough for old five and dimers like me. / Mhm, mhm, an old five and dimer is all 1 intended to be.

five and two n. (also seven and a three, twenty and a ten)

[at 1970s rates he charges $5.00 for his services plus $2.00 for a room; such figures have been subject to inflation or perhaps imply the 'quality' of the prostitute] (gay) a male homosexual prostitute (cf. fifty and a ten

n.). 1972 B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 82: five and a two! (exclam,

kwn Cleveland, fr pros si = five dollars for the room and two for the body) squealed upon sighting an attractive man; often worked into an open proposal. Syn: seven and a three; twenty and a ten (inflation?). 1979 Maledicta 111:2 223: Five and two (five pounds or dollars for the services of a UK rent boy or US hustling midnight cowboy, plus two for the room) is pre-inflationary.

five by five n.

[their girth presumably equals their height] (Can./US

black) a short fat person. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 33:1 want my banter to really canter, she must be five by five. 1953 W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 324: You, a date? Wad yuh know. What is she, a five-by-five? 1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 302: Solly could have kissed the five-by-five Bookworm. 1977 A. Brooke Last Poke 66: Folks had called him 'five-by-five' until he broke someone's jaw. 1995 Jimmy Rushing

[album title] Mr. Five-by-Five.

five-by-five adj.

[five x five = square adj. (1 )1 (US) good, in order.

2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 80: Don't worry, Pete - everything's five-

by-five.

five-dollar

n. (US black) fellatio for which the woman charges

$5. Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] five-dolla Definition: giving head, sucking dick for five dollars. Example; Say. that bitch Tawana give Five-Dolla, and she do it good!!

2000

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds five-dollar bag (n.) [bag n/ (6)[ (US drugs) a bag of heroin costing $5 or $50. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 136: Meth¬ adone might be just as potent as a five-dollar bag. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Five dollar bag — $50 worth of drugs. five-dollar expression (n.) (also ...words) see two-doliar words

under

two-dollar

five-eight n.

adj.

[rhy. si.

=

mate

n.

(1); ult. a position in the game of rugby)

(Aus. prison) a friend. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 136: If he's yer five-eight ya got

nuttin' ta be noivous about. 1990 Tupper & Gloss. [Internet] Five-eight. Friend,

five-finger

Wortley

Aus. Prison SI.

v. (US black) to steal.

1919 R.N. Johnson Heaven, Hell, or Hoboken 40: Carlin 'five-fingered'

a 'B'deck pass from the officers' mess-hall [HDAS]. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 200: Someone five-fingered a textbook¬ sized book of his unrecorded rhymes.

five-finger(ed) adj. ■ In compounds five-finger discount (n.) (brig. Aus./N.Z./US) the act and proceeds of shoplifting, stealing. [1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 39: Then lead they the cousin to [...] the bear baiting at Paris garden, or some other place of throng, where, by five fingered figg boy [...] picked shall be his purse.] 1966 J.M. Brewer in Dundes Mother Wit (1973) 241/2: Five-finger discount (stealing) pays off. 1979 D. Gram Foxes (1980) 42: 'Loser got it for me.' 'Five-finger discount, oh yeahl' 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 38; To shoplift is to get [...] a five-

finger discount. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 16: We didn't use the

five fingers

term 'stealing' in my house. Anything shoplifted was simply called a 'five-finger discount'. 2002 Thirstin Howl III 'John They're Stealing' [lyrics] Five-finger discounts, I steal the mannequins / Window displays and Chinese stand wig mounts. five-fingered exercise (n.) masturbation. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 68: He also says they [i.e.

pornographic books] are for blokes who like dating handkerchiefs and practising five-finger exercises.

five-finger(ed) Mary (n.) (also five-fingered Annie) the hand, as used for masturbation. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads ]...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy

Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: five-finger Mary, «. - masturbation. 1972 (ref. to late 1960s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 116: The masturbator's best girl friend - his hand: the thumb is the mother to the four fingers. ]...] five-fingered Annie (late '60s). 1977 L. Heinemann close Quarters (1987) 191: 1 had fucked Claymore Face, when the ache and boredom got to be too much; it was either Claymore Face or Five-Fingered Mary. 1993 (con. 1969) N.L. Russell Suicide Charlie 128: It was off to the ammo bunker for a visit with Five-fingered Mary. 2006 P. McCorduck Edge of Chaos [Internet] At that time he has sunk his cock into exactly two pussies, because he doesn't count dry-humping, blowjobs, handjobs, or five-fingered-mary.

five-fingered salute (n.) (US) a gesture of derision, placing the thumb on the tip of the nose and fanning out and wriggling the four fingers. 1910 J.W. Ganzhorn I've Killed Men 124: When I got it in my hands, the seagoing cowboy gave him a five-fingered salute, went over the side and waved farewell to the Navy. 1948 Mount Pleasant (lA) News 4 Sept. 4/3: [photo caption]: A five-fingered salute and Bronx cheers are directed at Rev. Lowell N. Cantrell, [...] who was arrested and found not guilty of 'sauntering and loitering' as he picketed Boston armory, draft registration headquarters. 1950 W. Henry No Survivors (1996) 60: I threw him a five-fingered salute, being satisfied to see him take it and go white in the face. 2005 J. Gross Lives of Rachel 317: But neither the five-fingered salute to the heavens nor the rapid drawing of the cross in the murky air had the slightest effect on the crowd. five-fingered widow (n.) (also widow five-finger) masturbation. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 43: Stick to the old five¬

fingered widow and you won't go far wrong [...] The five-fingered widow was my own constant companion. Never a day went by but a marriage was arranged. 1975 C. Allen Plain Tales from Raj 159: Many turned, as a last resort, to the 'five-fingered widow'. 1989 (con. 1940s) in P. Fussell Wartime 110: Such surely had frequent recourse to 'the old five-fingered widow,' as one of the NCOs [...] puts it. 1999 C. Curtis 'Mitosis' [Internet] Where'd you be without us females? Playing with the five-fingered widow wouldn't ya? 2004 posting at www.the-scream.co.uk 30 Apr. [Internet] An ugly old broiler is still a lot more pleasure than a collection of Porn and the five fingered widow. five-finger sandwich (n.) (Aus.) a punch. 1975 David Bowie in Sun.

Times Mag. July at memhers.ol.com.au [Internet] San Francisco has more uptight bigots than anywhere else in the world. You've only got to say 'Frisco' to get a five finger sandwich. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 119: More terms concerned with the pugilistic include [...] a five-finger sandwich. five-finger shuffle (n.) see five-knuckle shuffle n.

■ In phrases use the five-fingered chequebook (v.) (N.Z.) to shoplift. 1990 G. Preston Ruby and Rata [film script] I had to use my five¬ fingered chequebook [DNZE].

five fingers

n. [ety. unknown]

1

in card-games, the five of trumps.

1589 Nashe Martin-Marprelate Tractes in Works I (1883-4) 161: The fine

fingers is a carde of great strength. 1611 Chapman May-Day V ii: For my game stood, me thought, upon my last two tricks, when 1 made sure of the set, and yet lost it, having the varlet and the five finger to make two tricks. 1674 C. Cotton Compleat Gamester 123: The five fingers (alias, five of trumps) is the best Card in the pack; [...] the Five-Fingers not only wins the Ace of Trumps, but also all other Cards whatever, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1873 Si. Diet.

2 (US Und.) a five-year jail sentence. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI.

five fingers

adj. (five fingers make a fig. whole hand] (Irish) first-rate,

excellent. 1997 Share Slanguage.

five-knuckle shuffle

fiver

115

n. (also five-finger shuffle) mastur¬

bation. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: five knuckle shuffle euph. A one-handed work out to a Cindy Crawford exercise video. 2002 Fat Dancer [Internet] Euphemisms Top 10; 10) One off the

wrist. 9) Making baldie puke. 8) Jerkin the gherkin. 7) Yanking the doodle. 6) White water wristing. 5) Five finger shuffle. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 207: Those five-knuckle shuffles that he's been enjoying when the lights go out.

■ In phrases do the five-knuckle shuffle (v.) to masturbate. 1987 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 7: wax the dolphin [...] Also do the fiveknuckle shuffle. 2003 Number One Adult Sexual Health Terms Advisor [Internet] Masturbation Slang Male Terms: [...] knuckle shuffle on the oT piss pump.

five-oh n. (a/so 5-0, five-o, Hawaii 5-0) (1 960s TV police show Hawaii 5-0] (US black/teen) 1 the police. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 136: /ivc-o the police. 1989 Ice-T 'You Played Yourself' [lyrics] When you go to sleep you count five-ohs. 1991 D. Gaines Teenage Wasteland 79: By 9:20, 'Hawaii 5-0' will arrive and with them threat of parking tickets, beer tickets, and formal charges. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 51: One kid got hit, but it wasn't bad, didn't even have t'call the 5-0. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 70: When five-o blow up the spot, they treat the white boys like day campers. 2004 N. Kelley 'The Code' in Brooklyn Noir 172: Wounds received from rival niggaz and Five-Os. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 196: In my rearview mirror is a cop. He's giving me the hardcore five-oh eyeball. 3 a 50-litre Ford /vlustang (used as a police vehicle in some areas). 1995 M. Mueller Ford Mustang 69: Of course, there were some who were sorry to see the Fox-chassis 'Five-Oh' Mustang go. 2003 R. Wood Lightning Crashes 70: A nineteen eighty-eight GT Mustang [...] was as far removed from the old Five-Oh as the plankton was from the whale. 4 (US drugs) a $50-rock of cocaine. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 5 (US prison) a prison officer. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] 5-0: Correctional officer. (FL / NC).

502 n.

[California police code for the offence] (US black/teen) drink¬ driving, 1998 Kottonmouth Kings 'What's Your Trip' [lyrics] on Royal Highness [album] What you wanna do, get another 502? / You should have eaten some food / Instead of drinkin on an empty stomach.

502

V. [502 n.] (US black/teen) to get arrested for drink-driving.

1977

Butler

&

Shryack

Gauntlet

85: Looking the other way when a

big shot gets five-oh-two'd.

5% Nation

n. [the Nation of Islam teaches that any large group of people, and more spec., the African-American nation, can be divided into three groups, the 85%, basically the ignorant masses that need to be led, the 5%, the people with true knowledge of self whose job it is to lead the masses and fight against the 10%, the people who have partial knowledge of self and use it to gain power and wealth by exploiting the 85%, also referred to as 'bloodsuckers of the poor'. The chosen percentages are those they feel are the percentages within the black community. These numbers are neither universal (although these groups do exist within any large group) nor unchangeable] (US black) a black radical group, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam; thus Five Percenter n., a member of the group. 1997 Wo-Tang Clan 'Wu Revolution' [lyrics] Wu-Tang Forever [album] Eighty five percent of our people / They're our future / Was uncivilized / Poison animal eaters / They're slaves of the mental powers [...] and they're easily lead in the wrong direction / And hard to be lead in the right / And now you got the ten percent / Who are rich slave makers of the poor [...] They're also known as blood suckers of the poor / Save the children / And then you got the five percent / Who are the poor righteous teachers. 1998 Source Nov. 130: Rakim [...] continuously rewrote the righteous manifesto, with his deep, five-percent-styled lyrics. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 87: The Nation of Islam and its less disciplinarian, new-age offshoot the Five Percent Nation. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] The Five Percenters, a.2003 Korg 'Cas' Diary' Session 2a on Darkqueen.org [Internet] Some of this 5% nation crap that he went on about. Screw the 5%, the 15% and the 85%. Screw them all. 2003 J. Lethem Fortress of Solitude 427: Just a bullshit Five Percenter out on the street, the dude had actually taken to study of Islam when he got inside,

fiver n. 1 a £5 note, £5. 1853 G.J. Whyte-Melville Digby Grand 29: Spooner loses a fivepound note, or, as he calls it, a fiver, to my antagonist. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 365: A ten-pound note costs me two pounds, and a fiver, one sovereign. 1867 'Under the Earth' in Dick's Standard Plays (1871) II i: I say. Loo; you can't lend me a fiver, can you? 1878 J, Hatton Cruel London I 214: Can you lend me a fiver? 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 6/2: Surely nothing less than a fiver

fives

fix

116

and costs could atone for the luxury of calling a Judge a fool and a member of Parliament an ass. 1890 Sporting Times 1 Mar. 1/4: Only last week you told me of his lending you a fiver. 1900 Punch 21 Mar. 204; I suppose you have quite forgotten, Mr. Jones, that you owe me a fiver? 1914 'Bartimeus' '"Noel"' in Naval Occasions 27: It's years since I touched a fiver. 1924 'Sapper' Third Round 522: He had bet this Professor a fiver that he'd do it. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 13: You could get those guys to do anything in the world for a fiver apiece. 1946 S. Jackson An Indiscreet Guide to Soho 52: The composer usually gets a fiver advance on royalties. 1956 R.T. Hopkins Banker Tells All 40: Place one 'fiver' a month; no more and no less. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 71: 'Fiver,' says the fake kraut. 'Good show. Good women.' 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 214; Borrowing a fiver when my kids want shoes. 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out 110: He still owes me another fiver. 1992 D. Jarman diary 13 Aug. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 192:1 opened thousands of letters with donations, sometimes a tatty parcel would be full of old white fivers. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 263; Through a rolled-up fiver he snorts one line up his right nostril and the other up his left. 2006 in D. Seabrook Jack of Jumps (2007) 212; If they wanted to spend a fiver she would take them to the sports ground.

for his last remark. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 3 a street fight. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 398/1: from ca. 1850. 4 {drugs) 5mg Benzedrine or amphetamine tablets. 1966 H.S. 'Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 222: It turned out that they were not even 'fives', but more like 'ones'. 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 341: fives: A fivemilligram tablet of Benzedrine or other amphetamines. 2001 ONDCP

Street Terms 9; Fives — Amphetamine. 5 masturbation. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct, 13: fives n. A traditional Etonian game played with four fingers, a thumb and a cock.

■ In phrases break fives (v.) (W./.) to shake hands. 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 23: Break fives.

Colloquial expression for 'put it there', 'shake hands',

string the fives on (v.) to beat up. 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act 11: And you lot want to string the fives on Tojo just because he's got a Blighty fag case,

tip someone the fives (v.) to shake hands. C.1790 'De Kilmainham Minit' in Luke Caffrey's Gost 6: We'd tip him

2 [US) a $5 bill. 1843 Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 7 Jan. 536/2: If any man heard more

than a double X bet, he was in a livelier crowd than we met with. But in 'fivers' something was done. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 370: Feeling kindly disposed to 'jine,' he handed over to the dealer a Kentucky fiver, and received checks for it. 1887 World (N.Y.) 7 Apr. 6/5: That led Sam Derickson to get 'hot under the collar,' and he wagered a 'fiver' that Columbia would secure a run in the next Inning. 1896 Daily Trib. (Bismarck, ND) 11 June 2/3: I'll just rake off three of the fivers for velvet. 1901 J. London 'Local Color' Complete Short Stories (1993) I 694:1 had intended to slip a fiver into his hand. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I iv: We printed one fiver off that plate—and then we knew enough to quit. 1925 DOS Passos Manhattan Transfer 379: I'll run up and fetch my kit. Wont take a sec ... . Here's a fiver. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 280: He needed that fiver too badly. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 87: That's a fiver for each of us. 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 38: I took a taxi back home - my fiver was still intact. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 191: She would do anything for a fiver — fuck regular, ass-fuck, titty-fuck, lick your asshole. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 38: He deftly snapped up the fiver. 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 36: He never saved up the fiver because he had this terrible hunger that wouldn't let him rest, and every dollar he managed to get his hands on went for eats. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 13: The ten-spot is rhythm, the fiver is hope, the deuce is freedom.

de Fives fore his Det [Death]. 5000 phr. ['I'm outta here', which evolved to 'I'm Audi', and to 5000 after the Audi 5000 car] {US black/teen) goodbye, I'm off. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 36/1; Yo, five thousand! there's my posse in that ride. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] outtie 5000 n. (derived from 'outa here' mixed with the car the Audi 5000) A saying conveying that a person is about to depart. [...] Some shorten it and just say '5000!'

five-time v. see two-time v. (1). five to four n. see two by four n.^. five to two n. [rhy. si.; ult. ref. to racing

219: He was a 'fiver'. 1925 E.

Jervis

1978 J.

'bees and honey' 'cos the 'Gawd forbids' ain't got no 'Tommy Tucker'. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 40: 'Look — a Five.' A Five is a Five-to-Two, or Jew. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 240; Call it Daniels Copper Enterprises! It sounds like metal, and it looks like a five-lo-two. I mean, a Jew. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 398: since ca. 1925. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh

fix

scrumptious? 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Oct. 24/2: Glasson hadn't 'fix' enough to

25 Years in Six Prisons 22: So here

fight two rounds, and shaped like a novice, despite his alleged record of successes in Africa. [...] [T]he Maori 'chucked it,' dog-tired and done, on the groundless assertion that Lynch had struck him 'in

Basketball Diaries 25:1 did half a fiver, and shit, what

a rush.

fives

n.

fix 1

a foot.

C.1629 ballad in Arber Eng. Garner VII 13: Her cheeks were like a

cherry Her waist exceeding small. The fives did fit her shoe [F&H].

2 the hand, usu. when clenched in a fist; thus the fives, prizefighting; man of fives, a professional fighter. 1821 W.T. Moncribff Tom and Jerry I iv: This what do you call it? -

this cover-me-decently, was all very well at Hawthorn Hall, I daresay; but here, among the pinks in Rotten-row, the lady-birds in the Saloon, the angelics at Almack's [...] even among the millers at the Fives, it would be taken for nothing less than the index of a complete flat. 1826 N.Y. American 25 Apr. 2/3: This new performer was a tight-built sprig, and such as from the manner of using his fives, is sometimes known amongst the American fancy as a weaver. 1836-7 Dickens Pickwick Papers (1999) 25: Smart chap that cabman — handled his fives well. 1842 Egan 'Jack Flashman' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 141: Jack long was on the town, a teazer; / A spicy blade for wedge or sneezer; / Could turn his fives to anything / Nap a reader, or filch a ring, 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 191: Jack tapped with his fives on the little 'un's lid. 1871 C. Money Knocking About in N.Z. 11: He [...] invited 'the man of fives' to a speedy adjustment of their differences. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Feb. 11/1: The smallest 'snob' in Ultimo / Of you could make a holy show! / If, like a cat, you had nine lives, / Not once would you put up your 'fives.' 1916 P. MacGill The Great Push 114: 'E works 'ard when 'e's workin', 'e can use 'is fives wiv anyone, 'e can take a drink or leave it, but 'e prefers takin' it. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 79: He seems reluctant to leave, sorry he did not hand The Rebel the fives

Rabbit. n.’’ [FIX v.'' (4)] 1 {US) an outfit. 1844 'Jonathan Slick' High Life in N.Y. I 195: If you want to slick up, had't you better take the new fix, it'll look a good deal more

2 (Aus.) fitness, condition.

quantity of heroin costing $5.

Carroll

a shoe.

1932 'P.P,' Rhy. Si 9; .The 'gooseberry's' gone to the '5 to 2' for some

I am for another 'fiver' at the Old Bailey.

4 {US drugs) a

1

2 (a/so five by two) a jew.

3 (Aus.lUKlUS) a five-year prison sentence; one serving such. 1896 Sessions Papers 9 Sept. 1897 'Price Warung' Tales of the Old Regime

bets]

1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 11: Five to twoes - Shoes.

2

holts', n.^ {orig. US Und.) 1 any corrupt deal, a bribe, a favour. 1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 28: I'll bloody him a bloody fix, / I'll bloody burn his bloody ricks. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 33; Fix [...] A condition of security where grafters may operate with impunity. 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer's Colt 164: You show us the mazuma and we'll show you the fix. 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 120: Almore finished her off and then he and Condy between them bought a fix. 1956 1. Fleming Diamonds Are Forever (1958) 102: He knows all the dirt, where the big fixes are. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 171: The juice / The fix / The schmeer / The In. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 229: The whole thing is a fix, but who's fixing for whom? 2000 Indep. on Sun. 20 Feb. 1; It's a fix. the person who makes such deals. 1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief 0956) 11: Professional thieves have no thought of receiving punishment while in the hands of the fix. 1938 D. Runyon 'Cemetery Bait' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 515; The stout fellow being the local fix [...] looks after the local law. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 186: I know he's the fix. I know he's big. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 188: The boys are already operating with a strong fix in the Paxton Square district—I think they got to Captain Megher.

■ In phrases put the fix in/on (v.) {also have the fix in) to ensure a plan or event favours whoever has paid the bribe, arranged the deal etc. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 4: Forestalling action by the law. {Putting in

the fix.). 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 7: The super puts in

fix

117

the fix for all right-thinking hustlers, 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 146; He'd put in so many fixes himself he'd see one now like spots before his eyes. 1973 G.V, Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 28: I had the fix in. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 119: It ought to be a new experience for him [...] going into court. He generally puts the fix in outside. 1977 E, Torres QdA 86: He tried to put the fix on me. For ten large— 1981 J. Ellrov Brown's Requiem 250: The fix was in. The L.A.P.D. had some inkling of what was up and had stonewalled it. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 237: No, you recognize that the fix is in. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 11:1 told Mortimer that if he wanted a fee to put the fix in to tell me now. fix n.^ [it 'fixes' one's emotional and/or physical state] 1 (drugs) an injection of a narcotic which 'fixes one up' when one is 'sick'; the usual presumption being that the drug is heroin. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Ft 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 102/1: fix. Var. of Fix-UP. A ration of narcotics, especially one to be injected. 1946 H. Huncke 'Bryant Park' in Huncke Reader (1998) 309:1 want a fix because it helps me believe in life again. 1951 San Diego Eve. Trib. 28 June Al/4 in Lannoy & M'asterson 'Teen-age Hophead Jargon' AS XXVII: 125:1 went across the border for a fix of heroin. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 61: At least four good fixes, he calculated, and raised the powder to his tongue to see how deeply it had been cut. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 188: I give enough fixes in the Army I could be a first-class dope pusher awready! 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 99: Drug-crazed hippie dying for a fix. 1995 B. James Detective is Dead (1996) 112: What 'decent trading atmosphere' could you have selling fixes to the hooked? 2005 Urban Diet. [Internet] Everyone in the school except maybe the frosh knows who sells the dime bags or even a quick fix of smack or meth. 2 (drugs) a small amount of cocaine or heroin. 1961 'Lou Rand' Gay Detective (2003) 111: 'The same waiter also offered a 'fix," or a short supply of cocaine. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972) 79: fix [...] Amount of drugs that is sold in a bag or packet.

3 an ingestion of any drug. 1961 L. Block Diet of Treacle (2008) 43: [of marijuana] A fix lifted him into another mental sphere. 1966 J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 13: An experienced narcotics cop, or a longtime addict, can with surprising reliability spot a user in a group of twenty people, state with authority what kind of drug he is on, approximately how long it has been since his last fix, and whether or not he is at that moment 'dirty,' carrying drugs, 1982 Eble Campus SI. Spring 2: caffeine fix - coffee, generally, or perhaps tea: I need to get a caffeine fix. 1998 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4 (US) a compulsive desire or thrill. 1967 M, Braly On the Yard (2002) 43: This is my fix [..,] I lead other people's lives. 1977 Maclean's (Toronto) 31 Oct. 20: 'Is this going to happen every day?' was a repeated bleat from those deprived of their Monday soap fix. 1999 Indep. Rev. 18 Oct. 14: She developed a habit of getting her fix from the Web. 5 anything that satisfies a craving, e.g. for food. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 123: The market was changing from young white buyers from New Jersey to an increasingly sleazy crowd who begged for a hit and needed what had become a cocaine fix. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 99: Anytime I needed a quick fix of cheer, all I had to do was hook up with Dave. 2003 S. Fallon Lonely Planet Budapest 134: [The cafe] won't win any culinary awards but it's central and just the ticket should you need a fix of rice or noodles after a concert. fix rt^ [FIX v.^] (US) a meeting. C.1950 K. Howard Small Time Crooks 21: Sure, I was hangin' around waitin' for the time to keep that fix with ya, boss. fix vf 1 to prepare some form of trick. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 73: Three parts of every nights dream is spent [...] with how to fix a Dye for any purpose, 1837 'Plunder Creek' in Bentley's Misc. Feb. 128: If the devil had been the fisherman then, he would have fixed the Dutcher. 1879 A. Pinkerton Reminiscences 151: All right, my fine old snoozer! We'll fix you! 1889 H. Lawson 'Story of Malachi' in Roderick (1972) 10: We were not content with common jokes, such as [...] 'fixing' his bunk, or putting explosives in his pipe. 1892 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Rhyme of the Rusher' in Sporting Times 29 Oct. n.p.: I fixed him at nap until / I had turned his skyrockets inside out, / And had managed my own to fill. 1900 O. Wister Jimmyjohn Boss and Other Stories 67: He once got my cash with his private poker deck that onced, and I'm fixing for to get his'n. 1919 C. Williams A Master of Crime 170: My idea is to 'fix' her during the journey. Alice can travel with the detective and with a little dose of chloroform can keep him quiet. [...] The chloroform drug can then be blown into the compartment and the rest will be easy. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 75: I've fixed his

fix shooting-iron. 1953 T. Runyon !n For Life 245: These days shoes were rarely 'fixed' with acid around the welt. 2000 Indep. 10 Jan. 18: He would stifle the bell with a length of muslin cloth and say, 'that'll fix it'. 2 to bribe, to suborn, esp. in the context of sports or politics. 1790 in Journal William Macklay (1927) 248: We expected something political would be proposed by Fitzsimons, and out it came: 'Gentlemen, it is expected of us that we should fix the Governor' [DA]. 1838 T. Haliburton Clockmaker (1843) II 92:1 had to bribe some Master Workmen to go out to America, and if I didn't fix 'em it's a pity. 1871 Galaxy (N.Y.) Mar. 193: This aid, he averred, would be most effective, as he had 'fixed' the clerk at the lace shawl counter, and that person would be conveniently blind at the moment chosen by the thieves to slip the costly articles from the counter into the immense pockets they all have suspended to the waist, under the dress. 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 12/4; Even the unvarying old bottle of 'three-star' fusel-oil was the same and seemed to have followed The Bulletin's scribe round to 'fix' him. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 116: She knew Something was Doing. Else why should he try to Fix her? 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 41: If they can't fix th' mayor with dough, and they need him in the business, they promise to make him governor or senator or ambassador. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 42: 'Fixing' health inspectors and fire inspectors and a member of the State Transportation Commission. 1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief 0956) 38: It is recognized as a responsibility of every member of the mob to do everything possible to fix a case for any member of the mob, [Ibid.] 86: A time when it was almost impossible to fix a case in New York City. 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 3: [He] had been sent out for life by Nerridale Jockey Club for 'fixing' a field on Cup day. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 92: And the elections. Hadn't he fixed the elections? 1960 C. MacInnes Mr Love and Justice (1964) 79: But if you fix a case, Edward, then don't you commit a crime yourself? 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 285: My God, Desmond Spellacy thought, Tm tired of fixing things. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 235: The stiffest sentence ever received by a college player convicted of fixing baseball scores. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 93: As for fixing a trial. If I could fix a horse race as quick and easily as a Crown witness then I'd be a millionaire. 2004 P.E. Harmon Calico Starr 240: I have witnesses that can prove his deputies were trying to fix the race. 3 to take revenge upon, to get even with, to foil an antagonist's plans. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 142: If any of us was to come in by ourselves and should happen to take a rum .snooze, you'd snitch upon us, and soon have the traps and /ix us, in putting a lap-feeder in our sack, that you or your blowen had prig'd yourselves, though we should stand the /i-AA: for it. 1800 Aurora (Phila.) 8 Apr. n.p.: Having fix'd Randolphi,—wish the other house would fix Mason [DA]. 1853 W.G. Simms Sword and the Distaff 2S6: I reckon we'd ha' fixed 'em all at last. 1861 T.F. Upson diary Apr. in Winther With Sherman to the Sea (1958) 9: The President will soon fix them. He has called for 75,000 men and is going to blockade thier [sic] ports. 1864 A.F. Hill Our Boys 347: The barefaced scoundrel! [...] O, I'll fix him! 1870 C, White Magic Penny in Darkey Drama 5 Act I; Now, if he's de only one dat seed me I'll fix him berry quick. 1888 'Jack the Ripper' letter 28 Sept, in Farson Jack the Ripper (1972) 39: Dear Boss, I keep hearing the police have caught me but they won't fix me yet. [...] I am down on whores and I shan't quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last one was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. 1891 J.A. Rlis How the Other Half Lives 53: The community hears [...] of another Italian affray, a man stabbed in a quarrel, dead or dying, and the police know that 'he' has been fixed, and the account squared. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 75: I'll whip him. That'll fix him! 1910 O, Johnson Varmint 107: You laughed at me, you miserable Rinky Dink. I'll fix you for that. 1920 F. Packard White Moll 52: I'll fix you tor this! 1934 O. Strange Sudden 35: I reckon that'll fix yu, my friend, fix yu good an' plenty. 1949 K. Williams Diaries 9 July 43: She's a bitch but I'll fix her tomorrow. 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: There's half of you been shooting off your mouths for days on end on how you'd fix the Japs. 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 20: The first thing I do is fix that prosecutor bastard. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gufwcr 53; Give 'em a good boot up the ring. That fixes 'em. They've all got kidney trouble, see. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 164: .A lot of people thought to themselves, well, we'll fix him. 1998 (con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 181: Right, I'm gonna fix that bastard Baby Louie once and for all. 2009 Observer Mag. 4 Jan. 18: He undertook to fix the great film-maker who made that movie. 4 (orig. US) to arrange, to prepare, to get ready. 1837 'Plunder Creek' in Bentley's Misc. Feb. 128: The suitorers were awful earnest with ould Dykeman to fix for one of them. 1842

fix

fix

118 Amer. Notes x 86: You call upon a gentleman in a country town, and his help informs you that he is fixing himself just now, but will be down directly: by which you are to understand that he is dressing. You inquire, on board a steamboat, of a fellow-passenger, whether breakfast will be ready soon, and he tells you he should think, for when he was last below, they were fixing the tables: in other words, laying the cloth. You beg a porter to collect your luggage, and he entreats you not to be uneasy, for he'll fix it presently, and if you complain of indisposition, you are advised to have recourse to Doctor so and so who will fix you in no time. 1850 W.C. Hall 'Mike Hooter's Bar Story' Spirit of the Times 26 Jan. (N.Y.) 581: When he found they wouldn't hunt no how he could fix it, he began acussin'. 1859 'Timothy Titcomb' Letters to Young People 141: You might just as well 'cave in,' first as last, and 'absquatulate,' for you can't 'put it through,' 'any way you can fix it.' 1866 C.H. Smith Bill Arp 43: Ding it all, I found him in a store buying a haversack, fixing to go. 1872 G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service 73: I wanted only time to fix up things again. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Mar. 18/1: One evening we were more than usually pertinacious beside the boiler. We wanted her to fix it definitely, and let us ascend to the heaven of connubial bliss. 1896 'Mark Twain' Tom Sawyer, Detective Ch. II: Tom says that's all right, he reckoned he could fix it with the head steward. 1911 Gem 23 Sept, iv: I fixed it with Woodford just before he left. 1915 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Aug. 47/ 1: Out at quod [...] there's heaps of chanst for one bloke to chat another; an' before you come out you've fixed it up to work some job with fellers who are in with you. 1926 Boys' Realm 16 Jan. 265: You get busy. I'll fix the landlady. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 24: He has fixed to go out to a party. a,1940 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 139: Frankie ran back to her crib-joint, / Fixin' to do him some harm. 1956 J. Osborne Look Back in Anger Act I: So I said she could come here until she fixes something else. 1960 J.R. Ackerley We Think The World Of You (1971) 41: This is wonderful news! How did you fix it? 1982 P. Theroux London Embassy 99: Tell them I'll have this book fixed pretty soon. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] fi'n v. (derived from 'fixin') Getting ready to do something. 'I'm fi'n to tell you waz down with sheila Dickens

and snoopy.'

5 to prepare food or drink, to prepare a meal. C.1858 J.H. Green Reformed Gambler 124:1 say. Mister! how shall I fix them [i.e. medicines] so that they will do the most execution in the shortest time, 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 154: He said he could fix me a Collins except for the one Ingredient which made it a Collins. 1935 L. Hughes Mulatto in Three Negro Flays (1969) Act I: Can I fix you a cool drink. Colonel Tom? 1948 H. McCoy Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye in Four Novels (1983) 234: Will you please fix some toast or soup or something? Tm hungry. 1953 J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 124: I'm going to fix you a cup of coffee. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 81: Next morning Carol didn't fix breakfast. 1976 'Herge' Tintin and the Picaros 53: Time for you to fix breakfast. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 140: I'll fix dinner. 1999 Guardian Media 16 Aug. 44: Fixing breakfast.

6 {also fix off) to kill, to murder. 1836 D. Crockett Exploits and Adventures (1934) 254: A third came up

to the cannon, my companion handed me another gun, and I fixed him off in like manner. 1845 W.T. Thompson Chronicles ofPineville 57: You's fixed me off and made a widder of my wife and children. Ts a dead man! 1867 'The Jolly Tall Oysterman' in Champagne Charley Songster 40: Get me my big haipoon, / I'll get into the fishing boat and fix the fellow soon. 1869 C.G. Leland 'Der Freischuetz' in Hans Breitmann's Party 43: 'Potzblitzl' says he, 'dat dove I'll fix!' 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) 1 viii: Wot was ter stop him writin' out another paper if we didn't fix him fer keeps? 1929 D. Hammett 'Fly Paper' Story Omnibus (1966) 51: Babe got next and fixed the pair of them. 1934 O. Strange Sudden 129: Reckon I fixed yu. Mister Green. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 23: Who done it? [...] Who fixed Sam? 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 9: It'd take more gas than you've got money to fix you, 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 190: Give 'im a lovely great bubble of air in one of 'is fat old arteries. I'll bet you that would fix 'im. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 32: They fix the guy - bang him over the head, beat him, tie him up, anything - then smack into him with a car. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 79: Jerry says, 'I'll fix that Polack fuck,' and he takes out his Special.

7 (US) to look after. 1872 'Mark Twain' Innocents at Home 334: We'll fix you all right. There'll be a kerridge for you; and whatever you want,

8 to intend. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 7 Jan. 226: I've been fixin' to climb that air hill

many a time, and this is jist 'bout the last chance I'll git to do it. 1914 R. Lardner You Know Me Al (1984) 74: I have got it all figured that Hazel is fixing to surprise me by dropping in on me. 1928 Thurman &

Harlem in Coll. Writings (2003) 330: Marry! I ain't fixing to marry nobody, nevah! 1935 C.G. Finney Circus of Dr Lao 87: Well, the Chinks they haul out the last guy, a great big bozo, an' fixes to bump him off an' call it a day. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 17: [We] hopped a freight to St Louis ]...] fixing to pay our way by selling the pictures as we bummed around. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 25: We ain't fixing to rumba with the T's. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 168: If you got any young whores in the house you better start 'em walking, / 'cause you all done made me mad and Tm fixin' to do some bad goddam talkin'! 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 17: Y'all fixing to make a big connect? 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 91:1 was fixin' to intrude an idea of my own on you. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 42: He was fixing to shatter spontaneously from heroin withdrawal. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 55: Tm feeling scandalous, like Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death, fixing to push the old lady in the wheelchair down the stairs. Rapp

9 to attack, to beat up; also in fig. use. 1843 W. Oliver Eight Months in Illinois 126: The way in which the mosquitos fix one is a caution. 1886 A.F. Pinkerton Dyke Darrel 85: Dyke Darrel sank a bleeding and insensible mass to the floor. ]...] 'I've fixed him. Professor,' growled Nick Browser. 1898 Boy's Own Paper 15 Oct. 34: Phil was eager to 'fix' the ruffian who had all but killed him. 1908 'Old Sleuth' Dock Rats of N.Y. (2006) 17; 'How about this Government officer who has been prowling around here?' was the next question which fell from Garcia's lips. 'Well, that's more than I can tell you, but he'll be fixed to-night, whoever he is.' 191314 E. O'Neill The Web in Ten 'Lost' Plays (1995) 58; If yuh bother this goil again I'll fix yuh and fix yuh right. D'yuh get me? 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 81: Come — on in. I — fixed — those two guys. 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 241: Sonnomo bitzah you! I fix! ]...] I'll zebreak you het. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 450: He better watch out Dincher doesn't fix him. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 66: You tell that Texas sonofabitch if my brother isn't out of jail tomorrow night he's going to get his ass fixed. 1969 P. Theroux Murder in Mount Holly (1999) 30: 'They fixed him up real good. Then he learned.' 'Fixed him up?' ]...] 'Beat the living stuffings out of him.' 1972 'Herge' Tintin and the Land of Black Gold 9: I'll fix you right now, my friend. 1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 83; Jenny has vowed to her mates that she will fix Doug's slut properly, just wait and see.

10 to sort out. 1828 Edlnbury Gleaner 144: As soon as I get fixed in life. I'll cease to think of war and strife; And take unto myself a wife. 1876 Besant & Rice Golden Butterfly III 41: 'I can't fix it,' he groaned. 'I can't fix it anyhow.' 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 24 Jan. 11/1; If any prince over there wants something handy with a broom and with a 500 h.p. voice we think we can fix things. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 118; Leave it to me. Tm the fixin' kid. 1915 G. BronsonHoward God's Man 153: It's all fixed now, isn't it? 1920 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 26 Oct. [synd. col.] But the son has fixed the waiter and the cashier and the bills are sent to him. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 10; It ought to have been just about enough to hire a lawyer to fix the case. 1956 B. Behan Quare Fellow (1960) IILii: That's that bloody Mickser, I'll fix him this time. 1960 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 329: We'll take him down to Menlo and amputate his balls. / And then if that won't fix him. I'll tell you what we'll do: / We'll stuff his ass with broken glass, and seal it up with glue. 1977 A. Brooke Last Toke 5: 'You jive-ass nigga! You sure is in need of some fixin'.' Scowling, Redwood stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. 11 to pay. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 68: I'll fix you Satiddy night, don't you be scared o' that.

■ In phrases fix oneself (v.) to get oneself Into trouble. 1921 Dos Passos Three Soldiers 16: 'Some guy on trial for insubordination. Punched an officer in the jaw.' 'Td a liked to have seen that.' 'Anyhow he's fixed himself this time.'

fix one’s hash (v.) see sittle the hash under hash n.^. fix someone’s clock (v.) [ironic use of SE fix + clock; the

image is that

the clock will indeed be 'fixed', but not in the way its owner desires]

(US)

to

thwart another's plans, to cause trouble for an enemy, to get even with. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 130; 'Youse fixed me clock, ain't youse?' he shouted wildly. 1912 A. Berkman Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist (1926) 466; The officers openly avowed they would 'fix his clock'. 1916 P. Kyne Cappy Ricks 251: 'It's all right. Matt,' Cappy said with a cunning wink. 'I've fixed Flurry's clock for her.' 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 256; I was s'pose to get you drunk 'n the barber's boys was s'pose to come in 'n fix your clock. 1970 in P.R. Runkel Law Unto Themselves 248: You tell him if he's thinking of laying for me after, you'll fix his clock good. 1993

fix

(con. 1930s) H. Kraus Heroes of Unwritten Story: The UAW, 1934-39 4: 'Don't worry, I'm going to fix his dock for him!' The older man took hold of his arm. 'No, Dick, it'll do more harm that good.'

fix someone’s flint (v.) [ironic use of SE fix + flint, the flint of a matchlock or musket] (US) to thwart another's plans, to cause trouble for an enemy, to get even with.

with you: fix me once and I'm gone for good. 1999 E. Bunker Mr

Blue 85: 'You fix me,' I said to Flip.

3 (US prison) in ext. use, to eat heavily. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 82: We could lay up and eyeball

them fine broads, then fix on free-world food.

4 in fig. use, to excite.

1835 W. Otter Hist, of My Own Times (1995) 93: The plastering was

1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 145: This [i.e. a luxurious

worth about twelve dollars, and I charged him thirty-one, and thirty-one half gallons of beer, so I thought I had fixed his flint pretty well. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms. 1853 T. HALtBURTON Sam Slick"s Wise Saws II 94: I'm a dead shot; but perhaps you think you are a deader one, and make sartin you'll fix my flint. 1863 C. Reade Hard Cash I 287: Darn the critter; he's fixed my flint eternally. 1874 Cultivator and Country Gentleman (US) 10 Dec. 799/2: We 'take the shine out of a rival, and 'fix his flint' for him. 1890 'Rolf Boldrewood' Colonial Reformer III 221: He always averred [...] that 'his flint was fixed'. 1919 Marvel 1 Mar. 11:1 guess I can fix his flint.

hotel] is as close to heaven as I'm ever gonna get but it don't fix me no more.

fix someone’s wagon (v.) (a/so fix someone’s little red wagon) to thwart someone's plans. 1934 B. Appel Brain Gwy 219: On the second flo'6r, in the flat with the

beds, a bunch got steamed up and were going to lizzy up one of the younger kids who had a girl's complexion. They'da fixed his wagon. 1942 J. Archibald 'Knife Thrower' in Popular Detective June [Internet] But she ain't goin' to walk out on me. I'm goin' to fix her wagon. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 112: Whether it was a promise to do you a favour, or to fix your little red wagon, Nick always came through. 1952-3 Mad mag. Dec.-Jan. 15: Melvin, we gonna fix your wagon [...] Any last requests. 1959 S. Bellow Henderson The Rain King 298: 'I'll fix your wagon,' I promised him in silence. 1968 'Richard Hooker' M*A*S*H (2004) 91: 'I'm Colonel Cornwall...' 'Cornwallis? [...] I thought we fixed your wagon at Yorktown.' 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 72: If you won't leave me alone I'll call Mister Seltzer and he'll come down here and fix your wagon. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 59: Don't worry - I fixed his sorry wagon. 2006 posting at topix.net 6 Apr. [Internet] I am going to fix your little red wagon for this. 1 am going to make your life a living hell!!!!

fix the old gum-tree (v.) (Aus.) of a former wanderer, to settle down at last. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 89: The gum-tree has found its way into Australian popular speech in numerous instances [...] To fix the old

gum-tree, to settle down,

fix V.2 1 to have sexual intercourse. 1836 'Come, Draw Your Peg, My Rum One' in Cockchafer 21: Ah, now, your peg you're fixing, fixing, fixing, / Drive it in quite boldly! Oh, a'nt this rummy fun? 1934 B. Appel Brain Guy (1937) 117: 'Tm tired knocking off Madge, the little slut.' [...] 'Tired fixin' Madge.' 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 534: I'm figuring to fix that baby again. 1957 G. Metalious Peyton Place (1959) 302: I'll fix ya. Same's I used to fix you long ago. C.1960 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 304: If all the young ladies were little white vixens, / And I were a fox, I would chase them and fix 'em. 1981 J. Bradner Danny Boy 65: One day he'd get between those meaty white legs, and when he did, he'd fix her good!

2 to make pregnant. 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 75: Say a fella gets a girl fixed good and them not being married.

■ In phrases get fixed (v.) [the image of 'fixing' to have sexual intercourse.

or curing one's sexual frustration]

(US)

1949 I. Shulman Cry Tough! 4: The first thing he'd have to do would be to get fixed. A real party with a babe who wasn't a slut. 1956 I. Shulman Good Deeds Must Be Punished 122: Wanna get fixed?

fix

fixed

119

v.^ [the over-riding image is of 'fixing' a problem, i.e. the pain of

withdrawal; note William Burroughs, junk/e (1953): 'If you have any habitat all it takes two papers to fix you, and I mean just fix'] (drugs)

1

to inject

oneself with narcotics. 1937 B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie

(1966) 121: She keeps outfits in glasses of alcohol, so the junkies can fix in the joint and walk out clean. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 55: He realized that when Kovin woke up he would have to fix. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 35: I fix once a week, the day after nalline. They can't test you two days in a row. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 172: To fix or geeze (to inject drugs, usually heroin). 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 31: Just the jerk to spell me while I fix. c.2003 D. Vrij 'Tying Off' on lnter-zone.org [Internet] Daltons usual practice was to fix, wherever he happened to be parked, a technique that had served him well.

2 to give someone else an injection. 1949 N. Ni.G-e.wMan with the Golden Arm 56: Fix me. Make it stop. Fix

me. 1977 A. Hoffman Property 0/(1978) 107: I know you got dope

■ In phrases fix one’s bones (v.) [sense

1 above/SE fix, to mend; the aching bones that are part of the symptoms of heroin withdrawal] (drugs) to take some heroin in order to ward off the pains of an unsatisfied heroin addiction. 1992

Bentley

& Corbett Prison SI. 72: Fix My Bones also

DoSomething for My Bones An expression used primarily by

narcotic addicts meaning to give them a 'fix.'

fixed adj.^ [fix v.^] 1 (also fixed-up) sorted out, arranged, satisfied, often financially. 1857 T.H. Gladstone Englishman in Kansas 58: By this time the pistols were adjusted, and as he walked out, their valiant wearer continued a kind of soliloquy - 'Well, reckon I'm fixed now!' 1884 (con. c. 1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 78: We reckoned the people left in a hurry, and warn't fixed so as to carry off most of their stuff. 1887 H.A. D'Arcy 'The Face on the Bar-room Floor' n.p.: I was once as fixed as well, my boys, as any of you. 1926 D. Hammett 'Assistant Murderer' in Nightmare Town (2001) 160: I wasn't fixed so I could hand Madeline her cut. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 85: If you could only pal up with a skivvy you were fixed. [Ibid.] 188: I hope like hell next time we're in the nick together I'm fixed as right as rain and you're starving for a chew. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 261: The girl is already fixed up. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 18: It was fixed. It was written. The murderer was not yet a murderer. But the murderee had always been a murderee.

2 situated materially or financially, e.g. how are you fixed for...? have you got any/enough...? 1901 Boy's Own Paper 18 May 514: How're you fixed for grub? 1908 Magnet 7 Mar. 12: 'By Jove, you are well fixed!' Bob Cherry remarked as Harry Wharton turned out a half-sovereign and a dozen silver coins. 1917 'A-No. 1' From Coast to Coast with Jack London 15: How are you fixed financially? 1917 Wodehouse 'Crowned Heads' in Man with Two Left Feet 102: 1 figured your grandfather wouldn't be well fixed in his information about it. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 189: 'How're you fixed?' 'Proper on the ribs.' 1939 R. Chandler 'Pearls Are a Nuisance' in Spanish Blood (1946) 104: 'Well fixed, huh?' Henry said [,..] 'Tolerably so, Henry,' I said modestly. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 110: How ya fixed for cabbage this mornin? 1961 'Frank Richards' Billy Bunter at Butlins 100: Glad to see you so jolly well fixed for the hols. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 80: She's none too well fixed for the dotand-dash. 1969 1. Hebditch 'Weekend' unpub. thesis in Hewitt (2000) 132:1 go first [...] to see some mates, Harry and Splif to get fixed for pills for the evening. 1971 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 59: The stubble tattling that she was somewhat less than fixed for blades. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 120: Hand oan mate. How ye fixed? 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 167: How ya fixed for a coupla quid for old times' sake? 2005 A. Ostrower Nana Lena's Kitchen 81: 'Myer, how are you fixed for flour?' 'We're hurting.' 3 in funds. 1892 Freeborn County (Albert Lea, MN) Standard 31 Aug. 6/1: OT Hop was a high-toned oT duck, an' put on heaps o' airs, cause he was the best-fixed man in town. 1894 H. Lawson 'Meeting Old Mates' in Roderick (1972) 169: He doesn't like drinking with anybody when he isn't 'fixed' as he calls it — when he can't shout. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 34: He said he would wait until he was Fixed. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 174: Many an Inland Town looked up to the local Croesus who had corralled One Hundred Thousand. He was supposed to be Fixed. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 78: She had his hat on her knees and all his money in her hands. Suddenly aware that he was looking at her she turned round guiltily. 'My, ain't you fixed well, darling,' 1940 O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 18: I hear she ain't too well fixed. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 187: 'Quite a town, I understand.' 'If you're fixed.' [...] 'I'm fixed, loaded.' 1961 Mad mag. Apr. 14: America's Ten Best-Dressed Women have America's Ten Best-Fixed Men as husbands. 4 (orig. US) corrupted, bribed, 'squared', tampered with. 1882 Burlington (lA) Hawk Eye 2 Feb. 10/5: Little Bobby, who talks slang for the whole family, said to his father the other night, 'There are fixed stars, ain't there, papa?' To which the father replied, 'Yes, Baby.' And then the young rascal asked, 'Are they "well fixed" papa?' 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 76: Beany is heatedly cross examining friendly native as to the haunts

fixings

120

fixed

of the wild goats. Indian seems to have been fixed. Refuses to divulge. 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 40: But, in some districts, th' bosses ain't got no pull and th' people put up a square guy who'll vote agin th' franchise as sure as I'm settin' in this chair and who can't be 'fixed'. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Fixed, bribed. 1930 C.L. Edholm 'Gorilla Girl' in Gun Molls Oct. [Internet] On a 'fixed' race in New Orleans he had cleaned up better than $75,000. 1944 'F. Bonnamy' A Rope of Sand (1947) 47: The cops were fixed. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 315: But the two Americans did go in. The dick was fixed, of course. So were several other people. 1960 C. MacInnes Mr Love and Justice (1964) 79: A case is never fixed unless we're absolutely sure the feller did it. 1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 213: I got it fixed, boys. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 88: I've never been on a case where somebody wasn't fixed. 2000 Gangland News 16 Mar. [Internet] The feds will try to prove that the former leader of the Westies fixed the jury in the 1986 racketeering trial of John Gotti.

5 of a sporting contest, having had the result pre-arranged (to favour a group of gamblers), 1901 Denver Republican 26 Aug. 3/4: It is well known that in many of the police protected gambling houses of Denver there are 'fixed' roulette wheels [DA[. 1926 K.S. Prichard Working Bullocks 295: It'll be fixed which one of us is going to win. Depends on the books. 1939 T. Wolfe Web and the Rock 257: Some charged that the fight had been 'fixed'. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 49: Football games are thrown by players, but more are fixed by coaches, who call the plays. 1963 A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 9: It was a fix. The race was fixed. 1999 Observer 27 June 1: He was sure several Pakistan games, including the final, were 'fixed'. 2004 W. Allen Sweat 269: Most people seem to think that the match was fixed, especially the Italian media.

6 of alcohol, drugged. 1911 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 Days 19: 'That wasn't whiskey!' cried

4 married. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 270: 'I'd like to see you

fixed up,' Pa said, wiping his half moons,

fixed up! exc/. [fixed up adj. (3)1 (S.Afr.) an excl, of approval. 1996 CyberBraai Lex. at www.matriots.com [Internet] Fixed up. This means 'good'. An example is this exchange: 'You don't have to take the dirtbin out, Doll; I took it already.' 'Fixed up, Doll.'

fixer n.'' [SE

elections are unknown [DA]. 1901 C.R. Wooldridge Hands Up! 93: Charles Gundorf, known as a 'fixer' and also as the 'King of the Con Men.' 1912 A.G. Field Watch Yourself Go By 392: The stool pigeon after receiving the money [...] was supposed to be met by the fixer of the 'Gift Show', to whom he was to return the money the boss had given him. 1920 F. Williams Hop-Heads 20: Their stories running to the Hall of Justice and the 'fixers' that abound about the police courts. 1936 R. Chandler 'Goldfish' in Red Wind (1946) 157: A small time fixer, an alibi builder-upper, anything that smelled a little and paid a little more. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con ix: High police officials and politicians who act as fixers for criminals. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 129: He is a fixer for everything, including Republican Wayne Morse. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey. But the Season's Over 160: The show's 'fixer' was talking forty miles an hour to a police lieutenant, 1972 P, Fordham Inside the Und. 80: The one-time 'fixer' nowadays is apt to be used. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 72: We were well organized with plenty of fixers, bent solicitors and accountants who would sort things out. 1992 S.L, Hills Tragic Magic 142: The fixer would get things done, like job re¬ assignments and cell-block changes. 2002 L. Pizzichini Dead Men's Wages (2003) 207: A fixer [...] is the man who acts as a go-between for villains and the police. Most of them are regarded as 'dirt',

fixer n.^ (fix v.^l 1 (US drugs) a drug dealer. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 57: Hit me. Fixer. Hit me.

fixed adj^ [US) armed; carrying a weapon. an order to one of these parties he did it with the full understanding

US) one who arranges or adjusts

1889 Amer. Mission Dec. 363: Where the 'boss' and the fixer of

Hopalong, sleepily. 'That liquor was fixed!' 1872 'Mark Twain' Roughing It 57: When the 'divison-agent' issued

//x/fix v.'' (2)1 (or/g.

matters, a go-between, esp. in an illegal context.

1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 102: Maybe he had

gone to the fixer. 2 (US drugs) a narcotics user, a person who injects narcotics.

that he might have to enforce it with a navy six-shooter, and so he

1971 M, Novotny Kings Road 210: With the efficiency of a regular

always went 'fixed.'

fixer, Helen melted a tablet with distilled water,

fixed adj.^ [SE in a fix] (Aus.) dispirited, unwell. Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Nov. 14/2: Billy, the chief of our blackboys, got a bit 'fixed' with the terrible dust. He at last sat in a corner of the yard. I hailed him: 'Billy, you sick?'

fixing n. (it fxes one up] (Aus.) strong drink.

1914

fixed ad/.^

[FIX v.^ (1)]

1889-90 Barrere 6- Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant I 365/1:

Fixings [...] (Bushmen), strong liquor,

fixings n.’ [SE fixing, the garnishing of food] (US) 1 equipment.

[drugs) using or under the influence of

1828 J. Hall Letters from the West 304: These little fixens [i.e. a knife, flint and steel] said glass, make a man feel right peart, when he is three or four hundred miles from any body or any place. 1833 J. Hall Soldier's Bride 149: The Mackinaw blanket, the leggins, and other fixens as we say in the West. 1847 J.S. Robb Streaks of Squatter Life 31: Throw yourself wide on the literary fixins and poetry, for the galls. 1855 Browning Men and Women, Bishop Blougram's Apoi 212: Neat ship-shape fixings and contrivances. 1861 R.F. Burton City of the Saints 78: She had forgotten her 'fixins' [...] a reticule containing a 'bishop,' a comb and a pomatum pot. 1872 Daily Tel. 30 Sept, n.p.: Still stoutly asserted by some sceptical Down-Easter to have been an itinerant dealer in hardware and kitchen fixings from Salem, Mass [F&H]. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 14/2: A large billiard-room, containing three tables, has been fitted up, and better still, in our opinion, a sparring apartment, with shower and 'fixins' that cannot

injectable narcotics. 1953 E. Hunter 'Vicious Circle' in Jungle Kids (1967) 32: I ain't been fixed since the Ice Age. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 121: You're just not going to be happy until you get yourself fixed, are you? 1968-70 Current SI. III-IV (Cumulation Issue),

fixed bayonet n. 1 an erect penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 [Aus. milit) red wine. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of Si. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924

(rev. t/s) n.p.: fixed bayonet. Vin Rogue [sic] (red wine).

3 (N.Z. mi/i't.) (a/so fix bayonets) methylated spirits. 1988 (con. WWII) McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/1: fix bayonets methylated spirits; variant of military term for Bermuda rum, with ref. its sting; WWII. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. Si [as cit. 1988],

fixed up adj. 1 (also fixed off) appearing well provided with

fail to take the most aesthetic lovers of the noble art by storm. 1890 H. Lawson 'A Word to Texas Jack' in Roderick (1967-9) I 65: How I'd like ter see a bushman use yer fixins, Texas Jack. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 216: I'll give you that, and ten per cent, more on account of the fixin's. 1952 Kerouac letter 10 May in Charters I (1995) 348: The bed was a straw pallet on crisscross sticks [...] under which Saint Junkey kept bis fixings and shit.

material goods. 1833 J. Hall Soldier’s Bride 186: I thought from the way you were fixed off, that you had goods to sell.

2 (US) (also fixed out) dressed up. 1832 Polit. Examiner 8 Dec. 4/1:1 seed her at church one day fixed up kinder pretty snug; so [...] darn my seelskin pumps if I dont buck up to her next Fust day [DA], 1844 'Jonathan Slick' High Life in N.Y. I 194: What will the folks think of us if we come fixed out so? 1851 'How Sally Hooter Got Snake-Bit' in T.A. Burke Polly Peablossom's Wedding 71: Camp meetin' day it came, an' we was all thar, an' the she-folks they was fixed up in er inch uv their lives. 1898 J. Fox Jr 'Courtin' on Cutshin' Hell Per Sartain and Other Stories n.p,: Jeb was fixed up now fittin' to kill. 1947 F. Brown Fabulous Clipjoint (1949) 142: She had on a black dress, a new one [...] She had on a little make-up, but not too much. Gosh, I thought, she's really pretty when she's fixed up. 3 fine, good, worked out, happy, content. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 147: So youse all fixed up in this

heah town? 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 69: Your father will go with you an' everything will be fixed up. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 88: By that time I'm fixed up with

another sheila.

2

food. 1842 Dickens Amer. Notes (1985) 132: Will you try, said my opposite

neighbour, handing me a dish of potatoes, broken up in milk and butter, will you try some of these fixings. 1850 W.K. Northall Life and Recollections of Yankee Hill 26: Captain Gay was tried, found guilty, and condemned to be shot, or, rather, to pay the shot for the amount of oysters, champagne, and other fixings. 1864 'Edmund Kirke' Down in Tennessee 101: I'se mighty pore fixins, stranger. 1884 C.F. Lummis letter 25 Dec. in Byrkit Letters from the Southwest (1989) 192: We boys have chipped in and got the fixin's for a big Christmas dinner. 1902 J. Masefield 'The Yarn of the Loch Achray' in SaltWater Ballads 6: I'll just [.,,] buy the fixins 'n' cook the meats, 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 893: You know you like our dinners better here than all those fancy fixin's over there. 1999 J. Ridley Evetybody Smokes in Hell 77: Frozen buritos, which were across from the hot-dog fixin's stand.

fixings 3 clothes.

1843 W.T. Thompson Major Jones's Courtship (1872) 43: They all had

ther Sunday fixins on and was traid to go into the brush much. C.1849 One of the Boys' in G.S. Jackson Early Songs of Uncle Sam (1933) 58: Trousers I've got 'em forty inches round the bottom [...] The gals, them little vixens, how they eyes my fancy fixins. 4 (Aus.) strong drink [it 'fixes one up']. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant I 365/1: Fixings [...] (Bushmen), strong liquor.

5 anything used to dilute or mix with alcohol, e.g. tonic water. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 28: She [...] came back

with two thick smeared glasses. 'No fixin's. Just what you brought is all.' 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 47: She busied herself with the fixings and I watched her as she measured by guesswork - she wasn't a scientific bartender. 6 the tobacco and matches required to light a pipe. 1989 J. Lansdale Savage Season (1996) 41: Leonard got his pipe and

fixings out of his coat pocket, packed the pipe, and lit it. fixings n} [it is fixed in the house] 1 furniture. 1884 (con. c. 1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 220: The king said

it was all the more homely and more pleasanter for these fixings, and so don't disturb them. 2 in ext. use, the trappings of luxury. 1919 J. Buchan Mr Standfast (1930) 691: There was a time when he was the last thing in smartness in the German court - officer in the Guards, ancient family, rich, darned clever - all the fixings,

fixings n.^ [the couple are fixed together] (US) sexual intercourse. 1932 V.F. Nelson Prison Days and Nights 38: Goddam it, a guy can't

live without them. Not when he's had to go without his fixings for years. fix-up n.^ [FIX UP v.^] 1 (US) an alcoholic drink. 1867 W.H. Dixon New American I 191: Eye-opener, fix-ups, or any other Yankee deception in the shape of liquor. 2 (drugs) an injection of a narcotic drug. 1930 M. West Babe Gordon (1934) 13: He wanted a fix-up of coke. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics

Lingo and Lore. fix-up n} [FIX UP v.^ (3)1 a blind date arranged by a third party. 1997 Mad mag. Mar. 45: Please! No more fix-ups! No more dates from hell! fix up v.^ 1 to set up a meeting or appointment (usu. for someone else); thus fixed up, having such an appointment arranged; note to arrange a date or sex comes under sense 3. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 21: [1] fixed it up to take her to a show. 1916 E. Pound letter 24 June in Paige (1971) 84: A. P. Watt fixed me up with Macmillan in about a week. 1930 J.T. Farrell 'Clyde' in Short Stories (1937) 167: 'Come along, kid. I'll fix you up,' the stranger said out of the side of his mouth. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 174: We fixed it up to have a drink at the end of the week. 1983 N. Proffitt Gardens of Stone (1985) 191: Want Goody to fix you up? 1999 K. Sampson Powder 245: Keva is quite unlikely, but might come if he can make it. That's no problem. I totally appreciate her fixing up the rest of the guys for me. 2 to provide someone with food, clothing, accommodation, a job etc. 1889 S. Bailey Ups and Downs of a Crook's Life 42:1 assured him that I

would either fix him up myself, or send him to a man across-town who would set him to work. 1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage (1964) 93: We'll have yeh fixed up in jest a minute. 1900 Marvel 8 Dec. 27: We'll fix yer up with a bit of buffaler's flesh as sweet as any same. 1913 H.A. Franck Zone Policeman 88 167: 'I haven't been issued a gun or handcuffs yet,' I hinted. 'Hell's fire, no?' queried the Inspector. 'Tell the station commander at Gatun to fix you up.' 1923 'Sapper' Jim Maitland (1953) 1 12: You can fix us up, Bury? 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 229: We can fix this up. I'll see [...] the druggist. He's a good pal. He'll come across with something. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 615:1 coulda fixed ya up with something. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 183: 'How's it for a feed, Gus? I on'y got a zack.' [...] 'We fix you up with something.' 1961 V.S. Naipaul House For Mr Biswas 164: Seebaran woulda fix you up in two twos. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 159: Mr Moggerhanger fixed me up with an attic room at his big house in Ealing. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 19: Larry, the sales manager at Casa, fixed me up with an old Cutlass demo, loaded. 3 to initiate a relationship or bring two people together for sex, to arrange a date or meeting with a prostitute; to marry. 1900 H. Lawson 'Joe Wilson's Courtship' in Roderick (1972) 539: You let me alone and I'll fix you up [...] I'll make it all right with the girl. 1929 J.T. Farrell 'Calico Shoes' in Fellow Countrymen (1937) 167: Come on, kid. I'll fix you up. 1931 E.M. Berry 'Sawmill Divertisse¬ ments' in Botkin Folk-Say 211: If I was a young man like you I wouldn't wait no time afore I'd be fixed up. 1941 B. Schulberg What

fizgig

121

Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 8: I've got a pal who gets me fixed up every Saturday night. 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 146: He had promised to fix me up; he knew all the girls in Denver. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 208: Hey, fix me up with that girl! 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 183: Cutter asked him if he could fix up his 'kinky friend here' with a Great Dane. 1978 Ramis, Kenney & Miller Animal House [film script] I want you to fix Pinto up, but it's got to be a very special girl. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 142: Drop my mother's book and I'll fix you up with Mila. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 20: Huv tae fix ye up wi ma sister-in-law again. 2005 K. Huff A Steady Rain I i: Only Denny, he'd bring these women to dinner night after night trying to fix me up. 4 (US gay) to fellate. 1949 'Swasarnt Nerf' et al. Gay Girl's Guide 9: fix up: Least gay

euphemism for 'Blow', used by some effeminophobic homosexuals. Rare.

5 to have sexual intercourse; in cit. 1958, to satisfy sexually. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 59: Say, ain't she even

fixin' you up yet? 1945 K. Amis letter 31 Dec. in Leader (2000) 31: A young lady whom 1 only like at all when 1 am actually fixing her up old boy and not much even then. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 136: Ain't got it in you, boy, to fix a lady up. 1965 E. Bond Saved Scene hi: I'll 'ave t' fix up a little bird t'night. 1970 San Diego Sailor 57: I'll fix you up anytime you want it. It's just that [...] I don't want to peter out on you. 6 to pay someone. 1951 M. Spillane One Lonely Night 88: I'll fix you up for your trouble. 7 (US) to beat, to defeat. 1973 B. Conn in Heller In This Corner (1974) 222: Krieger, he fixed me

up the first time. He beat me.

fix up v.^ [ext. of FIX n.^ (1)j 1 (US drugs) to inject heroin or morphine. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 272: Now Tm fixed up. 1913 A.B. Reeve Constance Dunlap 298: I must fix up a bit. 1967 K. Kolb Getting Straight 3: You want to fix up this afternoon? 1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 21: While the mother is waiting for the water to heat, she decides to fix up. 2 to give someone, usu. an alcoholic, a drink. 1953 J. Thompson Alcoholics (1993) 26: You've got to fix me up. Doc. Boy, if I don't get a drink fast I'm going to fall apart. 3 to give (or sell) someone some narcotics. 1959 J.E. SemAmt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole

145: Take a seat there, Cindy, and I fix you up. You want a little shot now? 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 217: We gon fix you up. fix up v.^ see fit up v.^ .

fix up! exci. [fit up v.^j a general excl. of admonition. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 1: 'Fix up Sean!' Cory cried, strutting as he walked. 2004 Guardian G2 12 Mar. 13: Ladeez Man: bollox innit. Bronco: wot hi ladeezman. Ladeezman: fix up.

fiz n.^ [abbr./pron. SE physiognomy) the face. 1700 N. Ward Rambling Rakes 6: A brace of Ladies [...] put the black Pall o'er their Fizes. 1768 A. Ross Helenore in Wattie Scot. Works (1938) 37: Black, hairy wrats [sic], about an inch between, / Out-throw her fiz, were like mustaches seen,

fiz n 2 see FIZZ n.^ (3). fiz n.^ see phiz n.\ fizgig nf [ext. of SE gig, a flighty young woman; despite logical imagery of FIZZ n.^ (2), i.e. one who fizzes (with animal spirits) the chronology renders this impossible] a promiscuous woman. 1517 Skelton Elynour Rummynge line

538: Than sterte forth a fysgygge And she brought a bore pygge. 1573 T. Tusser Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie (1878) 169: Make maide to be clenly, or make her crie creake, and teach hir to stirre, when hir mistresse doths speake. Let hollie wand threate. Let Fisgig be beate. 1841 D. Boucicault London Assurance in London Assurance and other Victorian Comedies (2001) Act III: Fizgig! The devil!

fizgig n.^ (also fizzgig, phizgig) [ety. unknown; AND suggests an ext. use of FIZGIG n.\ i.e. one who runs around and chatters indiscreetly] (Aus.) a police informer. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Dec. 37/1: They went away cursing all fizgigs, and informers, and blanky idiots of Police Sergeants. 1915 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Dec. 29/2: The utter currishness of the ordinary criminal is the detective's salvation. Without the fiz-gig, the man who loses his nerve and gives the show away, the criminal courts might almost close up for all the work that would come their way. 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] FIZGIG— Police informer. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1940 E. Curry Hysterical Hist, of Aus. 175: Actually, my dear pupils, he was a shelf, a fizgig, a top-off, or, to use more polite language, what is known as a police pimp. 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks v 124: A stool pigeon or informer, otherwise known as a fizgig, fizzer, shelf and topoff. 1967

fizgig

'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxviii 10/ 2: phizzgig: A stickybeak, one who cannot mind his own business. Sometimes shortened to phizz. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 39; Phizzgig Police informer. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 50: Equally Australian are a number of terms for the person who keeps guard for those involved in criminal activities, including cockatoo, NiTKEEPER (one who KEEPS NIT), the crickety-sounding long-stopper and FIZZ-GIG, or fizzer now used widely to mean a police informer,

fizgig n.^ see fiscig n. fizhog n. see phiz n.\ fizz n.^ 1 a fuss, a commotion. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 204: He was a-gitten into such an

almighty frizzle of a fizz. 1908 'O. Henry' 'The Rathskeller and the Rose' in Voice of the City (1915) 179: She is in the heyday of flattery, fame and fizz. 1938 .I.H. Warner 'A Word List From Southeast Arkansas' in AS XIII; 1 5: I was in such a fizz that I forgot my gloves. 1944 J. Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 86: He was in such a fizz that he animal spirits, raw energy. 1883 E.J. Milliken Childe Chappie's Pilgrimage 10: Life's fizz till the last bubble's gone! 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 61: There wasn't no fizz in him. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 398/2: from ca. 1850. 1947 'A.P. Gaskell' 'Tidings of Joy' in Big Game and Stories 39: It took all the fizz out of me. 1977 (con. 1940s) S. McAughtry Sinking of the Kenbane Head 92: Not even John Wayne [...] and the whole US Marine Corps could have put any fizz into Halifax. 1999 Guardian G2 30 June 15: Why not harness the school's fizz. 2000 Guardian Weekend 18 Mar. 85: 'Panache', I continue, 'bazazz - you know,

sparkle, fizz.' 3 (a/so fiz, fizzer, fizzly, pfiz, phiz, phizz water) champagne; occas. lemonade and ginger beer mixed. 1836 Comic Almanack Mar.

1915 R.P. Hamilton diary 11 May [Internet] Tea at a cake-shop and

some (fizz) lemonade at an open-air cafe. 1936 H.W. Bentley 'Linguistic Concoctions of the Soda Jerker' in AS XI: 1 43: FIZZ. Carbonated water. 1941 J.M. Cain Mildred Pierce (1985) 373: He put in ice and fizz water. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 108: Squirting the fizz water into glasses. 2000 Indep. Rev. 26 Jan. 1: To find out more about the history of Barr's soft drinks [...] typing in the keyword 'fizz' to the main catalogue. 2000 Indep. Rev. 10 June 20: I'm sure you'll want to know the hot news from the fizz biz. 6 sherbet. 1979 H. Leonard 4 Life (1981) Act II: An' the fizz-bags the chiselurs

could buy for a ha'penny,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fizzboat in.) (N.Z.) a small noisy speedboat. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 78: fizzboat A small, flimsy, noisy

boat with an outboard motor owned, not surprisingly, by a fizzboater. Latter C20.

couldn't contain himself.

2

fizzer

122

[illus. by George Cruikshank; a champagne bottle speaks] I will speak out! - I don't care a fizz for old Father Mathew or anybody. 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 79; What with hot drinks through the night, and cool 'flzzers' in the morning, bad luck to a ha'porth of grog or lemonade will be left to the firm, 1864 Punch XLVII 100; So away we went to supper For hungry we had grown. And ordered some fizz, which the right thing is. With a devilled turkey bone. 1877 "Arry on His 'Oliday' in Punch 13 Oct. 161/1: The 'bitter' round here is just lummy, and a for their soda-and-B, / It's ekal to 'fiz,' and no error. 1881 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Jan. 4/2: A young lady of 74 summers, who had imbibed one glass each of 'fiz' and liqueur, remarked, in rather a vacant tone to the host, that the champagne was excellent but the Kerosene (Maraschino) made her feel very peculiar. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) Vll 1425: A little more pfiz and we were all on the spree. [Ibid.] IX 1894; I'll let you look for a minute if you'll give me a bottle of phiz. I've not had a drop of anything to day. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 78: There'll be a little lunch, and perhaps some fizz. 1891 G.R. Sims 'A Ballad of Soap' Dagonet Ditties 65: That pint of fizz with Joe, / That big cigar with Fred, / Have wrought dyspeptic woe. 1903 Ade People You Know 2\0-. When he wanted her to take some of the Phizz Water she made an Awful Stand. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 99: With his second glass of fizz Sir Peter began to thaw a little. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'When The Cranks Have Had Their Way' Sporting Times 16 May 1/4: What! No billing and no cooing, no John Barleycorn, no 'fizz,' / No hilarity, no music, sport nor play! / Then I'm o.p.h. 1915 R.P. Hamilton diary 14 Aug. [Internet] Had some fizzly with Thorne & Lovibond, who are going on leave. 1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle (1930) 292: He brought out [...] three bottles of champagne. 'Fizz,' said Sandy rapturously. 'And a dry Heidsieck tool' 1920 E.F. Benson Queen Lucia (1984) 86: Pass the fizz. 1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 32: Well, boys, just in time for a little fizz-water, Adora cried. 1929 (con. WWI) J.B. Wharton Squad 4: An' fizz-water costs only five francs a bottle. 1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock (1943) 39: Ask you round the corner to split a bottle of fizz if those beggars hadn't taken the last fiver. 1946 S. Jackson An Indiscreet Guide to Soho 107; The only props are plenty of 'fizz'. 1947 'A.P. Gaskell' 'School Picnic' in Big Game and Stories 89: We gotta hundred fizz [.,.] And straws. 1953 W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 61: I figure the last night ashore oughta be something worth remembering [...] You know, fizz, a snazzy band, a dame that can dress. 1966 Frank Zappa 'You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here' [lyrics] Stomp all night / And drink your fizz. 1995 (con. 1860s) P. Ackroyd Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem 81; She [...] came back with a bag of monkey nuts and a bottle of lemon fizz. 2001 Eve. Standard Mag, 23 Feb. 42: Securing me enough cash for a bottle of fizz, 50:

4 attrib. use of sense 3. 1916 R.D. Doughty diary 11 May [Internet] Major, Chas and 1 had a

Fizz Supper. Glorious war this.

5 {also fizz water) sparkling water; soda water.

fizz water (n.) see sense 4 above, fizz n.^ [abbr. FIZGIG n.^ (1)1 (Aus.) an informer. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn). 1957 J. Waten Shares in Murder 25: He had turned more criminals into police spies than any other officer Fields had ever known. No one had more fizzes in his hands [AND]. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet]

Fizz. An informer (Vic),

fizz see phiz n.\ fizz v.^ [FIZGIG n.^ (1)| (Aus.) to be an informer. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Sept. 29/2: When yer biz / Is ter fizz - / Ter

fizz fur the D.'s.

fizz v.^ (US teen) to lose one's temper. 1961 Long Beach Press-Telegram 14 Dec. 8: Beep beep to all you handcuffs whose teenagers fizz it up when you won't let them have

the beast.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fizz out (on) (v.) [SE -F FIZZLE v} (3)1 (Aus.) to let down, to fail in a promise. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 29: Fizz out on, to let down, fail in a promise.

■ In exclamations fizz off! (N.Z.) leave! go away! 1969 B. Mason Awatea (1978) 47: Fizz off! Fizz off!, the lottyas! Go on, now. [Ibid.] 82; Right, there's your cue. Fizz off.

fizzer n.^ [fizz n.^ (2)1 anything or anyone excellent or first-rate. 1866 London Misc. 19 May 235: If the mare was such a fizzer why did

you sell her? [F&H]. 1873 J. Greenwood In Strange Company 9: He's a fizzer on the whistle [...] The tin-whistle - don't yer know? 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 318; That was a regular fizzer of a spree, c.1905 J. Furphy Rigby's Romance (1921) Ch. xiii; [Internet] You'll meet your antithetical affinity yet - some woman [who] will fill the goblet of life with a delectable fizzer. 1923 'Bartimeus' 'Chops and Chips' in Seaways 101: 'What's your skipper like?' 'Oh, a Fizzer. His missus is a good scout too.' 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 132: Fizzer as that sermon no doubt is, will it be good enough.

fizzer n.^ [fizzle v? (3)1 1 (US) a firecracker that fails to go off, 1914 J.C. Ruppenthal 'A Word-List From Kansas' in DN IV;ii 106:

n. [...] 2. A firecracker that explodes with a hiss. 2 (Aus./N.Z.) a disappointing failure, a fiasco, a 'wash-out'. fizzer,

1957 R.S. Porteous Brigalow 101: Good old Carson, I thought. You

may be a bit of a fizzer, but you'll do me. 1969 W. Dick Naked Prodigal 236: We all went to a New Year's Eve party in Goodway, but it was a fizzer. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 271: If that was Whiteside's secret it was a fizzer. 1980 L. Mantell Murder and Chips 77: Peacock was not impressed. [...] 'Looks like a fizzer. Beats me why the old man even brought it up.' 1984 E, Ebbett When the Boys Were Away 176; We were happy the war was over but it was a fizzer. As far as we were concerned it was an anti-climax. 2000 Bug (Aus.) 4 Aug. [Internet] Every paper you pick up, every TV show you watch, told us the GST was a fizzer like the Y2K Bug. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 78: fizzer Failed item of machinery or fireworks. ANZ cl 920. 3 a form of contraceptive. 1962 C. Rohan Delinquents 150: Who would think I'd be so stiff as to

fall again? I used fizzers, too.

fizzer n? (also phizzer) [fizgig n.^ (1)1 (Aus.) an informer. 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks v, 124; A stool pigeon or informer, otherwise known as a fizgig, fizzer, shelf and topoff. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-

Didge Oz Jack Lang 28; Fizzer Same as phizzgig. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 50; Equally Australian are a number of terms for the person who keeps guard for those involved in criminal activities, including '[,..]

fizzgig

fizzle (out)

123

the crickety-sounding long-stopper and fizz-gig, or fizzer now used widely to mean a police informer, fizzgig n. see fizgig n.^.

fizzical culturalist

n. Ipuns on SE fizzy/physkal] (US black) a

bartender. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 1944 'diver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hhk of Harlem Jive. 1988 Lewin & Lewin Thes. SI. 34/2:

Bartender [...] fizzical cidturist. 2003 Daily News 1 Apr. [Internet] One such is the 'Thesaurus of Slang', a rather rare publication by Esther and Albert E. Lewin. [...] It is a rather large book and is very interesting and revealing. For instance, a bartender is described as a fizzical culturist, blood as people juice, death as a dirt nap, to be drunk to walk on rocky socks, gasoline as motion lotion.

fizzing adj. (also phizzing)

[ref. to the effervescence of champagne, i.e. FIZZ n.^ (3)] 1 wonderful, excellent, first-rate.

would've been a fizzle. 1967 Oz 2 18/3: Rubirosa was a fizzle in bed Latin beauty says. 1983 Goldman & Fuller Charlie Company 283: The lesson was a fizzle. 1998 D. Hecht Skull Session 486: What about all that wasted potential, Paulie? Such a bright child, such a fizzled adulthood. 3 (US) a minor quarrel. 1859 C. Mackay Life and Liberty in America 105: Among the pure Americanisms may be cited the following: [...] Fizzle, a slight quarrel or controversy. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 July 12/1: [H]e has no doubt that next morning when in her sober senses, Nora would return to her conjugal and maternal duties. So that the fizzle with which the 'Doll's House' finishes is simply the result of fizz; but Torvald was too drunk to notice it. 4 (US Und.) an escape. 1859 Matsbll Vocahulum 32: 'The cove made a fizzle,' the fellow

escaped.

1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 125: Bravo! Bravissimo! 1 call it

phizzing, I do, and show me the man who dare deny it? 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1913 C. Mackenzie Sinister Street I 166: I think that girl was simply fizzing. 1958 Willans & Searle Complete Molesworth (1985) 370: She is absolutely fizzing more lovely ever than prudence entwistle the under matron.

2 a general negative; also as adv. [euph. for fucking adj. (1)]. 1958 J. Arden Live Like Pigs Act II: Oh go to hell, you and your fizzing husband. 1995 P. O'Keeffe Down Cobbled Streets, A Liberties Childhood 61:1 wish they'd fizzin' well make up their minds.

fizzle

n.'' (a/so fiezle) [fizzle

v.''

(2)1 a breaking of wind.

1645 'An Encomium' in Wardroper (1969) 203: The soldier makes

his foes to run / With but the farting of a gun; / That's if he make the bullet whistle, / Else it's no better than a fizzle. 1654 Witts Recreations 'Fancies and Fantasticks' No. 112: A messe of Non-sense [...] Like a Crablouse with his bag and baggage, / Or like th' abortive issue of a Fizle. a.1661 'Upon the Parliament Fart' in Rump Poems and Songs I (1662) 63: It is much certain quoth Sir Humphrey Bentwhizle, / That a Round-fart is better than a stinking fiezle. 1672 'On a Farts' in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) ii 128: The Soldier makes his foes to run. With but the farting of a Gun, That's if he make the Bullets whistle. Else 'tis no better than a fizle. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fizzle, a little or low-sounding Fart. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1 756) 33: He would give you a Lady's Fart, a Brewer's Fart, a Bumkin's Fart, and Old Woman's Slur, or a Maiden Fizzle &c. 1714 G. Hunter 'Androboros' in Meserve & Reardon Satiric Comedies (1969) 7: A Fizle restrain'd will bounce like a F--t. 1722 Benefit of Farting 1: By Obidiah Fizzle, Groom of the Stool to the Princess of Arse-Mini. 1739 R. Bull Grobianus 208: Now let a Fizzle steal in Silence forth. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fizzle, an escape backwards, more obvious to the nose than ears. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1908 L.W. Payne Jr 'Word-List From East Alabama' in DN IILiv 311: fizzle, n. A breaking of wind.

fizzle

n.^ [fizzle v.^j 1 (US campus) a (partial) failure in a recitation or examination.

fizzle

v.^ [echoic]

1

to defecate.

a.1575 'Old Simon the Kinge' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads

(1897) III 1: Mine ostes was sicke of the mumpes, / her mayd was ffisle at ease. 1661 'The Display of the Headpiece & Codpiece in Valour' in Rump Poems and Songs II (1662) 92: Had the Rump but once fizTd, 'twas the strongest side. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 554: The devil of anything we do, but fizzling, farting, funking, squattering [...] and doing nothing. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 241: At Stool I'd fizzle out a thousand Things, / And with Quack's Bills, then mundify my Breech. 2 (a/so fisle) to break wind. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk II 331: The false old trot did so fizzle and foist, that she stunk like a hundred devils. C.1660 'Panche' in Furnivall & Hales Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript of Loose and Humorous Songs (1868) 65: The woman was windye, & fisled againe. 1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 18: I'll teach him fizzel in my Piss-pot. 1739 R. Bull Grobianus 268: Proceed, ye venerable Train! proceed. To fart and fizzle in the Time of Need; Those who retain stale Wind are nasty Sluts.

fizzle

2

v.^ 1 (US campus) to fail someone in an examination. 1850 Yale Literary Mag. 321: Fizzle him tenderly, / Bore him with care; / Fitted so slenderly, / Tutor, beware. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 203: fizzle 2. To cause one to fail in reciting. Said of an instructor. (US campus) to fail in an examination.

1847 Yale Banger 22 Oct. in Hall (1856) 203: My dignity is outraged at beholding those who fizzle and flunk in my presence tower above me. 1854 'A Little More Cider' in C. Elliot Songs of Yale (1870) 31:1 'skinned' and 'fizzled' through. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 203: fizzle. To fail in reciting; to recite badly. 1871 L.H. Bagg Four Years at Yale 44: Fizzle, partial failure on recitation. Flunk, an entire failure. Both these words are also used as verbs. 1927 W.R. Morse 'Stanford Expressions' in AS 11:6 277: poop our—fizzle, 3 to fail, to make a mess of. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: fizzled Broke up; fell through. 1869 J.R.

1846 Yale Banger 10 Nov. in Hall (1856) 202: The best judges have

Browne Adventures in the Apache Country 385: Guess they aren't

decided, that to get just one third of the meaning right constitutes a perfect fizzle. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 202: fizzle [...] a bad recitation, probably from the want of distinct articulation which usually attends such performances. 1871 L.H. Bagg Four Years at Yale 631: So, too, a good scholar may help a poor one [...] by swapping papers with him, though by doing it he ensures for himself a fizzle instead of a rush, 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 35: fizzle, n. A poor recitation.

eager for it. Likely as not they'll fizzle. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890) 14: Fizzled. Broke up; miscarried. 1915 Van Loan 'The Extra Man' in Buck Parvin 30: If the two big stunts [...] stand up all right I've got another grand picture [...] if they fizzle - good night! 1924 G, Henderson Keys to Crookdom 415: Rank. To blunder. To fizzle. To rank a job. To get a rumble. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 24 Jan. [synd. col.] [It] was a plot to get the Cork out of Washington, but it fizzled. 1954 B, Appel Sweet Money Girl 98: Then on the wedding night to fizzle it like the other times when I'd fizzled it. 1969 B. Mason Awatea (1978) 75: matt: What did they say? brett: That I was taking a risk; that if it fizzled. I'd be in the cactus. 1999 Newsday 7 Nov. G14: A call to the American Civil Liberties Union worked its magic, the bond requirement fizzled and a permit was issued. 2003 G. Ragland Griffis Coaling Station A 87: The evening she had looked forward to all year was ruined, the grand denouement she had envisioned completely fizzled.

2 (orig. US)

a failure; thus fizzled adj,

1849 Tomahawk Nov. n.p.: Here he could fizzles mark, without a sigh.

And see orations unregarded die [F&H]. 1851 National Intelligencer & Dec. n.p.: The speech was as complete a fizzle as has ever disgraced Congress, and we hope sincerely the honourable member from Massachussetts will take the lesson to heart. 1862 A. Bensell dliary in Barth All Quiet on the Yamhill (1959) 25 Mar, 5: Made a grand fizzle as usual. 1873 J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 104: Fizzle, a ridiculous failure. 1885 "Arry on the Merry Month of May' in Punch 16 May 229/1: Nature's a fraud and a fizzle. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 19 July 15/2: The Pingara fizzle gives little encouragement to take a short price about any of Miller's horses for next Saturday's steeplechase. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 200: Socially, no less than matrimonially. Contango was a complete fizzle. 1914 A. Jennings Beating Back in Hamilton (1952) 93: If the trainmen [.,.] watch the baggage platform; you risk a complete fizzle. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 245: He returned half of it with the statement that the co-operative wood yard was a fizzle. 1931 W.N. Burns One-Way Ride 160: He'll make a fizzle of the job, of course. 1933 J. Conroy Disinherited 140: It ain't my fault we ain't got younguns, you little fizzle! 1954 B. Appel Sweet Money Girl 97: Frieda was smart to turn me down. Our marriage

fizzle-fart n. (US teen)

a term of abuse.

1935 J. Conroy World to Win 81: If I was you. I'd go and hide my

head in a pile of cowshit [...] I'd dive in it head first and let it smother me, that's what I'd do, you little fizzle-fart! 2005 posting at DVD Verdict 5 Jan, [Internet] I liked it ]i.e. a film] (well, up until the little fizzle fart of an ending).

fizzle (out)

V.

[the sound of escaping air -F FIZZLE v? (3)]

1

to kill.

1855 T. Haliburton Nature and Human Nature II 156: Mr dear old missus died from only eaten hogs wid dere heads on [...] she was fizzled out by bad coookery at de last.

2 (orig. US)

to peter out, to fail gradually but surely. a,1848 Cincinnati Gazette n.p.: It cannot be possible, after all that has been said and done about a 'splendid hotel,' that our enterprising

fizzle r

business men will let it fizzle out |B]. 1854 Olympia (Wash. Territory) Pioneer 15 Apr. n.p.: The Steilacoom gold excitment has entirely fizzled out [DA]. 1865 M. MacFie Vancouver Island and British Columbia 416: The slang in vogue in the mining regions is imported mainly from California, and is often as expressive as it is original. [...] When a claim disappoints the hopes of those interested in it, it has 'fizzled out.' 1897 Chicago Trib. 21 Aug. 11/1: [caption] Meeting fizzled out [DA]. 1902 A.N. Lyons Hookey 68: Come, come, comrades! You ain't goin'ter let this so-called debate fizzle out where it begun? 1905 'Central Connecticut Word-List' in DN llLi 9: fizzle out v. To prove a failure. 1905 N. Davis Northerner 258: That talk about the unconstitutionality of the Moody bill fizzled out, did n't it? 1938 F. Anthony 'Efficiency' in Me And Gus (1977) 58: Then all of a sudden, the old chap's interest in swedes seemed to fizzle out. 1942 J. MacLaren-Ross 'Y List' in Memoirs of the Forties (1984) 249: The wireless ]...] was now altogether Roosevelt and sometimes Bing Crosby. Hess had fizzled out. 1950 (con. 1936-46) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 229: She thought this wild-fire amour between himself and Pat would fizzle out. 1951 Kerouac letter 2 Jan. in Charters 1 (1995) 323: As for my 'marriage,' that fizzled. 1968 A. Buckeridge Jennings in Particular (1988) 9: You wouldn't expect the game to fizzle out in the first over. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 32: Her job search having fizzled out. 1981 P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Out! 105: The war lasted a couple of weeks and then fizzled out. 1999 Guardian 15 Oct. 17: JonBenet murder case fizzles out. 2000 F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 148:1 need to know if you're serious about us. Or are you going to go on playing me along like this until we fizzle out? 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 54: The AP carried a small piece [...] and then things fizzled. [fizz n? (3)] a champagne bottle. 1834 T. Hood 'Tylney Hall' Works (1862) HI 345: 'Stop those two bottles,' [...] he pointed to a couple of long-necked fizzlers.

fizzler n.

fizzly n. see fizz (3). fizzog n. see phiz n.\ fizzy n. (ext. FIZZ n.^ (3)] 1

(a/so

fizzy-wizzy)

champagne.

1904 O. Kildare Good of the Wicked 28: 1 went to work and got some

o' the fizzy-wizzy [...] You can all look at the stamp on the cork and see that it's genooine French shampain. 1920 Dos Passos (con. WWI) One Man's Initiation: 1917 (1969) 140: Ch. vii: I'll go round to the cope and get a bottle of fizzy. We'll drink to peace or war, as you like. 1921 DOS Passos Three Soldiers 75: Come over and have a drink. We're going to have some fizzy. 1930 R. Whitfield Green Ice (1988) 114: Just happened along as the fizzy stuff was being served.

2

(Aus.) beer. 1916 All Abaht It Nov. 11: Then there's our long 'un, Alfy J., / Who's

fond of Bass's fizzy.

fizzy adj.

[fizz n.’’ (2)]

1

energetic, excitable.

1934 Wodehouse Right Ho. Jeeves 97: Bertram, so far from being the

2

flag

124

victim of despair, had never felt fizzier in his life. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 11: A singularly fizzy bird, as a rule. 1954 Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 59: The days that followed saw me at the peak of my form, fizzy to an almost unbelievable extent. (S.Afr. drugs) of a cigarette, containing marijuana. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 275: At these parties there were a lot of actors, actresses, and musicians who were nearly all drug-addicts [...] and smokers of 'fizzy' cigarettes,

fla/flaa see under flah. flaaitaal n. see fly taal under fly adj. flab n. [onomat. for something hanging down;

now virtually SE]

1

fat,

fatness. [1846 Swell's Night Guide 58: I takes my pitch last night on Fleet pave, then meets with Bet Flab, the Yarmouth bloater.] 1923 Herald (Glasgow) 15 Nov. 8: Other terms in every day use [at Christ's Hospital] are 'flab', butter [etc.] [OED]. 1959 A. Sinclair My Friend Judas (1963) 107: His flab sagged down, his belly sat in a mooning bulge pathetically upon his thighs. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 102: Maybe he did have flab problems. 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 139: She grabbed a handful of fanny flab. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We Have No 317: When the last flab has been burned off. 2001 Guardian G2 20 Mar. 18: Muscle, rather than flab.

2 (UK juv.)

football, glutton, grub-tub. |SE flabby +

redup.l

(W.l.) 1 worthless, good-for-

nothing. 1956 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

2 stocky, short and thickset. 1955 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

flab-stabbing

flach n. see flatch n. flack n. see flak n. flack V. [flak n.| (US) to

publicize; to work as a press agent.

1970 Time 15 June 40: Bill Wostendick, the newsman fired by

Washington's WETA-TV because his wife was hired to flack for Martha Mitchell, has a new job.

fladge n. (also flage)

[abbr./pron.l f/agellation, only when used in a

sexual context. 1959 F. Norman in Encounter n.d. in Norman's London (1969) 64: I don't care what you do as long as you don't get on my beat, because I've only had three short times tonight, and one of them was a flage merchant. 1967 G. Freeman Undergrowth of Lit. (1969) 79: Customer to Proprietor: 'Got any straight sex, then?' Proprietor, apologetically; 'Sorry mate, it's all got a bit of fladge in it.' 1972 Times Literary Supplement A Aug. 916: The two big bookstalls in Trastevere go in for porn and fladge. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 167: In England flagefllation] has long been a staple of pornography. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 59: Fladge and padge - flagellation and pageantry. Bondage and dressing up for sexual titillation. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 69: plage is flagellation and sado-masochistic material. 1997 Deviants' Diet. [Internet] Why use the term 'flagellation', which for many people has overtones either of religion or the 'kinky' 1960s with its 'fladge'? 2006 in D. Seabrook Jack of Jumps (2007) 202: Malik specialized in [...] 'corrective treatment for men', so maybe Fleming was trying her hand at fladge.

■ In compounds fladge queen (n.) (also fladge fiend, ...freak) [-queen sfx (2)/fiend n. (3)/-freak s/x] (US gay) a homosexual who enjoys flagellation. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 184; fladge fiend [freak, queen] one who enjoys whipping or being whipped. [...] fladge party sadomasochistic romance. flag n.'' (a/so flagg) 1 (UK Und.) a groat, four pence; in cit. 1798, fourpenny-worth [? f. MLG vleger, 'a coin worth somewhat more than a Bremer groat']. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 83: flagg, a groate. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching [as cit. c.1566]. 1608 Dekker Belman of London {3rd) HI: UPR.: Why? Hast thou any lowre in thy bung to bowse? rog.: But a flag, a win, and a make. 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 M4: There was another excellent Benfeaker [...] who tooke two shillings and hue pence (two Bordes and hue Winnes.) or two Bordes and a Flagge for euery Passeport that went out of his beggarly Office. 1637 Dekker Canters Dia. in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) n.p.: Flagge, a Groat. 1648 Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1665 HEAD Eng. Rogue I 49; Flag, A Groat. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Flagg, a Groat. e.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flagg, c. a Groat. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Flag, a Groat. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 209: He taught his Pupil a deal of canting Words, telling him [...] Flag, a Groat. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 32; Flag, a Groat. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 113; A Groat A Flag. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 14; A Groat - Flag. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 142:1 say, my kiddies, there's two bobsticks of slim, and a flag's worth of lightening to pay. 1798 'St Giles's Greek' in Sporting Mag. Dec. XIII 164/1: The cull [...] remained at the bowsing ken, cocking his organ, and tempering his fogus with a few flagges of crank and white-tape. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 251/1; Bought for a 'flag' (fourpence). 1873 SI. Diet. 2 (US) a $1 note [var. on sense 1 or ahhr. JEWISH FLAG under ]EWISH adj.]. 1930 J. Huston Frankie and Johnny 47; One flag an' six singles—an'

the rest is silver [HDAS]. 1944 in C. Himes 'Let Me at the Enemy' Coll. Stories (1990) 38: He keep right on an' pick 'nother ton. Make forty flags.

3 (Aus.) a £1 note. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

a fat person.

1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 188: Flab,

flaba-flaba adj.

That foo Moral be flab slabbin [sic] that fat hoe Jessica, what she tree ofoe bills in weight?

n. [flab n. (1) -f stab v. (1)] (US black) having

sexual intercourse with a fat woman. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flab-stabbin Definition: to have sexual relations secretly with a fat ho. Example;

flag

n.2 [fig. uses of SE] 1 an apron; thus flag-flasher, one who wears an apron when not actually working. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s)

H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 218/1: I give below a vocabulary of their talk to each other: [...] Flag .... An apron. 1872 Dundee Advertiser 20 Apr. n.p.: Report of Meeting of Domestic Servants. It was contended that they were compelled to wear what was generally known as a flag [F&H]. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 8; Flag ... An Apron. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 74: Flag, Aus.: an apron. 2 in pi., clothes drying in the open air.

flag

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI. Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

3 a sanitary towel. 1937-84 Partridge DSVE (1984) 399/1: from ca. 1850.

4 the labia. well sucked nipple [...] with flags falling down from it till hidden by the outer lips.

5 (US Und.) an assumed name, an alias, i.e. 'a flag of convenience'. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 74: FLAG.-An alias. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 70/2: Flag, n. (Rare) An alias. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flag - An alias; a fictitious name. 6 (US) an erect penis; thus grow a flag v., to have an erection. 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 211: I saw she wasn't wearing panties. [...] I grew a flag. 1968 G. Cuomo Among Thieves 40: He was really hot. 'Hey, whatcha gonna do, run a flag up it?' Reena said. 7 (US) the act of avoiding looking at one's partner's face during sexual intercourse; thus using the flag, doing this. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 209: Her age was against her [...] Liz had the looks to which men often referred in relation to 'using the flag' during intercourse, 8 (US prison) a warning. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flag - A warning.

9 (US) an instinct, a personal standard or belief. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 79: By my flags I'm broke.

blends with the narcotic/water mixture before being pumped back into the vein (the blood 'waves' as it enters the syringe; note 19C whaling jargon flag, the blood spouted by a harpooned whale). 1971 J.T. Dunigan Drug Abuse: A Resource Guide. 2001 ONDCP Street

Terms 9: Flag — Appearance of blood in the vein.

■ In compounds flag-day (n.) (US campus) the menstrual period. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 117: Flag day Be menstruating.

■ In phrases flag is up, the (also flag is in port, the flag is out) used of a woman who is menstruating. 1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI. Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Henley

SI. and Its Analogues. 1916 H.N.

Cary

■ In compounds flag-flapper (n.) a person whose noisy patriotism is surpassed only by the care with which they ensure their ineligibility for active service. 1899 Kipling 'The Flag of Their Country' in Complete Stalky & Co. (1987) 221:1 was in the study, doin' a simply lovely poem about the Jelly-bellied Flag-flapper. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Call of Stoush' in Moods of Ginger Mick 30: 'E never flapped no flags nor sich like rot; / 'E never sung 'Gawsave' in all 'is life,

flagpole (n.) (S.Afr.) an erect penis. 2002 in 'Ben Trovato' On the Run (2007) 26: Some men take Viagra. [...] Well, I need the opposite. I am looking for something to anaesthetise my ardour. I want a pharmaceutical to flummox the flagpole.

flag-spot (n.) [SE flag down] (US black) a bus stop. 1944 D, Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 12: I'm stiffing the stroll on the flag spot when up pops a fine banana with a cluck stud hanging on her crook.

flag-waver (n.) [note jazz use flagwaver, 'a spectacular piece of music or

10 (drugs) the flow of blood from the vein into the syringe, where it

&

lunch box is open, flies cause disease—keep yours closed, what do birds do?—your fly is open. 1980 A. Pearl Dia. of Popular SI. 50: Flag is at half-mast, one's - the zipper on a pair of trousers is partially opened.

■ SE in slang uses

1888- 94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VIII 1578: A clitoris as big as a

Farmer

flag

125

SI. ofVenery.

1931 J.T. Farrell 'Merry Clouters' Fellow Countrymen (1937) 398:

'How about a little put-and-take, girls?' Hennessey suddenly said [...] 'The flag's out,' Nettie said. 1938 J. Wbidman 1 Can Get It For You Wholesale 216: The first time I figured, all right, maybe the flag was up. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 129: And after the end of the month rolls around and that bitch's flag jump back in port [when she menstruates] / then keep every inch a your natural prick right down her pricksucken throat. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: Or she may permit a bit of bazooka (= all but), refraining from sexual intercourse because the flag is up, indicating that the captain (or cardinal) is home. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 121: The red flag is up - menstruation. 1999 J. Randall 'A Visit from Aunt Rose' in Verbatim XXV: 1 Winter 25: Codes that refer to blood include the red flag is up (sometimes shortened to just the flag is up or the flag is flying; also sometimes_/Zy/«g Baker, since Baker is the Navy code for B, and the B flag is red). fly a flag (v.) 1 (US prison) to betray one's personality, esp. in a situation, e.g. prison, where such honesty may be foolish. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 32: Flag [...] A label (usually negative) placed on someone for a particular characteristic he may possess. 'He was flagged a homosexual before anyone really knew him.' A person is flyin' a flag when he is allowing other inmates to see his particular character traits in his appearance or actions. 2 (US black teen) to wear gang colours. 2008 posting at slumz.boxden.com [Internet] Just because he fly a flag don't mean he's really bout that [...] just because snoop is an 'actual' crip don't mean he put in work, have the flags out (v.) (a/so put the flags out) of a woman, to be menstruating. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry

McKenzie (1988) 24: It you've got the flags out, flamin' say so. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 25: Accept lavish expense account lunches without telling you first they've got the flags out. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/1: flags, phr. have the flags out menstrual period;. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988], have the flag up (v.) (drugs) to have the needle in a vein, 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 133: He had the flag up when we took him [...] He tapped it in when we came through the door and he's been on the nod ever since. one’s flag is at half-mast (orig. US) a phr. used to warn a man that his trouser fly is undone. 1970 D. Lebofsky Lex. of Phila. Metropolitan Area n.p.: Close the stable or the horse'll get out, who died—your flag is at half-mast, your

part of a musical performance intended to excite the listeners and win their applause' (Cold, A Jazz Lexicon, 1964)] 1 (also flag-wagger) an overt and excessive patriot, esp. as found during the Anglo-Boer Wars. 1919 Athenaeum 11 July 582/2: Flag-wagger [OED]. 1942 in W.B. Huie Can Do! 103: All those flag wavers who just sit pretty and look cute [HDAS], 1966 Guardian 30 Sept, 6/8: An imperialist, a flagwagger. 1982 N.Y. Times 26 Oct. D 26: Herb Brooks, an oldfashioned sort who calls himself a 'flag-waver,' was the coach of the American [ice hockey] team [HDAS]. 2 (US) a song, film or oration which arouses patriotic fervour; thus flag-waving n. 1937 The N.Y. Woman 24 Feb. 29: 'A flag waver' is the last chorus in which everybody goes to town ending up like a full ensemble of Valkyries and Norse Gods. 1942 Yank 1 July 21: Friendly Enemies (United Artists), Right out of the corn bin and a flag-waver to boot [HDAS]. 1957 Al Cohn/Zoot Sims Quintet [LP album notes] Just you, Just Me, taken at 'flagwaver' tempo, closes the album. 1960 Leisure Dec. 40: In the old days were the Gene Krupa solos, the screamingtype solos of Harry James, the flagwaving. 1975 V.B. Miller A Very Deadly Game 10:1 don't want to pull any flag wavers on you...but try this out. It's my community that's getting burned by this stuff [HDAS].

■ In phrases flag of defiance is out, the (the aggressiveness that so often accompanies heavy drinking] used of someone who is drunk. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flagg [...] The Flag of Defiance is out, (among the Tars) the Fellow's Face is very Red, and he is Drunk. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c, 1698], 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: The flag of defiance or bloody flag is out, sea phrase signifying the man is drunk and alluding to the redness of his face. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

flag of distress (n.) see separate entry, fly a flag (v.) see flag v.^ (3). put up the flag (n.) [ety, unknown] (US) a plate of macaroni. 1902 N.-Y. Trib. section II, 27 July 2: 'Put up the flag' means macaroni, just why, no one seems able to explain, though there is vaguely felt to be some subtle reference to Yankee Doodle and the Stars and Stripes.

flag n.3 [? one waves it or misreading of FAG 1964

B, Jackson

n.^ (2)] a cigarette.

Get Your Ass in the Water (1974)

83:1 slip him a tailor-

made flag [cigarette].

flag nf* (initial letter] (US campus) the grade of F (fail). 1982 W. Safire What's The Good Word? 300: Gut courses — where 'gut gunners' get an 'easy Ace' (A) as opposed to a 'Hook' (C) or 'Flag' (F). 1983 Eble Campus SI. Nov.

flag n^ (SE flagstone] (US Und.) the bottom row of cells in a prison block. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 7: Flag The bottom or ground floor row of cells in a cellhouse. [...] (Archaic: //ate).

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flag-about (n.) [she walks on flagstones or ? waves her fig. flag to attract customers] a street-walking prostitute.

flag

flag of distress

126

1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 100: Say,

Harry, will you suffer yourself to be made a two-legged stool oi by a flag-about?

flag-hopper (n.) (she 'hops' along the //agstones/pavement] a Street prostitute; thus flaghopping adj. 1832 S. Lover Legends and Stories 191: 'How do I know that, you flaghoppin' jade,' says he. 1841 'Jack Sheppard & the Carpenter's Daughter' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 11:0 then she was glad to turn on the town, / To a common flag-hopper soon she came down. 1880 'Sally's Mistake' in Pearl 10 Apr. 15: You have a gay woman in keeping - some painted little bitch or flaghopper. 1880 'Overheard at the Aquarium' in Pearl 13 July 38: Damn it! all the same flaghopping faces, not a fresh bit of cunt here,

flag v.^ 1 (gay) to attract a stranger with the eyes or with a slight gesture of the head. 1901 W. Irwin Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum XIII n.p.: She could flag some Handsome Hank and slope. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: FLAG (v.): A gesture or signal with the hands, eyes, head to a stranger to get him to speak; a first step in a 'pickup'. 2 (US) to signal an interest in someone in anticipation of romantic or sexual involvement; to accost; thus as n. the gesture that signifies

-E

initial letters] 1 (US Und.)

to release from custody. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Flagged. Released from custody.

2 (US Und.) to arrest. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Flag, (2) To be arrested. 1964

'Return of Honky-Tonk Bud' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 62: They got me up tight, and you know that ain't right. / In fact they even flagged me wrong.

3 (US campus) (also fly a flag) to fail a test or examination; thus to get a grade F in an examination. 1959 Maier College Terms 3: Flag a test - Flunk a test [HDAS]. 1963 Dundes Et Schonhorn 'Kansas University SI.: A New Generation' in AS XXXVIII:3 168: To fail to pass an examination://ag. 1966 Current SI. 1:1 2/2: Flying a flag Failing a test or course. 1968 Current Si. Ill: 1 6: Flag, v. To fail. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: flag - to fail a test or course. 1987 Eble Campus Si. Oct. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability M-. flag 'make the grade F' ('I'm afraid \ flagged that test'). 4 (US campus) to fail to attend a class. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 17: She's gonna

fail if she keeps flagging

class all the time.

5 (N.Z.) (also flag away) to give something up, to abandon. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 78: flag/flag away Give something

attraction. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 81: She did n't want you to think that any

Reub could go up and flag her. 1901 W. Irwin Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum V n.p.: Last night - ah! yesternight - I flagged my queen [...] I up and braced her, breezy as a gale. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Flag, (1) To accost a prostitute. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Si. (rev. edn). 1966 R. Giallombardo Gloss, in Study of a Women's Prison 203: Flagging. Older inmate attempting to involve youthful inmate in homosexuality. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 3 (US) to allow someone to pass by, esp. the intended victim of a pickpocket, to avoid. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps

386: 'Flagged' is a word

[...]

used

a great deal by pickpockets, and means that they have allowed a certain

flag v.^ [? SE wave the white flag, to surrender

person

ummolested. criminals 'flagged'.

whom

1921

permit

P. a

they

&

likely

T.

intended Casey

victim

to

to

Gay-cat go

victimize 302:

to

pass

on

Flagged—when

unmolested

it

is

called

1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Si. 74: Flag.-To pass by;

to ignore.

4 to refuse service to someone in a bar, to stop someone drinking; often as flagging, refusing service. 2003 'YoMomma' Diary 29 Jun. at Diaryland.com [Internet] So she takes the beer, right out of my hand and she's like, 'youre done' and I'm like 'youre flagging me?' so I grabbed another beer and she took that from me. I said 'you cant flag me' so she was being a bitch so I left. 5 to dispose of; to ignore. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson

56: [Alonzo] alius was my middle name

[...] but I flagged it. I don't look like no Alonzo.

6 (US tramp) to reject, to turn someone away. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 108: Oh, I had to flag him! 1912 Van Loan 'Ten-Thousand-Dollar Arm' in Ten-ThousandDollar Arm 25: Bruno flagged the Beau, and sent Belcher to the rescue. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 27: To be flagged from the party itself and then made to deliver their refreshments to the kitchen! 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Flagged - It may mean to be driven out of town, to be turned down. 1943 R. Brister 'Rock-a-Bye Booby' in Ten Detective Aces Sept. [Internet] He tried to cut in on Tom and Linda. When she flagged him, he looked pretty suspicious about it. 1993 (1970s) K. ScOTT Monster (1994) 10: These fools have been [...] [h]ittin' people up [...] flaggin' and disrespectin' every Crip in the world. 7 to attract someone's attention. 1907 'Hugh McHugh' Beat It 87: We tried to flag her and talk her out of it. 1915 R. Lardner 'Alibi Ike' in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 49: He started out toward the desk, but we flagged him. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Flagged - [...] to be hailed by someone. 1935 R.L. Bellem 'Beyond Justice' in Spicy Detective Stories Nov. [Internet] I flagged him into silence. 1962 Ragen Sr Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flag - To accost or detain. 1963 A.S. Fleischman

up, lose patience or confidence,

flagg n. see flag n.\ flagger n. \SEflag, a paving stone, upon which she walks; -F ? her showing the flag/FLAC-ABOUT under FLAG n.^l a street prostitute. 1865 Daily Paper Police Report n.p.: She wasn't a low sort at all she wasnt a flagger, as we call it. So I replies, I am well, thankee; and am happy to say I feel as such [F&H].

flaggers n. m In phrases in flaggers [abbrev. Lat. in flagrante delicto, lit 'in flagrant lust'] (Aus.) (caught) in the act, usu. of sexual intercourse. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted HI i: We finally had a showdown when she caught me in flaggers with a bit of fluff,

flagging n.'' [flag n.^ (3)1 (US) menstruation. 1971 L. Pederson 'Urban Word Geog.' /15 XLVI;l/2 82: Menstrual

period [...(flagging.

flagging n.^ (US gay) wearing a handkerchief, in a back trouser pocket, to indicate a sexual preference. 1998 R. SCOTT Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] flagging — to wear a hanky to show what kind of sexual activity one is interested in.

■ In phrases flaggin’, saggin’ and braggin’ (such activities are often spec, prohibited in prisons in the (vain) hope of minimizing inter-gang tensions] (US black gang) a phr. describing the means of identifying oneself as a member of a gang, esp. in prison; spec, wearing the gang colours, wearing one's trousers low on the hips and boasting about one's exploits in the free world. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 243: Flaggin'. Saggin'. Braggin'. Lettin' people know you're part of something that is powerful. 2000 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 'Murder One' [lyrics] BTNHResurrection [album] It's always that one liT nigga, saggin' and braggin' and talkin' loud.

flaggings n. l? the flagging down by the tramp of a passing citizen, in the hope of getting a hand-out] (orig. US tramp) meat or any other foodstuff, usu. cold. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 33: flaggings [...] Used by yeggs and hobos. Meat of any description, usually applied to cold victuals.

flaggot n. [//aming faggot] (US gay) an overt and ostentatious effeminate gay man. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer Si. [Internet] flaggot — abr. a flaming faggot.

flag of distress n. 1 an advertisement or similar statement of charges for board and lodging. 1860 Hottbn Diet, of Modern Si. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten Si. Diet. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 399: [...] from ca. 1855.

2 thus a generic term for poverty.

Venetian Blonde (2006) 157: Flag her in. 8 to stop doing something, to be quiet. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 2: 'Ah, flag it!' says I. 'Do I look like I belonged in

1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI. Diet. 163: Flag of distress any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person's shirt when it protrudes through his trousers. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 399:

your class?' 9 (US tramp) to beg. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V x 446: Flag, (5) To beg. 'I'm goin'

3 the end of a person's shirt protruding through a hole in their

to flag the main drag'.

10 to leave. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 209: If you don't want a busted head,

flag out of here.

■ In phrases flag the banner (v.) see under banner n.

[...] from ca. 1855. trousers. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI.

Diet. 1937-84

Partridge

DSUE

(1984) 399:

[...]

from ca. 1855.

■ In phrases hang out the flag of distress (v.) 1 to live in furnished accommodation. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

flagon-wagon 2 to be a street prostitute. n. (N.Z.) a beer truck.

1973 C. Wheeler Historic Sheep Stations NI 102: At this stage I

remember [...] the 'flagon wagon' arriving at Te Paki from Houhora, New Zealand's northernmost pub [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 79: flagon party The partygoers bring half-gallon glass jars of draught beer known as flagon beer; the host might surprise them with a flagon wagon, a truck carrying crates of flagons, latterly a large keg or container of beer that can be siphoned direct to consumer. Latter C20.

flag unfurled

n. [rhy. si.) a man of the world.

1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. a,1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the

Victorian Era 132/2: A cove who fancies himself a flag unfurled is very now or never we don't think.

flah

n. (also fla, flaa) |flah v.] (Irish) a sexually attractive/active young person, usu. a woman. 1997 Share Slanguage.

Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fla/Flah (n): very attractive person, 2001

G.

Coughlan

flah

V. (also fla, flaa) [Irish fleadh, a party (pron. 'flah')) (Irish) to have sexual intercourse.

1996 (con. 1970) G. Moxley Danti-Dan in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) I iv; Yeah, we're saving ... then I can flah you cross-eyed whenever I like. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fla/Flah (v): to have sexual intercourse with someone ( From Irish 'Fleadh' meaning party).

flahoola

n. [Irish] (Irish) a fat, noisy, extremely vulgar woman.

1997 Share Slanguage.

flail

[SE fluster + fait; SE flail, to act energetically but without direction] (US campus) to fail a test through being flustered or overpressured. V.

1989 P. Munro si. U. 79: flail 1. to get a failing grade because of

being flustered. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Flailin' (adj.) 1. Performing poorly,

flailing

adj. [SE//a/7/FLAiL v.] very intoxicated, usu. with marijuana.

1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Flailin' (adj.) ]...] 2. Really intoxicated (mostly by weed),

flak

Inside 39: Manolitto must have hoped that [...] I would lake some of the flack. 2000 Observer Screen 20 Feb. 9: The show drew predictable flak for crossing the taste barrier. 4 publicity material. Hoskison

1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

flagon-wagon

flake

127

n. (also flack) [SE flak, anti-aircraft fire, ult. the initials of the elements of Ger. fliegerabwehrkanone 'pilot-defence-gun'] (orig. US) 1 (also flakartist, flak merchant) a publicity man/woman, a press agent [parallel ety. suggests Gene Flack, a 1930s US film publicist]. 1937 Oakland Trib. 25 Feb. 13/4: Whereupon Paramount elected to cash in on the publicity and the flack as Variety calls press agents, leaped to his typing machine. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 23 Jan. ]synd. col.] Variety which is trying to coin 'flack' as a synonym for press agent (without much luck) might like to know it was born in the Chicago offices of Gene Flack, a film publicist. 1961 H. Ellison 'Have Coolth' in Gentleman Junkie 133: 'Hey, flak-artist,' Eddie Brioni stood up. 1961 H. Ellison Rockabilly (1963) 51: As a small-time DJ [...] he had experienced the dynamiting done by flak-merchants. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. Dibner Admiral (1968) 349: He's the smartest flack on the Strip. 1990 M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 101: The police commissioner's flacks were now telling reporters that Benjamin had probably loaned his car to someone. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 27: Being a newspaper reporter had left Joe Winder no time ]...] Being a flak left him all the time in the world. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 110: Time was, even a minor political flack could see himself as part of a larger project, something from which he could draw pride. 2 interference, annoyance, problems. 1956 J. Blake letter 26 March in Joint (1972) 79: I've encountered a certain amount of flak and static from Sandy's cell partner. 1976 R. Price Blood Brothers 21: Jump back! Don't give him no flak! 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 22: They gave me a lot of flak and wouldn't let me leave town. 1985 O. Hawkins Chili 58: Her role was sufficiently sophisticated enough to allow to have a boyfriend [...] without any flack from the immediate community. 1999 Scotland on Sun. mag. 7 Nov. 18: The women take the flak from both the law and the punters. 2001 Source Aug. 147: There was really nobody to give me flack. 3 cheek, negative criticism, verbal attacks. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy hit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 15: flack session - Big argument; plenty of lip service and heated tempers. 1969 New Yorker 10 May 60: The city is taking a lot of flak because its own incinerators won't be upgraded in time. 1975 L. Rosten Dear 'Herm' 181: The flack is killing me! 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 306: She'd get to feeling good, even, to [...] getting up as early as she liked without having to take any flak from Rowley. 1987 Eble Campus SI. Fall. 1993 K. Scott Monster (1994) 99: Should we get some flack for that later on, we could always claim 'association.' 1998 Guardian G2 30 Jul. 13: A comedy reviewer who can't take the flak he's used to dishing out when he does his dismal turn. 1998 J.

1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 84: All this degenerate flack he was throwing at my ears.

■ In compounds

flak catcher

(n.) a civil servant or similar figure in private industry whose task is to intercept complaints, queries etc. from the public, before such problems reach their superiors. 1970 T. Wolfe Radical Chic 110: This man is the flak catcher. His job is to catch the flak for the No. I man. 1987 Weekly World News 14 July 12: A public relations flak-catcher...said, 'Dr. Ruth doesn't give reactions to these kinds of things.' ]HDAS]. 2003 Guardian 16 Apr. (Internet] This leads one to wonder whether that might not be their real purpose - to serve as frontline flak-catchers; turning complaints into smiles rather than solicitors' letters.

■ In phrases

catch flak (v.) (also catch flack, get flack/flak) (US) to receive criticism, to face verbal attacks. 1970 iee FLAK CATCHER above. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1994 Rebennack & Rummel Under A Hoodoo Moon 119: One thing that surprised me right off was the flak I caught from cats from home in New Orleans, guys I thought were my friends. 2002 Oxygen 22 July [Internet] Moms can catch a lot of flack for any of the above - but, come on, when you think about it, don't moms catch flack for most of their decisions? In many parenting choices, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. flake n.^ [SE flake, a thin broad piece peeled or split off from the surface of something] 1 (drugs) cocaine, spec, pieces that are smaller than average. 1922 E. Murphy Black Candle 52: Cocaine is sold to school-children as 'coke' or 'flake'. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Wafer (1974) 206: He sprinkled my tree with flakes of cocaine. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 193: 'And this is my product,' pointing to the rock [...] 'the purest flake on the street'. 1983 Grandmaster & Mellie Mel 'White Lines' [lyrics] Dust, flake or rocks? 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) xv: The good-natured, street-smart guy who used to drop by the house with the weekend supply of Bolivian flake, 2002 Fabian & Byrne Out of Time (ms.) 172: With half-a-gram of Peruvian flake in my pocket and fraught with nervous energy I made my way to Maddie's terraced house. 2 (drugs) heroin. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 147: I have often thought ]...] how this increased our consumption of reefers and flakes from the tall white horse, 3 (drugs) in pL, phencyclidine, 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 124: The large number of street names it has been accorded over the years: [...] flakes. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flakes — PGP. 4 (Aus.) shark meat, esp. as sold in fish 'n' chip shops. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 79: On Fridays you could count on a good serve of flake (or shark meat), deep-fried in batter. 1987 M. Bail Holden's Performance (1989) 250: Shadbolt paused with a lump of flake. flake n.^ [flaky ad/.] 1 (orig. US) (also flakeout, flako) a boring, unappealing, incompetent, undesirable person. 1959 R. Russell Permanent Playboy 251: What honesty! What frankness! You're no flake, Taddie. 1962 J. Blake letter 19 Mar. in Joint (1972) 178: I am not a chronic flakeout, let it not be said that I let the team down. 1969 Current SI. IV: 1 7: Flake, n. A dumbell; one who is not very bright. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 32: He'd taken up with a woman he'd always said he thought was a total flake. 1986 S. King It (1987) 793: Just the fact that Henry let a flako like Patrick Hocksetter hang around. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 185: The guy was a flake, but who cared. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 17: What a flake! 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 294: You turn out to be a flake [...] you're outta here. 2 (US) an eccentric, crazy person. 1968 Time 9 Feb, 34: For kicks, Killy races fast cars and jumps from airplanes; he has tried his hand at bullfighting, and he has a welldeserved reputation as something of a flake. 1977 H. Ellison Flop Sweat in Shatterday (1982) 67: This flake does a good enough job scaring the hell out of me on his own. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 61: He's also a card-carrying flake. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1: art flake - one who fancies himself or herself very artistic. 2000 Z. Smith White Teeth 32: An assorted company of Hippies, Flakes, Freaks and Funky Folk. 3 (US) a disappointment or failure. 1961 H, Ellison 'Memory of a Muted Trumpet' in Gentleman Junkie 107: Spoof was feeling down. The party was a flake. 1971 N.Y. Times 20 Oct. 36: A flake ].,.] is the arrest, on known false evidence, of a

flake

flaky

128 Aiif Wiedersehen

1942 L. Kennedy Sub-Lieutenant 39: During the week's [P.T,] course,

Pet Two 49: You don't have to worry about your Barry. Sound as a

two of them broke their ankles; the others usually flaked out from exhaustion before the end of the afternoon [OED]. 1959 A. Sinclair My Friend Judas (1963) 125: I must have flaked out for a few hours, because the next thing I knew was Jimmy shaking me by the shoulders. 1974-5 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 113: I bunged her an injection and she flaked on me. 1977 (con. 1960s) Nicholson & Smith Spend, Spend, Spend (1978) 154: I can remember one night her flaking out on the couch. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 170: I was out before I took three, four hits. [...] I jus' close' my eyes, next thang I know, I done flaked! 1988 A. Hollinghurst Swimming-Pool Library (1998)

person for something he did not do. 1986 F.

Taylor

bell, he is. I'm a bit of a flake. 4 a worthless or second-rate type. 1993 R. Shell Iced 210: If [...] you should find a flake of a job while waiting for your next hand-to-mouth-out [...] they bleed you.

flake n?

Iflake v.^l (US Und.) planted evidence.

1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 118: He took a cheap flick knife out of his pocket. 'You lay the old flake on him.'

flake

v.^ (Aus./Irish) to beat, to thrash; thus flaking n., a beating. 1841 S.C. Hall Ireland II. 316: [note] My back was sore with the flaking [...] Flake away, my jewil [OED]. 1870 E. Greey Queen's Sailors III 5: He was flaked upon the wharf. 1932 S. O'Faolain Midsummer Night Madness and Other Stories n.p.: I once stole an apple in the nun's orchard [...] they caught me and gave me a flaking [BS]. 1950 S. Murphy Stone Mad (1966) 97: An' the terrier hauled off an' made a flake at him. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 161: As if there was ever an ass foaled that didn't need a proper flaking before it would budge a foot! 1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 441: LSD can flake you too [...] bad acid like bad whores can take you out. 1992 P. McCabe Butcher Boy (1993) 4: Ma pulled me downstairs and gave me the mother and father of a flaking. 1996 (con. 1950s) C. Kenneally Mattra's Boy 116: Dave's threat to 'flake the backside off him' if he didn't get out of bed.

flake

V? [FLAKE n.^ (1), i.e. to act in that way] (US Und.) of police, to plant evidence. 1973 E. Droge Patrolman 179: Some men would want them to 'flake' a prisoner, i.e. to place a bag or two on him. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 74: A handcuffed prisoner was struggling with a burly

policeman.

shouted.

'You

flaked

me,

motherfucker,'

the

prisoner

1995 S. Moore In The Cut 122: to flake, to plant evidence,

usually a gun.

flake

v.^

1

see flake off v. (4).

2 see flake (out) v. flaked out adj. [flake (out) v.| 1

(orig. US) exhausted, unconscious, asleep, lying down, resting. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 96: 'Oh damn exercise,' came from one chair, 'I'm flaked out. Chrissake leave us in peace!' 1956 Mad mag. Spring 29: While flaked out on my emerald green 'Hide-a¬ bed' [etc.]. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 186: I can't find them. Probably snuck down in some corner possie. Or flaked out under the table more likely. 1960 G. Swarthout Where the Boys Are 34:1 was flaked out from no sleep. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 1:72: Flaked out in a chair, looking at the TV. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 61: See if there isn't a strange sheilah flaked out on the back seat with her scanties round her ankles. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 87: He's on tubes in a nursing home, all flaked out. 2000 F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 108: Lucy turned him down saying that she too was pretty flaked out from a hard day. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 89: I'm flaked out on the bed. 2 (US campus) drunk. 1959 L.P. Boone 'Gator SL' AS XXXIV:2 156: They may later be [...] flaked out', or they have tied one on.

flake off

V. 1 (US campus) to depart, to go away; to leave someone in peace; also as imper. 1957 M. Shulman Rally Round the Flag, Boysl (1959) 54: Oh, flake off, little man! 1964 in Current SI. (1967) 1:4 dH: Flake off, v. Leave [...] An imperative 'Leave me alone.' 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Bit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 15: flake off - Get lost! 1971-2 C. Shaper 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: 'Flake off!' V. - a rude way of asking someone to leave. 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease II iv: Why don't you guys just flake off and leave me alone? 1979 S. King Long Walk in Bachman Books (1995) 272: Now what say you flake off? 2 (US campus) to irritate. 1969 Current SI. III:3 6: Flake ...off, v. To annoy. 3 (US black) to break off one's line of thought. 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: flake off v. 1. to break away from line of thought; e.g. She flaked offtn the middle of our talk. 2. When used in the imperative, 'flake off!' means 'get out'. 4 (US) (also flake) to back down in an argument or fight. 1993 Lerner et al. Diet, of Today's Words.

flakeout n.

[flake (out) v. (1)] 1 (US) a person who has collapsed from exhaustion, drink or drugs. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 230: These guys weren't very sick, they were just flake-outs who liked to think they were ill. 2 see FLAKE n.^ (1).

flake (out)

223: I did a few ferocious exercises and then flaked out. to recline or lie down, to sleep. 1944 in Life 17 July 20: Carrier crew men 'flake out' on hard deck while planes are far away fighting great air battles [HDAS]. 1963 'Nino Culotta' Gone Fishin' 128: Flake out there on the axminster, an' throw that Wagga rug over you. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 42: Do youse reckon I could flake at your dump for the arvo? 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 1999 Indep. Rev. 9 Oct. 20: I get home and flake out, completely exhausted. 2000 Indep. Rev. 18 Mar. 20: When I get

2 (US)

home, I flake out on the sofa. 3 to go mad; to act eccentrically. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 167: What did they think held men together [...] kept them from flaking out or cracking up. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen of Rock 2 (1970) 100: You only got hung up when somebody flaked out on you. 1980 A. Santoli Everything We Had 104: The next thing I heard, he was in a psycho ward. He had just sort of flaked out and gone over the edge. 1997 J. Whedon 'Prophecy Girl' 2 June episode of TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Adams Slayer SI. (2003) 176: You don't understand I'm not mad. He totally flaked on me. 4 (US) to die. 1969 N. Spinrad Bug Jack Barron 15: Give him a contract for a freeze

when he flakes out. 5 (US campus) to astound. 1972 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS I. 6 to fail, to let down. 2005 C. Buzzell My War (2006) 23: The Army even pays for you to spend the night at a hotel [...] to make sure your ass doesn't flake. 7 (US campus) to fail to keep an appointment or other commitment; usu. as flake out on. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 18: He can get to the drive-in next week, even if Gus flakes out on him again. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 17: To flake - to be unreliable. He was supposed to pick me up at the airport but he flaked. 1997 Eble Campus Sl. Fall.

■ In phrases on flake (US black) passed out, unconscious, esp. as a result of drug-taking. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 185: Somebody be on flake, like people gonna creep on dem.

flaker n. (Aus.)

a fall; a crash.

1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of Sl. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924

(rev. t/s) n.p.:

flakers adj.

flaker.

Synonymous with 'Gutzer.'

[flake (out) v. (1) -t- -er sfx] (orig. naut.) collapsed

drunk. 1951 E. Lambert Sleeping House Party in DSUE (1984). 1977 G. Melly Rum, Bum and Concertina (1978) 153: Most of the ratings were 'flakers' in the lavatory. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi Sl. 45/2: flakers drooping drunk and on the way out. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. Sl. 79: flakers Collapsed from too much alcohol, or simply sleeping over at somebody's place. ANZ mid C20.

flakey adj. see flaky adj. flako n. see FLAKE n.^ (1). flako adj. [FLAKED out adj.) 1

drunk.

1971 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 81: They greeted Harry with a , fireside grudging gruffness and said that flako or otherwise he was another daddy and welcome. see flaky adj.

2 flaky adj. (also flakey, flako)

[orig. baseball use. 'It's an insider's word...

It does not mean anything so crude as "crazy", but it's well beyond "screwball" and far off to the side of "eccentric"' New York Times, 26 April 1964; ? SE fall/crumble into flakes, i.e. to come apart] (orig. US) 1 of a person, second-rate, unreliable, distasteful, eccentric, crazy. 1959 Baseball Digest XVII1:2 52/1; Flakey: origin is unknown, but it

v. I? SE flag, to grow weak, to become exhausted, or US commercial fishing jargon on the flakes, dead, laid out for burial; this refers to the laying out of split fish on wooden racks or flakes] 1 to collapse, from exhaustion, or an excess of drink or drugs; thus flaked out

has replaced wacky, squirrely and the like in the 'inside' vocabulary. 1967 N.Y. Times 31 Mar. 42: Andy is a great guy to room with. He's flaky of course, but not quite as crazy as I am. 1973 Manchester Guardian Weekly 13 Oct. 19: An officer might handle vast sums of

adj.

money, the temptations were enormous, and there was some flakey

flam behaviour. 1977 C.

flame

129 McFadden

Serial 23: Carol, Kate's flaky friend

from her consciousness-raising group. 1980 Jackson & Christian Death Row 45: Because they're flaky, you know, just strange. 1999 Guardian G2 28 June 8: There is an assumption that beautiful women are too flaky (...) to reach the top. 2004 C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 73: The flaky Aussie who wrestles crocodiles on TV. 2005 L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 63: People are 'flaky'.

2 of an object, eccentric, crazy, outrageous, unusual, unreliable or erratic. 1966 Coshocton (OH) Trib. 15 Mar. 4/4-5: Sometimes our parents

have a cow about our slang, but heck, life would be flaky without it. Don't you think? 1977 A. Brooke Last Toke 156: Money up the ass from that flako joint he owns. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 37: Flaky. Sometimes they're the best kind. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 972: Things are going to get flaky without it. 1999 Indep. Traveller 21 Aug. 5: Absurdly flakey and idealistic? Not entirely,

flam

n.^ [FLAM V.; but note flim-flam n. (1) -f Scot, flamfew, a trifle, a trinket] 1 an idle tale, a piece of nonsense. 1618 Fletcher Loyal Subject IV iv: A very fooles: thou hast more of

these flams in thee. These musty doubts. 1675 C. Cotton Scoffer Scoff'd (1765) 184: Gan.-. Sure thou are one of those same Folk as / I've heard him call a Hocus-Pocus. Jup.: No, my sweet Boy, thou telTst a Flam, / Not Eagle I, nox Juggler am. 1748-49 Cleland Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1985) 8: I had been cheat'd up, and entertain'd by the way with the most plausible flams. 1818 'Thomas Brown' Fudge Family in Paris Letter III 20: Talk of England — her famed Magna Charta, I swear, is / A humbug, a flam. 1821 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Wife (1868) 262/1: She threw about her lively flams, / And scatter'd round her epigrams. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford III 246: Harry (...) told you as 'ow it vas all a flam about the child in the bundle! 1836 T. Haliburton Clockmaker (1843) I 18: Colonel Crockett, the greatest hand at a flam in our nation. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864, 1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 79: Neither puritanical flam nor structural imperfections need stand in the way. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 56: But its all the merest fudge and flam, really. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'Introduction' Moods of Ginger Mick xi: An' Mick, 'e looks on swank an' style as jist a lot o' flam, / An' snouted them that snouted 'im, an' never give a dam.

2 a lie, a deception. 1665 'R.M.' Scarronides 42: She spake like the Devil's Dam, A flattring

Slut, 'twas but a flam. a.1680 Rochester 'In Defense of Satire' Works of Rochester (1721) 62: With some smooth Flam / He gravely on the Publick strives to sham. 1687 C. Sedley Bellamira I i: It prove a Lye, a Flam, a Wheadle,' twill out. 1691 'The Virgin's Complaint' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) II 930: Robin came upon the Sham, / Told me many [a] Lye and Flam, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.-. Flam a Trick, or Sham-story. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 1:7 27: All their Pains and Politicks, / Their Shams, and Flams, and pretty Tricks. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1730 J. Miller Humours of Oxford II i: Pooh, pooh; all Flam, Madam. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1742-4 (con. 1680s) R. North Lives of the Norths (1890) I 368: They must have known his lordship better and not have ventured such flams at him. 1754 Foote Knights in Works (1799) I 76: Plain as a pike-staff, knight; all as nature made her; hey, Tim, no flams! 1760 Foote The Minor 66: Had the flam been fact, your behaviour was natural enough. 1772 G. Stevens 'The Jolly Soul' Songs Comic and Satyrical 63: As to pulpit palaver, why, that's all a flam. 1784 J. O'Keeffe Fontainebleau in Dramatic Works (1798) II 208: Avoid strangers,]...] all upon the sharp they'll introduce themselves, intrude their conversation, amuse you with some flam of their families. 1795 M.P. Andrews Mysteries of the Castle 41: My dear lost lady was still alive [...] the great burial was all a flam. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1820 Jack Randall's Diary 32: My friend is once more putting in his claim to be considered as an accomplished Fibber, and that his declaration of 'cutting his stich,' as all - a Flam. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 276: Dear Gram, - I don't care a D--n, / If your letter is only a soldier's Flam. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works III (1898) 263: Deuceace's flam about Prince Tallyram was puffickly successful. 1848 J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers (1880) 45: Oust the untrustworthy President Flam, / An' stick honest President Sham in his place. 1850 D. Jerrold Catspaw Act II: Though the story of that scoundrel Coolcard, Augustus Coolcard— and I was never before deceived— never—is a flam— all a flam. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 367/1: There are few who take money; indeed they profess to take none at all. 'But that is all flam,' said my informant. 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 602: Flambustious. a fictitious word made ixom flam, a lie, denotes something great and showy. 1877 'Comical Incidents' Laughing Songster 62: As Betty Crump had ta'en the cag, /1 think the sex all flam. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: You sponges miking round the pubs, / You

flymy titters fond of flam. 1909 A. Quiller-Couch True Tilda 56: That was all flam [...] I was kiddin' of 'er - tellin' what wasn't true. 1913 E. Pugh Punch and Judy 93: Can 't we see through all his fake and flam and spot the good heart underneath?

flam

n.^ [? famble n. (2)] a ring.

1864, 1867, 1870

Hotten

SI. Diet. 1935

A.J. Pollock

flam

Und. Speaks.

V. (SE flam, to deceive by a sham story or trick or by flattery] flam off) to hoodwink, to deceive.

1

(also

[1577 Holinshed Irish Chronicle 54: The townes men being pincht at the heart, that one rascall in such scornefull wyse should giue them the flampame.] 1621 Rowley, Dekker & Ford Witch of Edmonton II ii: Was this your cunning? And then flam me off with an old witch, two wives, and Winnifride. 1657 T. Jordan Walks of Islington and Hogsdon II ii: We are no colls you know, you must not flam us. 1683 Loyal Conquest - A Song n.p.: No Shamming, nor Flamming, / No Ramming, nor Damming, 1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia II i: Does he think to flam me with a lye? 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) I 159: Talthybius, with nimble feet, / Ran a full gallop to the fleet; / Lest Troy should think they meant to flam. 1772 G. Stevens 'Elixir TArgent' Songs Comic and Satyrical 60: That lesson the learned ne'er con, / But faith we're flamm'd, / We might dye and be damn'd, / But for our Elixir I'Argent. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 37: But damn me / If you another day shall flam me. 1821-5 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 23: See that the old skin-flint doesn't flam you off with some of his worn out gear. 1826 N.-Y. Eve. Post 16 Aug. 2/2: A light glimmers, from time to time, in the darkness; and when we expect some grand combination of serpentine, radiating, and many-coloured fire, we are flammed off with a solitary rocket, which hisses, soars, cracks, 'and all is dark again'. 1834 Marryat Jacob Faithful II 250: How she did flam that poor old Domine! 1836 T, Haliburton Clockmaker I 282: Some sponsible man to indorse it [i.e. a story], that warn't given to flammin. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: FLAM To humbug. 'Flam the bloke' humbug the fellow. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: flam, v. - to trick, deceive, or double-cross. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 196: It was more soporific than any exam dissertation he'd ever flammed together. 2 (US campus) to be attentive to a woman. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 204: flam. [...] to be attentive, at any time, to any lady or company of ladies. 3 (US campus) to fail. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 35: flam, v. To fail in an examination. 4 (US) to flirt with or be aggressively forceful towards someone. 1970 Naughton Alfie Darling 181: What nicer situation is there (...) than that of a bloke flamming up a bird and she's enjoying it and they're both looking forward to a good lay. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972).

flam-blam adj. see flamboast v. [flam

flim-flam ad/. (1). v. -f SE boast] (US teen) to show off or flaunt

material items. 2003 E-40 'Interview' at ChronicHipHop.com [Internet] And I'm not tryin to over flamboast. I'm sayin that shit get me goin. That right there is what we're puttin out for the single,

flamdoodle see under flapdoodle. flame n. 1 venereal disease; thus flaming

adj., diseased. 1707 N. Ward London Terraefillus I 6: [She] Quenches one Flame by being kind. But often leaves a worse behind, c.1720 'Venus Unmasked' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 182: Since that all trading Sparks and Dames, / Are subject to Venereal Flames, / As Doctors do agree. 1749 Hist, of the Human Heart 293: Camillo, in some of his Rambles, had taken in a foreign Fire, which he communicated to the Countess, [...] when the Peer her Husband found he had catched the Flame. 2 a (female) lover; the (male) object of much romantic adoration. 1743 Fielding Life of Jonathan Wild (1784) II 185: When first Wild conducted his flame (or rather his dish, to continue our metaphor) [...] he had projected a design of conveying her to one of those eating-houses in Covent-Garden. 1753 Richardson Sir Charles Grandison (1812) I 12: Am I, or am I not right, Mr. Reeves, as to my nephew's flame, as they call it. 'The lady you describe. Sir Rowland, is Miss Byron.' 1764 Foote Lyar in Works (1799) I 295: I must scribble a billet to my new flame. 1777 Sheridan Trip to Scarborough I i: Has he been addressing your old flame, the sprightly Widow Berinthia? 1824 'Sonnets for the Fancy' in Egan Boxiana III 622: All in the sheriff's picture frame the call / Exalted high, Dick parted with his flame, / And all his comrades swore that he dy'd game. 1835 D. Crockett in Meine Crockett Almanacks (1955) 6: My next flame was a pretty little girl that I had known when quite young. 1843 W.T. Moncrieff Scamps of London II ii: Louisa! and who is she? Some old flame, I suppose. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes II 107:

flame

flaming

130

Clive's flame, poor Miss Newcome. 1863 (con. mid-18C) G.A. Sala Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous 94: Mistress Slyboots, his Flame, kept him company. 1873 SI. Diet. 1887 J. Payn Glow-Worm Tales II 42; He's always a-talking about ma's old flames. 1891 Punch CL 31 Oct. 210: She will make a third with Me and my latest Gallic 'flame.' 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Money and Matrimony' Sporting Times 22 Feb. 1/3: He broke off the contract with his thriftless flame, / And he prudently spliced her dressmaker. 1920 R.J. Fry Salvation of Jemmy SI. II i: Who is this new flame, Jemmy? 1932 George Olsen &- His Orchestra 'All American Girl' [lyrics] She threw a tackle at Alabama, / And a Dartmouth guard's her flame. 1935 R.L. Bellem 'Beyond Justice' in Spicy Detective Stories Nov. [Internet] This blonde Wanda Wynne wench was rumored to be Ben Berkin's flame. 1943 W. Winchell 4 June [synd. col.] Elinor Troy, once a [Tommy] Manville flame. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 118: The other happend to be a pet flame of Eddie Packman's. 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 89: Conchita, presumably with the aid of a new flame, had acquired a second wooden leg and run off. 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 32: The old flame closed the window and dashed into the kitchen. 2000 Guardian Guide 29 July-4 Aug. 11: Cage hooks up

only a few nights back that my flamer came near to making a 'stiff 'un' o' me in the Artichoke at Brighton.

2 a conspicuous, ostentatious person who 'burns brightly'. 1809 Spirit of Public Journals (1810) XIII 163: Dick Daredevil

1888 "Arry on Marriage' in Punch 29 Sept.

et al.

over this fellow or that one.

flamer n.^ 1 a redhead. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 2 a safety match burning with a notably bright flame. 1880 G.R. Sims Three Brass Balls 47: He turned back to the

5 see flamer n} (4).

■ In compounds n.^ (4).

1784 J. O'Keeffe Fontainebleau in Dramatic Works (1 798) II 248:1 can't fee any disgrace in [...] spunging upon my customers, and flaming it away in their old cloaths,

2 to rant in an unacceptable manner, esp. to insult a specific individual, via a communications network, e.g. the Internet. turtle into its shell. She flamed, 'That's right! Spend the night boozing instead of letting people know I've got a husband,' 1991 (ref. to 1970s) E. Raymond New Hacker's Diet. 158: Marc Ramsey, who was at WPI from 1972 to 1976, adds: 'I am 99% certain that the use of flame originated at WPI. Those who made a nuisance of themselves insisting that they needed to use a TTY for "real work" came to be known as flaming asshole lasers. Other particularly annoying people became flaming asshole ravers, which shortened to flaming ravers, and ultimately flamers.' 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Flamed: Yelled at; criticized (taken from computer lingo). to talk nonsense about an otherwise interesting subject. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 118: Flame To be obnoxiously loud esp. while under the influence of alcohol.

to be sexually aroused, to flirt, esp. when drunk.

1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 1969 Current SI. III:4 5: Flame, v. To become especially under the influence of alcohol

(usually applied to women).

5 to exaggerate, to bore. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 117: Flame Go wild,

flame v? (also flame it up)

[flamer n? (4)] (US gay/campus) of a man (whether actually homosexual or not), to look exaggeratedly 'feminine' in dress and style; thus flaming n., acting in an obviously homosexual manner.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 82: flame [it up] to over¬ emphasize,

often

deliberately,

all

girlish

traits

attributed

to

the

1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: flame -

display homosexuality in a particularly flamboyant fashion,

flame cooking n. (drugs)

smoking freebase cocaine by placing the pipe over the gas burner of a domestic stove. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 136: flame cooking smoking cocaine base by putting the pipe over a stove flame. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flame cooking — Smoking cocaine base by putting the pipe over a stove flame,

flamer n.^

[they all fig. 'burn brightly'] promiscuous woman.

1

an admirer, a lover, a

1675 Head Art of Wheedling 57: He carries perpetually about him a Catalogue of all the Whores [...] ranking them into three Columes apart; and thus distinguished; the Flamer, Frisker, and Wast-coateer. C.1785 'The Dog and Duck Rig' in Holloway & Black (1975) I 80: Your flamer will grow gallows haughty, / When she's told of your scaly mistake. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 39/1: 'Twas

table and

struck a 'flamer'.

3 (US black) a gun. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z. flamer n.^ [such blunders mean that one 'goes down in flames'] (US campus) 1 a clumsy, embarrassing or highly unpleasant person.

1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 6: Mumma's love retreated like a

effeminate.

1973 Eble Campus SI.

three young boys sitting together [..,] were flamers, [...] their faces cast in that pretty, pointed, aesthetic mould that indulgent doting mothers are so Cellini-like at shaping. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 118: Flamer An effeminate male. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [.,.] flame; flame artist [thrower]; flamer, 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: flamer - overt homosexual. 1997 Mad mag. Oct. 48: Not only am I a screaming flamer but I'm going to spend the next half hour beating the crap out of Andy Rooney. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: Flamer (n.) [Offensive, derogatory) An effeminate male, 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flamer Definition: one with the homosexual qualities or preferring one of the same sex. Example: Dat dude there be down with the flamer queer. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 121: Lots of flamers, the occasional actor,

an infatuation.

extremely affectionate,

A sexually expert male.

1948 H. McCoy ICiss Tomorrow Goodbye in Four Novels (1983) 254: The

1932 P.G. Cressey Taxi-Dance Hall 97: I was always getting a flame

4 (US campus)

Flamer

homosexual man; also attrib. (underpinned by abbr. of flaming faggot].

haired people receive this appellation: but 'tis mostly confined to females, e.g. 'Looking up to the vomen's vard von day, vho should I fling my precious ogles upon but Flames — she as lived at the Blue Posts, ye know, vhen Jemmy soft vas tied up.'

3

118:

chaps

4 (US) (also flame, flame artist, flame thrower) a blatantly

a redhead; thus Flames, a nickname.

flame artist/thrower (n.) see flamer flame v.^ 1 to spend extravagantly.

CUSS

Some

1967-8 Baker

Mar. 2: flamer - fraternity-type guy who is a real ladies' man.

1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. Flames red-

4 (US)

156/2:

who're fair flamers as lovers, are failures as 'usbands.

with his old flame.

3

[...]

sported a brace of flamers (wenches) on his coach-box [OED]. 1840 H. Cockton Val. Vox ii 5: A criticism on the evening's performance which certainly was [...] 'a regular flamer' [OED]. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 162: Pitch him the soft sawder. Jack, my flamer. 3 an enthusiast; a success with the female sex, a ladies' man.

2

1931 J. Hanley Boy 30; You flamer, I know why you were late. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act II: Every flamer ... except Taffy, and he's too dense to have any malice in him. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 118; Flamer A person who always fools around. 1974 Eble Campus SI. Mar, 3: Richard Nixon is a flamer. anyone who commits a major social error; thus the error itself. 1967-8 Baker et al, CUSS 118: Flamer A person who always does the wrong thing. [...] A person without much social or academic ability,

flames! exc/. a general excl. 1919 'Sax Rohmer' Dope 218: 'Flames!' muttered the Chief Inspector [...] 'I didn't mean to break his neck.' flaming n. [flame v.^ (2)1 1 speaking incessantly and obsessively on a particular topic of little interest to anyone but oneself. 1991 E. Raymond New Hacker's Diet. 158: flame 1. vi. To post an email

message intended to insult and provoke. 2. vi. To speak incessantly and/or rabidly on some relatively uninteresting subject or with a patently ridiculous attitude. 3. vt. Either of senses 1 or 2, directed with hostility at a particular person or people. 4. n. An instance of flaming. When a discussion degenerates into useless controversy, one might tell the participants 'Now you're just flaming' or 'Stop all that flamage!' to try to get them to cool down (so to speak). 2 using computer 'bulletin boards' and other communications links to circulate obscene messages, pictures etc. 1991 see sense 1. 1999 Guardian 23 July 7: Flaming. The vituperative

insults and personal attacks common to email and newsgroups, flaming adj.^ [Si flaming, burning brightly) 1 excessively noticeable, flagrant, monstrous; also as adv. 1689 T, Shadwell Bury Fair II i; I hear there's a flaming French Beau come to Town. 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 53: lord sp.: My Lady Smart, your Ladyship has a very fine Scarf, lady sm.; Yes, my Lord, it will make a flaming Figure in a Country Church. 1742-4 (con. 1680s) R. North Lives of the Norths (1890) I 328:1 think it was Smith; and being flaming drunk [...[ fell to talking and staring like a madman, 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 435: Those damn'd brass lacquer'd nails that shine, / And make his cart so flaming fine. C.1780 'On Newgate Steps Jack Chance was Found' [lyrics] To strut in the park it was all his pride, / With a flaming whore stuck by his side. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) II 256: That pair of flaming pye-bald nags. 1802 Sporting Mag. Aug. XX 280/1: My Deary was rather remarkably dressed, being in flaming yellow, with a pink parasol. 1819 W. Oxberry Actress of All Work 4: A new theatre, and a company of first-rate talent, [...] I'll write a flaming puff for the opening. 1825 N.Y. National Advocate 20 July 2: It seems that the

flaming

project originated with Mr. Webster, who is a flaming republican of the new school. 1833 'Life In London' Swell!!! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 11: To be a regular first-rate swell, / A flaming out-and-outer. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works III (1898) 317: He roat back the following letter to his father, as well as a flaming one to Miss. 1840 E. Howard Jack Ashore II 213: 'John Truepenny,' said the bumboat woman, 'we have both made flaming noodles of ourselves.' 1855 Yokel's Preceptor 9; 'Well, what do you think of that? have you got the uglies?' 'No,' replied she, 'but I've got the flaming p-x.' 1872 G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service 408: The respectable firm in New York who sent him the handsome letter, with a view 'to make his own future fortune,' according to the flaming seductive Circular, 1898 H.H. Lewis A Gunner Aboard the 'Yankee' 188: The men wore [laming neckties, gay shirts. 1917 'Henry Handel Richardson' Aus. Felix (1971) 228: Grindle, set off by a pair of flaming 'sideboards', himself ushered Mahoney into the sanctum. 1930 (con. 1917) 'W.W. Windstaff' 'A Flier's War' in Longstreet Canvas Falcons (1970) 278: I went raving, flaming mad when it got too much. 1945 M. Page 'Wait Till You Get To New Guinea' Kiss Me Goodnight, Sgt.-Major (1973) 173: The playboys of the desert, / We lived like flaming dukes. 1977 R. Coover Public Burning (1979) 256: Just what the Rosenbergs had to look forward to. 'Flaming Reds', the papers called them. 1981 G. Johnston Fish Factory 176: A double bed in a unit of the Flaming Roo Motel. 1993 Eble Campus Si. Apr. 2: flaming - extreme, radical. 'My friend is such a flaming feminist - she's stopped shaving her legs.' 2 (US gay) ostentatiously homosexual; thus in comb, as flaming

faggot, flaming queen.

Nov.

2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI.

[Internet] Flaming (a):

drunk.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flaming fury (n.) (Aus.) an outside lavatory, the contents of which were periodically burned off. 1960 N.T. News (Darwin) 5 Feb. 5/3: Only one dilapidated flaming

fury is provided for the present nine people [AND]. 1975 K. Willey Ghost of Big Country 143: Less privileged residents [...[ lived at Parap, Winnellie, Nightcif, and other areas in encampments of., huts which dated from the second World War [...] Toilets were of the 'flaming fury' type and dysentery was more or less endemic [AND]. 1998 Ozwords June 3: And, on the topic of dunnies, does the flaming fury ('an outdoor toilet, so called because the contents were periodically doused with a flammable liquid and ignited') still exist? One reader reports that in the Northern Territory it was essential 'to keep friendly with your neighbours as one will have to use their toilet—the flaming fury—one day each week'. 2000 BBC.co.uk 26 Jan, [Internet] The dunny itself seems always to have been with us, in one form or another, and be it a longdrop, flaming fury or even a septic system, it's likely it will be with us for years to come due to its sheer usejitlness.

flaming

no flamin' bloke / Take pot shots at me with no flamin' gun. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 193: Go to ruddy stinkin' flamin' jiggery! 1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious (1974) 15: I'm a flamin' uncle again, 1959 K. Waterhouse Billy Liar (1962) 13: 'Ere, rear, rear, watch your bloody language! With you flaming this and flaming that! 1963 A.E. Farrell Vengeance 8: 'Holy, flaming, blasted blue blazes,' the old man erupted. 1975 D. Nobbs Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 110: Cor blimey, all right. I'll go for a flaming walk. 1982 L. Cody Bad Company 39: You can say that again with flaming knobs on. 1988 B. Humphries Complete Barry McKenzie 11: Me and me mates used to drink it [...] like it was going out of fashion. We'd flamin' spill more than we drank. 1990 T. Winton Human Torpedo 66: It was flamin' complicated, [Ibid.] 123: I'm nuts [...] I am a flamin' fruitcake! 2000 Indep. Rev. 13 June 7: It's a flamin' hoot, 2 as a congratulatory epithet. 1940 J.G. Brandon Gang War20\-. You is 'igh up in the C.I.D,, and as everybody knows the best flamin' top-piece as they've got in the 'ole works. 1948 P. Kavanagh Tarry Flynn (1965) 64: I say, there's flaming great spuds. You must have shoved on the potash, no matter what you say. 1976 N, Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 139: The girl's a Aaming genius [...] Not only takes shorthand and types five thousand words a second, but dictates too. 3 as infix. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 108: 1 didn't let that bastard into Buck House. It is co-flamin'-incidence. 1986 T. Winton That Eye, The Sky 118: Mortonflamin'-Flack, what the hell do you think you're doing?

flanderkin

letter in Duberman 'Writhing Bedfellows' in Journal Homosexuality (1980/81) VI Fall/Winter 88: The flaming excess of your lustful appetite may drag down the vengeance of a supernal power.] 1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: flaming faggot:- See Faggot. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: flaming queen (n,): The homo¬ sexual male who uses cosmetics, hair sets, flamboyant clothes and, in general, displays feminism at all times to emphasize his homosexuality. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [.,.] flaming bitch [faggot, lady, queen]. 1989 Kirk & Madsen After The Ball 286: As long as all gays are thought to be obvious flaming freaks, only obvious flaming freaks will come out. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] flame or flaming — extravagantly effeminate and flamboyant, an adjective usually applied to gay men. 2000 Eminem 'Marshall Mathers' [lyrics] I don't get fucked in mine like you two little flaming faggots! 2005 (con. 1960s) E. White My Lives 180: We systematically suspected every man, no matter how podgy or uxorious, of being a flaming homosexual, [1826

3 (US campus) sexy. 1999 Eble Campus SI. 4 (Irish) drunk.

flank

131

adj} [synon. SE hellish or euph. FUCKING adj. 1 a mild swear word; occas. as adv.

(1)]

(orig. Aus.)

1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 July 13/4: Pooh, why not? Why can't you tell a flaming lie, as I did"? 1894 H. Lawson 'Two Dogs and a Fence' in Roderick (1972) 272: Why, you're worse than a flaming old slut! 1901 B. Pain De Omnibus 60: 'E's a Aimin' volkiner at a meetin', but 'e's a apolergizin' time rabbit at 'ome, 1906 E, Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 22: 'Flamin', blazin' liars!' cried Annie, 1915 C.J. Dennis 'A Spring Song' in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 13: I'm crook; me name is Mud; I've done me dash; / Me flamin' spirit's got the Aamin' hump! 1924 C.J. Dennis "Ave a 'Eart!' in Rose of Spadgers 80:1 tells 'im straight I'd let

n. [proper name Flanders -F sfx -kin] a notably fat man or

horse. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew.

Flanders

n. used in combs, stereotyping the Dutch as mean, hypocritical or deceitful.

■ In compounds Flanders fortune (n.) a relatively small fortune or inheritance. B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flanders-fortunes, of small Substance. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1698

Flanders piece (n.) a painting that looks good from a distance but not so good close to. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flanders-pieces, Pictures that look

fair at a distance, but coarser near at Hand. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit, c.1698]. Flanders reckoning (n.) spending money in a place that has no links to the place where one received the money. 1605 T. Heywood If You Know Not Me, You Know No Body (1874) I 271: Spend it! God send me but once to finger it, and if I doe not make a Flanders reckoning on't - and that is, as I haue heard mad wagges say, receiue it here, and reuell it away in another place,

flango

n. [SE flange, that which stands out from the surface, esp. a collar] 1 the head of the penis. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 66: Walk flange in flange with me, / You are my destiny. 2 (orig. US) the vagina, 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] flange (noun, slang) Vagina. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 13: flange 1. n.fish mitten. 2. n. coll, a group of baboons. 3. n. coll. Fanny: blart; tush.

flangehead

n. (also flangeface) [derog. use of SE -f -head sfx (2)/

-face sfx] a derog. term for an East Asian person; also as a nick¬

name. 1948 J.L. Riordan 'A.V.G. Lingo' in A5 XXIII No 1 30: Life among our little brown brothers—who were sometimes less affectionately referred to as slopies, coosies, or flange-heads—was much different from that among the Wogs in India. 1967 (con. 1930s) R. McKenna Sons of Martha 123: Flangeface Hogan stood watching,

flank

V. [SE flank, to go around the side] (US, orig. milit.) 1 to dodge, to evade. 1864 Northrop Chronicles 50: The order was 'Shoot every man that tries to get out,' so Boodger and I were again flanked [HDAS]. 1866 C.H. Smith Bill Arp 32: They flanked me in double quick, and though my time was not out, I was constrained to depart those coasts prematurely for fear of being a desolated victim of extortion. 1872 SCHELE de Vere Americanisms v 286: The term to flank, which, from the strategy of the generals, descended in the mouth of privates to very lowly [...] meanings. When the men wished to escape the attention of pickets and guards by slipping past them, they said they flanked them; drill and detail and every irksome duty was flanked, when it could be avoided by some cunning trick. Soon [...] the poor farmer was flanked out of his pig and his poultry. 1891 Rodenbough Sabre 138: The ... battle of Spotsylvania had been fought in the mean time, and I...successfully flanked it. 2 to trick out of.

flankard

1872 see sense 1. 1879 Southern Historical Society Papers vii 394: The

Government never made anything by employing these 'rebels,' as they invariably 'flanked' more than they received as pay.

flankard

n. [hunting jargon flankard, a wound in a deer's flank or side] a

venereal sore. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 29: Some preuye wotmde festred with a fylthy firy flankard.

flanker

n. [flank V./SE flank, to go around the side; note WWI milit.

flanker, a shirker] 1 a blow or punch. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 400/2:

ca. 1860-1910.

to trick, to swindle.

1923 J. Manchon Le Slang. 1975 'P.B. Yuhl' Hazell and the Three-card

Trick (1977) 143: It was just crossing my mind she might still be planning a flanker. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 150: Work a flanker to obtain by stealth or a trick. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 140: Pull a flanker an' you know what you'll get. 2001 I. Rankin Falls 28: It was just the local evening paper trying to pull a flanker,

flankey

n. [SE flank, 'the fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal or a man between the ribs and the hip' (OED)] (UK Und.) the buttocks. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid

Open.

flannel

n? [SE flannel, a form of woollen doth; the drink 'keeps one warm'] grog, punch or gin-twist, with a dash of beer. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1832 in Egan Bk

of Sports 146: My moll oft' tips the knowing dive / When sea-crabs gang the stroll; / Unless she did how could we thrive, / And in warm flannel roll? 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

flannel-jacket

(n.) (also

2 (US) a loudmouth, a braggart, one who talks too much and with too little sense; also as term of address. 1911 Van Loan Big League 165: You've let these knockers get you going (...) Show these flannel mouths what a regular outfielder looks like. 1928 Hecht & MacArthur Front Page Act III: That tub of guts! Lousy whore-headed flannel mouth! 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 246: 'Hell, Flannel Mouth! How's the brother?' asked Studs. 1938 D. Runyon 'That Ever-Loving Wife of Hymie's' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 606: I hear what this big flannel-mouth says about the price. 1947 N, Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 68: The bartender was a flannelmouth. Everyone in the ward was a flannelmouth. 1951 P. Whelton Angels are Painted Fair 74: Which one do you mean, flannel-mouth? 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 259: You can't give the script to anyone who has a few drinks and a big flannel mouth. 2004 B. Devine Memoirs 26: Dick was a great guy, but he was a flannel mouth. He flapped his mouth. He talked too much.

3 (Can.lUS)

a well-spoken person.

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 400/2: Can. C.20.

4 (US) a Pole. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 87: 'Flannel-mout'!'

Silence. He grew bolder in his contempt. 'Swinia! German!'

flannel-mouthed n?)

flannel back)

a navvy, who wears such a

garment. 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act IV: Come, won't thou drink, my little flannel back? 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

flannel

n? [? 19C tradesmen's jargon flannel, the ornate, scroll-ridden letterheads with which tradesmen garlanded the invoices they sent to their aristocratic clients. There is no proof, however, that this is linked to the 20C use, albeit a similar one] rubbish, nonsense, albeit plausible rubbish. 1902 A.N. Lyons Hookey 132: An' the missis will say: [...] In our day, servants knew their places - which is red flannel, of course. 1927 Daily Express 11 Oct. 3/4: One day his sister died sudden. Up he comes to ask for fourteen days' leave (...) 'to mourn over the body (...) according to the Jewish faith' (...) The padre wired to a rabbi (...) it was all flannel (...) just flannel from beginning to end. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 30: All a lot o' flannel an' Do this and Don't do that! Pah! 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 198: She went for Tony's old flannel. 1973 A. Buckeridge Speaking of Jennings (1989) 23: You know, falling leaves and autumn tints and all that sort of flannel, 1980 'John le Carre' Smiley's People 49: Wise, my Aunt Fanny. Bunch of left-wing flannel merchants. 1989 S. Armitage 'Ivory' in Zoom 74: No jackassery, or flannel, / or galumphing. 2007 S. Maconie Pies and Prejudice (2008) xiv: I hope this book is a love letter (...) but not just flannel and boasting.

■ In compounds

flannelhead

Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 245: Hello, Flannel Mouth! (Ibid.) 268: Keefe, you drunken flannel-mouth. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1951 S. Lewis World So Wide 245: But then I saw you all hated me and despised me for bawling him out - shanty Irish, flannel-mouth, nuisance! 1964 Amer. Dialect Society Publica¬ tions XLII: Chaw-mouth . . . refers to the Irishman's talkativeness and parallels the more common flannel-mouth (R). 1966-67 in DARE. 1997 P.F. Morris Anaconda Montana 110: The average flannel mouth loves to talk about freedom.

2 a verbal response. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 400/2: ca. 1860-1910. 3 (or/g. milit.) a trick, a swindle, a hoax; thus do/pull/work a flanker V.,

flap

132

(n.) a fool.

1949 J. Archibald 'State Penmanship' Popular Detective Jan. (Inter¬

net) 'But Slapnicka said it was forged, flannelhead,' Mr. Gerke yelped.

flannel

v. [flannel n.^j to flatter, to curry favour, to talk nonsense in a soothing, plausible manner, esp. for the purposes of charming

a woman one wishes to seduce. 1941 New Statesman 30 Aug. 218/3: [list of war slang) Flannel - To

flatter. 1957 J. Braine Room at Top 46: I managed to flannel him into the belief that I approved of his particular brand of efficiency. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 121: Just flannelled the old ice-cream a bit. 1970 Sun. Times 15 May 53: Some of the cast I suspect were flannelling, but there are two spellbinding performances by Ian Hogg and Pat Hartley. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 48: It was good to hear Guy simplify it like this, and good to know that he wasn't flannelling them.

flannel mouth

n. (also flannel face) [flannel-mouthed ad/.; all senses considered derog.) 1 (US) an Irishman. 1893 F. Harris 'Gulmore, the Boss' Elder Conklin & Other Stories (1895)

174: There's quite a number of Mugwumps, an' if the Professor goes about workin' them all up - what with the flannel-mouths and the rest - it might be a close finish. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 25: Hey, old flannel-mouth! Watch out! You'll get yours in a second. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 38: An Irishman is a 'flannel mouth,' 'a chaw,' ora 'mick', 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell

note

large

ad/,

(also flannel-tongued) [predates flannel a very large catfish] (orig. US) 1 having a

SAmE flannelmouth,

mouth.

1881 'Bill Nye' Bill Nye and Boomerang 155: The (...) lantern-jawed, sway-backed, mangy, flannel-mouthed poet of the educated and refined East.

2 (a/so flannel-mouth) loud-mouthed. 1881 Oskaloosa Herald 17 Mar. in Miller & Snell Why the West was

Wild 311: The mayor is a flannel mouthed Irishman and keeps a saloon and gambling house. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1940 E. O'Neill Long Day's Journey into Night II ii: That flannel-mouth, goldbrick merchant. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 44: He'd get them all in trouble some day with that flannel-tongued trap of his.

3 (Can./US)

well-spoken. C. 1930 (ref. to mid-19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 23: The family was always hard and fast church goers, always with its ass out of its jeans, flannel-mouthed and proper. 4 talking thickly or with a brogue [the idea of talking with a SE flannel in one's mouth].

1931 E. Hemingway letter 1/12 Nov. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 344: This damned typer skips like a stammering flannel mouth nigger,

flap

n.^ 1 (also flaps) a promiscuous woman; a prostitute.

1631 J. Mabbe (trans.) Celestina IX 110: Fall to your flap, my Masters,

kisse and clip. (Ibid.) 112: Come hither, you foule flappes. 1657 T. Walks of Islington and Hogsdon TV i: A Babylonish Garment, or in good sooth and verily a wicked and superstitious remnant of that foul flaps the whore of Babylon, 1671 'The Kind Husband' in Ebsworth Westminster Drolleries (1875) 46: Nay, I'll make you wait, you Flaps, 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 34: flap (...) Current amongst pimps and criminals who are contemptous of female values. An opprobrious epithet for loose women. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/1: Flap. A loose woman.

Jordan

2 any garment that has a pendant flap or flaps. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 400/2: ca. 1790-1920.

3 (UK Und.)

strips of lead used on roofs.

1873 SI. Diet. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

4 the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer

Vocab. Criminal SI.

34: flap

(...)

the female sex organ.

5 (also hearing flap, side-flap) an ear, usu. large. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Aug. 17/2: It's too thin, Ballington - far too thin. Throw your 'side-flaps' well back, and listen. We would speak with you. 1934 B. Traven Death Ship 333: At the first dim crackling my hearing flap catches, I shall be up and out. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 102: I wanna spiel about the way I feel into one of them fine flaps o' yourn. 1944 J, Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 16: When I was a kid, and I got earache, I used to say, go on,

ache: go on, you bloody flap Give me hell. 1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 175: 'Flaps' or 'lugs' for ears. 1977 D.

flap Powis Signs of Crime 183: Flaps with large ears.

Often a nickname for a man

6 in pL, the labia majora. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VI 1149: Men, she was sure,

didn t like those flaps. 1989 Viz June/July 25: Just open your flaps a little so as I can pop it in!! 1998 I. Welsh Filth 219: Women are like tetrapaks; it isnae what's inside that's important, the crucial thing is tae git those flaps open. 2001 I. Welsh Glue 41: Ah'm pullin her wee flaps apart and giein it big postage stamp licks. (US) the mouth.

7

1954 J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 196: Get it orf yer chest or else

8

button yer bloody flap. 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 70: Shut your flap. Ruby. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 124: Somebody's going to slap a button on that flap. (Aus.) a cheque. 1951 E. Hill Territory 444: False flaps: Bad cheques. 1983 R. AvenBray

flapdoodle

133

Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang

28: Flaps

Cheques.

B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 82: To overemphasize, often deliberately, all girlish traits attributed to the effeminate [...] flap. 1972

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases flap at the Jibs (v.) see under jib n.’. flap like a dunny door in a high wind (v.) see under dunnyd.^. flap one’s chops (v.) see under chops n.\ flap one’s ears (v.) (US) to listen (hard). 1925 WODEHOUSE

Carry on, Jeeves

18: To dive into a bush that stood

near the library window, and stand there with my ears flapping. 1941 P. Cheyney

Your Deal, My Lovely

n.p.: Go right ahead, baby, my

ears are flapping. 1969 'Iceberg Slim'

Pimp

47: I flapped my ears

when I heard one of the white repeaters running down the joint [...] to a fish. 1983 S. May

No Exceptions

in

Best Radio Plays

(1984) 118:

Roger Burge stop flapping your ears and do some work,

flap one’s horns (v.) (US black) to listen. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 189: You flap your horns and remember what I'm gonna spiel to you. flap one’s jaw (v.) see under jaw n.

■ In compounds flap-cap (n.) a whore. 1700 N. Ward London Spy XV 368: You will never find one in their

flap one’s mouth (v.) (also flap one’s lips, ...tongue) (now mainly

Custody above a Flap-Cap or a Cinder-Wench.

W.l. use] to chatter, to say more than is sensible or proper. 1910 H.G. Wells Hist, of Mr Polly (1946) 142: You go flapping your silly mouth about me, and I'll give you a poke in the eye. 1939 R. Chandler 'I'll Be Waiting' in Red Wind (1946) 132: This Rail's flapped his mouth in stir about how the girl would be waiting for him. 1947 C. Willingham End as a Man (1952) 141: Your tongue seems to be flapping. 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 165: Think I'm going round flapping my mouth to every silly triss that gets shoved in with me? 1970 D. Wakefield Going All the Way 280: They just talked about this and that [...] just flapping their lips in the breeze. 1983 A. Payne 'Get Daley!' Minder [TV script] 12: You start flapping your mouth and I'll land you right in it. 1988 W. Chen King of the Carnival 59: Keep your flapping mouth shut. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. Bourjois In Search of Respect 47: Oprah Winfrey or the Donahue Show — which doesn't mean shit. [...] It's not going to change the world in an eensy-weensy bit at at all. It's just talk. Flap the lip. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 229: You know what I do a you funky old ass you start flappin you lips. 2002 M. McKinney Still of the Night 61: Like I said, you flap your mouth too much.

flap shot

(n.) [SE shot, a picture] in pornographic still or moving pictures, a close-up shot of the labia and open vagina. 1984 D. Smith Steely Blue 32: She has to get used to seeing...flap shots in the centerfolds [HDAS]. 2005 posting at www.bondage.com to 21 Apr. [Internet] Nice flap shot in the rear view too.

flap snot

(n.) [snot n.^ (4)] vaginal secretions.

2003 J. Morgan on MessedUp.net [Internet] Puss Juice: Bitch Butter,

clam jam, crotch oil, fanny baiter, flap snot, French Dip, goose grease, crotch gravy, love juice,

flaptabs (n.) 1959 A.

[tab n.^l the ears.

'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' in Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 35: I'd heard it with my own flaptabs.

flap-trap

StLLiTOE

(n.) [ext. trap

(5)] (US) the mouth.

1944 H.B. Hersey G.I. Laughs 202: Flaptrap Me Gonicle, Gabtooth

Smith, Slit-Lip McPherson. 1949 (con. 1943-5) A. Murphy To Hell and Back (1950) 179: Aw, close the flap-trap, says Kerrigan.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

flapdash

chuck a flap (v.) see flap v.''. flap over the nose with a French faggot-stick WITH A French faggot-stick

adj. [? confusion of the two parts of slapdash, assuming the imagery to be of dusting] very clean, shiny. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

(n.) see blow

n.

flap n.^ (abbr. FLAPDOODLE n.^j (US) nonsense, rubbish.

flapdoodiG

n.^ [SE flap, something hanging down + DOODLE n.^ (1) although this predates] 1 the vagina.

flap V.’ (also chuck a flap) [? SE flop] to fall or throw oneself down suddenly; to throw down.

1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 44: Another [would call it] her sugar-plum, her kingo, her old rowley, her touch-trap, her flap dowdle. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 the penis.

1852 H.B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin 58: Flap down your fifty. If we get the job, and it pays. I'll hand it back. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Sept. 40/1: [B]ut ballroom style is too sudden. Yer 'ave ter get round like a monkey wid a package o' live crackers on 'is tail - yer no sooner up this end o' the room than yer down that, 'n' ten ter one if yer don't finish up by chuckin' a flap an' landin' with a 'eavy bundle o' drapery on yer chest.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 3 a sexually incompetent man, either one who is still too young to have had sex or one who is now too old to attempt it. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 190: Flap-doodle, doodle-flap, flapper and floater may refer to a young boy or to an old man, the one never having exprienced a cock-stand and the other a matter of memory.

1959-60 R. Bloch Dead Beat 71: Listening to the line of flap he'd

handed out [HDAS].

flap v.^ to rob, to swindle; thus flap the dimmock v., to pay (money). 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases

flap a jay

(v.) [jay rtf' (4)] (UK Und.) to trick a simpleton, to swindle an innocent victim. 1885 Daily Tel. 18 Aug. 3/1: He and three others of the division had

cut up 70 between them, obtained by flapping a jay, which, rendered into intelligible English, means plundering a simpleminded person [F&H]. 1972 (con. 1930s) N. Algren 'The Last Carousel' Texas Stories (1995) 139: We moved the minches and flapped the jays every night. flap v.^ [FLAP n.^ (4)] 1 of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 to masturbate. 1970 B. Aldiss Hand-Reared Boy 51: William, by his own account,

'flapped himself', as he called it, every night, flap V."' [SE flap, to fuss, to panic) 1 to chatter. 1912 Kipling 'As Easy as A.B.C.' in Diversity of Creatures (1917) 33:

'We're a nice lot to flap about governing the Planet,' De Forest laughed. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 167: She'd really flapped, trying to keep her own skirts clean. 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 83: You stand there with your big ugly face flappin in the breeze. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: flap v. to babble away aimlessly.

2 (US gay)

to act in an exaggeratedly effeminate manner.

flapdoodle n.^ (also doodleflap, flamdoodle)

[ety. unknown, the image is of flapping lips] 1 nonsense, rubbish; thus flapdoodler n., a charlatan, a politician, a speaker of portentous but empty words; also as V. (see cit. 1925). Peter Simple (1911) 226: 'It's my opinion, Peter, that the gentleman has eaten no small quantity of flapdoodle in his lifetime.' ' Whats that, O'Brien?' replied I. [...] 'Why, Peter, it's the stuff they feed fools on.' 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 457: 'I shall talk to our regimental doctors about it, and get put through a course of fools' diet—flapdoodle they call it, what fools are fed on.' 1884 (con. c.l840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 212: The king [...] slobbers out a speech, all full of tears and flapdoodle about its being a sore trial for him and his poor brother to lose the diseased. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 99: The people's [...] don't go browsin' 'round none sendin' challenges in writin', an' that sort of flapdoodle. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Dec. 12/1: In an interview on his Divorce Bill [...] Senator Dobson has much unnecessary doodleflap, but he hits the nail fair on the head. 1914 Lincoln (NE) State Journal 15 Feb. n.p.: However, flapdoodle frequently is more interesting than something sensible. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN lV:iii 204: flamdoodle, flapdoodle, empty talk. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 340: You wander off monkey-skipping and flap-doodling with colon bacillus before you have finished with staph. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 191: All that flapdoodle which blows out of the East like a breath from the plague. 1942 J. Mitchell 'Professor Sea Gull' in Joe Gould's Secret (1996) 13: The Oral 1834 Marryat

flapdoodle

History is a great hodgepodge of [...] gab, palaver, hogwash, flapdoodle, and malarkey. 1957 R.P. Smith 'The Goofy Girls' in Russell Permanent Playboy (1959) 139: I was a sad bird all full of cosmic ideas [...] and flapdoodle. 1966 C. Stead Cotters' England (1980) 152: No wonder the thought of death attracts him. It's a comfort when life has betrayed you. There's an end to the shame and flapdoodle! 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 113: India — the East — with all the ancient flapdoodle of Gautama Buddha or the Rig-Veda blowing in like mildew. 1972 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 115: Why waste space with repeated choruses, instrumental breaks [...] or any of that flapdoodle. 1986 W, Goodman N.Y. Times 21 June n.p.: The allegation is flapdoodle [R]. 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 30: The poor chaps had been assigned to check out some flapdoodle about a prisoner who committed suicide. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 125: Without such a Bill of Rights,the republic talk is total flap

1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter)

190:

Flap-doodle,

doodle-flap,

flapper and floater may refer to a young boy or to an old man,

the one never having exprienced a cock-stand and the other a matter of memory. 3 the hand. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple (1911) 215: My dear Mr. Simple, extend your flapper to me, for I'm delighted to see you. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 32: Flappers Hands. 1866 London Misc. 19 May 235: Theres my flapper on the strength of it. Guy shook hands with the eccentric stranger heartily [F&H]. 1873 SI. Diet. 1907 W.M. Raine Wyoming (1908) 81:1 reckon Cousin Ned's my meat. Y'u see I get him in the flapper without spoiling him completely, 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 133/1: Flapper (Lower Class). Hand sometimes flipper. 4 in pi., the labia majora. 1888- 94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) IV 787: She had huge flappers to her cunt, — an ugly sight.

doodle.

5 in pi., exaggeratedly long, pointed shoes.

2 (US) any thing. 1924 C.E. Mulford Hopalong Cassidy Returns 311: Down our way we

use beans; red an' white beans. These here flapdoodles are just as 3 a fuss, an uproar. Streatfeild Grass in Piccadilly 175: You know all that flapdoodle of everybody rushing round. 1958 A. Buckeridge Jennings' Little Hut 156: I thought it was royalty, at least, judging

1947 N.

adj. (also flamdoodle) [flapdoodle

(1)1 absurd,

nonsensical. 1878 "Arry at the Play' in Punch 2 Nov. in P. Marks (2006) 40: You know the old flapdoodle muck. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 6/2: He called Queensland, for instance, a flapdoodle country. [...] The wisest of these [men] says he was at the banquet seated quite near to the Premier, heard every word distinctly, and is ready to aver that the word used was not flapdoodle, however flattering the expres¬ sion may be, but flatdoodle, a word of totally different etymology. 1888 Sun (N.Y.) n.p.: We wasnt goin to have any high falutin flamdoodle business over him [F&H]. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 49: He'd suffered through these flapdoodle attempts at intimidation [...] before.

flapdragon n.

[imagery drawn on SE ftapdragon/snapdragon, a game 'in which they catch raisins out of burning brandy and, extinguishing them by closing the mouth, eat them' (Johnson, Dictionary, 1755)] 1 a derog. term for a German or Dutchman [supposes an image of the German or Dutchman as all display but no substance and as races that, for all their external show, can be 'eaten up' by an Englishman], 1630 J. Taylor 'A Brood of Cormorants' in Works (1869) III 9: As

many of the Country lordships slips / Flapdragon like, by his insatiate lips.

2 venereal disease [the 'heat' affects the penis]. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p,: Flapdragon a Clap or Pox. 1700 N.

Rambling Rakes 8: All those numerous Intreaguers that resort there, tempting enough to break a Commandment with, or run the Risque of a Flap-Dragon. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c. 1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. Ward

flapjack n.

(Aus.) a powder compact.

1940 J.R. Warren Murder in the Blackout 164: There was the girl's

flapjack inside. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 35: First she may apply 'spackle-filler' (foundation make-up), then 'lippie' and powder from her 'flapjack' (powder compact), [SE flap + jaw]

1

(US) a noisy talker, a braggart; one who

talks too much. 1950 N.Y. Times 10 Aug. 4: Some of the gabbiest flap-jaws in recent

history [HDASj. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 15: flap jaw - An over talkative person. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage. 2006 Daily Candy 17 Jan. [Internet] You know how it is with secrets: You can't keep them. (Hey, they don't call you Flapjaw Magraw for nothing.),

2 verbosity; also attrib. 1999 Rev. of Arts, Literature, Philosophy and the Humanities XVII: 3

[Internet] In someone else's hands, this would be just another a flapjaw story - a book concocted by an agent to sell off to a conglomerate publisher. 2005 Seattle Weekly 26 Jan. [Internet] A deceptively disciplined comic performance that would have a lesser actor careening into Monty Python-esque flapjaw.

flapper nl' 1

the (flaccid) penis.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 195: The flaccid part is referred to as Hanging Johnny, doodle-flap and flapper.

2 an impotent old man.

Someone substituted 'flappers' for this. 7 in pL, the arms. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. 1930s-50s) D.

by all this flapdoodle.

flapdoodle

1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 401/2: from ca. 1880; ob. 6 (UK tramp) in pL, the boards carried by a 'sandwich-man'. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 163: The boards which the sandwich-man carries round used to be called his clappers.

good, though. Low deals?

flapjaw n.

flapper

134

Wells

Burley

Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1971 (con.

Night People 117: Flappers. Arms.

8 (US) in pL, the ears. 1934 Weseen Did. Amer. SI. 334: [General] Flappers - The ears. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage. 9 (US black) the mouth; thus in pi. the lips. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 17:

The banter laid her

stealers on her flappers, and booted her to the jive that the skull was trying to drop a hype on her.

SI.

1983

R. Klein

Jailhouse Jargon and Street

[unpub. ms.].

■ In compounds flapper-shaker (n.) the hand; thus flapper-shaking, hand-shaking. 1854 'Cuthbert Bede' Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) II 172: The Pet, who had been [...] wondering whether [...] the gaining palms in a circus was the customary 'flapper-shaking' before 'toeing the scratch for business'.

flapper steaks (n.) (US black) pigs' ears (eaten as a 'soul food' dish). 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Flapper Steak ... Pig ear sandwich.

flapper n.^

[various etys. have been offered, each of which may have some claim to accuracy: the Northumbrian dial, flap, an unsteady young woman; SE flapper, a young wild duck or partridge (which flaps its wings as it experiments with flying); SE flap, to act in an emotional manner, supposedly typical of such young women] 1 a very young prostitute (usu. in her early teens). 1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant I 372/1: Flippers, flappers, very young girls trained to vice, generally for the amusement of elderly men. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 133/1: Flapper (Society) A very immoral young girl in early early 'teens.' c.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 104: I filled out a bit, and as it was the day of the well-rounded women, before the damn Irene Castle tea dancers and speakeasy flappers were in fashion, a little here and there on a girl was something a man liked. 2 (orig. US) (also flapp) a flighty girl or young woman, usu. middleclass, in her late teens or very early 20s, who sported short, bobbed hair, lipstick and skimpy dresses and generally led a lifestyle as far as possible removed from that desired by her parents; thus flapperseat, a seat at the back of a bicycle to accommodate a young woman; flapper vote, a contemptuous expression for the parliamentary vote, which was granted to women over 21 years in 1928 (the over-30s having been enfranchised in 1918). 1892 Eve. News 20 Aug. in Ware (1909) 133/1: A correspondent of Notes and Queries has been troubling his mind about the use of the slang word 'flapper' as applied to young girls. Another correspon¬ dent points out that a 'flapper' is a young wild duck which is unable to fly, hence a little duck of any description, human or otherwise. The answer seems at first sight frivolous enough, but it is probably the correct solution of this interesting problem all the same. 1908 Sporting Times 11 July 1/4: M'yes, 'hitch your waggon to a star' is right enough in a way [...] but if the stars, as is generally the case, have made their own arrangements, what's the matter wilh one of the dear little flappers in the chorus? 1914 'Bartimeus' 'Farewell and Adieu!' in Naval Occasions 135: Little pigtailed girls with tight skirts enclosing immature figures, of a class known technically as the 'Flapper,' drifted by with lingering, precocious stares. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 258: He had often and weightily pondered flappers

flapping

flash

135

smoking in Zenith restaurants. 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'Miles Franklin All That Swagger 409: I never think of the damn flapps at all - only to dance, c.1939 B. Bennett 'Doctor Goosegrease' in Billy Bennetts Third Budget 17: I turn flappers' pimples into beautiful dimples. 1947 S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 90: The healthy, flapper-and-bobby-sox beauty of these appallingly typical American schoolgirls. 1952 J. Cleary Sundowners 13: Don't let me ever catch you looking at any flappers. Or anything in skirts. 1961 T. Williams Night of the Iguana Act II: She isn't a modern flapper. 1999 Indep. Rev. 2 Sept. 5; That widely popular phenomenon of dance music and well-groomed flappers. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 152: Colleen Moore, the original flapper, who clipped her hair, shortened her dresses, and tossed her corset in the trash. 3 attrib. use of sense 2.

1852 'The Cadger's Ball' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 147: Oh, what a spicy flare-up, tear-up, / Festival Terpsichory, 1861 A. Smith Medical Student 80: He has passed the Hall! won't he have a flare-up to-night! 1878 G. Leybourne 'I Should Like To' in Comic Songs 20: We're going to have a genuine flare up, and no mistake. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Feb. 7/1: You'll miss me, that, of course, I know; / Or why this gastronomic flare up? / Six months, or so, will see me back, / So try (tis hard, I know) to bear up. 1894 G.A. Sala in Daily Tel. 28 July in Ware (1909) 133/1: 'Flare-up' at the present time is a purely jocular interjection. A noisy revel is very often spoken of by bacchanalians as 'a jolly flare-up'. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'When Love Began' Sporting Times 8 Feb. 1/3: With a flare-up on Bank Holidays, with mirth, and dance and song, 3 one who seeks a good time.

1930 Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, OH) 26 May 9/3: Flipping or scathing retors [sic] in the modern flapper or sheik vernacular.

■ In compounds

flapper bracket

(n.) a motorcycle pillion.

1929 N. Jacob Man Who Found Himself 0952) 142: Well, what shall I

do? Ride him to Rawson on the flapper bracket of the bike? flapper pirate (n.) (Aus.) a cardsharper. 1919 V. Marshall World of Living Dead (1969) 128: He was adorning the sidewalk of a fashionable street, and the indolent lean upon a fragile walking cane, together with his raiment of the purple and fine linen of a 'flapper pirate,' bespoke the lucrativeness of his profession.

flapping

n. (also flapper) any form of racing (or racecourse), e.g. horses or dogs, that is not subject to jockey Club or National Hunt Committee regulations or, in greyhound racing, to those of the National Greyhound Racing Club. 1911 Queen 8 Apr. 581/1: In racing parlance there are three sorts of racing, 'the flat', 'over the sticks', and 'flapping'. The first is the spring, summer, and autumn sport, the second is the winter sport of steeplechasing, and the third either form of racing which takes place neither under Jockey Club nor National Hunt regulations [OED]. 1928 Daily Tel. 14 Feb. 11/5: 'Flapping Meetings' [...] will not be exempted by the bill from the provisions of the Betting Act, 1853 [OED]. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 96: I'm sending you flapping with the dog, see? Over to the little track you went to with Mick here. [Ibid.] 97: And then you go off to the Flapper at what's-it's-name - near Nunhead. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 183: Flappings Small race meetings. 1999 Indep. Mag. 24 July 13: Flappers are [...] race meetings not covered by the Irish Turf Club's rules and regulations. Flappers are usually run in places formerly too poor to have a proper racecourse.

■ In compounds

flapping track

Signs of Crime 183: Flapping track Small (and unlicensed) dog track. 1978 Observer Mag. 14 May 13: He [...] had once been a kennel boy at the old flapping track at Edmonton. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. Powis

flaps n. see flap n.^ (1). flare v. 1 (US) to set alight,

to turn on.

1859 Calif. Police Gazette 24 Apr. 1/3: 'Ere, 'ere! I say, flare the glim!

2 to swagger. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 125: Chrissy odsbuds. I'll on with my duds, / And over the water we'll flare [...] For still I'll dance it, prance it, dance it, / Flaring away with Kit! 3 to behave excessively, thus in poor taste, 1878 "Arry on 'Igh Life' in Punch 20 July 24: Them Hupper ten Toffs [...] do appear to be flarin' it fine. 4 to steal by sleight of hand. 1861 (con. I840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I

411/1: Just after that I flared it (whisked the handkerchief out); and that's the first I did. It brought Is. 3d.

flare-up

1888 "Arry on Marriage' in Punch 29 Sept. 156/1: He may be jest as nice as Jemimer, all flare-up and everything fly. 5 an orgy. 1890-1904

flare-up 1923

J.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

n.^ [its flammability] brandy. Manchon Le Slang.

flare-up adj. (US)

first-rate, superlative.

1846 D. Corcoran Pickings from N.O. Picayune 135: I drives one of those newly imported conwenient wehicles with two wheels [...] they're reg'lar flare-up concerns.

flare up

v. to lose one's temper (suddenly), to speak forcefully.

1835 'Kate Randy' in Secret Songster 6: Such a regular good blowen to flare up. 1849 F.S. Mahony Reliques Father Prout 1319: Vert-Vert, the Parrot. Forth like a Congreave rocket burst. And storm'd and swore, flared up, and curs'd [F&H]. 1854 Thacker ay iVewcomes I 124: He was in the Cave of Harmony, he says, that night you flared up about Captain Costigan. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 360/2: Ask any on 'em if they know anything about old Tom, the collar-maker, and see if they don't flare up and respect me. 1871 Daily Tel. 8 June n.p.: Paris in Convalescence. On this he flared up like a Commune conflagration, and cried out. Shame, in the name of religion, art, and history [F&H]. 1907 J.W. Carr 'Word-List from Hampstead, NH' in DN III iii 187: flare up, v. To become angry. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Oct. 14/1: Finally preparations were begun to tar his blankets, and then Moore flared up. In three whirlwinds he outed the shed bully, a presser and the slushy, and chased Morgan over the horizon,

flare up!

(n.) a small, unlicensed racetrack for horses or

dogs. 1977 D.

4

1846 New Swell's Night Guide to the Bowers of Venus 33: All flare-ups, in seeking the pursuit of merriment, will there be instructed in the art, by association with these happy mortals. one who is socially adept.

n.^ (also flare-out) 1 an argument, a fight.

1838 T. Haliburton Clockmaker II 130: Some of our young citizens

[...] got into a flare-up with a party of boatmen that lives on the Mississippi, 1840 Comic Almanack Aug. 234: 'I say. Tug,' said Mac Turk, one day, soon after our flare-up at Beulah. 1873 J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 15: Flare up. A riot or disturbance. 1887 H. Frederic Seth's Brother's Wife I: Ef ther' ain't a flare-up in this haouse 'fore long, I miss my guess. 1903 G.D. Chase 'Cape Cod Dialect' in DN II:v 297: flare-up, n. A sudden quarrel. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1923 M. Garahan Stiffs 146: It was my first flare-up. 2 a jovial social gathering. 1835 'The Spring Bedstead' in Knowing Chaunter 17: So, says my leary mot, / I'll go and have a flare-up! / So to a crib we sped, / To do as she requested. 1849 G.G. Foster N. Y. in Slices 111: Did you ever go to a ball at Tammany Hall? [...] The season is now fast coming on for these grand flare-ups, and we shall have one at least every night.

exc/. [coined at the burnings that accompanied Reform Riots of 1832, esp. in Bristol] a cry of delight, triumph or defiance. 1837 'Who Are You?' in Bentley's Misc. Jan. 88: Another passing me cried 'Flare up!' 1841 C. Mackay Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions (1869) 242: Its successor enjoyed a more extended fame [...] This phrase was 'Flare upl' and it is, even now, a colloquialism in common use. It took its rise in the time of the Reform riots, when Bristol was nearly half burned by the infuriated populace. The flames were said to have flared up in the devoted city. Whether there was anything peculiarly captivating in the sound, or in the idea of these words, is hard to say; but whatever was the reason, it tickled the mob fancy mightily, and drove all other slang out of the field before it. Nothing was to be heard all over London but ‘flare upT It answered all questions, settled all disputes, was applied to all persons, all things, and all circumstances, and became suddenly the most comprehensive phrase in the English language. 1856 H. Mayhew Great World of London I 44: These would be succeeded by cries of [...] 'Flare up my never-sweats'. 1894 G.A. Sala in Daily Tel. 28 July in Ware (1909) 133/2: 'Flare-up' at the present time is a purely jocular interjection. A noisy revel is very often spoken of by bacchanalians as 'a jolly flare-up, but sixty-three years ago 'flare-up' had another and a very sinister signification. To it was added the admonition 'to join the Union'. 'Flare-up and join the Union!' The Union part of the cry is associated in my mind with processions of working men, yelling and cursing and bearing banners embellished with death's - heads and cross-bones, and inscriptions about 'Bread or Blood'; while 'flare-up' had a direct bearing on incendiarism,

flash

n.^ 1 in senses of display, ostentation, ostentatious person.

(a)

a nouveau riche,

1790 M.P. Andrews Better Late than Never 33: What, young flash away turned duellist! 1801 R. Dighton 20 Nov. in Padbury View of Dightons (2007) 41; [pic. caption] Beau N-sh - What a Flash. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 559: Many a twelver f does he get by buying up broken images of persons who sell them by wholesale, and he of course gets them for little or nothing: then what does he do but dresses out his board, to give them the best appearance he can, and toddles into the streets, toutingff for a good customer. The

flash first genteel

possibles,

bit of flash

he meets that he thinks will

dub up the

he dashes down the board, breaks all the broken heads,

and appeals in a pitiful way for remuneration for his loss; so that

stump up Benno and Some of the Push

nine times out of ten he gets some Johnny-raw or other to

the rubbish. 1911

E. Dyson 'At the Opera'

86: A brother, known as 'The Flash', who was recognised as one of the best-dressed 'guns' in the metropolis.

and Und. SI.

1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp

74: Flash.-A gaudy or well-dressed person.

(b) fashion. 1804 Sporting Mag. Oct. XXV 45/1: Don't you know me? Jenny Dash!

/ Every where the go and flash! (C) ostentation, showiness, vulgarity. 1793 J. O'Keeffe London Hermit (1794) 19: You can keep pace with them in flash and expenses. 1837 'Midnight Mishaps' Bentley's Misc. Aug. 203: 'No flash, - it won't do, - you'll undress,' said the taller of the three. 1843 T. FIaliburton Sam Slick in England II 129: I make allowances for the gear, and the gettin' up, and the vampin', and all that sort o' flash. 1857 National Police Gazette 25 Apr. 3/1-2: [Bobby is] always on points, and somewhat ambitious to give important arrests to the stiffs (newspapers) for the purpose of making a terrible flash and gammoning the flats. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 327: He ast me fur the loan of the diamond an' emerald ring he gimme, so's tuh make a flash before his uncle from Ireland who's got money. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It's a Racket! 225: flash—[...] showy appearance. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 73: To show he was a big-timer, he flashed me in front o' Kinky. Kinky had a grand eye for that kind o' flashes. 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 39: Think of the flash, as they used to say in vaudeville. a.1955 'Good-Doing Wheeler' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 77:1 don't go for no flash. I'm out for cash. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 98: You ain't got no front and flash. 1973 The Who 'Bell Boy' [lyrics] on Quadrophrenia [album] I work in a hotel, all gilt and flash. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 96: Shuggie was a hybrid of flab and flash. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 132: The foundations have rotted, but the flash remains. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 106: Show no flash, hold a job up at the car wash.

(d) (US Und.)

a show-off, a braggart. C.S. Montanye 'White as Snow' Detective Story 18 Feb. [Internet] Why, that cheap flash couldn't get even with a wop

1919

peanut seller!

(e) (US Und.) 1929 C.G.

a suit of clothes.

'Chatter of Guns' Sat. Eve. Post 13 Apr.; list extracted in AS VI:2 (1930) 132: flash, n. Suit of clothes. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/1: Flash, n. [...] 6. A suit of clothes; an outfit.

(f) (Aus.)

flash

136

Givens

one's personal appearance.

1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn).

2 a periwig; thus rum flash n., a long, full, expensive wig; queer flash n., an old, raggedy wig [? its being worn by an ostentatious person, i.e. sense 1 b above]. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flash c. a Periwig. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: flash a Peruke, c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flash, a periwig; rum flash; a fine long wig; queer flash; a miserable weather-beaten caxon. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Plash Diet.

3 in the context of the criminal and/or sporting worlds, criminal slang; also attrib.

(a)

cant or

1747 Life and Character of Moll King 10: This Flash, as it is called, is

talking in Cant Terms, very much us'd among Rakes and Town Ladies. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 144: The explanation of the Cant, Flash and Slang terms [...] gives at one view, a perfect knowledge of the artifices, combinations, modes and habits of those invaders of our property, our safety and our lives, who have a language quite unintelligible to any but themselves. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1793 W. Trench Settlement at Port Jackson 207: A leading distinction, which marked the convicts on their outset in the colony, was an use of what is called the flash, or kiddy language, c.1800 'The Blue Lion' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 31: They'll cut a dash, and hear the flash. 1819 T. Moore 'Ya-Hip, My Hearties!' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 88: I soon learned to patter flash. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry I iv: Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles's greek [...] Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is a species of cant in which the knowing ones conceal their roguery from the flats. 1834 'All England Now are Slanging It' Museum of Mirth 40/1: No, no Barbary tongue at all, merely a little rum slum to put the knowing ones awake and queer the flats with, [.,.] Flash is cant, cant is patter, patter is lingo, lingo is language, and language is flash. 1840 N.Y. Daily Express 20 Nov. 2/7: Robbing Store Tills. — [...] Among thieves this feat is termed in their flash dialect till-tilting. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and

Miseries of N.Y. I 39: I've got but one book on the flash, and that's Captain Grose's dictionary, 1858 O.W. Holmes Autocrat of the Breakfast Table 300: The young fellow called John [...] said it was 'rum' to hear me 'pitchin' into fellers' for 'goin' it in the slang line,' when I used all the flash words myself. 1865 J.F. Mortlock Experiences of a Convict (1965) 120: To 'stick up' a person, house, or dray, means, in Australian 'flash' phraseology, to come suddenly with presented arms upon them. 1873 SI. Diet. 163: Flash 'flash, my young friend, or Slang, as others call it, is the classical language of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles's Greek.' — Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termed FLASH in the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of 'The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of flash words.' "FLASH" is sometimes exchangeable with 'fancy.' 1884 H. Smart Post to Finish III 86: Some knowledge of slang is and always was part of a gentleman's education. Why, when the late Lord Lytton wrote 'Pelham' it was brought against him that 'his knowledge of flash was evidently purely superficial.' Flash, my sister, is merely [...] thieves' argot. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 24/ 1: 'Twisting a fawnie' is 'flash'-slang for stealing wedding-rings. 1986 G.A. Wilkes Exploring Aus. Eng. 13: One enterprising convict, James Hardy Vaux, put together a vocabulary of the criminal slang of the colony - the 'flash' language - in 1812. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 32: This criminal argot, or flash language, used for clandestine commu¬ nication within the convict subculture, gave quite a few terms to the broader vernacular. a generic term for the criminal underworld. 1800 Sporting Mag. Apr. XVI 26/2: Within a rattler stands Moll Flash, / To see the kiddies die. 1810 'Crib & the Black' Egan Boxiana I (1971) 481: Ye swells, ye flash, ye milling coves, who this hard light see, / Let us drink to these heroes, come join along with me.

(b)

(c)

sporting jargon.

1823 'JoN Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 80: Of course,

those words and sayings which are appropriate to the turf, the ring, and field-sports, are equally considered as flash.

4 with ref. to money or commodities (often counterfeit), (a) (UK Und.) a large bundle of notes, esp. when used in a game of threecard monte to entice victims; thus make a flash v., to exhibit a large bundle of notes. 1833 'Her Muns with a Grin' Swell!!! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 50: All moonshine to stash — is the young lightning’s flash / [...] / that is got a by a smash, / At the vendor of vet. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 46: He can always make a flash o' the long green. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 12: If a man or a woman made a flash of any kind there they was either torpedoed (drugged) or robbed. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 218: If they are absolutely broke they get their pals to set them up with what is termed 'a flash,' that is a wad of notes to be flashed in front of a victim. 1947 C.S. Montanye 'Frozen Stiff' Popular Detective Mar. [Internet] Tommy had the visitor's leather, full of green, in a hip pocket, along with his flash. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 101: Want to show a bundle of flash? The banker will benevolently count it out for you. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 30: I had loaned him my total flash. (b) (UK Und.) imitation gold coins or banknotes; also attrib. 1867 H.L Williams Ticket-of-Leave Man 26: Converting the twentypound 'flash' into cash, or as Jem would have said; 'Planting the big 'tin!' 1906 Marvel 17 Nov. 47 2: He was a useful chap at passing the flash stuff [...] 'Gave me a free hand looking after my work here turning out flash money, which paid a sight better than the dosshouse, you bet!' [...] By this time he had sorted out from the box several bundles of forged banknotes. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 81; Imitation Bank of England notes known as 'flash'. (So called because it is 'flashed' before the eyes of a dupe).

(c) (UK/US Und.)

cheap but alluring items, e.g. cheap jewellery, used to lure players into carnival games, confidence tricks etc. C.1921 T. Norman Penny Showman 50: The front flash or paintings

were fastened up in the windows. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 37: flash, n. 1. Cheap jewlery; anything that is meant to be impressive. 1934 J.L. Kuethe 'Prison Parlance' in AS IX: 1 26: flash. Something that attracts attention. 1949 'I'll Gyp You Every Time' in C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 178: The prizes I used as 'flash' — percolators, blankets, clocks — were also numbered. 1952 C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 322: Flash, 1. A display to attract gambling victims.

(d) (US)

(genuine) jewels.

1948 C.S. Montanye

'Crepe for Suzette' Thrilling Detective Oct. [Internet] [of emeralds] So Nick still thought I had the green flash? (e) anything counterfeit. 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 147: My friend here wants to know if them pointers are real or just for flash.

(f) (US gay) cheap jewellery worn by homosexual males. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 82: flash [...] 2. flashy jewelry of poor workmanship:

going the flash

= wearing cheap jewelry.

5 in senses of brevity, (a) (or/g. US) a quick look around.

flash

1899 F.P. Donne Mr Dooley in the Hearts of his Countrymen 130: Run in,

an' take a flash iv it. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 230: It's a pipe he never took more'n one flash. 1929 E. Booth Stealing Through Life 295: Stick with Buddy a moment - I'll take a flash myself.

(b) {orig. US)

flash

137

a brief glimpse (initially a ref, to the conscious 'flashing' by

striptease/burlesque artists].

1903 'Hugh McHugh' Out for the Coin 44: Just then I got a flash of

Dike Lawrence bearing down in our direction. 1917 Van Loan 'By a Hair' Old Man Curry 70: These burglars could take one flash at the top of the deck and know just when to draw. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 250: Lots of guys passsing turns for another flash at her. She was easy to look at and no mistake. 1938 R. Chandler 'Red Wind' in Red Wind (1946) 28: I got a flash of him on the street night before last but I lost him. 1940 D, Maurer Big Con 87: That will give him the first flash. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/1: Flash, n. [...] 3. A glance, as at credentials. 1952 C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 322: Flash, [...] 2. A glance. 3. A signal of recognition. 1992 M. Frayn Now You Know 246: Got this picture out of his bag, so I know he wants to give me a flash of it.

(c) a brief glimpse when offered to a man by a woman inadvertently revealing her thighs, breasts or genitals; or vice versa, of a penis. [1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 81: He had gone to the Dressing

Room and taken a private Flash at the Magazine Beauty.] c.1935 'Mae West in "The Hip Flipper"' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 93: Lotta got a flash of the Johnson bar. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 202: We all have our obsessions, and Mick's was what he called a 'flash', a view of thigh and knicker. 1971 Current SI. V:4.1982 P. Bailey Eng. Madam 32: Some of them wouldn't leave the office until I'd given them a quick flash. 1985 E. Leonard Glitz 8: Pissing in an alley when a girl comes along? Pretend you don't see her and give her a flash? 1990 (con. c. 1970) G. Hasford Phantom Blooper 148: Tracy's goodbye flash brings a hoot and a holler from a squad of giggling pogues as they shove past me, hot on her trail. 2004 happyhooking.blogspot.com 24 July [Internet] Men will loudly exclaim 'Oh my god' when you accidentally give them an upskirt flash while you're not paying attention.

(d) a sign of flirtatious behaviour. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 266: When we went to Ally's party, back in Geordie land, she definitely gave me a flash.

6 in senses of suddenness, (a) [US) a surprising piece of news or a rumour. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 223: After you'd got your money down on the right one [,..] the flash 'ud come in on one of the other skates. 1928 Hecht & MacArthur Front Page Act III: Hold the wire! I've got a flash for you. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flash - A rumor. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 82: flash 1. tidings, news scoop. 1977 A, Hoffman Property Of 097S) 224: I got a flash for you [...] It ain't yours no more. (b) (US) a burst of inspiration, a sudden idea. 1924 H.L. Wilson Professor How Could You! 90: However, I have a flash. I got it when come along in that car. 1934 C. Sandburg letter 9 May in Mitgang (1968) 305: I had a flash that the Hand of the Potter felt experimental, 1949 A. Hynd We Are the Public Enemies 140: Alvin Karpis had a hot flash. 'Why don't we all go to Florida?' 1951 D. Stivers Jimmy Brockett 20: Jack and I had been overseas together after we cleaned up on a flash we worked on the cockles outback. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 8:1 got this here flash - like, why don't make with something new. 1971 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 11: The real vision, the real freaking flash, was just like the reality. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 29: She [...] had a flash that made her feel a whole lot more integrated about Kate. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 106: He stopped on a flash: garbage cans, full, lined both sides of the street. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 253: Flash: call Katie. No, give her the space she's claiming. (c) a flashback. 1929 E. Booth Stealing Through Life 287: There had been a time when it would have made a sensation, but not now [...] it would be only a one-day flash, 1996 S, Frank Get Shorty [film script] MARTIN: I'm sitting here. I'm looking at you and I'm having these flashes. You know, flashbacks, of memories, (touches her hair) Of us.

7 a success. 1947 B. SCHULBERG Harder They Fall (1971) 45: He is not nearly the

flash in business. 8 in the context of drugs, (a) the instantaneous effect that follows the injection of a narcotic or other drug; also in non-drug use. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 16: It was a lot more than a mere sex flash. 1959 cited in L.A. Times in Spears (1986). 1966 J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 43: Cocaine and bombita.s are both stimulants, and combined with heroin, a depressant, they produce

an electrifying 'rush' or 'flash' far more pleasurable to the addict than heroin alone. 1973 C. Gaines Stay Hungry 145: I just shot it up and sat there laughing at this spade I was with while I had this monster flash, like creamin off in my head. 1980 Jackson & Christian Death Row 202: I went over the same things to try to be high again [...] I'm happy, but I don't have that flash like I had. 1981 E. Bunker Little Boy Blue (1995) 285: They're starting that lately [i.e. adding procaine to heroin], makes the flash stronger . . . but they cut the dope. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 59: Flash - the effect of cocaine and to a lesser extent methedrine. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 89: It makes the flash better. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flash — [...] the rush of cocaine injection. (b) a flashback to a previous psychotropic drug experience. 1968 N. VON Hofeman We are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against 240: Everybody gets acid flashes - suddenly something trips you out and you're back up high. (c) the effect of LSD.

1971 Current SI. V:4. (d) LSD. 1977 S.N. Pradhan Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flash —

LSD. 9 a cigarette lighter. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 212: Mog wants his flash back [...] Moggerhanger sent me. He wants his lighter back. 10 a general term of address. 1973 M. Scorsese Mean Streets [film script] 73: The interest is going

up [...] do you realise that, flash?

■ In phrases cut a flash (v.) to act in a vulgar manner, to show off. 1760 J. Adams Diary (1964) Ixvii: Shall I look out for a cause to speak to, and exert all the soul and all the body I own, to cut a flash, strike amazement, to catch the vulgar. 1778 K. O'Hara April-Day Act I: So handsome! so young, / And cut such a flash / As he pranc'd it along! 1788 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd edn) n.p.: To cut a bosh, or a flash; to make a figure. Cant. 1795 Sporting Mag. Jan. V 221/2: So come round me ye sportsmen, that's smart and what not, / All stylish and cuttting a flash. 1805 'Jeremy Swell, Gent.' Tailors' Revolt 7: SNIP cried aloud, 'Ah, ha. I'll cut a flash.' 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1822 'A. Burton' My Cousin in the Army 131: With air unruffled by the splash. He thus cuts out a 'bit of flash,' Which turn'd the attention of the crowd. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1871-82 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. cut the flash (v.) (Aus.) to show off, to be very well known or successful, to cut a 'fine figure'. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1955 N. Pulliam 1 Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 61: Don't try to cut the flash with me. That bushfire blonde didn't give you the first looko. out of flash in an attempt to show off; 'a person who affects any particular habit, as swearing, dressing...taking snuff..., merely to be taken notice of, is said to do it "out of flash'" (Vaux). 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. patter (the) flash (v.) (UK Und.) to talk, usu. slang or underworld cant. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 120: Some they pattered flash with gallows fun and joking. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1819 B. Gregson 'YaHip, My Hearties!' in Moore Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress 80: I FIRST was hir'd to peg a Hack [...] sometime back, / Where soon I learn'd to patter flash. 1829 'Pickpocket's Chaunt' (trans. of 'En roulant de vergne en vergne') in Vidocq (1829) IV 260: I pattered in flash, like a covey knowing. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 262: [note] Tom is 'the one' to patter flash, And make the Coveys laugh. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 303: Why he actually patters flash— how very vulgar, low and priggish. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 39: Patter flash, my lucky, you're as used to it as I am. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 100: Come, Bell, let us track the dancers and rumble the flats, for I'm tired of pattering flash and lushing jackey. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 1 Sept. 10/7: [heading] How Any One Can Get Up in the Vernacular. And Patter Flash Like a Real Call. 1897 C. Whibley 'Deacon Brodie' A Book of Scoundrels 242: He loved above all things to patter the flash. 1915 H.F. Day Landloper 33: Because I do not patter the flash lingo with you, you appear to take me for a college professor in disguise.

scoff the flash (v.) (US Und.) to consume or otherwise use anything that is being displayed as a lure in a confidence trick. 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 232: When the garbage workers - the fakirs pitching vegetable cutters - got hungry they could feed on the display. Scoff the flash. [...] A carnie always liked to work the broadie top - the girlie show. He could scoff the flash, stam flash (v.) (also stam fish, stam flesh, stamp-flash) |? Cer. stimmen, to make one's voice heard, to sing] (UK Und.) to talk in thieves cant.

flash

1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 180: Siam flesh To Cant. 1680

Eng. Rogue IV 152: Which Arts are divided into that of HighPadding, Low-Padding, Cloy-Filing, Bung-Nipping, Prancers Prig¬ ging, Duds-Lifting, Rhum-Napping, Cove-Cuffing, Mort-Trapping, Stamp-Flashing, Ken-Milling, Jerk the Naskin. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Stam-flesh, c. to cant. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: SIAM FLESH To Cant; As the Cully Stains flesh rumly; He Cants very well. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Siam flesh, to cant {cant). a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: stam flash to cant. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 31: Stam fish - to cant. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835]. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 85: stamfish To talk in a way not Head

generally understood.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flash in the pan (n.) see separate entries. flash of light (n.) 1 a gaudily dressed woman

['upon the model of a

rainbow' (Ware)]. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

2 a sight [rhy. si.]. 2003 'The Cockney Handbook: Rhyming SI.' on powdermonster.net [Internet] flash (of light) - sight (As in [...] 'she give me a flash'),

flash of lightning (n.) see under lightning n. flash n.^ [initial letter] [US campus) the grade of F. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS.

flash

flash

138

ad/'.

or thing,

1

(a) of flash cove/girl, a

senses based on display, ostentation,

ostentatious,

showy;

thus

a person man

or

woman showily dressed. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 17 20-27 Sept. 147: Of the Flash, or bragging Fellow. 1703 T. Baker Tunbridge Walks III i: I'me a Courtier, and Courtiers Smoke Gunpowder, for they are all Flash, c.1770 'Miss Roach and Jack Ran's Parting' Buck's Delight 3: With a bunch of strings tied to each knee, / I thought no lad so flash as me. a.1790 'The Flash Man of St. Giles' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 76: For Nell and I now keep a gig, / And look so grand, so flash and big. 1793 Sporting Mag. Mar. 1 349: Never speak to an inferior [...] but in the most contemptuous language, and address yourself to these [...] in the true stile of a flash man (or street-walking bully). 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 222: Jerry [...] as he was now getting a little /7ai/i, tripped-up two of the Charleys, he said, without charging them 'a halfpennnyfor if. 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 189: 'Do you mean to say, my dear,' remonstrated the Jew, ' that the women can't be got over?' [...] 'No; not even by flash Toby Crackit,' replied Sykes. 1838 'When We Went Out A Shooting' Rambler's Flash Songster 37: Our flash girls in their best, / Were togg'd from top to toe. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 73: That chalky, white, bleached hand he is passing leisurely over his mouth to show the flash rings on his fingers. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 63: Sally's young man was a flash cove every inch ]...] Togged out and out, flash beyond compare. 1848 'The Squatter Done Brown' Heads of the People (Sydney) [lyrics] Pray gents take warning by my fate, / Ne'er show off, nor be 'flash'. 1857 'DuCANGE Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1866 Wild Boys of London 1 25/2: 'Who was he?' 'The flash un? A respectable sort of prig as does the high dodges.' 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 1: All the drinking and recklessness; the flash talk and the idle ways. 1893 H. Lawson 'The Shearing of the Cook's Dog' in Roderick (1972) 96: They'll think me a flash man in Bourke with that theer darg trimmed up like that. 1900-10 (con. 1850s) Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 38: The 'flash' rough of the city and also the 'flash' bushmen both considered an expensive cabbage tree hat one of the signs of 'flashness' which was often synonymous with 'flushness.' 1911 E. Dyson 'At a Boxing Bout' Benno and Some of the Push 122: In the first round Mike Brophy showed himself a flash fighter, and very fanciful in his movements. 1915 F. Garrett diary 26 June [Internet] It was a flash hotel and was put out of bounds by the officers. 1917 'Banjo' Paterson 'Three Elephant Power' in Three Elephant Power 1: Barring a tendency to flash driving, and a delight in persecuting slow cars by driving just in front of them [...] he was a respectable member of society, c.1921 T. Norman Penny Showman 21: I gloried in being of a very flash appearance. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 240: He had enough dough in his pocket now to make some of those flash Kosher boys sit up at a game of Chubb-house. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 114: You will sometimes meet him being

'flash' in Soho's drinking clubs [...] He talks tough Cockney, with a flavour of Yiddish, buys rounds of drinks, orchids for his girl, flips pound notes at waiters. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 81: But nothing flash, mind you, my boy. I like my associates to dress like quiet sober young business men. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 25: He was flash - he had four Cadillacs, a three-wheeled Messerschmidt,

two monkeys, much jewellery. 1975 Sun. Times Mag. 12 Oct. 26: He was sacked because they wanted someone younger and flasher. 1977 in K. Gilbert Living Black 148: Cunt, the wages he is on, what, fuckin' $18,000 a year 'n a flash car. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 171: Not remotely hip [...] but loud and flash, full of juice. 2004 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 3 3: A pretty flash bloke who was just a bit too good-looking for his own good. 2006 D. Seabrook Jack of Jumps (2007) 15: 'The coloured man paid me with a £5 note. The bill would have come to 3/lOd.' Flash.

(b) fashionable, smart, chic. 1833 'Life In London' SwelV.I! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 11: Up to a sharp,

down to a flat, / Fly to all that's flash, sir, / Come the slang and cant so pat, / That's the way to cut a dash, sir. 1848 Sinks of London Laid Open 66: He was dressed in one of those flash coats already described who full make, too, by no means diminished his breadth. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 9/2: This style is considered 'flash' among the Yorkshire aspirants to 'gunology'. 1879 G.R. SlMS Dagonet Ballads 79: I bought a new boss with the money,—I wanted to be a bit flash. 1885 J.S. Borlase Blue Cap, the Bushranger 62/2: Hallo! Bungy, who gave you that flash shirt? 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 25: He was [...] telling the fast gents and flash women how he was captured by the savages. 1905 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'As Good As New' Sporting Times 2 \ Jan. 1/4: [He] can swagger about like a bold one / In that flash suit of his. c.1910 L. Esson 'Jugger's Out Ter-d'y' in Seal (1999) 39: All the tarts iz waitin' / Linin' Little Lon, / In their flashest clobber, / Battlin' ter git on. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 307: Playing cards, hobnobbing with flash toffs with a swank glass in their eye, drinking fizz and he half smothered in writs and garnishee orders. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 228: You must look a bit 'flash' for this game — short skirts, high heels, and try a bit of 'make up'. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 155: A real hot-looking bramah, a fine flash judy. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 27: For work, he wears his flash suits gone to seed. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 85: He told me his Mum had been some flash tart and his Dad a professor of mathematics, 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 56: The flash-people were bad for the empty-bottle business. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 115: One of my best shirts. A flash shirt, a beautiful shirt. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 36: Both of us reckoned we were the flashest round the estate. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 129: All us anon geezers dream one thing. We dream to be flash cunts. (C) (also flashy) cheeky; arrogant, boastful. 1921 (con. WWI) E. Lynch Somme Mud 112: Longun wants to fight him [...] 'And any more of you flash cows who seem so floppin' well amused.' 1954 J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 45: Whether he's a flash bastard or not, he licked me. 1959 F. Norman Fings I i: Well, this flash twirl come up to me, 1966 P. Willmott Adolescent Boys of East London 150: One of you gets a bit flashy and shouts out, 'Who are you screwing?' 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 58: If he gets flash, do him up with the insurance adjusters. 1988 A. Payne 'The Last Video Show' in Minder [TV script] 47: That's Freddy Dyer. Flash git. 1999 Indep. Rev. 20 July 13: I used to be a right flash bastard.

2 in the context of the criminal and/or sporting worlds, (a) belonging to or connected with the underworld. c.1698 implied in flash ken below. 1718 C. Hitchin Conduct of Receivers

and Thief-Takers 8: Do you believe the Flash Gaming House to be one principal Cause and Supporter of the wicked Transactions, contriv'd and carry'd on in your House. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 21: We met with two Flash Horse Jockeys, to whom I sold the Bay Gelding. 1781 G. Parker View of Society \l 29: Swindle, therein, is made to signify the same thing in Law-language which it did in Cant of Flash dialogue, 1791 'A Song, How a Flat became a Prigg' in Confessions of Thomas Mount 21: In a club Flash songs would sing. 1802 Sporting Mag. Sept. XX 312/2: We became as merry as grigs, sung many flash songs, c.1811 'A Leary Mot' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 77: Rum old Mog was a leary flash mot. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 327: We have been so free and easy lately among the flash part of mankind. 1835 'A Blow-Out Among The Blovven' in Secret Songster 15: There was ev'ry flash blowen, and ev'ry flash man, 1846 New Swell's Night Guide to the Bowers of Venus Frontispiece: Introducing Houses, West-End 'Walks,' Chanting Slums, Flash Cribs, and Dossing Kens, with all the Rowdy-Dowdy and Flash Patter of Billingsgate and St. Giles'. 1857 in Punch 'Dear Bill, This Stone-Jug' 31 Jan. n.p.: But the lark's when a goney up with us they shut / As ain't up to our lurks, our flash patter, and smut. 1869 Greenwood Seven Curses of London 138: That one with which 'flash' Jack, in the romance, pinned the police officer in the small of his back. 1878 C. Hindley Life and Times of James Catnach 122: The letter-press matter consisted of flash songs. 1880 Henley & Stevenson Deacon Brodie I tab.II ii: I got one of your Scotch officers [...] to give me full particulars about the 'ouse, and the flash

J.

companions that use it, 1884 A.

Griffiths

Chronicles of Newgate 357:

flash

flash

139

By insensible degrees he began to lose his repugnance to their society, caught their flash terms and sung their songs. 1906 Marvel 17 Nov, 467: I'd have a rough time of it with that flash johnny. 1914 Wash. Post 11 Nov. Misc. 3/6: 'Goniff' is used when recalling a thief, among the flash denizens of the underworld. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'A Holy War' in Chisholm (1951) 76: Flash in 'is ways, but innercint in looks / Which 'e works well fer 'is un'oly ends. 1937 R. Westerbv Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 100: Looks like oner yore pals. You know, proper flash boy, an' all. 1956 R.T. Hopkins Banker Tells All 130: Many people who 'bluff' for a living, such as cheap-jack auctioneers, racing twisters and flash fellows, find my grafted stones are cheap. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 104: Caricatures of larrikinesses (or 'donahs') of the 1890s-1900s period show the hats worn by them and other 'flash' girls.

4 amoral, promiscuous. C.1835 'The Youth of the Garden' in Holloway & Black II (1979) 159: The youth of the garden she calls her flash man. 1839 (con. 1715) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 122: Awake! — to be sure I am, my flash cove. 1856 C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 250: Out of the drawer the pedlar whipped a sealed packet [...] 'Them that buy it - they will seel' 'Something flash?' 'Rather I should say.' [Ibid.] 251: Didn't he sell this to me for a flash story? 1861 (con. I840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 15/1: Flash songs are liked.

■ Based on ostentation, display ■ Derivatives flashness (n.) ostentation, showing-off.

(b) expert, understanding what someone else means, 'knowing the

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 43/1: Charley, more for

ropes', esp. of the underworld.

'flashness' than anything else, at this time carried his 'skin' in his 'tail'. 1871 J.B. Castieau Diaries 13 Feb./ (2004) 115: He displayed most stolid endurance without the slightest bravado or flashness & took his fifty lashes without a groan & scarcely a movement. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (2004) 122: It's come just as I said, and knowed it would, through Starlight's cussed flashness. 1894 'Price Warung' Tales of the Early Days 237: By my lights, my flash cove. I'll have to take your flashness out of yer. 1900 in C. White Hist, of Aus. Bushranging 386: I lay blame on myself that I did not get up yesterday and examine the witnesses; but I thought that if I did so it would look like bravado and flashness. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 230: Drunkeness, the old taint of Australian 'flashness'—the don't-care-a-damn manner, c.1905 J. Furphy BulnBuln and the Brolga (1948) Ch. i: [Internet] I'm goin' to take the flashness out o' this psalm-singin' beggar! 1911 C.E.W. Bean 'Dreadnought' of the Darling 315: You still occasionally hear of some solitary flickering outburst of the old pioneering 'flashness' in the West. 1935 R.P. Plowman Boundary Rider 263: And flashness is not approved of in the bush, especially in a parson. 1959 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 172: There are blokes who say that it's only flashness that makes Jimmy Brockett use the phone so much. 1963 Oceania XXXHI 79: Charges of snobbery, or 'flashness,' or 'stuck-upness' can be levelled at a part- Aboriginal who tries to cut himself away [...] from his Aboriginal ties. 1979 Cashman & McKernan Sport in History 356: Some yelled: 'Flash nigger' and 'That's flashness', referring derogatorily to Johnson's showy manner. 1985 P. Carey Illywhacker 61: Only deriving pleasure from a loose-limbed flashness and not from any great demands on his skill or any pride in the final victory. 1992 M. Binchy Lilac Bus 383: But no matter who had asked her to marry them her mother would have seen flashness and her father suspected insecurity. 2004 G. Cowlishaw Blackfellas, Whitefellas 183: The crudeness of expression challenges white interlocutors and also undermines the suspicion of flashness he attracts as a university graduate.

1718 C. Hitchin Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers n.p.: The Cull is

flash alias that is he Associates himself with Thieves. 1781 G. Parker Society and Manners in High and Low Life in Ribton-Turner (1887) n.p.: If they should happen to refuse a brother sharper who is flash to the rig, and has been a by-stander, his whack, are instantly snitched upon: that is, the Snitcher follows the loser, and asks him what he will give him (the Snitcher) if he puts him in the way of recovering his money, c.1800 'Drunk in the Night' No. 26 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: The scouts all came up being flash to the rig. c.1800 Song No. 10 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: He's flash to the cross roads and now makes a stand. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Flash. Knowing, Understanding another's meaning. The swell was flash, so I could not draw his fogle. The gentleman saw what I was about, and therefore I could not pick his pocket of his silk handkerchief. 1823 Byron Don Juan canto XI line 133: A thorough varmint and a real swell. Full flash, all fancy, until fairly diddled. His pockets first, and then his body riddled. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 8: Leaving his lordship almost as much in the dark [...] as if he had not been listening to the flash story of the chaffing helper, 1887 C.J. RibtonTurner Hist, of Vagrants 628: Your third rate class of sharpers, when they have won a sum of money, if they should happen to refuse a brother sharper who is flash to the rig [etc.]. 1890 'Rolf BoldreWOOD' Colonial Reformer 175:1 was a young chap then and pretty flash, knowed my work, and wasn't afraid of man, beast, or devil. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 202: He used the flash patter of his clan. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 161: Fords, because that's what the flash boys were always into.

(C) belonging to, connected with or resembling the world of 'sportsmen', esp. the patrons of the prize-fight 'ring'. 1822 American 2 Mar. 2/3: Sir — At an accidental meeting of some of the 'fancy' last evening, an article was read from your paper, which, as far as we could understand its foreign lingo, was a 'flash' petition to the legislature. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 70: [note] A Sporting Man would be nothing if he was not flash. 1859 G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 10: The doors of the flash public-houses and oyster-rooms are letting out similar detachments of choice spirits. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 134: FLASH [,..] 'fast,' roguish. 1880 G.R. Sims Three Brass Balls 130: The speaker was one of the flash young gentlemen who haunt suburban billiard-rooms. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 30/3: It was never my habit to splash / In pink dissipation my cash; / With my pence as a child /1 was modest and mild -/Asa youthlet I never was flash.

3 (UK Und.) counterfeit; thus flash note, a counterfeit banknote. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 555: The purse of course is found to contain counterfeit money—Flash-screens or Fleet-notes. 1835 N.-Y. Daily Advertiser 15 July 1/7: [headline] Flash Notes. 1864 M.E. Braddon Henry Dunbar 32: I said as they might be flash. 1873 Sl. Diet. 163: FLASH also means 'fast,' roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive, and this, perhaps, is its general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to be — anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 June 9/1: From his 'mug,' gait, and speech, it was easy to see that Redwood had more than a passing acquaintance with men who bought old lead from young larrikins, 'smashed' flash notes, and planned suburban burglaries. 1896 B.L. Farjeon Betrayal of John Fordham 289: If Louis 'ad 'ad a chance of 'andlin' the flash notes as I counted 'em out it'd been all up the orchard with us. 1897 'Price Warung' Tales of the Old Regime 16: It was only a question of time for him to take to the 'flash' business again. 1905 Marvel 111:61 4: I wonder how soon our bearded friend will be arrested for uttering flash notes? 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 236: They don't make anything flash in the way of copper. Wouldn't pay. 1929 C.G. Gordon Crooks of the Und. 35: I pulled the outside note from the roll, which was a flash fiver. 1956 R.T. Hopkins Banker Tells All 5 Y. All contained orders for flash or forged notes.

■ In compounds flash harry (n.)

[generic Harry: best known as the nickname of the

conductor Sir Malcolm Sargeant (1895-1967) and as the SPIV n. character played by George Cole (b.1925) in the 'St Trinian's' films in the 19S0s] an ostentatious, loudly dressed and usu. ill-mannered man; also as adj. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Nov. 15/2: The arrival of the mail is an

event in towns west of the Big Trickle, and if 'Flash Harry' were to sneak in unobserved, the populace would be down on him. 1980 Barltrop & WOLVERIDGE Muwer Tongue 94: A stlylishly dressed individual is a 'Flash Harry'. 1986 R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 39: They walk along the street [...] don't move out of the way. All along the street. Right Flash Harrys. 1999 (con. 1956) C. Logue Prince Charming 199: 'Tynan's a flash harry,' he said, 'You can't count on him.' 1999 Observer 18 July 33: The jury would naturally tend to believe an upholder of the law rather than a Flash Harry. 2000 Indep. Mag. 1 Apr. 49:1 always think BMWs and Audis are posers' cars, but this doesn't look too 'Flash Harry'. 2006 D. Seabrook Jack of Jumps (2007) 274: He pointed at Vaughan [.,,] and said, 'Look at Flash Harry.'

flash jack (n.) [generic Jack] a dandy, a swell. 1874 J, Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 292: Flash Jack, with his great throat encircled by a bird's-eye 'Kingsman' of irresistible pattern. 1899-1900 H. Lawson 'The Golden Graveyard' in Roderick (1972) 343: Jim Bently — a bit of a 'Flash Jack',

flashman (n.) see separate entry, flash piece (n.) a promiscuous young woman. 1928 W. McFee Pilgrims of Adversity AUi: Quite a flash piece, that; one of those Frenchy tarts you see round the opera house in Havana. 1978 Punch CCLXXIV 482: They wheeled in a flash piece called Lomie for him not long ago but he welcomed her in much the same way as Henry the Eighth welcomed Anne of Cleves. 1999 B. Franklin Social Policy, the Media and Misrepresentation 115: She's not

flash

pretty and vivacious, she's not a flash piece in miniskirt and leather jacket.

flash sport

flash

140

(n.) [sport

n.

(2)]

{US black)

a notably stylish man.

1994 C. Major Juba to Jive 175; Flash-sport n. (1950s) an unusually

stylish man.

flash toggery

(n.) (a/so

flash(y) togs)

(toggery n. (1)/togs

n.

(1)1

smart clothes. 1828 Sporting Mag. Oct. 444/2: He entirely eclipses all other huntsmen I have at any time seen; and without the slightest appearance of slang or flash toggery about him. 1834 'Those London Mots' in Bang-Up Songster 39: In flashy togs so fine array'd. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 178: Soon then I mounted in swell-street high, / And sported my flashes! toggery. 1882 'Blooming Aesthetic' in Rag 30 Sept, n.p.: A Sunday-flash-togs young man, / A pocket-of-hogs young man. flash yad (n.) a pleasant day out. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases flash as a rat with a gold tooth {adj.) {also flash as a chinky’s horse, flash as a Chow on a red bike) {Aus.) extremely ostentatious. 1901 A. Pratt 'Push' Larrikinism in Australia in Blackwood's Mag. July 38/1: The larrikin who owns a horse, dog, or cat bestows upon his pet the most superlative attention and affection, in which respect he resembles Chinamen, who are also wonderfully kind to animals. An Australian street proverb has in consequence arisen 'Flash as a Chinkey's horse; fat as a larrikin's dog.' 1978 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 27 Aug. 59: Eddie [Coogan] is the ultimate lurkman [...] as flash as a rat with a gold tooth [GAW4]. 1981 Bulletin 25 Aug. 53: Most Press descriptions of Grassby over the years had seemed to focus rather unnecessarily on his clothing, implying snidely that he was as flash as a rat with a gold tooth, 1997 H. O'Connor letter to Greyhound Lines, Inc. 14 Aug, [Internet] Fine - but what is to stop your slimy lawyers - each flash as a rat with a gold tooth, I have no doubt - from claiming that this second suitcase is 'inadequate packing.' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 79: flash as a Chow on a red bike Ostentatious. A West Coast saying going back to the goldmining era, when a 'Chow' or Chinese man on a red bike was unlikely, for the Chinese kept a low profile. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 176: I'll be the bloke in the front row looking as flash as a rat with a gold tooth, flash up (v.) (US) 1 to produce, to hand over. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 33: He flashed up a fiver. 2 of a woman, to dress showily, to use an excess of cosmetics. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 36; He was going to pretend to give the girl a break and, later, when he had got her flashed up good, start poncing on her. 3 to act in an exhibitionist manner. 1980 T. McClenaghan Submariners II i: I've had enough from this lot without you flashing up. half-flash and half-foolish {UK Und.) a phr. describing one who exists on the fringes of the underworld and pretends to a far greater involvement than they actually have. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 245: half¬ flash AND half-foolish: this character is applied sarcastically to a person, who has a smattering of the cant language, and having associated a little with /ami7y people, pretends to a knowledge of life which he really does not possess, and by this conduct becomes an object of ridicule among his acquaintance. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1833 Sporting Mag. Dec. 94/1: 'What's the matter with that dog's eyes?' quoth the master, who is, as often as not, half flash and half foolish. quarter flash and three parts stupid (a/so quarter flash and three parts foolish) a phr. describing a fool who claims to have a small degree of fashionable worldliness. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 183: Do not let it be said of you, sneeringly, that you are cjuarter flash and three parts FOOLISH!!!

■ Based on criminality ■ In compounds flash blowen (n.) {also flash blone) [blowen n. (1)/blone n.j {UK Und.) a dishonest woman; spec, a receiver of stolen goods. 1821 D. Baggart Autobiog. 62: We fenced the dross-scout, drag, and

chats with Mary Kidd, [,..] a well known flash-blone. 1835 'A BlowOut Among The Blowen' in Secret Songster 15: There was ev'ry flash blowen, and ev'ry flash man. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII;37 316/1: FLASH BLOWEN, A dishonest woman, flash boy (n.) {UK Und.) a swindler. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 342: When a deplorable accident happens, such as a colliery explosion or the capsizing of a lifeboat, members of the 'flash boys' gang' immediately seize the

opportunity of getting up subscription books, apparently duly authenticated by some well-known personage [...] in aid of the

widows and orphans. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 102: This Sartorelli bloke, and his flash boys and bookies, all plastered hair and pointed shoes, they puts cobs on me, they do.

flash cane (n.) see flash ken below. flash captain (n.) [captain n. (5)] a thug employed by a casino to ensure order. 1884 (con. 1730) A. Griffiths Chronicles of Newgate 208: A flash captain was kept to fight gentlemen who were peevish about losing their money.

flash case (n.) 1 {also flash crib) a public house frequented mainly by criminals [case n.^ (1)/crib n.^ (3)]. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 21: An Account of the Flash-Cases [...] Henry Andrewson [...] keeps a Case, and all the Traders in general use his House, he is an Old Thief. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. in McLachlan (1964) 241: flash-crib, flash-ken [...] a public-house resorted to chiefly by family people, the master of which is commonly an old prig, and not unfrequently an old-lag. 1828 G. Smeeton Doings in London 78: The victims of flash-cribs, and brothels. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 164: T\\e flash cribs [...] the Irish rows in the neighbourhood of St Giles's; the low but honest pot-house. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 271: That's a flash crib. I'll be bound. 1839 (con. 1724) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 244: I've been to all the flash cases in town. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 197: 'Softly lads, softly,' whispered Rann [...] 'we are not in a flash crib remember.' 1855 Yokel's Preceptor [title pagejA Joskin's Vocabulary Of the Various Slang Words now in constant use [...] all the New Moves and Artful Dodges praaised at the present day, in all the most notorious Flymy Kens and Flash Cribs of London! 1902 H. Baumann 'SI. Ditty' Londinismen (2nd edn) vi: Tell ye 'ow? Wy, in rum kens, / In flash cribs and slum dens, / I' the alleys and courts, / 'Mong the doocedest sorts. 2 (US black) a satchel or bag that contains illegal drugs or any other contraband [SE case]. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

flash chant

(n.) (a/so

flash chaunt)

[chant

n.

(1)1 a song, or poem,

filled with criminal slang. [1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 241: flash-

a song interlarded with flash words, generally relating to the exploits of the prigging fraternity in their various branches of depredation,] 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.; Flash Chaunt. A song interlarded with flash. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 242; He can throw off a flash chaunt in the first style; patter slang better than most blades in the town. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 62: The Fair Maid of Seven Dials - A Flash Recitation. song

flash chap (n.) see flashman n. (3). flash cove (n.) {also flash covess) [cove n. (1 )/cove5S n.) 1 a thief. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London 1 142: She shall stump up the rubbish before I leave her, or give me the address of her flash covey. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII;37 316/1: Flash Blowen, a dishonest woman. Flash cove, a dishonest man. 1893 P.H, Emerson Signor Lippo 82: They were on the hunt for flash coves, of course.

2 a landlord or landlady, esp. of a criminal public house. 3.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: flash cove the keeper

of a house for the reception of thieves. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flashcove, or covess The master or mistress of the house. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 3 a receiver of stolen goods. 1821 D. Haggart Aulobiog. 58: We fenced the scout with a fellow

named Alexander, an auctioneer and flash cove. [Ibid.] 62: We fenced the dross-scout, drag, and chats with Mary Kidd, [...] a well known flash-blone. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. Flash-cove, the keeper of a place for the reception of stolen goods. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

flash cracker (n.) (a/so flash burster) [despite use of CRACKER nj] {UK Und.) a burglar.

link, appears to predate

3.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795).

flash cull (n.)

[cull

n.^ (4)[ {UK Und.) one who enjoys the society

of the underworld. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 19; The Cull is flash, alias that is he

Associates himself with Thieves. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxvii: A Flash Cull One that keeps company with Thieves. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving. 1841 'My Name Is Sam Dodger' in Gentleman Steeple-Chaser 38: My father before me, he was a sly codger / And first introduced me to my flash pals,

flash dona

(n.) [dona n. (1)] a showy, working-class woman.

3.1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 133/2;

I was always a real lady, as much as any flash dona what gets her portrait took and then goes on the boards.

flash flash dough (n.)

flash

141 [dough

n. (1)) (US Und.) counterfeit money, used

in a confidence trick. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/

1: Flash-dough. A roll of banknotes, often a wad of paper with a large note wrapped outside, used in confidence swindles to impress the victim.

flash drum (n.) [drum n.^i 1 a criminal lodging house; a tavern frequented by thieves. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 33; flash-drum. A drinking-place resorted to by thieves. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 16/1: The first place we stopped at was Brighton [...] and knowing some 'flash drums' in the town, we made for them. 2 a brothel. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI.

Diet.

flash gentry (n.) thieves as a group. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford 168: Rarely have the gentry flash / In sprucer clothes been seen. [Ibid.] 294: On a row of shelves, were various bottles of the different liquors generally in request among the 'flash' gentry. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland'DfcL of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1901 J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life II 108:1 used to [...] hang about the corners, watching the 'flash gentry' turn out for a walk, either on business or pleasure bent. 1925 in J.R. Bryer Fitzgerald the Critical Reception (1978) 234: I can't just see the greatness of Gatsby. Like all the flash gentry, he was rather a bonehead.

flash girl (n.) (a/so flash hen, flash madam) 1 a prostitute. 1799 Sporting Mag. Sept. XIV 'illll'. Some flash-girl in the market. C.1800 'Sandman Joe' No. 23 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: While turning of his head about, / He spied his flash gal Sally. 1820 'Last Night the Dogs did Bark' in Old Tom of Oxford Radical Harmonist 10: I thought myself cock of the game, / 'Til this tawAxy flash-hen, devil fetch her, / Came over and knock'd up my fame. 1837 'Love in the City' in Bentley's Misc. Aug. 131; That 'ere flash madam hit me in the withers. 1886 H. Goldsmid Dottings of a Dosser 81: 'You've been drinkin' at the Queen's 'Ead and the Princess Alice,' she shrieked. 'You've been treatin' yer flash girls, an you never offered me a drop.'

2 a female thief. 'My Name Is Sam Dodger' Gentleman Steeple-Chaser 38: [I] sported my flash girl [...] We both went a smashing, and did it up brown too, / And lots of bad silver we us'd for to pass, flash house (n.) [SE ftouse/HOUSE n.^ (1)] 1 a public house frequented mainly by the underworld. 1841

1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1 774) 7: We reached within four Miles of Whitchurch [...] and lay at a Flash house. 1822 Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 17: He generally passed an hour or two at a flash-house near the head of Drury Lane. 1828 G. Smeeton Doings in London 39: It is a game in very great vogue among the macers, who congregate nightly at the flash-houses. 1838 J. Grant Sketches in London 385: They were [...] notoriously in the pay of the keepers of flash-house, and other places for the concoction of schemes for the commission of crime. 1848 Sinks of London Laid Open 9: Those equally instructive articles on [...] the Connection between the Thieves and the Flash houses. 1851 C. Knigeit London 268: 'Bill Sparkes could patter flash ten times faster and funnier than that cove,' said an eleve of the flash-house, 1859 Matsell 'Vocabulum 33: flash house A house of resort for thieves. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 2 a brothel. 1852 C.A. Bristed Upper Ten Thousand 34: That is Mary Black who keeps the greatest flash-house in Leonard Street. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 420: You won't get a virgin in the flash houses,

flash-jack (n.) Qackd.^ (1)1 (UK Und.) a woman with connections to the underworld.

the flash kanes, where I might fence my snib'd lays, [Ibid.] 33: We stopt in the house all day, which was a flash cane, kept by Robert Inglis. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford I 140: One Peggy Lobkins, who keeps a public-house, a sort of flash ken, called the Mug, in Thames Court. 1839 (con. 1724) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 111-. Blueskin would be at a flash-ken near the Chase. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 123/ 2: Flash ken, a house where thieves and vagrants resort. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1897 C. Whibley 'Deacon Brodie' A Book of Scoundrels 238: The thief, also, found him irresistable [...] the flash kens of Edinburgh murmured the Deacon's name in the hushed whisper of respect.

2 a brothel. 1833 'Ye Rakehells So Jolly' in Swelllt! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 25: Ye rakehells so jolly, who hate melancholy; / And love a full flask and a doxy; [...] While we live, till we die, to some flash ken let's fly. 1840 R. Barham 'Lay of St. Aloys' in Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 243: Those troublesome 'Swells' / Who come from the playhouses, 'flash-kens,' and 'hells'. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Dec. 43/1: Next when he strummed flash kens within, / A slave chained to the galley; / Operas, rag-time - through the din / He pined, till he cased his violin, / For his 'piece' in Cut-throat Alley,

flash kiddy (n.) [kiddy n. (1)] a dandified young thief. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 248: kiddy: a thief of the lower order, who, when he is breeched, by a course of successful depredation, dresses in the extreme of vulgar gentility, and affects a knowingness in his air and conversation, which renders him in reality an object of ridicule; such a one is pronounced by his associates of the same class, a flash-kiddy or a rolling-kiddy. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1833 Colonist (NSW) 13 Aug. n.p.: John Elliott better known as 'flash Kiddy Elliott', was indicted for stealing, or receiving and knowing them be stolen several sums of money. 1834 'The Blowen's Ball!' in Bang-Up Songster 4: There was thirty flash kiddies or more, / A couple to every w---e. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 256: You'd better set up a night-school, Dick, [...] and get Billy and some of the other flash kiddies to come,

flash lady (n.) (UK Und.) a prostitute. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 274: throw

to talk in a sarcastical strain, so as to convey offensive allusions under the mask of pleasantry, or innocent freedom; but, perhaps, secretly venting that abuse which you would not dare to give in direct terms; this is called throwing off, a practice at which the flash ladies are very expert, when any little jealousies arise among them, flash lingo (n.) the jargon of the criminal underworld. OFF

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1897 C. Whibley 'George Barrington' A Book of Scoundrels 193; Having cultivated a grave and sober style for himself, he recoiled in horror from the flash lingo, flash madam (n.) see flash cirl above,

flashman (n.) see separate entry. flash mob (n.) [mob n.^ (3)1 (US Und.) a gang of thieves or confidence tricksters. 1849 J.P. Townsend Rambles in New South Wales 231: These men were

known [...] as the 'flash mob.' They spoke the secret language of thieves. 1906 G.R. Sims Mysteries of Modern London 44: He doesn't want him to fall into the hands of a rival gang. So he has put a spy on to watch, and inform him if any overtures are made to the 'pigeon' by any other members of the 'flash mob'. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

flash moll (n.) [moll n. (3)1 a thief's female companion. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov.

534: 'Hoisting' [...] that's a much better game, but it requires a fellow to be rigged out like a 'toff,' and they generally have a 'flash molT with them at that job.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 44/1: He hung around the

flash mollisher (n.) [mollisher n.) a female criminal or habitue of

Equestrian, a public house [...] where the 'flash-Jacks' of that side of the Thames, frequented. Among them was one, a good-loking girl, named Polly Williams.

the underworld; a prostitute.

flash ken (n.) [ken n.^ (1)] 1 (also flash cane, ...kane) a criminal lodging house.

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 241: flash-

a family-woman. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 210; He bid fair, in a short time, to become as prime an article [...] as either of the above heroes [...] to chaff vAth the flash Mollishers. MOLLlSHEr

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flash-ken, a House where Thieves

flash note (n.) (also flash ’un) a piece of paper that at first glance

use, and are connived at. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet. [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. [as cit. c.1698]. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxvi: A Case, or a Flash Ken A House frequented by Thieves. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1791 'A Pickpocket's Song' in Confessions of Thomas Mount 20: Day-light being over, / And darky coming on, / We all go to the Flash ken, / And have a roaring song, c.1800 'Drunk in the Night' No. 26 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: We all bundled in to a flash ken to drink. 1812 Vaux Vocah. of the Plash Lang. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 7: My want of knowledge of

looks like a banknote; a forged paper of any kind, e.g. licence, certificate. 1864 M.E. Braddon Henry Dunbar 32: He took out the little packet of bank-notes. 'I suppose you can understand these?' he said. The languid youth [...] looked dubiously at his customer. 'I can understand as they might be flash uns,' he remarked, significantly. 1891 G.R. Sims 'Jackson' Dagonet Ditties 111: At Epsom he passed a flash note in the ring. 1897 'Price Warung' Tales of the Old Regime 9: Neither was Mr. Pounce ignorant of the process of manufacturing 'flash 'tins'. 1905 Marvel 111:61 4: I wonder how soon our bearded friend will be arrested for uttering flash notes? 1935 A.J. Pollock

flash Und. Speaks 40/2:

flash

142 Flash

note,

a counterfeit bank note.

1949

Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev, edn). 1972 (ref. to 1844) R.P. Hargreaves From Beads to Banknotes 40: The Debentures, popularly

known as 'government rags', were given various nicknames such as [...] 'flash notes'. flash panny (n.) (a/so flash panney) [fanny n} (1)1 1 a public house used primarily by criminals. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Flash Panneys, Houses to which thieves and prostitutes resort. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1828 Lytton Pelham III 298: Why, you would not be boosing till lightman's in a square crib like mine, as if you were in a flash panny. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 102: The flash-panny was now in the full tide of successful operation. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble 'On the Trail' in SI. Diet. (1890) 43: [as cit. 1859]. 2 a brothel. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Next for his favourite mot the kiddey looks about. And if she's in a flash panney he swears he'll have her out. flash roll (n.) (a/so flash money) [roll n. (2)] a sum of money that is revealed as proof that a person, esp. a narcotics dealer or other criminal, is willing to do business; the money is 'flashed' before the client. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 188: When Sneed had need of some monkey money for a flash-roll on a job [...] rather than risk losing ten-grand, which would have been very difficult to raise in the circumstances, he had gone to a friend in security with one of the big banks, 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 14: You take the five, all I've got left is a flash roll. 1991 D. Simon Homicide (1993) 543: Showing off his flash money and telling everyone about how good is drug connections were. 1991 C, Hiaasen Native Tongue 285: There had been vague accusations of unprofessional conduct [...] something about a missing flash roll. 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 83: [...] made everybody lie on the ground while Mel tied 'em up [and] took their flash roll, 2002 G. Yach Las Vegas... a Cops View 46: One, other incident, involved needing to get a large 'flash roll' of money late at night. The money was to be used to prove that we were big money people. flash screen (n.) see screen n.’’ (2). flashtail (n.) [tail n. (5)1 1 a prostitute; esp. one seeking wealthy customers who will be robbed by her pimp. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov. 538: 'I heard a bloke talking about a picking-up moll [...] What did he mean by that?' 'Oh! that's a very common racket. He meant a "flash-tail," or prostitute who goes about the streets at nights trying to pick up "toffs",' 2 (US black) any prostitute. 1983 R, Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.], flash thief (n.) (US) a confidence trickster. 1920 C.S. Montanye 'Perfect Crime' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2007) 351: You haven't got enough imagination to be a flash-thief or a con. flash ’un (n.) see flash note above, flash woman (n.) a prostitute. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1929 B. Duffy Rocky Road 216: I saw her on the South side with a dark-eyed swaggerin' fella and a flash woman. ■ In phrases on the flash lay [lay n.^ (1)] (UK Und.) involved in some form of criminality. 1859 G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 354: The sooner you peels off them cloth kicksies the better. There ain't no wear in 'em, and they'se no good, if you ain't on the flash lay. put flash to (v.) (UK Und.) to inform, to put on guard, to pass on information. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. flash v.^ [FLASH adj. (1a)l 1 to show off one's money ostentiously; often as flash a roll below. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 12: She flash'd half a Slat, a Bull'sEye, and some other rum Slangs. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 265: I have got a duce [...] and Tom's got a win, — and Dirty Sake can flash a mag. 1821 J. Burrowes Life in St George's Fields 10: If you can flash the ready you may command every luxury on earth. 1834 'The Rake's Register' in Bang-Up Songster 23: I married her and got her pelf, / With which I soon was flashing. 1840 R. Barham 'The Dead Drummer' in Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 209: When trav'lling, don't 'flash' / Your notes or your cash / Before other people - it is foolish and rash! 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 39: Cocum gonnofs flash by night the coolers in the boozing kens. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 33: flash her diles Spend her money. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 71/1: 'Thau dozen! see t' lyke

o' this growin' i' t' tops o' trees, duz thau, lass — eh?' and he 'flashed' a fistful of 'screens'. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 19 July 7/3: This E.T. Smith was the Drury-lane manager, a most remarkable card. He once hired a thousand-pound note from Genuse, the West-end money lender, just to flash about and inspire confidence. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 214: He [...] carries a wad of notes about with him and 'flashes' them ostentatiously. 1969 R. Rendell Best Man To Die (1981) 116: He was flashing all this money about in the Dragon. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 8: He'd prepared the rest [of one's money] for flashing. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 35: He'd been flashing his money round. 2001 (con. 19648) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 147: They saw the cab. They ran up. They flashed money. The driver dispensed packets. 2 to 'cut a figure', to show off, usu. one's material possessions and gross self-esteem. Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flash, to shew ostentatiously. To flash one's ivory; to laugh and shew one's teeth. Don't flash your ivory, but shut your potatoe trap, and keep your guts warm; the Devil loves hot tripes. 1800 'Sung in Fontainbleau' in Songster's Companion 80: With swearing, tearing, ranting, jaunting, flashing [...] this is the life of a frolicksome fellow. C.1805 'The Rage' in Jovial Songster 19: Be't to bam, or to hoax, or to queer, or to quis, / Or howe'er in the ton you are flashing. 1819 'One OF THE Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 22: Bets ran a hundred to ten / The Adonis would ne'er flash his ivory again. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 99: 'Stubble your red rag,' answered a good-looking young fellow. 'Bell had better flash her dibs than let you bubble her out of them.' 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple I 244: 'Flashing' the Brummagem jewellery which adorned their thievish fingers. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Feb. 6/3: [Ujnlike the ordinary bogus aristocrat, 'Sir Roger' never 'flashed his rank' - that is, when he walked or talked with prisoners, he did not 'put on airs,' or adopt the patronizing manners that [...] usually denote alike the parvenu and the impostor. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 55: I give Marne a wad o' roses that laid over anything the bride could flash. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine 277: I see yuh flashin' 'round in a swell noo gray soot. 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'MtLES Franklin' All That Swagger 317: William rendered his family inconspicuous by a routine imposed to counteract the 'flashing about' of Robert's family. 1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 74: Slim black boy. Plays it cool. Working stiff jive. Don't never flash. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 151: They wouldn't miss an opportunity to flash at something like this fight. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 56: Hair cut nice and tight, clean shaven. Dumas even flashed a manicure. 1785,1788,1796 Grose

3 to display, e.g. a gun or police badge. 1735 Proceedings Old Bailey 11 Sept. 143/2: One of the Men flash'd a Pistol. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 89: Every tinhorn sport has his bundle, you know: but it's only your real gent that can flash a check book. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackboard Compilation (1977) 68: Sensational scene in court when Atty. Beany flashed a piece of artillery. 1915 D. Lowrie My Life out of Prison 283: A detective's badge had been 'flashed'. 1925 D. Hammett 'The Scorched Face' Story Omnibus (1966) 80: Pat flashed his buzzer. 1931 (con. 1900s) C.W. Willemse Behind The Green Lights 106: 'It's all right officer. I'm a cop myself!' 'Well if you are, flash!' The order to show me his shield, 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 133: A snooper, huh? I should of caught on when you didn't flash a buzzer on me, 1952 'Burglar Cops' in C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 117: Eddy flashed the super, to look at it. 1953 C. Boeckman 'Tough Cop' in Margulies Back Alley Jungle (1963) 112: Grimm took out his buzzer and flashed it. 1959 Galton & Simpson 'The Picnic' Hancock's HalfHour [radio script] Shorts eh? You're going to flash the legs. Do you think that's wise. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 43: Well, what're you flashing that stuff for? You know I don't have a 'fit. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 65: Heat hanging all out of their belts, really flashing the guns. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 91: So flash your badge and once she clocks it, open your Samsonite. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 101: We walked up, flashed our guns, and cleaned them out. 2006 D, Gorman Deliciously Evil 1: He flashed his badge to the officer by the entrance. 'I'm Detective Rovelli Homicide.'

4 in fig. use of sense 3, in non-material senses, e.g. to display an idea. 1848 Plash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 107: Flashing his gab, showing off his talk. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 83: Day after tomorrow he'll flash the intelligence on me that he has invented a stranglehold line of business. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 68: Why didn't you flash this stingy talk on me before we got started? [Ibid.] 114: He [a magician] flashed a line of hot illusions that had them groggy in short order.

flash

flash

143

5 {orig. US) used both transitively and intransitively, to expose a part of the body, usu. the genitals of either sex or, for women, the breasts or underwear, in a quick or provocative manner.

1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 343: And it you'd gone a little further with all that thinking you were doing, it might of come to you that Chilly never (lashed his hand to nobody,

1841 'Nix My Jolly Gals Poke Away' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 16: No gal who ever flash'd her snatch, / Could ever bring more swell coves up to the scratch. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in

flash the ash (v.) to hand around one's pack of cigarettes.

Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: Likewise you molls that flash your bubs / For swells to spot and stand you sam. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Flash. To exhibit. 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 226: The door flew open and there was the blonde lady flashing her tits. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 160: He didn't want to flash his prune for a skin shake. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 51: The crazy day they had flashed their cocks at a pretty woman in glasses in the balcony stacks of the public library. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 72: Some goddam woman flashin' their ass. 1985 Totally True Diaries of an Eighties Roller Queen [Internet] 10 Oct. Today was 'New York' day at school. 1 dressed as a flasher [...] 1 flashed three teachers and two classrooms. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Boh Goes to the Drive-In 116: This bimbo pops'open a raincoat and flashes her groceries. 1991 D. Jarman letter 30 July Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 44: The Chips never flashed their dicks. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 186: She danced, she flashed, she took the boy back to her hotel. 1999 Guardian Guide 2-8 Oct. 18: Barrymore is a pretty ardent exposer of her own jailbait assets, having posed for Playboy, flashed David Letterman as a birthday present. 2004 Mad mag. Oct. 35: [He] went out to the alley to score some coke and flash a busload of tourists. 2005 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 17 Aug. [Internet] But finding out that a celebrity like Tara Reid has got drunk and flashed her panties?

flash the gallery (v.) see flash the range under range n. flash the gnarl (v.) (also flash the narl) [SE gnarl, a snarl] to

6 (US tramp) to turn State's evidence. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Flash, To turn state's

evidence. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 75: FLASH. To turn State's evidence.

7 (US teen) to shout at, while others are watching. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] flashing v.

yelling at someone, usually in front of others.

■ In phrases flash... (v.) see also under relevant n. flash a bit (v.) of a woman, to behave immodestly. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flash a roll (v.) (a/so flash one’s roll) to display a lit. or fig. roll of money. 1896 Albert Chevalier 'The Racecourse Sharper' [lyrics] Yer must flash a roll of flimsies with a careless sort of air. 1917 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox I 403: I seen one of 'em flash quite a roll, and they acts too like easy spenders. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 206: Bowl 'em over by flashing his roll. 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 205: Hangin' around clip joints, and flashin' a big roll in hot spots. 1945 J. Hoyt Cummings Fatal Pay¬ off 60: The pair had seen Reali flash a roll of money in the Turf & Field. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 160: Bragging, wearing Texan hats, flashing the roll. 1960 C. Himes Big Gold Dream 59: A punk who had shown up an hour earlier flashing a roll for the benefit of the chorus girls. 2004 L.F. Williams Rubies ofMogok 76: The young, well-dressed man followed the some-what older, gray¬ haired man who had flashed his roll of money in the bar.

flash it (v.) (also flash it about, ...away) 1 to show off. 1822 Tom And Jerry: Musical Extravaganza 1 v: Little ragged boys in courts are flashing it, and flooring it. Brothers with their sisters' heads are fibbing it, and boring it. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern St. etc. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor 1 23/1: Flash it ... Show it. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 220: He flashed it about a good deal for a long time, going from one place to another. Sometimes he was a lord, at others an earl. 1909 W.W. Jacobs 'Self-Help' in Monkey's Paw (1962) 235: You don't need to flash it about too much.

2 to reveal one's genitals. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 1 15: Drop your slacks and flash it. 1960 J.P. Donleavy Fairy Tales ofN.Y. 11 iii: Steve, he's got something even better, didn't want to flash it. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 175: A wild party, one of those real beauts where [...] everybody had to sing a

song or flash It,

3 to show off one's money or wealth in an ostentatious manner. 1994 L. L'Amour Proving Trail 90: Here I was, weighted down with money, more than anybody on the street, 1 guess, but I'd learned not to flash it about, and looking at me nobody would guess.

flash one’s hand (v.) [card-playing imagery] (US) to let down one's guard; to reveal one's secrets, plans etc.

2001 J. Burkardt 'Lucky Duck' Wordplay [Internet] flash the ash (to pass one’s cigarette pack around).

complain aggressively, to take exception (to). 1821 J. Burrowes Life in St George's Fields 13: Lest the Doctor should

flash the narl, they managed to leave the room unobserved,

flash the hash (v.) (also flash one’s hash, hash) [SE hash, stew] (orig. UK Und.: 20C-E US) to vomit. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 41: hash To vomit. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: flashed his hash . . . sea sickness, retching. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 212: Popped my cookies [...] Flashed the old hash all over Twenny-Second. 1960 (con. 1940s) D. MacCuish Do Not Go Gentle (1962) 143: You feel you're gonna flash yer hash again, Mac, give us the high-sign—okay? 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 1988 J. McDonald Diet, of Obscenity etc. flash the muzzle (v.) to draw a pistol. 1823 Byron Don Juan canto XI line 147: Who in a row like Tom could

lead the van, [...] Who queer a flat? Who (spite of Bow-street's ban) On the high-toby-spice so flash the muzzle? 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. flash the tongue (v.) to talk fast and, usu., meaninglessly. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flash v.^ 1 (UK Und.) to buy and sell stolen property. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 98:1 flashed the wedge to Mrs Dougall for

three quids.

2 (US Und.) to acquire through pickpocketing. 1900 A.H. Lewis 'Mulberry Mary' in Sandburrs 9: He used to get in

his hooks deep an' clever now an' then, an' most times Billy could, if it's a case of crowd, flash quite a bit of dough,

flash v.^ [compounded by drug imagery] 1 to notice. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson

197: 'What if the elbows flash us?' whispered Henry. 1921 H.C. Witwer Leather Pushers 196: The minute he flashed me he dragged me into a little room. 1927 C. Coe Me Gangster 191: As soon as I flashed Glp I recognized him from pictures I had seen in the papers, 2001 (con. 1964-8) J, Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 113: The hatch popped open. Pete B. jumped out. Wayne flashed him. Pete waved and winked. 2 to amaze, to impress. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 275: He flashed everyone with his ability

to make hip-sounding remarks. 3 to realize, to think, usu. suddenly or spontaneously. 1985 (con. 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 5: I keep flashing between these veterans and squirrel hunting back home. 1992 V. Headley Yardie 9: He had flashed back to his early years on the streets. 2003 J. Lethem Fortress of Solitude 425: If he flashes to August '82, it's Spofford he recalls.

■ In phrases flash on (v.) 1 to have a sudden inspiration, memory, moment of absolute comprehension etc. 1888 J. Runciman Chequers 79: Then it flashed on me. 'This beauty

has heard of me from the Suffolk gipsies.' 1938 (con. 1900s) in J.B. Booth Sporting Times 88: 'Your old pot and pan must be half a tree!' /

Said the cove; and it flashed on Meg. 1968 N. von Hoffman We are the People Our Parents Warned Us Against 161: I go on peace marches because they're groovy. I flash on the experience. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 13: She just flashed on it: for once in her life she ought to put her own needs right up front. 1985 (con. 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 99:1 flash on a time ten years ago when I was at my mother's rural church, 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 137: Bitsy flashed on the idea that if he left Hogan's name out of it [...[ they'd be out looking (or him. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 137: He'd been trying to nap, but he'd flashed on Jimmy, and knew then that he'd never get to sleep. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 85: Just before I came, I started flashing on Andrew Jackson. 2 (US) to catch sight of. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 71: He flashed almost immediately on the three [...] shadow figures in the darkness. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 36: His eyes flashed on hers from the front to the back of the room.

flash

[SE phr. quick as a flash] (UK black) to rush, to run away.

1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 117: Flash down there right now,

give the boys at headquarters the whole works, 1967 J. Hibberd White with Wire Wheels (1973) 216: I'll flash over and see it. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 16: The senior class's butter-headed

flash

peckerwood flashing around the locker room. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 217: Right now, 1 gotta flash man. I'm gonna go and see

■ In phrases flash off (v.) {W.l./Rasta) to push away.

majority of us were up on the parapet working and cursing flashes.

him .32 and hold on pon mi hand. Mi jus flash him off and pull out mi .45.

flash v.^ [echoic; but note

FLASH THE HASH

under

n. [flash v.’’ (5)1 indecent exposure.

1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 37: He had a newspaper across

1994 M. Montague Dread Culture 131: Di Bwoy jook mi dung wid

FLASH V.^j

{US campus)

to vomit. 1959 L.P. Boone 'Gator SI.' AS XXXIV:2 156: As a result of this state [i.e. drunkenness], they may flash (vomit). 1964 Current SI. (1967) 1:4. 1965 Poston & Stillman 'Notes on Campus Vocab.' in AS XL:3 194: FLASH, V, To vomit. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. III:2. 1970 Current SI. V:l.

his lap; a wolly desperate to keep his numbers up might have fitted him for flashing. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 102: Fuck getting nicked for pissing; charge you with indecent exposure. Sounds bad, looks bad, like you been flashing or something. 2006 posting at www.talkmagic.co.uk 4 July [Internet] Someone once told me I have a passing resemblance to a feller who had been done for flashing in our area.

flash in the pan

n. [SE phr. flash in the pan, an explosion of

gunpowder without any communication beyond the touch-hole, thus the

gun fails to fire) 1 sex without ejaculation. 1674 Womens Petition against Coffee in Old English Coffee Blouses 12:

V.®

[FLASH

(US campus) to do badly in a test or

Fi.^l

examination. 1966 Ctirrent SI. 1:2 2/2: Flash, v. To fail an exam or do very poor work. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS.

flash v.^ (US) to experience the effects of taking a drug, esp. hallucinatory. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 17: They've been mind-

fucked. Everyone who comes here is flashed, and gets flashed, and flashes. 1970 New Yorker 5 Dec. 215: If they are not stoned out of their skulls or have not flipped or flashed or freaked out, they rap about the people over thirty who have ruined their lives. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972).

flash adv.

[flash

adj.

(1)]

1

ostentatiously.

1846 Swell's Night Guide 66: Pays the gorger twopence, and tips it

flash, (spins it over to him) 'Veil, culley I'm jest stalling over to the lush crib to a pal, for a drain of hevy'. 2 boastfully, arrogantly, in a showing-off manner. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 93: This geezer comes into my peter and starts talking flash. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 71: Few CID cared for suspects running flash, and even fewer stood it when chummy was black.

flashback n. (drugs) the repetition after the event, typically without the presence of any drug, of the emotions, sensations or hallucinations of a previous LSD experience; also in non-drug use. 1970 Amer. Annual 486: This decline has been due, in part, to the bad

'trips' that terrified many users, the requency of disturbing 'flash¬ backs,' and the prolonged anxiety states and psychotic reactions that were experienced. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 341: flashback: The recurrence of effects from a previously taken drug, especially LSD or other hallucinogens. Flashbacks can sometimes occur months after a person's drug use has been terminated. 1984 (con. 1964-73) W. Terry Bloods (1985) 33: [of military service] What y'all talking about [...] You fired guns from five miles away and talking 'bout flashbacks? 1992 in R. Graef Living Dangerously 95: I've never had a bad trip and [...] I've never had a flashback either. 2002 Fabian & Byrne Out of Time (ms.) 112: Instead of having a flash-back, I was having a flash-forward.

flashed-up adj.

[flash

adj.

(1)] dressed up in one's best clothes.

1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 58: She was all flashed up good and the geezer

that was with her was dolled up like a dog's dinner. 1937 E. Raymond Marsh 1498: As he was all flashed up, I went up to 'im and arst, 'Got a copper, mate?'

flasher n.^

[flash v.^] 1 one who lures players into a corrupt casino, by stressing how often the bank there has been broken. 1797 (con. 1731) Sporting Mag. Sept. X 312/1: A Flasher, to swear how often the Bank has been stripped. 1804 Sporting Mag. May XXIV 125/1: k flasher, to swear how often the bank has been stripped. 2 an exhibitionist. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 209: You know those guys in the park, the flashers? 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 120: Sneed wasn't interested in the flasher by the tit-book shop. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 201: Somebody had even collared Porfirio the flasher [...] Occasionally a passing cop would admonish him to 'keep it in his pants'. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the DriveIn 146: Everywhere you look down here you got flashers on the beach and jigglers on the street. 1992 D. Jarman diary 7 Aug. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 185: Derek said he had seen a masked flasher in Hyde Park being jerked off. 2004 S.B. Greer Blood Sisters 92: He

pulled down his pants and started stroking his penis. Barbara screamed and ran ]...] It wasn't the first time they'd seen a flasher.

flasher

1933 (con. WWI) F. Richards Old Soldiers Never Die (1964) 107: The

flashing

Sonnie.

flash

flash in the pan

144

n.^

[flash v.^

(2)] (US) a spendthrift, one who shops

ostentatiously. 1902 'Billy Burgundy' Toothsome Tales Told in SI. 76: He was not a flasher.

flashes n. used as an intensifier, e.g swearing flashes, cursing flashes.

[Coffee-drinkers] Ammunition is wanting; peradventure they present, but cannot give Fire, or at least do but flash in the Pan, instead of doing Execution. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 623: Do you never commit Dry Bobs, or Flashes in the Pan? 1700 T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 11: Let me tell you. Sirs, it's a brave thing to be a general officer, without bearing the fatigues of a camp to see the resemblances of battles, without danger of being wounded in 'em, and to hear the artillery roar by days, without any apprehensions of being frightened into flashing in the pan at night with one's mistress. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 340: Dry Wooers, Old Beaus, and no doers [are a] flash in the Pan: Unfit like old Brooms, For sweeping our Rooms, 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer {3rd edn) 102: Tho' there was not 'mongst them a man Could make a single flash i'th' pan. Yet rank rebellion had begun To move the flesh of ev'ry one. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oa. 14: flash in the pan n. A spooge-ivee (qv) male orgasm. A cashless money shot (qv).

2 an incompetent, useless person. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 340: Still doating, or gloating, / Still stumbling, or fumbling, / Still hawking, still baulking, / You flash in the Pan. 1721 Cibber Refusal 15: Pshah! a meer Flash in the Pan. 1854 F. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship 114: Here's a scoundrel, who lived eight years with Lord Flashipan. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 32: 'Where'd anybody ever get the idea Johnson was any good?' 'Well, isn't he?' 'He's just a big black flash in the pan.' 2000 Guardian Rev. 18 Feb. 5: My absolute terror was that I would make another movie and everybody would say, 'Well, he was a flash in the pan'.

3 an abortive effort or outburst; also as adj. 1709 N. Ward Rambling Fuddle-Caps 16: Keep your Wits prim'd for a flash in the Pan. 1762 G. Colman Musical Lady Prologue: A flash in the pan with empty gun. 1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) III 98: I was not remiss in composing a fine compliment on my way [...] but it was just so much flash in the pan. 1832 J.K. Paulding Westward Ho! II 183: Poor old Snowball slipped her bridle the other day, and went out like a flash in the pan. 1842 'The Queer Old Gentlemen' Nobby Songster 19: These worn out sportsmen cock their gun, / When mischief is the plan, / But let 'em do their very best, / 'Tis a mere flash in the pan. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 204: flash-in-the-pan. A student is said to make a flash-in-the-pan when he commences to recite brilliantly, and suddenly fails. 1890 Sporting Times 15 Feb. 5/5: There is a great future before racing there, and the present craze is not merely a flash in the pan. 1915 L.R. Dingus 'A Word-List From Virginia' in DN IV:iii 183: flash in the pan, n. A failure: referring to flint lock guns failing to discharge. 1916 J. Latt 'Charlie the Wolf Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 64: It was a shine an' a flash in the pan. 1926 S. O'Casey Plough and the Stars Act II: You said, yourself, it was all 'only a flash in the pan'. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 104:

So poor Dicky was bound to be a flash in the pan. Not that she was ever directly unkind to him. 1950 (con. 1936^6) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 22: But after all, Larkinville was only a flash in the pan rush. 1968 (con. 1940s) J. Healy Death of an Irish Town 31: They were to be a flash in the pan, people said... 1975 T. Rhone School's Out II iii: The flash-in-the-pan miracle worker will burn himself out. 1986 B. Geldof Is That It? 123:1 was seized with a sense of panic that we might be a two-hit flash in the pan. 1999 Indep. on Sun. Real Life 22 Aug. 3: A flash-in-the-pan, one-off, never-to-berepeated phenomenon.

flash in the pan

v. [flash in the pan n.j

1

to be incompetent.

1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 340: Still hawking, still

baulking. You flash in the pan. 1840 R. Barham 'The Smuggler's Leap' in Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 165: But his second horse-pistol flashed in the pan!

2 to have sex without ejaculation.

flashly

1865 Rory O More Had A Hell Of A Bore' in Rambler's Flash Songster 12: I'm the boy your touch holes to prime; / I never miss fire, or flush in the pan, / When I go shooting it is not my plan,

flashly

adv. [flash ad/.] in an ostentatious, showy manner.

1830 Lytton Paul Clifford I

35: 'The gemman vot writes,' said Dummie, putting his finger to his nose, - 'the gemman vot paid you so flashly!' 1857 'Leary Man' in 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857) 42: Your fogle you must flashly tie, / Each word must patter flashery, I And hit cove’s head to smashery, / To be a Leary Man.

flashman

n. [flash adj. + SE man]

1

a highwayman; a robber.

1798 'St Giles's Greek' Sporting Mag. Dec. XIII I64/I: The cull [...]

remained at the bowsing ken, [...] till the flashmen had an opportunity of piking. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 60: Your flash-man, is following his occupation, scampering on his prancer upon the high toher. 1815 'Some push along with Four in Hand' Garland of New Songs (21) 2: Ya hip! had all the Brighton flashmen in a long trot. 1823 (ref. to 1770) 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 80: The first flash men being highwaymen — that then greatly abounded (circa 1770).

2 a thug employed by a brothel to deal with undesirables and drunks. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Flash Man. a bully to a bawdy house.

3 (a/so flash chap) a pimp. 1773 Harris's List of Covent-Garden Ladies 102: She has a favourite man

whom she supports [...] He may be stiled a proper flash-man. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 150: A flash-man, a fellow that lives on the hackneyed prostitution of an unfortunate woman of the town. 1797 M. Leeson Memoirs (1995) II 130: When I first came into the parlour, I took you for some English /la^/ima/r, such as ladies in London have about them, 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 241: FLASH-MAN: a favourite or fancy-man-, but this term is generally applied to those dissolute characters upon the town, who subsist upon the liberality of unfortunate women; and who, in return, are generally at hand during their nocturnal perambulations, to protect them should any brawl occur, or should they be detected in robbing those whom they have picked up. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 313: Poll, in her eagerness to communicate this good luck to her flash man. 1833 'Poor Dirty Bet' in Lummy Chaunter 49: By her flash man she was turn'd up, / All her future sprees were furl'd up. c.1833 [broadside ballad] My flashman has gone to sea [F&H]. 1842 'Sarah's A Blowen' in Nobby Songster 18: And see where the flashman, / Is sculking about, / For part of the swag, / He is on the look out. 1842 'The Blowen And The Swell' in Nobby Songster 43: That flash chap that you see there, is no man of mine, 1849 New South Wales, Past, Present, and Future I 14: This man was known to Mr. Day to be what is termed a flash-man; and, seeing his own imminent danger, he instantly spoke to him and called him a cowardly rascal, and offered to give him shot for shot, while he was re-loading [F&H], 1859 H. Kingsley Recollections of G. Hamlyn (1891) 26: 'You're playing a dangerous game, my flash man, whoever you are,' said Lee. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 33: flash-man A fellow that has no visible means of living, yet goes dressed in fine clothes, exhibiting a profusion of jewelry about his person.

4 anyone conversant with the criminal world and thus its vocabulary, a.1790 'The Flash Man of St. Giles' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 74:

I was a flash man of St. Giles, / And I fell in love with nelly Stiles. 1819 T. Moore 'The Milling Match' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 85: Instant the ring was broke, and shouts and yells / From Trojan Flashmen and Sicilian Swells / Fill'd the wide heaven. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.

5 (US) a man-about-town, a loafer with no visible means of support but an endless appetite for good clothes, parties and places of entertainment; such a man lived by his wits and often off foolish women. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple (1911) 252: A large mob was collected in

the street, vowing vengeance on us for our treatment of their flash man, 1841 'She Sleeps With A Tall Grenadier' Gentleman's Spicey Songster 23: What you have been out on the pave, / 1 now can see very clear; / And I'm told by an elderly dame, / That your flash man's a tall granadier. 1870 Appleton's Journal (N.Y.) 19 Feb. 212/2: They form the 'Nineteenth-Street Gangs,' the young burglars and murderers, the garroters and rioters, the thieves and flash-men, the 'repeaters' and ruffians, so well known to all who know this

6

flat

145

about from fair to fair, and using a cant or slang dialect, they became generally known as flash-men [F&H],

flashy adj.

[flash adj. (2)[

1

pertaining to the sporting and criminal

worlds. 1693 Congreve Old Bachelor 1 i: Yet it is often times to late with some

of you young, termagant flashy sinners. 1696 J. Dunton Night-Walker Sept. 18: I found a Couple of flashy Young Sparks with him. 1781-2 J. Messink Choice of Harlequin I viii: Though you're a flashy coachman, here the gagger holds the whip. a.1790 C. Dibdin 'Happy Jerry' Collection of Songs II 61: The best of smarts and flashy dames / I've carried in my wherry, c.1800 'Young Morgan' No. 8 Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: Grand Bagnios was his lodging then / Among the flashy lasses. 1810 C. Dibdin Yngr Village Fete 22: rosetta: I'm told that men are oft untrue, justice: Aye, that's your flashy dogs - They are. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 40: For, though, all know, that flashy spark / From C-ST-R-GH receiv'd a nobber. 1822 'The Sprees of Tom, Jerry & Logick' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 124: Now, with your leave good folks I will conclude my flashy song. 1837-8 'Slashing Costermonger' Cuckold's Nest 11: I'm quite a sporting karacter, / I wisits flashy places. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 59: Surrounded by her peculiar friends, the flashy crossmen of the town. 1852 'The Cadger's Ball' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 149: Mudfog — prince of flashy bucks. 1866 Wild Boys of London 1 143/2: Gentlemen of slangy, flashy, or leary appearance kept knocking at the Jew's door, 1874 J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 314: [of a bookmaker] The flashy gentleman who so ostentatiously rattles the wealth contained in the natty wallet strapped to his side. 1891 F.W. Carew Autohiog. of a Gipsey 415: A sportin', flashy sort 'er gent [...] 'ad a snug little crib, 'bout four mile out'er town. 1899 E.W. Hormwa Amateur Cracksman (1992) 69: He drove the bargains, I believe, in a thin but subtle disguise of the flashy-seedy order, and always in the Cockney dialect of which he had made himself a master. 1916 W. Pett Ridge Madame Prince 204: She took up with a rather flashy sort of individual. 1944 C.B. Davis Rebellion of Leo McGuire (1953) 53: You're dressed up a little flashy for practical purposes. A plain blue suit is better. 1956 'Toney Betts' Across the Board 213: The glib, flashy prankster, 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 91: Bloom's Midnight Frolics Cafe was the flashiest drop in town. Here the high-toned Camilles came to parade their feathers and their loot. 2 see FLASH adj. (1 c).

flashy blade n. (also flashy fop, ...spark)

[flash adj. (la) -f

BLADE n. (1a)/SE spark, a dandy] a dandy. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 104: In youth a nauseous flashy fop, in elder days a bore. 1806 G. Colman Yngr John Bull III ii: Its that flashy spark I saw crossing the courtyard. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 40: For though all know that flashy spark [etc,]. 1889-90 (ref. to 1780s) Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant I 368/2: Flashy blade (old cant), a fellow who dresses smart (G. Parker).

flat n? 1 (UK Und.)

a type of false die, in which one side is fractionally shorter than the others. 1545 R, Ascham Toxophilus (1761) I 85: What false dyse use they? As

dyse stopped with quick silver and heares, dyse of vauntage, flattes, gourdes to chop and change when they liste, to let the true dyse fall under the table, and so take up the false. 1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 24: Therefore (saith the master) marke well your flat, and learn to know him surely when he runeth on the board. 1608 Dekker Belman of London E3: The Names of false Dyce [...] A Bale of Flat sincke Dewces, A Bale of Flat sice Aces, 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 100: Come, Bell, let us track the dancers and rumble the flats. 1936 F. Wrentmore in Flynn's mag. 21 Mar. n.p.: 'Flats' are dice which measure less on certain sides. . . This slight dimensional difference is sufficient to produce certain favored combinations [DU[.

2 in pi., counterfeit coinage. 1797 P. COLQUHOUN Police of the Metropolis 114: The counterfeit money now in circulation, not above one third part is of the species of Flats or composition money. 1884 A. Griffiths Chronicles of Newgate 318: Of base silver money there were five kinds; viz. flats, plated goods, plain goods, castings and fig things. The flats were cut out of prepared flattened plates composed of silver and blanched copper. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

3 in pL, playing cards.

metropolis.

1791 'Flash Lang.' in Confessions of Thomas Mount 19: Cards [...(flats.

an intinerant hawker.

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 115: Robert Kain, and I, used to make very well out at the flats. 1864,1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1880 W. Hooe Sharping London 35: Flats, cards. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 165:

1862 S. Smiles Lives of the Engineers I Pt 5 i 307: Those articles were

sold throughout the country by pedestrian hawkers, most of whom lived in the wild country called the flash, from a hamlet of that name situated between Buxton, Leek, and Macclesfield. Travelling

flat

flat

146

Pasteboards. Flats, Cards. 1977 D. Powts Signs of Crime 184: Flats. Playing cards. 1997 Share Slanguage.

4 {Aus.) a third-rate painting. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Aug. 14/3: We have discovered that all the

Art 'flats' in the Southern Hemisphere are not stationed in Sydney, and we are glad. [...] One or two of the highest-priced specimens in the [Victorian National Gallery's] collection are vile daubs, and others are 'going bung' through crude workmanslrip.

5 [US black) five cents, a nickel; five cents' worth. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine 208: Hully chee! Can't a man take a flat o' beer wit'out gittin' the razoo? 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 13: The stud cuts out to drop a flat in the piccolo.

6 a flat tyre. 1930 D. Ahearn How to Commit a Murder 105: If they have soft tires, 1 would like to give them a slow puncture. [...] That's a good idea, in giving them a flat, maybe they might get out and fix it, 1944 H. Brown Walk in Sun 84: He might have gotten a flat. 1971 J.D. Horan Blue Messiah 184: A passenger pointed to my wheels and shouted: 'Ya got a flat, buddy!' 1987 B. Chatwin Songlines 114: We had three flats, and Marian had two in the Land-Rover. 1992 D. Jarman diary 14 June Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 147: The car has a flat. 2000 J. Perkins et al. Attack Proof The Ultimate Guide to Personal Protection 10: If while you're driving, someone points to your wheel and says you've got a flat, say 'thank you' and keep driving to the nearest

safe area,

7 [US drugs) a thin packet of heroin. 1959 L. O'Connor They Talked To A Stranger 71: The addict...wants

only to retain contact with his source and buy what white powder he needs in what he calls 'flats' [HDAS],

8 a plastic credit card, 1977 D. Powts Signs of Crime 184: Flats [...] credit cards,

flat

n.^ 1 a peasant, a rustic and, as such, considered a fool or innocent; antonym of sharp n.^; thus (UK Und.) it's a good flat that's never down, even the most naTve of dupes must realize

what's happening eventually. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 12: 1 heard she made a Fam To¬

night, a Rum one, with Dainty Dasies, of a Flat from T'other Side. 1753 J. POULTER Discoveries (1774) 41: The Sharper has a quare Ned or Six ready to change, so keeps the good, and gives the bad one to the Flat. 1762 O. Goldsmith Life of Richard Nash in Coll. Works (1966) Ill 347: The two pickers up, or Money-Droppers, [...] bring in Flats or Bubbles. 1777 J. Fielding Thieving Detected 30: Oh no! says the Flat, I beg you'll come in gentlemen. 1781-2 J. Messink Choice of Harlequin I viii: At your insurance office the flats you've taken in, / The game you've play'd, my kiddy, you're always sure to win. 1791 Observer 4 Dec. 3: The proposal produced a universal laugh, but his Activity persisted in his bet, and was at length taken up by a Flat, who swore he knew better. 1809 J. Mackcoull Abuses of Justice 93: He was an excellent customer at hazard or backgammon. Perry said he had been told he was an excellent Flat, and often lost large sums of money. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 241: flat: In a general sense, any honest man, or square cove, in opposition to a sharp or cross-cove; when used particularly, it means the person whom you have a design to rob or defraud, who is termed the flat, or the flatty-gory. A man who does any foolish or imprudent act, is called a flat; any person who is found an easy dupe to the designs of the family, is said to be a prime flat. It’s a good flat that's never down, is a proverb among flash people; meaning, that though a man may be repeatedly duped or taken in, he must in the end have his eyes opened to his folly. 1824 N.-Y. Eve. Post 23 Mar. 2/ 2: The mare had been beaten on a former occasion by the same horse, and anticipating the same result, the knowing ones bet 100 to 70 on the horse, which was readily taken up by the supposed flats. MZZ Ely's Hawk and Buzzard (N.Y.) 21 Sept. l/3:The nuns who were at the Bowery theatre on Monday night, found business on the increase, the flats bit well and some of the prime uns nibbled. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 129: Thinking they had got a flat, they induced me to play. 1853 N.Y. Times 28 Sept. 2: The Street-Boys [...] all have a slang language, so that they can recognize one another, and converse in a crowd. [...] To 'tip a bust' is to give a treat, and to 'do aflat' is to cheat a countryman. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 15: Brush To flatter; to humbug [...] Brushing up a flat Praising or flattering. 1868 'Do You Really Think She Did?' in Rootle-Tum Songster 69: She could not live with such a flat, I was so very green! 1872 Galaxy (N.Y.) Apr. 494: A 'flat gig' is three numbers played for all three to be drawn, and gets its name, I presume, from the fact that it is played by nobody but fools, who are known in the dialect of deteaives and thieves as 'flats'. 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Oct. 8/4: For our own part, we think the Earth is quite an unnecessary publication, as the Jubilee, the Noose, the D.T. [,,.] and the escaped Ayoub Khan are in themselves quite sufficient proof that the earth is flat, and is tenanted by flats as well. 1890 Sporting Times 3 May 1/3:

He utilised his winnings as groundbait for flats who were fly enough to kid themselves that they could clean him out and leave him granite-rocked at banker, shove-halfpenny, and penny nap. 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 170:1 - like a real flat - decided that the abstemious habits of high training were no longer necessary. 1901 Boy's Own Paper 12 Jan. 232: He wished now that old Holman had not been such a flat as to believe every word he had said. 1928 T.W.H. Crosland 'White Feather Legion' in Last Poems 75: Then a health (we must drink it in whispers) / To the flats on the field and the foam, / And also to us, the pacific / Young Gentlemen Slackers at home. 1938 H. Asbury Sucker's Progress 59: He had trimmed more 'flats' than any five of his contemporaries. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 147: Other cheats were those who [...] organised catch-bets in which a decoy bet was made to entice a flat, or plunger (both fools and EASY MARKS) to place a losing bet. 2 ext. of sense 1, a prostitute's customer. 1790 'Bowman Prigg's Farewell' in Wardroper (1995) 283: Then adieu to all kins and knots, / To kid-layers, files and trapanners, / To the buttocks and other fine flats / And all fellow men that have manners. 1841 'Mother H's Knocking Shop: or, A Bit Of Old Hat!' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 45: By God, said the parson, you may think I'm a flat, / But I don't mean to pray for the bit of old hat; / The old bawd hearing him, swearing said, 'you'd best, / Or I'll summons you up to the court of request'. 1858 G. Thompson Gay Girls of N.Y. 12: Our gay girl in white has 'picked up a flat' in the person of a rustic-looking individual from the country. 1869 J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 318: Loose women are admitted [...] on the chance that she will, in the course of the evening, 'pick

up a flat'.

3 [also flatite, flattie) ext. as a common person, one who is not a member of an elite, i.e. a minor criminal. 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 22: [It, i.e. successful] is what they invariably report themselves to be among 'flats,' i.e. the ignorant section of convicts who are outside the 'profession.' 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jan. 24/3: It's about time A.J.C. officials ]...] did a little towards providing a few conveniences for their 'flat' patrons. Every pony club lets its 'flatite' know the starters for each race [...] but the superiah A.J.C. absolutely refuses to consider the beastly common person. 1921 (con. WWI) E. Lynch Somme Mud 246: You've heard of a man being called a flat, haven't you. Sir? 2002 Observer Mag. 15 Sept. 8: The old showmen and women don't like the independents like Ann and Phil. They call them 'flatties'. They don't belong.

■ In compounds flat-catcher/-catching see separate entries. ■ In phrases brush up a flat (v.) to flatter a gullible person. 1868 J.D. McCabe Secrets of the Great City 359: The Detectives' Manual gives a glossary of this language, from which we take the following specimens [...] Brush. - To flatter, to humbug. prime flat (n.) [prime ad/.l (UK Und.) an extremely susceptible person, the ideal victim for a confidence trickster. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in, McLachlan (1964) 241: flat: In a general sense, any honest man, or square cove, in opposition to a sharp or cross-cove; when used particularly, it means the person whom you have a design to rob or defraud, who is termed the flat, or the flatty-gory. A man who does any foolish or imprudent act, is called a flat; any person who is found an easy dupe to the designs of the family, is said to be a prime flat. strike a flat (v.) (US) to encounter a gullible victim. 1873 'Street Arabs of New York' in Appleton's Journal (N.Y.) 4 Jan. 48: They leave the bar-room, and tell their companions in the streets that they have 'struck a flat',

flat

n.^ [FLAT v.l (US) a rejection. 1859 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms (2nd edn) 155: Flat [...] A rejection, dismissal.

■ In phrases give someone the flat (v.) (US) to turn down a suitor. 1866 F. Kohle Wdrterbuch der Americanismen 54: She gave him the flat. He's got the flat. She flatted him.

flat n."* see FLATFOOT n. (3). flat adj.^ [opposite of SHARP adj.

(1,)] naTve, unsophisticated.

1608 R. Armin Nest of Ninnies 12: All such, say I, that use flat foolerie, Beare this, beare more; this flat foole's companie, 1619 J. Taylor 'A Kicksey Winsey' in Works (1869) II 39: No wiser than flat fooles they be. 1772 G. Stevens 'A Fore-Castle Song' Songs Comic and Satyrical 96: Odd Lingos Musicians write in, / Concerning Flats, Sharps, and all that; / We Seamen are sharp in our fighting, / And as to the Frenchmen they're /7ar. 1797 'T.B. Junr.' Pettyfogger Dramatized I vi: Blast me, i'm flat—dam'me, 'tis all my eye, Betty Martin. 1828 J. Thomson An Uncle Too Many I ii: Famous! if he is but flat enough to believe it. 1838 J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches in Scheie de Vere

flat

Americanisms (1871) 602: Not to hurt a gentleman's feelings and to make him feel flat afore the country. 1840 'Characters of Freshmen' in Whibley In Cap and Gown (1889) 176: The Flat Freshman [...) putteth his cap on the wrong way. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 310/2: The place was wellknown to the monkry, and you was reckoned flat if you hadn't been there.

■ In compounds

1

a fool, a dullard.

1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng.

Spy II 368: Meer Cyprian traders, captain, from the Gulf of Venus, engaged in gudgeon hawling, or on the look-out tor flat fish. 1830 'Catalogue of Odd Fish' in Fleet-Street Collection 8: We shouldn't miss much of [off?] the mark, / If we set down the clients as flat fish. 1844 J.C. Neal Peter Ploddy and Other Oddities 149: A werry flat sort of a fish, that chap is. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' Back to the Woods 13: I made up my mind one day I'd run down to the Flatfish Factory and drag a few honest dollars away from the Bookmakers.

2 a beggar's or confidence trickster's prey. 1824 letter in Times 8 Dec. n.p.: The invunerability of 'Fishmonger's Hall,' or the CrocA'-odile Mart for gudgeons, flat-fish, and pigeons, is likely soon to be put to the proof, c.1830 'Life of a Vagabond' in Holloway & Black II (1979) 63: On flatfish I contrive to live though some call me a shark. 1869 J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 407: This is the way Dodger angles for 'flat-fish' of tender age.

flat adj.^

[abbr. flat broke; SE flat, completely -F BROKE adji' (1)] without any money. Crockett Sketches and Eccentricities 60: He awoke next

morning flat without a dollar. 1842 Comic Almanack June 318: There goes, Tom Gad, a twenty pounder / As flat, you are, as any flounder. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 7/4: 'Miss Clara,' he finally ventured, 'I don't think you have much money left. This purse seems to be a little flat, he! he! he!' 'Flat? Well, it's a little flat, sure enough, but I don't mind that; it's a big flat that I object to.' He left her at the next corner. 1895 'Banjo' Paterson 'Our New Horse' Man from Snowy River (1902) 31: They lost their good money on Slogan, / And fell, most uncommonly flat. 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 9: As between the Generous Young Fellow who is Flat and the Moneyed Man who never Comes Up, it is about Six of one and Half a Dozen of the other. 1921 Dos Passos Three Soldiers 386: I've been flat fifteen days. 1932 (con. 1917-19) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 357: I'm flat and those goddam Scotchmen wont advance us any pay. 1943 J. Mitchell McSorley's Wonderful Saloon (2001) 125: I hate to bother you, pal, but Tm flat. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 139: She left him flat somewhere along the line. 1960 A. Seymour One Day of the Year (1977) I i: hughie: {feeling in his pocket) Sorry, I'm flat, a.1964 'Honky-Tonk Bud' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 55: 'Now I ain't flat,' said the beat-up cat, 'We're traveling boosters, you know.' 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 211: I only have sixty-five dollars on me [...] I'm almost flat, buddy. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad 60: Flat as a matzoh Broke, out of cash.

flat ad'j?

[SE //at/FLAT OUT adj? (1)] distraught.

flat-cap (n.) see separate entry, flat-car (n.) {US tramp) a pancake. 1927 C. Samolar 'Argot of the Vagabond' in AS 11:9 389: Pancakes ate flat-cars. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 582: Pancakes are flat-cars.

1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 133: I had a pretty good

front for a flat car tourist.

1791 J. O'Keeffe Wild Oats (1792) 49: You'd disgust her, you flat fish.

1833 D.

1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1977 L. YOUNG et al. Recreational Drugs. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flat blues — LSD.

flat-car tourist (n.) (US) an itinerant who travels in freight-cars.

flat fish in.) {also regular flat fish) [fish n.^ (4); or ? just a simple joc. use of SE]

flat

147

1

emotionally destroyed or

1902 'Hugh McHugh' It's Up to You 37: Then they both chuckled and

left me flat. 1920 0.0. McIntyre 'Bits of N.Y. Life' 4 Dec. [synd. col] They make fine marriages and two or three months later [.,,] their husbands leave them flat. 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 13: He would have been tickled pink to stick it into me and break it off that he had got my wife to run away with him and leave me flat.

2 exhausted, worn out. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 45: You fell pretty flat after it,

■ In phrases flat as a tack {adj.) {Aus.} very depressed. 1965 J. Dyer 'Captain Blood' 39: We were as flat as a tack when we met South in the Grand Final and they romped away with the flag. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 13 June 25: 'I rode her in the Brisbane Cup and she went disgracefully,' Quinton said. 'She was as flat as a tack after the hard run.' [GAW4]. 2002 Herald-Sun 26 Sept. (Victoria, Aus.) [Internet] 'I was as flat as a tack after the draw,' Cowton said. 'The whole season build-up was to that last Saturday in September. All of a sudden there's another game, and I couldn't get my mind around it. I was going through the motions.'

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flatback/-backer/-backing see separate entries. flat bit (n.) see under bit n,\ flat blues (n.) [packaging] {drugs) LSD.

flat chicken (n.) [? the taste, the consistency, the look] stewed tripe. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

flat-cock/-cocking see separate entries, flat dog (n.) (US prison) bologna sausage. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flat dog Bologna sausage. 1971-2 C. Shaper 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: flat dog, n. bologna.

flatfoot/-footed see separate entries, flatfuck see separate entries. flathead(ed) see separate entries, flatheel (n.) see flatfoot n. (3). flat joint (n.) [SE flat -f joint n. (3b); the flat surface that is vital to the playing of the sort of games, e.g. three-card monte, the shell game, featured at such places] (US Und.) a crooked gambling game or casino; orig. fair/carnival use, when a flat was a crooked or doctored 'wheel of fortune'; also as v. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 34: flat joint [...]

Current amongst open-air sure-thing men who operate at circus gatherings, fairs, carnivals, any gaming establishment where fortune is presumed to wail upon skill combined with risk. The 'TIVOLI'; the 'SWINGING BALL', the 'SPINDLE'; the 'pinch wheel'; the 'paddles'; the 'shells'; 'three card monte'; the 'eight die case'; the 'fish pond'; the 'discs' are all grafting flat joints, 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Flat joint. Gambling den. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 40/2: Flat joint, a cheating gambling house. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 144: Joe Frog [...] was fascinated by the flat-joints with a circus. [Ibid.] 175: Farmer boys thought that flat-jointing was better than looking at a horse's tail all day. 1952 in Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 22 Mar. 14/4: Many of the touts around race tracks are former carnival hustlers or carnies whose gambling concessions were known as flat-joints. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 305: Don't fit no place but the funhouse, the flat joint, racked up front of the marks,

flatline (v.) see separate entry. flat-move (n.) [SE//at, i.e. lifeless, disappointing -F MOVE n. (2)] (on'g. UK Und.) any plan - criminal or otherwise - that fails. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang.

flat stick (adv.) (a/so flat stack, ...strap, ...tack) {Aus./N.Z.) at top speed, at the limit of one's abilities or resources. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi St. 45/2: flat stick as fast as the vehicle will travel; eg 'He was going flat stick, but the cop was gaining on him.' [...] flat tack as fast as you can get yourself or your vehicle to go. 1999 Greenstone Reincarnate at www.airandangels.com [Internet] People who wonder how Usagi can stay so thin, given how she eats, need only look at how much time she spends running flat tack to somewhere she should have been fifteen minutes ago. 2003 McGtLL Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 79: flat stack/stick/strap/tack As fast as possible or maximum exertion. ANZ latter C20.

flat time (n.) see flat bit under bit n.\ flat top (n.) 1 a style of haircut. 1954 N.Y. Herald Trib. 28 Feb. 47/3: School athletes [...] probably have 'flat tops' (crew haircuts). 1956 Little Richard 'Ready Teddy' [lyrics] The flat top cats and the dungaree dolls / Are headed for the gym to the sock-hop ball. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 180: The young high school delinquents with flattops proclaiming their Youth. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 243: 1 noticed a chunky guy dressed in leather with a blond Nazi flat-top. 1983 V. Viidikas 'Island of Gems' in India Ink (1984) 42: A loud palm tree waving shirt, and a flat top haircut. 1990 N. George 'Superfly' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 119: At [...] Afrocentric barbershops the fade flattop became a sculpture. 2002 (con. 1991) W. Self Dorian 197: He had a flat-top in the current Tyson mode,

2 a style of hat. 1961 C. Cooper Jr Weed (1998) 177: His eyes widening [...] under the short brim of his flat-top.

flat tyre (n.) (also flat tire) 1 (US campus) an unattractive young woman, 1925 Wash. Post 25 Jan. SM7: Jargon of the Juveniles Daughter Flat tire. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 8/2: Flat-tire - Girl never to be taken to a blow-out. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 16: However, loss of

flat

referent cannot explain the demise of these American college slang terms of the 1930s and 1940s: flat tire for 'unattractive girl'. 2 (US) a woman who has been thrown over by a lover; a prostitute who has been rejected by her pimp. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 75: Flat Tyre.—A woman cast aside by her lover of yesterday or abandoned by the 'pimp' who has exploited her as unproductive of any further income.

3 (on'g. US black) a disappointment, an illusion. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 14: Take the marriage bit. That's the biggest flat tire of all. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from

the Fridge Dad 60: Flat tyre 1. A letdown. 4 (US) a failure, an inadequate, 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 15: dub. A mutt, a dud, a flat tire, a poor fish. 1929 T. Thursday 'And Howe' in Everybody's Feb. [Internet] Ain't I read hundreds of fiction stories where the blowhard turned out to be a flat tire. 1933 The Public Enemy [film script] Couple of lightweights . . . yeah, flat tyres. 1962 Ragen & FiNSTON World's Toughest Prison 799: flat tire-A person unproduc¬ tive of further income. 5 (US) an impotent man. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flat TIRE [...] an impotent man.

flat-wheel(er) see separate entries, flat-wig (v.) (US prison) to knock down violently. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Flat Wig: To

slam, or put to the floor with force. Or, 'Flat Weed.' (TX).

■ In phrases flat as a witch’s tit (adj.) (Aus.) of beer, very flat. 1970 Gallon & Simpson 'Cuckoo in the Nest' Steptoe and Son [TV

script] They reckon your beer is flatter than a witch's tit.

flat on one’s ass (adj.) (also flat on one’s can, flat on the dead¬ end) [ass n. (2)/can nj' (1)1 (US) out of work, without money. 1923 P. MacGill Moleskin Joe 51: 'Flat on the dead-end,' was the man's answer, "Aven't seen bread for two days.' 1948 H. McCoy Kiss

Tomorrow Goodbye in Four Novels (1983) 109: For a punk who's flat on his can you sure talk big. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 50: There I was flat on my ass with no certificate. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad 60: Flat on one's can Down on your luck.

flat

flat-cap

148

V. [SE turn down flat / a flat refusal] (US) to reject a suitor.

1807 in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 271: Widow Yarborough has

flatted the little Captain. 1872 Schele De Verb Americanisms 602: To flat, in the West, means to jilt, and is probably derived from another slang phrase, to feel flat, denoting the depression which is apt to follow such a disappointment,

flat adv. m SE, meaning completely, utterly, in slang uses u In compounds flat broke (adj.) see separate entry, flat out see separate entries, flat back n. a bedbug. 1861 G.W. Harris 'Travels with Old Abe' Nashville Union and American XXV Feb. in Inge (1967) 263: When he's got his dignity on, and a passel of flat backs roun him an he feels good an safe. 18901904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flatback n. (US) 1

an act of conventional heterosexual intercourse, usu. as offered by a prostitute, who lays 'flat on her

back'. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 120: Sexual activity ranges from 'flat back,' or missionary-position sex, to anal sex with many partners. 2000 W.T. Vollmann Royal Family 306: If you want a flatback or a blow, you just down your money in my hand. [Ibid.] 625: You can pay me twenty and I'll give you a nice flatback.

2 attrib. use of sense 1, pertaining to intercourse, esp. when for money. 2001 J, Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 110: It [i.e. a murder] went

down at a flatback motel called the Pawnee Lodge.

3 a promiscuous woman; a prostitute. 2005 J. Stahl 1, Fatty 165: The flatback [...] was known to have

fornicated with anything in pants.

flatback

v. (US) 1 to work as a prostitute, the image is a whore working from a given place, rather than walking the streets. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 101: Up there, ain't no walking. She can

'flat back'. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 38: You jive flat¬ backing zero bitch. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 7: Rings 'n' Things [...] flatbacked for no man [i.e. pimp]. 2003 Anchorage Press 9-15 Oct. [Internet] For fun, she flatbacks it down at the local sporting house, not so much for the extra coin as for the pungent smell of the waterfront trade. 2006 posting at www.perezhilton.com 25 Mar. [Internet] I bet your mother even hates you. Oh but wait maybe she flatbacks to help support your habit (fudge packing).

2 to have sex in the missionary position. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 91: Some [whores] will only

'flat-back' or 'french'. 1991 W.T. Vollmann Whores for Gloria 48: He flatbacked Nicole. 2000 W.T. Vollmann Royal Family 496: And what have you heard it is said I do with cops [....] Flatback 'em?

flatbacker

n. [flatback v. (1); she does no more than lie flat on her back] (US black pimp) a prostitute, esp. one who specializes in quantity rather than quality; also an honest prostitute (i.e. who delivers the promised sex and neither tricks nor robs her client). 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 162: You gonna starve to death Nigger, if she's a chump flat-backer. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 42: A woman who makes her money by simply having intercourse with as many men as possible is known as a fiat-backer. She does not attempt to become involved with tricks in any way, will not go out to dinner or socialize with them, and will not play the role of a trick's analyst or girlfriend. Women who make all their money flat¬ backing are said to be deficient in game. 1977 J.L. Dillard Lex. Black Eng. 89: A prostitute whose abilities do not include conning the John out of his scratch (i.e., money) is a flatbacker. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 29: A cavalcade of tricks, flat backers, stuff players and thieves paraded past. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 56: A flatbacker, a prostitute. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 7: He made a practice of sending to hell [...] flatbackers dipping his girls' business. 2007 UGK 'Gravy' [lyrics] I fuck the snow but I love a

pro like flatbackers I'm a Cadillac'er.

flatbacking

n. [the trad, 'missionary position'] (US black) working as

a prostitute. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 4: [They] wondered how she kept it up year upon flatbacking year. 2006 Strip Club List [Internet] What happend to Nina, all kinds of rumors, she's out flatbacking, she's in jail again, she had to quit dancing to keep her kid.

flat broke

adj. (also flat) [SE flat, completely, utterly -F BROKE adjj'

(1); De Vere's ety. is mistaken] totally impoverished. 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 602: The same word enters into the phrase flat broke, meaning the same as 'dead broke,' from the idea of being so broken as to lie flat on the ground. 1884 (con. C.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 274: When we see the raft was gone, and we flat broke, there wasn't anything for it but to try the Royal Nonesuch another shake. 1902 J.D. Corrothers Black Cat Club 38: Played de races—got broke flat. 1914 R. Lardner You Know Me Al (1984) 113:1 am flat broke A1 and all I am asking you is to send me enough money to pay my fair to Bedford. 1922 P.A. Rollins Cowboy 87: The Westerner, having started life when financially 'flat broke'. 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 279: Here am I—practically flat broke. Don't know if I can scrape together enough to pay my rent next week. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 47: That would leave me flat broke. 1957 Kerouac letter 24 June in Charters II (1999) 46: I wouldnt be surprised if Viking Press [...] put off the publication of my book and leave me flat bum broke again. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 158: 'Need any scratch [...]?' 'No, I'm not completely flat.' 1971 B. Moyers Listening to America 103: We're flat broke. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 60: We've got to begin to think as Gary McCullough thinks when he's flat broke and sick with desire. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 159: As usual, he's flat broke,

flat-cap

n. [the headgear; thus )onson. Every Man in his Humour (1598): 'Mock me a[l over From my flat-cap unto my shining shoes'; or Dekker, Honest Whore (1630): 'Flat caps as proper are to Citty Gownes / As to armour helmets, or to kings their Crownes'l 1 a citizen of London; thus a tradesman. 1600 T. Heywood Edward TV (1874) 1 18: Flat-caps thou call's! us. We scorne not the name, c.1611 Dekker Match Me in London I i: king: What's her Husband? lad: A flatcap, pish. 1617 Middleton & Rowley A Fair Quarrel IV iv: Old flatcaps or young heirs, c.1629 R. Brome City Wit IV i: Oh twas a notable dull Flat-Cap. 1700 'The Growth of Cuckoldom' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 109: If you walk the Town of London, I Where the Flat-caps call Men Cousins. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 11:3 9: Young Flat-caps, with extended Throats, / Crying their Damsons, Pears, and Nuts. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 109: [as cit. 1700]. 1722 'Whipping-Tom' Universal Poison, or the Dismal Effects of Tea II 12: Even Women who cry Grey-Pease [...] Flat-Caps, Burners, and all the Scum of the Nation, cannot go to Break-fast without a Dish of it. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 312: flat-cap. A term of ridicule for a

citizen. In Henry the Eighth's time flat round caps were the highest fashion; but as usual, when their date was out, they became ridiculous. Citizens of London continued to wear them, long after they were generally disused, and were often satirised for it.

2 a Billingsgate fishwife. 1698 N. Ward London Spy II 40: Round the Fire sat a tatter'd Assembly of fat Motherly Flat-Caps, with their Fish-Baskets hanging upon their Heads. 1768 Gentleman's Bottle-Companion 1: At which the flat-cap form'd a smile. 1859 (ref. to c.1700) G.A. Sala Twice Round

flat-catcher

the Clock 208: The Market Women's, or 'Flat-cap Club,' was at one time quite a fashionable place of meeting,

flat-catcher n.^ [flat n.^ (1) + SE catcher] 1 anything that will serve to dupe the public. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry I vi: Do you think we shall get the flat-catcher off to-day? [...] here's three swells coming this way - that one in the middle, looks like a flat, we must try it on him. 1835 G. Kent Modem Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1890 C. Hindley Voeab. and Gloss. in True Hist, of Tom and Jerry 174: FlatCa.tcher. A man, woman, or any article intended to take in the public. 1890 Sporting Times 11 Jan. 3: Our friend makes such an offer for the horse that the cavalry colonel is forgotten, and Mr. Snaffle parts with one of the most worthless 'flat-catchers' he has ever had the fortune to own.

2 (also catcher) a confidence trickster, one who indulges in 'sharp practice'. 1828 G. Smeeton Doings in London 68: 'The Fancy,' who are technically caWeA flat-catchers, and who pick up a very pretty living by a quick hand, a rattling tongue. 1840 N.Y. Herald 15 Jan. 2/4-5: Flat catching, [headline] ]...] before him stood the identical flat catchers, who it seems had tried the same game on Mr. W., with whom it was 'no go' [Ibid.] 2/5: It seems almost a miracle that the catchers did not escape, as they were not detected until they were getting off the last 'drop of Cogniac' in their possession. 1856 H. Mayhew Great World of London I 46: 'Flatcatchers,' or 'ringdroppers,' who cheat by pretending to find valuables in the street. 1877 S. James Vagabond Papers (3rd series) 136: You have to go into general business. You must be a magsman, a pincher, a picker-up, a flatcatcher, a bester. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

flat-catcher

[it is always caught and passed in the flat] a horse that looks good but fails to win races. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 230:1 would be on the back of one of Goodman's flatcatchers, which I would ride to the meet,

flat-catching n. [flat-catcher n.^ (2)] confidence trickery, fraud; also attrib. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 378: The no-pinn'd hero, on being

elevated, gave as a toast, success to ?LA.t-catching. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 244: She lives principally [...] by flat-catching! 1840 N.Y. Herald 15 Jan. 2/4-5: Flat catching, [headline] [...] before him stood the identical flat catchers, who it seems had tried the same game on Mr. W., with whom it was 'no go'. 1869 J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 386: It would be amusing to peruse the various styles of address [...] and to mark the many kinds of bait that are used in 'flat-catching' as the turf slang has it. 1919 J. Buchan Mr (1930) 698: You English [...] think a fellow's a dandy at handling your Government if he happens to have made a pile by some flat-catching ramp on your Stock Exchange.

flatch n. (also flach) [backsl.] 1 a half. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 127: FLATCH, a half, or halfpenny. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1873 SI. Diet. 2001 J. Burkardt

'Back SI.' Wordplay [Internet] flatch: half.

2 a halfpenny. 1859 see sense 1. c.1864 A. Stephens 'The Chickaleary Cove' [lyrics] And a doesn't care a flatch, / So long as I've a tach, / Some pannum in my Chest - and a tog on! 1873 SI. Diet. 1935 R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 65: Costermongers invariably use the following terms in discussing money transactions [...] Flatch Halfpenny. 1953 J. Franklyn Cockney 297: Three-halfpence becomes yenep-flatch, and this translated into ordinary speech: the Cockney rarely refers to three-hapence - his idiom is 'penny-ha-penny',

flatch adj. [backsl.] half, usu. In comb, below. ■ In compounds flatch-enorc/-yennork/-ynork (n.) see half-yennork under yenork n.

flatch-kennurd (adj.) [kennurd adj.;

flatfoot

149

lit. 'half-drunk'] tipsy, mildly

drunk. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H.

London Labour and London Poor I 23/2: Flatch kanurd ... Half-drunk. 1873 SI. Diet. 1909 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 43/2: When a bloke is flatch kennurd the booze pushers will give him any rot in the house, and that's very hard lines. flatch yenep (n.) (also flatch yennep, flatch yennop) [yennep n ] a halfpenny. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 127: FLATCH YENEP, a halfpenny. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 23/1: Yenep-flatch ... Three half-pence. 1873 SI. Diet. Mayhew

flat-cock n. [the anatomical difference] a woman. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1880 'The New Patent Fucking Machine' in Pearl 12 June 34: It [i.e. a mechanical dildo] beats the old 'flatcocks' a long

way, you know the old game that I mean. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 18: I don't recollect [...] that I attached any lewd idea to a girl's piddling hole, or to their cocks being flat, an expression heard I think at the same period.

■ In phrases play at flatcock (v.) of two lesbians, to enjoy intercourse by rubbing one's genital areas together. 1881 'New Year's Day' in Pearl Christmas Annual 27: You know girls play at flatcock, haven't you boys ever done anything of the sort together? 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VIII 1682: Twice she played at flat cocks with a woman before me.

flat-cocking n. (also flat cocks) [flat-cock n.[ of two women, rubbing their bodies together for sexual stimulation. 1888-94 'Walter'My Secre/Lt/e (1966) VI 1165: I did not think of flatcocking (tho I have often thought of it since),

flatfoot n. [all refer to marching or to walking in menial jobs] 1 a sailor. 1854 Swell Life at Sea 21: While a man-of-war comes in at one end, we can slip out at the other. If this does not prove that Jemmy Flatfoot had a hand in laying out the coast of Africa, yon [sic] may call me a marine. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 371: My fo'c'sle shipmates were all old flat-feet. 1904 Kipling 'The Bonds of Discipline' in Traffics and Discoveries 53: Any flat-foot who presumed to exhibit surprise [...] would be slightly but firmly reproached. 1918 'Commander' Clear the Decks! 59: When little shin-digs of seaman¬ ship like a foul anchor or propeller are amusin' to flat-feet (bluejackets) no one lends a hand to yours truly. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 95: Flat Foot. A; A sailor. 1930 (con. 1910s) L. Nason A Corporal Once 114: 'You ain't there yet,' said the flatfoot. 'To-morrow we get into the submarine zone.' 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: a flatfoot ... a sailor.

2 an infantryman; also infantry in attrib. uses. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI.

and Its Analogues. 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 244: Two trapping turns, you perishing flat-foot. 1943 (con. 1860s) B.I. Wiley Life of Johnny Reb 342:1 wood rather be corporal in company F of the Texas Rangers than to be first Lieu in a flat foot company.

3 (also flat, flat heel) a police officer, a (private) detective. [1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 10/3: Where is the glamour of golden youth? / Where are the joys of jeunesse doree? / When a flatfoot man, with a build uncouth, / With a thick-set brogue and a bearded tooth, / Can run you in - Gadzooks! Forsooth!] 1895 J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life I 34: 'What a lot of flats you have brought with you' (flats being the thieves' term for policemen in uniform). 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 162: There's Chinke's drums chock full o' young girls, an' the 'flat-foot's' 'aven't 'arf a chanst to get in there. 1906 O.C. Malvery Soul Market 290: A policeman in uniform is a 'flat'. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 152: Only one of them cheap flat-foots. Don't mind him. 1916 J. Lait 'Canada Kid' in Beef. Iron and Wine (1917) 162: It's a dirty shame after I done swell lifts for years and bulled the swellest bulls outta the Chief's office, to get picked up by a flatfoot in harness. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 346: The policeman, patrolman or 'flatfoot' rarely comes in contact with a criminal, unless he happens to find one committing a felony on his beat. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. F ARmu. Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936)73:He [...] stepped up to the lousy flatfoot. 1934 B. Traven Death Ship 23: The two flats were armed. 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 25: The splits say we're a menace - not the flat-feet from the station round the Johnny Horner. 1939 R. Chandler 'Trouble Is My Business' in Spanish Blood (1946) 199: I'm just a dumb flatheel. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 131: Looking over our shoulders to see if that flatfoot was trailing us. 1955 Mad mag. July 35: [...] a regular Chauncey Depew in flatfoot's guise. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 146: Those flat-feet couldn't find their shoes. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 124: fuck you flatfoot go and fuckyaself yasonofabitch. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 10: From the precinct captain to the flatfoot on the beat. 1982 S. King Running Man in Bachman Books (1995) 578: He was going to be some dumb flatfoot's fluke trophy. 1987 W.T. Vollmann You Bright and Risen Angels (1988) 313: Then we get the flatfeet to clear the book on them. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 67: Not your regular flatfoot. Type they brought out for meeting the queen. Chief Superintendent. 2003 M.A. Collins Dick Tracy 5: A master at the detective story [...] writing the world's most famous flatfoot.

4 attrib. use of sense 3. S. McBarron 'Coffin Custodian' Ten Detective Aces Apr. [Internet] I was remembering something the instructor at Flatfoot School teaches all his little rookies. 1940

5 (US) a man who stands firmly for one political party, come what may.

flat out

150

flatfoot

1887 R.A. Proctor 'Americanism' in Knowledge 1 June 184/1: An

American 'flatfoot' is a man who stands firmly for his party.

6 a person who has flat feet. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 375: Some flatfoot tramp on it in the morning.

5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 2006 at www.amateurmansion.com [Internet] Licking and flatfucking their neighbouring girlfriends, and even involving in

Trimble

some real gang bang with their husband's best friends!

flathead

7 {US) a fool.

rtf' [all uses are derog.l

1 a foolish, stupid person.

1922 T. Thursday 'Ten Dollars - No Sense' in Top-Notch 15 Dec.

1797 M, Leeson Memoirs (1995) III 199: Not Broadhead but Flathead

[Internet] Call for assistance, you poor flatfoot.

you surely should be, / As you're really a Flat, in the highest degree. 1884 (con. C.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 33: I think they are a pack of flalheads for not keeping the palace themselves. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 36/3: To each and every flathead who has been 'hooked' a cunningly worded epistle is despatched, stating that the recipient has been selected on account of some special qualification or other [...]. And here the mugs fall in. 1920 F.S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald III (1960) 266: They'd let any well-tutored flathead play football. 1929 J. Lait Broadway Melody 99: 'If I'd won I'd have been in nothing. 'Nothing but the girl, you flathead!' 1937 T. Thursday 'Good Luck is No Good' in Federal Agent Nov. [Internet] He was a fathead, a roundhead, and a flathead to boot. 1944 J. Archibald 'It Could Only Happen to Willie' in Popular Detective Apr. [Internet] In a minute they will have your name on a door in this healing hacienda [...[ you flathead. 1947 T. Thursday 'Billy the Kidder' in Blue Ribbon Western Nov. [Internet] The Zizzen Boys, followed by a flock of extra-special flatheads, enter the tent. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 177: That slimy flathead, he looks more like a cobra then ever. 1966 New Statesman 6 May 654/2: Gobbledygook is the defence of the American intellectual aware of the hostile mockery of the

8 {US) an Irish immigrant. 1968 in DARE.

flatfoot

V.''

[FLATFOOT n. (3)1 {US) to walk like a police officer.

1927 T. Thursday 'West Goes South' in Everybody's Oct. [Internet] A

hawk-nosed gent alights from the bus, and [,.,] flatfoots into our office. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 53: The ex-convict servant flatfooted in. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 161: He flatfooted along twirling his club. 1946 C.S. Montanye 'Opals Are Unlucky' in Thrilling Detective Jan. [Internet] The big detective [...] flatfooted it down a cement-paved aisle. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 228: You get your black ass tore up you come flatfootin in like that! v.^ [? after drinking one slaps the glass flat on the table or bar]

flatfoot

{US) to down a glass of liquor in one gulp. 1963 G.L. Coon Short End 234: Because he flatfooted all I had left in the jug, about a quarter of a pint, which might not sound like much, and might be more impresssive if I told you I would just as soon flatfoot so much lighter fluid [DARE], adj.^ downright, positive,

flat-footed

undeviating, straight¬

forward. 1828 A.N. Royall Southern Tour II 114: He was one of your right down flat-footed ox-drivers. a,1848 in Bartlett Diet. Americanisms 145: Col. M— attempted to define his position, but being unable, exclaimed: I'm an independent, flat-footed man, and am neither for nor against the mill-dam.—Tennessee Newspaper. 1858 Harper's Mag. Sept. 563: His herculean frame, and bold, flat-footed way of saying things, had impressed his neighbours, and he held the rod in terrorism over them. 1898 H. Macfall Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer 319: Yo' blamed flat-footed ijiot! 1908 N.Y. Eve. Telegram in Flenung Unforgettable Season (1981) 154: Frank Chance [...] is flatfooted against the 'spit ball'. 1969 'Iceberg Sum' Pimp 31:1 am the best flatfooted hustler in town. flat-footed adj} ISE flat, complete, utter -T pun on SE] {US) destitute, penniless. 1858 'Philip Paxton' Piney Woods Tavern 204: The quondam owner is

said to be flat broke or flat footed and must beg, borrow, or steal for a stake. [Ibid.] 94: And then if you are flat-footed, I'd lend you a stake to start on [HDAS]. flat-footed adj.^ [sporting imagery] {US) 1 insipid, maladroit. 1929 (con. WWI) H. Odum Wings on My Feet 130: Boys mighty hard on Sambo, callin' him dam', flat-footed, crippled Tiger. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 248: You bone-headed, flat-footed, numbskull, 2 unprepared, caught unawares; thus catch flat-footed v., to catch unawares. 1912 Amer. Mag. Jun. p.202/2 in ASXXVhl (1951) 31/1: Flat-footed - Unprepared, caught napping. 1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS V1I:5 330: to be caught flat-footed—to be caught off one's guard. 1953 F. Paley Rumble on the Docks (1955) 84: He don't wanna git caught flatfooted in a rumble. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 108: Here I'd had her a week and I was flat-footed. 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 37: Have a good time, but never let yourself get caught flat-footed. ad/.'* [flatfoot n. (3)] used to describe a police

flat-footed officer.

1925 D. Hammett 'The Scorched Face' Story Omnibus (1966) 89: He

was shot by a bona tide, star-wearing, flat-footed officer of the peace. 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 54: I'm goin' to find that blasted flatfooted Hannam an' polish his buttons wiv 'is teeth. 1947 G. Kersh Prelude to a Certain Midnight Bk I Ch. vi: A flat-footed old police constable who tramped a local beat,

flat fuck

n. [flat fuck v,| (gay) sexual relations between two women, rubbing their bodies together. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: Though this practice [i.e. French kissing] may best be seen amongst lesbians or others who prefer soixante-neuf to a flat fuck (soixante-neuf is mutual growlbiting).

flat fuck

V.

[SE flat + FUCK

V.

(1)1 of lesbians, to rub their bodies

together for sexual stimulation. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 200: The two girls on top of each other I thought a baudy amusment and did not believe until after years that flat fucking was practicable, and practised, with sexual pleasure, [Ibid.] VIII 1510: Chapter V Two years back. — Harriet's lust. — At a B***s**s lapunar. — Cunt inspections. — The way ladies go up stairs. — A large clitoris. — Flat fuckers. 1966

surrounding flatheads.

2 {US prison) a police officer. 1918 H.

Simon

'Prison Diet.' in AS VIII:3 (1933) 26/2: FLATHEAD.

Policeman. 3 a Lithuanian. 1989 (ref. to 1930s-40s) N.Y. Times 13 Dec. 31/1: The many Lithuanians in the neighborhood were called, for some unfathom¬ able reason, 'flatheads.'

4 a jew. 1956 A.S.C. Ker Vocabulary West Texas 368: Jew (nicknames)...

Flathead [1 inf] [DARE]. 5 an inhabitant of the Illinois-Ohio lowlands. 1966 Dakin Dial. Vocab. Ohio River Valley 2.453: There is ample evidence that it [=hoosier] was originally a pejorative term comparable to the Flatheads of the Illinois-Ohio lowlands [DARE]. 6 a German settler in Dakota or Wisconsin. 1967-8 in DARE. n.^ {US drugs) a barbiturate as sold by a dealer (rather

flathead

than by a pharmacy). 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 168: Diluted dealer compounds were referred to as [...] round heads, or flat heads.

flatheaded

adj. [flathead n.* (1)l foolish, stupid.

1903 'Hugh McHugh' I Need The Money 76: Didn't I land your flat¬

headed old uncle for a shoe shine five minutes after I struck the grounds! 1947 S. LEWts Kingsblood Royal (2001) 318: The flat-headed but sturdy W.S. Vender as war-chief,

flatite

n. [SE flat -F sfx -ite, connected with or belonging to]

1

(Aus.) a

flat-dweller. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 1959 Baker Drum.

2 see FLAT n.^ (3).

flat line

v. {also catch a flatline) [the flattening of the electronic line on the medical equipment, indicating that the patient's heart has stopped] {US)

1

of a person, to die.

1982 W. SAFtRE what's The Good Word? 152: 'To flatline' is to expire, a

verb taken from the lack of activity on the scope measuring vital signs. 1988 Maledicta IX 198: Patients croak [or] flatline. 1994 J. Wambaugh Finnegan's Week 291: He'll flat-line before he's much older. 1999 Dr Dre 'Some L.A. Shit' [lyrics] Anybody hatin on us can suck a dick / If I catch you touchin mine you catch a flatline, dead on the floor. 2000 J. Ellroy 'I've Got the Goods' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 176: Their collective circulation fizzled. They flatlined into the '60s. 2005 J.W. Hill Natural Law 337: 'He's gone flatline.' She heard the horrible whine of the monitor. 2 of an inanimate object, to fail, to collapse. 2000 Burkhart & Hunt Airstream: The Hist, of the Land Yacht 61:

Design innovations for trailers flatlined, waiting for cues from the aircraft industry. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hot-Prowl Rape-O' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 267: Their careers will flatline, their retirement job prospects will tank.

flat out ad}' 1

straightforward, unadorned, blunt, esp. of speech.

1901 'Miles Franklin' My Brilliant Career 15: Her feelings being much

more defined, it was amusing to hear the flat out opinions she expressed to Mr Blackshaw. 1906 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IILii 136: flat-out, adj. Frank, direct. 'Didn't I ask you the flat-out question, whether you were there?' 1996 G.

flat out

Pelecanos (con. 1949) Big Blowdown (1999) 146: Boyle knew that was a flat-out lie. 2 complete, utter. 1972 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 2: flat out Adj. - complete; Mary's a flatout failure. 1999 Indep. on Sun. Culture 22 Aug. 2: I often receive |...] displays of flat-out anxiety from those near me. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 182: He was one of our favorite freaks, a flat-out genius, flat out adj.^ (or/g. Aus.) 1 exhausted. 1918 C.J. Dennis 'Dad' in Digger Smith 29: Dad is ill an' took to bed, / Flat out with work. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 374: 'How were they feeling at Brigade?' 'Flat out when 1 left.' 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 38: 'Tired, dearie?' 'Flat out,' 2 busy. 1941 N.Y. Herald Trih. 29 June 9/3: If you're up to your ears in work

or doing anything as hard and fast as you can, you're 'flat out,' which finds its origin in Australia's favorite sport — horse racing. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brocket! 25: All the next day, Friday, I was flat out like a possum up a gum-tree. Jimmy Brocken had his irons in the fire all over the place. 1955 J. Morrison Black Cargo 155: I've been going flat out like a lizard since eight o'ctock this morning. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 302: I've been flat out with cases until ten o'clock every night this week. 1977 in K. Gilbert Living Black 37: They're flat out to get a few bob in for Friday night at the club. 1987 M, Bail Holden's Performance (1989) 348: We've been flat out lately. 2000 Guardian G2 17 Feb. 14: We are flat out trying to keep up with the demand. 3 hard put. 1993 Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 221: She had [...] come straight to

Sydney, bringing with her a loaded pump-action shotgun to protect me if the need arose. [...] You would be flat out finding too many blokes with as much go in them as my Debra had,

flat-out adv. (US) 1 completely, utterly, totally. 1947 P. Newton Wayleggo (1953) 78: We encountered a clutch of

young Paradise ducks [...] so after them we went—flat out. 1959 Air Force 131: He was flat-out scared [HDAS]. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 121: By 1970, she had ceased to storm her songs flat-out. Often she sounded constrained, only half-involved. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 151: You're so beautiful and I flat-out adore you. 1981 P. Barton Bastards I Have Known 12: Both flat out like lizards drinking, we were soon neck and neck. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 201: They flat-out love this guy. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 105: A couple of raggedy-ass, dope-eyed black men stumbling through a county shopping center, lifting appliances and we're flat-out invisible. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 5: Carnies got a word for a crooked game operator like me. They call me 'Flattie' cuz I'll flat-out rob you and make you like it. 2 openly. Harvey

1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 68: Old Josh said flat out, that morals was what kept you out of going to bed, or coming the acid, with some tart or other. 1945 C.H. Hogan 'A Yankee ... on Texas Speech' in AS XX:2 Apr. 82: Texans spend much of their time 'flat-out telling' somebody. Thus, 'I flat-out told him I wasn't about to carry him down to Santone' means 'I told him bluntly nothing could make me give him a lift to San Antonio.' 1973 in C. Browne Body Shop 147: They tell you flat out how it is. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 50: She studied his facial scars. He told her flat-out: My best friend put them there,

■ In phrases come flat out with (orig. US) to state unequivocally, to make one's point without hesitation. 2002 Katmandu Post 29 Sept. [Internet] The role of the husband was

another issue that most girls wanted to stress on. Suruchi Jyoti, 25, from Boston, came flat out with. 'In this aspect, I am glad that I am westernised. It is only fair that a "male spouse" should contribute to the household duties [etc.].'

flats n.^ lesbian sexual intercourse. 1655 Mercurius Fumigosus 38 14-28 Feb. 303: They walk out hand in

hand like two disconsolate Virgins to seek Mandrakes to help them make perfect what their lost Sweethearts have left behinde, their concupiscense being so predominant in the House of Venus, that being playing a game at Flatts upon a bed, a young man hearing the bed tell tales, steping softly to the door, discovered the Jogg, and so returned, myuch pittying the extremities poor female mortalls are driven unto by the unkindness of men. c.1663 'On the Ladies of the Court' in J.H. Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 3: Mayne and Steward played at flats. 1663 in J.H. Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 3: Sirangely pleasant were their Chatts, / When Mayne and Steward play'd at flatts [ [...[ / Till Charles came there, / And with his ware / Taught how their father got them, c.1680 'Queries from Garraways Coffee House' Harleian Mss. 7315.89: Whether Mall Maynard be best pleasd with the Duke of Monmouth, or to play att Flatts with Lady Betty Howard? 1691 'Ladys Complaint

flattener

151

to Venus' in Lansdowne Ms. 852.86: You are to blame And have got a new Game Call'd Flatts, with a swinging Clytoris. 1698-9 in Bodleian MS Rawl 159: A New Game / Call'd Flats witha Swinging Clitoris. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 44: The Ladies know. That Flat Things always love long Snouts. 1734 Pretty Doings in a Protestant Nation 24: Not content with our Sex, [Sappho] begins Amours with her own and teaches the Female World a new sort of Sin, call'd the Flats. 1740 Williams in Works 1131: Had I as many lives as twenty cats. I'd give them all for one dear game at [flats]. 1749 Satan's Harvest Home 18: [Sappho] teaches the Female World a new Sort of Sin, call'd the Flats, that was follow'd not only in Lucian's Time, but is practis'd frequently in Turkey, as well as at Twickenham at this Day,

flats

n.^ (US tramp) griddlecakes or pancakes.

1925 J. Stevens 'Logger Talk' AS 1:3 139/1: He goes forth to eat of

[...] a 'string of flats,' and 'larup' (pancakes and sirup). 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Flats, Griddle cakes. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 75: Flats.- [...] Pancakes, this last another commonly used term in a railroad eating-house, where 'a string of flats, plenty of pin grease and a tank of murk,' would be merely an order for a plate of griddle or pancakes with plenty of butter, and a cup of coffee. 1964 (con. 1920s-40s) in J.L, Kornbluh Rebel Voices,

flats

n.^ [19C SE flat, a floor or storey in a house] (US Und.) the bottom row of cells in a prison block. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/1: Flats. [...] 2. (P) The ground floor of any cell-block. 1953 F. Paley Rumble on the Docks (1955) 316: For God's sake don't [...] put him in the flats where he wouldn't last an hour! 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Alvarez' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1980) in Huncke Reader (1998) 182: It is requited that the prisoners gather out on the flats and remain there until it is time for the midday meal. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 7: Flag The bottom or ground floor row of cells in a cellhouse. [...[ (Archaic: flats).

flats and sharps

n. edged weapons.

1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 278: Challenge out / The

boldest bruiser to a bout / At quarter-staff or cudgel play, / Or flats or sharps, or any way. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) Oil: [as cit. 1772]. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian (1883) 308: I have known many a pretty lad cut short in his first summer upon the road, because he was something hasty with his flats and sharps.

flatten

v.

1

(also flatten out) to knock down.

1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr, 9/1: Why the genus 'dude' was

created is strange. Why he got through 'knuckle-down' and 'rounders' at school without being flattened out by his comrades, is odder still. 1892 J. Newman Scamping Tricks 124: Off you go or I'll flatten you out. 1915 Van Loan 'Sporting Doctor' in Taking the Count 53:1 never flattened him before in my life. 1923 P. MacGill Moleskin Joe 223: Well, flatten me out, if you're not a catch! 1931 D. Runyon 'Hold 'Em, Yalel' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 155: As fast as they are flattened they get up and keep belting away. 1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious (1974) 172: He hauled off and flattened one with a beauty swipe. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 69: He got himself flattened and kicked for good measure. 1963 (con. 1944) L. Glassop Rats in New Guinea 9: If Old Gutsache hadn't stopped it I'da flattened you. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 121: The gorilla can flatten anybody who flinches wrong. 1982 J. Davis Dreamers 80: eli: Bastard deserved all he got. peter: Yeah, an' I give it to him, flattened him. 2003 Silver Ravenwolf Witches' Night Out 110: You so much as touch her and I'll flatten you.

2 fig, use of sense 1, to defeat. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jan, 14/2: Audibly observing [...] that 'the second-class people should be kept to their position,' she was utterly flattened-out by little Mrs. Ryan's remark in a clear voice [...]- 'We may be second-class people, Mrs. --, but thank God, we ain't second-hand]' 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 123: Fie gave no sign of returning to the Scratch, so she sought her own Room, leaving him all Flattened Out. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Nov. 12/1: The Keeper of the Keys: 'Ah! flattened out by high rents, dear meat, etc., I presume?' / New Spook: 'No, sir! Merely an argument with a Sydney tram.' 1931 R.E. Howard 'Texas Fists' Fight Stories May [Internet] How about it, amigo? Will you mosey back up In the hills with us and flatten this big false alarm? 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 14: He got on the Bacardi and that really used to flatten him. It flattened me the only times I got on it.

3 to kill, to murder. 1931 M. Harris 'Facing the Mob' in Gangland Stories Feb. [Internet]

Bumped the sucker—flattened him—knocked him off.

flattener

n.

1

a hard blow.

1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 127: I got a flattener on my razzo that pretty nigh laid me out.

2 in fig. use, something defeating.

flatter

1923 J. Bowes Jackaroos 186: By George, this is a flattener! This'll be

another knock at the boss,

flattie adj. (also flatty)

1949 MONTELEONE Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

flatter-trap n. [SE flatter + TRAP n.’' (5)1 the mouth, esp. that of a

(1)1 a dupe, a naive countryman.

1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern Si. etc. 1861 (con. I840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 218/2: For they betray to the 'flatties' (natives) all their profits and proceedings. [Ibid.] 406: It was only 4s. or 5s., but then 1 was only a flatty or I could have made 14s. or 15s. at least. 1873 Si. Diet. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 9: Flatty ... One who does not understand the Cant. 1909 J.

Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

■ In compounds flatty-cop (n.) [cop n} (1)1 (UK Und.) a policeman who lacks sophistication

in dealing with the

underworld;

[flattie n.^ (1)1 (UK Und.) gullible, naive.

1842 Egan 'Miss Dolly Trull' in Farmer Mi/sa Pedestris (1896) 143: She

ogles, nods, and patters flash / To ev'ry flatty cully,

sycophant or toady, 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI Diet. (1890), (also flatty) [flat

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 79: flattie [...) 5. A state of confusion or being flustered, a contraction of being 'in a flat spin'. From mid C20.

flatter n. [flatfoot n. (3)1 a police officer.

flattie

flawed

152

a country

policeman. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 18/1: The 'flatty cops' took in hand to hunt up Jem and Kay, whom they heard, from those around, were the parties implicated. 1916 A. Stringer Door of Dread 53: 'Well' sez the flatty, showin' his badge [...] 'I'm goin' to gather yuh in, and I'm goin' to do it right now!'

flatty-ken (n.) [ken n.’’ (1)1 a public house that is frequented by

flatty see also under flattie. flatty n. [he operates a flat store or flat-joint,

any kind of carnival or circus concession designed to fleece the publicl (US) a confidence trickster; a crooked carnival game operator. 1953 W.L. Alderson 'Carnie Talk from the West Coast' AS XXVIII:2 116: FLATTIE, n. Operator of aflat store. 1961 J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling 524: When the flatty is going for the money (cheating), his percentage of the money wagered is 100%. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 5: Carnies got a word for a crooked game operator like me. They call me 'flattie' cuz I'll flat-out rob you. [Ibid.] 6: The Laff Riot carnival was a flattie's wet dream,

flatty-gory n.

[flat n.'' (2)/ flattie n.'' (1) -f coree n.\the potential

victim of a confidence trickster. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 241: flat: In a general sense, any honest man, or square cove, in opposition to a sharp or cross-cove', when used particularly, it means the person whom you have a design to rob or defraud, who is termed t\ie flat, or the flatty-gory.

flat-wheel

n. [railroad jargon

flat wheel,

a car wheel that has worn flat

members of the underworld but where the landlord remains

spots on its tread and thus rolls slightly askew)

oblivious of their activities. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 243/2: 'Flatty-kens,' that is, houses the landlord of which is not 'awake' or 'fly' to the 'moves' and dodges of the trade, 1861 Melbourne Punch 'City Police Court' 3 Oct. n.p.: The Mayor.- Well my flying sawney hunter [...] you were reported to me as being scammered with some multee kertever flue fakers in a flatty ken. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

person.

flattie n.^ (also flatty) [abbr.l 1 a small, flat-bottomed sailing boat. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Nov. 16/1:1 was navigating a flatty up one of the numerous creeks that empty into the Cairns Inlet, North Queensland. 1938 J. Devanny Paradise Flow 23: He [...] rowed himself across the river in his own 'flattie' to his hut among the mangroves. 1970 K. Willey Naked Island 121: The boys lowered the flattie to pick him up. He was so exhausted they had to lift him aboard. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 79: flattie [...] 3. A flatbottomed rowboat, used in shallow water, possibly to fish for 4. A

flatfish. 2 (N.Z.) a flat tyre. 1983 J.H. Henderson Down from Marble Mountain 184: Returning, I collect a flattie, rain begins, drenched I reach work. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 45/2: flattie a punctured tyre; eg 'She's given the old dunga too hard a time on the corners, she got a flattie on the back left and flapped to a stop,' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988],

flattie n.^ (also flatty) [abbr. flatfoot n. (3)1 1 a police officer. 1892 W. Norr Stories of Chinatown 40: That sucker had actually followed us [...] with the flatty and nailed Fritz. [Ibid.] 50: The flatties closed in on me to put on the nippers. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 51: The 'flatties' in uniforms surrounded the place. 1910 'O. Henry' 'A Bird of Bagdad' in Strictly Business (1915) 187: Take me away, flatty. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 469: The squeak is out. A split is gone for the flatties. 1927 J.M. Walsh Man behind Curtain (1931) 105: I'll admit I sang a lot [...] and I've got a nidere 1 kissed a 'flattie'. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 67: All clear. The flattie passed ten minutes ago, and his beat takes him half an hour. 1944 C. Fluck 'Bubbles' of the Old Kent Road 41: The laughter and ridicule would bring the flatties (police) and he would be chucked out or knocked off. If the latter, at the court next morning he would plead his own cause. 1953 K. Tennant Jcy/h/ Condemned 11:1 don't want any flatties coming round asking questions where I work. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 395: There are, in the London area, at least thirty nicknames current among boys, and any lad of wit seems to be able to recite a string of them. They include: [...] Flatfoot or Flatty Kipperfoot. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazel! Plays Solomon (1976) 10: Uniformed flatties were already erupting from the cars. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Flatties Uniform police officers (flatfeet); has a derogatory sense and is thus not used to the face of

such an officer. 2 (US tramp) a railroad police officer. 1925 G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 26: He is known on the Road not only as 'dick' but [...] as 'bull,' 'soft-shoe,' 'gum-shoe,' an 'elbow,' a 'flatty,' or a 'mug',

flattie n."* (N.Z.) a flat-dweller. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

flattie n.^ [SE phr. /n a flat spin] (N.Z.) a state of confusion.

(US) 1

a dull, boring

1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Flat wheel. A slow fellow,

stupid person.

2 one who walks with a limp. 1931 Writer's Digest 11.41: Flat Wheel—N car wheel that has flat spots

on the tread; also applied to an employee who walks lame or limps [DARE]. 1958 McCulloch Woods Words 64: Flatwheel—A lame man.

flat-wheel

v. [flat-wheel n.l of a person or object, to fail.

1951 P. Whelton Angels are Painted Fair 46: That one flat-wheeled immediately. Even her lips didn't smile,

flat-wheeler n.

[flat-wheel n. (1)] (US) one who is mean or

impoverished. 1922 Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent 3 May 7/4: Flapper Dictionary flat WHEELER - A young man whose idea of entertaining a girl is to take her out for an Ankle Excursion. 1922 Davenport (lA) Democrat and Leader 28 May 32/2-3: We bloused into a nosebaggery with a flat¬ wheeler and boiler-factory.

flat worker

n. [SE flat •+- worker n? (1)] (US Und.) a burglar.

1901 C.R. WOOLDRIDGE Hands Up! 330: She said that Delia Foley and

George Mead [...] were flat workers, burglars and thieves. 1910 J. Sullivan 'Criminal SI.' in Amer. Law Rev. LII (1918) 890: A secondstory worker who breaks and enters dwelling houses is called a 'houseman,' 'porch climber' and 'flat worker.' 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Flat worker. One who robs flats, house¬ breaker, prowler. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/2: Flat-worker. A small-time burglar who robs flats and apartments when occupants are absent. 1970 R. Fabian Anatomy of Crime 193: Flatworker: Specialist in robbing flats,

flava n.

[deliberate mis-sp. of FLAVOR n. (2)] (orig. US black) style.

1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 7: [headline] Flava Of Da Month Returns. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] flava flavor, exact meaning, 'you know the flava'.

flave adj.

(flava rr.j (US black) stylish.

1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

flavor n.

[abbr. colloq. flavor of the month]

1 (US drugs)

top quality

cocaine. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse XAB. flavor (pronounced flav-vor) the best cocaine available for freebasing cocaine, or freebase that tastes exceptionally good.

2 (US black) style. 1993 Dr Dre 'Keep Their Headz Ringin' [lyrics] So check the flavor

that I'm bringin. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 75: Full-on ghetto style street soul R&B and rap flavours.

3 (US black) attractiveness; thus an attractive young woman. 1996 Eble si. and Sociability 83: Matters of sex and women account for 43 terms, for example, yZavoc 'a sexually attractive woman'.

4 (US prison) a branded cigarette. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Flavors:

Brand name cigarettes or cigarettes received from outside the canteen.

flaw

V. to make drunk.

1673 Head Canting Academy 168: He that is flawed in the Company

before the rest, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flaw'd, drunk. 1725 New Canting Diet.

flawed adj. 1

drunk.

flax

fleabag

153

1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: No man must call a Good-fellow

1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 252: A man would be a fool not

Drunkard [...] But if at any time they spie that defect in another,

to trade off one little flea-powder habit for a real burning-down one,

they may without any forfeit or just exceptions taken, say. He is Foxt, He is Flaw'd, He is Fluster'd [etc.]. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) n.p.: No man ought to call a Good-fellow a Drunkard; but [...] he may without a forfeit say he is [...] flaw'd, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Flaw'd c. Drunk. 1700 'The Art of Drinking' in Wit's Cabinet 138: He is flaw'd. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698[. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flawd, drunk. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785[. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 2 (US) bad-tempered. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

3 (US) not wholly honest (but not actually criminal). 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 4 of a woman, deflowered but still unmarried. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flax

V. [see flaxation! exd.l to defeat, to 'humbug'.

1877 E.L. Wheeler Deadwood Dick in Beadle's Half Dime Library 1:1 83:

The game was poker. [...] 'You're flaxed ag'in pardner!' he said with a light laugh, as he raked in the stakes,

flaxation!

exc/. [ety. unknown; ? link to flax, humbug, which is cited with an 1857 use in Thornton, American Gloss. (1912), and there labelled as 'rarely met with'] (US) a euph. version of damnation! 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 134/1: Flaxation (New Eng.). One of the more remarkable American hypocritical evasions of actual swearing. Equal to damnation,

flaxie

n. [abbr.l (N.Z.) a f/ax-cutter.

1917 G.P. Brown Lay of Bantry Bay 57: [title] The Sporting 'Flaxie'

[DNZE], 1927 J. Devanny Dawn Beloved 29: No one came by but a young flaxie [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

flaxstick

n. [New Zealand's cultivation offlaxi (Aus.) a derog. term for a New Zealander. 1901 H. Lawson 'The Never-Never Land' in Roderick (1967-9) II 14:

The 'Flax-stick' dreams of Maoriland, / While the seasons come and go. 1908 H. Lawson 'The Blanky Papers' in Roderick (1972) 786: So you're a blanky Flax-stick, are yer, an' yer think Australia's only a dust hole compared with blanky Maoriland.

flaybottomist

n. (also flaybottom) a schoolmaster.

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flay the fox

v. (also flea the fox) [lit. trans. of Fr. si. ecorcher le renard]

to vomit. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk II 334: Which made all these good people there to lay up their gorges, and vomit what was upon their stomachs before all the world, as if they had flayed the fox. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flay or flea the fox, to vomit. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 33: flay To vomit. 1873 SI. Diet.

flea

n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fleabag see separate entries, flea-bed (n.) see fleabag n. (3). fleabox (n.) a cheap hotel or lodging house. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 75: Flea Box.-A cheap lodginghouse or hotel, establishments in which vermin are certain to be abundant. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). flea-catcher (n.) a tailor. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) n.p.; He vas at play with Sam Stripe

the tailor: so the flea-catcher he jumps in between 'em.

flea circus (n.) (Aus.) a cheap, tawdry, run-down cinema. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 80: flea circus A cheap cinema, variation of 'flea-pit'. ANZ from cl925. flea house (n.) see fleapit n. (3).

flea joint/palace (n.) see fleapit n. (1). flea-park (n.) see fleabag n. (1). fleapit (n.) see separate entry. flea powder (n.) (drugs) second-rate or poor quality drugs. 1955 H. Braddy 'Narcotic Argot Along the Mexican Border' in AS XXX:2 87: FLEA POWDER, n. A reduced, cut-down, or weakened ration of a drug. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 95: flea powder Inferior, highly diluted heroin. 1971 E.E. Landy Under¬ ground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flea powder — Low

purity heroin.

flea powder habit (n.)

[flea powder above -f habit n. (1)] (drugs) a

low-level narcotics addiction or an addiction to weak heroin.

wouldn't he?

flea taxi (n.) (N.Z.) a sheepdog pup. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit.

1988].

flea track (n.) (N.Z.) the parting in one's hair. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

flea trap (n.) 1 (US) a bed. 1936 R.F. Adams Cowboy Lingo 37: His bed was called [...] 'crumb incubator,' or 'flea-trap'.

2 a cheap and dirty hotel. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 39: It seemed that about thirty days earlier some floater had been sapped to death in a room at the Laycroft Hotel, a flea-trap on West Madison Street. 1963 A.S. Flbischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 152: And move out of this flea trap to my place. 2002 at Epinions.com 16 Oct. [Internet] The one minimal compensation for all this misery is the fact that this is still a Starwood property, and my stays at this fleatrap give me credits that I can use to visit real hotels.

■ In phrases tight as a flea’s arse(hole) (adj.) see tight as a crab's arse under TIGHT

adj.

flea and louse

n. [rhy. sl.j a house, esp. a house with a bad

reputation. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1935 A.J. Pollock

Und. Speaks 40/2: Flea and louse, a bawdy house. 1944 Maurer & Baker '"Aus." Rhyming Argot' in AS XIX:3. 2003 B. Dark Dirty

Cockney Rhy. SI. 54: When I was a lad I use to go to the flea and louse every weekend. In the end I got Pat and Mick and my Boris Becker almost dropped off.

fleabag

n. [c.l910 there was an actual Fleabag in New York City, a cheap

saloon at 241 Bowery; note WWI Aus. milit. fleabag, an officer's valise]

1 (orig. milit.) (also flea-park) a sleeping bag or bed; a bedroll, a mattress. C.1790 'De May-Bush' in Walsh Ireland Ninety Years Ago (1885) 91:

Bill Durham [...] Was now in his flea-park, taking a snore Fearing every moment the arrival of the real Simon Pure should cover me with shame and disgrace. 1839 C.J. Lever Harry Lorrequer 266: 'I think the gentleman would be better if he went off to his flea-bag himself.' In my then mystified intellect this west country synonym for a bed a little puzzled me. 1914 T. Hampson diary 29 Oct. [Internet] Made a flea bag by sewing two blankets together. 1917 'Ian Hay' Carrying On 184: As he rolled into his 'flea-bag' that night. 1926 'Ford Madox Ford' Man Could Stand Up 96: He sat up in his flea-bag, dripping with icy sweat. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 75: Fleabag.-A bed roll or sleeping bag. Originally used by tramps and migratory workers, the term was extended to designate an officer's sleeping bag or bedding during the World War. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service St. n.p.: flea bag . . . your mattress. 1953 B. Stronach Musterer on Molesworth 32: I sat smoking before turning in to my 'flea bag'. 2 a cheap hotel or lodging house. 1900 Sporting Times 3 Mar. 2/5: I drove back to seek repose in the before-mentioned flea-bag. 1931 D. Runyon 'Broadway Financier' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 204: I will be living at home with her instead of in a flea bag in Forty-seventh Street. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 177; We all laid around that fleabag-withroom-service for a couple of gripy weeks. 1958 A. King Mine Enemy Grows Older (1959) 25: One flea bag in the West Forties, the Hotel Minnetonka, left a particularly lurid shadow in my memory. 1963 H.S. Thompson letter 9 Sept, in Proud Highway (1997) 397: You don't want him to know you're staying in some fleabag. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 64: Awright, awright, there's two more [hotels] [...] but they're complete flea bags. 2003 N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 3: There was still a lot of old fleabags like the Hotel Montague. 3 (US) (also flea-bed) an ageing, ill dog. 1904 Kipling 'Steam Tactics' in Traffics and Discoveries 188: I'll protect your flanks in case this sniffin' flea-bag is tempted beyond 'is strength. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 207: Followed the dawg, yu chump [...] Started for town to see yu, an' that four-legged flea¬ bag sneaked after. 1971 (con. 1930s-50s) D. Wells Night People 117: Flea-bed. A dog. 1977 S. Stallone Paradise Alley (1978) 28: 'There ain't no reason to call Bella a fleabag.' 'Hey Vic, that mutt's got no class.'

4 (US) an old, worn-out prostitute who is forced to seek equally run-down clients, often on Skid Row, in cheap hotels etc. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 40/2: Flea bag, a girl who solicits

(promotes) sailors on the water front. 1944 A. Kapelner Lonely Boy Blues (1965) 93: The man said: No flea bag's calling me a filthy foreigner! 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 11: Prostitutes,

fleabag

_

i54__

from the very young beauties to the shabbiest old fleabags, say that [etc.]. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 169: Prostitutes called 'fleabags' because they are inclined to be syphilitic.

5 a general pej. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 117: You wait, you old

fleabag, you. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/2: Fleabag. [...] 2. A petty informer; an unprincipled weakling. 1968 P. Barnes Ruling Class I vii: Yes, he’s a nut-case all right, but then so are most of these titled flea¬ bags, 1998 B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 151: Rumbold and his pal known as 'Flea-Bag' turned up.

6 {US black] a troublesome, difficult person who tends, like fleas, to follow around and irritate the individual who has been made subject to their woes. 1958 Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 365: Monkey hollered, Ow! / I didn't mean it, Mister Lion! / Lion said. You little flea-bag you! 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.j.

7 a smelly person, usu. a tramp, a vagrant. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fleabag n. derog. smelly

person dressed in Oxfam style dress, possibly wearing Tesco trainers, possibly having fleas too.

fleabag adj.

[fleabag n.j

1

(US) of a hotel, or anything, cheap, run¬

down, second-rate, 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 40: They take their trade to rooms in flea-bag hotels. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey, But the Season's Over 169: If you're /or something, even a fleabag circus, you're not really out of the race. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 206: We parked in front of a flea-bag hotel. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 132: I booked into a flea-bag hotel in Paddington. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 286: There was [...] enough to get her out of this neighbourhood and into a flea bag hotel on the Upper West Side. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 'hi-. Not too dangerous unless you're waxing profane about the masses of wetbacks who live in the fleabag hotels there. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 189: So they'd all gone to a fleabag motel on West Flagler. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 245: Booking ourselves into a fleabag hotel room. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 155: She was married to this fleabag circus owner. 2007 N. McCall Them (2008) 135: He checked into a fleabag motel.

2 of an animal, mangy. 1987 W.T. Vollmann You Bright and Risen Angels (1988) 326: The

smell of an old fleabag cat.

fleapit

n. 1 (a/so flea joint, ...palace) a cheap, tawdry, run-down

hotel, motel or club, or any place. 1935 (con, 1900s) R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 273:

Marshall Hall hated the gloomy and dingy interior of the former Old Bailey [...] 'The ventilation here is primitive,' he would say, 'and the court itself is a flea-pit!' 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 242: Let's get the hell out of this flea joint, 1973 P. Wilson N.Z. Jack 165: 'I'm staying at the Star,' I said. [..,] 'You mean that flea palace?' she asked with a laugh. 1996 J. Higgins Drink With the Devil 21: 'A fleapit called the Albert Hotel,' Keogh told him. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 59: The Black Dino thinks we [,..] checked into this fleapit so he could pinch a chunk of lunch money. 2005 L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 137: Why are you staying here? This place is a fleapit!

2 a (run-down) flat. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 405/1: from ca. 1919.

3 {also fleahouse) a cheap, tawdry, run-down cinema. 1937 Daily Herald (London) 3 Feb, 12/4: Even the patrons of these

palaces [i.e. cinemas] referred to them as 'flea-pits' [OED], 1947 .1. Maclaren-Ross 'The Dark Diceman' in Bitten by the Tarantula (2005) 202: The film has already begun at the Fleapit. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 14: Of course a Super Cinema, of course. What then? What you want I should edvertise? [sic] A flea-pit. 1957 'Nino Culotta' They're a Weird Mob (1958) 131: 'Good pitcher on ternight,' Dennis said. 'Where?' 'Local flea house.' 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 73: Knocking back a free night at the flea-pit [...] It just isn't natural. 1982 E. Mac Thomais Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 128: The Pillar wasn't as posh as the Grand and looked a right flea house from the outside, 1989 H, Leonard Out After Dark 133: She would make for the Picture House. It was a redbrick flea-pit. 1993 (con. 1930s) M. Verdon Shawlies, Echo Boys, the Marsh and the Lanes 131: Then there was a famous cinema on the South Mall called the Assembly Rooms. It was a kind of a flea house. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues (si-. The Nudist Story opened a little while back. Just about the biggest thing that ever hit these fleapits, 2004 D. St Thomas Journey Through Britain 491:1 have to ask permission to take a glimpse inside the well-raked, narrow cinema itself, certainly no fleapit.

4 attrib. use of sense 3. 1950 C, Harris Three-Ha 'Pence to the Angel 160: The flea-pit cinema or the soot-streaked Odeodrome. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'Noah's Ark' Lone¬ liness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 88: Fourpence would [...] take you twice to the fleapit picture-house. 2001 Indep. Rev. 17 Apr. 1: She has travelled across the country, staying at every fleapit motel McVeigh ever frequented. 2004 Thomas & Vaitlingam Rough Guide to

Jamaica 488: A basement complex of fleapit sex cinemas,

fleas and ants n.

[rhy. si.) (US) pants, trousers.

1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev.

edn). 1953

Berrey

Kirkpatrick

&

Van den Bark

Amer. Thes. SI. (2nd edn). 2002 B.

Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

fleas and itches

n. {also flies and itchers) [rhy. si. = SB pictures] {Aus.) the cinema; also occas, paintings. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: fleas and itches: Movies. Pictures, a hangover from the bughouse days. 1968 D. O'Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 60: When not too tired, a man was able to visit ]...] the open-air fleas-n’-itches. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 27: fleas and itchers. Pictures, cinema, (c. 1945; used by Australian children). 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fleas and Itches Pictures (paintings or movies). 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fleas

and itches: the pictures, cinema,

fleas and scratches

n. [rhy. sl.j (Aus.) matches.

1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison St. Gloss. [Internet] Scratches.

Rhyming slang for matches. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fleas and scratches: matches,

flea the fox v. see flay the fox v. flee n. [flea powder under flea n.l {drugs]

second-rate narcotics.

1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 205: If it ain't nothing but flee, I get

my money back. n.^ [Williams offers examples of synon. plays on golden fleece]

fleece

1 hair of the head, 1781 J. O'Keeffe Dead Alive (1783) 6: Hannibal [i.e. a black servant],

your fleece and complexion soon get you into bread. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 36/1: She drew back her head dress showing me where Tommy had 'hackled' the 'fleece' from her nut. 1888 M.D, Woodward Checkered Years (1937) 27 Sept. 248: The new man's name is Johnson and he is Swedish, at least his fleece is white as snow.

2 a generic term for women as sex objects; esp. in fleece-hunter, fleece-monger, a womanizer. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 405/1: fleece-hunter or -monger. A

whore monger: C.19-20 (ob.).

3 pubic hair of either sex. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) V 923:1 passed my tongue over

and bit at her clitoris, my nose buried in the hairy fleece. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 253: Toison, /. The female pudendum: 'the fleece’. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

fleece

n.^ [? flee n. (1) or SE fleece, to cheatl (US black] second-rate

drugs. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fleece Definition:

1. poor/low grade drugs 2. get ripped off Example: That nigga fleeced you? Shiiit, you just dropped twenty on a bag a fleece!

fleecer

n. [SE fleece, to plunder, to rob heartlessly, to victimize] a

confidence trickster. 1921 Mencken letter 15 Dec. in Riggio Dreiser-Mencken Letters II (1986) 422: Fleecer! 1972 P, Fordham Inside the Und. 65: Both fleecer and fleeced being in prison. 2000 Guardian Rev. 15 Jan. 11: He embarks on a career as [...] a con man, a fleecer of the wealthiest and bestconnected women in Britain,

fleecy-claiming

n. sheep-stealing.

1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 322; Sheep-stealing ... Fleecy

claiming.

Fleet n.

[abbr.l (US black] a Fleetwood Cadillac.

1999 Dr Dre 'The Next Episode' [lyrics] King of the beats you ride to

em in your Fleet (Fleetwood) / or Coupe DeVille rollin on dubs,

fleet

adj. [? the Fleet Prison] counterfeit.

1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 555: The purse of course is

found to contain counterfeit money—Flash-screens or Fleet-notes.

Fleet-ditch

n. [the F[eet prison was situated on the banks of the Fleet Ditch in London (now covered over as Farringdon St)] the Fleet prison (f/.

C.1170-1842). 1780 M.P. Andrews Fire and Water! (1790) 27; Have you really

forgotten your old friend Ambuscade, who was fellow-apprenctice with you in Fleet-Ditch, at the sign of the Bob-Major,

fleet of blows n. {also fleet of licks) {W.I., Guyn./Trin.] thrashing. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fleggy

n. [SE phlegm] {UK juv.) a gob of spit.

a painful

Flemington confetti

2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fleggy n. Spit which

includes mucus, e.g. a 'greeny', e.g. 'I just flegged in that'; 'You've got a fleggy on the back of your coat'.

Flemington confetti

n. [? Flemington racecourse, covered in tornup betting slips etc. at the end of a major meeting; or Flemington saleyards in Sydney and Melbourne! (Aus.) rubbish, nonsense, 'tripe'. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 22: Cowyarcl confetti as for 'bullsh'. [Ibid.] 11: Flemington confetti: Rubbish. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 230: You could pull the wad over his eyes if you talked enough Flemington. confetti about the woes of the working class.

Flemington races

n. irhy. si.; ult. see prev.j (Aus.) braces. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] Flemington races: braces.

Flemish account

n.

[successor to

Fianders

reckoning

under

Flanders n.; the Flemish livre or pound was worth only 12 rather than 20 shillings; the main implication, however, is of the grasping stereotype attributed to any native of the Low Countries] a badly prepared account or books that do not balance. 1774-1826 Typ. Antiq. 1773: A person resident in London is said to

have had most of Caxtons publications. He sent them to Amsterdam for inspeaion and on writing for them was informed that they had been destroyed by accident. I am afraid, says Herbert, my kind friend received but a Flemish account of his Caxtons [F&H]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flemish ACCOUNT, a losing, or bad account. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd series 29: I hate to be bubbled:—everytime I buttered a bet, it was a Flemish account. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

Flemo

n. [abbr. + -o sfx (3)] (Aus.) the suburb of F/emington, northwest of Melbourne.

1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 2001 Historic Electric Traction (Aus.) [Internet] With the 10 minutes now lost to a 3 minute late start, we again charged off west from Platform 1 and slowed briefly at Homebush before getting back into the spirit of things past Flemo and again leaving the timetable in the soup by the time we passed, flesh n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flesh-and-blood (n.)

1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. (n.) a shirt.

C.1790 'Larry's Stiff' Luke Caffrey's Cost 7: Both of dem took of dir

flesh-bags. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 66: Vhy I've got as good a flesh-bag as ever stuck to a cove's prat: but you know they am no use in the shallow fake. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 110/1: Upon examining Artful's 'flesh-bag,' sure enough there was the torn collar. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Policel 320: A shirt ... A mill-tog, flesh-bag, skin-cover etc.

flesh-broker (n.) a madame, a procuress; a match-maker. 1611 Second Maiden's Tragedy II ii: Are white hairs A colour fit for panders and flesh brokers, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fleshbroker, a Match-maker; also a Bawd. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. a.1740 Newgate Calendar [Internet] He employed an old bawd in the affair, who was intimately acquainted with our hostess, and by this flesh-broker's mediation things had like to have come to an issue. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flesh broker, a match-maker, a bawd. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Voeabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). flesh-dresser (n.) [SE flesh-dresser, a butcher] an official who punishes prostitutes with flogging. 1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 32: If Tom Todd and his fellow flesh-

dressers had not quencht those inflamations, many three-chin'd Bawd, dry-fisted Punke, and biskit-handed Pandar would haue had all their hayre burnt off long ere this, 1647 Crete Wonders foretold by her Crete Prophet of Wales in E. Ashbee Facsimile Reprints n.p.: [as written] Tat [that] there shall also tis present yesre be [be] many Crete [great] fires in . , . pick-hatch, Turnbull-street, the Myneries, Coven-Garden, te Strand, Holborne, and poth [both] te Friers, and other such religious places, where Venus Nunnes are cloystered, and Tom Tod and his fellow flesh-dressers do not quench those inflammations, many . . . shall have all their haire burnt off.

flesh-fly

(n.)

1

frightened off these flesh-flies, Theodore: Flesh-flies indeed my Lord. And it must be verie stinking flesh they will not seize on. C.1640 J. Day Parliament of Bees 10: [A] fleshe-fly, takes up all petticoats he meets. 1650 'Of Women's Naked Breasts' in WardroPER (1969) 252: They but invite flesh-flies, whose full-spread pips Like roadways lie between their lips and laps. 1659 J. Shirley Honoria and Mammon II i: These Courtiers are another sort of flesh-flies. That haunt our City dames. 2 a prostitute. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle I i: A fleshfly, that can vex any man. c.1621 Middleton Women Beware Women (1887) II ii: No spider's web Made of a daintier thread than are now practis'd To catch love's flesh-fly by the silver wing. 3 a madame, a bawd; occas. a pander. 1607-8 J. Mason Turke II iii: The flesh-fly ... will neuer linne sucking at me so long as I haue any matter for her to worke vpon. 1624 T. Heywood Captives I i: [of a 'hee bawde'] [A] flesh-fly whome as soone as the butchers wyves sawe comminge throwghe the shambles, they ... stood with theire flapps in theire hands ... to keepe away his infectious breath least it should fill theire meate with fly-blowes. 1654 T. Killigrew Thomaso Pt II IV v: These flesh fUes how they haunt the shambles, flesh hooks (n.) the hands. 1567 Trial of Treasure Dii: If ye chaunce to tell any tales of these gentlewomen. With fleshe hokes and nayles, you are like to be rent. 1607 G. Wilkins Miseries of an Enforced Marriage Act IV: Good! I have met my flesh-hooks together. 1608 R. Armin Nest of Ninnies 33: Good hold for flesh hookes. 1613 Dekker A Strange Horse-Race in Grosart Works (1885) 348: He therefore being tossed [,..] vpon their glowing flesh-hookes, from one to one. 1639 R. Davenport A New Tricke to Cheat the Divell V i: I am arm'd, yes, [.,. ] with Flesh hookes, and with Fire-brands.

flesh hound (n.) [-hound sfxl (US black) an obsessive womanizer. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 149: The labels assigned to sexually active males underscore this supposed sexual voraciousness -flesh hound, cock hound.

flesh market (n.) 1 any street or urban area, e.g. Cheapside, the [a loose approx, of the colours of the drinks] a

drink composed of equal measures of port and brandy.

fleshbag

flesh

155

a lecher, a womanizer.

1532 T. More Confutation ofTyndale Answer VIII Pt II 789: What can men call them by ryght but Ishmaelys, & Esaues, & reprobates, and very carnall fleshflyes? 1607 Middleton Michaelmas Term I ii: Thou art fair and fresh; The gilded flies will light upon thy flesh. 1618 Fletcher Loyal Subject III iv: (Exeunt Gentlemen), burris: You have

Strand, Covent Carden, that is home to parading prostitutes. C.1758 John F---g Epistle of a Reformed Rake 10: Seeing Plays in the Flesh-market, hearing Rakes and [,..| reading a Bawdy-novel. 1793 Sporting Mag. Aug. II 307/2: Mother Johnson, the King's-place abbess, and one of the most notorious purveyors of that celebrated flesh-market. 1818 W. Perry London Guide. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 81: Flesh-market—any walk, or run for females who carry the broom up, is the flesh-market — so and so, as of the Piazzas, Cheapside, Strand, &c. 2 a brothel. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fleshpot (n.) 1 the vagina. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amator'ia (1966) 61: Charnier, m. The female pudendum: 'the flesh-pot'. 2 a brothel. 1837 R.P. Robinson Life and Conversations 6:1 sigh for the Manhattan fleshpots. 1880 A.A. Hayes New Colorado 67: If you sigh for the fleshpots of Delmonico, you ought to have stayed in New York. 1965 (con. WWII) E. Lambert White Night 151: The fleshpots. Bints, beer, sleep. 1972 (con. 1916) G. Swarthout Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 144: It happens at the only one where the CD's off to the fleshpots. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: [...] fancy house, fleshpot, gaff. 1994 J. O'Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 74: I was halfplastered at three a.m. in some subterranean fleshpot.

3 (US) a woman, viewed strictly (and thus offensively) as a sex object. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 323: I've been muzzled away from the flesh pots so long, it's a mighty temptation. 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 98: Lined up on the deck, impatient to get at the fleshpots of a new capital. 1951 A. Garve Murder in Moscow (1994) 144: I've never seen anyone who seemed to care so little for the fleshpots. 1954 (con. 1940s) T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of the Wind 119: Having a lash at the flesh-pots? 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

flesh-presser (n.) 1 (orig. US) a politician who attempts to curry favour with the voters by shaking as many hands, kissing as many babies and patting as many backs as possible during a campaign. 1999 Salon.com 17 June (Internet] Clinton - the flesh-presser, the eternal campaigner, the leaper out of the limousine into the crowd. 2003 commercialappeal.com 6 Dec. [Internet] Hubert H. Humphrey Old School barnstormer and flesh-presser. 2 (US) a porn star. 2003 Variety.com 2 Dec. [Internet] Now either someone at the Times has a crush on the curvy flesh presser or this is yet another example

flesh!

on [sic] how pornography is slowly but surely seeping into mainstream consciousness, (n.) [SE shambles, a slaughterhouse] a brothel.

flesh shambles

1608 ,1. Day Humour out of Breath Act II: I Asp.: She may bee well discended; if shee be, Shee's fit for love, and why not then for me. Boy: And you be not fitted in Venice 'tis straunge, for 'tis counted the best flesh-shambles in Italic [F&H].

flesh tailor (n.) a surgeon. 1633 FORD 'Tis Pity She's a Whore III vii: O help, help! Here's a stitch fallen in my guts. O for a flesh-tailor quickly!

■ In phrases flesh (it) (v.) {also flesh one’s will)

flick

156 in the stands. 2001

Outkast

'Crumblin' Erb' [lyrics] Nigga, so ring

around the roses / diamonds around my neck from flexin.

8 {UK black) to display, to show off. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 15: Stick it [i.e. a mobile] in your

bag or sumfink so you can't even flex it on your desk.

■ In phrases flex (one’s sex) (v.) {US black teen) to have an erection. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 20: Flex hot dancehall buzzword (due mainly to a hit by Jamaican DJ, Cobra, titled Flex... time to have sex') meaning ready for sex.

flex with (v.) {UK black) to associate with. [SE

flesh,

to plunge one's weapon

into flesh, to gratify one's lusts] of a man, to have sexual intercourse;

modern use is by both sexes. 1593 Florio New Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Andar in Carnafau, to go a fleshing or a wenching. 1602 Shakespeare All's Well That Ends Well IV iii: He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour, c.1616 W. Goddard Mastif Whelp D4; [He] Took armes to joyne in battell with a wenche [and] soe flesht hir, as that he, Shee'd ne're endure, to come off quite Scott-free, c.1621 Beaumont & Fletcher Wild-Goose-Chase 1 ii: 'Tis but fleshing. But standing one good brunt or two. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 165: Yo bro' [...] long time I don't flesh it up with my piece, give some flesh (v.) (W./.) to perform the ritual palm slapping that is a greeting between blacks, or between blacks and knowledge¬ able whites. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. flesh! exc/. (a/so flesh and eels! flesh and nouns!) [abbr. of SE God's flesh/l eyesiwounds] a blasphemous excl. 1695 Congreve Love for Love III xv: Flesh, you don't think I'm false¬ hearted, like a Land-Man. 1706 Farquhar Recruiting Officer II iii: Flesh, I's keep on my nab! 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 194: The cully flams Flesh rumly [The Fellow Cants very well], 1707 Humours of a Coffee-House 10 Sept. 23: Flesh and Nouns Sir! [Ibid.] 3 Oct. 29: Flesh and Eels, Doctor! 1728 Vanbrugh & Cibber Provoked Husband I i: Flesh! I thought we should never ha' got hither!

flewzie n. see floozy n. flex n. [FLEX V.] 1 {US black]

guts, courage, integrity, energy. 1992 R, Price Clockers 15: The kid had flex, and flex was rare. 1993 Dr Dre 'Nothin But a G Thang' [lyrics] Showin' much flex when it's time to wreck a mic.

2 {W.I./UK black teen) a person's mannerism, idiosyncrasies etc. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 204: Fuck college [...] I'm fed up o' havin' brok pockets all the while, it's time to change the flex.

flex V.

]SE flex one's muscles] 1 {US prison) to get emotionally prepared for a (gang) fight. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 90: Flex To become bristled and ready to fight. 1993 Ice Cube 'It Was a Good Day' [lyrics] Saw the

2003 Sean Paul 'Get Busy' [lyrics] Them nah war with us / In a the

club them want flex with us / To get next to us.

flex adv. (UK black) 1992 V.

Headley

quickly, at high speed.

Yardie 117: Wait, which part you ah go flex so,

man?

flick n.^

[the word orig. appeared as afflkke (albeit at F in the A-Z listing in Rowlands' Martin-Mark-all, 1610) and has always been assumed, by the OED and others, to have been a misprint of a flick. That said, it has no proven ety. and may indeed be one, equally incomprehensible word] a thief. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 38: Afflicke, a Theefe.

flick n}

an amusing person; esp. as old flick.

C.1844 'Opening of the Royal Exchange' in C. Hindley Curiosities of

Street Lit. (1871) 67: So take it back again, old flick. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 141: FLICK, or old flick, an old chap or fellow, 1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 232: 'He's on'y a new boy wot's a-comin' 'prentice [...] that's right, ain't it, old flick?' 1879 "Arry on Crutches' in Punch 3 May 201/1: I wish we wos chums on the crawl, and /'d show yer, old flick, 'ow to carry / The swell stick. 1883 "Arry at the Royal Evening Fete' in Punch 28 July 38/1: Well, last night. They'd a feet in these gardens, old flick, as was something too awfully quite. 1900 Marvel XIV:344 June 4: Quite, old flick. 1920 'Sapper' Bulldog Drummond 118: How beautifully you put it, old flick.

flick n.^

[abbr. SE flick-knife]

1

a knife with a spring-loaded blade.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 106: A knife (blade, toothpick, flick, nigger flicker, shank sheer).

2 a razor blade with one side taped so that it can be held as a weapon. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 237: [...] 2, Razor blade with

one side heavily taped (used as a weapon),

flick, the n. see flick (pass), flick adj. (UK Und.) 1 sly.

the n.

1845-55 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.

2 old-fashioned. 1845-55 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures.

flick

v.^ {UK Und.)

1

to cut.

police and they rolled right past me / No flexin, didn't even look in a

1674 C. Cotton Compleat Gamester 134: When they intend to bleed a

niggaz direction.

Col to some purpose [...] they always fix half a score Packs of Cards before [...] by flicking them or spurring them. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flicking, c. to cut [...] Flick the Peeler, cut off the Cloak-bag or Port-manteau. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 205: [...] Flick me some panam and cash, i.e., cut me some bread and cheese, 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1827 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 1 Feb. 2/3: After roystering at the Theatre, they broomed to a neighboring bousing ken [...] one told the landlord to flick him some panea and cassan. 1833 'The Slap-Up Cracksman' in Swell!ll or, Slap-Up Chaunter 43: So flick the suck — or draw the clicks, / The HI, the jam, or bung from kicks. 1837 Disraeli Venetia I 150: Beruna, flick the panam. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 33: flicking cutting. 'Flick me some panam and caffar,' cut me some bread and cheese. 'Flick the Peter and rake the swag, for I want to pad my beaters,' cut the portmanteau and divide the plunder, 1 want to walk my boots (to be off).

2 {US black) to make others aware of one's potential for violence and willingness to use it; thus on the flex, acting in an excessively macho manner in the hope of impressing onlookers. 1999 Dr Dre 'Big Ego's' [lyrics] Crash and flex on Tuesday's, harassin hoes at movies / Passin by with uzis - and who you aimin at? 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flexing Definition: to talk smack in someone's face Example: Bitch, you be flexin ‘ up in my grill. 3 {US black) to show off generally. 1995 L. Stavsky et al, A2Z. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 182: I wouldn't flex my temper inna your direction. 4 {US teen) to hit, to intimidate someone. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] flex To beat someone up or use physical force to hurt them. Usually said in a joking matter. 'I'm going to Flex you!' As if to say, Tm going to beat you upT 5 {UK black) to go well, to work out. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 219: Only time would tell if things would stay that way, but for now, Sean felt everything seemed to be flexing neatly. 6 {UK black) to scratch records, i.e. to move the record backwards and forwards so the needle scratches across the record, thus repeating or distorting a chosen section (in this case it is the wrist that is flexed], 2003 UKFlex.com [Internet] When we are Flexin': When we are out and about, we like to keep you informed, not only when any of the crew are DJing, but we'll try and let you know when we are out doing a review. 7 (US black) to rap well. 1996 Westside Connection 'All The Critics in New York' ]lyrics] Because we're platinum when we flex this / With mic in hand fans

2 to cut off. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical'Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flick the peter; cut off the cloak-bag, or portmanteau.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

m SE in slang uses ■ In phrases flick off see separate entries. flick one’s/someone’s bic (v.) [brandname S/c, whose popular disposable lighter was orig. marketed with the slogan 'Flick your bic'] to Stimulate the genitals with a hand (whether one's own or that of a partner).

flick

Flies

157

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1999-2001 QuiNNELK T. Rex's Guide to Life [Internet] Okay, since people don't want to actually say the m-word and the chicken and monkey phrases have been used to death on MTV, 1 thought it would be my duty to provide you with a bevy of other useful terminology that may be helpful in this area: [..,] flicking the Bic.

flick one’s wick (v.) [the flicking of a cigarette lighter] (N.Z.) to hurry up1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 189: 'Come on, boy. Flick your wick. Can't waste it.' He pours me another. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 80: flick your wick Admonition to hurry up. Mid C20. flick the bean (v.) see under bean n.\

flick the bird (v.) see fupa/the bird under bird n.^. flick the switch (v.) {Aus.) of a woman, to masturbate.

1944 J. Maclaren-Ross 'The Phantom of the Cookhouse' in Bitten by

the Tarantula (2005) 172: Flicking waiter. You know, got up posh. 1955 P. White Tree of Man (1956) 78: Which 'usband is she flickin' well talkin' of? 1958 P, Larkin letter 28 Oct. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 291: I know why, 'cos he's got his flickin livin to get that's why. 1960 D. Abse House of Cowards (1967) 51:1 saw a flickin' ad in the paper for flippin' factory workers. 2004 P. Foster Just Beneath My Skin 14: 'A flicking hose monster,' she grinned, [...] 'He wants to take me to Las Vegas.'

flick-off

n. [FLICK OFF V. (1)1 an act of rejection, a snub.

1999 Indep. Rev. 8 Sept. 4: Scotland's First Minister repeatedly gives Eisner's ambassadors the flick-off.

flick off

V. [a dismissive///ck of the fingers)

1

to snub, to reject, to

ignore.

1990 Tupper & Wortlby Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Flick the

1957 Laurents & Sondheim West Side Story I i: The Jets, by far in the

switch. Female masturbation.

majority, flick him off. He returns with other Sharks: they, too, are flicked off.

flick the vee (v.) (a/so flick the vees, ...vick) (UK juv.) to make the 'V-sign' gesture; note mis-defined as a n. in cit. 2001. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] (flick the ...) vees n. To stick your two fingers up at someone in an manner meant to be insulting. [Ibid.] (flick the ...) vick, vicky n. To stick your two fingers up at someone in an manner meant to be insulting, flick up (v.) (US prison) to take a photo. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Flick Up: Take a photo.

flick

v.^ (US black) to fail deliberately to turn up for work or school. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

flicker

n.^ [ety. unknown; ? one 'flicks' the contents down one's throat] (UK Und.) a glassful of alcohol; thus rum flicker, a large glass; queer flicker, an ordinary glass. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew

n.p.: Flicker, c. a Drinking Glass [...] Rum Flicker, c. A large Glass or Rummer, Queer Flicker, c. a green or ordinary Glass. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1827 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 1 Feb. 2/3: After roystering at the Theatre, they broomed to a neighboring bousing ken [...] one told the landlord to flick him some panea and cassan, [...] while the others commenced smashing the flickers and glims. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet, n.p.: Flicker, a drinking glass. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

flicker

n.^ (a/so flickers) [flicker v? (2)] (US tramp) a fainting fit, esp. if faked. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 302: Flicker—a faint; as a verb, to faint or pretend to faint. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 212: Flickers - fainting. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flicker - A faint or pretended faint.

flicker

v.^ (? the SE flick of the tongue or fingers] to kiss or caress a woman. 1621 R. Burton Anatomy of Melancholy 3.3.4.2; An old Acherontick

dizzard, that hath one foot in his grave, [...] shall flicker after a young wench.

flicker

v?

1

to grin, to laugh in someone's face.

1696 J. Dunton Night-Walker Nov. 15: A Wanton Flickering girl, who

used with one of her Companions to eye every one that came into the Church, and observe any thing in their Dress or Deportment, that could make them matter of Mirth. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 2 (US tramp) to faint or pretend to faint, to die. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 384: 'I'm starvin', father,' I yapped, 'n' begun to flicker. [Ibid.] 385: 'Flicker,' meaning to faint, comes from the flickering of a light. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 302: Flicker—a faint; as a verb, to faint or pretend to faint. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Flicker - To faint or simulate fainting. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 212: Flickers fainting.

flicker

v.^ [flicker n.^l to drink.

1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

flickerbox

n. (Aus.) television.

1974 D. Ireland Burn 143: There are newspapers and pictures and the radio and the flickerbox. The story will be all over the world,

flickers n. flickertail

see flicker n.^. n. [d'\a\. flickertail, the ground squirrel, the state's best known

native animal] (US) a native of North Dakota. 1946 McWilliams Southern Calif Country 172: North Dakotans are

'flicker tails' [HDAS].

[2006

mag. title The Flickertail Journal

Celebrating the Progressive Spirit of North Dakota.]

flicking

adj. a euph. for fucking adj.

2 see FLIP a/the bird under bird n.^.

flick (pass), the

n. [rhy. si.

=

arse n. (8)1 (Aus.) dismissal; usu. in

phrs. below. 1988 Sun. Tel. 4 Dec. TV guide 13: The year is 2274 and life in glassdomed city is a perpetual piece of cake for its hedonists. But the fun wheel stops dead on 30, the age for compulsory renewal' that, in reality, means the flick.

■ In phrases get the flick (pass) (v.) [a dismissive flick of the fingers] (Aus.) to be dismissed from one's job, to be rejected in other contexts (usu. of relationships). 1987 K. Lette Girls' Night Out (1995) 27: Anyway, the bloke who got

the low scores made sure we got the flick pass, 1993 T, Winton Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster (1995) 160: This was worse than getting the flick from a girl. 2002 BRW.com 5 Dec. [Internet] Lew's chances of retaining a seat at the Coles Myer boardroom table are extremely remote, and it is increasingly likely that his one supporter on the board - lawyer Mark Leibler - will also get the flick, 2002 Descent World Feb. [Internet] I remember qualifying about 50th and I hadn't exactly been having a Stella season so I thought I was gonna get the flick. 2006 P, Shannon Davey Darling 232: Even if he goes to jail he'll make sure I get the flick because I didn't hold up my end of the bargain.

give someone the flick (v.) (Aus./UK teen) to reject someone, to end a relationship, to dismiss; note mis-defined as a n. in cit. 2001. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] (give the...) flick n.

break up with a partner. 2004 T. Winton 'Long, Clear View' in Turning (2005) 196: You never show up (or basketball training so the team gives you the flick. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 131: He gave her the flick because the old PCS was wrecking his head.

give something the flick (v.) (Aus.) to throw something away, to ignore. 1982 National Times 3 Oct. 45: He left school at 16, lasted eight months as a fitter and turner, but then 'I give it the flick - the boss was an arsehole.' 1988 Sun. Mail (Brisbane) 5 June TV guide 2: Benny Hill fans benefit on Tuesday on TVO when L.A. Law is given the flick for one week only. 1990 Aus. Children's Folklore Newsletter #18 11/2. 1 don't know, you get invited out to dinner on consecutive Sunday nights and return to the radio to find that 'Games we played as kids' has been 'given the flick'. 2004 T. Winton Turning (2005) 147: On Tuesday she gave darts the flick again and went over to Dan and Sherry's.

flid

n. [elision of Thalid(om\de) as '///domide'] 1 (UK juv.) a handicapped person, esp. one suffering the after-effects of Thalidomide, which drug, erroneously distributed to pregnant women in 1960s as a counter to morning sickness, caused widespread physical disabil¬ ities in the babies. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] flid n. derog. 1) A

person (usu. a child) suffering from birth defects due to the drug Thalidomide. 2005 Guardian G2 13 Jan. 18: Actor/comedian Mat Fraser, with arms stunted by thalidomide, referring to the 'Aids'. 2 a general term of abuse. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 99: Did you hear the one about the wog, the chink, the wop, the dago, the spic, the spaz, the flid, the mong, the kraut, the frog, the lezzer, the paki and the nigger? 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 51: I'd look a total flid if I tried to spit the word out.

flier

n/' [they are always HIGH adj.^ (2)| (US drugs) a drug addict.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics

Lingo and Lore.

flier n.^ see also under flyer. flier n.^ see high-flyer n. Flies n. (UK Und.) the Flying

Squad.

flies and itchers

1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 161: Looking like the Flies was on

his heels.

flies and itchers n. see fleas and itches n. flies’ skating rink n. see skating rink for flies flight n. IFLY V. (3)1 an experience of a drug.

n.

1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 394: He made me

take these bad fucking flights.

flight deck

n. |? nonce-word created by UK cartoonist Posy Simmonds

for her raffish character Edmund Heap] the female breasts. 1981 P. Simmonds True Love [comic strip] Lovely flight deck she's got.

flight of doorsteps n. see doorstep flim n.’' [FLIMSY n. (1)] a £5 note.

n.

1870 Chambers's Journal 9 July 448: What would it be worth? A flim,

Sam [F6rH]. 1914 E. Wittmann 'Clipped Words' in Z)WlV:ii 119: flim, horn.flimsy. A banknote. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 38: A fiver is a 'flim'. 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 25: There's nothin' to do 'cep go to 'Arringay and shove a flim on the bow-wows. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 90: You can give me a flim for the introduction. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 119: 'A jacks.' ‘A jacks?' 'Like a flim.' 'A flim?' [...] 'A handful,' he said. 'Oh — five pounds?' 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 66: He'd've just thought I was pallatic blacking out in his cab like that, giving him two and a half pound out of a flim.

film

n? [abbr. FLIM-FLAM n. (2)1 a swindle, a fraud, a confidence

trick. 1914 Jackson & Hellybr Vocab. Criminal SI. 34: flim [...] Current in

polite criminal circles. A swindle; a fraud. 1925 Flynn's 25 July n.p.: The flim is a hoary trick, but generally works. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 171: I'd like to experience something other than films and flams, robberies and scams,

film

V. labbr. flim-flam v. (1)1 to swindle, to defraud, to trick.

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: flim [...] to cheat. 1914 .Iackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 34: flim [...] To swindle; to defraud. Used

especially by short-change experts. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 181: The Loved Ones felt that they had been double-crossed and flimmed.

flim-flam cham)

flim-flam

158

n. [? ON flim, a lampoon; ftimska, mockeryl 1 (also chim-

an idle tale, a piece of nonsense.

1570 Marriage of Wit and Science II i: Can I remember a longe tale of a

man in the moone. With such circumstaunce and such flym flam. 1589 Nashe Death and Buriall of Martin Mar-Prelate in Works I (1883-4) 174: Leave thy flim flam tales, and loytering lies [...] the trueth is this. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Supererogation 150: His own Flimflams [...] masketh his aduersary more then an Asse, and lesse then no¬ thing. 1619 J. Taylor 'A Kicksey Winsey' in Works (1869) II 39: They with a courtly tricke, or a flim-flam, do nod at me, whilst I the noddy am. c.1620 Beaumont & Fletcher Little French Lawyer II iii: This is a pretty flim-flam, c.1664 C. Sackville 'Another Letter from Lord Buckhurst to Mr. Etheredge' in Stephenson Yard of Wit (2003) 126: For what but Prick and Cunt does raise / Our thoughts to Songs, and Roundelays? Enables us to Anagrams t And other Amorous flim flams? 1729 Swift 'Epistle Upon an Epistle' in Chalmers Eng. Poets XI (1810) 477/2: Most think that what has been heap'd on you. To other sort of folk was due: Rewards too great for your flim-flams. Epistles, riddles, epigrams. 1740 R. North Examen 151: The Reason, of all this Chim-cham Stuff, is the ridiculous Undertaking, of the Author, to prove Oates’s Plot. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 630: I thought thou hadst been a lad of higher mettle than to give way to a parcel of maidenish tricks. - I tell thee 'tis all flim-flam. 1780 H. Cowley Belle's Stratagem III i: Look you, Mr. Curate; don't think to come over me with your flim-flams, for a better man than ever trod in your shoes is coming over-sea to marry me, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Flim flams; idle stories. 1805 I. Disraeli Flim-flams: or the Life and Errors of my Uncle, and the Amours of my Aunt [F&Hj. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1825 C. Lamb Munden in London Mag. Feb. n.p.: I wonder you can put such flim-flams upon us, sir [F&H]. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1897 E.W. Townsend Chimmie Fadden 70: I never taut dere was so much flim-flam about getting ready t' be married. 1902 Ade Breaking Into Society (1904) 55: The Missus was a firm Believer in all these How-To Flim-Flams that run in the Monthly Magazines. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 172: Nitsky on damages— contributory negligence, or [...] something-or-other flimflam. 1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop 105: Never did Marguerite take the Absolute as a standard [...] laying down definite lines of demarca¬ tion between this and that, she discarded as so much flim-flam. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 317:Edhad beaten it to Chi on account of some flimflam about raffling off a watch. 1939 T. Wolfe Web and the Rock 336: Back here the flim-flam and flummery of the front was all forgotten. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 248: They alibied themselves and minimized the

extent of the flimflam. a.1968 Martin Luther King Speech: The only thing that power respects is power ... There will be no flim-flam, no sell out. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 5: The use of alliteration and rhyme, as in boob tube, claptrap, crumb bum. flim-flam, gobhledygook, goo-goo. rinky-dink, ticky-tacky, and wishy-washy. 1998 Source Oct. 224: Despite all the 'back'naday, e'ything waas about peace' flim-flam. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 140:1 also hope you will consider [...] what is merely . . . flim-flam . . . grandstanding , . . froth . . . posturing . . . egotism. 2 (or/g. US) a confidence trick, a criminal hoax, orig. a short-change swindle. C.1895 F. Norris Vandover and the Brute (1914) 233: You would feel as though I had taken advantage of you at this time and worked a flim¬ flam on you! 1903 H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 27i: From flim¬ flam (returning short change) to burglary is but a step, provided one has the nerve, 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 56: What's the flimflam today? 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 56: There was a picture of a naval officer bowing low before a girl, with this caption: 'They All Salaam to the Old Flim Flam that Never Dies'. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 557: [Slang's] content may be divided into two categories: (a) old words, whether used singly or in combination, that have been put to new uses, usually metaphorical, and (b) new words that have not yet been admitted to the standard vocabulary [...] examples of the second are hoosegow, flimflam, blurb, bazoo and blab. 1944 C.B. Davis Rebellion of Leo McGuire (1953) 235: The whole thing was a flim-flam. 1956 J. Blake letter 22 Jan. Joint (1972) 76: But dissembled, it's a new kind of flimflam. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 113: I was the hustlest motherfucker the world ever seen. / 'Cause I made most of my money playing flim¬ flam, 1976 R, Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 30: It meant that the bookie was working for him, and the flim-flam was on whoever his and Swan's drinking companions happened to be. 1993 C. Hiaasen Strip Tease 115: As for her Social Security flimflam, that was a federal crime. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 133:1 inadvertently became the victim of one of his flim-flams. 3 attrib. use of sense 2. 1881 Trumble Man Traps of N.Y. 28: The amount of money a good flim-flam operator can obtain in one day depends upon the character and condition of his victims. 1904 O. Kildare Good of the Wicked 17: 'Second-story' Connors and 'Flim-flam' Myers, two gentlemen depending on their wits for support. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 45: If he gives a large bill to the waiter, the latter may decamp or practice the flimflam game, a sleight-of-hand trick whereby he extracts a bill after having counted the change in the presence of the visitor. 1969 M. Puzo Godfather 226: The flimflam home improvement gyp artists, the door-to-door con men were politely warned. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 196: I had become terribly weary of hearing a number of these Dim-flam rock 'n' mongers pluggin' up the airwaves with their detached meanderings. 4 (US) a confidence trickster. 1992 D. Pinckney High Cotton (1993) 138: Those flimflams are at the

Drop again. 5 (US) a deceptive, untrustworthy person. 1908 K, McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. ii: I would steer no friend of a friend of mine up against a flim flam where there's so many nice girls running loose. 1936 (ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 147: A special table composed of their own ilk, exCongressmen, ex-State Representatives, and other ritzy flim-flams.

■ In compounds flim-flam artist/man

(n.) see flim-flammer n.

flim-flam adj. [flim-flam n. (1)1 1 (also flam-blam) nonsensical. 1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 32: And fobb'd Queen Dido

off / [...] / By telling her a Flim Flam Prattle. 1898 H. Macfall Wooings of Jezebel Pettyfer 171: All t'udder talk are flam-blam foolishness. 2 tricky, cheating. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 100: Don't yoiise try none o' dat

flim-flam woik wit' me. 1940 E. Curry Hysterical Hist, of Aus. 40: A pretty dod gasted ding-whanged, flim-flammin set of thieves, rogues and vagabones. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 303: Past the tall flimflam captains' houses with the wooden roosts at the top. flim-flam v. [flim-flam n.l 1 (U^ to perpetrate a confidence trick or hoax, orig. to practise a short-change swindle. 1896 S. Crane George's Mother (2001) 86: Then he made a modest

gesture, the protest of a humble man. 'Don't flim-flam me, oTboy,' he said. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 220: If the victim finds he is flim-flammed and complains, the waiter will again take the money, count it, make good the deficiency, and in returning it will again extract the bottom bill. 1913 Van Loan 'Will a Duck Swim?' in Lucky Seventh (2004) 258: How do you know he did n't flimflam you, and sell you a duck that can't swim. 1924 D. Hammett

flim-flammer

'The Tenth Clew' in Continental Op (1975) 21: Emil Bontils [...] was flimflammed out of something by Gatvoort in Paris. 1938 J.E. O Donnell Overcoat Bennie' in Mss. from the Federal Writers' Project [Internet] What a cheater he was! He cheated everybody with whom he came in contact, pawnbrokers, crooks and clients. 'Flim¬ flam others or they will flim-flam you,' was his motto. 1940 E. Curry Hysterical Hist, of Aus. 40: A pretty dod gasted ding-whanged, flimflammin set of thieves, rogues and vagabones. 1943 H.A. Smith Life in a Putty Knife Factory (1948) 141: The transaction was a bald swindle. Mynheer Peter was flimflammed. 1955 Mad mag. May 7: We been flim-flammed! 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 79: They'll cut you loose like a trick after they've flim-flammed you. 1972 N. Algren 'The Last Carousel' Texas Stories (1995) 140: They'd sheared the rubes and flapped the jays, flimflammed them at the jam auctions and suckered them at three-card monte. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 181: Third place, you ain't walked since Judas flimflammed Jesus fuckin Christ! 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 202: I know he would flim-flam. He would talk his way out of anything. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 52: I don't need to flimflam you with examples of how a comparative deal with a major might work, because there is no comparison. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 202: A gun who'd flim¬ flammed widows out of their pension money. 2 to perform a task inadequately. 1908 'O. Henry' 'The Ethics of Pig' in Gentle Grafter (1915) 229: You flimflammed in your part of the work to-night and put the game on crutches.

3 (US Und.) to scold, to berate. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1934 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day

by Day' 8 Nov. [synd. col.] The rosy fellows, all sweetness and light [...] All the flim-flamming I've suffered has been by their ilk.

flim-flammer n. {also flim-flam artist, flim-flamber) V. (1)1

[flim-flam

{US) a confidence trickster.

1881 Trumble Man Traps of N.Y. 28: Among the numerous small swindles [...[ there is none more curious than that of the flimflammer. 1887 N.Y. Times 13 Feb. 5: He was recognized as an expert 'flim-flammer,' as the men who practice this swindle are known in police parlance. 1894 Boston Journal (MA) 2 May 9/7: She notified the police, but the flim-flam artist was far away [OED]. 1906 E. Hubbard Love, Life and Work [Internet] All this whirl is a carefully prepared plan, worked out by expert flim-flammers to addle the reason. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 220: The flimflammer invariably places a one dollar bill at the bottom and a larger bill next to it, to be withdrawn when the change is returned the second time. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Flimflammer. A swindler. Flimflam worker. 1936 (ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 30: It was small stuff to the big-shot flim-flam artists, but it was buying beans and bacon for us, 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 16: A friendly white man on the train warned me about flim-flambers. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 60: Flim-flam man - con-man. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 13: Pennyweight ponces and flyweight flimflammers; diddyboppers, deadbeats and dopefiends. 1998 L. Sanders McNally's Gamble 117: I had confidently expected Frederick Clemens to reveal himself as a flimflammer peddling penny stocks and fake Faberge eggs to gullible clients. 2005 Online Casino News 21 Nov. [Internet] [headline] Casino Flimflammer Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison.

flimmer n.

flimsy

159

iflim v.j {US campus) a cheat.

1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: flimmer. One who

cheats.

flimp

V. [western Flemish ftimpe, to hit in the face; flimping is equivalent to two-man mugging, one person pushes the victim from behind, the other robs him] 1 (US Und.) to wrestle. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

2 to steal, esp. watches, by snatching items from their owners (rather than carefully picking a pocket), often using violent means, e.g. garrotting; thus flimping n. 1839 W.A. Miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime; Report 111: To take a man's watch is to 'flimp him,' it can only be done in a crowd, one gets behind and pushes him in the back, while the other in front is robbing him. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 38: He told me as Bill had flimped a yack and pinched a swell of a fawney. 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act I: Not worth flimping, eh? 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 65/2: It was a regular pull-away affair, more like 'flimping' than anything else. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/2: Sue flimped a soot bag and a prop. She's the flyest wire in the mob, and all the family men are spoony on her. Sue stole a reticule and a brooch. She's the smartest lady's pocket thief in the company (or 'school'), and all the thieves are smitten with her. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 128: They were flimped of their kicksies, benjies, or daisies, as the case might be. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 143: I scorn to 'flimp' or 'hold,' on 'dragging' I ain't bold. [Ibid.] 158: 'Dew-dropping,' 'dragging down

or 'flimpings' more in our line. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 202: Then I flimped his thimble—a yellow one. 3 (US Und.) to garrotte. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

4 to have sexual intercourse. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 406/2: [...] from ca, 1850.

5 to swindle, to cheat. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 96: Flimp. To: To swindle. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 185: I bet you've flimped on every flipping tickle we've had; but this is your lot, you flipping bleeding crab, you.

■ In phrases put the flimp on (v.) to rob on the highway, to rob and garrotte. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov.

539: 'Show me how to hang a fellow up, or put the 'flimp' on him, as you call it.' 'D'ye see that bone in the wrist? Just get that on the windpipe - so' (showing me practically how to garotte),

flimper

n. (also flimp) [flimp v. (2)] a mugger or thief, esp. of watches, working in a team; one man grabs the victim from behind, while the flimper steals his watch. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 409: Square indeed! I'll square

the chatty flymps [...] I'll precious quick make 'em granny who's omee here. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev, edn) 87: flimp [...] one who robs persons.

flimsy

n. [the flimsy paper on which it is printed or written]

1

a

banknote, esp. a £5 note. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Flymsey. A bank note. 1820 Jack Randall's

Diary 75: Where blunt was lost, and Jlimseys won. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 304: I understand the toggery was soon reduced to tinder, the ticker melted; a bonfire made of the flimsies: and your reader destroyed. 1840 R.B. Peake Devil In London II i: (playing at cribbage, bank notes on the table) [...[ Give me the flimsies: ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty. 1855 Punch XXIX 10: Will you take it in flimsies, or will you have it all in tin? 1867 H.L. Williams Ticket-of-Leave Man 9: '1 dare say he'll be flash with the shiners now.' 'And flush of flimsies.' 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Sept. 10/7: Wealth, Ore, Dust, Rocks, Spondulicks, Shekels, Ducats, Nicks, Flimsies, Filthy Lucre, Trash, Shiners, Shinnies—are the synonyms of money. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VIII 1596: She might have expected I would have given her a flimsy now she was in trouble. 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) 1 vii: The receptacle still exists, but its occupants have deteriorated into occasional 'flimsies' (fivers) and very often 'nonsies.' 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 191: I ain't so [...] stony that I've lost hope of dealing out flimisies like handbills again. 1906 Marvel 10 Mar. 175: Hand 'em a fiver flimsie each. 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 12: Take the bally flimsie; I wish I could make it more. 1929 J.B. Booth London Town 156: Mullins [..,] carried the 'flimsy' to his employers. 1931 'English Und. SL' in Variety 8 Apr. n.p.: Flimsey—£5 note. 2 (US) a $100 note. 1846 Durivage & Burnham Stray Subjects (1848) 73: Ho! landlord! there's a flimsy - / Come, don't be cross or coy - / Ten dollars for your alley / And ninety for your boy! 3 (UK Und.) a counterfeit banknote or cheque. 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act I: I have the beautifullest lot

of bank of England flimsies that ever came out of Birmingham. 1881 A.C. Grant Bush-Life in Queensland II 79: The hold boy was agoin' down to Sydney habout them 'ere forged flimsies. 4 multi-leaved copy paper used by journalists. 1857 J.E. Ritchie Night Side of London 202: The penny-a-liners - who write on 'flimsey'. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1876 Besant & Rice Golden Butterfly II 86: The sharpest of the reporters had his flimsy up in a minute, and took notes of the proceedings. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 23: A 'touch' is to the Under World what an Associated Press news item, or 'the flimsy,' is to the newspaper world: knowledge of it is common property to those who are in the guild. 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 315: Here's the 'flimsy' from the City News. 5 (/Aus.) a cheque. 1840 R. Barham 'Merchant of Venice' in Ingoldsby Legends II (1866) 230: Not 'kites,' manufactured to cheat and inveigle, / But the right sort of 'flimsy,' all sign'd by Monteagle. 1890 H. Nisbet ‘Bail Up!' 149: Next morning when I went to the bank to collect the swag, they stopped the flimsy, and had me arrested before I could look round. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.7.. Si. 6 a report; in pi., papers. 1941 'The Heavy Bombers' In C.H. Ward-Jackson A/rmnn's Song Book (1945) 144: They ask you for your flimsies, your pass and target maps, / You take the ruddy issue and stuff it down their traps. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 106: They decided to hasten by a week the day when Dicky was due to leave them after his training period.

flindereens

'And we'll send him off with a first-class flimsy [...] he's a good lad, don't you think.' 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 164: The 'situation' was finally going to see print on something besides yellow military

he'd never speak about flints and dungs, or fat, or elbow grease. 1873 St. Diet.

flint n.^

[the flint that it contains]

(US black) a cigarette lighter.

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms,].

flimsy.

flindereens n. see smithereens fling V. [SE fling, i.e. to fling money

flip

160

n. out of]

1

to snatch.

1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 11: The Whores are our Safeguard; for when we fling for a Cly, it we are taken on Suspicion, they'll rap for us.

2

to get the better of, to cheat, to deceive; esp. as fling out of; fling for, to be caught out. 1743 Proceedings Old Bailey 23 Feb. 98/2: 1 gave her a little Time; then 1 looked for her, and she was gone; said I, She has flung us. 1751 Smollett Peregrine Pickle (1964) 390; He began to perceive he had been finely flung by some rascal. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1790 'The Man of Fashion' Luke Caffrey's Cost 6; With your gold you'll rattle 'till you fling them all, / And then you're a Man of Fashion. 1800 'Britannia's Sons at Sea' in Jovial Songster 5: Great guns I scarce could hold, / To find that 1 was flung. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford 111 129: Flung the governor out of a guinea, by God! Now, that's what 1 calls keeping it up to the last! 1884 in A, Griffiths Chronicles of Newgate 257: I have flung the old fellow out of another guinea.

3 to move, to walk. 1960 Mad mag. June 46: Some might-slumming stud come flinging right up to my beat pad door.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fling-down (n.) {Anglo-Irish) a fight.

flint n.^ see skinflint n. Flip n. [abbr.l (US) a derog. name for a Filipino. 1932 P.G, Cressey Taxi-Dance Hall 100: Most of the white fellows

won't dance with me if they learn I go out with Flips. 1935 R. Chandler 'Spanish Blood' in Spanish Blood (1946) 32: Framed him for a few bindles of heroin from a slant-eyed Flip. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 83: We was doin' guys we never seen before even, Wallios 'n Greeks 'n a Flip from Clark Street. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 707: I've seen you mentally undress every young flip we pass on the street - even if we shoot past her at fifty in the car. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 45: Just who the hell did the APs find under that Flip's house. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 57: Perjoratives like [...] Flip for Filipino. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: Flip (n.) [Offensive, derogatory) A person of Filipino descent. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 172: Cannonball had bought it with money he made off a Filipino fighter [...] 'Yeah, my baby flip boy done okay by me'. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 166: 'Yo, See-Oh! I'm Filipino — why the fuck you celling me up with some motherfucking punk-ass Micronesian' [...] The C.O. tells him to shut the fuck up. 'We got a shortage of flip cases this year,' he explains.

■ In compounds Fliptown (n.) (US) Manila. 1952 B. Appel Plunder (2005) 228: 'Let's see what's coming into Fliptown, Captain.'

Flip adj. (also flip)

[abbr.]

(US) Filipino.

1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 19: Brian had the opportunity of witnessing a scratch, or rather a downright 'fling down' betwixt two mobs.

name. He's as much Filipino as you are. What's his reason for giving himself a flip name?

fling-dust (n.) (a/so fling-stink) [the dirt or dust that she stirs on her

flip n.^ (a/so phlip) (SE flip, to whip up] a mixture of beer and spirit

walk] a Street-walking prostitute. C.1621 Beaumont & Fletcher Wild-Goose-Chase IV i: She is an English whore, a kind of fling-dust. One of your London light-o'-loves. 1679 T. Ticklefoot Trial Wakeman 7: That he was not President of the Benedictines, his Lordship affirmed from the Testimony of three Flingstinks.

■ In phrases fling it up (v.) (W./.) to behave in a wild manner, without restraints, usu. of dancing or sexual intercourse. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 21: Fling-it-up wild abandon (of dancing or intercourse) u. she can fling it up.

fling the hatchet (v.) see throw the hatchet under hatchet n. fling the house out of the windows (v.) to make a great deal of noise or disturbance in one's house. C.1607 Beaumont & Fletcher Knight of the Burning Pestle Ill ii: We are at home now; where, I warrant you, you shall find the house flung out of the windows.

fling of a cow’s tail phr. see two shakes of a lamb's tail phr. flink V [? SE flinch, to slink off, to sneak away] (US) 1 to act like a coward, to shirk one's duties. 1887 E. Custer Tenting on the Plains (rev. edn 1895) 388; All the boys done bully, but Corporal Jackson—he flinked. The way he flinked was, to wait till the boys had drove the Injuns two miles, and then he hollered, 'Gin it to 'em!'

2 to play truant from school. 1969 M. Kantor Missouri Bittersweet 152: 'I'm not going to school. I'm going to flink.' You remember that used to be slang for not going to school? [...] My son and daughter tell me nowadays that it's merely 'cutting classes' [DARE].

3 (UK gay) of a male homosexual, to have a relationship with a woman in order to appear heterosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 30: to date a woman to prevent suspicion of being homosexual [...] flinking (Brit gay si),

flint

n? (the hardness of SE flint] a worker who refuses to accept anything but full, union-negotiated wages. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flints, journeymen taylors, who on a late occasion, refused to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted, were by the mutineers stiles dungs, i.e, dunghills. 1805 'Jeremy Swell, Gent.' Tailors' Revolt 18: There are no sneaking dungs or milksops here; / No, they're such FLINTS as gen'rals might desire, / Heroic flints, aye flints too full of fire. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 81: Flints — tailors; dungs are the same, but work at less wages or by the garment. 1837 N.Y. Times 1 Mar, 2/6: The war waged by the flints against the dungs, or in other words the strike of the Taylors. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1863 Story of a Lancashire Thief 12: 1 never even heard him talk workmen's slang:

1952 B. Appel Plunder (2005) 277: Tommy Cruz [...] That's not his

sweetened with sugar and heated with a hot iron. 1695 Congreve Love for Love III i: Thus we live at sea; eat biscuit, and drink flip. 1698 N. Ward London Spy II 43:1 had rather run up to the Cross-trees of the main-topmast in a Storm, than six Rounds of these confounded Land Ladders, after the drinking of a Can of Phlip or a Bowl of Punch. 1709 A Society of Ladies Female Tatler (1992) (75) 146: She thought a sneaker of punch or a can of good flip, [...] preferable to your t'other end of the town Green tea. 1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal I i: He sets with as good a Bucket of Flip before him as e're was toss'd up betwixt the Stem and Stern of a Ship. 1722 'Whipping-Tom' Universal Poison, or the Dismal Effects of Tea II 12: Our Exchange Girls, [...] are Devils at this Sort of Lap, guzzling it down as fast as a drunken Tarpaulin will a Can of Flip. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen ek. 65: Some Sailors, who would need have us go on Board their Ship, and drink some Flip. 1748 Smollett Roderick Random (1979) 140: The tar [...] regaled me with a draught of flip. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.; Flip. Small beer, brandy, and sugar: this mixture, with the addition of a lemon, was by sailors, formerly called Sir Cloudsly, in memory of Sir Cloudsly Shovel, who used frequently to regale himself with it. a.1790 C. Dibdin 'Lucky Escape' Collection of Songs II 129: I liked the jolly tars, I liked bumbo and flip, c.1805 'Meg of Wapping' Jovial Songster 68: 'Twas landlady Meg, that made such rare flip, 1815 D. Humphreys Yankey in England 97: I'll wage a nip of toddy, or venture a mug of flip. 1825 C.M. Westmacoit Eng. Spy I 257: Rum booze - Flip made of white or port wine, the yolks of eggs, sugar and nutmeg. 1836 Comic Almanack Jan. 42; At night ere you slip into bed you may sip a can of good flip. 1843 W.L. Rede Our Village II ii: Flip for forty, and make it strong and sweet. 1864 J.R. Fireside Travels 68: So, Mr. Porter, the young gentlemen come to drink your flip, do they? 1871 H.B. Stowe Sam Lawson's Oldtown Fireside Stories (1881) 148: He stirred up a mess o' flip, and hed it for her hot. 1877 'Bound 'Prentice to a Waterman' Laughing Songster 121: Board a man of war I enter'd next, and lam'd to quaff good flip. Lowell

flip n.^ [one

'flips' the recipient a coin] a bribe or tip.

1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 318; Flip - A racing tip.

1937-84

Partridge DSUE (1984) 407/1: C. 19-20.

flip r\? 1 a triviality, an irrelevancfe; a tiny amount. 1863 'Edmund Kirke' Life in Dixie's Land 67: 'Haint got nary a flip o'

change,' she said, as she took it. 1892 H. Lawson 'The Grog-an'Grumble Steeplechase' in Roderick (1967-9) 1 216: Pat M'Durmer said he always came 'widin a flip av winnin". 2 an impudent, flippant, 'lightweight' person. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IV:iii 199; flip, a person loose in morals. 1919 F. Hurst 'A Petal on the Current'

Humoresque 92: Is it any wonder the world is filled with little flips. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 28: Then some junior flip bitch

flip

flip

161

ohdeed.

1979 D, Maitland Breaking Out 169: You are a bloody lop-

eared

flip of a fucking galah!

start out cocksure, cool and flip. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 283: I didn't mean to be flip about it.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some

Lines 39; The expression pootbutt — and its synonyms rootiepuot, rumpkin, rookie, wethead, junior flip — refers to a socially inexper¬

2 exciting, excitable, eccentric, crazy. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 272: The G.C.L. can finally send a little

ienced person.

delegation around to inform folks that get too flip that they got to conform to decent standards and quit shooting off their mouths so free. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Flip, Garrulous. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 388: You crazy broad. Jeez, you flip broad. 1959 J. Blake letter 23 Sept, in Joint (1972) 145: A sort of hipness that is more flip than hip. 1961 L. Block Diet of Treacle (2008) 96: He liked the type - the face, the whole flip structure. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 57: Flip religion, it was so far out you couldn't blame anybody for believing anything,

3 (Al/s.) an act of sexual intercourse. 1973 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes 'Cats on the Rooftops'

Snatches and Lays 26: In Egypt's sunny clime the crocodile / Gets a flip only once in a while.

4 (US) an eccentric, a madman; also attrib. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 196: Before you were driving like a flip, and now you are creeping. [Ibid.] 359: Just frantic people, all of us. Just flips. 1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 87: He ain no flip. He's okay m the head so they gonna kill him in the lectrick chair! 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 243: Jimmy was trying to beat the rap by pulling a flip act. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 83: flip [...] 2. one who is out of his mind. Syn: flip artist (= a professional madman). 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 57: I'm down there listening to that mad flip [...] wondering if he's all right in the bloody .head. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 250: The flip's name is Francis Kingsbury. 1993 Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 199: Most times it wasn't my fault that a stink started. Mostly it would be some flip having a go at the way I dressed or jealous over the car I drove. [Ibid.] 285:1 had to pull this flip into gear before he got right out of hand. 'Listen to me, you halfwit, I don't need anyone to stick up for me, especially to a dickhead like you,'

5 (US) a state of high excitement, delight or craziness, esp. as produced by drug use. 1957 R. Prather Always Leave 'Em Dying 102: Trammel's flipping

Sunday at that Guardian meeting, and especially the timing of his flip immediately after I'd mentioned Dixon's name. 1961 H. Ellison Rockabilly (1963) 130; The horde went wild, and behind him, in the dressing room, the little redhead did her own private flip. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 126: It's his big flip. Giving reporters secrets about shows and people. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 63: Somehow these cats retain the flip, immediate wit and observational flair of rap.

■ In phrases go flip (v.) (US) to lose control, to go mad. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 37: The time those two goody-

looking hillbillies [...] went 'flip' one afternoon, whipped out their skinning knives, and tried to hijack him.

flip nf* [SE fillip] a short trip, orig. in an aeroplane, but also in other forms of conveyance. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.l.F. 1921-1924

flip n.^

t/s)

[FLIP

n.p.:

flip.

An aeroplane

ad/.^ see Flip adj. [SE flip, to strike at sharply] 1 to shoot with a pistol or revolver.

1812 Vaux

Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 263: Flip him, Dick, fire, or I'm taken. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Aug. 24/4: Look 'ere - missie, yer did - th' kin'est thin' - pos'ble - in joggin' - that lobster's elbow - an' makin' him flip his gun. 1935 R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 63: The following crook's words and phrases date from the days of the old Old Bailey: [...] to shoot a man - to flip.

2 (US) to Steal a ride, esp. on a freight train. 1916 J. Lait 'Omaha Slim' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 110: He heard

a noise, looked up, and saw the train that he was going to flip pulling out. 1926 N. Klein 'Hobo Lingo' in AS 1:12 651: Flipping— train riding. 1930 (con. 1890) G. MtLBURN 'A Convention Song' in Hobo's Hornbook 27: Some flipped freights to other states. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 182: They all started telling their stories of flipping freights and hitch-hiking. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn), 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: FLIP - To board a moving train. 2006 www.landmarktouring.com [Internet] Learn how to 'flip a freight', how to read the signs the hobos left for fellow travelers, their code of ethics, unique monikers, slang and art.

3 (US drugs) to make another addict unconscious in order to steal their drugs. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS XI:2

121/: FLIPPED. Knocked out by some kind of knock-out shot administered by an attendant or by another addict who then makes his victim for any narcotics he may have. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 4 (US black) to reject someone. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Flip the chick ... Quit the girl,

1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 23: flip — An aeroplane flight.

(rev.

flip flip

flight,

v.^ (2a)] 1 (US Und.) an informer.

1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 13: Flip [...] You sonofabitch!

2 (US black) a passive male homosexual. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 91: 'Dirty bastard.' 'He's a flip.' 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 49: Flip A passive homosexual,

flip n.® [euph. for FUCK n. (2a)] (US) a jot, an iota, nothing at all; thus couldn't give a flip. 1969 in Playboy Dec. 102: I couldn't play worth a flip [HDAS]. 1999

Dandy 18 Sept, n.p.: Blummin' flip. Can't get any worse,

flip adj.^ [Devon dial, flip, glib, flippant] (orig. US) 1 nonchalant, unconcerned, in control. 1886 Lantern (N.O.) 22 Sept. 2: The brother of a pretty flip reporter

on one of our daily contemporaries. 1890 Sporting Times 12 Apr. 7/1: Should any member become 'too flip,' he is yanked into a place known as the Solitaire, and fed upon bread and water until he is considered to be in a more amiable state of mind. 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 106: The Girls in such a Sub-Center of Civilization are about seven times as Flip as what they have to choose from. 1911 J. Lomax Cowboy Songs 265; His manners they are pleasant / Instead of flip and rude. 1917 Wodehouse 'Crowned Heads' Man with Two Left Feet 98: He of Tennessee would then sasshay up in a flip manner. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 105: We're all so flip and think we're so smart. 1926 A.C, Inman 17 Oct. diary in Aaron (1985) 320: He is conceited, flip and fresh. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 76: FLIP.-Flippant; pert; outspoken. Usually applied to anyone with a great deal of 'brass,' 'nerve,' 'gall.' a.1946 'The Open Book' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 116: They're cocky and flip with the lip, / But they know more of plows than they do about cows. 1958 R. Chandler Playback 36: Another flip, hard-boiled modern cutie. 1964 H.S. Thompson letter 7 Mar, in Proud Highway (1997) 441: I didn't mean to be flip up there in Tacoma. 1973 D. Goines Street Players 27: You brought most of that down on yourself by your flip answers. 1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of the City (1984) 212: I'll thank you not to be so flip! 1999 Indep. Rev. 29 July 11: They

flip V.2 [SE flip, to give a flip with (the finger)] 1 masturbate.

(orig. Aus.) to

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 407/1: late C.19-20. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Flip. 1. To masturbate. 2 (US) to hand over, to give. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 95: If 1 go and sob on his doorstep he'll maybe flip me a couple o' hundred bucks. 1960 J.D. Macdonald Slam the Big Door (1961) 123: I'm not flipping you a four-bit-piece to stop singing. 3 to make a sign; usu. in flip a/the bird under bird n.^. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio 13th Valley (1983) 373: Peace

marches [...] Everybody standin round flippin each other peace signs. 4 (US black) to make, to create, e.g. a marijuana cigarette, or a rap song. 1993 Source Dec. 43: It's about being able to flip lyrics and beats they way they should be flipped. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flip Definition: 1. to roll a blunt, [...] Example 1: Yo, who gonna flip the next el?

■ In phrases flip a/the bird (v.) see under bird n^. flip off (v.) see separate entries. flip the bishop (v.) see banc one's bishop under bishop n.^. flip a euph. for fuck v. in various senses; also as n. and fuck! exc/. (1). 1917 Union Jack 5 May 17: Flip! 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 18: Flip you, you flipper. [Ibid.] 23: So different from the Flip-you-Jack attitude of many of the buyers. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 54: 'Aw, flip it,' Dawn said. 1996 (con. 1970) G. Moxley DantiDan in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) I iii: Flip's sake. Cactus, what are you doing? 1996 S. Bell If... 20 May in If Files (1997) 79: Blinking Flip! 1999 D, Healy Sudden Times 75: Flip me.

flip

v/* [abbr. FLIP ONE'S wic under wic n.^; and ext. uses) 1 (US drugs) to become unconscious through an overdose of a drug. 1950 Down Beat 17 Nov. n.p.: One of the five top tenor sax stars has flipped. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 308; flip. To become unconscious from an overdose of drugs.

flip

flip-flop

162

2 (orig. US) {also flit, pliff) to lose control, to get over-excited or

thus flippy adj., describing a homosexual who will take the active

very worried; often ext. in phr. flip one's cork/frijoles/noodle/

or passive role in intercourse. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 32: bisexual [...] flippy (also used of a homosexual who is able to fuck or be fucked). 1998 R.

raspberry!stack. 1951 J. Blake letter 30 Dec. in Joint (1972) 29: If I made a Thing of it and let it drag me, I really would flip. 1952 (con. 1920s) G. Fowler Schnozzola 61: I'm so scared one of them fellows some of these nights is goin' to get liquor in him, or flit or somethin', and he'll shoot this fellow Harris between his eyes. 1955 'Blackie' Audett Rap Sheet 192: He was gone. Flipped-off. Plumb stir-looney. 1957 R. Prather A/wnys Leave 'Em Dying 25: I figured she was the type to flip good if she flipped. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 210: I said he's pliffed, boy! 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: If that babe doesn't hurry up and get herself back here - like I could flip. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 152: Maybe they've flipped. Combat fatigue. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 70: Betty and I nearly flipped. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 291: Good God, it was obvious [...] The woman had flipped. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 37: Only Big H flipped his switch. 1997 T. Winton Lockie Leonard, Legend (1998) 73: Your mother used to eat flies and Nan didn't flip. 2003 J. Lethem Fortress of Solitude 431: Dose flipped, a year's accumulated fear brimming in him. 3 to excite (sexually). 1960 Mad mag. June 46: Flipped me - hipped me with some weirdo dreams. 1958 Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 153: Flipped him completely, you dig? 1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 89: Take a look at the local bird life [...] No wonder they've flipped over us! 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 198: She was [...] flipping car tricks at sunset and La Brea. 4 to be sexually excited. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 58: Who makes ya flip? 5 to become drunk. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 74: Thanks for the party. Claw. We really flipped that night. 6 (US black) to start an argument, to fight, esp. with an intimate. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 36/1: They was about to flip when the police drove by. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flip Definition: [...] 2. to start beef with someone, usually a friend or someone you know. [...] Example 2: I tol that nigga if he don't got my dough I'ma gonna flip on his ass.

■ In phrases flip for (v.) {orig. US) to become fascinated, obsessed by. 1954 Hepster's Diet.

4: Flip - To react enthusiastically. 1959 A.

ZUGSMITH Beat Generation 120: Jester used to knock himself out,

trying to score with the Pad chicks who didn't flip for him. 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I i: Remember - he really flipped for my Liat! 1979 Maledicta 111:2 232: He also may or may not know the following words and expressions: [...] flip over (while flip = fall for and flip-flop = exchange roles and flop = go soft or fail). 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 94: Anyway, I just flipped for it. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 56: She met Dad at The Grafton and, an unlikely combination of mildness and madness, they just flipped for each other. flip off at the jibs (v.) see under jib n.^ flip one’s bananas (v.) see under bananas adj.

flip one’s bean (v.) see under bean n.\ flip one’s cookies (v.) see under cookie n.\ flip one’s cork (v.) (US) to lose one's temper; to go mad. 1953 'Curt Cannon' 'Die Hard' in I Like 'Em Tough (1958) 24: You've flipped your cork. Cannon. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 128: He flipped

his cork. He forced me to split. flip one’s gourd (v.) see stow one's gourd under gourd n.

flip one’s lid (v.) see under lid n. flip one’s top (v.) {US black) to go crazy, to lose one's temper; thus fliptop adj., crazy; as n., a crazy person. 1955 'Hal Ellson' Rock 125: That's the tip-off. Ramon flipped his top. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 98:1 could never push that bunch of fliptops and professional misfits into a working group. [Ibid.] 107: In a word, man, he is insane. A fliptop cop. 1967 'Iceberg Sum' Pimp 286: You're flipping your top. 2005 Tech N9ne 'S.H.E.' [lyrics] But I flipped my top, when she set that butter skin on my lap. 2006 posting at davesgarden.com [Internet] My water bill was horrendous this month and DH flipped his top but its not my fault

top to bottom.

(c) (US) to convert a heterosexual to homosexuality. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 195: That guy was even more of a man if he could 'flip' another man, turn him into a homosexual. 2004 N. Kelley 'The Code' in Brooklyn Noir 185: These young ghetto bucks were obsessed with homosexuals [...] She could

always tell which ones could be flipped.

2 in the context of informing, (a) {US Und.) {also flip on) to inform (against). 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 9:1 won't flip on you. I'll never flip on nobody again. 1981 Maledicta V:l+2 (Summer + Winter) 264: The snitch goes up to a guard and he drops a dime, flips or turns over on a fellow inmate. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z. 2003 G. Pelecanos Soul Circus 208: 'He's the big Magilla in his corner of the world.' 'So nobody's gonna flip on his brother.'

(b) to turn state's evidence. 1985 N. PiLEGGi Wiseguy (2001) 217: If there was ever a time to flip him against his old crew it was at that moment. 2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 152: He's the one that made Bernie flip and Bernie

gave him me.

(c) to tell a story. 1998 Source Oct. 88: You're flippin' stories in almost every track on

your album. (d) to make someone into an informer. 2004 Mad mag. Nov. 25: You get busted for skipping detention, and the next thing you know, an FBI agent is trying to 'flip' you.

■ In phrases flip on (v.) see sense 2a above. ■ SE in slang uses m In phrases flip a bitch (v.) see under bitch n.\ flip a lip (v.) {also flip one’s mouth) (US) to speak, to talk to. 1930 M. Bodenheim Naked on Roller Skates 140: The hop was flipping his mouth about the bones being loaded. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in

Love (1963) 123: I never flipped a lip towards him. flip over (v.) (gay) to make oneself/a partner available for anal intercourse. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 88: anal intercourse [...] flip one over (gently or with pressure turn a partner over onto his

belly). 1979 Maledicta III:2 232: He also may or may not know the following words and expressions: [...] flip over (while flip = fall for and flip-flop = exchange roles and flop = go soft or fail), flip the scrip (v.) (SE script] {US black teen) to change completely, to take an utterly fresh direction. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Flip da script (verb) 1. Turn the tables. 2. To Avenge, especially revenge against an estranged lover, flip the switch (v.) to cease some activity; as imper. 1958 W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 144: After he said, 'Flip the

switch, baby,' he crawled to the edge of the bed and caught his breath.

flip

v.6 (US black) to increase, e.g. money or stocks of drugs.

2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 264: Flipping it: the entrepreneurial dream

of the perfect hustle in which a buck makes ten, a gram of cocaine makes a kilo.

flip-flap

n.

1

the penis lit 'flaps' around].

1653 Urquhart (trails.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 51: I

would have cleft her water-gap, / And join'd it close to my flip-flap. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 copulation. 1702 T. Brown Letters from the Dead to the Living in Works (1760) II 265: Those poor girls, who have nothing to depend on but the drudgery of flip-flap. [...] A horn-mad cuckold, that had caught his wife playing at flip-flap with her tail like a live flounder in a frying-pan. 1770 Foote Lame Lover in Works ^1799) II 66: The Marquis of Cully and Fanny Flip-flap the French dancer.

3 a broad fringe of hair falling across the forehead, esp. as used by street boys (it 'flaps' around].

the weather didn't cooperate.

flip one’s wig (v.) see under wic n.^. flip out see separate entries.

1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 134/2: Flip-flap (Street

flip v® [SE flip, i.e. to turn someone over] 1 in the context of sexuality. (a) (US) to 'come out' as a homosexual. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 109: Before

Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] flipping — to cause a stone butch to 'melt' or allow herself to be touched sexually, or to cause a

I

flipped [...] I was very

Innocent. (b) {US gay) to reverse one's primary sexual activity, i.e. for a masculine lesbian to turn 'femme' or a sadist to play masochist;

boy, 1898 on). Broad fringe of hair covering the young male forehead. This fashion, revived from the time of George IV., began with the quiff [...] expanded to the gtiiver, and widened to the flipflap, a name evidently gained from its motion in the winds,

flip-flop

n.^ ]SE flip-flop, a somersault/FLiP-FLOP v.] 1 (US prison) an individual who first gains parole and then returns to the same

flip-flop

prison after breaking the terms of that parole or committing a new crime. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street St. [unpub. ms.].

2 mutual oral-genital stimulation. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (1977) 278: Whatever sissy she would pick

out on queen's row to turn flipflops with. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972) 80: Flip flop...Simultaneous oral copulation.

3 (also flippy) a homosexual who takes either the active or passive role in sex. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy

Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: flip- flop, n. - a homosexual who plays both male and female roles. 1975 J. Carr Bad (1995) 136: Flip-flops, also called 'knickknacks,' are dudes that begin by making the homos but wind up playing the female roles themselves. 1996 L. Pettiway Honey, Honey, Miss Thang 27: My preference—no. I would prefer him being on top. I would be more submissive. If I had to deal with one of these Hippies [...] I could put up with him for a couple of months. [...] That's not what I want in a relationship. A flippy! [Ibid.] 197: I had a relationship with a man and he was a flip-flop. He was a man ... well, he carry himself as a man, but I got the kitty. [...] And I'm a drag queen. I'm a transvestite. 4 (US campus) a bisexual. 1998 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: flip-flop - indecisive person; bisexual,

flip-flop n.^ (US) a trick, a gimmick. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Marathon in the Mud' in Ade's Fables 294: The more Irons in the Fire, the more flip-flops he turned. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 70: I wouldn't require [...] any of these doodads and flipflops!

flip-flop n.^

flipper

163

[the non-protective footwear worn by Albanians on Saudi

construction sites] an Albanian. 2000 Guardian G2 27 Mar. 3: Plenty of Brits are guilty of the casual

superiority that has them referring to Albanians as 'flip-flops', a term coined on the construction sites of Saudi Arabia, where local labourers worked in non-protective footwear,

flip-flop V. (also turn flip-flops) [SE flip-flop, to turn over, in this case for anal sex] 1 (US prison) to indulge in gay sex. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 86: After ten years 'making tortillas'

or 'flip-flopping' was acceptable. 1981 Maledicta V:l+2 (Summer + Winter) 265: A homosexual may flip-flop with a fellow bitch by reciprocating sexually. 2001 Gay Video Dad Behind Closed Doors [Internet] Rev. of Natural Instinct: Cummings and Grand flip-flop so Grand can toss some salad and then use his meat stick to poke at Cummings' hot ass. 2 to change direction. 1980 in S. Terkel Amer. Dreams (1982) 373: It wasn't until I saw this guy flip-flop that I realized how powerful vested interests are. Suddenly he's saying: 'Don't rock the boat'. 1997 Mad mag. Sept. 27: Now he flip-flops in the breeze / Sucking up to the Chinese. 3 (US prison) of a male homosexual, to take either the active or passive role in intercourse. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 59: Flip Flop [...] used to indicate a homosexual who engages in both the active and passive roles in a homosexual relationship. A homosexual who flip flops will 'pitch' and 'catch.' 1996 L. Pettiway Honey, Honey, Miss Thang 27: I don't know if I could be in a relationship with a man who likes to flip flop. 4 (US prison) to practise bisexuality. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 59: Flip Flop To have sex with both men and women. A bisexual person is said to flip flop,

flip off v.^ [ext. FLIP v.^ (1)1 to masturbate. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 115: to masturbate [...] flip it [around, off]. 2002 'Animal Farm' at GalleryListing.com [Internet] I'll

bet he's still flipping himself off! Not that there's anything wrong with masturbation, of course. It's just better to have a partner now and then.

■ In phrases flip oneself off (v.) (Aus.) to masturbate. 1955 'No, 35' Argot in G. StMES DAUS (1993). 1978-99 G.A. Wilkes Diet. Aus. Colloquialisms. 2002 'Animal Farm' at GalleryListing.com [Internet] I'll bet he's still flipping himself off! Not that there's anything wrong with masturbation, of course. It's just better to have a partner now and then.

flip off v.^ see FLIP a/the bird under bird n.^. flip off! exc/, [euph. FUCK off! excl. (1); flip v.^] go away! 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 39: Now flip off.

flip-out n. [FLIP OUT V.] (US) 1 an eccentric, a madman. 1965 H.S. Thompson letter 4 Nov. in Proud Highway (1997) 546: There was not much point in your visiting a potential flip-out, in Big Sur or anywhere else. 1979 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: flip out - the cause of shock or amazement: She's a real flip-out - she dresses like she lives

in the twenties.

2 attrib. use of sense 1.

1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 48: Don't put me in no flip-out cage. I just want to laze around.

3 a crazy, uncontrolled reaction to a drug or a situation, 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation I’ll', flip-out. Mental

derangement; strange behaviour. 1969 R.R. Z (1970).

flip out

V. (FLIP v.^ (2)1 (orig. US)

1

Lingeman

Drugs from A to

to lose emotional control, to go

mad. 1966 Current SI. 1:3 3/1: Flip out, v. To appear insane; to lose one's

mind. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 40: We really flipped out when Joanie pulled that whole Moonie number. 1983 R. Price Breaks 352: Tell me how to tell you this without you flipping out on me. 1985 (con, 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 291: 'How could I flip out?' I ask him [...] 'You can call it battle fatigue.' 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 31: He flipped right out and took his own life. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 179: I hear JP's totally flipped out. [...] I heard he had a total breakdown. 2 to be intoxicated. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 107: Fourteen-year-olds

[..,] ended up at your house some way or another, flipped out. 1973 C. Browne Body Shop 144: 1 was caught once for talking Asthmadorm. I was really messed up [...] flipped out. 3 to be overjoyed. in

1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: flip out - get excited: She flipped out when she got tickets for JCM's concert. 1999 Newsday 1 Nov, G14: After the class, a white student [...] told Ramirez that the play would be performed at his church that weekend, and perhaps he would want to come. 'I was, like, flipped out,' he says, gushing even now.

4 to amaze someone, to delight. 1978 R. De Christoforo Grease 33: The guys were flipped out when we returned. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad. 5 to cause someone emotional problems. 1960 'Lord Buckley' Hiparama of the Classics 27: This flipped The Gasser! It also shook up the Indians. 1974 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 2: flip out - [...] 2. to cause a disturbance or commotion: Let's try to flip out those people over there. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 57: It helped them win the war, but it flipped out a lot of officers,

flipped-out adj. (also flipped)

[flip out v.) (orig. US) 1 crazy,

over-reacting; fascinated. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 432: Nuts; you

dig? Plain nuts, flipped. 1956 H. Whittington Forgive Me, Killer (2000) 98: You've gone nuts. You've flipped. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 28 Aug. in Proud Highway (1997) 636: They thought he was just another of my flipped-out lawyer friends. 1967 W. Murray Sweet Ride 70: I played this creepy teenager, sort of a maniac, who's flipped on LSD and grass and sex, oh, everything, the whole scene, see? 1979 G. Swarthout Skeletons 188: You've flipped, freaked out, Tyler. 2002 Fabian & Byrne Out of Time (ms.) 145: They said he was doomed, flipped-out, and I knew he was because I'd been there when it had happened. 2 intoxicated with drink or drugs. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 45: Among the synonyms for drunk are

[...], crispy, flipped out, fried.

flipper n.^

[reverse anthropomorphism]

1 (US)

a leg.

1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 433: The moment that your

long legs fail ye, / Blast my old flippers but I'll nail ye. 1917 Wash. Post 21 Jan. 2/7: Pulled his flippers - Moved his legs, ran. 2 the hand or arm. 1812 J. Wetherell Adventures of John Wetherell (1954) 181: 'Old fellow,' says the landlord (to Bonner), 'where the devil have you sprung from with your one flipper, eh?' c.1825 T. Jones 'The True Bottom'd Boxer' in Egan Bk of Sports (1832) 74/1: Shaking a flipper, and milling a pate. 1837 'Who Milked My Cow?' Bentley's Misc. Jan. 68: Joseph Grummet went and expanded his flippers before the eyes of the surgeon. 1843 W.L. Rede Our Village II ii: If he don't die an admiral. I'm a grampus. - Give us your left flipper! 1859 H. Kingsley Recollections of G. Hamlyn (1891) 297: 'I've been on the square this twenty year.' 'Same here,' says the old chap; 'give us your flipper.' 1867 G.E. Clark Seven Years of a Sailor's Life 161: Ah Jack Tar, you don't know how many hands are waiting to grasp your tar-stained, hardened flipper that now rests on the rail. 1873 W.H. Thomes Slaver's Adventures 47: I hit him near his flipper. See him bleed. 1887 'Lawrence Lynch' Mountain Mystery 27: 'Bully for Podunk!' 'Give us your flipper!' 1894 M.H. Foote Coeur d'Alene 103: My right flipper is hit. 1900 Boys Of The Empire 23 Oct. 35: Did you ever see such flippers before, lads? 1910 'O. Henry' 'The World & the Door' Whirligigs (1939) 18: Merriam gave Hedges and then Quinby an ice-cold hand. 'Br-r-r-rl' said Hedges. 'But you've got a frapped flipper!' 1916 R. Service 'The Odyssey of 'Erbert 'Iggins' Rhymes of a Red Cross Man 48: My flipper is mashed lo a jelly. 1924 Galsworthy White Monkey 37:

flipper

Well! Here we part! Give us your flipper. 1934 D.L. Sayers Nine Tailors (1984) 283: With the big sugar-nippers they nipped off his flippers. 1936 R.L. Bellem 'Falling Star' Spicy Detective Sept. [Internet] Okay, Sid Grainger. Lift the flippers—high! 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 154: Guess I can handle this with my little flippers [...] Guess I can at that. 1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado (1960) 122: He arrived at Rollo's side flapping his flippers into Rollo's face. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 402: You don't, he thought, as his flipper reached down for his chopper. You don't do that to a guy. 2006 Fantasy Baseball Intelligencer 29 Apr. [Internet] And lets not forget that Guardado has been pitching with a bum flipper for over a year now.

3 {UK Und.) a whip. C.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

4 (US black) an ear. 1944 'diver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

flipper

n.^ [SE flip-, one flips it over in the pan] [Aus./US) a pancake. 1841 F. Allyn Olmsted Incidents of a Whaling Voyage 153: 'Flippers' or 'slapjacks' for breakfast. 1850 N. Kingsley Diary (1914) 114: We arrived at the bar in time to ]...] get supper &c which consisted of flippers and fried pork [DAE]. 1882 L.L. Hubbard Guide to Moosehead Lake 26: Flippers or 'flap-jacks' are mixed like bread, except that a little more baking powder is used [DARE]. 1863 in R.G. Carter Four Brothers in Blue (1978) 18 Jan. 224: Bob and LeRoy are frying 'flippers' (flap-jacks). 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Aug. 14/2: Has 'Scotty' ever camped with a kangarooer, and tasted emu-egg 'flipper,' or tail-soup, or grilled-pigeon? 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI.

flipper

1 (on'g. US) a very young prostitute.

1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant I 372/1:

Flippers, flappers, very young girls trained to vice, generally for the amusement of elderly men. 2 (US) a male flapper n? (2). 1920 T. Thursday 'Mr. Mister' in All-Story Weekly 22 May [Internet] I'm positive that the flipper who thinks he's It, tagged himself by slanting in a mirror. 1922 Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent 3 May 7/4: Flapper Dictionary

flipper

- A male Flapper.

3 a euph. for fucker n. (3). 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 18: Flip you, you flipper. 1956 J. Reynolds Woman of Bangkok (1959) 31: Some sixth sense told me

that flipper would stop for me.

4 a friend; in general, a man. 1921 T. Thursday 'Hail the Professor' in Top-Notch 1 Sept. [Internet] When two wise flippers meet they generally part with the same suit of clothes, watch, and ideas—splitting the bunk fifty-fifty. 1944 T. Thursday 'Base on Balds' in Sports Winners Spring [Internet] Among the weird and peculiar sights [,..] are no less than four flippers who are as bald as both sides of a dime. 5 (Aus.) a fool. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Flipper Fool,

flipper

flit

164

n.^ [? he 'flips' things around/SE flippant] 1 (Irish) a messy,

untidy man. 1910 P.W. Joyce Eng. As We Speak It In Ireland. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2 {US campus) an impulsive person. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: flipper - impulsive, flippant person [...] 'Tom is such a flipper.'

flipper n.^

[flip v.^ (2)1 (US tramp) a tramp who rides the railroads, rather than travels by road. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 76: Flipper.- [...] A tramp who 'flips' or rides trains,

as opposed to the 'dyno' who uses the

highways to get about the country.

flipping adj. 1

a euph. for fucking adj. (1); esp. in flipping heck! fucking hell!; also as adv. 1948 C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident 12: Flipping heroes, ain't we all? 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 21:1 started asking questions and got told to flipping well mind my own flipping business. 1965 E. Bond Saved Scene x: Where's that flippin' grub? 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 65: 'Flippin' 'eck,' Mooey said in the end. 1988 B. Humphries Complete Barry McKenzie 11: Reckon the Aussie brewery must have paid him a flippin' fortune. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 367: What's all this then - these are flippin' private pictures. 2005 BBC Radio London 17 Nov. [furniture store advert] The sofa is a right flippin' mess.

2 (US campus) splendid. 1966 Current SI. 1:2 2/2: Flippin', adj. Highly admirable. 1978 R. De Christoforo Grease 68: 'So, how was the action this summer, Danny?' [...] 'Flippin.'

flippy n. see flip-flop n.^ (3). flippy adj. [flip n.^ (2)/flip n.^

(4)] 1 (US) flippant, insignificant.

2

crazy, eccentric. 1957 Jailhouse Rock [film script] 'You didn't say a thing about my

outfit.' 'Flippy . . . real flippy.' 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 45: Don't talk flippy. 1979 (con. 1955-58) Pepper & Pepper Straight Life 177: You're getting that rep of being a loner and kind of flippy. 1986 S. King It (1987) 740: Don't go flippy. 3 see FLIP V? (1 b). flipside n. [rock music use, the 'other side'of a record, the B-side] 1 the reverse, the alternative. 1968 Time 4 Oct. 63: Barbra [Streisand] [...] is the flip side of Cinderella — the homely girl who made it. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 88: Anger is just the flip side of depression. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 39: But there was a flipside. If you failed to send out the letter of love to twenty people within ninety-six hours you were fucked.

2 (US gay) the anus; the buttocks [the man 'flips over' to offer his anus for sex]. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 1989-2003 R.O. Scott Gay SI. Diet. [Internet].

■ In phrases on the flipside on the other side, on the reverse, 'on the other hand'. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 180: If our plan suceeds, we could earn

thousands of dollars. On the flip side, if we fail, we could lose everything. 2003 Guardian 17 Feb. [Internet] The Sultan of Sokoto appealed for calm and peace. On the flip side, the minister for Abuja, Nigeria's glossy capital, broke down in front of the camera, weeping that I had blasphemed the prophet. 2007 D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 5: Credit could be obtained, but terms were very short. On the flipside though ]...] there was no interest, flipside adj.

[i.e. the flipside n. (1) of respectable society] (US)

pertaining to the world of criminality. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 99:1 want every character of flipside Frisco searching for the Blue Jager Moon. flipwreck n. [flipv.^ {!); pun on SE shipwreck] (Aus.) 1 a person who has (supposedly) masturbated themselves into physical and mental decline. 1974 D. Waugh Master White Glass 23:1 was a flip-wreck. Every time the air radio siren went I jerked myself off to the shelter [DAUS]. 1985 B. Arndt Aus. Way Sex 12: One can be called a 'Flip-wreck' if one is an overenthusiastic onanist [DAUS]. 2000-02 Macquarie Diet. [Internet] flipwreck noun a male who masturbates very often.

2 a fool, an idiot. C.2003 Alex PummaTheGnome [Internet] Favorite-Insults: Flipwreck / breadfruit swapper / double bag and stumper, flirt n. {also flurt) [SE flirt] a prostitute. 1598 Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Mucciaccia, a wench, a girle, a lasse, a harlot, a strumpet, a flurt, a minx, a trull, a gixie. 1600 N. Breton Pasquils Fooles-cap I 22: [She] that doth keepe an Inne for euery Guest [or] make a Smocke euen measure with a Shirt ... a Foolish flirt. 1611 R. Cotgrave Diet, of Fr. and Eng. Tongues n.p.: Gaultiere [...] A whore, punke, drab, queane, gill, flirt, strumpet, cockatrice, mad wench, common hackney, good one. 1676 Etherege Man of Mode II I 72: An idle Town Flurt, with a painted Face. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Pantagruelian Prognostications (1927) II 693: Those

whom Venus is said to rule as punks, jilts, flirts.

■ In compounds flirt-gill (n.) {also flirt-gillian) [SE gill, a lass, a wench] a prostitute; a promiscuous woman (cf. gill-flirt n.). 1595 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet II iii: I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skainsmates. c.1607 Beaumont & Fletcher Knight of the Burning Pestle IV i: You heard him take me vp like a flirt Gill, and sing baudy songs vpon me. 1616 W. Haughton English-Men For My Money A3: And you, forsooth, you flur[t]gill, minion A brat scant folded in the dozens at most, c.1617 Fletcher Chances III i: Thou took'st me up at every word I spoke As I had been a Mawkin, a flirt Gillian. 1713 Guardian 26: We are invested with a parcel of flirt-gills, who are not capable of being mothers of brave men [F&H],

flirtina cop-all n. [play on SE flirt -f fem. sfx -ina -F COP v. (1c) -F SE all] a woman, esp. when considered 'too fond of men' (B&L). 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904

Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. flit n.^ [brandname Flit, an insect repellent spray] (US prison) prisonmade coffee. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/2: Flit. (New England prisons) Weak prison coffee. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 67: Flit also Mouthwash, Spow Old term for coffee,

1929 M. Levin Reporter 157: A dainty, pink-faced youth ]...] drifted

flit n} (SE flit, a flutter, a light movement; the stereotypical effeminacy of male homosexuals] (US) 1 (also flitty) a male homosexual.

in. His flippy way of walking reminded the reporter of Malone.

1934 G. & S. Lorimer Stag Line 171: I'd feel like a flit [...] browsing

[Ibid.] 274: She was suddenly a flouncing, flippy, free and easy girl of the city.

around the Kiddies' Korner. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 102: There was a young fellow named Oakum / Whose brags about

flit

fucking were hokum, / For he really preferred / To suck cocks and stir turd

/ He was Queen of the Flits in Hoboken. 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 149: Sometimes it was hard to believe, the people he said were flits and lesbians. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 119: Flit An effeminate male. A homosexual [...] Flitty An effeminate male. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 239: She came in [...] with a group of white waving hands and flitting voices. 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 51: I was sure that Miss Moltke would flunk me, the flit, 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet) Flit - Derogatory term for Homosexual. Term used in the 'Catcher in the Rye' by JD Salinger. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hollywood Fuck Pad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 231: We saw flits flip through The Greek Way, Greg Goes Greek [...] and The Hungest Among Us. 2 a foolish person. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 119: Flit A person who always fools

around.

flit

n.^ [SE flit, a sudden movement] (US) drunkenness. the flit again. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 215: Runt was full of flit and real sassy now. n."* see moonlight flit n. v.^ [FLIT n.^ (1)] to be a homosexual.

1986-7 Maledicta IX 177: Increasingly, the general public is hearing private language of films such as Outrageous [...] there one heard words such as [...] suck-holes, drag queens, flitting, tacky, fruits, swishing, seafood (sailors), cruise, whore (as a verb). flit see FLIP (2).

flitter

n. [d\a\. flitter, a pancake] (US) the vagina.

1610 JONSON Alchemist V ii: My fine flitter-mouse. My bird o' the night! we'll tickle it at the Pigeons.

flitter

V [dial, flitter, to fluster] (Irish) to reduce to rags and tatters, both lit. and fig., thus flitters n., bits and pieces. 1833 A, Greene Life and Adventures of Dr Dodimus Duckworth II 43: My ribs are all smashed in, and my liver torn to flitters. 1927 P. O'Donnell Islanders (1933) 133: Another summer I fished in Portnoo, I was near torn to flitters with fleas. 1987 L. Redmond Emerald Square 140: 'Wait till Linda gets yeh,' he whispered. 'An' Sis ... an' Maura ... an' Rosie ... they'll flitther yeh. An' me mother sez she'll break yer bloody face!' 1989 H. Leonard Out after Dark 91: It was common knowledge that Englishwomen, their morals in flitters from six years of war, were coming to Ireland to eat farm eggs and butter. 1991 B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 53: You can't be let out on a simple message but one of you comes back in flitters. flitty n. see flit n.^ (1).

flitty adj. (also flitting)

[flit n.^ (1)] effeminate.

1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 90: On my right there was

this very Joe Yale-looking guy, in a grey flannel suit and one of those flitty-looking tattersall vests. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 239: She came in [...] with a group of white waving hands and flitting voices. 1999 T. Doherty Pre-Code Hollywood 121: A flitty dance instructor, and a gay swimming pool attendant. 2001 S.D. Walters All the Rage 108: Jack is also perfectly integrated through his recognizability as the charming, narcissistic, witty, flitty fag next door.

flivver tons

or

n. [ety. unknown; note US Navy 1920s use, 'a destroyer of 750 less']

(US)

1 (also fliv)

a

failure,

disappointment

14: A hot rod is a hopped-up, stripped-down flivver used by teen¬ agers to terrify parents and frustrate the police. 1952 G, Meek 'Station Days in Maoriland' in Station Days in Maoriland 10: The bush road to Little Valley [...] Is to-day a spanking highway, sealed with some new patent tar, / And the flivvers scoot along it, like a frantic shooting star. 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 205: The flivver, packed with holiday gear, rattled away over the red sandhills. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonif 102: Some fliver, eh Red? 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 262: Sweet little Mexican thing with a gold tooth. Had a flivver. NDS 465.

■ In compounds flivver tramp (n.) (US tramp) a tramp who travels in an old car. 1933 J. Conroy Disinherited 242: Don't try any monkeyshines. I'm on to you flivver tramps. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 306: Flivver tramps are seldom welcomed in any town, and it had been with difficulty that they had found gas enough to get them across the Blue Mountains.

flivver

1947 B. ScHULBERG Harder They Fall (1971) 44: Danny goes back on

flit flit

float

165

or

something cheap and inferior. 1912 G.R. Chester Five Thousand an Hour Ch. vi: There's a thirty-five-

thousand-dollar day almost gone. All I can credit myself with is a flivver. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Scoffer who Fell Hard' in Ade's Fables 253: As an Exponent of the more advanced Play he was a Fliv, but as a Matchmaker he was a Hum-Dinger. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 67: Give him my regards when you get back [...] and tell him Torchy says he's a flivver. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 187: The certain Prospect of Juicy Contracts which would convert the Fliv into a Baby Doll. 1928 J, Callahan TMan's Grim Justice 284: When it came o cooking I was an awful flivver. I couldn't cook. 2 something or someone that has a negative influence on others. 1915 H.L, Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) 230: He's the human flivver. Put him in a car of dressed beef and he'd freeze it between here and Spokane. 3 (also fliv, fliver) a cheap automobile, spec, a Model T Ford, 1910 W.A. Fraser RedMeekins (1921) 22: You stick to me an' you'll be travellin' 'round the country in a flivver [OED]. 1917 W.Y. Stevenson At the Front in a Flivver [Internet] Explanatory IT WAS A 'FLIVVER'!! Just a plain 'flivver' with an ambulance body the after overhang of which gave the outfit the graceful aspect of an overfed June-bug. 1920 F.S. Fitzgerald 'The Jelly Bean' in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald V (1963) 211:1 haven't seen his silly little flivver in two weeks. 1932 A. Huxley Brave New World (1955) 45: Ford's in his flivver [...] All's well with the world. 1946 Sat. Eve. Post 14 Sept.

v. (a/so fliv) [flivver n.] 1 to fail, to falter.

1912 L.J. Vance Destroying Angel vi. 74: If the production flivvers, I'li

need that thirty cents [OED]. c.1918 'Beside a Belgium Water-Tank' in Peat & Smith Legion Airs (1932) [lyrics] 141: The motor wouldn't wrork at all, / The alerons flivvered too. 1951 Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 568: Flivved - flopped. 2 to travel by car. 1927 Bulletin 11 Apr. 14/1: I was finding the desert a bit flat when you flivvered in. 3 of a car, to go fast. 1921 Dos Passos Three Soldiers 77: The flivvers flivved all right, but the hell of it was we got so excited about the race we forgot about the sergeant an' he fell off an' nobody missed him.

Flo n. see Aunt Flo n. float n.^ [floater n.^] an

error.

1956 N. Mitford Noblesse Oblige (1980) 87: I mean slang in the sense

of a tribal patois (e.g. [...(float, a mistake),

float

n.^ [SE float, a sum of money in a shop used to provide change etc. at the start of business] a small loan. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 71: Got a mate there. He gave me a float, then I made me way to Barry's,

float v.^ 1

(US) to leave; also used passively of objects: do a float v.

1894 S. Crane in Truth (N.Y.) 21 Apr. in Stallman (1966) 33: 'Well,

let's float, then!' 'Float it is, Chauncey!' 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'One of the Lucky Ones' Sporting Times 20 Oct. 1/4: Ada found that her purse had done a float. 1935 G. Ingram Cockney Cavalcade 105: Come, on, let's 'float'. 1955 P. Rabe Benny Muscles In (2004) 250: Let's float, baby. 2 (orig. US) to wander around; to travel. 1872 S. Hale letter 9 Nov. in Atkinson Letters of Susan Hale (1919) 91: If I were alone, I should float on till a week from Tuesday and then skedaddle (I think you have this word, do you not?). 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 19: If a guy'd floated in there with one of them Clarence outfits they'd 'a' hung him across a chandelier. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 64: I don't want any neater graft than floatin' 'round them junctions, c.1906 'Sleepy' Burke Prison Gates Ajar 9:1 went to the 'timber' (country) and 'floated' to Chicago. 1937 J, Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 240: He'd float along to the Corona. 1955 'Ed Lacy' Best that Ever Did It (1957) 10: Near eleven. Guess I'll float on home. 3 (Aus.) to die. 1915 C.J. Dennis 'Uncle Jim' in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 95: First orf, one night poor Mar gits suddin fits, / An' floats wivout the time to wave 'good-byes' / Doreen is orl broke up the day she flits. 1963 R. McGregor-Hastie Compleat Migrant 106: Float, to: to die. 4 to eject, to send away. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 267: Ask me what I'm doing out after midnight, and whether I live in the town, and when I say no they float me along here. 1954 J. Steinbeck Sweet Thursday (1955) 131:1 may just call Joe Blaikey and get you floated out of town. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 159: He'd [...] float me out of the county. 5 to be drunk. 1931 D. Runyon 'Lillian' in Guys and Dolls (1956) 239: Who walks in but Wilbur Willard, and anybody can see he is just naturally floating [...] I never see Wilbur Willard mulled up more. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 42: You're plastered. I'm floating a little myself. 6 (drugs) to experience the 'other-worldliness' that can accompany the use of certain drugs, typically cannabis and the hallucinogens. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 22: He could 'lay the hip' every afternoon and float on the wings of the poppy. 1940 'Jargon of Marihuana Addicts' in AS XV:3 Oct. 337/1: to be high or floating. To be contented from the drug. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 143: Scar fed his habit and floated. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 102: Whenever they became low-spirited [...] they endeavoured to jerk themselves

float

out of it by 'getting high' or by 'getting blue', or by 'floating'. 1969 R. R. LiNGEMAN Drugs from A to Z (1970) 95: floating high or intoxicated on a drug. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 145: I was floating so high on weed. 1992 S. L. Hills Tragic Magic 3: I always tried to find that level where I could float. 2002 T. Dorsey Triggerfish Twist (2002) 87: 'How do you feel?' asked Bernie. Coleman looked slowly around the room. [...] 'floating, flying, peaking, sailing',

■ In phrases float around (v.) to wander aimlessly. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 4: W'y, out there last night I see the measliest

lot o'jays—regular Charley-boys—floatin' around with queens. 1901 J. Flynt World of Graft 113: 1 thought 't 1 could study myself best

floatin' around for a few months with the tramps,

float up see separate entries. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases float an air biscuit (v.) see air biscuit n. float one’s boat (v.) to satisfy, to be to one's liking; often as whatever floats one's boat but note set phr. whatever floats your BOAT below. 1984 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 3: float my boat - stimulate, excite: That

don't float my boat. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 181: Whatever it was that floated your boat - chow, opium, booze, pussy, dice, cards, or just plain conversation - you could get it. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Floats your boat: Makes you happy. Go ahead and do whatever floats your boat. 2005 Maida & Zimmerman 101 Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam Performance Projects 232: I'm partial to Blue Coral, Turtle wax and Dupont #7 but use whatever floats your boat. 2007 Guardian Media 18 June 3: When it comes to lunchtime, do prawns float your boat or is craysfish your dish?

pies floating in boiled peas and tomato sauce. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 25: Floater: A meat pie which has been placed in a soup-plate full of mashed, dried, blue boiler peas and then topped with bottled tomato sauce. 1987 Autocar CLXXIV 30: In the early hours of race morning Nigel Roebuck and I sampled and survived a food speciality unique to Adelaide — the 'Pie Floater'. 2002 Advertiser (Adelaide) 5 Sept, n.p,: The news that next week will be National Pie Week in response to a downturn in sales comes as a jolt. Nowhere will that jolt be felt more intensely than in Adelaide, home of that unique gourmet delight, the pie floater, beloved by connoisseurs for its assembly of the pea soup, the inverted pie and the tomato sauce. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

(e) (Aus./N.Z.) (also butterfly) in two-up, a coin that fails to spin. 1944 E. Locke From Shore to Shore 27: If they leave the ring we

bar'em; we bar the floaters, too [AND]. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 231/2: butterfly (floater) - a coin which won't spin when it's tossed. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 299: Slight shock put Gunner off his toss so that the coins drifted up sedately, not turning. 'Floater,' several voices shouted. 'Barred,' shouted the ringie. 1983 Hibberd & Hutchinson Barracker's Bible 81: In two-up, a coin which doesn't spin properly is known as a 'floater' [AND]. 2003 McGill

(f)

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

(US Und.) a stolen gun which is used in various crimes by

different criminals. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

(g) a large piece of excrement that cannot be flushed away. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1: floater [...] a turd that will not

flush away. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: floater n. 1. Scotch A turd in the pan which will not flush away. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 37: She grabbed the disintegrating furryfloater from the toilet bowl and started rubbing it in her hair. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit, 1988].

whatever floats your boat (US) a general phr. of acquiescence: whatever you like, whatever 'turns you on'. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 305: Oh, whatever floats your boat. Mama. 1999 C. Gooding Jnr in Guardian Guide 11-17 Sept. [Internet] If you were being paid to sit here and just listen to me rather than listen to me and write about it afterwards, they'd call you a psychiatrist instead of a journalist, you know? It's like, whatever floats your boat, brother. 2001 J. Baker Shooting in the Dark (2002) 277: Eat them? Wear them? Steal them? Whatever floats your boats. [2005 Mad mag. Jan. 6: [headline] Whatever Floats Your Vote.] float v.^ [note FLOAT n.^1 (US campus) to pay for, to lend money. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted I iii: I don't suppose you could have a word to Simmo and ask him if he could perhaps ... float me a bit of a loan, could you? 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Float: To lend; to pay for. floater n.^ 1 of inanimate objects, (a) a suet dumpling. [1864, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet 135: Floater, a small suet dumpling pul into soup.— Whitechapel.) 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words

floater

166

96:

Floaters:

Dumplings in a stew.

(b) the (flaccid) penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 190: Flap-doodle, doodle-flap, flapper and floater may refer to a young boy or to an old man, the one never having experienced a cock-stand and the other a matter of memory. (C) (orig. US) a dead body found floating in water. 1891 J.A. Riis How the Other Half Lives 230: 'Floaters' come ashore every now and then with pockets turned inside out, 1909 R. Service 'The Ballad of One-Eyed Mike' in Ballads of a Cheechako 51: And here I swear by this Cross I wear, I heard that 'floater' say: [.,.] 'In the grit and grime of the river's slime I am rotting at your feet.' 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 92: They worked the system out back in New York where they're all the time pulling in floaters. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 410: It's rather smell than sight that affects me personally — the floaters, the smelly ones that have been In premises for a long time, 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 24: On the counter was the Herald, open to the page with the story about the dead floater. 1993 C. Hiaasen Strip Tease 86: They knew all about [...] gunshots, accidentals and naturals. And floaters, of course. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 226: They watched the body come over the wall [...] 'A floater. They all bloat like that.' (d) (Aus./N.Z.) (also pie floater) a meat pie floating in pea soup. [1864, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet 135: Floater, a small suet dumpling put into soup.— Whitechapel.) 1915 Pepper Box Dec. 1: Say, matey, give me two pies and a floater [AND]. 1945 J. Holmes Is It Dinkum? 8: To the pie cart for a 'floater' (a plate of peas and pie) [AND]. 1968 B. McArdle Aus. Walkabout 244: More Australians nowadays would relish a weiner schnitzel than a floater — a dish consisting of a pie in a plate of pea soup. 1971 R. Whitington Sir Frank 140: A tray-mobile bearing half a dozen bowls of what were called 'floaters' — meat

(h) (N.Z.) a fried scone. 1990 postcard in DNZE (1998) 275/2: Flour [,..] Baking powder [...]

salt [...] milk [...] dripping [...] make a scone [...] fry it in dripping [...] Some people call it floaters. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

2 in fig. uses, of humans, (a) (Aus./US) a wanderer; a person of no fixed occupation, living on their wits. 1858 T.S, Woodward Reminiscences 49: He was a floater . . . but he located him a tract in the fork of Coosa and Tallapoosa. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 237: The 'rounders,' 'floaters,' 'revolvers,' as they are called, are not missed, although they may have been patrons at the same bar and in the same lodging house for years. 1917 Kansas City Star 18 Nov. n.p.: But the floater, he of the faltering feet, whatever his occupation is a 'gandy' in the North Side vernacular. 1929 T. Wolfe Look Homeward, Angel (1930) 323: 'Floaters,' young men and women of precarious means, variable lives, who slid mysteriously from cell to cell, who peopled the night with their flitting stealth. 1930 C.R. Shaw Jack-Roller 137: We took our provisions and, following the directions of a fellow-floater, we entered the 'jungle'. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 39: It seemed that about thirty days earlier some floater had been sapped to death in a room at the Laycroft Hotel, a flea-trap on West Madison Street. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/2: Floater. 1. A tramp or any petty thief who moves constantly from city to city; a vagabond. 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 138: They don't learn their jobs well. So they end up like me — a floater. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 41: Not that he was a floater, he'd stay at one place leaning on the bar, 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 10: The knockabout from the West had his curiosity aroused. 'Yeah, I'm just

a floater doing the best I can,' he said.

(b) (US) a migratory worker. 1878 J.H. Beadle Western Wilds iii 45: A man [..,] failed, lost hope, and sank into a 'floater'. 1902 F.P. Dunne Mr Dooley's Opinions 171: Down there the floater' ar-re alll mimbers iv th' Club. 1916 'A-No. 1' Snare of the Road 84: Mr Davis [...] asked that he direct other floaters as he had been directed by Arkansas Jim. 1923 N, Anderson Hobo 143: They [prostitutes] are conveniently located so that even the 'floater,' who comes to town with a few months' savings, has no trouble in finding them. 1930 G. Milburn 'The Sweet Potato Mountains' in Hobo's Hornbook ,90: Alton Slim was a floater. 1945 F.H. Hubbard Railroad Avenue 343: Floater - Same as boomer, i.e.. Drifter who went from one railroad job to another, staying but a short time. 1955 J. Morrison Black Cargo 35: Plenty of men available this morning. Over fifty gangs in, as well as hundreds of floaters. Floaters are men not attached to gangs, 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 22: A town with six hundred floaters and a normal population of less than fifty. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage 40: Floater: truck driver who does not have a steady job. 1982 in Lowenstein & Hills Under Hook 107; The wharfies vyould

accept a floater just as the boss would. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D.

floater

Brooks Legs 85: The floaters and hoine guards lived and got by in

four Chicago areas they called stems.

(c) (UK prison) an old magazine, book or newspaper that is smuggled irregularly from cell to cell. 97; It's a floater so you can sling it if you think you are going to get a turn over. 2004 (con. 1970s) N. Razor Smith A few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 203: There were also some paperbacks that were known as 'floaters' [...] You could normally tell a floater by the fact that its front cover would be missing, usually to get rid of a lurid picture. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights

(d)

(gay) a homosexual prostitute who works only in towns where he is unknown and in which he does not live.

G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: floater (n.): A male transient who prostitutes himself to homosexuals, some of whom will seek out only this type of trade so as to minimize the danger to themselves through gossip or exposure. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 83: floater 1. (fr hobo si = migratory worker) transient hustler [...] 3. male who prostitutes himself as he travels across the country. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 146: Many of his [i.e. G. Legman's] other terms (boy or come-on boy, peg house and show house, 1941

dick-peddler, floater, handgig, live one, muscle in, trade)

prove he used to know the words and music of gay prostitute slang but is now out of date.

(e)

a prisoner on a short-term sentence.

B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water 4: It didn't seem to be the guys with big bits, though, it was the floaters, the guys with thirty and sixty days. 1974

floater

lorig. Oxbridge use; ? corruption of Fr./SE faux pas as 'foper', thence 'floater'; SE float, to circulate a rumour] an error, a faux pas.

A. Lunn Harrovians 78: It is only when he reaches the university that he realizes that such banter is often a 'floater'. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 1: I see that I have made the second of these two floaters. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 72: She will be warned against making any floaters. 1967 W. Murray Sweet Ride 54: His serve was a floater. 1971 Wodehouse Much Obliged, Jeeves 97: His agony on finding that he has at last made a floater will be frightful. 2003 G. Dyus Jigajig 58: A vague sense of uneasiness came over him as he scoured his mind for a recollection of having made a floater but nothing came to him. 1913

floater

flog

167

n.^ [float v. ' (1)1 (US) Ian official order to leave a town or

district. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocah. Criminal SI. 34: floater [...] a mandatory order to quit a community or locality. 1927 H. Yenne 'Prison Lingo' in AS 11:6 280: One of the 'jokers' (men) had just 'got the floater' (order to leave the city within forty-eight hours). 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 306: They would be lucky to leave the valley with fifteen dollars. This, they hoped, would get them to Denver, where, if they couldn't find work they might at least get a 'floater' into Kansas. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 177: When I got a floater out of the state I planned to ride as far as El Paso. 1954 J. Steinbeck Sweet Thursday (1955) 21: Joseph and Mary was given a floater so strongly worded that it singed his eyelashes. The police even bought him a bus ticket.

2 a sentence suspended on condition that the offender leaves the area.

& Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 34: floater [,..] A suspended sentence. 1923 'Gila Monster Route' in N. Anderson Hobo 195: But the John had a bundle, the worker's plea, / So he gave him a floater and set him free. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 65: I was just after gettin' a six months' floater out of Denver. 1931-4 D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 332/1: floater, n. A release from jail with admonition to leave town immediately. 1937 (con. 190525) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (T956) 100: The copper agreed to give him a floater (out-of-state probation) for $50. 1967 in J.P. Spradley You Owe Yourself a Drunk (1988) 36: Next time I took a floater, 90 days suspended. 1971 N. Cassady First Third 67: Father was released on a 'floater'. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 251: The police had given him a 'floater.' They told him to permanently vacate Denver or they were going to bury him in prison or a grave. flOStinQ aesdGmy n. [SE floating + academy n. (4); run-down or 1914 Jackson

part-derelict ships, no longer seaworthy, were recycled as prison ships, moored in the Thames estuary] the prison hulks. 1781 G. Parker View of Society

II 141: The Floating Academy. This is a

new insititution. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: The floating academy, the lighters on board of which those persons are confined, who by a late regulation are condemned to hard labour, instead of transportation. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 212: You see the floating academy as is kept a purpose for 'em, said he, pointing to the receiving hulk for the convicts. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 140: Many of them [i.e. convicts] [...] had spent a few years on

board of the floating academy. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. floating boat n. (? resemblance] (W./.) cooked breadfruit. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). floating bullet n. [? resemblance] (W.i.) a large, spherical cooked breadfruit. 1943, 1956, 1962 cited

in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

floating buoy n.

[? resemblance] (W.I.) a dumpling made of flour and baking soda; it rises to the surface when cooking. 1956 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

float-up n.

[FLOAT UP V.] (N.Z.) a casual approach to someone.

(1984) 408/1: NZ: C.20. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1: float up casual approach, unexpected arrival or departure. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE

float up

V. [FLOAT V.’ (2)1 (N.Z.) to approach casually, to stroll up,

(Christchurch) (McNab Slang) 2 Apr. 18: 'ducks' break¬ fast,' 'to float up to,' 'to blow up to,' 'to sleep in the Star Hotel' need no explanation [DNZE], flob n. (FLOB V.] (UK juv.) saliva, phlegm, in the context of spitting. 1998 B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 64: Before you can flob, you gotta suck in, you can only get flob from your lungs, and you can't get real flob unless you smoke properly. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. (Internet] flob n. saliva, flob V. [note Yorks, dial, flob, to puff, to cause to swell, i.e. the puffing of the cheeks that accompanies the action of spitting] (mainly juv.) 1 to spit. 1977 New Society 6 Oct, in DSUE (1984). 1998 B, Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 55: It was Maurice who taught Thomas to flob. [Ibid.] 64: 'Flob', said Maurice. 'Flob in the fire.' A demonstration plug of sputum left his lips at high velocity. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] flob v. [...] to spit. 1938 Press

2 to vomit. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 136: You didn't flob your gob last night. flock n. (US) those women currently working for a pimp. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. flock of sparrows flying out of one’s backside phr. see under sparrow n. flog V. 1 (UK Und.) to whip [SE from 1800], 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Flog c. to Whip. Flog'd, c. severely Lasht. Flog'd at the Tumbler, c. Whipt at the Cart's Arse. Flogging, c. a Naked Woman's whipping (with Rods) an Old (usually) and (sometimes) a Young Lecher, As

the Prancer drew the Queer Cove, at the cropping of the Rotan, the Rum Pads of the Rum vile, and was Flogg'd by the Rum Cove, c. the Rogue

was dragg'd at the Cart's tail through the chief Streets of London, and was soundly Whipt by the Hangman. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 194: The Prancer drew the Quere Cove at the cropping of the Rottam through the Rum pads of the Rum-vill, and was flogg'd by the Nubbing-cove. [The Rogue was dragged at the Cart's Arse through the chief Streets oi London, and whipp'd by the Hangman]. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 206: Flog, to whip. Flogging cove, the beadle, or whippet in Bridewell. Flogging-stake, the whipping post. Flogged at the tumbler, i.e., whipped at the cart's tail. As the prancer drew the queer cove, at the cropping of tJie rotan, the rum pads of the Rumvile, and was flogged by the rum-cove, i.e., the rogue was dragged at the cart's tail through the

chief streets of London and was soundly whipped by the hangman. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 2 to have sexual intercourse.

'The Masquerade Ball' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) III 235: O! a Masquerade's a fine Place, / For Carriers that love C.1720

Jogging: / And shou'd they meet a Milk maid, / They wou'd not fail of Flogging. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 112: Action packed - with me flogging Toby's honey-pot. 3 to proceed by violent or painful effort; usu. referring to passage on foot.

1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 270: Our trio flogged with might and main. 1921 Ne^Q 12 Ser. IX 346: Flog it. Walk it. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 96; Flog. To: [...] To walk; go on foot. 4 to beat, to surpass. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 81: Flog (v.) — to excel, to beat a person without resistance: 'I can't fight [scientifically] but I won't be flogged.' — 'Veil, so help me Deborah, if that there does not //og all as ever I know'd.' 1843 St Clair Banner 12 Dec. 1/3: Dog my cats, if I can't flog any man on that boat, for fist fight or for rough and tumble! [DA]. 1879 C.J. Kickham Knocknagow 309: That flogs all! 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 96: Flog, To: [...] To beat any one down or 'do' him. 5 (UK Und,) to drink heavily; thus flogger, a heavy drinker.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 107/2: Then wine was

gone up, but the 'alf-an'-'alf, and porter! Heavens! what a quantity was punished, and foremost in the doggers of the 'heavy' stood

1942 P. Larkin letter 12 Aug. in Thwaite Set. Letters (1992) 42: These

days are unbearably dull [...] My flogging chart reads 2:3. [footnote: 'Record of masturbation']. a.1968 'School Ma'am on the Flat' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 54: He knew he'd have to marry her if he opened up her flue, / If John Henry gets to raring up, he will flog him with his hat / Before he goes a-courting another school ma'am on the flat. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 32: There was Bubba [...] staring at some lovelies on the beach for inspiration—and flogging away. 1981 W. Boyd 'Hardly Ever' in On the Yankee Station (1982) 44: 'What's a flogger?' Holland's girl asked. Panton was doubled up with mirth. [Ibid.] 46: 'Okay, folks,' came a voice. 'Stop flogging, here's Niles.’ 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Flog. 2. To masturbate. 2003 McGill Reed Did. of N.Z. SI. 7 (Aus.) to worry. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: flog — To worry; express or feel keenly; contrition or chagrin. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 96: Flog. To: [...] To worry. 8 (a/so flog off) to sell, currently non-specific, but orig. with criminal overtones. 1919 War Terms in Athenaeum 1 Aug. 695/2: 'Flogging', the illegal disposal of Army goods [OED]. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: flog. [...] to sell an article. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 95: Scaley could not pretend to have flogged the stuff for less than he had got. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 65: Standard technique is to flog the old 'spiel' about 'Daddy having been in the Indian Army'. 1959 F. Norman Fings I i: When I flogged that load of army gear, to Duke Sullivan. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 125: We are three spivs of Trafalgar Square / Flogging nylons tuppence a pair. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 19: Two years in Spain flogging hot tape-recorders. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 415: The austere peer had given a lunch for Lopwitz [...] in the hope of having him flog a lot of 'creatively structured' Daily Courier stock. 1990 (con. c.1970) G. Hasford Phantom Blooper 30: You can sell fake NVA flags and chrome-plated shrapnel and you can flog off photographs of AnnMargret's crotch in tight yellow capri pants. 2005 Argus Article 13 Sept. [Internet] At the moment space is at a premium so they are trying to flog a load of overhead projectors on eBay. 9 (US) to hurry; thus flog it. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 78: They usually hop in Big Ed's Firestream Two, his six-seater jet, and flog it in on Saturday night and then flog it back to Fort Worth on Sunday.

Und.) to beat up.

1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Flog. 1. To

beat mercilessly, usually with fists, and not with a whip as literally implied. 2001 (con. 1945-6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 60: I can probably persuade the mob from the Glengarry Castle not to flog you. 11 of an idea, a complaint, to belabour. 1991 M.B, 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 119: I have told Slim that nothing is more boring than people forever flogging the not guilty line: 'I didn't do it. I'm not guilty' [...] and so forth. ■

In phrases

punishment. 16: One whereof was so severely (flaugg'd at the Tumbler) whipt at the Carts-arse for several mis-demeaners. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flog'd at the Tumbler, c. Whip! at the Cart's Arse. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Flighway-men. etc. (1926) 206: Flogg'd at the Tumbler, i.e. whipt at the Cart's Tail. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c, 1698]. 1

(N.Z.) to leave.

1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 91: Was gonna give him a buncha

McGill

go flog yourself! see co fuck yourself! under fuck v. flogged adj. [fig. use flog v. (1)11 (US drugs) overcome by a drug. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins

Traffic In Narcotics 308: flogged. Under the influence of drugs.

2 exhausted. 1961 K. Williams Diaries 11 Mar. 170:1 have no enthusiasm left [...] Both Sheila and I are flogged. My voice almost gone in 2nd house. 1979 J. MORROW Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 143: A pot-addled car

nut who had never before trod the pedal of anything more nippy than a flogged-out Cortina,

flogger n. [flog v. (1)11 (UK Und.) a whip. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 43: A Flogger; a Whip. 1781 G. Parker View of Society II 174: A highwayman will ding his UpperBenjamin, his Jazey, his Sticks, his Flogger, his Diggers, his BeaterCases, &c. and having all these on him when he committed the robbery, is totally transformed by dinging. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 40: FLOGGER, a whip. Obsolete. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1873 SI. Diet. 1908 G. Seagram Bushman All 256: If we are goin' to yard the niggers in the Tooramurra Hole, we must have whips [...] how could we cut

out the blacks without floggers?

2 (Aus.) (also flogger coat, flogger tail) a morning coat [fig. use of sense 1: like a whip, esp. a cat-o-nine-tails, it has 'tails']. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jan. 13/2: And list, don't wear top hat or

'flogger,' / They won't stand that in Footscray, Mogger / You'd shut up pubs if they allowed yer, / And banish barmaids, Mr. Mowjer. 1906 E. Dyson Faa'ry 'Ands 185: Mills had been seen at large in a flogger coat, and wearing a turn-over collar five inches high. 1911 E. Dyson 'Nicholas Don and the Meek Almira' in Benno and Some of the Push 23: Then the first voice again, pleadingly: 'Nickie, where did you get them round-the-'ouses?' "N' that flogger?' "N' that little dickie-dirt?' 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Aug. 11/2: I was interrupted by the arrival of a perfect stranger in a flogger coat, top hat, spats and other things. 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 16: Little Tich [...] unrecognizable in a black flogger-tail coat, grey trousers, pointed shoes.

3 (Aus.lUS) an overcoat [fig. use of sense 1: like a whip, esp. a cat-o-ninetails, it has 'tails']. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Flogger. An overcoat. 1915 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 36: What was the matter with the flogger? 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: Flogger. Overcoat. Flogger stiff - overcoat thief. 1925 G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 290: He slept with his 'blinkin' flogger' over his head. 1931 C.S. Montanye 'Tight Spot' in Complete Stories 15 Sept. [Internet] 'Get your skimmer and flogger,' the man growled [...] the Kid smiled. 'Pardon me while I get my coat and hat.' 1931 D. Runyon 'Broadway Financier' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 210: She has enough fur coats [...] including a chinchilla flogger. 1949 Monte¬ leone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/1: Flogger.

An overcoat. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flogging Defini¬

tion: lying, acting crazy. Example: Nigga you must be floggin '.

1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn)

five but

1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 42:1 napt the Flog at the Tumbler; /

was whipt at the Cart's Tail.

flogging n. [? ext. use of flog v. (6)] (US black) acting eccentrically.

flogged at the tumbler whipped at the cart's end, a judicial

flog off (v.)

nap the flog (v.) (UK Und.) to receive a judicial flogging.

m In exclamations

George Bull.

6 to masturbate; thus flogger, a masturbator.

10 (Aus.

flogging-cove

168

flogged

I flogged off instead. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 2003

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

2 see sense 8 above. flog one’s/the... (v.) see also under relevant n. flog the (finless) dolphin (v.) (also swing the dolphin) (orig. naut.) to masturbate. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 55: Lofty was being charged with blanket

drill. 'Swinging the dolphin' Sailor called it with a lapse into seafaring. 1997-2002 Good 2 Go Entertainment LLC 'my best friend tim or should I say his mom' at MyFirstTime.com [Internet] She sat down across from me and you could see her vagina and it was so beautiful I wanted to flog the dolphin right there.

flogging adj. (Aus.) a euph. for fucking adj. 1955 D. Niland Shiralee 122: Gripes, this floggin' rain'd make you

cry, wouldn't it?

flogging-cheat n. [flog v. (1) -f cheat n. (1)] (UK Und.) a whipping post. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar’s-French Diet.

flogging-cove n. (also flogging-cull) [flog v. (1) -t- cove n. (1)/ n.^ (4)1 one who gives out corporal punishment as authorized by the courts; often synon. with a beadle.

CULL

1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 173: Flogging Cove The whipper

of Bridewell, or any other that whips people, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flogging-cove, c. the Beadle or Whipper in Bridewell, or any such place. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) [as cit. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 113: Beadle A floging Cull. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 15: A Beadle - Flogging-Cove. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flogging cove, the beadle, or whipper, in Bridewell, 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 .Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

flogging cully

floozy

169

flogging cully n. {also flogging cull) (flog v. (1) + cully n.’ (1)/ CULL n. (1)1 one who enjoys receiving a whipping as sexual stimulation. 1673 Head Canting Academy 148: Not only the Bleeding-Cully, but the Ruff-Cully, the Dark-Cully, the Flogging-Cully, and the Fencing-Gully. 1698 N. Ward London Spy II 33: That Sober seeming Saint [...] is one of that Classis in the Black-School of Sodomy, who are call'd by Learned Students in the Science of Debauchery. FloggingCullies. This Unnatural Beast gives Money to these Strumpets which you see and they down with his Breeches and Scourge his Privities till they have laid his Leachery. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: floggingCully an old Letcher, who, to stimulate himself to Venery, causes himself to be Whipp'd with Rods. 1728 W. Pattison 'Kundumogenia' in Poetical Works 95: Wretches, with Passions gross, and dull. By Jilts, and Bawds term'd Flogging-Cull. Machine 11: With Birchen Rod, vile, filthy, flogging Cull. 1766 Midnight Spy 122: [Those] who by

1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 162: Whereas if I answered you, 'On the floor!' an' pulled a face like a farden kite, you'd all ha' groaned in symperfy. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 61: If you're on the floor, come to me and you're always sure of a ten-pound note. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 104: 'I'm on the floor,' he says. 'Out of work.' 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 168: You told me yourself the geezer was on the floor. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 2\A\ He was dead skint and on the floor. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1980 (con. 1930s) Barltrop 8- Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 18: A hard-up person is [...] 'on the floor'. 1992 in R. Graef Living Dangerously 110: If it weren't for his parents he'd be on the floor. 2002 M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 13: I'm gonna bring some great news for all the onthe-floor.

floor

V. [pressing the accelerator pedal down to the floor) 1 (orig. US) to accelerate, to drive extremely fast, 1954 Mansell & Hall 'Hot Rod Terms' in A5 XXIX:2 96: Floor it!

proficients in the science of debauchery, are termed flogging cullies. 1773 Harris's List of Covent-Garden Ladies 143: He is well known for the flogging cull. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Flogging cully, a debilitated lecher (commonly an old one) whose torpid powers require stimulating with a rod. One who hires girls to flog him on the posteriors, in order to procure an erection. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 81: A flogging cull — an old lecher, not often heard of.

v.phr. 'Step on it.' 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 129: 1 swung a left at Merced and floored it for a long roller-coaster-run through the foothills. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 65:1 floored the gas and we tore out of there. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 351: Murphy floored the gas pedal. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 94: I'm floorin' it down the Harrow Road. 2 (US) in fig, use of sense 1, to hurry, to get a move on. 1978 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: floor it - get moving or speed up. Well you'd better floor it if you are going to go this weekend,

flogster n. [flog v. (1) -f sfx -sterj one who enjoys flagellation for

floored adj. [SE colloq. //oor, to drink alcohol with intensity! very drunk.

sexual purposes. 1873 SI. Diet. 165: Flogster one addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers 'Prince William Henry flogster.'

flokess

V. (? link to HOCUS V. unconsciousness.

(1)1 (UK Und.) to drug into

floorer n. [SE floor, to knock down] (UK Und.) a judge in the act of

1846 Swell's Night Guide 57: She flokessed his nibs, and hooked it off to his crib, unscrewed the drum, made the lob and scarpered,

flood V. (US black) 1 to have a menstrual period. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 148: One says, 'I'm havin' me period!' Whereupon the other says, 'I'm bloody floodin' 'ere!'

2 to have an erection, for the penis to 'flood' with blood. 1980 E.

Folb

Runnin' Down Some Lines 237: flood Have an erection,

flood-pants n. [such trousers are ideal for walking through a flood - the legs are too short to get wet] (orig. W.l.) trousers that are too short and

passing the sentence of death. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

m In phrases old floorer (n.) [fig. use of SE floorer, i.e. he 'knocks you down'] a fig. name for death. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

floosie/floosy see under floozy. flooze n. see floozy n. flooze up V. [? euph. FUCK UP V. (1)| (US)

to make a mess, to

bungle.

narrow. 2003 Kansan.com 18 Apr. [Internet] Quillin said capris pants were finally exiting in lieu of flood pants that cut off two inches above the ankle.

flooey! exc/. (orig. US) an echoic excl. designed to resemble the sound of an explosion. 1917 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 37: And I tried to get under it and flooey — I didn't. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 270: I took aim at a tree about a mile away, set myself, and - flooey. I don't even get a foul! 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. ■ In phrases flooey in the filbert (adj.) eccentric, unbalanced. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Intermittent Fusser' in Ade's Fables 59: He was on the waiting list for the Nut Club. Our Old Friend was flooey in the Filbert,

go flooey (v.) (US) to go wrong. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1927 (con. 1914-18) L. Nason Three Lights from a Match 162: I seen it go flooey off the road while I was duckin' fer that shell. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 568: He'd like to have seen Martin get wise before [...] his heart had gone flooey on him!

floor n. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

floorburners (n.) (US black) shoes. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: floorburners n. shoes; footwear.

floor-polish (n.) see shoe-polish under m In phrases dust the floor with (v.) see dust v\ on the floor 1 drunk.

polish

n.

1900 Sporting Times 12 May 2/1: Twenty-four hours after the firstnamed had ridden Leamington to victory, the two were 'on the floor,' stretched senseless on the sward.

2 beaten. 1937 R.

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1834 'The Corinthian's Diary' Museum of Mirth 59/2: Sunday got floored in groggy plight. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 225: Our tippler may further be [...(floored. 1943 J.A.W. Bennett 'Eng. as it is Spoken in N.Z,' in AS XVIII:2 Apr. 89: A thoroughly drunk man is stonkered, floored, stunned.

Westerby

Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 202: It's licked you,

Jim, You're on the floor. 3 poor; thus also as n. in cit. 2002 |rhy. si.].

1933 W. WiNCHELL in Havana Eve. Telegram 23 May 2/2: 'Say,' he began, 'when I was in my prime I only done big tings. Only once did I flooze it up.'

floozled adj. drunk. 1999 J. Poller Reach 110: 'Bloody good stuff,' says Judy, already floozled.

floozy n. (also flewzle, floosie, flooze, fluesy, flusie, fluzie, fluzy) (dial, floosy, flossy; thus soft. Note Irish Floozie in the Jacuzzi, the monument in O'Connell Street, Dublin, representing the spirit of the River Liffeyi (orig. US) a promiscuous young woman; also of homosexual men. 1902 T.A, Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 37: Here comes a couple o dem wise flusies. 1909 C.B. Chrysler White Slavery 30: Tell that floosie to cut out that yelping. 1911 L. Pound 'A Second WordList From Nebraska' in DN llLvii 543: floozy, n. [...] A young woman to whom attention is paid. 'John took his floozy to the baseball game.' A term sometimes used of waitresses, or shopgirls, 'From which floozy did you get that?' 1913 B.T. Harvey 'Word-List From The Northwest' in DN IV:i 28: tommy, n. A girl. Also called [...[fluzy. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 36: fluzie [...] Current in the cosmopolitan demi-monde. A woman; a question¬ able female character. 1920 C. Sandburg 'Honky Tonk in Cleveland, Ohio' Smoke and Steel 33: Ship riveters talk with their feet / To the feet of floozies under the tables. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 18: fluzie. A daughter of joy, a prostitute. 1927 (con. 1917) J. Stevens Mattock 187: Hard was swearing like fury at 'the infernal war babies, the he-fluesy ninety-day wonders, such rotten officers they would even Jim up service records'. 1934 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana 181: Synonyms for male homosexuality [...] Fairy, pansy, queen, floosie, cock-socker, gobbler, queerie, dickie-licker, femmie, Nancy, fruit, lapper. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 996: If she ever let Mr. A out of her sight [.,.] some little floosey or other would get hold of him. 1937 J. Tully Bruiser 170: There's more floozies in this town than cattle in the stockyard. 1938 E. Hoffman Price 'Revolt of the Damned' in Double-Action Gang June [Internet] Worley was worried. Rod and his flewzies.... [Ibid,] When that Slavonian flewzie got patched together, [etc.]. 1940 S. Lister Mistral Hotel (1951) 50: I named the same old martini [...] after about a dozen floosies. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues

floozy

183: They were all wobbling around the floor with their floozies, so drunk they could hardly stand. 1956 R. Service 'Local Lad' in Rhymes for Reality (1965) 213: With floozies, fine food, bubbly drink, / He'll go to hell 1 think. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 123: A certain Harry Tidder—offspring of a flighty French floosie named Katherine. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 106: The words 'limbo', 'chick', 'floozy', 'molT and 'ploot' are different names for a girl. 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 89: A road-floosie stood drinking, eyes rimmed dark and short shaggy hair. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonif 75: The Blue Goose which catered to hoods, gun-men, box-men, gamblers, floozies and even a few society girls. 1980 (con. 1940s) O. Manning Sum of Things 415: And have some Levantine floosie snap him up? 1989 A. Higgins 'The Bird 1 Fancied' in Helsinger Station and Other Departures 128: Jack [...] preferred to sit at the counter with his floozies around him. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 80: They were complete selfish assholes who didn't give a shit about anything other than [...] emptyin' their testes into the first shallow flooze who stumbled into their double vision. 1994 F. Mac Anna Ship Inspector 112: You're the bitch whose husband ran off with a floosie. 1999 Guardian Guide 22-28 May 55: Marilyn Monroe, a floozy who with young stud Richard Allen plots to murder her husband. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hot-Prowl Rape-0' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 258: He was tenderly tended by [...] Megan More, cable-flick floozy supreme. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 175: 1 kept this floozy in Brooklyn. Regular tiger in the sack,

floozy adj. (also floosie, floosy) [floozy n.] 1 (US) showy, stylish. 1911 L. Pound 'A Second Word-List From Nebraska' in DNllLvii 543: floozy, adj. 'Flossy,' or 'sporty.' [...] 'What a floozy hat.' 1928 Hecht

Er

flop

170

MacArthur

Front Page Act 1: How long do you think you'll last in

that floosie job? 2 (US) over-dressed, over-made-up. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 111: You'll [...] pick up VD from some floozy greek temptress.

3 (US) silly or light-headed. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 470: Ratty, jailbird types, if male, and

floozy, empty shits, if the other sex.

4 (US Und.) immoral, corrupt, dissipated. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison Si. 1969 L. Hadow Full Cycle 179: Ma

taken the lid off Eastern glamour. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 161: His play was a terrible flop, thumbs down from every newspaper in town. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 73: We were an absolute flop. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 250: The bottle of porno passed through the dust to settle the crime buzz and the crime flop. 1992 D. Jarman diary 1 Aug. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 182: One box office flop and your company is bankrupt. 2004 J.J. Fox How to Make Big Money in Your Own Small Business 63: The product was launched at $1.99 and was a complete flop.

2 a fat, ungainly, slovenly person, esp. a woman. 1909 H.G. Wells Tono-Bungay II 171: All the little, soft feminine

hands, the nervous ugly males, the hands of the flops, and the hands of the snatchers! 1923 Herald (Glasgow) 12 Dec. 10: If that little flop ... believes he can play fast and loose with the moral consciousness of this nation [OED]. 1936 F. O'Connor Bones of Contention

70:

She was a great flop of a woman [OED].

3 (US Und.) an arrest. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Flop. An arrest. 1916 J. Lait

'Canada Kid' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 153: I was pretty near thirteen before I takes my firs' flop. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 404: To take a flop - to get arrested. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/1: Flop [...] An arrest. 'Tony the Junker took a flop on a dead-banger (red-handed).'

4

a dull, unpleasant person, a misfit, a failure. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 237: I couldn't of been such a flop

or they'd never take a chance like that on nothing but my word. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 586: If he hadn't been such a damn tongue-tied flop with shaking knees. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 226: The old lags are the flops and 'has-beens' of the rackets. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 50: He was a miserable flop. 1969 P. Theroux Murder in Mount Holly (1999) 19: Two voices - one from the radio, one from the seat next to him - sassed him, told him he was a useless old fool, a flop. 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 105: It [i.e. a school] turned out flops, would-be revolutionaries, drug addicts and trendies by the score.

5 (US prison) the rejection of one's application for parole.

handled the front bar and the floosy barmaid flirted with the bank

1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 4111: Flop, parole board not acting on

clerk in the saloon. 5 (US campus) sexy. 1976 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2: floozy - sexy. That blond in the low cut

application (prison). 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 183: The parole board had given flop, but that didn't make any difference. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse

blouse sure looks floozy.

flop n.^ [SE flop, i.e. one fig. lets something fall on the person one is cheating] (orig. US campus) any action by which someone else is deceived. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 204: flop. [...] Any 'cute' performance by which a man is sold [deceived] is a good flop. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 35: flop [...] used by short changers as a synonym of 'flim'.

flop

(Ware notes the synon. cretin and poodle style] 1 a male hairstyle, in which the hair is worn low over the brow. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 3/2: The younger costers wear rival forehead tufts - such as the Quiff, the Guiver, or the Flop. There is, however, one golden rule for these fashions - the hair must stop short of the eyelids. 2 a similar female hairstyle. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 134/2: Flop (Low Land., 1881). When the lower classes of women adopted the 'cretin' or 'poodle' style of wearing the hair low down over the forehead, they gave it this name.

flop n.^ labbr. SE flip-flop] (US) a sudden political change of policy. 1880 N.Y. World 22 Nov. 5/1: Mr. Skinner's apparent flop on the

railroad question is injuring his chances in the Speakership struggle. 1904 Springfield (MA) Weekly Republican 7 Oct. 2: That a flop by the most militant of the unionists is under contemplation has been denied. 1911 H.S. Harrison Queed 230: So ran the editorial, which was offensively headed 'West's Fatal Flop'. 1929 Collier's 5 Jan. 41/1: It was basically a 'flop'.

flop

1 a failure, esp. of a film or stage play; also attrib.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1920 R. Lardner Big

Town2\7:1 got a flop on my hands unlest I can get a couple of ideas. 1929 F. Borden 'Guns of Gangland' in Gangster Stories Dec. [Internet]

Not that his act is any good—the kid is a worse flop each night. 1934 J.M. Cain Postman Always Rings Twice (1985) 61: It was the worst flop of a home-coming you ever saw in your life. 1947 A. Baer in Waterloo (lA) Daily Courier 19 Jan. 35/1: A refill in a Brooklyn movier theater who went in to take the place of a flop orchestra. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 242: Why are you [...] afraid to try anything better than you're doing — for fear you'll be a flop? 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 19: That Mystery of the Orient line had been a bit of a flop since the Jap war had

Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

6 (UK Und.) anywhere used for the division of criminal spoils. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 172: At the flop, when they counted

the take, it came to just over £7,000. [Ibid.] 205: £3000 in loose change that nobody even wanted to pick off the carpet of the flop.

flop n.^ [SE//op, to fall down in a heapl 1 (US) a sleep. 1916 J. Lait 'Omaha Slim' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 110: A dime for a flop on de kip. 1923 'Gila Monster Route' in N. Anderson Hobo 195: They took a flop with their hides plumb full. 1925 J. Stevens 'Logger Talk' in AS 1:3 138: After a 'flop' on his bunk the logger 'lets

'er settle'.

2 (US) a cheap room or bed. 1910 D. Ranney Autobiog. 70: You can get a bed in a lodging-house for ten cents, or if you have only seven cents you can get a 'flop' [OED]. 1916 'A-No. r Snare of the Road 101: I had vainly tried to scare up the price of a Bowery flop. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 104: They made their headquarters at the various apartment houses and rooming houses where the leading spirits maintained their 'flops' (a flop is a place in which to sleep). 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 220: The things they do, for a square meal and a flop. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 175: Whisky for fifteen cents, love for a dollar and a five-cent flop. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 68: 'What's the accomodation?' 'One meal, one flop, one shower apiece.' 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 79: She fell in the nearest bar and stayed until another offer of a flop was made. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 85: He looked around the cheap room.'Not too bad. Most of these flops don't even have a

carpet.' 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Russian Blackie' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 102: He as a good spender and one always ate - and got a flop. 1990 (pon. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 159: A typical bachelor flop: living room/bedroom combo, bathroom, kitchenette. 1999 J. Ellroy 'My Life as a Creep' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 126: I rented a cheap flop in Hollywood.

3 (US Und.) a legless beggar. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 446: Flop, a legless beggar. 1931

Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 77: FLOPS.-Legless beggars, and used in the singular or plural as indicated.

4 (US) an act of sexual intercourse. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 44: You get a hideful o' scat once

in a while an' a flop with some old haybag. 1952 I, Mobster 8: The

flop

poor broken-down whores that hung out on the corner [...] looking to make four bits for a flop. 5 a blow. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 119: Whoever took a flop at me with that club was pullin' his weight all right.

6 (US) a seat. 2000 (con.

flop

171

1940s-60s)

Decharne

Straight from the Fridge Dad 76:

Grab a flop Sit down, have a chair.

7 (US) a drunk who has passed out and as such is a possible victim for a robber. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 44: A sleeping lush - known as a

'flop' in the trade - attracts a hierarchy of scavengers. 8 (US prison) one's last morning in jail. 1950 Goldin et al, DAUL 72/1: Flop, n. [...] 3. (P) The last night of a

prison sentence, 'Two (days) and a flop and I hit the street (go free).' 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 30: Wake Up An inmate's last morning in prison [...] (Archaic: flop, roll-over). 9 (UK Und.) anywhere a thief or gang can leave the loot so as to avoid detection during the immediate aftermath of a crime. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Flops Houses or garages where escaping thieves can safely offload weapons, implements or stolen property, thus leaving their own homes free of incriminating articles. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 5: By the time we reached the flop, 1 was feeling the come-down. 10 see FLOPHOUSE n.

m Derivatives floperoo (n.) [-eroo sfx] (orig. US) an extreme failure, esp. in a show business context. 1933 Hecht & Fowler Great Magoo 138: This town is baggy at the

knees with floperoos. 1946 T, Thursday 'Raw, Medium, and Well Done' In Blue Ribbon Western June [Internet] The meeting is a floperoo, meaning no dice. 2000 Guardian 25 Sept. [Internet] So sorry about the dome. It was, after all, a bit of a disaster. [...] So sorry about the Millennium Commission, guardians of this floperoo, choosers of the site, masters of doomed revels.

■ In compounds flop-and-slop (n.) [slop n.^ (1e)| a hostel, a cheap lodging. 1999 Indep. Rev. 25 June 6: They travelled around the country from

one flop-and-slop to another.

flop dough (n.) [dough n. (1)] (US Und.) money set aside for lodging.

T. Berger Sneaky People (1980) 184: Recalling Ralph's walking through the cowflop. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio 13th Valley (1983) 391: My toes get colder en yesterdays cow flop. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 33: Couldn't be no worse'n cowflops an scrap iron. 2005 E.H. Peterson Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places 134: We used the dried cowflop for bases in our ball games. 2 in fig. use, nonsense. 1987 S. Haden Elgin Earthsong (2002) 75: For our elitism, and our selfishness, and our shameful wealth, and our hoarded secrets—all of which is the most utter cowflop.

flop, the n. (also flop game) [flop

v.

(7)1 (US Und.) a form of

confidence trick. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 420: Swindle game - scheme

operated by a swindler [...] trimmer and crimp games, flop game. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 297: The flop. A short-con racket sometimes worked by con men when they are short of money. Also the hype, the sting. Not to be confused with the slide, the push and the boodle, which [...] are restricted largely to short-con workers and circus grifters.

flop V. 1 (US campus) to cheat in an examination, esp. by faking sickness. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 204: flop. [...] A man writes

cards during examinations to 'feeze the profs'; said cards are 'gumming cards', and he flops the examination if he gets a good mark by the means. One usually flops his marks by feigning sickness. 2 to hit. 1844 J.C. Neal Peter Ploddy and Other Oddities 159: She 'flopped' her little husband [...] with a shovel applied in its latitude, 'broadside on'. 1908 Sporting Times 13 June 1/5: He shot out a straight right an' flops it on the governor's smeller, an' I give you my word his boko bled for over ten minutes. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.l.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: flop. To hit or strike. 'To flop him one.'

3 (US) to knock down an opponent; also in fig. use. 1887 in G.D. Atkin Flouse Scraps 173: Last week a tip they set afloat, / That over fifteen topped 'em, / But Rothschild's welcome little note / Soon back to fourteen flopped 'em. 1911 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 37: (Sailor Burke Has Made Good) Didn't the sailor flop him on two separate occasions? 4 to fall asleep, to go to bed.

1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev.

1907 J. London Road 74: I had a 'hunch' that Niagara Falls was a

edn).

'bad' town for hoboes, and I headed out into the country. I climbed a fence and 'flopped' in a field. 1917 Van Loan 'By a Hair' in Old Man Curry 78: I [...] wish yo' hadn't invited him to do his floppin' in yo' tack-room. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 42: Ought to be up early huntin' for scoffin's, 'stead of floppin' like he never slept for a week. 1930 G. Milburn 'The Dealer Gets It All' in Hobo's Hornbook 149: Yes, I've alkeed up in jungles, and I've flopped in new mown hay. 1941 F. Sargeson 'That Summer' in Coll. Stories (1965) 209: I wouldn't have minded flopping in the park with the weather so good. 1959 A. ZuGSMiTH Beat Generation 121: Living from hand to mouth, wherever there's a crummy bed or a floor to flop on. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 81:1 was just looking for you, and you weren't flopped. 1970 D. Ponicsan Last Detail 91: We got no place to flop tonight. Could you give us a floor? 1989 M. Amis London Fields 79: Keith's house is not a home. [...] It's somewhere for the wife and child, and somewhere to flop, until Keith comes good. 1992 B. Gifford Night People 66: [That] was all Duke Douglas cared about, a place to flop. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 73:1 just want to flop by now.

flophouse (n.) see separate entry. flop joint (n.) [JOINT n. (3b)) (US) a tramp's lodging, a cheap hotel. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 1941 B. Schulberg What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 238: Sammy could snap any moment he wanted to drop him back into the ratholes and the flop-joints again. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/2: Flop-joint. Any cheap hotel or lodging house; also, a local jail where vagabonds sleep overnight. 1953 R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together (1966) 224: He wouldn't mind sleeping with one of the younger flossies [...] in one of those flop-joints down that street. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 13: Go to a flop joint where you belong. 2002 R. Noles Orange Blossom Boys 108: We lived in a flop joint in New York City, flop racket (n.) see flopper n. (2). flop worker (n.) [worker n.^ (1)] (US tramp) one who robs sleepers, usu. fellow tramps. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 77: FLOP WORKER.-One who

robs sleepers in railroad waiting rooms, public parks or on the trains.

■ In phrases do a flop (v.) 1 to sit or fall down. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 409/2: from ca. 1870.

2 of a woman, to prostrate oneself for intercourse. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 75: He was on the make, though he didn' have to be—every broad what ever saw him did a flop for him. 3 to faint. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 409/2: WWI [...] mid-C20. hit the flop (v.) (US Und.) to go to bed. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). take a flop (v.) to get into bed. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 97: The bed springs creaked as he took a flop for himself.

flop n^ [Wilts, dial.//op, thick liquid] 1 (US) excrement; esp. as cowflop n.; thus as a dimissive retort. 1937 D. Fuchs Low Company Ti: 'Slow as cow flop on an ice-cold day,' muttered the jerker. 1948 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 139: A nasty young joker named Bruce / Used to greet all his friends with a goose, / Till it came to a stop / In a handful of flop / From some bowels that were terribly loose. 1955 J.P, Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 13: Up to our ankles in mud and cow flop. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: It's as soft as cowflop this side. Jack. 1975

5 to lodge, i.e. in a hotel. 1905 Sporting Times 27 May 1/4: A certain Corinthian who contemplated crossing the Channel on the morrow to flop it down on Musketry. 1917 'A-No. 1' From Coast to Coast with Jack London 78: It was the east side of the street only which held the 'cafes', the dime flopping dumps, the nickel restaurants and barber shops and the 'missions' patronized by the uncouth hoboes. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 208: I would have taken it [i.e. a room], just to be sure of a place to flop. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 173: We rushed into a phone booth and called the Cumberland Hotel [...] where we knew the whole gang was flopping. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 86: Here was his brother with no right arm [...] and probably no place to flop. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 24: The kid's looking for maybe a pad to flop in and breakfast. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage 40: Flop Stop: place to sleep. 6 (US prison) to inform. 1915 D. Lowrie My Life out of Prison 228: I was told you'd flopped to

the cops. 7 (US Und.) to short-change. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 35: flop [...] used by money changers to signify fraud by confusion. Example: 'There's a

flop-ear

muff in that candy store that can be flopped because she can't count change.' 8 to move, to walk; often ext. as flop around, flop in etc. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Oct. 47/2: 'Oh, flop right in then!' he said

brightly, throwing open the door and ushering me into the presence of Du Callion, who sat at a table wearing a Calvinistic expression. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew Pt 11 [Internet] I bet you the drinks. Smoke, if you an' me flop around the corner quick [...] an' then turn back from around the next corner, that we run into him ahikin' hell-bent. 9 constr. with for, to favour, to 'fall for', to become enamoured of someone. 1919 H.C. WiTWER Smile A Minute 370: He flopped fairly hard for Sylvia. 1924 D. Hammett 'Nightmare Town' in Nightmare Town (2001) 35: Then the telegraph company sent Nova here and I flopped for her. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 187: ft cost many a good guy's life when he flopped for your red hair. 1966 M. Braly It's Cold Out There (2005) 193: They were rich [...] and beautiful broads flopped for them. 10 (a/so go flop) to collapse, to fail, esp. of a stage entertainment or similar undertaking. 1914 E. Pound letter 28 Mar. in Paige (1971) 34: If I could be sure of even three or four good stiff numbers I might make some sort of stand for a restart here, or even an English 'publication' of Poetry, but the thing flopped so before that there has been no use 'talking it up'. 1916 T.W.H. Crosland 'Excuses' War Poems 70: I'm indis¬ pensable, I am, I am, / And if I went the business would go flop. 1929 J. Lait Broadway Melody 47: She'll give—everything—and if any angle flops, it won't be because she'll dog it. 1934 'Hinky-Dinky' in Lomax & Lomax Amer. Ballads and Folk Songs 559: She might have been young for all we knew, / When Napoleon flopped at Waterloo. 1947 1. Shulman Amboy Dukes 31: The boys accepted so few of his suggestions that he hated to have this one flop. 1951 J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 113: He's always investing money in shows on Broadway. They always flop though. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 194:1 made thirteen attempts at suicide in the last couple of years. I flopped each time. [...] I had to flop (...) I have never yet succeeded at any big thing I wanted to do. 1973 (con. 1930s) F. Huelin 'Keep Moving' 1: 1 was trying to sell forestry bonds, but that's gone flop. I couldn't earn enough to pay the rent so I packed up. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 122: Richard was given the disappointing news that 'Bama Lama' had flopped. 1998 Source Oct. 200: The last albums by Grandmaster Flash [...] and Whodini flopped. 2000 Indep. Mag. 22 Jan. 12: Hurricane No. I's last album flopped. 11 to murder. 1926 C.J. Daly 'Lurking Shadows' Triple-X Mag. May [Internet] The Rat was flopped with a bullet through the back of his head. 12 to lose a fight deliberately, to 'take a dive'. 1929 D. Hammett Red Harvest (1965) 47: Ike Bush flopping. I know for a fact that ain't so. 13 (US) to fall to the ground for protection. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 11: As I flop I can see Pereira cornin' across. 14 (US) to copulate; to offer oneself for sex. 1930 J.J. Jones 'More SI.' in AS V:4 305: As near as I can tell she flopped the boy. 1941 J.M. Cain Mildred Pierce (1985) 328: Unbutton that red dress she's always wearing without any brassieres under it, and flop her on the bed. 1942 R. Chandler High Window 128: 'Morny will sure as hell kill him, if he doesn't lay off Lois.' 'Go on with you. Lois flops at the drop of a hat. Anybody can see that.' 15 (Aus.) to die. 1939 B. Appel Power-House 26: He started to shoot. He's dead. He flopped away— 1974 D. Ireland Burn 58: A few willing boys that wanted to see men flop. Any men. 16 (US prison) to deny a parole appeal; to be denied parole. 1944 C. Himes 'There Ain't No Justice' in Coll. Stories (1990) 242: When I am in this joint ten years and have been flopped many times, I figure the parole board won't release me. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/1: Flop, v. [...] 4. (Scattered prisons) To be denied parole,

17 (US) to demote. 1973 P. Maas Serpico 103: He would be transferred back—'flopped,' a cop would say—to the uniformed force. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 160: A gold shield [...] can be broken back to uniform with terrible speed. It's called 'flopped back to the bag.' 1990 M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 15: Cops who got flopped back to patrol were put 'back in the bag.' 18 (UK black) to forget, to let down. 2006 Ace & Invisible IXtra [BBC radio] My cousin, he flopped me.

■ In phrases flop a judy (v.) see under judy n?. flop off (v.) to lose control emotionally.

flopper

172

1955 'Blackie' Audett Rap Sheet 175:1 seen as many as three guys a night flop off - blow their tops - and try to commit suicide there on The Rock.

flop one (v.) (US teen) to masturbate. OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. ]Internet] flop one v. to masturbate (males), e.g. 'She'd really turned him on so he had to 2001

flop one before he could drop off to sleep',

flop out (v.) [Yorks, dial, flop, to strike with a sudden blow] 1 to jump out. 1890 Sporting Times 4 Jan. 7: But the fair girl had flopped, and once

again it was hout-in-the-cold-world! 1910 'O. Henry' 'Strictly Business' in Strictly Business (1915) 17: A lady who is anxious to flop out of the Count-pan into the Prince-fire.

2 to collapse; occas. as n., a failure. 1937 J. Curtis You're in the Racket, Too 271: Snowey's knees felt

wobbly. His head hurt like hell. He was going to flop out. 1938 N. Lindsay Age Of Consent 195: 'How d'you mean flop-out?' 'Well, I mean, she suddenly lobbed over on me, giggling and gasping and hanging on to me.' 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 363: It was a meaningless party, a complete flop-out. 1966 F. Elli Riot (1967) 14: He's havin' a heart attack or somethin' [...] He flopped out when that crazy Indian told him he was gonna lop his head off.

flop-ear n. see lop-ear n. flop-eared adj. see lop-eared adj. flophouse n. (also flop) [flop n.^ (2) -h SE house] (mainly US) 1 a lodging house or night shelter for tramps, down-and-outs, alcoholics etc. 1917 (con. 1908) E. Lynn Adventures of a Woman Hobo 9: All the horrors of shivering nights in the open or in vermin-infested flop houses. 1923 N. Anderson Hoto 30: 'Flophouses' are nearly all alike. Guests sleep on the floor or in bare, wooden bunks. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 520: Sinking lower and lower, living in a flophouse. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 231: Red switches to a job as night clerk in one of the flophouses on the Bowery. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 162: We even visited some drunken seamen in a flophouse. 1964 H, Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 79: When she crawled out of a flophouse she fell in the nearest bar. 1970 T. Parker FryingPan 97: At least we've found somewhere that's not a flop-house we can send homeless men to. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 94: That's why he liked to sleep alone. It also kept him free of the stale smell of flop-houses. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 61: If things don't work out you won't have much trouble finding us if you check the flops on skid row. 2003 T. Dorsey Stingray Shuffle 166: He ended up living in a Reno flophouse working [...] as a dishwasher.

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 172: He always sleeps in a four-bit bed and washes his own socks and shirt in the flop house wash-bowls. 1956 T. Thursday 'Dead Men Don't Move' in Smashing Detective Stories Jan. (Internet] If he was a flophouse wino, he would have his passing printed near the classified ad sections. 1959 Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 17: He is what is known around Junktown as a birdcage hype, a flophouse type. 1981 E. Bunbcer Little Boy Blue (1995) 197: They found a wino leaning in the doorway of a flophouse hotel. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 23: 'Uncle!' Joe had shouted, reaching for the flophouse ceiling.

3 a cheap hotel. 1930 J.T. Farrell 'Twenty-five Bucks' in Short Stories (1937) 183: Flop houses whose corridors were fouled with musty lavatory odors. 1970 Galton & Simpson 'Cuckoo in the Nest' Steptoe and Son [TV script] I understand there's a million flop-houses up around Earls Court. 4 a brothel. C.1908 in J. Monaghan Schoolboy, Cowboy, Mexican Spy (1977) 52: My

father was hanged as a horse thief. / My mother was burned as a witch. / My sisters ain't fit f'r a flop house, / I'm a cow-punching son-of-a-bitch, 1966 F. Elli Riot (1967) 43: There was Duke Trusdale, a flop-house pimp.

flopper n. (flop v.l 1 (US Und.) a petty swindler. 1876 B. Harte Gabriel Conroy II 311: It is worthy of a short-card sharp and a keno flopper, which I have, I regret to say, long suspected you to be. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 35: flopper [...] in

general use by money changers, switchers (substituters); flimflammers.

2 (UK Und.) a criminal who pretends to have 'slipped' on a shop floor or 'been knocked down' by a slow-moving automobile; they then claim damages, usu. offering to take a quick cash payment rather than go to an insurance company; thus flop racket, performing such frauds. 1903 N.-Y. Trib. 10 May Bl: By far the greater fraction of the beggars belong to the generic class of 'hoppers' — that is, those who squat in the streets and 'throw out' their hats for coin. 1907 N.Y. Times 27 Jan.

flopping

Sun. Mag. 4: [headline] Professional Mendicants, With Made-up Disfigurements, Return to Prey on City's Charity. Fagin's Nests Filled Again With 'Yeggs,' 'Crust-Throwers' and 'Floppers'. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/2: Flopper. 1. In the accident insurance racket, one who is adept at hurling himself before automobiles, feigning serious injury, throw¬ ing limbs out of joint, etc,

3 {US Und.) a beggar who pretends to be crippled. 1918 'A-No. r Mother of the Hoboes 5: Floppers — crippled beggars

who crouch on the sidewalks to solicit alms — are bound to become [...] numerous. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 100: [From A No. 1, The Famous Tramp] 3. Flopper. Squatted on sidewalk in business thoroughfares. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 301: FLOPPERS. (Those who sit or flop down in front of a church or building and give the impression of being cripples.). 1949 Monte¬ leone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

flopping n. [flop n.^ (2)] (US tramp) a sleeping bag or similar covering; in pL, a place where one sleeps. 1900 J, London 'Jack London in Boston' in Boflon Eve. Post 26 May

32: How'd you find Hoppings? Pretty crimpy, eh? 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 22: The hoboes crawled out of their Hoppings like dead souls awakened by some inexorable law in which they had no wish or say. 1929 E. Caldwell Bastard (1963) 20: I asked the bird for a flopping place for about four bits. 1944 O. Ferguson 'Vocab. for Lakes, [etc.]' AS XIX:2 104: 'You notice them lumber piles, how they got a cover over the top? That's good flappings' (or, where to spend an odd night).

flopping adj. (Aus./N.Z.) a euph, for fucking adj. 1919 Aussie (France) XII Mar. 2/1: Tell the bloke who issues the

prizes to pull his finger out. If he don't come to light with a divvy soon, I'll knock his floppin' 'ead orf. 1921 (con. WWI) E. Lynch Somme Mud 4: Slit ya floppin' yellin' gizzards out, ya flamin' [...] hyenas. 1943 J.A.W. Bennett 'Eng. as it is Spoken in N.Z.' in AS XVIII:2 Apr. 91: There are a large number of words and phrases in common use which one could scarcely classify as confined to, or originating in. New Zealand, but which deserve to be recorded in any attempt to convey something of the flavor of the colloquial speech of the country. Amongst these are [...] flopping, as in 'a flopping nuisance'.

floppy n. [orig. Rhodesian milit. use, one who 'flops down dead' when hit by bullets; the targets of such bullets were invariably black] (S.Afr.) a derog. term for a black person. 1978 E. Dibb in Fair Lady 25 Oct. 108: 'Victor nine. Tango three. How did it go?' 'Positive. Small contact single floppy.' [DSAE]. 1986 V. Cooke et al. in Gray Market Plays 34: They can turn South Africa into another Zimbabwe where black people can do what they like. Murder old men [...] get drunk, smoke dagga, and they don't go to jail because they're floppies. 1991 informant in DSAE (1996).

floral arrangement n. [pun on daisy chain n.i (US gay) a spintry, i.e. a circle of three or more people, hetero- or homosexual, all linked physically in mutual sex acts. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: floral arrangement (n.): A DAISY CHAIN (q.v.).

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

flor de cabbagio n. (also flordel cabbagio) [cabbacio perfumo n.j a cheap cigar; note also ad hoc vars. in cits, below. 1895 Brooklyn Eagle 11 Apr. 6: The resident wore spit curls and a red shirt and smoked a flor de cloaca cigar. 1901 F. Swainson Acton's Feud Ch. xxix: 'Your Flora Flna de Cabbagios keep the fish from biting.' 'Have one,' said Burnt Lamb, hospitably offering Todd a cigar. 1908 'O. Henry' 'Hostages to Momus' in Gentle Grafter (1915) 203: We [...] lighted up two of the landlord's flor de upas perfectos. 1910 L. Tracy Cynthia's Chauffeur 103: What is it? Flor de Cabbagio? Here, take one of mine! 1917 'Sapper' No Man's Land 159: 'Cigars of great potency real genuine Flor de Boche.' [..,] The Doctor was examining his cigar doubtfully. 1922 R. Grimshaw Why Manufacturers Lose Money 21: The brakeman no longer smokes 'two-fors' or 'Flor del Cabbagio'. 1926 W.L. George Triumph of Gallio 232: 'They're only flor de cabbagio. What do you recommend?' I asked, delivering the delicate compliment of considering her a judge of cigars. 1967 V. Holland Explosion of Limericks 86: Probably a 'Flor de Cabbagio' at twopence a time.

florence n. [Northants. dial.//orence, one who dresses untidily; whether this comes from the proper name and thus memorializes a long-forgotten woman is unknown; Williams prefers a link to the prostitutes of Florence, Italy, and their speciality, the Florentine kiss, synon, with a French kiss] an untidily dressed young woman. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Florence, a Wench that is touz'd

and ruffled. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose

flossie

173

Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

Florida n. (the siting of such cells in the warmest areas of the prison, often underground] (US prison) the solitary confinement/punishment block. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 96: Man, you been to Florida? [...] You

took a trip to the moon maybe? 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms,],

floss

(ety. unknown] (US) money.

1997-2002 Hope College

'Diet, of New Terms' [Internet] floss n. Expensive material belongings used purposely to flaunt how much money a person has. 1998 Source Nov. 76: Big Tymers is more or less on some floss type shit,

floss n.^ see flossie n. (2). floss V. [fig. uses of SE floss, to clean one's teeth with dental floss, or elision of SE flourish] (US black) 1 to relax. 1993 Dr Dre 'Let Me Ride' [lyrics] Now I'm just flossin / Checkin my

rearview, cause niggaz they will do jack moves. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 1 56: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Fittin. Flossin. Frontin,

2 to pose, to present a false image of oneself. 1999 Dr Dre 'Ackrite' [lyrics] Nigga ? got room, grab the gat for misbehavors / and the chocolate faded boom, flossin hip-hop tunes. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 218: 'Flossin" is pretending to be something you aren't. Archetypically, hip-hoppers are accused of flossin' when they pretend to be affiliated to gangs, when in fact very few are. 3 to appear stylish and attractive. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 18: Back in ancient Greece

heaven must've been flossin 'cause everybody kicked real young. 2008 T.I. 'Swing Ya Rag' [lyrics] Catch me flossin' at the mall, talkin'

to a broad,

4 to harass. 2000 Eble Campus SI. Spring 3: floss - annoy, pester. 'My mom keeps

calling and flossing me about my school work.' 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] flossing (2) Definition: following close behind, trying to gank, steal, or harrass. Example: Bitch, you just flossing my grip?

flossed up adj. see flossy (up) v. flossie n. (also flossy) [floozy n.] 1 (mainly Aus.) a prostitute; thus flossiedom n., the world of prostitution. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Feb. 11/3: He was walking one evening

down a rather quiet street ornamented here and there by police¬ men, when a damsel, whose flaring red blouse and general air of Flossiedom proclaimed her occupation, plaintively besought him to let her trot down the street with him, because the 'bobbies' had a 'down' on her. 1903 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Oct. 33/2: Melbourne police put in a lot of hard graft running the frail but persistent Flossie and her 'employer' out of Lonsdale-street, with the result that the temples of Venus were temporarily handed over to Ah Fat, the cabinet-maker, and Fatta Chand, the hawkers' supplier. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Sept. 11/2: By a sad mischance, the police got to work at the same time on what Judkins would call Launceston's Social Evil, and proceeded to break up the happy home of the most notorious Flossie. 1924 E.G. Murphy 'The Confession' Dryblower's Verses 48: She counted the minutes he'd hang on to life / And fumed at the Flossies and Fuzzies. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 136: I don't have to be bought like a flossy dame in a fancy house. 1953 R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together (1966) 224: He could risk it, go to Hanover Street ... sleep with a whore ... he wouldn't mind sleeping with one of the younger flossies. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.

2 (also floss) an overdressed, over-affectionate woman. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Food Influence' Sporting Times 27 Jan.

11 A: A wink wandered ever her optics so sweet, / Making Flossies's fair features look fairer. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Libelled Ladies' Sporting Times 20 June 1/3: Don't forget your Flossie wants her best of boys! 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Father Who Jumped In' in Ade's Fables 84: One day Bernice was a Little Girl, and the next she was head Flossie among the Debutantes, with a pack of Society Hounds pursuing in Pull Cry, each willing to help count the Bank Roll. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of What Transpires' in Ade's Fables 140: She had no absolute Proof that he had carried on with a Front Row Floss in New Haven. 3 a barmaid. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 June 13/2: [T]he ingenious youth surprised the tavern barmaids by his invariable custom of asking for 'a glass of English ale.' 'What other sort do you think we keep, old chappie?' was Flossie's usual response. 4 a girlfriend, esp. one who is older than her partner. 1912 Mansfield (OH) News 7 Dec. 10(?)/3: They said that sister must not say 'fudge' - not even when there was nobody but guineas around - because 'fudge' wasn't a proper dido to find in the flossie's vocabulary. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 294: Get some inside Dope from those who have caught the Flossies at short range. 1934 (con.

1920s)

J.T. Farrell

Young Manhood

in

flourbags n. (Aus.) a bush cook.

Studs Lonigan (1936) 361; Say,

Studs, I'll bet some flossie's got you.

flossy ad/. ISE floss, silk used for embroidery] 1 (US) showy, slick, saucy, impertinent, ostentatious, attractive. 1896 H. Blossom Checkers 43: My money made me kind of 'flossy,' and whenever I'd feel like it, I'd just throw up the job and quit. 1896 W.C. Gore student SI. in Cohen (1997) 13; flossy a. Beautiful, stylish. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 152: He'd show you if you could get Flossy with a lady. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 81: She wasn't a bad looker, though with the flossy rags off she wouldn't stack up so well. 1912 S. Ford Odd Numbers 96: It's most too bad, your wastin' all this floossy talk on me, who can't appreciate its fine points. 1919 Van Loan 'Nine Assists & Two Errors' in Score by Innings (2004) 409; He waltzed up to the desk and said he wanted the best suite in the house [...] Flossy-looking boy - eh? 1920 Ade Hand¬ made Fables 112: The Migrator carried a flossy Label. He had been christened Adelbert Justitian. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 264: Mrs. Slatternly, who wished to justify her yen for flossy gentlemen, became profound. 1943 C. McCullers Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1986) 218: The bedroom was done over [...] Before it had been tacky and flossy and drab. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 95: So I called a man I knew in the Came Organisation, a flossy agency in Beverly Hills that specialized in protection for the carriage trade. 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 87: He presided here nightly, respected and admired by Chicago's flossiest citizens. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 37: The flossy midtown health clubs. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 43: Baby, do you think you have any lipstick left on your mouth after three or four of those flossy fatcats from Brentwood with those little limp peters make you suck your eyes crossed? 2003 A, Newitz 'Bay Area SI.' on Berkeley University Amer. Studies 102 Course Website [Internet) Flossy - Showing off. Derivitive of flossing your teeth.

2

flowers

174

flossy

of homosexuals, flagrant, ostentatious. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: flossy (adj.): An effeminate

homosexual, as applied by the heterosexual. (Very rare.). 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 73: stereotype effeminate homosexual [...] flossy one. 1915 S. FORD Shorty McCabe on the Job 66; 'That does listen flossy,'

says I. [Ibid.] 67; If they're young and flossy dressed, he calls 'em 'fluffs'; but anything over twenty-five, no matter how she's costumed, is a lady.

flossy (up) V. 1? FLOOZY n. or FLOSSIE n.j (Aus.) to dress oneself up, esp. in a showy, excessive manner; thus flossed up adj. 1941 F. Sargeson 'That Summer' in Coll. Stories (1965) 147: It wasn't until late that I'd had my tea and was all flossied up. 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks. 1977 D. Fowls Signs of Crime 184: Flossed up Made attractive by paint and powder - another expression for 'tarted up'. 1984 L. Leland Kiwi-Yankee Diet. [Internet] all flossied up all tarted up. A nicer way of putting it. 2002 'Menwith Hill Remembered' at simons_b.tripod.com 9 Feb. [Internet] A new Col. was making his inital inspection, all flossied up in his best greens. n.^ [pun] a drowned man, his corpse.

'em 'cording to the quality, in a manner of speaking - a poor ragged one being a 'flounder,' if a man, and a 'dab,' if a woman. n.^

[SE

flounder,

i.e.

the

fishing

industry]

(US)

a

Newfoundlander. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

flounder (and dab) n. ]rhy. si ] a taxi-cab. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1887 J.W. Horsley Jottings from Jail 3: Call a flounder and dab with a tidy Charing Cross. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 71: FLOUNDER: Sydney cab-drivers' slang a hansom cab of the old variety in contradistinction to the new or brougham cab. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Odd or Even?' Sporting Times 26 Sept. 1/3: First we all lake our pitch, and when a 'flounder' comes our way, / Each bloke backs 'is luck at guessin' and 'is pieces 'e will play / On the number of the 'flounder,' odd or even. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 41/1: Flounder and dab, a cab. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 330: flounder (Flounder and Dab): A cab. 1944 Maurer & Baker '"Aus." Rhyming Argot' in AS XIX:3. 1953 BERREY & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. (2nd edn). 1970 'Metropolitan Police SI.' in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 323: flounder, a: a taxi. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

flounder mouth n. [SE flounder, a fish with a large mouth) (US) a person with a notably large mouth. 1655 Gossips Braule 6: Yes, yes, Mistris Flownder-mouth, you shall have thanks with a Pox to ye, ye old Lecherous Jade you. c.1770 'To Mistress Mouse' in Buck's Delight 8: With a flounder mouth and snotty nose. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 161: He falls, and sprawls about in blood, / And fills his flounder-mouth with mud. 1968 in DARE.

1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Flour mixer (a) Yiddish rhyming slang for 'shikse' (girl domestic or shop assistant). 2 an insignificant person, esp. a clerk (ext. of sense 1; note orig. Yid. shikse means non-Jewish woman or a female servant]. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Flour mixer [...] An inoffensive man, particularly a clerk. V. [Cer. Flause, deceit] (S.Afr.) to cheat, to trick, to put at a

flous

disadvantage. 1913 Pettman Africanderisms.

floush n. m In phrases go floush (v.) [echoic, plus image of SE flush, i.e. water that is flushed away] to collapse. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 13: Both peel'd - but, on laying his Dandy-bell by, / Old GEORGY went floush, and his backers look'd shy.

flow n.^ (US black) in rap music, one's delivery. 1994 Source Oct. 46; People liked my flow but they wasn't really listenin' to what I was sayin'.

flow n.^ [abbr. SE cash flow] (US black) money. 2000 in W.

Shaw

Westsiders 242: I'm in this game to maintain / I be

flippin' flows like omelettes. flow V. 1 (orig. US black) to perform music, esp. rap music, well; to create rap lyrics very well. 1993 Source Dec. 45: All these other females there trying to flow and everyone can't do it. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 101: With James it just goes and it flows. 2 (US campus) to speak eloquently. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Flow: Speak very well, homosexual. 1946 (con. 1914) B. Marshall George Brown’s Schooldays 167: 'A filthy lot of ruins if you ask me, although one or two of them aren't bad-looking,' Hazel [i.e. a boy] said. 'There's a small chap with fair hair called Simpkins or Tompkins that I'm thinking of making my flower.' Brown didn't say anything. Ever since last summer hols with Rosalind he had come to the conclusion that he didn't really like the idea of flowers, either being one or having one. It was ever so much more fun being in love with a girl. 1949 'Hal Ellson' Duke viii: Flower - a homosexual. 1964 Poston 'Problems in the Study of Campus SI.' in AS XXXIX:2 118: Since the word pansy is available with reference to a male homosexual, the speaker is at liberty to substitute any number of flower names for the word and perhaps even refer to the person as simply a flower or plant. 1972 (ref. to early 1960s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 44: Any boy under the age of consent [...] flower (kwn LV, early '60s).

1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag ^ Co. 35: They have different names for

flounder

up the rear and talks unlearnedly of horses and cattle,

flour mixer n. [rhy. si. = shiksa n. (1)1 1 a non-Jewish woman.

flower n. [the 'feminine' image of flowers] an effeminate male

flossy adv. [flossy adj. (1)] attractively, smartly.

flounder

1911 E.S. Sorenson Cattle Muster in Life in the Aus. Backblocks 124: A merry troop follows in a bunch at their heels, while 'Flourbags,' the musterers' cook, mounted on 'the quietest thing they've got,' brings

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flower-fancier (n.) a womanizer, a lecher, presumably specializ¬ ing in 'flowers', i.e. virgins. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

flower patch (n.) (US) the female genital area. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 149: If they get into long skirts, they got a slit up the front almost to the flower patch, and their tits is failin' out of the tops of their blouses,

flower-pot (n.) the vagina. 1837-8 'The Rare Old Root' in Cuckold's Nest 9: Then here's too the root, the rare old root, / That stands whenever 'tis shown, / And still may it be to that flower pot free, / Which the ladies only own. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 52: Calice, m. The female pudendum: 'the flower-pot'. 2000 Desdemona at www.asstr.org [Internet] And then, finally, while she was touching her flowerpot with sticky fingers, that special joy Mama always talked about would shoot through her.

■ In phrases flower in a wet spot (n.) (N.Z.) a sexually aroused female. 2003

McGill

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

flowers-on-his-grave (n.) (Aus.) fastidiousness. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: flowers-on-his-grave — Fastidiousness. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. /,../ in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: flowers on hard to please, also port holes in his coffin,

his grave.

Fastidious;

flowers n. 1 a euph. for menstruation [prior use is SE since 15C]. [1598 Florio a Worlde ofWordes n.p.: Biancure, the monethly flowers that women haue.] 1679 J. Oldham 'Upon the Author of a Play call'd

flowers and frolics

Sodom’ in Rochester Poems on Several Occasions (1680) 130: Thy Mu.ie has got the Flow rs, and they ascend, / As in some Green-sick Girl, at upper end. 1684 Rochester (attrib.) Sodom III v: 'Tis so with cunts' repeated dull delights; / Sometyme theyve flowers for sauce, and sometyme theyve whites. 1837-8 'Toasts And Sentiments' in Cuckold s Nest 48: The girl with the flowers. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 103: S'emboudiner = to copulate with a woman in flowers. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 106: Flowers is also used with reference to catamenia. 1957 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 595:1 told her that my sister Peg was down among the flowers.

2 (orig. US) the vulva; thus eat someone's flowers, to perform cunnilingus. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 123: Make

the teenyboppers moist their flowers. 2003 'Maureen's Lusty Confessions' on Apartment 231 [Internet] My head is spinning at the mere thought of you hungrily feasting like a famished orphan on my sushi taco. Once you are finished eating my flowers way down south in Dixie, it will be my turn to polish your old German helmet...

flowers and frolics n. see fun and frolics n. flowery (dell) n. (pedlars' ting. Fr., thence rhy. si.] 1 a room, esp. a room in an inn. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 40: flowery lodging, or house

entertainment; 'square the omee for the flowery,' pay the master for the lodging. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 2 a cell. 1925 E. Jervis 25 Years in Six Prisons 16: I talked to him of his

'flowery' ('flowery delT rhymes with 'cell', hence 'flowery'). 1930 (con. 1910-20S) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 118: Flowery Dell ... a prison cell. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 248: Then I takes me mug and I bangs and rattles it on the door of the Flowery until the screw comes. 1943 J. Phelan Letters from the Big House 35: Ginger's still there, in the next flowery. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 106: You can help P.O. Ferris get a Condemned Flowery Dell ready for him. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 191: Sad and lonely in me flowery dell. 1962 B. McGhee Cut and Run (1963) 102: Apart from one hour's exercise and on a Sunday [...] you were hardly outside your 'flowery'. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 105: I'm going to wind up in an unmarked grave or dubbed up in a flowery dell. 1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SI. 107: 'flowery dell', prison cell. 1999 R. Walton 'Cockney Jack' [Internet] We'll see if a black and white in a flowery dell will teach you not to steal bees and honey again. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr. org [Internet] One thing I did know for sure and that was that Lingers was doing a long spell in one of Her Majesty's flowery dells with a lot of jack tars in the window.

flub n. (also flubdub, flubdubbery) [flub v.] nonsense, or one who talks nonsense. 1897 O. Wister Lin McLean 131: Well, I don't say my prayers any

more. I told Mr. Perkins [...] I think he is a flubdub anyway. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I iii: She's crazy on this society stunt—all flubdub to me of course. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 325: But they had to keep posted on all this Flub. 1922-24 0.0. McIntyre White Light Nights 49: There is little flubdubbery among the 'ivory benders'. [...] Any number of them have never had a music lesson. 1929 M. Bodenheim Sixty Seconds 22: All the rest was flubdub, preacher's lies. 1934 N.Y. Times 20 Oct. n.p.: It is Baghdad without the melodramatic flubdub. 1944 H.B. Hersey G.l. Laughs 56: The corporal says 'flub dub'. 1981 Graziano & Corsel Somebody Down Here Likes Me, Too 97: Sure, I make flubs.

flub V [? link to FLUFF v.^j [US) 1 (a/so flub up) to botch, to bungle, to make a mess of. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 122: I have a feeling [...] that I have

flubbed this talk, c.1930 N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 152: I've known all kinds of men, good and bad at it in the sense of enjoying and performing, or flubbing it and being miserable. 1953 J. Thompson Criminal (1993) 51: We've flubbed a good story. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 210: 'Give her a chance, one more that's all, and if she flubs this we'll both wash our hands.' 1960 G. SWARTHOUT Where the Boys Are 189: When Piston [...] would flub a point he would throw himself bodily against the screen. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 119: Flub To do poorly on something [...] on an exam. Flub up To do poorly on something. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 164: They'd had a chance [...] and flubbed it. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 122: It was like the fifteenth rehearsal with some dud leading man who kept on flubbing his lines. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: flub up - make a mistake. 2003 J. Lethem Fortress of Solitude 274: The disc jockey flubs the call list. 2 to waste time, to fool around. 1950 B. Spicer Blues for the Prince (1989) 166: If he starts flubbing around [...] bring him in.

flue

175

flubdub V. [FLUB THE DUB v.j (US) to mess around, to waste lime. 1993 S. King Dolores Claiborne 285: 1 think most of the fun of it for him was just hearin me flub-dubbin around like I was doin.

flub the dub v. [flub v. (2) + redup. or ? DUB n.5 (1)) 1 (orig. US milit.) to shirk, to evade one's duties. 1946 'SI. of Maladjustment' in AS XX1:3 Oct. 238/2: flubbin' the dub. Loafing, goldbricking. 1947 D.W. Hamilton 'Pacific War Lang.' in AS XXII: 1 Feb. 55: To flub off, to flub the dub. To escape assigned duty.

2 (US) to masturbate. 1946 'SI. of Maladjustment' in AS XXI:3 Oct. 238/2: flubbin' the dub.

[...[ obscenity. 1966 F. Elli Riot (1967) 190: Hell, man. I'm desperate. I'll be flubbin' my dub in here for the next twenty years. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage.

3 (US) to blunder, to fail in a task. 1959 L.P. Boone 'Gator SI.' AS XXXIV:2 156: He may fail; in his words, he flubbed, flubbed up, flubbed the dub, or made a boo-boo. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 197: But John flubbed the dub. He cared for this girl.

flue n.’’ [SE flue, a chimney, 1 (US) the vagina.

thus any form of passage for conveying heat]

1620 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 2: The devil's in the pisspot and

he's got me by the flue. 1655 Mercurius Fumigosus 36 31 Jan.-7 Feb. 288: There is a skil-fool man in Horsham [...] who lately found out a great Discoverie in the Privie Parts of a Woman neer the Flue, which proved to be a Wart. 1833 'Firing Up The Chimney' in Lummy Chaunter 80: Then Molly ask'd Jemmy his pistol to fire [...] Up her foul flue and bring down the mire. 1841 'I Am a Smutty Chimney Sweep' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 24: When up the ladies' flues I creep, / The pleasure it is all my own. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 36: Many of the finest of the Oxford-street birds flutter in here [...] nightbirds. [...] We especially recommend our rustic relatives to fight shy, for many have suffered from inflamation [...] The flues attached to this establishment are rather foul, 1905-07 'Marry Had a Pair of Drawers' Bawdy N.Y. State MS. n.p.: Then he took his PRICK from out his pants, / And stuck it in her flue. a,1920 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 602: I will suck your juicey pick / While you lick out my flue, c.1935 'Betty Boop in "Flesh"' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 29: The old buzzard intends to ravish her flue. 1964 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 1 566: There once was an Indian maid / Who was always afraid, / That some buckeroo would ram it up her flue. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 142: He stirred and shoved her back to work, busily beginning to churn her flue with his fingers.

2 a lift formerly in use in pawnbrokers' shops, in which the articles pawned were taken up for storage; thus put up the flue v., to pawn. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

3 the stomach; usu. in

line one's flue

below.

1938 B. CONLON 'Rope Meat' in Wild West Weekly 22 Oct. [Internet] It

was the law of the West to ask a stranger to light and line his flue with chuck.

4 the anus. 1927 C. AnNII:i 35: flunk, n. 1. A very poor recitation. [...] 3. One who fails. [...] A failure. 1915 E. Pound letter 6-12 Sept, in Read Letters to James Joyce (1968) 45: This deluge of work by suburban counter-jumpers on the one hand and gut-less Oxford graduates or flunktuates on the other ... bah! 1927 M.C. McPhee 'College SI.' in AS III:2 132: Delinquency in studies may still take the form of 'a flunk'. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 119: Flunk [...] The grade 'F'. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 86: I get a call from battalion. He arrived a flunk. That's the term for someone killed in action. Like you just didn't make it in school. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 111: If a student failed a course, he received a 'flunk notice' from the registrar's office. 1983 S. King Christine 211: Red-cards, sometimes known as flunk-cards by the student body. 3 (US) a failure. 1888 Missouri Republican 11 Feb. n.p.: Riddleberger forced the presidential possibilities of the senate to a complete flunk [F&H]. 1930 G. Milburn 'De Night Before Christmas' in Hobo's Hornbook 260: Yoose got no excuse / For gettin' cold feet and goin' down in a flunk. 4 (US) an idler, a loafer. Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

flunk n.^ [ety. unknown] (US Und.) the Strongbox within a safe. 1928 J.

Callahan

An inner steel compartment in a safe, protected by a small, light door or duster.

flunk V. [? US dial, flink, ult. SE flinch, to act in a cowardly way, to shrink from one's duties; -F 18C Oxford jargon (later si.) funk, to exhibit a state of complete fear or panic] 1 (US campus) (also flunk out) to fail an examination or course. 1823 Yale Crayon in Hall (1856) 3: We must have, at least, as many subscribers as there are students in College, or 'flunk out'. 1847 Yale Banger 22 Oct. in Hall (1856) 203: My dignity is outraged at beholding those who fizzle and flunk in my presence tower above me. 1853 Amherst Indicator in Hall (1856) I 253: They know that a man who has flunked because too much of a genius to get his lesson, is not in the state to appreciate joking. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 206: The phrase to flunk out [...] is of the same nature as the above word [i.e. flunk]. 1887 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. (Phila.) Aug. 291: The students gather in the recitation-rooms, where they 'rush' or 'flunk,' according as they have studied the night before or been 'out on a lark' [DA], 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: flunk l.vi. To fail in a recitation, or to give up without an effort. 2. To fail in a semester's work. 3. To fail in an examination. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 214: 'He'll expect you to talk Greek and Latin, and when you flunk on that he'll wonder — ' [...] 'How do you know I'll flunk? What'll you bet I'll flunk?' 1911 S. Ford Torchy 122: I've flunked. I think I'd better go down in the morning and resign. 1928 R. Carr Rampant Age 41: He [...] didn't care whether he passed, flunked or got kicked out. 1931 (con. 1910s) C.W. WiLLEMSE Behind The Green Lights 186: He eventually had flunked in his college examinations. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 29: We tried [enlisting in] the regular Army, 'n he flunked that too. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 132: I'm glad you flunked out. 1955 J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 11: All you need to do now is flunk your law exams and bingo. 1960 E, De Rod Big Rumble 49: Tda been all right if I hadn't flunked the post office tests. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 214; I reminded him that he was playing hooky and might just flunk his bar exam. 1979 D. Gram Foxes (1980) 12: She's gonna flunk out, you know. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll TTi'. She was flunking every question they asked her. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 277; He flunked the sergeant's exam twice. 2001 N. Tosches Where Dead Voices Gather (ms.) 46: It was in the following school year that he flunked for the first time. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 258: Back to FSU, I guess. Try not to flunk out this term.

2 (US gambling) (also flunk out) to 'fold' one's cards. 1853 N.Y. Clipper 28 May 1/3: 'Down with your dust, I say. [The bettor hesitates.] Do you flunk out, then?' 'Yes, I flummux this

time...'

3 (US campus) (also flunk out) to dismiss on the grounds of academic failure. 1843 Yale Literary Mag. IX. 61; That day poor Pullman was flunked, and was never again reinstated in the good graces of our officer. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) S', flunk [..,] 5. To condition a student in a semester's work. 6. To cause to fail. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Ta/w 211: Flunked, hey? [...] Don't think you'd like to be a sailor? 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 412: Lorene looked rather like a girl who has failed to pass her finals and been flunked out. 1969 S. Greenlee Spook who Sat by the Door (1972) 19: It will cost us a bit to flunk out six or eight a year. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 27: If you're a dead loss they have a previous engagement; if not, you're invited to dinner. I was pleased that he hadn't flunked me. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 23: There was no way he was going to flunk me and have me back.

4 (orig. US campus) (also flunk out) to leave or be dismissed from an institution, usu. on the grounds of academic failure.

2 attrib. use of sense 1.

1890-1904

flunk

180

flummut

Man's Grim Justice 56: It required only two or three

minutes to 'break down the flunk,' jimmy the strongbox loose from its fastenings [...] I [...] broke down the 'flunk' and frisked the pete from top to bottom. 1931 D. Maurer in Lang. Und. (1981) 43: Inside [...] a top keister and a flunk. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/2: Flunk.

1920 F.S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald III (1960) 42: He'll fail his exams, tutor all summer at Harstrum's, get into Sheff with about four conditions, and flunk out in the middle of freshman year, 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 553: In June, after he has flunked out, it is hard to face his father. 1957 H.S. Thompson letter 6 Feb. Proud Highway (1997) 44: You're the first person I've heard from who failed to mention the possibility of flunking out of school. 1960 H.S. Thompson letter 13 Apr. Proud Highway (1997) 212:1 got a vagpe rumor [...] that you were ready to flunk out of Vandy. 1986 S. King It (1987) 89: He had flunked out of LSU his first semester, a victim of drink, drugs and all-night parties. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 71: He had joined the Marine Corps to become a fighter pilot but quickly flunked out of flight school and was left with a six-year enlistment as a grunt. 1999 'Master Pimp'

Pimp's Rap 29: Kid, you just flunked out of pimp school.

5 (US) (also flunk out) to give in, to back down or renege in a cowardly manner. 1838 J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches (1865) 46: You must be cracked if you flunk out before we begin. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries

flunker

of N.Y. V 27: What's the matter, Charley, you're not going to flunk out, are you? 1864 T.F. Upson diary n.d. in Winther With Sherman to the Sea (1958) 99: Chorus : There is fi(gh)ting Bob who is sure to flunk. 1871 J. Hay 'Jim Bludso' Pike County Ballads 15: But he never flunked, and he never lied, I reckon he never knowd how. 1884 Dodge City Democrat 12 Jan. in Miller & Snell Why the West was Wild 424: He wouldn't lie and he couldn't flunk, I reckon he didn't know how. 1901 T. Hammond On Board a Whaler 326: True's as your alive he did—he flunked. 1911 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 Days 37: 'Well, I'll bet twenty-five dollars he flunks!' breathed the bartender. 1915 H.L. Wilson Ruggles of Red Gap (1917) 263: He flunked a meeting of the Onwards and Upwards Society. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 22: Some day she'll need me [...] Likely enough then I'll flunk out. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 186: It got to be quite addictive - groups would [...] flunk out on work. 1974 C. Token Come Monday Morning 169: I woulda flunked out just like your mother said. 1989 (con. 1968) W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran Backward 258: Okay, been to Nam, Shit, you didn't flunk out, did you? 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 156: Ritchie Grenadeau, who had [...] flunked off the football team.

6

to fail a student; to give a fail mark. 1876 Wheatland Free Press 4 Mar. 2/2: The Professor is readier with his stock of puzzling questions to 'flunk' the student, who spent his time 'bumming' the night before, depending on luck for his next day's success [DA], 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 101: Dished! Spinked! He'll flunk me every day. I certainly am in the wrong! 1915 E. Poole Harbor (1919) 57: He 'flunked' the worst twenty and let the rest through. 1951 S. Lewis World So Wide 55: I'm going to get a D Minus in her class [,..] She'd just efficiently flunk me. 1967 K. Kolb Getting Straight 42: An increased opportunity to flunk this troublemaker. 1978 R. Db Christoforo Grease 61: Every teacher I got has flunked me at least once!

7 (US) to fail (in a non-academic context), to blunder, to make a mistake. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: flunk [...] to fail in an undertaking, to make a botch of anything. 1900 DN ll 35: Flunk, v.i. [...] 2. To fail in an undertaking. 1905 J.C. Lincoln Partners 304: We've flunked once, and [...] no more big jobs'll come our way [DAE]. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 122: I've flunked. I think I'd better go down in the morning and resign. 1928 A.W. Upfield House of Cain 122: Bullets 'flunked' into the straw-stuffed pack-saddles. a.1956 'The Junkie' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 101: If that broad hadn't run. I'd have got up and done / What I had flunked at first, 1989 M. Amis London Fields 263: It was hard getting back into London: I nearly flunked even that. 1991 D. Simon Homicide (1993) 217: You flunked [..,] You're lying,

8 (ong. US) to do a skimpy, inadequate job. 1999 Guardian Guide 15-21 May 55: A [...] psychological thriller that flunks on the psychology.

flunker n. [flunk v.j (US campus) 1 one who regularly fails their examinations or recitations. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 5: flunker n. One who habitually fails in recitations. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN ILi 36: flunker, n. One who fails in examination.

2 a teacher who often fails students. 1910 O. Johnson Varmint 14: Mr. Hopkins, alias Lucius Cassius, alias The Roman, master of Latin line and distinguished flunker of boys.

flunky n.^ {also flunkee, flunkey) [flunk v. (1)] (US campus) one who fails an examination; thus one who is expelled as a result of this; Hall (1856) does not support De Vere's idea of 'backing out' of an exam; the definition is simply that of failure. 1854 Yale Literary Mag. xx 76: I am a college pony. Coming from a junior's room; /1 bore him safe through Horace and saved him from a flunkey's doom, 1872 Schele De Vere Americanisms 603: Flunky, in college parlance, means the man who backs out from recitation or examination for fear of failure; while in the slang of Wall-street it denotes the unlucky outsider who ventures to speculate in stocks without the necessary knowledge of monetary matters. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IV:iii 202: flunky, one who fails. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 111: Some of the flunkees took the news very casually, packed their trunks, sold their furniture, and departed. 1957 H.S. Thompson letter 3 Mar. in Proud Highway (1997) 45: The list of flunkees and potential flunkees is imposing, 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 119: Flunky A person without much social or academic ability.

flunky n? {also flunkey) [SE flunkey, servant] 1 a menial, a stooge. 1874 in J.H, Carter Log of Commodore Rollingpin 215: [song title] The Colored Flunky Band. 1894 G.A. Sala London up to Date 23: Aha! I hear my enemies ejaculate. Flunkey! Parasite! Snob! Toad-eater! Tuft-hunter! Flunkey! 1908 J. Kelley Thirteen Years in Oregon Penitentiary 66: The 'head snitch' is sometimes called the head

flush

181

flunkey. 1926 J. Tully Jarnegan (1928) 226: I left word that when Irene's flunky came for the jewels he was to see me. 1931 W.N. Burns One-Way Ride 77: This man of the underworld [...] lived like a prince, surrounded by flunkies. 1940 E. O'Neill Long Day's Journey into Night II ii: He may not be a fancy millionaire's flunky but he's honest! 1953 J. Thompson Alcoholics (1993) 61: He knew he was only a flunky. 1964 Larner & Tefferteller Addict in the Street (1966) 178: We were just flunkies, you know, working for someone higher. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 72: Reggie would strut around uptown with these two flunkies of his. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 160: Richard, seated on an ornate throne, was carried in by sweating flunkies. 1999 Observer Mag. 11 July 29: Flunkies in caramel-coloured suits, walkie-talkies clamped to their ears. 2001 (con. 1964—8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 20: The pro said he showed up with two girls and some flunky. 2 (US) an assistant cook in a mining or lumber camp. 1914 B.T. Harvey 'Addenda - The Northwest' in DN IV:ii 163: flunky, n. In mining and logging camps, a waiter. 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 158: At chow that night the flunkeys brought in great enamelled dishes of lamb-stew. 1938 (con. c.1910) S.H. Holbrook Holy Old Mackinaw 192: A cookee is here a flunkey. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1956 F.O. Beck Hobohemia 14: A new job is listed, 'Flunky Wanted,' six dollars a week and board. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 45: The cook and his [...] flunkeys were now busy cleaning up. 3 (US black) an undistinguished person. 1965 S. Yurick Warriors (1966) 71: The coin flunky ducked in and

down in his cage. 1969 Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective (1972) 109: Face is a term applied to anyone on the street who is known as a creep, flunky, or nobody. 1983 N. Heard House of Stammers 87: Now to every stud but Honky Tonk Bud / He looked like an ordinary flunky. 4 attrib. use of sense 1. 1953 S. Bellow Augie March (1996) 189: I had [...] a flunky job,

washing cages and sweeping up dogs' hair. 1955 P. Rabe Benny Muscles In (2004) 177: Why do you think I run myself ragged doing flunky errands.

flunky n.^ (? joc. use of FLUNK n.^ (1)] a condom. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 31: That reminds us, ah must buy some

flunkies. 2001 1. Welsh Glue 49: That's three times now, n only once wi a flunky n aw.

flunky adj.

[flunk n,^ (4)] (US) ignorant, second-rate.

1911 J, Lomax Cowboy Songs 156: He thumped him in the shoulders

and spurred him when he whirled, / To show them flunky punchers that he was the wolf of the world,

flurgle v. see furcle v. flurry n. [McDonald's/WcfUr/y icecream] {Aus.) a promiscuous young woman. 2001 Sydney Morning Herald (Aus.) 6 Jan. n.p,: So here's a tentative guide to Sydney teenspeak: [...] A flurry (a girl perceived to be easy, from McDonald's Mcflurry ice-cream. Heaven knows why),

flurt n.^ [SE flurt/flirt, a smart rap or tap] an act of copulation. 1700 T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 142: Who was it that took the old woman from weeding, and gave her a flurt under the burgamy pear tree,

flurt n? see flirt n. flush n.^ {US) the lavatory. 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 43: Spends about two hours a day in the flush.

flush n.^

[pun on poker flush, five consecutive cards of the same suit] {S.Afr. gay) a group of homosexual men. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/1: flush n. a group (of queens) (A flush of

Queens).

flush adj. {also flushed)

[the level of the liquid that is flush with the rim

of the glass) drunk. 1737 B, Franklin 'Drinkers Diet.' in Pennsylvania Gazette 6 Jan. in AS XII:2 91: They come to be well understood to signify plainly that A MAN IS DRUNK. [...] Flushed. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. V 82: I saw him, but he was very much flushed with liquor! 1914 Joyce 'A Little Cloud' Dubliners (1956) 73:1 met him one night in London and he seemed to be very flush. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 225-. Our tippler may further be [...] flushed.

flush

v.^ [some punitive whipping was still carried out in public; the

horse

is a wooden frame to which the victim is secured] to whip; thus flushed

on the horse, privately whipped in prison. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 136: FLUSH, to whip; 'flushed on the horse,' to be privately whipped in jail. 1873 SI. Diet.

flush v.^ [SE flush, to empty/refill a lavatory bowl] (US) to reject, to cancel, to discard. 1955 E. Abbey Brave Cowboy (1958) 39: Flush that noise! 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 33: 'Flush him,' I said. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens'

flushed

Vernacular 8^-. flush (fr teen si, late '50s = to evacuate toilet-wise) to reject; to cancel; to eliminate.

flushed ad/, see flush ad/. flushing n. (UK drugs) the act of drawing blood into the syringe when injecting a narcotic. 1967 Glatt et al. Drug Scene in Great Britain 116: Flushing - draw up and re-inject blood. 1975 cited in Spears SI. and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986). 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

flusie n. see floozy n. flustered adj. [17C SE fluster,

flute!

182

to make half-tipsyl drunk.

1650 Eighth Libera! Science n.p.; No man must call a Good-fellow

Drunkard [...] But if at any time they spie that defect in another, they may without any forfeit or just exceptions taken, say. He is Foxt, He is Flaw'd, He is Fluster'd, He is Suttle, Cupshot, Cut in the Leg or Back, He hath seen the French King, He hath swallowed an Hair or a Taven-Token, he hath whipt the Cat, He hath been at the Scriveners and learned to make Indentures, He hath bit his Grannam, or is bit by a Barn Weasel. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) n.p.: No man ought to call a Good-fellow a Drunkard; but [...] he may without a forfeit say he is [...] fluster'd. 1686 Commonwealth of Women Prologue: Another to compleat his daily task, fluster'd with claret, seizes on a mask [F&H]. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flustered. Drunk. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No, 3 n.p.: I [...] therefore take this publick Occasion, to admonish a Young Nobleman, who came fluster'd into the Box last Night. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy ii 261: When I vext proud Celia just come from my glass, / She tells me I'm flustered, and look like an ass. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c. 1698]. 1737,1759,1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1959) 491: The uncle, who was a very great lover of the bottle, had so well plyed his nephew, that this latter, though not drunk, began to be somewhat flustered. 1770 Foote Lame Lover in Works (1799) II 87: I begin to feel myself fluster'd already. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms.

flusticate v. [SE fluster] to confuse. 1837 'Nights At Sea' in Bentley's Misc. Nov. 613: I own I was a bit

flusticated. 1845 W.T. Porter Big Bear of Arkansas (1847) 98: Being sorter flusticated like, thinkin of that skrape, last time I was there [...] I didn't notis perticlar where I sot.

flute n.^ [note double entendre in D'Urfey, Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719): 'Sawney’s Flute can only do't, / And Pipe a Tune to please me'l 1 the Recorder of London [pun on SE recorder, a flute-like instrument], c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flute, the Recorder of London, or of any other Town. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. n.p.: Flute, the recorder of any town. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 34: flute The recorder of a city.

2 (also silent flute) the penis. C.1670 Broadside in Adlard Fruit of That Forbidden Tree (1975) 89: She

will handle a flute / Better far than a lute / And make what was hard to grow tender. 1700 'The Wanton Trick' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 93: Thus she with her Lute, and he with his Flute, I Held every Crotchet and Prick. a.1720 'She Met with a Country-Man' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 258: He took her by the middle, / And taught her by the Flute, 1736 Cupid 163: The Flute is good thats made of Wood And is, I own, the neatest; Yet neertheless I must confess. The silent flute's the sweetest [F&H]. 1750 'The Silent Flute' in Button Hole Garland 6: Said he my Dear be Easy, / I have a Flute which tho' 'tis Mute, / May play a Tune to please ye. 1767 Bridges Homer Travestie (2nd edn) I 107: Hoping a tune o'th' silent flute / Would keep the scolding baggage mute. 1775 'Miss Inglis' in Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh n.p.: She is remarkably fond of performing on the silent flute, and can manage the stops extraordinary well. 1788 'The Musical Piper' Irish Songster 3: Your flutes out of order poor Mathew Malone, c.1790 'Davie Williamson' Irish Ballads 4: His flute being long, and play'd so strong. 1819 Beppo in London liv: It was a patent Flute, and not on earth A finer shape'd one ever had been shaken - Besides 'twas perfect in the bottom keys. Which all musicians know are meant for C's! 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1969 P. Boyle All Looks Yellow to the Jaundiced Eye 55: A copper is not at his best kneeling on the floor of a piss house with his flute hanging out. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 320: Ding-dong, dingus, dink, dork, flute. 1990 R, Doyle Snapper 5: It was his flute tha' - Daddy! 1998 P, McCabe

Breakfast on Pluto 28: Girls didn't really have any experience of boys and their electric little tootling flutes! 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Flute (n): penis.

3 a pistol. 1837 'Handy Andy' in Bentley's Misc. Apr. 375: 'Where are the flutes?' [...] 'Here,' said the squire, producing a very handsome mahogany case of Rigby's best. 4 (US drugs) an opium pipe; thus hit the flute v., to smoke opium. 1881 San Jose Mercury 8 Oct. The foolish [...] boy [...] who deems it something smart to 'visit a joint' or 'hit the flute,' 5 (Aus.) a jockey's whip; thus put the flute on v., to whip a horse. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. Si. [unpub. ms.] 75: FLUTE slang / jockeys or other horsemen a whip. To put the flute on a horse is to flog him. 6 a police whistle. 1934 A. Bracey School for Scoundrels in DU. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1981 (con. 1900-30) A. Harding in Samuel East End Und. 282: Flute - Policeman's whistle, 7 a male homosexual. 1937 R.B. Nye 'A Musician's Word List' in A5 XII: 1 46: flute. A male homosexual.

■ In compounds flute-player (n.) (US) a fellator or fellatrix. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1979 Maledicta III:2 231: A sod or a bugger need not be a pedicator any more than a cocksucker in America need be a maneater, a head artist, a flute-player or a fellator.

■ In phrases play a tune on the one-holed flute (v.) (US gay) to fellate. 1972 B.

Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular.

play the flute (v.) 1 (US) to perform fellatio, 1917 (ref. to 1894) T. Dreiser Newspaper Days (2000) 590: They go down on you - blow the pipe - play the flute. Aren't you on? 1927 '.I.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 44: Tired of the various postures of love, [he] determined ]...] to begin by teaching her how to play the flute. 1947 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 87: Now he plays flute with Jan Garber. 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 149: Maybe if I played the flute like you do, honey. I'd be bursting with notes. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 483: Bobbi joined Rosie in playing the flute, and with her supple fingers. Bob Massingale started to hit the high notes. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 2 (drugs) to smoke opium. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 98: 'You play the flute too?' he asked me ]...] and they all fell about at this funny gag. flute n.^ (also highland flute) labbr,] a suit. 1930 (con. 1910-20S) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 119: Highland flute ... suit of clothes. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 80: A chopper in one hand / A dagger in my flute. 2002 K. Lucas 'All my life I've wanted to be a Barrow Boy' Obfuscation News Apr. Issue 20 [Internet] 'What I want made,' he told Tom, 'is a true Costermongers Flute, similar to that worn by Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Corduroy Round the Houses, a Velvet Billy Goat, a scarf choker and the crowning glory, a flat cap.' flute v.^ [SE flute v.) (Aus.) to talk incessantly. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.[ 75: [...[ to flute - to talk. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Oct. 43/1: That's where we fall in - or, rather, it's where those hundreds you were fluting about disappear. 1911 E, Dyson 'Barracking' in Benno and Some of the Push 140: T' hear him flute you'd think he'd discovered th' whole team on a doorstep. 1943 J. Phelan Letters from the Big House 144: 'E says as 'is china bust a two-handful kite, Scotch jug, flutes the bogeys cause the jumper ses the moniker's bent. Slung 'em the madam, an' copped. 1963 A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 6: All the sort that flute 'Mummy' and 'Daddy' in high-class accents.

■ In phrases hold the flute (v.) (Aus.) to monopolize the conversation. 1902 Bulletin Reciter 1880-1901 19; He never tired while he 'held the flute' of telling what he could do. on the flute (Aus.) talking continually. 1909 A. Wright A Rogue's Luck (1931) 161: Gor blime, oncet you get on th' flute about th' good old days of th' game, yer dead ter talk orl night.

pass the flute (v.) (Aus.) to let someone else speak. 1900-10

Stephens

&

O'Brien

Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub.

ms.].

put your flute away (Aus.) stop talking, shut up. 1902 Bulletin Reciter 1880-1901 80; Sit down, and put yer flute away —or else I '11 break yer jaw. flute V? [FLUTE n.^ (2)1 (US gay) to fellate. 1972 (ref. to 1930s) B. [...] flute ('30s).

Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular 33: to suck a penis

flute! exci. [? euph. for fuck! exc/.j (Irish) a general excl. of surprise, annoyance. 1997 Share Slanguage.

fluter

fluxy

183

fluter n. [flute v.^] (Aus.) an incessant talker.

RAF officers who have a flutter, just as they might chase the girls and hit the bottle.

1898 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Dec. Red Page: An incessant talker is a

skiter or a fluter. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 75: [...] a fluter would be a verbose person. 1906 Gadfly (Adelaide) 28 Mar. 9/1: Called 'im the Fluter 'count uv im yappin'. 'Struth! 'e could chin it a bit. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 178: Where's phil the Fluter now?

fluter n? [flute n?

(2)] a fellator (thus generic for a male homosexual) or fellatrix.

have a flutter for (v.) to attempt, to try to obtain something. 1873 SI. Diet, n.p.: 'I'll have a flutter for it' means I'll have a good try for it.

flutter n.^ 1 any form of sexual experience; thus be on the flutter, to be a sexual sophisticate; do/have a flutter, to enjoy hedonistic rather than procreative intercourse; have had a flutter, to have lost one's virginity.

1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Fluter. A degenerate. 1931

Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 201: The men and boys who persist in singing or reciting this muck are regarded as 'mousers' or 'fluters' and as such avoided. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 72/2: Fluter. See Fag. 1965 Guild Diet, Homosexual Terms 16: fluter (n.): A fellator, as used by heterosexuals. (Rare.). 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 16: The disliked person is accused of being a fag (or Three-Letter Man), a faggot, a fairy, a pansy, a queer, afndt, a fluter, or the Queen of the Flits in Hoboken.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues III 40/2: To have had a flutter [...] = (1) TO HAVE BEEN THERE [,..] (2) tO have lost one's maidenhead. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 88: If there are any kids as the result of these quite natural flutters they are just ignored.

Irwin

2 (US) (also flutterer) a male homosexual, [1734 J. Gay Distress'd Wife II viii: lady willit,: (Reads) A Dangler. One that passes his time Time with the Ladies; who says nothing, does nothing, means nothing, and whom nothing is meant. It puts one in mind of Mr. Flutter..] 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1965 (ref. to 1930s-40s) Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 16: flutterer (n., obs.): An effeminate male homosexual a short-lived word invented by the press in the late 1930's or early 1940's. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular ly. stereotype effeminate homosexual [...] flutterer.

fluthered adj. [also fluther-eyed, fluthery-eyed) [? SE fluttered] (Irish) very drunk. c.1940-5 'Myles na gCopaleen' Best of Myles (1968) 101: Remember well many's a county council meeting, fluther-eyed note-takers couldn't get the half of it, stuff that days was spent thinkin' out. [Ibid.] 338: Drunk; jarred; fluthered [...] fluthery-eyed; spiflicated; screwed; tight. 1969 P. Boyle All Looks Yellow to the Jaundiced Eye 32: By this time we were all getting a bit mouldy, but poor bloody Joe was properly fluthered. 1996 Sun. Indep. (Dublin) 21 April n.p.: The men exchange reminiscences about the time they got fluthered at one sports event or another [BS]. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fluthered (a): drunk.

flutter n.^ [the excitement that flutters one's heart or the punter fluttering their money at the bookmaker] 1 a small, swift trip.

■ In phrases do a flutter (v.) (also have a flutter) to have sexual intercourse, 1937-84

2 a spree, an adventure; thus on the flutter, out on a spree. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Sept. 25/4: Vic.

Contingent Private M'Cance - dangerously wounded and captured in S'Africa - returned, the other day, to his native place near Castlemaine; and, as a preliminary flutter, had to kiss all the young woman thereof. 3 an attempt, a try. 1873 SI. Diet. 166: Flutter to try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. 'I'll have a FLUTTER for it,' means I'll have a good try for it. Also to toss for anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 14/1: We should like to see a firstclass man from England or America come out and give him a flutter, as there does not appear any show of a colonial tackling him. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: flutter — An attempt. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.LF. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: flutter. An attempt, 'give it a flutter'. 1946 F.J. Hardy 'The Load of Wood' in Man From Clinkapella 8: I reckon we orta give it a flutter.

Flutter

■ In phrases flutter a judy (v.) to pursue and/or seduce a woman. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues III 40/2: = both to pursue and possess a girl.

to flutter

A JUDY

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases flutter a skirt (v.) to work as a prostitute. 1890-1904

flutter v.^

Farmer

&

Henley

[flutter n.^]

SI. and Its Analogues.

1 to enjoy oneself.

1692 C. Gildon Dialogue from Hell of Cuckoldom 15: S---nk me, Ned, I was always of thy Mind, as long as I could flutter abroad in my Glass Coach [...] D---me if I car'd a rush who rid in my Saddle. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 to gamble, to wager. 1883 "Arry on His Critics and Champions' in Punch 14 Apr. 180/1: Young pidgins too funky to flutter, old roosters too stale to enjoy. 1895 Westminster Gazette 31 July 3/1: The three American girls [...] were seen [...] 'fluttering' for the upper berth in their cabin [OED]. 1905 Marvel 111:61 14: Bet ye're going to flutter. 3 (Aus.) to try something out. 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] FLU'TTER —To give a trial.

flutterbudget n. (also flutter-guts) (US) a particularly fussy person. 1929 S.J. Perelman Dawn Ginsbergh's Revenge 173: What a flutterbudget I am, to be sure. 1997 Share Slanguage.

4 a bet, often presumed to be small, unless used ironically; usu. in phr. have a flutter. 1880 J. Payn Confidential Agent I 134: I am not funky of you at any game, and I want a 'flutter'. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 Aug. 17/1: The Juvenile Stakes at Warwick Farm, on Saturday, the first two-yearold flutter of the season, bought out ten youngsters. 1896 Albert Chevalier 'The Racecourse Sharper' [lyrics] I let's 'em 'ave a flutter for ter win their L.s.d. 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 259: I'm jiggered if/don't have a flutter. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 29/2: Well one of these days when the ole man with the billygoat beard sittin' on the three-legged stool reading the noospaper dies, just you send to me, an' I might have a flutter at it. 1913 'J.W.L.' Slave Stories 41: Here goes for a flutter, in which you gossoons will be darned glad to chip in your hard-earned dollars. 1920 'Sapper' Bulldog Drummond 62: 'Are you interested in gambling?' [...] 'A mild flutter, Mr. Peterson, every now and then.' 1930 W.S. Maugham BreadWinner Act II: Whether he's a gambler who wants a flutter for the excitement of it, or a fool who thinks he can make money. 1940 S. Lister Mistral Hotel (1951) 65: Palm Beach is open and we might have a flutter. 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 41: I suppose it is worth a small flutter. 1967 J. Hibberd White with Wire Wheels (1973) 101: Why not have a flutter, eh Robbo? 1976 P, Theroux Family Arsenal 173: 'It's just a flutter,' she said, 'Bit of fun. Little gamble.' 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 24: These old dears wanted a flutter, 1997 P. Theroux Kowloon Tong 25: Betty gambled at Happy Valley and Sha Tin, but never recklessly. 'Just a flutter,' 2006 K. Palmer A Roving Commission 138: I've known many

DSUE (1984) 412/1: since ca, 1875.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues III 40/2: [...] (common) To go in for a bout of pleasure.

1857 C. Keene letter in Layard Life iii (1892) 62: I had a brief flutter

down to the coast of Devon [OED]. 1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leicestershire 376: The same fox [...] had given us a first flutter across the country [OED].

Partridge

flutter v.^ to have sexual intercourse.

fluttering n. (US gay) walking in an exaggeratedly effeminate style. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 239: He would illustrate the swagger of the feminine type and the mincing short-stepped swaying gait of the masculine, the fluttering, so-called,

flux vf' [SE flux, to confuse) to cheat, to deceive. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 98: Yes, Rot her, now I recollect, I believe she did once lend me a Flannel one to be Flux'd in. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

flux v.^ [SE flux, to make salivate, to purge] to salivate. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

flux me! excl. an excl. of asseveration; I'll be damned! under damn V.

1701 Cibber Love Makes a Man III i: You may look as terrible as you please, 1 must banter you, flux me. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 238: But flux me, tho' you'll think it odd, / I've a great notion you're a God. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 331: Flux me if I will pass your door!

fluxy adj. [orig. used of under-ripe or blemished mangoes] (W.l.) superficially impressive, 1970s T. Rhone Gloss, in Old Story Time (1981) n.p.: fluxy: flawless on outside but rotten inside. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall

fluzie/fluzy

Diet. 20: Fluxy immature: having loose body tat: (of people, fruits): K. fluxy bwoy.

fluzie/fluzy n. see floozy n. fluzzy-duzzy n. |? play on LEZZiE n.

+ redup.l (US black) a lesbian.

1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

fly n.^ [SE fly, a fast carriage, a stage-coach) (UK Und.) a wagon, 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Fly, a Waggon, i.e. Country Cart. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 12: Fly, a Waggon, i.e. a Countrey Cart. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. c.1821 C. Sloman 'The Good Old Times' in Matthews

Cockney Past and Present 85: Vot they vonce call'd a vaggon is now called a fly.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases on the fly |SE/(y, to move quickly] 1 (US) in a hurry, on the move, spontaneously. 1868 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' in Temple Bar Mag. Nov. 537: Picking pockets [...] is more difficult on the 'fly'. 1874 'English SI.' in Eve. Telegram (N.Y.) 9 Dec. 1/5: Let us present a few specimens:- [...] 'On the fly.' c.1880 'US Army SI. 1870s-I880s' [compiled by R. Bunting, San Diego CA, 2001] On the fly In a hurry: in motion. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 62: I nails a grab iron on the fly. 1940 B. Appel People Talk (1972) 272: You eat your dinner on the fly so you can finish drillin' by four o'clock. 1954 Kerouac letter 2 Jan. in Charters I (1995) 427: And my God if Burroughs goes there I'm sure to come on the fly. 1969 M. Puzo Godfather 145: I'll spot you and put on my headlights and catch you on the fly. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 47: I snatch up the strap of the pig on the fly. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 1993 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: on the fly - hurriedly. 'I ate a burger on the fly.' 1999 Guardian Rev, 15 Oct. 21: His on-the-fly imagination.

2 (US tramp) while moving, usu. describing the boarding of a (freight) train; often as catch it on the fly. 1907 J. London Road 159: Wait till you hit the Pennsylvania, four tracks, no water tanks, take water on the fly, that's goin' some. 1917 'A-No. 1' From Coast to Coast with Jack London 24: See our train taking water on the fly! 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 178: He caught a streetcar on the fly which happened to be going down to the railroad station. 1930 C.R. Shaw Jack-Roller 128:1 waited at the depot and caught the Omaha Limited 'on the fly', c.1935 J. Wright 'Battler's Ballad' in Seal (1999) 97: With your swag held at the ready, your nerves are not so steady / For you know you've got to take her on the fly. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 71: I've toted a pack down a B and O track / hopped redball freights on the fly. 1990 (con. 1930s-60s) H. Huncke Guilty of Everything (1998) 238: We waited 'til they linked up the various cars and gave the highball, and then we caught it on the fly. 3 cunningly, clandestinely, in secret. 1929 C. McKay Banjo 317: They were all going 'on the fly' and none of them was thinking of staying with the boat after the trip, but rather of getting to Cuba, Canada, and the United States. 1930 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 190: So we pulled out our guns and we got him on the fly, / Crawled in the weeds, and I guess he's going to die. 1949 N. Algren Mart with the Golden Arm 17: He had snatched snipes, on the fly. 1993 I. Rankin Black Book (2000) 133: He knew they were decorators because they'd asked him if he needed any work doing. 'On the fly, like. Cheaper that way.'

4 by mistake. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 141: I'm here on the fly, caught up in the web.

5 (US black) living in an expensive, fashionable, self-indulgent manner. 1994 G. Smitherman Black Talk.

fly n.2 [SE fly, i.e. one is 'flying a kite'] a trick, a dodge. 1891 A. Das Mysterious Beggar 271:1 put it to him steep: and, my boy,

[...] he riz to the fly!

■ In phrases on the fly 1 begging by following passers-by and asking for cash, rather than 1861 (con. 51/2: The fly- which

fly

184

standing in one place. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor II 'first move' in his mendicant career was taking them on the means meeting the gentry on their walks, and beseeching

or at times menacing them till something is given.

2 getting one's living by theft, prostitution or some other form of crime. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1931 D. Runyon 'Earthquake' in Runyon on Broadway

(1954) 146: Sam is on the fly at the time,

fly n.^ [pun on BLUEBOTTLE n. (2)] 1 a police officer. 1857 J. Archbold Magistrate's Assistant n.p.: A fly, A policeman, c.1863

gloss, in Occurence Book of York River Lockup in Seal (1999) 37: A cross

cove who had his regulars lowr, a fly grabbed him. I am afraid he will blow it. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police' 320: A policeman ... A fly. Jack, B.D., slip, crusher, peeler, body-snatcher, raw lobster, tin ribs, stalk, danger signal, terror etc. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 395: Nicknames current among boys (...) Fly, Flatfoot. 2 see FLY COP n. (1).

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fly-blister (n.) (? its minimal impact] (Aus.) a minor newspaper. 1896-9 H. Lawson 'The Hero of Redclay' in Roderick (1972) 295: A Parliamentary push that owned some city fly-blisters and country papers sent him up to edit the Advertiser.

flybog (n.) [flies that land on jam tend to get stuck] (Aus.) treacle, jam. 1918 Aussie (France): Aus. Soldiers' Mag. Feb. 6/2: Back in the wagon lines we et butter, rooty, rice an' flybog. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. /.../ in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: fly BOG. Jam. 1944 J. Devanny By Tropic Sea and Jungle 214: Sometimes you take a tin of fly-bog (treacle) with you as a luxury. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 27: Not even a tin of fly-bog of a Sunday tea - that's if they had jam in them days.

fly-cage (n.) (also flytrap) [joc. use of SE -f ? ref. to the

fly

adj. (1)

young gentleman it ensnares] the vagina. 1879 'Sub-Umbra, or Sport among the She-Noodles' in Pearl 3 Sept. 2: La! Polly has got no hair on her fly trap yet. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fly-catcher (n.) 1 a gawping fool (his open mouth]. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk I 103: The bunsellers or cake-makers [...] did injure them most out¬ rageously, calling them [...] ninnie-hammer fly-catchers (...) and other such like defamatory epithets. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 59: Ye lovely Cyprians, never hire a young flycatching foot-boy (...) but keep a stout, sturdy young fellow.

2 the vagina [see prev.l. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fly cemetery (n.) [joc. 'resemblance'] 1 a pastry square filled with mincemeat. 1963 New Society 22 Aug. 37/2: The well-known fly cemetery and frogspawn are still ok - descriptions of currant puddings and tapioca. 1970 Partridge DSUE (7th edn) 1141: since ca. 1945. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1: fly cemetery dried fruit mix in pastry sandwich, usually currants, sometimes called a squashed fly cemetery it sultanas; in English boarding schools a currant pudding. 1988 N. Virtue Then Upon the Evil Season 104: Pita ate another fly cemetery. Then he sat, looking queasy. 1991 M. Binchy Circle of Friends 173: Could the thought of my company (...) and the distinct possibility that I would buy you a coffee and a fly cemetery make you change your mind? 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988). 2 (N.Z.) a raisin biscuit. 1980 L. Leland Personal Kiwi-Yankee Dia. 3 steamed pudding with currants. 1963 New Society 22 Aug. in DSUE (1984). 4 (Irish) a currant bun. 2001 G. COUGHLAN Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Fly Cemetery (n): currant bun. 2005 Y. Collins Introducing Vivian Leigh Reid 30: 'Try the fly cemetery,' he suggests. I stare into his eyes, transfixed, before offering this conversational gem: 'What?' 'The currant buns,' he says.

fly-dusters (n.) the fists. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 160: Our chauffeur (...) entertains the idea that he can 'go a bit with his fly-dusters', fly flapper (n.) a heavy club. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. fly jerks (n.) (Aus.) the small pieces of cork suspended from a hat to ward off flies. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. fly machine (n.) (? the effect of the drink makes one 'fly'] (S.Afr. black) methylated spirits. 1985 Pace Sept, n.p.: Have you heard that Ai-ai or flymachine is gaining popularity once more in the townships (...) it is on the verge of overtaking the concoetjon (mbamba) (...) current drinkers of Flymachine have forgiven it for killing seven old ladies [...]. who took too much Ai-ai [...]. Flymachine is the blue methylated spirits (DSAE). flypaper (n.) (US) a contemptible person. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 8/1: Fly paper - A fellow who sticks around to catch something. 1927 B. Cormack Racket Act III: Orders, flypaper! I'll give the orders tonight,

fly pies (n.) see squashed fly rink (n.) a bald head.

flies

n.

1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

fly

fly

185

fly sheer (n.) ['from their sitting on horse-back, under an arch, where they

have a fly at (v.) (Aus.) to have a try, to make an attempt.

are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords' (Grose, 1785)] a member of the Life Guards; thus a cavalryman.

1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 44/2: I d'no 'ow 'e goes on stump jerkin'. 'E'll 'ave a cut at it, though. 'E's one 'o these 'ere coves 'e'd 'ave a fly at anythink. 1915 F, Garrett diary 1 Nov. [Internet] Latest rumor - we may have a fly at Salonica. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1964 P. White Burnt Ones 152: Provided it is not you [...] who are having a fly at doing good, I shall not worry all that much,

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fly SLICERS, life guard men, from their sitting on horse-back, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

flyspeck (ad/.) see separate entry. fly-swisher stew (n.) [the function of the ox's tail] (Aus.) oxtail stew. 1959 Baker Drum.

flytrap (n.) 1 the mouth, esp. a large one [note trap n? (5)]. 1797 M.G. Lewis in Sporting Mag. June X 174/1: The bride shuts her fly trap; the stranger complies. 1848 E. Bennett Mfke Fink 9/1: Jest keep that ugly fly-trap o' yourn shut. 1851 'How Sally Hooter Got Snake-Bit' in T.A. Burke Polly Peahlossom's Wedding 71:1 shut up my fly trap, an' lay low an' kep dark! 1862 J.A. Hardwick 'Cheap John' Prince of Wales' Own Song Book 50: Shut up your fly-traps and listen to Cheap John. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 25: If I'd knowed you was Bill Roberts there wouldn't been a peep from my fly-trap. 1917 'Henry Handel Richardson' Aus.-Felix (1971) 25: You keep your fly-trap shut, my fine fellow, 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1965 W. Alfred Hogan's Goat 1 iv: A Lutheran lawyer with a fly-trap mouth. 1977 T. Berger Who is Teddy Villanova? 10: 'Shut your fucking flytrap,' he growled. 1982 M. Braun Judas Tree (1983) 27: Close your flytrap and make tracks. 2 a run-down hotel or similar establishment. 1909 'O. Henry' Options (1916) 62: Old Jerome was lingering long after breakfast [...] before setting forth to his down town fly-trap. 1922-24 0.0. McIntyre White Light Nights 23: The tarnished 'Flytrap' could not compete with the mirrored elegance of a tea dansant. 1935 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 11 June [synd. col.] The cheapest of all jags [.,.] was a seidel of beer through a straw. It's still a custom in Bowery fly-traps. 1944 J. Archibald 'Downed on the Farm' in Ten Detective Aces Nov. [Internet] You mean Poultney's Paradise-in-the-Pines? [...]! would have to be paid to return to that fly trap. 3 see FLY-CACE above.

fly-up-the-creek (n.) [regional use fiy-up-the-creek, a popular name of the small green heron {Butorides virescens), a native of Florida] {US) 1 an inhabitant of Florida. 1885 North Amer. Rev. Nov. 433: Among the rank and file, both armies, it was very general to speak of the different States they came from by their slang names. Those from Maine were called Foxes; [...] Missouri, Pukes; Mississippi, Tad Poles; Florida, Fly up the Creeks; Wisconsin, Badgers; Iowa, Hawkeyes; Oregon, Hard Cases. 2 a capricious person; also as adj., foolish. 1893 in DARE. 1903 DN II. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparage¬ ment' in DN rV:iii 220: fly-up-the-creek, foolish. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 3 an immoral woman. 1966 in DARE.

■ In phrases drink with the flies (v.) see drink v. fly n" [fig. uses of SE on the fly, on the wing] a spree, a 'lark', 1889 "Arry in Switzerland' in Punch 5 Dec. in P. Marks (2006) 98: Think I / Slippin' 'ome I'll take France on the way, and go in for a bit of a fly. 1890 "Arry on the 'Oliday Season' in Punch 16 Aug. 75/1: Can't yer jest turn the tables, old hoyster, and come for a bit of a fly.

■ In phrases on the fly out on a spree; drunk. 1873 SI. Diet.

fly n.5 [SE fly, a throw, a toss] {Aus.) 1 the act of tossing a coin; esp. in a game of 'two-up'. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'The Crusaders' in Chisholm (1951) 81:1 got a bit of pelf, / An' thort I'd like to take a little fly. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 297: I'll have a fly for a quid. 2 in fig. use, a try, a 'go'; esp. as avE it a fly below. 1918 C.J. Dennis 'Jim's Girl' in Digger Smith 68: You 'ave a fly; yeh're sure to score. 1926 K.S. Prichard Working Bullocks 129: 'Might give him a fly,' Red admitted. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 297: I'll have a fly for a quid.

■ In phrases give it a fly (v.) (Aus.) to give something a try. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Battle of the Wazzir' in Moods of Ginger Mick

[unpub. unrevised proof version] An' they wouldn't be Australian 'less they give the game a fly . . . 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in theA.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: give it a fly. To make the attempt, to try a certain course of action. 1934 T. Wood Cobbers 19: They come in for miles, some of 'em, to give it a fly. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 75: We're playing with their dough, dear [...] Might as well give it a fly. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 322: I'd come in with yer fifty-fifty if you'd give it a fly.

fly

n 6 1? fly adj. (9)1 (US black) a perm or processed hair. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

fly ■ In phrases dip the fly (v.) see dip v.^, fly n s see FLY ciRL under fly adj.

fly

adj. [Scot flee, aware] below.

1

aware, knowledgeable; thus put (someone)

FLY

1724 A, Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I 441: He had a magpye That was very fly. And used for to murmur and chat [...] And the magpye Who was so very fly. He into a meeting-house gat; And as the old parson Was canting his lesson, Cry'd, what a pox wad ye be at? 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c. 187; Next he got into a Crew of Wool-Drawers, whose Trade is to snatch away Cloaks, Hats or Perukes from Towners; a very fly sort of Theft, practis'd only in the Night, the greatest Part of the Cunning lying in the Choice of a proper Opportunity. 1749 N.Y. Gazette Revived 16 Jan. 1/1: That the fly Ones should not suspect you for a Courtier, you have been likewise very arch in giving us to understand, that you had been heretofore pleased to encourage and support the Party. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Fly. Knowing. Acquainted with another's mean¬ ing or proceeding. The rattling cove is fly; the coachman knows what we are about. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London II 96:1 am not fly* to the subject at present. [* Fly—To be up to any thing, to understand, to know, or be awake]. 1838 Comic Almanack Apr. 132: And is it not unkimmon fly in them as rules the nation, / To make us end, with Botany, our public edication? 1846 New Swell's Night Guide to the Bowers of Venus 36: To enter this rendezvous [...] you must appear fly. 1853 Dickens Bleak House (1991) 224: I'm fly [...] But fen larks, you know! Stow hooking it! 1861 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) 9 Nov. 216: He's fly enough to shut up every boozing ken. 1877 Five Years’ Penal Servitude 220: The landlord was a 'fly cove'; he took his dukeship in and sent down for an inspector of police at once. 1877 'Only a Shilling' India-Rubber Face Song Book 4: Tm fly, yes, up to ev'ry trick. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 67: He was pretty 'fly' and never threw away a chance as long as he was sober. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 346: Shorty say onc't you was the fliest bloke in yer line west o' Denver. 1904 Marvel 12 Nov. 7: We'll trap him, and some of the other fly people who live in this square. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Lonesome Camp' in Ade's Fables 258: All the wise Paper-hangers and the fly Guitar Players had him marked up as a Noodle. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'A Holy War' in Chisholm (1951) 75: Yeh catch a tiny twinkle in 'is eye / Which gives the office that 'e's pretty fly / To cunnin' lurks. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 10: Wisecrackin' with the fly-lookin' jane who is workin' the bar. 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 43: The Brum Boys boasted of their reputation for 'fly-ness'. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 6: With that fly cat I'll chill my chat and fall on my righteous pad and cop a nod like mad. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act I: I have me suspicions about him. Too friggin fly by half. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 84: You're a fly bastard. 1983 T. Paulin 'A Written Answer' in Liberty Tree 37: To me this author is a fly man / and the critics yonder say his work is alright. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton Ti: You fly. Go on with your story, old man. 2001 Source Aug. 54: That's a fly bitch [...] act like she ain't ever heard it. 2 of clothing, cars, etc., fashionable; of individuals, stylish, sophisticated. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 10: A fly white petticoat. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry I i: I thought it best to see that the toggery was all right and fly. 1881 'Bill Nye' Bill Nye and Boomerang 37: She dreamed that she dwelt in marble halls and kept a girl and had a pretty fly time generally. 1903 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Sept. 12/1: Once at swell hotels you sat / Dining with the lords on high. / That was when the gods would cry, / Dazzled by your diamonds fat: / 'Look at Tottie, ain't she fly!' [Ibid.] 29 Oct. 16/4: She was 'fly,' and bright and witty, / And the 'Johnnies' called her Kitty, / And she shouted and her liquor was 'three star.' 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 65: They grill them on where they got such fly autos. 3.1962 'Answer to the Letter' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 144: The only thing that I really had, / Was my fly crib, a way-out pad. 1972 Hall & Adelman Gentleman of Leisure 47: Wait till you see the shoes I got today [...] They were something fly - suede with the wet look on top of suede and heels. 1984 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 3: fly - nice: Jack's shoes are really fly. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. Bourjois In Search

fly

fly

186 of Respect 141: He was the first one who came out with fly clothes. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 30: The downstroke kind of walk they tried to pass off as fly on TV. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 50: Gray ostrich-skin Dan Post boots with the three-inch heels, the ones Tutt thought were so fly. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 54: Nobody was more fly than Marvin Barnes. The man drove Rolls-Royce, wore a full-length mink, platform shoes... 2003 A.P. Ferguson Live Without Caution. Die Without Warning 101: The only guy 1 know [...| buyin' me gifts, fly clothes and everything. 2007 UGK 'Trill Niggaz Don't Die' [lyrics] Now it's fly to talk country, 1 made the rules hoe.

3 smart, sharp, perspicacious; thus flyness, perspicacity. 1664 T. Jordan 'The Cheaters Cheated' in A Royal Arbor 36: Our fly trappanning trade, / Maintain'd with so much fury, / Is openly bewray'd [...] They do grow cunninger than we, / And do trapan trappanners. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) II 193: But great Achilles, that fly elf, / Kept the best bed-room for himself. 1821 Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 13 Dec. 2/2: Although this man's name was not known, he was recognized by several as a person who had been what is commonly called a Fly Market Shark for several years. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor (1968) 1411:1 used to try a little thieving in Petticoat-lane. They say the 'fliest' is easy to take in sometimes - that's the artfullest; but I could do no good there. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 125: A certain prisoner, who was what is termed a very 'fly' man, i.e. a clever, scheming fellow. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Culture in the Slums' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 180: I thinks that Swinburne at a screed / Is really almost too-too fly. 1890 "Arry on Equality' in Punch 22 Feb. 85/2: Natural right don't exist, / Unless it means natural flyness, or natural power of fist. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 208: This mark of yours is Duke Merrill, the flyest one of the bunch. 1916 J. Hargrave At Suvla Bay Ch. hi: "E never goes to church parade.' 'No; 'e was a fly one - 'e was.' 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 51: You're out to feed them fly newspaper boys with live stuff till this blows over. 1942 Cab Calloway 'Let's Go Joe' [lyrics] Goodness, gracious alive, / Say Pops, don’t you be so fly. 1955 J. Blake letter 18 June in Joint (1972) 61: The flip side is Porter's I Love To Love, with a very fly lyric. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 162: You have to be a bit fly to spot the difference. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 163: Ginger is much too fly to keep anything hot. 1981 G. Young Slow Boats to China (1983) 194: Every barrack room and ship in the world has a clown like Mir Mohamed - sly, canny, harmlessly dishonest ('fly' is the army word). 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 84: A watcher and prowler who was fly enough not to appear either of these things. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dotemite.com [Internet] fly Definition: 1. Looking one's absolute best. 2. Being extremely cool. Example: Dat bitch over there be fly, man! 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 55: Dat's some fly shit, he whispered.

4 dextrous, agile. C. 1838 G.W.M. Reynolds 'The House Breaker's Song' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 123: The richest cribs shall our wants supply - / Or we'll knap a fogle with fingers fly, / When the swell one turns his back. 1882 Sydney St. Diet. 9/2: Sue flimped a soot bag and a prop. She's the flyest wire in the mob, and all the family men are spoony on her. Sue stole a reticule and a brooch. She's the smartest lady's pocket thief in the company (or 'school '), and all the thieves are smitten with her. 1890 Sporting Times 18 Jan. 1: Though you are Fly to Flee you are No Flyer at Flea-ing. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 88: The fly mugs. 1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 15: Saul is a wonder and a fly 'un. / What'll you have, Saul, at the Lion?

5 enjoying a run of good luck. 1898 W.T. Goodge 'Australia's Pride' in Bulletin 3 Sept. 32: As he was fly. he thought he'd try / The Sydney folks as well. 6 of a woman, occas. a man, promiscuous, flirtatious. 1888 S.F. News Letter 4 Feb. n.p.: I'm just getting sickn tired o the way them fly dames go on, n the way the fellahs hang round em n dance with em n so forth [F&H]. 1928 R. Fisher Walls Of Jericho 156:1 got a picture o' myself letlin' any guy alone that gets fly with my girl. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 197: Rue Auber; fly little chick gets stranglehold on my lapel, tries to cruise me up to her apartment, 1959 Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 48: The fly chicks, the prostitutes, and their sweet men. 1968 J. COLEBROOK Cross of Lassitude 128: Gee - her hair's done up and everything. She looks fly! 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 6: I'm runnin' around with these fly broads from 111th Street. 1999 Dr Dre 'Still D. R.E.' [lyrics] Whether you're cooling on a corner with your fly bitch / Laid back in the shack, play this track. 7 (US) rebellious, uninhibited in behaviour. 1898 'R. Andom' Martha and I 223: 'Don't be fly, young feller,' said the policeman. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale 135: Blast you. Mope! [...] You're too blamed fly! D'ye wanter queer the whole biz? 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 39: This fly little

bugger has given us another set of false particulars. 1998 Source Nov. 25: They were talking about partying, getting fly, getting money. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 7 May 48: He's a shy guy, not a fly guy.

8 (orig. US) insolent, brash. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 65: Well, don't get fly here, son. It won't pay you.

9 (US black/campus) of a woman, attractive, pretty, stylish. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 2: Your fly chick is looking

most frantic and your short is all gassed up and ready to roll. 1987 Ice-T 'Rhyme Pays' [lyrics] Because my jams be crazy packed with all fly ladies / I'm talkin' def girlies and I don't mean maybe. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 106: 'That mean I got little tits?' 'No. You got fly tits.' 1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 16: You can be successful, beautiful and fly without being glamorous all the time. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fly n. Super fly, so fly, ultimate fly, fly fly, fuck'in fly. Complement, meaning a studly male, or simply a good compliment--as cool, or attractive [...] Can also be used by males to describe a hot female. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 293: 'The way they say it - "Coco, you, that girl is fly. your daughter is fly".' 10 (US) terrific. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 17: That's a fly stereo system!

■ In compounds fly-ass (n.) [-ass sfx] sophisticated, up-to-the-minute. 1998 Source Nov. 118: I just can't believe that I'm seeing a video game with fly-ass beats, where rapping is the objective,

fly-boy (n.) see separate entry, fly bull (n.) see fly cop n. (1). fly card (n.) [card n.^ (2)] a knowledgeable, aware, cunning person. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 22/4: Time was, when the Flycards,

Downy-birds, and divers other wise men of this land could set an example to the whole world in the way of working up a profitable little bit of land speculation, but to-day there comes a tale from Queensland which shows that [...] we are but babes in the way of business.

fly chick (n.) [chick n.^ (3)1 (US black) a hedonistic young woman who enjoys parties and her social life. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

fly cop (n.) see separate entry. fly crutch (n.) [crutch n.^] (US) any fashionable automobile. 1996-2000 (con. 1940s) Deuce Ofay Productions 'The Jive Bible' at JiveOn.com [Internet[ Cop and blow [...] You slap yo'self a good, long peep at Kenny, boy. Check his action - he gots a fly crutch, a diff'rent zoot suit fo' every piece o' seven an' a rep dat come through de slammer trey hours befo' he slide in. Kenny's secret be dat he cop an' blow, keepin' de green flow,

fly dick (n.) see fly cop n. (1). fly-dipping (n.) (UK Und.) pickpocketing; ? without a supporting gang. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 5/1: Some who were good at 'stalling' for the 'dip' in a 'push' were 'rung' for others who were used to 'fly-dipping'. [Ibid.] 62/1: They were goin on the 'fly-dip,' and of course the rain would prevent the people from coming out.

fly flat (n.) [flat n.^ (1)] 1 (a/so fly gee) a con-man's victim who believes himself to be cleverer than he actually is [gee

(1)].

1889- 90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI, Jargon and Cant I 376/2: Flyflat (turf), one who really knows little or nothing about racing, but

fancies himself thoroughly initiated in all its mysteries. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 228: Mr. 'Cutty' Rayner, a sporting gentleman of the 'fly-flat' order. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Aug. 30/ 3: May Yohe is another addition to the long list of actresses who, after 'taking down' every well-to-do fellow who ever got infatuated with them, have been eventually taken down themselves by a bounding adventurer. The actress and the barmaid are the representative female 'fly-flats' of this world. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 267: That's where your fly-flat comes a bloomer. He won't admit as there's a single move on the board - or under it - that he ain't tumbled to. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 297: fly-gee. An outsider who understands confidence games, or who thinks he does. 1944 J. Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 281: He was a fly-flat.

2 in ext. use, anyone gullible. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Sept. 11/4: When owners, jockeys and

sporting noblemen all regard stiff or 'cronk' running as a matter of course, the chance of the public - the mule-headed, fly-flat, old public that pays for this great game - is fairly poverty-smitten, 3 (US) a gun. 1944 Maurer & Baker in zl5 Oct.

fly girl (n.) 1 a prostitute. 1890- 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 (US/UK black) (also fly) a smart, attractive woman.

fly

fly

187 1985 Davy DMX 'The DMX Will Rock' [lyrics] We're two fly girls sent straight from heaven / to rock to the beat for you 24:7. 1997 'Q' Deadmeat 237: Some red-skinned fly-girl in a right micro-mini. [Ibid.] 247: Bones [...] w'as now in a dark corner slow dancing with the sexy fly. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 153: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Threads. Dapper. Dipped. Clean. Sharp. Diva. Playa. Fly girl. Fly guy.

fly jay (n.) Ijay n? (2)1 (US black) an attractive woman. 1996-2000 Deuce Ofay Productions 'The Jive Bible' at JiveOn.com [Internet] I ain't got no bag 'bout hittin' it wit' a fly Jay who be chillin' wit' de red knight on de white horse,

fly man (n.) 1 a private or plainclothes detective.

2 a shrewd, cunning, usu. criminal man. 1887 J.W. Horsley Jottings from Jail 31: London for sharpers, Brummagem for thieves, Paris for flymen, Sheffield for pitchers of snyde. 1895 J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life I 14: Amongst the frequenters of that 'boozing ken,' would also be [...] the 'fly,' or cadger who begs from ladies and gentlemen along the 'tober'. 1929 J.B. Booth London Town 310: Kendillon was known to the London 'fancy' as a good judge of dogs and a 'fly man'. 1935 (con. 1920s) McArthur & Long No Mean City 76: The other two 'flymen' made for the exit. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 163: He used to think he was a bit of a flyman. 1944 J. Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 281: A fly man is a fly man, he spreads his wings and dives on his prey. 1952 'Burglar Cops' in C. Hamilton Mcu of the Und. 116: The police grew hot and sent Mr. F, a flyman, to get the rascals, 3 an expert thief. 1927 E. Wallace Squeaker (1950) 118: That's where you met the fly men and bought their sparklers,

fly mobsman (n.) [mobsman n. (1)| (UK Und.) a confidence trickster who poses as a gentleman. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 22: I'd give a hell of a lot to find out who he was. One of these fly mobsmen you read about, I shouldn't wonder. He'd got all the dope,

fly mug (n.) 1 [US prison) a railroad detective. 1931-4 D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 332/1: fly mug, n. A railroad detective.

2 a detective, 1914 Wash. Post 11 Nov. Miscellany 3/4: The minions of the law [...] 'cops,' 'mugs,' 'fly mugs,' 'bulls,' 'dicks' (an abbreviation for detectives). 1931 P. Singer 'The Electric Warden' Prison Stories Mar. [Internet] Them wuz fly-mugs, or Secret Service dicks,

fly peeler (n.) [peeler n? (1)] (UK Und.) a detective, a plainclothes policeman. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 67/1: Here I was met by Joe and his Judy, who enjoyed a hearty laugh at the outwitting of the two 'fly peelers', language]

(S.Afr. black)

a form of

urban slang used by streetwise young people, 1959 L. Longmore Dispossessed 250: Tsotsis have their own secret language known as flaaitaal or tsotsi slang, which is continually being improved on and added to. These flaaitaals differ from city to city and even in different parts of the cities [DSAE]. 1978 East Province Herald 1 May 3: [headline ] Rhodes Man researches tsotsi talk for thesis. 'In my studies [...] I would like to focus [on] 'fly taal' the language of 'hip' city slickers.' [DSAE]. 1979 Frontline Dec. 17: If you know what's good for you you'd better not call it tsotsi-taal. It's Flytaal and proud of it. True flytalers react to the term tsotsi-taal. [...] Not that Flytaal is that different from tsotsi-taal, but it's finding itself a new image [DSAE], 1992 T. Macarthur Oxford Companion to Eng. Lang. 408: Flytaal has many terms for money, clothing, and drugs, and many colourful modes of address. 2006 www.capeflats. org.za [Internet] Kapie-taal is not to be confused with what is known as 'fly-taal' or 'tsotsi-taal'. The latter two are normally used to refer to the style of speaking adopted by township gangsters, and lately, by black yuppies.

flytime (adj.) (US black) fashionable, sophisticated. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 5: Jacks and Jills from the flytime cribs to the swells flats, the joint is jammed with rug cutting eats,

■ In phrases on fly time (adj.) (US black) sophisticated.

1990 N. George 'Superfly' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994)

118: Dap sells to and negotiates with nightowl shoppers on the fly tip.

poke someone fly (v.) (UK Und.) to explain a situation to someone; to make things clear. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 64/2; In a second he was

beside Doc., poking him 'fly,' we supposed, as to who we were,

put (someone) fly (v.) (Aus./UK Und.) to make (someone) aware.

1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 405/1: Sometimes we used to get nothing shoplifting; the men, perhaps, would notice—the fly-men, as we called them. They used to be too wide-awake for us. 1894 Ade Stories of the Street and of the Town (1941) 100: Every policeman in uniform and every 'fly' man was on the lookout for a murderer. 1903 H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 44: I ran up Seventh Avenue, but was caught by a flyman (policeman). .i

fly sleuth (n.) see fly cop n. (1). fly taal (n.) (also flaaitaal) [Afk. taal,

1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 9: When I peer into her peepers, mercy miss percy, I am sent one time, she ain't no Mary Jo, but she's on fly time. on the fly tip (US black) devoted to fashion.

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1821 J. Burrowes Life in St George's Fields 9; It may be as well [...] to put you fly to a thing or two. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 54: I'll have another touch at the Old Maidl I know all about her. Coachy has put me fly! 1846 Swell's Night Guide 60: cracksman: If she was to tumble to you widding about her, she'd mug you like a shot. Wouldn't she Sail? shake: Safe, and no minks. She can slog and no flies, so help my squirter, if I doesn't put her fly to it. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 296/2: I'll put the slops fly to their game. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 13/1: Well, the fact is [...] there's nothin' to be made 'on the never' now; there's too many on the bloomin' game. If you cop a mug out of the Metropolitan, and are just getting him away right, 'bout six or seven in the same line wants to stand in; and that puts the mug fly and chokes him off the push,

fly V. [fig. uses of SE fly] 1 (UK Und.) to lift, to raise; thus fly a window V., to open a (sash) window for the purpose of breaking into a house [note theatre jargon fly, to suspend scenery or lights from above the stage!. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 167/1: To fly a window - to lift a window, 1857 J. Archbold Magistrate's Assistant 447: To lift a window, to fly a window. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 142: FLY, to lift, toss or raise; (...] 'to fly a window,' i.e., to lift one for the purpose of stealing. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. I860]. 2 of an idea, a plan, to work out, usu. in negative [the same metaphorical 'flag' as found in the SE phr. run it up the flagpole and we'll see who salutes], 1885 "Arry on 'appiness' in Punch 3 Jan. 4/1: The fact is this 'Appy New Year fake is 'oiler, mate, hutterly 'oiler, / 'Twon't fly. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 101: I told him it wouldn't fly. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 103: Introduce me as your long-lost cousin or brother or whatever the fuck will fly,

3 (US drugs) to take or to be intoxicated by psychotropic drugs [one gets HIGH adj.^ (2)]. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 41/1: Flying higher than a kite, full of dope. 1944 D. Burley Grig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 52: You see, Jackson, this roach has got me rising. In fact. I'm flying. 1959 W. Brown TeenAge Mafia 39: He'd hardly been able to wait to [...] to stick the spike into his arm and start flying toward heaven. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 28: Georgette, flying in her world of junk. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 172: He could get flying on just a single joint. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 393: Test pilot. I flew for him! [...] I let him test horse on me. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 18: Gerry [...] had washed down his share of the chemicals with a whole bottle of silver tequila and, man, was that fatboy flying! 4 to be drunk [one gets high adjj' (1)]. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 72: Oh God, he's flying tonight. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 14: But by then I'm flyin'.

■ In phrases fly a/the blue pigeon (v.) see under blue pigeon n. ■ SE, meaning to rush away, in slang uses ■ In compounds fly-away (n.) 1 a tricycle. 1902 H. Baumann 'SI. Ditty' Londinismen (2nd edn),

2 (US) a deserter. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Fly-away — A deserter from the army or navy. 2000 Guardian G2 13 Jan. 2: The HSBC high¬ flyers and the Hong Kong 'fly aways' came calling in such droves that even the liberals sold up. 3 (US prison) a fugitive. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

fly-boy (n.) see separate entry. fly-pitch (n.) [i.e. they run off when a police officer approaches) any form of street stall or other place wheie goods are sold in the open air; thus fly-pitcher, a street-seller. 1934 Eve. News 9 July 11/2: There are the 'fly pitches', spots [...] where the cheap-jacks take their stand [...] Whenever you see a really big crowd collected [...] you can be sure that one or other of the familiar fly-pitchers of London is doing his stuff. 1981 (con. C.1900) A. Harding in Samuel East End Und. 35: A lot of them were

fly

188 what we call 'fly pitchers' - they didn't have a regular stand but found a vacant place. 1983 J. Sullivan 'May the Force be with You' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Yes, I bet these developing nations are crying out for fly-pitchers!

■ In phrases fly a line (v.) ISE tine, a short letter or note] to send a letter. 1846 Darwin in Life and Letters (1887) 1 351: Immediately that I hear I will fly you a line [OED].

fly a tile (v.) see under tile n. fly one’s mouth (v.) see under mouth n. fly the basket (v.) see under basket n.\ fly the coop (v.) see under coop n.\ fly the mags (v.) see under mac n?. m SE meaning to travel through the air, in slang uses ■ In compounds flyball (n.) [? the image is of a ball that travels far and fast; or ? pun on baseball jargon flyball, a ball that can be caught 'on the fly'] 1 (US tramp) a city detective. 1926 N. Klein 'Hobo Lingo' in AS 1:12 651/1: Fly-ball - detective. 1930 G. Milburn 'They Can't Do That' in Hobo's Hornbook 233: And a fly¬ ball comes and drags you out / And fans you with a loaded bat. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 78: Fly Ball.-A detective, especially one who is a member of a city police force.

2 (US) a male homosexual. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

_

fly

flying light (adj.) [Irwin, American Tramp and Underworld Slang (1931): 'From the railroads, where a "light engine" is one travelling over the line without a train, and so able to move swiftly and without needless delay'] (US tramp) hungry; unencumbered by a pack or similar possessions. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 78: Flying LiGHT.-Hungry; without food: travelling without any excess impediment such

as

a

'bindle.'

1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: flying

LIGHT

Hungry;

-

without

food:

traveling

without

any

excess

impediment.

flying low (adj.) [pun] (Irish) having one's flies open. 1968-69 in DARE. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet]

Flying low, you're (phr): your zip is undone, flying porter (n.) a cheat who approaches the victim of robbery, tells him that he can regain the stolen goods for him and demands a payment for fetching them. 1781 G. Parker View of Society II 164: Flying Porter is a fellow dressed like a Porter; a pen and ink and sheet of paper set him up. He watches the ale-houses which sell purl early in the morning, where he looks over the yesterday's Daily Advertiser, and drinks a penny¬ worth. He looks for some robbery that has been committed. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Flying Porters. Cheats who obtain money by pretending to persons who have been lately robbed, that they may come from a place or party where, and from whom, they may receive information respecting the goods stolen from them, and demand payment as porters. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

flykite (ad/.) see under kite n. fly-over people (n.) (US) inhabitants of those states of the US over

flying stationer (n.) [SE stationer, a bookseller] a street seller of cheap

which one passes in an aeroplane flying from coast to coast; 'middle America'. 2000 A. Crouch in Regeneration RQ 6.2 Summer [Internet] Why add further fuel to the urban arrogance which in its secular versions consigns most of the United States to the category of 'flyover people.' 2006 LewRockwell.com [Internet] But what if a substantial segment of 'fly-over people' became heated enough to abandon their apathy and form a mutiny against this tyrannical captain: the

1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Flying

cultural elites?

■ In phrases fly a flag (v.) 1 see under flag n^. 2 see FLAG v.^ (3). fly a kite (v.) see under kite n. fly a/the bird (v.) see flip a/the bird under bird n^. fly-by-night see separate entries. fiy by the seat of one’s pants (v.) (also drive by the seat of one’s pants, fly with one’s ass) 1 to fly an aircraft using natural ability and daring rather than instruments and technology; thus fig. to gamble with one's life, to take extravagant risks. 1958 Listener 20 Nov. 835/3: That's no help to the man who's driving by the seat of his pants, as we used to say in the R.A.F. police [OED]. 1977 J. Langone Life at the Bottom 201: You really have to fly with your ass, says Garcia. 1983 S. King Christine 218: I've been trying to restore the car more the way he had it than the way Detroit meant it to be. So I've just been flying by the seat of my pants. 1999 Rottenberg & Shuman Rhythm of Business 15: You don't have to fly solo or fly by the seat of your pants. A lot of help is available from people, from books, and from courses. 2002 Cox & Hoover Leadership When the Heat's On 116: I've done it in supersonic fighters and I'm here to say that it's no smarter to fly by the seat of your pants at 60000 feet than it is behind your desk.

Stationers. Ballad-singers and hawkers of penny histories. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 214/2: That order or species of the pattering genus known as 'running patterers,' or 'flying stationers' from the fact of their being continually on the move while describing the attractions of the 'papers' they have to sell. 1878 C. Hindley Life and Times of James Catnach 104: Those was the days [... ] for the flying stationers and standing patterers, sir. 1880 Henley & Stevenson Deacon Brodie I tab.III i: He is disguised as a 'flying stationer,' with a patch over his eye. 1886 Athenaeum 31 July 139: Scores of tracts were issued in the Newgate region, from Giltspur Street to Blowbladder Street, whence numbers of flying stationers drew their supplies long before either of the Catnachs were born [F&H]. 1920 'Old Broadside Ballads' in C. Lovat Fraser Chap Book Sept. 4: The itinerant Chapmen, 'flying stationers' or pedlars, who included Broadside ballads among their stock of ribbons, laces etc. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 10: Such eccentricity of dress was well fitted to the trade of a flying stationer, or peddler of chapbooks and news sheets. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 41/1: Flying stationers, newsboys whose

shouting disturbs residents of the district,

fly low (v.) (US) to economize. 1904 Ade 'The Fable of Another Brave Effort' in True Bills 57: He suspected that it would be a very foxy Move to begin to economize, but he [,..] couldn't bear the Thought of having it said that he was Piking and flying low. fly Mexican airlines (v.) [the easy access to marijuana in Mexico -F flying 'high'] (drugs) to smoke marijuana. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 210\ to smoke marijuana [...] fly Mexican Airlines. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 58: Mexican airlines, to fly

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1999 D.C. Sawyer Getting It Right 56: The Fly-by-the-Seat-of-YourPants decision makers are equally inclined to sabotage their companies' futures by ignoring information. 2003 M. Edelman BomEn Baffled Parent's Guide to Sibling Rivalry A: Because [...] raising kids is often a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants experience,

fly-flapped (adj.) [SE fly-flap, to beat, to whip, orig. to hit flies with a swatter] whipped at the cart's tail or in the stocks. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Fly-Flapped. Whipt in the stocks, or at the cart's tail. 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fly hot (v.) ISE fly, to become -F HOT adj. (4a)] (US black) to lose one's temper suddenly. 1942 Z.N. Hurston Dust Tracks On a Road (1995) 572: Papa always flew hot when Mama said that.

flying high (adj.) |fig. use of SE, but cf.

ballads, criminal 'confessions' and similar popular material.

flying adj. and high adj?]

drunk. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 227: He has been [...] flying rather high. 1969 Current SI. III:4. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 200: Stens flying high on raisinjack. 1997 G. Sikes 8 Ball Chicks (1998) 163: The group of Eight balls who had

stayed away from the summit and were now flying high on coke.

v phr [R] Smoke marijuana: from the faa that much marijuana smoked in the U.S. is grown in Mexico. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fly Mexican airlines — To smoke marijuana, fly off in one’s face (v.) (also fly up...) (W.l.) to lose control, to become extremely angry. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fly out of one’s skin (v.) (W.l.) to become violently excited. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fly fly fly fly

salty (v.) see jump salty under jump v. the flag (v.) see separate entries, the kite (v.) see fly a kite under kite n. the red flag (v.) to be menstfuating.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1954 'Misc.' AS XX1X:4 298:

Reference to the Color Red [...]fly the bean flag or the red flag. 1967-8 et al. CUSS. 1979 'The Red Flag' in Bold (1979) 193: But then he saw to his despair / She had the red flag flying there. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 121: The red flag is up - menstruation. 1999 J. Randall 'A Visit from Aunt Rose' in Verbatim XXV: 1 Winter 25:

Baker

Codes that refer to blood include the red flag is up (sometimes shortened to just the flag is up or the flag is flying) also sometimes flying Baker, since Baker is the Navy code for B, and the B flag is fed).

fly

fly-by-night

189 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 266: You can come over, but I'm flying the red flag. 2000

fly up (v.) {US) to lose one's temper, to lose control. 1833

S. Smith Major Downing

(1834) 94:

4 suspected of carrying venereal disease.

The Advertiser flies up, and

says, you no business to be a republikin, you're a Jacksonite. 1884 J.C. Harris Mingo 203:1 skeer'd ter tell you. Mars. George; kaze you mought fly up en git mad. 1896 J.C. Harris Sister Jane 171: An then she flew up like wimmen will. 1908 J.C. Lincoln Cy Whittaker's Place 56: You needn't fly up like a settin' hen. 1923 W. Holtby Anderby Wold (1981) 199: And Mike, 'e flies up all at once like 'e do at times. 1949 H.S. Arnow Hunter's Horn 71: An Pop, he'd jist fly up an tell her to mind her own business. 1950 WELS n.p.: (When a person becomes over-excited, and loses control) [...] Fly up. 1966-68 in DARE. fly (up) in one’s head (v.) (IV.i.) of alcohol, to go to one's head, to make one extremely and thus dangerously drunk. 1975 cited in Allsopp

in the dough. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 80: flyblown Broke, your money blown. ANZ mid Cl9.

Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage

1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 412/2: from ca. 1885.

5 tired out, exhausted. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 412/2: from ca. 1885.

fly-boy n.^

(1996).

'Good-Doing Wheeler' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 73: His fabulous sky was broke so fly / That the city had it banned. 2 in an effeminate manner. a.1955

R. Campbell A/fce in La-La Land (1999) 168: You sure she's a girl and not some shit-chute poke acting fly?

fly-blow n.

[by-blow

1875 'OuiDA'

fly-blow

Signa

V. [SE

n. -f ? SE fly-blown] an illegitimate child.

I 140: No doubt that little fly-blow is his own.

flyblow,

the egg of a fly, which turns into a maggot that

will, in this context, figuratively devour the victim's reputation or money)

1 (US) to gossip maliciously about an absent third party, to attack behind one's back. 1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) III 99: The marquis de Marialva had at first taken a fancy to Narcissa [...] when that cockatrice Estella contrived to fly blow the bill of fare, and transfer the banquet to her own untainted charms. 1904 G.D. Chase 'Cape Cod Dialect' in DN II:vi 425: fly-blow, v. To slight, to attempt to depreciate.

2 (Aus.) to take money from someone, often by chicanery. 1941 Baker

Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

fly-blown ad/, (also fly-blowed, sun-blown) [fig. uses of SE] 1 deflowered; no longer virgin, thus, of a whore, thought to be used by many men. & Webster Northward Hoe I ii: Gentlemen, and Tobacco-stinckers, and such like, are still buzzing where sweete meates are (like Flyes) but they make any flesh stinke that they blow vpon. 1631 S. Marmion Holland's Leaguer IV ii: Hast thou e'er a morsel That is not tainted or fly blown? 1640 T. Rawlins Rebellion IV i: Evadne is flye-blowne, I cannot love her. 1678 Otway Friendship in Fashion IV 332: Have you a stomach so hot that it can digest Carrion that has been buzz'd about and blown upon by all the Flies in the Town? 1683 Whores Rhetorick 219: It is most convinient to make her Markets under a disguise [...] she avoids the inconvienience of being Fly-blown, or blasted by the contagious Eyes of any sparkish Cabal. 1702 T. Brown Letters from the Dead to the Living in Works (1760) II 251:1 am sensible it is as hard a matter for a pretty woman to keep herself honest in a theatre, as it is for an apothecary to keep his treacle from flies in hot weather; for every libertine in the audience will be buzzing about her honey-pot, and her virtue must defend itself by abundance of fly-traps, or those flesh-loving insects will soon blow upon her honour, and when once she has had a maggot in her tail, all the pepper and salt in the kingdom will scarce keep her reputation from stinking, 1702 Secret Mercury 3 16-23 Sept. 2: [Drury Lane] the most Thriving Shambles about Town for Rashers of Leachery and good Penny-worths of Mutton, whether Irish, or Sun-blown. 1607

Dekker

2 drunk. 1877 Judy 18 May 236: The officer assisted the pastor out, and hinted that he was slightly fly-blown [F&H], 3 (Aus./N.Z.) ruined, penniless, without funds.

C.R. Read What I Heard, Saw, and Did 50: He finds himself stumped, and applies to his friend [...] Not finding any consolation he leaves, when his friend rushes into the billiard room to relate poor Newchum's misery to his fraternity, who deeply regret that it did not fall to their lot 'flyblowing him'* [...] (* Being 'fly blown' is a Colonial term for being 'done up'). 1889 Star 3 Jan. n.p.: Our diggers go into Castlemaine to get their hair cut, and once there, they get on the spree, and come back fly-blown [F&H]. 1895 J. Kirby Old Times in Bush 150: Look here, master, these chaps is all 'fly blown,' and we would like to give them a 'touch' before we go; will you advance ten shillings? 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 16: So he was flyblowed as usual in regard o' cash. 1955 N. Pulliam 1 Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/1: FLYBLOWN - penniless. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 202: That's when I see this fly-blown old fowlhouse going the knock on my money. 1961 (ref. to 1930s) W.E. Harney Grief Gaiety and Aborigines 20: Old boots tells yer they're fly-blown, but new ones mean they're 1853

1 {latterly US black) {also fly guy)

a

C.1888 Stag Party 15: Jim Blake lived in the country, and though a pretty fly boy among the rustics was not up in the ways of the outside world. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 67: 'E says dat I was er pretty fly boy, an' otter be in polytics. 1981 C, Hope Separate Development 193: Koos Mafeteng, a flyboy from the townships. 1985 T.R. Houser Central Si. 22: fly boy An 'in the mix' man. An alluringly attractive man. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 174: Well-groomed fly-boys sucking on silver pens with pictures of children propped like tombstones on their desks. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 153: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Threads. Dapper. Dipped. Clean. Sharp. Diva. Playa. Fly girl. Fly

fly adv. [FLY ad/.] 1 (US black) smartly, fashionably.

1987

[fly ad/.j

sophisticated, intelligent, stylish young man.

guy-

2

a 'wide boy', a spiv

n.

1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 37: John Johnson of

Birmingham: of Brummagem, gentlemen, the breeding-ground of the Fly Boys from time immemorial. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 59: You're a fly boy, Hazell [...] I suppose it's bred into you. 1986 (con. 1920s) P, O'Farrell Tell me, Sean O'Farrell 52: The lads got off lightly and I was glad. They were taken advantage of by a fly-boy of a tinker. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 273: It's no difficult to find your fuckin fly-boys in this city. 2000 Guardian 6 Jan, 7: A 'flyboy' London estate agent,

fly-boy n? [joc. uses of SE fly -F boy] 1 (Anglo-Irish) a British citizen who escaped to Ireland to avoid conscription in WWI. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 96: fly boys: a name used contemptuously in Ireland for the English 'refugees' who crossed over to Ireland to avoid conscription. 2 (US) a pilot, civil or milit.; usu. with slight implication of disdain or dislike. 1946 J.W. Bishop 'Amer. Army Speech' in AS XXI:4 Dec. 248:

Airforce flying personnel are sometimes labelled birdmen or flyboys. 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 226: And them flyboys figure they do the fightin'. 1966 W. Wilson LBJ Brigade (1967) 66: The flyboys're apeshit. I know how their minds work. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 3: He measured his reflection in Kress' plate glass against the image of soldier, sailor, flyboy and the occasional marine, 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 107: On Main Street you see flyboys, Seabees, and sundry characters. 1996 (con. 1944) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 29: Movies set in the first war, dogfight movies mostly, smiling, longscarved flyboys with Errol Flynn moustaches. 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 60: Trini loved the flyboys.

fly-buzzing n. see buzzing n.’’. fly-by-night n. [lit. one who 'flies

by night'. Grose (1796) adds his

punning joke: 'an ancient term of reproach to an old woman, signifying that she was a witch']

1 {also fly-by-nighter)

one who defrauds the

landlord by leaving his lodgings in the middle of the night, having failed to pay the rent. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 81: Fly-by-night — run-aways who leave empty houses. 1924 H.L. Wilson Professor How Could You! 188: Mrs. Gale rather looked down upon her neighbors, calling them fly-by-nights. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 120: 'Do you know where I can find him?' 'Naw, he's just a bum. A fly-by-night.' 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 118: She was making up for a few of the many times she'd been beaten out of a week's rent by fly-by-nights. 2 a sedan chair on wheels. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 412/2: the Regency.

3 (US) a small touring theatrical company. 1887 Daily Trib. (Bismarck, ND) 23 Oct. 4/1: Small companies in the

back country districts are 'fly by nights,' 'water tank shows,' 'Jim Crows,' 'crossroad concerns' or 'barn stormers.' 4 (a/so fly-by-nighter) anyone dubious, crooked, criminal, esp. of a businessman who takes one's money but fails to provide any or at least adequate recompense. 1922 S, Lewis Babbitt (1974) 39: A thing called Ethics, whose nature was confusing but if you had it you were a High-class Realtor and if you hadn't you were a shyster, a piker, and a fly-by-night. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 118: What with the girl, Bart, an' these fly-by-nights. I'm 'bout as welcome as a wet dawg in this neck o' the woods. 1939 'Flann O'Brien' At Swim-Two-Birds 75: Get back to hell to your prairies, says he, you pack of lousers who can be taken in by any fly-be-night with a fine story, 1943 'Myles na gCopaleen' Faustus Kelly in 'Flann O'Brien' Stories & Plays (1973) 136: What are

fly-by-night

you bleating and blathering about, you Cork fly-by-night, bleeding and besting the ratepayers to the tune of four hundred and fifty pounds a year. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 12: Nofly-hynights, sir. Just a plain old-fashioned American family. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 50: Keith as fly-by-night, as man with no name. 2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 47: Thirty years later, still fly-bynighters, sellin' TVs off the back of trucks [...] one day, hijacking a load of dry goods in Connecticut the next.

5 (UK Und.) itinerant casinos, moving every night to avoid the detection of illegal gambling. F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 322: The system of 'fly by nights' was introduced; gaming taking place by arrangement at a 1938

different address each night.

fly-by-night adj. slightly]

1

|FLY-BY-NICHT n. (4) although cits, here predate dubious, untrustworthy, undependable.

Torchy 109: Most of 'em was little, two-room, fly-bynight firms, with a party 'phone [,..] and a mail-order list bought off'm patent medicine concerns. 1912 A.G. Field Watch Yourself Go By 401: I'll never take another chance with a fly-by-night troupe. 1914 J. London letter 25 June in Letters (1966) 425: 1 have no patience with fly-by-night philosophers such as Bergson. 1927 (con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 167: This fool idea that a lot of these fly-by-night firms are hollering about now. 1931 T. Thursday 'Dead Steal' Detective Fiction Weekly 13 June [Internet] The stranger had studied the six motors on the fly-by-night used car lot. 1947 S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 175: A fly-by-night joint like this. 1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado (1960) 92: Listen you bums, this is no fly-bynight proposition. 1969 N. Spinrad Bug Jack Barron 27: Fly-by-night outfits. 1971 Guardian 12 July 7/3: It is not all heart in the mini-cab world. Far too many are fly-by-night hustlers. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 47: You're too fly-by-night to be getting married. 1982 J. Sullivan 'A Touch of Glass' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] He ain't one of your fly-by-night merchants. 1986 O. Senior 'Ballad' Summer Lightning 124: She say that he wasnt no hothead little fly-be-night bwoy, he was an establish man. 1988 S. Selvon Eldorado West One 69: You shock me Moses! What I have in mind is no fly-by-night affair. 2003 (con. 1932) W. Woodruff Beyond Nab End 36: I've landed a job as a weaver in a fly-by-night place in west London. 1911 S. Ford

2

crooked, criminal. D. Maurer Big Con 21: A host of fly-by-night places came and

1940

went.

fly-by-night,

pitch-by-day n. (W.l.) an idle, worthless

person with no home. 1956, 1974

flyer

190

cited in

Cassidy & LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fly-by-nights n. irhy. sl.i tights. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book ofRhy. SI. 22: She then took off herflybe's I And dropped her early doors. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

fly cop n. IFLY adj. (1) -t cop n.^ (1)] (US) 1 (a/so fly, fly bull, fly copper, fly dick, fly sleuth) a plainclothes police officer, a detective. 1857 National Police Gazette 13:33 11 Apr. 3/1: Some of these fly coppers in piping a place off should keep their ogles out of the sun. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar '512: We had not 'worked' it long before the 'fly-cops' were out in quest of us [...] but we were as 'fly' as they, if not more so, 1872 G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service 98: The 'fly-cop' who had this koniacker now in hand understood his biz' and he 'chaffed' him right pleasantly. 1881 City Argus 2 July 4/4: 'Jimmy,' as he is familiarly called by the 'fly cop,' attempted to get into Banker Sather's cash-box—was caught 'dead to rights,' and now languishes in the city Bastile [DA]. 1893 J. Hawthorne Confessions of Convict 19: He had sojourned for four years for 'glimming at bank-businesss,' as the offence is designated by crookology and by municipal-bacteria-fly-cops. 1895 J. London "Frisco Kid's Story' in High School Aegis (15 Feb.) 2-A\ I took yer fer a fly cop. 1897 J, London 'The Road' in Hendricks & Shepherd Jack London Reports (1970) 311-21: Attempt to translate this: - Hit a fly on the main-drag for a light piece ]...] On the main street 1 begged a policeman in citizen's clothes for a small sum. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 165: I just seen a fly sleut' from Pittsburg pass along. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 32: A town as big as this can find its own guns without callin' in private fly cops. 1908 B, Fisher A. Mutt in Blackboard Compilation (1977) 32: If I could only win enough to bribe these fly cops. I'd be all right. 1908 'O. Henry' 'The Shocks of Doom' in Voice of the City (1915) 98:1 didn't know but what he was a fly cop. 1912 A. Berkman Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist (1926) 127: The Captain of the night watch is 'fierce an' an ex-fly'. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I ii: Wot's de fly cops doin' out dere? 1918 J. McCulley 'Thubway Tham's Thanksgiving Dinner' in Detective Story 26 Nov. (Internet] It ain't right for a man to be pethtered all the time by the thame fly cop! 1924 G. Henderson Keys to

Crookdom 402: Detective [...] bull, fly cop. 1925 G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 218: We knew he was a fly-cop [...] 'Put up yer mitts!' snapped the bull. 1927 E. Wallace Squeaker (1950) 37: Barrabal, eh? [...] That's the fly - the detective, who is getting himself talked about just now? 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 203: Dick or fly cop - A detective either in public or private employ. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 78: Fly DiCK.-See 'fly ball,' 'fly cop.' 1933 H. Craigie 'Reverse English' Detective Nov. [Internet] For the face that he beheld was not the face of MacAllister, the fly-cop. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Fly bull, a detective. 1940 (con. 1888-1910) H. Asbury Gangs of Chicago (2002) 125: Detective Clifton Wooldridge, known to the underworld as 'that damned Little fly-cop.' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 88: fly bull A plain cloth officer [,..] a detective. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: FLY COP ]...] fly dick - A deteaive. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 91: A cop. A chinzy low-pay fly-cop. 2 an alert or experienced police officer. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 34: fly-COP. Sharp officer; and officer that is well posted; one who understands his business. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 5/2: It being market day, we concluded to give hull a 'dressing' but we had not 'worked' it long before the 'flycops' were out in quest of us. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Fly cop, a clever detective.

flyer n,^ (also flier) 1? play on 'flying away' in one's footwear] 1 a shoe. C.1698 B.E, Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flyers c. Shoes. 1725 New Canting

Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1862 E. de la Bedolliere Londres et les Anglais 5\412: flyers, souliers. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 a shoe that has been soled without having been welted. 1861 H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor II 34/1: There is another article called a 'flyer.' that is, a shoe soled without having been welted.

flyer

[also flier) (US) 1 a wager or investment.

1821 R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd series 29: Let's

have a flyer if you're flush. 1846 Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 11 July 229/ 3: Lend me a quarter [...] just for a flyer. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 447: 'I'll go yer a hundred fur a flyer,' now sung out another capper, who up to this moment had remained a silent spectator of the scene. 1886 Pall Mall Gazette 26 Aug. 11/1: He [...] turned to the Wall-street news to see how much he had already made on his flyer [OED]. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 35: He goes off and leaves his good money up, just on a flier like that. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 294: The Matrimonial Speculation—that's more than a Flier. Margins don't go. The Geek has to set in his whole Stack. 1923 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 31 Aug. [synd. col.] Men who have their 'flyers' in Wall street go to him for consolation. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 908: Suppose you try a little flyer in Auburn just to get your hand in. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 71/2: Flier. Any risky, unplanned act; a desperate gamble; going to trial against over¬ whelming odds. 2 a game, a 'lark'. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 280: From whim and frolic...

he would go into the racket court in the Marshalsea, and have a flyer with any prisoner for a few pots of porter, hit or miss. 1869 'Mark Twain' Innocents Abroad 357: In the Hellespont we saw where Leander and Lord Byron swam across [...] merely for a flyer, as Jack says. 1877 in 'Mark Twain' Sketches New and Old 312: It so happened that we stepped into the Revere House, thinking maybe we would chance the salt-house in that big dining-room for a flyer, as the boys say. 3 a try; an attempt. 1865 'Mark Twain' Sketches New and Old (1926) 170: My refusal of the position at $7,000 a year was not precisely meant to be final, but was intended for what the ungodly term a 'flyer'—the object being to bring about an increase in the amount. 1889 'Mark Twain' Connecticut Yankee 113: The boys all took a flier at the Holy Grail now and then. (Ibid.] 424: I chanced another flyer. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 123: It wasn't long before I took a flyer at this game again. 1953 A.J. Liebling Honest Rainmaker (1991) 100: Ricecakes, during his short flyer with the Spirit of the Times, had gained insight into how much money could be made [etc.].

■ In phrases take a flier (v.) (also take a flyer) [SE take a flying leap] 1 to have quick and spontaneous sexual intercourse with both parties fully or partially dressed.

flyer

1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: To take a

1964 in Current SI. (1967) 1:4 4/1: Flyer, n. A fool. 1967-8 Baker et al.

flyer, to enjoy a woman with her clothes on, or without going into

CUSS 120: Flyer A person who always fools around. An obnoxious person.

bed. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical

Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 31: Faire une barbe. To copulate: 'to take a flyer'.

2

flyfuck v. [? TAKE

A

FIYINC FUCK under FLYING FUCK n.| (US black) to

leave, to travel.

to go out on a spree.

1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 22: Like, on that

1993 I.L. Allen City in SI. (1995) 65: To go on a tear, to take a flyer, or especially to make whoopee was the way nightlifers spoke of these tamer sprees in the 1920s.

wad we kin dam well flyfuck our way from here t'the moon an back.

3 (US) to take a chance, to gamble, esp. financially. 1870 W.W. Fowler Ten Years in Wall Street 37: As for those who take 'flyers' in one or two hundred shares, they are a great host whom no man can describe, much less enumerate. 1896 H. Blossom Checkers 8; I'm jes' takin' a flyer on her to win today. 1905 FI. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 158: The hotel's staff read 'the dope' daily and took a flyer, one and all. 1906 'O. Henry' 'Man About Town' Pour Million (1915) 84: The oldest girls are eagerly perusing the financial reports, fora certain young man remarked [...] that he had taken a flyer in Q., X. & Z. 1923 H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 264: Me and Nate and Kayo Kelly has already took a flyer in something apart from the ring. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 521: He had taken this flyer on Imbray Stock [...] as if it were nothing more than risking a few shekels in a crap game. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 747: He [...] took a flyer for the bit money in connection with a pulpmill started in Maine. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 21811: Take a flier. 1. To commit a crime of gain impulsively, with no foreknowledge or plan. 2. To act impulsively or without plan. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 106: Sometimes I take a flyer but mostly I play it both feet on the ground. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 151: Financing? We'll take a flier on almost anything. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 20: [It belonged to] Piping Rock sportsmen taking a flyer. 1997 J. Lansdale Bad Chili 203: They [...] decided you guys had a connection, took a flyer and toted Hap out to the woods. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 145; I [...] half thought maybe I could've just took a flier and that, could've just done a runner and hoped for the best. 2005 J. Stahl 1, Fatty 258: He figured what the heck. He's take a flyer. 4 (US prison) to escape from prison. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 109: Takin' a Flier A seldom used expression meaning to escape from prison. 5 to escape, to run away from. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 115: She took a flyer on Lenny and so what.

flyer n.^ (also flier) [SE fly, to go fast) 1 a racehorse; a fast horse. 1853 G.J. Whyte-Melville Digby Grand (1890) 256: Flattered by my attentions, and pleased with my loudly expressed admiration of his 'flyer,' he [said] that 'Oriel' was the fastest horse he had ever trained. 1879 G.R. Sims 'Polly' in Dagonet Ballads 79: So my mates what had flyers they passed me, and left me behind on the road. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Feb. 7/1: For many years, the old 'tin not only put up his cash to swell the racing funds of the colony, but he kept a string of flyers himself as well, and was no mean judge of a prancer, either. 1886 Lantern (N.O.) 8 Sept. 3: At a given signal both fliers flew. 1890 Sporting Times 22 Mar. 1/1:1 know a brave mare whose a flyer, / Hark! all ye who money require; / Quick, put on your shirt, / On this absolute cert / And plump for the gallant Sweetbriar.

2

flying

191

in ext. use of sense 1, an attractive young woman. 1890 'Rolf Boldrewood' Colonial Reformer II 212: What a field of neat well-bred-looking flyers - I mean deuced pretty girls.

3 in ext. use of sense 1, a successful person. 1887 "Arry on Ochre' in Punch 15 Oct. 169/1: Some stungy 'uns earn’t go the pace, / But I know I should turn out a flyer, and so ought to be in the race. 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 19:1 was never a flyer at verses.

4 a fast vehicle. 1887 'My Sally' in Baumann (1902) exx: My pony-trap, yes, it's a flyer.

flyer n.‘' (also flier) (US prison) suicide by throwing oneself from an upper gallery in a cell-block. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 180: Terms provided by him and collected from police, fireman and ambulance personnel slang as to cause of death: [...] jumper and flyer (jumped).

■ In phrases take a flier (v.) (USprison) to kill oneself by leaping from an upper gallery. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 153: 'If I was here for six more months [...] I'd take a flier.' To take a flier was to throw oneself over the rail headfirst onto the concrete below,

flyer n^ (also flier) obnoxious person.

(fly a kite

under kite n.] (US campus) an idiotic or

flying n. (also flying favour) (synon,

with SE fling] (UK Und.) a bout of hedonistic enjoyment; a brief act of intercourse. 1773 Harris's List of Covent-Garden Ladies 94: This lady [...[ will not therefore grant a flying favour under two pounds two. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 18/1: When Polly Nick heard of her 'bloke' going to Brighton with 'Scotch Johnny,' she made up her mind to have a 'flying' in Manchester,

flying adj. [fly v.j (drugs) under the influence of drink or drugs. 1952 Lannoy & Masterson 'Teen-age Hophead Jargon' AS XXVII: 1

FLYING, vbl. Feeling elated under influence of drug. 1966 (con. Been Down So Long (1972) 68: The eyes on the kid [...] stoned, flying. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 120: Flymg Drunk. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 119: The careless laughing girl, happy stoned, flying on her meth and beer. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 135: Sometime after midnight. Firebug returned with Amelia. They were both flying. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Flying — Under the influence of drugs. 25:

1958) R. Farina

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds flying baker (n.) see separate entry. flying bedstead (n.) [note WWI milit. flying bedstead, a military bicycle or mortobike] a cart/stall used by a bric-a-brac dealer. 1844 A. Smith Adventures of Mr Ledbury II 291: The light-cart with the covered top, so poetically denominated a 'flying bedstead,' licensed to carry no end. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn). flying camps (n.) [SE flying camp, 'a little army of horse and foot, that keeps the field, and is continually in motion' (Phillips, The New World of Words, 1671)1 a group of beggars who work as a team at funerals. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Flying-Camps, Beggers plying in Bodies at Funerals. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. flying cat (n.) [its predilection for mice and other small rodents] (UK Und.) an owl. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. flying cove (n.) [cove n. (1)] (US Und.) a type of confidence trickster (see cit. 1859). 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 34: flying coves Fellows who obtain money by pretending to persons who have been robbed, that they can give them information that will be the means of recovering their lost goods. flying dustman (n.) [pun on the Flying Dutchman] a 'pirate' dustman, who collects garbage before the contracted dustman can arrive. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 263: Costardmongers and flying dustmen were also 'blowing a cloud' with their fancy women. flying fornicator (n.) [the image of drunken couples necking on their way home] 1 the last express train from London to a provincial town. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 414/2: earlier C.20. 1997 D. Ogilvy Autobiography 37: [...] returning to Oxford on the last train, which was known as the Flying Fornicator. 1999 (ret. to 1930s) The Eagle (St John's College, Cantab.) [Internet) We were also told an entertaining story about a certain eminent historian, and the late train to London, known rather charmingly in the 1930s as the 'Flying Fornicator'. 2002 (con. WWII) D.A. Breen Young Men at War Ch. xix: Once in a while, we caught the last train home. This our delightful Wrens had christened, the 'Flying Fornicator'. 2 (Aus.) the last train from Sydney to Wollongong on Saturday night, primarily patronized by young people. 1979 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 1 July 43: The last train back from Sydney [to Wollongong] on Sundays is packed with young people and known to some as the Flying Fornicator [GAW4]. flying fuck (n.) see separate entry.

flying giggers (n.) (also flying jiggers) [ciccer n.^ (1)1 turnpike gates. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Did. of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 34: flying jiggers Turnpike-gates, flying handicap (n.) (Aus.) diarrhoea. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/1: flying HANDICAP (THE COCKTAILS) diarrhoea, flying horse (n.) [the person who sits on it 'flies'! (W./.) a bent pin or similar sharp object placed on a chair.

1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

flying baker

fly (tipper)

192

flying jib in.) see )ib (5). flying lessons (n.) (UK/US prison) the throwing of a guard or fellow inmate off the balcony of a cell tier. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 90: Flying Lessons Throwing a guard or inmate off of a cell-block tier. 1995 .1. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 9: Otherwise I might want flying lessons too. flying pasty (n.) 1 a packet of excrement wrapped in paper and flung over a neighbour's wall. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Flying Pasty. Sirreverence wrapped in paper and thrown over a neigh¬ bour's wall. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

2 (US prison) a similar package wrapped in newspaper and tossed out of one's cell window. 1996 A. Devlin Prison Patter 52/2: flying pasty bag of excrement

fuck, you'll excuse the expression. 1979 (con. 1949) J. Hurling Boomers 133: I [...] just told him to take a flyin' fuck at a rollin' doughnut. 1983 S. King Christine 354: If they look hot, tell him to take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. 1991 M. Myers et al. Wayne's World [film script] Garth: You know what you can do with your show, Wayne? [...] You can take a flying...

flying saucer n. [f. their shape and/or their effect on the user] 1 (orig. US) a diaphragm. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 102: Sophisticates referred to her device as a flying saucer. 2 (drugs) the seeds of the plant Ipomoea, popularly known as morning glory. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 97: Flying Saucers

thrown from cell window (more common before sanitation installed

[trade name] A variety of morning glory, the seeds of which have hallucinogenic properties. 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 337: flying saucers: Morning-glory

in cells).

seeds, an hallucinogen.

3 (N.Z. prison) one capsule of the strong tranquilizer, Largactil. flying saucer (n.) see separate entry, 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 248: flying saucer (n) Largactil pill. flying shit (n.) see flying fuck n. 4 (W.l.) a motorcycle police officer. flying sixty-nine (n.) (sixty-nine n.j mutual oral-genital stimulation. 1951 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). 1999-2003 Movie Films Fest 'Chow Down' Rev. on Excalibur Films 5 (N.Z.) a fried slice of luncheon sausage. [Internet] After a bit of the blow, Tedeschi flips her up into a flying 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 69 and starts with some good double digit finger fucking, flying baker n. [naut. jargon baker = B; the flag signifying the second flying sixty-six n. (rhy. si. = french tricks under French ad/, but note FLYING SIXTY-NINE under flying ad/.j oral sex. letter of the alphabet is red) menstruation. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: If, though, she should be afraid of 1970 in DARE. 1999 .1. Randall 'A Visit from Aunt Rose' in Verbatim getting ducky [...[ she may be satisfied with French kissing, XXV:1 Winter 25: Codes that refer to blood include the red flag is up French tricks or a flying 66 (rhyming slang on French tricks). (sometimes shortened to just the flag is up or the flag is flying; also sometimes/fymg Baker, since Baker is the Navy code for B, and the B flying trapeze n. |rhy. sl.l cheese. flag is red). 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 415/1: late C. 19-20. 2002 B. flying fuck n. (also flying fling, ...frijole, ...one, ...shit) [fuck n. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. Sl. (2a)/SHiT n. (1b)l an all-purpose negative expression; usu. in flymy ad/, (fly ad/. (1) -t- SE slimy] sly, roguish, cunning. comb., e.g. (not) give a flying fuck. 1855 Yokel's Preceptor t'ltie page: A Joskin's Vocabulary Of the Various [1845 T. Rowlandson Pretty Little Games (1872) plate vi: Well Slang Words now in constant use [...] all the New Moves and Artful mounted on a mettled steed, / Famed for his strength as well as Dodges practised at the present day, in all the most notorious Flymy speed, / Corinna and her favourite buck / Are pleased to have a Kens and Flash Cribs of London! [Ibid.] 29: Flymy, Down to flying f—k.] 1926 L. Nason Chevrons 73: I'd tell 'em to take a flyin' everything - a man who has experienced life in ail its stages. 1864, fling at the moon. 1932 B. Hecht Scarface [film script] 'They said you 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 13/1: What! could take a flyin'....' 'Okay, okay.' 1952 J. Jones From Here to You going to the Soudan, Flymy Billy: how's that? 1887 W.E. Henley Eternity (1998) 535: I don't give a flying f-- what anybody says. 1965 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: You H.S. Thompson letter 18 Sept, in Proud Highway (1997) 540: I don't sponges miking round the pubs, / You flymy titters fond of flam. give a flying fuck who cares or doesn't care about my status [Ibid.] 'Culture in the Slums' 179: Now ain't they utterly too-too / situation. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 235: I don't give a flying (She ses, my Missus mine, ses she), / Them flymy little bits of Blue, fuck about nobody. 1980 A. Maupin More Tales of the City (1984) 56: fly my kite n. (rhy. sl.l a light. You couldn't give a flying fuck about those babies. 1987 'Joe Bob 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 141: Who give a a flying frijole Modern SI. etc. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. anyway? 1998 J. Lansdalb Rumble Tumble 19:1 don't give a flyin' shit flyspeck adj. (US) small, insignificant. your name's God. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 323: 'I think you're 1977 R. Lloyd Playland 29: He stood on the shoulder of Highway 15 after mixin' me up with someone else here.' 'With who?' 'With just outside a flyspeck town called Beacon Station. someone who gives a flying fuck about you. That's who.' 1999 K. ■ In compounds Sampson Powder 488: Keva did not give a flying one what anybody fly speck (isle) (n.) (its relative size compared to Australia) (Aus.) back home said. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 45: Who gives a Tasmania; thus fly-specker/flyspeck n., an inhabitant of Tasmania; flying shit about the judges. 2006 P. Carey Theft 23: Butcher Bones fly-speck adj., Tasmanian. gave not a flying fuck about the puppy. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 May 14/4: 'Tassey': 'Flabby P.' [...] ■ In phrases probably refers to what is known in Tasmania as the 'fern tick.' Its take a flying fuck (v.) (also take a flying fling, ...jump, ...leap) other Flyspeck name is unprintable. [Ibid.] 13 Oct. 20/2: [T]here is (or/g. US) a derisory, dismissive phr.; also ext. by ...at a galloping nothing so ferocious as a Flyspeck when it is thoroughly aroused. goose! ...at a rolling doughnut! ...at a rubber duck! ...at the moon! 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 23 July 14/3: The genuine old Vandemonian ...at yourself! spirit must surely be losing its punch in the Flyspeck. 1943 Baker 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Oct. 32/2: We didn't care for him at graft, Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn) 75: The speck, Tasmania. Also, 'the Fly and Alec'd tell him to take a flyin' jump at himself as soon as look at Speck'. him; we did pretty well as we liked. 1926 (con. 1918) L. Nason fly the flag v.^ 1 of a prostitute, to walk the streets looking for Chevrons Ti: I'd tell 'em all to take a flyin' fling at the moon. 1932 trade. (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 118: 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 413/2: from ca. 1840. So I tells them they could all take a fast and furious, flyin', leapin' 2 to be menstruating [var. on fly the red fiac under fly v.]. jump at Sandy Claus. 1935 H. McCoy They Shoot Horses, Don't They? 1999 J. Randall 'A Visit from Aunt Rose' in Verbatim XXV: 1 Winter (UK edn only) 44: 'I told you to keep your mouth shut, didn't I?' he 25: Codes that refer to blood include the red flag is up (sornetimes said to Gloria. 'You take a flying —'. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win shortened to just the flag is up or the flag is flying; also sometimes 64: Go take a flyin' jump at a gallopin' goose fer all o'me. T' hell wi' flying Baker, since Baker is the Navy code for B, and the B flag is red), ya and yer jocker, too. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act II: Yeah? Well, go take a flyin' jump at ta moon! 1946 D. Stivens Courtship of Uncle fly the flag v? 1 (Aus. Und.) (also raise the flag) to appeal to a higher court. Henry 48: 'What the hell are you doing there? You ought to give a 1975 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Apr. 44: 'What about flyin' the flag, mate?' man more room.' 'You go and take a jump at yourself.' 1951 D. 'No way in the world I won't.' 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Dressler Parole Chief 110: 'Why don't you go take a flying leap and Gloss. [Internet] Flag. As in 'to raise the flag', ie to appeal one's — yourself.' 1956 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 337: If you're ever in sentence. Gibraltar, take a flying fuck at Walter. / Can you do the double 2 to make a fuss for form's sake. shuffle when your balls hang low? 1956 E. Hunter 'The Last Spin' 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 24: I think they all Jungle Kids (1967) 160: Listen, they don't like it, they can take a knew another book was in the wind and they were only flying the flying leap. 1960 1. Freeman Out of the Burning (1961) 13: 'Oh take a flag. flying leap at the moon!' I said. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 152: Oh, go take a flying leap, will you? 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. fly (tipper) n. [rhy. sl. = nipper n.^ (1)] a child. 1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. Sl. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 119: Jim said, I could go take a flying

flyweight flyweight n.

Iboxing imagery] (US) a person, usu. criminal, of little or no importance or influence. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 26: What can he give us? [...] Couple of flyweights out of Jocks. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 184; The two of them would have had a good laugh now at the expense of this flyweight.

FM boots n. see fuck-me f.n.g. n. l/ucking new guy;

boots under

fuck-me adj.

cit. 1966 is a euph.) (orig. US milit.) an

innocent, a novice. 1966 N.Y. Times Mag. 30 Oct. 104: F.N.G. designates a 'foolish new guy'. 1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 217: Major Nails says several FNGs* believe it. [footnote] *Fucking new guys. 1972 T. O'Brien If I Die in a Combat Zone (1980) 74: Wolf said, 'Look, F.N.G., I don't want to scare you.' 1985 (con. 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 28: 1 don't know who I am. I am the F.N.G. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 12: I was fresh meat, F.N.G. - a Fucking New Guy. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 260: Some skinheaded FNG ('fucking new guy') is pumping iron behind the Wood pile's gated community, f.o. V. see FUCK off v. (2).

f.O.! excl. [abbr. FUCK OFF! exc/.] (US) go away!''leave me alone! 1947 'Imaginary Diseases' in AS XXII:4 Apr. 305/1: f-o-itis. Pronounced eff-oh-itis; meaning 'malingering'; based on initial letters in the manner of snafu. 1970 Private Eye 6 Nov. 1: F. O. the lot of you! 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 82: F.O.! Get out of here! You make me sick!

f.o.a.d.!

exc/. [abbr.] fuck off and die!

1983 Eblb Campus Si. Nov. 2003 Foad.shafted.com.au [Internet] Banner: FOAD fuck off and die. 2010 GuardianJ Jan. [online] (cartoon caption) We're not calling for a change in the leadership, just clear the air and F.O. & D.ll

foam n. (US black)

fob

193

beer.

1908 in New Broadway Mag. July 34: I'd rather have foam that bubbles any day [HDAS]. 1916 in Editor 20 May 535: Foam - beer [HDAS]. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 256: guzzlin' foam (v.): drinking beer. 1946 C.S. Montanye 'Don't Meddle with Murder' in Thrilling Detective May [Internet] I finished the rest of my foam. 1955 'Ed Lacy' Best that Ever Did It (1957) 29: He's buying me a can of foam.

foamin’ at the gash

phr. [Sifoam + cash n.^ (1)] of a woman, becoming damp with sexual arousal. [1732 Delightful Adventures of Honest John Cole 22: Let his Wife be full brisk, / Bound, caper, and frisk, / Till she foams at the Thing that's below. Sir.] 2000 G. Young Corrie.net 27 Nov. [Internet] Ken should be concentrating on Deirdre. Surely he must have picked up on how absent and distant she's become lately, particularly when Dev is around or mentioned? Dev has just come back from a trade fair, with a box of Belgian truffles for Drear as a gift, and now poor old Drear is fair foaming at the gash!

foaming adj.

an intensifier; a euph. for fucking adj. 1960 D. Abse In the Cage (1967) 124: Hey, ey. Nark it. Manners. Where's your foaming manners,

foaming (at the mouth)

phr. 1 absolutely furious. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Nov. 13/4: The chess clubs are the latest crowd to kick against paying their just telegraphic dues. [...] Now that the Dept, ukases that all must come in at the same rate, some of the chess cranks foam at the mouth. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Oct. 48/2: There he found the Inspector foaming at the mouth over the disappearance of his horse. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 119: Dearie me, whatever is Blaze foaming on at the mouth about so! 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 351: Reading Dostoesvsky was like listening to someone foaming and overwrought as they told stories about the souls of human beings. 2 (US) of a penis, on the verge of ejaculation.

C.1960 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 356: So stroke! stroke! you mater-Betas! / Raise your foaming cocks on high. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases 80: foaming at the mouth (Vulg.) On the verge of Ejaculation when a fore-discharge of fluid emits from the Meatus. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 196: When the red hot poker is foaming at the mouth and ready to spit, the gasp and grunt (rhyming slang) should be ready to let down its spendings, foamy n. [foam n.j a bottle, can or glass of beer. 1959 L.P. Boone 'Gator SI.' AS XXXIV:2 156: Gators never merely drink; instead, they [...] quaff a foamy or an amber [etc.]. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 99: A quick brew: quaff a foamy. 2004 D. Clark Apocalyptic Crawfish 16: Buzz [...] slaps Newton sharply on the back. 'C'mon, Newt, let's go quaff a foamy.'

f.O.b. n. (also fob) [abbr. /resh off the boat] (Aus./N.Z./US) a newly arrived Asian immigrant; ext. as derog. term for any minority group. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 73: Monica arriving at the Grand Central Station with a corpse. A corpse f.o.b. New York! 1956

H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 87: No F.O.B.'s, C.O.D.'s, junkies, lushes, agitators. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1: fob Samoan. 1989 (con. 1960s) M. Kingston Tripmaster Monkey 25: Was he hearing English wrong like any greenhorn F.O.B.? 1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 6: Jamie bet Chinese people would rather commit hari-kiri or whatever it was than throw a scene like this in front of guests. Well, screw 'em, bunch of FOB's! This is America. Deal with it. 1997 Da Bomb Summer Supplement 6: F.O.B. (n.) [Offensive, derogatory] Fresh off the boat; someone who is new to the country. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground St. [Internet] F.O.B. n. Fresh Off the Boat; word generally used for minority asian or hispanic. Term used to describe an illegal alien, or someone of other race other that cacausian. It's a word that most teens and up are using against other minorities. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 81: fob Pacific Island immigrant, meaning 'fresh off the boat'. Second half of C20.

fob n. [the term was SE in 1622 (OED first citation) but si. by late 17C; thus SE use fob off, to sidetrack, to put off with a lie or deceit] a trick, a deceit. [1622 J. Mabbe (trans.) Life of Guzman II243: Many men would deale more honestly [...] if these fobs and giggs were not put into their heads by others [OED].] 1660 Wandring Whore IV 8: He was forc't to un-strip and leave his Gold Ring behind him, swearing he would be reveng'd of his Mob for putting such a fob upon him. 1672 Wycherley Love in a Wood I i: gripe: You are the Cup-board of Charity. JOYNER: You are the Fob of liberality, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fob c. a cheat, trick. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fob, a cheat, trick, or contrivance, I will not be fobbed off so: I will not be thus deceived with false pretences. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. ■ In compounds fob action (n.) an act of criminal trickery. 1747 H. Simms Life of Henry Simms/Alias Young Gentleman Harry 23: I was informed that M—m's Wife was arrested in a Fob Action, and sent to a Spunging-House, ■ In phrases

come the fob on (v.) (US) to cheat, to trick. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 62: He come ze fob on some of ze nobilitie, and zey invite him to go to Amerique.

fob V. [FOB n.) 1 to trick, to deceive, to steal from. 1695 Congreve Love for Love IV i: I should have been finely fobbed indeed, very finely fobbed. 1700 Congreve Way of the World I ii: There were items of such a treaty being in embryo; and if it should come to life, poor Mirabell would be in some sort unfortunately fobbed, i'faith. 1709 Cibber Rival Foots IV i: cun.: We'll fob him. Sir, here's my Hand on't. siM.: Sir, no Person alive wou'd be more transported to see him well fobb'd. 1730 K. O'Hara Tom Thumb I iv: Am I thus fobb'd? 1754 Foote Knights in Works (1799) I 86: Master Jenkins, you have fobb'd me finely. 1775 Sheridan Rivals (1776) III iii: Thus, like garden-trees, they seldom show fruit, till time has fobbed them of the more specious blossom. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1794 'Peter Pindar' 'A Rowland for an Oliver' Works (1794) II 432: To use a cant phrase, weve been finely fobb'd. Indeed, have very dextrously been robb'd. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1828 R.M. Bird City Looking Glass II i: He had fobbed my father. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy 37: The gentlemen in black silk stockings, with gold-headed canes, have been fobbing fees for three weeks. 1853 T. Haliburton Sam Slick's Wise Saws 1 51: He fobbed it from Boswell's 'Life of Johnson'.

2 to place in one's fob pocket. 1851 'How Sally Hooter Got Snake-Bit' in T.A. Burke Polly Peablossom's Wedding 67: Having sold his crop of cotton an' fobbed the 'tin,' forth sallied Mike with a pocket full of rocks, an' bent on a bit of a spree. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 June 24/2: 'Here's yer half jim, Mr. Wallace. 1 put my last shirt button on Carbine when I see you had confidence in him.' Donald grinned meekly, but fobbed the half sov.

3 (US Und.) to steal from a fob pocket. [1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 480: When they had done the job of jobs, / They durst not stay to pick their fobs.] 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI. Jargon and Cant. 1903 J. Flynt Rise of Roderick Clowd 65: He declared defiantly that he would learn to 'fob' as well as anybody. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). ■ In phrases fob someone off (v.) (also fob someone out of) to deceive, to pacify. 1678 Dryden Kind Keeper Epilogue: I was fobb'd off with some such Wife. 1686 Been Lucky Chance II i: Do you fob me off with my husband? [Ibid.] VI i; I'll not be fobbed off. What do they take me for? A fool? An ass? c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1725 Bailey (trans.) Erasmus' Colloquies 336: For you to make a Joke of Fobbing

fobber

the Saints oft. 1747 Garrick Miss in her Teens I i: Don't think to fob me off with this nonsensical talk. 1764 K. O'Hara Midas III ii: Fob off this tatterdemallion. 1793 Prince Hoare Prize II ii: It would be a neat trick enough to take the cousin and fob this copper captain off with a girl without a sixpence. 1837 R.M. Bird Nick of the Woods I 171: Didn't that etarnal old Bruce fob me off with a beast good tor nothing, and talk big to me besides? 1840 R. Barham 'Row in an Omnibus' Ingoldsby Legends (1842) 212: It's a scandalous thing to exact such a sum (...) And then fob us off with a Fal-de-ra-tit! 1865 G.A. Sala My Diary in America II 415: The Broadway stage-drivers are great ruffians, and will [...] fob you off with bogus currency. 1936 'George Orwell' Keep The Aspidistra Flying (1962) 240: He managed to fob her off with something which she said grudgingly she 'didn't think she'd had before'. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 172: I, don't know how Rossi calmed her, or what story he fobbed her off with. 1976 T. Murphy Sanctuary Lamp in Plays: 3 (1994) I ii: I was passed over in a regular piece of church jiggery-pokery, and fobbed off with one of the new semi-detacheds. 1989 M, Amis London Fields 36: The heroin, the cut coke, the Temazepan, the dihydro¬ codeine he has always refused, fobbing them off with small purchases of dope. 1999 Indep. Rev. 21 July 12: Imagine answering the phone and fobbing people off because your boss is in the loo. 1999 Indep. Rev. 21 Oct. 5: Black and Asian people will no longer be fobbed off with token gestures. 2000 Guardian Guide 8-14 Jan. 12: Even Matt [...] couldn't believe they were all fobbing the public off with such a stupid storyline.

fobber

n. |SE fob] (US Und.) a pickpocket who specializes in removing small change from the victim's fob pocket; Irwin, American Tramp and Und. SI. (1931), suggests that such a pickpocket has lost his skills, and can no longer attempt less accessible pockets. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 78: Fobber.-Ah old pickpocket, or one who has lost his dexterity and cunning, and is able only to steal from outside or fob pockets. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 23 Jan. 24: If you can't tell a slicker from a fobber.

fob-diver

n. |SE fob (pocket) -t diver n. (3)1 a pickpocket. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 88:1 pushed my way out to where fresh air and the fob-divers were waiting. 1900 Sporting Times 24 Mar. 1/2: As old Fogo, the veteran fob-diver, dashed up a blind alley off Drury Lane, he ran into and nearly capsized a more youthful get-a-bit.

fobUS

fog

194

n.^ [ety. unknown; ? link to dial, fobey, an eccentric] a general

term of dislike.

1676 Wycherley Plain-Dealer II i: Ay, you old Fobus. 1683 Whores Rhetorick 140: You make me fancy I see the old Fobus before my Eyes.

fobus

n.^ lety. unknown; ? link to SE fob, a small pocket] the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

focking focus n. focus V.

see under

fucking.

see focus n.

(US black) to look; to see. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: focus (V.): to look, to see. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Focus ... Eye¬ sight.

foddor

n.^ (although it covered all forms of food in 11C-14C the SE is now only used for animal food] food, often metaphorical. 1844 'JONATHAN Slick' High Life in N.Y. II 18: Wal, now about the price of your fodder. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Aug. 16/1: Inquiry proved that she was no liar, and she got the fodder as a sort of reward for valor. 1917 R. Lardner 'Three Kings and a Pair' in Gullible's Travels 55: We had dinner and then I seen why Bishop was so skinny. 'Patently he hadn't tasted fodder before for a couple o' mont's. 1926 Wood &■ Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1932 I.L. Idriess Flynn of the Inland 258: The cutlery, tinware and enamel (...] the 'fodder', roast beef and corned, with 'spuds' and onions, 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 27: It's about time we (...) got outside some of Ma's fodder. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 89: fodder Salad, or greens. 1960 G.W. Target Teachers (1962) 189: Light that, mate, and earn your fodder. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 219: We went into a respectable fodder bar on Wigmore Street. 1977 T. Berger Who is Teddy Villanova? 58: Vintage vino and fine fodder. 1982 Barr & York Sloane Ranger Hbk 158: fodder n. Nicely cooked food. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 21: You know the score. We're fodder. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fodder-forker (n.) [his usual task] (US) a derog. term for a farmer, as seen by cowboys. 1944 R.F. Adams Western Words (1968) 61: Fodder-forker—What the cowboy calls a hay hand or farmer,

fodder

n? (abbr, bum-fodder under bum nl'] lavatory paper.

1937-84

Partridge

DSUE (1984) 415/2: C. 19-20.

foe shizzy! excl. see fo' sho! excl. fofi-eye n. [ety. unknown; ? link to fufu, a plantain dough, which is white] (W.I., Bdos/Guyn.) an eye with a discoloured, whitish eyeball. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fog n. 1 (UK Und.) smoke. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 32: Fog, Smoak. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. Sl. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JoN BEE' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

2 (US Und.) shooting. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). ■ SE in slang uses ■ Derivatives fogmatic see separate entries, ■ In compounds

fog-bound (adj.) 1 slightly drunk. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 415/2: earlier C.20,

2 (US) confused, dazed, infatuated. 1930 J.A, Russell 'Colgate University SL' in AS V:3 238: Fog-bound: to be in a dreamy state. 'Joe is fog-bound most of the time.' 1935 E. Anderson Hungry Men 101: I'm getting fogbound over you.

fog-cutter (n.) see antifocmatic n. foghorn (n.) see separate entry. Fogland (n.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases fog in (v.) (UK society) to see a place by accident; to achieve one's object by accident. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

fog out (v.) see separate entries, in the fog (adj.) see foggy adj. fog V.'' [play on SE] 1 to smoke a pipe. 1836 W.H. Smith 'The Thieves's Chaunt' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 120: There is a nook in the boozing ken, / Where many a mug I fog. 1925 J. Stevens 'Logger Talk' in AS 1:3 137: When he leaves the cookhouse he 'fogs-up' on his pipe, or takes a 'rear of snoose'. 193784 Partridge DSUE (1984) 415/2: C.18-early 19.

2 (US) to go fast, to rush around, to chase. 1885 O. Wister Texas Vocab. in Wister Owen Wister Out West (1958) 159: To fog to hurry, to scamper, to go quickly. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 12: Here comes your train a-foggin'. 1930 J.J. JONES 'More SL' in AS V:4 305: fog—Hasten. Sometimes it means to express resentment. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. Sl. 1948 N. Nye Breed of the Chaparral (1949) 132: You're dashin' out into a desert with half the scum of the town foggin' after you. 3 (US) to fire a gun rapidly. 1904 'O. Henry' in Works 832: We fagged [sic] 'em a bunch of bullets. 1929 C.G. Givens 'Chatter of Guns' in Sat. Eve. Post 13 Apr.; list extracted in AS VI:2 (1930) 132: fog, v. Fire a pistol. 1933 R. Chandler 'Blackmailers Don't Shoot' in Red Wind (1946) 121: Landrey and some little hoof fogged each other.' 1949 Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 73/1: Fog. v. (South) To shoot. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: fog - To shoot. 4 ((JS) to attack; to kill. 1930 D. Hammett Maltese Falcon (1965) 415: Make him lay off me. I'm going to fog him if he keeps it up. 1939 J. Latimer Red Gardenias 136: The smooth-faced young man had his pistol out again. 'I can fog him easy. Slats,' he said. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 78: She didn't fog him. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn). 5 (US) to scold, to complain. 1930 J.J. Jones 'More SL' in AS V:4 305: fog—Hasten. Sometimes it means to express resentment. 6 (US prison) to delouse a new prisoner. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 8: Fogged De-lousing an inmate. It is customary procedure in jails and prisons to de-louse inmates as part of initial processing. When an inmate has been de-loused, he has been fogged. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases fog out (v.) 1 to become exhausted. 1938 Pic (N.Y.) Mar, 8: beat to the socks. — all fogged out. Prima's band falls apart between sessions. 2 (US) to daydream. 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 186: 'Bitsy,' Moo said. 'What?' 'You was fogging out.' 1995 R, Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 195: 'You fogging out on us, Whistler?' he heard one of the detectives say, 3 (US drugs) to fill a room or car with smoke. 2003 Motherland Collective 'Artist performing at Soundsplash' at CornerstoneRoots.com [Internet] Zuvuya With two full albums up

fog

their sleeves, Dunedin Dub meisters from the Deep South turn up the bass and fog out the place.

fog up (v.) (note SE fog, to confuse] to render someone tipsy. 1900 O. WiSTER Jimmyjohn Boss and Other Stories 60: We was sorry while we was a-fogging you up.

fog

fogle

195

v.^ a euph. for fuck v. in various senses; also as a n.

1945 J. Maclaren-Ross Swag, the Spy and the Soldier in Lehmann

Penguin New Writing No. 26 (1945) 31: Then he muttered: 'Fog 'em.' 'What's wrong, Sandy?' I asked him. [Ibid.] 43: 'Ah, for fog's sake,' he said. 1954 (con. 1940s) E. Lambert Veterans 128: Fog yer! [Ibid.] 147: Get fogged! [Ibid.] 163: Well, I'll be fogged! 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Borstal Bey 216: 'Foggem all,' said Chewlips. 1959 (con. 1940s) E. Lambert Glory Thrown In (1961) 30: 'Fog Hitler!' said the sentry. 1964 R. Helmer Stag Party 81: Wull, fog my bloody days, eh? Behan

fogare n. see focus n. fogey n. [Fr. fourgeaux, fierce,

fiery or Scot. dial, foggy, fat, bloated. Note SE fogram/fogrum, an old-fashioned, out-of-date person] 1 [also foggy) an invalid soldier [thence the SE use, usu. with pfx old], 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1812 letter cited in NdQ Ser. 6 IX 10: My company is now forming into an invalid company. Tell your grandmother we will be like the Castle toggles [F&H]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 2 an old maid. 1848 G.W.M. Reynolds Mysteries of London II (2nd series) 159: Them

ould fogeys down stairs in the yard,

fogged

adj. [SE fogged, confused) 1 {also befogged, fogged-up) drunk, tipsy. 1914 R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 284: 'Oh, of course everybody's an idjit except you,' sneered Crass, who was beginning to feel rather fogged. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DfVIV:iii 212: fogged, intoxicated. 'He walks like he might be fogged'. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight. 1945 J.T. Adams Mountain Murder 23: Haynes saw at a glance that Clary was in his usual condition—befogged with moonshine. 1968 D. O'Grady Bottle of Sandwiches 43: My fogged-up brain. 2 under the influence of a drug. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1985 K. Vacha Quiet Fire 65: You just can't take that many drugs [...] you feel like a zombie. And I said, 'Bullshit, I've got too good a mind, I don't like being fogged.' 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 242: He was too fogged from the pills to improvise.

fogger n. see fucker n. (7). fogging adj. a euph. for fucking

adj.

1945 J. Maclaren-Ross Swag, the Spy and the Soldier in Lehmann Penguin New Writing No. 26 43: The fogging jemmy. Couldn't think where I'd left the fogger at first. 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 176: Let 'em touch our beer and there'll be a blue in this fogging camp that'll go down in history. 1954 (con. 1940s) E. Lambert Veterans 108: That got us sweet foggin' nowhere. 1959 (con. 1940s) E. Lambert Glory Thrown In (1961) 17: 'I'll foggin' do you,' he promised Doc.

foggy foggy

n. see fogey n. (1). adj. [play on SE] 1 (also in the fog) drunk, tipsy.

1517 Skelton Elynour Rummynge line 480: She drank so of the

dregges. The dropsy was in her legges [...] All foggy fat she was. 1592 Greene Quip for an Upstart Courtier E: A fat knaue with a foggie face, wherein a cup of old sacke hath set a scale to marke the bowsie drunkard to die of the dropsie. 1637 J. Taylor Drinke and Welcome 5: For muddy, foggy, fulsome, puddle, stinking, / For all of these. Ale is the onely drinking. 1711 N. Ward Vulgus Britannicus I 9: Some liquor'd with Foggy Ale, / Others with Glorious Mild and Stale. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 449: The weather had cleared up as their brains had been getting/oggi'. 1853 Dickens 'Slang' Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2: For the one word drunk [...] foggy, screwed, hazy, sewed up [etc.]. 1853 W.G. Simms Sword and the Distaff 3}\0: Not exactly drunk, but a little in the fog. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1918 H.V. O'Brien diary 5 July Wine, Women and War (1926) 137: I, slightly foggy, talked all sorts of irrevelevancies. 1921-2 (?) H. Lawson 'The Last Rose of Winter' in Roderick (1972) 912: It always seems like afternoon and evening to Jack when he's foggy. 1976 R. Morrieson Pallet on the Floor 116: Sam, already foggy with drink, let the Seconal take over. 2 confused, not very intelligent. 1649 J. Taylor Wanderings to see Wonders of West 5: The thing I was mounted on was neither horse, mare, or gelding, it was all spirit [... ] It was none of your pursy foggy jades. 1771 Foote Maid of Bath I iv: Your rival is a fusty, foggy, lumbering log. c.1790 'Larry's Stiff' Luke Caffrey's Cost 7: You know dat fat Peg's devilish foggy. 1820 'Peter Corcoran' 'King Tims the First' Fancy 28: Your royal intellect is in eclipse; / The ruin you've drawn down upon your lips, / Has made it rather foggy. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 61: Why, you nunk, couldn't

you tumble to the pallary, nanty tumble to the queerums, a foggy nobbed'un? 1884 H. Smart Post to Finish I 24: What with drinking old Bill's health and Phaeton's, I'm a litle foggy as yet as to where we've got in the week. 1896 G.M. Fenn Sappers and Miners 137: Oh, I say. Jolly-wet, what a foggy old chap you are. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 12: 'What are you driving at?' I asked; for at twenty-one I was over-innocent, with plenty to learn, and Mugsey's observa¬ tions were foggy. 1914 S. Lewis Our Mr Wrenn (1936) 15: His head was again foggy with work and he had forgotten if there was still April anywhere. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 28: I'm a bit foggy as to what jute is. 1943 H.A. Smith Life in a Putty Knife Factory (1948) 49: I've always considered Pedgler to be one of the great writers of our day, but he has a foggy noodle [...] his thinking apparatus is warped. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 220: A little later my thinking became foggy again. 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 54: You were observing her son with a view to finding out if he was foggy between the ears. 1964 H.S. Thompson letter 7 Apr. in Proud Highway (1997) 448: Your foggy tome arrived yesterday. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 66: She's foggy, dazed. I gave her a hell of a shock. 1974 R. Blount Aiiowt Three Bricks Shy of a Load 87:1 kept going, foggy as hell.

Foggy Bottom n. (also Foggy Butts)

[derived both f. the name of

an area of Washington, D.C., and f. the 'foggy' obfuscations produced by its bureaucrats]

(US) the US State Department.

1950 Sat. Eve. Post 29 July 60: Foggy Bottom, as the new State Department Building is known [HDAS]. 1965 A. Schlesinger Jr A Thousand Days n.p.: In addition to the usual defects of Foggy Bottom prose, the paper was filled with bad spelling and grammar [Rj. 1970 Time 19 Oct. 17: A Christmas card she mailed out last winter was a two-page tirade against her Foggy Bottom enemies. 1974 (con. 1945) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 325: Can you imagine a guy like that as President? President Foggy Butts. The Great I Am! 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 289: Foggy Bottom, a disparaging nickname for the U.S. State Department. 2003 Wall Street Journal 13 Oct. [Internet] While official policy was coziness with the House of Saud and Foggy Bottom was dominated by Arabists, there was some degree of tension.

fogh! excl. see faugh! excl. foghorn n. [the noise it makes] (US) 1

a tuba or saxophone. 1919 G.W. Small Story of the 47th 119: Joe extracted his 'foghorn' [i.e. saxophone] from its unshapely box [HDAS]. 1934 Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 31 July 6/8: Musicians have slang terms for every instrument [...] Fog horn - bass saxophone. 2 the nose. 1942 Berrey & Van den foghorn. 1968 in DARE.

Bark

Amer. Thes. of SI. 121.69: Nose [...]

3 one who talks too loudly; thus the mouth. 1907 W.M. Raine Wyoming (1908) 105: Tame that fog-horn, son. 1931 B. Lubbock Bully Hayes 2: Such laughter indeed as had gained him his nickname of 'Foghorn'. 1936 R.F. Adams Cowboy Lingo 176: 'Foghorn' Lacey was dubbed thus because he talked in such a loud tone of voice. 1964 N.B. Harvey Any Old Dollars, Mister? 153: 'Hold your tongue, foghorn,' Dad said to me. 1968 in DARE.

fogie n.

[var. pron.of FORTY

n.

(3)]

(US black) a 40oz bottle of malt

liquor. 2000 Ebonics Primer al www.dolemite.com [Internet] fogies Definition: the ubiquitous 40oz. of cheap ass malt liquor Example: I be chugin ’ some fogies with my bro.

Fogland n.

[the weather and the contemporary smogs in London]

(Aus.)

Britain; thus Fogtown, Fogville-on-Thames, London. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Jul. 14/2: [T]he experienced Australian bushman won't have the fresh immigrant, partly for the reasons that restrain Fat and Co. from taking Weary Willie into partnership in their large and prosperous city business, and partly because the experienced bushman objects to having an inexperienced mug from Fogville-on-Thames dropping trees on him when his attention is otherwise engaged. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Sept. 34/2: The Taranaki (M.L.) Oil Wells recently received a request from Bull's Admiralty for a few casks of Taranaki fuel oil to be sent to Fogland, so that its alleged suitability for naval purposes could be tested. [Ibid.] 1 Oct. 13/2: There has been a great controversy raging in swimming circles in Fogland lately as to who invented or discovered the 'crawl' stroke.

fogle

n. [? Ital./og//a, leaf; thus handkerchief or Fr. sl.fouille, a pocket; less

likely is Cer. vogel, bird, and thus the 'bird's eye' pattern of some handkerchiefs]

fogle

V.,

(orig. Ling. Fr./Polar!)

a silk handkerchief; thus draw a

to steal a silk handkerchief.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1828 'The Song of the Y'oung Prig' in C. James Catnach (1878) 171: Draw the fogies plummy. 1835 'The Cadger's Daughter' in Knowing Chaunter 29: Nibbling fogies vonce they caught her. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 64: A spicy tile, and nobby head of hair. / And round his squeeze, which seemed formed Hindley

fogmatic

for a rope, / He flash'd a birdseye fogle. 1857 'Leary Man' in 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857) 42: Your fogle you must flashly tie, / Each word must patter flashery, I And hit cove's head to smashery, / To be a Leary Man. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 151/2; A flash white-and-red handkerchief, or 'fogle,' as the costermongers call it. 1877 'Larry Cafooslem' in Laughing Songster 159: Round my neck a fogle yellow. 1886 Daily News 3 Nov. 5/6: In one comer, four boys are learning how to knap a fogle fly [F&Hl. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. HERRING Bold Bendigo 3: Busy fingers had Bendigo's mother as she tied the handsome new fogle, or handerkerchief, dexterously round his neck. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). ■ In compounds fogle-hunter (n.) [also fogle-drawer) a pickpocket who special¬ izes in stealing silk handerchiefs. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 18: They stuck to him like fogle-hunters, eased him of the jingling Georgy's. 1829 'On the Prigging Lay' (trans. of 'Un jour a la Croix Rouge') in ViDOCQ (1829) IV 263: Are they out and outers, deary? / Are they fogle-hunters, or cracksmen leary? 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 118: 'What's the matter now?' said the man carelessly. 'A young fogle-hunter.' 1846 Swell's Night Guide 58: Dialogue between a Swell-Mob's-Man and a Fogle Hunter. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 104: A couple of fogle-hunters tore off the skirts of their coats to mend their breeches. 1873 SI. Did. 167: Fogle a silk handkerchief, — not a clout, which is of cotton. It has been hinted that this may have come from the German, VOGEL, a bird, from the bird's-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, but a more probable derivation is the Italian Slang (Fourbesque), foglia, a pocket, or purse; or from the French Argot, fouille, also a pocket, fogle-hunting (n.) {also fogle-drawing) (ong. Ling. Fr./Polar!) the stealing of silk handkerchiefs. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 82: 'Drawing a fogle,' — picking a pocket. Fogle-hunters — fellows whose highest flight ascends to no nobler objects than pocket-handkerchiefs. Q. 'Where's Teddy?' A. 'He's out a /dg/e-hunting.' 1839 H. Brandon Poverty. Mendidty and Crime: Report 116: Jem the Baker, goes 'fogle' hunting, with little young Ben King. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

fogmatic

foist

196

n. [antifocmatic n.| (US campus) a bracing drink of

alcohol. 1827 J.F. Cooper Red Rover 124: 'Bitters,' 'juleps' [...] 'fogmatics,' etc. 1837 'Plunder Creek' in Bentley's Misc. Feb. 124: They [...] couldn't give me a beaker of egging, or gin cock-tail, or a grain of sangaree, or any other fogmatic.

fogmatic adj.

[fogmatic n.l (US campus) drunk. a.1856 Burlington Sentinel in Hall (1856) 461: We give a list of a few of the various words and phrases which have been in use, at one time or another, to signify some stage of inebriation: [...] fogmatic.

fogo

n. 1? SE fog + hogo, f. Fr. haul gout, high taste, i.e. a high or putrescent flavour, an offensive taste or smell, or fohl, an excl. of disgust] a stench, esp. of breaking wind. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 82: Fog — smoke; Fogo, the same, but with a stench. 1835 'A Blow-Out Among The Blowen' in Secret Songster 17: The nasty old whore / Squatted down on her a--- and s--t bang on the floor [...] Oh, then sich a fogo VOS in every part, / The cock loft smelt vorser than any night cart. 1843 T. Haliburton Sam Slick in England II 270: Phew! let me light a cigar to get rid of the fogo of it. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

■ Derivatives fogo’d (adj.) {UK Und.) scented. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 64: A spicy tile, and nobby head of hair. / Side curls all slap, faked up with fogo'd soap,

fogue

V. [FOGO n.j (Aus./N.Z.) to stink. 1906 E. Dyson Pact'ry 'Ands 248: Mother iv Murphy! how did that

parcel fogue!

fogUS

n. (a/so focus, fogare) j? SE/og, in this case that produced by a pipe] tobacco. 1648 Dekker Canters Diet, in Eng. Villainies (9th edn) n.p.: Fogus, Tobacco or smoak. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 10: Every one being seated, and store of booz and fogus, (Drink and Tobacco) brought them. c,1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fogus Tobacco. As Tip me a gage of Fogus, Give me a pipe of Tobacco. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 206: Focus, tobacco. Tip me a gage of focus, i.e., give me a pipe of tobacco. 1725 New Canting Did. [as cit. C.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Did. [as cit. c. 1698]. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet. 118: Good Tobacco Rum Fogus. 1754 Scoundrel's Did. 19: Tobacco - Fogus. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Did. of the Vulgar Tongue. 1798 'St Giles's Greek' in Sporting Mag. Dec. Xlll 164/1: The cull [...] remained at the bowsing ken, cocking his organ, and tempering his fogus with a

few flagges of crank and white-tape. 1809 G. Andrewes Did. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 D. Haggaky Autobiog. 28: There was a hole in the roof of my cell through which I handed her plenty of focus, budge, and, in short, part of everything. 1835 G. Kent Modem Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Did. in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 142/1: He was obliged to 'sling' for the 'max' and 'fogus' out of his own 'kick'. 1870 Hotten SI. Did. 1881 Trumble SI. Did. (1890).

■ In phrases

blow a fogus (v.) {UK Und.) to smoke a pipe. c.1850

Duncombe

New and Improved Flash Did.

foh! excl. see faugh! excl. foil n. (drugs) a quantity of

drugs, e.g. amphetamine, heroin or

cannabis, wrapped in foil ready for sale. 1968 cited in Horman & Fox Drug Awareness (1970). 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Did. (1972). 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Foil. An amount of (usually) heroin wrapped in tin foil. 1998 Canberra Times 8 Aug. 3: Other details released yesterday show a foil of heroin, giving two hits, can be bought for $30. A starter kit costs $10. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 191: I had a whole rack of foil in my pocket and took a felony charge. ■ In compounds

foil-face (n.) {UK drugs) a heroin addict whose preferred method of ingestion is to inhale the fumes when the drug is heated on a piece of silver foil. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw vii: Foil-face Person who smokes

heroin from tinfoil, a practice often called chasing the dragon. [Ibid.] 41: 'Dirty digger?' 'Nope.' 'Foil-face?' 'Nope.' ■ In phrases

put on the foil (v.) to inhale fumes from heroin heated on a piece of foil. 1977 N. Dowd Slapshot [film script] Ned Braden-. What are you doing? Jeff Hanson-. Puttin' on the foil! [...] Want some?

foil

V. {UK Und.) to wrap a copper coin in silver foil to create a silver one, which can be used in slot or gaming machines. 1992 in R. Graef Living Dangerously 48: 1 made my money by foiling, doing dodgy coins, wrapping them in silver foil in the arcades,

foil-cloy n. (also foyl-cloy, foyler)

[file v.^ (1) -f cly n. (2)] (UK

Und.) a pickpocket; also as foyl someone's cloy v. 1660 Wandring Whore III 78: By that means [she] foyl'd his cloy of above ten pounds. 1661 Wandring Whore V 16: Foylers, Kid-nappers, Decoys, Hectors, Pimps and Trapanners. 1671 'L.B.' New Academy of Complements 204: The sixth is a Foyl-cloy that not one Hick spares. C.1698 B.E. Did. Canting Crew n.p.: Foyl-cloy, c. a Pickpocket, a Thief, a

Rogue.

folly n. (Aus. drugs)

a foil-wrapped package of heroin.

1997 L. Davies Candy 91: An unsuspecting (real) customer had bitten into a nest of foilies in the middle of his cheeseburger,

foin

n. [SE foin, a thrust with a pointed weapon] {UK Und.) a cut-purse

or pickpocket. 1591 Greene Art of Conny-Catching in .Grosart (1881-3) 38: In Figging law. The plcke pocket, a Foin He that faceth the man, the Stale Taking the purse. Drawing Spying of him, Smoaking The purse, the Bong The monie, the Shels The Act doing, striking,

foin

V. [SEfoin, to make a thrust with pointed weapon) of a man, to have sexual intercourse; thus folning n., having sexual intercourse. 1593 Nashe Choise of Valentines (1899) 13: And then he flue on hir as

he were wood. And on hir breeche did hack and foyne a-good. C.1597 Shakespeare Henry IV Pt 2 II i: If his weapon be out: he will foin like any devil. [Ibid.] II iv; Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig, when wilt thou leave fighting o' days, and foining o' nights, and begin to patch up thine old body for heaven? 1618 Fletcher Loyal Subject I iv; Into what Grooms Feather-Bed will you creep now? And there mistake the enemy; sweet youths ye are. And of a constant courage; are you afraid of foyning? 1621 Beaumont & Fletcher Thierry and Theodoret II i: Goe get you to your foyning work at Court, And learn to sweat again, and eat dry mutton.

fois adj.

[? Fr. fois, time, i.e. the perceived antiquity of such styles) (US

campus) reminiscent of European style. 1989 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 77; Fois ll-wal, from French 'time, instance' means 'reminiscent of European style'; 'How do you like my fois sweater?'

foist

n.^ {also foyst, fyst) [foist v,^ (1)[ a silent breaking of wind.

1593 Nashe Four Letters Confuted in Works II (1883-4) 204:1 am afraide your Doctors fort will fall out to be a fatall foyst to your breeches, 1605 Chapman & Jonson Eastward Ho! IV ii: Marry, fyst o your Ruidess. I thought as much. a.1661 'The Re-resurrection of the Rump' in Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 3: Why a Fart hath a tongue, and a Fyest hath none, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.;

foist

Foyst . . ,a close strong Stink, without Noise or Report. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as dt. c.l698].

foist

n.^ [also foyst, fyst) [foist v.^] 1 (UK Und.) a pickpocket or cut-purse. 1591 Greene Second Part of Conny-Catching in Grosart (1881-3) X 107: The Foist is so nimble handed that hee exceeds the iugler for agility, and hath his legier de tnaine as perfectly: therfore an exquisite Foist must haue three properties that a good Surgion should haue, and that is an Eagles eie, a Ladies hand, and a Lyons heart: an Eagles eie to spie a purchase, to haue a quicke insight where the boong lies, and then a Lyons heart not to feare what the end will bee, and then a Ladies hand to be little and nimble, the better to diue into the pocket. These are the perfect properties of a Foist. 1600 J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act I: Your nipper, your foyst, your rogue, your cheat, your pander, your any vile thing. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: Foist! what's that? mol.: A diver with two fingers, a pickpocket. 1630 J. Taylor 'Travels of Twelve-pence' in Works (1869) 1 71: To Sharkes, Stales. Nims, Lifts. Foysts, Cheats. Stands, Decoyes / T'a Cut-purse, and a pocket picking Flound. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 22 25 Oct.-l Nov. 187: Of Gally-Foysts, and water Speeches, / Of Horn-fair Beasts in Sattin Breeches. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Foyst, a pickpocket, cheat, or rogue, [Ibid.] A foyster was a pickpocket. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1822 Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 299: She said she was no foyst, and was innocent. 1867 (con. 1600s) M. Lemon Leyton Hall 1 233: The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger; the most notorious setter, barnacle, and foist in the City.

2 (UK Und.) a card-sharp, a cheat. 1598 JoNSON Every Man In His Humour IV vii: Prate again, as you like this, you whoreson foist, you. 1608 Dekker Belman of London E3: Foysting : which is nothing else but a sleight to carry Dice easily in the hand so often as the Foister listeth. 1659 Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony V iii: You shall play no more the sharking foist with me, you fumbling Fidler you. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Foyst c. a Cheat a Rogue. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737,1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) 1 320: Foist meant also a sharper, and is, perhaps, derived from to foist, in the sense of to thrust in improperly, which is said to be from fausser, French. 1859 Matsell Voeabulum. 3 a trick, a hoax. 1627 J. Taylor An Armado in Works (1869) 1 85: The Friend-SHIP had two very small pinnaces in her squadron, named, [...] 2. The Foyst. ■ In phrases

skirt-foist (n.) a female cheat. 1653 A. Wilson Inconstant Ladie IV ii: 1 do not like that skirtfoist. Leave your bouncing!

foist

v.^ (a/so foyst, fyst) [prob. Du. dial, vuisten, to take in the hand, f. vuist, fist; the Du. means to play at a game in which one player holds some coins in his hand, and the others guess their number) 1 to palm a false die so as to be able to introduce it into the game when required. 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus (1761) 1 85: What shift will they make to set the one of them with [...] cogginge, and foystinge. 1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 24: R.: But what shift have they to bring the flat in and out? M.: A jolly fine shift, that properly is called foysting, and it is nothing else but a sleight to carry easily within the hand as often as the foister lies. 1608 Dekker Belman of London E3: Foysting : which is nothing else but a sleight to carry Dice easily in the hand so often as the Foister listeth.

2 to cheat by this means; thus foist in v., to introduce a false die surreptitiously when palmed. 1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 29: This young scholar have not so ready and so skilful an eye, to diserne the flat at every time that he is foisted in (for use maketh mastery). 1576 U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 8th dialogue 38: Lo here is cretinsis cum cretense, a cogging knaue with a foysting varlet wel met. 1600 Monday 8- Drayton Sir John Oldcastle IV i: Sirrah, dost thou not cog, nor foist, nor slur? 1616 W, Haughton English-Men For My Money F2: Hee comes ete vostre, and so foorth. Till he hath foysted in a Brat or two? How then, how then? a.1618 J. Harington Epigrams I No. 79: Then play thou for a pound, or for a pin, / High men or low men, still are foysted in. 3 to Steal, esp. to pick a pocket. 1584 Three Ladies of London II: Thou doest nothing but cog, lie, and foist with hypocrisie. 1592 Greene Blacke Bookes Messenger 12: She could foyst a pocket well, and get me some pence, and lift nowe and then for a neede. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 43: Long we cannot foist & nip at last we shal be spyed. 1623 Middleton & Rowley Spanish Gypsy II i: I mean filching, foisting, nimming. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Foyst, to pick a pocket. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

fold

197

foist

v.^ (also fyst) jisc SE fist, to break wind; 16C SE foist, to smell or grow musty] to break wind silently. 1604 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 1 I viii: Fluello, spume your hounds when they foiste, you shal not spume my Puncke. 1605 Chapman & JONSON Eastward Ho! II iii: I must feign myself extremely amorous [...] part with her as passionately as she would from her foisting

hound. 1656 Mennis & Smith 'The Fart Censored in Parliament' Musarum Deliciae (181 7) 82: Harry Ludlows foisting arse cry'd no (...) 'tis an audacious trick, / To fart in the face of the body politick. 1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 18: Go tell that farting Fool your Master / [...] / Make no more such Foisting here. 1705 .1. Michelburne Ireland Preserved n.p.: He did bate my Wife, and did trow her down stairs, and did call her a Feisting, Farting, Stinking Shaad [BS]. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) I 341: fyst. A corruption of foist, which was a jocular term for a windy discharge of the most offensive kind.

foister n.

[foist v.^ (3)|

1

a dice cheat.

1552 G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 24: A

jolly fine shift, that properly is called foysting, (...) is nothing else but a sleight to carry easily within the hand as often as the foister lies. 1608 Dekker Belman of London E3: Foysting : which is nothing else but a sleight to carry Dice easily in the hand so often as the Foister listeth.

2 (Und.) a pickpocket. 1574 J. Higgins et al. Mirror for Magistrates (1815) 483: When facing foisters fit for Tiburne fraies. Are food-sick faint, or heart-sick run their waies. 1836 A. Thornton Don Juan in London II 404: His proficiency was rewards by styling him a nypper and a foyster. the former term signifying a pick-purse or cut-purse, and the latter a pick¬ pocket. 1859 Matsell Voeabulum 35: foyster A pickpocket,

fold

n.^ [powdered narcotic drugs are sold in folds of paper) (US drugs) a piece of paper folded to contain a measure of a given drug; usu. $25 per fold. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 74: Fold A paper that is folded in such a way as to keep the drugs it contains from falling out [...] A standard price for a fold is $25.

fold n.^

a collapse into laughter.

2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 4: And that's the cue tor a four-way

hysterical told. I mean their laughter is so rehearsed you could dance to it.

fold

V. [poker imagery]

(US) 1 to become exhausted, to tire, to fall

asleep. 1932 J.A. Shidler 'More Stanford Expressions' in AS VII:6 436: A drunkard is a 'funnel' 'tank,' 'blotter,' or 'sponge'; he 'passes out', 'folds,' 'melts,' is 'whipped,' if he drinks to unconsciousness. 1948 J.M. Cain Moth (1950) 211: If I put down any more booze. I'll fold. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 151: After you guys folded last night, me and Action went to see a fellow. 1960 J.D. Macdonald Slam the Big Door (1961) 97: Her face was puffy with sleep. [...) She yawned widely and said, 'Wow! I folded.' 1979 G. Swarthout Skeletons 124: After that I folded. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2 to shut down, esp. in show business use. 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 35: Dont fold until they saw if business was going to stay stinking. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 334: We're finished in two weeks )...] What are you planning to do, Merwin? You won't have crackerjack money when we fold. 1960 H.S. Thompson letter 14 Jan. in Proud Highway (1997) 203: It all depends on how this magazine goes. If it folds, I will be out on a limb. 1975 D. Nobbs Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 265: 'How's the play doing?' 'It's folding on Saturday.' 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 70: He folded his corporation; changed his business address, phone number, and letterhead, 1992 D. Jarman diary 13 July Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 171: Gav Times is on the fringes of intellligence, like Stonewall it would do us a service if it folded. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 12 Mar. 62:1 was with the Jeff Beck Group at the time and they folded. 2003 J. Bush Jones Our Musicals, Ourselves 34: The public wasn't buying Abyssinia, and the show folded after thirty-one performances. 3 to collapse, to fail, e.g. in the context of a town becoming useless for criminal activities. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 166: Just so long as he holds together for a while. Then he can fold if he likes. 1963 M. Spillane

Return of the Hood 9: Penny took the big slide and damn sure any alibi I had would fold. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 4 to give up. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 73/1: Fold, v, [...) 2. (P) To sever relations with; to quit a work assignment, accepting penalty, or to secure transfer from it; to give up, as gambling, any risky activity, any bad habit, etc. 1969 H. Searls Hero Ship 282: I'm going to fold. No charges. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 34: Yeah, she could really bust a move [...] every time I tried jaw jackin' with Miss Thang, she got so frosted that I fin'lly jus' folded.

folder

follow

198

5 of a shop, club etc, to shut. 1979 'Iceberg Sum' Airtight Willie and Me 25: Some ass-kicker was a cinch to be a 'ho short when the joints folded in the a.m.

6 (US Und.) to collapse under pressure, e.g. police interrogation,

3 to terminate an activity. 1939 HowsLEY Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 30: A few will go broke on the road - 'fold up' as show people say their equipment being scattered by creditors. 1948 D. Dodge Bullets

1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 39: In the end, when

For The Bridegroom (1953) 27: It's usually slack about this time. The

Denning faced real pressure, he folded. He rolled over and did whatever the police [.,.] wanted done.

night-hawks are folding up, and the morning crowd comes in after

127: That just about folded up the night.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases (v.) [the unfolding of one's bedroll]

fold out

1 (US)

to go to bed,

1967-70 in DARE.

(v.) (US black) to lecture or advise someone

at great and serious length. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive 178: Fold [one's] ears v. (1960s) to advise, especially at great length; also, simply to talk impressively to someone.

folder

4 to knock down, to defeat. 1955 R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 272: The last round I prayed and punched and got strength I don't know where from [...] It was enough to fold up Charley Fusari.

2 see FOLD up v. (5).

fold someone’s ears

breakfast. 1954 (con. 1940s) T.A.G, Hungerford Sowers of the Wind

n. [fold v. (1)1 (US campus) one who tires easily; thus a

poor companion for partying. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 82: Don't ask her to go out with us tonight — she's a folder.

folding n. (also folding dough, ...money, ...stuff) (orig. US) paper money. 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 91: A handsome wallet stuffed with a liberal supply of folding [...] Any time the socialites go out they leave their folding money at home. 1951 (con, 1920) S. Longstreet Pedlocks (1971) 280: Stinky went back to school with a hamper of food and some folding money. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 91: He has written twelve [...] historical novels and every damn one of them has been on the best-sellers lists. He must have made plenty of the folding. 1953 Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 154: And to have fun you need the folding stuff, 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 27: She knew what she had, and her only aim in life was to make it pay off in folding dough. 1961 T.I. Rubin In the Life 70: Just boobies. Doc, and thank God for 'em. They keep me in folding money. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 36: It might mean lots of the folding stuff. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 66: It takes the folding dough to put manners on a publican. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 36: You'll certainly require a ton of the folding stuff. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 4: So far there was no folding stuff but he could smell it out somewhere. [Ibid.] 22: Make plenty of folding then I could give up all this wickedness? 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 328: Probably walked off from folding money, too, when he was already short, only a tenspot. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 52: Got the folding in our private cash so the screws went up the supermarkets.

folding green n. (also green folding)

[SE folding/foiomc n. + (1)1 (US black) paper money, dollar bills. 1942 R. Mulvey 'Pitchman's Cant' in AS XVII: 1 Pt 2 Apr. 91/2: green FOLDING. Money (bills). 'Before he left, he crossed my palm with silver and the green folding.' 1949 R. Chandler Little Sister n.p.: Just put this hunk of the folding green back in your saddle bag and forget you ever met me, 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 25: The guy paying for my superlative services could well afford it; he had plenty of the folding green. 1971 N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 25; The folding green [...] Money. Twenty dollars a day plus expenses. 2002 SmirkingChimp.com [Internet] Help build a better Smirking Chimp — Less time spent hustling for the folding green means more time improving this site. Please donate whatever you can.

GREEN

fold

up V. [poker use, fold (up), to withdraw from a round of betting] 1 to collapse or to surrender, both under unbearable pressure; to cause to knock out. 1913-14 Van Loan 'No Business' in Taking the Count 159: Bang! bang! in the pantry, and Isidore will fold up like a wet towel. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 157: He'll fold up like a whore's bed. 1936 K, Mackenzie Living Rough 37: That Goo-goo sure folded up. His head bounced on the canvas. 1947 Ulus. 15 Mar. 19: Farrar hasn't folded up after all. He's sprung back again. 1953 J. Thompson Criminal (1993) 15: He folded up like an accordion. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 21: He hoped the mark wouldn't fold up at the first blow. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 67: The silly bugger must have folded up after having a pumpship. 1970 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 37: Most of your current 'phenomena' [...] would just fold up a stupefied loss. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 255: With all this heat, you're gonna fold up. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 216: He folded up en route to a score ('I can't do it, man. I just can't do it').

2 (drugs) to withdraw from drug use.

5 (also fold out) to leave. 1960 G. Swarthout Where the Boys Are 203: The Mike Todd of Michigan State had folded out of town.

6 to shut down someone's business or other activity. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 75: What happened to the bail bond business? I hear they folded you up? 1974 D. Ireland Burn 82: If I fold up you can work with the big men.

folks n. ISAmE folks, one's family) 1 (US Und.) fellow criminals; also in sing. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 290: 'Oh, hell, Roy,' he went on, 'I keep forgetting you're folks.'

2 (US teen) one's group of friends. 1896 G.F. Northall Warwickshire Word-Book 82: Folks. Friends. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 328: When Crawfish goes to cook, he dumps these folks [pet snakes] outen his clothes. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 79: folks, n. Sweetheart, 'I'm going to see my folks.' 1931 A. BONTEMPS God Sends Sun. 189: Was I as black an' ugly as you I'd waller wid de hogs 'stead o' 'sociatin' wid folkses. 1934 Z.N. Hurston Jcfiti/t's Gourd Vine (1995) 14: Well, folks! Where you reckon dis big yaller bee-stung nigger come from? 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 237; folks 1. Black people. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 208; I really didn't start hanging out with folks until I was about fourteen. 1999 R. Jacobs in San Jose Mercury News 11 May n.p.: Folks (n) - A group of buddies or friends who socialize together.

I'm

supposed

to

meet

the

folks

after I finish

homework. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.)

my

161: We

Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Fam. Foin. Folk.

■ In phrases real folks (n.) (US Und.) people who have been in prison or live by crime. 1920 F, Williams Hop-Heads 32: 'Howdy. Meet ---, He's from 'real folks." 'Real folks' in the underworld stands for people who have been in prison or live by crime,

follier-upper n. see follower-upper n. follow V. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases follow a whereas (v.) (also march in the rear of a whereas) [notices of bankruptcy in the London Gazette invariably began with the word

Whereas...] to become bankrupt. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd edn) n.p.; To follow a whereas; to become a bankrupt, to figure among princes and potentates: the notice given in the Gazette that a commission of bankruptcy is issued out against any trader, always beginning with the word whereas. He will soon march in the rear of a whereas. 1811

Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. follow-me-home-and-fuck-me shoes (n.) see fuck-ml shoes under fuck-me adj.

follow-me-lads (n.) (the apparent sexual invitation implicit in the hairstyle! curls that hang over a woman's shoulder. 1862 Times 21 Jan. 10/1: Vagrant ringlets straying over the shoulder, better known by the name of 'follow me, lads'. 1872 Spectator n.p.: Follow-me-lads are not in themselves very pretty, though, like any other fashion, they become the Princess, and they are exceedingly costly [F&H].

follow one’s nose (v.) [play on SE follow one's nose, to go (lit.) straight] (US black) to lead a law-abiding life, whatever temptations may exist to the contrary. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon at%d Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

follow through (v.) 1 to ejaculate twice without withdrawal. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 416/2: C,20.

2 to soil one's underwear by mistake. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 143: 'At the foorth hole I left a poop.' 'That can happen to all of us,' his friend again said. 'I ken, I ken, but I followed through,' said Sandy. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting

1938 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in AS XIII;3

24: Ah fart, and instantly follow through, feeling the wet sludge in

184/2: To fold up. To stop taking narcotics. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 308: fold up. To take the drug cure.

ma pants. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 17: Cohn lifts one arse cheek an lets out a loud tart before he leaps up an sprints bow-legged to thuh bog yelling: — shite! Av follered fuckin through!

follower-upper

follower-upper n. (also follier-upper, folly an’ upper, follyerupper, follyinupper) [SE follow-up] (Irish) a weekly cinema serial, usu. screened on Saturday mornings. 1953 B. Behan Scarperer (1966) 26; Oh, look out, we're going past the Plaza now, the picture-house. Smashing follyer-upper. I go to it every Sunday. 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 9: I'd buy twopence worth of broken biscuits and munch my way through the folly an upper'. I saw Flash Gordon and Captain Marvel so many times that I knew most of the dialogue off by heart. 1981 (con. C.1920) P.,Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Out! 122: We loved the serials, or 'Follyinuppers'. 1982 (con. 1930s-50s) E. Mac Thomais Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 31: After the pics we'd be brought up to date on Flash Gordon and the 'follyinupper'. 1989 H. Leonard Out after Dark 6: Like the hero in the weekly follower-upper at the Picture House. 1995 P. Boland Tales From a City Farmyard 54:1 didn't go to the Lyric too often, but for a time [...] I went every week to see a follyinupper named Don Winslow of the Coastguard. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Follier-upper (n): a serial at the pictures (movies). To be continued ...

follow-foot monkey

n. (W.l.) someone, often a young person, who 'apes' (as far as they can) the famous. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

follow-foot monkey

v. (follow-foot monkey n.]

(W.l.) to 'ape'

the famous. 1980 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

folly ’an upper/follyer-upper/follyinupper n. see

fol

LOWER-UPPER n.

fondle

V.

to have sexual intercourse.

up with a whole legion of monkeys, who would have fondled her to death. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fond of one’s drops phr. see under drops n.^. fonfen n. [Yid. fonfer, a cheat, one who deceives, fails to deliver on

their promises] the verbal trickery created by con-men to further a given fraud or trick. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Fonfen The spurious stories of fraudsmen (common Yiddish word in the world of commercial fraud or near-fraud).

fong n.^ (also fong-eye) (N.Z.) 1

strong liquor.

1939-45 Expressions and Sayings 2NZEF (Nat. Archiv. TS WAIL DA 420/1) Fong-Fong-eye. Liquor of a dubious nature [DNZE], 1967

F.W. Miller Ink on my Fingers 177: The 'fong' experts were not encouraged by the genuine talent and were usually avoided [DNZE], 1979 Gebbie & Mcgregor Incredible 8-Ounce Dream 89: A group of regular drinkers set up a kitty to pay for taxis home [...] One of the farsighted drinkers threw a dollar to the 'fong fund' and made the comment, 'Tell me I'm not fit to drive and I'll use that to get a taxi home.' [DNZE], 1985 Metro (Auckland) Sept. 47: On the odd occasion he wouldn't front up in the morning. I always assumed it was because he'd attacked the fong (booze) the night before [DNZE], 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 81: fong Booze. 2 methylated spirits as drunk by alcoholics. 1974 (con. 1930s) I. Agnew Loner 39: It was so much easier to pay sixpence for a bottle of methylated spirits, commonly referred to as fong, drown your sorrows and lose yourself in a world of fantasy. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1: fong methylated spirits. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 3 a very heavy drinker. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 174: They stopped for a leak on the Wakatahuri Hill and Fong Needham fell down the bank,

[? echoic] (Irish) a kick.

1961 T. Murphy Whistle in the Dark Act I; Hugo got him a right fong

up in the arse.

fonged (up) adj. (also half-fonged)

[fong

n?\ (N.Z.)

drunk,

tipsy. 1945 in freq. use by Wellington University students (Ed.) Fonged

'drunk' used; also fong or fong-eye for liquor [DNZE]. 1964 C. Frances Johnny Rapana 34: 'Course, the boys had been stretching

things a bit, and the old boy was pretty fonged up. 1974 (con. 1930s) 1. Agnew Loner 97: I watched three strangers, two of them already half-fonged, heating methylated spirits in a pan. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/1-2: fonged drunk [...] fonged up drunk, cluttered, messed up, bewildered, stymied; combining fog and pong; eg 'He's all fonged up about whether or not she likes him.' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fonk n.

a euph. for fuck n. in various contexts.

1994 Rebennack & Rummel

Under A Hoodoo Moon 2: This is a

testament to New Orleans funk, [...] And one last word of warning: You can't shut the fonk up. No, the fonk got a mind of its own.

fonked out heavy adj.

[funked out

(US black) very well dressed.

1980 B. FoLB Runnin' Down Some Lines 111: Expressions reserved for being extraordinarily well dressed (clothed hea\y, dapped to a tee, decked to death, fonked out heavy).

fonk (out)

V. [FONKY adj.^] (US black)

1

to show off; to upstage.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 109: To high sign, lo fonk [...] which mean to show off or upstage others. 2 to praise. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive 178: Fonk [...] v. (1980s-1990s) [...] praise.

fonky

ad/? (a/so fonk) [funky ad/? (1)/funky ad/.^ (1)1 (US black) a positive or negative intensifier depending on context; thus exceptionally good or bad, smelling sweet or vile etc. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. III:2 24: Fonky, adj. Nice. 1980 E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 1 54: Also, the word fonky, which in other contexts means giving off an offensive body odor, takes on a positive meaning in the sexual context. Here it often identifies the good smells connected with good sex. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr, 4: fonk - weird, out-of-touch, ugly. 'That girl's hair looks fonk.' 1994 Rebennack & Rummel Under A Hoodoo Moon 1: I'm out on the bricks of the fonky streets of Fort Worth, [Ibid.] 179: This was when 1 knew some fonky shit was going down. 2003 G. Leif Bellman Swerve 175; I'd bust some capture doctrine on yo' fonky selves (make alTyall pay).

■ In compounds fonky-fresh (adj.) see funky-fresh under funky adj^. ■ In phrases fonky to the bone (ad/,) [bone n.? (US black) exceptionally well dressed.

1821-6 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 122: I'd have shut her

fong n?

foo-foo

199

adj.

(1)

+

heavy

adv.

(1)]

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 230: bone, clean/fonky/ mod/ragged/sharp/silked/tabbed to the Exceptionally welldressed. 1992 R.C, Cruz Straight Outta Compton 18: Flip [...] pointing to the threads he had on as if he was clean/fonky/mod/ragged/ sharp/silked and tabbed to the bone,

fonky adj.^

[funky ad/.^ (1)[ (US black) aggressive. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 177: If anything go down wrong, you sure will get fonky wid a person,

foo n. see fool n. too adj. [? SE foolish

or foo-FOO adj. (1)1 (Aus.) drunk. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Sept. 24/4: Manifestly some publican had disregarded laws made and provided to cut the aboriginal off from his drink. Tacky was more than moderately 'foo.'

foob adj. see f.u.b.a.r. adj. (4). food n. [something one 'chews' over or

'eats up'] 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. 2 (US gangigay) a victim, prey; a sex object.

1 (US black)

gossip.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 84: food generic for men as sex objects. 2002 N.Y. Press 30 Oct.-5 Nov. 10/4: Bloods can be deadly. [...] 'You cross me, you're food,' one told me. 'Food means you're eaten. Dead.' ■ SE in slang uses

m In compounds food boat (n.) a group of prisoners who cook their own food. 2000 Guardian G2 11 Feb. 4; On a spur, or a landing, food boats were formed, comprising three or four associates who pooled their prison wages and purchased meat and vegetables. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Pew Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 471; The premier food-boat on Red Spur was known as 'The Bears', due to its members' huge size and the gargantuan meals they ate. foodbox (n.) (US black) the stomach. 1998 Big L 'Ebonics' [lyrics] Jealous is jelly, your food box is your belly. food grinder (n.) the jaw. 1918 B.E.F. Times 22 Jan. (2006) 291/1: A tin lid, which we fasten on our top-knobs with a strap under the food-grinder, food inspector (n.) [his 'inspection' of whatever food he can obtain] (Aus.) a tramp. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. ■ In phrases

food one’s beast (v.) see under beast n. exc/. see phooey! excl.

fooey! foof n.

[? echoic of an insubstantial puff of wind] (US campus) a superficial person; thus foofy adj., silly. [1948 (con. c. 1910s) J. Stevens Big Jim Turner 21: Oh, foof! Don't talk like a fool, Wiley.] 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 40: The old foofs! 1985 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: foofy - stupid. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: foofy - prissy, vain,

foo-foo n.

[SE fool + redup.] gullible, foolish person.

1 (US/W.I.) (also fu-fu)

a naive,

1837 A. Greene Glance at N.Y. I v: mose: [7b Harry, pointing after loafers] Them's foo-foos! GEORGE: What's foo-foos? mose: Why, foofoos is outsiders [...] A foo foo, or outsider is a chap wot can't come

foo-foo

fool

200

the big figure, george: What's the big figure? mose: The big figure here, is three cents for a glass of grog and a night's lodging. 1855 Broadway Belle, and Mirror of the Times (N.Y.) 8 Jan. 2/3: Them Dutchmen is regular fu-fu's they are. 1859 Bartlett Diet. American¬ isms (2nd edn) 158: A foo-foo, or an outsider, is a chap that can't come the big figure. 1864 J. Barber War Letters of a Disbanded Volunteer 242:1 feel riled and put by to think that my illustrus frend should be held up to public contemp as a foo-foo. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 51: 'That duck isn't a critic, he's a only a Foofoo.' 'What the devil is a Foofoo?' Bunch asked. 'A Foofoo is something that tried to happen and then lost the address,' 1 explained. 1925 (con. 1899) H.P. Bailey Shanghaied Out of Frisco 57: So happy that the 'spare parts' (apprentices) formed a Foofoo-band. 1972 D. Dalby 'African element in Amer. Eng.' in Kochman Rappin' and Stylin' Out 180: foo-foo—'outsider, newcomer; one who does not

Mile Stand: 'Wonder wotinell's inside this 'un, Harry. A ton of iron's a fool to it!'

3 anyone excessively enthusiastic about a given activity or topic; thus dancing fool, singing fool; often found as a fool for... 1887 in Overland Monthly (CA) July 66: That air that fiddlin' fool, Pete

Doblne. 1917 Van Loan 'A Morning Workout' in Old Man Curry 208: Crap-shootin' fools, both of 'em. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 32: He located a doctor in Brooklyn who was a writing fool. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 77: You never saw a driving fool like that. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 112:1 told him he's in the land of bowling fools. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 12: A regular car-stealing fool, with a real bad temper.

4 a person, irrespective of their actual intelligence. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 22: This fool had a smart square broad with a progressive square-john husband, infatuated with him. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 183: What is this fool talkin' bout? 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 40: Fool sittin' over here makin'

belong or is not accepted; fool'.

2 [US gay) a woman who tries over-hard to impress men. 1999 D. Skeen Different Sexual Worlds 62: A foo-foo, in gay parlance, is

disturbances.

a woman who, being rather foolish, makes an excessive effort to

[lyrics] I'm gonna smoke this fool.

5 (also foo) a general term of address.

impress men.

■ In compounds foo-foo dust in.) [orig. naut. jargon foo-foo, cologne (but note cit. 1941)1 1 (US) (also foo-foo, foo-foo powder, frou-frou powder) talcum powder, baby powder, anti-louse powder etc. 1918 Stars and Stripes 12 Apr. 8: One o' thuh cooks spilt a can o' this here 'frou-frou' powder in the cocoa. 1941 N.Y. Herald Trib. 27 Apr. 20/2: Here is a list of navy 'slanguage': [...] Foo-foo—Talcum powder. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 84: foo-foo dust (kwn LV & SF, mid-late '60s) any powder: baby powder, antilouse powder dusted upon new prisoners, chalk dust, etc. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Foo-foo: Deodorant and after¬ shave, as in 'foo-foo'ed back.'

2 (drugs) (also foo-foo stuff) any form of powdered narcotic [ext. of sense 11. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Foo foo stuff — Heroin; cocaine. ad/, (also foo-fool, fool-fool) [foo-foo n.j

foo-foo

1

simple-

minded, stupid, oafish. 1853 N.Y. Clipper 14 May 2/4: Them's my sentiments on this here foo-foo concern. 1868 C. White The Hop of Fashion in Darkey Drama 4 Act 11: MOSE. Come Lize; let's have a dance, and leave this foo-foo ball. 1939 A. Durie One Jamaica Gal 22: Lawd, but the 'missis' is one sweet lady [...] an' Mister Hilary am sweet too but him too foo-foo. 1942 L. Bennett 'C'ristmus Ham' in Jam. Dialect Poems 49: Wat a big an so-so foo-fool gal. 1953 W.G. Ogilvie Cactus Village 47: 1 put out starch water to settle, the fool-fool goat drink it. 1964 A. Bennett God the Stonebreaker 34: She liked Parson Allen although he acted so 'fool-fool' at times. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'De Royal Commotion' in Jamaica Labrish 145: Hear Sally wid her fool-fool self. 1971 T. Rhone Smile Orange 1 i: A woman asking me a whole heap a question, whole heap a fool-fool question. 1973 L. Bennett Auntie Poachy Sey (2003) 23: Hear de foo-foo gal. 1981 N. Farki Countryman Karl Black 122: Freda, don't ask the young man any fool-fool question. 1983 T. White Catch a Fire 57: Under a mantle of disgrace [...] for being so idiotic as to legally wed a 'foo-foo' (foolish) country waif. 1994 M. Montague Dread Culture 35: No wonder yuh ask a fool-fool question like dat. 2000 T. White Catch a Fire 57: Gonea Kingston in shame, under a mantle of disgrace from his own family for being so idiotic as to legally wed a 'foo-foo' (foolish) country waif. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 232: 'She still fool-fool though,' Carol insisted.

2 credulous, gullible. 1950 Bennett, Clarke & Wilson Anancy Stories and Dialect Verse 30: Hear Tiga wid him foo-foo self, 'A'right Bra Nancy, as long as yuh come wid me'. 1959 A. Salkey Quality of Violence (1978) 72: And you too fool-fool. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'Sir' in Jamaica Labrish 148: An de bans o' long an foo-fool / Letta to de edita.

foo-foo

V. [FOO-FOO ad/. (1)] to act stupidly, to mess around. 1977 A. Brooke Last Toke 22: Ain't nothin' wrong with that girl. Leastwise nothin' 1 can't handle if y'all stop this foo-fooin' 'round

here.

fool

n.

1

1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg 'Murder was the Case'

a stupid or foolish thing.

1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India 11 143: She would [...] feel for, and clutch my infernal fool of a prick, which would stand furiously for her, though 1 wished it cut off at such moments. 1890 Sporting Times 18 Jan. 1: Portugal is, of course, a little twopenny-halfpenny fool of a place.

2 an easy thing, in comparison; usu. in phr. a fool to it. 1890 Sporting Times 8 Feb. 3/1:1 am told that six months' hard is a fool to it. 1908 Sporting Times 1 Aug. 1/3: Said one to another, as he endeavoured to shoulder a dress-basket about as big as the Rowley

1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 85: Now, you jus' signifying, fool. 1

got big-six myself. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 98: Ain't no hymie poppy love be on The Deuce Monday night, fool! 1997 G. Sikes 8 Ball Chicks (1998) 192: What's up, fool? I'm talking to you. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 7: Look, fool [...] in this busines people don't walk in the door shaking their fists in your face. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] foo n. (derived from fool) a friend. 'Whasup foo?' 2. an insulting name for someone. 'What you lookin' at foo?'

6 (also foo) a stupid person. 1996-2000 (con. 1940s) Deuce Ofay Productions 'The Jive Bible' at JiveOn.com [Internet] Gravy on (one's) grits: adj. Said of an individual who has proved to be a success in financial matters: Rich. 'Why don't Jeremy come 'roun hea' no more? He always be out oozin' an' schmoozin' a' late.' 'He got gravy on his grits now, man. He don't need ta' be pimpin' wit' us at de quickie mart like we's use to.' 'Dat Chump!' 'Sheeeeeit! Jive-ass foo' wuz a gorilla pimp anyhow!' 2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] 6 April: wanksta - A fake-ass

foo trying to be hard. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fool-ass (n.) [-ass sfx] a general term of disparagement; the inference is of stupidity. 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 93: I get enough laughs outta what these foolass dopefiends have to say to last me till next month. 1973 D. Goines Street Players 113 Why, they'd keep that fool-ass bitch of yours locked up for five years.

fool-finder (n.) [? because only fools are available when he comes to call] a bailiff. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum.

foolhead (n.) [-head sfx (1)] a fool; thus foolheaded adj., stupid, foolish. 1903 G.D. Chase 'Cape Cod Dialect' in DN II:v 297: foolhead, n. A foolish person, or animal. 'That foolhead of a calf tipped his pail over.' 1949 L. Hughes Tambourines to Glory I vii: I drank likker [...] It made me fool-headed. fool-monger (n.) [SE sfx -monger] 1 one who 'trades on' the credulity of fools, a swindler. 1681 Otway Soldier's Fortune I i: Of all rogues, I would not be a foolmonger, 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 a gambler. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fool-taker (n.) (UK Und.) a dice- or card-sharp; thus fool-taking, the swindling of gamblers. 1592 Greene Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher in Grosart (1881-3) X 163: The fine Foole-taker himselfe, with one or two more of that companie, were not long after apprehended, [...] A notable knave, who for his cunning deceiving a Gentleman of his purse scorned the name of a Conny-catcher, and would needes be termed a Fooletaker, as master and beginner of that new found Arte. 1608 Dekker Belman of London H4: The fourth Jump is called Foole-taking: and that is done severall wayes, sometimes by setting a couple of suttle rogues to sing ballads on a stall, till a number of people presse about them to buy their trash, and then their purses being discouered, are quickly in the Nips fingers. Others are Fooletaken by letting chambers to fellowes like seruing-men [...] bringing in a trunck exceeding heavy, and crambd full of bricke-bats, which is left in the hired chamber, and five times the value of it lifted away in stead of it.

fool trap (n.) 1 one who 'trades on' the credulity of fools, a swindler.

fool around 1890 1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Andlogues.

2 the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

3 a high-class prostitute. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases fool up (v.) (W.l.) to deceive, to trick. 1913 H. De Lisser Jane's Career (1971) 3: Don't allow any of those

Kingston buoy to fool you up.

fool around

v.

foot

201

1

to conduct a promiscuous sex life.

1926 Odum & Johnson Negro Workaday Songs 87:1 got a gal, you got a

gal, / All us niggers got a gal. / He fool 'roun', I fool 'roun' / All us niggers fool 'roun'. 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 76: You mean fooling aroundl Sure, who didn't. Shit, we all used to fuck about. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 271: You knew about all his fooling around. 2005 L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 104: He was fooling around, too. He got into fornicating.

2 to enjoy sexual activity short of intercourse; thus the invitation let's fool around, a suggestion by one of a couple that they should abandon speech for (sexual) action. 1931 Blanche Calloway 'Just a Crazy Song' [lyrics] Now, 1 get so hot and bothered when / You start foolin' 'round. 1934 Z.N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine (1995) 45: If you've been fooling around Duke's wife, leave her alone, 1951 M, Spillane Long Wait (1954) 105: The dames they get for waitresses in the joints around here are never too careful who they fool around with. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 34: You and me, we ain't done nothing but fool around like a couple of babies. 1966 (con. 1958) R. Farina Been Down So Long (1972) 94: You feel like dancing, maybe fool around a little? 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 170: Only fooled around with him a little. 1988 N. Eastwood Gardener Got Her n.p.: 'Okay, I hear you,' he sighed. 'We won't go all the way. But we can fool around a little, can't we? No harm in that.' 1989 M. Amis London Fields 281: Last night she took my hand on the stairs and said, 'You want to fool around?' 1993 M. Myers et al. Wayne's World II [film script] Garth: If you fool around with a girl, does that mean you have to get married? 2000 B. Wiprud Sleep with the Fishes 147: How long would it be before they could fool around?

3 (also fool with) to have a sexual relationship; to have sexual intercourse. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood'm Studs Lonigan (1936)

395: If any guys like him start fooling around with my sister, I might show what I got to say. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 154: He's been fooling around with old Bill's missus. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 16: When I think of my wife fooling around probably right this minute, 1957 Warren Smith 'Red Cadillac And Black Mustache' [lyrics] Triflin' baby are you being true / Who's been fooling around with you? 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 39: I hadn't fooled around much, but I wasn't exactly a virgin. 1972 J.E. Franklin 'The Enemy' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 350: It did them no good to deny that they had 'fooled' with her. 1977 A. Hoffman Property Of (1978) 53: It's no secret you're fooling around with McKay. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 142: He asked Champ Powell what he would do if it was his wife fooling around with another man. 4 to tease. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 93: They scram. No fooling around. Not if they want to keep their own teeth and noses.

fooley n.

■ SE in slang uses

m In compounds foolish house (n.) (also foolish factory) (US) a psychiatric institution; cit. 1910 refers to a carnival sideshow with distorting mirrors etc. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 17: She hadn't time to decide that I ought to be on my way to a foolish house. 1910 Harry Hershfield 'Desperate Diamond' [comic strip] I'll steal Rosamund in this 'foolish factory' for sure. [..,] If we could only be sure Desmond wasn't around, we could enjoy this 'foolish factory' more. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 201: She is a Candidate for Padded Cell No. 1 in the big Foolish House. 1913 Van Loan '"Butterfly" Boggs: Pitcher' in Lucky Seventh (2004) 240: This poor guy in the foolish factory has got an idea that he's been specially appointed to pull the heads off umpires. 1920 Wodehouse Coming of Bill (2004) 134: I've got to take my mind off this business, or it's me for the foolish-house. 1936 (ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 58: The old guy's moving [...] to the foolish factory across the way. 2004 R. Rockwood On a Torn Away World 105: And if you think you're crazy, all right. I don't feel like joining you in the foolish factory yet awhile,

foolish powder (n.) [their effects) (drugs) any powdered narcotic, i.e. heroin, cocaine, morphine; Howsley suggests definition is 'erroneous'. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and tJnd. SI. 78: Foolish PowuER-Orginally,

heroin; more lately, any narcotic which robs the user of his senses and judgment. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Foolish powder — [...] heroin, foolish water (n.) (US) alcohol. 1907 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackboard Compilation (1977) 4: Bring a couple more canvas backs, nine orders of frogs legs [...] and start cooling another case of 'foolish water',

fool’s rush n. see bum's rush n. (3). foon n. (also fun) [Chinese measurement! (US drugs)

a pellet of

prepared opium. 1920 F. Williams Hop-Heads 112: Two foon of hop retails in the San Francisco joints at four bits; five foon at $1.00. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS XI:2 121/1: fun (Usually pronounced foon.) A ration or pill of opium. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

foont n. see funt n. foop n. [backsl. POOF

n.] a homosexual man.

1989-99 R.O. Scott Gay SI. Diet. (Internet] foop: [...] [early 1900s

Australian] effeminate male, or male homosexual,

foop

V. [FOOP n.l

1 (US black)

to dance uninhibitedly.

1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 30: You could go to the Congo and

turn rioting loose [...], looping or jig-jagging the night away. 2 (US campus) to engage in homosexual acts. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI' in AS L:l/2 59: foop vt Engage

in homosexual acts.

fooper n.

[FOOP v. (2)1 (US campus) a homosexual.

1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 59: fooper n A

homosexual.

foostie-minged adj.

[Scot./cost, a stench + mince n. (2)) (Scot.) a general term of abuse aimed at a woman; lit. 'smelly cunted'. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 159: Whae's that foostie-minged fucker starin at?

foot

n.

■ In phrases

■ SE in slang uses

pull a fooley (v.) [US black) to act very stupidly; to act in an exceptional manner.

■ Derivatives footmobile (n.) [-mobile sbl\ footballs: [...] Dilaudid, synthetic opiate.

2 a capsule of a psychotropic drug. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1980 'Gloss, of Drug Terms' National Instit. Drug Abuse. 3 in pL, amphetamine. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 97: footballs [from the shape?] Diphetamine pills; also, pill containing dilaudid, a synthetic opiate. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 240: The most popular word is ups. Brain ticklers, browns, cartwheels, chalk, Christmas trees, coast-to-coasts, dominoes, footballs [...] are words of the sixties and are out of use now. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 337: footballs:

Diphetamine, an amphetamine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Footballs — Amphetamine.

footballer

n. [the use of the feet as an agent of violence] (Aus. prison) a prison warder, who disciplines through kicking the prisoners. 1919 V. Marshall World of Living Dead (1969) 102: He'd left his mark on a couple of the pet 'footballers' when they come at the kickin' game down in the Parramatta basement. 1921 D. Grant Through Six Gaols 51: One day while at work in the shop I heard a warder's name mentioned and noticed that the term 'footballer' was applied to him. I discovered that this tide had been conferred upon him for his well-known habit of kicking prisoners. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang.

footchy footchy footer n.^ [Fr. foutre,

n. see voetiie-voetjie n.

to fuck; thus cf. FUCKER n. (3)] a general term of contempt, a 'scurvy fellow', a 'low fellow'. 1911 St. j. Ervine Mixed Marriage Act 11: Aw, g'long wi' ye, ye ould footer.

footer

n.^ [SE football -F -er sfx] 1 football, a football; also attrib. 1863 Boy's Own Vol. July 36: A peculiar fashion of their own [at Harrow] which prompts them to call football 'footer' [OED]. 1899 E.W. Hornung Amateur Cracksman (1992) 59: Bunny, you've had your wind bagged at footer, I daresay. 1901 Boy's Own Paper 4 May 495: At school he gave up 'footer,' / Which he looked upon as rough. 1911 Gem 16 Sept. 10: 'Footer!' said the gypsy. 'Ah, I have often wanted to play that game, sir!' 1914 E. Packe diary 21 Aug. [Internet] Left Harrow footer ground for the front. 1915 L.D. Richards diary 14 Mar. [Internet] Three Canadians were playing footer 100 yards away from Headquarters, and were killed by a shell. 1926 Boys’ Realm 16 Jan. 264: There's only one thing I can do at all decently, and that is play footer. 1936 Hotspur 11 Jan. 43: Great Snakes! Look who's coming down to footer! 1946 (con. 1912) B. Marshall George Brown's Schooldays 6: As a matter of fact, I think that's the dirty cad hacking that footer pill over there. 1958 Willans & Searle Complete Molesworth (1985) 319: Kicking off the mud from my footer boots. 1971 Wodehouse Much Obliged, Jeeves 84: A band of supporters in footer shorts. 1989 A. Higgins 'The Bird I Fancied' in Helsingor Station and Other Departures 138: For Moose the footer season opened with fractured ribs. 1998 Guardian Sport 25 Sept. 16: Not a big footer man myself. 2 {Aus.) Australian Rules football.

1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Call of Stoush' in Moods of Ginger Mick 31: A-callin' like the shout uv 'On the Ball!' / Wot time the footer brings the clicks great joy, / An' Saints or Carlton roughs It up wiv 'Roy. 3 (US) a footstep. 1920 F. Packard White Moll iii: She was still screeching at the top of her voice to cover the absence of flying footers on the stairs.

footer

V. [FOOTER n.^l to idle around.

1928 J. Agate Gemel in London 239: Here you are, footerin' about in a big place where nobody kens you. 1951 S.H. Bell December Bride 57: If ye want the girl don't go footerin' at her as if ye didna.

footie

n. football.

{also footey, footy)

1

{Aus./N.Z.) Australian

Rules

1906 Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Sept. 44/1: They copped 'im on the square, watchin' the 'footy'. 1911 E. Dyson 'Barracking' in Benno and Some of the Push 140: 'There was a game iv footy, Saturdee,' said Feathers. 1942 G. Casey It's Harder for Girls 4: When school came out I played footy. 1945 J. Henderson Gunner Inglorious (1974) 116: I stuck it on top of the photograph of the Old Boys' footie team I played for in 1935.1958 F.J. Hardy Four-Legged Lottery 53: The kids can go to footy every Saturday. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 42:1 remember you on that trip to Nelson for the footie. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 56: C'mon an' we'll go an' sit down by the fence and watch the footy for a while. 1969 L. Hadow Full Cycle 232: They had one with Chrissie who'd been pulling beer at the Exchange since they were kids selling footie programmes. 1970 D. Butts Down Under Up Close 49: People from Melbourne are absolutely positive that their game 'footy' [...] is the only real game of football in the world. 1977 A. Bleasdale Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed 27: They're alright though especially when they're on your side playin' footie. 1980 M. Bail Homesickness (1999) 37: First thing out on the church steps, brushing off the confetti, Doug had wanted to know the footy score. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 15: Asians in Australia — talking with Aussie accents and drinking beer in the pubs and going to the footy. 1997 Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney) 14 Jan. 34: Footy players may have gone from being Neville Nobodies to multiple home owners thanks to this battle. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 26: My mate Rocky Devine lost a finger playing footy last year. 2 {Aus./N.Z.) an Australian rules football. 2004 T. Winton 'Small Mercies' in Turning (2005) 92: Dad, can we kick the footy? 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 26: He had a footy driven into his groin so hard that it semi-paralysed him.

footie-footie

3 rugby. 1931 P. Stevenson Gospel According to St Luke's 8: Footy. You know. Different from soccer. Lot rougher game. I call it footy when I mean not-soccer-football, see? [Ibid.] 11; He started playing footy [...] making touchdowns and sending the ole pigskin sailing between the uprights for goals. 4 football (soccer). 1982 P. Redmond Tucker and Co 80: We often spend all break and all lunchtime playing footey. 1994 A. Duff State Ward 49: Digging up a new area for spring sowing, as big as a footie field it seemed. 1996 K. Lette Mad Cows 197: A furry racoon's tail in Arsenal footie colours. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Nov.-Dee. [Internet] Bleedin' whingers, there are so many of them about in footy circles, these days. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 87: Not a soul was on the footy field this morning,

footie-footie n. see footsie-footsie n. footle V. [OfD has 'of obscure origin' and suggests

link to FOOTER v., but EDD offers Nottingham dial, footle, to do anything in a feeble, ineffectual manner] 1 to titivate, to enhance. 1775 Ranger's Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure in Edinburgh Preface; Ye amiable Nymphs, whom [...] footle the soul with the circean cup of pleasure. 2 to act or talk foolishly. 1892 'F. Anstey' Voces Populi Ser. 2 111: Now, really. Settee, do try not to footle like this! [OED]. 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 165: Footling around with housing schemes! 3 to potter around. 1928 E. Milton To Kiss the Crocodile 224: They footled along the American shore, north and south. 1935 E. Pound letter 3 Mar. in Paige (1971) 270: Have seen Englanders footlin round at age of 32, having graduated at Oxon, and not knowin' what they mean to do.

footman’s inn n.

foozle

204

[the poor status and negative image of the SE

footman] very poor lodgings. 1608 Pennyless Parliament of Thread-Bare Poets in Harleian Misc. Ill (1809) 76: Those that depend on destiny, and not on God, may chance look through a narrow lattice at Footmen's Inn*. [...] * Bridewell. 1612 Rowlands Knave of Hearts n.p.: Which at the heeles so hants his frighted ghost, / That he at last in footmans inne must host, / Some castle dolorous composd of stone, / Like (let me see) Newgate is such a one [N]. r. [SE footman -f maund n.] a sore that counterfeits a kick or bite from a horse. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Footman's Mawnd, an artificial Sore made with unslack'd Lime, Soap and the Rust of old Iron, on the Back of a Begger's hand, as if hurt by the bite or kick of a Horse. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

footman’s mawnd

footpack it

V. [SE but note FOOTBACK n.l (Aus.) to travel by foot, with a pack on one's back. 1934 A. Russell Tramp-Royal 221; You're not going to footpack it, are you?

footsack!

exc/. [anglicized version of VOETSAKl exc/.] (or/g. S.Afr.) a general excl. of dismissal, go away! be off! get out! 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: footsack (Cape Dutch) — Run away,

footseck! exc/, see voetsak! exc/. footsie-footsie n. (also footie-footie, footy-footy)

(or/g. US) the surreptitious nudging of someone's foot out of sight of anyone else, typically beneath a table; the contact is usu. a prelude to greater intimacy; also in fig. use; usu. in phr. below. 1931 P. Stevenson Gospel According to St Luke's 217: All that pat-acake stuff [...] and footie-footie—under the robe! 1959 K. Waterhouse Billy Liar (1962) 48: This was the sequence and rhythm of daylight love-play as she knew it, a kind of oral footy-footy that was the nearest she could get to intimate conversation. ■ In phrases

play footsie(s) (v.) (also play footie-footie, ...footie(s), ...footyfooty) 1 to nudge someone's foot with one's own - out of sight of companions - as a possible prelude to further intimacy. 1944 G. Fowler Good Night, Sweet Prince 131:1 played footsie with her during Don Jose's first seduction by Carmen. 1949 J.H. Burns Lucifer with a Book 313: Buddy and Midge were sitting close together, playing footie-footie with their loafers. 1950 K. Amis letter 27 Nov, in Leader (2000) 249: Saw no-one but Colin and Patsy [Strang] (who played footie with me under a Randolph table). 1955 E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 309: Lois Hammond was not of a mind to play footsie. 1959 J. Thurber Years with Ross 49: In [a drawing] [...] showing a man and his wife and another woman at a table [...] the designing minx was playing footy-footy with the husband. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip[ in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 86: Do youse mind not playin' footsie with me. 1978 L.

Faggots 204: Patience and tenderness and hope and playing footsie can all work out. 1986 L, Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 201: She's making eyes at Dad and playing footies with Frank. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 37: Guy played footsie under the breakfast table with a wan-looking Ticky, 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 228: Impossible to make out exactly how far they are. Close enough. Kramer

Stretchin my leg would be like playin footsie.

2 to indulge in the cautious sounding out of any relationship, economic, political etc, to curry favour. 1935 S. Lewis It Can't Happen Here 215: Lindy and you, playing footie-footie these last couple years. 1953 'Curt Cannon' 'Dead Men Don't Drink' in I Like 'Em Tough (1958) 33: There are times when you can play footsie, and there are times when you automatically sense that a man is dangerous. 1953 E, Hemingway letter 20 Feb. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 807: I cannot help out very much with the true dope on God as I have never played footy-footy with him, 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 120: Even if we don't play footsie with Preston White which we do, we don't go lookin' for a rumble. 1971 Ink 12 June 14/2: The real trouble started when he started playing footsie with the real capitalists. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 46: As BobA-Lou had predicted, the boss started playin' footsie with the workers [...[ 'Your input is invaluable to the future of our operations.' 3 to waste time; to prevaricate. 1951 Bowers Mob [film] Let's stop playing footsie with each other. You're a cop [HDAS]. 1953 F. Paley Rumble on the Docks (1955) 58: Don't play footsie with us. Wimp! You know we knocked over a squarehead! 1978 (con. WWII) T. Sasichez HoUywoodland (1981) 144: There is no need for me doing this tango any longer ...] It's pointless to play footsies in such a dangerous situation,

foot-tapper

n. (also toe-tapper) a male homosexual who taps his foot indicating a desire to make contact with another for sexual activity in a public lavatory/bathroom; thus foot-tapping n. 1967 M. Hoffman letter 2 Aug. in Humphreys Tearoom Trade 20: Men who go into a stall, close the door and then make contact with the chap in the next stall by means such as foot-tapping. 1970 R.A.L. Humphreys Tearoom Trade 65: If there are doors on the stalls, foot¬ tapping or note-passing may be employed. 1982 D, Huffaker Seventh East Press n.p.: [Anon. Brigham Young Uni. student] states that foot¬ tapping still goes on. 2007 R. Johnson N.Y. Post 18: The photos [...] do not show the fellow's face, but the profile does feature pictures of a toe-tapper posing in various positions. 2007 Richard GLBTFT html 11 Nov. [Internet] The FT stands for Foot Tappers. 2007 Duke & Brown Wash. Post Co 1: Consider the bathroom stall, [...] it can be a world of untold secrets, codes and signals as invitations to partake. Like foot-tapping,

footy footy

n. see footie n.

adj. [it. foutu, fucked or SE futile] 1 (US 79C-F) insignificant, worthless, despicable, futile. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Footy despicable, a footy fellow, a despicable fellow, from the French foutiie. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1834 Marryat Peter Simple (1911) 265; I think it would be a very pretty piece of practice to the ship's company to take her out from under that footy battery. 1888 Kipling 'The Man Who Would be King' Writings in Prose and Verse (1899) 73: Every footy little village for fifty miles has come in rejoiceful. 1895 "Arry on the Elections' in Punch 21 July 39/1: Let big pots make the round o' the pubs, and they won't talk that footy fal-lal. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Sept. 43/1: 'Soldiers! - in that footy little place?']...] / 'Soldiers? Yes, sir - plenty of 'em. Goree's an important military post, or the Frenchies think it is, at all events.' 2 (US) foolish, simple. 1909 G.D. Chase 'Cape Cod Dialect - Addenda' in DN IIl:v 420: footy, adj. Simple-minded: lacking in judgment. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IViiii 214: footy, small, simpleminded. 'I wish there weren't so many footy girls.'

footy-footy n. see footsie-footsie n. fooy! exc/. see phooey! exc/. foozle n. [foozle v. (1)1 1 a conservative,

one who is behind the

times; a gullible fool [note SE fossil]. 1855 'Q.K. Philander Doesticks' Doesticks Letters 255: Two old foozles in white neckcloths and no collars. 1867 R. Broughton Cometh up as a Flower 292: So is Lady Lancaster; entertaining kindred frumps and foozles in Eaton Square. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant I 380/1: Foozle (American), a man who is easily humbugged, a fool.

2 (or/g. sporting) a miss, a blunder. 1908 N.Y. Globe 17 Apr. in Fleming Unforgettable Season (1981) 42: Nearly everybody contributed a foozle to the lost cause. 1927 V. Samuels 'Baseball SI.' in AS 11:5 255: A 'foozle,' as in golf,, is a bungled play.

foozle foozle

v. ICer. fuseln, to work too fast and thus badly] 1 to perform clumsily, to bungle, to make a mess of; thus foozling adj. 1843 T. Haiiburton Sam Slick in England I 85: He no hurt Jube; he no foozle de hair. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School-Days (1896) 225: I've been longing for some good honest pecking this half-hour. Let's fill the bags, and have no more of this foozling birds'-nesting. 1888 Field 25 Feb. n.p.: Park foozled his second stroke [F&H]. 1896 F.P. Dunne in Schaaf Mr Dooley's Chicago (1977) 175: Foozled his approach. 1914 C. Holme Lonely Plough (1931) 123: Griselda and Grace both foozled the wall, the one from temper and the other from silliness. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 95: He had toiled with creaking Sinews and popping Eye-Balls so that his beloved Corporation would never have to foozle a Dividend. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet. ofUnd. SI. 1961 'Frank Richards' Billy Bunter at Butlins 41: Why, you fat, foozling funk, a fat lot you had to do with it. 2 (sporting) to miss a shot.

1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 102: She doesn't pity you because you

Foozle or take you in Hand as if you were a Boy. 1917 Punch 14 Feb. 110: [cartoon caption] Dug-out (who has been put ojf on the last three greens by his caddie sneezing, and has now foozled his putt again). 1922 WODEHOUSE Clicking of Cuthbert 3: Many a golfer had foozled his drive owing to sudden loud outbursts of applause. ■ In phrases foozle about (with) (v.) 1 to have sex on a casual basis. 1861 Stowe Pearl Orr's Isl. II xii 106: Sally Kitridge may think he's goin' to have her because he's been foozling round with her all summer [DA].

2 (also camfoozle, fuzzle) to fool around (with). 1837 'Plunder Creek' in Bentley's Misc. Feb. 130: It's a true fact, it is, that the domine always arter, kept camfoozling about the Pirates' Plunder Creek as long as he lived. 1898 J.K. Jerome Second Thoughts 170: I'd just hate to be fuzzled over with everybody looking on. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 306; That's what I was thinking to myself as I foozled around.

foozled adj. 1621 R.

for Christ’s sake!

205

[foozle v. (1)] 1 (also foozlified, fusled) drunk. Bv'Rlott Anatomy of Melancholy 3.3.1.2: Having liberally taken

his liquor [...] my fine scholar was so fusled, that no sooner was laid in bed, but he fell fast asleepe. 1737 B. Franklin 'Drinkers Diet.' in Pennsylvania Gazette 6 Jan. in AS XII:2 91: They come to be well understood to signify plainly that A MAN IS DRUNK. [...] Fuzl'd. 1837 'Nights At Sea' in Bentley's Misc. Dec. 617: I got fairly foozlified, and hove down on my beam-ends as fast asleep as a parish clerk at sarmon time. 1908 Bulletin (Sydney) 23 July 39/1: By the beer stains on their whiskers are they known! / By the foozled, super-foozled way they blink! / And their wretched wives go charing while these reckless souls are marring / Health and prestige, gamely sparring after drink.

2 (a/so fuzzled, rumfoozled) blurred, spoilt. 1838 T. FIaliburton Clockmaker II 127: My hair is all spiflicated too, like a mop, - and my dress all rumfoozled. 1908 A.N. Lyons Arthur's 27: I felt too fuzzled to answer 'im. 3 (a/so befoozeled) confused. 1867 G.W. Harris Sut Lovingood's Yarns 266: I swar he wer the wust befoozeled man I ever saw. 1986 S. King It (1987) 183; Lonely? he might have asked in return, honestly foozled. Huh? What? 1993 S. King Dolores Claiborne 32: She just looked at me with that foozled expression she got when her mind was playing tricks on her.

foozler

n. [foozle v. (1)] a bungler, one who does things clumsily. 1922 WoDEHOUSE Clicking of Cuthbert 20: An unchallenged pre¬ eminence among the world's most hopeless foozlers. 1961 'Frank Richards' Billy Bunter at Butlins 206: Roll out, you fat foozler,

fopdoodle n.

[isC SE fop, a fool -f doodle n.^j a fool, a simpleton. 1673 T. Shadwell Epsom Wells IV i: MRS. bisk: Where have you been, you Fop Doodle? bisk: What's that to you Jilt-Flirts? 1689 T. Shadwell Bury Fair V i: Come come, you brace of Fopdoodles. 1859 'Non-Sucker' [Henry Shutts] Tobacco 25: Your empty, idle, popinjay fopdoodles.

fopdoodle

V. [fopdoodle n.l

1

to have sexual intercourse.

1667 'Ballad' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 11: Old

fatguts himself [...] Will confess that his Nanny / Fopdoodled her Jemmy, / And his kingdom is come to the haunches. 2 to deceive, to cheat. C.1800 W. Scott Journal (1939) 133: I suppose old Fraud and Suet

fopdoodled him out of the money poor lad.

fop fops

V. [echoic] (US prison) to have a fistfight.

2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Fop Fops: To fight with fists.

foplin n. (also fopling)

a young fop.

1684 J. Lacy Sir Hercules Buffoon 11 ii: A fop is the fruit of a foplin, as a

Wit is the kernel of a witlin. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Fop. Foppish one that is singular or affected in Dress, Gestures, &c. [...] Foplin the same, only younger. 1706 Rare and Good News for Wives in

City and Country 4: Yet this Sr. Fopling must be entertain'd. 1782 G. Parker Humorous Sketches 45: No fopling he, for soon with accent rude, / Approach'd the man, and blush'd not to intrude,

fopper

n. [mispron. ft. faux pas] a blunder, a mistake.

1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

f.o.q.!

exc/. [SE /ly off/FUCK off! exc/.quicklyj (Aus.) leave! go away!

1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...J in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: f.o.q. Fly off quickly; fuck off quickly,

for Africa phr. (S.Afr.)

a lot, a great many, a great deal.

1970 informant in DSAE (1996). 1980 East Province Herald 25 July n.p.: [heading] Beer for Africa after mishap. It was beer for Africa when an East Cape Administration Board brewery truck overturned near Knysna on Wednesday [DSAE].

forakers n.

[orig. winchester School jargon; ?synon. lat. forica or SE/our acres, i.e. a field (cf. BOG n.^)] the lavatory. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. {2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

forbidden fruit n.

[the biblical myth]

1 (Irish)

the 'Adam's apple'

in the throat. 1943 (con. c. 1900s) G.A. Little Malachi Horan Remembers 146: He tried to brazen it out. But I seen his 'forbidden fruit' and it lepping in his neck. 1986 P. O'Farrell Tell me, Sean O'Farrell 23: His forbidden fruit (Adam's apple) was leppin' with rage. 2 an underage sexual partner of either sex. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev, edn) 89: forbidden fruit [...] a young virgin. 1979 Maledicta III:2 220: Princess (younger than a queen) is camp, and jailbait and forbidden fruit are hardly applicable in countries where the age of consent is very low. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 157: A person—male or female— beneath the legal age of consent is forbidden fruit.

for cat’s sake!

exc/. (US) a euph. for for Christ's sake! exc/.

1921 Dos Passos Three Soldiers 61: 'For cat's sake quit that coughin'. Let a feller sleep,' came a voice from the other side of the tent. 1930 R.E. Howard 'Sailors' Grudge' Fight Stories Mar. [Internet] You lay off him till this picture is finished! For cat's sake!

forced landing n. (S.Afr.)

an unplanned pregnancy, esp. one

that results in marriage. 1980 M. Melamu 'Bad Times, Sad Times' in Mutloatse Forced Landing 41: She wasn't this size when I got hitched to her, after a 'forced landing'.

force-meat ball n.

anything essentially unpleasant, endured whether one likes it or not. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 83: Force-meat balls — a rape, or any other compulsory measure; as going to prison, or going abroad, 'as the act directs;' also an order of affiliation, with a forced-meat marriage — going without gin, for want of the bustle — is forced-meat.

force-ripe adj.

[the image of 'forced' (i.e. grown at abnormal speed) fruit or vegetables] (W.l.) precocious. 1955 R. Mais Black Lightning (1966) 47: The way you talk force-ripe, anyone would think you knew something about it. 1986 O. Senior 'Ballad' Summer Lightning 112: Is force-ripe woman this? What you want to fass in big people business for? 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 20: Force-ripe (derog.) precociousness: u. yuh too force-ripe.

force the voucher

v. (UK Und.) to perform a specific swindle, whereby a 'firm' offers to place 'guaranteed winning' bets for a victim who has to forward the money in advance; the firm has, of course, vanished when it is time to pay off. 1873 SI. Diet. 167: Force the voucher a term in use among sporting tricksters, who advertise to send certain winners, and on receipt of letters enclose vouchers similar to those sent out by respectable commission agents, but with double or treble the current odds marked thereon, in reference to the horse named. A plausible letter is sent with the voucher, and the victim is informed that on account of early investments made by the firm, which has of course a highsounding title, the extra odds can be laid by them, and a remittance to the amount named, or part of it, is requested. Of course the firm 'dries up' when claims become heavy, and, with a new name and new address, appears in the next week's advertising columns,

force-up adj.

[for ety. see force-ripe adj.] (W.l.) socially ambitious.

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 20: Force-up (derog.) a social climber: u. she too force-up.

for Christ’s sake!

exc/. (also Chrissake! Christ sake! Cris sake! for Chrissakes! for Christ sake! for crissake! for Crizzakes! for krissakes!) a now mildly blasphemous excl. of rage, annoyance, surprise, amazement. [1386 Chaucer Reeve's Tale (1979) line 230: 'Allas,' quod John, 'Aleyn, tor Cristes peyne. Lay doun thy swerd'.] [1663 Head Hie et Ubique II iii: O yea, for Christis shake, make help for my shelf moyster, or else poor Kilpatrick will be made Kil upon.] 1901 H.

for crap’s sake!

forefoot

206

Lawson 'Send Round the Hat' in Roderick (1972) 470: Spit out for

Cook Robbers (2001) 11: For cripes sake, he moaned, this ice ain't

Christ's sake, Long-'un! 1910 T.S, Eliot 'The Triumph of Bullshit' Inventions of the March Hare in Ricks (1996) 307: Take up my good intentions with the rest / And then (or Christ's sake stick them up your ass. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 327: Arrah, sit down on the parliamentary side of your arse for Christ' sake and don't be making a public exhibition of yourself. 1929 H.W. Brecht Downfall 145: Oh you, for crissake [...] You ain't old enough to know your front from your behind. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We

doing it.

(1986) 211: For Christ's sake walk on your own fuckin' feet an' not

on mine! 1932 (con. 1919) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 725: Say soldier, for chrissake can't you tell me how 1 can get back to my outfit? 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 197: F' Crissakes, break down the door or do something! 1935 D. Lamson We Who Are About.to Die 138: Oh, for Christ's sake! 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Bi0 Money in USA (1966) 797: He [...] wrote to Joe that he was on his uppers and please to send him twentyfive by mail P.D.Q. and for crissake to come to New York. 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 8: For Christ's sake when you come out here tomorrow night don't come in your green car. 1946 D. Stivens Courtship of Uncle Henry 25: Chrissake what a bunch for a beauty contest with those bloody pedicles sticking out like a pump handle. 1948 Kerouac letter 2 Jan. in Charters I (1995) 142: Listen Stasia for krissakes did you ever have an orgasm? 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 50: Oh, for Christ's sakes, let's go! 1951 W. Burroughs letter May in Harris (1993) 88: For the Cris sake do you actually think that laying a woman makes someone heterfosexual]? 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 107: For Crizzakes, what kind of a cookie was I? 1953 J.L. Herlihy 'Sleep of Baby Filbertson' Sleep of Baby Filbertson and Other Stories (1964) 16: I'm not hurt for Chrissake, lea' me alone. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 126: For krissake bring him down and get rid of her. 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 65: You an arttist, for chrisakes? 1963 Kerouac letter 23 May in Charters II (1999) 363: Didnt you for krissakes ever read that section. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 87: For krists sake, what thefuck she smilin at? 1967 L, Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 18: I can show you cancelled checks, for Chrissakes! 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 84: For Chrissake, she was even her school cheer leader. 1970 J. Bouton Ball Four (1981) 199: Hey, for crissakes, get the hell off the bus. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 107: 'Oh, for Christ's sake,' Shaft tried to protest. 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 64: I mean, look at her for chrissakes. You're a very attractive woman. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 103: Turn it off, for Christ's sake. 1987 T. WOLFE Bonfire of the Vanities 219: F'r Chrissake, don't say I said that. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 189: It's just an expression [...] lighten up for Chrissakes. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 224: For Christ's sake, Benny. Quit jerkin off. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 157: The fucking cover for Chrissakes! 1999 Observer Mag. 13 June 32: I drink Scotch that's older'n mosta these people, for Chrissake. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Real Life 6 Feb. 8: This is fashion as fun, for chrissakes.

for crap’s sake! exd. (also crapsake! for crapsake!)

leuph. for FOR Christ's sake! exd.] (orig. US) a general excl. of annoyance, surprise etc.

1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS VII:5 332: for crap's sake—somewhat stronger than 'for heaven's sake.' 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 906: For craps' sake, Charley, remember that the war's over. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 100: Well, for crapsake. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 256: 'Shit,' said Sabrina, 'Crapsake,' said Tammy,

for crazy phr. (US)

for fun, for pleasure.

1967 J. Rechy Numbers (1968) 33: If I didn't really God's-truth need the bread, Td make it with you for crazy,

for cripes’ sake! exd. (also for cripe sake! for creep sake! creeps sake!) [euph. for for Christ's sake! exd.] a general excl. of annoyance, surprise etc. 1927 T. Thursday 'West Goes South' in Everybody's Oct. [Internet] 'For cripes sake, kid,' yelps Sweeney, 'come to the point!' 1930 J.P. McEvoy Hollywood Girl 187: Paul: Where d'you want the apples, Mr, Nebbick? director: Well for cripes - on the tree, sapadillo. 1937 J. Tully Bruiser 25'i: A chance - for cripes sake - he'd have a chance with a cyclone. 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 85: For cripes' sake kid, what's eating you? 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 9: You ought to be our lieutenant. Ambience, for cripe sake [...] Then you could stand out in front of us there and use some of that gay old education. Give us the old pooperoo. [Ibid.] 342: Give the poor sods a bleeding drink, for creep sake. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 46: For cripe's sake! I only asked you a friggin' question. 1977 J. Doughty Gold in Blood 175: 'Yeah, for cripe's sake, let it rain,' the drunken congregation chorused. 1986 S. King It (1987) 756; This guy's a pharmacist, not a doctor, for cripe's sake. 1996 H. Roth From Bondage 384: 'Just before we left El Paso. I bought three packages.' 'Creeps' sake. Ever providential.' He sighed admiringly. 2000 C.

for crissake!/crizzakes! exd. see for Christ's sake! exd. for crying out loud! exd. (a/so for crying out gently!) a euph. for for Christ's sake! exd. 1929 High Pressure Pete [comic strip] Fer cryin' out loud! 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 200: For crying out loud. Strangler, don't hand me no riddles. 1947 N. Marsh Final Curtain (1958) 97: Well, for crying out loud [...] look who's here. 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 181: Well, for crying out loud! 1960 H.E. Bates When the Green Woods Laugh (1985) 278: For crying out gently. Pop thought. What next? 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: She's in analysis, for crying out loud! 1977 (con. 1960s) Nicholson & Smith Spend, Spend, Spend (1978) 190: Don't give the show away Barbara for crying out loud. 1981 B. Hoy 'Uncle George' in Wright Cockney Dial, and SI. (1981) 109: Britannia's gawn right up the Swanee, / Wiv closed minces we foller the oafs. / We're in bad two-an'-eights / Buckle to, mi oT mates / And for cryin' aht lahd use yer loafs! 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out 101: For crying out fucking loud. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 171: For crying out loud, if you had a woman [..,] you didn't cheat on her. 2005 S. Inman Verlavaton 2: A lawn mower with a horn, for crying out loud.

ford

n. [fig. use of the perceived inferiority of a Ford automobile] (US prison) any generally antagonistic or unhelpful doctor. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last Preface: These tough boys (the Tracs) are stripped, booted and bashed until their bowels work. Hence there are absolutely no requests for Ford Pills. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Ford: 'Found On Run Dead.' This started because of a particularly bad doctor named Ford. It grew to mean any generally antagonistic or unhelpful doctor. (TX).

Ford car salesman

n. (Aus. prison) a prison superintendant

who promises reforms but never carries them 1990 Tupper Et Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. salesman. A prison superintendent who is seen often than 'no' to prisoner requests but does action.

out. [Internet] Ford car as saying 'yes' more not follow up with

fore

adj. (US gay) of a homosexual male, taking the active role in sexual intercourse. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 155: Each newcomer establishes his sexual position (fore or aft),

fore and aft 2002

adj. [rhy. sl.i daft, foolish.

B. Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

fore and after

n. a woman, usu. a prostitute, who is agreeable to group sex, involving vaginal (fore) and anal (aft) intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues III 56/2: Fore-and[...] (venery) A double-b,arrelled harlot. [As in the song attributed to an eminent living man of letters: 'Sing whore, sing whore, Behind and before. Her price is a shilling - She never gets more.'

after

forecaster 1890-1904

forecastle 1890-1904

n. [it is the/ore, i.e. front of the body] the vagina.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

n. [SE forecastle, the forward area of a ship] the vagina.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

fore coach-wheel

n. [the fore or front coach-whee[s were smaller than those at the rear] a half-a-crown (12.5p). C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fore-court 1890-1904

foredeck

n. the vagina.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

n. (also deck) [SE foredeck, the forward deck of a boat) the

vagina. 1650 H. Nevile Newes from the New-Exchange 2: This is a Lady Indeed, that seaven years since took sayle with Presbytery, being chargd in the Fore-deck by Master Hollis, in the Poop by Master Pirn, whilst she clapt my Lord of Holland under hatches, c.1927 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 426: He would lap up his wife's wet deck and then 'frig' her himself.

forefoot 1599

n. (a/so forepaw) the human hand.

Shakespeare

Henry VII i: Give me thy fist, thy fore-foot to me

give. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Forefoot, give us your fore foot; give us your hand. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Forefoot, or Paw. Give us your fore foot; give us your hand. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1796]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1796]. 1837 R.M. Bird Nick of the Woods I 78: Thar's my fo'paw, in token I've had enough of you. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

foregather foregather

v. [SE foregather, to meet together, to associate with] to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

foregut

n. [SE fore, front + gut] the vagina.

1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 185: The anatomical relationship of the bower of bliss and its main channel is indicated in such phrases as the front gut, foregut, forewoman, gape over the garter, lower mouth, the upright grin (except, traditionally, in China), a bit on a fork.

fore-hatch

n. the vagina.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

foreigneering cove

n. ise foreign + cove n. (1)] a foreigner; also

foreigneering adj. 1852 F.E. Smedley Lewis Arundel 13: He made a noise at me in French, or some other wicked foreigneering lingo. 1883 Daily News in Ware (1909) 135/2: We have no passion for ribbons, and orders, and all the tinsel trappings of aliens or 'foreigneering coves', as they are termed in the simple language of 'Those in the Know',

foreigner

n.

1

{US Und.) any convict who is not a professional

thief. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 2 {US prison) an inmate serving a sentence for sex crimes. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 41/2: Foreigner, a convict serving time for a sexual crime (prison). 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 89: foreigner One serving a sentence for sexual [...] crime. 3 {US black) a homosexual; thus speak in a foreign tongue v., to have oral sex Ithe 'foreign tongue' is FRENCH n. (4)]. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 84: foreigner (black si) a homosexual [...] speak In a foreign tongue (fr si French = sucking cock) to have oral intercourse with either sex. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

do a foreigner (v.) [SE foreign-, i.e. somewhere 'away from home') for a worker contracted to one job to take time off illegally to tackle another, more lucrative, one. 1943 Hunt Et Pringle Service SI. 33: Such articles [i.e. model aircraft], made in the 'firm's' time and with the 'Company's' material, are called 'foreigners', as they are outside the normal work done by the employee or airman or soldier. 1974 P. Wright Lang. British Industry hi 34: The term, now rapidly gaining ground, e.g. among decorators ... doing a foreigner ... means working privately, unknown to the Inland Revenue, to supplement one's regular wage [OED]. 1983 A. Bleasdale Shop thy Neighbour 111: We're both gettin' followed, for all we know, we're both goin' t'get prosecuted f'doin' a foreigner while we're on the dole. 1999 This is Wirral 17 Nov. [Internet] He said he had been approached by the police because his double glazing company had been doing some legitimate work at the murdered woman's home in Buffs Lane, Heswall. He also told her that he had not told the police he had actually been at her house on the Saturday of her death doing 'a foreigner',

foreign parts

n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

go to foreign parts (v.) [euph.] to be transported as a convict. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.

foreman

n.^ [OED marks this as '? slang ? goose'; the definition is assumed f. one use in Beaumont & Eletcher's Philaster (1608-10): see cit.; ult. because ? Michaelmas (29 Sept.) is a trad, goose-eating day; ? a foreman precedes an alderman in a procession as Michaelmas precedes Christmas when one eats an ALDERMAN n. (1), i.e. turkey] ? a goose. 1608-10 Beaumont & Fletcher Philaster V iii: lie soile you euer[y] long vacation a brace of foremen, that at Michaelmas shall come vp fat and kicking.

foreman

n? [it stands at the forefront of the body] the penis (cf,

FOREWOMAN 17.).

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 189: The reverse process of this [...] depersonification of the penis is its personification [...] as little man, foreman, him.

foreman of the jury

n. [a specific 'tavern term' drawn from the anonymous The Eighth Liberal Science, or a new-found Art and Order of Drinking (1650)] one who takes over the conversation. 1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that ingrosseth all the talk to himself, is call'd Foreman of the Jury. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) n.p.: Q. Who is Foreman of a Jury? A. He that ingrosseth all the talk to himself, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Foreman of the Jury he that engrosses all the Talk to himself. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 GROSE Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

forenoon

for fuck’s sake!

207

n. an alcoholic drink taken before breakfast.

1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 228: You may have a

[...] forenoon.

fore-paw n. see fore-pokers n.

forefoot n. in cards, aces and kings.

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fore-room

n. the vagina.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases

let out her fore-room and lie backwards (v.) {also lie backwards and let out her fore room, let out her parlour...) of a woman, allegedly to be working as a prostitute. 1678 J. Ray Proverbs (2nd edn) 90: She's as common as a barbers chair. As common as the highway. She lyes backwards and lets out her fore-rooms. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) 11 Bk IV 468: Is there anything of the feminine gender among them? [...] Will they lie backwards, and let out their fore-rooms? 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Room. She lets out her fore room and lies backwards: saying of a woman suspected of prostitution. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 133: She who is said to 'let out her parlour and lie backward' cannot be supposed to repose with her face downwards,

foreskin hunter

n. a prostitute.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

forest

n. the female pubic hair.

1660 Mercurius Pumigosus 28 Mar. 26: [Something] to cover those

naked Conneyberries from the fury of the enemy, or the rigour of the Ferrets that might otherwise torment the Forrests of comfort. 1720 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy vi 146: Give me the Country lass, / That trips it oer the field, / And opes her forest to the first. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India 1 63: Don't you touch that woman, she is my preserve, and no one hunts in the forest between her thighs but myself! 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 40: Few girls desire 'a forest' or 'mohair stockings' and will assiduously 'mow the lawn' to control them. 2000 'UK Snowy' 'Christmas Blackmail' at www.asstr. org [Internet] Nestling between them was her hairy cunt, the thick ginger forest looking worse for wear as it hung its branches sodden against her inner thighs.

forGWoman

n. [antonym of FOREMAN 71.^] the vagina.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta 1V:2

(Winter) 185: The anatomical relationship of the bower of bliss and its main channel is indicated in such phrases as the front gut, foregut, forewoman, gape over the garter, lower mouth, the upright grin (except, traditionally, in China), a bit on a fork,

for fair

adv. {US) completely, absolutely, altogether.

1892 W. Norr Stories of Chinatown 6: I got stuck on her tor fair. 1905

H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 127: On the dead, I t'ink I'm off me nut fur fair. 1915 Wodehouse Psmith Journalist (1993) 171: He's got a lot of dem for fair. 1927 D. Hammett 'The Big Knockover' Story Omnibus (1966) 306: These bimbos were a couple of lollipops for fair. There wouldn't have been an ounce of fight in a ton of them. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 906: He said he'd be a poor homeless boy for fair if he didn't get back to the office. 1951 J. Blake letter 21 June in Joint (1972) 22:1 pointed out to him that he and his shillelah had put the heat on but good and fucked me up for fair. 1957 G. Metalious Peyton Place (1959) 325: The backbone of Chestnut Street is broken for fair. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 131: We chewed the rag for quite a while and shot the con for fair / and when it came to spreadin' jive, you could gamble that 1 was there.

for-free

n. [she effectively 'gives it away for free'] (or/g. US) a prostitute who undercuts the going price, an amateur. 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks.

for freezies phr.

[SE free + -iz- infix] {US black/teen) without rules

or restrictions. 1967 F. Salas Tattoo the Wicked Cross (1981) 130: For the dozens was dirty kicks, nothing counted, nothing was sacred, nobody had to be afraid or get mad, everything was for fun, for freezies: king's X and kick right back.

for fuck’s sake!

exc/. {also for fuck sake! for fuck’s sakes! fuck’s sake!) a general excl. of exasperation. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 101: What for fuck's sake's the matter

now? 1933 R. Chandler 'Blackmailers Don't Shoot' in Red Wind (1946) 84: For — sake do something besides talk! 1963 C. Wood 'Prisoner and Escort' in Cockade (1965) 1 iii: Promise me - not your socks - for fuck's sake if not for my sake not your stiff grey socks. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 92: Oh don't be so naive, Angie, for fuck's sake! 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 84: Jaysis, Cuffe, take it easy. For tuck sake! 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 140: Down your waistband Nicky fuck's sake not your pocket. And not

forge

down the front or you likely shoot your dick off. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 324: For fucksake, close your legs, mum. 2004 T. WiNTON Turning (2005) 142: Why can't we have a bloody house [...] With

fork

208

[where the male 'rod' is softened] the vagina.

1705 'A Lusty Young Smith' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 175: When to him a Buxom young Damsel came smiling, / And ask'd if to Work at her Forge he wou'd go; / With a rub, rub, rub, rub, rub, rub in and out, in and out ho, 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

forgers n.

crooked dice. 1591 Greene Notable Discovery of Coosnage in Grosart (1881-3) X 37: Pardon me Gentlemen lor although no man could better then myself discouer this lawe and his tearmes, and the name of their Cheats, Barddice, Flats, Forgers, Langrets, Gourds, Demies, and many other, with their nature, & the crosses and contraries to them vpon aduantage, yet for some special! reasons, herein I will be silent.

forgive and forget n.

jrhy. si.) (Aus.) a cigarette. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] forgive and forget; a cigarette.

for gosh sake! excl. {also for gosh sakes! gosh sakes!)

spare ribs'.

4 usu. in pi., the hands.

a toilet, for fucksake.

forge n.

Lowspeak. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 81: Metaphors include /brfa 'fingers' lemon 'light-skinned black woman' and piano 'section of

(US) a

euph. version of for Cod's sake! 1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 96: What are you looking for, for gosh sake? 1953 .1. Thompson Criminal (1993) 35: For gosh sake, what'd you do that for? 1953 World Oil CXXXVI 287: One party chief heard the army's new theory and exclaimed, 'For gosh sakes, don't go spreading rumors like that around here'. 1962 E. Stephens Blow Negative! 213: Oh, for gosh sakes! I'm not the C.O. of this darn submarine! 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 1193: But for gosh sakes, don't forget to shield your eyes! 1979 S. King Dead Zone (1980) 148: 'Gosh sakes,' Johnny said. 1986 S. King It (1987) 335: He was your brother for gosh sake. [Ibid.] 748: They're practically new, for gosh sakes. 1988 H. Kahane Logic and Contemp. Rhetoric (5th edn) 73: Let's assume he knew, for gosh sakes. 1995 C. Dubowski Toy Story 34: These are plastic, for gosh sakes. 2004 R.K. Vaughan Yorkville Christmas 36: I have no idea what takes him so long in there, except he smells like a . . . like a fruitcake, tor gosh sake, when he comes out! 2007 B. MacDonald Safe Harbor 234: It wasn't like he had tried to stick up a

1858 'The Honour of the Family' Town Talk 10 July 111: Nothing's too hot or heavy for those forks of yours to carry. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1891 Licensed Victuallers' Gazette 9 Feb. n.p.: Up they came briskly with shining mugs, shook hands, then stepped back a pace or two, put up their forks, and the spectators were hushed into silence, for they saw the battle was about to begin [F&H]. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 179: You kin git yer forks in on Mr Berkeley Seymour proper. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 122:1 can use me forks a bit, but nothing like ole Bullock. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 168; I read the story through then stuck the linen in Andy's fork. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 194: FORK

1834 'Fat Bacon' in Luscious Songster 5: He pulled out his fork, and he tipt her some pork, 1846 Swell's Night Guide 35: Many of the French importations [...] attract hither many of the French cruizers stationed on the coast of St, James, Regent-street, [...] Though the swell snob, who is always up to his fork in leather, has measured most of these 'polley wooes,' as he classically terms them, he says you can hardly tell the difference, in the dark, between the French kid and the good English calf. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 490; (He sticks out a flickering phosphorescent serpent tongue, his hand on his fork.). 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 191; Stringy hit the deck, curling into a ball, his head tucked on his chest, elbows close to his sides, wrists crossed in front of his fork. 1969 P. Boyle All Looks Yellow to the Jaundiced Eye 58; There are sounds commg from his open mouth that could very well come from from someone after getting a woeful kick in the fork. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fork. The crotch. 1991 (con. 1960s) B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 162; They'd catch up on girl cyclists wearing slacks and yell 'emptyfork' and the girls would screech back 'Take more than youse to fill it'. 2006 posting at www.terrypratchettbooks.com 10 July [Internet] My next 'Oook' will be followed by a kick in the fork!

6 {Aus.) a jockey. 1989 R. McDonald Rough Wallaby 210; A jockey was a 'fork', his

gas station, for gosh sakes.

for grins phr. see grin n.^ (1). fo’ rilla adv. see for real adv. fork n.^ 1 a spendthrift, a wastrel. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fork is often Rakes Heir, or after a scraping Father comes a scattering Son. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759, 1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: A fork is also used for a Spendthrift.

2 (UK Und.; 1940s US) a pickpocket. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 206: Fork, a pickpocket. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1949 Monteleone

Criminal SI.

(rev. edn).

3 (or/g. UK; US black) usu. in pi., the fingers, esp. the middle and forefingers. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 242: FORKS the two fore-fingers of the hand; to put your forks down, is to pick a pocket. 1821 D. H.\ggk'ri: Autobiog. 12: The keek cloy is easily picked. If the notes are in the long fold, just tip them the forks; but if there is a purse or open money in the case, you must link it. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London II i: Such fine forks as you have for frisking a cly. 1841 Tait's Edinburgh Mag. VIII 220: My forks were light and fly, and lightly faked away [F&H]. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern St. etc. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 118/2: I instantly drew out my 'forks,' and in doing so got entangled in the fringe of her shawl. 1873 SI. Diet. 168: Forks, or grappling irons fingers. Costermongers and other clumsy feeders have a proverb which seems to justify their taking bones and choice morsels in their hands during the progress of a meal. It is, 'Fingers were the first FORKS;' sometimes varied to 'Fingers were made before forks.' 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1897 C. Whibley 'The Switcher' A Book of Scoundrels 210: 'My forks,' he boasted, 'are equally long, and they never fail me.' 1908 N.Y. Times 23 Sept, in Fleming Unforgettable Season (1981) 242: Leaving you with your dexter fork extended in

whip a 'flute'.

■ In phrases

hawk one’s fork (v.) {Aus.) to work as a prostitute; the 'fork' is the juncture of the legs and thus the vagina. 1974 D. Ireland Burn 5; Mary might have hawked the fork when I was away. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 74: Later she hawked the fork, but she still wanted to be in love with me. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fork. The crotch. As in 'hawks her fork', ie a woman who sells sex. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 106: Well, I'll just go and hawk my fork down on Hollywood Boulevard. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 49: Baker presents a breathtaking variety of historical and contemporary argot of convicts, wizzers, traps, wallopers, hardheads, con artists, prostitutes (those who hawk THE FORK), [...] and assorted thieves, put up one’s forks (v.) see put one's bones up under bone n.\

fork fork

n ^ see

FORK AND KNIFE

n. (1).

v.^ 1 to pick pockets, using the fore and middle fingers, extended like the tines of a fork, which are thrust into the pocket, then closed tight on any object within; this is then withdrawn between the 'fork'. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Let’s fork him, let us Pick that Man's Pocket. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 206: Let's fork him, i.e., let us pick that man's pocket, the newest and most dexterous way. This is, to thrust the fingers straight, stiff, open, and very quick into the pocket, and so closing them, hook what can be held between them. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as dt. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as dt. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1828 'The Song of the Young Prig' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 171: Frisk the cly, and fork the rag, / Draw the fogies plummy. 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford II 99: I have seen the day when there was not a lad in England forked so largely, so comprehensively-like, as I did. 1859 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (2nd edn) 45: Three screaves in a HI which I fork't from a suck Three bank notes in a pocket book which I took from a breast pocket. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 513; The boy [...] bent over, and forked two bills from the drunk's pocket. a.1955 D. Maurer in Lang. Und. (1981) 241/1; FORK, v.t. To pick a pocket with the index and middle fingers, using them as pincers.

the air. 1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 330: forks : Fingers. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1958 F. Norman in Sun. Graphic 2i Nov. in Norman's London (1969) 39; He might therefore stick his fork into some unsuspecting guest's outer. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Forks Fingers. 1989 .1. Morton

hand.

5 the crotch; thus ext. as the penis.

2

to lay a woman intercourse.

down with spread

legs preparatory to

fork 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria infemurate or 'fork' a woman.

(1966)

106:

Enfourcher.

To

3 [Aus./US) {also fork leather) to mount a horse. 1882 J. Aby Hoffenstein 14: Keep off'n that 'ere plug, an' git somebody as knows how to fork 'em to break him in for you. 1903 A. Adams Log Of A Cowboy 295: So fork that swimming horse of yours and wet your big toe again in the North Platte. 1922 P.A. Rollins Cowboy 65: He still lived on horseback, but regretfully, humiliatingly refrained from [...] 'forking' at sight 'anything on four hoofs'. 1931 'Stampede' in T. Goodstone Pulps (1970) 86/1: We gotta fork leather again an' hunt for three missin' hombres. 1931 Z. Grey Sunset Pass 6: Ash is as bad a hombre as ever forked a boss. 1940 O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 55: Fork a horse an' ride hell-bent for the Bar O. 1947 Trail Riders Bui. Feb. 20/2: We forked our cayuses over tuh Rimrock [DA]. 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 140: He's the greatest roughrider ever forked a horse. 1966 G. & K. Swarthout Whichaway (1967) 61:1 forks up my boss an' lights out like 1 was fightin' bees.

■ In phrases fork out see separate entries, fork over (v.) see separate entry, fork V.2 a euph. for fuck v. in various senses. (con. 1920s) implied in forking adj. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke The nicest little filly I ever forked was a darky. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 88: fork (camp: 'Fork you. Rose, we're doing it my way!'). 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fork 1. a replacement for the offensive term 'fuck'. Can be used in the same fashion, as in 'That sucked, I really got forked by them.' 1952

169:

fork and knife n. [rhy. sl.i 1 (a/so fork) life. in A. Hyder Black Girl, White Lady in Franklyn {I960). 2001 M. Bible in Cockney 12: Right in the middle of this garden was the tree that gives fork. 2 a wife. 1934

Coles

'Doss CmDERDOSS' 'Disaster Averted' Sporting Times 23 May 1/3: It might look a bit allurin' upon 'ere and there a one, / With neat ankles and small tootsies to display; / But on 'Liza, my old 'fork and knife,' who scales some sixteen 'stun,' / Well, there'd be some "ubble bubble' 'Ackney way. 1910 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Gifted' Sporting Times 9 July 1/4: His 'fork and knife' soon settled William's hash. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] 'You heard what the fork and knife wants,' I told Dionne. 'My saucepan handle going all the way up to your derby kelly. Are you ready for the big time, gal?' 1908

fork and spoon

[the shape] {US) mutual oral-genital stimu¬

lation. (ref. late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 89: These items of sexual life had various names over the years. [...] The act was most popularly known as Trenching, but it was hardly a French speciality. If mutually played, it was 69 or fork and spoon, C.1930

fork and spoon n.^ [rhy. si. = hoon n. (1)] (Aus. prison) a lout, a hooligan. 1990 Tupper

&

Wortley Aus.

Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fork and

spoon. Lout.

forking adj. [fork v.^l a euph. for fucking adj. (1). 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 274: 'This forkin' gag is getting forkin' silly,' I said,

fork-out n. [fork out v.[ a price, a payment. 1861 Punch 27 Apr. 169: About $50. Now this is what the inferior members of the equestrian order call a high pike, and the vulgar in general denominate a heavy fork-out.

fork out

V.

{also fork, fork up) [fork n.^ (4)] 1 to pay, to donate.

J.H. Lewis Lectures on Art of Writing (1840) 93: He's forking out the cash. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry III ii: tom: She tvants the tippery - there - (gives moneys). There that's the figure, Jerry! [...] jerry: Oh, I must fork out, too {gives money). 1830 Lytton Paul Clifford III 128: The parson forks him out ten shiners. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries ofN.Y.l 111:1 never let my clients go there if they fork up handsomely. 1856 C. Reads It Is Never Too Late to Mend III 222: So now fork out the blunt for the turps. 1869 'Rights of Women' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 82: You must not crib a shilling from your wages on Saturday night, but fork it all out. 1877 E.L. Wheeler Deadwood Dick in Beadle's Half Dime Library 1:1 83/ 1: 'Durned a cent I'll fork!' growled an old fellow. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Aug. 6/1: The police, with professional promptitude, headed the procession with grappling-irons. They forked out a billygoat, and, ever since, when Charles meets an animal of that genus, his features become hard and unforgiving, 1898 W. Pett Ridge Mord Em'ly 288: I thought you wouldn't fork out nothing. 1908 Sporting Times 15 Feb. 2/5: Blimy, that does take it! I don't 'ave ter pay to see 'is real royal nibs, but I'm ter fork out ter see these 'ere sham ones. 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God’s Man 15: 'Fork out. Come on,' he 1816

forlorn hope

209

said, shaking Quivvers. 'Fork.' 1916 E. Pound letter 31 Jan. in Read Letters to James Joyce (1968) 68: If the Egoist publish you now, I don't suppose they'll be able to make any further advance. Though they might be able to fork up something (I doubt it) later. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 4: We must go to Athens. Will you come if I can get the aunt to fork out twenty quid? 1926 E. Walrond Tropic Death (1972) 122: Yo' ent gwine get dis goat back to-night till yo' fork up dat shillin'. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 576: Do you think I forked out my initiation fees to be plunked in here all afternoon...? 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'Miles Franklin' All That Swagger 409: Old Humphrey wants to fly, and will fork-up for that. 1938 F.D, Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 330: I forked him a quid, 1948 C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident 65: The old lady forked out a bob. 1953 A. Buckeridge Jennings' Diary 57: I forked out a large chunk of Matron's money to pay for it. 1954 A. Buckeridge According to Jennings (1991) 76: We shall have to fork up out of our own pockets. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 118: The dough is forked for the rent. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 121: You'll start snooping as long as they can fork up the cash. 1977 J. Rosenthal Spend, Spend, Spend Scene 67: Keith also forked out thirty bob a week for a baby called Kim who he reckoned to be the father of. 1989 S. Armitage 'Bus Talk' in 'Zoom 22: He said it would have to look / like the Brighton bombing before they'd even think / of forking out. 1999 Indep. Rev. 4 Aug. 5: If we refuse to fork out £101 towards making it what it is, we end up in court. 2000 Guardian Sport 1 Apr. 12:1 is in the position of the rest of the punters of this world and is obliged to fork out for me OK to research important facts. 2001 (con, 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 534: You owe the Golden Caven eleven-sixty. Fork up or Brother Liston will hurt you. 2008 Sun. Times (S.Afr.) 6 Jan. 1: Mr Moneybags: Schabir Shaik forked out for all Zuma's needs,

2 to hand over. 1835 G. KEm Modern Flash Diet. 14: Fork it out - to produce any thing by the hand. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835]. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. 1866 J. Greenwood Night in a Workhouse 20: 'Whereabouts is it?' 1 ses. 'In that box under my bed,' he ses, and he forks it out. 1898 E. Pugh Tony Drum 49: 'Fork it out, Funny-Face!' commanded Honor. [..,] He hastily dropped the mouth-organ at her feet, and fled.

fork over

v. [fork n.^ (4)[ to hand over, to give out.

1835 New Yorker 2 May 3/3: After a significantly pathetic and pompous appeal in behalf of their 'undertake-in' the publishers close with the parting injunction—'Reader fork over!' [DA], 1837 Lytton Ernest Maltravers I 42: Come mem; don't be fritted [...] where's the money?—the old girl says you've got it. Fork it over. 1846 Durivage & Burnham Stray Subjects (1848) 69: So the lawyer forked over one V and kept the other. 1850 'Ned Buntline' G'hals of N.Y. 69: I shan't forget it till he forks over. 1863 T, Taylor Ticket-OfLeave Man Act I: moss: I've got the flimsies — I'll do it at seven ten. DALTON: Fork over. 1889 S. Bailey Ups and Downs of a Crook's Life 78: Now, fork over! 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 37: So thar's nothin' for us to do but settle up an' fork over some dust. 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 231: Fork over that plug o' tobacker you're owin' me. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Lonesome Camp' in Ade's Fables 261: Sometimes he would be compelled to fork over nearly half of the Gross, whereupon his Heart would ache and he would become Morose. 1924 C.E. Mulford Hopalong Cassidy Returns 169: Fork over, pronto. 1937 E. Anderson Thieves Like Us (1999) 50:1 never saw a banker yet that wouldn't fork over as soon as you throwed down on him. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 22: This landlady would hand out a metal check and towel to the girl, while the customer forked over two bucks. 1956 S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 57: He fork over the money. 1967 Kerouac letter 21 July in Charters II (1999) 441: See if you can get those Italians and Germans and English to fork over to pay my next bills, 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 23: Every Sunday morning he would fork over pounds to his favourite mess waiter. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 159: Was that too much to ask when you forked over twenty-one thousand dollars. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 36:1 forked over $75 and the keys to the Dart. 1999 Guardian Guide 15-21 May 21: He's likely to fork over a Hollywood record of some $9 million. 2003 O'Hara & Lewis Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home 35: When Do You Fork Over the Down Payment?

for krissake! forlorn hopo

exc/. see for Christ's sakc! exc/.

n. [Du. verloren hoop, a lost troop (of soldiers); the orig. 16C use described a band of skirmishers or assault troops who were sent ahead of the main force; this mutates into a desperate band of men and thence a desperate enterprise] 1 the losers at a gaming table. 1608 Dbkker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 3: They that loose, are the Forlorne Hope, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Forlorn-hope c.

form losing Gamesters. 1760, 1776 Bailey

1725

New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698].

1737, 1759,

Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698].

Classieal Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1801 'Modern Diet.' in Sporting Mag. May XVIII. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1862 E. db la Bedolliere Londres et les Anglais 314/2: forlorn hope, esperance perdue, dernier enjeu d'un joueur qui adopte la devise de Virgile: Una salus victis 1785,1788,1796 Grose

Ihorseracing use] 1 character, style. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 221: He with a fine slashing Yankee Black: Tom was very much pleased with his form, and flattered himself a second Molineaux was at hand. 1884 "Arry at a Political Pic-Nic' in Punch 11 Oct. 180/1: Athletics ain't 'ardly my form. 1892 H. Lawson 'The Captain of the Push' in Roderick (1967-9) I 188: You must prove that you're a blazer—you must prove that you have grit / Worthy of a Gory Bleeder—you must show your form a bit. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Feb. 24/4: On 'form' he is still apparently superior to young Dawson, who met him on level terms last year and was altogether outplayed at the business end of the match. 1926 'Sapper' Final Count 783: This has become a little above our form. 1954 Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 14: I know his form backwards. Flashy, but no staying power. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 10:1 know your form: all you're after is a buckshee look at the battle. the accepted way of doing things. 1873 Belgravia Feb. n.p.: The demeanour and conduct which the golden youth of the period call good form was known to their fathers as bad manners [F&H[. 1879 "Arry at the Gaiety' in Punch 5 July 309/1: Two-and-a-tanner is stiff, but you do have to pay for good form. 1890 "Arry on the 'Oliday Season' in Punch 16 Aug. 74/1: Ah! Nobbles obliges, old pardner, and great is the power of 'form.' 1890 Speaker 22 Feb. 211: Still, after all, we doubt very much whether it be fair, or right, or even prudent it certainly is not good form to publish to a world of Gallios a lot of irreverent bar-mess and circuit good stories, worked up about living Lord Chancellors, Lord Justices, and other present occupants of the judicial bench [F&-H[. 1903 A.H. Lewis Boss 188: I have an absolute mania for everything that's form. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 28: Crashing in at a moment when she knew that solitude and repose were of the essence was scarcely [...] the good old form. 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 113:1 just mentioned the matter to them [...[ it's a matter of form, these days. 1956 L. Shapiro Sixth of June (1958) 203: What's the form, Parker? 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 109: He's out of his class and he doesn't know the form. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 52: All bar the window dresser and the van driver had previous, so knew the form and just how good their chances of going down were. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 103: He gave out the SP on the form round Karachi police work.

3 (UK Und.) previous convictions. 1953 B. Behan Scarperer (1966) 37:1 know you've a lot of form and I know what you'd get. 1957 P. Beveridge Inside the C.I.D. 11: This looks like the man you want. He's got some 'form' for screwing (house-breaking). 1962 F. Norman in Police and the Public in Norman's London (1969) 128: I should think he could get five years, with his form. 1974 G.F, Newman You Flash Bastard 31: Be a long job checking just names through CRO - that's assuming whoever stuck up the right name and has form. 1983 J. Sullivan 'Wanted' Only Fools and Horses [TV script) After all, you've got form ain't yer! 1 mean, you still ain't finished that two years suspended yet! 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 184: They both had form, and they knew there were still enough judges and juries [...[ to find them guilty. 1992 1. Rankin Wolfman 31: He's got form as long as your inside leg. 2000 (con. 1977) D. Peace Nineteen seventy-seven 8: Boyfriend, one Stephen Barton [...] Some form for burglary, GBH. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 195: He had a bit of form for handling stolen goods. 1946

labbr. SE reformatory] (S.Afr.) a prison.

cited in

Partridge

DSUE (1984).

for mercy’s sake! exc/. see mercy! exc/. for Mike’s sake! exc/. see for Pete's sake! exc/, formula n. I? SAmE formula, baby food, pap] (drugs) fake

n./MEMBER n.VTOOL n.^ (la)] the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues ing-engine (-member; -tool)

HI 60/1: Fornicat-

[...] (venery) The penis.

Farmer & Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

forny n. see fawney n. for Pete’s sake! exc/. (also for Mike’s sake! for Pat’s sake! for Pete Almighty’s sake!) (orig. US) a euph. excL, usu. used to indicate one's mild annoyance. 1907 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 Ch. xvii: 'For Pete's sake, has anymore of yu fellers been up to K. C.?' queried the proprietor in alarm. 1915 Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer 10 May 2/5: 'For Pete's sake! Much of the back porch?' gasped Mr. Townsend. 1920 B. Cronin Timber Wolves 167: For Mike's sake, don't grouch now. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 322: Well, for Pete's sake. Slim, don't worry. 1932 J. Dixon Free To Love 118: But for Pat's sake, sing or something. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 90: For Pete's sake, Vince, what do you want to have, a murder? 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 17: What d'you suppose the Police Force is for, for Pete Almighty's sake? 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 77: For Pete's sake, don't mention the name of the town, will you? 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 170: For Pete's sake to see the coast is clear. 1982 P. Theroux London Embassy 138: Product! He plays the trumpet, for Pete's sake. 1999 Guardian Weekend 21 Aug. 53: They had Elvis, for Pete's sake. 2006 D. Gorman Deliciously Evil 1: 'You better brace yourself,' the officer warned. 'How bad could it be, for Pete's sake?' Baxter asked impatiently,

for real adj. (also 4-rea!) (US) genuine, telling the truth; also attrib. 3,1954 'Mexicana Rose' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 38: Creep, are you for real? 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Ponyl 1011: The forreal cop only took one quick glance. 1966 J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 67: She was regular people, like for real. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 198: Boss players are generally more gentle and 'for real' with their women, 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 20: Like you got your righteous kin —for real brothers and sisters. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett L/rr/e Legs 100: The next time it will be for real. 1989-2003 R.O. Scott Gay SI. Diet. [Internet] 4-real: the person is not interested in superficial relationships, liars or exaggeration. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 40: You think them shooters are for real or is it you think that geezer nearest you is holding a water pistol? 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 88: Either death or jail awaits those boys on the for-real side. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 161: How come he just walk in my life an get handed a menu an information an make request for phone calls like he was a for real bruvver an all that. 2004 M.N. Ryan Man For the Job 174: 'Is she for real?' Marina gave Gwyneth a sad little smile. 'I'm afraid so.'

for real adv. (a/so fo’ rllla, 4 real) (orig. US black) genuinely, honestly, sincerely, to be taken at face value. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 5.6: 'You ask me could 1 scrapT 'Can you. Bunny? For real I mean.' 1951 L. Brown Iron City 196: By God it's Mr. Winkel for real! 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Gol 94: Then she kissed him for real. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 73: Jimmy continued pressing home his point. 'Yeah, that's where it's at for real.' 1973 D. Goines Street Players 74: You can take that for real, honey. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential yi: Pierce is going down tor real? 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 85: Like we had a table full of pure cocaine. It was like Superfly for real. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 3: I'ma knock u so hard u'll b shittin out yo mouth 4 real.

on the furilla (US black) acting honestly, honourably. cannabis.

'Drug Price report Non-US' at Hoboes.com [Internet) Quality varies - good stuff red/gold seal, morrie black etc. Kiddies can get fobbed off with 'formula' - horrible petrol/diesel like stuff,

forney n. see fawney n. fornicating adj. a lit, euph.

1890-1904

2 in pL, trousers with a flap front rather than the modern fly.

■ In phrases

1993

1989 Geto Boys 'Scarface' [lyrics] Grip It! On That Other Level [album] On the furilla, my nigga, just call me Scarface. 1992-2003 P. Atoon Rap Diet. [Internet] furilla (adj) Contraction of the phrase 'for real'; something known to be true.

for real! exc/. (also for true) [for real adv.] 1 an affirmative excl. absolutely! genuinely!

for fucking adj.

in Dos Passos Fourteenth Chronicle (1973) 483: This novel business is an awful business. Why the hell did I ever get mixed up in it? [...[ And even at that the fornicating business wont get itself finished. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 106: Not in my 1936

■ In compounds fornicating engine (n.) (also fornicating member, ...tool) [engine

fornicator n. 1 the penis; thus fornicator's hall, the vagina.

nullam sperare salutera!

form

form n.^

bloody fornicating life. 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 34: Ask some of these fornicating friggers who live in this one-horse town! ■ SE in slang uses

2 a gambler's last, despairing bet.

2

for real!

210

1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 165: I tell her that, she gonna pee her pants. Fer real! 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 84: for real [serial, sure, true] [...] 3. an affirmative. "Ques: 'You're tired of having to pay for it, right?' Ans: 'For true!"'. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 23: for real [...] 'Dude got a gim, for

for real? real!'

1997-2000

College SI. Research Project (Cal, State Poly. Uni.,

Pomona) [Internet] For real (fo' real) (interjection) 1. That's true; I agree. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] fo' real derived from 'for real.' Meaning yes, that is very true. 'Mrs. B. give us so much #$%'' homework!' 'Fo'real!' 2 as a negative excL, implying alarm or threat. College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] For real (fo' real) (interjection) [.,.] 2. Statement of alarm. 3. Statement of threat. [Hawaii] (primarily used by athletes), 1997-2000

for real? phr. {also for reals?) {US teen) used as a question to ask whether someone is teasing or telling the truth. 1964 L. Hansberry Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window in Three Negro Plays (1969) I ii: Are you for real? 1965 (con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 77: 'He's a sarjant in the National Guard now.' 'For real?' 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease I ii; marty: He keeps makin' passes. JAN: For real? 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 23: for real [...] 'She left with Mickey, for real?' 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: For real?: Is it true? For real? That really happened? 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 149: I freeze on this and you'll put me in on the next one? For reals?

for shit sake! exd. see under shit n. for sure adj. [for sure adv.j 1 absolute, certain. 1967 P. Thomas

forty

211

Down These Mean Streets

(1970) 85: I couldn't see

composition, and how many by stratagem, c.1650 'The Ladies' Fort Besieged' in Wardroper (1969) 83: Assault her but often, you'll carry the fort. a.1660 song in Wardroper (1969) 70: He talked so wity and wooed so pretty / None could deny, / But needs must yield the fort up, / Gude faith, and so did I! 1673 Holborn Drollery 59: This did encourage Venus Slave To enter the Enchanted Cave; But being enter'd at the Gates, His warlike Courage soon Abates: But had he known the manner how To Storm a Fort as he should do. No doubt he'd Storm'd it in his Shirt. 1688 C. Sackville 'Faithful Catalogue' in Lord Poems on Affairs of State (1968) IV 209: [She] will tumble down. At first assault surrenders up the town; But no kind conqueror has yet thought fit To make it his belov'd imperial seat; That batter'd fort, which they with ease deceive. Pillag'd and sack'd, to the next foe they leave. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 291: Or that your Want of Courage spoils her Sport, / And makes your fearful to attack the Fort. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 276: There's ne'er a lass in aw Scotland ... That has her Fort so bravely Mann'd. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 35: He is too enterprizing a Warrior that way, and happening not long since to Storm a Rotten Fort. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 56: Casemate, / The female pudendum: 'the fort'.

them, but I had that for-sure feeling that it was me they had in their

■ In compounds

mouths.

fort bushy {n.) [bush n.’' (1)] 1 the vagina.

2 reliable, trustworthy. UGK 'Three Sixteens' [lyrics] And I'm down with some fa sho niggas. 1994

for sure adv. (a/so real-for-sure) {US) definitely, certainly, absolutely. F. Norris Pit (1994) 303; The broker glanced up incredulously. 'Now you are for sure crazy.' 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 130: Ay! I've a story for sure. 1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 145: Makes me feel I'm your daddy! / Honey, you is, fo' sho'. 1938 X, Herbert Capricornia (1939) 106: You said he'd come for sure. Isn't he going to take me? 1940 F. Hunt Long Trail from Texas 50: That's the right time o' year to have hell a-poppin'. An' what those them mossy horns '11 do in a real-fer-sure storm'll be a caution. 1957 R, Prather Always Leave 'Em Dying 94: It would help if you could check with those two guards and find out for sure who sapped me, 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 39: He was a fox for sure. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 5: She was self-made, she often said. For sure, no man had ever made her. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 4: Rings fur shur knew she had a career. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 131: Thinking the gal had the lingo down, that was for sure, 1902

for sure! excl. [the phr. gained a new lease of life as part of the Valley Girl vocab. of the early 1980s-F; and then was taken over by US black usage, see FO' SHo! exd.] certainly! definitely! absolutely! 1917 'A-No. r From Coast to Coast with Jack London 38: For sure! They are the lads who tried to burglarize my home, Mr. Officer! 1935 (con. late 1920s) L. Hughes Little Ham Act II: tiny: Gussie's a troublemaker. Always talking, opal: For sure! lulu: Yes, she's too broadcast. 1949 P. Pringle Boy's Book of Cricket 69: One, for sure, sir! 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 64: Did they sell all the tickets? For sure! 1977 C. McFadden Serial 13: 'For sure', she said forcefully. 1982 Frank Zappa 'Valley Girl' [lyrics] Fer sure, fer sure / She's a Valley Girl / So sweet 'n pure / Okay, fine . . . / Fer sure, fer sure. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 435: Oh, for sure, mate! That was part of it.

Forsyte Saga n. (rhy. si.; ult. |ohn Galsworthy's early 20C literary saga of British business/social life] lager. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book of Rhy. SI. 39: I will have to go and pour him a large Forsyte Saga to keep him quiet. 1985 Wheeler & Broadhead Upper Class Rhy. SI. 49: In this land ruled by the sun and craving the world of the Forsyte Saga. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] She's a small thing anyway, so I've got to open her up like a can of forsyth saga,

fort n. {also fortress) [lit. euph.j the vagina; thus fig. the state of chastity or honour. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 72: And when he had untrussed himself and put down, he began to assault the unsatiable fort. 1600 T. Hbywood Edward IV (1874) I 84: I yeelded vp the fort. Wherein lay all the riches of my joy; But yet, sweete Shore, before I yeelded it, I did indure the longst and greatest siege That euer batterd on poor chastity. 1605 Chapman All Fooles I i: I can come To lay no batt'ry to the fort I seek. All passages to it so strongly kept By strait guard of her father. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 165: Come then my lad of mettall make resort, Vnto the throne of loue thy Betties fort. There plant thy Cannon siedge her round about. Be sure (my Boy) she cannot long hold out. Erect thy standard, let her tender brest. Be thy pauillion. 1629 J. Shirley Grateful Servant III iv: How many forts they have beleaguered, how many they have taken by battery, how many by

1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words. 2 {gay) the pubic hair.

R.A. Wilson

1982 Maledicta VI:1-f2 (Summer/Winter) 131: Pubes [...] chuff. Fort Bushy, fur, garden, grass, lawn, mowed lawn if shaved,

for the fuck of it phr. 1993 Snoop Doggy for the fuck of it.

Dogg

[fuck n. (2a)l for the fun of it. 'Doggy Dogg World' [lyrics] I smoke weed

for the good of the loo phr.

[SE too, a card-game resembling whist; the ref. to the game extends to its players and thence, fig., to the whole community] for the good of all, for the benefit of the community. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

Forties n? see forty n. (2). Forties n.^ see Roaring Forties n. fortnighter n. {US drugs) an occasional,

notionally fortnightly,

use of narcotics. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1975 Lang, and Lore.

Fortnum and Mason 1998 SI.

R. PuxLEY

n. [rhy. sl.l

Fresh Rabbit. 2002

1

Hardy

&

Cull

Drug

a basin.

B. Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney Rhy.

2 a pudding-basin haircut, a 'short back and sides'. 1998 SI.

R. PuxLEY

Fresh Rabbit. 2002

fortress n. see fort n. fortune-biter n. see bite v. fortune-teller n. [he tells you

B. Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney Rhy.

your fortune, i.e. your sentence] a trial

judge. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fortune-Tellers, c. the Judges of Life and Death, so called by the Canting Crew: Also Astrologers, Physiognomists, Chiromancers, 6rc. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Fortune teller, or cunning man, a judge, who tells every prisoner his fortune, lot, or doom; to go before the fortune teller, lambskin man, or conjuror, to be tried at an assize. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 241: It has always stuck in his gizzard [...] to think as how he had been worry cruelly used by the Fortune Tellers* when he was quite a mere boy [*The Judges at the Old Bailey]. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1936 H. Corey Farewell, Mr Gangster! 278: Fortune teller - a judge,

forty

n.

1

a reward of £40.

1800 Sporting Mag. Apr. XVI 26/1: If anything is done by scampsmen on the Fulham road, send the traps to pull up Bounce and Blunderbuss, two forties at least. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf the Chase etc. 44: [note] She'll surely turn snitch for the forty.

2 {Aus.) a crook, a confidence trickster, a rascal, a layabout youth; often in pi. [a Sydney gang of the mid-19C; poss. called the Forty Thieves, although that name may have been a subsequent journalistic invention]. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 8/2: The Forties, the worst types of 'the talent' who get up rows in a mob, [...] and sometimes assault and rob, either in barrooms or the streets. Name originated with sa gang in

forty

Sydney under 'Dixon the dog hanger,' 'King of the Forties' [AND]. 1898 H. Macilwaine Dinkinbar 53: If a man happens to be born a forty, he finds decent company in England a bit too hot to hold him. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 72: FORTIES: larrikins: gangs of men and youths who congregate about streets and public places, often getting into crime or mischief. [...] Forties in Sydney preceded Larrikins as a name for the street prowlers, gamblers thieves etc. 1910 C.E.W. Bean On the Wool Track 226: A few sharpers [...] often get into a big shed, and get a 'school' going—a nightly gamble. They are regularly called 'forties'—the forty thieves—and they sometimes make a pile out of young shearers. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Oct. Red Page/2: By the way. Bean mentions 'forties' as a common term for bush spielers. The note on its use in Macllwaine's Dinkinbar brought information from several correspondents, who are hereby thanked. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/1: fortie - a crook, double-crosser.

3 (US black) {also 40, forty ounce, four-oh) a 40oz. (1-litre) bottle of beer. 1985 T.R. Houser Cetr/ra/S/. 23: forty [...] 'I cleaned-up the shit and the dude bought me the forty.' 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 150: He tilted the bottle way back and gulped [...] Hobbes's laugh came from beside him. ‘That the way to slam a forty, man.' 1995 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony '1st Of Tha Month' [lyrics] E. 1999 Eternal [album] Cuz it's the 1st of tha month and now we smokin', chokin', rollin' blunts / And sippin' on 40 ounces thuggin' come come we got the blessed rum. 2000 W, Shaw Westsiders 13: A 'four-oh' is shorthand for a 40-ounce bottle of beer, usually a brand like O.E., Old English. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 114: He pimpwalked towards her, swigging his forty. ■ In compounds forty dog in.) {also dog) [dog n.^j (US black) a 40oz (1-litre) bottle of beer. 1988 Spin Oct. 47: Forty dog, n. 40-oz. bottle of Olde English 800 malt liquor [HDAS]. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 435: Go snag yourself a forty-dog, Sabby. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] dogs Definition: 1 or more bottles of 40oz malt liquer. Example: Yo money, go grab some dogs down at da corner store.

forty

forty

212

adj.^ many; also used as a generic term in combs, below.

1607 Shakespeare Coriolanus III i: On fair ground I could beat forty of them. 1619 G. Herbert Letter 19 Jan. in Works (1859) I 381: I have forty businesses in my hands: your Courtesy will pardon the haste of your humblest Servant [OED]. 1905 Sporting Times 3 June 1/5: [They] had forty speculative talks together as to the profession or calling of their 'regular'. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/2: forty adj. many (He's had forty facelifts!). ■ In compounds forty-eleven {adj.) {also forty-leven) (US black/W.I.) too many, infinite in number. 1836 N.Y. Transcript 15 Feb. 2/4: [Cornelia Latting, a young colored woman, sentenced to 2 years, 6 months; she tells the court] that she did not care a d—n if they had sent her up for forty-eleven years. 1862 J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd series (1880) 14: Forty-'leven new kinds o' sarse. [Ibid.] 74: Forty-'leven weeks o' jawin'. [Ibid.] 106: Nor don't want forty-'leven weeks o' jawin' an expoundin' / To prove a nigger hez a right to save him, ef he's drownin'. 1872 Schele De Verb Americanisms 313: A forty-eleventh cousin, for instance, expresses an infinitesimal degree of relationship, one too small to be stated accurately. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine Ti: 1 got forty'leven trunks down in the basemen now. 1911 Chicago Defender 17 June 1: [He will] go back to London and join the forty eleven colored actors who are now located and settled down in amalgamation row never to return to America. 1926 H. Ford in Dearborn Indep. Mag. 2 Jan. 7: Truth was he was tied up in Washington with forty-eleven committees. 1949 in Drew Middleton Struggle for Germany 34: I'm doing forty-eleven different things to get this burg running again. a.1963 Josh White 'Evil-hearted Me' [lyrics] Well, I don't even care / If my baby leaves me flat /1 got forty 'leven others / If it comes to that. 1989 H.F. Mosher A Stranger in the Kingdom 33: Elijah, we have been over this terrain forty-eleven times. 1994 in N.Y. Times 29 Oct. 24/3: I don't see why my taxes should keep someone in jail for forty-eleven years. 2005 B.J. Myers August Webster and the Secret of Candy Rock Mountain 79: 'Wow, there are forty-eleven frogs out here,' screeched Leo in delight,

forty-faced (adj.) [? one has 'forty' faces, none of them trustworthy but note also dial, forty-legs, a millipede, where forty is generic for 'many'] shameless; thus combs, forty-faced liar, forty-faced flirt. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 145: He'll mouse on me and he'll mouse on you [...[ He's a forty-faced pigeon straight from Rat Row, quack from head to toe. 1981 A. Theroux Darconville's Cat 315: You will do

well to remember, however — and every other forty-faced Mason like you — that the Papacy is not the house of Orange-Nassau.

forty fits (n.) see under fit n.^. forty-guts (n.) a fat man. 1859,1860 Hotten

Diet, of Modern St. etc.

1873

SI. Diet.

1935

A.J,

Pollock

Und. Speaks.

forty-jawed (adj.) loquacious, talkative. & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in D/VIV:iii 218: forty-jawed, excessive 1890-1904 Farmer

talker. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds forty acres (n.) [their supposed

dimensions]

(US) extremely large feet.

WELS [DARE]. 1968-69 in DARE. forty-foot (n.) a short person. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. forty h.p. (adj.) [lit. 40 horse power, a high speed 1950

for the period]

(Aus.)

substantial, very great. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 May 12/4: Why, the very fact that he had drunk, and was drunk yesterday, is a 40 h.p. argument in favour of drinking, and getting drunk again to-day, to-morrow, and the day after.

forty ounce (n.) see forty n. (3). forty-pounder (n.) [the £40 cash bonus awarded to any policeman who secured

a 'Tyburn ticket', i.e. captured a murderer] a policeman. (ref, to 1730s) H.D. Miles Dick Turpin in Partridge DU (1949) 264/2: The rascally forty-pounders [...] a cant name for [police] officers; who received that reward with each 'Tyburn ticket.' forty-rod (lightning) (n.) [its strength; such whisky was jokingly said to be powerful enough to kill at a distance of 40 rods (about 1 7km/11 miles). Alternatively, its strength empowered the drinker to run at top speed for a 1840

similar distance, or the drinker is guaranteed to collapse if he attempts to walk

note LIGHTNING n. (2)] cheap, strong whisky. 'Q.K. Philander Doesticks' Witches of N.Y. 224: Liquor [...] warranted to kill at forty rods.] [1859 Star (L.A.) 23 Apr. 4: Minnie rifle, Knock-'em stiff and flaming red-eye—Such as kills 'em at the counter. Forty rods or any distance.] 1863 W.H. Russell Diary II 11; Their cries for water were incessant to allay the internal fires caused by '40 rod' and '60 rod,' as whiskey is called, which is supposed to kill people at those distances [DA]. [1870 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp (1873) 72; Earlier in the day some local satirist had erected a temporary tombstone at Sandy's head, bearing the inscription, 'Effects of McCorkle's whiskey, - kills at forty rods'.] 1874 Cultivator and Country Gentleman (US) 10 Dec. 799/1; We rack our brain to invent slang words for various drinks, and bring out such names as 'forty-rod,' 'tangle-foot,' 'rot-gut,' 'blue ruin' and 'Jersey lightning,' words that would puzzle a foreigner. 1884 (con. c.l840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 43: In the night some time he got powerful thirsty and [...] traded his new coat for a jug of forty-rod. 1891 A. Day Mysterious Beggar 253: After pouring out a liberal sample of its 'forty-rod' capability, he slowly 'absorbed' the same. 1901 Monroe & Northup 'College Words and Phrases' in DN ILiii 140: forty-rod, adj. Applied to strong whiskey, as'forty-rod whiskey'. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 100: Wot brand o' forty-rod does youse most fill up on. Crybaby? 1931 Ade Old-Time Saloon 31: He was supposed to have an array of grape beverages behind the bar to prove that he dealt in lady-like table wines as well as in forty-rod T.N.T. guaranteed to blow the hat off. 1946 (con. 1910s) J. Thompson Heed the Thunder (1994) 113: Ritten strained a hiccough through his chest-length beard, fumigating the hall with the aroma of forty-rod. 1947 C.J. Lovell 'The Background of Mark Twain's Vocab.' in AS XXII:2 91; forty-rod whisky. Cheap and strong whisky. [1869] This use was foreshadowed by a number of facetious terms of like import. 1968 (con. mid-19C) S. Longstreet Wilder Shore 74: A jug of forty rod sure rousted Old Scratch out of a man. 1998 (con. 1919) Howard Hickson's Histories [Internet] Out here in the wild and wooly West [...] alcohol sellers went underground. You could still get forty rod, gut warmer, and scamper juice, it just took a little more time and lot more money. forty-shilling word (n.) (W.l.) an obscene word, for the use of which one can be fined 40 shillings or £2.

much further than this; [1858

1961 cited in Cassidy & LePage.Dic/.

Jam. Eng.

(1980).

■ In phrases

forty miles of bad road (n.) see — miles of bad road n. forty ways from the Jack (adv.) (also fifty ways from the jack, forty ways, two ways from the jack) (US, orig. gambling) in every way possible. 1911 D. Runyon 'The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew' in From First to Last (1954) 69: 'He was there forty ways with a sap and gat, and he'd shoot as quick as he'd slug.' 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the

Lonesome Camp' in Ade's Fables 276: This has got the Middle West skinned forty ways from the Jack. 1915 Atlanta Constitution 29 Aug,

forty

42/4: As a detective he had old Nick Carter beaten 'forty ways to the jack'. 1920 H.C, Witwer Kid Scanlon 273: Take it from me, that bird is there forty ways. 1925 Black Mask Aug. Ill 83: I can beat that forty ways. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 195: He, Menendez could have done it two ways from the jack by lifting one finger, and done it much better. 1955 'Hal Ellson' Rock 99: She bitches him out forty different ways. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio I3th Valley (1983) 447: We gowin get our asses kicked seven ways ta hell,

forty weeks favour (adv.) [SE forty weeks, the approx, period of gestation + favour, something given as a mark of favour, e.g. a gift to a lover such as a handkerchief) the state of pregnancy, often in the context of an illegitimate child. Pennyless Parliament of Thread-bare Poets 53: Let Maidens take Heed how they fall on their Backs, lest they catch a forty Weeks favour. 1614 Cobbes Prophecies C3'': lif ye keepe your beds Till ye loose your maiden heads, take heed of a forty weeks paiment.

1608

forty adj^ {also forte, four-oh, four-point-oh, thirty-eight and two, thirty-eight plus two, twice twenty) (? pun on SE forte, a skill] (orig. US black) exceptionally pleasing, very fine. 1933 Z.N. Hurston Gilded Six-Bits (1995) 989: Can't he talk Chicago talk? Wuzn't dat tunny whut he said when great big fat ole Ida Armstong come in? He asted me, 'Who is dat broad wid de forty shake?' Dat's a new word [...] Sometimes he don't say forty he jes' says thirty-eight and two and dat mean de same thing. Know whut he tole me when Ah wuz payin' for our ice cream? He say, 'Ah have to hand it to you, Joe, Dat wife of yours is jes' thirty-eight and two. Yes-suh, she's forte!' 1944 Dan Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 86: Back in 1924 [...] [Jive's] early advocates described something that pleased them, whether a free dinner, a pretty girl, a new suit, or a pocket full of 'easy' money as being 'forte' or 'forty'. This term of approval was also known as 'twice twenty' or 'thirty-eight plus two'. 1949 L. Hughes Tambourines to Glory I iii: You know, forty means fine, O.K., great. 1954 (con. 1920s-30s) J.O. Killens Young¬ blood (1956) 440: Youngblood ain't feeling so forty today, Mr. Roy. He got a terrible headache. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. Dibner Admiral (1968) 245: Nobody ever tells Beauty what a public piece she once was because he is such a four-oh Joe. [Ibid.] 249: You're looking four-oh, Maude. 1973 D. Ponicsan Cinderella Liberty 158: You look like a pile of dog turds [...] and you always were so four-point-oh.

Forty-Deuce n.

[ext. Deuce, the n. (2)] (US) 42nd Street from Eighth Avenue to Times Square; orig. the centre of New York's tourism, nightlife and underworld. Special Teachers/Special Boys 152: He spent the morning in the Village, bought a tab of acid in the early afternoon with his last two bucks, dropped it, and headed for Forty-deuce. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 3: Three-card monte players speak of Forty deuce. 1992 N. George 'Cool vs. Chilly' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 69: Our destination was Forty Deuce and the moldy Times Square theaters. 2004 (ref. to 1979) K. Hemmerling Whorehound 247: In a manic state in 1979 Keith worked under the name of Damian Stone, having sex with Deliah, working for White Lightening in Forty Deuce-Times Square, 1979 P. Fisher

forty-eight carat adj. see twenty-four carat ady. forty-five n. (the popular Colt .45 revolver] 1 a .45 calibre

pistol.

A. Garcia Tough Trip Through Paradise (1977) 234: Mexican Jose [...] with his forty-five leveled at old Gabriel. 1885 C.A. Siringo Texas Cow Boy (1950) 133: Several bullets from the 'Kids' well aimed '45' had pierced his body. [Ibid.] 148:1 kept my hand near old Colt's '45'. 1894 D.J. O'Malley 'The Cowboy Wishes' in Stock Grower's Journal 7 Apr. [Internet] With a iong rawhide reata / And a big Colt's forty-five / I'll be a model puncher / As sure as you're alive. 1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 39: The bunch borrowed a mighty good .45 of mine I need in my biz. 1909 'O. Henry' Roads of Destiny 143: He drew from under his left arm his pearl-handled .45. 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 128: He wore at the time a large sombrero [...] and a 'forty-five' hanging from his hip. 1921 S.H. Adams Success 233: [He] had adjusted his vision to find it focused upon the barrel of a .45. 1925 Odum & Johnson Negro and His Songs (1964) 197: Stagolee killed a man an' laid him on de flo', / What's dat he kill him wid? Dat same ole fohty-five. 1927 (con. 1918) J.W. Thomason Red Pants 167: A service .45 knocks a man down, anywhere it hits him. 1937 W.M. Raine Cool Customer 53: Bucky broke a .45 and examined it. 1943 E. Pyle Here Is Your War (1945) 238: Lennie jumped out of his jeep, pulled his .45 and yelled at the heavily armed enemy. 1947 W.D. Overholser Buckaroo's Code (1948) 18: On the receiving end of a .45 slug. 1952 R. Marsten 'Carrera's Women' in Margulies Back Alley Jungle (1963) 67: We each held .45s in our fists. 1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 84: If I had my forty-five [...] I'd blow your goddamn black brains out! 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 54: Stackolee went home and got two smokin' forty-fives, / he came back and placed 'em between Billy Lion's eyes. [Ibid.] 79: I got one 1878-9

fo’ sho!

213

gun, it's a forty-five. 1969 H. Rap Brown Die Nigger Die! 30: I roam the world I'm known to wander and this .45 is where I get my thunder. 1976 E. Thompson Caldo Largo (1980) 127: Says he had his forty-five hanging just inside the front door. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 747: Trash turned his head and looked into the bore of a .45. 1994 J. Wambaugh Finnegan's Week 337: The .45 slugs blasted open his chest.

2 (US tramp) in pi., beans [? the (.45) pistol-shot like explosion of beaninduced breaking wind). 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Forty-fives—Monicker for navy beans, givers of energy,

forty-five minute psychosis

n. [the short duration and intensity of the drug experience] (drugs) dimethyltryptarine (DMT). 1977 S.N. Pradhan Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 1:45 Minute Psychosis — Dimethyltryptamine.

forty-four

n. [rhy. si.)

1

a whore.

1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1946 St. Vincent Troubridge 'Some Notes on Rhyming Argot' in 45 XXLl Feb, 46: forty-four. A whore. (Origin uncertain, but probably American.) Almost certainly American. The English is five to four, or six to four, from the betting odds against horses. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI. 55: 'How was your forty-four?' 'She wasn't too bad, but I feel a bit Pat and Mick now.'

2 a door-to-door salesman. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 2002 Rhy. SI.

forty-four adv. 1960

B. Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney

[rhy. si.) door-to-door.

J. Franklyn

Diet. Rhy. SI.

forty-niner

n. [the image is of cocaine as GOLD DUST n. (1) due to the Californian Cold Rush of 1849] (US drugs) a cocaine user. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1975 Lang, and Lore.

forty-one n. 1931 0,0. —41.

Hardy

&

Cull

Drug

[? a menu number; ? orig. short order] (US) orangeade.

McIntyre

'New

York

Day by Day' [synd.

col.]

Orangeade

forty to the dozen adv. (also fourteen to the dozen, thirteen to the dozen) [SE phr. nineteen talk forty to the dozen.

to the dozen] extremely fast; often as

1890 B.L. Farjeon Afys/ery ofM. Felix 1 236: He run against me, he did, and I sed, 'Who are yer pushing of?' He didn't say nothink, but walked off forty to the dozen. 1907 Chums 26 June 902: The lady talked at the rate of thirteen to the dozen. 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 111: Old Bick was shooting it out fourteen to the dozen. 1911 A. Bennett Hilda Lessways Bk V Ch. ii: Louisa was hidden in the kitchen, doubtless talking fourteen to the dozen with the cook,

forward adj.

drunk.

1770 Gent.'s Mag. Dec. 559/2: To express the condition of an Honest Fellow [...] under the Effects o/good Fellowship, ir is said that he is ]...] 35. Forward. 1786 F. Pilon He Would be a SoldierVl ii: CA.: Why, now I look at you, I think you are getting a little forward. [...] JOHNS.: Zounds, Sir, I am not drunk,

forward

v. (UK black) to go to.

2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 181: I can't tek forwarding to de blasted job centre for mont' after mont'. 2005 (con, c. 1945) A. Wheatle Island Songs (2006) 37: Dow' forward ah Kingston like me eldest son.

forward (pass) n. 1999 G.

Seal

forwards n.

[rhy. si.] (Aus.) a beer or wine glass.

Lingo 91:

forward passes

are glasses (drinking),

[it impels its users to action] (drugs) amphetamine.

1966 in Simmons & Winograd It's Happening. 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Forwards — Amphetamine.

fo’ sho adv. (also fo’ sheezy)

[for sure adv. + -iz- infix] (US black) certainly! definitely! absolutely! 1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 145: Makes me feel I'm your daddy! / Honey, you is, fo' sho'. 2004 Rodney P. 'FDS Flava' [lyrics] We got the bumpin' style to' sheezy. 2007 UGK 'Gravy' [lyrics] If you grimy or greasy, then your best step be easy / Cause that forty-feezy, leave you leakin fo' sheezy.

fo’ sho! exci (also fa’ sheezy! foe shizzy! fo’ sheezy! fo’ shizzle! fo’ shizzle my nizz!e!) [for sure! exc/. -f -iz- infix] (US black) certainly! definitely! absolutely! 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Foe shizzy (interjection) For sure. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fo sheezy Definition: 'for sure,' 'certainly' Example: You hetta have my money, fo sheezy! 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com ]Internet] fo'sho Definition: to agree with or understand Example: Example 'Hey nigga. I know you got that bomb ass ganja. ’ 'Fo’sho.' 2002 Mad mag. Aug. 11: It's always classic

foss

comedy lo watch dumb old white guys discuss [...] shizzling one's nizzle. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 19: 'Man's a righteous con!' 'Fo shoV adds the Bone, proud to have instigated this rich level of sharing. [Ibid.] 149; The Hunger be layin' in the cut fo you — fo sho'. Talkin' 'bout peelin' yo onion. 2002 S.F. Bay Guardian 29 May n.p.: BG; Not only that, you got artists on the East Coast saying 'fa sheezy.' What's up with that? E-40: Well, you know, they've been taking our slang, 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: fo shizzle - for certain [...] Also fo shizzle my nizzle. 2005 A. Swartz 'Sweet, Tight and Hella Stupid' in S.F. University High School Update Mar.-Apr. 2; shizzle - for sure,

foss n. see phos n. fossil farming n. {Aus. prison) 1990

Tupper

snatching purses from old

& WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fossil

farming. Purse snatching from elderly women,

1991 W. Adler

Immaculate Deception

96; That's a foul ball, FitzGerald,

n. [? SE full] {UK Und.) a purse. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 243: Don't yer know what a 'stall' is? Why, to be convenient, handylike, in the way to stow the 'foulcher' when she's nobbled it.

v. of SE full] drunk.

Diet. Carih. Eng. Usage. deliberately belligerent [note afoul

mouth in the context of obscenity is SEj. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 44: Lame talk refers to bad talk, in the sense of provocative or belligerent dialog. Expressions like smart mouth, fat mouth, foul mouth and bad mouth [.,.] Nasty mouth he's as foul as he can be!

2 (US black) of a person, aggressive. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 44; You get labeled as too [...] foul and are forced to do something about it.

foul adv.

[14C-17C SE foul, 'guilty of a charge or accusation; criminally implicated' 0£D1 1 (US Und.) guilty, 'red-handed'; usu. in phr.

caught foul, caught in the act. N.Y. Daily Trib. 15 July 2/5: Being caught 'fowl,' as the parlance is, [he] confessed he stole the pocket book and money, and stated that he was alone in the transaction — which is not true, as two or three always go together, one to steal and the other or others to receive and conceal the property stolen, 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1860 in C. Martel A Detective’s Notebook in Partridge DU. 1872 G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service 110: The hitherto lively, busy Canadian [...] owned up that the U.S. Service men 'had him foul,' at last. 1927 (con. 1918) J. Stevens Mattock 280: He'll hook up with her as sure as God made sour apples. She's got him foul. 1841

2 (US black) aggressively, intemperately. Source Dec. 51: If you live foul, time is gonna penalize you.

foul a plate with v. see under plate n.^. foul ball n. [baseball jargon foul ball, a ball struck

{US) to go wrong, to fail. Lady in the Lake (1952) 113: Like a bad taste in the mouth [...[ Like a romance that fouled out. Am I too blunt? 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 134: 'You know, I didn't foul out once.' 'You were good. Cliff.' 1983 G. Tate 'Cecil Taylor' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 26: They have to learn to play the game without V. [baseball imagery]

1943 R. Chandler

adj^ [fr.fou, mad] (W.l.) crazy, mad.

fough! exc/. see faugh! exc/. foul adj. 1 {US black) of talk,

foulcher

foul out

1697 Vanbrugh Provoked Wife III ii; Then sit ye awhile, and tipple a bit. For we're not very fou, but we're gayly yet. 1770 Gent.'s Mag. Dec. 559/2; To express the condition of an Honest Fellow [.,.] under the Effects of good Fellowship, it is said that he is [...] 21. Fou. 1793 Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poetical Works (1871) 350: We sit bousing at the nappy, / And getting fou and unco happy. 1815 (con. 18C) W. Scott Guy Mannering (1999) 279: Ye black barrow-tram o' the kirk that ye are - Are ye fow or fasting? 1821-5 'Bill Truck' Man o' War’s Man (1843) 37: De'il a bane o' me's fu'. [Ibid.] 150: Not to speak o' the doited creature filling itsel fou, which is yin o' the skipper's deadly sins. 1841 J. IMLAH 'The Gloamin" in Poems and Songs 212: And the flowers of earth be drinking / Their cups of hinney dew, my boys! / And the stars of heaven be winking / Like us — when roaring fou, my boys! 1857 J.E. Ritchie Night Side of London 166; The time admits of a man getting 'fou' between the commencement and the close of the entertainment. 1863 Macmillan's Mag. (London) VII 448/1: And he went foraging one winter's day across to Tummel Side, and he got roaring fou with Alaster Kennedy. 1895 'Banjo' Paterson 'The Great Calamity' Man from Snowy River (1902) 171: And when they'd drunk the beaker dry / They sang 'We are nae fou!' 1898 J.M. Barrie V Novels. Tales, and Sketches 292: When he's roaring fou I have to sleep in the wood, and it's awfu' cauld, 1901 G. Douglas House with Green Shutters 220: 'Young Goulay's drunk!' blurted Wabster [...] 'Is he a wee fou?' said the Deacon eagerly. 'Wee be damned [...] he's as fou as the Baltic Sea!' 1909 C. Nicol 'Bauldy Kilwuddie' Poems 62: In that ale-house ca'd Lucky Kate's / He wad get boozy there [...] An' there wi' his crew, the hale lot roarin' fou.

1993

were total foul-balls. 1982 T. Considine Lang, of Sport n.p.: Finally asked the uninvited guest, a real foul ball, to leave [R],

a real foul ball.

fotie n. see photie n. fotog n. see photog n. fotz up V. see fuii up under futz fou adj.^ {also fow, fu) [Scot, pron.

1996 Allsopp

H5/7: When it comes down to brass tacks the most polished orator will lapse into [...] 'stymied,' 'foul ball' and other expressions borrowed from sports. 1950 J.T. Farrell 'Milly and the Porker in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 197: He may be nothin' but a measly foul ball, but he's got your number. 1960 G. Swarthout Where the Boys Are 3: He needs some flesh for Friday night, no foul balls, nothing too brainy, all queens and amenable. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 98: The present client is the black sheep, the foul ball, of the moneybags clan. 1976 C. Keane Hunter 140; The Branch brothers

2 a distasteful statement.

women.

fou

four

214

so that it falls outside

the lines drawn from the home base through the first and third bases] (US)

1 an unpleasant, poss. criminal character. 1925 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 37; He eats bananas skins and all. Oh, he's just a foul ball. 1935 F. Wead Ceiling Zero Act II: When you came along I was a foul ball. 1941 S.F. Chronicle 1 June

fouling out. adj. [poWce charge sheet, found on licensed premises...] {Irish)

found on

arrested for drinking in a public house after licensing hours. 1991 J.B. Keane Love Bites and Other Stories 143; The pub was always regarded as being relatively safe because it was so near the garda barracks. Anyway Canavan and Callaghan were 'found on'.

foundry

n.

1

a shop, esp. a pork butcher's shop because of the

noise of the sausage machine. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

2 (US) a restaurant. Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. ii; I was going to balk and rear in the harness when he started to lead me up the steps of 1908 K. McGaffey

the foundry.

fountain (of love)

n. the vagina. Venus and Adonis line 234: Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. 1594 T. Heywood Oenone and Paris stanza 77: Bathe in this fountaine here a while to sport thee. Thy milkewhite skinne, the pebbles shall not marke, Twixt them and thee He lye me, least they hurt thee. 1655 J. Cotgrave 'From a Gentleman to his Mistress' Wits Interpreter (1671) 174: Of polisht Ivory is thy Globe¬ like belly, [...] And under that same snowy swelling mountain, Coverd with moss, doth stand a milky Fountain. 1673 Head Canting Academy 181; The Fountain of Love and delight. 1680 Behn Disappointment VI 179: That Fountain where Delight still flows. And gives the Universal World Repose. 1696 'Young-Mans Answer' Pepys Ballads (1987) V 246: For your Fountain ... He put in pritty Fishes there, will please you wondrous well. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 55: His daring hand that Altar seiz'd [...] The living Fountain, from whose trills / The melted Soul in blamy Love distills. 1732 'Philogynes Clitorides' Frutex Vulvaria 17: Some learned Criticks contend that it should be call'd Fons Vitae, because it is the Fountain from whence all Mankind first sprang. 1837-8 'Farewell to Sal's Fountain' Cuckold's Nest 33: My Sal's little fountain / Is so plump and stout, / With scarce any room / For the stream to run out. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 134: Fontaine,/ The female pudendum-, 'the fountain of love'. C.1592 Shakespeare

four n.

fourpenny-worth of a given drink, as sold in a public house. 1859 G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 97: Steaming 'fours' of gin and 'sixes' of brandy troop into the room on the waiter's tray. 1876 Besant & Rice Golden Butterfly I 49: The girl [...] set before him a 'four' of brandy and the cold water, 1883 J. Greenwood Odd People in Odd Places 199: Spirits and water was the favourite drink - 'fours' of gin or whisky. 1916 G. Squiers Skitologues 17: When they was 'avin' 'arf a pint of four.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

v

four and nine (penny) (n.) (the 1844 advertisement, which declared 'Whene'er to slumber you incline/Take a short nap at 4 and 9'] a cheap hat. 1839 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers Works III (1898) 370: You might call a hat [...] a glossy four-and-nine. 1841 'Catalan! Joe' Dublin Comic Songster 67; We met the Queen in a one horse shay, / Wearing a four and nine, sir. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 42: FOUR AND NINE, or FOUR and ninepenny GOSS, a cheap hat. 1867 J, Greenwood Unsentimental Journeys 229: What call had he to push and shove people about [...[ because he wore a four-and-nine, and had a pencil stuck behind his ear. 1873 SI. Diet.

four

four and one (n.) {US black) the fifth day of the working week, i.e. payday, which is Friday. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D.

Burley

Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

four-and-twenty (steps) (n.) (ety. unknown; ? the number of steps from a particular courtroom to the cells) (W./.) a courthouse. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

four-and-two (n.) [? of the four sides of bread, only two are buttered] a sandwich. 1931 N.

four-eleven

215

Bell

Andrew Otway in DSUE (1984).

four-by (n.) [abbr. SE four-by-four or 4X4) a four-wheel-drive vehicle, usu. a form of Jeep, popular among drug dealers, rappers and their fans. 1998 K. Keith 'Lowrider Passat' posting at Audifans.com 3 Jun. [Internet] I saw a '92 Passat on the freeway that had hydraulic suspension. It was 'locked up' as it's called, raised up like a four-by.

■ In phrases four of one suit (n.) see four-flusher n. on all fours with (ad/.) (i.e. square with) conforming with, agreeing, fitting. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Feb. 6/1: That, we fancy, is about on allfours with Artemus Ward's reply to the indignant female, who inquired: 'Air you a man?' 'For all pertiklers on that point, apply to Mrs. A. Ward,' said our friend. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 596: So the scene between the pair of them, the licensee of the place, rumoured to have been Fitzharris, the famous invincible, and the other, obviously bogus, reminded him forcibly as being on all fours with the confidence trick,

four adj. ■ SE in slang uses ■ Derivatives foursome (n.) (US) four people involved in sex together; it can involve any combination of genders. 1949 J.H. Burns Lucifer with a Book 91: Nydia and me got used to foursomes in hotel bedrooms. Understand, chum? Anything goes at our house. 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] foursome (compound noun) four people involved in sex together. Refers to any combination of gender.

■ In compounds four bars (n.) (US black) a short time. 1971 (con. 1930s) D. Wells Night People 66: Baby, all I want is four bars after the gig. four bit(s) see under bit n.\ four bones (n.) see under bone n.\

four cautions, the (n.) 'I. Beware of a woman before. - II. Beware of a horse behind. - III. Beware of a cart sideways. - IV. Beware of a priest every way' (Grose, 1 785). 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. four-cornered (adj.) [elaboration of SE cornered] {US prison) caught in the act. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 92: Four Cornered A person who is caught redhanded committing a crime, four corners (n.) [four-corners, a crossroads and thus a small settlement that might grow up around it] (US) a small, out-of-the-way place. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 306: East Jesm, four corners, ghost town. four decker (n.) group sex, involving two heterosexual couples. 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 114: He just likes a four-decker, can't get it up otherwise. four-eye/-eyed/-eyes see separate entries, four-fifth (n.) (US black) a .45 pistol. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. All. four-fingered shuffle (n.) masturbation. 1995-2002 'The World's Largest Collection of Male Masturbation Synonyms' at Worldwidewank.com [Internet] Four-knuckle shuffle (for those who lost a finger in 'Nam). 1996 'FAQ' on alt.sex. masturbation [Internet] 88 Rubbin' the rigid rod / 89 Playing pocket pool / 90 Four fingered shuffle. four-flush/-flusher see separate entries, four-foot amelia (n.) (W./.) a flimsy or roughly constructed bed. 1936 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). four-Fs (n.) see separate entry. four-half (n.) a mix of ale and porter, sold at fourpence a quart. 1877 J. Diprose London Life 42: His favourite beverage is a 'pot o' four arf. 1887 "Arry on His Critics' in Punch 17 Dec. 280/1: I'm 'Fiz,' not four 'arf, my dear feller. 1890 Sporting Times 22 Mar. 2/2: One who would do well in the four-half or 'London pongelo' department. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Mar. 25/2: [T]he gallery night by night with flopping tears waters the flowers on the garden-hats in the stalls and cultivates droughts that only deep wells of 'four half' can dissipate. 1905 Sporting Times 18 Feb. 1/3: 'I would have you to know, sir, that I drew my sword in the cause of Italian liberty,' loftily said the

briefless barrister over a pot of 'four-'alf'. 1915 T. Burke Nights in Town 304: They would offer lavish apologies and pots of four-'arf. 1926 'Sapper' Pinal Count 810: Three of four-'alf, please. Miss, four-headed {adj.) (US black) very clever, exceptionally intelligent. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive 180: Four-headed adj. (1930s) possesing great mental or magical abilities, four-letter man/word (n.) see separate entries, four-minute job (n.) (US prison) a shower. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Four Minute Job: Shower.

four piece (n.) [there are four pieces in total] (US prison) a complete set of metal forms of restraints, i.e. cuffs, leg irons, waist chain, and security cover. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] 4 piece: A full set of restraints (cuffs, leg irons, waist, and security cover). (lA). four pound (n.) (a/so 4-pound) (US black) a gun. 1999 Hip-Hop Connection Aug. 21: 4 pound 'We represent everyday with the 4-Pound,' rapped someone or other. Another word for gun.

four prices (ad/.) [? it costs fig. 'four times as much' as a normal item] (Ulster) very expensive. 1997

Share

Slanguage.

fours up (n.) sexual intercourse involving two couples. 1994 1. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' in Acid House 253: I was into fours up, no question about it. four thick (n.) beer sold at fourpence a quart. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 136/2: Four thick (Public-house). Fourpence per quart beer—the commonest there is (in London), and generally the muddiest. [Ibid.] 162/2: When your kick is empty, and your mouth is dry, your blooming pals will not give you a yannep to get a drop of four thick. four-wheeler (n.) [? the cow's four legs] a beefsteak. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. ■ In phrases four sisters on thumb street (n.) (US black) masturbation. 1980 E. FOLB Runnin' Down Some Lines 237: four sisters on thumb street Masturbation. 2002 Anoninsac 'Friendly Fuck' [Internet] I needed to get laid. No really. I'm not just saying that, I really did need to get laid. Sometimes Missy Thumb and her four sisters just aren't good enough. go four (v.) [card-playing imagery] (Aus.) to support, to back up. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Dec. 13/4: Anyhow, I'll go four on the robin.

four-by-four n. 1 (UK black)

a very pretty young woman [? the

rectilinearity of her features). 2004 YUNGUN 'Today Was a Good Day' [lyrics] Did you see that, brer, did you see that [i.e. a pretty girl]. That was a four-by-four! 2 a whore [rhy. si.]. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

four by two n. (also fourby)

[rhy. si.) 1 (also three be two) a ]ew. 1921 N^Q 12 Ser. IX 346: Four-by-Two. [...] Used also to express a 'Jew'. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 69: 'I had to order a sandwich for you.' [...] 'That's all right so long as it's not ham, [...] I'm a four-be two, you see.' 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 10: Harry was a Jew. In his own phrase: a 'tin-lid.' Otherwise, a 'four-by-two,' a 'Kangaroo,' or a 'five-to-two'. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 265: Don't take long to wipe up a couple of Three Be Twos, do it? 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 78: Lew Silver, a well known artistic four by two. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book of Rhy. SI. 27: A rich four-bytM'oish merchant. 1980 Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 53: Jews are [...] four-by-twos. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fourbies (4 x 2) [...] Jew. 2 (usu. Aus./N.Z.) a prison warder [= screw n.^ (2c)]. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book of Rhy. SI. 24: Who are you calling a four-by-two? 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 248: four-by-two (n) Prison officer. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fourbies (4 x 2) Screw (warder). 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Four by two. A prisoner officer. Rhyming slang for screw [...] Sometimes just fourbees.

four by two adj.

[? standard sizing, thus idea of jobsworth) (N.Z.)

aggressive, tactless. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 81: four by two The standard timber stud retaining its pre-metric sizing of four inches by two inches, used to describe the blunt approach, eg, 'Many have objected to Inland Revenue's four by two way of handling people filing late returns.' ANZ.

fOUr-GiGVBn n. (also 411, four-one-one)

[the US phone number for information] (US black/campus) information. [1982

Borowitz

&

Square Pegs Episode 10, 13 Dec. [TV script] Going to the Grease [a diner] is about as cool as

Hirsch

Jennifer Dinuccio:

four-eleven-forty-four

someone with a tin mouth, ok? LaDonna Fredericks: Girl, it you know someplace cooler, I want to know. I am dialing 411.] 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 23: four-one-one Information. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 21: He gave them the full 411 on that: it looked lame. 1995 A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] Here's the four-oneone on Mr. Hall. He's single, he's 47, and he earns minor duckets for a thankless job. 2006 M. Karp Rabbit Factory (2007) 92:1 just want the straight 4-1-1. ■ In phrases

give the four-eleven/411 (v.) [US black) to give out information, to instruct; also as excl. 1997 in Ryerson Review of Journalism 88: Phat story, girlfriend. And after that, more fly stuff when we bring the new ZBC go-go dancers out to give the 411 on our new sister station, ZBC Danceworld. 2000-01 Teddy Williams 'Where Are Blacks In L.A.?' at BtackNLa.com [Internet] BlackNLa.com encourages users to provide feedback. Whether you want to promote your upcoming fundraiser, or just give the '411' on where to get the best Jamaican jerk chicken, this is the place to voice your choice. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 58: Mr. Hartley gives me the four-one-one. Then he's gone. 2005 posting at advicechick.com 14 Oct, [Internet] Dish the dirt on that Dirty Rat! Give us the 411 on that fool, 2007 jAAS XI-XII I: We generally give the 411 on what is occurring at our places of employment,

four-eleven-forty-four

n. {also 4-11-44) [a 'lucky number' popularized by NUMBERS, THE n. or POLICY n. bettors from late 19C-E, and known in numbers' jargon as the fancy gal roll or the Washerwoman's Number; note 1872 The Galaxy (NY) 495: 'Sometimes a mania seizes the entire fraternity of colored players to play some particular "flat gig," which is generally 4—11—44, and the numbers being sure to be drawn only after everybody has been tired out and quit betting on them, their appearance evokes a storm that is comical in its intensity when its occasion is remembered.'] (US black) the penis. [1866 Night Side ofN.Y.hS; Most of the negro dance-houses, then, are a combination of that sort of amusement with the gaming-table and the mysterious 4-11-44.] 2009 S. Call Barrelhouse Diet. 95: 4-11-44 surfaced as a black term for penis.

four-eyed

adj. {also four-eyes) a derog. epithet aimed at those

who wear spectacles. 1878 A.F. Mulford Fighting Indians 102: [They] referred to me as Four-Eyed-Son-of-a-Gun. 1897 Kipling 'Slaves of the Lamp — Part I' in Complete Stalky & Co. (1987) 66: Yiss, yeou, yeou long-nosed, fowereyed, gingy-whiskered beggar! 1907 C.E. Mulford Bar-20 ix: That there four-eyed cuss looks at it and snickers. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 1 37: And him the mildest lookin' four-eyed gent ever let loose. 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Flome 281: You sem to know a lot for a four-eyed man. Ain't a tiggy, are you? 1925 G.H. Mullin Adventures of a Scholar Tramp 211: Ye can't soldier on us, ye four-eyed son of a bitch. 1937 E. Anderson Thieves Like Us (1999) 177: Look at that gink out there, the four-eyed one. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 168: There is no way to kid that four-eyed little son-of-abitch. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 24: That's what the four¬ eyed white-smocked bloke with the notebook couldn't understand. 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 205: A four-eyed short-arse, which makes its nest in old New Statesmans. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 2\5; If you want to go off with that four-eyed egghead see'f I care. 1983 S. King Christine 339: Buddy had been this way ever since Moochie Welch, that little four-eyes panhandling dork, got run down by some psycho on JFK Drive. 1989 N. George 'Boy Talk' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 129: I was a four-eyed bookworm. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 83: Ah half expected to see beggars at the freshers ball, beating tae a pulp some four-eyed, middle-class wanker he imagined wis starin at um. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 80: The specky, four-eyed, perverted, smelly nonce. ■ In compounds four-eye puss (n.) (puss 1943

cited in Cassidy

four-eyes

n.

1

&

four-flusher

216

(1)] (W.l.) one who wears glasses. Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

LePage

spectacles.

1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 309: Likewise to Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., 1 bequeath my four-eyes, my barnacles, my green-specs, but, amongst, opticians, denominated SPECTACLES, 1900-10 STEPHENS & O'BRIEN Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.]. 2 one who wears glasses; also with overtones of distrust of anyone 'intellectual'. 1852 G.C, Mundy Our Antipodes II 372: An engineering officer [...] known to the natives by the nickname of 'Four-eyes,' on account of his spectacles. 1873 SI. Diet. 1890 C. Hindley Vocab. and Gloss, in True Hist, of Tom and Jerry 175: Four Eyes. The man and the spectacles. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Aug. 14/1: As old Colonel Four-eyes said, you were the most infernal pig-and-spud thief in the whole army.

1912 A. Berkmau Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist {T 926) 190: What you grinnin' for. Four Eyes? 1923 M. Garahan Stiffs 20: Garn, four eyes! 1933 J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 169: Well, ain't you a wise foureyes! 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 130: One double-shot cornin' up, Four-Eyes. 1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 192: A girl or boy with spectacles is known as 'Four-eyes'. [...] In New Zealand boys chant: 'Four eyes, four eyes. Glass eyes, bye byes!' 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 168: Even the so-called nice guys / Called us four-eyes. 1975 L. Rosten Dear 'Herm' 15: We used to call him '4-eyes' on account of his wearing glasses all the time. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 50: An adoring baldy or four-eyes - some wally, wimp, nerd or narna - might be sleeping on the chair. 2001 1. Welsh Glue 40: She's wearin they gold-rimmed glasses [...] — Awright four-eyes, ah goes. ■ In phrases

make four eyes (v.) (W.l.) of two people, to gaze at one another, to meet. 1991 L.E. Adams Jam. Patois 49: Long time we no mek four-yai. 1994 P. Baker Blood Posse 297; His eyes made tour with mine. [Ibid.] 341: My eyes made four with a blue-eyed white man.

4F n. (4-F adj.] (US) a weak and generally inferior man. 1944 J. Archibald 'Meat Bawl' in Popular Detective Aug. [Internet] This kind of food is good enough for 4F's like you, Willie Klump. 1959 S. Bellow Henderson The Rain King 23: All those civilians and 4Fs have put you up to this,

4-F adj. {also four-eff, Four-F) [milit. specification for anyone unfit to serve! (US) useless, inferior, weak. 1944 'F. Bonnamy' a Rope of Sand (1947) 119: Like many another outwardly impressive specimen, he's Four-F. 1949 (con. 1943-5) A. Murphy To Heli and Back (1950) 100: Those 4-F, draft-dodging bastards. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. QmnEV. Admiral (1968) 257: We'll close it so tight you'll never in your frigging four-eff life be able to open her again. [Ibid.] 258: You fat four-eff bastard, 1973 G. Swarthout Luck and Pluck 79: If you hadn't been Four-F or gone to Canada or been a CO or tricked Nixon some way, I wouldn't give you the time of day. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 238: A guilt payment. Because he's loaded. Because he was 4F.

459 n. {US Und.) a burglary; also as v., to steal. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 75: It's a four-five-nine in progress, Buckmore! Let's hit it! 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] 459: Burglary or intrusive behavior, from Cal. Penal Code section 459. As in 'Don't 459 my convo'.

four-flush n.

[four-flush v.] 1 an act of deception. 1908 Chicago Trib. 27 Sept, in Fleming Unforgettable Season (1981) 259: The New York National League club is engaged in one of its familiar fourflushes [...] Broadway, from Times Square to the Battery, is the native heath of the fourflush.

2 see FOUR-FLUSHER n. four-flush adj. [four-flusher n.j (US) cheating,

crooked,

untrustworthy. 1899 Ade Fables in SI. (1902) 12: She always saw the same old line of Four-Flush drummers from Chicago and St. Louis, smoking Horrid Cigars. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 11: The four-flush calldown makes you back-pedal. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 87: It's me to go back to trainin' four flush comers again. 1920 H.C. Witwer Kid Scanlon 186: Why don't you can that four-flush thing?

four-flush

V. [four-flusher n.) (US) to cheat or bluff; thus fourflushing n. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 26: Not that boy. He was four-flushin', I know the brand. 1905 H, Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 263: If you're four-flushin' say so, 'cause I won't stand no monkey business. 1921 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 7 Feb. [synd. col.] Folks who like friends to believe they stand solid with theatrical producers [...] buy a puncher to complete the bit of four flushing. 1934 O. Strange Sudden 228; Burdette is four-flushin', Purdie [,..] Yu can call his bluff. 1939 P. Cheyney Don't Get Me Wrong (1956) 7; I would rather four-flush a team of wild alligators outa their lunch-pail. 1943 Baker 'Influence of Amer. SI. on Aus.' in AS XVIII:4 255: A number of synonyms for his own slang words, such as bloke for 'guy,' skiting for 'four flushing,' nark for 'crab'.

four-flushor

n. (a/so four-flush) (poker jargon; a real flush requires five cards of the same suit, four is merely a bluff] (US) 1 a cheat, a bluffer. [1885 Oshkosh (WI) Daily Northwestern 16 Apr. 3/2: The alleged occupation of Penjdah by the Russians is the very thing England has been so nettled about [...] and such a concession is looked upon as a virtual back-down by the British government. The great bluff game, where both sides were drawing to a four flush, has been turned against the bluffer.] 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 77:1 never see one o' them fellows yet that was n't a four-flush. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' Back to the Woods 74: 1 [...] heard myself telling her I was nothing but a fawncolored four-flush. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 158: When it comes to figurin' on what women or horses'll do. I'm a four-flusher. 1915

four-flushing

217

O.R. Cohen The Wild Man' All-Story 28 Aug. [Internet] One of these days I'm going to show you up for the four-flush you are! 1915 WODEHOUSE Psmith Journalist (1993) 261: Mr Coston called Mr Dawson a pie-faced rubber-necked four-flusher. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 406: Come on, you dog-gone, bullnecked, beetlebrowed, hogjowled, peanutbrained, weaseleyed four flushers, false alarm and excess baggage! 1931 W.N. Burns One-Way Ride 184: You are just a four-flush. You shoot off your mouth too much. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 69: This club protects its members carefully against imposters and fourflushers. 1955 P. Rabe Benny Muscles In (2004) 284: You crazy four-flusher [...] You think I'm a dumb country cop, huh? 1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 174: Four-flushers are nil in my book. 1972 J. Flaherty Chez Joey (1974) 220: In the prissy labor field of today, composed of slick four-flushers and punky bureaucrats. 1981 G.V. Higgins Rat on Fire (1982) 15: I am not so stupid that even I do not know that Four-flusher Fein is not your very best legal-type counsellor. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 196: Get outta here, ya four-flusher. 2001 H.E. Adkins Scar 92: But, if there is anything I can't stand, it's a four-flusher who sets out to cheat me in the first place. 2 a braggart, a boaster. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 255: Four-Flusher. One who poses for effect. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Uplifter' in Ade's Fables 102: [...] something that would show up Charley Klein and Gus Thomas and all the other Four-Flushers who were raking in Royalties under False Pretenses. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of The Toilsome Ascent' in Ade's Fables 181: His Detractors called him a Four-Flush and a False Alarm. 1915 Van Loan 'Sporting Doctor' in Taking the Count WJ: There's a lot of good lightweights who want that four-flusher. 1928 J. Callahan Man's Grim Justice in Hamilton Men of the Und. 266: So far as I'm concerned you can make it a bunded and fifteen, you old four flusher. 1933 W.R. Burnett Dark Hazard (1934) 9: This was what he loved to do, corner a lying fourflusher. Imagine this bumpkin owning Gold Leaf! 1944 T. Thursday 'Base on Balds' in Sports Winners Spring [Internet] 1 think that mug is a very big fourflusher and besides that his hair ain't real. 3 something worthless. 1910 J. London 'Flush of Gold' Complete Short Stories (1993) II 1296: Maybe you don't know how the creek turned out to be a fourflusher; but the prospects were good at the time. 4 (a/so four of one suit) a scrounger, one who fails to pay due debts. 1915 Daily Trib. (Bismarck, ND) 13 Apr. 4/5: If you can't become something you are a mutt, a mollycoddle, a four-flusher, excess baggage, a false alarm and a mere cipher. 1917 R. Lardner Gullible's Travels 80: You remember me tellin' you about [...] me takin' my Missus and her sister, Bess, and four of one suit named Bishop to see The Three Kings? 1939 J. Weidman What’s In It For Me? 348: I'm gonna look for that little four-flushing swine until I find him. 1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 37: My father was a fourflusher, who left me with nothing. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 60: What a crew! Mooches, fags, fourflushers, stool pigeons, bums - unwilling to work, unable to steal, always short of money, always whining for credit. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 142: You're a [...] four¬ flusher, a swelcher, four-flushing adj. [four-flush v.j lying, cheating, bragging. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 130: The four-flushing talk he put into the mouth of Coriolanus. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 61: Pretty Sammy's out, the fourflushin', cross-eyed slob. 1913-14 Van Loan 'Out of His Class' in Taking the Count 195:1 know I kin lick this four-flushin' champion. 1924 Lillian Goodner & Her Sawin' Trio [song title] Four Flushing Papa (You've Gotta Play Straight With Me). 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 137: She is a first-class four-flushin' double-dealin' twicin' sister of Satan. 1947 S. Lewis KingsbIood Royal (2001) 184: Then he finds this fat, greasy, four-flushing nigger has plotted and connived and grabbed it! 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 14: This bar was a meeting place for 42nd Street hustlers, a peculiar breed of fourflushing would-be criminals. 1959 W. BmROVGns Naked Lunch (1968) 109: Get out of my studio, you cheap four-flushing ham! 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 144: Can you imagine a fourflushing cheapskate like that gettin all his dough in a hundred-dollar bill to flash around? Godl 1998 G. Nachman Raised on Radio (2000) 278: [The] Louisiana politician with the florid oratorical style and scandalous reputation, was nicknamed the Kingfish after his fourflushing radio counterpart. 4-Fs n. {also Four F, four Fs) [note Mae West in Tm No Angel (1933) tells her maid to 'find 'em, fool 'em and forget 'em' when it comes to men; the rap group NWA used 'find 'em, fuck 'em and flee' in 1991] {US) the slogan 'find 'em, feel 'em, fuck 'em (or euph. as fool 'em) and forget 'em', the axiom for macho US youth in its dealings with women; thus the metaphorical 'club' supposedly uniting those

fourpenny

males who subscribe to such a philosophy; also occas. such a male; sometimes amplified to five Fs by adding 'feed 'em' after 'find 'em'. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 218; The sharks was droppin' shucks like the Yellow Kid, tryin' to tighten her, and weavin' the four F's all 'round her. 1949 A.B. Holungshead Elmtown's Youth (1975) 316: They call themselves the Five F's 'find 'em, feed 'em, feel'm, f—- 'em, forget 'em'. 1953 Berrey & Van DEN Bark Amer. Thes. SI. (2nd edn) 356.3: The four F's, high-pressure romancing — find 'em, fool 'em, frig 'em, and forget 'em. 1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 11: Jogy Grinder is a civilian - any lucky four-goddamn-F that's laying up with your old lady and grinding her all night long while you're away in the service. 1966 Harris & Freeman Lords of Hell 30: What a sportsman mean when he say weaving the four F's is—you got to find you chick and you got to fool her and you got to frig her and forget her! [HDAS]. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 102: The 4-F Club: findem, feelem, fuckem, forgetem. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 7: Melish, baby, the Four F's are forever [...] Find 'em. Feel 'em. Fuck 'em. Forget 'em. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 194: This article and series devoted to sexual slang would be incomplete without some notice of catch phrases, both British and American: [...] Four F: find, feel, fuck, forget. [2003 www.thepantsman.com [Internet] As an African guy once told me in Lithuania: 'Find it. Fuck it. Forget it.'] four-letter man n. 1 {UK society) an unpleasant person; the four letters are perhaps s-h-i-t (as suggested by /vlanchon, Le Slang, 1923) or c-u-n-t (cf. five-letter woman under five adj.). 1953 C. Lederer Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [film script] 'I'm a fourletter man!' 'Well, I wouldn't brag about it.' 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 13: A person that you don't like is often described in terms of various bodily parts or excretions: he is [...] a shit (and therefore a Four-Letter Man). 1988 D. White in Costello Mask of Treachery 565: I thought he [i.e. the spy Anthony Blunt] was a fourletter man. 1993 in A. Caesar Taking It Like a Man 202: If you'd been anyone else you'd have thought me a first-class four-letter man for changing the dedication like that. 2003 'Amer. vs British Eng.' on University of Tampere FAST Area Studies Program [Internet] 'A fiveletter woman married to a four-letter man.' 2 {US) a male homosexual: both as sense 1 and as h-o-m-o. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 90: four letter man A male homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 109: male homo¬ sexual [...] four-letter man (H-O-M-O). four-letter word n. [euph.] an obscenity, notably cunt n., fuck n., SHIT n. etc; thus six-letter word: bugger nj'; and ten-letter word: cocksucker n. etc. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 301: A fashion for using openly the ancient four-letter words that had maintained an underground life. 1948 New Yorker 2^ Oct. 52: In both World War I and World War II, they depended mainly upon a couple of four-letter words that are obscene but not profane. 1951-2 G. Marx letter in Groucho Letters (1967) 91: They cut out two wonderful jokes: To wit: 'When ever I mentioned work to Jane's brother he says don't use that four-letter word in front of my sister'. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 275: Angelo seated on his perch grinned as smugly as the parrot who has just four-letter-worded the old maid out of the room in the cartoon. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 200: He exploded in a rash of four-letter words. 1979 G. Swarthout Skeletons 1: Underneath, the man was a living four-letter word. 1987 L. Redmond Emerald Square 178: I suspected that work was a four letter word in his vocabulary and a dirty one at that. 2003 P. Palms Bankruptcy Solution 18: Is Debt a Four-Letter Word? I think it is. four-oh n. see forty n. (3). four-oh adj. see forty adj}. four-oh-four n. {also 404) [computer use 404, 'File Not Found' message on the Web] {US teen) a fool. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 1: 404: Someone who is clueless or naive (derived from www message '404, URL not found'). Don't ask him about the homework because he is. 2000 N.Y. Times 27 June n.p.; Calling someone a '404' (from the World Wide Web error message, '404 Not Found') means he is clueless or has a high 'bozon count,' while accusing him of being a 'BDU' means he's a 'Big Dumb User.' four-one-one/411 n. see four-eleven n. fourpenny n. [the price of the various commodities! 1 beer costing fourpence a pint. 1873 J. Greenwood In Strange Company 81: The wofully-shabby few [...] swigged pots of fourpenny. 1877 J. Greenwood Dick Temple 1 252: If the toast is to be drunk in fourpenny, let the cheerman propose it in fourpenny. 2 an ugly, worn-out old prostitute. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 423/1: ca. 1870-1910.

fourpenny 3 {also fourpenny touch) a short, commercial act of intercourse.

1981 (con. c. 1900s) A. Harding in Samuel East End Und. 110: The

girls who stayed in Spitalfields were very poor. That was what you called a 'fourpenny touch' or a 'knee trembler' - they wouldn't stay with you all night. 1959 'The Pickpocket' in Encounter n.d. in Norman Norman's London

(1969) 66: The fourpenny snore and the sweeny / Dwell in the box for you. / So nitto, nark it, stoppo, / Or a carpet's a lay-down for you.

fourpenny adj. m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

fourpenny cannon

(n.) (its shape and/or its consistency resembles a cannon ball + the cost] a Steak and kidney pie. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

(n.) (Aus.) cheap red wine.

1953 G. Casey in Bulletin 16 Sept, in Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land

It's too cold for streetcorners and just right for [...] a gallon of fourpenny dark with a mate. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 58: You'll feed her your fourpenny dark, your worst stinking firewater. 1967 A.E. Debenham All Manner of People 84; There was some money left over, so they spent that ... on cheap wine (better known as 'plonk, 'Nellie', or 'fourpenny dark') [AND]. 1970 N. Beagley Up and Down Under 80: Muscat was dubbed 'Round the world for fourpence,' or a 'fourpenny dart' [sic]. 1980 Hepworth & Hindle Boozing out in Melbourne Pubs 16: The legendary drink of the twenties and thirties was the Fourpenny Dark. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 26: Fourpenny dark: Cheap red fortified wine, usually quite nasty. 2003 N. Faith Australia's Liquid Gold 73: An appallingsounding red port called Fourpenny Dark was especially popular, fourpenny (one) (n.) (also tuppenny one) [ult. rhy. s\. fourpenny bit = hit) a sharp blow; usu. as get a... or give a... (1957) 123:

1898 E. Pugh Tony Drum 187: 1 shall have to fetch you a fourpenny

one in a minute! 1900 Marvel 15 May 15: One of them got too close, and received a tuppeny one with the heel of Luke's bool. 1939 V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 56: Quite a number of lags awaited his appearance [...] to 'dot him a fourpenny one'. 1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 78: 'Do you like ice¬ creams?' 'Yes.' 'Do you like fourpenny ones?' 'Yes.' 'I'll give you one' (punching him). 1962 R. COOK Crust on its Uppers 33: A terrible fourpenny he'd have given her. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog 12: This 'ere bloke grabs 'im by the ’oiler boys 'oiler and gives 'im a real fourpenny one in the Newington Butts. 1997 (con. 1950s) D. Farson Never a Normal Man 119: 'On your way, Lottie,' she replied [...] 'or I'll give you a fourpenny one.' fourpenny pit (n.) a fourpenny bit or groat, the predecessor of the threepenny bit. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

four-point-oh adj. see fours n. see ones n.^.

forty ad/.^.

14 n. (US prison) N, the 14th letter of the alphabet; the ref. is to gangs from North California. 1998 Mayor's Anti-Gang Office City of Houston, TX Street Gang SI. /

Gloss. 9 Nov.: 14 or XIV or X4 Fourteenth letter of the alphabet 'N'; refers to allegiance to Northern California or Norte Califas gangs,

fourteen-carat adj. see fourteen penn’orth n.

eichteen-carat

four-twenty

v, (also 4:20) [four-twenty n.] (US black/drugs) to

smoke marijuana.

1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 1: 420: To smoke marijuana. Hey man, what time is it? 420. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] four-twenty (4:20) Definition: time to smoke Example: Shit nigga, lets go 4:201

4 (UK Und.) a cheap lodging house.

fourpenny dark

fox

218

adj.

a sentence of 14 years' transportation.

1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc.

four-wheel skid n. see front-wheel skid n. (1). foutre, a n. (also foutra) [Fr. foutre; note 19C

US regional (Pennsylvania) fouty, trifling] a synon. for FUCK n. (2a). C.1597 Shakespeare Henry IV Pt 2 N iii: A foutra for the world and worldlings base! 1607 Marston What you will II i: A foutra for thy hand, thy heart, thy braine. 1613 Middleton Chaste Maid in Cheapside II ii: My wife lies in; a foutra for promoters! 1659 Greene 8- Lodge Lady Alimony III vi: k foutre for such ranging Mawkins.

foutre

V. [Fr. foutre, to fuck| to have sexual intercourse; a synon. with FUCK V. (1); thus (translit.) foutering, intercourse, pheuterer, one who has intercourse. 1596 'Misdiaboles' Ulysses upon Ajax 31: This is he [...] that writ epigrams of Aethon's f—t—g in the capital; of his boys kiss: This is the encourager of lechery. 1629 Massinger Picture V i: Yeoman pheuterer? Such another word to your Gouernor, and you goe Supperlesse to bed for't. [1664 Pepys Diary 16 Jan. n.p.: After some caresses, je I'ay foutee sous de la chaise deux times.] 1671 Behn Amorous Prince IV iv: I see there is nothing but foutering In this Town. 1679 'Colin' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 25: Then in came dowdy Mazarin, / That foreign antiquated quean / Who soon was told the King no more / Would deal with an intriguing whore, / That she already had about her / Too good an equipage de foutre.

foutre! exd. (also foutra!) synon. with fuck!

[Fr./outre] a general oath of dismissal; a

exd.

1599-1603 Trial of Chivalry in Bullen Collection III 11 i: Futra! tis well known since Dick Bowyer came to France he bath shewed himselfe a gentleman. 1605 Marston Dutch Curtezan II ii: Foutra pon you Vitch, Bawde, Polecatte. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley III i; thr.: He passe my words, bea.: Foutre words are wind. 1635 H. Glapthorne Hollander IV 1: We will disagree about manners. He be as clownish as an Upland Bore, foutra, tell a Dutchman of manners? 1835 A.B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes (1848) 42; Foutre, de sist' Dils! Here's Monsieur Middletong! f.O.W.b.

phr. (US black/teen)

a phr. used to a young woman who

has been taken out in a car; fuck or walk back. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 120: A fellow invited a girl friend into one of those F.O.W.* cars [*For the benefit of those not au courant with the new additions to the vocabulary of the vernacular we may be pardoned for explaining that F. O. W. is an abbreviation for fuck or walk.]. 1962 P. CRUMP Burn, Killer, Burn! 172: 'Okay, Cherry, F.O.W.B.' [...] 'What,' she demanded. 'Screw, that's what. Or walk back.'

fowling piece n. see piece n. (3b). fowl-roost n. [? the hyphen is fig. a place

for fowls to roost] (Aus.) a 'double-barrelled' surname; often as start a fowl-roost, to take on such a name. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1948 R. Raven-Hart Canoe in Aus.

127: I was written to as Raven Hart [...] avoiding what Australian picturesquely calls the 'Fowl-roost'. 1993 P.R. Wilkinson Thes. Trad. Eng. Metaphors 177: Start a fowl-roost [Aus] Adopt a surname with two elements and a hyphen between them (- for the hens to roost on!).

fourteen to the dozen adv. see forty to the dozen adv. fourth degree n. see third decree n. (1). four-twenty n. (also 4:20) lemail on American Dialect Society List 10/

fox n.^ [stereotypical positive/negative characteristics of the animal] 1 (also Mr. Fox) a cunning, duplicitous person.

5/2001: '[The term] originated at San Rafael High School in San Rafael, CA, in the early 1970s as a code for smoking marijuana at 4:20 pm (70 minutes after school dismissal). The Grateful Dead were long based out of San Rafael, and the phrase was used on a flyer at Grateful Dead shows in 1990, leading to its wider use.'] (US black/drugs) marijuana.

crafty foxes! What craft, deceit, subtility, and falsehood use merchants in buying and selling! 1592 Greene Blacke Bookes Messenger 9: The olde Foxe that knew the Oxe by the home, was subtill enough to spie a pad in the straw, and to see that we went about to crossbite him. 1608 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) IV iii: The old Fox is so crafty, we shall hardly hunt him out of his den. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 26 22-30 Nov. 222: The Fox hath Smoaked him. a.1661 'Arsy versy' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 152: Thus the Foxe.s of Sampson that carried a brand / In their tails, to destroy and to burn up the land, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1701 N. Ward 'A

1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] 420 (noun) Smoking weed. [Oxnard High School, Oxnard, CA; and Da Bomb], 1998 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 11; 4.20 pertaining to marijuana. 2002 L.A. Times 20 Apr. n.p.: 'Four-twenty' — once an obscure Bay Area term for pot — is showing up nationally in the advertisements and business names of concert promoters, travel agencies, even high-tech companies. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] 4:20 (420) (4-20) n. Commonly known as the time to smoke pot. It has come to mean everything from the act of smoking, the stuff that's smoked, and the optimum smoking time. Because 99% of today's culture DOESN'T know what 420 means, it has become a code people use to identify and talk with each other without outsiders knowing. Also known for the date, April 20th, which is the day to smoke pot all day, 'the hippie holiday.'

1560 Becon Early Works Parker Soc. (1843) 253: O insatiable dogs! O

Walk to Islington' Writings (1704) '7/2: In a hovel adjoining, a cunning sly Fox, / Stood shov'ling of money down into a Box, 1711 N. Ward Vulgus Britannicus I 8: The Fox will Bask, and Rowl and Stretch, / To bring his Prey within his Reach. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1737,1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1829 Vidocq Memoirs (trails. W. McGinn) 1221: This old fox was nearly sixty years of age. 1837 Thackeray Yellowplush Papers in Works III (1898) 282: Old fox! he didn't say he had paid. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 126: I’ll be bound now, the old fox came straight home to earth. 1874

fox

fox

219

F.C. BurnandM> Time 379: The Doctor's a sly old fox [...] and all he wants is some more tin. 1886 Uncle Daniel's Story of ‘Tom' Anderson 157: The old fox (for he was very sly) said: 'Yes, missus, I's—Ts jes' seein' how many is here.' 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 11', fox A clever person. 1901 Boy’s Own Paper 6 Apr. 433: It does not always follow that though a man writes a book about a certain country he has been there. Authors are sometimes foxes. 1917 F. Packawo Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I vii: Crafty though the old fox was, the other's surprise and agitation was too genuine to be questioned. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 190:1 thought she was a fox, even though crazy. 1937 J. Tully Bruiser 37: He's a fox lot of brains. 1948 A. Wright Under the Whip 26: It was only too plain what was in the old fox's mind. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 192: The whole contented clan of white-collar foxes. 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 44: Once a fox, always a fox! 1979 E. Torres After Hours 28: Kleinfeld is a fox. 1982 J. Davis Kullark 65: You sly ol' fox, where'd you get that? 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 113: If New York loves anything, it's displaced young foxes of little material means. 2 an artificial sore. ,

play the fox (v.) 1 to cheat, to sham, to dissemble. 1928 J.P. McEvoy Showgirl 14: You might just as well bang them on

the nose with the truth at the start [...] sometimes they outguess a poor girl, if she starts to play fox. 2 to vomit [var. on FLAY THE FOX V.|. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 235: To catch a fox is to be very drunk while to play the fox is to vomit, shed your liquor.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fox’s sleep (n.) (also foxing) [the belief that a fox sleeps with one eye open] an air of indifference to what is going on. 1830 Sir J. Barrington Personal Sketches III 171: Mr. Fitzgerald, he supposed, was in a fox's sleep, and his bravo in another, who, instead of receding at all, on the contrary squeezed the attorney closer and closer [F&H]. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue 14: Foxing V. To be half asleep. Gen. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 169: Fox’s sleep, or foxing a purposely assumed indifference to what is going on. A fox is said to sleep with one eye open.

1862 Mayhew & Binny Criminal Prisons of London 305: Daring youths

■ In phrases chase the fox (v.) (US) to take a container to a bar to have it filled

[...] were constantly in the habit of making 'foxes' (artificial sores).

with beer; the container is then taken home.

3 (Aus.) a lie, nonsense. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July 14/1: [T]he prize was £50 and not

£100. And it was awarded, but all the rest is 'foxes.'

4 (US Und.) a tramp who rides on passenger trains by tricking the conductor as to his/her legitimacy. 1916 'A-No. r Snare of the Road 31: Ramblers are further subdivided into two classes: 'Foxes' are termed those who ride within the coaches by citing hat checks, by occupying vacant berths, and by resorting to other tricks of cunning, 1931 Irwin Aujer. Tramp and Und. SI. 79: Fox.-A 'rambler' who rides, in a train, on forged or stolen hat checks or conductors' identification slips, or in the toilet of a passenger car.

5 (US Und.) an escape, either from the police or prison. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 6 (orig. US black) a girl, a woman, esp. an attractive and sexually active one; thus superfox n., an extreme example Ibackform. f. foxy

adj.

(3)1.

1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 102: 'Ain't she tough? A real

looker, right?' 'Yeah, she's a real fox.' 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 112: His life was on the line and he was thinking about some fox. 1980 E, Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 143: Stone fox. She look good and she be ready. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 187: A guy wearing about half a grand's worth of leather on his back makes his way across the street, a sleek, slender, and blonde fox riding his arm. 2000 M.E. Dassad 'Chickenhawk' at www.cultdeadcow.com [Internet] This little fox, she let out a blood-curdling scream, but the locals weren't going to mind, and if they did they weren't going to say anything. 7 a womanizer. 1945 Yank (Far East edn) 24 Mar. 18/2-3: Some of today's teen-agers pleasantly not many - talk the strange new language of 'sling swing.' In the bright lexicon of the good citizens of tomorrow [.,.] A boy given to hugging the girls—sentimental little rascals, some of these lads—is a 'wolf on a scouter' or an 'educated fox.' 8 (US prison) the passive partner in a lesbian relationship. 1969 in R. Giallombardo Social World of Imprisoned Girls 189: The fox

is supposed to iron [her lesbian partner's] clothes and give him [i.e. her] respect [HDAS]. 9 (US campus) a sexually attractive person of the opposite sex. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 120: Fox A sexually attractive person, female. 1982 Eble Campus SI. Fall 2: fox - handsome, attractive male. 2002 'Valley Girls' on Paranoiafanzine [Internet] So, like, which of these dudes is the fox?

■ In compounds fox-drunk (adj.) drunk but still cunning. 1592 Nashe Pierce Pennilesse 60: The seventh is Goate drunke [...] he

hath no minde but on lecherie: the eighth is Fox drunke - when he is craftie drunke.

■ In phrases fox around (v.) (US) to sneak about, to act in a surreptitious manner. 1939 R. Chandler Big Sleep 107: So all you did was not report a murder [...[ and then spend today foxing around so that this kid of Geiger's could commit a second murder. 1941 J.M. Cain Mildred Pierce (1985) 384: That's why you been foxing around! 1944 N. Davis Sally's in the Alky 111: He foxes around and tests it. fox in the bush (n.) [the negative stereotype of Jewish cunning) (US) a derog. term for a Jew. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 178: A fox-in-the-bush got his place beside grandma.

1888 World (N.Y.) 22 Jan. 17/2: She was engaged in . . . 'chasin' der

fox.' The basket and its contents were the fox. She drew out an empty three-quart tin pail and set it down, [the barman fills it with beer.] She [...] reconstructed the fox by [settling] the tin pail in the basket, so [...[ it wouldn't shake or spill, and then 'chased it.' fox n.^ ibackform. f. FOXED adj. (1)1 a state of drunkenness. 1700 N. Ward 'A Step to Stir-Bitch-Fair' in Writings (1704) 272: They get Drunk, Quarrel, and make Bargains, till the Fox brings 'em to Sleep, and Sleep, by the next Morning, to a Sober Repentance.

■ In phrases catch a fox (v.) to be drunk. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. fox n? [? the preponderance of foxes; ? their cunning characteristics] (US) an inhabitant of Maine. 1845 St Louis (MO) Reveille 14 May 2/4: The inhabitants of Maine, are called Foxes [DA[. 1885 North Amer. Rev. Nov. 433: Among the rank and file, both armies, it was very general to speak of the different States they came from by their slang names. Those from Maine were called Foxes. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1949 /IS XXIV: 1 29: Fox for a Maine man seems to embalm an early impression that the citizens of the state were smart fellows,

fox v.^ [SE fox, to confuse] 1 to make drunk. 1639 J. Taylor 'This Summers Travels' in Hindley Works (1872) 8: The power of it [i.e. ale] being of such potentie, that it would fox a dry traveller, before he had half quencht his thirst. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 194: Come, let's trudge it to Kirkham Fair: / There's stout liquor enough to Fox me. 1738 Swfy Polite Conversation 73: LADY SM.: Sir John, your Ale is terrible strong and heady in Derbyshire: and will soon make one drunk and sick, sir John: Why, indeed, it is apt to Fox one.

2 (UK Und.) of prisoners, to practise a trick on a visitor to the jail. 1781 G. Parker View of Society II 177: Fox the Cull [...] As you venture among them they will fox you; which is, one of them comes behind you, puts a handkerchief over your eyes, and hustles you in amongst the thick of them, your pockets are turned inside out, and you are done out and out, as they call it.

■ In phrases on the fox (Aus.) behaving in a duplicitous manner. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Feb. 14/4: 'Wait till you see him "scratching,"' remarked, on the way up, an alderman belonging to the 'clever' party, thereby inferring that Clifford had been on the fox during his training; and now that we saw him 'scratch,' we liked him less than ever.

fox v.^ 1 to observe surreptitiously. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII:37 316/1: Fox, to follow stealthily and watch closely. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 42: FOXING, watching in the streets for any occurrence which may be turned to profitable account. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 99/1: I and Howard in the meanwhile were 'piping' up and down the street to see that no one was 'foxing' us. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859[. 1883 J. Greenwood Odd People in Odd Places 61: You keep it going pretty loud here, with a couple of policemen foxing about just outside. 1892 "Arry in 'Arrygate' in Punch 24 Sept. 133/3: You jest fox their faces. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.[ 73: FOX: to: thieves to tout, follow or stalk anyone without being observed: to pretend to be simple or not alert: foxing - pretending sickness etc. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 29 Nov. 11/3: Determined to pursue the truth, they foxed their brilliant teacher till he entered the home of a lady. 1960 E. North Nobody Stops Me 118: I went out of the station on the Racecourse side.

fox

frabbajabba

220

climbed on a bus and doubled back down Grange Road. If anyone was foxing me it left them cold. 2 (Aus./N.Z.) to be a voyeur, esp. when spying on couples in the open air. 1892 H. Lawson 'Billy's "Square Affair'" in Roderick (1967-9) I 226: She watched her bloke go out, and foxed his square affair and him. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Nov. 10/2: Evidence given at the inquest showed that he was one of a band of alleged men who prowled round the park of nights 'foxing' amorous couples,

fox v.^ to feign sleep or [Aus.) to feign unconsciousness. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 62: 'Is he alive?' 'He's foxing.'

foxed ad/, (also foxified) [fox v.^ (1)1 drunk; thus unfoxed, sober. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley IV i: That's all the fault Old lustces haue,

where they are at feasts, They will bib hard, they will be fine Sun¬ burnt, Sufficent, foxt, or Columberd now and than. 1620 T. May Heir I i: I was wont to serve my mother's maids so, when I came in half foxed. 1622 J. Taylor 'Farewell to the Tower-bottles' in Works (1869) II 125: Yet alwayes 'twas my chance in Bacchus spight, / To come into the Tower unfox'd upright. 1630 J. Taylor Epigrams in Works (1869) II 264: Strait staggers by a Porter or a Carman, / As bumsie as a fox'd flapdragon German, c.1640 J. Shirley Captain Underwit IV i: Then to bee fox'd it is no crime. Since thickest and dull braines It makes sublime. 1654 Witts Recreations Epigram No. 584: Fucus was fox'd last night, but 'tis conceal'd. And would not for his Office 'twere reveal'd, c.1663 'A Merry Dialogue' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) I 458: The Doctor being deeply foxifi'd, / As he along the Road did chance to ride. 1673 T. Shadwell Epsom Wells IV i: But here's my Cup. Come on, Udsooks I begin to be fox't. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) n.p.: No man ought to call a Good-fellow a Drunkard; but [...] he may without a forfeit say he is foxt. 1691 'Drunk with Love' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 237: And though I cannot drink all up / Yet I am Fox'd with kissing of the Cup. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fox’d, Drunk. 1709 A Society OF Ladies Female Taller (1992) LXXV 146: They all got foxed. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1738 Poor Robin n.p.: Or have their throats with brandy drench'd, / Which makes men fox'd e'er thirst is quench'd. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. a.1856 B. Franklin quoted in Hall (1856) 461: Dr. Franklin, in speaking of the intemperate drinker, says, he will never, or seldom, allow that he is drunk: he may be [...] 'foxed, merry, mellow [...] pretty well entered, &c., but never drunk'. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 93: Foxed as the reveller was, there was still a deal of philosophy about him. 1900 Sporting Times 3 Mar. 2/5: At 3.30 a.m., after a most successful day's frenzy-hunting, I went homewards well nigh foxed, as Pepys would have said, 1923 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 7 Oct. [synd. col] Saw two ladies flung from horses in the mud, but neither hurt and laughed as though foxed with drink. 1928 M. Prenner 'SI. Synonyms for 'Drunk" in AS rv:2 102: basted, blind, blotto, boiled, boozed, bunned, canned, cockeyed, elevated, foxed. 1931 A. Hardin 'Volstead Eng.' in AS VI1:2 88: Terms referring to the state of intoxication: [...] Verbs: Foxed. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 153: To be foxed is to be drunk.

foxer n.' (FOX

(2)1

(Aus./N.Z.) a voyeur, esp. one who spies on

couples in the open air. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Nov. 10/2: The sudden death (per bullet) of Lancer Haines in Sydney Centennial Park has aroused a widespread public interest in the business of 'foxing.' Most people have a fixed impression that the foxer is always a blackmailer,

foxer n.^ see nixer n. foxhead n. [SE/ox, to confuse -F head] (US) illicitly distilled whisky. 1953

Randolph

& Wilson Down in the Holler 245: fox-head:

Moonshine whiskey,

foxified adj. see foxed adj. foxiness n. [foxy ad/. (3)1 (US) flirtatiousness. 1993 J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 134: Sherry's long lashes lowered over a quick flash of foxiness,

foxing n. see fox's sleep under fox n/'. fox’s paw n. [ft. faux pas] a mistake, a blunder. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: FOX'S

PAW. The vulgar pronunciation of the French words ./cia- pas. He made a confounded fox's paw. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

foxy n. (also foxy methoxy) [rhyme on drug name! (US drugs) the drug 5-methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine. 2005 National Drug Intelligence Center

[Internet] Foxy and foxy methoxy are common names for a synthetic drug with the chemical name 5-methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DlPT). Abused for the hallucinogenic effects it produces, foxy belongs to

a class of chemical compounds known as tryptamines. (Other hallucinogenic tryptamines include psilocybin and psilocyn.).

foxy adj. [fox n.^ (1) -f sfx -y] 1 (UK Und.) avoiding trouble. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 133/2: Squib 'az dun a 'ell

uv a lot o' 'sturbin,' an' 'e wur soa bloody skaired o' t' 'chaiffen' evvry tyme 'e wur 'collared,' that he played 'foxy' wen in 'stur'. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 36: foxy, adj. Good in seizing an opportunity.

2 (US campus) artistic, neat. 1896 W.C.GORE StudentSl. in Cohen (1997) ll:foxya. [...] Very neat,

artistic. 'That's a foxy drawing.' 'I believe I handed in some foxy curves.' 3 (orig. US) attractive, sexy; also fig. use. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) ll:/oxy a. [...] Stylish, pretty, attractive, showy. 1901 W. Irwin Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum VIII n.p.: I sometimes think I am not so good. That there are foxier, warmer babes than I. 1913 E.L. Warnock 'Terms of Approbation And Eulogy' in DN IV:i 21: foxy. Stylish looking, attractive. [...] 'She's a foxy looking little lady.' 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 159: One of the flossiest, foxiest widows in New York. 1926 B.Q. Morgan 'Simile and Metaphor in Amer. Speech' in AS 1:5 272: You're/ary. 1957 Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson 'Cleanhead's Back In Town' [lyrics] Bring your big fine foxy self on home, and cook my kidney stew. 1961 R. Russell Sound 218: All the studs in fancy duds and foxy chicks togged to the bricks is gonna be there. 1979 Sugar Hill Gang 'Rapper's Delight' [lyrics] My name is known all over the world / By the foxy ladies and pretty girls. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 404: The woman in the car was younger, and she had darker hair, and she was more . . . more foxy. 1993 Tarantino Er Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 42: Fox, as in we're a bunch of foxy chicks. 2005 D. Mansour From Abba to Zoom 46: [The] action-packed films were generally set in an urban black community and centered on a sexy cool dude or a foxy chick who battled white racists. 4 (US black) splendid, good. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 36: foxy, adj. Extrememly good. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 66: Joe Q. Hipp, foxy as a freebie to the Roxy. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 162: Jake's taking me for a spin in his new car [...] it's real foxy. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 98: I picked up on your wardrobe as I came down the line, / and from what I hear about it, it's awful fine. / Now's that all right, baby. I'll get around to you. / I picked up on your wardrobe and it's foxy, too. 5 clever, intellectual. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN IJ:i 36: foxy, adj. Bright. 1904 Ade 'The Fable of What Horace Stood For' in True Bills 35: Some Men imagine that the Foxy Play is to grab off something that never owned any Sunbursts and Sable Wraps, and probably she will be satisfied with Department-Store Belt Buckles and Nearsilk Trimmings. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 297: Even Larson knew that, but he's the foxy kid. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 103: The hard-cutting broadsides that two foxy studs named Mencken and Nathan were beginning to shoot at Joe Public in the pages of The American Mercury. 1951 P. Whelton Angels are Painted Fair 218: They were foxy - until to-night.

■ In compounds foxy grandpa (n.) [the cartoon character Foxy Granpa, by C.E. Schu[tze (1866-1939), which appeared c.1900 and featured an adult who, in a reverse of the usual cartoon situation, played tricks on children] (US) a sly person, neither necessarily old nor a grandfather. 1903 'Hugh McHugh' Out for the Coin 75: Aw, say. Foxy Gran', ring

de tinkler on yourself! 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. iv: I can safely say that I am no Foxy Grandpa's fair-haired child. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 554: He just acted as if I was Foxy Grandpa and there wasn't any hope for me. 1953 S. Bellow Augie March (1996) 35: You'll be working for old foxy grandpa himself, and he isn't going to put up with any fooling.

foy n. [abbr. FOIST n.^ (2)1 a swindler. 1615 Greene Thieves Falling Out n.p.: You be crossbites, foys and nips,

foy! excl. see phooey! excl. foyl-cloy/foyler n. see foil-cloy n. foyse n. see fice n. foyst see under foist. f.p. n. [abbr.] (UK Und.) false pretences, thus fraud. 1970 T. Parker Frying-Pan 39: Then there's the F.P. merchants; you

know — the frauds and false pretenders,

fraai v. see vry v. frabbajabba n. ISE jabber, to talk unrestrainedly + redup.j (US) nonsensical chatter. 1957 Laurents & Sondheim West Side Story I i: Cut the frabbajabba.

Which one of the Sharks did it?

fracture fracture

v.

1 (US) to beat up, to trounce,

1939 K, Tennant Foveaux 232: Goes and takes a job as a volunteer and gets himself fractured. I don't wonder the woman's frightened. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 2 (US) to astonish, to disconcert. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Serviee SI. n.p.: it fractured me ,. . nonplussed me. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1976 A. Salkey Come Home, Malcolm Heartland 169: Fracture him wit' the news 'bout beloved Tom.

3 to make one laugh, to amuse greatly, e.g. that fractures me, that's an amusing joke. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World n.p,: You fracture me, Elmer [...] To look at you, a person would think you just came in wih a car-load of cattle. 1962 S. Tongstreet Flesh Peddlers 0 964) 272: And she talks. That fractures me - she talks, 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: fracture v. to make one laugh; e.g. This will fracture you.

fractured adj. 1 very drunk. 1958 M.A. Crane 'Misc.' in AS XXXin:3 225: Drunks are hung, too, as as fractured, blind, and destroyed. 1971 E.E, Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). ■! 2 emotionally overcome. well

1953 Bill Haley & the Comets 'Fractured' [lyrics] I'm fractured, fractured, that music fractures me. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 3 divorced. 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 50: 'My parents are fractured. He's a love and very generous, but he doesn't come around very often. Tjves in Chicago.' 'Oh, that's too bad.' He had been taught to think of divorce as worse than death.

fraggle n.

[the 1980s TV series Fraggle Rock] {UK prison) someone who is mentally disturbed.

2000 Sun. Times News Rev. 12 Mar. 3: His roomies were the 'cluckers', 'toppers' [...] and 'haggles' (mentally disturbed),

fraho n. {also frajo) [Sp.) 1 (US drugs) marijuana. 1952 Tannoy & Masterson 'Teen-age Hophead Jargon' AS XXVII: 1 FRAJO (FRAHO) n. Marijuana. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1980 'Gloss, of Drug Terms' National Instit. Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fraho/frajo — Marijuana. 2 (US prison) a cigarette. 25:

1992

Bentley & Corbett

Prison SI.

52:

Frajos Cigarettes,

fraidy adj. {also fraidy-fraidy) [SE afraid; note SE fraidy-cat, a timid person! {W.l.) timid, fearful. 1956

cited in Cassidy

frail n.^

frame

221

[the

image

&

TePage

of women

Diet. Jam. Eng. as

weaklings]

(1980).

1 {also frail one) a

prostitute, a mistress. 1826 C.M. Westmacott Spy II 21: It would be an intricate task to unravel the family web of our fashionable frail ones, although that of many frail fashionables stands high in heraldry, 1837 W. Kidd London and all its Dangers 33: Married Frail-Ones [...] there is, comparatively more vice among married females, in all classes, than among those unfortunate beings who are compelled to get their living by so horrible a profession, as prostitution, 1846 New Swell's Night Guide to the Bowers of Venus 26: Miss King [...] The above frail, receives visits more than seeking them. 1854 Soule, Gihon & Nisbet Annals of S.F. 384: The gamblers, the frail nymphs, and the yellow loafer class are continually loitering about the streets. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) XI 2200: Few people were in London. Most frail ladies who could not afford to leave were in town. 1916 H.N. Cary SI. of Venery. 1930 G. Milburn 'Toledo Slim' in Hobo's Hornbook 193: A dead swell frail came in the place and sat beside me. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 148: The compilers ought to have looked farther afield and found: [...] frail. 2001 (con. late 19C) C. Jeffords Shady Ladies of the Old West [Internet] The euphemisms for prostitution were many [...] 'the fair and frail' 'ladies of the line,' and 'sporting women,' besides 'soiled doves.' 2 (orig. US) a girl, a woman. 1900 A.H. Lewis 'Mulberry Mary' in Sandburrs 11: She d' soonest frail that ever walks in d' Bend. 1908 H. Green Maison De Shine 50: Aw, the frails is all the same. 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 278: Why do these frails fall for such a louse? 1924 H.L. Wilson Professor How Could You! 312: I fell in with the frail that runs a meat joint and she told me all about our doings. 1931 Cab Calloway 'Minnie the Moocher' [lyrics] She was the roughest, toughest frail. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 85: He'd bump against some pretty young frail with his rear end and send her flying. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 38: From the new freedom for frails have come vital economic and social readjustments. 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 59: 'I guess I was thinking about someone else.' 'I guess you were. [...] I hope it's not another frail' 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1979 H.C. Collins Street Gangs 223: Frail Girl. 1988 (con. 1930s) C.E. Lincoln The Avenue, Clayton City (1996) 9: Every time some frail shakes her drawers in your face, you sniff like a hound-

dog. 2001 (con. late 19C) C. Jeffords Shady Ladies of the Old West [Internet] In the Kansas trail towns common terms [for whores] included [...] 'fallen frails'. 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 12: I'd be involved in this case of the dead frail at the Hotel Urbane.

3 (US prison) a passive partner in a lesbian relationship. 1958 Kosofsky & Ellis 'Illegal Communication Among Institu¬ tionalized Female Delinquents' in Journal of Social Psychology Aug. 157: The father is very frequently known as 'a stud.' The mother frequently is known as a 'frail'.

■ In compounds frail sisterhood (n.) {also frailty) a collective term for prostitutes as a class. 1794 Sporting Mag. Oct. V 52/2: A hairdresser was [...] charged by Miss Monro, one of the frail sisterhood [...] with having stolen her tail. 1802 Sporting Mag. Jan. XIX 218/2: The frail sisterhood being your own counterparts, you may take every liberty with them. 1822 Egan Life and Adventures of Samuel Hayward 45: His connection with the 'frail sisterhood' at length became [...] notorious. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 148: Another 'gay piece of frailty,' called 'Sinnivating Peg'.

frail n,2 [? its insubstantiality] (US Und.) a stolen cheque. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 251: Kite, brief, frail. A stolen cheque.

frail eel n.

[frail n.'' (2) -f se eel, an elusive creature which is hard to hold on to; ? poss. Zora-Neale Hurston nonce-word) (US black) an attractive woman, 1933 Z.N. Hurston Gilded Six-Bits (1995) 987: Y'all pritty lil frail eels don't ned nothin' lak dis. You too sweet already. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 169: All dese frail eels gittin' skittish. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI' in Novels and Stories (1995) 1001: Whenever he was challenged by a hard-head or a frail eel on the right of his title he would eye-ball the idol-breaker with a slice of ice.

frajo n. see fraho n. frame n.'' 1 the body. 1812 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Picturesque (1868) 33/1: His frame's assail'd with fev'rish heats. 1840 T. Hood 'Friend in Need' Works (1862) V 307: Did you ever [...] obtain an insight into the mechanism and operations of the human frame? c.1865 'Artemus Ward' 'Burial in Richmond and Resurrection in Boston' [Internet] Was this frame made to be in bondage? Shall these voices be hushed? Never, never, never! 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 200: One of the Wells-Fargo sports gets a bullet plumb through his frame, an' is dead. 1902 'Billy Burgundy' Toothsome Tales Told in SI. 19: Nature had favored her with a faultless frame. 1913 H.A. Franck Zone Policeman SS 235: A burly soldier [,..] howling some joyful song with six or seven little 'Spig' policemen climbing about his frame. 1934 WODEHOUSE Right Ho, Jeeves 36: Bonfires burst out in all parts of the frame. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: frame (n.): the body. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues II: Had that grand and glorious feeling again [...] with ultra-violet rays playing hide-and-seek all through my frame. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 5: Then comes the 'Whoola' dancer whose just about a booger, fine frame no parts lame. 1960 'Lord Buckley' Hiparama of the Classics 10: So the Naz and his Buddies [...] run into a little Cat with a bent frame. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 85: frame 1. (fr black si) the body. 1989 C. Hyatt When Me Was A Boy 144: Woman was doin' them bes' fi show off them frame. The twopiece bath suit began to use less an less material. 2 (US black) a person. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 79: frame, n. Person; in the objective case, him, her. 'He crawled his

frame.' 1947 Nellie Lutcher [song title] Fine Brown Frame, 1952 L. Hughes Laughing to Keep from Crying 52: What's your name. Miss Fine Brown Frame? 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 85: frame 1. (fr black si) [...] 2. (rare) man who possesses certain characteristics which appeal to homosexuals though he may not be gay himself.

3 a skeleton. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 40: A pair of animated frames that showed the S. P. C. A, hadn't got as far as It'ly yet. 4 (US black) a suit of clothes. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

■ In phrases climb someone’s frame (v.) (US) 1 {also climb over someone’s frame, climb up someone’s back) to harass or criticize verbally. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 13: climb over one's frame To scold. 1962 (con. 1940s) G. Mandel Wax Boom 277: I'm not bothering anybody. Why do people come climbing up my back? 2000 Praise Net! 14 Feb, [Internet] I had an elder who climbed my

frame

frame because I called our morning service 'assembly' instead of

1939 T. Wolfe Web and the Rock 40: I'll come right over there and

climb your frame. 1960 (con. WWII) R. Leckie Marines! 22: 'Gallagher, Ahm gonna climb youah frame. On youah feet!' [...] They fought for fifteen minutes and it must have been a good scrap. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 163: 'I'll rock your frame,' I threatened [...] 'I'll jar your frame.' 1966 'Tom Pendleton' Iron Orchard (1967) 137: One of these days a sonofabitch that calls himself Cap Bruner is gonna get his frame dumb. And I mean dumb good. 2002 No Nonsense Self Defence [Internet] Bubba, however doesn't give a shit. When he decides it is time to fight, he is going to try to climb your frame. And he doesn't care how he does it. hop one’s frame (v.) (N.Z.) to move, to make a sudden journey. 1918 Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 May 6/2: 'Say, old Bluebeard,' he cried, 'if

you're anywheres about, hop your frame out.' 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 209: Got fed up after the brigade came back from Gazala [...] So I hopped my frame to Cairo for a spell,

frame n.^ (UK/US Und.) 1 circumstances that combine to place an individual in a disadvantageous position, usu. leading to their arrest. 1843 L.H. Medina Nick of the Woods I ii: Attendance, should I need any, would be such as might ill befit your frame. 1915 Van Loan 'The Spotted Sheep' in Taking the Count 114: If he's mixed up with a frame it ain't on the sucker end. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 149: This is my second hitch, and I'm here on a frame. 1934 R. Sale 'A Nose for News' in Goulart (1967) 206: It's a frame, my chickadee. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 211: It scared him because that old San Diego beef against Fleming had been a frame. 1952 I, Mobster 111: It's a lousy stinking frame they're pinning on him. 1966 R.E. Alter Carny Kill (1993) 78: You knife the old gent and hang a frame on the body with May's name on it. 1970 'Metropolitan Police SL' in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 323: frame: the general scene, the Morton

Lowspeak.

2 corruption, malpractice.

3

1913-14 Van Loan 'Easy Picking' in Taking the Count 295: 'The paper boys won't stand for it.' 'Aw, they've stood for lots worse frames.' the general situation, esp. that surrounding the suspects in a

given crime. 1933 R. Chandler 'Blackmailers Don't Shoot' in Red Wind (1946) 92: What's the frame, Mac? Shakedown? 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 331: Even if there's a rumble and they make it stick, you may not have to do no time. We got the right frame. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 255: It began to feel like a dirty frame 'n I got scared. 1970 see sense 1. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 46: Where's he fit in your frame then?

■ In phrases out of the frame (adj.) (US black/campus] 1 very ugly. 1999 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 8: to' out da frame - unattractive: 'He was

beyong ugly - he was to' out da frame.'

2

4 (US) to be in a situation. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson 59:1 was framed to do whatever I felt like.

'morning worship,'

2 (US) (also jar someone’s frame, rock...) to assault physically.

area of suspicion. 1989 J.

framer

222

drunk. 1999 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 8: to' out da frame - [...] drunk: 'I don't

remember what happened - I was to' out da frame',

put in the frame (v.) (UK Und./police) to concoct evidence against a criminal, whether or not guilty of the crime under investigation. 1983 A. Payne 'Get Daley!' in Minder [TV script] 70: Apparently

Wedell's son caved right in. Put the lot of them in the frame. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 62: Is my name going to be put into the frame as Mr Big to protect someone else or what?

fram© v. ISE frame, to put in a frame] 1 (US Und.) to create the environment - a fake bookmaker's, a fake stock dealer's - in which an elaborate confidence trick can take place; to arrange a 'fixed' boxing match. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 226: I'll give you a dollar framed up as this one was, and you can trim the other chap. 1913-14 Van Loan 'For the Pictures' in Taking the Count 323: The papers would yell that we were framing the fight. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker I ii: Let's frame it so's he falls for you. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 159: He 'frames' the big store and creates the atmopshere [...] which goes with dignified, large-scale gambling. 1941 J. Archibald 'Alibi Bye' in Popular Detective June [Internet] I [...] ast him like a pal to gimme some of the scratch he got for framin' that fight, 1973 W. Ritchie in Heller In This Corner (1974) 19: They were crooks, they framed fights, and being negro the poor guy had to follow orders.

2 (US Und.) to place in a Rogues' Gallery. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 263: Pink had me framed and it

was like finding rags to the pusher,

3 (US) to dress [i.e. to frame a picture]. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 30: An' is the dames all

framed up in decollaty rags, like the gals in the boilesque at Miners?

5 to fake. [1670 'The Joviall Crew or Beggers-Bush' in Euing Broadside Ballads No. 150: Sometimes I do frame, / My selfe to be lame.] 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 186: He was coached by other addicts to 'frame a twister,' fake a spasm in order to obtain a shot

from doctors. 6 (orig. US) (also frame on, frame up) to concoct a false charge or accusation against, to devise a scheme or plot with regard to, by creating false evidence, witnesses etc. 1910 Committee of Fourteen Social Evil in N.Y. City 49: Magistrates

[...] often hesitate to hold the prisoner because of a suspicion that the police have 'framed' the case, in order to use it in compelling proprietors of disorderly places to pay graft. 1911 G. BronsonHowARD Enemy to Society 112: We've got it on him. [...] We're framed for him this time. 1913-14 Van Loan 'No Business' in Taking the Count 158: The tip got round town that Isidore was framed up for a benefit with an inferior person. 1916 J. Lait 'Felice o' the Follies' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 77: Police framed on me here, waited till they got me standing in front of gambling-house and threw me in. 1919 C.S. Montanye 'White as Snow' Detective Story 18 Feb. [Internet] The worst he could do would be to try and frame you, and he can't get away with that. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 187: He preferred to sit back in some quiet Spot and frame up a few air-tight Cinches. 1927 H.C. Witwer Classics in SI. 56: I'll frame it to look like a suicide. 1929 W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 185: You know them bulls. They'll frame you. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 132: Were they sorry when they framed you up? 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 69: OK sour puss [...] but I wouldn't be above framin' you for something or other. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 126: The Clapham Common murderer vowed he had been 'framed'. 1957 C. MacInnes City of Spades (1964) 232: When the Law frames a case, they make a point of seeing it sticks. They have to. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 88: Boys, you know it's a damned shame when you have been fucked and also framed. / Now here you is with fifteen years or more / for some deeds that was done by some other sonofagun and you wasn't even in on the dough. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 30: [He] tried accusing Sneed of framing him. 1980 L. Kwesi Johnson 'It Dread Inna Inglan' in Inglan Is A Bitch 14: Dem frame-up George Lindo / up in Bradford Toun. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We Have No 40: His son is framed for embezzlement. 2000 Indep. Rev. 28 Jan. 10: A woman who, framed for the murder of her husband [...] spends six years in the slammer pondering revenge. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 127: If they found the murder gun there then somebody put it there and framed my brother up good.

7 in ext. use, to arrange, to prepare. 1909 W. Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 70: I reported that the deal was framed. 1912 Mansfield (OH) News 1 Dec. 10(?)/3: Brother Russell declared, bo, that his crowd had already framed it up with some of the big guys in the music world to put the kibosh on this line of junk. 1916 J. Lait 'Charlie the Wolf' in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 26: He's layin' low, framin' a big job somewhere. 1927 H.C. Witwer Classics in SI. 71: About a week after Romeo has been drummed out of the burg, Juliet's old man frames for his daughter to marry a guy with the silly name of Paris. 1930 (con. 1910s) D. Mackenzie Hell's Kitchen 84: Many a job was planned in Millie's flat [..,] Many a 'dance job,' that is a daylight marauding, was framed. 1934 R. Sale 'A Nose for News' in Goulart (1967) 206: The Gordon skirt framed this whole thing. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 85: But in those previous moments, boy, I framed my

alibi.

8 (US) to trick or hoodwink. 1920 T. Thursday 'Fall of the Wise' in Top-Notch 1 Apr. [Internet] I'll

admit that you framed me pretty smooth. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 66: He walked determining revenge, [...] of framing Studs on some stunt or other. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 200: Red figured we were framing him.

■ In phrases frame the gaff/joint (v.) see under caff n.\ frame in v. (US Und.) to join up with. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 261: As I had plenty of the darb I blew away and beat it back to Chic, and framed in with a couple of guns who were working east on the rattlers,

framer n.^ (US Und.) a shawl. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

framer n.^ [frame v.] one who accuses another person unfairly, and/or through the provision of faked evidence.

frames

franger

1931 intro to H. Leverage 'The While Moll' in Prison Stories MayJune [Internet] Bradshaw, the D. A., was a born framer—and he was getting away with it. 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 160: Go Through invented a name for Crane that the whole battalion immediately took up: Framer Crane,

frames n. (US black) spectacles, glasses. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: frames n.

glasses.

frame-up n. [frame

up v.) (orig. US)

1 a plot, a plan.

1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 141: He could arrange a

'frame-up'. 1907 D. Runyon 'The Defence of Strikerville' in From First To Last (1954) 26: They knew something about this frame-up to attack the miners' camp. 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 183: The boys in the battalion gave us the 'Ha! Hal' They weren't in on our little frame-up. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: frame-up — A scheme; a conspiracy. 1928 J. Callahan Man's Grim Justice 47: The most important part of the job is the frame up [...] Always look your mark over carefully before you go up against it. 1938 J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 67: Here and there you could still hear somebody yelling 'double-cross' and 'frame-up'. 1946 T. Thursday 'Raw, Medium, and Well Done' in Blue Ribbon Western June [Internet] When we got finished with the frame, the professor was the picture.

2 the concoction of criminal guilt or charges; also attrib. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 23: We were never divorced. That was just a frame up with the judge to scare you. 1912 A.J. Gilfether in Black (1926) 317: It [i.e. a prison wall] was clear and free from marks today as ever it was. The whole thing was a frame-up. 1920 C. Sandburg 'They All Want to Play Hamlet' Smoke and Steel 24: They have not exactly seen their fathers killed / Nor their mothers in a frame-up to kill. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 175: It's a frame-up. The bastards [...] they won't let you live. 1946 A. Christie Flollow (1950) 163: We've got to admit the possibility that the thing was a frame-up (...] to implicate Gerda Christow. 1951 M. Spillane One Lonely Night 22: A deliberate frame-up with witnesses paid to make the wrong identification. 1958 C. Himes Real Cool Killers (1969) 74: What's this, some kind of frame-up? 1963 B. Hecht Gaily, Gaily 56: Most of the trials I covered in the Cook County Criminal Courts were redolent with frame-ups, police fixings, witness buying, jury bribing, perjuries, et cetera. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 131: Conspiracies with people I never heard of [...] a frame-up. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 245: The Mirror's accusations proved a frame-up. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 215: I'd given Frank Farrell the opportunity to finish the frame-up job. 3 a 'fixed' spotting encounter. C.E. Mulford Bar-20 Days 160: Wayfaring strangers were 'trimmed' in 'frame-ups' at cards. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Dec. 26/ 3: The fight in which 'Gunboat' Smith outpointed him is now recognised to have been a 'frame-up.' 1928 T. Thursday 'Sock of Ages' in Fight Stories Oct. [Internet] I declare all bets off! This looks like a frame-up! 1935 R.L. Bellem 'Beyond Justice' in Spicy Detective Stories Nov. [Internet] 'Frame-up!' she said [...] 'It was in the bag. Ben Berkin bribed the judges so you could win!'

1911

4 a character assessment. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 221: You mean I can do a quick frame-up without feelin' the party's bumps or consultin' the cards?

■ In phrases in the frame (UK Und./police) 1 under suspicion, usu. with some grounds, of having committed a crime [note also racetrack use, the frame holds the numbers of the winning horses in a race). 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 73: In racing metaphor, he saw his number in the frame, and knew that the whole credit of the stable was at stake. 1941 'V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 36: You in trouble? [...] In the frame? 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Frame, in the Suspected, with some good reason, of being concerned in a serious crime; 'Well in the frame' is even stronger. 1995 B. James Detective is Dead (1996) 113: I've heard they've got someone in the frame. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 125: I'm in the frame so these cunts get a better pension.

2 involved in a situation. 1977 G.F. Newman a Prisoner's Tale 138: For a moment he thought it might be DI Pyall calling about something else in the frame to charge him with should his appeal go well. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 9: You only got to let me know if you're in the frame. 2002 J. Cameron Flell on Hoe Street 241: We put Mum in the frame carrying that Kwiksave bag. She was the decoy,

frame-up adj. [frame up v.) (US) counterfeit. 1918 T. Thursday 'Stroke of Genius' in Top-Notch 1 Apr. [Internet]

During the next half hour Jeff busied himself with the frame-up letters.

frame up v. [ext. of frame v. (1)1 (orig. US) 1 (US) to explain.

1907 W.M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1910) 21: I merely wanted to frame

up to you how this thing's going to turn out. 2 to form a plan of action, esp. in secret. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 107: Other Delsarte such as the

Respected Farmer usually Frames Up for his Wife. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 77: Ain't no way we kin frame this thing up. 1914 S. Lewis Our Mr Wrenn (1936) 181: There's going to be a vacant room there - maybe you two fellows could frame it up to take it. 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 114: How'd ye like it if I went an told her how you an me framed it up to stand [...] huggin and kissin just to make her fall for yez. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 159:1 dunno just how they got it framed up [...] but they got me to reckon with yet. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 225: These doctors was framin' up on geltin' several armfuls of law when my girl walked in. 3 to link together, e.g. of a couple. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 17: Nothin' doin'. Bo, [,..] Me an' Saxon's framed up to last the day. 4 see frame v. (6).

frammagem v. see frummacem v. frammis n. [? frame n.^ (1)l (US) 1 (also frammiss) any form of confidence trick. 1953 J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 109:1 might have seen through that Fruit Jar frammis. 1965 J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 9: That was the way with any big-time frammis. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 319: That's how the real frammiss started. 1995 R. POLITO Savage Art 461: She has been running the same frammis Thompson called 'the oranges' in The Grifters.

2 any unspecified object. 1957 Newsweek 8 July 85: Cocktail-party sports use a 'framis' or broomstick to retrieve the Frisbee from under chairs [HDAS]. 1967 Claremont Grad. School Yearbook 9: I said, 'Go get Daddy the frammis.' Now my number one boy is a very literal-minded lad and would have said, 'What's a frammis?' 1972 R. Barrett Lovomaniacs 190: Anyway, there was this frammis with Sam. 1985 J.D. Bates Writing with Precision 21: Still, wouldn't it be clearer to write: (a) Unscrew the frammis from the dohickey. 2005 J, Marasco Software Develop¬ ment Edge 70: Explaining to him that the project is being held up by a coding bug is like telling him that his car has to go into the shop because its frammis is broken.

France n.

[the orig. use, France!, is as an oath, and refers to the horrors of

WWI, when many West Indians fought and died in the trenches of Flanders. Thereafter, the uses can all be paralleled by fuck and/or hell, and usu. in phr. below. These uses may also have some background in the Du. Loop naar de Franschen, run to the French, i.e. go to the devil] (W.l.) a euph. for fuck n. or hell.

■ In phrases catch France (v.) (W.l.) to find it hard to make enough money to live. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

give France (v.) (W.l.) 1 to quarrel very bitterly. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

2 to cause a good deal of trouble for someone. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

put France on (v.) (W.l.) to scold severely, to give a tonguelashing. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

■ In exclamations go to France! (W.l.) a general excl. of dismissal; a euph. for co to hell! under

hell

n.

1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

France and Spain n. [rhy. sl.l rain. 1892 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Rhyme of the Rusher' in Sporting Times 29 Oct. n.p.: I was wearing a leaky I'm afloat, / And it started to France and Spain. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

trances n. (also francesca) derived

f.

this proper name]

[fanny n.'' (1), (US) the buttocks.

which

is a nickname

1944 D. Runyon Runyon a la Carte 116: I feel a distinct sensation of pain in my Francesca. 1952 (con. 1931) G. Fowler Schnozzola 150: She warbled the lyrics, 'I'm taking no chances sitting on my Frances in the Great Indoors'. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.

franger n. [? French letter n.[ (Aus.) a condom. 1985 Pussy Rag (RMC Duntroon 'underground' mag.) in Moore

(1993) n.p.: When was the last lime that N had to get a fourthie to supply him with frangers so he could sly off to Sydney for a sly fuck? 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 396: Being a member of a union is like using a franger - you get a false sense of security while being screwed.

Frank Bough

frat

224

attend the festivities. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: What the frap is

Frank Bough adj.

[rhy. si. = SE off, stale; ult. UK sportscaster and TV personality Frank Bough (b.1933), pron. 'BoffT of food or drink, off,

going on?

frapping

stale, sour.

n. [Fr.frapper, to beat] a beating.

1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy.

frapping

SI.

Frankie Fraser n.

[rhy. sL; ult. London gangster 'Mad' Frankie Fraser

(b.1923)1 a razor.

flat-foot.

frat

1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit.

franklin n. see Ben franklin teeth n.

Franklin n. [the protruding grille of the Franklin automobilel

(Can.) projecting or 'buck' teeth. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 424/1: ca. 1920, ex US; by 1935 f.

frank thring n.

[rhy. si.] (Aus.) a (wedding) ring.

1999 G. Seal Lingo 89: Other examples of this process include: [...]

FRANK THRING a ring (finger), after well-known actor, the late Frank Thring. [rhy. si. = CRAPPER n.^ (3); ult. us rock star and experimental musician Frank Zappa (1940-93)1 a lavatory.

Frank Zappa n.

1998 R. PUXLEY Fresh Rabbit.

fransman n. (also

franse, Frenchman) (Afk. fransman, Frenchman, thus fig. a foreigner] (S.Afr. Und.) an outsider, a convict who is not affiliated to a prison gang; thus frans(e) adj., outsider. 1978 East Province tierald 6 Feb. n.p.: Six of the seven [...] pleaded not guilty of murdering [...] a 'cell frenchman' (a prisoner who did not belong to a gang in gaol) [DSAE]. 1984 Cape Times 14 Jan. n.p.: The deceased told us he was a 'frans-man' (a person who does not belong to a gang) [...] gave the order for all the fransmanne to put their heads under their blankets [...] They added 'the one who moves his head will also die.' [DSAE]. 1984 East Province Herald 19 June n.p.: You'll be a skoon Frans Mafia kid (an outsider becoming a junior member) [...] Remember there are also the Franse people (outsiders). You will respect them [DSAE].

frantic n. (US black)

a lively, remarkable person.

1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 4: 'Cue Ball' Ates and 'Bank

Shot' Haney the nine ball frantic, and 'Rockhouse Shorty' a natural panic,

frantic adj. 1

a general intensifier, terrific, awful. 1898 Boy's Own Paper 1 Oct. 8: It's a frantic nuisance. 1908 Punch 26 Feb. 152/2: I've bought a ghastly heap of poplin [...] and a frantic lot of Limerick lace, 1951 A. Buckeridge Jennings Follows a Clue (1967) 68: Remember what a frantic bish we made last time. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 300: Now you've done it! you frantic bastard!

2 exciting, amusing, enjoyable. 1922 Colton & Randolph Rain I 58: griggs: Look—Batesy's one jump ahead of a fit, hodgson: One frantic kangaroo! 1946 Rosenthal & Zachary Jazzways 51: Literally, it [i.e. a 'jump tune'] jumps, it's exciting or frantic, as the fan would describe it. 1958 Kerouac Dharma Bums 194: You never saw a more frantic dancer. 1965 (con. 1940s) Malcolm X Autobiog. (1968) 140: Shorty would take me to groovy, frantic scenes in different chicks' and cats' pads.

3 of people or things, good looking, fashionable. 1944 D, Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 32: Vipers and studs in frantic duds; and foxy chicks, togged to the bricks. 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 205: That cat is plumb frantic! 1954 Mad mag. June 20: It was the most; real nervous, real frantic, real cool. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 51: Ijust had to get a look at that frantic whore. / Looked at her pussy, said it was good enough to eat, / she said, 'You better do it, daddy, or you'll never see the streets.'

frantically adv.

adj. [frap v.l a euph. for fucking adj.

1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 244: Two frapping turns, you perishing

(frantic ady.l

1

a general intensifier, terrifically,

awfully. 1880 R, Grant Confessions of Frivolous Girl 98: 'I'm frantically glad,' cried Peepy, clapping her hands together. 1890 'Rolf Boldrewood' Colonial Reformer III 223; Frantically glad to see you, Charley, my boy. 1927 E. Wallace Squeaker (1950) 78: I know you are not frantically keen on marriage. 2 excitingly, amusingly, enjoyably.

n. [abbr.l (US)

1

a college fraternity; also attrib.; thus frat house,

frat-pin etc. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 7: Frat n. A fraternity; a member of a fraternity. 1909 Cornhusker 24 Nov. in DN IV:ii 129; Frats pledge unsuspecting Freshmen. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 226: [He] could not quite make up his Mind whether to join a High School Frat or go on the stage. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 35: This ole frat'll never have another goat like Fatty. 1929 H.W. Brecht Downfall 185: Morrison's showing your frat-pin to the whole freshman class. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 354: The fellows in my frat [...] they're all swell fellows. 1938 Flash! (Wash., D.C.) 3 Jan. 18/2: Swing Sessions, an outgrowth of the currently popular music played by the 'jam units' have outmoded to an extent the former type of close 'bunny-hug' dancing that was the bane of frat house hops. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 552: At the State University he is accepted in a good frat. 1959 M. Richler Apprenticeship of Dtiddy Kravitz (1964) 168: Every time they take him into one of their frat houses he practically licks their boots. 1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 9: It was the weekend of the big frat formal. 1969 H. Rap Brown Die Nigger Die! 20: My loyalty is to my Frat., God, and my country, in that order. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 430: Melding the high shriek of women [...] with the cracked 'old boy' baritones of college frat houses. 1975 J. Carr Bad (1995) 20: Some flattop frat dude with a dumb look. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 209: She goes to frat parties. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather!: Webo Drake glanced worriedly at his frat brother. 2000 B. Wiprud Sleep with the Fishes 53: A notch up from beer slides at a frat wingding. 2005 C. BuzzELLMy War (2006) 1 1: Joining the Marines was like joining a party frat with weapons.

2

(also

frat boy, ...brother, ...bull, ...head, ...man)

1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 8: Frat (n.) A fraternity; a member of a fraternity. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 36: frat, n. A member of a fraternity. [Ibid,] 46: non-frat, «. One who is not a member of a fraternity. 1913 Ladies' Home Journal Nov. 19/1; In the 'co-ed' 'varsities the 'frats' and sororities pair off just as brothers and sisters do in a large family [DA]. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 28: I'm going to expose Clawson even if he is a frat-brother of mine. 1961 M, Terry Old Liberty (1962) 21: Say, swell. Or did we tongue it, big frat man? 1967 K. Kolb Getting Straight 84: Pete and 1 were old undergrad frat brothers. 1969 S, Greenlee Spook who Sat by the Door (1972) 14; Where'd you go to school, man? [...] You frat? 1970 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 33: Dope out with the gang, grass, speed, reds, Romilar, who cares, some frat bull's gonna buy us beer. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Spring 2: frat - a male in a fraternity or in a military organization. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: frathead - stereotypic fraternity member. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 137: The largest of the frat boys [...] slung his drink at her. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 148; The Black Cat was [...] spartan like the old 9:30 but without the new 9:30's fratboy crowd. 2003 T. Dorsey Stingray Shuffle 17: Frat brothers in a Jeep that said No Fear! 2006 G, Iles Turning Angel 344: I'm going to give those frat boys the ride of their lives!

■ Derivatives

fratdom

(n.) [sfx -dom] (US campus) the world of fraternities.

1998 Ace Weekly 19 Aug. [Internet] The University's expansion seems

to have no bounds, and in this case, little public input. Many homes of historic value lie in the path of future fratdom.

■ In compounds

1959 Mad mag. Sept. 41: It's frantically cool and jivey that we're on

frat dick

this kick.

derog. description of a typical fraternity member.

franzy house

n. [dial, franzy, SE frenzy, craziness, madness -F HOUSE

n.^ (1)/SE house as in madhouse] (US) 1 a brothel. 1906 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IILii 136:

franzy house, n. house of ill fame, 1953 Randolph & in the Holler 109: A brothel is called a franzy-house.

Wilson

Down

2 a psychiatric institution. 1938 C.H. Matschat Suwannee River 106: Lessen ye be keerful [...]

an' we-uns'll hev to shut ye up in a franzy house,

frap

a member of a

fraternity; thus non-frat.

V. [note dial frap, to strike, to beat] a euph. for FUCK v. in various

senses; also as n. 1902 Boston Globe Sun. Mag. 21 Dec. 7-8: After the junior promenade a student is said to be 'trapped' if he has been staying up nights to

(n.) (also

frat fag)

[dick n,^ (10)/fac n.‘^ (2)] (US campus) a

1989 P. Munro si. U. 82: frat dick/frat fag member of fraternity

who drinks a lot, womanizes, and has an elitist attitude about his fraternity.

frat rat

(n.) (also

frat brat, ...star)

[frat n. (1) -f SE rat/boy/star] (US

campus) a member of a fraternity. 1964 Poston 'Problems in the Study of Campus SL' in AS XXXIX:2

118: One may mention cheat sheet 'notes which a student illicitly brings to an examination' and frat-rat 'fraternity man' (contemp¬ tuously viewed). 1974 (con. late 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 464: After consulatation one of the frat-rats called back, 'OK'. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 83: frat rat/frat brat/frat boy member of a fraternity. 1999 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: frat

frat

star - male college student who dresses in accordance with the stereotype associated with fraternities.

■ In phrases

frat out

(v.) (US campus) to dress and act like a fraternity member.

1978 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: frat-out - to dress in khaki pants. La

Costa shirt, and topsiders while having short hair and no socks,

frat

V, [SE fraternize- orig. US milit. at end of WWII/FRAT n. (2)| associate with.

1

to

1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 34: Did she used to frat with anyone in here except Staniland?

2 (US campus) to participate in fraternity parties, events, in order to pick up girls. 1987 Eble Campus Si Oct. 3: frat - go to fraternity parties after football games in search of females,

fratastic ad/, see fratty ad/. frater n. [tat. frater, brother] (UK

Und.) a mendicant villain who poses as a friar and claims, as such, to beg alms for a hospital or charitable institution; he specializes in poor, gullible women. C.1561 Awdeley Fraternitye of Vacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 4:

A Frater goeth wyth a like Lisence to beg for some Spittlehottse or Hospital. Their pray is commonly vpon poore women as they go and come to the Markets, c.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles 8- Furnivall (1907) 45: Some of these Fraters will cary blacke boxes at their gyrdel, wher in they haue a briefe of the Queenes maiesties letters patentes, geuen to suche [a] poore spitlehouse for the reliefe of the poore there, whiche briefe is a coppie of the letters patentes, and vtterly fained, if it be in paper or in parchment without the great seale. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching [as cit. c. 1566]. 1608 Dekker Belman of London D1: A Frater is a brother of as damnd a broode as the rest: his office is to trauell with a long wallet at his backe, and a black boxe at his girdle, wherein is a patent to beg from some Hospitall or Spittle house. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush H i: Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapper-dudgeon, Frater, or Abram-man; I speak to all That stand in fair election for the title Of king of beggars. 1669 W. Winstanley New Help To Discourse 132: Fraters, are such as with a counterfeit Patent beg for some Hospital or Spitle-house, they are dangerous persons for any to meet alone, by reason of the frequent robberies which they commit. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 53: [as cit. 1669]. 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68b: Give me leave to give you the names (as in their Canting Language they call themselves) of all (or most of such) as follow the Vagabond Trade, according to their Regiments or Divisions, as [.,,] Faytors, or Fraters. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fraters c. the eighth Order of Canters, such as Beg with a Sham-patents or Briefs for Spirals, Prisons, Fires, &c. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 183: The Fraters are such as forge Briefs or counterfeit Patents, pretending to beg for decay'd Hospitals, Losses by Fire, and the like; but have been so often detected and punished, that scarce any thing but the Name remains at this Day; for it being a publick Fraud, it is more narrowly pry'd into than those that are Personal and Private. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1749 B.M. Carbw 'The Oath of the Canting Crew' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 50: Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, / Irish toyle, or other wanderer. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Praters, vagabonds who beg with sham patents, or briefs for hospitals, fires, inundations, &c. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fratosororalingoid

n. [Si fraternity + sorority = SF sfx -lingoid] (US campus) an obnoxious fraternity or sorority member. 1996 Eble SI. derive their elements of fraternity or

fratstar fratting

frazzle

225

and Sociability 79: Among the slang items that seem to humor from the polysyllabic Latin- and Greek-based the vocabulary are [...] fratosororalingoid 'obnoxious sorority member',

adj. see fratty adj. n. [essentially abbr. of SE fraternizing] a euph. for fucking n.

1

( ).

1986 R, Walicer AE Wives 226: 'I can't wait to do you?' 'Fratting?' 'Fraternizing' [HDAS],

a

little fratting, can

fratty

adj. (also fratastic, fratstar) [frato, (1) + sfx-y/SE/raternity -F iantastic/star] (US campus) pertaining to fraternity life. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 33: Another frequently used suffix is adjective-formingy [,..] College slang has dorky, fratty, freaky, geeky, grooty, lunchy, spacey, squirretly, and others. 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: fratty - epitomizing fraternity behavior and dress. Also fratastic, fratstar. 2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: fratastic [...] Those croakies (holders for sunglasses) are so fratastic,

■ In compounds

fratty-bagger

(n.) (also bag, bagger) [bags n.^ (1), i.e. the style of (US campus) a stereotypical fraternity member.

baggy trousers worn]

1973 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 2: fratty-bagger - someone who [.,.] loves

fraternity life: Fratty baggers always dress the same: corduroy jackets, crew-neck sweaters, and topsider shoes. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Fall 1: bagger - a member of a fraternity. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: fratty-bagger - fraternity member, usually dressed in Izod shirts and baggy khakis. 1982 Eble Campus St. Fall 1: bag - a fraternity member. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 1: bagger - man who wears his boxer shorts so they hang out below his regular shorts. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 64: 'A stereotypical fraternity member' has for years been called a fratty-bagger or a bagger because of a style of pants once fashionable.

frau

n. [synon. Get. frau] (US) a wife.

1880 G.R. Sims Zeph (1892) 4: Take these, Zeph, as a little present to

your frau. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec. 4/2: Flit Kin was a small, worried Chow, and his frau was a tough lump of an Irish-woman, who ran him unmercifully. 1911 E. Dyson 'At the Opera' Benno and Some of the Push 90: He discovered a large, stolid-looking Dutch frau dumped on the seat directly behind. 1917 R. Lardner 'Three Kings & a Pair' in Gullible's Travels 40: 'Listen here,' says the Frau. 'Get this straight: Either Bess goes or I don't go.' 1926 J. Tully Jarnegan (1928) 151: His fat old frau nearly went crazy waiting for him. 1939 R. Chandler Big Sleep 122: There could be people who would know he was sweet on Eddie Mars's frau. 1943 R.L. Bellem 'Shakedown Sham' Dan Turner - Hollywood Detective May [Internet] He figured his frau was in a jackpot of some sort, and he wanted to get her out of it. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 252: Fedder, as that he may be, was realistic enough to keep on good terms with his frau.

fraughty issue

n. [? SE fraught + naughty] an unacceptable or unpleasant situation. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: FRAUGHTY ISSUE (n.): a very sad message, a deplorable state of affairs. 1944 'diver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

fray v. see vry v. fray bentos adj.

[pun on pron. Fr. tres bien; ult. Fray Bentos, a brand of

meat pies] (Aus. milit.) very good. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. f..] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924

(rev. t/s) n.p.: fray bentos. Very Good. A brand of preserved meat. The phonetic similarity between the first words of this name and the French 'Tres Bein [sic]' caused its frequent use in place of the latter,

frazer nash

n.

[rhy. si.

=

slash n. (2a); ult.

Frazer-Nash,

the sports

car

manufactured before 1940] an act of urination.

1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

frazzle

n. [SE frazzle, a frayed end, a fragment, a shred] (orig. US) a State of emotional and/or physical exhaustion; usu. as to a frazzle, completely, utterly; esp. in phrs. below. 1865 Gordon in Church Ulysses Grant (1897) 318: Tell General Lee, I have fought my corps to a frazzle [OED]. 1905 Wash. Star 24 Nov. 22: The Beckham machine whipped Blackburn to a frazzle [DA]. 1907 C. M'Govern By Bolo and Krag 28: [I was] doing continually the harmless idiot racket to a frazzle. 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 35: It reduced my delicately vibrating ganglions to a mere frazzle, 1918 R.D. Paine Fighting Fleets 91: We're hooked up fast together until we trim the Hun to a frazzle. 1919 Aussie (France) XII Mar. 5/2:1 suppose his deferred pay will be done to a frazzle before I see him again. 1921 Mencken letter 23 Feb. in Riggio Dreiser-Mencken Letters 11 (1986) 428: I have been worked to a frazzle. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 2: The girls he would dazzle, / And fuck to a frazzle. 1948 I.L. Idriess Opium Smugglers 209: He's got us fried to a frazzle [...] He's beaten us all along the line. 1954 Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 41: They had sweated themselves to a frazzle. 1959 E, De Roo Go, Man, Go! 40: The social connections were only running her mother to a frazzle. 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 166: That old Polack and his grocery orders runs my poor little tail to a frazzle. 1972 (con. 1916) G. Swarthout Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 33: Don't argue with 'em, don't hobnob with 'em, and train 'em to a frazzle.

■ In compounds frazzle-headed (adj.) wild, crazy, unkempt. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 405: Now I can see myself, through these painted eyes [...] a frazzle-headed ragamuffin from heaven knows where, a gypsy practically.

■ In phrases beat to a frazzle (v.) (also lick to a frazzle) (orig. US) to destroy completely, to defeat or exhaust. 1913 J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 57: You're lookin' white an' all beat to a frazzle, [Ibid,] 155: We're finished. We're licked to a frazzle. 1920 Marvel 7 Aug. 18: Guess you've beaten me to a frazzle, too, kid. 1922 'Sapper' Black Gang 320: Our hostess has me beat to a frazzle. 1928 J. Callahan Man's Grim Justice 190: I was licked to a frazzle. 1929 D.H. Clarke In the reign of Rothstein 59: Jim Smith had taken upon himself the prosecution of this second trial with the promise that he would beat Fallon to a frazzle. 1939 H.E. Bates My

frazzle

Uncle Silas 150: He challenged Goffy to a five-mile race, and beat him to a frazzle. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 47: All you had to do was talk like a lawyer and he was licked to a frazzle. 1954 J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 45: He licked me. Licked me to a frazzle.

wear to a frazzle

(v.) (also wear to frazzles) (orig. US) to tire someone out; usu. as worn to a frazzle, completely exhausted. 1899 Ade Fables in SI. (1902) 96: Botts, the Viperish Defendant, had

[...] nagged her with Sarcastic Comments until her Tender Sensibilities had been worn to a Frazzle. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 120: It's a gag them curb shysters has wore to a frazzle. 1934 J. Peterkin Roll, Jordan, Roll 176: The youngsters [...] are undisturbed by such warnings as 'I'll skin you alive,' 'I'll wear you to a frazzle'. 1950 (con. 1936-46) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 87: She's wearing herself to frazzles carrying on like this. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 155: He would be about to wear you to a frazzle. 1998 P. Bailev Kitty and Virgil (1999) 20: It wore itself to a frazzle. 2001 A. SiLLiTOE Birthday 113: Sausages like pricks worn to a frazzle after an orgy. 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black 179: We're all worn to a frazzle [...] we're on the end of out nerves,

frazzle

v. Ibackform. f. FRAZZLED adj.]

1

(Aus.) to rob.

1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI.

2

(US) to whip. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 80:

frazzle, v. To whip severely.

3

freak

226

(US) to excite, to render upset. 1950 S.J. Perelman letter 2 Aug. in Crowther Don't Tread on Me

(1987) 104: The two little charges can occupy themselves [...] in the surf instead of frazzling their parents' nerves. 1964 J. Thompson Pop. 1280 in Four Novels (1983) 390: He frazzled me [...] Got me so God-

4

danged excited. (US drugs) to wear out throw drug use. 2000 Indep. Rev. 11 Feb. 10: The experience of it [i.e. marijuana] has

5

so frazzled his brain. to defeat, to overcome. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 125: Mrs Thatcher frazzled this

Hurston

nature), often as exhibited in a show]

(orig. US) drunk. 1928 M. Prenner 'SI. Synonyms for 'Drunk' in AS IV:2 102: basted

[...] frazzled, fried, full, geezed. 1936 Mencken Amer. Lang. (4th edn) 568: It is to those days before the Civil War that we owe many of the colorful American terms for [...] drunk, e.g., [...] frazzled, fried, oiled,

3

ossified, pifflicated. (US drugs) under the influence of a drug, e.g. cocaine or

marijuana. 1971 B. Moyers Listening to America 131: A frazzled young man with glazed eyes stumbled past me. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 71: ]of cocaine] In his highly frazzled state he's always telling the bird that he don't give a fuck about cozzers.

frazzling

(US campus) an exceptional

exceptionally proficient in a given subject. 2 (US) (also freako) an offensively eccentric or crazy person. 1890 Bird o' Freedom 1 Jan. 3/2: To my great sorrow and indignation, this scrumptious symphony in cheap serge was accompanied by a male freak, who looked as if his mother had bought him ready made at a Christmas bazaar at so much a foot. 1900 Marvel XIV:358 2: Look here, you bearded freak. 1918 B. Fisher 'Mutt and Jeff' [comic strip] In bed with your clothes on, eh? Up to the attic for you, you freak. 1924 'Sapper' Third Round 574: Old goodman is a pretty fair freak, but he does wash. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 189: Gussie, [...] now doubtless looked upon in the neighbourhood as the world's worst freak. 1940 O, Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 143: Curious is puttin' it mild - yo're a freak. 1952 P. Larkin letter 1 Oct. in Thw'aite Sel. Letters (1992) 190: The Lake District was quite pretty, but loused up with numerous freaks tricked out in the cast off clothes of the AEF. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 96; Suddenly a billy-cart screeched at his nerves, and he jerked around to see it, driven by a nine-year-old freak in goggles, 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 18: Dont touch me Harry, you big freak. 1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 11: Porky was just a fat freak with good dope. 1980 R. Dahl Twits (1982) 69: Those two fearful frumptious freaks eat Bird Pie every week for supper! 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 107: I meant the little space freak. 1999 Indep. Rev. 20 July 8: Hello freako! I hear you say. 2000 Guardian Rev. 14 Jan. 5; A white freak taking out whites.

3

an obsession. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 136: Inspector Val examined

track after track, to make certain that Settle, in some crazy or criminal freak, had not maneuvered a return by walking backward. 1952 K. Amis letter 8 Sept, in Leader (2000) 291: What's this freaka windbreaka freak about finding out whether [Pee Wee] Russell's alive or dead? 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 13: Freak referred to styles and obsessions, as in 'Stewart Brand is an Indian freak' or 'the zodiac—that's her freak'.

twerpy prat in a bow tie on BBCl.

2

1

student. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 19■. freak n. A student who is exceptionally proficient in a given subject. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 36: freak, n. A student who is

frazzled adj. [East Anglia dial, frazzle, to wear away, to unravel; ult. SE fray] 1 (orig. US) (also frazzle-assed, frazzled out) emotionally drained, physically exhausted. 1883 Amer. Philological Association Transactions XIV 48: We have also in the South the expression all frazled out, figuratively used, about equivalent to 'used up' [DA], c.1895 F. Norris Vandover and the Brute (1914) 227: What's all the matter with you? You look all frazzled out, all pale around the wattles. 1901 W. Irwin Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum XIX n.p.: My soul is quite a worn and frazzled rag. 1910 0. Johnson Varmint 335: His neckties were frazzled. 1913 J. London John Barleycorn (1989) 137: We were frazzled wrecks. 1930 K. Brush Young Man of Manhattan 87: Ann telephoned Eunice Hay, who said she was 'utterly frazzled'. 1934 A. Halper Foundry 135: I feel as worn out and frazzled as you do about it. 1938 C. Sandburg letter 30 June in Mitgang (1968) 365: I am frazzled and punchdrunk. 1950 J.T. Farrell 'Summer Tryout' in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 56: A frazzled audience left the theater, talking, discussing, protesting, and attacking the play. 1951 C. Duffy San Quentin 31: Our nerves were frazzled. 1958 J. Blake letter 4 Sept, in Joint (1972) 121: It is very late Sunday night at the frazzled end of an overly festive chemical weekend. 1961 Brides in Love 1:25 July 18: Ever since Marvin had been so unattentive my nerves had become more and more frazzled. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 34: The cops were just too tired and frazzled to take any crap. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 358: He stood in the kitchen, as frazzled as London traffic. 1991 O.D. Brooks Legs 28: I'll be frazzle-assed from lack of sleep. 1999 Observer Rev. 30 May 2: I spotted the frazzled rep. 2005 L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 27: Bob seemed frazzled and I was grouchy.

Seraph on the Suwanee (1995) 824; They wasn t laying a

frazzling egg. freak n.^ [note lecfreke, a man, often derog./SE/reak, a monstrosity (of

4

an obsessive; usu. in comb, (see -freak sfx). sfx. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 50; I was no freak for money. 1980 (con. 1975) W. Sherman Times Square 277: He's a freak for booze. 1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 13: I'm a freak 1906 implied at -freak

for beats.

5 (US campus)

a fool.

1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II;i 36: freak,

n. Fool, blockhead. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Lure of the Lucre' Sporting Times 1 Aug. 1/4: To bestow 'er fickle smiles an' 'er false kisses on a freak / Who'll be cornin' into money after Christmas. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3; freak - loser.

6 a person. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 39: He was a tall, skinny old freak, with a dyed mustache, 7 one who enjoys non-standard sexual practices. 1922 E. Paul Impromptu 33; It was understood that the 'heavies,' being less in demand, had to entertain the rough men, the freaks, and those that were so drunk that they were hard to handle [HDAS]. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 178: The big money is in the 'queer' guys. And what freaks some of 'em are! 1958 H. Greenwald Call Girl 132: What do you mean so-called respectable members of society? they're the worst freaks (perverts) of all. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Syndicate (1998) 109: I labeled you a pantie freak. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 25: He was just your ordinary sadomasochist freak. 1985 E. Leonard Glitz 151: She

decides to do some business there and gets a freak wants to ball her hanging off the fucking balcony or some fucking thing. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 241: You want to watch me masturbate? You want to pee on me or something? You a freak . . . 'cause that costs more. 2004 L.L. Meyer No Paltry Thing 200: That's the kind of painfreak you don't want to hang put with in your golden years. 8 an impotent man. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 28; The years of boozing would betray him and he would succeed only in showing her what a freak she had. 9 (orig. US black) an effeminate man, a male homosexual.

adj. (US) a general intensifier; a euph. for fucking adj.

1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 104: Best known among

1906 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IILii 136:

these words are fairy [...(freak. 1964 B. JACKSON Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 148: Jim, you talk about freaks, man, they was there, /

frazzlin' thing, n. phr. Something, anything. 'He won't do a frazzlin ' thing.' 1925 Odum & Johnson Negro and His Songs (1964) 182: I ain't goin' give you a frazzlin' thing, you ain't no girl o' mine. 1948 Z.N.

bulldaggers and punks from almost everywhere. 1977 E. Torres Q€9A 155: Don't put the knock on the gay freak squad. 1984 C. White Life

freak

in

and Times of Little Richard 194: They called you 'sissy' back then. Or 'freak.' Or 'faggot'. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 198: 1 had always called gays 'sissies' and 'freaks'. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 59: Santa Monica Boulevard, where all the gays clubs and bars are. 'Freaktown' is what Silas calls it.

10 (US black) (also freakette) a woman, usu. sexually aggressive and adventurous. W. White 'Wayne University SI.' AS XXX:4 302: crazy freak [...] Girl, usually pretty. Often used to refer to a woman of loose morals. 'That chick is a real cool freak.' a.1962 'Duriella du Fontaine' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 45: When from the side, with a sexy stride, / Came a broad that looked like some boss freak. 1979 E. Torres After Hours 22: The li'l black freak that was behind the bar looped around. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 155: She was a freak, all right, a hot little mama after all. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. Bourjois In Search of Respect 291: If 1 was a girl. I'd be a freak [nymphomaniac]; but Td make the niggas pay. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 185: I'd love to blow some of this candy and go Rick James on her ass. Get freaky with the freakette. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 68: Her eyes were lively and told him that she'd be a freak in bed. 11a piece of bad luck. 1955

Sweet Daddy 12: What the hell, this bust was a freak. young person devoted to the 'counter-culture' or 'alternative society'; by extension, a drug user [like many parallel usages on the bad = good model, the young people in question adopted the name, which is synon. with 'extreme HIPPIE n.^ (3)', after they had been branded as 'freaks' by their critics], 1963 T.l. Rubin

12 (orig. US)

a

1960 in Thom Subterraneans [film script] This neighborhood's filled with freaks - artists and bums [HDAS[. 1967 Oz 7 28/2: Long-haired 'freaks' and minimally dressed 'teenyboppers'. 1973 M. Scorsese Mean Streets [film script] 2: A longhaired 'freak' is about to shoot up. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 341: freak: One who uses drugs, particularly the hallucinogens or marijuana, as an important aspect of his life, and/or adheres to the associated life-style and manners. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 151: Bikers, druggies, drongos, pseuds, freaks and students. 13 (US campus) an unattractive person, 1967-8 Baker et al.

CUSS

121:

Freak

An ugly person. 1989 P. Munro

SI. U.

14 a lesbian; a prostitute who deals with lesbian clients. & Milner Black Players 42: Women who have lesbian tendencies or who cater to lesbians are called freaks. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 161: Expressions like real women for a heterosexual woman onA freak for a lesbian are terms used among women. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 49: straight freak A lesbian who takes the male part. 1972 Milner

15 (US campus) an extremely beautiful, good-looking woman, usu. but not always a member of one's own peer group. Campus SI. Mar. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Freak or Freaky: [...] 2. Gorgeous woman. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] freak n. 1. a very good looking female. 1986 Eble

■ Derivatives freak-a-zoid (n.) [-zoid sfx] (US black teen) an eccentric, an obsessive, a freak; also as adj. Campus SI. Sept, 3: freakazoid - person involved in the 'new wave'. 1994 N.Y. Times 6 Feb, Vlll 2: 1 knew that I couldn't compete with those freakazoids who were on drugs [HDAS], 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 36: Slang words formed by clipping sounds from the beginning of the word are [...] zoid 'fan of punk rock music and styles', from freakazoid. 2000 L.A. Auerbach Reply to Letter 8 Nov. on Amer. Homebody [Internet] We're not sure if he's a freakazoid Libertarian, a stodgy old Republican, or a crusty Dem. 2003 J. Lethem Portress of Solitude 144: What passed for an entorage, a couple of freakazoid chicks. freaksome (adj.) [coined in late 1990s US TV show Buffy the Vampire Stayer] eccentric, bizarre. 1984 Eble

& Batali 'Phases' 27 Jan, episode of TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Adams Slayer SI. 179: It's not every day you find out you're a werewolf: that's fairly freaksome. 1999 USA Today 23 Dec. 04D: Among other terms: 'vague,' as in 'Can you vague that up?' (sarcastically, be more precise); [...] and 'freaksome,' as in 'That's fairly freaksome' (bizarre). 1998 Des Hotel

■ In compounds freak book (n.) (US prison) a pornographic book. M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 108: Give your north and south a rest so I can read this freak book, freak daddy (n.) [daddy n. (7)] (US campus) an attractive man. 1967

P. Munro SI. U. 1999 D. Lypchuk 'A dirty little story' in eye mag, 8 July [Internet] She thought he was a bit of all right, a bitch magnet, a real hootchie freak daddy flyboy rack smasher, but now she felt herself dreaming of putting him on a tight leash. 1989

freak freak fuck see separate entries. freak magazine (n.) (US black) a pornographic magazine. 1994 N, McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 200: I [...] stopped cruising through freak magazines that would get me upset. freak mama (n.) [mama n. (1)] (US campus) an attractive woman, with overtones of sluttishness. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2005 L'il Wayne 'Hoes' [lyrics] I am lookin' for a freak mama take me there yeah.

freaknasty (adj.) [nasty adj. (2)1 (US) sexually exciting and poss. perverse. 1997-2002 Hope College 'Diet, of New Terms' [Internet] freak nasty n. A person of either gender who has little or no dancing ability and yet proceeds to freak a member of the opposite sex. 2005 advicechick.com 8 Nov, [Internet] The other woman [...] is responsible for doing all of the freak nasty shit the lil woman won't, freak party (n.) perverted or otherwise out of the ordinary sex. 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 299: Remember how gettin' someone into a coat closet was a freak party, and a little bit of hand action - that was really something! 1974 (con. 1945) M. Angelou Gather Together In My Name 160: Clara runs a straight house. No three-way girls and no freak parties, freak rock (n.) see acid rock under acid n?. freak show (n.) a sexual display or performance, usu. of unorthodox sex. 1967-8

et al. CUSS 121: Freak show A wild party. 1971 D. Dopefiend (1991) 12: If you want to watch a freak show, lay it out. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 63: The guerilla cop and his lightskin stallion made an exit after the freak show. 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 59: Did you read what these people do to themselves? It's a freakshow. freak trick (n.) see under trick n.\ Baker

Goines

m In phrases get one’s freak on (v.) 1 (US) to get into a particular mood, usu. with ref. to sex. 1995 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: get someone's freaks on - date, woo, court: 'Mario is trying to get his freaks on with Schawanda'. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 155: I'm trying ta git my titty-bar freak on, 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 242: I don't want to dry-fuck your bitch up the ass [...] But I'm gonna have to get my freak on till she tells me where she put a certain very important something she stole. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 183: He may be rich but he still likes to get his freak on. 2 to enjoy sexual eccentricities. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 84: You could be a rapist. A psycho. You might be one of those people who get their freak on in a weird way.

freak n? used as a euph. for fuck n. in various contexts. 2001 Eble Campus SI. Fall 12: WHAT THE FREAK - exclamation. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] freak! n. Substitute word used in place of 'fuck' as in 'What the freak was that?' 2005 Mad mag. Dec. 37: What the freak is that about. Doc?

freak n? see freak-out n. freak adj. [freak n.’] (US black) 1 obsessive, crazy. 1910 Sporting Times 1 Jan. 10/2: At a freak dinner given by a New York millionaire the other day, the waiters were all dressed as Esquimaux, 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 22: I tied her to [the bed] [..,] Sure, it was a freak thing to do. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 98: I believe my whore loves me in her freak way. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 526: You dummy freak bastard! 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] freak [...] adj or n 1. abnormal or different. 2. unpopular, when used by "popular" people. 2 promiscuous. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 89: How'd you like to stick this fine freak bitch. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 132: The adventures with that freak girl in Manny man's apartment. 3 pertaining to the world of hippies. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 7: Page liked to augment his field gear with freak paraphernalia, scarves and beads, 4 (US campus) good. 1968 Current SI. 11:4 5: Freak, adj. Favorable, good. 5 sexually eccentric or deviant. 1967 W. Manus Mott the Hoople 127: You think I dig freak sex? 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 292: She wanted to hear about [...] every freak scene he'd ever been in. 2007 W, Ellis Crooked Little Vein 25: An hour later I walked into some freak bar on Bleecker Street,

freak v.^ a euph. for fuck v. in various senses. 1958 H. Ellison Web of the City (1983) 79: Greek thumbed his nose at the ceiling. 'Frayk 'em!' 1985 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: freak it - forget it, don't let it bother you. 1991 in J. Breslin Damon Runyon (1992) 343: He had decided that he wanted to get out of town for good and settle in Hot Springs, Arkansas [...] So freak Camera. 1998 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: freak me - an epithet of self condemnation: 'Freak me for missing my class.'

freak

■ In phrases freak around (v.) leuph. fuck about v. (1)| (US gay) to waste time; to window shop. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 85: freak around 1. to kill time, like strolling through the park; to just be your gay self 2. to window shop.

freak v.^ [freak n? (7)1 1 to have adventurous sex; to have anal intercourse. 1969 'Iceberg Sum' Pimp 58:1 was freaking for free. 1985 T.R. Houser

Central SI. 23: freak, to To have anal intercourse. 'I do anything for money honey, but I don't be freakin'.' 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 52: We must have been freaking for at least 25 minutes. I hadn't stuck it in yet. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 85: One of his fetishes was young boys. He would set up these lavish parties so that everybody could just freak together. Weird things used to occur. 2 (US campus) (also freak all over, freak on) to dance in a highly sexual manner, to simulate sex on the dance-floor. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 83: freak [...] 3. to dance very seductively [...] freak on/freak all over to dance very seductively with. 1997-2002 Hope College 'Diet, of New Terms' [Internet] freak v. tr. To dance in close proximity with a member of the opposite sex [...] 'That guy over there just came over and started freaking me.' 3 to have sexual intercourse, usu. forced. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 341: We gonna freak this skank when her head gets bad. 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for 'Youth Ministry [Internet] freak [...] 3. v. to copulate. 4 to excite (sexually). 2005 posting at advicechick.com 8 Nov. [Internet] How do I freak a married man so good that it makes him leave his wife for me?

■ In phrases freak it (v.) to act in an unrestrained manner. 1998 Big L 'Ebonics' [lyrics] I know you like the way I'm freakin' it /

I talk with slang and I'ma never stop speakin' it.

freak it up (v.) (US gay) to behave extravagantly, whether sexually or socially. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 85: freak it up 1. to be unquestionably gay 2. to attend an orgy, enjoying it to the fullest 3. to be unfettered by social restrictions 4. (exclam) a command to advance: 'Charge!' [...] 'Freak it up, girls: there's plenty of men for everybody.'

freak v.^ [abbr. FREAK OUT V.] (or'tg. drugs/hippie) 1 to lose psychological control, whether enjoyably or otherwise, as the result of drugs, usu. hallucinogens; usu. as freaking. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 97: freak [...] (I) to hallucinate, implying a grotesque, grandiose, perhaps bizarrely beautiful or abnormally horrifying distortion of consciousness. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1994 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: freak - to act out of control.

2 (a/so freak one’s mind) to worry someone, to disturb, to cause severe anxiety (the extent of the disturbance varies totally as to context) (cf. freak out v. (2)). 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 94: You freak me grandpa. 1966 R. Stone Hall of Mirrors (1987) 225: 'No, no,' the girl said. 'It'll freak him.' 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 59: It freaked me and I ran outside. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: freak my mind - have a shocking, puzzling, different mental experience: 'Talking to that man really freaked my mind'. 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 146: Pete turned his head and listened to the cries. He said, 'That always freaked me, them animals.'

3 to worry, to be worried, to be severely anxious. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 28: Martha was particularly freaked when she learned [...] that Harvey was now involved with Carol. [Ibid.] 73: Kate and Harvey would have freaked if they knew she was hitching. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: freak - act excessively nervous. 1999 Guardian G2 24 Aug. 14: Should we be freaked by these possibly guileless images? 1999 Guardian G2 23 Sept. 12:1 [...] freaked myself sick with apprehension. 2004 T. Winton 'Small Mercies' in Turning (2005) 94: Your parents know you're here?

Yeah. They're freaking. 4 to act in an emotional, melodramatic manner; thus freaked adj., emotionally overwhelmed. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 44: They'll really freak. 1974 (con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 186: The regulars were [...] shrieking and freaking like a strung-out Greek chorus. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 175: I freaked! Started runnin' through the projects, yellin', 'Pigs after me!' 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 32: They just freak. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 288: Poor Dad. No wonder he was freaked. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 352: He humps homos. [...] The fruitcake Freddies freak.

freak fuck

228

5 (US gay) to be uninhibited, esp. at a party. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 85: freak [...]

4.

to

be

delightfully uninhibited; to have an uproarious time at a party.

6 (US black) to perform. 1992 Source July 40: The way we write we leave it open so we could freak it a different way next time. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z 37/2: They was freakin' the beats and movin' the house.

■ In compounds freak attack (n.) (US teen) a state of extreme tension. 2002 Chevy Valentine Blog Archive 19 Sept. [Internet] Last night I managed to turn what should have been a perfectly lovely evening with beer and pool into a freak attack. Well nobody knew I had a freak attack except me.

-freak sfx 1 (orig. US campus) a comb, form that indicates an obsessive, one who is extremely interested in or overly fond of something, e.g. health-freak; esp. with regard to one's favourite drug, e.g. coke-freak etc. 1906 ref. in H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 154: The oldest of these seems to be camera freak, dated to 1906 by a correspondent of William Safire's (New York Times, 2/15/81). 1946 B. Ulanov Duke Ellington 270: 'I'm a train freak,' Duke says. 1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 74: Acey-Deucey's poolroom. He's a pool freak. 1965 C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969) 29: 'A stocking freak,' one said. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 13 May in Proud Highway (1997) 610: Painted red, white and blue by a dope freak that I hired. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 97: freak [...] one who prefers a certain kind of drug [...] by extension one who is obsessed with a certain way of thinking as in 'political/rea/t'. 1972 Oz 15 in Hudson Lang. Teenage Revolution (1983) 44: He was a coke freak. 1973 in C. Browne Body Shop 92: He was a study freak, so it was always [farm] work or study. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 18: Ms Murphy was 'a film freak'. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 207: Maybe he was a bondage freak? 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 91:1 was one of the biggest pot freaks that you've ever seen. 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita II i: We had this lecturer though, he was a real Blake freak. 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 158: A Bahamian crack freak had carved up his male roommate. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 94: His 'best friend' was a fire freak. 1997 Mad mag. Apr. 7: For all 1 know she may have been a closet bondage freak and got turned on by the abuse. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 10: Is she a Jesus freak? Because I'm in no mood to be preached at. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 157: I mean you couldn't accuse me of being a neatfreak, but it's not unhygienic. 1999 Indep. on Sun. Culture 3 Oct. 8: Sporty is a wholesome exercise freak. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 389: Jeff Silver was being a shithead power freak. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 96: You ain't nothing but a fucking rock freak! 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 149: Nick's a Dodge freak, man. He's got an old Mopar from the sixties that he babies. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 122: She's a crank freak. 2008 T. Piccirilli Fever Kill 130: 'Who are you trying to keep out?' 'Jesus freaks and kids selling magazine subscriptions.'

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974).54: It was through these portals, and past this boss-freak vigilance, that Boris and Sid had made their way. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 233: He would humble them all: the arrogant Indian, the stoned-freak nigger. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 175: He said that Keva, the music freak kid next door to whom he'd taught a few basic guitar chords, could look after

his record collection.

Freakeries, the n. [SE freak, a monstrosity -F sfx -er/es] Barnum's freak and acrobat shows, put on at Olympia. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

freakette n. see freak n.'' (10). freak fuck n. [freak fuck v.[ 1 any variation on 'straight' heterosexual intercourse, esp. anal intercourse. 1969 C. Brown Life and Loves of Mr Jiveass Nigger (2008) 149: Hey, that cat's the next best freak-fuck in town, next to the Greeks. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines. 2000 Salon.com 19 Feb. [Internet] Plus, she says, many disabled women are caught in a Catch-22, since many of the few men who aren't turned off by the chair are just after 'a freak fuck'. 2000 R.J. Arobateau Street of Dreams 148: She's so much an actress I was, fooled by the lezzie freak fuck show last week. 2 (orig. US black) a client who demands unusual or poss. physically dangerous services from a prostitute. 2006 in M. Christian Transgender Erotica 173: I got a call as a player for a ball-busting freak fuck that ended when someone died,

freak fuck v. [freak n.^ (7) + fuck

v. (1)] (orig. US black) 1 to engage in anal intercourse with a woman.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 238: freak fuck 1. Engage in anal intercourse with a female.

2 to engage in cunnilingus.

freaking 1980 E. Folb Runnin engage in oral sex.

freaking freaking

freak out

229

n. see freak adj.^

1

Down Some Lines 162; Freak fuck means to (1).

3

(US) a euph. for fucking ad/.

1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 207; Charlotte is in the joint watching you freak off.

1928 M. Bodenheim Georgie May 47; Am ah queer lak 'cause ah want

to be alone now and forget the wole freaking business? 1949 N.

4

Algren Man with the Golden Arm 105; You point that freakin' finger

at me 'n you're one dead pointer. 1958 H. Ellison Web of the City (1983) 165; 1 don't need no more fraykin' trouble. 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 13; The thing was fantastic, a freaking mind-blower. 1971 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 11; The real vision, the real freaking flash, was just like the reality. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 163; The Ferret cried, 'Out of freaking sightV 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 300; That F Stop has me tabulating production quotas for his freakin armadillo ranch. 2003 N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 160; He had to have it like a freaking monastery in here. 2006 R. Antoni Carnival 55; Gimme a freaking pen! 2 (US campus) extraordinary, good,

3

2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 208; Un-freaking-believable.

■ In exclamations

5 to decorate, esp. to create something beautiful. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 111; She laid the bearskin and freaked the

to

fix

up

lavishly,

freak-out

n. (also freak) [freak out v.i (orig. US drugs) 1 any unpleasant experience caused by drug use, esp. with LSD, 1965 P. Wylie Esquire July 44-45; freakout—a bad LSD experience. 1968 J. Barlow Burden of Proof 150; They want pot. They need acid. They're proud of taking a trip even if it's a freakout, 1977 Rolling Stone 22 Sept. 57; The onstage freak-out brought on by dope and who knows what else. 2000 M. Amis Experience 153; He experi¬ mented [...] with LSD. To me he seemed to be on the verge of total freakout for several hours.

2 anxiety, ranging from twinges of fear to a full nervous breakdown, varying as to context. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 28 Aug. in Proud Highway (1997) 637; This caused a general freak-out among local merchants who fear for the tourist trade. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 218; The instant Angela went into her freak-out, Fred the First had summoned the company physician. 1987 S. King Misery (1988) 212; He was edging towards a state of terminal freak-out. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 158; Sensin a freak oot, he sortay lets the lassie go. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 41; Ned [,,.] who, after some horrific mid-life freak-out, now lived a tranquil, and probably tranquillized, life as a handyman.

adj.^ [freak n.^ (7)) sexually perverse.

motherfucker, you! 2001 Eve. Standard mag. 23 Feb. 28; It's about looking in the mirror and saying '1 look like a freakin' movie', homosexual, of either

gender. 1929 N.Y. Sun. News 3 Nov. in AS VI;2 158; freakish is used to describe an effeminate man or a mannish woman. 1930 George Hannah 'Freakish Man Blues' [lyrics] She call me a freakish man. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 155; In the first interview the nut doctors knew / she was as freakish as a three-dollar bill. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow vii; Otis Tilson's heartbreaking struggle to free himself of the freakish bitch inside him. 2 sexually deviant or lustful.

freak off something

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 238; freak off [...] 3. Engage

1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 137; What about that, you freaking

1

means

To

in homosexual relations.

Angie Lumpkins! Freakin'-A!

adj. [freak n.^j (US black)

1980 E. Folb Runnin’ Down

Some Lines 84;

6 (US black) to have homosexual sex.

2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 243; I screwed little

freakish

joint off with her lights and other crap.

decorate, or enhance an environment.

freaking-A! a var. on fucking A! exd.

freaking

(US black) to express one's enjoyment. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 67; Really freaked awf!

1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3; freaking - interestihg or unusual; 'Look

at that freaking Rolls Royce'. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 30; Look at this freaking condo - two bedrooms, two bathroom. Microwave in the kitchen. 2005 Mad mag. Apr. 7; And would my main objective be to infiltrate a freakin' retirement home? as infix.

previous activity a little bit different from [long pause] ... You know, d' usual sexual process. to flirt, to attempt to pick up.

3 a gathering of young people, esp. hippies, to enjoy music and take drugs together. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 21 Mar. in Proud Highway (1997) 607; I

C.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 237; His son

should be back in San Francisco for the summer freak-out by sometime in June. 1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 98; We had the wildest freak-out last night, 1999 K. Sampson Powder 27; The Grams were enjoying the sort of bacchanalian freakout usually the preserve of mushied-up drongos invading Stonehenge for the Solstice. an orgy.

[...] was going there with a freakish friend and he feared trouble.

4

1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 217; girl; All the chicks is

1969 'Groupie Gloss.' on A, Lorber Groupies [album] Freak scene; sexual orgy. 1985 O. Hawkins Chili 41; It was scheduled to be a freak out. We were all going to get buck naked and fuck ourselves into bad health. 5 an explosion of temper.

always talkin' 'bout you and Pops. Sure it ain't somethin' freakish goin' down 'tween you two? 1956 Billie Holiday Lady Sings the Blues (1975) 29; But any kind of freakish felings are better than no feelings at all. 1965 (con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 187; 'They say the French is immoral.' 'Yeah, that's where all the freakish stuff comes from.' 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 9; Lee, your mama is a freakish bitch that hasta crap in a ditch 'cause she humped a railroad switch. c,1990 H. Huncke 'Oral History of Benzedrine' in Huncke Reader (1998) 341; [Benzedrine] kind of encouraged the freakish aspect [...] We found that it helped the sex drive! 3 (US black) exciting, wonderful. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971) 35; Get the sounds goin [...] all them freakish sounds and all that groovy feelin be buzzin thru me. It do bring a good feelin. 4 bizarre, 1955 'Hal Ellson' Rock 81; This jalopy rambles down the street. It's a real freakish machine. [Ibid,] 100; That Lubo is freakish,

freako n. see freak n.^ freak-off n. [freak off

(2).

v.i (US black) an act of sexual intercourse. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 129; He wasn't salty with you for turning down the freak-off.

freak off

v, [freak n.'' (7)] 1 (US black) to masturbate. J. COLEBROOK Cross of Lassitude 103; The oblique and penetrating language of the life. 'Broad, give me some sky,..' 'Nothing doing. I'll go freak off with another Jasper. Both of us go for what we know...' 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 238; freak off [...] 2. Masturbate. 1968

2 (US

black) to engage in unrestrained or unorthodox sexual

activity. a.1954 'Ball of the Freaks' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 109; Grace was a sadist, one of the maddest, / Who'd freak off in the good Lord's face. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 63; You ain't the only stud she freaks off with. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 156; Sometimes he would let her freak off with another woman. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 162; Freak off mean indulge in some

2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O’CarroU-Kelly (2004) 19; So the

old pair have a major freak out, and we're talking major,

freak out

v. [freak v.^ (1)] (orig. US drugs) 1 to experience an altered state of consciousness from the effects of a hallucinogenic drug; usu. an unpleasant effect; thus freaker-out n. 1965 Frank Zappa 'The Downtown Talent Scout' [lyrics] He's just another of the kiddies freaking out. 1972 Nova Apr. 83; The boys [,..] had acquired jargon which even in Japanese pop periodicals is being used decoratively, with no real concept of meaning; turned on, dropped out, freaked out. 1975 New Statesman 28 Mar. 424; Ms Kavan's bleak forays among ghastly freakers-out and assorted libbers. 1985 Totally True Diaries of an Eighties Roller Queen [Internet] 14 June I took a hit of acid (evolution shaped like bugs). It was really fun. [...] We didn't know what was happening. I was pretty freaked out and couldn't stop laughing. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 137; If you're E'd out of your box [...] you'd be better off at some rave freaking out to heavy techno-sounds. 1999 Africa News Service 29 Nov. [Internet] For a while there is that euphoria, (but) crack can get you so high that you freak out and lose control. 2003 G.R. Peterson Rhapsody in Overdrive 52; So you told your sister that I freaked out on acid?

2 to worry someone, to disturb, to horrify - the level of trauma depends on context. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 138; Fix him up with Dirty Bertha. Freak him out. 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 72; Freaks me out, that does. 1985 E. Bogosian Talk Radio (1989) 39; He lost his voice once [...] Freaked him the fuck out. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 84; Burning the house, that'll freak him out. 1998 C. Fleming High Concept 141; The drug use freaked her out. and it affected Don's ability to [...[ perform. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 143; So I scream loud as I can. Which wake the dead an freak the fuck even more out

freaky

fred

230

of Arno. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 95: Fuckin freaked me right out, that has [...] Really freaked me right out. 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 50: I also had the suspicion [...] that it might freak Trix out a

freaky-freak

1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Freakyfreak (freakyfreak of the week) 1. (noun) Some¬ one who is really strange. 2. (vocative) A term of affection used

bit.

3

to engage in unorthodox or unrestrained sexual activity. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 36: Knowing that one they'll be freaking out by now.

4

to go crazy, wild or out of control from fear or instability. 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 271: He freaked out in

Wyoming and killed a dozen people for reasons he couldn't explain. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 37: Maybe he, John Shaft, was freaking out, 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlbtt Little Legs 58: When the blacks saw me they freaked out. 1993 Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 120: He kinda freaked out back there when he saw Marvin. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 370: A still remember Ikey freakin out the time [...] when ee found out that Oily ad buggered off with a ton-a Phil's money.

between friends.

freaky-straight

(n.) [straight n.^ (1)1 a person who either looks ordinary but behaves unusually, or one who looks unusual but behaves normally. 1969 Gandalf's Garden 6 n.d. 10: freaky-straights: either ordinary¬ looking people with fanatical ideas on one particular theme, like the 'Flat Earth Society', or people whose appearance is very weird but whose minds are channelled into one usual line of thought and on all other subjects their thinking is just as stereotyped as 'Mr. Average'. The lack of light in the eyes betrays the freaky-straight,

freaky adj.^

1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 94: 'Everyone's freaking out,' said Brad,

their cries and moans of ecstasy. 1958 H. Greenwald Call Girl 132: So-called respectable members of

society? They're the worst freaks (perverts) [...] The more respectable they are, the freakier they are. 1977 A. Brooke Last Toke 25: The white tricks, most of them out-of-towners [...] Here they could do all the freaky things their white, middle-class bitches refused to abide in their own bedroom. 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 76: Scat is another thing I thought was really freaky the first time, watching this Siegfried blond out of a GQ spread chowing down one of my bowel movements. 2001.1. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 185: I'd love to blow some of this candy and go Rick James on her ass. Get freaky with the freakette. 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 214: Three thousand years ago stable homosexual relationships were mainstream [...] Don't you think the current administration would consider that kind of freaky?

6 to be upset, worried; thus freaked out adj., worried, nervous, upset. 1966 R. Stone Hall of Mirrors (1987) 230: Are we going to sit around

here and argue about that poor freaked out twitch? 1972 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 2: freak out [..,] 1 think Murray was freaked out when he saw me all dressed up. 1981 H, Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 327: Those guys are freaked out, Sarge. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 54: The rest of the guys freaked out, they thought I'd gone crazy. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 15:1 reckon he wanted me to be a bit freaked out. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 341: We left Camel Cal [...] He might rabbit or free-form freak out.

3 sexually exciting. Pimp's Rap

1969 Current SI. IV: 1 8: Freak out, v. To lose one's courage; to 'turn

1999 'The Master Pimp'

chicken'; to back off.

turning, with her legs cocked wide open, welcoming the combina¬

freaky

ad/.^ (freak n.^ (2)

+

sfx -y]

1

tion

odd, bizarre, unnerving.

About the freakiest thing I know about Bostonians is that they never get quite so interested in them [i.e. sideshow freaks] unless they're convinced from the start that they're phoney. 1920 S. Lewis Main Street (1921) 123:1 think that a St. Patrick's Day party would be awfully cunning and original, and yet not too queer or freaky or anything. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 256: She'd tried to henna the stuff [...] but it only made the platinum pompadour look streakish and freaky. 1955 'Hal Ellson' 'I Didn't See a Thing' in Tell Them Nothing (1956) 140: Who's that freaky creature? 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 52: Next time we will be alone and he can be as freaky as he wants, 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 87: Rivas was a stone degenerate but he sure could dig up some freaky broads. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 273: Which one do you want, Al? The freaky hit man or the doctor. 1998 P. Cornwell Point of Origin (1999) 331: That's another freaky thing. 2000 Guardian Editor 14 Jan. 10: I like freaky shit. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 67: It was kinda freaky to see all those little versions of Red Eyes running around the place.

2 {drugs) hallucinogenic, psychedelic. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 81: The vibes are so

freaky [...] There [are] colours, sounds, things like that. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 156: This gear is pure freaky though. {drugs) strong, powerful. 1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 95: 'This is a freaky spliff,' said Les,

holding the joint out to Tricesta. nervous. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 36: Battalion

is always freaky when we are out on patrol [...] you'd swear they were getting hit when, in fact, we are.

■ In compounds

freaky-deaky

{adj.) {US) weird, bizarre.

1988 E. Leonard [bk title] Freaky Deaky. 1993 R. Shell Iced 14: A freaky-deaky theater place where the actors and actresses walked around naked as a matter of course. 2002 Allecto 'Buddy Fuck' [Internet] Justin slung an arm around Wade's shoulder. 'Wade's been getting freaky-deaky,' he said.

freaky deal

(v.) {US) to cheat, to deceive.

2000 W.T. Vollmann Royal Family 644: They all smoke. They all freaky-dealin' with me an' with each other.

of

freaky

'Marijuana,

1895 DN I 417: Freaky. Queer, improper. 1910 Wash. Post 3 July 3/4:

4

sexually aroused.

2 sexually deviant.

there ]i.e. a club] to freak out, you know, get loose.

3

1

freakier broads than are in that house. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 57: Clifford Irving and his freaky, decadent friends. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 173: I just get freaky, freaky, horny, everything, 1999 'The Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 25: There was a freaky couple that lived next door to me. I would constantly hear

to experience intense emotional pleasure; thus freak someone out V., to engender such pleasure.

7 to back down, to retreat from a position.

[freak n.^ (7)1

1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 34: You ain't never seen more beautiful,

5

'shall we join them?' They stood and joined the dancing bodies. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: freak out - have a good time. 1998 D. Clowes Ghost World 22: This is my happening and it freaks me out!! 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 91: People go

(n.) [freak n? (2)] an eccentric; also used as a term of

affection,

sensations.

2003

52: She laid there tossing and

G.

Tate

partying and freaky young

Midnight Lightning

Oriental

83:

wom.en.' That's

what they lured the seventeen-year-olds over there [Vietnam] with,

freckle n. {Aus.)

the anus.

1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv

4/5: freckle: Anus. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 18: If we hadn't got off our freckles when we did. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] freckle n. anus (descriptive).

■ In compounds

freckle-puncher

(n.) a male homosexual.

1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry

McKenzie (1988) 51: Kevin huh? Sounds like a flamin' freckle puncher! 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 150: freckle puncher an arsehole fucker; a gay; also a non-specific term of abuse. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Apr. [Internet] I never saw much sense in the regular pastime for my fellow A grade players of going into town and bashing up freckle-punchers in the public toilets,

freckle-nature n. {W.l.)

an albino.

1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

fred n.

[the common name, underpinned in US by the character Fred

Flintstone in The Flintstones cartoon and fiim (1994)] socially unacceptable person, a freeloader.

1

(US campus) a

1989 P. Munro si. V.

2

(US campus) a foolish person, an idiot. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1993 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2: fred - a loser.

3 (US campus) {also freddie) a term of address to a friend. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: freddie - a fraternity member (often

derogatory). 1989 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fred - noun of direct address used by males only when talking to a roommate or very close friend. 4 (Aus.) the average Australian.

'■

1973 M. Harris Angry Eye 21: Even down where the Freds are

browsing in their nocturnal pastures, the herd heroes are largely wasted. The John Laws and Brian Hendersons of Fredsville could well be their own men, real individuals down in the jungle of the sub-culture. 1975 Sun. Tel. (Sydney) 20 Apr. 90: The Centura is aimed at what is loosely known as the average Fred market - the ordinary family motorist who wants basic transport for a price and who is not an imported car buff [GAW4]. 1983 R. Aven-Bray RidgeyDidge Oz Jack Lang 28: Freddies Foolish males. 1990 Australian 29

fred

free-and-easy

231

Sept, 30: What might the fence-line Freds camped on the hill [at the Mt Panorama racing circuit] make of this? [GAW4].

fred V. [echoic] {US campus) to vomit. 1989 P. Munro si. U.

Fred Astaire n. [rhy. sL; ult. film star and dancer Fred Astaire (18991987)1 (Aus.) 1 a chair. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: FRED ASTAIRE: Chair. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 11: On his return a couple of blow ins had moved onto his table. They were well ensconced on the two Fred Astaires. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] Fred Astaire (1): a chair. 2 the hair. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fred Astaire [...] hair. 2002 Pete's Aussie Si. Home Page [Internet] Fred Astaire (2): the hair, 3 a dandy [= lair n.]. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 96: 'Yer a nice bloody lair. Wrecker!' 'I ain't no Fred Astaire.' 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge OzJack Lang 28: Fred Astaire [...] lair. 1990 Tuppbr & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Fred Astaire. A larrikin or flashily dressed young man. 2002 Pete's Aussie Si. Home Page [Internet] Fred Astaire (3): a lair, a dandy.

Fred Astaire ad/, [his style; for full ety. see prev.l (US campus) stylish. 1969 (con. 1940s) A. Coppel A Little Time For Laughter 294: You remember when we used to say things were Fred Astaire? Like smoking Virginia Rounds and wearing neckties instead of belts? And brown-and-white shoes [HDAS],

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues III 67/1: Free[...] the favour gratis. 1961 in E. Craw Erotic Muse (1992) 163: Down in cunt valley where gizzum does flow, / The cocksuckers work for a nickel a blow; / There lived pretty Charlotte, the girl I adore, / My free-fucking, cock-sucking cowpunchers' whore. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 70: I'd rather see you selling your ass than out free-fuckin', fucking

free hotel

(n.) (also free motel) [i.e, one pays nothing for one's accommodation] (US) a prison.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 90: free hotel A jail. 1971 (con, 1920s) J. Brown Monkey Off My Back (1972) 46: One of the bigtime racketeers who was doing time at the 'Free Hotel'. freeload/loader/loading see separate entries, free ride (n.) 1 (US) an arrest. 1910 'O. Henry' 'Past One at Rooney's' in Strictly Business (1915) 268: Are you afraid you'll get a free ride? 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 8/1: Free ride - Social trip with the police. 2 an easy time. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 39: He'd been financing his free ride ever since; unless Hudgens had 10/24/47 on paper he was safe. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 75: Christ, you boys today are genin' a free ride. 1993 K. Scott Monster (1994) 157: Survival of the fittest continued to rule our existence. No one got a free ride. 3 a prostitute. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage. 4 an unpaid sexual encounter with a prostitute. 1993

M.B. 'Chopper' Read

[...]

How to Shoot Friends

120: There was this

It

Fred Astaires n. [rhy. sL; ult. see Fred Astaire n.[ stairs.

whore

2001 T. Van Mersey Talk [Internet] Dancers: stairs. A rhyming connection with stairs as 'Fred Astaires' is likely here. freddie n. see fred n. (3).

was a free ride, so

free shot

Freddy n. [abbr./pron.l (UK drugs) ephedrine.

free show (n.) the inadvertent revelation by a woman of her body,

1967 Glatt et al. Drug Scene in Grt Britain 115: Freddy - Ephedrine.

Fred Kamo’s army n. (also Fred Kamo’s mob) [the popular comedian Fred Kama (1866-1941), who fronted a series of slapstick mini¬ shows, often burlesquing music-hall. Orig. milit. use in WWI for the 'New', i.e. conscripted, army and in WWII for any platoon or section seen as inept] a group of people considered incompetent. 1914-18 'Fred Kamo's Army' [lyrics] We are Fred Kamo's Army / The ragtime infantry: / We cannot fight, we cannot shoot ]etc.]. 1939 V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 147: There goes Fred Kamo's army / What ... use are they, etc. 1955 P. Larkin letter 31 May in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 243: The Library they are planning looks at present like a rejected design for a cinema: if it is put up, it will be the laughing-stock of the British Isles [...] Fred Kamo's library. 1959 W. FIall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Fred Kamo's mob. That's what you are, Fred Kamo's mob.

FrGd McMurrays n. [rhy. si.; ult. Hollywood film star Fred McMurray (1908-91)] worries. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] 'Or maybe there's another way,' Monica says. 'Maybe I'll let you get off without any fred memurrays but you'll get something to remember us by.'

fred nerk n. (Aus.) an imaginary person, esp. one on whom the blame can be placed, e.g. in phr. / suppose It was Fred Nerk (who did it). 1996 posting at Aus. Nat. U. [Internet] What happens if Fred Nerk from the Dominican Republic defames you on the Internet? Where did the defamation occur? What happens if Joe Snerk nails 100,000 other users [...] with the most evil virus known to man. 1998 G. Kennedy Kennedy on Negotiation 121: Why not vote for Fred Nerk instead?

Fred’s out phr. (US campus) an expression used to admit to breaking wind. 1973 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 2: Fred's out - an apology for farting,

free n. (US prison) the free world, i.e. the world outside prison. 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm 221: Maybe not for you. Maybe you had somethin goin with her in the Free, and I didn't know about it. 1974 Andrews & Dickens Over the Wall 11: We would like to extend heartfelt thanks to those solid-gold folks out there in the free, free adj.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds free-and-easy (n.) see separate entry, freeball (v.) (US) of a man, to wear no underwear. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 229: I wasn't wearing any underwear - freeballin' for the hell of it.

freebase/freebasing see separate entries, free-fuck (v.) [fuck v. (1)] of a woman, esp. a potential prostitute, to have sexual intercourse without charging.

1983 R.

who picked me up and got me back to a hotel room.

I

didn't mind.

(n.) [shot n.^ (5a)) the unpaid-for services of a prostitute.

Klein

Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

in all or part, glimpsed by a passing man. 1966

5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 2001 'Randy Tattoo of a Naked Lady 97: High in his cab, he couldn't miss seeing Bunny's free show. free side (n.) the world outside prison. Trimble

Everhard'

1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 254: I wished I could stop thinking about the free side. The free side—dig that! In the beginning I'd said 'outside'; now I said 'free side,' just like a con. 1977 B. Jackson Killing Time 177: You was damn lucky to ever see the free side of life I can damn well tell you that. There was a lot of them that didn't. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 107: Free World also Free Side Anything outside the confines of an institution.

freestyle see separate entries, free trade (n.) see trade, the n. (1). free traders (n.) [the freedom of access to the vagina] women's knickers, open at the crotch. 1982 (ref. to 1920s) N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 38: 'Free traders' [...] comprised knee-length calico pants trimmed with lace but, instead of a front and back seam, were open from the front waist to the back waist, and fastened around the waist by long tapes. It meant you could use the toilet without pulling your pants down, free world see separate entries.

■ In phrases free of fumbler’s hall

(fumbler's hall under fumbler n.[ a phr.

describing an impotent husband. 1678 J. Ray Proverbs (2nd edn) 191: He's free of Fumbler's-hall Spoken of a man that cannot get his wife with child. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 188: The old man, when, alas, free of Fumbler's Hall, is said to have no more ink in the pen or no more lead in the pencil, free of the bush see under bush n.^. free v. (ironic use of SE] to Steal, usu. a horse; thus free a cat v., to steal a muff. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 163/1: To Free - to steal. To Free a Prad - to steal a horse. 1857 J. Archbold Magistrate's Assistant (3rd edn) 444: To steal a muff - To free a cat. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). free-and-easy n. 1 a cheap brothel. 1796 Sporting Mag. May VIII 108/1: In the court of Common Pleas, an action was lately tried - Fano versus Kelly - Ladies of the Free and Easy under the Rose. [...] Mrs. Kelly had thrown the contents of a glass in the face of Mrs. Fano. 1857 J.E. Ritchie Night Side of London 49: Almost every house you come to is a public-house, or something worse. Here there is a free-and-easy after the theatres are over; there a lounge open all night for the entertainment of bullies and prostitutes. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 259/1: One of the showfuls: a dicky one; a free-and-

freebase

freelance

232

39: Lex had his own little problems, sometimes with heroin, sometimes with freebasing. 2003 (ref. to 1981) J. Lethem Fortress of Solitude 251: Shit, man, I was there at the birth, me and them Philly

easy. 1943 J. Mitchell McSorley's Wonderful Saloon (2001) 128: On some of the side streets there were brothels in nearly every house; Dutch refers to them as 'free-and-easies'. 2 a convivial gathering for singing, at which one may drink, smoke

cats might of practically invented freebasing.

freebie n. 1 (ong. US) {also freebee, freeby, freebye) any free

etc. 1802 Sporting Mag. Mar. XIX 356/1: The following hand-bill [...] for assembling a Free and Easy Club, at the early hour of nine in the morning [etc.]. [1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: FREE and easy Johns A society which met at the Hole in the Wall, Fleet-street, to tipple porter, and sing bawdry.] 1821-6 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 43: No formality there you'd ever see! - / The free and azy would so amaze ye. 1822 Egan Life and Adventures of Samuel Hayward 69; At the 'Free and Easies,' when inclined for a look in and a bit of a chaunt, he was never backwards in throwing off a stave with applause. 1835 N.-Y. Daily Advertiser 21 Aug. 2/4: [A man attended] a Free and Easy, at the Brown Jug in Pearl street, near Elm, and spent the night until after one o'clock, in drinking and singing. 1839 Macaulay 'Church and State' in Misc. Writings (1852) 382/2: Clubs of all ranks, from those which have lined Pall-Mall and St. James's Street with their palaces, down to the free-and-easy which meets in the shabby parlour of the village inn. 1852 in G.C. Mundy Our Antipodes 1 63: Mr. A Gray begs to remind [...] the lovers of harmony that he has re-opened his Free and Easy on Saturday evenings. 1866 Night Side ofN.Y. 24; On the outside of this sanguinary lantern, in a reflex of white letters, were the magic words, 'Free And Easy'. 1874 J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 249; Likewise there is a notification that a 'free and easy' takes place every Monday and Saturday. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Feb. 12/2: In the Saturday night's Free-and-Easy, one brother said that one night he got so drunk that he fell into a gutter, and it commenced raining, and as the rain¬ water got into his mouth he cried out, 'Oh, landlord, you are changing the drink!' 1894 G. du Maurier Trilby 228; He was especially fond of frequenting sing-songs, or 'free-and-easies,' where good hard-working fellows met of an evening to relax and smoke and drink and sing. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 250: The scribes drifted into a 'Free and Easy,' where men and women sing songs, and then pass their hats and bonnets around for

sample, free trip, esp. press tours, promotions etc. 1928 R. Fisher Walls of Jericho 300: freeby something for nothing, as complimentary tickets to a theatre. 1938 Flash! (Wash., D.C.) 21 Feb. 11/1: freebie—Something that does not cost the recipient anything. Usually applied when referring to drinks or eats. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: freeby (n.): no charge, gratis. Ex., 'The meal was a freeby'. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 1\1\ Always lookin for a freebie. Jim why don't you let up sometime. 1958 Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 483: freebye : Free, without charge: a free dance, a free meal. 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 18: She asked to see some green before these tomcats have come by on a freeby. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 49; freebee - Anything that is free of charge. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 197: A number of detectives offering that sort of threat made visits to brasses for freebies, and one or two even took money off them, also their ponces. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 100; Here you are, looking for a goddam freebie. 1997 D. Farson Never a Normal Man 318; One of those fraught 'freebies' when a group of journalists were flown to Rhodes and I represented Harper’s. 2009 J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 37: It was a nice little added extra, a freebie.

2 {US) one who gives their services for free, esp. a prostitute. 1946 Drake & Cayton Black Metropolis 595: Casual pick-ups available for a 'good time' [,..] are regarded not as prostitutes but as 'freebys'the passing of money becomes not so much a commercial transaction as a token of appreciation for a 'good time,' 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 17: Prices are low in Coney Island because competition is too keen ('too many freebies around wanting to give it away'). 1967 in Oz7 23/3: I'd rather be a whore than a freebie. 1970 J. Wambaugh New Centurions 172: Lonely broads on the make, you know, just amateurs, freebies. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 145: In Los Angeles [...] the boulevard boys on Selma, Hollywood, and Sunset boulevards try to detea the freebies, Ioonies,and undercover cops.

pennies and ha'pennies.

3 {drugs) a free sample,

3 a prostitute. 1802 Sporting Mag. Jan. XIX 2I9/I: Should the female [...] be one of

the free and easy, she will perhaps imperiously demand reparation. 4 a burlesque or 'tableau' show. 1927 (ref. to 1890s) H.C. Brown In the Golden Nineties 177: The cellar 'free and easies'.

freebase n. [freebase

{drugs) 1 cocaine base, purified by ether and smoked rather than sniffed or injected. v.)

1980 cited in Spears SI. and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986). 1989

(con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 5: When base (or 'freebase') first appeared in the late 1960s, users rolled it into marijuana joints or cigarettes. [Ibid.] 39: Many users had grown tired of sniffing cocaine, and sought out the best and most efficient high, which - they were convinced - meant 'rock' they could cook into freebase for themselves. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 4: Freebase, or 'base,' is cocaine with the hydrochloride removed, a process that involves reducing the powdered cocaine to a rock-like substance ready for smoking. Crack is similar, but one or more chemicals are added in its manufacture. 1998 C. Fleming High Concept 119; James' freebase cocaine habit had driven him into a $12,000 debt. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 155: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Tical. Freebase. Maryjane. Moonrock.

2 crack

cocaine.

2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 145: The voice was frantic,

quavery. A tweaker. When her first husband [...] got deep into freebase, he sounded the same way. 2003 Mad mag. July 29; 'Oh #$*!' moans the incorrigible freddy freebase as he wadddles down the back alleys [...] looking for a fix [...] There's not much he won't do to score some rocks. 2007 (ref. to 1980s) N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 175: Crack cocaine or 'freebase', as it was known in those days,

freebase v. [SE free, to set free, to separate from

-F BASE v? (2)j {drugs) to intensify the effect of cocaine by heating it in combination with ether or other chemicals before inhaling.

1973 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction in Maurer Lang. Und. (1981). 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 3: Stay as far away from the end-user as humanly possible otherwise it's gimme a freebie. 4 something, e.g. food, given away for free (in a non-promotional context). 1994 T. WiLLOCKS Green River Rising 122: Most guys [...] purchased blow jobs - or got freebies from certain of the screws. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 12: It's not like he hung around soup kitchens doling out freebies. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 186; Raddatz [...] took over again before Soledad could hand out any more freebies.

freebie adj. [freebie n.[ {orig. US) used of anything or anyone free or of obtaining something without paying. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 257: It's the brakeman who throws freebie passengers off. 1961 R. Russell Sound 284: Bernie, do you recall a broadcast we did [...] A freebie job. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 203: You copping [...] freebie skag to shoot. Plus all the freebie cunt you can eat, 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 7: He wouldn't have had to demand a freebie jug in the first place. 1999 Indep. Rev. 27 July 11: The freebie circuit is easy to knock.

freebie v. [freebie n. (2)] {orig. US) of a prostitute, to provide sexual services without making a charge. 1967 in S.

freeholder

1980 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 June 1/1: A police spokesman said

Pryor told doctors he was 'free basing', purifying cocaine by using ether and a flame when he was burned [OED]. 1997 L. Davies Candy

n. [? pun on sa freeholder, one who has land worth 40s (£2)

one had such an

income f. the prostitute]

1

a

man

whose wife

accompanies him to the tavern [note: a specific 'tavern term' drawn f.

The Eighth Liberal Science, or a new-found Art and Order of Drinking). 1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He whose wife goeth with him to the Tavern or Alehouse, is a Free-bolder, c.1698 B.F. Diet. Canting Crew n.p,: Freeholder he whose Wife goes with him to the Ale-house. 1700 'The Art of Drinking' in Wit's Cabinet 139; He whose Wife goes with him to the Ale-house, is a Freeholder. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737,1759,1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811

freebasing n. [freebase

chemicals before inhaling it.

Hellhole 247; 'Your mother's a freebying bitch.

a year; presumably one needed such income to buy one's wife a drink or ?

1985 E. BOGOSIAN Talk Radio (1989) 35: BARRY: If you always smoke, what do you mean by 'gettin' high?' rent: Freebase, Smoakin' coke. Crack. 1999 Guardian Rev. 17 Sept. 3; They were freebasing cocaine. So I thought I'd try some. 2000 Observer Rev. 13 Feb. 4: My mate Narrow and I had been freebasing in my flat for five hours non-stop, v.[ {drugs) intensifying the effect of cocaine by heating it in combination with ether or other

Harris

She'll lay for any Tom, Dick, or Harry.'

2

Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Fgan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. a prostitute's companion. 1949

Monteleone

Criminal SI.

(rev. edn),

freelance n. a habitual adulteress, although not a professional prostitute. 1949

Monteleone

Criminal SI.

(rev. edn).

freelance

free-world

233

freelance

v. of a woman, to work as a prostitute without informing her pimp or without a pimp at all. 2003 S. Bowers 'Several Mornings After' at SharonBowers.com [Internet] We had a couple of uniforms canvas the corner where most of Dreego's girls work. Seems like the word was Roselle was doing a little freelancing and not telling him.

freesies adv.

friend at Columbia, so I stay there for freesies.

Free State coal

1943 H.A. Smith Life in a Putty Knife Factory (1948) 105:1 didn't intend to do any free-loading on you. 1955 R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 223: Why, you bum [...] all of them times you come over to my and Lulu's camp and freeload off us. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 108: How many times have I freeloaded on you? 1975 Sun. Times Mag. 12 Oct. 28: He gave up 'real' work to freelance and freeload. 1994 I. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' in Acid House 254: We [...] freeloaded as much drink as pdssible. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 203: I could have freeloaded drinks all day in Beeston.

Free State coal is [...] according to [Dictionaries] it is a South African term for dried cow-dung. Cow dung is used for fuel where wood is scarce, but why the honour went to the Free State . . is a mystery [DSAE].

freestyle n. {orig. US black/teen)

unwritten rap lyrics (occas. used of other forms of music), using whatever comes to mind at the spur of the moment. 1983 N.Y. Times 28 Aug. 60/4: A 'freestyle', in which rapping emcees

traded improvised rhymes in a verbal jam session [...] brought out members of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five [OED]. c.1983 Schoolly D 'Cuttin and Scratchin' [lyrics] We gonna do a little freestyle for y'all, and it go like this. 1994 Source May 55: If I'm on stage and I forget the words [...] I could just go into a freestyle instead of breaking my flow.

freestyle adj. {orig. US black/teen)

in rap music, composing lyrics spontaneously in front of an audience. 1996 R. Vincent Funk 38: [In] torrid after-hours jam sessions, and Hip Hop freestyle (rapping) challenges, black folks have perpetuated their funky behavior, letting it all hang out. 2000 F. Alexander Got Your Back 45: Kenner got on the stand and gave a speech, and Snoop and Pac got on the stage and started freestyle rapping,

freeloader

n. [SE free + load up, to fill (oneself) up] (ong. US) a parasite, one who eats and drinks without spending any money; more recently those who form a celebrity's entourage and enjoy the crumbs from their various tables. 1948 R. Chandler letter 20 Sept, in Raymond Chandler Speaking (1997) 179: We didn't have this cat seventeen years in order for some freeloader to say God forgive him he'd even take a piece about her for his goddam parish magazine. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 109: I'm no free loader. I like to pay for services rendered. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey, But the Season's Over 179: Mama seemed resigned that her son was probably going to marry a free-loader. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 46: This was the one I always started with when freeloaders like Bushrag and Grippo came out to see me. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 131: I can keep a table-full of diplomats, foreign dignitaries and media free-loaders spellbound for minutes flat. 1996 A. Close Official and Doubtful 126: F for freeloaders. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 93; They were soon swallowed up among the chattering mass of freeloaders,

freestyle

v. {orig. US black/teen) rhymes, without prior preparation.

n. an adulterer.

1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 425/2: C.19-20. 1949 Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

freeman of a corporation’s work

2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.)

156: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Bumrush. Baadasss. Buckwild. Repeat. Freestyle. Roughneck.

freestyle adv. {orig. US black/teen)

1785

Grose

+

pun

freeway Freddie n.

1890-1904

Farmer & Henley

[California

use] {US black)

a

highway

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 67: You find expressions like freeway Freddy for highway patrol,

free world n. {US prison) 1

the world outside prison.

1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Monteleone

Bounty of Texas (1990) 204; free world, n. - someplace other than prison. 1974 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water 7: Voodoo was out in the free world, wearing women's dresses, high-heeled shoes, lipstick, and all that. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 107: Free World also Free Side Anything outside the confines of an institution. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Free World: The outside.

on buck n.’’ (1)) an

SI. and Its Analogues.

n. {also harry freeman’s) for ety. see drink at Freeman's

Quay under DRINK v.j anything obtained for free, esp. as a bribe given to a corrupt police officer.

1921 NdQ 12 Ser. IX 346: Freemans. Free; received by gift or otherwise acquired. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 38; Sort of thing the civvies in London pay fifty quid for, we get harry-freeman's. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 134: Harry Freeman's ... gratis, free of charge. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 7: [of a detective] Short, fat and liked freeman's. [Ibid.] 30: Ricky was always fucking off somewhere on freeman's. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 28: 'No such thing as a free ride Nicky innit?' 'Straight up. Freeman's catalogue. Like a holiday.' [...] 191: Half the security was ex-cons anyhow so you only had to tip them a freeman's and you walked,

freeman’s key

a

patrolman.

adulterer.

freeman’s

in

freestyle, a kaleidoscopic space metal boogie from the stars. 2005 posting at www.proz.com [Internet] Rapping freestyle is off the top of your head (if you rap) and people who are skilled in it can take part in 'rap battles'.

Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. n. [freeman n.

music,

2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 19: The band started jamming

magistrates of a provincial town] an unattractive, weak man.

freeman of bucks

of (rap)

spontaneous manner.

[se corporation, the

n.

to create spontaneous rap

2 to act in a spontaneous manner, to live by one's own rules, to wear one's own styles of clothes etc.

adj. (freeload v.j describing one who is enjoying pleasures for free; taking benefits that one has not earned.

freeman

1

1994 Source May 55; When I freestyle, I'm thinking about the next three lines, before the first is even finished. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 37: Younger rappers burst into occasional bouts of freestyling — adlibbing rhymes — trying to impress the star.

freeloading

1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 145: Joe closes the deal and fills the train with all sorts of mining equipment, beer, wine, food, champagne and a hundred free-loading passengers. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 20: There's never anybody at those things but a bunch of freeloading writers who get high school drunk. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 185: Greedy freeloading twat! 2000 ObserverBev. 30 Jan. 2: Successive generations of free-loading shits have poisoned that well,

n. (S.Afr.) dried cow-dung, used as fuel.

1986 Fort Beaufort Advocate 2 Oct. n.p.: Somebody was asking what

freeload

v. [backform. f. FREELOADER n.| to enjoy for free the pleasures that are primarily made available to a celebrity or laid on at an important event but become equally available to anyone who cares to struggle hard enough to grab them; in general use, to define the taking of any benefits that one has not made due efforts to deserve.

for free.

1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio 13th Valley (1983) 465: I've a

n. [corruption of/var. on DRINK AT Freeman's Quay

under drink v.) {Aus.) any situation in which payment, esp. for alcohol, can be put off. 1891 Truth (Sydney) 29 Mar. 7/5; I must explain that getting in on the nod is the same as on the 'never never', 'Freeman's key', 'the ready.' 1915 'Alpha' Reminiscences Goldfields i 51: He [...] usually went on the spree every second month, and while in that state lost more than he made, the house being freeman's key for a time, until he again sobered up, after having had what he declared 'a regular soaker.' [AND].

2

(a/so

world)

a tailormade cigarette [as opposed to the hand-rolled

ones mostly found inside prisons).

1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Slicks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 217: worlds, n. - ready-rolled cigarettes. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Free World: [...] Also mass made cigarettes - as opposed to hand-rolled,

free-world adj.

[free world n.| {US prison) pertaining to the non¬ prison environment. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 9: The politicians in their pressed pants [...] their polished free-world shoes, and expensive wristwatches. 1977 B. Jackson Killing Time 183: There was just three free-world guys over Tucker: the one that was over the field and the superintendent and another one that was over the horse barn.

■ In compounds

free-world girl

(n.) {also free-world gal, ...punk) [SE girllCM n. (1)/ PUNK n.^ (2)1 {US prison) a jail homosexual who has also been a homosexual in 'civilian' life. 1969 B. Jackson Thiefs Primer 39: There are three basic participating

sexual roles in prisons for men: stud [...] punk [...] and queen {freeworld punt, person who plays the same role as the punk but who is actively homosexual in the free world as well). Both queens and punks are sometimes referred to as gals. [Ibid.] 173: A free-world gal, she's not going to mess with one of them rums anyway [...]

freeze

she's pretty goddam choosy. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 204: free-world gal, «. - homosexual inmate who was gay before entering prison,

freeze

n. [freeze v.^l

1 (Aus.)

a wife's deliberate withholding of

sexual favours. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: On the other hand, she may go off the boil and may then employ the freeze to get what she wants. 1984 Partridge DSVE (8th edn) 426/1: since 1930s.

2

(on'g. US) a snub, a rejection. freeze. 1955 P. Rabe Benny Muscles In (2004) 188: What would you and your gangster friends call that. Daddy? The freeze is the word, isn't it? The freeze! 1961 T.I. Rubin In the Life 161; Turn on the freeze: to act coolly and with disdain. 1977 S. Stallone Paradise Alley (1978) 94:1 keep gettin' the freeze from this tomato. I'm a nice guy [...] but I can't get nowhere. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 238: freeze, the The 'cold shoulder.' 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 178: All I got when I spoke to him was the freeze. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 19: All this results in the Mister Freeze treatment, which suits me because I hate having to talk to them.

(a)

in drug uses,

cocaine.

1983 Grandmaster & Mellie Mel 'White Lines' [lyrics] Freeze, rock!

freeze, rock! freeze rock! 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 48: Like they need that freeze to get up. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Freeze — Cocaine. (b) the 'freezing' sensation that results from using cocaine. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 70: The 'freeze' that some coke

users cherish is the numbing sensation that follow's the drug's anaesthetizing of the mucosa of the nose. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 91; The freeze was pretty good [...] with a fast rush to it. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 156: The coke numbing my face and the meth burning like acid through the freeze from the coke.

(c)

a taste, a pinch of cocaine.

1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 29: They snort a bit, 'take a freeze' (place a pinch of cocaine on the tongue), chat another minute or two, then go in to see Chillie.

■ In phrases

do a freeze

(v.) (a/so

play a freeze) (Aus.IN.Z.)

to ignore, to

overlook. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 30: Do a freeze, to be overlooked, ignored. 1946 D. Stivens Courtship of Uncle Henry 46: I'm doing a freeze. 1964 L. Hairston 'The Winds of Change' in Clarke Harlem, USA (1971) 321; I played a freeze; like my thoughts had me uptight. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

put a/the freeze on

(v.)

1

to snub, to ignore, to reject.

1954 J. Thompson Swell-Looking Babe 11: He'd put a freeze on her that would give her pneumonia.

Holler

1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna

(1995) 329; She put the freeze on her, giving her fewer and

fewer story assigments.

2 (US)

to stop. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 251: put the freeze on Discontinue.

freeze

v.^ [freeze on v.]

1

(a/so

freeze on to)

to steal.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 91: freeze on to To steal.

2 (US)

to yearn for; thus froze for, desirous of.

1848 G.F. Ruxton Life in the Far West (1849) 31: 'How do you feel?'

'Half froze for hair. Wagh!' 1884 (con. c.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 170:1'mjist a-freezin' for something fresh, anyway.

■ In phrases

freeze (on) to

(v.) (orig. US) of people or objects, to be very keen

on, to fancy greatly. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 209: freeze. [...] Thus we freeze to apples in the orchards, to fellows whom we electioneer for in our secret societies, and alas! some even go so far as to freeze to the ladies. 1870 C.G. Leland 'Steinli von Slang' Hans Breitmann in Church 139: Goot Lort!-How we'd froze to de ready! / Boot mit him 'dvas a different ding. 1872 'Mark Twain' Innocents at Home 333: When I know a man and like him, I freeze to him. 1883 Graphic 17 Mar. 287/1: If there was one institution which the Anglo-Indian froze to more than another, it was his sit-down supper and - its consequences [F&H]. c.1905.1. Furphy Rigby's Romance (1921) Ch. viii: [Internet[ Fair chased with every (adj.) description o' slants, an' never froze on to one o' them. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 188: He freezes to her like a Park Row wuxtree boy does to a turkey drumstick at a newsies' Christmas dinner. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 142: He still freezes to the notion that Cousin Clifford's just a wellmeanin', corn-fed innocent.

freeze

1876 B. Harte Two Men of Sandy Bar 93: Why, the first day I came here on business, the old man froze me so that 1 couldn't thaw a deposit out of my pocket. 1884 Randiana 74; I got my hand on her leg once, and she froze me with a few curt words, and wound up by telling me [...[ she would expose me mercilessly. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 37: freeze, v. To slight.

(b) (US)

to intimidate. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos

Passos

Big Money in USA (1966) 785: She like

to froze that poor little girl of Don's to death.

1947 1. Shulman Amboy Dukes 135: The Dukes had given Frank the

3

freeze

234

v.^ 1 in transitive uses, (a) to exclude from society, business etc by intimidating, snubbing behaviour.

(c) (US)

to snub, to ignore. 1900 Sporting Times 9 June 1/2: The man who speaks to one of them without being properly introduced gets a very freezing look. 1911 E. Dyson 'The Picnic' Benno and Some of the Push 3: 'Lead 'em on, an when yer got 'em fair dilly about yer, freeze 'em; that's my motto, he told Goudy. 1922 H.L. Wilson Merton of the Movies 193: You'd ought to see him freeze me when I suggested a sandwich and a cup o' coffee. 1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock (1943) 28: Some of these here - they freeze you. 1955 R. Mais Black Lightning (1966) 139: Quit freezing me off like this. 1972 Hall & Adelman Gentleman of Leisure 8: You go into a joint and everyone will freeze you. 1995 B. James Detective is Dead (1996) 85: 'Haven't heard from you for a while. Jack.' 'I've been freezing you.' 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black 165; So much did they ignore him, freeze him, give him the elbow and the

old heave-ho. (d) (drugs) to renege on an agreement, esp. on a drug deal; sometimes intransitive. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 162: Don't you lames freeze up on me now. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 91:1 was sick as hell and the monk was on me [i.e. suffering withdrawal symptoms], all the junkies froze 'cause the heat was on me. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Freeze — [...] renege on a drug deal. 2 (also freeze up) in intransitive uses, (a) to stay where one is. 1862 J.R.

Lowell

Biglow Papers 2nd series (1880) 22: I friz down right

where I wuz, married the Widder Shennon. (b) to stand absolutely still, to remain motionless. 1865 Detroit Trib. 6 Oct. 3/1: The raiders remained in the back room some minutes without making any demonstration, and Smith in the meantime 'froze' to the door latch [DA[. 1908 S.E. White Riverman 27: Order, a thick slice of bread halfway to his lips, had frozen, in an attitude of attentive listening. 1933 E.A. Robertson Ordinary Families 169: But there I 'froze' again. If she glanced up she would see me. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 16: Freeze the mitts on the bar. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 74/1: Freeze. To stop what one is doing instantly, especially in the presence of danger: to become suddenly motionless. 1958 D. Sontup 'The Guts to Kill' in Margulies Back Alley Jungle (1963) 66: I let my finger tighten in the trigger. I didn't freeze at all this time. 1965 C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969) 52: Everybody froze. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 23; Everybody freeze! 1983 N. Heard House of Slammers 87: 'So give me yo' bread,' Honky Tonk said, / 'And freeze here while I go score.' 1999 Indep. on Sun. Travel 1 Aug. 10: We both froze [...] in the middle of the highway.

(c) to become silent, to quieten down, to refuse to answer questions or make conversation. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Freeze up - to refuse to talk. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 252: Studs told Nate to freeze it. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 91: freeze up To refuse to talk. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 10: Jumping jills and jiving cats, upstate gates and high hats can lace their boots and tighten their wigs, here's some jive that anybody can dig. If you freeze up and can the chatter old boy it want [sic] be a thing the matter. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 162: If I sucker out any more he'll freeze and boot me. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 204: freeze out to clam up because of paranoia. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 39: As Yolanda edged toward the bookshelf, Winston froze. (d) to stop what one is doing. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 28: A tine new place that was opened in Brooklyn was freezing to death. Brooklyn never could support anything. 1934 J.L. Kuethe 'Prison Parlance' in AS IX: 1 26: ereeze. To cease all activity in [an] undertaking. 1962 P. Crump Bum, Killer, Burn! 44'. Freeze that action [...] Forget it. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 198: He offered another carton, but Cool Breeze shook his head. 'No, I freeze now,' to end a relationship; to obtain a divorce.

(e) (US)

1933 C. Himes 'Prison Mass' Coll. Stories (1990) 161: Yes, he could easily diagnose her case — cooling of the heart [...] That was just her way of saying she was going to 'freeze'. (f)

to act calmly, to 'play it cool'. 1960 C, Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 86: Them silks is gonna get you in a world of trouble if you don't freeze. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 165; Freeze up and stop that sucker grinning. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 252: Freeze on that shit and tell me what happened. 2001 (con.

freeze!

freight

235

1964—8) J, Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 155: The spooks froze. The spooks went nonchalant.

■ In phrases

freeze off

1901 B. Pain De Omnibus 10: Well, that did freeze 'er off fur a bit, but, bless yer, she were soon at it agin! 1939 R. Chandler 'Trouble Is My Business' in Spanish Blood (1946) 199: This Frisky Lavon got froze off tonight on Calvello Drive,

freeze out see

separate entries.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

freeze one's nose

(v.) (from the effects of the drug when inhaled or rubbed on the gums] to inhale cocaine. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 107: Almost all [the gamblers] I know like to sniff coke - they call it 'freezing their nose'. [Ibid.] 138: They like gals, they like to get a little high, they like to freeze their nose once in a while. [freeze v.^ (1)] don't move! stay where you are!

1936 N. wPage 'Secret Guns' in Thrilling Western May [Internet] 'Freeze!' Crittenden barked. 1944 C.S. Montanye 'Shoulder Straps' in Thrilling Detective Feb. ]Internet] 'Freeze, copper!' Bristol ordered. a.1953 'Death Row' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 118: Freeze, motherfucker, and just give me that bread. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 19: 'Freeze!' Carver's amplified voice blurred in its own echoes. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 33: Freeze! [...] Don't nobody move! 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 238: 'Police! Hey, wait a minute!' 'Freeze, or you're going to sleep for a while.' 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 138: I pointed the .32 pistol at him and said 'Freeze!' 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 69: Everybody freeze. Goddamn it!

freeze-a! n.

['corruption of "for he's a jolly good fellow!"'] (Aus.) 'a catch word satirically applied to a popularity-hunter' (Downing, Digger Dialects, 1919). 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: freeze-a! — A catch word satirically applied to a popularity-hunter. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. [...] in the A.IF. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: freeze A. A catch word satirically applied to a popularity-hunter. Corrup¬ tion of 'For he is a jolly good fellow.'

freeze on

v. 1 (or/g. USiAus.) to take a tight grip of, to grasp, e.g. to refuse to leave someone alone or to get behind someone. 1847 in Yale Literary Mag. XII 111: 'Now boys,' said Bob, 'freeze on,' and at it they went [HDAS]. 1867 Crawford Mosby 241: Before the match was applied to the wagons containing the officers' baggage, our men froze on the valises, and brought them away [DA]. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 July 24/1: He had been posturing as an Australian poet. We believed he would then start posturing as an English poet. England is rich enough in poetic power to stand it. But he didn't set up as an English poet. He 'froze on' to us. 1895 "Arry on Harry' in Punch 24 Aug. 90/3: And our yesterday's wheeze you freeze on to to-morrer, as sure as a gun. 1900 Sporting Times 26 May 2/2: Somehow, my young friends did not freeze on to the animile. 'Don't look like lasting, cockie,' said one. 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 101: He altered his views to some extent as to the iniquity of freezing on to a decent share of the doubloons. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 21: If you were to - as it were - freeze on to that parcel until we get back to London. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 31: The blokes who're coming out on top are the strong-arm guys who can grab all they want for themselves and freeze on to it when they've got it. 1950 GoLDtN et al. DAUL 74/1: Freeze on to. To cling tightly to, as a stolen article; to stay close to, as to a prospective victim; to pursue relentlessly. 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 52: You'd better freeze on to this. Stick it in your bag. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 248: freeze (on) (v) Refuse to share.

2

(a/so

freeze up on)

to ignore, to snub, to reject.

1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 35: The barkeeps are beginning to freeze up on you. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 6: Dell, the Scene's senior pusher, freezing up on all but a few of his regulars. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Pierce 213: Freeze on that [...] all that heavy philosophical bullshit. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 185: Finally froze on pills, 'cause they too tough. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 149: I freeze on this and you'll put me in on the next one? For reals?

■ In phrases

freeze on to (v.) see freeze v.’’ (1). freeze-out n. [freeze out v.l 1 (orig. US)

the act of deliberately excluding someone; sometimes the person excluded. 1875 Scribner's Monthly X 277/1: 'Cleano out,' 'freeze out,' are synonyms for rascally operations in business [DA], 1906 S, Ford Shorty McCabe 166:1 began to get a glimmer of the kind of game she was up against. Talk about freeze-outs! 1922 P.A. Rollins Cowboy 80: Poker gave also, among other terms, [...] 'freeze-out'. 1958 F.

Bang To Rights

123: The best way is to give them the old

freeze out before they get a chance to row themselves onto the firm.

2

(v.) to kill; also in fig. use, to curtail someone's activity.

freeze! excl.

Norman

[US] a situation that offers no opportunities, e.g. for theft. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdowtt (1999) 207: Buchner liked the place, even if it was a freeze-out on nights like this.

■ In compounds

freeze-out game

(n.) (orig. US) the act of deliberately excluding someone; sometimes the person excluded. 1863 Washoe Times 11 July 2/5: We never before exactly understood the villainous process of the 'freeze-out game' [DA]. 1902 'Hugh McHugh' It's Up to You 41: It was the most cruel game of freeze-out I ever sat in. 1930 W.R. Burnett Iron Man 298: Lewis played the freeze-out game. He's got a strong yen for your woman, and he ain't letting nothing stand in his way. You're the next freeze-out. 1947 W.A. Chalfant Gold, Guns and Ghost Towns 141: It was just a freezeout game, and I let my stock go without paying the assessment [DA],

freeze out

v. (orig. US) to snub, to render socially unacceptable, to exclude from a (business) deal. 1861 G.K. Wilder Diary (ms.) 20 July n.p.: We finally froze him out [DA]. 1877 B. Harte Story of a Mine 35: That ingenuous American pastime which my countrymen dismiss in their epigrammatic way as the 'freezing-out process'. 1884 C.E. Craddock Where The Battle Was Fought 48: By a dexterous use of the system known as 'freezing out,' the two had become exclusive owners of a certain silver mine in Colorado, 1892 'John Miller' Workingman's Paradise 201: You'd regard it as quite square to freeze me out because I do talk straight. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the 'Victorian Era 137/2: Froze out (Amer.-Eng., 1880-96). Conquered, made the other a nonentity, 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Marathon in the Mud' Ade's Fables 289: In order to [...] freeze out the other Holders of Stock and gradually possess himself of all the Money in the World, Aleck now found it necessary to organize himself. 1915 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Aug. 48/1: But I was sort of froze out. May thinks, you see, that I'm not a fit cobber fer Bill! 1921 C.B. Booth 'Mr Clacksworthy Within the Law' Detective Story 13 Aug. [Internet] My father wasn't a very shrewd business man—and Denton was. Dad was frozen out. Denton took the patents and sold them, 1929 R. Coleman Girl From Back Home in Hatch & Hamalian Lost Plays of Harlem Renaissance (1996) 102: He knew me so well and seemed so glad to see me, that I couldn't freeze him out. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 80: The little guy sure must be frozen out of the racket by big business. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 116: He was [...] obviously determined to freeze me out as quickly as possible. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 114: I say freeze them out. 1999 Observer Mag. 3 Oct, 24: He has a star's ability to [...] freeze you out if you ask something he doesn't want to answer. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 50: Girls were frozen out of dancing very early on.

freezer

n.^ [play on SE]

1

a rebuff, a snub.

1821-6 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 308: Here was a choker [...] an absolute freezer of all kindly or loyal feeling. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 a chilly look, a dismissive remark. 1890-1904

freezer

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

n? (Aus./US) a prison.

1929-31 Kernot unpub. gloss, in DU. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 67: You didn't spend three days in the freezer just because you're a sweetheart. You got paid off.

freezing weather 1947 M.H.

n. (US black) an unattractive woman. Jive and SI.

Boulware

freight

n. (US) payment, cost, e.g. rent or a subway fare; a bribe. 1926 M. West Sex (1997) I ii: I'm paying the freight on this joint, and what I say goes. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 74/1: Freight. A sum paid in bribery. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 120: The 23rd Street subway platform was almost empty. Krush and Jimmy paid the freight to the lady in the cage.

■ In phrases pull one’s freight (v.) (also to leave in a hurry.

drag

one’s

freight)

1 (US) to rush off,

1868 G.J. Whyte-Melville White Rose 229: Gerard, too pulled his freight back to Richmond. 1896 H. Blossom Checkers 42: After that he 'pulled his freight' and went to Baltimore. 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 121: He made a rush for his cabin, piled on his saddle and pack, and pulled freight in a cloud of dust. 1919 J. Buchan Mr Standfast (1930) 527: Reckon some day I'll pull my freight for a clean location and settle down there and make little poems. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 7/2: Drag your freight - Hurry up. 1929 C. Panzram Journal of Murder in Gaddis & Long (2002) 173: Father pulled his freight when I was 7 or 8 years old. 1934 O. Strange Sudden 46: Pull your freight, pronto, or I'll use a whip on yu? 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 8: Steve wished Whitey would quit running off at the lip and pull his freight out of here. 1964 B.

freight (it)

French

236

1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 69: That's why he left: she had

Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 117: But when 1 got home, boy, 1 had five kids to own, / Now do you blame me for pullin' my

Jackson

given him some French and sliced him to pieces.

5

freight?

2 see PULL one's load under load n. freight (it) v. 1 to travel a long distance. 1888 'Kansas Land' in Lingenfelter et al. Songs of the Amer. West (1968) 462: 1 have 'freighted' many a mile. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 167: When 1 sees him first is ages before, when I freights with eight mules over the Old Fort Bascombe trail from Vegas to the Panhandle.

2 (US tramp)

to travel on a freight rain.

1918 'A-No. r Mother of the Hoboes 67: Tonight we'll freight it down to New Orleans. 1943 W. Guthrie Bound for Glory (1969) 408: I sung her another made-up verse: 'I've freighted and barged it from New York and up'.

French

n.

1

syphilis.

1600 Rowlands Letting of Humours Blood 15: This Gentleman hath serued long in Fraunce, And is returned filthy full of French. 1604 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 1 I ii: A harlot [...] swallowes [...] the French, And he sticks to you faith: giues you your diet. Brings you acquainted, first with monsier Doctor, And then you know what follows. 1605 Ratseys Ghost F2: [He is] troubled with the french. 1609 Rowlands Crew of Kind Gossips 18: Taffity Queanes, and fine light silken Whores, That haue the gift of pox in their owne pores, and can teach French in halfe a day. 1617 H. Fitzgeffrey Satyres n.p.: [He] late returned ... A comp\eaL Linguist: skilfull in the Dutch. And more (if you knew all) for wot yee what? In the Low-cuntry's hee the French hath got. 1624 T. Brewer Knot ofFooles B4: A right 'urnbullian Hackney; or some Spittle wench, (Was ne're in France, yet perfect in the French). 1632 R. Brome Covent-Garden Weeded I i: Is this the Damsel that has been in France and Italy? 1649 T.B. Rebellion of Naples III i: What a pox do we care for the French? or the French with a pox? 1654 Citie Matrons 7: Was it a French Winchester Goose you so used for the service of this Honorable Citie? 1679 'Dissolution' in Additional Mss 34362.49: French runs thro the Princes veines And He by theirs not our Law Raignes When French creeps into Royall bed First charmeing Codpiece then the head. 1680 T. Betterton Match in Newgate I i: Do you give them English Coin, they'll repay you with the French ... And they only sell their Bodies. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 58: The chief Motive of my leaving her was the Present of a New-Year's-Gift she made me: but whether French or Neapolitan, I leave to the Determination of the Sons of Galen, 1744 Machine 6: From Indian Pox, or Malady of France. 1792 Nimble and Quick 3: The greatest enemies whores have, are the French and Small-pox.

general.

■ In phrases

excuse my French (also excuse the French, pardon my French) a genteel euph. automatically offered after the speaker has sworn in public. 1895 Harper's Mag. Mar. 648/1: Palaces be durned! Excuse my French. 1955 J.L. Herlihy 'A Summer for the Dead' Sleep of Baby Filbertson and Other Stories (1964) 60: Not very damn many, honey, excuse my French. 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 33: The whole damn' lot including the Christopher medal I had since I was a bloody kid ... excuse the French. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971)73: That old dope, and then you dont do nothin but go from sugar to shit, if youll excuse my French. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 50: Any fuckin' one of 'em would make her pussy pucker ... excuse my French. 1998 D. Hecht Skull Session 277: 'Holy shit,' Mo said. 'Excuse my French.' 2000 F. Kellerman Stalker (2001) 208: She thought he was a piss bucket, excuse my French. 2004 C. King Sun. Wife 76: Goddammit, Augusta, how could do such a thing? [...] Excuse my French, Preacher. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 96: I hate the fucking Da Vinci Code [...] Pardon my French. Actually it's Anglo-Saxon, (v.) to become infected with syphilis.

learn French

1629 M, Parker Whoremongers Conuersion in Chappell Roxburghe Ballads (1871) I 478: They'le learne you so much parly French, From you shall come a rotten stench [...] at Pickt-hatch I [.,.] Learn'd French of one that ne'r saw France. 1656 E. Gayton Wit Revived 38; What place is said to be worse to learn French in? The Low Countries'. speak French (v.) to indulge in unconventional sexual play, 1986-7 Maledicta IX 54: French, speak vphr [D, ca. 1914] Indulge in unconventional sexual play,

talk French

(v.) (US) to fellate, 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 229: You come up next time, and I'll talk a little French to you.

French

1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 1:4 17: A Bowl of Punch was next my Treat, / Made of right French, upon my Word. 1725 N. Ward Amorous Bugbears 6: We revok'd our first Orders, and call'd for a Flask of French. 1889 B. Mitford Fire Trumpet II 31: What's it to be —'French'—Whisky? 1891 F.W. C arbw Autobiog. of a Gipsey 198: He [...] asked us for a drop of French. taboo language. C.1939 B. Bennett 'The Broadcaster' [music hall song] French lessons for schools are by Monsieur Jules, / And all of you know what his French is: / It's nice and refined — not a bit like the kind / The Tommies use out in the trenches.

4 (a/so French art, full French) fellatio (cf. Frenchinc n.). 1916 H.N. Cary SI. of Venery. 1919 Transcript Dunn Inquiry in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 33: Zipf asked if the older man would like to take him, to which the response was 'any way,' 'French,' replied the operator. 1929 'Investigator Reports, 1927-9' Committee of Fourteen Papers 7 Feb. 45-6: He asked her, 'Do you French?' (street slang for oral sex) and she said, 'Yes, more than that.' [The investigator] asked her what she meant and she claimed to be a 'three way girl.' He asked her to be specific and she explained, 'the natural way, and up the rectum and french.' c.1930 'Mme. Dora in "Strictly Business'" [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 75: What do you want honey? Straight, French or any other? 1944 J.S. Pennell Hist, of Rome Hanks 47: Jazz or French, baby? 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 199: The price is $5 regular, $10 French, $15 combination. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 205: 'Do you French?' I said [,..] 'Four dollars for French. O.K. for four dollars for a Frenchy?' 1961 R. Cover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 21: Yoo-hoo, pritty baby, you wanna lil french? 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 34: Act of sucking the penis until ejaculation [...] French art[s] ('Are you well versed in the French arts?'). 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 77: You wanna get the best French inna desert? 1975 Harrell & Bishop Orderly House 34: The term 'Hat Job'... [means] a Full French [HDAS]. 1988 R.R. Moore 'Signifyin' Monkey' [lyrics] He said he saw yo aunt sittin on the fence / Givin a goddamn zebra a french.

adj.

1

in combs, meaning syphilis (see also below).

1515 implied in French pox below. 1590 Three Lords and Three Ladies of London J3: The French canker consume ye, you were an old Frenchman. 1605 Chapman & Jonson Eastward Hoi V v; Shun usurers, bawds, and dice, and drabs; / Avoid them as you would French scabs. 1613 R. Johnson (?) Look on Me, London in Henke Gutter Life and Lang. 106: [A brothel] where (peradventure) for a pottle or two of wine, the embracement of a painted strumpet, and French welcome for a reckoning, the yong novice payeth forty shillings. 1615 T. Overbury New and Choise Characters n.p.: [An Hypocrite] Amongst Dogs, the mange; amongst Horses, the glaunders; amongst Men and Women, the Northerne itch, and the French Ache be diseases. a.1618 J, Harington Epigrams III No. 33: Since thy third curing of the French infection, / Priapus hath in thee found no erection, c.1621 Middleton Women Beware Women (1887) III i: There's many a disease kissed in a year by't. And a French curtsy made to't. 1638 H. Shirley Martyr'd Souldier IV iii: Whole Lordships are spent upon a fleshly device, yet the buyer in the end had nothing but French Repentance and the curse of Chyrurgery for his money. C.1642 T, Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) III ii: Your French seasoning spoils many a woman. 1653 M. Cavendish 'Natures Cook' R4: Some with the Pox, chops Flesh, and Bones so small. Of which She makes a French Fricasse withall. 1674 T. Duffet Meek-Tempest III i: I know who has been taken up in the common, and rode so many

2 brandy.

3

pornography. 1979 Maledicta III:2 218: We use French for 'oral copulation' (fellatio - the gay graffito is Fellatio et ergo cum) and for pornography in

heats that they got the French fashions. 1688 Penton Guardian's Instruction 29; The easie Cure of the French Complement. 1693 J. Wright Humours of the Town 47: A painted face above, with the French Nobless raging beneath. 1705 C, Leslie Rehearsal of Observator 6 Jan. 23: No Man of his own self Catches The Itch or Amorous French Aches. 1726 Select Trials at Old Bailey (1742) III 41: She had got a Running, tho' as to that, he could not say it was the French Distemper. C.1750 Country Carter's Garland 8: We dread no French harms from France.

2

a racial stereotype used in various contexts; the Anglo-Saxon belief in 'gay Paree' and its supposedly sex-obsessed denizens has long equated 'French' with sexy or, pej., pornographic and 'dirty'. 1605 Chapman & Jonson Eastward Ho! I i: Behind my back thou wilt swear faster than a French foot-boy. 1635 R. Brome Sparagus Garden IV iv: Looke that you congy in the new French Bum-trick. a.1640 R, Brome New Academy III i: It seems, that you profess French qualities. 1655 Mercurius Fumigosus 40 28 Feb.-7 Mar. 320: They are afterwards to have a Mash given them by a French Farrier, made of Neopolitan Perriwigg Roots. 1673 Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-Master 1 ii: Oh!

French

French

237

if dat be all, I am very pockie; pockie enough Jarnie, that is the only French qualification may be had without going to Paris, mon foy. 1697 Cibber Woman's Wit III v: She borrow'd a French Novel of him: and being told there was one deadly smutty page in it, she discreetly beg'd him to double it down, that she might be sure to avoid it. 1702 Cibber She Would and She Would Not IV i: A pert Coxcomb; by his Impudence and Dress, I guess him to be some French Page, 1714 J. Lacey Sauny the Scot II i: Your French Books treat most of Love. 1743 'Roger Pheuquewell' Description of Roads to Merryland 7: A celebrated French Author, who hath (besides recommending this back Way as the best and easiest). 1849 G.G. Foster N.Y. in Slices 106: Not allow themselves to be seduced by grown men [...] to deal in dirty French Novels, and filthy Compositions of home manufacture. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Dec. 32/1: He worked the sheds with French photos., and lay by at the shanties like a spider waitin' for flies. His French specials were real pure. 'Twas them, an' some cronk bizness with a cheque, that set the traps after his scalp. 1910 F.P. Dunne Mr Dooley Says 41: Takin' a dhraw at an opeem-pipe an' r-readin' a Fr-rinch novel 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 15; There were a couple o' smutty French photographs, which I tore up. 1949 R. Chandler Little Sister 62: I could organize a double-strip act with French trimmings. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 56: [of an incontinent man] The screw said he'd soon cure him of his dirty French habits. 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 117: 'I was kissing Phyllis.' I pursed the lips. Getting a bit French, this sequence, 1963 T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 67; So hot to be in the movies, was mostly making it in stags and French stuff. 1974 (con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 61: The reason he was called French Charlie instead of just Charlie was because all his victims were women. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 12: National rivalries can be traced by the appearance in English of many negative phrases involving Dutch and French. 3 (US) unfashionable, vulgar, distasteful. 1862 'Artemus Ward' Artemus Ward, His Book 130: Obsarving to Mr.

Strakhosh that he needn't put on so many French airs becawz he run with a big show. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 136/2: French (S. of N. Amer. Soc.). Term used in Maryland and Virginia for any fashion that is disliked,

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French dressing n [R] Semen; homosexual slang. 1988 H. Max Gay (S) language.

French embassy (n.) (US gay) any location, esp. a gym or YMCA, where homosexual activity is extensive and unchecked. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 24: They don't call this Y the French Embassy for nothing. 1979 Maledicta III:2 218: In gay slang ethnic slurs abound. French Embassy YMCA. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French embassy n [R] YMCA with homosexuality running unchecked; homosexual slang. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] French Embassy - Any location, especially a gym or Y, where gay sex is readily available. French-fried ice-cream (n.) (gay) semen. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 53: French fried ice cream (kwn LV, black gay si, mid '60s) smooth, creamy semen. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French-fried ice cream n [R] Semen; homosexual slang.

French-fried ice water (n.) (US gay) lumpy semen. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 53: French fried ice water (kwn LV, black gay si, mid '60s, lumpy semen forming a tapioca-like consistency).

French girl (n.) (US Und.) a prostitute who offers fellatio. 1939 D. Maurer 'Prostitutes and Criminal Argots' in Lang. Und. (1981) 116/1: FRENCH. Intercourse through the mouth; French-date and French-girl are analogous to parallel compounds under straight. French (head) job (n.) Ijob n.^ (2)] (US gay) fellatio. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 84; This broad was the greatest French job on the West Coast. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 34: Act of sucking the penis until ejaculation [...] French job [love, way]. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 54: French head job n [R] Fellatio; homosexual slang. French lady (n.) (US) a fellator. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: Frenchie; French lady: [...] French woman n [R] Fellator; homosexual. French language expert (n.) (gay) a fellator. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: Frenchie; French lady; French language expert; French woman n [R] Fellator; homosexual.

French language training (n.) (gay) the teaching of fellatio to

4 used in comb, meaning fellatio/fellate (see also below); thus, by

another person.

ext., denoting homosexuality.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French language training n [R] Teaching fellatio; homosexual slang. French love (n.) fellatio.

1965 K, Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 52: I knew a lot about Sex but I

didn't know the vocabulary, the gay language. When one man asked, 'You French?' I thought he meant my nationality!

5 esp. as used by a prostitute, willing to give oral sex. 1897 Flossie: A Venus of Fifteen (1902) 16: [cap. heading] How Flossie Acquired the French Tongue. 1905-07 Bawdy N.Y. State MS. n.p.; FUCUMALL hotel. Bill of Fare and Price List [...] FRENCH FASHION, with or without Finger in Ass-hole, - $3.60. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 178: I want a French broad. I don't have to come here for the regular. I can get that at home. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 22: I'll show you a good time, honey. I'm French. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 258: You jigajig me, Sarchon? French way, very good.

■ Pertaining to oral sex (usu. male-to-male) m In compounds French active (n.) (gay) the passive (sucked) partner in fellatio. 2000 Blackboiz for Other Boiz [Internet] 3 Jan. Sexually, I'm French

active/passive and Greek passive, mostly vanilla but potentially adventurous if the mood and the company is right.

French art (n.) see French n. (4). French artist (n.) (US gay) a fellator. French bath (n.) (US) fellatio. C.1935 'The Love Guide' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles

(1997) 148; The winner shall receive a French bath by three professional French girls.

French culture (n.) fellatio, esp. in homosexual contact advertisements. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words 98: 'Interested in English, French and Roman culture' signifies a desire to participate in sadism, bondage, oral sex and orgies.

French date (n.) 1 (US Und.) a prostitute's client who enjoys fellatio. 1939 D. Maurer 'Prostitutes and Criminal Argots' in Lang. Und.

(1981) 116/1: FRENCH. Intercourse through the mouth; French-date and French-girl are analogous to parallel compounds under straight. a paid-for act of fellatio. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 186: At a hotel, if it's a straight date it's usually

$10,

and French date, a blow job, is

2000 Blackboiz for Other Boiz [Internet] 3 Jan. Sexually, I'm French active/passive and Greek passive, mostly vanilla but potentially adventurous if the mood and the company is right. French photographer (n.) (gay) a homosexual photographer. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French photographer n [R] homosexual photographer; homosexual homosexual slang.

French polishing (n.) fellatio; thus French polisher, a fellatrix.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

2

1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 105: Certain forms of homosexual practices, and for that matter of heterosexual in¬ dulgences, namely fellatio and cunnilingus, are called in America French love. 1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 129: I've never made French love all the way. I stop just a second before and you take it from there. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 34: Act of sucking the penis until ejaculation [...] French job [love, way]. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 54: French love n [R] Fellatio; homosexual slang. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 30: They took turns giving me a juicy banquet of French love. French passive (n.) (gay) the fellator.

$20.

French dressing (n.) (US gay) semen, in the context of fellatio.

1982 P. Bailey Eng. Madam 82:1 didn't know what 'French Polishing' meant [...] Suddenly it dawned on me that 1 was selling myself as a plater. I've never enjoyed going down. [Ibid.] 99: She's a genuine French Polisher, the real McCoy.

French revolution (n.) (gay) the movement for homosexual rights. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French revolution n [R] Revolution for homosexual rights; homosexual slang.

French style (adv.) of sex, with the mouth, i.e. fellatio. 1973 D. Goines Street Players 55: How would you like it, sweetie, French style?

French tricks

(n.) [Williams cites

17C

use

of French tricks

as a general

euph. for degeneracy/debauchery] oral sex, of a man or a woman.

1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 197: If, though, she should be afraid of getting ducky [...] she may be satisfied with [...] French tricks or a flying 66 (rhyming slang on French tricks). French way (n.) fellatio. 1965 K. Worthy Homosexual Generation Ch. xvi; Faggots feel toward a man as a woman does, meaning that some who have intercourse by rectum can 'finger themselves'. Others who do it the French way

French

French

238

think of a man by just touching themselves. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult

1972 B.

Sex Words and Phrases. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 159: French way n Oral

slang ethnic slurs abound. [...[ French postcard handsome man. Maledicta IX 55: French postcard n [R] Exciting, prospective

sex; W W 1 usage.

■ In phrases French by injection (n.) 1 {US gay) said of anyone considered particularly well-versed in fellatio. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French by injection adj [R] Said of a first-class fellator.

2 (US) any American prostitute who opts for foreign customers. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases 14: American by

(Vulg. SI.) Referring both to a foreign Prostitute or other female love partner who Copulates regularly with Americans; a foreign Mistress. The term may be altered to French, German, Japanese, etc., when referring to an American female who Copulates with foreigners. INJECTION

tell a French Joke (v.) (gay) to stimulate the anus orally. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French joke, tell a vphr [R] Oral stimulation of anus; homosexual slang. 1999 D. Lypchuk 'A dirty little story' in eye mag. 8 July [Internet] Then he told her a French joke right in her Hollywood uterus.

■ Pertaining to sex in general ■ In compounds French cap (n.) [var. on SE Dutch cap] (US) a condom. 1976 (con. 1920s) D. Maurer 'Lang, and the Sex Revolution' in AS LI 13: Euphemisms like...French cap...also became taboo.

French deck (n.) (US) a pack of playing cards decorated with erotic pictures. 1980 W. Sherman Times Square 23: The hottest item were 'French

Decks,' fifty-two playing cards with nude women in varous positions showing just a hint of pubic hair.

French dip (n.) (gay) vaginal juices. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 80: French dip is what you get when you finish fingering your girl friend. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French dip n [R] Vaginal precoital fluid; homosexual slang. 2003 J. Morgan on MessedUp.net [Internet] Puss Juice: Bitch Butter, clam jam, crotch oil, fanny batter, flap snot, French Dip, goose grease, crotch gravy, love juice.

French envelope (n.) [S.Afr.) a condom. 1977 Macnamra & Sagarin Sex, Crime, and the Law 255: French

envelope - contraceptive, particularly a condom.

French fuck (n.)

(fuck n. (1)1 {US) the rubbing of a man's penis between a woman's breasts. 1938 'Justinian' Amer. Sexualis 22: French Fuck, n. A form of sexual activity in which the male sits astride the recumbent female and achieves sexual orgasm by rubbing his penis between her breasts, while concomitantly effecting her orgasm by digital stimulation of her vaginal area [HDAS]. 1974 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II 816: A...French fuck is when you rub your dick between her breasts. 2003 'National/Ethnic Stereotype Expressions' University of Tampere FAST Area Studies Program [Internet] French fuck—^penis between female breasts, manual clitoral stimulation.

French handshake (n.) {US teen) a form of handshake signifying a sexual interest or invitation. 1972 National Lampoon Apr. 34: You're shakin' hands, right? And one of you tickles the palm with the middle finger. It's a signal the Frenchies use when they got the hots. They go around givin' French handshakes till somebody says yes [HDAS]. 2003 'National/Ethnic Stereotype Expressions' University of Tampere FAST Area Studies Program [Internet] French handshake—tickling palm with middle

finger while handshaking.

French kiss see separate entries. French letter (n.) see separate entry. French postcard (n.) 1 (orig. US) {also French picture) an erotic picture postcard. 1932 V.F. Nelson Prison Days and Nights 90: He had a large assortment of photographs of women [...[ including a goodly number of extraordinarily filthy 'French' pictures. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 15 Feb. [synd. col.] You're not permitted to bring any foreign literature into Germany. Not even those French postcards. 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 154: She just loved to be photographed ... for a price. So now I have my own French pictures. 1955 D. Niland Shiralee 192: It reminds me of a French postcard every time I think of it. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 7: The invention of photography, made it possible to produce what were politely called French prints and French postcards {or American cards in France). 1996 R.E. Tyrrell Boy Clinton 147: Then he returns to Yoknapatawpha, where he sets up a 'French postcard' business. 2003 S. Levy Scandalous Eye 59: Having obtained her consent, he would bring out a dirty French postcard.

2 (gay) an exciting prospective sexual partner.

Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular. 1979 Maledicta III:2 218: In gay

sexual partner; homosexual slang.

French prints (n.) 1 pornographic pictures and engravings. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis II 4: The French prints, the favourite actresses and dancers, the racing and coaching works of art, which suited his taste and formed his gallery. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 7: The invention of photography, made it possible to produce what were politely called French prints and French postcards (or American cards in France).

2 (gay) unusual heterosexual pornography. 1972

B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta

IX 55:

French

prints n [R[ Unusual heterosexual pornography: homosexual slang. French safe (n.) [safe n. (1)) {Can.lUS) a condom. 1870 in M.W. Hill Sisters' Keepers 236: [advert] French Imported Male Safes—A Perfect Shield Against Disease or Conception, Made of both Skin & India Rubber. 1967 (con. 1951) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 184: There was the usual good-natured ribbing about looking for French safes and whatnot. 1980 J. Ciardi Browser's Diet. 140: French safe. A condom [HDAS]. 2003 'National/Ethnic Stereotype Expressions' University of Tampere FAST Area Studies Program [Internet] French safe—condom. French stuff (n.) (gay) 1 pornography. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French stuff n [R] 1: pornography.

2 any unusual sexual activity. 1972

B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French

stuff n [R] [...] 2: unusual sex activity. French tickler (n.) {also tickler) a contraceptive sheath with extra protrusions for added stimulation. 1916 H.N. Cary SI. of Venery. c.1935 'The Rubber Salesman' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 50: [illus. of condom with protrusions] Have you got any of those fancy French things. 1941 joke cited in G. Legman Rationale of the Dirty Joke (1972) I 277: A druggist is selling a farmer a French tickler. 1967 (con. 1950s) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 71:1 wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole with a French tickler on it. 1979 G. Wolff Duke of Deception (1990) 117: The cards were kept in a cigar box with [...] a thing whose use we couldn't guess at, which I knew the following year was a French tickler. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 129: You want a French tickler — drive her wild? 1992 (con. 1910s-20s) F.M. Davis Livin' the Blues 37; If you wanted to drive a gal wild you put on a French Tickler. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 201; A three-pack of extra-sensitive, gossamer, ribbed ticklers. 2004 Maslowski & Winslow Looking For A Hero 80: Or perhaps they could heave the metal in [i.e. his penis] and it would serve as a French tickler.

■ Pertaining to venereal disease ■ In compounds French chillblains (n.) venereal disease. 1608

Dekker

Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) V ii: Bawd, are the French

Chilbalines in your heeles, that you can come no faster? French crown (n.) (a/so French curse, ...goods, ...gout) [aka Corona Veneris; joc. uses of SE crown, the ring of spots around the forehead/ goods/gout] venereal disease. 1598 Marston 'Redde, age, quae deinceps rifisti' Scourge ofVillanie I C7; Tullus goe scotfree, though often bragg'st / That for a false French-crowne, thou vaulting hadst / Though that thou know'st for thy incontinence / Thy drab repay'd thee, true French pestilence. 1604 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 1 I v: Ha signior; haz he fitted your French curse? 1607 R, Turner Nosce Te ED: Winke at small faultes for thy wench Hath a pocky sort of crownes, all onely French. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras Pt III canto 1 lines 715-16; 'Tis hard to say in multitudes / Or who imported the French Goods, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: French Gout, the Pox. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as dt. c.1698]. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: French disease, the venereal disease [...] French gout, the same. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1873 SI. Diet. 169: French gout a certain disease, which is also known as 'ladies' fever'. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 40: Bonde, f. Syphilis; 'French gout'. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 42/1: French gout, syphilis. 2002 (ref. 1940s) B. Morrison Things My Mother Never Told Me 144: 'Now lads,' he begins, 'you know what I'm here to talk about: VD. The clap, the pox, syph, dripsy, French gout and all the other things they call it,'

French disease (n.) (also disease/malady of France) venereal disease, esp. syphilis. 1590 Three Lords and Three Ladies of London F3; The olde French disease take him. 1600 Tom Tel-troths Message 43: Thousands of Whores [...] Infect mens bodies with the French disease. 1614 T. Overbury A Wife, with many witty Characters G4; That vaine-glory.

French

new fashions and the French disease, are vpon tearmes of quitting their Countries Allegance, to bee made free Denisons of England. 1636 W. Davenant Platonic Lovers III i: He took the diet, sir. And in that very tub sweat for the French disease. 1647 New Merry Letany 3: From the Calenture, and the French disease [...] Libera nos. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 19 4-11 Oct. 168: So that no other Hospital shall be troubled to cure the Morbus Gallicus or French Disease. 1663 Head Hie et Ubique in iii: Let the excellency of your skill chiefly consist in the cure of the French Disease; He warrant you Patients enough. 1690 Pagan Prince 13: The great Men at Court had forbidden the French Disease to trouble the Bumpkins, as being more desirous to entertain it themselves, 1703 T. Baker Tunbridge Walks Prologue: You soft Sirs [...] hate French Bullets worse than French Disease. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 137: My Constitution very much impair'd by the French-Disease. 1750 'Doctor A--- Advice to his Patients' Button Hole Garland 4: Her eager Look yet may by Chance, / Contract the old Disease of France. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

French marbles (n.) venereal disease, esp. syphilis. 1592 Greene Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher (1923) 38: Looke into the Spittles and Hospitalles, there you shall see men diseased of the French Marbles. 1986-7 Malediaa IX 55: French marbles n [D ca. 1700] Syphilis.

French measles

(n.) [also

French cannibal, ...morbus) venereal

disease, esp. syphilis. 1608 Pennyless Parliament of Thread-bare Poets 24: The French Morbus, by Commission, shall be worth three Weeks Diet. 1611 J. Cook Greenes Tu Quoque Scene xiii: May the French Canniball eate into thy flesh. 1612 Chapman Widow's Tears V iii: If they be poor they shall be burnt to make soap-ashes, or given to Surgeon's Hall to be stamped to salve for the French measles. 1705 Observator 4 23-27 June 25: Let 'em [i.e. townspeople] have the French language, the French Measles, aye and the French Government too if they please to go to France. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French measles n [D ca. 1600] Syphilis [...] French measles n [D ca, 1600] Syphilis.

French pig (n.) syphilis, esp. the syphilitic pustule or bubo. 1890-1904

French

239

Farmer & Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

French pox (n.) venereal disease, esp. syphilis. 1515 A. Barclay Eglogues Biii: Oft under yalowe lockes. Be hyd fowle scabbes, and fearful frenche pockes. 1562 W. Bullein Bk of Compoundes fol, 47: Many men, women and children, now a daies, be greuiously bred with a shamefull disease, called the Frenche Pockes. 1586 G. Whetstone Mirrour for Magestrates of Citties (2nd edn) 26: They go to some blind brothel-house where [...] for a Pottle or two of wyne, the imbracement of a paynted Harlot, and the French Pockes for a reckoning, they Punie payeth fortie shillings. 1598 Marston Metamorphosis of Pigmalions Satyre 1 34: Thou that did'st march with Spanish Pike Come with French-pox out of that brothell dore. 1608 E. Topsell Hist, of Serpents 34: The fat of a black Serpent, is mixt to good purpose with those oyntments that are prepared against the French or Spanish-pox. 1623 Webster Devil's Law-Case II i: When did you euere heare, that a Cocke Sparrow Had the French poxe? 1630 J. Taylor 'Epigrams' in Works (1869) II 263: But yet I would the French had held together, / And kept their pox, and not translate them hether. 1643 Horn & Robotham (trans.) Gate of Languages Unlocked Ch. 85 827: A whore-hunter (ruffian, brotheller) haunteth the stewes (rangeth and rampeth over whore-houses) where, being branded with the french pox, he is paid (served well enough) for his wantonesse. 1651 T. Randolph Hey for Honesty V i: Had I the palsy [...] ague, fever, French pox, and a whole cart-load of diseases. 1660 Wandring Whore I 3: The cure of the French pox and perillous infirmity of burning remedyed. 1672 S. Butler 'Dildoides' in Rochester & Others Works (1739) 185: By Dildoe, Monsieur there intends / For his French pox to make amends. 1683 Whores Rhetorick 37: They might 'scape the Halter, starving in a corner, rotting of the Canker, or the French-Pox, if they were not silly idle, ridiculous, negligent, absurd asses. 1699 'Old England turn'd New' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy I 140: And new fashion'd Hats, for your new Pated Blocks, / And more New Diseases, besides the French POX. 1714 T. Lucas Livesofthe Gamesters 191:yoe. I have got the FrenchPox upon me. 1725 Bailey (trans.) Erasmus' Colloquies 198: That leprous Infection they call French Pox han't yet seiz'd thee. 1734 C. Johnson H/sL of Highwaymen &c. 105: He that installed him, cried out for Silence, bidding the French and English Pox to light on their Throats for making such a Yelping. 1744 Bog-House and Glass-Window Misc. 37: There's none beshits the Wall but Sons of B--ches. / May the French Pox, and the Devil take them all, 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 87: Kepi says it must have been the great French pox, but Nanantatee avers that it was the Japanese clap. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 159: French pox n Syphilis. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 12: National rivalries can be traced by the appearance in

English of many negative phrases involving Dutch and French, e.g., [...] French leave, departure without notice; and French pox, syphilis.

French razor (n.) syphilis. 1608 Dekker Dead Tearme in Works IV 28: The unwholesome breath of Autumne, who is so full of diseases, that his very blowing uppon trees, makes theyr leavs to fal off (as the French Razor shaves off the haire of many of thy Suburbians).

■ In phrases take French lessons (v.) to contract venereal disease. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French lessons, take v phr [D] Contract

venereal disease.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds ■ Pertaining to brandy French article (n.) brandy. 1815 (con. 18C) W. Scott Guy Mannering (1999) 48: Get out the gallon punch-bowl, and plenty of lemons. I'll stand for the French article by the time I come back, and well drink the young Laird's health,

French cream (n.) [SE; France as the home of brandy; 'so called by the old tabbies and dowagers when they drink their tea' (Grose, 1796)] brandy. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.:

Brandy; so called by the old tabbies and dowagers when drank in their tea. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1862 E. DE LA Bedolliere Londres et les Anglais 314/2: FRENCH CREAM, eau-de-vie. 1873 SI. Diet. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1979 Maledicta III:2 159: French cream n [,,.] Brandy; from the importation of brandy from France. French Cream.

French elixir (n.) brandy. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 159: French elixir n Brandy; from the importation of brandy from France.

French lace (n.) brandy. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 608: Not forgetting blue ruin and French lace'*. [^French lace—A flash or cant term for brandy].

■ General uses French article (n.)

[article

n. (4)] a French prostitute.

1986-7 Maledicta IX 54: French article n [L] French prostitute.

French bathe see separate entries. French blue (n.) [manufacturers Smith, Kline and Frenc/i + BLUEn.^ (4a)] 1 (UK drugs) a mix of barbiturate and amphetamine. 1969 I. Hebditch 'Weekend' unpub. thesis in Hewitt (2000) 133: 1 see Harry and get my tabs from him - thirty 'French' Blues at sixpence a time. 1970 T. Parker Frying-Pan 85: Breaking into chemists' shops and stealing Dexedrine, French Blues, anything you could dispose of within an hour. 1980 S. McConville 'Prison Lang.' in Michaels & Ricks (1980) 526: Amphetamine-barbiturate mixtures seem to have spawned a particularly vivid range of nicknames and images, often arising from the appearance or color of capsules in which they are taken. These include [...] French-blue.

2 (US drugs) amphetamine. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: French blue — Amphetamine.

French fits (n.) [? a link to insanity attendant on syphilis, i.e. the FRENCH above; or ? pertaining to brandy, see combs, above] (US) delirium

DISEASE

tremens. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 148: Too much dope for the time. I was having the French fits coming out of it. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 106: We've got a file on what we call the barred window boys. Doctor. Places where you can't jump out when the French fits take over.

French inhale (v.) [the supposed sophistication of the French] 1 (US) to blow cigarette smoke out through the mouth and then inhale the resulting cloud through one's nose. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 21: He watched the smoke curl into her nose as she french-inhaled, 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease I iv: I'll show ya how to French inhale. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 217: He takes another deep pull on his cigarette, allowing the smoke to drift in a thick cloud from his mouth before pulling it back in through his nostrils [...] We called it French inhaling. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 172: Meadows hit his cigarette [...] and French-inhaled.

2 (US black/drugs) to deeply inhale cannabis smoke. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971) 53: He took a puff and pinched his nostrils shut with his fingers and then blew into them without letting anything escape. 'That's what you call frenchin and that'll usually get anybody straight right quick.'

French leave (n.) see separate entry. French peasoup (n.) (US/Can.) a French immigrant. 1983 Maledicta VII 21: Immigrant Quebeckers were a more visible group, and their staple peasoup by the 1890s resulted in johnny

French

peasoup and the popular variants [...] pea souper, and French peasoup.

French poodle (n.) see poodle n. (2). French screwdriver (n.) [supposed French inability to perform simple manual tasks] a hammer. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French screwdriver n Hammer,

french toast (ad/.) see toast adj.^ (2). French vanilla (n.) [play on popular variety of ice cream] (US black teen) 1 a sexy white woman. 1988 Gold & Cheney Body Politic 213: Flowing red hair, hot hazel eyes, French vanilla complexion. 2 a light-coloured black woman. 1995 R. WiNEGARTEN et al. Black Texas Women 291: Some are french vanilla with thighs of thunder, thighs that strain to admit light into their tropical crotches as they stride, sashay, swing wide their arms [etc.]. 2002 'TouRE' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Redbone. Hi-Yella. French vanilla. Butter pecan. Chocolate deluxe. Caramel sundae. French walk (n.) [a pun on Frog n. (2) + SE walk; unwelcome or obstreperous drinkers would be grasped by a couple of bouncers, held up with ail four limbs spread out (like a frog) and tossed into the street] (US) the posture assumed by those being thrown bodily out of a saloon. 1979 Maledicta III:2 159: French walk n Ejecting one from a place forcibly; possibly from the method employed by French pirates to make prisoners walk the plank. Frenchwoman (n.) [fig. use of French to mean strange, mysterious] (W.l.) a fortune-teller, 1929, 1942 cited in

Cassidy

&

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

French v. [oral sex was generally seen as a French 'perversion'] 1 (also french it, french off) to fellate; thus Frenching n. C.1915 implied in Frenching n. 1923 in Poems, Ballads and Parodies 19:

Bartender, he Frenched my Nellie, / He kissed it and stole her away, C.1925 Burgess Papers in K. White First Sexual Revolution (1993) 95: Some of them you cannot tell from a woman ]...] They take it in the ass, French you, like to be called girls names. 1949 'Swasarnt Nerf' et al. Gay Girl's Guide 9: french: Another and quasi-straight ephemism for 'blow' or DO. 1951 D.W. CORY Homosexual in America 105: He Frenches or she likes to French will be said. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 17: french (or french it) (v.): To fellate or cunnilingue, the French pretty much being given credit for originating such; usually a heterosexual term. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 91: Some [whores] will only 'flat-back' or 'french'. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 97: The street where [...] for a year, she humped and frenched off myriad multi¬ ethnic Johns. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 23: Madame Oop would trench you. He'd suck you. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 361: I get to geez, you get to watch Ashtray french me. 2 to deep kiss. 1955 J.H. O'Hara Ten North Frederick 152: She ]...] Frenched me. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 115: The shepherd's frenching him, for Christ's sake. Guy finally gets the dog's tongue out of his mouth. 1981 W. Boyd 'Hardly Ever' On the Yankee Station (1982) 49: It got pretty passionate. Frenching just about all the time. 1985 K. Vacha Quiet Fire 146: I kissed him and he started Frenching. 1987 W.T. Vollmann You Bright and Risen Angels (1988) 331: Usually I charge a dollar a kiss and an extra fifty cents for tongue, but you can French me for nothing. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] French kiss V 1. to kiss with an open mouth, usually placing one's tongue in the other person's mouth. Can also be used as just 'french.' ('They were outside frenching.'). 2000 M.E. Dassad 'Chickenhawk' at www. cultdeadcow.com [Internet] I slid up her body as I fucked her [...] and pried her mouth open and began frenching this little slut, thrusting my tongue deep into her mouth. 2005 Mad mag. Mar. 43: He's frenching me! Help!

French bathe n. [stereotyping of the French as physically as well as morally dirty] (gay) the use of perfumes as a deodorant in lieu of bathing. 1972

B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular.

French bathe v. [French bathe n.] (gay) to use perfumes as a deodorant in lieu of bathing. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French bathe v phr [R[ To use perfumes as a deodorant in lieu of bathing; homosexual slang.

Frencher n. [French v. (1)] one who enjoys oral sex, usu. a man. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: Frencher n [L] Male with a perverse sexual appetite.

Frenchery n. [French adj. (2) + sfx -ery] a brothel. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: Frenchery n [L] House of prostitution.

Frenchie n.^

Frenchie

240

(also Frenchy) [SE French + sfx -/e] 1 (US) a

Frenchman, a person of French descent, a French-Canadian; one who is assumed to be French.

1849

Thackeray

Pendennis I 231: [They] began laughing, jeering,

hooting, and calling opprobrious names at the Frenchman. Some cried out 'Frenchy! Frenchy!' some exclaimed 'Frogs!' 1889 "Arry in Switzerland' Punch 5 Dec. in P. Marks (2006) 98: My larf was sometimes a bit late, / And so flummoxed the Frenchies a few. 1898 Binstead fr Wells Pink 'Un and Pelican 105: The average Frenchy acquires a knowledge of la savate as a means of meting the marauders of the outer boulevards in their own fashion. 1909 W. Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 98: I packed my Frenchie to the menagerie superintendant. 1912 E. Pugh City Of The World 75: Frenchies, Germans, the whole caboodle of us. Chings, too. 1921 N&Q 12 Ser. IX 458: Nor does he appear to have evolved any new generic name for his Allies - 'Frenchies' and 'Belgiques' being usual terms. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 93: GIs were helping an old Frenchie to get drunk. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 255: They call us Frenchies Kiskeedees because it's qu'est-ce qu'il dit. 1967 J. Burke Till Death Us Do Part 11: There's millions of bloody Germans [..,] an bloody Frenchies over here. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 95: The mythical Frenchy who owned it all, or managed it, was also in control of our water supply. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 244: The Frenchies kept screaming 'Chariot!' at Charlie. 2008 Metro (London) 5 Sept. 35: We're rooting for our hero to show these Frenchies a thing or two when it comes to the wine business.

2 anyone seen in the street and classified as foreign. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 137/1: Frenchy (Street, 19 cent., to 1854). A term of contempt addressed to any, man with a foreign air in the streets. 3 as a term of direct address or a nickname. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 351: Lots of pards, Frenchy, if we want them. 1890 H. Lawson 'Possum' in Roderick (1967-9) I 82: Ole Frenchy got excited while he'd play the Mascylays. 1900 R.H. Savage Brought to Bay 82: The chap what kills 'Frenchy' has got to kill Dave or pull 'up stakes' and clear the country. 1909 W, Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 98: If frenchie didn't stop making so much noise in there his suckers would surely spot him. 1917 J. Conrad Shadow Line 298: Frenchy says there's still a jump left in him. 1917 C. Sherwood diary 29 Aug. [Internet] Bought candy and played cards with Bernie [Barnacastle], Frenchy [Arsenalt] and [Herbert] Eastman. 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 226: She make fun of me and call me Frenchy because I no spik American good. 1932 P.G. Cressey Taxi-Dance Hall 103: Now 'Frenchy' is a good-looking little Frenchman who knows how to make love. 1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 3: I didn't want to be called Frenchy. 1956 S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 54: He tell Frenchy how the garage business not doing so well. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 136: Hey you, Frenchy! 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 232: A Frenchman named Christien Simon-Petrie (known as 'Frenchy'). 1991 B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 84: The main hazard was Frenchie [...] his nickname came from his black beret, the kind that every cinematic French man wore.

4 (US) a Cajun. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 45: acadians: [...] coon-ass [also coonie] [...] frenchie, -y; frog [d.frog for French and French Canadians]; swamp-rat.

5 (W.L, St Kitts) a poor white, a descendant of the original French settlers on St Kitts who, as Roman Catholics, lost their status when the island was taken over by the Protestant British in 1690. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. 6 something French, e.g. a play, a boat. 1915 F. Garrett diary 12 May [Internet] Horses are being landed from a Frenchie nearby. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 23 Jan. [synd. col.] A Frenchie called 'Heart of Paris' got itself liked all over, though it doesn't pretend to be super.

Frenchie n.^ (also Frenchy) [stereotyping /

French

adj.

(4)]

1 a

flighty woman. 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 354: The 'Frenchie' displayed her wares, opening her mouth wide, revealing her pink tongue, rolling her eyes.

2 (US Und.) an act of fellatio, usu. as offered by a prostitute. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 205: 'Do you French?' I said [..,] 'Four dollars for French. O.K. for four dollars for a Frenchy?' 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 91: And she said, 'Twenty bucks.' And I said, 'What do I get for that?' And she said, 'A straight or Frenchy if you want it.' 1977 E. Torres Q^A 169: Okay, but only a quick Frenchie. Give me the hundred. 3 (US gay) a fellator. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 149: 'I think my name is Frenchv ...' They all laughed. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 4 a French kiss. 1996 Irish Times 21 May n.p.: 'Shifting', 'meeting' or 'getting off' the slang terms widely used for 'a Frenchie' [BS]. 2006 D. Black Swan Green 249: Give Mummy a Frenchie, die yer?

Mitchell

Frenchie_

241

Frenchie n. (also Frenchy) [SE French fry] (N.Z.) a potato chip.

French leave

frivolous.

Give that there hokey pokey blokey a nice French kiss for me, will you? 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 82: Outside the door he receives a French kiss from attractive 'model' Germaine. 1966 P. Willmott Adolescent Boys of East London 45: She ran out after he tried to give her a 'French kiss'. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 16: Rules of the Game - French kiss.

1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IV:iii 214: Frenchy, light-headed and frivolous. 'I don't like Frenchy girls.' 1923 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 30 July [synd. col.] Then another [girl]. The type Manhattan calls 'Frenchy.' 1940 H. Ranfurly diary 28 Feb. in To War With Whitaker (1994) 21: When 1 asked what Cairo was like he said, 'A filthy, Frenchy, modern town - an ancient, elegant, primitive city'. 2 French.

1987 'Victoria Parker' Pay for Play Cheerleaders [Internet] Then he broke the kiss and leaned over to Chrissie. Their wet mouths met in a fucking French kiss. His hand diddled her cunt. 1997 P.-D. Uys No Space on Long Street (2000) 114: sofie French kiss! You go too far! 2002 Chris Fothergill-Brown 'WWE Confidential Report' 30 Jun. [Internet] And The Rock used to put his arm around you, and we used to kiss a little bit. [Kissing the Rock = 1st base] We used to kiss a little bit, and a lot of tongue. You used to love The Rock's tongue

1995 Capital Times (Wellington) 1-7 Mar. 16: Anyone notice how the quality of chips, french fries, Frenchies (as they're affectionately known to some) has really gone downhill [.,.] recently [DNZE].

Frenchie ad/, (a/so Frenchy) (Frenchie n.^] 1 lightheaded,

1911 G. Stratton-Portbr Harvester 332: 1 think perhaps that's a little Frenchy. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 96: Out climbs a couple that you might have said had been shot over by aeroplane from the Rue de Rivoli. Couldn't tell that so much from her getup as from the Frenchy hat and boulevard whiskers he's sportin'. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 404: You larn that go off of they there Frenchy bilks. 1935 C. Odets Awake and Singl II i: Put up at ritzy hotels, frenchie soap, champagne. 1953 S. Bellow Angle March (1996) 21: One simple moral [...] Frenchy-wise [...] 'Tii I’as voulu, Georges Dandin.' [Ibid.] 127: Frenchy torches held by human-arm brackets out from the walls. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 70: This Frenchy-lookin woman. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 109: Con had him strip to his underwear, the little Frenchie kind. 3 smartly dressed. 1974

Eble

frenchie

Campus SI. Mar. 3: Frenchy - very well dressed,

(also frenchy) contraceptive sheath. n.

[French

letter n.

+

sfx -ie] a

1958 A. SiLLiTOE Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 58: What's the good o' going wi' a married woman if you've got to use a frenchie? 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 68: I got up [...] pulling the sodden frenchie off my prick. 1975 R. Macklin Queenslander 33: He hadn't used a frenchy either. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 33: Take a good supply of Frenchies. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 126: In Lingo, condoms are [...] frenchies.

Frenchified adj. [French ad/. (1) -i- sfx -ified] 1 having venereal disease. 1607 Rowlands Diogenes Lanthorne 14: Matters marke the end of him that hath beene laide fine times of the Pox [...] if he be not throughly frenchified, and well peper'd for his venerie, then I will for seauen yeares eate hay with a horse. 1617 Davies of Hereford Wits Bedlam 297: Your Waste is shamefull then, sith it to hide. Your English Bummes are still so Frenchifide. 1621 J. Taylor 'Travels of Twelve-pence' in Works (1869) I 69: For hauing got a Frenchified heat, / She was prescrib'd a Dyet and a sweat. 1648 Mr Henry Martin: His Speech 4: Bawdy houses [...] have almost gleaned me dry of money, of marrow, and almost frenchyfied my Tongue. 1656 Mennis & Smith 'Upon Naked Bedlams etc.' Musarum Deliciae (1817) 109: Whilst all those naked Bedlams, painted Babies, / Spottified Faces, and Frenchified Ladies [...] Will prove at last, but fooles and beggars prizes. 1671 'L.B.' New Academy of Complements 218: Your Gallant is supply'd, / By his Bones as well, / As his Cloathes you may smell, / He's rarely Frenchify'd. 1682 E, Hickeringill The Mushroom in Works (1709) II 367: She is no French-Miss, nor yet Frenchify'd. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Frenchified, in the French Interest or Mode; also Clapt or Poxt. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1748 Smollett Roderick Random (1979) 360:1 resolved to collect my whole strength of assurance to brow-beat the efforts of her malice, and to publish her adventure with the Frenchified barber, by way of reprisal. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 2 usu. of a woman, sexually talented. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: Frenchified adj [D] Sexually talented; said of a woman.

Frenching n. [French v. (1)/French

n. (4)] fellatio.

C.1915 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 56; Houses where they made a speciality of frenching and the houses were they staged shows, daisy-chains, etc. c.1930 (ref. late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 89: These items of sexual life had various names over the years. [...] The act was most popularly known as Frenching. C.1935 'Peepin' Through the Keyhole' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 52: What a Frenching she gave him.

French kiss n. [French kiss v.) a deep kiss, using the tongue as well as the lips. 1919 F. Hurst 'Oats for the Woman' in Humoresque 78: Pressing a necklace of kisses round her throat [...] 'One more, darling - a French one.' 1936 M. Levin Old Bunch (1946) 180: She [...] gave him a long French kiss. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 103:

didn't you? [Tongue = French kiss] [The British call it "Snogging].

■ In compounds French kiss filter (n.) (gay) any filter-tipped cigarette. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 55: French kiss filter n [R] Any filter-tipped cigarette; homosexual slang.

French kiss v. [French adj. (2) + SE kiss] to kiss with the tongue; thus French kissing n. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 314:

She taught him how to frenchkiss. 1945 D. Vining A Gay Diary (1996) 19 July 486: He likes French kissing. 1949 'SwasarntNerf' et al. Cay Girl's Guide 35: 'French-kissing' or 'soul-kissing' plays a very deep part in all but the most fleeting affairs. 1949-51 in M. Daly Profile of Youth 68: She had 'French kissed' her boyfriend. 1960 G. Swarthout Where the Boys Are 112: The only thing suspect about his innocence was his tendency to French-kiss given the slightest opportunity. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 499: Don't you French kiss? 1988 P. Califia Macho Sluts 29: I love french kissing. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 213: He bit Phoenix on the tongue. Quite far back. Hope she wasn't letting him French-kiss her again. 1996 (ref. to 1963) D. Healy Bend for Home 176: She drove me home at 4 in the morning and taught me to French-kiss in Main Street. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 346: He pulls Estelle to him and kisses her, pushing his tongue into her mouth [...] French kissin, Ghostie explains. 2000 Guardian Guide 5-11 Feb. 77: Where 'plural marriage is the norm' [...] You don't french kiss your husband in front of another wife. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 129: The Dixie Chickens fighting and French-kissing.

French leave n. [negative national stereotyping] absenting oneself from a job or duty without prior permission; usu. as take French leave. 1763 C. Speckman Life, Travels, Exploits, Frauds and Robberies 5: The

inn-keeper's servant I took French leave of in Piccadilly. 1771 Smollett Humphrey Clinker (1925) II 55: He stole away an Irishman's bride and took French leave of me and his master. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: To take French leave; to go off without taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied to persons who have run away from their creditors. 1800 Sporting Mag. Oct. XVII 24/1: You may take French leave — be off like a shot. 1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) III 60: After you took French leave, so much to your credit, great events happened. 1822 Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 23: You who have not only fought shy, and bucketed your pells for many a good thing you did, but who, contrary to all rules of honour among family-men, left your friend on French leave, and ran to town as if you smelled a gallow’s-trap at your heels. 1835 D. Crockett in Meine Crockett Almanacks (1955) 5: I took French leave of him. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms. 1854 F. Smedley Harry Coverdale's Courtship 396: I thought I would avoid all the difficulties [...] by taking French leave, and setting off in disguise and under a feigned name, c.1864 'The Royal Passage' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 58: So she took French leave of Louis, and his foreign fricassees. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 85: I am firmly convinced that I should have taken 'French leave' of the Major, and sought the woods for safety. 1883 R.L. Stevenson Treasure Island 178: My only plan was to take French leave, and slip out when nobody was watching. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 5/4: A street Arab was about to take French leave to seat himself on the step of a 'bus. 1892 H. Nisbet Bushranger's Sweetheart 118: She was also one of the absentees; she had taken French leave. 1908 Gem 17 Oct. 19: 'I've taken French leave,' said Wally with a grin. 1916 'A-No, 1' Snare of the Road 17: Others who previously had acted decidedly homesick took French leave when our last penny had been used. 1929 R. Coleman Girt From Back Home in Hatch Er Hamalian Lost Plays of Harlem Renaissance (1996) 97: Taking French leave? 1935 J. Fishman Sex in Prison 184: Not a single one took 'French leave' over a period of more than two years. 1943 'Myles na gCopaleen' Faustus Kelly in 'Flann O'Brien' Stories d Plays (1973) 188: Are you crazy, man? Have you taken French leave of your senses? 1958 L.F. Cooley Run For Home (1959) 344: It's hard to keep from being hurt when your eldest boy takes

French letter

fresh

242

French leave. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 143: You left the shop, by means of French leave, at about eight, 1979 Maledicta III;2 218: Ethnic insults in gay lingo underline the fact that gays for all their difference still are part of the larger society whose prejudices surface in French tickler and French leave (which the French call Capote anglaise And filer d I’nglais). 1981 G.V. Higgins Rat on fire (1982) 2: My previous fellow officers went out to deliver a piece of paper to a guy that took French leave from the prison. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 12: National rivalries can be traced by the appearance in English of many negative phrases involving Dutch and French, e.g., [...] French leave, departure without notice; and French pox, syphilis. 2000 D.T. Beito From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State 96: On one occasion some boys admitted that they had taken a French leave. French letter n. (also letter) [French ad/. (2) + SE letter; accepted as SE since 1950s] a contraceptive sheath; rare vars. are American/ Italian/Spanish letter. 1837 'Toasts' in Ri-tum Ti-tum Songster 47: Cupid's boarding school, where the naked truth is taught, and the ladies hate French letters. 1879 'Nursery Rhymes' in Pearl 4 Oct. 33: A president called Gambetta / Once used an imperfect French Letter. 1884 Randiana 52: Now all you young ladies take warning had better / [... ] / When you treat John make him wear a French letter. [Ibid.] 115: I surreptitiously pulled off the letter and let my John Thomas approach his lair au naturel [...] flesh is cent, per cent, better than a nasty gutta percha cover. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) II 371:1 began also to use French letters, for reasons she advised me to do so. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 354: French letter still in my pocketbook. Cause of half the trouble. But might happen sometime, I don't think. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 157: French letters. He supplies the prostitutes for miles round. 1945 E. Rutherford 19 Oct. diary in Garfield Our Hidden Lives (2004) 116: The woman who cleans corridors, foyers, lifts, etc. to these flats was going off the deep end terribly yesterday. She had just swept two French letters out of the phone booth in the foyer. 1955 J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 360: French letters floating out to sea. Ought to auction them off in Dublin. 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 39: Anyone want any cheap underwear [...] French letters, boxing gloves? 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 67: I [..,] rolled the french letter I had brought down the length of my prick. 1982 J. Atkins Sex in Lit. IV 188: In the end he couldn't get it in so he pulled the letter off and asked the girl to masturbate him, 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 27: Ah, that's better, as the old woman said when she removed the french letter that had been there since Armistice Day! 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 113: You can bet Paris to a French letter she wasn't in love with any of them. 2001 A. Sillitoe Birthday 7: He learned enough from a mate in the factory to call at the chemist's once a week and provide himself with an adequate supply of french letters. Frenchman n, 1 a scholar of French. 1670 C. Cotton Espernon Preface: The greater part of them being better Frenchmen, than I pretend to be [OED]. 1828 Bentham in Works (1843) I 247: The subject was not without its difficulties; the language French: I am but a sorry Frenchman now; I was, I imagine, not quite so bad an one then [OED]. 2 see FRANSMAN n.

■ SE in slang uses m In compounds Frenchman’s parole (n.) [play on French leave n. (1)] an escape from prison.

1955 'Blackib' Audett Rap Sheet 96; That was the set-up when Frank gave himself the Frenchman's parole and taken it on the lam. Frenchy/frenchy see under Frenchie/frenchie. freney n. [the 18C highwayman [ames Freney, who had one eye] (Irish) a one-eyed person.

1847 J.E. Walsh Ireland Sixty Years Ago (1885) 96: Those who saw and conversed with him described him as a mean-looking fellow, pitted with the smallpox, and blind of an eye, whence Freney became a soubriquet for all persons who had lost an eye. fresh n? [ety. unknown; poss, a misprint for PUSH n. (2a)l (UK Und.) a gathering.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 93/1; He knew a place where there was certain to be a 'big fresh' and we could not fail in 'bagging' a few 'skins' there, fresh n? see fresher n. fresh adj.^ (also freshish) [SE fresh wind, a light wind that is noticeable but that wouldn't blow one over; Egan, Life in London (1821), defines it as 'a country phrase altogether'] tipsy, slightly drunk. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 164: The company, who had not been idle with their glasses, had now got rather freshish. 1837 Disraeli Venetia II 344: 'Are you very drunk?' 'My dear fellow, I am

as fresh as possible.' 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotter SI. Diet. 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 176: He came home from work one Saturday evening 'a little fresh,' but not drunk. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 96:1 thought I heard someone call me on the stairs, but I was a bit fresh. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Apr. 24/3: Two prominent M.L. racing-men set out to christen a new buggy lately, and soon got 'fresh.' [...] [W]hen told to harness-up later on, he costumed the wrong nag. fresh adj? (US black/campus) smart, 'on the ball', aware, attractive; a general term of approval, varying as to context and applying to objects and events as well as people. 1982 Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five 'She's Fresh' [lyrics] That girl is fresh / You know it [...[ Walk so fresh, talk so fresh, you're just so fresh. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 95: Fresh meant well-dressed, the only path to respect back in the housing project. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 86: You gotta go legit, at least for a minute. You gotta go 'state of fresh,' all the way live, if you wanna do anything worthwhile out here. 19972000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Fresh: Neat, cool, awesome, different. Did you see that fresh sports car that just flew by? 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 119: From what I hear the same olds still fresh an well pissed off. ■ In compounds fresh cut (n.) (US black) a short, neat haircut. 1991 N. George 'Michael Bivins' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 65: Sporting fresh cuts. Starter sports gear, and wellrehearsed scowls. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 49: Fresh Cut A nice, clean haircut. ■ In phrases bust fresh (v.) (US teen) to look one's best, usu. coupled to a specific event, such as a party, an anniversary, a festival. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1993 Lerner et al. Diet, of Today's Words 27: Bust fresh - to dress with great style, as in, 'Man, she bust fresh out of sight today'. fresh and fast (ad/.) (also fresh and forward) (W.l.) 1 cheeky and impertinent. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

2 sexually promiscuous. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. 3 of meat, smelling raw (although not stale). 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. 4 of fish, smelling 'off'. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. 5 of popular music, in the latest style. 1987 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996). fresh-up (ad/.) (W.l.) 1 precocious. 1980 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996). 2 sexually cheeky, suggestive. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. ■ SE in slang uses u In compounds fresh bit (n.) see under bit n.\ fresh cat (n.) (US tramp) a new, inexperienced tramp. 1909 W.H. Davies Beggars 50: Others, more kind and considerate, would take what was offered and give it to some poor shovel stiff (navvy) out of work, or a fresh cat (new beginner). 1926 W.H. Davies Adventures of Johnny Walker 20: Wingy knew that he had not seen him before, but he did not want his own presence disgraced by a new-made beggar - who is known to the profession by the name of 'fresh cat'. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 80: fresh Cat.-A neophyte tramp. fresh cow (n.) (US tramp) one who has just developed a venereal disease. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 447: Fresh cow. One with a newly developed case of gonorrhea. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 80: Fresh Cow.-One with a newly developed venereal disease, fresh fish (n.) [note later FISH n.^ (6)] 1 (US prison) a new inmate in a prison; thus fresh fish special, the prison crop given to a new inmate. 1859 Calif. Police Gazette 10 Apr. 1 /4: If a new prisoner arrived at night he was put into the room [...] and the instant he entered, his arrival would be signalized by the words 'fresh fish'. 1864 E. Newsome Experiences 98: The old [...] prisoners would scarcely associate with 'Fresh Fish'. 1871 J.H. Banka State Prison Life 60: Fresh fish is the name applied to all newcomers. 1908 J. Kelley Thirteen Years in Oregon Penitentiary 35: The next boy to be flogged was a 'fresh fish' from Portland. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 42: Several newlooking prisoners walked about [...] They were 'fresh fish,' new arrivals. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 92: Too late for the regular supper, seven of us they called 'fresh fish' were given a meal. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 243: In the old days [...] there came to San Quentin

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a 'fresh fish' — the house burglar Donald Lowrie. 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 239: [He] suddenly found himself a 'fresh fish,' landing in 'the can'. 1971 J.D. Horan Blue Messiah 119: Over there the fresh fish are turned over to the old cons. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2002 Mad mag. Sept. 22: Oh no!!! [...] You want to make me your fresh fish taco!

2 any novice, e.g. a new recruit. C.1880 'The Alphabet Poem' (US Army poem) F is for Fresh Fish, who get eaten like candy. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 155: Young chits, fresh meat and fresh fish [...] pretties and chicken (tender white meat) are chased by rapacious chicken-hawks. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 221:1 was fresh fish out of the academy. 3 a new young prostitute. a.1940 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 139: She hung out a sign on the door: / 'Fresh fish cost you a dollar here, / Fancy fucking cost ten cents more',

fresh hide (n.) [hide n. (1)1 (US black) a new lover or sexual partner. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 151: Freshhide (for a new sexual partner). ’

fresh lamb (n.) see under lamb n}. freshman (n.) (US drugs) a novice drug user. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

fresh meat (n.) see separate entry. fresh union (adj.) [? SAmE union suit, a suit of one-piece underwear] (US) clean, healthy. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. BOURJOIS In Search of Respect 109: He musta just come outta jail because that nigga' looked fresh union. That nigga' was healthy. fresh vegetable (n.) (W.l.) from the perspective of an older woman, the young man one is having a relationship with. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 20: Fresh-vegetable a young man being dated by an older woman,

fresh-whites (n.) a pallid complexion. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. ■ In phrases

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1916 H.N. Cary SI. of Venery.

2 any form of novice, e.g. a new recruit. 1908 J. London Martin Eden 313: Here's fresh meat for your axe, Kreis. 1934 Weseen Diet. Amer. SI. 254: [Sports - Misc.] Fresh meat— A new opponent, especially in prizefighting. 1949 (con. 1943-5) A. Murphy To Hell and Back (1950) 42: Has anyone ever seen a nicer pack of fresh meat? 1957 J. Blake 'Day of the Alligator' in Algren Lonesome Monsters (1963) 133: After a while he'll get a new one to play with and forget about you. He's gotta have fresh meat. 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 340: She's fresh meat, man. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 22: A sergeant, who took one look, called me Freshmeat, and told me to go find some other outfit to get myself killed with. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 12:1 was fresh meat, F.N.G. a Fucking New Guy. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 4: I'm seventeen-year-old freshmeat, just arrived to start my college career. 3 a new sexual partner. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 86: fresh meat [...] 2. someone new to have sex with to nip boredom in the bud. 1980 (con. 1970) W. Sherman Times Square 32: 'He likes you,' the burly detective whispered, 'You're fresh meat.' 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 150: He just wants to fuck some fresh meat. 4 (US Und.) a new, young inmate, esp. a potential victim of predatory prison homosexuals. 1958 W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 35: Sleepin' with a virg and didn't know it. I told ya I was partial to fresh meat. 1965 D. Pearce Cool Hand Luke (1967) 39: Newcocks! Newcocks! Fresh meat over here! You'll be sorr-eeeeeee! 1976 M. Braly False Starts 221: Some trusties loitering there jumped up to look through the windows at the fresh meat. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 155: Young chits, fresh meat and fresh fish [...] pretties and chicken (tender white meat) are chased by rapacious chicken-hawks. 1991 O.D. Brooks Legs 40: They would [...[ rattle the big key ring on the bars, and holler, 'Fresh meat!' 2000 Village Voice (N.Y.) 15 Feb. n.p.: 'Hey, look at the fresh meat!'

fresh as paint (adj.) [play on SE fresh as paint, blooming, healthy] (Aus.)

fresh out (of) phr. (US/Can.) absolutely bereft of; usu. used of

naTve. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Oct. 16/3: On the fresh-as-paint verdancy of the average Jimmy Grant do I enthusiastically agree with brother 'Snell'.

some form of commodity. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 85: 'Why didn't you take a bottle off your own shelf? You deal in milk.' [...] 'We was fresh out. Captain.' 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 132: Dean [...] stole three packs of cigarettes without trying. We were fresh out. 1960 J.D. Macdonald Slam the Big Door (1961) 122: I'm fresh out of alternatives. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 9: Not to mention they were just about fresh out of tucker. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 100: I'm fresh out of ideas.

fresh V. [i.e. calling someone FRESH adj? (1)1 (US black) to compliment. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 90: All the Kids would rap, charm (talk to), or game to impress girlfriends; hang it up (insult) or fresh (compliment) male friends by using special words.

fresher n. (also fresh, freshie) [SE freshman: one of the last survivors of the -ER sfx, which once offered 'Pragger Wagger', the Prince of Wales, 'wagger pagger bagger', waste paper basket etc.] 1 (UK/US campus) a student in their first term at a university. 1839 'Vincent Eden' in Bentley's Misc. 316: He [...] was told that he could not have a fresher than the gentleman in the coffee-room. The luggage was accordingly huddled into the barrow, and the embryo collegian was stepping into the street. [Ibid.] 319: They generally put fresh gentlemen in the back buildings. 1882 Society 14 Oct. 4/2: The entry of freshers is about two hundred under the average [OED]. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) C: fresh or freshie n. Freshman. 1900 Boy's Own Paper 17 Nov. 110: Dressed in flannels, long trousers - they must be long to proclaim to the world that you are only a 'Fresher'. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN ll:i 37: fresh, n. A freshman [...] freshie, n. A freshman. 1923 WODEHOUSE Inimitable Jeeves 123: He was in his fourth year at Oxford when 1 was a fresher. 1929 H.W. Brecht Downfall 257: That's what happens when an insignificant freshie has a little luck. 1935 .1. Conroy World to Win 121: Look at that Goddamn fairy, Ralph Gibson [...] Look at the way he shakes it up. He's tried to make every freshie on the campus. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 22: Three or four freshers, total airheads, roysh.

2 a new arrival among a group of soldiers. 1914 B.J. Brookes diary 6 Nov. [Internet] Freshers are always so eager to hear tale of the Front.

freshie n.

Icolloq. fresh, cheeky, forward] (US) one who is considered sexually or verbally forward.

1913-14 Van Loan 'The Pearl Brooch' in Taking the Count 251: Quit that, freshie [...] 1 don't let a man kiss me until I'm acquainted with him. 1919 F. Hurst 'White Goods' in Humoresque 130: Say, and ain't you a freshie!

freshish adj. see fresh adj.^. fresh meat n. [SE fresh + meat n. (1); pun] 1 a newly fledged prostitute.

Freshwater adj. ■ SE in slang uses m In compounds Freshwater Bay (n.) [the then adjacent Fleet River; the prison closed in 1842, the market in 1826) (UK Und.) 1 the Fleet prison. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry III v: Welcome to 'FreshewaterBay,' to my new settlement on board the 'Never-Wag man of war'. 1890 C. Hindley Vocab. and Gloss, in True Hist, of Tom and Jerry 175: Freshwater Bay. The Harbour of the F/eer-Prison. 2 Fleet Street Market. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

Freshwater mariner (n.) (a/so freshwater seaman) (UK Und.) 'their shippes were drowned in the playne of Salisbury' (Harman), such criminal beggars claimed to have suffered shipwreck or piracy and requested alms to return home. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 48: These freshe-water-mariners, their shippes were drowned in the playne of Salisbury. These kinde of caterpillars, counterfeit great losses at sea: [...[ These wyll runne about the countrey wyth a counterfet lycence, fayninge either shypwracke, or spoyled by Pyrates. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching n.p.: [as cit. c.1566]. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Fresh-water-seamen, that have never been on the Salt, or made any Voyage, meer land-Men. 1817 J.T. Smith Vagabondiana n.p.: Among the cadgers, there are a number of fresh-water sailors, who never saw a vessel but from London Bridge. Freshwater soldier (n.) a professional beggar who trades on his spurious reminiscences of battles and campaigns of which, in fact, he has no personal experience. 1603 Dekker Wonderfull Yeare 5: Thile be found to be most pitifull pure fresh-water souldiers. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 15: An idle fellow, and a fresh-water souldier, neuer sayling further than Graues-end. 1622 J. Mabbe (trans.) Life of Guzman Pt II Bk II 109: Some fresh-water-Souldiers, that were but Novices and yong Travellers. 1637 T. Heywood Royal King and Loyal Subject I i: Cock,

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thy father was a fresh-water soldier, thou art not. 1665 'R.M.' Scarronides 91: He is no fresh-water soldier. 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian 65: You, like a fresh-water Soldier, stood guarding the Pass before: if you miss'd the Enemy, you may thank your own dulness. Freshwater trout (n.) [play on fish n? (1)] (US black) an attractive woman, usu. in a group. 1944 D. Burley Ori0. Hbk of Harlem Jive 105: I'm coming on hard with the gum action and the fresh water trout is jumping and nibbling.

freshwater n. (W.L, Trin.) a West Indian who visits America and comes back with a US accent. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

fress V. [Yid. fress, to eat; thus play on EAT v. (4)] (or/g. US) to perform either form of oral intercourse, usu. cunnilingus. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 43: He walked into the bathroom while she was 'fressing the maid'. 'Fre.ssing' is Yiddish: it means eating.'

fresser n. [fress v.j (US) 1 a glutton. 1885 Amer. Hebrew 15 May n.p.: After the Rabbinical conference at Philadelphia, he denounced his colleagues as trefa fresser.s. 2 one who performs cunnilingus or fellatio, 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 236: So all the schtuppers . . . turn into fressers.

fret one’s fat v, to worry; also as phr. Cod fret my fat. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 51: Don't you fret your fat about me. 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 13: Keep your shirt on. Blue. God fret my fat, I don't mean no offence.

frey v. see vry v. friar tuck n. [rhy. si. = fuck n. (1)] sexual intercourse; thus as a euph. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 38: College Harry on the back seat, cursing like Friar Tuck on a wet Wednesday. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 27:1 don't give a Friar Tuck! 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] Not that I care, my old man is starting to strain at every nerve and having Monica clocking all the action is really putting me into the mood for a friar tuck.

friar tuck v. Ifriar tuck n.) to have sexual intercourse. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2003 The Cockney Handbook: Rhyming SI, on powdermonster.net [Internet] Friar Tuck - fuck (As in the apparent spoonerism 'would you like to Friar Tuck?').

friar tucked adj. [friar tuck n.] a euph. for fucked adj.^. 1998 C. Fitzpatrick 'Gower '98' on Sussex University Canoe Club [Internet] By this time I was friar tucked off my Chevy chase and was highland flinging along with everyone else.

frib n. [ety. unknown] (UK Und.) a stick. 1753 J. POULTER Discoveries (1774) 43: A Jacob and Frib; a Ladder and Stick. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving [as cit. 1753],

fribble n. (also fribler, fribbler) [echoic -F ? SE frivol] a sexually inadequate male; thus fribbled, fribbling adjs.; as v., to behave in a sexually inadequate manner; the underlying inference is of effeminacy. 1635 R. Brome Sparagus Garden II ii: As true as I live he fribles with mee sir. 1656 R. Fletcher (trans.) Martiall his Epigrams III No. 63 27: What sayst? is this thy pretty man? this tool? He then that's pretty's but a fribling fool. 1663 J. Wilson Cheats I iii: A company of fribbles, enough to discredit any honest house in the world. 1675 Head Art of Wheedling 150: An impertinent person, eagerly discoursing the conduct of some amorous Female Conquests, as the Wife of Mr. Fribble. 1680 N. Lee Brutus Epilogue: [The] fribling, fumbling Keepers of the Age. 1709 'Phoebe Crackenthorpe' Female Tatler (1992) (17) 42: Mr. Fribble, Mr Bisket and Mr Nincompoop. 1710 Johnson Love in a Chest I i: Thou Impotent Fribler. 1712 R. Steele in Spectator 288 30 Jan. II 360: They whom my Correspondent calls Male-Coquets, shall hereafter be called Fribblers. A Fribbler is one who professes Rapture and Admiration for the Woman to whom he addresses, and dreads Nothing so much as her Consent. 1747 Garrick Miss in her Teens Prologue: The vap'ring bully and the frib'ling beau. 1749 H. Fitzcotton (trans.) Homer's Iliad 26: Such jolly kick-and-cuffing men. / One of them could have maul'd, with ease / Ten fribbles of the modern days. 1753 Diet, of Love n.p.: fribble This word signifies one of those ambiguous animals, who are neither male nor female; disclaimed by his own sex, and the scorn of both. 1756 W. Toldervy Hist, of the Two Orphans III 106: It was a severe punishment to the fribbled jessamy waiter. 1768 Gentleman's Bottle-Companion 5: I start not as tim'rous fribbles have done. 1772 G. Stevens 'Kissing' in Songs Comic and Satyrical 68: The love of a fribble at self only aims: / For sots and clowns - class them with beasts. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p,: Fribble, an effeminate fop, a name borrowed from a celebrated character of that kind, in the farce of Miss in her teens, written by Mr. Garrick. 1792 Sporting Mag. Dec. I

176/1: The fribble in office, by blockheads carest. 1804 Sporting Mag. Jan. XXIII 220/1: The funny fribble immediately answered in a fierce tone. 1819 Gent's Mag. 7; Dandy [...] is applied to a certain set of men not unlike those formerly denominated Fribbles, whom, instead of supporting the dignity and manliness of their own sex, incline to the delicacy and manners of a female. 1821 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Wife (1868) 249/1: I do not such a polish wear [...] To rank among the dandy fools, / Who are gay Fashion's fribbling tools. 1822 D. Carey Life in Paris 226: She was indeed a figure worthy of our hero's attention, and most unfit to have been matched with such a fribble. 1857 C. Kingsley Two Years Ago I 172: Scoutbush clung to any superior man who would take notice of him, and not treat him as the fribble which he seemed. 1859 G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 269: The ephemeral brilliance of the fribble Chesterfield,

frick n. a euph. for fuck n.; also as excl. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 427/2: C.20. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: frick/fricking - expletive. 'I don't give a frick what you want,' 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: frick - exclamation of anger, frustration, condemnation. Frick! I've got a paper [...] to do over our fricking spring break.

frick and frack n. [echoic of the sound of their knocking together; ult. frick and Frack, the 1920s-30s Swiss comedy skating team, who performed in the US and Europe. They were famous for a routine where they would put the heels of their skates together, bend their knees and skate in large circles with their bodies leaning outwards] (US black) the testicles. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 198: There were also terms related to men and sex: [,..\ frick and frack (testicles),

frickinchaten n. [? friccinc n. (1)/frickinc adj. + SE chatting] (US black) talking seductively to a woman. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] frickinchaten Definition: talkin to the honeys Example: Yo I gonna get my frickenchaten on!

tricking adj. a euph. for fucking adj. (1). 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 427/2: C.20. 1973 L. Jewkins in Heller In This Corner (1974) 237: That fricking bum [...] I could knock him out in 1 round easy. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: frick/fricking expletive. 'I don't give a frick what you want.' 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 166: Awww shit! Cops! My frickin' luck. 2005 Observer Mag. 27 Nov. 10: Well you ain't frickin' going out tonight.

Friday n. (US Und.) hanging day. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 35: Friday Hangman's day. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

Friday face (n.) (also February face) [Friday's trad, status as a day of abstinence either from all food or from meat] a miserable or dour face; thus Friday-faced adj., miserable, gloomy. 1599 Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing V iv: Good morrow Benedick. Why, what's the matter. That you have such a February face. So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness? 1606 Wily Beguiled 57: Marry out upon him: what a Friday fac't slave it is! I think in my conscience, his face never keepes Holiday. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Friday face, a dismal countenance, before and even long after the reformation. Friday was a day of abstinence or jour maigre. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1873 SI. Diet. 169: Friday-face a gloomy-looking man. Most likely from Friday being a day of meagre fare among Cathlics and High Church Protestants. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet (1890). 1900 B. Runkle Helmet of Navarre 198: And there is small need to look so Friday-faced about it. If I have denied you one lover, I will give you another just as good. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DN IV:iii 218: Friday-faced, gloomy. 'Why so Friday-faced'? Trouble must have been brewing.' ■ In phrases frighten Friday (n.) [SE/r/g/iten, frightened -F FRAIDY ad/., or/Wan Friday, the black character in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1 719)] (W.l.) a timid

person. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

that’ll be frosty Friday (Can./N.Z.) never, that is very unlikely, 'that'll be the day'. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 112/2: that'll be the frosty Friday/ frozen fortnight Kiwi variants of 'that'll be the day'. 2003 McGill Reed Diet of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

fridge n. (Aus.) a prison. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang.

fridge freezer n. [rhy. si. = geezer n.'' (1)i a man. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] You're a good looking fridge freezer, so I wouldn't mind having a few flight officer Biggies with you.

fried adj. [fig. uses of SE] 1 very drunk; thus fried to the gills/tonsils, extremely drunk.

frieda

1929 D. Parker 'The Last Tea' in Penguin Dorothy Parker (1982) 183; I must have been fried pretty. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 114: Even if he is fried to the hat some fine preservative instinct always warns Marlowe when it is time to act. 1943 R.L. Bellem 'Monster's Malice' Dan Turner - Hollywood Detective May [Internet] I'm going to get fried to the hat. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 65; [The] underlying suggestion that I was fried to the tonsils. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 275: Yet, guilty as it makes me, I manage to stay fried. 1964 in Current SI. (1967) 1:4. 1982 Eble Campus SI. Spring 3: fried - to be drunk. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 64: By the time six o'clock arrived, Winnie was half fried. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad. 2 (US) dead. 1985 (con. 1969-70) D. Bodey F.N.G. (1988) 88: I think Charlie is either fried over there or has made his didi. 3 (drugs) extremely intoxicated by a drug, usu. cannabis. 1961 J.A. Williams Night Song (1962) 135: Lay here on your ass and get your brains fried. 1975 cited in Spears SI. and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986). 1985 Totally True Diaries of an Eighties Roller Queen [Internet] 18 June Today Kim, Jackie, Tammy and I bought a gram of hash at the billiards and got fried. It was fun. 1995 A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] It is one thing to spark up a dubie and get laced at parties, but it is quite another to be fried all day. 2002 T. Dorsey Triggerfish Twist (2002) 87: 'How do you feel?' asked Bernie. Coleman looked slowly around the room. '[...] stewed, baked, fried, cooked, toasted, roasted, [...]'. 4 (US campus) (also fried out) angry. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 5 (US) very tired, worn out, hungover. 1978 D. DeLillo Running Dog (1992) 72: My fried hair. Disarmed you. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: fried - absentminded, incoherent, irrational, mentally fatigued because of over celebration. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 1991 D. Gaines Teenage Wasteland 68: Joe's been up for more than a day already. He's fried. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 152: He was fried to exhaustion. 6 (US campus) defunct. 1981 Eble Campus SI. Fall 3: fried - defunct, inoperable, used up: Long time use of drugs had left him with a fried brain. 1983 R. Price Breaks 299: Unless his fucking brain is fried, in which case fuck 'im, right? 7 (US campus) sunburned. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Apr. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fried carpet (n.) [? resemblance of the fried fish] fish and chips. 1891 Tit-Bits 8 Aug. 277/2: Fried carpet - an improved Cockneyism for 'fish and 'raters': the delicacy so designated,with 'no stinting o' winegar, gentlemen' - an important consideration with many - is handed out at three-halfpence a plate, fried fish wrapper (n.) see fish-wrapper under fish n.''. fried shirt (n.) [var. on boiled ad/'.j (US) a heavily starched shirt, a dress shirt. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN IILi 80: fried shirt, n. Facetious for a freshly starched and ironed shirt. 1912 R.W, Brown 'Word-List From Western Indiana' in DN IILviii 576: fried shirt, n. A stiff-bosomed shirt. 1925 O.P. White Them Was the Days 147: Wearing a fried shirt, a boiled collar, [...] patent leather shoes. 1936 R.F. Adams Cowboy Lingo 38: A stiff shirt was 'baldfaced,' 'boiled,' or a 'fried' one.

frieda adj. [initial letter] 1 (S.Afr. gay) sexually frustrated. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/2: Frieda adj. [...] sexually frustrated. 2 (S.Afr. gay) frigid. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/2: Frieda adj. 1. sexually frigid [Western Cape]. 3 (S.Afr. gay) fickle, unfaithful. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 70/2: Frieda adj. [...] fickle,

fried bread adj. [rhy.

friendly road, the

245

si.] dead.

1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

fried, dyed, laid to the side adj. (also fried, dyed, swooped to the side; fried, dyed, swept to the side) [fry (one's hair) under FRY V.; the three processes that are undertaken to straighten and arrange black hair] (US black) of straightened black hair that is attempting to emulate the texture and even colour of a white person's hair. [1965 T. Wolfe Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (1966) 19; Their [i.e, old white women's] hair has been fried and dyed into impossible shapes.] 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 141: Dem Kennedy boys — dey got dey hair fried, dyed and swooped to d' side. 1993 K. Scott Monster (1994) 229: We had taken in his dress and fried hair dripping nuclear waste. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 58: She turned me into a Black prince with a fabulous wardrobe. She kept my hair fried and laid to the side. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www. dolemite.com [Internet] fried Definition: hair that has been treated

with an acidic solution to remove natural kinkiness Example: Dot man look so smooth with his hair dyed, fried and laid to the side. 2004 F. Cee Post-9/U African Amer. Style 133: [From] Conk, a word that means fried, dyed, and laid to the side, to something called of all things, a damn Shagg.

fried eggs n.^ [rhy. sl.j (Aus.) legs. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 428/1: C20. 1960 J. Franiclyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

fried eggs n.^ [supposed resemblance] (orig. Aus.) small or undeveloped female breasts. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 428/1: Aus. [,..] since ca. 1930. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec, n.p.; fried eggs n. Small breasts. As in: 'Do you fancy that Kate Moss?' 'Naaaah! Tits like fried eggs.'

fried out adj. 1 see burned out adj.^ (1). 2 see FRIED adj. (4). fried potato n. (also baked potato) [rhy. sL; note Cockney pron. 'pertater'j (US) a waiter. 1920 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 38: Fried potato - that's a waiter. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog 12: I've asked the baked potato for a Joe Blake and some rosebuds.

fried rice n. [rhy. sl.i (Aus.) the price. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] fried rice: the price,

friend n. 1 a prostitute's boyfriend or lover, but not necessarily her pimp. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 214: The term friend, is in constant use among accessible ladies, and signifies their protector or keeper. 1833 'The Beak and Trap to Roost are Gone' in Swell!!' or, Slap-Up Chaunter 48: All's gloom where'er we bend; Your glim except, that shows some frow / Has just brought home a friend. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 2 (US black) menstruation; thus euph. phr. I have friends to stay, I am menstruating. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 91: friends to stay A female menstruation period. [Ibid.] 114: have a friend To menstruate. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 121: Friend, get your [...] Friend, have a visit from a Be menstruating. 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease II iv: Your friend. Your period. ■ In phrases my friend (n.) (also my little friend, my others) (Aus./Ulster/US) menstruation. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 94: 'Take your pants off, darling.' 'I've got "my friend".' 1982 N, Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 32: There are probanbly as many slang synonyms for menstruation and its appurtenances as there are offices and factories and girls' schools in Australia [..,] Older generations talk of 'my friend' or 'the curse'. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 159; Me others were late. 1996 (con. 1970) G. Moxley Danti-Dan in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) I iv: I'm due my Auntie Jane. My friend, do you get me? 1999 J. Randall 'A Visit from Aunt Rose' in Verbatim XXV; 1 Winter 25: The personification of the period, odd as it may be, is a popular coding. Generally the period takes on the identity of a friend or relative, usually female, who comes for a visit: my friend, my little friend, my aunt, my grandmother. Mother Nature, Miss Rachel, Sophie, or Maty Lou. my unconverted friend (n.) (US) a revolver, a pistol. 1869 'South-Western SI,' in Overland Monthly (CA) Aug. 126: Among the names of revolvers I remember the following: Meat in the Pot, Blue Lightning, Peacemaker, Mr. Speaker, Black-eyed Susan, Pill¬ box, My Unconverted Friend. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases friend of Dorothy(’s) (n.) see Dorothy's friend n. friend of Oscar (n.) [the gay icon, playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1901)] a male homosexual. 1999 (con. 1927) S. Selvadurai Cinnamon Gardens (2000) 111: They're, you know ... inverts. 'Friends of Oscar,' as Aunt Ethel used to say, 1999 Guardian Sport 9 Apr. 16: He bowls from the Pavilion End ]...] he's a friend of Oscar,

friendly lead n. a subscription to help an unfortunate friend, usu. held by a 'whip-round' in a public house. 1871 Daily Tel. 4 Dec. n.p.: This was the secret business, the tremendous conspiracy, to compass which it was deemed necessary to act with infinitely more caution than the friends of Bill Sikes feel called to exercise when they distribute tickets for a friendly lead for the benefit of Bill, who is just out of his trouble [F&H]. 1889 Cassells Sat. Journal 5 Jan. n.p.: The men frequently club together in a friendly lead to help a brother in distress [F&H]. 1892 Ally Sloper 2 Apr. 106/3: My father takes the chair at friendly leads [F&H].

friendly road, the n. (N.Z.) of workers, the decision to side with one's employer during an industrial dispute.

fries

frig

246

1938 R, Hyde Nor Years Condemn 171: 'Righto, coming out.' Out of eighty quarry-men, three stayed on the friendly road, and had to take to the bush for the day.

fries n. m SE in slang uses ■ In phrases do fries go with that shake? see under shake n?. 1 don’t make the fries (the image of a worker in a junk-food restaurant] {US teen) a phr. used to express the fact that one does not have any influence on the outcome of life. 1999-2002 Torgo Software Top Floor Store [Internet] Construction Slang 1 Don't Make the Fries Exclamation used to indicate that something bad is not one's fault or responsibility. 2002 The Daily Hammer Blue Hammer 26 Apr. [Internet] Here are the words and phrases that we will try to use as much as possible: Hey, 1 don't make the fries.

frig n. [frig v.j 1 an act of masturbation. 1786 'The Court of Equity' in Burns Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 210: He who when at a lass's by-job, / Defrauds her with a frig or dry-bob. a.1796 'The Court of Equity' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 282: The sneak wha, at a lasses by-job / Defrauds her wi' a frig or dry-bob. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) 1 130: Couples used to come for a grope, a frig, or even for a fuck. 2 sexual intercourse. C.1864 'The Female Auctioneer' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 138: Ye bachelors, with p—ks so big, / I pray don't be misled, / For I never yet have had a f— g. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Frig Sexual intercourse (taboo word). 3 a euph. for fuck n. in various fig. senses. 1944 A. Kapelner Lonely Boy Blues (1965) 93: Who the frig is Sam Duncan? 1962 H, Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: No ambition and frigg-all interest. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 170: What the frig are you waiting on? 1977 A. Bleasdale Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed 118: I don't give a frig about other people. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 7: Francie, ferfrigsake. [Ibid,] 102: Who the frigs 'e think 'e is! 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita I vii: An' I stood in that pub an' thought, just what the frig am I trying to do? 1993 (con. 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 170: What the frig's it got to do with you? 2000 Greenberg & Tucille War of the Werewolf 265: 'I still can't figure out what the frig is goin' on,' Nicky said. 2003 Mad mag. Oct. 36: Why don' you shut the frig up, Kenny. 2009 J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 116: What the frig was he on about? 4 {US) a general derog. term of address. 1961 J.A. Williams Night Song (1962) 78: Do you dig, frig? Now do you understand? You white. It's your world. 5 {US gay) lesbian sexual intercourse, based on the partners rubbing against each other's body. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Frig - Sex between two women, often involving one rubbing the genitals of the other with her fingers; probably derived from friction. ■ In compounds frigpot (n.) {Irish) a term of abuse. 1977 (con. 1940s) S. McAughtry Sinking of the Kenbane Head 107: Man, Thomson, but you're a great frigpot,

frig V. [Lat, fricare, to rub; note 18C SE frication, rubbing, in sexual context masturbating a partner] 1 to have sexual intercourse. 1522 Skelton Why Come Ye Nat to Courte? line 224: He foynes and he frygges; Spareth neither mayde ne wyfe. 1598 Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Frottare ]...] Also to rub or claw or frig, c.1610-20 'Why Do You Trifle?' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 8: No child is fonder of the Gig / Than I to dance a merry jig: / Faine would I try how I could (frig) / Up and downe, up and downe, up and downe. 1624 J. Taylor 'Praise of cleane Linnen' Works II 170: Captaine named Catso, descended from the Royall house of Frigus the first King of the Fridgians. 1656 R. Fletcher (trans.) Martiall his Epigrams XI No. 82 108: An Eunuch and an old man strove to lye With Aegle, but twixt both she still lay dry. One wanted meanes the other strength to frig, So cither's labor itch'd without a lig. 1674 F. Fane 'Iter Occidemale' Harleian Mss. 7319.20: Enrag'd he then with double Fist do's F--gg her, 1688 'Session of Ladies' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 209: His prick to a courtesan never yet stood, / Who is fucked by her black and frigged by her valet. a.1700 Ladies Complaint in Lansdowne Ms. 852.279: In Closet shut Close [..,] He's fr-ing his Pages or Picking his Nose. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 124: 01 how they do frig it, / Jump it and Jigg it, / Under the Green-wood Tree, c.1864 'A Parody' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 111: He must follow up the fashion, / And frig me night and day, 1879 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 60: There was a strong man of Drumrig / Who one day did seven times frig. / He buggered three sailors, / Four Jews and two tailors, / And ended by fucking a pig.

1880 'La Rose d'Amour' in Pearl 14 Aug. 10: Fourteen times did those men frig the women under them, changing women every now and then. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 131: 'How did it sound to you. Sergeant Evans?' 'If you ask me. Sir, [...] like a pack of skeletons frigging on a tin roof.' c.1938 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 418: She let me 'frig' her in her ass hole. 1946 W.L. Gresham Nightmare Alley (1947) 228: The dame and the old guy can be together for ever, frigging like rabbits. 1964 P. Terson Night to Make the Angels Weep (1967) II xvi: You see a lawyer, mate, and the governor will have you for trespassin', loitering, and frigging, frigging, wife-not-satisfying ... 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 1991 P. Carey Tax Inspector (1992) 44: He turned and walked [...] wiggling his butt like a frigging tom cat. 1997 (con. 1960s) D. Farson Never a Normal Man 330: Was it punishment for coming on him when he was frigging the nanny-goat behind the hedge?

2 to masturbate. 1598 Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Fregare, to rub, to frigle. to frigge. to claw, to fret. 1611 R. Cotgrave Diet, of Fr. and Eng. Tongues n.p.: Bransler la pique. To frig, to wrigle it, 1656 R. Fletcher Ex Otio 100: Frig not thy self with thy lascivious fist. 1667 'Lampoon' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 21: But now she must travel abroad / And be forced to frig with the nuns, c.1673 Rochester 'A Ramble in St. James's Park' in Works of Rochester (1721) 79: Poor pensive Lover in this Place, / Wou'd frig upon his Mother's Face. C.1680 'Historical Ballad' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) V 21: Her maidenhead never was gotten by man. She frigg'd it away in the womb of her damm. 1680 'On Several Women about Town' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 33: There was a bouncing widow with a patch on her nose, / Who loves fucking better the older she grows, / And has learned of the Tartar to frig with her toes. 1709 N. Chorier (trans.) of Meursius 'The Delights of Venus' in Cabinet of Love (1739) 189: All Night she thinks on Man, both toils and sweats, / And dreaming frigs, and spends upon the Sheets. a.1749 Robertson of Struan 'On Mris, F-n' in Poems (1752) 83: So to a House of Office streight / A School-Boy does repair, / To ease his Postern of its Weight, / And fr-- his P-there. c,1750 'Frigging' in Bold (1979) 90: Other frig when swelling prick dothe rise. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Frig, to be guilty of the crime of self pollution. 1879 Pearl 3 Sept. 30: There was an Old Man of the Mountain / Who frigged himself into a fountain. 1881 Sins of the Cities of the Plain 14: He was gently frigging himself as he spoke, and had a glorious stand by the time he had finished. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 139: Foutre en main = to masturbate; 'to frig' or 'finger-fuck'. 1910-38 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 105: To fuck and to bugger is pain / But it's not infra dig t On occasion to frig. 1927 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 268: There was a young lady named May / Who frigged herself in the hay. C.1940 Good Ship Venus in Bold (1979) 100: They started frigging against the rigging / For want of better places. 1951 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 689: It would pain you to the heart / To see those bulldogs frig and fart. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1973 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & FFUCKES 'The Good Ship Venus' in Snatches and Lays 87: We bashed his cock with a lump of rock, for friggin' in the riggin'. 1977 (con. 1940s) S. McAughtry Sinking of the Kenbane Head 103: 'Away and frig yourself. Corporal,' I said. 3 to masturbate another person. 1647 J. Howell in Wardroper (1969) 197: And lest her sire should not thrust alone / She frigged her father in her mother's womb. 1681 'The Ladies' March' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 57: Mazarin for St. Peter's glory / Frigs King Charles and fucks with Lory. [Ibid.] 'Session of Ladies' 209: His prick to a courtesan never yet stood, / Who is fucked by her black and frigged by her valet, C.1788 'R. Birch' 'Venus School-Mistress' in Pettit & Spedding ISC British Erotica III (2004) 47: I often whipped her for pleasure, and even frigged her. 1880 'Sub-Umbra, or Sport among the She-Noodles' in Pearl 7 Jan. 4:1 actually got possession of her cunny [...] and soon began to frig her gently with my forefinger. 1884 Randiana 24; 'Tis better frigging with one's toe. Than never to have frigged at all. 1909 Joyce letter 3 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) 183: Did you ever frig him [...] or anyone else? 1998 'Bill E, Goodhead' Nubile Treat [Internet] He ass-humped her like a maniac, frigging away at her clit. 2001 'Randy Ev^rhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 270; I frigged her clit and rammed for ten minutes more. 4 to trifle or fool around (with), to waste time; thus fr/c about below. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) I 121: Holo, cry others, don't stand *****, / But bear a hand, and mend the rigging. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 278: Is it ... rough ... here? he asked, untying his shoelaces and frigging with the buckles on his boots. 1983 S. King Christine 419; You don't want to frig with'me.

frigate 5 to cheat.

1928 Randolph & Pingry 'Kansas University SI.' in III:3 219: He frigged me out of the last bottle of Scotch! 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 208: They'll last about as long as a fart in a whirlwind, and they'll frig themselves and ever'body else out of a job. 1945 S.J. Perelman letter 16 Mar. in Crowther Don't Tread on Me (1987) 60: 1 don't use a literary agent, but I probably should, because I have been frigged time and again by publishers. 6 a euph. for fuck v. (3); thus excl. frig it! fric you! below. 1946 W.L. Gresham Nightmare Alley (1947) 20: Frig him, the Biblespouting bastard. 1950 'Hal Ellson' Tomboy (1952) 161: Frig her [... ] She's just the same as all the rest of them. 1962 (con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 325: Frig it! If the man is going to get me, he'll get me. 1965 C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969) 108: If it was up to me. I'd leave him lay, and frig the cops. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 18: Ah, frig it. I'm not going in those houses. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: frigged: Tired, had it. 1995 A. Higgins Donkey's Years 68: Frig the fecker. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 203: I will have a chance to frig 'him up on the way there. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] frig n. polite way of saying 'fuck'; e.g. 'Friggin' 'ell!!' 7 to perform lesbian sex, where the genitals are rubbed together. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 23: Two hoors are having a good licking and frigging session. ■ Derivatives friggish (ad/.) sexy. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 123: Now them old broads will come in, in them old friggish teddies, and start doin' the mess around— / that's the jive in the landladies con game to tear your bankroll down. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 136: You light up a stick of tea and you both get high, / then you both get friggish and then you pull off every stitch. ■ In compounds frig-beard (n.) [SE beard; the image is of the adult, bearded male; but note BEARD n. (1)1 a degenerate, a seducer. 1604 Middleton Black Book in Works (2007) 212/2: Pierce was never so penniless as poor Lieutenant Frig-beard. [Ibid.] 215/2; I constitute and ordain Lieutenant Frig-beard, Archpander of England, my sole heir of all such lands, closes, and gaps as lie within the bounds of my gift. 1696 Mottbux (trans.) Pantagruelian Prognostications (1927) II 693: Those who are under Mars, as hangmen [...] shavers, and frig-beards,

frig-pig (n.) a fussy, trifling person. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. ■ In phrases frig about (v.) [also frig around) to trifle, to waste time, to fool around. 1929 C. McKay Banjo 241: Don't think I like frigging round officials. I hate it. 1935 M. Harrison Spring in Tartarus 213: I'd have lost my soul frigging about in an office. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 97; Time he'd had a go down there, and poked a couple of brushes up, and frigged about a bit, I couldn't hardly keep me mitts off of him. 1948 S.L. Elliott Rusty Bugles I vi: After they frigged me around for so long I got home the day after the funeral. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 15: I worked too hard for what 1 got to frig around with a cheese-eater. 1960 (con. WWII) G. Morrill Dark Sea Running 11: A ship is full of machinery that can chop you in half if you frig around with it. 1963-74 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 15: There's a ruddy tramp frigging about on the lawn! [Ibid.] 30: I feel a bit of a ratbag frigging about like this. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 79: After some frigging around with the pressel-switch [...] he spoke to Blue Spot. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 73: Me sons'll be out lookin' for me, they're all big lads. I'll tell them y'frigged me about. 1978 R. De Christoforo Grease 174: They know better than to frig around with us. 1987 M. Bml Holden's Performance (1989) 296: Follow me and no frigging about. 1993 (con. 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 35: Before the war he had frigged me about from arsehole to breakfast time. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 4: Don't frig about, Chaks.

frig off (v.) 1 to masturbate, oneself or another. 2001 1. Welsh Glue 39: Ah'm [...] wonderin if the dirty cunt that made the name up wis ivir thinkin aboot some bird eh wis friggin oaf. 2 to leave, to go away. 1948 S.L. Elliott Rusty Bugles 1 iv: It I was married to Mac I'd have frigged off long ago. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 171: Now I know why me dad frigged off.

frig up see separate entries.

frigged-up

247

frig-your-buddy week (n.) see

fuck-your-buddy week under fuck

V.

■ In exclamations frig off! a euph. for fuck off!

excl.

1981 W. Boyd 'Hardly Ever' On the Yankee Station (1982) 42: 'Frig off, Holland,' the boy said tonelessly. 1993 (con. 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 87: Hey, frig off, Hughie.

frig you! a semi-euph. synon. for fuck you! exc/. 1948 I. WOLFERT An Act of Love 430: And furthermore, frig you, too. Captain. 1957 G. Metalious Peyton Place (1959) 307: 'Frig you,' said Kenny hostilely. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer. Burnt 69: Frig you! Frig you! Frig you! 1965 C. Himes Cotton Comes to Harlem (1967) 139: 'Give us the key and we'll strike off the murder.' Deke looke up at him as though from a great distance. [...] 'Frig you,' he said. 1971 R.O. Blackwood Operant Control of Behavior n.p.; 'Frig you, Mr. Daddy...' Rick's hand lashed out, slapping West squarely across the mouth, 1979 J. Morrow Confessions ofProinsias O'Toole 55: Frig you and your stinking drawers! 1999 H. Hock Forever Green 97: Frig you man, I ain't callin' nobody! [...] Frig yer mother too, 2000 P.A. Bramadat Church on the World's Turf 16: It's so obvious what you really mean when you say 'Frig you, man.' Why don't you just say it?

go frig yourself! a general excl. of dismissal. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act III: Ah, go frig! 2003 Soiled Undercrackers [Internet] If you have anything nice to say about this site, tell us here. If not, go frig yourself with the root vegetable of your choice.

I’ll be frigged! see Tu be fucked! under fucked adj.\ frigate n, (also friggot, frigot) [SE frigate, a light, swift vessel; there may also be some punning connection to FRIC V. (1)] 1 a woman. 1655 Mercurius Fumigosus 45 4-11 Apr. 360; The Brest]?] Pyrates of Kentish Town, who doe sometimes snap upon a Pinnace or Frigate, as she is saling from Barnet to London. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 363; Her frequent trading, and those many shots she had received between wind and water in the service, had so altered her countenance, and disproportioned her body, that I knew not whether this Frigate was English of Flemish built. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 83: The Night approaching she riggs her self in best manner she can . . . having weighed Anchor and quitted Port, she steers her course for some one principal street, as Cheap-side . . . and if she meet never a Man of War between Snow-Hill and the Poultry, she tacks and stands away to the other side [of the street]; but if she be a tolerable tight Frigat, she is laid aboard before, made fast with the Crapplings, and presently rummaged in the Whold; sometimes she sheers off and leaves my Man of War on Fire. 1683 Whores Rhetorick 112: Those then that are Frigates of a smaller size, and lower Rate, must be stored with ready and easy excuses, to palliate the disorder of their weak Tackling. 1691 City Cheat Discovered n.p.: Fire-ships and Friggots, with Top masts and Sails, / At Coffe-house-Bay they cast Anchor at Night; / The mistriss salutes them in nasty Night-rails / Come in hansome Women, c.1700 London-Bawd (1705) 153: The Gentleman he Named, being one [...] I had often supply'd with some of my First-rate-Frigots, as he used to call 'em. 1705 S. Centlivre Basset Table Act II: A tight little Frigate. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p,: frigot well-rigg'd a Woman well drest and genteel. 1741 'Capt. Samuel Cock' Voyage to Lethe 30: His Grace the Duke of M— is master of a noble tall frigate, and used to penetrate with his bowsprit even into the privy garden of the palace. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: A well-rigged frigate; a well-dressed wench. a.1790 C. Dibdin 'Saturday Night at Sea' in Collection of Songs I 188: Cried honest Tom, my Peg I'll toast, / A frigate neat and trim. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit, 1785]. 1826 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II 368: The frigate yonder with the brown breast works, and she with the pink facings, look something like privateers. 1877 'Bound 'Prentice to a Waterman' in Laughing Songster 122: My pretty little frigate, how glad I be's to find you here. 2 a prostitute. 1809 T. Rowlandson [print caption] Launching a Frigate [a madam and a novice whore],

frigate on fire

n. ifricate n. (2) -f fire n. (1)] a prostitute who has

venereal disease. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc.

frigged out ad/, [frig v. (2)) exhausted by exce.ssive masturbation and thus incapable of ejaculation. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) X 2051: I told him he was frigged out and not worth his money,

frigged-up ad/. (W.l.) improved, smartened up. 1973 E. Braithwaite 'Jah' in Arrivants 162: With my blue note [...] my ten bebop fingers, my black bottom'd strut, Panama / worksong, my cabin, my hut, / my new frigged-up soul and God's heaven, / heaven, gonna walk all over God's heaven . . .

trigger trigger n. [frig

frig up

248 v.I

1 the finger or hand with which one

masturbates. 1684 Rochester (attrib.) Sodom II ii: Ive long considered of your royall want / And grieved to see your gapeing Cunt, / Toucht your Large wombe and urged my trigger still, / Tired my weake arme your pleasure to fullfill.

2 the penis. 1684 Rochester (attrib.) Sodom III i: Great Bolloxinians trigger beats allarmes, / By unctious poyson in her Cunt infus'd. 3 a masturbator; one who masturbates a partner. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 129: Suddenly one cried 'f— fi— first,' as some drops of gruelly fluid flew across the room, and the frigger sank back in the chair, 1909 Joyce letter 9 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) 186: My little naked fucker, my naughty wriggling little frigger, my sweet dirty little tarter.

4 a general derog. term. 1952 M.F. Caulfield Black City 26: They got three of our fellas last night - the Mixer, Harry Fay [...] That frigger Monahan - Sullivan spat. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: Nev, there's some frigger in there. 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 34: Ask some of these fornicating triggers who live in this one-horse town! 1989 Viz June/July 12: Y'fuckin friggers! 1994 P. Quigley Borderland 55: 'Mad frigger,' Black John sneered. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 186: Yeh dirty trigger.

frigging n. [frig

v.] 1 the act of copulation. 1660 implied in friccinc merchant below, c.1864 parody in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 131: So, if you're very fond of f—ging, / Examine first her lower rigging— 1934 in V. Randolph Pissing in the Snow (1988) 388: She was better frigging than the other girl, so he diddled her twice. 1946 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 181: She learned it in Stone County, Missouri, in the 1890s [...] 'I got a widder in Carico, / Sent for me 'cause her Maw couldn't go, / Meat in the smokehouse, fodder in the barn, / A little bit of friggin' wouldn' do her any harm'. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 180: They [i.e. necrophiles] call their activities, says 'Erickson,' getting some cold comfort, having a stiff one on the rocks, table-topping (elsewhere I collected tablehopping), raiding the icebox, frig

frigging, slabbing, etc.

2 masturbation. 1879 'Lady Pokingham' in Pearl 1 July 19: 'Rub your finger on my crack, just there,' so she initiated me into the art of frigging in the most tender loving manner. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 26: It was intended as a caution against frigging. 1948 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 15: Of his face she thought not very much, / But then, at the very first touch, / Her attitude shifted— / He was terribly gifted / At frigging and fucking and such. 1970 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 317: Frigging in the rigging, / Wanking in the planking, / Masturbating in the grating, / 'Cause there's fuck all else to do. 3 an act of anal copulation. 1881 Sins of the Cities of the Plain 24: My frigging soon brought him to a spend.

4 a beating, lit. or fig. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 90: 'I'm going to give Nutch a friggin. I'll have Jake and Pipy work a diamond switch on him.' ■ In compounds frigging merchant (n.) a pimp, a procurer. 1660 Wandring Whore IV 11: I'le draw a bill upon Mr C- the frigging Merchant in Waggoners-ally.

frigging ad/, [frig v.] 1 insignificant, petty, worthless. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Frigging is also figuratively used for trifling.

2 a euph. for fucking ad/. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 692: Doing that frigging drawing out the thing by the hour question and answer. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 63: Station agent's so friggin' tough in this dump. 1947 J. Maclaren-Ross Of Love And Hunger 201: Ain't been around since, the friggin cowson. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 111: That frigging bastard Jake Adams ain't going to like it. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act II: He friggin knows about them friggin eggs I'll swear. 1972 Nova Apr. 99: Now I suppose you're going to say 'napalm'. That frigging magic word. 1984 W. Ammon et al. Working Lives 89: You'll seel You'll frigging well see. 1986 A. Bleasdale No Surrender 17: Y' a friggin' eejit, y'll spend y' dyin' days in Dartmoor, prison ... [Ibid.] 54: Oh friggin' Jesus. 1993 K. Lette Foetal Attraction (1994) 6: What do you mean justl The way I'm feeling it might as well be in frigging Africa. 2004 C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 181: Do I look like frigging Jacques Cousteau? 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 41; You can't watch the damn TV without some friggin' advert tring to hustle their crap.

3 pertaining to sex; thus frigging book, a pornographic magazine. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 95; I just swiped [...] some o' dem ol' friggin' books outta my ol' man's dresser. 4 as infix. 1947 R.O. Boyer Dark Ship 236; If you asked where he was born he said, 'Baton friggin' Rouge.' If you asked him what time it was he said, 'Three friggin' o'clock.' 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 50: The old-frigging-men's home, no less. 1977 (con. 1930s) S. McAughtry Sinking of the Henbane Head 25: 'Two o'clock,' Jack would mutter to himself savagely. 'Two o'frigging clock.' 1982 A. Bleasdale 'Moonlighter' in Boys from the Blackstuff (1985) [TV script] 105; What the friggin' hell do you think you're doing? 1996 P. Cornwell Cause of Death (1997) 84: It's Hand, who probably thinks he's Jesus friggin' Christ. 2005 N. Gaiman Anansi Boys 85: 'Absofriggin'-lutely,' agreed Spider,

frigging A! exci. see fucking A! exc/. friggish adj. see under frig v. frigg-up n. see frig-up n. frigg up v. see frig up v. frightener n. 1 {also frighteners, fright{s)) threats, violence, anything that will terrify a given person into doing what is required. 1959 see PUT THE ERICHTENERS ON below. 1995 B. JAMES Detective is Dead (1996) 54: 'We've been doing the Smith and Wesson 645,' Amy told him. 'This is a real frightener.' 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 176; 'Try to shoot you.' 'Maybe get in a few frighteners first.' 2 a thug, esp. as used by gangsters, casino-owners etc. to commit violence for them. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 41: In comes Chas the frightener. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 121: No frighteners. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 3: I was always the gunman, the 'heavy', the 'frightener'. ■ In phrases

get the frighteners (v.) to become terrified. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 93: A load of geezers get the dead frighteners whenever a bird opens her north & south. 1969 F. Norman Norman's London 23: That's wen I start ter get the dead frighteners. put the frighteners on (v.) (a/so put the frighteners in, put the frights on, stick the frighteners on) (UK Und.) 1 to menace, to blackmail, to threaten with violence. 1959 F. Norman Fings 1 i: Can't frighten me, though. The Geezer ain't been born that can put the frighteners on me. 1960 F. Norman in Daily Mail 18 May in Norman's London (1969) 94: All you need is a team of tearaways who go around sticking the frighteners on the proprietors of the aforementioned gaffs. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 28; They [...] couldn't pay even when we put the frighteners in. 1968 D. Cammell Performance [film script] Putting the frighteners on flash little twerps. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 11: That didn't put the frighteners on them at all. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 85: Far from putting the frighteners on Luigi [...] he had been earnestly discussing pizza trays. 1998 P. Bailey Kitty and Virgil (1999) 245: They put the frighteners on him and he squealed. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 34: Bit rich [...] Sharpe and McGrath toting you along to put the frights on a government minister. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 14: All we do is put the frighteners on them [...] Nobody gets killed. 2 to terrify (with no criminal overtones). 1958 F. Norman in Vogue Oct. in Norman's London (1969) 31: What would put the frighteners on them even more was the hysterical giggles of delight that came from the inside. 1991 D. Jarman letter 3 June Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 13: Anthony Hopkins put the frighteners on the audience. 2000 Indep. Rev. 14 Aug. 7: That must have put the frighteners on Italian women,

frighten Friday v. see under Friday n. frighten the (living) daylights out of v. see under daylights n.

frigot n. see frigate n. frigster/frigstress n.

(frig

v.

(2)

+

-ster

sfxl-stress]

a

masturbator. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

frig-up n. {also frigg-up) [frig up v.; semi-euph. for fuck-up n. (1)] (orig. Aus.) a disaster, a blunder, a mess. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 30: Frigg-up, a confusion, muddle. 1966 Baker Aus. Lang. (2nd edn).

frig up V. {also frigg up) [frig v. (6); semi-euph. for fuck up v.j (orig. Aus.) to make a blunder, to make a mess of; thus frigged up adj. 1938 J. Weidman / Can Get It For You Wholesale 60; Something's frigged up around here. 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 223:1 had the wind up, at first, that the war would frigg things up. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 27: Come on, let's get out of this

frijole-eater

frigged-up funnyland. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Frig Up Mess up. 1993 S. King Dolores Claiborne 235: I didn't like the idear of that canny Scotsman thinkin matters were serious enough for him to keep his own counsel n not give poor old Garrett Thibodeau any chance to frig up the works. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 21: Frig-up (wd.) to screw up: u. de man frigup de program.

frijole-eater n. {also frijole chomper, ...guzzler) (Mex. Sp.frijol, a bean -i- SE eater] (US) a derog. term for a Mexican. a.1946 'The Open Book' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 117: But now that I've opened the ledger / On the romantic braggarts who ride, / Some frijole chomper or locoed bronc stomper, / will be after my scalp or my hide. 1983 Maledicta VII 24: The bean theme for Mexicans has been variegated to bean, beaner, beano, and frijole guzzler. a.1985 'The Open Book' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 113: Some frijole chomper or half-assed bronc stomper / will kick all the shit out of me. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 229: frijole eater, a Mexican,

frikkie n. (a/so frikky) [? frig

frisk

249

v. (1)1 (S.Afr.) a condom.

1975 J. McClure Snake 117: I am worried to find you in this cold, dirty place with dog kak and frikkies on the floor,

frill n. (her ciothing) a woman. 1903 C. Sandburg letter 19 Jan. in Mitgang (1968) 9: I am dubious about Arthur D's opinion of Nell T. as quoted by you - 'there never was a girl.' It might apply to many a frill-bound fool. 1911 E. Dyson 'The Disposal of a Dog' in Benno and Some of the Push 127: Important engagement. Got a date with a bunch iv frill. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker I ii: Say, a good-lookin' young fella like you could get any frill you wanted. 1934 R. Sale 'A Nose for News' in Goulart (1967) 209:1 told that scatterbrained frill I wasn't in on it. 1943 P. Cheyney You Can Always Duck (1959) 8: Half the guys in Hollywood was tryin' to marry this frill. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 10: The kid who'd just come in the cafe was cute [.,.] a real fancy frill. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 799: frill - A girl or woman. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

get among (a woman’s) frills (v.) (also get up someone’s frills) to seduce a woman. 1896 Farmer Vocahula Amatoria (1966) 156: Hausser la chemise. To copulate; 'to get up one's frills'.

frimpet n. [? SE frump] (US black) an ugly, unattractive person. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 16: Mah bones ain't so old no little frimpet lahk you goin' do nothin' to me, boy.

fringe v. [? to hang around the fringes of the targeted person] (US black campus) to sponge. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Fringing ... Sponging,

fringer n. an outcast; one who exists on the fringes of a given group. 1947 (con. 1944) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 55: Hal knew them all, even those fringers who didn't belong to cliques. 1955 B, Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 25: Thank God he wasn't a drifter, a fringer like his poor slob of a kid brother,

fringes n. (US black campus) eyes. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI.

frip n. (also friphead) [? SE frippery or frippinc n.] (US campus) a weak, ineffectual person. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 59: frip « Person considered dull, foolish or stupid. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: friphead - person with little intellectual capacity or ability to pay attention,

frippet n. [? flibbertigibbet] a frivolous or showy young woman. 1908 D.H. Lawrence letter 15 May Coll. Letters (1962) Ill: The girl will have a soul she will not be a frippet. 1933 W. Chetham Strode Sometimes Even Now 89: That little tripe-hound! All right. I'll invite him - and he can bring all his 'lovelys' and 'frippets' with him. 1945 E, Taylor At Mrs. Lippincote's 196: 'Mistress!' he thought, [...] It was like the swine of a man to use such a word for what he and Edwards would have called a bit of a frippet. 1960 W. Shbed Middle Class Education (1961) 50: Did you have a rewarding life experience last night with that rather enticing bit of frippet? [OED]. 1971 D. Clark Sick to Death 123: 'What about Clara Breese?' [...] 'Quite a nice bit of frippet. But too young for me. I like a mature woman.' 2000 Indep. on Sun. Travel 14 May 1: Some snake-hipped little frippet.

fripping n. [? SE fripperies or Lancs, dial, frip, something worthless] domestic bickering between husband and wife. 1921 W.S. Maugham Circle II 38: It has struck me that whenever they started fripping you took a malicious pleasure in goading them on. 1936 Cosmopolitans 279: It was notorious among their friends that the couple did not get on. They had the distressing habit of fripping in

public [OED]. 1966 'A. Gilbert' Looking Glass Murder 69: Not that I ever heard them frip, they didn't even argue [OED].

’Frisco n. [abbr.j 1 (US) San Francisco; thus Friscoite n., a person from San Francisco. 1851 C.L, Canfield The Diary of a Forty-Niner 0906) 103: Pard went to Frisco early in the week. 1858 C. Abbey diary 9 Sept, in Gosnell Before the Mast (1989) 127: The 2nd mate will leave in 'Frisco. 1865 H.L. Williams Joaquin 3: When 'Charley the Chief' couldn't save 'Frisco' from the flames. 1870 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp 51: They advised me to send him to Frisco to the hospital, for he was no good to any one, and would be a baby all his life. 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Nov. 9/2: But when Alfred the Great Journalist gets a chance to describe the appearance of 'Six Sanguinely Sweltering Suicides' the soul of that 'Frisco man will yearn for the dark and dismal solitude of a narrow 'pine-liner'. 1893 J. Hawthorne Confessions of Convict 206: 1 went to Frisco at my own expense. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 14: 'Curly,' he asked in confidential tones, addressing the man from 'Frisco. 1909 R.A. Wason Happy Hawkins 304: Take the real native-son brand of Friscoite, an' he'll tell you 'at Frisco an' Paradise are ranonomous [sic). 1914 R. Lardner You Know Me Al (1984) 32: I worked against Oakland two times and against Frisco two times. 1924 L. O'Neil 'Old Salt' in Dinkum Aussie and Other Poems 147: Would they know him now on the Frisco 'front, / Or even in Adelaide? 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 94 He's come on from Frisco to set up type. 1938 R. Chandler 'The King in Yellow' in Spanish Blood (1946) 55: Know Leopardi in Frisco? 1947 Louis Jordan 'Ramblin' Blues' [lyrics] Ah but I hit the greatest town of all. Frantic Frisco / Got me a gal with plenty gold and she just won't let me go. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 71: The time was coming for me to leave Frisco or I'd go crazy. 1967 Reynolds & McClure Preewheelin Prank 38: Andy, a Frisco Hell's Angel, chewing on an unlit cigar. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 19: I'm gonna stay in Frisco and stay fucked up. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 99: I want every character of flipside Frisco searching for the Blue Jager Moon. 1999-2000 Guardian Guide 18 Dec.-3 Jan. 167: The celebrated car chase, up and over the hilly Frisco streets. 2 as a nickname, e.g. 'Frisco Bill. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 10: 'If it ain't Frisco Red,' exclaimed one prone figure. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 141: I hardly knew the city, it had changed so. Frisco Blackie was my mentor on this occasion, 1939 Rover 18 Feb, 16: 'Gosh, 'Frisco Bill!' he whistled.

frIsCO

V. [from US vaudevillian Joe Frisco (1889-1958) whose act was based on stuttering] 1 (US gang) to act in a provocative manner.

1931 J.T. Farrell 'Merry Clouters' in Fellow Countrymen (1937) 398: They razzed him. He friscoed for the lads, snapping his fingers and singing I’ll be there to get you in a push-cart, honey [...] When they play those jelly-roll blues, I To-morrow night at the Darktown Strutters' Ball. 2 to stutter. 1946 J. Adams From Gags to Riches 223: 'I f-f-found it in the subway,' she Frisco'd. (*Frisco, or pull a Frisco. To stutter—after Joe Frisco).

’Frisco speedball n. (also ’Frisco push, ...special) [speedball n.^l (drugs) a drug cocktail containing LSD, cocaine and heroin. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1975 Hardy & Cull Drug Lang, and Lore. 1982 S. King Running Man in Bachman Books (1995) 536: Frisco Push goes for twenty a tab. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Frisco special — Cocaine, heroin, and LSD; Frisco speedball — Cocaine, heroin, and a dash of LSD.

frisk n.^ (also frisking) (frisk v.^] (orig. UK Und.) a search, 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 142: If any of us was to come in by ourselves and should happen to take a rum snooze, you'd snitch upon us, and soon have the traps and jix us, in putting a lap-feeder in our sack, that you or your blowen had prig'd yourselves, though we should stand the frisk for it. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 7/2: All eyes seeming to turn towards 'Dublin Joe' he 'tumbled' to the 'rachet' and offered himelf first for the 'frisk'. 1912 D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 25: After a thorough 'frisk' I was escorted to the photograph gallery. 1913 H.A. Franck Zone Policeman 88 140: We [...] gave them and their baggage such a 'frisking' as befalls a Kaffir leaving a South African diamond mine. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 41: I'm packin' a heater, see, an' I don't wanta stand no frisk. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 17: When I'd got the purse, I passed it on straight away to another pal [...] so if the woman did accidentally feel me taking her purse, and if I was grabbed by the crowd, I could stand a frisk (search). 1940 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh Act I: I steered him into a side street where it was dark and propped him against a wall and gave him a frisk. [...[ I picked twelve bucks offa him. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 385: It was Timmy who told of the frisk, the pinch by two red-necked bulls. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 31: He gave us as good a frisk as I've ever seen. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowhlind (1978) 244: In Colombia ]...] the airline frisk has become a matter of

frisk

policy. 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Johnnie I' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 117:1 don't want a bust, nor can I stand a frisk — I got a stick of pot in my pocket. 1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 26: Now they would strip-search us, do a rectal frisk and pack us off to the state pen. ■ In phrases

put the frisk on (v.) see frisk v.^ (2). skin frisk (n.) {US prison) a strip search. 1936 (ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 168: I was given a skin frisk, with no words of explanation. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 99: Skin Frisk An old term used to mean a strip search of an inmate.

stand frisk (v.) to be searched. 1812

frisker

250

Vaux

Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 242: |...] to

stanA frisk, is to stand search,

frisk n.^ 1 sexual intercourse. 1629 W. Davenant Albovine I i: She is none o'th' French nursery that practise The sublime frisk. None o' your jigging girls. That perch paraquitoes on their fists. And ride to the Court like Venus' falconers. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy 1 274: Since Dame Fortune is my Foe, And that 1 must to Prison go; / Let's have a Neat frisk or so.

2 fun, amusement. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy vi 162: Dick's a trump and no telegraph - up to every frisk, and down to every move of the domini, thoroughbred and no want of courage [F&H], 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 14: Frisk - mischief. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. c,1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

frisk v.^ to have sexual intercourse; to be adulterous; also as frisker n., one who engages in sexual intercourse, a prostitute; frisking n., foreplay. 1519 J. Rastell The Four Elements line 1343: sensuall appetyte: And I can torn it trymly. And 1 can fryske it freshly. 1550 Udall Ralph Roister Doister 11 hi: TIB. talk.: Well, Truepenny, never flinging? an. alyface.: And frisking? 1617 Fletcher Mad Lover 1 i: We can bounce, [...] and frisk too. a.1661 'Honest Mens Resolution' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) II 199: But what shall we do with our Wives, / That fisk [sic] up and down the Town? [...] They cheat us all with their looks. 1674-81 'The Trappan'd Taylor' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII:2 468: But while she did frisk, the taylor so brisk, it was his chance for to spy her. 1675 Head Art of Wheedling 57: He carries perpetually about him a Catalogue of all the Whores [...] ranking them into three Columes apart; and thus distinguished: the Flamer, Frisker, and Wast-coateer. 1700 'Ballad of All the Trades' in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 62: O the Tailor, the fine and frisking Taylor [...] He never goes to measure Lace / But his Maid, but his Maid, but his Maid holds out his Yard, c.1707 'Blowzabella' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 77: Squeakham, Squeakham, Bag-pipe will make 'em / Whisking, Frisking, c.1720 J. Gay Squire and his Cur in Poems (1801) 57: By her seduc'd, in am'rous play, / they frisk'd the joyous hours away. 1834 'The Shickster's Chaunt' Bang-Up Songster 16: We'll petition Parliament, / And with little argument, / They'll let us frisk to our content, / Prime young shicksters. 1951 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 195: When it's time to retire / You can frisk with a minimal risk. ■ In phrases frisk in a hempen cravat (v.) see under hempen ad/, frisk v.^ [one's hands or schemes 'frisk' over the victim] 1 (orig. UK Und.) (also fisk, friz) to search, usu. for weapons, illicit drugs, stolen goods etc; usu. of people, occas. things. 1724 Defoe John Shepherd in Works (1903) 186: Desiring him to Fisk him, viz. 'search him.' 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 30: If they napp the Bit, they cry pike; then we go and fisk the Bit, and dink the empty Bit, for fear it should be found, and fisk the Blunt, and gee if none is quare; to prevent a Rapp; it is a Bit of Rige or Wage. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxviii: To Fisk To search. 1781 G. Parker Life's Painter 179: They frisk him? That is search him. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: To Friz, or Frisk. Used by thieves to signify searching a person whom they have robbed. Blast his eyes! frisk him. 1809 J. Mackcoull Abuses of Justice 30: Damn your eyes, you bloody thief [...] I will /rAA’ you and your crib too. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 242: frisk to search: to frisk a cly, is to empty a pocket of its contents. 1827 P. Cunningham New South Wales II 237: 'Three peters cracked anA frisked,' made a frequent opening of the morning's log. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London III iii: Covey, and Wilton and James, will enter by the front, and frisk the crib, while you keep watch. 1845 N.Y. Herald 21 Nov. 1/5: Whereupon the officers went to work, and in the course of a few hours arrested John Bolmer, 'frisk'd' him immediately, when upon his person they found the whole of his mother's property. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of

Modern SI. etc. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 7/2: Before e'er a bugger opens this 'jigger' I mean to have him 'frisked . 1873 SI. Diet. 1880 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Jan. 4/1: 'Frisking' meant visiting all the cells and searching the prisoners for money, which when they found was divided amongst those who took part in the expedition. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 114: She would Frisk his Wardrobe every day or two. 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 158: He [wanted to] 'frisk them' and provide his little home in Jersey with an entire new set of elegant plumbing. But those carrying lead-pipes were only the rank and file. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 91: They haven't frisked me yet. Kid. 1940 F.S. Fitzgerald 'The Homes of the Stars' in Pat Hobby Stories (1967) 96: The arrival of the police, the frisking of Mr and Mrs Robinson. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 93: They lifted their arms obediently and he skilfully 'frisked' them for hidden bottles of liquor. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 83: Booted cops frisked people on practically every corner. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 8: The guys stood with their hands in their pockets [...] straightening up and raising their arms while being frisked. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 42: Certain of them would frisk a white [...] convict, feel a shiv, and pass the man by. 1980 (con. 1940s-60s) H. Huncke 'Ed Leary' in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 135: Both pairs towering over me in height - frisking me - grabbing my umbrella. 1992 D. Jarman letter 6 Feb. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 77: I found myself [...] being frisked by a pretty policeman. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 5 Mar. 15: Frisking for weapons on the way into a funk ball. 2006 C.W. Ford Deuce's Wild 53: Frisk the motherfucker, then we'll take him down to the basement.

2 (orig. US)

{also

put the frisk on) to rob or steal, esp. from a

sleeping or helpless person. C.1780 'The Bucket of Water' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 46: Tibby Crocket [...] Who frisk'd a man's pocket. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 61: Those necessary professional accom¬ plishments, such as [...] how to frisk his gropers for his reader and screens. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: So he fences all his logs to buy her duds, and then He frisks his master's lob to take her from the bawdy ken. 1822 Egan Life and Adventures of Samuel Hayward 52: If he did not keep a good look out, he would soon find that the swell cove had frisked his lob* [*Taken money out of his till]. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London II i: Cracksmen, buzmen, scampsmen, we [...] On the spice gloak high toby / We frisk so rummy, / And ramp so plummy. 1841 'Poll Newry, The Dainty Flag-Hopper' rn Gentleman's Spicey Songster 34: If a gent passes bye, she soon frisks his cly, / And she fences the lob with Sal Carey. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 42: FRISK A CLY, to empty a pocket. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 10/2: I frisked a lushy yokel who was snoozing in the Park and found a thimble and no slang and a caser. He had a dummie, but no flimsies in it only some chovey stiffs. 1900 A.H. LEWIS 'Mollie Matches' in Sandburrs 47: Once in a while I'd bungle me stunt, an'd' loidy I was friskin' would tumble an' raise d' yell. 1914 J. McCree 'Types' Variety Stage Eng. Plays [Internet] I have frisked him for his rod and gat and fanned him for his chiv. 1929 W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 13: No frisking in the lobby [...] Let the yaps keep their money. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 287: 'Gwan, rat, frisk some more nickels off working girls,' Rolfe yelled. 1940 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh Act I: I was friskin' him for his roll. 1958 A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 72: I frisked 'im, but it's stone empty. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 61: Frisk - (US) to pickpocket. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 182: He put the frisk on Morrison and rolled him for forty bucks. 3 to trick, to hoax. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 150: Has Tom been frisking you already with some of his jokes about [...] the quicksands of rustication?

4 to search in a non-criminal context, e.g. one's own pockets. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 111/1: There was no 'stake' down on Jack's side, and after 'frisking' his 'kicks' over he found himself run out of 'sugar'. 1961 T. Williams Night of the Iguana Act III: I don't know which pocket, you'll have to frisk me for it. 5 to obtain, to get hold of. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 17:1 guess it's up to me to frisk another job. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 158: I'd rather go back to Second avenue and frisk another quick-lunch job.

frisk and frolic n. [rhy. sl.i carbolic (soap). 1960 J. Franklyn Diet. Rhy. Si 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 429: ca. 1880-1920.

frisker n. [frisk v.^i 1 a pilferer, a petty thief; a pickpocket. 1802 Sessions Papers Apr. 288 in DU. 1904 Phila. Inquirer 22 May Pt II 3/5-6: 'Frisk' is a new word which is attaining wide popularity in certain circles. It means 'to go through one.' Thus, a gentleman who has been made the victim of personal robbery has been 'frisked.' A 'frisker' is in plain language a thief, though the term is becoming

frisking

elastic and may mean a form of skylarking. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 62: He's a common, everyday, free lunch frisker, Mac is. 1922 T. Thursday 'Ten Dollars - No Sense' in Top-Notch 15 Dec. [Internet] 'Silk-hat George,' the famous international flat frisker and grade-A con man. 1929-31 in W. Kernot unpub. gloss, of US cant in DU. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 2 (UK Und.) one who conducts a body search.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 7/2: All eyes seeming to turn towards 'Dublin Joe' he 'tumbled' to the 'rachet' and offered himelf first, for the 'frisk,' old Charley Potter [..,] officiating as 'frisker'.

frisking n. see frisk n.\ frisking-do n. [frisk v.^ (1)| (UK Und.)

a search (of person or

premises).

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 139/1: I thought it would be a much better plan to return the old fellow his 'sugar' [...] for, no doubt, there would be a 'frisking-do' on the 'drum' if the old fellow gave 'beef'.

friskoe n.

(SE frisco,

a

brisk

movement

in

dancing]

a

term

of

■’

endearment.

3.1652 R. Brome New Academy I in Works (1873) II 3: Where's my Boykin? my Friskoe? my Delight?

frisky

■ SE in slang uses

m In compounds frisky powder (n.)

[its effects] (drugs) cocaine.

1955 H. Braddy 'Narcotic Argot Along the Mexican Border' in AS XXX:2 87: FRISKY POWDER, n.phr. Cocaine. 1980 'Gloss, of Drug Terms' National Instit. Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Friskie powder — Cocaine. [SE colloq. frit, frightened;

his supposed cowardice]

(US) an

effeminate male homosexual.

1960 (con. WWII) G. Sire Deathmakers 46: Jesus Christ, frit [...] This is a war, frit, you know what I mean? You can't brown-nose your way out of everything, 1967 Wentworth & Flexner DAS (Supplement).

frito n. [advertisements for Frito Bandito cornchips, which feature a stereotypical 'Mexican bandit'] (US) a derog. term for a Mexican or Spanish-American. 1978 Maledicta II:1-f2 (Summer/Winter) 156: Frito Any Chicano or Mexican, after the 'Frito Bandito' advertisement featuring a 'Mexican Bandit' who stole cornchips.

fritter n. ■ In phrases on the fritter (adj.) see on the fritz under fritz n.^. fritters! exd. (Aus.) an excl. of dismissal or contempt. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 144: 'Girl, girl, ain't yeh got no 'uman instincts?' 'Oh, fritters,' said Porline.

Fritz n.

(also

Herr Fritz. 1951 (con. 1941) E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves 130: I wonder if the Russians take any prisoners, with the Fritzes shooting the women and children. 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Barker 148: Shot at by every Fritz in Africa. 1965 L. Haylen Big Red 101: The Fritzies could hear him. 1978 (ref. to 1917-18) H. Berry Make the Kaiser Dance 36: When we were in combat all I had to do was relay a target back to Jim and it was good nigh, Fritzie. [Ibid.] 261: If Fritz could put a slug in one of those tanks, you were a goner, 1986 in F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) ii: The sick dread of the next attack ('Don't worry, we'll soon have old fritz on the run . . .'). 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 70: Fritzie was up and bouncing on his thick legs.

Fritz

adj. (also

Fritzie) [Fritz n.] German.

1915 in Peat & Smith Legion Airs (1932) [song title] Keep Your Head Down 'Fritzie' Boy'. 1917 F. Dunham diary 31 Oct. Long Carry (1970) 124: Our Company Stretcher Bearers had a roomy Fritz dugout. 1919 C. Hamilton William - An Englishman (1999) 218: He gathered from the sharp-sighted corporal that there were two Fritz planes overhead. 1929 (con. WWI) H. Odum Wings on My Feet 249: Talk 'bout coloured worker bein' lazy, ought to seen them Fritzie boys. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 42: Could have knocked Tarzan out in three rounds, but Reggie want respect, so he punish that Fritzie boy.

fritz

ad/, ill-tempered.

1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'A Courting Case in Court' Sporting Times 1 Apr. 1 /4: As for Jim, he's no brute, but he's frisky. 1909 (ref. to 1880) J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

frit n.

fritz

251

Fritzer, Fritzey, Fritzie)

(Cer. dimin. of proper name

Friedrich, esp. as used of 'Old Fritz', Friedrich II of Prussia; the Englishlanguage usage emerged c.1880 and came into widespread use during

WWI, although it fell from favour afterwards; Brophy & Partridge, Songs and Slang of the British Soldier (1930), suggest it was generally replaced by JERRY n. (1) after 1915] a German, esp. a German soldier, [1837 T. Power St Patrick's Eve I i: Good, says old Fritz [i.e. Frederick II King of Prussia] where's Captain Gustavus?] [1882 W.A. BaillieGrohman Camps in the Rockies 387: The statue of 'old Fritz' Carlyle's hero, Frederic the Great.] 1914 R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 491: Has anyone seen a Germin band, Germin Band, Germin Band? [...] I want my Fritz, / What plays tiddley bits / On the big trombonel 1918 C.J. Dennis 'Digger Smith' in Chisholm (1951) 94: An' Mick. . .. Ar, well, Fritz took me down a peg.' 1919 E. Dyson 'Bricks' in ‘Hello, Soldier!' 31: He slugged a tubby Hun, Then choked a Fritzie with his dukes, 'n' pinched the sooner's gun! 1919 Watch on the Rhine [Cologne] 3 July 2/2: We was rippin' from Hazebrouck to Wipwers / With out lights, for old Fritzey was out! 1922 M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 83: Anyway, I spent eighteen months shooting Fritzies and trying to make the world safe for the Democrats. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 17: When they've 'ad me at 'em for a fortnight, they'll be anxious to meet Fritz, they will. 1932 (con. 1917-19) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 391: Joe [...] told them how they were prisoners there like they were fritzies. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 117: There is a spot in Germany where we Aussies soon will be; / We'll get to Berlin if it costs us our lives, / We'll kill all the Fritzers and pinch all their wives. [Ibid.] 127: The blunny Fritzes seem to be winnin' hands down. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 5: You're going to beat the pith out of old

n.^ (also pork fritz) [Ger. name Fritz, linked to a German sausage] (Aus.) a large, but not especially spicy, sausage. 1914 Truth (Sydney) 8 Nov. 7/7: Pork fritz manufacturers have become alarmed, and some are [...] advertising that their commodities are really made from pork and veal [AND]. 1963 R. McGregor-Hastie Compleat Migrant 106: Fritz: sausage, 1965 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) vi. 3/2: Four slices of slightly mouldy porkfritz. 1972 G.W. Turner Eng. Lang, in Aus. & N.Z. (rev. edn) 123: Sausages in South Australia [...] retain German names [...] and the same influence is seen in the now standard use of fritz for a German sausage. 1981 P. Barton Bastards I Have Known 114: A half-eaten hunk of fritz. 1997 (ref. to 1906, 1912) it (Canberra Bushwalking Club newsletter) [Internet] Members of the Warragamba Walking Club (1906) carried small cabin biscuits, dates or figs, a piece of fritz [...] For their first long distance journey (1912) Myles Dunphy and Bert Gallop carried pork fritz, German sausage, bacon [...[.

fritz n.2 ■ In phrases on the fritz (adj.)

[? German proper name Fritz and thus propagandist

dislike of all things German, or fritz as onomat. for the sparking of a faulty wire or connection]

1

of a person, unhealthy, out of sorts.

1907 'Hugh McHugh' Beat It 70: They are putting all our millionaires on the fritz. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 192: Reilley wouldn't be as hard this time, with his dukes on the fritz. [Ibid.] 320: Even if it didn't kill you, it might make you blind, or put your heart, liver, guts or kidneys on the fritz for life. 1939 J. Weidman What’s In It For Me? 89: Your memory go on the fritz or something? 1964 (con. 1920s-40s) in J.L. Kornbluh Rebel Voices. '■ ' . 2 (also away to the fritz) of an object, not functioning properly; thus antonym off the fritz, working; note extrapolation in eft, 1914 combining fritz with on the bunk under blink n.V 1903 'Hugh McHugh' Out for the Coin 83: I catch your words,; Murf, but the meaning is away to the fritz. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 309: What happened to Europe; was it on the fritz? 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Aerial Performer' in Ade's Fables 208: The Market had gone Blooey. [...] The Whole List was on the Blinkety Fritz. 1915 Lincoln (NE) Daily News 2 Aug. 3-A: All o' dis stuff puts de macin' gag t' de friz. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 29-30: All the cherished plans of the respected Parents were unmistakably on the Fritz. 1930 G. Milburn 'Everywhere You Go' in Hobo's Hornbook 95: Things are dull in San Francisco [...] On the fritz in Kansas City. 1958 A. King Mine Enemy Grows Older (1959) 20: He not only had one [a heart], but it was on the fritz. 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 263: Andy drove [.,.] to get Cecelia whose car was on the fritz. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 27: I see you got the car off the Fritz, Carlo, and thank you. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 346: The dummy only asked for a new wrist watch. Her own had gone on the fritz. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 1285: Our TV went on the fritz. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 388: The air-conditioning is on the fritz and the air on the plane is overheated. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] on the fritz adj 1. to be broken or to not function properly. ("My car is on the fritz again."). 3 (also fritzer) of a situation, position, job, in jeopardy. 1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 248: Fritzer. Not good. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 179: Certain Stiffs who hurried home before Midnight and wore White Mufflers, were trying to put the Town on the Fritz and Can all the Live Ones. 1927 (con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 177: I'll sit down front and put his show on the fritz. 4 (also on the fritter) of machinery, broken down, not working.

fritz

1904 Number 1500 Life In Sing Sing 261: I went to the coast with a mob of paper-layers, but graft was on the fritter. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 115: My TV's on the fritz. 1999 Indep. on Sun. Culture 5 Sept. 5: The car radio being on the fritz again, meant no FM reception. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 195: The camera goes on the fritz (...) so the count guys can get the skim out and retally it. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 204: She married a Good Man and put him on the Fritz. 1926 N. Fleischer in Ring Nov. 10: on the fritz or ON THE BUM—Very poor. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 110: 1 can just imagine what I'll look like in five or ten years time if Tm still on the fritz.

put on the fritz (v.) (a/so put on the fritzerine, put the fritz to) to spoil, to render out of order, to put a stop to. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 148: They 'put it on the fritzerine for fair. [Ibid.] 359: What with me ketchin' 'em (...) tearin' up the bedspreads to use fur makeup towels, they're puttin' the place on the fritz! 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 404: You give me that and I'll put the fritz to everything Captain Exley has.

fritz

V. [ON THE FRITZ under FRITZ n.^] (US) 1 (also fritz out) to go out of order, to break down; thus fritzed (out) adj.

1918 in A. Wallgren AEF in Cartoons (1933) [caption] Suffer'n kats me glims is fritzed. 1926 J.J. Finerty Criminalese. 1931 'Und. "Lingo" Brought Up-to-Date' L.A. Times 8 Nov. K3: FRITZED: Out of business: ruined. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 91: fritzed Out of business, ruined. 1969 Time 28 Nov. 18: When the television camera fritzed out on the lunar surface. Astronaut Alan Bean had a moment of atavism. 2004 S.A. Linholm Orbits 40: He was far dumber than Richard and his brains were 'fritzed-out', but he was harmless.

2 to put out of order. 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 8: Lightning hit some wires and fritzed the generator. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 40: Something fritzed the gates. Goddam things closed on the Rolls before it was through (...) Did twenty-two thousand dollars' worth of damage. 2004 D. Clark Apocalyptic Crawfish 23: Apparently, it fritzed out their radio. In any case, they never reported in.

Fritzer/Fritzey/Fritzie n. see Fritz n. fritzy n. [on the fritz under fritz n.^j (US Und.)

an epileptic beggar,

or one who poses as such. 1937 'Boxcar Bertha' Sister of the Road (1975) 301: Beggars [...] may be further sub-divided into groups: a. Blinkey (blind) b. Deafey (deaf) c. Dummy (dumb) d. D & D (deaf and dumb) e. Army or wingey (armless) f. Peggy (legless) g. Crippy (paralyzed) h. Fritzy (epileptic) i. Nuts (feeble-minded or insane) j. Shaky (with pronounced tremors),

friz V. see frisk v? (1). friz out V. [ext. fritz V.

(1)1 (US teen) to lose one's temper, to argue.

1995 A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] dionne: Murray, shut up! CHER: Please don't friz out! n. [? fizz n.^ (3)] champagne.

1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

frizzled in eggs and fresh butter

phr. (UK Und.) standing in the pillory and pelted with rotten eggs and mud. c,1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

frizzier n. see sizzler n. (2). fro n.^ see afro n. fro n.^ see froe n.\ frock n.^ 1 a man wearing a

frock-coat; a frock-coat.

1909 'O. Henry' Roads of Destiny 261: His long-tailed 'frock' made him not the least imposing of the official family. 1970 (ref. to WWI) L. Hart Hist, of WWI in DSUE (1984).

2

OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] frock! n. Substitute word used in place of 'fuck ' as in 'What the frock was that?'

frocked down

(US Und.) a suit of clothes. 1929 C.G. Givens 'Chatter of Guns' in Sat. Eve. Post 13 Apr.; list extracted in AS VI:2 (1930) 132: frock, n. Suit of clothes. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 74/2: Frock. A suit of clothes. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Frock Clothing.

3 (US gay) the man who poses as a lesbian's 'husband' for the sake of 'passing' in an intolerant society [the image of the lesbian as a trouserwearing woman for whom a frock is automatically unnatural]. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: frock n. Of lavender marriages, a cosmetic husband. The lesbian's equivalent of a beard (qv).

frock

n? (UK juv.) a euph. substitute for fuck n. in various contexts. 1986 S. King It (1987) 706: I don't know what the frock Haystack's up to down there. [Ibid.] 823: They wouldn't see a frockin thing. 2001

adj. [SE frock] (US black/Harlem) of a woman,

dressed up. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 16: Up pops a banter play built on a coke frame frocked down to ain't it a shame.

frocker

5 impoverished.

frizzle

froe

252

n. (Aus.) a woman dressed up in a (fashionable) frock;

thus (rocky adj., fashionably dressed. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 Nov. 12/3: Mrs. Burdekin again kept to the fore of frockers. She showed the curviest figure on the Terrace, and her cream frock was braided down and slashed across to accent the curve in at the waist. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Sept. 14/3: On Saturday Mrs. Chadwick was the most frocky of the fashionables, in blotting-paper pink and modish black. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Oct. 20/2: Mrs. Hugh MacNeil, the golfer and one of our smartest frockers, had gotten herself into the most delicate of greenish greys, in a material that might have been a cloth, but which looked like satin.

froe

n.^ (also fro, frow) [Du. vrouw or Cer. Frau, a woman)

1

a woman;

thus fro file n., a female pickpocket.

1605 Marston Dutch Curtezan I i: A soft plumpe, round cheekt froe. 1636 T. Heywood 'The Fashions' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 26: The Italian in his High Chippin, / Scotch Lass, and comely Fro too. 1675 C. Cotton Scoffer Scoff'd (1765) 182: Juno, my curs'd Frow, / Has turn'd the Girl into a Cow. 1689-91 'The Henpeckt Cuckold' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII:2 432: Let him that Widdow wooes, or courts a Maid to his Froe, / Take her down in her Wedding-Shooes: Else 'tis but a Word and a Blow, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: froe c, for Urowe, (Dutch) a Wife, Mistress, or Whore. Brush to your Froe, (or Bloss,) and wheedle for Crap, c. whip to your Mistress and speak her fair to give, or lend you some Money. 3.1704 N. Ward 'The Dutch-Guards Farewel to England' in Writings (1 704) 142: Our Frows and our Skildren were happily Settled. 1705-07 N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus 11:1 22: Dutch Fro's in Numbers have I cur'd. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 206: Froe, a wife, mistress, or whore. Brush to your froe (or bloss) and wheedle for crap, i.e., whip your mistress, and speak her fair to give or lend you some money. 1722 'Whipping-Tom' Foppish Mode of Taking Snuff I 10: The Butcher's Froe in blue Apron, is always clogging her Nose with as much Filth, as her Husband does Infection into Veal, 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 9: There came by a Company of Fro Files. 1729 Life of Thomas Neaves 31: Those Buttocking Frows, that for a Lie buxum, a Hog, or half a Slat, this is six-pence, a Shilling, or half a Crown, shall turn up their Scut to every Porter, Link-boy, Tinker, or Carman. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account of the Malefactors executed at Tyburn 18th March 1740 Pt II 6: Their Business that Evening was to go upon Cheving the Froe, (that is. Cutting off Women’s Pockets). 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 12: My Bios has nailed me of mine [handkerchief]; but I shall catch her at Maddox's Gin-Ken [...] and if she has mortic'd it. Knocks and Socks, Thumps and Pumps, shall attend the Froe-File Buttocking B---h. 1754 G. Stevens 'A Cant Song' Muses Delight 177; As I derick'd along to doss on my kin / Young Molly the fro-file I touted, / She'd nail'd a rum codger of tilter and nab, / But in filing his tatler was routed. 1765 H. Howard Choice Spirits Museum 44: Ye Froes of the Strand, and ye Molls near the Fleet. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 135: Scamp the ballad-singing kid, / Call'd me his darling frow. C.1792 R. Porson 'Imitation of Horace' in Whibley In Cap and Gown (1889) 67: What! Is it she? The filthy frow! 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 182: The lads began to hang their nobs, and tip their frows the velvet. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1833 'The Beak & Trap to Roost are Gone' SwelV.ll or, Slap-Up Chaunter 48: All's gloom where'er we bend; Your glim except, that shows some frow I Has just brought home a friend. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1953 K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 385: Is she here [.,.] The Clipman frow?

2 a prostitute. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 43: The Frow is with Kid; the Whore is with Child. 1761 Nancy Dawson's Jests 36: Ye brimstones of Drury and Exeter-street / Ye frows of the town, and ye molls of the Fleet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 14: Frow - a prostitute. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 90: Dutch Frow Christine, who said, - He cannot stand it, and I cannot stand it [.,.] he shall churn all night, but the butter will not come, and he bends de churn-staff, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Frow a prostitute who keeps a cully. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 616: Exquisite variations he was now describing on an air Youth here has End by Jans Pieter Sweelinck, a Dutchman of Amsterdam where the frows come from.

froe froe n.^

[ety. unknown] (US black) a trad, plantation slave pocket

knife. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 171: Ah could give you a knife to tote [...] Ah got two round here. One real good one Ah got down in Tampa, and one ole froe. 1947 K. Lumpkin Making of a Southerner 34: It was a large wooden building, its walls made of rough-hewn boards, [...] riven out by the slaves' hands with a 'fro'.

Frog n.

frog

253

[orig. 14C SE frog, a contemptible or offensive person; used in

early 17C to refer to Jesuits, then in 1650 to the Dutch, England's national enemy; when they were replaced by the French the definition changed

accordingly] 1 a Dutch person. 1652 Seasonable Expostulation with the Netherlands 2: Neither had I ever wished the charming of those Froggs [OED]. 1798 'Peter Pindar' 'Tales of Hoy' Works (1801) V 238: And the Dutchman, a Frog in the Days of Queen Bess.

2 (also Bullfrog) a French person. [1654 W. Prynne Quakers Unmasked [title] The Quakers Unmasked, And clearly detected to be but the Spawn of Romish Frogs, Jesuites, and Franciscan Freers: sent from Rome to seduce the intoxicated Giddy-headed English Nation.] 1778 F. Burney Evelina (1861) 48; Hark you, Mrs. Frog [...] you may lie in the mud till some of your Monsieurs come to help you out of it. [1780 M.P. Andrews Fire and Water! (1790) 31: This is the Marchioness de Grenouille [...].] 1788 J. O'Keeffe Prisoner at Large 12: Now, Mademoiselle, am I like dat Jacky de Frog? 1803 in J. Ashton Eng. Caricature and Satire on Napoleon (1884) I 175: John Bull uplifts his cudgel, and his bulldog growls. Says the old man, 'Hark ye, Mr. Frog!' c.1813 'Wellington's Victory' in Wellington's Laurels 2: And oft the French frogs cry'd marbiau / They got such a D---able thrashing. 1831 'Gallery of 140 Comicalities' Bell's Life in London 24 June 2/3: Shiver my timbers, Mounseer Frog [...] There's nothing like a can of grog, 1838 T. Halibdrton Clockmaker II 150: Mount Shear Bullfrog gave the case in our favour in two two's. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis I 231: [They] began laughing, jeering, hooting, and calling opprobrious names at the Frenchman. Some cried out 'Frenchy! Frenchyl' some ex¬ claimed 'Frogs!' 1853 T. Haliburton Sam Slick's Wise Saws I 43: You have heard of John Bull, it is the gineral name of the English, as 'Frog' is of the French. 1879 "Arry in Parry' in Punch 15 Nov. 217/1:1 thought I'd trot over to Parry, and see wot the frogs was about. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 7/3; We can't go and bring our lads home if any European power chips in. 'Twould be the same as saying, 'I won't fight your Frogs or Sour-krauts, as they're armed as well as I.' 1889 "Arry in Switzerland' in Punch 5 Dec. in P. Marks (2006) 98: It's honly hus English can ride. Frogs ain't in it ah shovel, you know. 1892 in Punch 15 Oct. 170: [heading] A FROG HE WOULD A-ROWING GO! [...] (With Mr. Punch's cordial Compliments to the victorious French Eight.). 1917 J.E. Rendinell diary 20 Nov. in One Man's War (1928) 37: The boys got on a little dinky street car. A frog was motorman and conductor too. 1921 H.C. Witwer Leather Pushers 174: Would I be liable to lay down to the Frog with a crack at the world's title in sight? 1932 (con. 1919) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 527: A lot of latrine talk about the frogs were licked and the limeys and the wops were licked. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 246; What if the Buckshee Frogs are still holding Bir Hacheim, good luck to them. 1954 K. Amis letter 3 Jan. in Leader (2000) 358: Every review page and publisher's advertisement is bespattered with novels by foreign swine, mostly frogs and dagoes. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 53:1 don't like foreigners. I don't like those frogs when we had to go to Paris. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 281: She was sitting at the next table, drinking with a lanky Free Frenchman. The Frog was drunk. 1980 Hepworth & Hindle Boozing out in Melbourne Pubs 15: There was a time [...] when to drink wine as an ordinary tipple in Melbourne Town was to be branded as an alcoholic derelict, a poof, a frog or woglike alien. 1983 N. Proffitt Gardens of Stone (1985) 34: You go tell that tall cocksucker [...[or I'll kick his Frog ass back to the swamp you two cunt-licking snail eaters come from. 1995 B. James Detective is Dead (1996) 57: This you would never get from Frogs. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 79: That fake Frog Lehrman yelled 'Action!' 3 (US) a contemptible person. 1856 N.O. Weekly Delta 23 Nov. p.l in A.P. Hudson Humor of the Old Deep South (1936) n.p.: The lower rejin of Loozeana, to that sitty of unhearn-of wikkedness, frogs, katfish and Frenchmen, called Orleans.

4 (Aus.) a French franc. 1919 Aussie (France) X Jan. 2/1: A bunch of Diggers were playing it [i.e. two-up] near Charleroi when the Prince of Wales blew up. The Prince pushed his frame in and risked ten 'frogs' and won. 5 the French language. 1922 E, Hemingway letter 20 Mar. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 65: Do you speak frawg? 1954 W. Faulkner Fable 371; 'Ask him,' he said,

indicating the driver. 'You can speak Frog.' 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 46: Well up to frog. And Spanish. Some Eyetie. 6 (Can.) a French-Canadian. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 257: Give it to the frog! 1983 Maledicta VII 22: The English [..,] began calling the French frog eater, frog, [...] and the like. We borrowed these Britishisms, and especially after WWI applied them to French immigrants, Quebeckers in the United States, and their distant relatives, the Acadians in Louisiana. 7 (US) a Cajun. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 45; acadians: [...] coon-ass [also coonie] [...] frenchie, -y; frog [ci. frog for French and French Canadians]; swamp-rat. ■ Derivatives Frogolia (n.) [on model of SE Mongolia] (N.Z.) a derog. term for France; thus Frogolian n., a French person. 1976 'Lbn Lacey' Loosehead Len's Bumper Thump Book 12: We've certainly given Frogolia a fair go in the past [DNZE]. 1986 Sun. Star (Auckland) 29 June Bl: But that joker was model for them statues on Easter Island compared with the poor old Frogolians by the end of the [rugby] test yesterday [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. ■ In compounds Frogland (n.) France. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 19/1:1 think it would be as well to leave this [job] alone until we are on our return from Frogland. 1991 P. Highsmith Ripley Under Water (1992) 131: Want anything from Frogland. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 205: Fabienne [...] can't wait to tell all her mates back in Frogland. Froglander (n.) [note SE frogland, marshy land that is full of frogs, orig. used of the Fens and of Holland] a Dutch person. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.; Frog-landers Dutch-men. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 111: A Froglander grocery-keeper caught one of 'em with his hands in the money-till,

frog’s wine (n.) gin. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds frog-eater (n.) see separate entry. frog-swallower (n.) a derog. term for a French person. 1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 69: 'You b'lieve vat girl?' [...] 'Yes we do, you bloody frog-swallererl'

frog n.' (his sudden 'leaping' onto criminals] (US) a policeman. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1873 SI. Diet. 170; Frog a policeman. Because, by a popular delusion, he is supposed to pounce suddenly on delinquents. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] FROG—A policeman; a note. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds frogmarch (v.) see separate entry. frog’s eggs (n.) (also frog egg pudding, frog eggs, frog’s eyes, frogspawn) (Aus./N.Z./UK juv.) boiled sago or tapioca pudding. 1932 B.M. Harvey Me and Bad Eye and Slim 20: Today we had beef and spuds [...] and frog egg pudding. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 298: If that scoundrel Bill had survived to serve us one more meal of that frog-spawn he called sago mince, he'd have reduced me to screaming. 1956 (con. 1925) Sorden & Ebert Logger's 15: Frogeggs. Tapioca [HDAS]. 1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 184: Tapioca or sago is 'fishes' eyes', 'frogs' eyes', 'fishes' eyes in glue' [...] 'frog spawn'. 1972 (con. 1930s^0s) N. Conway Bloods 73: A couple of dollops of tapioca called 'gooh' or 'frog's spawn'. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/2: frog's eyes boiled tapioca or sago, as usually inflicted on those in institutions; variant of Australian 'frog's eggs', English 'frogspawn'. 1999 BBC News 12 Apr. [Internet] Tapioca pudding - widely known as frog's eggs by many school pupils - may after all be good for you. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

frog’s eyebrows (n.) see cat's whiskers n. frog’s hair (n.) the very smallest degree; in phr. like within a frog's hair, to a frog's hair. 1897 Kansas University Quarterly (ser B) 6. 53: Frog-hair: something infinitesimal, as, 'fine as frog-hair.' 1927 C. Woofter 'Dialect Words and Phrases from West-Central West Virginia' in AS 11:8 354: Those scratches are finer 'n frog's hair. 1958 McCulloch Woods Words 68:

frog

Frog hair - One frog hair is a very fine measurement in forest surveys. 1965-70 in DARE. 1981 Hogan D. Bullet 108: You came within a frog's hair of getting yourself killed [HDAS]. 1984 Chapple Outlaws in Babylon 172; He stays only a frog's hair inside the law [HDAS], 2002 L. Roberson Rainbow Bridge Farm 129: 'Fine as frog's hair,' she replied [...] 'And that's so fine, why you can't even see it!' 2003 Stock Option Weekly 5 May [Internet] NASDAQ Composite comes within a 'frog's hair' of December high,

frogskin (n.) see separate entries, frog’s march (v.) see frogmarch v. frogsticker (n.) (US) a long-bladed pocket-knife; in milit. use a bayonet. 1836 W.G. Simms Mellichampe xliii 357: Wait a bit, till I [...] find my frog-sticker, which has somehow tumbled out of the belt [DA]. 1885 C.A. SIRINGO Texas Cow Boy (1950) 95: I then concluded to cut the rope and let her go, so getting out my old frog-sticker [...] 1 went to work. 1905 J.W. Carr 'Words from Northwest Arkansas' in DN III:i 80: frog-sticker, n. Facetious for any kind of pocket-knife. 1912 R.W. Brown 'Word-List From Western Indiana' in DN IILviii 576: frog-sticker, n. A pocket knife, especially one with a long, pointed blade. 1919 Crowe & Chase Pat Crowe, Aviator 92: We found a French soldier with a four-foot frog-sticker on the end of a rifle guarding it. 1925 J. Tully Beggars of Life 232: They [potatoes] were peeled with pocket knives, called 'frogstickers', 1927 C. Woofter 'Dialect Words and Phrases from West-Central West Virginia' in AS 11:8 354: It is against the law to carry such a frog-sticker. 1931 (con. 1900) L. Riggs Green Grow the Lilacs I iii: Jacknives and frog-stickers. Steel and never rusty. 1945 Chicago Trib. 14 Oct. [cartoon] n.p.: Step soft now, Sherrif, or out comes yer liver on th' end of this frogsticker! [DA]. 1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 13: [He] pulled his frog-sticker and began shouting how he was going to teach the mother-raper some respect. 1966 L.L. King One-Eyed Man (2001) 240: The frog sticker made a sharp, snapping sound as the blade clicked. 1992 R. Ford in Granta Book of the Amer. Short Story 27: [A] frogsticker, which will snap out ready when you press a button in the handle. 2003 R. Stewart A Crooked Mile 63: Calm down, kid [...] I'm here to help. I won't hurt you. Put that frog sticker away.

frogtown (n.) [the swampy, frog-ridden pond that is trad, associated with such rural settlements] (US) a small or out-of-the-way place. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 18: A homeboy member of Hoolie's Frogtown gang.

frog n? [initial

letters] 1 (US campus) a freshman. [1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 226: FROG. In Germany, a student while in the gymnasium, and before entering the university is called a Frosch, - a frog.] 1946 F. Eikel Jr 'An Aggie Vocab. of SI.' AS XXI:1 32/1: FROG, n. A first-semester freshman. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 2 (US campus) a grade of F. 1979 (con. 1964-8) oral testimony in Lighter EIDAS I 368/1: When I was in college an A was an ace, a B was a bang, a C was a cat or a hook, a D was a dog, an F was a frog. Bt- was a bang and a half.

frog n? [frogskin n.^j 1 (US Und.) a bad cheque. 1967 J. Breslin World of Jimmy Breslin (1968) 117: A transit item [i.e. a cheque] returned unpaid is known as a 'bum map' or a 'frog.' 2 see FROGSKIN n.’’.

frog

n."' [abbr. FROGSKIN n.^j (or/g. Aus.) a condom.

1969 A. Buzo Rooted I iii: Hammo got stuck into him, I can tell you. Laid him out like a used frog. 1978 V.G. O'Sullivan Boy, The Bridge, The River 107: A french letter, you know, a frog, stuck in her throat like a fishbone. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 25: What more fitting plague when frogs were scarce, Joe sniggered, than cheap rubbers. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 126: In Lingo, condoms are [...] frogs.

frog

frog-eater

254

1 see frog (and toad) n.

2 see FROG (spawn) n.

frog adj. French. 1910s T.A. Dorgan in N.Y. Eve. Journal 10 Jan. 12: Harvey has started to grow a goatee since we hit this frog joint. 1918 E. Wilson 'Lieutenant Franklin' in Prelude (1967) 236: They ought to have put a few Americans on it and they'd have a decent road by now. But that isn't the frog idea. 1921 Dos Passos Three Soldiers 61: I've had enough of these goddam frog women. 1927 (con. 1917) J. Stevens Mattock 137: I [...] asked her to cook me a couple of eggs and give me some vin roosh and Frog bread. 1936 W. Holtby South Riding (1988) 95: These frog places - They're so hot. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 129: Danny coaching us in the Frog lingo [...] so we could gab with the parlay-voo's when we landed in good old Paree. 1953 B. Behan Scarperer (1966) 150: Hey, you frog rat jackmanstink from the back of the pipes. 1960 1. Fleming For Your Eyes Only (1962) 8: That little frog bit in the canteen. 1966 M. Braly It’s Cold Out There (2005) 192: That was another poet, a Frog poet. 1970 Gallon & Simpson 'Cuckoo in the Nest' Steptoe and Son [TV script] I'm going to buy you both some slap-up tucker in a bonza

frog caff. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 80: At the top of the market we've got plenty of arty crafty frog-style restaurants who charge like a wounded bull. 1991 P. Highsmith Ripley Under Water (1992) 131; Want anything from Frogland. 1998 I. WELSH Filth 246: I wasn't into any sick frog poofs lisping around me. 1999 Observer Mag. 1 Aug. 31: A strange frog name that was almost unpronounceable. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 131: The pro had frog

credentials, he was an ex-Indochine hand. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 124: The way you go on anybody would think her piss is Frog perfume.

frog

v.^

[FROG

1

n.^]

to write for money.

1899 A. Binstead Gal’s Gossip 86: He is reduced to frogging out

sermons at half-a-guinea a pair for old comrades who were more fortunate.

2 (US campus) to cheat. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 37: frog, v.

To cheat or deceive, especially in examination.

frog

v.^ (US black) to leap, to jump.

1966 'Tom Pendleton' Iron Orchard (1967) 34: You little bastard, you

better not use no hot water till I git there, or I'll frog yo' ass. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 120: He frogged at least three inches off his stool.

frog (and toad)

n. [rhy. si.] the road.

1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1887 J.W.

Horsley Jottings from Jail 3: Call a flounder and dab with a tidy Charing Cross, and we'll go for a Bushey Park along the frog and toad into the live eels. 1900 Sidney Truth 7 Jan. in Baker (1945) 269; When I meets the cheese and kisses and prattled off down the frog and toad, I tell you I was a bit of orl right. 1917 in Seal Lingo (1999) 59: The Yank: 'Say Guy, how far to battle?' Aussie: 'Well sonny, I guess it's about five kilos. Just "pencil and chalk" straight along this "frog and toad" till you come to the "romp and ramp" on the "johnny homer".' 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 99: Frog And Toad: Road. 1937 J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 250: Look out of the window and see what's on in the frog. 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 25: If we walk up the frog an' toad an' take tanner bets - it's dark cells for us. a.1945 L. Payne private coll, n.p.: Road Frog & Toad. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: frog and toad: Road. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher’s Book of Rhy. SI. 21: \ met a bird one evening / As I walked down the frog. ]Ibid.] 25: He [...] set off down the frog and toad. 1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 194: FROG road (abb. for frog and toad in rhyming slang). 1998 1. Welsh Filth 287: I'm shite at accents [...] except for the Cockney cause I used to live down there. Orlroight moite? Dahn the old frog n toad. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] Dionne doesn't seem too happy about her babbling brook though, because when I start digging into her light and bitter again she comes on like a frog and toad gang have got her on the end of a pneumatic drill. ■ In phrases on the frog on foot, walking. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 4: Oldham, where he had been late on the 'Frog,' there was little business being done. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 55: Truefitts chucked him, and off he goes on the frog.

frog and toad

v. [frog (and toad) n; note WWI frog it, to march]

1 [also frog it) to walk. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 11: Did you frog it or come by the rattler? 2 (Aus. prison) to leave, esp. to escape. 1990 TUPPER & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Frog and toad. Leave, or more specifically, to escape. Rhyming slang for road. As in 'to hit (or on) the frog and toad'. Variation of 'to hit the road',

frog and toa

n. [ety. unknown] 1 London [Franklyn suggests that it was a destination towards which one travels ON THE FROG under FROG (AND TOAD) n.j. 1857 'DucANGE Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue We will go to frog and toe. Thieves coming up to London with plunder. 2 (US Und.) New York City. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 35: frog and toe The city of New-York.

'Coves, let us frog and toe,' coves, let us go to New-York. 1866 National Police Gazette 3 Nov. 3: Dutch returned immediately to 'frog and toe' with a gay set of whiskers, which he had raised in 'stur.' 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890).

frog-eater

n. a French person; thus frog-eating adj.

1775 'The Englishman's Wish' Frisky Songster 5: Our vengeance we'll

hurl on these frogeaten foes, / Till their lillies does homage to the English rose. 1790 J. Freeth 'The Jersey Expedition' Political Songster 37: A marksman [...] Let fly through the Governor's hat, / And took off the Frog-eater's chin. 1800 'Sung at Sadlers Wells' Songster's Companion 38: Strike, you frog-eaters, strike. 1811 'The Victor Vanquishd' Odd Fellows Song-Book 10: He saw the French line as

Froggie

long as Kew Wall [...] 'Frog-ealers,' cried bold Graham. 1823 J. Catnach Tom and Jerry's Rambles Through Paris 1: Come on, ye frog-

eaters, come on, come on. 1859 H. Kingsley Recollections of G. Hamlyn (1891) 172: 'He is a walking mystery,' said Jim; 'but he is a noble good fellow, though unhappily a frog-eater.' 1864 T.F. Upson diary 1 Jan. in Winther With Sherman to the Sea (1958) 92: 'We hear the French have come over into Mexico.' [...] He said, 'We don't want any of thier [sic] help—d-n thier [sic] frog eating souls.' 1866 C.H. Smith Bill Arp 93: Some frog-eating Frenchman has written a book, and called, it 'Lee's Miserables,' or some other such name. 1899 C. Rook Hooligan Nights 68: We ain't goin' to see the girl wronged by a bloody frog-eater. 1908 D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox II 327: You don't look Irish or Dutch or Dago—though you might have a touch of the [...] Frog-eaters. 1922 E.E. Cummings Enormous Room (1928) 86: And you fellers are always hangin' round, talkin' with them dirty frogeaters that does the cookin' and the dirty work round here. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Frog or frog eater - A Frenchman. 1933 (con. WWI) F. Richards Old Soldiers Never Die (1964) 53: He didn't want a bloody lot of frog-eating bastards gaping at him. 1947 S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 27: I don't suppose the Jews like being called 'kikes' any more than my French-Canadian ancestors liked being called 'frog-eaters'. 1954 J. Phelan Tramp at Anchor 111: One's hated enemies, atheists, sub-human savages, frog-eaters, Frenchmen, 1983 Maledicta VII 22: The English thought the French taste for frog legs was bizarre and loathsome, and more than a century ago began calling the French frog eater, frog, [...] and the like. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 229: frog eater, a Frenchman. 2004 A. Alexeev Adventures of Giulio Mazarini 151: Then one of the Spaniards rose and [...] barked: — You, frog eater, go to hell together with your stupid king. Froggie n. (also Froggee, Froggy) [Frog n. (2)/Froc n. (5)1 1 (orig. US) a French person. 1872 SCHELE De Vere Americanisms 82: It is evident that this arose not from a tendency to underrate, as when Frenchmen were dubbed Froggies and the like. 1883 Referee 15 July 7/3: While Ned from Boulogne says Oui mon brave, The Froggies must answer for Tamatave [F&H]. 1887 W.S. Gilbert Ruddigore Ill: Froggee answers with a shout / As he sees us go about. 1892 in Punch 15 Oct. 170: A FROGGIE would a-rowing go, / [...] / To see if Big BULLIE could lick him or no. 1905 Marvel 111:55 11: The parlevou Froggies here love an English boxer as dearly as they love their poisonous absinthe. 1911 L. Stone Jonah 27: "Elio, [...] Froggy's on the job to-day.' The singer was a Frenchman with a wooden leg. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 25: froggy — A Frenchman, 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 22: We was always on the defensive, as if the boches, as the froggies called them, was right down on us. 1934 'Hinky-Dinky' in Lomax & Lomax Amer. Ballads and Folk Songs 560: My Froggie girl was true to me [,..] She was true to the whole damn army, too. 1946 R. Grinstead They Dug a Hole 63: I was just after thinking about those Froggies. 1951 Cosack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 329: What with the Yanks blowing their cheques and the home-front Aussies takin' 'em down, you'd think you was back with the Froggies in the last war. 1963 H.E. Bates Oh! To be in England (1985) 384: After all Froggies are human, I suppose. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 2&5: 'Want us t,o do that Froggie over,' Roger offered matter-of-factly. 1987 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 144:1 swear to God, this is the last time I'm doing this, coming over here to sin in hardtops all day with a bunch of Froggies. 1999 Indep. 4 Nov. 25: The Froggies have always been dirty little mongrels, even their pretty boys,

2 the French language. 1959 H.E. Bates A Breath of French Air (1985) 128: Hatin' frogs' legs and snails and me talking froggy. 1981 C. Hope Separate Development 194: We picked up a fair smattering of froggy. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 91):‘You really can read French?' [...] 'Course 1 can read bleedin' Froggie.' froggy adj.^ (also froggie) [Froggie n. (1)1 1 French. 1918 Aussie (France) VII Sept. 7/2: 'A bloke must be barmy to do his block on a froggie bint when there's tarts like these in Aussie,' said Dinkum. 1931 J.T. Farrell 'Merry Clouters' in Fellow Countrymen (1937) 396: Hennessey said Andy was just of froggy French descent. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 4: Es prilty corpse, to put it in froggie lingo. 1954 K. Amis letter 27 Oct. in Leader (2000) 410: Do you think you could get the Froggy and Eyeteye advances off to me. 1959 H.E. Bates A Breath of French Air (1985) 127: I'm getting a bit tangled up with this froggy lark. 1976 H. Leonard Time Was (1981) Act II: What makes you think I'd have a Froggie name like Geste? 1999 Indep. Mag. 30 Oct. 59: I selected a jolly good Froggy chicken from Sainsbury's. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 66: He's even got me answering him in this focking froggy accent.

frogskin

255

2 as a nickname. 1931 R.E. Howard 'Sign of the Snake' Action Stories June [Internet] Ladeau was having some kind of a row with a big sailor. Suddenly the sailor hauled off and hit Froggy between the eyes,

froggy

adj.^ (also froggish) (US black) aggressive, belligerent, keen to fight, keen to start 'jumping'. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 136: The cocaine had me froggy. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 44: You get labeled as too froggy [...]

and are forced to do something about it. 1997 P. Theroux Kowloon Tong 202: Hung was looking froggy and solemn now that the deal was on the verge of closing. ■ In phrases feel froggy (v.) (also feel froggish) (US black) to feel like fighting; thus the challenge if you feel froggy, then leap, if you want a fight, then let's get on with it. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Dowtt Some Lines 236: feel froggy Feel like fighting. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 26: 'It's going to be you and me if you keep talking,' Flip said. 'If you feel froggy, leap!' shouted Rooster. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 217: Air Jordan danced toward him [...] 'You goin jump froggy, huh? you goin jump?' 2003 US Congress: Investigation of Management Problems at Los Alamos National Laboratory 1410: 'And I said to him - "Well, if you feel froggy, jump." And he stood up and made a movement toward me and then I hit him in the mouth.'

frog in the throat

n. (rhy. sl.i a boat.

1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

frogmarch

n. (also frog’s march) (the image of a spreadeagled frogl a method of carrying a drunken or recalcitrant person, whereby one holder each takes a limb and thus suspends the individual in mid-air.

1871 Eve. Standard, Clerkenwell Police Report 18 Apr. n.p.: In crossexamination the police stated that they did not give the defendant the frog's march. The frog's march was described to be carrying the face downwards [F&H], 1884 Daily News 4 Oct. 5/2: They had to resort to a mode of carrying him, familiarly known in the force, we believe, as the frog trot, or sometimes as the frogs march The prisoner is carried with his face downwards and his arms drawn behind him [F&H]. 1890 Bird o' Freedom 19 Mar. 1/1: And then he gets the frog-march to the nearest Tealeafs [F&H]. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 10: Frog's march is a method prison guards use to carry and transfer difficult, hard-to-handle inmates. This method consists of four officers each grabbing an arm or a leg and carrying the inmate, face down, parallel with the ground,

frogmarch

v. (also frog’s-march) (frogmarch n.j someone face-down, one person holding each limb; drunks or recalcitrant prisoners; later use of the term 1974 onwards) means simply to be moved against one's no actual suspension is involved.

to carry used on (see cit. will, and

1884 Birmingham (UK) Weekly Post 15 Nov. 3/7: Deceased was 'frog'smarched' - that is, with face downwards - from Deal to Walmer [OED]. 1908 A.N, Lyons Arthur's 166: They frog's-marched 'im off to Vine Street. 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 69: A bit of a dust in the Gray's Inn-road, and Billy bein' frog's-marched off to the station, 1974 Galton & Simpson 'Porn Yesterday' Steptoe and Son [TV script] I was frog-marched up the Goldhawk Road in a policeman's cape. 1989 H. Leonard Out After DarkAX: The shame of being frogmarched, unconscious, off the altar. 1997 L. Sante intro, in Riis How the Other Half Lives xv: Finally two cops frog-marched him to the nearest ferry. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 10: They were frogmarched before him.

frogsh

n. [var. on 3ULLSH n. (1); i.e. abbr./rogs/i/t] (Aus.) nonsense,

rubbish, 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 25: frogsh — See bullsh.

frogskin

n.^ (also frog) [such notes are/were green; Franklyn, Diet, of Rhyming Slang (1961), suggests rhy. si. frogskin = SE sovereign] 1 (US black/catnpus/Und.) (also alligator skin, fish-skin, froggyskin) a banknote, $1 bill. 1902 Ade Girl Proposition 104: Although his Salary didn't make him round-shouldered taking it Home, he was enabled to soak a couple of Frog Skins each Month. 1920 H. Wiley Wildcat 156: Whang! An' Ah reads six. Frogskin money you gits a furlough, c.1930 (ref. to 1898) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 282: I took the frogskins and said, 'That's on account'. 1936 (ref. to 1918) L. Duncan Over the Wall 21:1 learned quickly that a dollar bill was a fish-skin. 1947-53 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man (1995) 320: Fork th' froggyskin. 1949 'Hal Ellson' Duke 68: I pulled the score by myself. I was gone about an hour and when I came back I got fistfuls of alligator skins. I got more money than John D and Henry Ford. 1955 H. Braddy 'Narcotic Argot Along the Mexican Border' in AS XXX:2 87: FROGSKINS, n. Paper money. 1960 (con. 1940s) G. Morrill Dark Sea Running 29: One

frogskin

frogskin—let's have it. 1969 'Iceberg Sum' Pimp 65: Some broad is going to lay out five hundred frog skins to get her rocks off. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 13: We got five hundred frog skins. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 163: She'd probably ask me to slip her 50 frogskins a month. [Ibid.] 165: The publisher owed Pathe 50 fishskins. 2 (US Und.) a counterfeit dollar bill. 1926 Flynn's 16 Jan. n.p.: I had [...] cached about two hundred grand - toad and frog skins, for I never monkeyed with the iron men [DU].

Buckley' Hiparama of the Classics 11: My frame is bent, Naz. It's been

bent from in front!!! from now on n. (US Und.) a life sentence; indefinite confine¬ ment on the punishment block. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 7All-. From-now-on, n. 1. (P) An indefinite commitment to a segregation or punishment wing, often for the duration of a prison term. 2. (P) A life term or any equivalent prison sentence. adj. Ipron. ofSE/m/upyl (US black) of a woman, dowdy, ill-

frompy

3 (Aus.) a £1 note. 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer's Colt 15: If that bag full of frogskins

[pound notes] was burnt in the fire, they'd be some of the iron frame of the bag left, wouldn't there? 1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 102: 'How much do they sting yer for it?' 'Half a frog.' 1955 N. Pulliam / Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 231/2: carpet (cracker, FROG, FROGSKIN) a One - pound note.

frogskin

front

256

n.^ (pun on frog adj., i.e. French letter n.) (orig. Aus./

kempt. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: frompy (adj.): a frompy queen is a battle or faust.

froncey

n. (mispron. of Fr. Franfais, French] a Frenchman, the French

language. 1841 Comic Almanack Aug. 277: Parly voo fronsy, ses i, at vich the juge [...] busted out a laffin. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

N.Z.) a condom. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn). 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult

fron©

Sex Words and Phrases. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/2: frogskin French letter or contraceptive sheath. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z.

unattractive woman. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. Front, then. 1 (U/Cgay/CJnc/.) any street that is known as a centre

SI. [as cit. 1988].

frog (spawn)

n. [rhy. si. = horn n.^ (1b)] an erection.

1998 R. PUXLEY Fresh Rabbit.

frolic

n. [SE frolic-, orig. slave use] (US black) an entertainment or

performance. [1900 B.T. Washington Up From Slavery (1901) 135: At night, during Christmas week, they [plantation slaves] usually had what they called a 'frolic' in some cabin on the plantation. This meant a kind of rough dance, where there was likely to be a good deal of rough whiskey used.] 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 80: pROLic.-An entertainment or performance, originated by professional entertain¬ ers to indicate the number of times they appear in any one day. 1934 Z.N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine (1995) 47: 'Whut you know 'bout swingin' gals? You don't eben know how tuh dance.' 'Dat's much ez you know. Ah done been tuh four, five frolics 'cross de Creek since you been gone.' ■ In compounds frolic pad (n.) [pad n.^ (2)) (US black) a nightclub. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: frolic PAD (n.): place of entertainment, theater, nightclub. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

from

prep, because of, as a result of; used in a variety of combs., e.g. from hunger, from grief. 1938 A.J. Libeling 'The Jollity Building' in Just Enough Liebling (2004) 252: Them apple-knockers just sat there from sorrow. [Ibid.] 254: The singers are from hunger [...] the performers are from hunger. 1954 'Curt Cannon' 'Deadlier Than the Mail' in I Like 'Em Tough (1958) 135: The tips in this neighborhood are from hunger. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 119: This kind of crap was from nowhere. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 30 Apr. 1: The diifferences between life in LA and life in Kansas or Oklahoma - boy, it's vast [.,.] I mean we were from horse and buggy weren't we?

fromage, the

n. (play on cheese, the n. (2); ult. Fr. synon. fromage] of people, objects, experiences: the best of a type or style, the

superlative. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 123: It was the fromage, all right. And say!

fromage

adj. (Fr. fromage, cheese, thus CHEESY adj? (1)) (US campus)

objectionable. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 242: He was exceedingly Fromage. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 70: Cheese became a metaphor for 'something unattractive or undesirable' and gave rise to [...] the personified Captain Cheddar, and the French equivalent, fromage.

from back

phr. (abbr. SE from way back, from a long time ago] (US

black) for a long time. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 16: That's a gasser from back.

[Ibid.] 19: These young studs are oilers from back. 1952 (con. 1948) G, Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 244: He's a junky from back. 1959 D. Burley Diggeth Thou? 40: The spielers were shucking some hard

n. 1? Cer. Frau, woman or SE frown -F crone] (US black) an

for prostitution, e.g. Piccadilly, Oxford Street. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 71: We'd now reached a street down near 'the Front', as the girls on the game call the thoroughfare. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Front, the Oxford Street.

2 (UK teen) the main street of a gang's territory. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 61: Front [...] the main street.

front

n.'' 1 (orig. UK society) (also frontage) cheek, audacity. C.1805 'Jenny's Bawbee' Jovial Songster 106: He thought to win wi' front o' brass, / Jenny's bawbee. 1815 in J.T. Coleridge Memoir of J. Keble (1869) 63: I am not very much au fait in Latin and Greek; but my nerves are more steeled, and my front more bronzed of late months, so I shall bully away in the Schools as fearlessly as ever. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 9/2: There are many things connected with George Augustus' views with which we disagree, but (we've 'front' enough to disbelieve anybody) we're prepared to fight anyone who says he's inaudible or prosy. 1890 Referee 9 Mar. in Ware (1909) 137/2: There is another rendering of the word 'front' in use among some clever folk, but I wouldn't for the world suggest that the promoters have any of that - to say nothing of 420 ft. of it. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Return of the Wanderer' Sporting Times 14 Apr. 1/4: His friends managed to find a good berth for him / In America, for they'd the frontage to say / Over here there was no chance on earth for him. 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 154: I have never had the moral courage, or the 'front', to tell a dun that he was mad. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 151: He had a Front like the new Pennsylvania Station and the soft Personal Attributes of a Numidian Lion. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 97: Wonder they 'ave the front to put 'em up. 1936 R. Chandler 'Goldfish' Red Wind (1946) 156: 'I like your front,' he said, 'even if you are crazy.' 1949 A.B. Hollingshead Elmtown's Youth (1975) 316: About half of their talk Is 'front'. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 80: She's got more front than Selfridges. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 98: You ain't got no front and flash. 1975 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Apr. 44: That arse - you know, the consorter what dollied you on the bust last year - [...] Give me a nice serve in there and had the front to ask me to sign up for a shoppying blue after court. 1983 A. Payne 'Get Daley!' Minder [TV script] 63: Anyway, you got a bit of front coming here. 1992 1. Rankin Strip Jack 19: Did Watson really have the front to get the London papers involved?

2 one's external appearance or style, a pose, esp. one that masks one's failings, whether financial or otherwise. [1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) III ii: I overcame my father, man! here with all his front.] [1619 Two Wise Men and All the Rest Fooles V v: Was there euer such a monster hatch'd [...] So shameless, so frontlesse a beast as thou art?] 1848 Thackeray Vanity Fair III 195: She's plenty of tin: she wears a front: and she scolds the servants from morning till night. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift in America 205: All

1959 L. Lipton Holy Barbarians 104: Sherry McCall is beat from in

you have to do is put a good 'front on,' and waltz in with the crowd. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 29:1 know boys that went down there and put on a dizzy front. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 114: They kept up an Affectionate Front before their Acquaintances. 1910 'O. Henry' 'The Girl & the Graft' Strictly Business (1915) 93: He was all silk hat, diamonds and front. He was all front. 1924 'Digit' Confessions of a Twentieth Century Hobo 43: 'Say, you two guys aren't on the road?' 'We certainly are, buddy,' 'You keep up a good front.' 'Oh, we are not exactly broke.' 1936 J.T. Farrell World I Never Made 95: He didn't like those insincere glad-hand types. They were all front. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 179: He could throw out a

front as the bop boys of the forties would have put it. 1960 'Lord

front, strike an attitude, 1944 C, Himes 'Let Me at the Enemy' in Coll.

jive from back.

from go to whoa

phr. (also from go to woe) (Aus.) from start to

finish. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 52/1: go to whoa, from from beginning to end; eg 'I'd like to hear all the sordid details. Everything - from go to whoa.' 1999 G. Seal Lingo 92: from go to woe means from beginning to end. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

from in front

phr. (orig. US black/jazz) from the beginning.

front

front

257

Stories (1990) 37: Here you is strainin' yo'self to keep up a front. 1959 A. ZuGSMiTH Beat Generation 32: To keep up his front, he kept telling himself they'd pulled in Rajah. 1963 A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 10: I have to keep this front up. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 86: Only people who had nothing found it necessary to employ front. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 34: If you weren't tough, you at least put on a tough front. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 407: It was DeAndre who had to give up the front, who was reduced to professing true love, 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 5: His perfectly timed an perfectly authentic rudeboy front [i.e. pose]. 3 a respectable cover or appearance, esp. as a mask for illegal activities. 1852 G.C. Mundy Our Antipodes I 95: Robber, bully, and blackleg, he still continued to maintain an unabashed front. 1887 G. Devol Forty Years a Gambler 17: I made a bold front and told him what I wanted to do. 1892 H. Lawson 'Jones's Alley' in Roderick (1972) 41: We must put on front an' go on with it now. 1912 S. Ford Odd Numbers 258: Tutwater explains how his first investment is to be a new silk lid, [...] and a silver headed walkin' stick, 'Good business!' says I. 'You'll need all the front you can carry.' 1916 W. Sco'rr Seventeen Years in the Und. 61: A good 'front' (appearance) in their line is essential to success. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 135: The professional check man [.,,] puts on a 'big front'. 1937 P. Chbyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 13: 'What's your front?' he asks. 'I'm fakin' to come from Magdalena, Mexico.' 1941 N. Davis 'Don't Give Your Right Name' in Goulart (1967) 19: He had a swell front. 1962 R. COOK Crust on its Uppers 29: It served as a handy front when one was working the income tax fiddle. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 136: Most of these were just 'front' — a super show-off to their important friends. 1998 C. Fleming Hi^h Concept 114: For reasons J.R. cannot explain, his front was never exposed. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 134: If I want credibility in New York and Monte Carlo I must have a front. Like a casino.

4

a person who is employed or a place that is designated to maintain a respectable appearance behind which third parties, e.g. organised criminals, can hide; e.g. the 'innocent' manager and/or purported owner of what is in fact a Mafia-controlled casino. 1926 J. Black You Can't Win (2000) 33: The store was but a 'front' or blind for a poker game. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 80: Front. - [...] a grocery store may be the front for a bootlegger's dive. 1933 R. Chandler 'Blackmailers Don't Shoot' in Red Wind (1946) 88: Atkinson. Big Hollywood lawyer. Front for the boys. 1947 N. Algrbn Neon Wilderness (1986) 149: Doc had me take him to Dreamland then, a tea joint with a cigar-store front on South Dearborn. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 12: Leon's a front and you know it. 1959 C. Himes Crazy Kill 97: That means they'd have to bring in a third party as a front. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 800: FRONT- One who maintains an apparently innocent enterprise as a blind behind which lawless persons may work without fear, 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 95: A lot of little people are also 'fronts' for such operations. 1981 J. FU-KOY Brown's Requiem 158: He's got this golf course job that's really a front. 1987 B. Chatwin Songlines 30: Its author, a former Marxist, insisted that the Aboriginal Land Rights Movement was a 'front' for Soviet expansion in Australia. 2003 Observer Crime 27 Apr. 28: Front. A person with a clean criminal record providing an acceptable face for a known criminal owning a club or business. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 74: He bought a cheapo legal motor [...] from a car front.

5 (US Und.) a watch and chain; jewellery. 1903 H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 46: It was not many weeks [,...] before I could 'bang a super,' or get a man's 'front' (watch and chain). 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 366: We grifters had a damn good right to nick a front or peel a poke so long as Wall Street and Washington were picking everybody's pockets. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 405: Front - watch and chain. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 80: Front. -[...] A watch and chain, this because of the impression of prosperity and respectability given the wearer. Jewellery, for the same reason. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 'I Was a Pickpocket' in C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 77: I got to be quite an adept in touching men for supers and fronts.

6 (US) a suit. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 91: My front I had left back in Chicago. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of The Toilsome Ascent' in Ade's Fables 180: Three days later, however, he was on hand, with chaste Neckwear and a jaunty Front. 1929 A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 149: What're you supposed to do with the fin - buy a new front and a new heater? 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 205: Front-A whole layout of new clothes. 1935 E. Anderson Hungry Men 116: You got a pretty nice front on you there. Where did you get that suit? 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1958 M.A. Crane 'Misc.' in AS XXXIII:3 224: Most of us have little

trouble understanding the story of the cal (or stud) who, having eyes to make the scene with his chick (or hen), dons his front (or threads), his skypiece, and his kickers, jumps into his short (or wheels, or tushwagon), and plays on down to her pad (or rack, or crib). a.1964 'HonkyTonk Bud' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 54: He was choked up tight in a white-on-white / And a cocoa front that was down. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 64: front n. a suit of clothes: an outfit. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 64: I've been peddling bills and doing odd jobs, trying to put enough scratch together to get a new front and go home.

7 (UK Und.) anything one needs - smart clothes, a clever line of speech, a personal style, a mental attitude - for the successful promotion of one's schemes. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 60: I've got the front meaning my layout of togs. [Ibid.] 146: A front is of value to the busted man. It's his whole stock in trade. It's the complete works, 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 88; Only day before yesterday Curry from the Front Office was telling me that if he had your 'front', as he called it, he'd be living near the Park. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 190: One needed a 'front' to make a hit with the managers, and fronts cost money. 1910 H. Hapgood Types From City Streets 126: When they put on all the 'front' they can, they 'get on' better. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 140: The younger hobos, especially those who are on the road and off again by turns, are able at times to save money and put on a 'front'. 1956 J. Thompson 'The Cellini Chalice' in Fireworks (1988) 66: Mitch Allison was as lowdown as they come, but his front was strictly high-class. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 207:1 bought me several fronts, old boy, and each one of them motherfuckers cost me a grand. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 38: To get your game together usually involves the presentation of self in a particular way which requires certain props. [...] Although he often desires these things for their own sake or as symbols of 'success,' he is also aware that they constitute his front, the props he needs to make the proper impression. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 239: Somebody threw a brick through her side window and stole her clothes - all her clothes. It's hard for her to work without a front.

8 (US Und.) an assistant, usu. for purposes of diversion, in a criminal act. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 36: front [...] Some general currency, but used mainly by crooks whose operations require a shield or distraction. An auxiliary defense; a 'stall'; a secondary who interposes his person or contributes overtly to a surreptitious action.

9 (US Und.) a high bail bond. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It's a Racket! 225: front—[...] (2) Heavy bail bond—e.g. 'He made a ten grand front' (gave bonds in the sum of $10,000). 10 in pL, a woman's breasts. 1945 'Henry Green' Loving (1978) 121: Then she sat up in bed with her fronts hobblin' at him like a pair of geese. 11 (US black) in pL, clothes. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 2: The mellow little old frames are showcasing their 'frantic threads,' and the cool kitties are riffing in their 'mad fronts' and daddy you better believe everything is much straight. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 91: Joe, you have a short [car], some fronts [suits], and a fine ticker [watch] too, 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 27: Mr. Soul's fronts were spectacular: black iridescent silk shirt with balloon sleeves, white lame jump suit, black patent-leather shoes with enormous heels, and a black fedora, 'ace-deuced to the side'. 12 (US drugs) a payment for drugs, i.e. not on consignment. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T, Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 37: He promised me he was going to get the big thing [a kilo] and I told Kitty to tell him I'd be waiting. I told him I didn't have no front, and he said it was OK. 13 (US black) in pL, the teeth. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] fronts Definition: teeth Example: Yo, that fool ass nigga knocked my gold fronts out. 14 see FRONT money n, ■ In phrases

get one’s front uptight (v.) (US black) to assemble the 'props' required to present oneself in a desired manner, usu. expensive material possessions. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 38: To get your game together usually involves the presentation of self in a particular way which requires certain props, [...] Although he often desires these things for their own sake or as symbols of 'success,' he is also aware that they constitute his front, the props he needs to make the proper impression. Erecting this front is known as [...] getting your from uptight.

front

front

258

go to (the) front (v.) {US Und.) to provide a criminal with a respectable image. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson 159: Blessed if I know who it is that always goes to front when a rap comes in against him, but some one does [...] he's never been caught with the goods yet. more front than Brighton (beach) Ipun on SE {sea-)front] a phr. used of one who is very cheeky, daring or outspoken,

2000 Indep. 5 June 1: The naked protestors with more front than Brighton.

more front than Buckingham Palace a phr. used of one who is very cheeky, daring or outspoken. 1985 J. Sullivan 'Watching the Girls go by' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] He's got more front than Buckingham Palace ain't he? more front than Harrods [Harrods, the very large London department store! a phr. used of one who is very cheeky, daring or outspoken.

401: Globocnik may well have been a 'front man' for both Oswald Pohl and Christian Wirth.

front marriage (n.) {US gay) an unconsummated marriage between a gay man and gay woman to satisfy the norms of non¬ gay society. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 211: A psychiatrist of my acquaintance recently [...] discussed the adjustment to be found in what he termed a 'front marriage'. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1976 Warren 'Women Among Men' in Levine Gay Men (1979) 234: Penny (a masculine lesbian) said she had married a gay guy for companionship in a 'front marriage'. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Front Marriage - A marriage between a lesbian and gay man in order to 'pass' at work and/or with family.

front money (n.) see separate entry.

2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 12 Mar, 62: I've always had more front than

■ SE in slang uses

Harrods.

■ In compounds front attic (n.) the vagina.

more front than Milne’s [Milne's, Auckland] (N.Z.) 1 extremely cheeky.

once a large department store in

2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 136: more front than Milne's 1. Cheeky. 2. Large-breasted woman. Both refer to Auckland's Queen Street department store of yore, 2 of a woman, large-breasted. 2003 see sense 1.

more front than Myers (also more front than Foy and Gibson’s, ...Mark Foy’s, ...the National Bank) (large department stores in respectively Melbourne and Adelaide] (Aus.) 1 a phr. used of one who is very cheeky, daring or outspoken. 1958 F.J. Hardy Four-Legged Lottery 87: Must get back to the game. Some of these bastards have more front than Myers; might get their hand caught in the tin. 1966 Baker Aus. Lang. (2nd edn) 347: More front than Foy and Gibson's, said of a person who is extremely daring in his or her demands, or of a girl with large breasts. 1978 B. Humphries Nice Night's Entertainment (1981) 165: He's a cheeky beggar - always has been - more front on him than Myers. 1983 C. Gorman A Night in the Arms ofRaeleen 30: That guy's got more front than the National Bank [GAW4]. 1992 Parliamentary Debates House of Representatives 4 Nov. 2548: Mr Keating - He [Mr Howard] is proposing a matter of public importance against us about the erosion of Loan Council standards! As I have said before, you have more front than Mark Foy's, son [GAW4]. 1996 Hansard (Aus.) 28 Mar. 791: Mr De Domenico is always a useful deputy to have in these kinds of debates because he has more front than Myers, 2000 Dave's Jokes [Internet] Being a 'more front than Myers' type of guy, I approached Mr [Kerry] Packer and introduced myself. 2 a phr, used to describe a woman with large breasts. 1966 see sense 1. front n.^ {US black) a place. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 5: The pad is loaded with hipsters from all fronts, mad aces in their places, cool chicks strictly the lick, fine and most bulling, front n? [? Front, the n.] {UK Und.) prostitution. 1999 personal communication: The price of front hasn't really gone up much. front n.‘* 1 see front line n. 2 see ERONT money n, front adj. [front nl' (3)[ providing a respectable image for something, usu. illegal activities. 1931 implied in front gee below. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 66: We had front outfits that were very often successful in their own right. ■ In compounds front gee (n.) {US Und.) a member of a pickpocket team who diverts the victim. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS VI:6 438: front gee, n. A blind used by pickpockets. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 74/2: Front ghee. See Front, n. front man (n.) (ong, US) anyone who covers for illegal activities, posing as a 'legitimate' citizen. 1938 J.E. Hoover Persons in Hiding 106: He acted as the 'front man' in the purchase of a car for Baby Face, 1949 W.R, Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 146: What a front man! 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 188: He's a smooth character and was chosen to act as front man for the Detroit end of the syndicate. 1965 C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969) 42: The front man. 1978 F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 112: We've a shrewd suspicion that they're using you as a front man. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 42: Front men sometimes had some of their own money in these joints. 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 93: Sometimes front men can be exactly that and other times they start to believe their own publicity. 2004 J. Poprzeczny Odilo Globocnik, Hitler's Man in the East

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

front bottom (n.) the vagina. 1999 Indep. Rev. 29 Oct. 4: The MP was trapped into making naughty reference to 'front bottoms'. 2002 Guardian G2 28 Jan. 8: Soon one will be able to say 'vagina' as easily as 'cup of tea', but I won't, for personal reasons [...] I'll be sticking to 'front bottom',

front bum (n.) [bum nl' (1)] the labia majora; the vagina. [1742 Sawney and Colley 11: Who, except a venal Punkey [...] Would suffer Thee [...] to come Within ten Foot of her Forebum?] 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 185: The seam of her stretch jeans parted her labia perfectly — what we called in Australia a 'front bum'. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 463: The girls're tawkin abaht [...] words faw 'fanny', it sounds like: [...] 'Frontbum', that's t'wust. As if it has nor function other than tuh excrete lahk. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 211: thick piss up the from bum Male ejaculation into vagina,

front door see separate entries, front entrance (n.) the vagina. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) TV 738: Sally had had a prick up her back as well as her front-entrance,

front garden (n.) {also front gate) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si. and Its Analogues.

front gut (n.) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 185: The anatomical relationship of the bower of bliss and its main channel is indicated in such phrases as the front gut, foregut, forewoman, gape over the garter, lower mouth, the upright grin (except, traditionally, in China), a bit on a fork, front job (n.) |SE/ronf, i.e. of the bank (rather than the hidden strongroom) + [OB n.^ (1)[ {US Und.) a bank robbery in which no money is taken from the safe; only that in the tellers' drawers. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI.

frontline (n.) see separate entry, front load (v.) see separate entry, front parlour (n.) the vagina. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 94: Dev ant, m. The female pudendum; 'the front parlour', front porch (n.) 1 {US) a protruding stomach. 1915 Van Loan 'Sporting Doctor' in Taking the Count 45: You're looking fine [...] Wheres the front porch and the double chin?

2 the penis. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 320; Ding-dong, dingus, dink, dork, flute, front porch, front room (n.) 1 the vagina. 1630 J. Taylor 'Sculler' in Works (1869) III 30: Quoth he I whipt her, tor she brake the Lawes, / In letting out her formost Roome for pelte, / And (for her pleasure) backward lay her selfe. 2 {US Und.) a sedan; a limousine. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 81: Front Room.-A sedan or limousine; automobiles with glass windows which allow [...] a glimpse of ladies and gentlemen taking their ease within, as in a parlour or 'front room.' 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 75/1; Front room. Any large closed automobile; a sedan or limousine, front street (n.) see separate entry,

front tottie (n.) (Aus.) the female genitals. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 48: A girl's genitals and urinary area is her 'front tottie', her anus is the 'back tottie', and this term may also apply to a boy's anus,

front window (n.) 1 the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer S- Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 in pi., the eyes. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 430/2: from ca. 1860. 3 in pL, spectacles. 1913 in A.H,

Dawson

Diet. SI.

front

front

259

■ In phrases

front someone off (v.) (US black) 1 to reveal information about

in front see under up front.

another person that puts that person in an embarrassing or otherwise difficult position.

up front see separate entries,

front

v.^ [abbr. SE confront]

1

to confront.

1592 Arden of Feversham line 1252: For with the tyde my M. will away. Where you may front him well on Raynum downe, A place well fitting such a strategeme. 1704 Cibber Careless Husband V v: I'll throw this Vizor of my Patience off: / Now wake him in his Guilt / And barefac'd front him with my Wrongs. 1754 T. Sheridan Brave Irishman I ii: Do you mean to front me, you French boogre? - Eh. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 417/2: The first, or soldier proper, has all the evidence of drill and barrack life about him; the eye that always 'fronts' the person he addresses. 1969 Current SI. III:3. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184: Front, to To confront; to face in challenge. 1990 Tuppbr & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Front. 2. To challenge someone on an issue. Probably a contraction of confront. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] II: Front: [...] 3. From confront: to acknowledge; to encounter; to engage. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 33: They don't want to risk fronting him neither, just in case, even though there's loads of them.

2 (UK Und.) of a pickpocket team, to distract a victim's attention while the actual theft is carried out. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 153/2; One of us was to 'front' her and prevent her leaving the carriage until she had left behind her darling 'soot-bag'. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 155: It commonly took three men to secure a single watch in the open street — one to 'front', one to snatch, and a third to take from the snatcher. 3 (Aus.) to appear in front of (often a court). 1943 K. Tennant Ride on Stranger 67; Mr Litchin was [...] making frantic signs to Beryl who fronted him much in the manner of a ruffled kitten [GAW4]. 1950 Aus. Police Journal Apr. 112: Front. To To appear before. 'Front' the court [GAW4]. 1961 Sydney Morning Herald 20 May 2; So the delo fronted him and said 'If we don't get gloves we'll walk off!' [GAW4]. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 3: 'Don't mind a bit of corn myself. Look like doin a drag wen I front tomorrow,' was the boastful reply. 1975 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Apr. 44: Like me last year. I fronted [i.e. in court] on a loiter. Was the hottest thing since they give it to Christ. Crucified me - or tried to. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Front. 1. To appear before some legal body. As in 'to front the court' or 'to front the superintendent'. 4 (also front up) to approach. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted I iii: Hey, do you remember the time he got pissed out of his mind and fronted up to this old duck and asked her for a root? It was Davo's mother! 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 45: Sneed had never had any problem pulling women; two glances his way was sufficient for him to front them. 2004 C. Brookmyre Be My Enemy 98; It was hard to imagine him even fronting up at the off-license. 5 (US campus/black) (also front on) to disrespect, to snub. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 97: Don't front me with that shit because it's not anywhere, / and this is Joe the Grinder and damn that square. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 23: front To subject to ridicule in front of others [...] 'Don't be frontin' me in the hood man, there'll be payback man.' 1990 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: front - put on airs, ignore. 'Don't be fronting on me just because you're with your friends.' 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11: Front: [...] 2. To disrespect. Don't front the teacher like that in class; challenge him later. ■ In phrases front off (v.) (US prison)

1

to betray, to inform on.

1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 44: No matter that Rooski didn't mean to front off the other cons. 2 to confide in. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 151: You dont front off friends with secrets they dont need to know. 3 to confront. 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 194: Then I fronted them off about the Watson kid. I interrogated em one by one. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 93: Front Off To accuse someone.

4

to put someone else in trouble. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 71; Hey, aren't you the one who likes to lecture me about not fronting people off. How righteous cons don't put their cellies out on Front Street.

front on (v.) see sense 5 above. front oneself off (v.) (or/g. US black) to reveal oneself, one's motives, actions etc. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 68: Why me? Why do 1 have to front myself off when it's my idea?

1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

2 to show off in front of someone, to outdo. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines.

front up (v.) [i.e. in front of the judge] 1 (Aus.lN.Z. Und.) to appear, esp, in court. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: front up: Go to court, more broadly to appear anywhere. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 101: 'Sarn't Lewis, I'm ordering you to keep quiet. If you don't I'll charge you with disobeying an order in the face of the enemy.' 'And I'll be glad to front up - if we ever get off this bloody island!' 1980 D.F. Mackenzie While We Have Prisons 96: Front up meet or appear before the parole board superintendent, etc [DNZE], 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 199: He was screaming blue murder, but no screws fronted up. They didn't want to know about it. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Apr. [Internet] For fuck's sake, who gives a toss what these blokes are on at the weekends, long as they front up and play to their ability.

2 see sense 4 above. front v.^ [FRONT n.^l 1 (US Und.) to act as a decoy for a fellow criminal. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 36: front [...] To hide; to conceal a principal in open criminal action. [...] Example: 'Front me out of this joint and don't lose my left wing.'

2 (or/g, US) to maintain a respectable image for what is in fact a criminal organization, e.g. a restaurant, a nightclub; often as front FOR below. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It's a Racket! 225: front—(1) To protect or act as a screen for anyone in illegal practices or criminal activities; to make a display as a disguise of respectability; to use political influence for someone. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 16: Monty Rose, his fence, an ingenious old party who fronted as a wholesale fishmonger. 1965 (con. 1940s) Malcolm X Autobiog. (1968) 212: Like most bars in Harlem, Negroes fronted, and a Jew really owned the place. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 96: The club was fronted by Herman Stark [...] personable, softspoken, handsome. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 53: Now with their bastard Jew fronted fortress state they had re-established a foothold there. 3 (US Und.) to take blame. 1931 'Und. "Lingo" Brought Up-to-Date' L.A. Times 8 Nov. K3: FRONT: To lead the way; to assume blame. 4 (US black) to deceive. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 110; I'm digging maybe you're fronting now, cool Piri, making like you're a down stud. Now I ain't signifying, but I never dug you for a punk. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 72: Bobby, darling, I can't front you like that. 1988 Ice-T 'Personal' [lyrics] You keep frontin' / Kickin' conversation, ain't talkin' 'bout nothin'. 1995 CooLto 'Gangsta's Paradise' [lyrics] They say I gotta learn / But nobody's here to teach me / If they can't understand it, how can they reach me? /1 guess they can't /1 guess they won't, I guess they front. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 399: But the quiet wasn't calm: it was as though the whole neighborhood was fronting. 5 (US black) to show off, to pose. 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: front v. to put on airs; e.g. He was fronting like that because he knew she was listening, n. the technique used by a person in 'whipping the game on' someone. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 70: Ain' nothin' happ'nin' 'cept a whole lotta frontin' and gamin'. 1992 UGK 'Trill Ass Nigga' [lyrics] You fronted big man and then went out like a ho. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 171: Many of them were frontin', playing crazy-nigger roles to keep the pressure off themselves. 2003 Dizzee Rascal in Vice Mag. at Hyperdub.com [Internet] There's lot of people who front, who chat shit. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 156: Tell him to ease up with all his frontin around in his pimped up pad.

6 (US campus) to act foolishly. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] II: Front: I. Act stupid.

7 (US black) to back down. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z. ■ In phrases

front for (v.) 1 to work as a decoy or a falsely respectable conman; also used of a place, building or similar, 1879 'Autobiog. of a Thief' in Macmillan's Mag. (London) XL 506: My pal said, 'Front me (cover me) and I will do him for it [i.e. a stick¬ pin].' 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 82:1 was more less fronting for him. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 233; I've still got Vince and Danny fronting for me. 1959 A. Zugsmith Beat Generation 130: She was fronting for the cops. 1965 C. Himes Rage in Harlem (1969)

front

30: A grimy tobacco store which fronted for a numbers drop and reefer shop.

2 [orig. US) to maintain a respectable image for a criminal organization. 1940 H. Asbliry Gangs of Chicago (2002) 324: Torrio and his gangsters 'fronted' for them — that is, assumed ownership and accepted responsibility in the event of trouble. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 224: The ex-D.A.'s man was fronting for the Big City corporation that was trying to take over the gambling. 1969 C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 74: All he knew was his old man fronted for four numbers houses. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 70: You've never had a pot to piss in, except maybe while you were fronting for the real owner of the Utopia. 1995 R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 1: He proved to be better at fronting for bimbos (...) than at making a living with cards. 3 to act as the public face of anyone, criminal or otherwise, who prefers to retain their privacy; to represent. 1927 H. YENNE 'Prison Lingo' in AS 11:6 281: To front for—To recommend or speak in favor of. 1939 R. Chandler Big Sleep 170: Why should I front for that twist? 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 91: How about fronting for me? 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 19: It's a big responsibility fronting for Australia, particularly at international junkets. 2004 G. Mwakikagile Africa is in A Mess 15: The Western business interests he fronts for have grown rich at the expense of the people. 4 (US Und.) to provide an alibi. 1941 J. Archibald 'Alibi Bye' in Popular Detective June [Internet] I'm with a swell doll all that time. Then I hear he's been murdered and the cops are lookin' for me. I asks the doll to front for me. She says nerts. 5 to represent, e.g. as a lawyer. 1969 C. HtMES Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 161: He didn't have a white lawyer to front for him.

front off (v.) (also front out) (orig. US black) 1 to pose as something one is not. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 49: Others (...) try to 'front' it out. 1972 O. Hawkins Ghetto Sketches 113: Awwwwww ... so that's the way you gon' act, huh? Gon' try to front us off, huh? 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines xviii: Them siditty niggers they be frontin' off all d' time. 2 to trick or deceive with glib verbosity for some gain, usu. monetary or sexual. 1963 C. Cooper Jr 'Yet Princes Follow' in Black! (1996) 194: 'Look at the way he's lookin at happy-O,' Papa John said. 'Sorrow, men, sorrow! And the happy-O not knowin he's bein fronted off.' 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 34: 1 don't like the idea of frontin' our people off. 2000 S. Goff Hideous Dream 450: It was an NCO behaving pretty much as any NCO does when privates try to front them off. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 101: You secretly wanna rinse man's bottom but you wanted to front it out with me to try and prove you're straight! 3 to show off. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 88: To front off means to show off what you are or what you have. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 55: Alma in love was eager to front off her young Prince. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 4 to talk nonsense, to be 'all talk, no action'. 2003 A.P. Ferguson Live Without Caution, Die Without Warning 52: He had spent all of this time trying to talk to her and trying to get to know her, only to have her front him off.

front V?

to advance either money or any other commodity (esp, drugs) as a loan or a sample of goods on offer; when buying drugs the seller may ask for the money to be 'fronted' so he in turn, can make a bulk purchase from his superior in the sales chain. 1961 RtGNEY & Smith Real Bohemia xx: The addict makes payment in advance for the drugs ('fronts the necessary'). 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 1977 E. Bwker Animal Factory 187: Are you gonna have any bread to invest or do you want it fronted? 1987 (con. 1970s) J. PiSTONE Donnie Brasco (2006) 290: He said that he could do business if our source would 'front' 200 pounds and wait for payment for a week. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 34: Suppliers may say they give cocaine 'on credit' or as a 'loan' to distributors; at all levels, it is called 'fronting'. Each week. Max is fronted three to five kilos. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We Have No 66: He wouldn't front her the skin off his arse. 2004 C. Hiaasen Skinny Dip 153: It was Red's fault for not fronting him some cash,

fronta n.

lit provides a front to the marijuana within] (W.I., Rasta) tobacco leaf used to roll a marijuana cigarette. 2003 P. Thomas et al. Rough Guide to Jamaica 60: This last, known as 'fronta', is also used alongside dried sweetcorn husks or even paper bags as an alternative to rolling papers,

frontage n. see

front line

260

front nl' (1).

front and rear

n. [rhy. si.) a year. 1999 R. Walton 'Cockney Jack and the Beanstalk' [Internet] The next front and rear, when Jack's grounding was up, he stepped outside for his first breath of penny bunshine in a long, long nickle and dime.

front door

n. the female genitals. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1935 Kokomo Arnold 'Let Your Money Talk' [lyrics] To get your sausage grind your sausage grind / If he can't get it in the front door / He don't want it behind / You want your ashes hauled. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 183: Examples here include [...] front door. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 62: I'd never heard 'tain't used to refer to female anatomy — not the front door or the back door but a mysteriously alluring, unclassifiable, scary region between a woman's legs.

■ In compounds

front-door man (n.) (US) in the context of adultery, the husband, the regular male partner. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 207: Times like this, a bastard in my position can't help but thinking about the front-door man. If I can kick his ass. I'll do his woman,

front-door mat (n.) the female pubic hair. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 183: Front doormat = pubic hair 'because they always say Welcome'. ■ In phrases

do a bit of front door work (v.) to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1999 Roger's Profanlsaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 15: futtering v. A trip to Hairyfordshire. A bout affront door work.

front door

ad/. (Aus. prison) honest. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Front door.

Honest and straight forward.

fronter

n. [front v.^l 1 (US tramp) one who maintains a respectable appearance as a mask for criminality. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 81: Fronter.- One who maintains an apparently innocent enterprise or store as a blind behind which bootleggers or other lawless persons may work without fear of molestation. 2 (US black) a show-off. 1994 C, Major Juba to Jive.

frontispiece

n. 1 the face. 1709 N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 52: The mighty Buckler of his hard-favour'd Frontispiece. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 84: Frontispiece —'the face is the frontispiece to a man's mind.' 1836 T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 66: I'll give her a dose of 'soft sawder,' that will take the frown out of her frontishpiece, and make her dial-plate as smooth as a lick of coal varnish. 1845 J.B. Buckstone Green Bushes I i: It's a marcy my switch didn't come in contract with your iligant frontispiece. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1891 Sporting Life 28 Mar. n.p.: It must be confessed that the ludicrous was attained when Griffiths subsequently appeared with a short black pipe in his distorted and battered frontispiece [f&H]. 1903 (ref. to 1810s-50s) Bulletin (Sydney) 23 July 21/4: Also, the head generally - 'mug,' 'brainpan,' 'cranium,' 'nob,' 'wigbox,' 'frontispiece,' 'knowledge box.' 1914 Chuckles 10 Jan. 1: Don't smile all at once, or you might break your frontispiece. 1918 Aussie (France) 18 Jan. One morning he [Pte. Leadswinger] lined up as usual, with a 'the-world-has-gotme-snouted-just-a-treat' expression on his frontispiece. 2 the forehead. 1860 Chambers's Journal XIII 368: His forehead is his frontispiece [F&H]. 3 the nose. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 39: Never saw a finer specimen of hand¬ decorated frontispiece in my life. It wasn't just red, nor purple. It was as near blue as a nose can get.

front line

n. (also front, line) [weakened/fig. use of milit. front line, the 1 (W.I./UK black teen) the main street or area, the main area of attraction or focus of activities. 1992 V. Headley Yardie 45: The 'front line', the main street where all place where two opposing armies face each other]

the wheeling and dealing happpiened in this area. [Ibid.] 49: He would surely find someone from their team on the line. 1994 I. Welsh 'Stoke Newington Blues' in Acid House 36: I recognised a couple of black guys from the Line, at Sandringham Road. 2000 Observer Rev. 13 Feb. 4: Nearby is Sandringham Road, the old 'front line', where I spent years dealing. [Ibid.] Now the 'front' is a residential street like any other. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 38: I'm going up de Line, try an' sell some herb. 2 (UK black) that area of a city where the black community is most likely to clash with the forces of white law and order, e.g. All Saints Road, Notting Hill, Railton Road, Brixton etc.

frontload

1999 N. Cohn Yes VKe have No 222: For the next three years, he was out on the frontline, seven days a week. 2005 Roll Deep 'Remember the Days' [lyrics] I was on front line before I used a Bic razor. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 79; He was [...] selling weed on the front line. He was a hustler.

frontload

v. ISE frontload, 'to concentrate a load at the front of (a vehicle)' (OfD)] (US campus) to get drunk before attending an event where no alcohol will be available. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 11; Frontloading; To go and drink a lot in a short period of time when going to an event where no alcohol is served. 1999 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 4; frontload - drink at home prior to going out for the evening; 'Getting drunk at bars is so expensive. We should frontload before we go out.'

front money

n. (also front) [front adj.] paid over in advance.

frost

261

1

any form of money

1925 in Collier's 8 Aug. 30; Expense money [...] 'front' money [HDAS]. 1935 Sun (N.Y.) 19 Feb. 28/2; 'Front money' is advance commission to a salesman. 1973 E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 119; I had thought of asking him for 'front' money for weapons. 1991 in J. BreslinDamon Runyon (1992) 117; Dugan [...] interviewed arsonists, all of whom wanted either a piece of the insurance or front money. 2002 T. Hauser Inside the Ropes with Jesse Ventura 69; You can do a book deal with no front money and it can still make a ton of money. 2 (US) money to show and impress others. 1935 A.J. Pollock Vnd. Speaks 42/2; Front money, money used to put on a good appearance. 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 78; She would have the front money. 3 (drugs) money advanced to a dealer for the purchase of drugs. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 98; front [...[ also front money. Payment in advance for drugs. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 62; Have fifty ready for him — front money.

front street

n. (also Front Street) [note the actual Front Street, New York City, once a mercantile centre] (US black) 1 the main street of a town, the street on which most of the (illegal) action takes place. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.J. 2 in fig. use, the state of being on public display and thus open to attack, whether verbal or physical; a situation in which one must be responsible for one's words and deeds. 1974 D. Goines Daddy Cool (1997) 90; The elderly man called Bill tried to make himelf smaller in the small crowd, the last thing he wanted was to be put on Front Street. 1983 N. Heard House of Stammers 190; I've got a lot to lose by gettin' out on front street. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157; We Words (My Favorite Things) [...[ Beat street. Jump street. Front street. Dope beat. Juke joint. ■ In phrases

play on front street (v.) to abandon pretence, to act openly. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 21; This one we gotta play on Front Street,

put one’s business on front street (v.) (a/so play on front street, put on front street, put one’s business on the street, put one’s shit on the street) 1 (US black) to make indiscreet disclosures about oneself or another person. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 59; put your husines on the streets: talk too much about personal matters. 1970 Current SI. V;2 11; Put one's business on the street, v. To tell one's secrets. 1972 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 249; You stiU wouldn't put yourself on front street for that reason. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1988 (con. 1930s) C.E. Lincoln The Avenue, Clayton City (1996) 35; Good Jelly never did like for anybody to put his business in the street. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 32; Front street is an expression used when something is made known to other people or they are allowed to become aware of certain things. [Ibid.] 33; Putting Your Business on the Street Making certain things about yourself known to other inmates. [Ibid.] 93; A person may front someone off by putting him on front street, which is to let other people know what the person is doing. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 180; Did I charge you when you needed a place to stay after Marisol . . .? Motherfucker, don't let me put your shit in the street. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 18; I ain't trying to put nobody on front street, but my homeboy, C-Note, was locked up in there, 2 (US black) to trick, to deceive. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 214; You realize that you were put on Front Street. 3 (US prison) to confront, to defy. 2000 Other Side of the Wail: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Put on Front Street; Openly defy, as a prisoner will 'put [a guard] on front street'.

front-wheel skid

n. (also backward skid, four-wheel skid, front-wheeler) [rhy, si. = Yid n.^] a derog. term for a Jewish person. 1962 F, Norman Guntz 192; While I was having this elevated chat with the front wheel skid. 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1976 (ref. to 1928) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 96; The slang words for Yid were 'tea pot lid', or 'backward skid'. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 184; Front-wheel (skid) or front-wheeler Jew (yid). 1989 M.

Amis London Fields 81; 'I know what you are. A four-wheel Sherman.' An explanation was effortfully supplied. Four-wheel = four-wheel skid = yid. Sherman = Sherman tank = yank, frosh n. (also froshie) (freshman + ? Cer. dial. Frosch, frog, a grammarschool pupil] (US) 1 a college freshman. 1915 R, Bolwell 'College SI. Words And Phrases' in DN IV;iii 236; frosh. Freshman. 1917 Daily Palo Alto (CA) 3; [headline] Frosh Says

Sophs Have No Jazz. 1932 J.A. Shidler 'More Stanford Expressions' in AS VII;6 436; 'He has a block cinched,' means the frosh will make a varsity letter. 1944 Chicago Daily News 29 Nov. 3/1; Dr. Snyder followed her dutifully, after donning the frosh cap she had brought for him [DA], 1950 Cornell (University) Daily Sun 10 Oct. 4: I 'digged this baby,' when I was a frosh [W&F], c.1960 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 305; If all the young ladies were answers to find, / And I were a frosh. I'd plug in and grind. 1982 Eble Campus SI. Spring 4; frosh short for freshman. 1989 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 3; froshie - freshman. 1998 'Don't talk like a frosh; a guide to Yalespeak' in Yale Herald [Internet],

2 a member of a freshman sports team. 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 98; Ann learned [...] about how

hard it is to make the varsity soccer team even though you were practically the best regular substitute on the whole frosh team. 1998 (ref. to 1968) Greenberg & Zelina Ohio State '68 1; The frosh of only had two games scheduled that year. 3 (collective) freshmen. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 22: 'Never mind; we '11 do the ordering

next year.' 'Right you are [...] and won't I make the little frosh walk.' 1932 J.A. Shidler 'More Stanford Expressions' in AS VII;6 436; After the freshmen have left the house and the day's rushing is

over the fraternity brothers meet to discuss the frosh. 1947 C. Willingham End as a Man (1952) 166; You frosh can come to me when you've got problems—we'll sit down and talk about them. 1949 Chicago Daily News 5 Mar. 15/6; [heading] Frosh-Soph Hold Meet At Wheaton [DA]. 1996 H. Roth From Bondage 215; There, in fair weather, freshmen and sophomores, 'frosh' and 'sophs,' attired in their World War uniforms, marched and countermarched. 2005 M. Evans Harvey Mudd College 81; Dorms are a lot like frats, some of them have frosh initiation, frost n. 1 (orig. theatre) a failure. 1878 "Arry on the Turf' in Punch 29 Nov. 297/1; And now the P.R. is

a frost, / If it weren't for the race-course, by Jove, British grit would be jest about lost. 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 12/1; The late Mayor's ball in Melbourne was a frost. 1895 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 57; Me friend de barkeep had put his own good plunks in de ball, and if it was a frost he never could give anodder, 1907 Gem 30 Mar. 14; It's a ghastly frost, but he meant well. 1917 W.Y. Stevenson At the Front in a Flivver 31 July [Internet] Then they asked—no, really begged, us to sing 'Tipperary.' Well, we sang it, of course. Nobody really knew it and it was a frost, 1920 T. Thursday 'Mr. Mister' in All-Story Weekly 22 May [Internet] If a guy is a frost he tries to get thawed out by taking a home-run fit and somersaulting into imaginary hysterics. 1929 J.B. Priestley Good Companions 417; Talk about a frost! 1952 G. Meek 'The Ballad of the Rouseabout' Station Days in Maoriland 95; Tall yarns we spun of jobs we'd done, / And jobs that were a frost. 1960 D. Abse House of Cowards (1967) 44; 'They made a proper Charlie out of us', 'A real frost'. 1983 (con. 1940s) D. Nobbs Second From Last in the Sack Race 82; I feel a bit of a frost, Mr Barrett - always catching colds and letting the office down.

2 coolness (between two people). 1892 W. Norr Stories of Chinatown 43; The girl [...] had given so many good people the 'frost', becoming the property of a Chinaman. 1899 W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 32; While she is on her way [i.e. into society] she'll get many a frost, but after she lands she'll even up on the other candidates. 1909 Van Loan 'The Low Brow' in Big League (2004) 21; Looks like Biff is up against frost. 1928 A.C. Inman 14 Apr. diary in Aaron (1985) 368; It was a frost, to my way a' thinkin', 1939 R. Chandler 'Trouble Is My Business' in Spanish Blood (1946) 196; He came on [the phone] at once, with plenty of frost. 1944 D. Runyon Runyon d la Carte 143; She plays the frost for all who are not well established as practically zillionaires. 1962 J. Blake letter 7 July in Joint (1972) 184; I got such frost I decided against calling him again. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 102; What really put a frost on the visit was the night I took the kids out to see The Exorcist HI and [...] .Tason woke up the whole house with a screaming nightmare.

3 (US black) cocaine. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 209; Let's get the fuck outta

here for a blow of frost and a bath. ■ In compounds

frost-bitten (adj.) (US drugs) under the influence of cocaine.

frost

fruit

262

2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 155: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Pusherman. Hustla. Thoroughbred. Iceddown. Frost-bitten.

frost V. (US) 1 to treat in a distant manner. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 42: The guy you was goin' to frost. Have you wrote to him? 1901 W. Irwin Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum II n.p.: On the deal level I am sore of heart, For nifty Marne has frosted me complete. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 261: She was fixin' to frost him at the start.

2 to anger; to cause coolness in relations. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 85: Rutherford Hayes Blanchard—wouldn't that name frost you? 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 3: What frosts me is, we already got the best skipper in the division [...] and they gotta send us a pogue to put over him. 1971 Current SI. V:4 12: Frost, v. To anger. 1987 R. Campbell A/fce in La-La Land (1999) 161: What was frosting her ass was the fact that he was queering her pitch. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 37: Yeah, she could really bust a move [...] every time I tried jaw jackin' with Miss Thang, she got so frosted that I fin'lly jus' folded.

3 (US campus) to shock; esp. in phr. wouldn't that frost you. 1896 H. Blossom Checkers 146: He expressed a desire to be 'good and damned if that ride would n't frost a cigar-sign Indian.' 1907 C. M'Govern By Boh and Krag 183: A fresh rube non-com butts in and corals the whole herd of skirts [...] Wouldn't that frost you for a minute? 1915 Van Loan 'The Spotted Sheep' in Taking the Count 119: 'Well, wouldnt that frost you?' he murmured. 'Wouldn't that frost you?' 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 268: Wouldn't that frost their balls, he thought, when he didn't show up till they got back? 1991 in T. Weaver Return of the B 8: It was the kind of derogatory way that he said it — I don't know whether he meant it or not, but that frosted me a little bit.

frost a cake v. (also cut a cake) (US) to make a difference. 1902 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 146: It don't frost no cake wedder it is Mark or me dat gets it. 1964 J. Peacock Drill and Die 192: That's what I thought you said [...] But that don't cut no cake on this other [HDAS].

frosted ad/, [frost n. (3)] (drugs) heavily intoxicated by cocaine. 1958 E. Gilbert Vice Trap 125: He took off to run you down [...] He was frosted good. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 214:1 was so frosted with cocaine I felt embalmed.

frosty n. (also frostie) (Aus./US) a chilled glass or can of beer. 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 46: Let's get some frosties. 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 105: 'Give my granny a frosty.' Pear reached into an ice bucket and produced a can of Ballantine ale. 1994 T.G. Long A Chorus of Witnesses 263: He probably had had a couple of 'frosties' too many. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 133: A coldie, referring to a can or bottie chilled in the fridge, the latter also known as frosties and stubbies, not to be confused with the men's shorts of the same name.

frosty ad/, [frost v.J 1 (US) very unfriendly. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 19: It was frosty, too. I could n't see any folks I knew. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'When The Cranks Have Had Their Way' Sporting Times 16 May 1/4: 'Na, na!' replied the man / With the frosty face, 'They've put down kissing, too!' 1916 J. Lait 'Second from the End' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 195: Then I met him one day by appointment in his lawyer's office. It was the frostiest place I was ever in. 1918 'Max Brand' 'Above the Law' in Coll. Stories (1994) 24: She handed me the frosty eye. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 189: I received him with a bit of hauteur when he blew in. Slightly cold. A trifle frosty. 1936 R.F. Adams Cowboy Lingo 176: 'Frosty' Ferguson was a high-strung individual who was apt to make biting replies when addressed. 1954 Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 41: She gave me the frosty eye. 1967 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxvii 6/3: You come home and the missus is very frosty. Do you [...] thump her and tell her to keep her trap shut?

2 unsuitable, inappropriate, 'bad'. 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 9:1 think you are tied up with a couple of Frosty Ones.

3 (US drugs) under the influence of cocaine. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

4 cool, unemotional. 1986 J. Ellroy Silent Terror (1990) 67: And always, always, 'be frosty' and 'hang tough.'

5 stylish, fashionable. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 4: frosty - cool, hip, in vogue: That's a frosty little outfit.

frosty adv. (US) problematically. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 170: Well, it began frosty enough; for when it came to piloting a lady into that swell mob, I had the worst case of stage-fright you ever saw.

frosty face n. 1 one whose face is pitted with smallpox scars.

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. 1823

Egan

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

2 (Ulster) the joker in a pack of cards. 1997 Share Slanguage.

3 (also Miss Frosty Pants) a severe person. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 699: The day old frostyface Goodwin called about the concert in Lombard street. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 144: What the hell were you doin. Miss Frosty Pants, while I

was coppin that old fart's joint?

frot V.

[Fr. frottage, rubbing (in a sexual context); note Urquhart, The Complete Works of Rabelais (1653): 'These two did oftentimes do the twobacked beast together, joyfully rubbing and fretting their bacon against one another'! to rub up against (for sexual pleasure and usu. in a clandestine manner); thus frotteur n. 1973 Observer 11 Feb. These transvestites, nymphos, junkies are in hell. They frot and turn on [etc.]. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 215: Frotteurs squeezed through the tightest-packed galleries, squirming with satisfaction. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 235: You want to frot me in a telephone booth?

froth

n. beer.

1601 Marston Jacke Drums Entertainment Act I: Ye shall haue me an

emptie caske thats furd With nought but barmy froath. 1614 Jonson Bartholomew Fair II v: Will you take any froth and smoke with us?

froth and bubble

n. Irhy. sl.l (Aus.)

1

a racing double, the daily

double. 2002 Pete’s Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] froth and bubble: a racing double, the daily double. 2 trouble. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: FROTH and bubble: Trouble. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book of Rhy. SI. 27: Take this Lady Godiva for your froth and bubble. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Froth and Bubble Trouble. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Froth and bubble. Rhyming slang for trouble,

frottage

n. [frot v. -f -ace sfx] (US black) sexual desire.

2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] frottage Defini¬

tion: sexual needs or wants Example: Oh man, I aim gotten no action today. I need some mad mo' fo frottage.

frotting

n. [frot v. -f sfx -ing\ the rubbing of bodies together for

sexual pleasure. 1999 Guardian Guide 22-28 May 18: Foliage-frotting naked narrator in Up!, who delivers tree-top sermons on the dangers of lustfulness.

frow n. see froe n.\ froze adj. [frost n. (3)]

under the influence of cocaine.

1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 177: I'd be riding all over

the city of Los Angeles looking for cocaine. I just had to be froze,

frozen

adj. [one is rendered immobile, i.e. frozen to the spot] black) extremely intoxicated by a drug.

1

(US

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 238: frozen Excessively high.

2 (US black) condemned to a lengthy prison sentence. 1995 L. Stavsky et al. A2Z.

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds frozen face (n.) see frozen mitt under mitt n. frozen fruit (n.) [pun on SE frozen -F fruit n. (2)1 (US gay) a sexually frigid gay man. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

frozen mitt (n.) see under mitt n. frozen mitten/word (n.) see frozen mitt under mitt n. m In phrases give someone the frozen eye (v.) see give someone the fish-eye under fish-eye nf'.

fru-fru

n. (W.l.) a dirty, unkempt person.

2000 R. Antoni Grandmother's Erotic Folktales 150: He's a fru-fru, a

beggar, [...] that don't remember the last time he showered with soap.

fruit

n. [the image is of being 'ripe' or 'soft' and 'easy picking'l dupe, an easy victim, one who is easily influenced.

1

(US) a

1896 W.C. Gore Student St. in Cohen (1997) 12: fruit n. 1. One who

can be easily deceived. 2. A lenient teacher. 3. An easy course in college. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DA/ILi 37: fruit, «. 1. A person easily influenced. 2. One easy to defeat. 3. An instructor whose course is not exacting. 1927 F.M. Thrasher Gang 267: Fruit—easy mark. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Si 81: FRUiT.-An 'easy mark.' 1976 E. Thompson Caldo Largo (1980) 60: I don't know what the hell they let them fruits hang out in here for. 1986 S. King It (1987) 50: The guy was a fruit, but he wasn't hurting anyone.

2 (also fruit-eater) a derog. term for a male homosexual; in general use any homosexual; in gay use esp. one who pays for sex; thus

fruit

fruit

263

canned fruit, crushed fruit, a homosexual who does not reveal his sexual proclivity; fruitette a school-age homosexual. 1900 DN II 37; Fruit, n. [...] An immoral man. 1927 A.J. Rosanoff

Manual of Psychiatry in Katz Gay/Lesbian Almanac (1983) 439: Fruit, fruiter, fairy, a passive homosexual. 1928 C. Panzram Journal of Murder in Gaddis & Long (2002) 71:1 thought he must be a bit queer sexually [...] a punk or some kind of fruit. 1932 C. McKay Gingertown 39: Izh't dat fruit-eater from Cuba you're after? 1932 'R. Scully' Scarlet Pansy 150: Here one heard fruit, banana, meat, fish, tomato, cream, dozens of everyday words used with double meaning. 1949 W. Burroughs letter 15 Mar. in Harris (1993) 43: Two insufferable fruits live in the back house on my new property. 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 172: California [...] is a land of fruit and nuts, either you go nuts or you go fruit. 1961 H. Ellison 'High Dice' Gentleman Junkie 90: What the hell's going on in there, you a pair of fruits, or what? 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases 56: crushed fruit (SI.) A male Homosexual who insistently denies his condition. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 348: Hell, they'd have figured me for a fruit or something. 1972 (ref. to late 1950s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 48: Homosexual who denies his sexual longings [...] canned fruit (late '50s); (...) crushed fruit (late '50s-mid '60s: because he is crushed by society's mores). 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 307: They might think I'm a fruit or something. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 230: He was as queer as a four-dollar bill, but that didn't bother me. I'd had three years' experience dealing with fruits and oddballs. 2003 J. Ellroy 'Stephanie' Destination: Morgue! (2004) 62: Fruit rollers, fruit teasers, high-school fruitettes. 3 a promiscuous woman. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 37: fruit, n. 4. An immoral woman. [...] 7. A girl whose acquaintance is easy to make (...) 10. An immoral man. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 81: Fruit.- (...) A girl or woman willing to oblige. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

4

something or someone delightful or pleasant; thus old fruit below. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 37: fruit, n. A good fellow; a trump, 1924 'Sapper' Third Round 541: You don't

mean to say that you think someopne will murder the poor old fruit. 1959 A. Sinclair Breaking of Bumbo (1961) 42; Don't you think she's a hell of a fruit? 5 (US teen) an unintelligent, dull person cit. 1932 may be euph./ code for sense 2 above. 1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS VII:5 552: fruit—a 'no account fellow.' 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 125: Then why are you getting a lump in your pants, you little fruit! 1998 D. Clowes Ghost World 15: He's a fruit.

6 an eccentric person. 1960 (con. 1940s) D. MacCuish Do Not Go Gentle (1962) 76: Then this fruit saysa ta me, 'How cornea ya talk ofa love when I'ma so mad, eh?'(sic]. 1973 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 136: Jeeius, I think, he’s Felix Unger offstage too. Wodda froot. 1979 T. Alibrandi Killshot 50: You sorta look like a book fruit. 2006 P. Shannon Davey Darling 126: Were they like the checker-suit old fruits, only more of them? ■ In compounds fruitball (n.) (also fruitbar, ...basket, ...bat, ...head, ...merchant) I-head sfx (1 (/merchant n. (1)] (US) an eccentric. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 23: 'This morning I

had a visit from the Major - ' 'That fruit merchant!' 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 71: 'Met a guy named Skink,' Decker said. Gault whistled (...) 'A real fruitbar.' 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 280: Fine (...) you two fruitballs slay if you want. 1996 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fruit head - someone who acts silly, stupid. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 174: 'He's really something. You gotta admit.' 'Yeah. A fruit basket.' 1999 Observer 5 Oct. 22: Too simplistic to think of the word 'fruitbat', 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 203: I've never run up against so many card-carryin' fruitballs in my life,

fruit boots (n.) (in more restrained eras, such shoes were seen as badges of effeminacy] (orig. US gay) 1 white tennis shoes, white suede shoes. 1957 Wash. Post 29 Sept. Fl/1-2: Also added to the teen dictionary is

'fruit boats' [sic] (the new colored suede shoes). 1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: fruit BOOTS:-Wellington boots favored by homosexuals; also desert boots; white or green low-cut tennis shoes. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 102: With a digression to honor (...) saddle shoes, fruit boots, straight skirts, ponytails. 2 'Beatle boots' or any Italian-style shoes with pointed toes. 1960 D. Hamilton Death of a Citizen 31: Light-colored, low-heeled pull-on boots with the rough side of the leather showing that are sometimes known locally as fruit-boots, being the preferred footgear of a few gentlemen whose virility is subject to question. 1972 B.

Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 86: fruit-boots (dated) throughout the

'50s, fruit boots were white tennies or white suede shoes. Into the '60s, the term became the Beatle boots or any Italian-made sharp¬ toed shoes which heightened the so-called effeminization of the American youth. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 342: There's Bongo. He's in bikini briefs. He's in fruit boots, fruitcake see separate entries,

fruit-eater (n.) see sense 2 above, fruit factory (n.) (Aus.) a psychiatric institution. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxiv 4/5: FRUIT factory: From nutty, fruit cake, the nut house,

fruit-fly (n.) 1 a homosexual man. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 157: In the homosexual world, the term has been elaborated on in various ways, e.g., fruiter, fruit fly (also a heterosexual woman who is attracted to fruits), fruit merchant. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 103: Bobby was a notorious fruitfly with a rap sheet full of homo¬ pandering beefs. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 540: Fruit Alert — Bayard Rustin — fruit fly at ten o'clock high. 2 (US gay) a heterosexual woman who enjoys the company of homosexual rather than heterosexual men. 1964 Lavender Lex. n.p,: fruit FLY:-Some women other than lesbians, who frequent the hangouts of the homosexuals. Altho most of them are young there is still a goodly representation of the matronly and Perle Mesta type. Not ordinarily welcome among the gay. 1970 J.P. Stanley 'Homosexual SI.' in AS XLV:l/2 57: fruit fly n Woman who seeks the company of male homosexuals, usually for sexual reasons. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 157: In the homosexual world, the term has been elaborated on in various ways, e.g., fruiter, fruit fly (also a heterosexual woman who is attracted to fruits), fruit merchant. 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] fruit fly a woman who likes the company of male homosexuals. An alternate form of 'fag hag'. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] fruit bat or fruit fly — see fag hag. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Fruit Flies - Another term for Fag Hags. Heterosexual women who socialize extensively with gay men. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 3 (US Und.) a heterosexual man who specializes in robbing homosexuals whom he has fooled into believing he is looking for gay sex. 2001 J, Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 105: Little Mac (...) A straight fruitbat. Lure some shlub who wanted chocolate cake into a dark corner, then turn round, clock him and cop his wallet, fruit hustler (n.) (hustler n. (3)1 (US) one who pursues passive homosexuals for sex. 1959 J. Rechy in Big Table I (No. 3) 15: Masculine vagrants 'fruithustlers' (HDAS). 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 96: Malehustlers ('fruithustlers'/'studhustlers': the various names for the masculine young vagrants). 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 214: Until I died or some fruit hustler killed me. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 107: He looked more like a rock musician or a high-priced fruit hustler. 1985 J. Irwin Jail 109: And the fruit-hustler had only to take one look at that bad news nigger to know it was time to go pushin. fruit jockey (n.) (jockey n? (3b)) (US prison) a homosexual. 1986 J. Ellroy Silent Terror (1990) 67: If a 'fruit jockey' made a sexual advance toward you, 'wail on his head' )...] because if you didn't 'put him straight,' you would acquire a 'fruit jacket.' fruit Juice (n.) [juice n.^ (2a)l (US gay) semen. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. fruitloop (n.) see separate entries.

fruit picker (n.) 1 (US gay) an ostensibly heterosexual man who enjoys homosexual encounters. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 17: fruit picker (n.): Term used to describe men who both think of themselves as 'straight' and who are so considered by those who know them, but who seek out homosexuals for sexual gratification at the moment. 2 (US gay) one who blackmails or robs homosexuals. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 87: fruit-picker one who blackmails or robs homosexuals, fruit-plate (n.) (US) a male homosexual. 1995-2003 P. Kidd 'Words for Gay Men' on Buggery.org [Internet] fruit-plate fruitcake fruiter. fruit roller (n.) [roller n. (5)1 (US) a thug who specializes in mugging or beating up homosexuals; thus fruit-rolling n. 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 31: Hiram had been in a gay bar trying to expand the family business to include fruit¬ rolling. fruit stand (n.) (also fruit corner) (US gay) a place to find male homosexual prostitutes. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 17: fruitstand (il): A place where hustlers are likely to be found: originally referred to faggot hangouts, but the meaning has shifted from buyer to seller. 1990

fruit (ref. to 1944) A.

Berube

Coming Out Under Fire 55: Ben Small

recalled [...] gay trainees 'kind of migrated to other gays in the barracks, and sometimes it would be referred to as the "fruit corner" or the "fruit salad'".

2003

K. Cage Gayle.

■ In phrases

fruit and nut case (n.) see nutcase n. fruit for the monkeys (n.) (US) (derog.) a passive homosexual man. Goldin et al. DAUL 75/1: Fruit for the monkeys. (Very contemptuous when not uttered in callous bantering) So loose morally as to be the eager passive subject of anyone's advances. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 155: If his roomy (cellmate) is overtly aggressive, the boy is said to be fruit for the monkey [s]. 1950

fruits in suits (n.) (N.Z.) homosexual men who frequent smart urban bars. 2003

McGill Reed Diet,

of N.Z. SI. 82: fruits in suits Gay or

homosexual bar patrons in urban areas in new millennium,

old fruit (n.) (also old tin of fruit) a general term of affectionate address. 1920 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Reformed Pub' Sporting Times 17 July 1/ 3: That's the stuff to give 'em. Grits, old fruit. 1924 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 24 July [synd. col.] An English actor with his checkered trousers and seal brown vest — the old tin of fruit. 1930 'Leslie Charteris' Enter the Saint 110: See you to-morrow, ole fruit, 'cos we're not going home till the morning. 1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 79: All right, old fruit? 1968 D. O'Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 198: Well - luck, old fruit. See you. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 129: Steady on old fruit. That stuff's opiated. Take it easy. 2001 P. McCabe Emerald Germs of Ireland 315: 'Fraid not, old fruit. Mother is sacred.

over-ripe fruit (n.) (gay) an ageing male homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 222: Even the British [despise] everyone (as Auntie Marne put it) 'somewhere between 40 and death' as overripe fruit, elderberries, geriatricks (a UK term punning on US trick = short-time sex partner). 1989 H. RAWSON Diet, of Invective (1991) 157: In the homosexual world, the term has been elaborated on in various ways, e.g., [...]

overripe fruit (a gay who is past his prime), passion fruit (n.) (US gay) a masculine homosexual. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 34: passion fruit (n.): A Hollywood term which refers to a particularly masculine but definitely homosexual male; almost a term of praise, ripe fruit (n.) (US gay) someone who is just discovering their homosexuality. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 172: ripe fruit latent homo¬ sexual who is easing into gay life. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds fruitful vine (it 'bears 1811

fruiter

264

flowers' (menstruation) every month] the vagina.

Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: fruitful vine A woman's private parts,

i.e, that has flowers every month, and bears fruit in nine months. 1890-1904

Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fruit salad

(n.) see separate entries.

work until high noon, fruiting her. 2 to waste time. 1936 'Hectic Harlem' in N.Y. Amsterdam News 8 Feb, sect. 2: FRUITIN' - Bluffing, loafing, dogging. 1939 Herbert & Spencer Jitterbug Jamboree Song Book 32: fruiting: fooling around. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: fruiting (v.): fickle, fooling around with no particular object. 3 to fool or joke. 1960 1. Freeman Out of the Burning (1961) 197: No fruitin, where'd you get it? n.'' (they are NUTS adj. (2)] an eccentric, a peculiar person; esp. in phr. nutty as a fruitcake; thus fruitcake factory n., a

fruitcake

psychiatric institution. 1914 E. O'Neill The Movie Man in Ten 'Lost' Plays (1995) 187: We sure are as nutty as a fruitcake or we wouldn't be here. 1933 W. Winchell in Havana Eve. Telegram 21 Oct. 2/3: 'You're nuttier than a fruitcake has only been in nine movies this year. 1947 (con. 1942) J.H. Burns Gallery (1948) 182: It seemed that Lieutenant Almeranti had gone nuttier than a fruitcake. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 192: Boy, what a fruitcake you are! 1966 P. Pinney Restless Men 73: 'Bloody fruitcake,' Charlie rasped. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 79: Get lost, you old fruit-cake! 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Fruit Cake Factory Lunatic asylum. 1989 Viz June/July 41: The Queen is a fruitcake claims former palace man. 1990 T. Winton Human Torpedo 106: He's a pacifist, they told each other. A fruitcake, but you gotta respect him for it. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 278: That critical shortage is [...] driving them crazy, as nutty as fruitcakes. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 182: They're all fucking fruitcakes. ■ In phrases

fruitcake around (v.) (QS black) to misbehave, to mess around. 1938 'Idioms of the Present-Day American Negro' in AS XIII:4 Dec. 314/2: FRUIT CAKIN' AROUND. Doing something slightly naughty.

fruitcake

n.^ [fruit n. (2)1 a male homosexual. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 425: He is not only a pig, but he's as queer as a fruit cake. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 40: I told Jolly, you know the nut fruit cake. I kind of slipped it to him easy that tommy is Big Sol sack's boy. 1970 E. TTdyman Shaft 136: Some village broad named Valerie shot up a fruit-cake painter a while back. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 67: The fascist fruitcake gasped when he saw the handcuffs (...) So shiny. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 352: He humps homos. (...) The fruitcake Freddies freak. 2005 Mad mag. July 43: The Queer Cartoon Threat To Your Children [...] The sinister plot (...) to turn

fruitcake n.^

fruit for the sideboard (n.) [the implication is of 'extras' or luxuries;

1

'easy

money', esp. as won while gambling. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 128; The poor dopes who came back week after week to buy the fruit for his sideboard. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxii 7/1: bunce: Fruit for the sideboard, same as pickings. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 98: Few would seriously dispute a person's right to 'put a bit of fruit on the sideboard' by taking advantage of 'perks' considered legitimate.

2 (also fruit on the sideboard) a person who is seen as a source of 'easy money'. 1968 A. Buzo Norm and Ahmed (1973) 8: Some of our blokes were easy pickings for those bastards. Fruit on the sideboard, fruit adj.^ (also fruity) [it is 'soft'] (US campus) easily achieved. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN Il:i 37: fruit, adj. Easy to do or accomplish [...] fruity, adj. Easy, requiring no

work. fruit adj.^

owned a Reno fruit bar. V. (US) 1 to romance, to seductively persuade. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 65: He kept her sitting up after

fruit

your child into a flaming fruitcake.

■ In phrases fruit would normally be placed on the table and soon eaten] (Aus.)

couldn't remember if it applied only to fruit cases or whores as well. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 200: That doesn't automatically make it no fruit bar. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 68: Sounds like some kind of fucking pansy fruit name. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 128: Eldon Peavy was a fag [...] Eldon Peavy

(also fruit-eating) [fruit n. (2)] (US) homosexual,

pertaining to homosexuality. 1932 C. McKay Gingertown 53: Whar's dat fruit-eating sonova granny's? 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 195: The guy was fruit. 1952 Kerouac letter 8 Feb. in Charters 1 (1995) 338: All girls go fruit, black girls go fruit for mexican girls. 1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: fruit:- One of the oldest terms for homosexuals. Rarely in use among the gay, then usually as 'He is just as fruit as I am'. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 254: He

[visual resemblance -F ? ext. of FRUITCAKE n.^l (S.Afr. gay) one who suffers badly from acne or a similar skin problem. 2003 K. Cage Gayle.

fruitcake adj. (also

fruitcakey) [fruitcake nj'

(1)1 (US) crazy,

eccentric. 1942 S.F. Examiner 12 June 18: If you had lost (...) I guess you would have gone fruitcake. 1959 W.C. Heinz Professional 104: Man, You're nutty )...] Real fruit-cake. 1972 T. Stoppard Jumpers Act I: As far as I'm concerned it's got fruit-cake written all over it. 1976 Concentration 17 Sept. [CBS-TV] The audience is going fruitcake, 'cause they know the answer. 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 248: All we need is some fruitcake Rambo flashing back to Nam on live TV. 1999 Guardian Guide 22-28 May 52: A prerequisite array of fruitcake American 'scientists'. [Ibid. ] 12-18 June 25: Fruitcakey Icelanders refusing to skirt risk. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 186: If you're going to hang out, you can't act like some fruitcake fan.

fruitcake

v. (US black) to bluff. 1936 'Hectic Harlem' in N.Y. Amsterdam News 8 Feb, sect. 2: FRUITCAKE.-To bluff.

fruiter n.

[fruit n. (2)| (US) a male homosexual.

C.1918 in Immortalia Al: When he swore he was a fruiter the king /

Took down his royal pants. 1928 C. Panzram Journal of Murder in Gaddis & Long (2002) 115:1 have met every kind of a crook there is. (...) fruiters and poofters. 1948 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 656: Proclaimed himself a fruiter / And the king took down his pants. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 31: Red! Society Red! You still blowing smoke? No one yells 'sissy' faster'n an undercover fruiter. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 124:

fruiting

The first word I got is that he's a fruiter. 1981 E. Bunker Little Boy Blue (1995) 213: Let's go fuck around Main Street [...] Check out the fruiters and the hustling broads. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 157: In the homosexual world, the term has been elaborated on in various ways, e.g., fruiter, f-uitfly (also a heterosexual woman who is attracted to fruits), fruit merchant. 1999 E, Bunker Mr Blue 47: Everyone was segregated in the jail except fruiters and killers, fruiting n. [fruit n. (3)] (US black) promiscuity. 1944 'liver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1982 Maledicta VI: 1+2 (Summer/Winter) 131: Black slang (where things get all confused: butch = 'female homosexual' and cock = 'a black girl's sexuality or organ,' fruiting = promiscuity), fruit loop n.^ [pun on the US breakfast cereal Fruit Loops/fRUn n. (2)1 1 (US campus) the small loop (ostensibly for hanging the shirt when no hanger is available) on the upper back of many shirts; such a loop, supposedly, can be used to hold a victim ready for buggery (cf. fairy loop under fairy n.^). 1984 J. Grahn Another Mother Tongue 81: This tag, used for hanging up the shirt, is called a 'fruit loop.' 1989 Kirk & Madsen After the Ball 21: The 'fairy hook' or 'fruit loop' found on the back of some shirts. 2002 J.W. Ware North Shore Story 67: [He] put on a blue button down shirt with the fruit-loop still attached in back. 2008 T. Gouin Coco-Colored Boy 111: 'I bet you got a fruit loop shirt on tonight, don't you Billy?' laughed Dicky.

2 (US) a homosexual man or woman. 1989 'Captain X' & Dodson Unfriendly Skies 158: Many of these guys [i.e. flight attendants] have to take a lot of ribbing [...] 'Great Airborne Fruit Loops' [HDAS]. 2006 T.C. West Disruptive Christian Ethics 65: A Latina lesbian, 'a fruit loop' over whom he had power. 2007 'Noire' Thong on Fire 105: For all I cared, them patty-cake, fruitloop niggas coulda drilled each other.

3 (US gay) a freedom ring, one of a set of six metal rings in the colours of the rainbow worn to indicate that one is homosexual or sympathetic to homosexual causes. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] fruit loop(s) — 1) slang for freedom rings.

4 a homosexual pick-up or cruising area. 1994 K. Dilallo Unofficial Gay Manual 91: Those versed in such esoterica recognize it as Dupont Circle (aka the Fruit Loop). 2004 J. Campbell USA et al. 310: Godfrey's (308 E Grace St) and Barcode (6 E Grace St) are part of a circle of gay bars along Grace St, affectionately known as the fruit loop.

5 a derog. term for a group of homosexuals. 1991 J. O'Shea Daisy Chain 229: A ring of homosexual attorneys that the Texans dubbed the Fruit Loop. fruit loop n.^ [pun on the US breakfast cereal Fruit LoopsIlOOPY adj. (1)[ (US) a crazy or stupid person. 1987 Athens (GA) Banner-Herald/Daily News 8 Aug. 8: It's sort of a national Fruit Loops day. Lots of windchimes. 1991 P. Cornwell Body of Evidence (1992) 49: You got any idea how many frootloops call in this kind of crap on a regular basis? 2005 L. Fugett Butcher Holler 57: My staying doesn't appear to be a matter of choice, not according to that skinny fruit-loop you bribed this morning, fruit salad n.^ [pun on SE, suggested by the assorted colours] 1 badges, medals. 1946 J.W. Bishop 'Amer. Army Speech' in AS XXI:4 Dec, 246: Ribbons representing decorations and campaign medals were sometimes called fruit salad, but I have never known them to be called brag rags except in the funny papers. 1952 (con. 1944) Wilder & Blum Stalag 17 [film script] 33: You can be the heroes, the boys with the fruit salad on their chest. 1960 (con. 1940s) D, MacCuishDc Not Go Gentle (1962) 376: Where'd ya get the fruit salad, cousin? My, my, the Purple Heart, too. 1971 B. Moyers Listening to America 142: A highly decorated fellow who didn't have any more room for fruit salad on his chest. 1989 Hackforth & Sherman About Face (1991) 212: Fresh-faced Lieutenant Combats whom the class's collective fruit salad would have had shitting for a year. 2 (US drugs/teen) a random combination of any pills or capsules of drugs available, including psychotropic and medicinal, on which to get intoxicated. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 98: fruit salad Among teen-agers, a game in which each participant takes one pill from every bottle found in the family medicine cabinet, 1971 Current SI. V:4.

3 (S.Afr. gay) the male genitals [presumed resemblance to a banana and apples], 2003 K. Cage Gayle. ■ In phrases

do a fruit salad (v.) (US campus) of a man, to expose one's genitals in public. 1989 P. Munro si. U.

fruity

265

fruit salad

n? [pun on fruit n. (2)]

1

(US) sexually attractive young

women. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 398: I noticed there were some extremely beautiful young girls sitting there [...] 'Fruit salad' was always prevalent in this type of place.

2 (US gay) a group of gay men. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 1990 (ref. to 1944) A. Berube Coming Out Under Fire 55: Ben Small recalled [...] gay trainees 'kind of migrated to other gays in the barracks, and sometimes it would be referred to as the "fruit corner" or the "fruit salad'". 2000 Guardian Rev. 22 Apr. 10: It makes Robin Cook's dopey bint and Portillo's fruit-salad days look a bit limp,

fruit salad bowl

n. [pun] (US drugs) a pipe or bowl filled with a mix of marijuana and hashish, 2001 Da Smokehouse Marijuana Gloss. [Internet] fruit bowl with a mix of pot and hash,

fruity

salad

- a

n. [abbr.l a fruit machine.

2000 N. Griffiths Grits 152: Av seen er over ther, like, in-a corner by-a fruity, on er own.

fruity adjf'

[the fig./rUt is'ripe'for enjoyment] 1 full of a rich or strong quality, highly interesting, attractive or suggestive. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 37: fruity, adJ. Desirable. 1900 Sporting Times 2 June 2/1: Language of the fruitiest to take down which in short hand would soon tire even the most angelic of recorders. 1910 Wodehouse Psmith in the City (1993) 100: At that time Comrade Bickersdyke was as fruity a Socialist as Comrade Waller is now. 1922 'Sapper' Black Gang 408: And there is one singularly touching, not to say fruity, bit. 1933 'The Dirge of the Dole' in M. Marshall Tramp-Royal on the Toby 228: 'Twas all so fruity at first; / And money-for-dirt consoled us. 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 36: Some of our champions would be surprised to hear his fruity comments on their capacity. 1950 J. Weidman Price Is Right 347: Wouldn't you rather be titillated with some fruity behind-the-scenes gossip about this, your nation's capital? 1960 Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 81: 'How's everything?' 'Pretty fruity.' 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 208: Some of the details he gave me were certainly pretty fruity. 1999 Guardian Rev. 12 Nov. 7: Chico had come on board already with the fruity Italian dialect he had allegedly purloined from his barber. 2000 Indep. Rev. 22 Jan. 20: Fruity passages from the Book of Revelation.

2 sexually aroused. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 86: Studs felt goofy and fruity about having it [...] and he hadn't better let anyone know he had thoughts like that. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 320: Keith, he did love her to wear her frillies. Said it made him feel dead fruity. 1999 Indep. Mag. 29 May 45: I went to a couple of wife-swapping parties [...] everybody got a bit fruity towards the end. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 205: Then Natasha got fruity. She had these long, lithe legs and they were all over Sparky like a rash. 3 painful. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 135: A hockey centre-forward at a girls' school who, in addition to getting a fruity one on the shin, has just been penalised for 'sticks'. 4 see FRUIT adp.

fruity

ad/.^ [fruitcake n?\ (US) crazy.

1915 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Comedians All' Sporting Times 17 Apr. 1/2: Comedians fruity, they grudge us our beer, / And would make us comedians dry. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 28: 'I fear Mr. Briscoe thinks unfavorably of it.' 'Then he's fruity in the pan.' 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 159: That fruity shine's nuts. Don't pay attention to him. 1979 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fruity - weird. 1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: fruity - having little common sense; spacey. 1990 J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 185: He's fruity over cassette players, this Audio Killer. 2000 Indep. Rev. 18 Oct. 1: While some condemned Atlantis as completely fruity, others actually joined the commune.

fruity adji^

[fruit n. (2)] (US) homosexual; effeminate.

1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 31:1 tell you he's fruity. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 134: ‘Christ!’ sneers the vicious, fruity old Saint [...] That cheap ham! 1966 R.E. Alter Carny Kill (1993) 81: He was busy putting himself into a bright, severely-cut sports jacket that was a trifle fruity for my taste, 1979 J. Rechy Rushes (1981) 67: You fruity shit, lay off! 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 215: His scorn for boys who give a hoot about how they look is devastating. He calls them fruity clotheshorses. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Fruity (adj.) 1. Gay. 2004 K. Corum Now She's Gone 111:1 got a job assisting this guy named Fabulous Freddy, an interior designer, Bruce referred to my job as 'the assistant to a very fruity guy.'

frummagem

frummagem v. (also frammagem) (UK Und.) to choke, to strangle, to spoil; usu. as frummagemed, choked, strangled, spoiled. Dekker Canters Diet. Eng. Villainies (9th edn) n.p.: Frummagem, Choaked. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 49: Frummagem, Choakt. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Frummagem'd Choak'd. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: frummagemm'd choaked, strangled, or hang'd. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 16: Shoaked [Choaked] Frummagem'd. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classieal Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1815 (con. 18C) W, Scoir Guy Mannering (1999) 149: If I had not helped you with these very fambles (holding up her hands) Jean Baillie would have frumma¬ gem'd you. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress 21: There he lay, almost frummagem 'cl - every one said / 'Twas all Dicky with GEORGY, his mug hung so dead. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, ete. 83: Frammagem'd— hangd, or otherwise disposed of. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 14: Frummagem'd choked or hang'd. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 42: FRUMMAGEMMED, annihilated, strangled, garotted, or spoilt. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1648

1859],

1873

frying pan

266

SI. Diet.

frumper n. 'a sturdy blade' (Potter, New Diet. Cant, 1 795).

1972 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1: brain is fried - showing incoherent behavior thought to be typical of someone with brain damage. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 374: People [...] who fry their brains with drugs, who slip off the rails. 1995 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: fry make inoperable, dysfunctional: 'That CD-Rom fried my hard drive'. 2004 T. Winton 'Big World' in Turning (2005) 5; Biggie's results were even worse than mine - he really fried. 4 (US) to infuriate. 1961 D. Boyd Lighter Than Air 10: What fries me is how worried you are that you might fly an hour or two a month more than somebody else. 1985 J. Briskin Too Much Too Soon (1986) 438: That's what really fries you, isn't it? 5 to be electrocuted, to get an electric shock. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 94: I dropped the screwdriver and shook my hand. [...]! could have fried. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 108: It was pure luck that nobody had been fried. 6 (US drugs) to experience the effects of taking LSD. 1983 'Heat Moon' Blue Highways 287: He fried out on acid. Then he found Jesus. a,1990 E. Currie Dope and Trouble 102: I was frying for four days one time...Took twenty-six hits of LSD [HDASj. ■ In phrases fry ass (v.) (US) to be executed in the electric chair.

a.1790

1960 C,

1809

myself.

H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: frumper a sturdy blade. G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1821 Flash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocahulum.

fry n. (a/so napfry, skull fry) [fry (one's hair) under fry v.] 1 (US black) the act of having one's hair straightened; thus the straightened hair. D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 102: Up stomps a stud with a hard skull fry. 1976 (con. 1940s) Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 182: Then everything would be straight, with my fry and my fine vines and my main queen on my arm, 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 17: Let 'em learn a little napfrying [...] so they can help themselves when times get tight as dick's hatband again. 1944

2 (US drugs) crack cocaine. 1996

UGK 'Hi Life' [lyrics] And you wonder why yo' niggas out there

smokin' fry. ■ In compounds

fry daddy (n.)

[daddy n. (6)1 (US drugs) crack cocaine and marijuana; a marijuana cigarette laced with crack cocaine.

S. King Stand (1990) 524: She was 'into' rock music and marijuana and had a taste for what she called 'Colombian short rounds' and 'fry-daddies'. 1986 S.F. Chronicle 2 July 6: (Factiva) Cocaine sold as free-base is called 'hubba' or 'ready rock,' they said. When it is mixed with marijuana and smoked, it becomes 'fry daddy' or 'chewy.' When you go out to buy cocaine, you're on 'a tweek mission,' 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fry daddy — cigarette 1978

laced with crack; marijuana joint laced with crack,

fry sticks (n.) (US drugs) marijuana cigarettes either dipped in PCP or formaldehyde. ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fry sticks — Marijuana cigarettes dipped in embalming fluid, sometimes also laced with PCP. 2001

fry

V.

[fig. uses of SE] 1 (US) to punish or be punished.

V. Lindsay Golden Whales of Calif. 16: Phillips Brooks for heresy was fried. 1965 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 88: When I finish my roundup on earth and start my bit in hell / I hope to see 'em fry each and every guy that's ever let that word yell. 1978 T. O'Brien Going After Cacciato (1980) 75: Next time he fries. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 34: Most people are simply fucked fried and 1920

lied to. 2 (US Und.) to electrocute or be electrocuted in the electric chair. E. Ferber 'Hey! Taxi!' in One Basket (1957) 331: Blonde or no blonde, 1 bet she fries. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don't Care (1960) 57: I'm beginning to think that this Henrietta bumped Granworth all right, an' if she did, well she'll have to fry for it. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 267: Waitin' in your cell to find out if you're goin' to fry or not, 1959 J. Thompson Getaway in Four Novels (1983) 58; They got enough on me to fry me six times. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 101: 'Cause tomorrow I die and my fat must fry / in that chair in yonder's room. 1975 B, Greer Slammer (1977) 94: Nineteen fifty-seven [,.,] Three flapjacks fried in the chair. You ever seen a fry? 1981 J, Ellroy Brown's Requiem 206: Guys who threw bomb will fry. 1997 G. Sikes 8 Ball Chicks (1998) 12: If they 1928

[i.e. murder case defendents] were black you wouldn't be seeing this on TV, If they were black, they'd be fried by now. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 240; After they fried a guy, they'd wheel the body down and my buddy's brother's job was to unload him. 2008 Guardian G2 29 Dec. 11/1; One of the [US] prosecuting team even remarked that he would like to 'see him fry'. 3 (US) to ruin someone, or something, esp. to impair the mind.

Cooper Jr

Syndicate (1998) 64: I'm not gonna fry-ass by

fry one’s brains (v.) to indulge in an excess of drugs. 1964 L. Hairston 'The Winds of Change' in Clarke Harlem, USA (1971) 317; You slick-headed ditty-bop, if you spent half as much time tryin' to put something inside that worthless hat-rack as you did havin' your brains fried— 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 238: For your own good stay away from speed — it'll fry your brains and ruin your liver. 1998 L. Stringer Grand Central Winter (1999) 120; The glory of being needed greater, for the moment, than my urge to fry my brains. 2004 E. Yukic A Legacy of Deceit ii: She knew she'd probably fried her brains. But once she'd learned she was pregnant, she'd quit cold turkey.

fry (one’s hair) (v.)

Ithe treatment with Congolene, a liquid that burns

the scalp, that is part of straightening black hairl

(US black)

to Straighten

the hair.

1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 255: fry (v.): to go to get hair straightened. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 115: Bessie kept kidding me about the kinky waves in my hair [...] 'You ain't had your hair fried, is you, boy?' 1965 (con. 1940s) Malcolm X Autobiog. (1968) 161; Beauty shops smoky inside from Negro women's hair getting fried. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 141: It was still not uncommon to hear teenagers talking about getting their hair conked, fried, pressed, or gassed. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 17; Let 'em learn a little napfrying [...] so they can help themselves when times get tight as dick's hatband again. 1993 C. Hunter-Gault In My Place 133: We led her off to one of our rooms, sat her down, and fried her hair until it was straight. 1999 R. Mae Brown Six of One 40; Juts couldn't believe her sister wanted to fry her hair. fry someone’s ass (v.) (US) to have completely at one's mercy; to punish comprehensively, to infuriate. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 227: We've really got the thing to fry your ass — photographs. 1987 (con. 1968) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 293: What really fries my ass [...] is this whole thing is full of shit. 2003 R. Banish Focus on Living: Portraits of Americans with HIV and AIDS 27: It really fries my ass that I can't pass out condoms in public schools, 2006 G. Iles Turning Angel 283: This drug angle . . , they'll fry his ass for that. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In exclamations

go and fry your face! (also go and fry your boots!) a general excl. of dismissal or contempt. 1890 Sporting Times 25 Jan. 1/4: As I was going to interview a perpetual series of writters, intoxicated peers, irate landlords, and bookmakers, to whom I owe as much as you do. Go and fry your boots. [Ibid,] 8 Feb. 3/5; The first person they spoke to replied in pure English: 'Go and fry your face and play with the gravy'. 1965 J.P. Carstairs Concrete Kimono 129: 'Shut your trap!' Uncle Steve commanded. 'In fact,' he added, 'fry your face!'

fryer n.

[fry v. (2)] the electric chair. 1999 Guardian G2 10 Aug. 13: He killed a few people, and next week he's going to the fryer.

fryers n.

ISE

fryer,

a small chicken used for frying]

(US black/W.I.) an

insignificant person; a sidekick. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 65; None of these fine young fryers all squatting on them fine soft tops is got a parachute. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 21: Fryers unimportant person; a small timer; a sidekick: u. go weh, yuh a fryers,

frying pan n.^ (UK Und.)

counterfeit halfpennies.

frying pan

fuck

267

a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.; frying-pans halfpence of the basest metal. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1821 Flash Diet. frying pan n} [resemblance] (UK Und.) a large, silver pocket watch. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 392: You have a watch or so, for which I must trouble you, come madam, that frying pan. 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 35: Mr. Sol Lazarus, as the oldfashioned watch [...] was handed to him, affected to look very disdainfully at it, muttering 'Frying-pan'. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 321/1: It was a silver watch, which we called a 'Frying Pan'. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 238/1: Twenty times [...] did Tommy consult his frying-pan. frying pan nr' [rhy. si.] a hand. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser 8- Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 100: Frying Pans: Flands. frying pan n.^ [fry v. (2)] (US prison) the electric chair. 1932 R. Fisher Conjure-Man Dies 211: You may be the cause of putting him on the frying-pan. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 40: Ever bust him won't be for here. Be for the frying pan [...] upstate. frying-pan adj. [shearer jargon frying-pan brand, a crude brand laid over the legitimate one by a cattle-thief; some rustlers literally used a redhot frying pan] (Aus. Und.) small-time, petty. 1864 J.F. Mortlock Experiences of a Convict (1965) 93: Some, unarmed, prowl about, watch the inmates of a dwelling away, and then pilfer. These are called 'frying-pan' bushrangers, being looked upon with much contempt. 1945 T. Ronan Strangers on the Ophir (1966) 46: Oh, just a frying-pan fighting man who blew in from Coronet with a silver cheque [GAW4]. f.S. n. [abbr. face sitter) a woman who likes to sit on a man's face while he performs cunnilingus. 2001 posting on 'Sexual Smothering Forum' at ntcweb.com [Internet] Any facesitters from Queens N.Y.?????? [...] Amateur FS videos for sale. f sharp n. [play on B FLAT n.] a flea. 1864, 1867, 1870 Rotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. F-60 n. [the pharmaceutical identification stamped on the capsule] (drugs) a three-quarter grain capsule of Histadyl. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 235; F-60s Histadyl, threequarter grain. F-66 n. [the pharmaceutical identification stamped on the capsule] (drugs) a 1.5 grain capsule of Tuinal. 1980 E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 235; F-66(s) Tuinal, 1.5 grain amo- with secobarbital. F. S. man n. [free by servitude) (Aus.) a convict who, after transportation, has worked long enough to gain their freedom. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 Aug. 24/1: 'Yer ought'r know, ol' chap,' sneered an 'F.S.' (free-by-servitude) man. f.t.b. phr. [abbr./ull to bursting] a phr. used to denote that one has had more than enough to eat. 1915 P.W. Long 'Semi-Secret Abbreviations' in DN IV:iii 246: f.t.b. Full to busting. f.t.d. V. see FUCK the doc (and sju the pups) under doc n.^. FTM n. [abbr. /emale to male] (US gay) a female to male transsexual. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca’s Diet, of Queer SI. [Internet] FTM — Female To Male, referring to a person who is Trans [exual]. f.t.W.! excl. [abbr.] (US, mainly bikers/campus) fuck the world! 1972 R. Wilson Playboy's Forbidden Words 113: F.T.W. A slogan of Hell's Angels...meaning /itcA the world. 1987 Village Voice (N.Y.) 14 July 19: F.T.W. on the top [of the tattoo], M.O.D. on the bottom. He reads off, 'Fuck The World, Method Of Destruction' [HDAS], 1991 D. Gaines Teenage Wasteland 67: Joe grabs my arm and draws a tattoo: an iron cross with a snake [...] 'F.T.W.' on the top. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 85: Tattooed on three knuckles were the letters F-T-W for Fuck the World. f.U.! exc/. see fuck you! excl. fu n. [? Sp. fumar, to smoke] (drugs) marijuana. 1936 C.R. Cooper Here's to Crime n.p.: Commonly it now being called 'fu', 'mezz', 'mu', 'moocah', 'muggles', 'weed' and 'reefers'. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 102/2: FU. 1. Marijuana, or cannabis indica. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 308; fu. Marihuana. 1959 J.E, Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1982 Abel Marihuana Diet. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 9: Fu — Marijuana, fu adj. see fou adj.^. f.U.b.a.r. adj. [abbr. /ucked up beyond all recognition] 1 (orig. US milit.) extremely unhappy. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 129; Hel-lo Chief, what's to this beef? [...] What's to this yarn about you being a fubar character from the word advance?

2 (orig. US milit.) totally beyond repair and/or control. 1946 'Words in -fu' in AS XX1:3 Oct. 71/2: Yank mag, in the spring of 1944 told of a squadron that was part Army, part Navy, part Marine and was scattered all over the Pacific doing practically every conceivable job that planes could perform. It was called the FUBAR squadron, explained in Yank as 'FU Beyond All Recognition.' 1955 S.V. Baum 'From 'Awol' to 'Veep" in AS XXX:2 103-4: Derivative terms reported in popularity among government workers included [...] fubar ('fouled up beyond all recognition'). 1967 Current SI. 11:2 14; FUBAR, adj. Fouled up beyond all recognition. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage. 1992 R. Marcinko Rogue Warrior (1993) 224: Even the lowliest dogfaces of WWII knew that. 'How's it going, soldier?' SNAFU, they'd say [,..] Or FUBAR—Fucked Up Beyond Repair. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 219: The electronic gear was currently FUBAR in the Jefferson Tract: fucked up beyond all recognition. [Ibid.] 347: My wristwatch, on the other hand, is still FUBAR. 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 75: When the dogface grunts ignore the word from upstairs the system gets FUBAR. 3 (US campus) very unattractive. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 4: fubar - unattractive. 4 (US campus) (also foob) very drunk; completely intoxicated by a given drug. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Fall. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 37: Acronyms in which the letters are pronounced together as a word are much less frequent: fubar (fucked up beyond all recognition) 'unattractive, suffering the ill effects or alcohol or drugs'. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] FUBAR Definition: fucked up beyond all recognition. Drunk as hell Example: 1 drank so much last night, I could hardly stand up. I was straight fubar. 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 5 (US) exhausted. 1998 FadaGurl posting 26 Feb. [Internet] Shite, I feel completely fubared at the moment. I'm not *quote* tired... I'm not sick... actually. I'm mentally having the most wonderful time over the past couple of weeks. 6 (US campus) unfortunate, out of luck. 1993 Eble Campus SI. Oct. f.U.b.a.r. V. [f.u.b.a.r. adj. (2)] (orig. US milit.) to blunder, to make a mess, to make a mistake. 1946 'J. Macdougal' in Astounding Science Fiction Oct. 55/1: Well, there are a lot of minor ones, which must have fubared things in all directions once Co-ordination accepted them [OED]. 1953 (con. WWII) L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 118: Fubar on the nets and you can louse up an entire landing team. 2004 (con, 1965-73) D. Flaherty Pipes Were Calling 70: Canton yelled in a frenzied voice, 'I hope they took off or we're FUBARed for sure!' 2004 W.J. Wood Jr Mothertime 256: the bookends looked at each other. The jig was up. Unforseen circumstances. FUBARed. f.U.b.b. phr. [abbr./ucked up beyond belief] (US, orig. milit.) in a very parlous state, whether from physical injury, emotional instability, the effects of drink and/or drugs. 1955 S.V. Baum 'From 'Awol' to 'Veep" in AS XXX:2 103: Derivative terms reported in popularity among government workers included fubb ('fouled up beyond belief'), 2001 S. Dutch 'Printing' on University of Wisconsin [Internet] These were just a few of a host of World War II acronyms, including: [...] fubb: f***** up beyond belief. f.u.b.i.s. phr. (also f.u.b.i.d.) [abbr.] fuck you buddy. I'm shipping out / fuck you buddy, Tm detached. 1967 Wentworth & Flexner DAS (Supplement) 685: Fubis Fuck you, buddy. I'm shipping (out). Army use since c.1960. 2001 S. Dutch 'Printing' on University of Wisconsin [Internet] These were just a few of a host of World War II acronyms, including: [.,.] fubid: f*** you buddy. I'm detached (that is, not under your command). fuck n. [FUCKv. (1)] 1 in direct sexual uses, (a) an act of copulation. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 21 18-25 Oct. 183: A delightfull Mask or Dance is presented between Fatt Fish-wives, and leane Fisher-men, with all their Rodds, Tacklings and Baytes, Madam F-k-at-a-venter being chief Lady of that nights Revells. 1663 Head Hie et Ubique I vi: I came in wid my pishfork, thou knowst, and I see a greasy guddy hang upon my wife, and I did creep in like a michear [...] and there I did see him putting the great fuck upon my weef. a,1674 Rochester 'The Argument' Poems on Several Occasions (1680) 37: Thus was I Rook'd of Twelve substantial Fucks. 1689 'Satire on Benting' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 219: If she wanted fuck in her old age. She might set up with Boutell on the stage. a.1690 'Upon Enjoyment' Harleian Mss. 7312.109; Hide not those Charming brests so full of F-k They plainly show thou never yet gave suck. 1732 Ladies Delight 10: The learned Leonhard Fuckfius. 1763 J. Wilkes Essay on Woman 11: Awake, my Fanny, [...] This morn shall prove what rapture swiving brings. / Let us (since life can little more supply / Than just a few good Fucks, and then we die). 1786 C. Morris 'The Great Plenipotentiary' Collection of Songs (1788) 45: So

fuck

fuck

268

tight was she struck by this wonderful fuck / Of the great Plenipotentiary. 1794 'The Summer Morn' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 266: When maukin-bucks at early fucks / In dewy glens are see. Sir. 1837-8 'Sam Swipes' Cuckold's Nest 19; And when I come home, if I've had good luck, / I lay her down softly, and give her a -- / This way and that way, and which way you will, / I'm sure I've said nothing that you can take ill. c.1864 '0 Dear, What can the Matter Be' Rakish Rhymer (1917) 110: He promised to show me a thing that would please, me, / And then for a f—k I know he will tease me. 1879 Pearl 1 July in Bold (1979) 169: He tickled her hubbies she rubbed up his yard, / And yet for a fuck they felt no regard. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India 1 40: Never in my life had I such a fuck! c.1890 'O'Reilly' in Bold (1979) 165: Never a word that maiden said, / Snorted like hell when the fuck was over. 1909 Joyce letter 8 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) 185: I gave you a bigger stronger fuck than usual. 1917 V. Woolf Diary 26 Nov. (1984) 82: Today 1 went into London with my ms: & Leonard went to Harrisons [...] but my recollection is that L. found Desmond at the L.L.: together they looked up the word 1— in the slang dictionary, & were saddened & surprised to see how the thumb marks of members were thick on the page. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 32: Sailor has said 'fuck' so often, inlaying it montonously after every second word. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 218: Her cunt perhaps still choked with the sperm of the last fuck. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 66: There was a young Scot in Madrid / Who got fifty-five fucks for a quid. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 148: When your mother wants a good f —k, she doesn't bother about your father — she comes to me. 1965 N. Dunn Talking to Women 27: Oh you, you just want a quick fuck or something. 1978 A. Brink Rumours of Rain 95: Our weekend in the mountains was one long-drawn-out fuck. 1986 A. Bleasdale No Surrender 67: Listen, d' you ... fancy a fuck? 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 85: Maybe he'd [...] tell him about his stand-up fuck. 2001 A. Sillitoe Birthday 140: Maybe those happy fuck-a-day times are over. (b) copulation. C.1675 in R. Thompson Unfit for Modest Ears 49: Ig guifted Men before now sweare and Rant / (The surely I for Fuck may Cant). 1720 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 266; With Pig, Goose and capon, and good store of suck, / That he might be willing to give her some [fuck]. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 218: The whole world of fuck like unto the ever-increasing membrane of the animal we call sex. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 152: I like the tall ones [...] More fuck for your buck. 1993 R. Shell Iced 94: She claimed she loved me but I knew she was lying. She loved the fuck.

(c) semen. 1684 Rochester (attrib.) Sodom Prologue: Their ulcer'd cunts, be being so abus'd, / And having too much Fuck therein infus'd. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 137: Foutre, m. The seminal fluid: 'fuck'. 1973 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 140: I would in tones of absolute Avon Calling mannerliness beam: 'Eat a bowl of fuck!' 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 196: There are many terms for the ejaculate [...] fetch, fuck, melted butter, honey, spunk and lather are all fairly common terms.

(d) a person considered purely as a sex object, usu. but not exclusively a woman; thus a good/bad fuck, someone who is seen as a sexual adept or incompetent. 1870 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 4; He's a stunning good fuck, / For I've had him myself down in Leicester. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) II 246: Is she a good fuck? Where does she live? 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India I 64: Somehow Lizzie had grown dear to me, she had been so nice, such a splendid fuck, and so tender towards me in spite of her disclaimer of love, c.1915 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 9: What a nice juicy fuck she was. c.1925 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 141: Jesus, what a fuck she was. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 160: She had always been a good fuck. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 152: Most of the fairies he met liked him — he was a good fuck and he spent money. 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 90: And you're a lousy fuck [...] Your friend, Joan, is a better fuck than you are. 1986 T. Philbin Under Cover 220: There was a young, shapely black girl [... ] Bender was white. Piccolo guessed it wasn't the fuck's daughter. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 153: She's a great fuck. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 64: She isn't much of a fuck that Chrissie. 2001 J.W. Howell Goddess Patrol 62: I guess I started looking like a good fuck by then. I've always looked older than my age. 2007 D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 187: Surely these fuckin' pigs'll be able to see they [i.e. rape victims] were just fucks.

(e) the penile thrust. 1909 Joyce letter 8 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975)

185: At every fuck 1 gave you your shameless tongue came bursting

out through your lips and if a gave you a bigger stronger fuck than usual, fat dirty farts came spluttering out of your backside.

(f) igay)

anal intercourse.

1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

2 in fig. uses, (a) anything at all, usu. in negative (i.e. nothing); usu. in phrs. like give a fuck v.; not give a fuck v.; not worth a fuckphr. 1976 A. Salkey Come Home, Malcolm Heartland 112: He, too, had said that he owed Jamaica nothing and that Jamaica didn't owe him a fuck. [Ibid.] 118: What does he know about calypso-minded dudes

like you all? [...] Trainspotting 137: In matter a fuck. 1997 N. till it's too late. 2001

Doesn't know from fuck. 1993 I. Welsh the larger scheme of things [...] it doesn't Barlay Curvy Lovebox 10: They don't hear fuck K. Waterhouse Soho 197: The poor bastard

couldn't write fuck in the dust on a Venetian blind.

(b) indicating quantity, usu. excessive; in phrs. see as

fuck

below;

TO FUCK below. (c) used with as, like or than in comparisons, e.g. as big as fuck,

hurts like fuck, bigger than fuck; like fuck adv. 1976 (con. 1969) C.R. Anderson Grunts 61: To them it was still just plain 'hotter than fuck and rising'. 2007 T. Dorsey Hurricane Punch

211: I'm higher than a fuck. (d) a turn of ill-fortune, a piece of bad luck, e.g. I lost the gig, ain't

that a fuck. 1972 W. Pelfrey Big V 9: 'Regulars by God.' Conscripts by fuck

[HDAS]. 1984 S. Terkel Good War 306: Know what they did? They made him a lieutenant colonel and me a captain. Ain't that a fuck? 3 a person, esp. despicable and usu. with qualifying adj., e.g.

dumb fuck, useless fuck. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 188: All I sye is my bloody arse

'ole to you, you bloomin' fuck. 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 412: Yer an at'eist, yuh fuck, he hollers. A fuckin' at'eist I says. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 500: You just gotta start sucking Mantelli, or that fat fuck first sergeant. 1956 W. Burroughs letter 16 Sept, in Harris (1993) 325; An English woman consults the old fuck. 1968 J. Hersey Algiers Motel Incident 143: Them fucks took my tape recorder. 1973 P. Maas Serpico 171: Now, you fuck, you're going. 1974 D. Goines Swamp Man 106: Not like that sorry fuck Jamie and Willie had gone after. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 496: You don't care who you hit, do you, you racist fuck! 1998 D. Clowes Ghost World 24: I've been going to business school ... I'm gonna be a big-ass corporate fuck. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We have No 275: I was a cheeky little fuck. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hot-Prowl Rape-0' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 286: The fuck relandscaped eight backyards. The fuck fucking ex-caped. 2005 L. Theroux Call of the Weird (2006) 130: She'd insulted Susan's masseuse, who had a legbrace [...] calling him either a 'fucking cripple' or a 'handicapped fuck'.

■ Derivatives fuckfest (n.) [-fest sfx] (US) an orgy. 1976 (con. 1942) J. Lee Ninth Man 162: She couldn't accept the fact

that they had simply engineered themselves a good old-fashioned fuckfest. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 25: The fuckfest would begin, each trying to outloud the other. 1999 J. Poller Reach 17; For all our pagan fuckfests, when fully clad I wanted nothing to do with her. 2000 Ronin 'Tokyo Terror' [Internet] He just hoped that his parents didn't come home early to find that their luxurious penthouse apartment was hosting a lesbian fuck-fest. 2006 www. privatehustler.com [Internet] British Fuckfest is back bigger better, harder and wetter. Five scenes cram packed with filthy British babes doing what they do best. Fucking sucking and drinking cum for fun.

fuckmobile (n.) [-mobile sfx] a car that improves one's attractive¬ ness to the opposite sex; thus a car used as a place for intercourse. 1989 A. Ansen Contact Highs 70; The fuckmobile's undulating bloodstained canvas top. 1998 M. Jacobson Everyone and No One 6: I ate Starr in the back of the Chevy Suburban that Jimmy Dime had so delicately dubbed the fuckmobile. I ate her like I'd eat Princess Di. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 23: He doesn't so much open the doors of his BMW 5.3 XRQZi fuel-injected fuckmobile as pull them aside like silk sheets. 2004 Blackshaw & Crabbe New Perspectives on Sport

105: His mate [...] calls his motor the 'fuckmobile' - 'cos he's 'had' tons of birds in the back.

fucko in.) [-osfx (1)1 (on'g. US) 1 a general term of address, with no specific overtones whether positive or negative. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 77: Hey, cops, you're supposed to say, 'Halt in the name of the law.' You ain't playing fair, fuckos. 1976 R. Price Blood Brothers 243: 'No sweat, fucko.' Stony stormed

out into the street. 1989 Pileggi & Scorsese Goodfellas [film script] 40: Hey! Fucko! You want something? 2006 J. Grady in DCNoir 241: Hey, fucko, I need the Senator. 2 an unpleasant person. J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 123: Some sick fuckos pancaked the sky-pilot and left him for dead. 2004 E. Miller 2001

fuck

•Practicing' in Brooklyn Noir 112: What about words like Dummy fitcko?

■ In compounds fuck-all see separate entries. fuckbag in.) {also fuckpot) [-bag s/x/-pot sfx] 1 a general term of contempt for an unpleasant, disgusting person. 1969 J. Nuttall Pig 50: 'Silly old fuckbag,' I thought. 'Completely off

her head.' 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 160: The unceasing obscene clangour of her tongue ('Putrefying fuckbag!' just one gem). 1993 (con. 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 54: I suppose the fuckpots sent you out to the Far East as well. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 255: Then she discovered that the rapist fuckbag was HIV. 2002 P. Smith Aleister in Wonderland 46: You lame old fuckbag. You be naggin' and naggin'. [...] Draggin' around yo sack o' potato ass, ya raspy old fuckbag.

2

attrib. use of sense 1. 1970 W.J. Craddock Be Not Content Ti'. What sort of a ruined mind

would want to be a fuckbag cop? 1995 R.M. Wilson Ripley Bogle 100: St Mary's, a fuckbag girls' school that tries hard to posh it out on the Upper Falls and fails badly.

3

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269

a woman seen as no more than a sex object. 2002 J. Flint 50 Ways to Magic America 134: He'd told her how she was

his little fuckbag and how he wanted her to slide her cunt right up to his nutbag while he sat in front of his computer screen. 2006 M. Philbin Jane's Game 60: Makes me sick just to think of it. You syrupy lap dog. Well, you've had your last of me. [...] You can find some other Fuck Bag. fuckball in.) I-ball sfx| a general derog. term. 1996 S. Frank Get Shorty [film script] Hey, fuckball, 1 don't need your

permission. L.A.'s an open city.

fuck-bar (n.) {US gay) a bar which provides a back room for sexual activity.

N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 111: Guys . . . fuckbrains. 1999 Bug (Aus.) 29 June [Internet] Telling lies to the media, [...] and claiming their fuck-brained coach has taught them a lot.

fuck buddy (n.) (buddy n. (2)1 one with whom one has a sexual, but no deeper, relationship. 1979 Leather Whipper 66: 'Isn't he being hard with that kid?' I asked

my new fuck buddy. 1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of the City 121: He thinks of me as a fuck buddy. Period. 1999 M. Walker Malicious Intent 245: And I feel like a nice uncomplicated fuck, buddy. [...] So don't worry, fuck-buddy. You won't have a weepy female on your hands. 2001-2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] fuck buddy A person who is not your boyfriend or girlfriend (or farmyard animal), with whom you have sexual relations, on the mutual understanding that you both want sex and nothing more. Strictly, for the term 'fuck buddy' to apply, both people involved have to be single. 2004 'Belle de Jour' [blog] 26 July [Internet] How to fuck someone and still be friends. Or, your cut-and-keep guide to being a good fuck buddy,

fuck-chops (n.) {also fuckchop) (chops n} (1)] an imbecile, a stupid person; a general derog. term of abuse. 1998 D.

Griechen 'Ventilate' in New Writers of the Purple Sage (anthology by Idaho State University) [Internet] Virge always thought Doug was a fuckchop and he never quite understood that music. 2002 J. Berlin Situational Pitching 116: Well, that's the way it was. I hope you jerks had half as good a time as me. Happy New Year, fuck chops!

fuckdog (n.) (doc n.^ (3c)] a promiscuous woman; one who is eager for sex. 1979 D. Gram Foxes (1980) 38: 'Asshole Fuckdog Honky Cunt!' shrieked the dude at her back. 'Twat!' 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 18: They don't want to talk to us nohow. Sure they do, Ray Bob said. Coupla fuckdogs.

fuckdust (n.) a general term of abuse.

1977 B. Judell 'Sexual Anarchy' in Blue Boy (Miami) Aug./Sept, in

1983 A. DB Groen Going Home 59: Listen, fuckdust, you wouldn't

Jay & Young (1979) 135: The tuck bar seems to be reaching its high noon of popularity and notoriety [...] What goes on in such a place? [...] one can witness and experience cocksucking, regular and fist fucking, water sports, gang bangs, sadomasochism, beer slurping, gum chewing, masturbation, group sex. 1997 J.J. Matthews Sex in Public 142: The Den, a busy tuck bar in Sydney. 2004 B. Charles 'Troughman' in Gay men's sexual stories 65: The Mineshaft in New York, [a] notorious tuck bar of the seventies and eighties which, along with the Anvil, represented the after hours sleaze and leather scene at their height, fuck book (n.) pornography. 1946 F. Eikel Jr 'An Aggie Vocab. of SI.' AS XX1:1 33/1: F—K books, n. Sexy pulp magazines. 1965 D. Pearce Cool Hand Luke (1967) 58: The girlie magazines and the paper-backed fuck books. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 387: He got a Tillie the Toiler fuck book from the geek who sold them and jerked off over it. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 25: A Barney Google tuck book. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 7: He wore the pistol for protection the way some people kept something thick in their breast pocket, 'like a Bible or a fuck book, ya know?' 1983 R. Price Breaks 55: We both jumped like kids caught by God with fuckbooks. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 194: All he wanted to do was use her, make her do it with other women, recreate fuck book scenarios. 1997 (con. 1930s-50s) A. Spiegelman in Adelman Tijuana Bibles 6/2: In other regions of America they were also known as Eight-Pagers, Two-by-Fours, Gray-Backs, Bluesies, Jo-Jo Books, Tillie-and-Mac Books, Jiggs-and-Maggie Books, or simply as Fuck Books. 1999 J. Ellroy 'My Life as a Creep' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 127: Fuck-suck books. Beaver books. Glossy color pix. 2003 P. Gizzi Some Values of Landscape and Weather 33: Mean¬ while, when no one was looking, the bogeyman fingered a

know the Manly ferry was up you till the people got out. 2000 J. Greenway 'Words' at Whipwray.com [Internet] He is a lot lot lot stronger then the fucking bands and groups that he promoted. I mean 'Holy Fuckdust' that guy is still here; he is still doing it.

fuckbook.

fuck boy (n.) 1 one who is victimized by their superiors or associates. 2000 D. Harris Payback 72: You're trouble fuckboy, and 1 don't need trouble.

2 {US prison) one who, despite being heterosexual in the outside world, is forced into homosexuality while in prison. 1954 J. Blake Ex Post Facto in Joint (1972) 45: They were known as pussyboys, galboys, fuckboys, and all had taken girls'names like Betty, Fifi, Dotty, etc., and were universally referred to as 'she' and 'her'. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1999 J. Hogshire You Are Going to Prison 72: Once you've become somebody's fuck-boy, you stay a fuck-boy, and your new 'man' will use you any way he wants. 2000 D. Leder Soul Knows No Bars 115: The fuck-boy is not really gay. But he's powerless and so has no choice, fuckbrain (n.) a fool, a simpleton; thus fuckbrained ad]., stupid. 1971 T. Whitmore Memphis-Nam-Sweden 35: He was a motherfucker

[...] Not at all like the lazy fuckbrain before him. Captain Cox. 1997

fuck-eye, the (n.) {US campus) a flirtatious, sexually encouraging glance. 1989 P. Munro Si U.

fuckface(d) see separate entries, fuck-film (n.) a pornographic film. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 74: Initial success as a silent backer of

heterosexual fuck films. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 145: Hide from Wayne Senior and his fuck film,

fuck-flaps (n.) [flap n? (6)1 the labia. 2002-3 'Annabel's Schooldays' on JD's Adult Pages (Internet] Her

huge, wrinkled fuck flaps were hanging down from her cunt, cloaking the erect shaft of her enormous clitoris,

fuck flick (n.) [SE flick] 1 {orig. US) a pornographic film. 1981 Mouth Piece 126:1 know a guy who wants a new face for a fuckflick. Nothing spectacular—just four hundred feet of film of me and another guy. 1984 Stryker & Herbert Obsessed 95: And next thing I knew I was in a fuck flick [...] laying back letting broads suck on it. 1999 J. Ellroy 'My Life as a Creep' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 133: A classy fuck flick: The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp’s Rap 137: They call it fuck flicks, adult entertainment, porno. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 353: I don't do fuck flicks, 'cause, like, my dad might see them.

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1974 N. Mills New Journalism 418/2: There is nowhere else in

America, they say, where a fuck-flick producer can hire last year's Sweetheart of Sigma Chi to take on 12 [...] Hell's Angels. 1991 S. Solomita Forced Entry 13: There's a fuck-flick moviehouse there and a topless bar and, late at night, drugs and whores,

fuckhead(ed) see separate entries. fuckhole (n.) [hole n.^ (1b)] 1 the vagina; the female genitals. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1934 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana II 14: Be Jesus Christ, you men. First you muck up me fuck hole and now you wants to fuck up me muck hole. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 243: He mucked up her fuck-hole / And fucked up her muck-hole, / And charged her two dollars beside. 1959 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 206: He laid her down upon the grass, / Lifted her dress above her ass; / He grabbed his prick and made a pass / At the fuck-hole of Kathusalem. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. ^%2 Maledicta VI: 1+2 (Summer/Winter) 131: Vagina [...] fuckhole, futy. 1988 N. Eastwood Gardener Got Her n.p.: As Greg sank his cock into Lucy's fever-hot little fuck hole, Mike the handyman was on his way down the hall with his toolbox, 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 151: usage: 'And so 1 slammed my

fuck

fuck

270

engorged cock up her fuck hole and . .

2001 'Randy Everhard'

Tattoo of a Naked Lady 92: I frenched her fuckhole again.

just in case let me get it out of my system now... Shit, Fuck, Bitch, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, [...] Fuck Nut. 2006 G. Pblecanos Night Gardener 45: Fucknuts thinks he's in a restaurant,

2 a derog term for a woman. 2001 J. Hynes Wild Colonial Boy 67: She had raged at him, hitting him

fuck-nutty (n.) [nutty adj.^ (2)] obsessed with thoughts of sex.

again and again, shouting, 'I'm not your fuckhole!' 2004 M. Hemmington Rooms 46: Whore, slut, cunt, filthy little girl, dirty

1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 31: She reveals more of her

little baby fuck, shitty fuckhole. I was all those things and more.

Followed Man 21 A: Whatever else she is, Marjorie is one fucknutty

3

an unpleasant, disgusting place. 1999 C. McPherson Four Plays 63: Every guard in every shitty little fuckhole would have his eyes peeled. 2002 S. King On Writing 47: The work was hard and boring, the mill itself a dingy fuckhole. 2004 L. Love You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes 70: My mother told us she was 'tired of living in this fuckhole where niggers acted like savages'.

4 a contemptible, unpleasant person. 1981 S'. King Roadwork in Bachman Books (1995) 464: 'Goddam motherfucking mothersucking [...] fuckhole!' his son screamed. 2003 at zitoscurv.web.aplus.net 10 Feb. [Internet] I don't even know where to start with you assholes. You look like idiots for starters. Especially you, you fuckhole, you singer whatever your name is. 5 the anus. 2008 J. Miller Stroke at Midnight 41: He felt the thick juice as it splattered against the walls of his fuckhole and moaned,

fuck-in (n.) [on the pattern of SE love-in] {orig. US, mainly hippie) an orgy. 1968 R. Crumb in Estren Hist, of Underground Comics (c. 1974) 117:

Grand Opening of the Great Intercontinental Fuck-In and OrgyRiot. 1971 Playboy Apr. 184: If you want to get rid of dormitory rules, you have a fuck-in [HDAS]. fuck job (n.) LlOB (2)/job

(4a)] 1 victimization, an act of

victimization. 1973, 1988 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS I. 1998 Sonoma County Indep. 16 Jul. on MetroActive [Internet] Stringent state and federal regulations—along with claims that the stock is being overfished— are making life harder for commercial fishermen like John Salerno (above), for whom the regulations are 'a big fuck job'. 2006 posting at Pinocchia.com 17 Aug. [Internet] It goes with the fuck job he's done on the U.S. and the Middle East.

2

(US) a term of abuse. 2006 posting at Revolver mag. 1 Mar. [Internet] You sound like some

communist fuck job who has no idea what he is saying,

fuck-knuckle (n.) la mix of fuckw/t below and knucklehead n., the first of which implies plain stupidity, the second adds physical inadequacy] (Aus.l

N.Z.) a fool, an incompetent. A. Loukakis For the Patriarch 155: 'You stay outa this fucknuckle!' — he turned on Mawbey who looked as if he was having a heart attack. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/2: fuckknuckle idiot, often amiably applied; eg 'G'day, fuck-knuckle. How's it goin'? 1998 Bug (Aus.) 24 Feb. [Internet] Or, most shameful of all, too pissed or just not mean enough to be able to go the knuckle with some other fuckknuckle in a respectable and competent way when 23 sheets to the wind. 2001 T. O'Farrell Behind Enemy Lines 12: 'Right fuck-knuckle, get into those dixies over there,' ordered the crazy-eyed shit posing as a cook, fuckless wonder (n.) see brainless wonder under brain n.\ 1981

fuckload (n.) a great many, a large amount. 1992 L. SlEMS Between the Lines 119: I have a fuckload of longing to

adventures with those fuck-nutty kids of hers. 1978 T. Wiluams

cunt.

fuck one (n.) [an emphatic/coarse var. on SE day one] the very beginning. 1976 A. Salkey Come Home, Malcolm Heartland 147: We know we’ve failed with you, Malcolm. Claude's known it from fuck one. You don't fit.

fuck pad (n.) [also fuck nest) [pad n.^ (2)1 (orig. US) a room or apartment that a man keeps for seductions and sex; thus ext. to any place where a lot of sex happens, whether kept by a man or woman. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 79: They would then go to his secret hideaway fuck-nest in Tudor City. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 99: Breuning fixed up a room at the Lilac View Motel: the most notorious fuck pad on the Sunset Strip. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 16: The bridal suite. The fuck pad supreme. Gilt wallpaper. Cupids. Pink rugs and chairs. A fakefur bedspread. 2006 PhatPhree 16 Aug. [Internet] The night began in earnest with shots of Jager and lines of coke at Chad Billingsley s Pacific Heights fuck pad.

fuckpig (n.) a general term of derision; the implication is of grubbiness, slovenliness. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 108: Look me in the face, you shortarsed little fuck-pig. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 76: We'll teach you 'ow to be'ave, you dirty Irish fugh-pig. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 46: You hypocritical fuck-pig! 1981 B. Behan 'The Catacombs' in After the Wake 91: You consumptive poxy parcel of fuckpigs. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 260: They're [i.e. anaes¬ thetists] the punters that keep you alive, not sadistic fuck-pigs like Hewison. 2001 A. Sillitoe Birthday 87: I'd buy as much dynamite as 1 could get my hands on and blow up the Houses of Parliament. Blow aU them government fuckpigs to bits,

fuck-plug (n.) 1 a contraceptive diaphragm. 1987 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II 841: My husband uses

condoms anyway, 'cause I can't stand those damned fuck-plugs.

2 a general term of abuse. Glenda Agendacide: Minutes From Somewhere Else 6 May [Internet] If your girlfriend is PMSing, treat her as if she is actually pregnant. For fuck's sake...be supportive. Imagine if you got kicked in the gonads 3 times each day. Don't be a shithead and set her off. You will have to dig yourself out of it later anyway, fuckplug.

2002

fuckpole (n.) [SE po/e/POtE n. (1)1 the penis. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 159; I was horrified to find, / she had two rusty nuts that swung from her butt / and a fuck-pole longer than mine. 1970 R.O. Graves Pick Up Boy 132: Buck slid off the fuckpole that had been fucking his asshole. 1981 J. Benton Jackin' Buddies 33: Breathing harshly, my nostrils flaring, I closed my hand around Greg's fuckpole and began stroking. 1987 in Discourse (journal) 112: Oh, yeah, slick it up, stud, get that big fuckpole ready to do that fine piece a favor. 2005 'Banging Illegals' at www.nifty.org [Internet] He pulled Leroy's fuckpole out of his jeans, the throbbing head extending above the waistline,

see you [...] I love you a fuckload, Angelita. 2000 TheOnion.com 20 Apr. [Internet] I've never been as liquored up as I have this past year. Christ, I've drunk a fuckload of booze! 2001 'Locals Only' on OC Weekly VI:28 16 Mar. [Internet] They spewed fuckloads of terribly tragic guitar solos. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hollywood Fuck Pad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 238: Chickie hit a Rite Aid pharmacy [...]

fuckpot (n.) see fuckbac above. fuck-rubber (n.) [rubber n.^ (3)] a contraceptive sheath.

stole a fuckload of Secnal, Amytal, and Tuinal.

fuck-sauce (n.) (SE sauce but note SAUCE n.' (7)1 semen.

fuck muscle (n.) (US gay) the penis. 1977 F. Danton Fist Club 72: They exploded between his strong male

legs, and his stud load coursed with furious speed up his long male fuck muscle. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 2006 advert for Drilled and Filled [DVD] at www.videobox.com [Internet] Audrey Hollander is queen of the gapes when Otto Bauer stuffs his huge fuck muscle, a dildo, and Audrey's own fingers up her asshole all at the same time!

fucknob in.) [knob n. (la)] a fool, an unpleasant person. 2002 D. Jay 'Players and Pawns' Slayer's FanFic Archive [Internet] 'I

thought you would be dead by now you asshole,' Everett said joyously. 'No such luck, fucknob,' Dane said, still approaching,

fuck-nut (n.) (a/so fucknuts) (UK /uv.) a general term of abuse. 1986 S. King It (1987) 213: 'Why did you do that?' 'Because I felt like it, fucknuts!' Henry roared back. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Fucknut (noun) A stupid person; a dumbass; someone who fucks up a lot. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fucknut «. derog An excessively stupid or unpleasant person. 2002 Big Ben Kennedy.com Journal 24 Jul. [Internet] 'Can I not cuss for 3 hours?' I should be able to, but

1984 K. Weaver Texas Crude 114: She found that fuckrubber under

her pillow. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Fucksauce gobbler (-vulgar, probably offensive) (noun) A person who swallows semen from a bodily orifice after it has been produced during an act of intercourse,

fuck show (n.) a live sex show. 1974 (con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 192: He heard they had live

fuck shows in Singapore where women fucked snakes, grizzly bears,

fuck sock (n.) a sock used as a repository for the ejaculation that climaxes masturbation. Underground UGTV.org [Internet] For lotion I used some Victoria's Secret Vanilla. It's good quality and it smells nice. You don't want your fuck sock to smell like the Jergens your mom used.

2003

fuckstick (n.) [SEst/c/c/STiCKn. (1a)| 1 (also fucking stick) the penis. W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 222: Yeah, dirty. That fuckstick's dirty. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Hannah Geronimo Rex 258: You want people touching you with a fucking stick? 1977 E. Torres QeJA 195: My pistol is like my fuck-stick. Don't go nowhere without it. 1988 'Victoria Parker' Incest Schoolgirls [Internet] She watched Jamie bend over her big 1958

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271

brother's prick, watched Jamie suck and suck and suck on his big fuck-stick, 1997 L. Davies Candy 184: I'm going to belt through your ring with my big fuckstick. 2002 M Rammsonde 'Firing Tyler' Nifty Erotic Stories Archive [Internet] Tyler was sliding his mouth up and down Reg's raging fuckstick.

fuck. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 75: Alice [...] fit as fock, a ringer for Nicole Appleton. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 82: He asked [...] if we were okay and - true as fuck - gave us a packet of smokes. dry fuck (n.) see separate entry.

2 a worthless, contemptible or despicable person; also as a term of address.

fuck knows a general phr., underlining one's ignorance or

1958 W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 221-2: 'You must have more

1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 16: It's

names. Next please.' [...] 'There's still the heavenly debasement of the imperturbable fuckstick.' 1972 T. Weesner Car Thief (1973) 67: 'You better, you dumb fuckstick,' the boy called out. 1978 L.K. Truscott IV Dress Gray (1979) 268: One of them got stood up by some Princeton preppie fuckstick. 1981 (con. 1963) P. Conroy Lords of Discipline 145: 'Yes, sir!' 'Louder, fuckstick.' 1989 (con. 1960) P. Theroux My Secret Hist. (1990) 174: 'I'm hep,' the fuck-stick says. Vinny, you are such a loser. 1993 B. Moorb Lex. of Cadet Lang. 157: usage: 'You bloody fuck stick! Can't you do anything right?' 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 37: Listen up, fuck sticks! This is the only advice you are going to get in the joint, fuck-struck (ad/.) 1 obsessed with sex.

hard to tell / fuck only knows. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 213; An overheard conversation in the kitchen, fuck-knows when. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 238: The judge begins his summing up tomorrow, though fuck knows what he's got to sum up. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 87: I'm headin' to nly place for the first time in fuck knows. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 204: 'What we clapping for?' muttered Tony. 'Fuck knows!' 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 4; New geezer came in the door [...] Fuck knows where he sprung out of. fuck of a, a (orig. US) 1 a large or notable amount of.

1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 160: Like a tomcat at a petting party,

Alby tried to force two B-girls to sit on his knee. Tors eyed him with distaste. 'He's fuck-struck,' observed the Swede to no one in particular.

2 emotionally overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath of intercourse. 2000 J. Barnes Love, Etc 70: And I was duly fuck-struck as I waved

him off. 2007 D.C. Fuller Meth Monster 140: At that moment I was fuck-struck and pussy whipped all in one fell swoop, fuck truck (n.) (Aus.) any vehicle, usu. a small van (poss. with a

mattress in the back), in which a young man hopes to seduce women. 1974 Guy (Sydney) 21 Apr. 16/4: [personal advert] Sydney: Guy 22

bi, 8" with surf fuck truk [sic] wants singles, couples for weekend trips up coast or quickies, enjoys adultery. 1987 M. Bowden Doctor Dealer (2001) 14: They called the van Fuller's Fuck Truck. Out on deliveries with Larry, Glen had friends who would get them beer or whiskey. Then they would pick up girls. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 92: fuck truck as for shaggin' wagon (see below). 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

fuck udders (n.) the female breasts. 2002 Emails of the Week 21 Dec. at Metal Sludge [Internet] It could

have come attached to a nude photo of Angela under a Christmas tree while slowly pouring Egg Nog over her throbbing fuck udders while wearing a Santa hat and stockings, fuckwad (n.) [-wad sfx] (US) a fool, a stupid or contemptible

person; often in direct address. 1974 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS I. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 138: Hey, fuckwad, you awake? 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkitl 175: Look at this wad, fuck-wad! 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 95: Hurry up, fuckwad. He left the keys. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 227: Can I help you, fuckwad? fuckwit (n.) 1 a fool; thus fuckwit, fuckwitted, adj., stupid, foolish. 1970 M. Buber et al. I and Thou 59: Tell him to bugger off from me. Emotional fuckwit. 1972 J. Hibberd A Stretch of the Imagination (2000) 140: You two-timing, fuck-witted mongrel of a slut! 1974 Adamson & Hanford Zimmer's Essay 77: A new screw, a fuckwit, thought he saw something pass between the two prisoners. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 169: You are a bloody [...] fuck-witted [...] fart-faced flip of a fucking galah! 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 46/2: fuckwit a fool. - fuckwitted very foolish. 1999 Guardian G2 30 Sept. 22: You're dull as shit, you're a fuckwit. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 120: Being a fuckwit, he had stashed it [i.e. the escape kit] all under

his bed.

2 a general term of derision; also as adj. 1970 A. Buzo et al. Four Aus. Plays 89: Ooh, temper! Well, ta-ta for

now, fuckwit. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 63: The lamebrained racist fuckwit had articulated something unspeakable. 1982 H. Beaton Outside In Act II; sandy: You're a fucken cunt! kate: You're a fuckwit - sandy: You're jealous! 1998 1. Welsh Filth 39: The fuckwit pockets the coins and speeds off. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 468: Down't ya hate fuckwits oo say 'I'm afraid' as they deny ya sammink? 2009 J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 15: So there he was, in a hole, with an a-hole job, in some fuck-wit city.

■ In phrases as fuck (adv.) a general intensifier, the coarse synon. for 'as anything'. 1977 A. Bleasdale Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed 22: I want me end

away as well, but they're all as fertile as fuck on our estate. 1989 D. Waters Heathers [film script] A serious-as-fuck bomb in the boiler room to set off a pack of thermals upstairs. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 52: Some of the older, vampish birds in Eric's are horny as

disinterest.

1978 S. King Stand (1990) 38: He was a fuck of a long way from

California. 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Out 110: Fucking hell there's a fuck of a lot of draws here. 1986 S. King It (1987) 639: I've got one fuck of a hangover. 2 a general intensifier. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 248: What a fuck of a nuisance

this is! 1976 J. Heller Good As Gold (1979) 181: He should be locked up! [...] that crazy fuck of a bastard. 1990 R. Doyle Snapper 37: It looks like another fuck of a day. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 23: Now they were operating a shoot to miss policy, which is actually a fuck of a lot harder. fucks to a dismissive phr.; synon. with ro hell with...! under hell n. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 153: Someone told me once that-a most

effective diet was-a no-stout one, but fucks ter that bi Christ — couldn't live without me Beamish, get the fuck (v.) (Aus.) to be dismised from one's job. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 155: Other terms for losing one's job include to [...] GET THE fuck; GET THE PUSH; GET THE SHOVE.

go like the hammers of fuck (v.) see go

like the hammers of hell

under hell n. like a fuck (adv.) see like fuck adv.

on the fuck working as a prostitute. 1865 in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994) ) 39: There aren't any girls in this country except those that it strictly on the fuck for $5 a go. I take a snootful about once a month, sure as fuck see under sure as... phr. talk fuck (v.) 1 to talk about sex. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India I 93: Then, after smoking another cigar, and drinking a couple of more pegs and talking Mrs. Searles and fuck generally, I left to go home. 2 to murmur or shout obscenities during sexual intercourse for the gratification of one or both partners. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.], throw a fuck into (v.) (US) to have sexual intercourse with; also homosexual use. 1919 Transcript Foster Inquiry in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 27: The sailor replied, 'I am going to throw a fuck into something,' 'You know the boys down there,' he added. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 90: to fuck hard and fast [...] throw a mean [wicked] fuck. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 36: Last week Wanda had thrown him a fuck to seal the pact, to fuck (adv.) a general intensifier: utterly, completely. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 12: blow-to-fook — Shatter to fragments. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss. SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: blow-to-fook. Shatter to fragments. 1965 H. Huncke 'Cat and His Girl' in Huncke's Journal (1998) 66: He said she was a dumb broad [...] and he hoped to fuck he'd never see her again. 1970 P. Roth My Life as a Man (1974) 316: I swear to fuck he musta weighed eighty-two pounds. 1977 G.F. Newman Villain's Tale 19: 'Nicking a nice few quid, John?' Lynn said [...] 'Wish to fuck I was. Jack,' 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 187: I wish to fuck they were. 1990 R. Doyle Snapper 111: She wished to fuck it was all over. She was sick of it. 1993 (con, 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 231: Maybe you can stick a hyphen on to your name and Englify yourself to fuck. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 24: Stinks to fuck in there, 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 69: Am fuckin rattled t'fuck now. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 117: Jesus H. They stink to fuck. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 169: It's on top to fuck.

■ In exclamations get to fuck! (also get to Falkirk! get to fuck out of here/iti) {note synon. Scot, awa' tae fuck!] a harsh demand to go away. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 20: You dinnae like the company, you kin git tae fuck. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 88: What? Get tae fuck! What a load of bollocks! He's just making this up! 2000 T. Udo

Vatican Bloodbath 15: You get tae fuck! [Ibid.] 88: What? Get tae fuck! What a load of bollocks! He's just making this up! 2001 I. Welsh Glue 96: Get te Falkirk. Eh nivir rode her? Billy scoffs,

go to fuck!

an excl. of dismissal.

1994 P. Quigley Borderland 178: 'Go to fuck,' she spat the words at

me.

fuck

ad/. IFUCK v.]

pornographic, e.g.

1 [orig. US)

describing something obscene or

fuck movie.

1946 implied in FUCK BOOK under FUCK n. 1967 J. Rechy Numbers (1968)

105:1 got some fuck-movies at home. 1974 P. Gent North Dallas Forty 146: It was one of the descriptive phrases used by Maxwell in the course of a fuck story. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 139: Were these fuck shots merely a sleazy detonator for his libido? 1981 .1. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 110: The blank cheques and the fuck pictures don't mean nothing. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 6: 'Motion pictures, music videos, instruction tapes, erotica ... "Fuck flicks?' 1988 T. Harris Silence of the Lambs (1991) 278: There would have been trouble even if she hadn't found the fuck pictures. 2 as an intensifier; also as adv. 1973 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes 'It's Time the Old Bastard was Dead' in Snatches and Lays 74: My diet is fuckawful putrid. 1986 S. KtNG It (1987) 867: I'm drunk tonight. Fuck-drunk. 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 91: In the car. Where to, Jube?

Fuck-nowhere, bud.

fuck

fuck

111

fuck

V. [strictly, the ety. of fuck remains unknown, although the word has

been linked to a supposed, if unsubstantiated, ME v. fuken. Neither Cer.

ficken, nor the Fr. foutre (f. Lat. fotuere), both of which mean the same, can be linked semantically. HDAS notes MDu. fokken, to thrust, to copulate with; Norw. diai./ukte, to copulate, Swed. dial./ocka, to strike, to push, to copulate + fock, the penis. Given the plethora of euphemisms equating intercourse or penetration with striking or hitting (BANC v.^ (2a), SCREW v. (2a), POKE V.

(1) etc), there may be some substance in

Partridge's

suggestion of a root in the Lat. pugnare, to fight or strike. Considered (with CUNT n. (1) and MOTHERFUCKER n.) as the ultimate in taboo terms, fuck is in fact SE, but has been listed as taboo, and thus as slang, since c.1690. The first print citation is dated 1508, in a line from the poetry of William Dunbar (?1456-?1513); the first diet, listing is in Florio's Worlde of Wordes (1598). By the 18C, if printed at all, the form was usu. f—k. The term returned to literary use with James Joyce's much-banned Ulysses (1922) but remained taboo in the popular media and in 'polite' speech. This position has been eroded ever since, with the term and its compounds appearing today in films, books and on television, although the press, esp. the tabloids, pretend to a continuing squeamishness. 'Officially', for all that the realities of everyday speech (irrespective of class) disprove the theory, fuck remains an outlaw in conversation! 1 to have sexual intercourse, usu. of a man, but increasingly of either sex; also of anal intercourse (see cits. c.1675 and 1698). 1508 Dunbar 'In Secreit Place this Hyndir Nycht' in Kinsley Poems

(1989) 41: He clappit fast, he kist and chukkit [...] Yet be his feirris he wald haue fukkit: 'Ye brek my hart, my bony ane'. 1508 Dunbar 'Flyting of Dunbar & Kennedy' in Mackenzie Poems (1932) 6: Wan fukkit funling, that natour maid ane yrle, Baith lohine the Ros and thow sail squeill and skirle. 1508 Dunbar 'Off Februar the fyitene nycht' in Kinsley Poems (1989) 52: All led thay uthir by thair tersis, / Suppois thay fycket with thair ersis / It mycht be na remeid. c.1536 D. Lyndsay 'Answer to the Kingis Flyting' in Laing Works I 107: For lyke ane boisterous bull, ye rin and ryde, / Royatouslie, lyke ane rude rubeator, / Ay fukkand lyke ane furious fornicatour. 1538 J. Bale Comedye Concernyng Three Lawes (1550) Act IV: infidelitas: At her purse or arse, tell me good fryre fuccage? hypocrifis: My the Messe at both [...] Tush, I am the popes owne vycar If thou lackest a pece, I knowe where thou mayst be sped. 1540 D. Lyndsay Satyre of Thrie Estaits (1604) 45: Bischops ar blist howbeit that thay be waryit. For thay may tuck thair fill and be vnmaryit. 1598 Florid Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Fottere [...] to iape, to sard, to fucke, to swive, to occupy. 1610-20 'The Westminster Whore' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 5: She's a dammed lascivious bitch, / And fucks tor half a crown. 1620-50 'A Friende of Mine' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 11: Quoth shee, 'I crave no sucour.' / which made him to have a mighty mind / to clipp, kisse, & to fuck her. 1647 H. Nevile The Ladies' Parliament n.p.: For a General he had ill luck, that other men his wife should —. c.1655 court transcript in Quaife 157: Thou cuckold go into thy wife for she is fucking with William Fry. 1660 Wandring Whore IV 10: Those poor lazy, idle whores who F-- for necessity, not pleasure, and have scarce a tufft of hair amongst them all to cover their Cunnyes. c,1675 Rochester 'The Disabled Debauchee' in Works (1999) 45: Nor shall our love-fits, Chloris, be forgot, / When each the well-look'd Linkboy strove t'enjoy, / And the best Kiss was the deciding lot / Whether the Boy fuck'd you, or I the Boy. 1683 C. Sackville 'A Faithful Catalogue' in Lord Poems on Affairs of State (1968) IV 195: From St. James's to the Land of Thule, There's not a whore who spends so like a mule [...]

For 'twas the custom of her ancient race / To f— with any fool, in any place. 1691 'A Catch' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 52: As he came home he met with a wench, / And ask'd her whether she was willing / To go to the tavern and spend eighteen pence, / And-for the other odd shilling. 1698 Proceedings against Capt. Edward Rigby for intending to commit the Abominable Sin of Sodomy, on the Body of one William Minton 1 Dec. 2: Rigby [...] taking Minton in his Arms, whisht he might lye with him all night, and that his Lust was provoked to that degree, he had —- in his Breeches, but not withstanding he could F— him. 1709 N. Chorier (trans.) of Meursius 'The Delights of Venus' in Cabinet of Love (1739) 193: For when they fuck, their Stiffness then they lose, c.1715 'Come prithee. Brother' in Lansdowne 852.426: Qur friend who wears the British Cr ... / Lays Turkish Unbelievers down / And fucks Unchristian Breeches. 1720 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy VI 265: For of all the young Men he has the best luck, / All the Day he will Fuddle, at Night he will [fuck]. 1738 Man-Midwife Unmasqu'd 3: Up Stairs the grave Doctor with Joy did conduct her, / And now I will tell you how fairly he-. 3.1749 Robertson of Struan 'Dialogue between Captain Low & his Friend Dick' Poems (1752) 256: But she gave Proof that she could f-k, / Or she is damnably bely'd. c.1750 'Frigging' in Bold (1979) 90: Men do fuck the ladies they love most. 1763 J. Wilkes Essay on Woman 17: Sylphs and Gnomes may fuck in woman's hole, c.1770 'Lovely Sally' Buck's Delight 3: She's clean and nice, a crown's the price / To f--k this female tonsor. 1787 Burns 'Ellibanks and Ellibraes' Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 138: There's no a lass in a' the land, / Can fuck sae weel as I can. 1795 Burns 'Ode to Spring' Merry Muses of Caledonia (1965) 61: Till Damon, fierce, mistim'd his arse, / And fuck'd quite out of tune. Sir. c.1800 'The Rakes of Stony Batter' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 223: Tho' Jenny cries nay, I won't F—k for a shilling, c.1864 'A Little More F-cking' Rakish Rhymer (1917) 134: Oh I let me f—k you, do. Miss Fanny— / Oh! let me f—k you, do! 1879 Pearl 1 July in Bold (1979) 65: Fuck till your penis will no longr stand, / She still your bollocks will tease with her hand. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India I 41: You are a good poke and no mistake! Oh! You know how to fuck! 1904 Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 37; Van asked what I thought they wanted to do to us. I said 'you want to fuck us.' 1914 T.S. Eliot 'Fragments' Inventions of the March Hare in Ricks (1996) 314; With his whanger in his hand he walked through the hall / 'By God' said the cook 'he's gona fuck us all'. 1922 E.E. Cummlngs Enormous Room (1928) 283: A little later he came rushing up to my bed in the most terrific state of excitement [...] and cried: 'Youj— me. me f—you? Pas bon. You f—you. mef— me:— bon. Mef— me, you f~ you!' 1935 L. Brogan 'Shave 'Em Dry' in Oliver Screening the Blues (1968) 231; So I fucked all night and all the night before, baby / And I feel just like I want to fuck some more. 1943 K. Amis letter 25 Nov. in Leader (2000) 12; It is nice to be able to write the words 'I want to fuck you' in a letter. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 97: They play game with tarot cards [...] to see who fuck who. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 213: Whores can tell the truth, too - even when they's fuckin' a whole family. 1973 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes 'The Tinker' Snatches and Lays 29: He fucked the cook in the kitchen, he fucked the maid in the hall, / And then he fucked the butler - the dirtiest trick of all. 1988 Ice-T 'Personal' [lyrics] The girls will get buck naked and fuck that night. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 271; [of women] They're gone fuck ya and blow ya. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 69; The blokes in the top floor flat were fucking her and I didn't want that in my house. 2006 R. Antoni Carnival 10: Focked his mother too, of course.

2 in fig./ext. uses, (a) to harm someone irreparably, to cheat, to victimize, to betray, to deceive. 1905 'Investigator Reports, 1905-15' Committee of Fourteen Papers 20

May 41-2; He then urged the investigators to come back the following day, saying we are going to fuck the police tomorrow sure. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 52: We'll take his lousy review over and we'll fuck him good and proper. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 168: Kill the bast'rd! Fuh-kim! 1956 I. Fleming Diamonds Are Forever (1958) 129: That's ---ed them proper. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 160: Theyll find out they cant fuck us. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 66; Sneed inspected the plates Jordan had brought; as near as he could tell they were okay, and he didn't believe Brian Jordan would purposely try and fuck him. 1987 (con. 1970s) J. Pistone Donnie Brasco (2006) 270; I'm always gonna give him a piece of my end. I don't want him to think that I'm fucking him. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Trbmlett Little Legs 87: He's fucked me [...] He has fucked me. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 234; Treat them well and they fuck you. Scream at them and slap them down and [...] their devotion is almost embarrassing. 2000 Eminem 'Kim' [lyrics] You really fucked me Kim / You really did a number on me.

(b)

to stop, to abandon or give up (on).

fuck

1963 N. Dunn Up the Junction 120: If you had the price of a drink or a

lodging for the night you'd always have the drink and fuck the lodging - sleep in the cab.

(c) to trifle with, to 'mess around', to interfere. 1964 R. Abbiahams Deep Down In The Jungle 147: Don't come fucking

me in that kind of way. 1970 in P.R. Runkel Law Unto Themselves 26: The public is always fuckin' the cops, now a cop is fuckin' the public. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 367: That's what you get when you fuck your decorator. 1999 Observer Mag. 12 Dec. 19: So I would put pants on under my dress, just to fuck with my father.

(d) to blunder, to make a mess (of), to ruin. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 289: 'YOU ARE THE YAHOOS!!' the Judge bellowed at them. 'Australia is yours! Don't fuck it like they did!' 1997 L. Davies Candy 5: I'm not trying to give Candy a habit. I'm not trying to fuck her life. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 32; By that

time theyd fucked it. An they knew it.

(e) to kick, to stomp on. 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 64; I lifted

my foot and he fell to the floor. / The cunt was in agony, / The cunt was in pain, / So I lifted my boot and I fucked him again. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 152: 'Kill em,' the galoot rumbles. 'Fuck em the fuck up.'

(f) to throw. 1976 A.

Salkey Come Home, Malcolm Heartland 194; We're like infiltrators [...] armed with the necessary shit to fuck back at the world-wide enemy we've all got. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 90: He done tha'. Fucked a rock at me durin' a match. He was the goalie an' I oney had him to beat, the cunt. An' he fucked the rock at me. 1999 D. Healy Sudden Times 199; When they fucked the water on me I was drenched.

(g) to use or exploit for one's benefit. 1982 H. Beaton Outside In I ii: She was already fucken into 'em. 1989

M. Amis London Fields 403: Worst double on the board. Never go near it less you've fucked double 12 and then come inside on double 6. 2000 J. Hawes Dead Long Enough 110: Can you still beat time? and handed Harry a horrible old beer-stained hippy drum [...] Didn't I fuck that out years ago?

(h) to dismiss, to expel.

3

fuck

273

1988 R. Doyle Commitments 89: He got fucked ou' o' our school, righ', Derek told them, - because he beat the shi'e ou' o' the Dean o' Girls. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 413: Bimbo was younger than him and he was being fucked out on his ear because he was too old. used as a synon. for to hell with...! under hell n. 1909-17 T.S. Eliot 'Colombo & Bolo' Inventions of the March Hare in

Ricks (1996) 316: His language was obscene-o. 'Fuck Spiders' was his chief remark In accents mild and dulcet. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 40: 'Steady, Buck, you'll curse the fire out.' 'Fuck the fire!' he cried. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 59: Fuck your two ways of looking at things! Fuck your pluralistic universe. 1942 P. Larkin letter 19 Sept, in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 45: Well, I'd better get on with Caedmon, fuck him. If I'd composed a poem like that one I'd keep it jolly dark. 1943 P. Larkin letter 1 Sept, in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 67: Fuck America. God Fuck America. 1954 Kerouac letter May in Charters I (1995) 412; He says, 'When Allen gets back I wont pay any attention to him, fuck him.' [Ibid.] letter 20 June 426: Fuck this lousy typewriter. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 54: Fuck them! They're down because they want to be down. 1973 (con. 1930s) F. Huelin 'Keep Moving' 45: 'Jam be fucked!' he exploded. 'Those rotten bastards put one over me.' 1988 ICE-T 'Drama' [lyrics] Rollin' once again, fuck the damn police! 1991 J. Osborne De'jdvu Act II: Fuck the gay community. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 18: Fuck All You Bitch Ass Niggas. 2007 M. Rowson Stuff 28: I discovered purely by accident that 'yob' is the Russian for 'fuck', and went through a stage [...] writing 'Fuck the Pope' in Cyrillic script.

■ Derivatives fuckability (n.) sex appeal. a.1990 M. Ritt in Ritt & Miller Martin Ritt (1914-1990) Interviews

(2003) 202: There are a lot of great actors who are not, never will be movie stars. Want to know what makes a movie star? ll's fuckability. It's having what I call high fuckability. 1992 M. Leyner Et Tu, Babe (1993) 126: I don't think that those folks wrote to enhance their fuckability. 1999 Guardian Rev. 15 Oct. 3: I was told point blank that I had no 'fuckability' quotient. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 16: The apex of animal magnatism and fuckability In American pop is a skinny (white) guy with a screaming guitar,

fuckable (ad/.) 1 sexually desirable. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) XI 2253: How fine and firm and fuckable are these country wenches, what juicy cunts. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 137: Foutable, adj. Desirable; 'fuckable'. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 122: Fuckable A sexually attractive person, female. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 15: 'I'd like to dip my wick into that.' 'Fuckable.' 1987 S. Hite Hite Report on Male

Sexuality 111: They're really nice and fuckable all the time, but when they grow old, they are not worth looking at. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 6: All the fuckable Kennedys travelled up to Hyannis. 2004 H. Walsh Brass 21: And how a simple course of lazer treatment would [...] transform her from an unfuckable attractive lady to a fuckable stunner.

2 {US campus)

sexually available.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 89: fuckable 1. willing to be ass-

fucked.

fuckaholic (n.) [-aholic sfx] one who is obsessed with having sexual relations. 1981 D. Jenkins Baja Okla. 246: He's just a fuckaholic, is all he is

[HDAS]. 1985 R.R. Ward Fuckers [Internet] 1 was't just a casual or social fucker. I was a Fuckaholic. 2002 WC 'Flirt' [lyrics] I got a problem, and it's serious as cancer. / No matter what you call it baby I'm a fuckaholic.

fuck-a-rama (n.) see separate entries. fuckathon (n.) Isfx -athon on model of SE marathon] {orig. US) a long sexual encounter or orgy. 2002 www.suze-centerfolds.com [Internet] Among so many other feathers in her cap was the web cam fuckathon with a lead performer in the rock band Motley Crue.

fuckation (n.) sexual intercourse. 1663 Head Hie et Ubique I vl: Fuy by St. Patrick agra, he put de

fuckation upon me weef.

fuckish (ad/.) sexually forward. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1969 'Iceberg Mama Black Widow 199: She's acting fuckish tonight,

Slim'

fucksome (ad/.) [SE sfx -some] 1 of an inanimate object, sexually arousing. 1902 G.R. Bacchus Confessions of Nemesis Hunt 2: When you start

talking of fucksome drinks [...] take one quart bottle of champagne and four eggs. Divide bottle into four large glasses, break egg in each, and drink, then luck! 2 of a woman, sexually desirable. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 443/1: C.19-20. 2002 D. Goode

Goodheart and The Pagan Princess Ch. 9 [Internet] My eyes roved, picking out the more voluptuous and fucksome members of the crowd—those with firm, youthful tits and lightly-furred slits, fuckster (n.) [-ster sfx, implying agency or 'doing'] a promiscuous man; occas. woman. 1676-84 'Acrostick' British Museum Additional Mss 34362.47: Each F-ster now this title's grown so mean Rules his dull Whore & calls her Mazareen. 1687 'Lovers' Session' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 185: It's unjust the fair sexes' pride / Should run any risk with a fuckster untried. 1881 Amatory Experiences of a Surgeon 13: A tremendous lunge from the now dreadfully excited fuckster overturned the obstacle with a loud crash. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) III 552: She was a glorious fuckster; her cunt was tight inside, and yet so elastic as not to hurt or pinch,

fuckstress (n.) Isfx -stress, a female agent or 'doer'] 1 a prostitute. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 9: A. fuckstress: a Fulham virgin. A prostitute.

Covent Garden nun

n.

2 a female sexual sophisticate. 1884 Randiana 127: What a deep-drawn sigh of delight, my fresh

fuckstress gave, as she heaved up her buttocks and felt my charger rush up to the very extremity of her burning sheath. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) V 894: As a fuckstress she was perfection. Rarely have I found such an exquisite fitting cunt. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 58: A talented Fuckstress, Miss Chisholm, / Was renowned for her fine paroxysm. 3 a nymphomaniac. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 433/1: C.19-20.

■ In compounds fuckarse see separate entries. fuck-beggar (n.) 'An impotent or almost impotent man whom none but a beggar-woman will allow to "kiss" her' (Grose, 1785). 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

fuck-eyes (adj.) see fuck-mc eyes under fuck-me adj. fuck-fist (n.) (also fuck-finger) a male or female masturbator. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

fuck-me (adj.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases fuck-a-bush (adj.) [lit. one who 'fucks in

the bushes']

1 (W.I., Jam.)

promiscuous. 1980 (con. 1950s) M. Thelwell Harder They Come 68: She not to be confused with dem iittle droopy drawers fuck-a-bush gal. 1983 T. White Catch a Fire 57: A 'foo-foo' (foolish) country waif naive enough to believe his 'fuck-a-bush' (backwoods seduction) talk of love!

2 as derog.

fuck

fuck

274

Literotica.com [Internet] My brother kept on fucking his fist a minute

1983 T. White Catch a Fire 262: These fuck-a-bush ghetto rats [...]

more and came inside his hand.

hum a few bars of some gully ditty, and they get sainted,

fuck about see separate entries, fuck a duck (v.) see separate entry, fuck along (v.) (US black) to walk.

fuck out (v.) 1 to break down; thus

fucked out, usu. of a man, exhausted by an excess of intercourse [on pattern of SE wear out]. 1977 in K. Gilbert Living Black 65: They moved us to A division. It was so ... oh, it fucked me right out. 1988 N. Eastwood Gardener Got Her n.p.: 'Yeah, Mike, give it to her!' he panted. 'This little lady can't get enough!' 'Tell me about it,' Mike said. 'She fucked me out this

1968 J. COLEBROOK Cross of Lassitude 36: He is glad to be able to report:

'Here Stretch fuckin' along'.

fuck around (v.) see separate entries, fuck away (v.) to waste, to squander.

afternoon.'

1975 S.P. Smith Amer. Boys 171: The others...fucked their bread away

2

on booze [HDAS].

relationship].

fuck into a cocked hat (v.) see

knock into a cocked hat under

KNOCK INTO V.

fuck like a bunny (rabbit) (v.) to copulate enthusiastically. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 95: She fucks like a bunny rabbit, they tell me. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 291:1 shall fuck fuck fuck like a bunny! 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 220: She fucks like a rabbit,

fuck like a mink (v.) (Aus./US) of a woman, to copulate enthusiastically. C.1930 (ref. to mid-19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 26: He [...] fucked like a mink. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 223: But, man, she fucked like a greased mink! 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 17: If she is willing, [...] she's got fire in her pants, she's an angel looking for Peter, and she fucks like a mink. 2004 Urban Diet. [Internet] Debbi was picked from a bunch of Groupies to be a Band Aid because she fucks like a mink, fuck like a rattlesnake (v.) (also root like a rattlesnake, shag...) to copulate enthusiastically; often used of a woman who is presumed to be a sexual enthusiast, usu. in phr. / bet she... 1969 B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 71: The Pope's a Jew if that jam tart doesn't root like a rattlesnake. 1997 Solar Project 'Zeitgest' [lyrics] on ...in Time [album] Group grope, bunch punch / Gang bang, daisy chain / Leg work, Swedish culture, S & M / We are shagging like wild rattlesnakes / We bang like the shithouse door in a gale. 2003 BootPigJoseph 'Cousins in Boots' at SkinMarvin.com [Internet] Bill

fucks like a rattlesnake and I enjoy it.

fuck like a stoat (v.) to copulate enthusiastically. 1996 K. Tindall 'Estrangements' at JHedge.com [Internet] A MOT

WHOSE CUNT IS READY TO BITE HER ARSE NEEDS A COVE WHO FUCKS LIKE A STOAT. The laughter was somewhat less nervous. Ulla was blushing to the roots of her hair. fuck Mrs Palmer (v.) to masturbate. 1997 'Q' Deadmeat 107: The guy i was sharing a cell with, every time

he went for a shower said, 'I'm goin to fuck Mrs Palmer.' [...] What would you do? It's either that or another man. 2000-02 Amatory Ink [Internet].

fuck off see separate entries. fuck one’s ass off (v.) (a/so fuck one's head off) [despite the presence of ASS n. (2), and the usu. male subjects of the phr., there is no implication of anal intercourse/homosexuality; the ref. is merely to the movement of the male buttocks and/or a general intensity] to copulate enthusiastically, usu. from the male point of view. C.1936 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 367: I never left the hotel from one day to the other just laying there fucking my head off. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 164: Them freak bitches [...] humping their asses off for the paddy pimp. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 366: You wanna go back [...] hump your little ass off with the college boys. 1979 T. Alibrandi Killshot 80:1 don't want you fucking away your brains and energy. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 82: He did me good. But I asked for it. You can fuck yo' ass

off, he says.

fuck one’s fist (v.) (also fist-fuck) to masturbate. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) III 445: 'As you won't let me fuck you. I'll frig myself.' Suiting the action to the word I began fistfucking. 1948 (con. 1900s) in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 634: Oh mamma, mamma, look at Sis, / Out in the back yard fuckin' her fist! 1952 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 767: Gents to the center and fuck your fist. 1966 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 222: If I had a been strong like Samson, I'd a broke this damned door down, / I'd of fucked that lovely maiden and beat it out of town. / But therefore I was not Samson, so I fucked my fist once more, / but I taken good aim and shot it — through this keyhole in this door. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 80: Take the advice of an old soldier [...] Fuck your fist [...] Honeymoon in the hand. 1988 'Victoria

to be sexually unfaithful [to have sex 'out' of the house, 'out' of one's

1984 L. McCorkle Cheer Leader 15: 'I cannot tell a lie' is important and fucking out on Martha is not

[HDAS].

3 see FUCK off v.

fuck out of (v.) 1 to cheat someone. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 54: One by one I've fucked

myself out of all those free meals which I had planned so carefully. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 287: And then, b'Jesus, almost fucking me out of a job! 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 203: You're trying to fuck me out of my commission. 1962 (con. 1940s) G. Mandel Wax Boom 189: Miss Lily, I believe I've been fucked out of some pay. 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 123: You just fuck me out if a ten-K contract onna Greek. 1984 D. Jenkins Life Its Ownself (t9B3) 87: Offensive holding [...] was something a zebra called when it was time to fuck you out of your bet but win him his. 2006 C. Valentine Better Days Ahead 377: Tell him how you fucked me out of my share of the inheritance. 2 (Irish) to eject, to throw out. 2000 P. Howard Miseducation of Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (2004) 20: Me, Sophie, Amy, and clarinet Deirdre got locked out of the one [i.e. a cafe] in Donnybrook last week for ordering, like, a Diet Coke between us.

fuck fuck fuck fuck

over (v.) see separate entries. someone’s brains out (v.) see under brain n.^. someone’s face (v.) see face-fuck v. someone’s head (v.) see fuck (with) someone's

mind under

FUCK WITH V.

fuck the arse off someone (v.) (also fuck someone’s arse/ socks off, fuck the ass off, ride the arse off, shag...) [ride v. (la)/ shag V.'' (1) + arse n. (D/ass n. (2)] (orig. US) usu. of a man, to have energetic sexual intercourse, to make someone the object of one's enthusiastic or aggressive love-making; often in wishful phr. voiced by a man of a passing woman, / could/l'd like to fuck the arse off that. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 352: You wait, you lovely bitch ... I'll

fuck the ass off you. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 117: He soliloquised about [...] how many more women who damned near fucked the ass offim. 1967 J. Orton Diaries (1986) 18 Dec. 188:1 have fucked the arses off aging queens quite easily. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 307: Go over there and fuck old Ora Lee's socks off. 1976 H. Selby Jr Demon (1979) 68: He told her he would like to fuck the ass off her. 1979 Maledicta III:2 231: To fuck the ass off someone doesn't necessarily imply either anal intercourse or homosexuality (although UK fuck rotten usually does). 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 586: You could never respect a woman like tha', said Bimbo. - No, Jimmy Sr agreed. - But yeh could ride the arse off her. 1994 1. Welsh 'Where the Debris Meets the Sea' in Acid House 88: Ah'd shag the erse oafay that anywey. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 84: They have the arse rode off me. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 53: He will fuck the arse off her tonight, he thinks, he will shag her senseless, screw her daft. 2001 A. Sillitoe Birthday 49: He was fucking her arse off, you can bet. 2006 posting at profile.adultfriendfinder.com [Internet] i would fuck the arse off Amy Nuttal (used to be in emmerdale - left now i think). 2006 Wife Slut's Adventures at Literotica.org [Internet] We joined the two men whom were going to fuck the ass off my wife tonight,

fuck the dog (and sell the pups) (v.) see under doc n.^. fuck the duck (v.) (also stroke the duck) to waste time; to relax. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 100: One minute you're

Parker' Incest Schoolgirls [Internet] Mr. Davidson whacked his cock,

stroking the duck, the next you're an eager beaver. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 57: I met a man from the Cav who'd been 'fucking the duck' one afternoon, sound asleep in a huge tent with thirty cots inside. 1978 H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 31: Lets stop fuckin the duck. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 6: He was taking one of his famous naps — fucking the duck, we called it. 2003 Daily Dog 23 Jan. [Internet] [...[ followed by a bit of fucking the duck on the back roads to Manitou Springs and back,

pumped his prick, drubbed his dick. He fucked his fist in a fast jackjerk. 1991 Horny Peeping Sister n.p.: Torn bucked his hips forward,

fuck the shit out of someone (v.) (also fuck the crap out of someone, fuck the cum out of someone) [shit, the phr. (1)/crap,

fucking his fist. Pre-cum dripped from his fingers and dribbled down into the alley. 2005 'Paul G.' 'My Truck Drivin' Brother' at

THE phr. (1)/cuM n. (1)] usu. of a man, to have sexual intercourse; usu. very energetically and repeatedly.

fuck 1978 L, 1981 S.

Faggots 281: He could now fuck the shit out of him. Cujo (1982) 88:1 enjoyed fucking the shit out of her. 2002 'Rev. of Total Corruption' HisXpress.com [Internet] Beefcake Phil Bradley fucks the cum out of Wes Daniels then shots his own hot load. 2003 Salon.com 30 Aug. [Internet] I really dig your body and want to fuck the shit out of you. 2007 V. Honeycutt Diary of Questionable Journeys 109: I was so horny that part of me wanted to just fuck the crap out of him, fuck up see separate entries, Kramer

King

fuck with (v.) see separate entries, fuck you see separate entries. fuck-your-buddy week (n.) (a/so buddy week, frig-your-buddy week, screw-your-buddy (week)) (buddy n. (2)] (orig. US mllit.) a response to any moment or act of betrayal; usu. as So it's fuckyour-buddy week then... 1958 E.

Gilbert Vice Trap 56: I forgot, this is buddy week. 1962 P. Burn, Killer. Burn! 279: This is Frig Your Buddy Week. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 190: Screw your buddy Take someone else's date away. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 195: This article and series devoted to sexual slang would be incomplete without some notice of catch phrases, both British and American: [...] it's fuck-your-buddy week (betrayal time). 2005 www.thedailybulletin.com 11 May [Inter¬ net] Every week was Fuck Your Buddy Week. They would have tattled on me to my manager, to Human Resources, to the Political Correctness police. Crump

1 wouldn’t fuck her with a borrowed prick (also I wouldn’t fuck her with your prick) [prick n. (1)] a general term of masculine distaste, spoken on seeing what is considered an unattractive or unpleasant woman. 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 17: If she falls short of the ideal of desirability, well, / wouldn't fuck her with your prick, or with a borrowed pecker. 1983 R. Price Breaks 231: I've seen these motherfuckers with women I wouldn't fuck with your dick. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 97: Sheet [...] I vouldn't fuck her with Cosmo's cock. 2003 www. thepantsman.com [Internet] I turned to my batting partner and said (louder than I realised) 'Mate, I wouldn't fuck them with your dick', you can fuck me but you can’t make me like the baby (Aus. prison) a phr. meaning that a prisoner may endure his punishment but need not necessarily enjoy it. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Baby. As in 'you can fuck me but you can't make me like the baby', which is to say a prisoner may endure his punishment but need not necessarily enjoy it.

■ In exclamations fuck a duck! see separate entry, fuck-a-rama! see separate entry, fuck around! see separate entry. fuck ’em all! (a/so fuck ’em!) (the

orig. words for the bowdlerized

soldiers' song 'Bless 'Em AH'] a general excl. of dismissal, bravado, 'to hell with them'.

1955 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 44: My name is Samuel Hall / And I've only got one ball, / But it's better than none at all. Fuck 'em all. 1961 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 388: They'll get no promotion this side of the ocean. / So cheer up, my lads, fuck 'em all. 1963 H.S. Thompson letter 20 Sept. Proud Highway (1997) 400: Books like that are like water when you want whiskey. Fuck 'em. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971) 105: Fuck em, we'll come anyway. 1986 in E, Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 389: Fuck 'em all, fuck 'em all, / The long and the short and the tall. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 185: 'Fuck 'em.' Arthur Battenkill snorted. 'I hope they slaughter each other with blunt objects.'

fuck me! see separate entry. fuck my days! (a/so frig my days! fuck me days!) (UK black) an excl. of surprise, annoyance etc. 1982 H. Beaton Outside In Act II: Fuck me days! Your father a multi¬ national? 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 61: What is going on, he thought. Fuck my days, this might be my sister! 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane!-. Fuck my days [...] Dat was close. [Ibid.] 226: Oh, frig my living days. fuck my luck! 1 an excl. implying sorrow, disappointment. 1971 (con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 252-. 'Where were you in the war?' 'I was in Burma [...] Fuck my bloody luck!' 2 I don't believe it! 1999 F, ALLAnMilton's Progress Ch. 13 [Internet] 'Fuck my luck!' spat Rob, 'not sharin' an ass like that should be against the law!' 2005 at www.248am.com 29 Oct. [blog] Fuck my luck, I have been waiting all day for a decent shot of something and finally when it happens turns out my camera was set on manual focus! fuck my old boots! an excl. denoting one's astonishment; orig. milit. use, sometimes euph. as seduce my ancient footwear! 1972

fuck

275

Erections, Ejaculations etc, 423: Well, fuck my dead 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977)

C. Bukowski

mother's bones,

152: All he could say was: 'Fuck my old boots!' 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 432/2: C.20. 2003 Spike mag. 22 Sept. [Internet] Fuck my old boots. The Financial Times, of all papers, runs a sweet piece on Robert Wyatt marking the release of a new LP.

fuck that! a dismissive excl., often ext, e.g. fuck that for a bowl of cherries! fuck that for a comic song! fuck that for a top hat! and see below. 1957 K. Amis letter 19 Feb. in Leader (2000) 504: The first, any road, is The world of Ernest Hemingway. Fuck that. 1960 in G. Westwood A Minority 142: You know bloody well its buggery not burglary [...] F--- that for a lark, you'll get me into more trouble. 1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 81: 'Poxy judge give 'im six months just because 'e stole a blanket.' 'Fuck that,' he murmurs in sympathy. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 24: Everybody says they're going to stop after their last hit - fuck that. I like it and I'm gonna continue to smoke. 2001 I. Welsh Glue 12: Risk losing some fingers for a bonus for a bunch of rich shareholders living in Surrey or somewhere? Fuck that.

fuck that/this for a game of soldiers! (also bugger...! feck...! sod...! stick...! ...game of cowboys! ...game of darts!) an excl. of derision, indicating that something is not working or that one is giving up. 1959 W, Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Routine Patrol! You can stick this for a game of soldiers. 1963 C. Wood 'Spare' in Cockade (1965) I 1: harry: You're sweating on him stopping ... garibaldi: Get some in. dickje bird: And that for a game of soldiers. 1972 K. Bonfiglioli Don't Point That Thing at Me (1991) 140: Well, fuck this for a game of darts. 1989 S. Armitage 'All Beer and Skittles' in Zoom 17: He was sodding this for a game of soldiers and angling for a lift into town. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 90: Fuck this for a game of cowboys. 1994 G. Byrne Pictures in my Head 2: Now I wanted to use words like 'friggin' [...] and say things like 'Bugger that for a game of soldiers'. 1994 J. O'Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 245: You think 'feck this anyway for a phoney game of cowboys'. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 193: Fuck that for a game of soldiers. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 199: In the end we were all, like, fock that for a game of soldiers, fuck that/this for a lark! (also fuck this for a geg! fuck this iark! shag that for a iark!) 1 an excl. of derision, indicating something is not working or that one is giving up. 1977 A. Bleasdale Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed 162: 'Lookin'?' he

said. 'Fuck that f'a lark. I'm gonna blast it out of the sky.' 1979 J. Morrow Confessions of Proinsias O'Toole 108: Hiya, Francie oul' son! Fuck this for a geg. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 432/2: C. 19-20. 1989 H. Leonard Out After Dark 3: Cloggy said: 'Shag that for a lark.' 1997 C. McPherson The Weir 50: And I was all like 'fuck this' you know? 2000 (con. 1943) L/Cpl J.J. Bird at www.arnhemarchive.org [Internet] One of the Commandos in the craft asked Jack Bird 'What mob do you blokes belong to?', he replied 'We're airborne troops', to which the man said 'Fuck that for a lark.' and pulled out his flask and offered Jack a drink. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 136: Ah, fuck this for a lark, I think. I can't listen to this shite. 2006 Skinhead Hamlet at sub-zero.mit.edu [Internet] fortinbraS: Fuck this for a lark then. Let's piss off. [Exeunt with alarums].

2 don't expect me to get mixed up in that! that's a stupid idea! 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 432/2: C.19-20. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 123: She started getting more sexy. Fuck this lark. Struggling to get out from under her, I saw Hogan [...] grinning, enjoying my discomfort. fuck that/this for a laugh! an excl. of derision, indicating something is not satisfactory or rejecting an idea that is unfeasible. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 48:1 thought now fuck this for a laugh. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 36: Fuck all that for a laugh. Tonight she'd take her chances at the gig. 2004 King & Love Football Factory [film script] Then go and spunk your wages on kebabs, fruit machines and brasses? Fuck that for a laugh!

fuck that noise! see under noise n.\ fuck the begrudgers! (Irish) a general excl. of defiance or scorn. 1987 V. Caprani Vulgar Verse and Variations n.p.: 'Same again Jem?'

'Sound man Vinno. And fuck the begrudgers!' [BS]. 1996 Irish Times 24 Sept, n.p.: 'F**k the begrudgers!' became the battle-cry of those determined on celebrating success at all costs [BS].

fuck them all but six/eight! (US, orig. milit.) a general oath of annoyance and hostility; often ext. with ...and save them for pallbearers! [1917 Tennessee Folk. Society Bulletin XXI (1955) 100: Cuss 'em all, cuss 'em all, / Cuss 'em all but six! [HDAS].] 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 310: 'Fugg you guys and save six for pallbearers,' Levin shouted. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 189: I say fuck 'em all and save six for the pallbearers. 2002 P, Ford '4 Days, 4 Police Officers' at Ftrain. com 25 July [Internet] I'd say fuck them all but six, and save those for Paulbearers [sic], but in the interest of consistency, fuck the six.

fuck, the

fuck, the

276

too, and cremate me instead. 2004 posting at www.jackjohnsonmusic. com 8 Apr. [Internet] Fuck them all but six. We'll use them as pall bearers.

fuck you! see separate entry. go fuck a duck! (also go fuck a dog! ...a fishnet! go kiss a duck!) an excl. of dismissal, or disbelief. 1958 R. Chandler Playback 208: Why don't you go kiss a duck? 1958

W. Talsman Gaudy Image (1966) 229: 'Go fuck a fishnet,' Minnie cooed. 'There's enough holes there for an army.' 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 235: 'Oh go fuck a duck!' Giff said angrily. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: fuck a dog - exclamation of shock or displeasure: 'I went out with another girl last night.' 'Oh, go fuck a dogl'

go fuck your mother! (also go fuck your sister!) an all-purpose dismissive excl., generally seen as a supremely offensive remark. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 7: Freddy [...] yelled at

them to go fuck their mothers, ya cottonpickin bastards. 1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 411: Arrr...go fuck your little sister... 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 130: Go fuck your dead mother. I can buy all you fuzz ten times over with loose change in my pocket.

go fuck yourself! (also go and fuck yourself! go diddle yourself! go fiddle yourself! go flog yourself! go fug yourself! go jerk yourself! go shoot yourself!) a general excl. of dismissal. 1894 cited in Report and Proceedings of the Senate Committee Appointed to

Investigate the Police Dept of the City of N.Y. 3158: Q. Repeat what he said to you? A. He said, 'Go on, fuck yourself, you son-of-a-bitch; I will give you a hundred dollars.' 1920 'Customer Cases' Committee of Fourteen Papers 21 June 73: Go fuck yourself; it's none of your damn business. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 85: 'You're all very happy,' he sneered. 'Go and fuck rattlesnakes,' retorted Templer. 1927 C. Sandburg 'Shovellin' Iron Ore' in Amer. Songhag 183: I, 'Old man now what will you pay?' Says he, 'Two bits a ton.' Says I, 'Old man, go diddle yourself, I'd rather bum.' 1929 C. McKay Banjo 115: Let the crackers go fiddle themselves, and you, too. c.1935 'Betty Boop in "Flesh"' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 28: He didn't do it for honor, / He didn't do it for wealth; / He did it to accomodate an old pal / Who told him to 'go fuck himself.' 1940s 'Wild Buckaroo' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 107: She screamed, 'You jack rabbit! You shot off, you're thru; / You can go fuck yourself now you Wild Buckaroo.' 1948 N. Mailer Naked and Dead 10: Go fug yourself. 1950 E. Hemingway letter 2 June in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 698: Posterity can take care of herself or fuck herself. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 149: I felt like telling the guy to go shoot himself. 1956 A. Ginsberg 'America' Howl & Other Poems (2000) 39: Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb. 1964 A. Baraka Slave in Three Negro Plays (1969) Act I: Go and fuck yourself. 1967 J. HiBBERD White with Wire Wheels (1973) 227: ROD: Don't push me too far, Simon, simon: Go flog yourself! 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 77: If you don't want to read what I show you, fuck your bloody ass. 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 116: Awa' an' take a regimental fuck tae yirsel. 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 12: In America one of the most usual insulting invitations today is go Jack your.self [...] This rather lacks bounce, and is sometimes varied or enlarged to: go fuck a dead horse, or go fuck yourself with a rubber weenie, or go fuck yourself in the ass and give yourself some brains. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 267: 'Go fuck yourself.' 'Go fuck yourself yourself.' 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 185: He will never [.,.] tell the client's chief executive officer to go fuck himself. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 47: Fuck yourself, you. 1993 (con. 1945) S. McAughtry Touch and Go 101: Go jerk yourself, you stupid bastard. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 83: 'Well, fuck you,' I said. 'And fuck you. Go fuck yourself.' 2003 P. Cornwell Blow Fly (2004) 127: Good riddance and go tuck yourself,

fuck, the phr. (also fuck) 1 (also in the fuck, in the eff)

var. on HELL, THE phr. (1) used in questions, e.g. what the fuck...? phr. [1864 J.S. Le Fanu Uncle Silas II 88: And why the puck don't you let her out? [OED].] 1934 (con. 1910s) H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 278: An' de nex' time watch out who de fuck yer chas-in', 1945 in T. Shibutani Derelicts of Company K (1978) 291: Son of a bitch! Where in the tuck's that truck? 1946 K. Amis letter 24 Oct. in Leader (2000) 99: Whey the Jock do they pinrt [sic] them eh. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 51: How in the fuck should I know? 1961 J.A. Williams Night Song (1962) 161: How in the eff are the pegs sellin', you mother! 1967 (con. 1950s) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 333: Where in the fuck've you been? 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 3 Oct. in Proud Highway (1997) 641: Why the fuck should I? 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 17:1 don't know why the fuck I come down here every week. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 134: Who the fuck are you trying to impress? 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 267: How the fuck can some guy just walk up to the man who assassinated the 35th President of the United States

of America and shoot him dead? 1998 1. Welsh Filth 221: Who the fuck does he think he is? 2000 (con. 1977) D. Peace Nineteen seventyseven 4: Where the fuck's Maurice? 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 2: Well, where the fuck is he? 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 156: Hes also property developer, luxury car dealer, former diplomatic whateverthe-fuck to the overseas development department of wherever-thefuck. 2004 T. Winton 'Family' in Turning (2005) 182: Why the fuck are you here?

2 as infix, e.g. shut the fuck up. 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 488: I'll take care of it.

Be right the fuck back. 1962 (con. 1940s) G. Mandel Wax Boom 273:1 might blow my top [...] if people don't start leaving me the fuck alone! 1964 A. Baraka Slave in Three Negro Plays (1969) Act I: But just sit the fuck down. 1967 (con. 1950s) McAleer & Dickson Unit Pride (1981) 323: Will you put him the fuck away? 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 50: Well come the fuck on in and quit that damn yellin'! 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 95: That pisses tht fuck off outta me. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 79: I want you to just shut the fuck up. 1986 S. King It (1987) 578: I'm going to eat you right the fuck up\ 1987 S. King Misery (1988) 24: You're effing right, Annie, coming right the eff up? 1987 (con. 1970s) J. Pistone Donnie Brasco (2006) 269: I'll blow the fuck everybody up. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 88: Mick, what are you doing way the fuck out here? 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 414: Shut up the fuck! said Jimmy Sr. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 30: Hey, lighten the fuck up. She's an old lady, Danny. Old ladies never lie. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 14: Snapper instructed her to shut the holy fuck up. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 155: Chill the fuck out, okay? 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 52: Just let me the fuck in. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 40: Tell him to get his hair the fuck out of his face. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 70: A brother [...] instructed him to sit his 'narrow ass the fuck on down'. 2000 Guardian 4 Mar. 25: Wake da fuck up, Nottingham. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 532: Shut the fuck up.

3 a general intensifier implying quantity or intensity; a var. on hell, THE phr. (3). 1972 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 221: Well, I sure the fuck ain't no dopefiend. 1980 A. Maupin More Tales of the City (1984) 9: Almost anything beats the fuck out of Cleveland. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 473: He took another hunk of the mulllet and chewed fuck out of it. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 74: The Millennium Eve dilemma doesn't really exist if you love the fuck out of hip-hop. 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: - the fuck outta - do something well and

completely: We ate the fuck outta that pizza.

4 a general intensifier used to express anger, annoyance, impatience; a var. on hell, the phr. (2). 1974 R. Stone Dog Soldiers (1976) 88: 'You're not a self-respecting person.' 'The fuck I ain't.' 1983 S. King Christine 401: 'He didn't know anything,' Junkins said. ‘Tht fuck he didn't,' Mercer said. 1995 T. MacIntyre Good Eve., Mr Collins I ii: That litttle get Ryan should be sent on a long holiday or more to the point put under but fuck the bit of you would listen to a word I was saying.

5

the essence, the spirit, 'the daylights', e.g. slap the fuck out of. 1999 Observer Mag. 22 Aug. 14: And I'll make sure I slap the fuck out

of you before I'm done. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 145: I bang fuck out uv Cohn's durr. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 59: If four black lads knocked fuck out of us, there and then, they'd think that was alright.

6 abbr. of what the fuck...? phr. (1) or vars.; the question word is implied. 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 73: The fuck you doing

playing blackjack? 1981 G.V. Higgins Raton Fire (1982) 8: The fuck're you doin' there [...] You got time enough, fuck around on those roads? 1982 G.V, Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 26: The fuck you trying to do, huh? 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 80: Sonny, the fuck is going on here ya think? [...] Then Jube, in as soft a voice as Sonny'd heard from the man asking. Son? The fuck is happening to us? 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 33: De fokk you tokkin about? 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 106: 'Fuck kind of theory is that?' Clifford groused. 2005 K. Huff A Steady Rain I i: denny: The fuck is Rhonda? joey: She split. 2006 C.W. Ford Deuce's Wild US: 'Fuck you doin' back here?' he asked. ,

■ In phrases get the fuck out (v.) to leave, to go away; the use of fuck intensifies the urgency. 1945 in T. Shibutani Derelicts of Company K (1978) 288: I want to get the fuck out of here, 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 222: She flipped her cigarette at the car and told him ta get the fuck

outtahere. 1972 C, Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 68: I'm gonna get the tuck out of this hole! 1989 Pileggi & Scorsese Goodfellas [film script] 30: Will you get the fuck out of here. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 135:1 wanted to get the f-u-c-k out of the place. 2001 N. Barlay

-fuck

fuck a duck!

277

Hooky Gear 218: Sens! & me pile Krypton scrap an non-ferrous metal on top an a load other shit an get the fuck out.

kick (the) fuck out of (v.) to beat someone up severely. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 89: When the party got out of hand

and he tried to leave they kicked the fuck out of him. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 147: Got him in the shithouse, kicked fuck out of him. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 163: We'll all be in jail and we won't be able to kick fuck out of the nonces,

scare the fuck out of (v.) to terrify. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 149: Such people really scared the fuck

out of Renton. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 158:1 was scared the fuck to death about from [sic] having sex.

what the blue fuck see what the fuck...? phr.

■ In exclamations get the fuck out! 1 an intensified var. on go away! 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 855: Get the f-- out of my

way. 1975 D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 175 'Get the fuck outta here!' he screamed. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 129: You get the fuck. That means, fuck off. 1993 Dr Dre 'Bitches Ain't Shit' [lyrics] Get's the fuck out after you're done. 1996 Korn 'Good God' [lyrics] on Life Is Peachy [album] You stole my life without a sign / You sucked me dry. / Why dont you get the fuck out of my face, now? 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 90: Take Carlie Brown here and get the fuck out! 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 36: If you don't go to school and work then get the fuck out.

2 an intensified var. on get out of here! and similar phr. of (joc.) disbelief. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 20: 'You cop out?'

'Yeah, I cop out.' 'You cop a plea?' 'Yeah, man, 1 cop a plea. Now will you get the fuck outta here?' 1983 C. Knight We Shall Not Die 58: Run, Panca! Get di fuck out! Babylon! 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertown (1994) 40: She laughed, striking his chest with a pointed foot. 'Get the fuck.' 2009 Observer Mag. 4 Jan. 20: Get the fuck out of here! that's crazy.

-fuck

sfx (orig. US) a sfx implying the destruction of the appended n.; usu. of something subversive or something that overturns the familiar order of things, e.g. gender-fuck n., head-fuck n., MINDFUCK n. (2). 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 101: A Japanese delicacy which, even

though a total what Tassh would call 'palate-fuck', poisons to death about ten top gourmets every year,

fuck!

exd. 1 an excl. of anger, surprise, dismay, disbelief, resignation, esp. in combs. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 705: I was coming for about 5 minutes with my

legs round him I had to hug him after O Lord I wanted to shout out all sorts of things fuck or shit or anything at all. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 160: A man, stumbling on a defective, or slippery duck-board, uttered under his breath a monosyllabic curse. . . 'Fuck . . .' 1958 Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 46: Suck! Fuck! Shit! Piss! Cunt! Cock! Crap! 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 81: 'Oh f—k,' 1 thought. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 63: Oh fuck, Harry's farted again. 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 35: We're overdrawn / oh fuck / the kids need more socks. 1985 N. PiLEGGi Wiseguy (2001) 197: Fuck! These are no good! 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 89: Mickah Wallace is goin' to do the door for us. - Oh, good fuck! said Outspan. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 55: 'Fuck!' He balled his fists [...] searching for an object to strike. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 13: A skinny fish like you, never been down, never even been arrested heloK, fuck! — the cons in the joint will be celebrating around your asshole.

2 a verbal punctuation, with no real meaning. 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 124: No, well fuck man, 1 mean

look at it when you were in high school you know at my age the only think you heard about drugs period was if you smoked marihuana you'd go on to heroin and be addicted you know by the end of the first week.

■ In exclamations do I fuck! {also ...nick! will I fuck! will I shite!) an excl. of absolute rebuttal, i.e. the hell I will! no I certainly won't/don't!; also used with 'you', 'we', etc. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 71: 'Back her in and drop the tailboard,'

saith the Corporal. But the driver is an old sweat [...] 'Will I fuck!' 1981 M. Wilcox Accounts in Gay Plays (1984) 145/2: andy: Spends all day washing hisself. donald: Do I nick! 1988 Viz Oct./Nov. 3: Is it fuck! Tom, tell him how to spell stomach. 1993 A. Bleasdale On the Ledge 3: I wasn't goin' down there to thieve. Was I fuck. 1996 J. Murphy A Picture of Paradise in McGuinness Dazzling Dark (1996) Act II: Will it shite, will it shite happen to me! It's not going to happen to me, d'you hear me. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 39: Do we care? Do Ave fuck! 2001 N. Barlay Haciky Gear 15: Touch anyfink? [...] Did we ftuk. 2001

K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 3: Is Big Brother in some small way pleased for the runt of the litter? Is he fuck,

fuck no! [var. on

HELL NO! under HELL! exc/.| an excl. of emphatic

denial. 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 50: 'Are they all like

Zorn?' 'Fuck no, man.' 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 76: Fuck no. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 38: A didunt fancy er [...] fuck no, scraggy old boot, witchy, sour-face. [Ibid.] 69: Fire's ee only light, no fuckin leccy yer, fuck no,

fuckshit! {US) an excl. of rage. 1970 J. Bouton Ball Four (1981) 199: 'Oh shitfuck,' Joe Schultz said

[...] 'Oh fuckshit.' 1977 J. Olsen Secret of Fire Five 78: We—were—cut —off! Fuck! Shit! Fuckshit!

fuck’s sake! see for fuck's sake! excl fuck yes! {also fuck yeah!) [var. on hell yes!

under hell! exc/.j an excl.

of emphatic affirmation. 1999 J. Poller Reach 111: 'Way to go!' shouts someone. 'Fuck, yeah,' cries another. 2001 'HornypigIO' 'Just a Bastard' [Internet] Oh God, eat my pussy, eat me, eat me, eat my cunt. Fuck yes, keep sucking you little cuntlapper.

fuck-about n. {also fuckaround, fuckarow)

[fuck about v.] {US) bad treatment, messing about, time-wasting; also of a person; thus play fuckaround v., to treat someone badly or contemptuously. 1965 H.S. Thompson letter 18 Apr. in Proud Highway (1997) 509: My good time badass fuckaround is going out of style. 1979 in H.S. Thompson Great Shark Hunt (1980) 117: A gig that [...] was a kinghell, highlife fuckaround from start to finish. 1993 B, Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 154: usage: 'What a fuckaround this exercise is turning out to be!' 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 42: It was all a bit of a fuckin game back then compared with now, it was a fuck-about, cops and robbers. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 88: He spared one glance at the woman who had caused all this fuckarow.

fuck about

v. (a/so fuck around, fuck round) [fig. use of fuck v.

(1) -F SE about/around] 1 to mess about, to waste time, to fool

around (with). C.1910 'Twins' in Bold (1979) 226: And it's in with it, out with it,

don't fuck about with it. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 44: I wasn't going to fuck about for those toffy-nosed buggers. [Ibid,] 118: Bloody binding to fuck round this cunting fence all night. 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 1013: If you f—k around it'll cost you more. 1941 'Our Windy Sergeant' in M. Page Kiss Me Goodnight. Sgt.-Major (1973) 27: Early in the morning when his boys are standing-to, / He's fucking round the barracks with his four-bytwo. 1962 (con. 1953-7) L. Yablonsky Violent Gang (1967) 66: We don't fuck around - man, when you want to whip one on, just call [...] Our boys are always ready. 1962 H.S. Thompson letter 26 May in Proud Highway (1997) 337: We have just left Barranquilla after fucking around all day. 1979 E. Lovelace Dragon Can't Dance (1998) 150: He just come up here to fuck around, to show off, because he ain't have nobody else to show off his girls and his hat and his car to yet. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 282: You start fucking around with the way your babies look. 1993 Tarantino &■ Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 60: Quit fuckin' around man and give her the shot! 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 311: If thiz any fuckin about goin on in me kitchen lerruz know, will yer? 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 220: C'mon Frank [...] You fuckin' around too much now. 2 to annoy someone, to inconvenience, to waste someone's time. 1969 B. Jackson Thief’s Primer 132: I'd take his ass to the grievance committee [,..] If he fucked me around, then I've got somewhere to take him to. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 172: Don't fuck me about, jack. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 25: He's not taking no shit off anybody that wants to fuck around with him. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 122: The reason the locks got done is that they've been fucking us about over the rules around here. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 59: It would be pleasurable to fuck Niddrie about. 2000 Indep. Rev. 7 Jan. 12: Marty and Scott Rudin, the producer, were too powerful for Nic [...] to fuck around with. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 205: I suggest you stop fucking me about and let me pass.

3 to wander about aimlessly. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 49: I dont feel like fuckin around today

[...] Lets just make the flix. 4 to have sex outside one's primary relationship. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 146: — Mairead's away is she?' [...] — Yeh,

why? — So yis urr fuckin abou'?

fuck a duck

v. [fuck v. (1) -f assonance] to live a sexually promis¬

cuous life. a,1930 in G.

Legman

fuck a duck!

No Laughing Matter 177: Fuckaduck Films,

excl [cited occas. as rhy. si., but only by redup., and not a genuine version) an excl. of surprise, disbelief, dismissal or rejection.

fuck all

1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 39: Well, fuck a duck! I congratulate him just the same. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 125: Fuck a duck! I said to myself. Fuck everything! 1977 G.F. Newman Villain's Tale 28: Parker said, 'I don't think so, Jack. I mean, I wouldn't do you any favours getting involved [...] 'Fuck a duck!' Lynn said in dismay. He had been half convinced that Alan Parker would have fancied some of it. 1985 Partridge Diet. Catch Phrases (2nd edn) 104/2: Go fuck a duck! 'Get lost!' 'Beat iti' 1986 P. Slabolepszy 'Boo to the Moon' in Moot Street (1994) 91: spider: Fuck a Duck. JESSICA: Oh my God. What happened? [...] spider: Shit a brick. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 126: 'Fuck a duck,' said Sharon. 2006 J. Barcroft Afitrc/er Out of the Ballpark 106: 'Fuck a duck,' he said.

fuck all n. (also fok-all) 1 none, nothing; often ext. to sweet fuck ALL under sweet adj.^. 1918 Noyes MS. n.p.: Fuck-all....(\) nothing. 'There's not a fuck-all to do this afternoon' [HDAS|. 1924 (con. WWl) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. /.../ in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: f.a. [...] Fuck All; Fanny Adams; Nothing; vacuity. 1938 E. Hemingway letter 5 May in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 466: It's been a fuck-all of a six weeks. 1945 P. Larkin letter 9 Aug. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 104: He goes on to say that he is twenty-three and has done fuck-all, while other bastards of his acquaintance are forging ahead like buggery. 1956 K. Amis letter 9 Sept, in Leader (2000) 478: It's that filthy continental breakfast that does you. How do these fellows get on that have to do a morning's work, starting at 8, on fuck-all. 1967 N. Dunn Poor Cow 6: I just like to feel that if 1 wanted something I could go out and buy it. Terrible when you ain't got fuck all, you ain't got nothing. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 58: Dunno about who, know what. Fuck all. There hasn't been for a while. Difficult even to get a living nowadays. 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 55: They're only business cunts and that; they only want to be made to feel they're something special [...] don't cost the driver fuck all to feed em a bit. 1990 A. Dangor Z Town Trilogy 24: You know fok-all about life and beauty! 1993 (con. 1918) P. Barker Eye in the Door 198: 'Will you go?' 'Might.' He looked round him, and the bitterness spilled. 'Fuck all here.' 2004 Guardian G2 20 Feb. 6: Jesus had achieved quite a bit by the time he was 33 and I had achieved fuck all.

2 a second-rate or worthless person. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet]

fuck-all

n. a person who

is useless or pathetic, (eg 'He's Fuck all'), fuck-all adj. [fuck all n.] no, none, very little; as an intensifier. 1951 E. Hemingway letter 12 Jan. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 719: Cowley [...] has staked out my whole life of which he knows practically fuck-all nothing. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 48: There were fookall roads which didn't make much difference because they had fookall transport. 1991 S. Connaughton Run of the Country n.p.: 'Feck all use losing the head,' said Prunty [BSj. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 15: We'll never find it again so theres fuckall point mentionin it.

■ In phrases fuck (all) else (n.) absolutely nothing, e.g. there's fuck else to do around here. 1950 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 316: Friggin' in the riggin', / There was fuck-all else to do. 1964 K. Amis letter 31 Dec. in Leader (2000) 658: The Maida Vale joint (which has a letter-box but practically fuck-all else yet). 1970 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 317: Frigging in the rigging, / Wanking in the planking, / Masturbating in the grating, / 'Cause there's fuck all else to do. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 5: An' fuck all else to do all day 'cept prickin' around with synths. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 3: 'You got a moment?' 'Fuck all else.' 2004 Boland & Bodey Aussiewood (2005) 98: He didn't like it [i.e. office-work] much but 'had fuck-all else to do', he says.

fuck-all! exd. an ext. version of fuck! excl. 1918 Noyes MS. n.p.: Fuck-all....(2) Also used as an expression of disgust. 'Oh fuck-all!' [HDAS]. 1967 Reynolds & McClure Freewheelin Frank

29: fuck all!

I

got the clap.

fuck-a-rama n.’’ [fuckv. (1) -f -oramas/x] (orlg. US) a long sexual orgy. 1999 B. Franklin 'The Soft of Towels' GSPOT 4 Nov. at BrianPranklin. com [Internet] You will no longer have to make plans to fuck. You could fuck all the time! It will be a fuck-a-rama! At least that is what you hear her say in your head. 2003 goforit.com [Internet] There's more action in the locker room than on the ice in this all-male fuckarama.

fuck-a-rama n.^ [fuck-up n. (1) -f -orama sfx] an absolute disaster, utter chaos. 2004 www.punrockworld.it [Internet] Newest album 'muh' is a 20 song fuckarama of fast melodic punk rock. They don't fuck around kids.

fucked

278

fuck-a-rama! excl.

[ext. of fuck! exc/.j an excl. of frustration,

annoyance. 2002 posting at log.rien.info 12 Oct. [Internet] Fuckarama, I need to get amongst getting a job abroad and getting this shit out of my system once and for all. 2003 B. Cooke 'Signori Maccatori' on Adventures In Ornitheism [Internet] A set of homosexual settee arsed Oompa-Loompas who pranced around like tits, singing that ridiculous song, 'Sunshine on a rainy day, makes my soul, makes my soul, slip, slip, slip away-e-yayl' Fuck-A-Rama! fuck around v.^ [fuckv. (1) + SE arou/id] to have a promiscuous sex life. 1931 H. Miller Letters to Emil 76:1 fucked around with this one and that. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris 201: Does she know that you've been fucking around with her father? 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 258: 'You can't be fucking around with no woman,' Stick said severely. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 39: His current lover's penchant for fucking around elsewhere. 1988 D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 86: Do you think Ronnie fucked aroun' on you? 1994 J. Wambaugh Finnegan's Week 317: So he's out fucking around on you too, huh? 1997 E. Little Another Day in Paradise 213: I don't fuck around, Bones. I got an old lady. 2005 M. Doner Infinite Darkness Infinite Light 23:

Basically it [i.e. a memo] says, 'No fucking around with the

students,'

fuck around v.^ see fuck about v. fuck around! excl. (US) an excl. of

mild annoyance.

1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] fuck around [...] go away. Used as

an expletive to indicate mild annoyance: 'Well, fuck around!'

fuckarow n. see fuck-about n. fuckarse n. (also fuckass) [fuck

v. (1) -f arse n. (1)1 a general

term of contempt. 1968 G. Cuomo Among Thieves 219: La Sala was really a slob, old fuck-ass everybody called him. 2002 'Rapture' Diary 2 Jul. at Sweetsiren.com [Internet] 'If you're like that, you'll never have a family. Why is he such a fuckarse? v. (a/so fuckass) [fuckarse n.] to play the fool, to act

fuckarse stupidly. 2000 J.J.

Connolly

Layer Cake 9: They [...] ain't gonna be generally

fuck-arsing around. fucked adj^ [fig. uses of fuck v. (1)1

1

of people, exhausted,

unhappy, wretched. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 39: 'Well I'm fucked,' gasped my half¬ section, at this futile issue of our toil. 1932 (con. 1917-19) Dos Passos Nineteen Nineteen in USA (1966) 348: I guess I'm f—d for fair then. 1941 E. Hemingway letter 12 Dec. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 532: It is over and I am fucked on that. 1946 R. Grinstead They Dug a Hole 38: He knows he's f---d an' arl. 1951 Kerouac letter 24 June in Charters I (1995) 320: But must tell you that I am completely fucked. Giroux didn't take my book. 1967 N. Dunn Poor Cow 127: So you're fucked whichever way you turn. 1976 M. Braly False Starts 117: Elmer was fucked from birth and nothing good had ever happened to him. 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita I i: Y' know when I'm in the hairdresser's - that's where I work - I'll say somethin' like, 'Oh, I'm really fucked', y' know, dead loud. It doesn't half cause a fuss. 1991 O.D. Brooks Legs 5: The road's got him beat. He can't cope. He's got to get off it before he's fucked for life. 2004 H. Adcock 20 something the idtimate survival guide 14/1: If you haven't had loads of fights, as soon as you are in the ring you're totally fucked.

2

cheated, tricked, defeated, deceived. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 149: I'm sorry to say there's

nothing you can do about it. In this state, when the man is through, the woman is fucked. 1939 Dos Passos Adventures of a Young Man 257: American Miners was f—d to hell and back, the boys in Slade Country was f—d and now here was this christbitten hellhound party line f—g them proper. 1949 H. Miller Sexus (1969) 375: You're fucked from the moment you draw your first breath. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 5 Jan. in Proud Highway (1997) 603: The best are fucked for the worst reasons, and the worst make a pile by feeding off the best. 1973 A. Salkey 'Saturday in Kingston' Jamaica (1983) 70: These fuckin' people, / fucked as they are, / fuckin' well believe / in immortality. 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 28: Big deal. He got fucked. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 4: fucked - taken advantage of. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox.iO: He's fucked for his money now. 2001 1. Rankin Falls 88: He smiled. 'Then Anthony's fucked, pardon my French.' 3 of things, broken, out of order, ruined, spoilt. 1941 E. Hemingway in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 12 Dec.: No matter how many countries you see fucked and bitched and ruined you never get to take it easily. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 796: I never seen an orderly room get so completely 100% f-- in such a short goddam time. 1960 P. Larkin letter 8 Aug. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 318: He found the shutter had been set on Time exposure which means that the whole lot were fucked. 1979 (con.

fucked

in A. Hopkins Songs from the Front and Rear 11: Suddenly his wrench slipped and he flung it on the grass and snarled, 'Fuck! The fucking fucker's fucked.' 1981 S. King Roadwork in Bachman Books (1995) 366: The fucking machine is all fucked to shit. 1998 N. Palmer 'Vegan Reich' in Home Suspect Device 11: The seasons were fucked. The trees were dying. Cities were spreading like cancer. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 119: The purr cahr's fucked now. WWII)

4 in serious trouble. 1959 'Screwsman's Lament' in Encounter n.d. in Norman Norman's

London (1969) 68: It was when the motor gave a cough, I felt a lurching at my heart. / 'We're fucked,' says Bill, 'the bastard thing don't want to start.' 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 173: Serge had this guy fucked and burnt. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 82: Next time [...] she's fucked. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 11: Some sheepshagger bizzy pulls us over [...] searches the motor. We'd be pure fucked.

5

intoxicated by a drug or drink. 1989 P. MuNRO SI. U. 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco (1998) 59: We were way too drug-fucked to get that feeling. 1999 Guardian Rev. 19 Nov. 15: Acid house [...] brought people together, fucked out of their mind at 4am. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 232:1 got fucked with my chinas that night and woke up with a horrible hangover.

6 lacking in good sense, crazy. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 611: I've even seen a couple

of them that clean lost their head and had to actually be carried out finally they got so f--. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 222: Yeah, it was fucked. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 11: It was fucked in a way, it was really fucked. 1998 D. Clowes Ghost World 31: 1 know it's fucked! Sometimes 1 think I act so stupid because I'm going crazy from sexual frustration! 2000 Indep. Rev. 14 Jan. 14: People have been neutralised. They're fucked. 7 very bad, offensive, rotten, unfair. 1998 D. Clowes Ghost World 64: God, this place is totally fucked. 1999

Guardian Rev. 12 Nov. 3: When we look back on it now, we go, hey, remember that time you got kicked out? Man, that was lucked.

8 psychologically maladjusted. 1979 J. Rechy Rushes (1981) 184: Then fuck you — you're as fucked

as Chas in your own way, as fucked as my brother in his. 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 15: Everyone knew Hitman was fucked in the head. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovehox 137: Gotta be fucked in the head givin' her a squeeze. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 473: It was soothing, sort of, knowing that somebody else was fucked too, 9 bothered, usu. in negative, e.g. I'm not fucked, you have it. 1984 M. Amis Money 253: The Fiasco is still in custody. 1 keep

meaning to go along and spring it from the pound. But 1 can't be fucked. 1987 in F. Vermorel Sex Pistols 78: May 23. Boogie expected me at the office early but I couldn't be fucked to hurry. 2004 G, King Three 52:1 can't be fucked throwing on clothes. 2005 in J. Tate Music and Art of Radiohead 196: Oi. here's a bloke that can't be fucked to blag with the same dodgy twats that made your life go 'P'.

■ In compounds fucked duck (n.) [US) one who is about to die or doomed to die. 1939 A. Bessie Men in Battle 133: If France don't come in now, we're

fucked ducks, 1968 in J.P. Spradley You Owe Yourself a Drunk (1988) 30: I had twenty-three bucks when booked. Now they tell me I've only got $3.30. 1 guess I'm a fucked duck—I've got twenty days hanging [HDAS].

■ In phrases fucked by the fickle finger of fate (ong. US) a phr. describing a victim of adverse circumstances, bad luck. 1947 D.W. Hamilton'Pacific War Lang.'in A5 XXII: 1 Feb. 5b-. Plucked

hy the jlickle/linger of jlate. Doomed by Army snafu. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words. 1977 Maledicta 1 (Summer) 15: Somewhat as in the modern phrase about being bitched, buggered and bewildered—and far from home: one has been Diddled by the Dirty Digit of Destiny, or Fucked by the Fickle Finger of Fate. This format can be applied to a whole alphabet of abuse from A to Z, as in calling something or someone a Pimple on the Petrified Prong of Progress or a Blister on the Bleeding Bloody Bollocks of Biology. 1998 S. Krysko 'The Finger of fate' at www.tankbooks.com [Internet] Call it coincidence, but I say that Dickerson was fucked by the fickle finger of Fate. 2006 posting at yhoo.bloggingstocks.com 5 July [Internet] Your comments are stupid and shallow!!! Ken [Lay] was fucked by the fickle finger of fate.

fucked off

fucked up

279

[adj.) annoyed, furious.

1941 'Tobruk Song' in M. Page Kiss Me Goodnight, Sgt.-Major (1973)

80: I'm fucked off, fucked off, / Fucked off as can be. 1972 Dahlskog Diet. Contemp. and Colloq. Usage. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 81: Drummond's irritated look is chilling me out. She's as fucked off as I am. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 55: I'm actually

pretty locked off [...] with Erika. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 202: Shall i say that some fucked off brothers might be looking for me. fucked out (adj.) 1 exhausted by an excess of sex. 1862 in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994) ) 37: I

together with several other officers went over to Petersburg, got drunk and f--ked out. We staid two days and nights, and you ought to have seen me going to bed with a gal. 1873-6 Romance of Lust 443: Poor Mr. Nixon was evidently fucked out. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 75: We were famished and fucked out. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 250: The dry, fucked-out crater is obscene. 1974 G.V. Higgins Cogan's Trade (1975) 162: I couldn't do it [...) I'd get all fucked out [...] I couldn't fuck for three days. 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 25: They know anybody they get after that's gonna be pretty fucked-out meat. 2 (orig. US) exhausted. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 177: One thing Sneed didn't need was old, fucked-out detectives making those observations; they irritated him and he saw them as a put-down. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 144: It's Monday, they're all fucked-out from the weekend. 1989 P. Slabolepszy 'Smallholding' in Mooi Street (1994) 177: It's a vrot-stinking smallholding that's fucked-out finish! fucked over (ad/.) 1 suffering (not always painfully) from the use of drugs or alcohol to excess. 1972 Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective 202: Fucked up. High on heroin

(sometimes other drugs) [.,.] messed up, has problems: also fucked over, fucked around, and just plain fucked. 2 unpleasant, rotten, sick, dazed. 1983 S. King Christine 309: You look like a sleepwalker. You look absolutely fucked over. fucked to a fair-thee-well (US) ruined beyond repair. 1996 J, May Magnificat 420: 'If we lose — ' 'We're fucked to a farethee-well,' said Hiroshi Kodama. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] fucked to a fair-thee-well n. derog screwed up beyond recognition. fucked up (adj.) see separate entry.

fucked with no Vaseline

[the use of Vaseline to facilitate sexual (usu.

anal) intercourse] suffering extreme physical or emotional pain. 1991 Ice Cube 'No Vaseline' [lyrics] on Death Certificate [album] It ain't my fault, one nigga got smart, / And they rippin' your asshole apart. / By takin' your green, oh yeah, / The villain does get fucked with no vaseline. get fucked (v.) see separate entries.

■ In exclamations I’ll be fucked! (also I’ll be frigged!) a general excl. of surprise, frustration, anger etc. 1945 in T. Shibutani Derelicts of Company K (1978) 198: Yeah? No shit!

Is that what happened? I'll be fucked. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 1310: I'll be frigged if I know. 1981 G.V. Higgins Rat on Fire (1982) 102: I'll be fucked if I know what's the matter with her. 1987 (con. 1967) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 57: 'Well I shall be fucked,' he said softly. 2004 T. Winton 'Boner McPharlin's Moll' in Turning (2005) 272: [They] said I'm irresponsible, unreliable. [...] But I'm solid, he said. Solid as a brickshithouse. Unreliable be fucked.

fucked adj.^ (also fugged) as past participle, used as an intensified version of damn v. (2); often as fucked if... 1948 N. Mailer Naked and Dead 157: Ah'm fugged if Ah'll wait for any ole deer. 1960 C. MacInnes Mr Love and Justice 33: Well, I'll be f---d! 1987 (con. c.1967) J. Ferrandino Firefight 34: 'Where the fuck are we?' he said. 'Fucked if I know,' Malone answered. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 5: Some of the kids were sitting there [...] fucked if this place was going to break them down. 1999 Guardian Guide 26 June-2 July 12: I'm fucked if I know. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 45: So anyway, am fucked if am stayin sober tuhnight. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 17: Ah'm fucked if I know whit tae dae.

fucked up adj. (also fugged up) [fig. use of fuck v. -i- SE up] 1 of objects, intentions or plans, broken, wrecked, ruined. 1863 in D.M. Sullivan USMC in the Civil War (2000) III 267: 'What the bloody Hell is wanted now? This is a fucked up company anyhow, and always has been since the guard came on shore. To Hell with such a company and all connected with such a damned concern!' 1939 A. Bessie Men in Battle 133: The detail's all fucked-up. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 254: The Army's got the mail fugged up. 1958 Kerouac letter 12 June in Charters II (1999) 128: Just got galleys from Viking for me to restore to original, so they're not going to try to sneak something over in [sic] me, i.e., a fuckedup manuscript. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 30: Theres dozens of you [...[ pictures in a fuckedup album. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 88: Everything else in the fucked-up world. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 135: This fucked-up base called Khe Sanh is ours, not Charlie's. 1999 Guardian Weekend 10 July 34: He asked first for his wife to bring a pillow so the carpet wouldn't be 'fucked

up' by the blood. 2000 W.

Westsiders 126: LA's kind of [...]

Shaw

really fucked up. 2 [also f’d up) of people, distressed, unhappy, mentally unstable, 1948 E. Hemingway letter 28 July in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 648: I

was all fucked up when I wrote it. 1960 Kerouac letter 8 July in Charters 11 (1999) 261: 1 refuse to be fucked up and never did like being fucked up by what Others want. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 91: She was a fucked-up nigger-struck chick when 1 took her on. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 305: Mothers with weird, fucked-up kids. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 279: Gay, strung out, unemployed or plain fucked up in the head from trying to cope. 2001 Eble Campus SI. Fall 4: F'D UP - euphemistic abbreviation of fucked up; wrong, incoherent, 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 63: He was simply fucked-up, and not in a particularly interesting way.

3 suffering (not always painfully) from the use of drugs or alcohol to excess; completely intoxicated. 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels Fucked up.

(1967) 193: We'll smoke upsome

1972 Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective 201:

weed, get all fucked up.

High on heroin

(sometimes other drugs): 'He was so

1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 65: They started drinking some alcohol and got fucked up [...] They got fucked up so bad she passed out. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 323: I —am—so—fucked—up. 1993 Snoop Doggy

fucked up he couldn't even drive a car'.

Dogg 'Gin and Juice' fucked up now.

[lyrics] Tanqueray and chronic, yeah, I'm

1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 29: How are we

supposed to get fucked up now you've cleaned out the stash?

2001

Online SI. Diet.

[Internet]

fucked

up

adj

[...]

2.

1997-

extremely

intoxicated on alcohol or other drugs. ('He got so fucked up last night that he couldn't see.'). Partying in the house.

2001 Source Aug. 56: Getting fucked up!

2004 Eble Campus SI. Apr.

4 (or/g. US milit.) of people, badly hurt, wounded or killed. 1961 L. McMurtry Horseman, Pass By (1997) 159: He was all fucked

up [...] He was throwin' up blood. 1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 286: One guy was pretty badly fucked-up [...] He had specially-made crutches. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio nth Valley (1983) 22: Some innocent dudes always get fucked up and blown away. 1995 Mack 10 'Based on a True Story' [lyrics] Do what he say, and you keep your mouth shut / Talkin' that drag might get ya fucked up.

5 worthless, contemptible, miserable. 1978 T. O'Brien Going After Cacciato (1980) 252: Berlin [...] That's a pretty fucked-up name, isn't it ? [...] You an American, soldier? 1983 R. Price Breaks 193: That was fucked-up of me - I'm sorry. 1990 (con. 1930s-60s) H. Huncke Guilty of Everything (1998) 269: Well, of all the fucked-up situations. 1995 C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 23: Whatever fucked-up plan you had for ripping me off is now officially terminated. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 288: You think I'm gonna let some fuckin tarphead tell some fucked-up story to some fucked-

up pig in some fucked-up lingo?

6 (US) confused, in a muddle. 1954 Kerouac letter 2 Jan. in Charters I (1995) 425: By the time I get back to SP at either SJ or El Paso I'll be completely fucked up. 1988 T. Harris Silence of the Lambs (1991) 322: Make sure and put one of your handsets in each van for the driver, so we don't get fucked up

talking to those DEA guys.

7 (also fuck-up) of places, unpleasant. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 155: You gonna tell me that a people in a fucked-up position [...] wouldn't be better off havin' to build a society of their own. 1977 E. Bunker Animal Factory 128: That's the world's most fucked-up jail. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 87: As fucked-up and filthy as Cab Shop as, I still considered it my home. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 76: Him juggle rocks fe me, over in dat fuck-up estate down the road from Greenside. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 17: England's green and fucked-up land.

8 in trouble. 1970 G. Scott-Heron Vulture (1996) 11: 'All you needa do iz lean wrong one time an' nex' thing you know, you all fucked up.'

9 unappealling, unpleasant. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 227:1 told him this was a pretty fucked-up

time of the morning. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 11: Say something fucked up and quotable, something evil. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 188: Dumas had killed Nellis for the express purpose of giving me the most fucked-up task in the world to perform. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 160: That's some fucked-up shit. Scud!

10

fucker

280

fuckee

exhausted, worn out.

1979 D. Gram Boulevard Nights 93: I'm tired man. Fuckin' fucked up

[HDAS].

11 weird, strange, unusual. 1997-2001

Online SI. Diet. [Internet] fucked up adj 1. weird or

unusual. ('That movie was fucked up').

fuckee n. [fuck v.j 1 the 'passive' or recipient person during copulation. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VI 1283: She was a most

voluptuous fuckee. No amorous pranks or baudy tricks were too much for her.

2 one who is treated badly; one who suffers harm or punishment. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 43: It they're gonna give me my

druthers. I'd druther be a fucker than a fuckee. 1980 (con. 1966) W. Sherman Times Square 23: The mob took a cut from each machine. [...] 'Ya wanna stay in business, you pay. You're either the fuckee, the fucker, or you're not in any kind of business.

fuckee-fuckee/-suckee n. see fucky-fucky n. fucker n. (also fugger) [fuck v. (1)1 1 one who has sexual intercourse;

cit.

1607

deliberately

plays

on

a

Dutch

mispronunciation. 1598 Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Fottitore, a iaper, a sarder, a swiver, a fucker, an occupier. 1607 Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe II i: Min vader bin de grotest fooker in all Ausbrough. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 196: [of a prostitute] I had till then never known what a high-class, well-practised professional fucker could do. 1909 Joyce letter 9 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) 186: My little naked fucker, my naughty wriggling little frigger, my sweet dirty little farter, c.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 101: Being great fuckers [...] they filled all the unpaved river streets with black babies. 1941 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 29: There was a young girl of Cah'lina, / Had a very capricious vagina: / To the shock of the fucker / Twould suddenly pucker, / And whistle the chorus of 'Dinah . 1950 in Randolph fr Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 139: These fragments of a song he heard about 1890 [...] 'I says to her. I'm a fucker by trade, / Just back from the Chicksaw Nation. / I pushed her up against the wall, / My right leg 1 throwed over . 1965 H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 84: I don't dig faggot fuckers. 1976 J. Hftt.fr Good As Gold (1979) 420: All you have to be Is a fucker. 1987 'Victoria Parker' Pay for Play Cheerleaders [Internet] She snapped off a picture [...] finishing the roll of film with several wide-angle shots of the loving fuckers. 1988 A. Hollinghurst Swimming-Pool Library (1998) 173: Yeah! Fuckin' nigger-fucker. 1991 B. Stewart Broken Arse II ii: It's about Henry Bligh, I think—and it says he's been a boy-fucker. 1998 'Bill E. Goodhead' Nubile Treat [Internet] The happy young fuckers sat beneath the trees, bare-assed, and passed the last beer can around. 2000 Desdemona at www.asstr.org [Internet] Baxter wasn't a fucker - he was a talker.

2 a pimp. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 433/1: C. 19-20.

3 (also facker, fecker, fugher) a general term of abuse, e.g. You stupid fucker! C.1820? Bugger's Alphabet in Bold (1979) 42: F the poor fucker who has no balls at all. c.1864 parody in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 122: These dam shyster f—kers, war widows and sly lovers, / Is agoing to run my business in the ground. 1865 in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell (1994) 35: My tent fellow is a Copperhead [...] If you are one of them niger fuggers, let me know, but I hope you are a loyal Democrat. 1916 Wipers Times 20 Mar. (2006) 44/2: Fokker. The name given by all infantry officers and men to any aeroplane that flies at a great height. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 44: 'Old soldier, old cunt,' quoted Parrott [...] 'Ah,' flung back Tug malevolently, 'young soldier, fly fucker. That's me.' 1933 R. Chandler 'Black¬ mailers Don't Shoot' Red Wind (1946) 116: I could have killed the — four times! 1946 K. Amis letter 19 June in Leader (2000) 73: The man I may have told you ab8 - the religious fucker - keeps coming round. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 155: At least [...] if we got to stay here a couple of days, the fuggers won't be stinkin' up the joint. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 169: I'd 'ave saluted the fugher. 1959 P. Larkin letter 2 Feb. in Thwaite Sel. Letters (1992) 299: A stupid fucker here showed me a 500 worder he'd done for some new 6th-form mag. 1962 H.S. Thompson letter 16 Feb. in Proud Highway (1997) 321: Joyce was a poor sick fucker who probably died with his balls somewhere up around his navel. 1977 (con. 1940s) O. Manning Danger Tree 87: If you ask me, sir, the old fucker's lost his notes. 1979 J. Morrow Confessions ofProinsias O'Toole 78: You'll laugh on the other sWe of yer bake some of these days, Francie Fallis [...] you an' that fat fugger O'Lig. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 40: That filthy little fat fucker that never bought a goddamned beer for anybody in his whole life, calling me a son of a bitch. 1995 A. Higgins Donkey's Years 68: Frig the fecker! 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 13: 'Packers!' he grunted, straightening his bollocks in the skin tight leathers. 2006 Age (Melbourne) 6 Jan. [Internet] Dodger was one hooked-nose, hollow-gutted, flappyeared, ugly f---er. 2006 C.W. Ford Deuce's Wild 142: These same

fuckers hate Jews and are trying to eliminate us from the face of the earth.

fuckermother 4 (Aus.) an English private soldier

fuckheaded

281

1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 24: fooker (n.) — An English private. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss, of SI. /.../ in the A.l.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: poorer. An English Private. 5 a vagina.

where a representative comes equipped with Benoit balls, edible underwear, all manner of lubricious devices for sale [Sheidlower]. 2002 G.A. Thomson at ADS-L 31 Oct. [Internet] My wife teaches in the English Dept, of a high school near Coney Island. Last week a young female teacher informed her colleagues, including my wife, that she had attended a 'Fuckerware' party over the weekend.

1927-41 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 3: There was a young fellow

fUCkery n.^ [fuck v. (1) -E sfx -e/y; 'a place where an indicated article or

[either tongue-in-cheek or the result of

deliberate misinformation],

named Charteris / Put his hand where his young lady's garter is. / Said she, 'I don't mind, / And up higher you'll find / The place where my fucker and farter is.' 6 a man, a fellow, with no particular abuse intended and even some degree of affection. 1927 'Rangy Lil' in Bold (1979) 191: Till over the hill from Dragarse

Creek / Came a short-shit fucker called One-ball Pete. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 208: They let a bloody twat like 'im off; but if any o' us poor fuckers did it, we'd be for th' electric chair, we would. 1941 'A Note On Drumming And Bugling' in M. Page Kiss Me Goodnight, Sgt.-Major (1973) 57: He'll never go sick no more. / The poor fucker is dead. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 58: It struck me so hard how absolutely lonely the poor f—cker was. 1965 H.S. Thompson letter 9 June in Proud Highway (1997) 523: If the fuckers could say what they really mean [...] they might be able to shake some people. 1976 A. Salkey Come Home, Malcolm Heartland 153: You're a tough fucker, man! 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 13: My brother Terry was a brave little fucker and would fight well. 1993 A. Bleasdale On the Ledge 35: We'll buy trilbys - any fucker can look good in a trilby. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 22: It's not just for curry addicts and mad old fuckers like our ed. 2009 J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 67: Therapists ain't gonna tell it like it is, lets face it, the fuckers would be well out of a job if they did.

7 (also fecker, fogger) an unspecified object, irrespective of its qualities; an animal. 1945 J. Maclaren-Ross Swag, the Spy and the Soldier in Lehmann Penguin New Writing No. 26 43: The fogging jemmy. Couldn't think where I'd left the fogger at first. 1945 in T. Shibutani Derelicts of Company K (1978) 155: 'How in hell do they expect us to fight with these goddam things [i.e. backpacks] on?' [.,,] 'I don't think I could walk a mile with this fucker on.' 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 7: Let's stop shuffling the fuggers and start playing. 1951 'W. Williams' Enemy 149: Oh, those loggers. Those mother-loving loggers [OED]. 1958 T. Berger Crazy in Berlin 186: You can put the fucker aside for fifteen minutes and write me a letter to the wife. 1977 H. Crews Feast of Snakes 74: 'White slippers.' 'Little pointy fuckers,' said Willard. 1984 W. Murray Tip on a Dead Crab 174; [of a horse] That fucker's going to win the race. 1987 (con. 1967) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 119: Then Fritsche sorted the cans [,..] You got ham and eggs. Throw those fuckers away. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 408: They'd had their turkey as well, same as always; a grand big fucker. 1999 (con. 1919) R. Doyle A Star Called Henry (2000) 222; There's a fecker in there I don't know. - It's a storm-cock; there he goes. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 199: That's a castle. Now unless this town has two of the fuckers [...] we've just gone in a great big circle. 8 a difficult or irritating thing or task. 1975 D. Goines Inner City Hoodlum 100: I just hope...that this fucker breaks one way or the other. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 118: It's a fucker realizing you've been doped and having to crawl into some lousy skipper in the middle of the day to sleep them off. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 109: Then it's a bleeding great fucker too, nearly bust an arm walking home. 9 an extreme example, whether positive or negative. 1974 (con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 102: Please excuse my son,

Ace, from missing school yesterday. He had one fucker of a headache. 1997 L. Davies Candy 156: I've had a fucker of an afternoon. 10 one who harms others. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 43: If they're gonna give me my druthers. I'd druther be a fucker than a fuckee. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 698: Yeah, I know fuckers like him. 1992 E. St Aubyn 'Bads News' in Some Hope (1994) 283: The needle fever had a psychological life of its own. What better way to be at once the fucker and the fucked, the subject and the object. 2001 N, Barlay Hooky Gear 156: Warren Abrahams is a know-it-all, do-it-all behind-the-scenes fucker of anyone he come across.

fuckermother n. var. on motherfucker n. (1). 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 40: Mad on crack and with myelf for

being sucked in and suckered by a fuckermother.

Fuckerware party n. [a play on a Tupperware party] (US) a party organized for the sale of erotic toys and clothing. 1983 G. Davis Romance 63: The nicest women on the Peninsula get together for what they themselves have labelled Fuckerware parties.

service may be purchased or procured' (0£D)] a brothel. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1937-84 Partridge

DSUE (1984).

fuckery

[fuck up v. (1)1 1 unfairness, ill treatment; treachery.

1978 S. King Stand (1990) 691: That was an act of pure human

fuckery. 2000 K, Kimura 'Beyond Genetic Mind' [Internet] Expect to encounter fuckery, attacks, manipulation and suckery of every kind from every corner, every phone call, every encounter, every thought, every contact. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher Aiy. It wasn't telepathy that triggered it. That was pure human fuckery. 2004 Skinnyman 'Who? Me' [lyrics] Nothing's left here but a whole heap of fuckery. 2 (UK black) (also fuckry) nonsense. 1997 'Q' Deadmeat 277: '.,.Where is the car?' '...On the Harrow Road near Ken Fuckries.' '...So it's by the Kentucky?' 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 175: Rubbish! How can you say that? No, man, that's fuckries. 2008 Amy Winehouse 'Me and Mr Jones' ]lyrics] What kind of fuckery are we? Nowadays you don't mean dick to me. 3 the personification of senses 1-1-2 above, i.e. a stupid mean person. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 200: Denise do dis an'

Denise don't do dat. You two are fuckeries, man!

fuckery adj. (fuckery n.^l (W.I., Rasta) stupid, nonsensical. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 191: Walking in our area in their stoosh suits, doing some fuckery social study. 2004 Skinnyman 'Hayden' [lyrics] Inmates and screws, with fuckery attitudes. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 2: Bricky does have decent streets but with all that fuckery stereotyping and media shit, you [...] wouldn't know that.

fuckface n. (also fuck-features) (fuck n. (1) -f -face sfx/-FEATURES sfx] (orig. US) a fool, an idiot, a generally contemptible person. 1962 (con. WWII) J. Jones Thin Red Line (1963) 38: All right, fuckface! 1976 M. Braly False Starts 193: Hey, Fuck Face, put out your cigar. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 224: Shut up, fuckface. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 159: Listen, fuck-face, the only thing makin' me horny is the amount of cashola I'm gonna be paid for the centrefold. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 6: Tara Emersom Lake Dogshit-Fuck-Features coughed as the Mysterious Rock God blobbed-off on her tonsils. 2005 Guardian 19 Apr. 10: We'll he waiting for you, fatty fuckface,

fuckfaced adj. 1 (also fugh-faced) having an ugly, miserable face. 1965 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Confessions 30: Sets of fugh-faced bastards intent on nothing less than grievous bodily harm. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 169: You are a bloody [...] fuck-faced, knuckle-headed, [...] fart-faced flip of a fucking galah! 2 drunk. 2006 'Soulgirl' at www.soul-source.co.uk 14 June [Internet] He looked absolutely fuckfaced so not sure how he managed to stand up there for an hour. 3 bleary-eyed, half-awake. 1976 R. Price Blood Brothers 59: At seven the sound of cartoons [...] had Stony sitting up in bed dazed blind and fuckfaced.

fuck-fuck n. see fucky-fucky n. fuckhead n. (fuck n. (1) -f -head sfx (1)| a fool, a complete idiot; the use of fuck merely intensifies the disdain by its own taboo status; esp. as a term of address. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 97: A shitkickuh, a dumb fuckhead. 1977 (con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 91: Serve that fuckhead right. 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 41: Yo! Fuckhead! 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 113: It is obviously distressing to those two fuckheads to have to eat next to someone dressed the way I am. 1993 A. Rodriguez Spidertovzn (1994) 73: The cop beside him smacked him on the arm. 'You fuckhead. Moron.' 1999 Guardian Editor 11 June 11: Jackie Collin's favourite word is 'fuckhead'. 2005 J. Pluss Jumping Fences 52; You look at me like that again and I'll move your scrotum to where your face is, fuckhead. 2006 'Python Bonkers' a Million Little Pieces of Feces 80: [...] ungodly, unholy, unprincipled, unrighteous, wicked, pagan . . . fuckhead!

fuckheaded adj. (also fuckhead) (fuckhead

n.] stupid, moronic,

incompetent, contemptible. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 166: The first annual pre-Super Bowl drunk-stoned two-below game, bringing together the gentlemanly.

fucking

fuckinell! suave New York Giants and the fuck-head New York Jets. 1981 R. Linney

El Hermano 20;

buddy:

Look, what kind of a fuck-headed

situation— frazier: Come on. Buddy! 1998 Bug (Aus.) 28 Jan. [Internet] Working white collar, your fuckhead superiors expect you to give a stuff about the business and its aims. 2001 J.P. Hawkins Army of Hope 85: So the platoon leader and platoon sergeant got together and said he was lazy, good for nothing, fuck-headed. 2005 J. Koopman McCoy's Marines 39: I hated deadlines, I hated talking to city officials, I hated fuckhead editors who butchered my copy,

fuckinell! exd. see fucking hell! excl. fucking n. (also focking) |fuck v. (1)1 1 the act of copulation. 1568 W. Scott Bannatyne MSS n.p.: To the Derisioun of Wantoun Wemen. Thir foure, the suth to sane, Enforsis thane to fucking Quod Scott [F&H]. 1656 Mennis & Smith et al. 'An Epitaph on a Whore' Wit and Drollery 20: Courteous she was [...] And in her calling so precise; That industry had made her prove. The fucking School-mistresse of Love. 1664 W. Killigrew Pandora Act I: cle.: Which [two ladies] will you assault? lin.: Neither, they are both virtuous? cle.: Who knows that? have they done fucking? LIN.: Dost thou think there be none virtuous, beyond their infancy! 1673 Rochester 'A Satyr on Charles II' in Works (1999) 85: Peace was his Aime, his gentleness is such / And Love, he lov'd. For he lov'd Fucking much. 1689 'Satire on Benting' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 221: The trophies of thy countless fuckings lay / Sincerely at the shrine of Modena. 1709 N. Chorier (trans.) of Meursius 'The Delights of Venus' in Cabinet of Love (1739) 195: If you will try once more, I will comply, / Tho' I to fucking do a Martyr die. 1738 Man-Midwife Unmasqu'd 1: She wanted some Money, 'tis true, and some — / She fail'd of the first, but the latter had Luck in. 1763 J. Wilkes Essay on Woman 20: [footnote] Now what has this to do with Fucking? 1797 M. Leeson Memoirs (1995) III 219: Why Captain when those inquisitive girls ask you again, tell them the honest truth, that you were F--g. c.1800 'The Rakes of Stony Batter' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 224: Is your apples ripe, are they fit for plucking, / Is your maid within, ready for the F—g. 1865 'The Dog' in Rambler's Flash Songster 25: But dogs they act by instinct, like children who are sucking, / And are prompted by their feelings too, like grown up folks a f—g. 1870 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 6: Take your hand off my quim; / I much prefer fucking to feeling. 1881 Sins of the Cities of the Plain 25: At each visit we had a delicious turn at bottom-fucking. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 137: Fouterie, / The sexual embrace: 'fucking'. 1904 Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 27: He stopped and looking down in her face asked her if fucking was as good as she thought it would be. 1919 Transcript Foster Inquiry in L.R. Murphy Perverts by Official Order (1989) 57: It was Gorham himself who had said that another sailor was 'pretty tight but was good fucking'. 1925 E. Hemingway letter c. 15 Sept, in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 169: Would like to be in Venice and get a little romantic fucking. 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 87: It is a fine book about the fucking, Endree. 1947-53 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man (1995) 275: Maybe he's too busy a-blowin' his wad on one o' them high nosey dames, kind that ya've gotta cram 'er hole with a thousand-dollar bill, an' light up a big ha'f dollar seegar in 'er ass t' git 'er juicy, t' git 'em warmed up fer lockin'. 1950 in V. Randolph Pissing in the Snow (1988) 113: He just give the girl a pretty good fucking. 1962 H.S. Thompson letter 17 April in Proud Highway (1997) 331: If you know anybody who might buy a book full of flogging and fighting and fucking, by all means let me know. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 43; When I look around me, all I see is fucking. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 242; If you watch a couple eating breakfast you can tell what kind of a fucking they did the night before. 1987 in Delacoste 8- Alexander Sex Work (1988) 43; He only wanted sex, which meant fucking. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 71: Fucking and so on is legal to do but illegal to show in any way, whereas murder is the exact opposite. 1999 L. Siegel Love in a Dead Lang. 13: Oh, Her use of the precious present participle, 'fucking,' from the Indo-European peik, cognate with the Latin pungere, related to the Germanic ficken, purloined from the Middle

fucking adj. (also facking, farking, focking, fucken, funking) 1 a general intensifier, e.g. fucking idiot. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1918 H.V. O'Brien

diary 26 Sept, in Wine, Women and War (1926) 205: Hi, Tommy, 'ere's one o' yer fuckin' English hofficers wants t' be saluted. Kindly oblige! 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 36: Fucking bar's shut. 1931 E. Blair 'Hop-Picking Diary' 2-19 Sept, in Complete WcrfaX (1998) 223: They were the kind of people who are generally drunk on Saturday nights and who tack a 'fucking' on to every noun. 1934 B. Traven Death Ship 354: Why, for all the funking sons, didn't you tell me this before, Pippip? 1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 73: That woman of mine, she's got no fucking gratitude. 1943 K. Amis letter 26 Oct. in Leader (2000) 7: 1 have got a fucking cough, a slight headache and intermittent toothache. 1968 (con. 1940s) G. Dutton Andy 18: Listen, sport. You only got forty-two days in this fucken boob. Me, I'm in here for eighteen months. [Ibid.] 118: 'K'n Judas. Fucken Judas.' Andy could just hear Scotty's words behind the M.P.'s back. 1968 A. Buzo Norm and Ahmed (1973) 26: Fuckin' boong. 1973 A. Salkey 'Saturday in Kingston' Jamaica (1983) 70: These fuckin' people, / fucked as they are, / fuckin' well believe / in immortality. 1984 A. Sayle Train to Hell 11: Even if he hadn't paid good hard-earned fucking money for it. 1988 (con. WWII) J. Robinson Jack and Jamie Go to War 57: The fackin wogs used to give me a shave before they brought the gunsmoke in. 1992 D. Jarman diary 8 July Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 166: I'm one of your fucking poofs and if you don't get off the fucking bus now I'll kick your fucking head in. 1994 J. O'Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 58; 'Farking maad,' he grinned. 'Maad fat funking bawstidd, innee?' [Ibid.] 94: You wonna see wot vem farking Arabs 'ave in their cases, mate. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 26: The fucken uniforms are bad enough! 2004 T. Winton 'Defender' in Turning (2005) 312: The boy called him five kinds of fucking cunt. 2006 R. Antoni Carnival 13: Out of my league. Out of my focking mind.

2 pertaining to sexual intercourse. 1871 'The Queen and Louise' in Bold (1979) 190: Said the Queen,

'Now, my dear, your marriage draws near [...] Sol feel that I should — as I promised I would — / Deliver some fucking advice.' 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 218: I could well credit her with a pantheon of her own private fucking gods. 3 implying a variety of negatives, e.g. vile, despicable, unpleasant, corrupt, dirty. 1965 H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 65: This whole goddamn life is just so much bullshit if you're a shoe in this lousy, fuckin' country. 1966 P. WiLLMOTT Adolescent Boys of East London 87: Fucking Napoleon and all that crap. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 225: 'Fucking maggot,' Ivan cursed. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 2: fuckin' — unsuccessful, not living up to expectations. 2000 Guardian Weekend

29 Jan. 17: Fuckin' French!

4 as infix -fucking- e.g. absofuckinclutely adv.; adj.; cuaranfuckinctee v.

fanfuckinctastic

1921 N&Q 12 Ser. IX 415: The soldier's actual speech [...] was

absolutely impregnated with one word which (to use it as a basis for alliteration) the fastidious frown at as 'filthy.' [...] Words were split up to admit it; 'absolutely' became 'abso-lutely,' and Armentieres became 'Armen.teers.' 'Bloody,' so popular and helpful a word in civil life, quite lapsed as being too polite and inexpressive. 1922 'J.H. Ross' Mint (1955) 121: The Sergeant stared: then whispered to himself, 'Jesus fucking Christ.' 1943 'In The Moonlight' in M. Page Kiss Me Goodnight, Sgt.-Major (1973) 122: By Christ all fucking mighty. 1957 Kerouac letter 1 Oct. in Charters II (1999) 66: Thousands of screaming interviewers [...] big articles in Saturday Review, in World Telly, everyfucking where, everybody mad, 1966 (con. 1958) R. Farina Been Down So Long (1972) 62: Somebody better be careful, he gets himself infuckingvolved. 1968 (con. 1940s) G. Dutton Andy 147: A spanner slipped and a voice

■ In compounds fucking stick (n.) see fuckstick under fuck n.

cursed. 'Well fucken stay fucken done up if you're so indefuckenpendent.' 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 13: For Christ's fucking sake you've simply got to meet my Miss Pilgrim! 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 78: Test-firing's all they ever had. Brand-fucking-new guns. 1973 G.V, Higgins Digger’s Game (1981) 90: From you the Greek wants that. Infuckincredible. 1981 T. Wilkinson Down and Ou't 81:1 fucking hate pheno-fuckingbarbitone. 1984 G. Tate 'Stagolee Versus the Proper Negro' in Flyhoy in the Buttermilk (1992) 51: Prince leaves you blinking trying to figure out how he got so much style, music, and sexuality together in Minnefunkin'sota. 1990 H. Kureishi Buddha of Suburbia 13: 'Jesus fucking Christ!' I whispered, 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 76: Afucking-men. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 333: Why don't you fuck off and leave me a-fucking-lone. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan./Feb. 96: So fucking what? 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 4: I

■ In phrases fucking is a town in China

wanna be un-fuckin-touchable. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 200: 'Abomifuckingnation,' I said.

Dutch fokken.

2 (also fuggin) harsh and/or unfair treatment. 1948 N. Mailer Naked and Dead 577: Even if we do get back we'll get

a fuggin. 1967 H.S. Thompson letter 21 Mar. in Proud Highway (1997) 605: The indefensible fucking I got on the Hell's Angels contract. 1977 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 220: We ain't laying down for no fuckin'. 1978 S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 229: I know the fucking the average working joe gets from his fat cat union international. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 49: Fritsch fucks him of LVPD. Wayne senior says don't fuck my boy. The fucking ascends triumphant.

see innocent

adj.

fucking ■ In phrases double-fucking

fuck it!

283

(ad/.) [note one-time use in 1910s, used by Robert

Craves in Goodbye to All That (1929) in recounting a soldier's comments during WWll an intensified form of fucking

adj.

(1).

1929 (con.

1917) R. Graves Goodbye to All That (1995) 79: The Bandmaster, who was squeamish, reported it as: 'Sir, he called me a double-effing c—.' 1991 M. Tolkin Rapture [film script] If I was a chick... no double-fucking way would I give me a lift. fucking-A see separate entries.

■ In exclamations fucking Ada! {also bloody Ada! )

1970 D. PONICSAN Last Detail 171: 'You don't have to park your ugly fat ass on the stool next to mine.' 'Fucking-ay-John Ditty-Bag-welltold 1 don't.' 1986 S. King It (1987) 807: They'll come and take you away and put you into the fucking-A loonybin. 3 right, correct. 1961 (con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 179: 'You fucking A,'

Poke agreed solemnly. 1974 R. Stone Dog Soldiers (1976) 238: You're fuckin' A. They love it. 1984 W. Diehl Hooligans (2003) 42: Yeah, fuckin'-A it's personal. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 8: You're fuckin-A.

a euph. for the stronger alternative fucking arseholesl; as with fucking hell!,

fucking-A adv. {also bricking-A, mucking-aye) completely, totally, absolutely, very well, very much, extremely; e.g. You're fucking-A right... or fucking-A well.

a general excl.

1955 E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 175: He say, 'You go to school,

1970 John Lennon at Beatles Ultimate Experience [Internet] And I

Pete?' an' I say you fuckin' a right. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 195: You're brickin'-A right I don't. 1960 (con. WWII) G. Sire Deathmakers 291: You mucking-aye have spoken. Captain [...] I'll drink to that. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 72: 'You fuckin' A-right!' Jimmy snapped. 1977 H. Crews Feast of Snakes 88: He fucking-A-well had the words right. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 485: You could fuckin'-A say that again. 1982 G.V. Higgins Patriot Game (1985) 198: Fuckin'A right, you are. 2005 T. Mulhauser Greetings from Cutler County 95: 'A toast,' he said. 'To Alan.' 'To Alan,' Coach said. 'Hear, hear,' said Larry. 'Fucking-A right,' said Marion ...

Ithe/lda is either a nonsense word or

the fu may be deliberately abandoned; thus 'kin' Ada! etc.)

thought, 'Fucking Ada, I've never made a film'. 1979 Ian Dury 'Fucking Ada' [lyrics] Fucking Ada, fucking Ada / Fucking Ada, fucking Ada. 1980 T. McClenaghan Submariners I i: Bloody Ada, gotta blow. 1998 B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 65: 'Wait till you see her up a tree, she's got eyes looking out of her arse.' 'Fucking Ada!' 2005 posting at www.darkforum.com 7 Jan. [Internet] You're trying to tell me that this is a gothic site? Fucking ada, why didn't anyone tell me?

fucking Nora! (a/so bleeding Nora! bloody Nora!) [var. on prev.] an excl. used to denote astonishment, dismay, acceptance, praise, recognition.

fucking A! excl. {also frigging A!) 1 {also fucking-aye!) an excl.

1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 2: Fuckin' Nora what'd I do? 1998

1964 Poston 'Problems in the Study of Campus SL' in AS XXXIX:2

I. Welsh Filth 314: Bleedin Nora, he snorts. 2003 M. Haddon Curious Incident of the Dog 96: She [...] went into the water to swim and she said 'Bloody Nora, it's cold'. 2006 G. Turner Guardian 25 June [Internet] Bloody Nora... Lampard seizes on a loose ball right on the edge of the area [etc.]. 2006 posting at www.kasabian.co.uk 12 June [Internet] Nothing like stating the bloody obvious. Fucking Nora,

116: Recently,yi 1964 in Current SI. (1967) 1:4 4/2: Marvy-groovy, adj. Bad, unpleasing (esp. sarcastic). 1970 New Yorker 14 Mar. 34; 'O Sad Arthur, how marviel' cried the entranced Lambie. [Ibid.] 17 Oct. 39: Marvy — now we can go on the trip together! 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Marvy (adj. and interjection) Something that is good (a shortened form of marvelons). 2000 W. Birch No Sleep Till Canvey Island 250; With a bottle of vodka and a senior Service permanently on the go, Lowe would declare that everything on the tour was 'marvy',

Mary

n. (also Marie) [generic use of one of the most common of female proper names, but also offering a touch of Mariolatry) 1 uses based on being female, (a) (Aus./N.Z.) (also meri) an Aboriginal native woman; thus pidgin White Mary, a white woman. 1817 J.L. Nicholas Narr. Voyage to N.Z. 1 vii 201: The sister of one of our New Zealand sailors, a damsel who dispensed unlimited favours among our people, to whom she was well known by the name of Mary [OED]. 1881 A.C. Grant Bush-Life in Queensland It 121: Missa Fitzgell, White Mary cook'em me. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Sept. 12/4: A Kanaka and his Mary were recruited with others for a plantation on the Burnett in Queensland, and while there she learnt the art of cookery and also to make her own and husband's clothes, and was much thought of by their employer. 1892 H. Lawson 'The Drover's Wife' in Roderick (1972) 49: God sent Black Mary — the 'whitest' gin in all the land. 1894 G. Boothby On the Wallaby 153: Every girl is invariably called 'Mary'. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Jan. 14/4: Soon afterwards, however, the trackers, when mad-drunk, so ill-used their gins that one of these unfortunates told the white police-officer 'All about them fella bin kill-'em white Mary (white woman).' c.1905 J. Furphy Buln-Buln and the Brolga (1948) [Internet] There was a whole swag o' blackfellers [...] though, mind you, they hadn't got their Marys or piccaninnies with 'em. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Nov. 16/2; Sometimes Meri has to be hurried off to the local hospital or cemetery as a result of the dusky doctor's diagnosis. It is always a difficult thing to get a conviction against a tohungra, as even the nearest relations of a defunct Henare refuse to 'shelf' the medico. [Ibid.] 12 Dec. 19/1: 'Where Jacky now, Mary?' / 'Oh, Mister Sergeant him very fond of Jacky; him bin take him up longa gaol again cut wood!' 1926 M. Forrest Hibiscus Heart 187: Old Jacky, the head of the tribe [...] would arrange a corroboree next week for the 'White Marys' to see. 1952 T.A.G. Hungerford Ridge and River (1966) 172: 'The coons reckon he's been having a lash at the maries.' [...] 'Good Lord - not the maries. What bags!' 1954 (con. 1940s) E. Lambert Veterans 147; I asked him were there any Marys and he didn't know what a Mary was. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 229/1: An abo woman is variously termed a lubra, gin, meri or mary (I was given both spellings), black velvet, and others. 1968 (con. 1940s) G. Dutton Andy 221: Boy, could 1 use a lay. The black Marys up north swing a lovely pair.

(b) (Irish/Aus.) (also mary ann, mary jane) a female servant. ms Egan Life of an Actor 45: Why, you ugly slip of a tall Mary, I've a mind to go and tell her what a pretty sort of a sarvent she has got. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Dec. 31/3: The servants till then had been ugly as sin, / So he picked out a new sort of Mary. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July 25/1; The experiment of spreading an inadequate number of Mary Anns over a vast number of missuses is being tried [...] So the State Registry Office does not find a place for Mary Ann - it merely tries to find a Mary Ann for several places, and the number of unfilled places swells visibly every day. [Ibid.] 26 Jul. 28/ 3: [T]he occasional disrespect with which the bar-lady may be treated as a woman is nothing to the continual disrespect with which Mary Jane is regarded as a human being. Mary Jane is not supposed worthy of being allowed to join in the conversation of

people who are not Mary Janes. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Aug. 36/ 1; She polishes your dirty grate, / Or scrapes the scraps from off the plate, / In all things she is sure as Fate - / Hurrah for Mary Ann. (c) (S.Afr.) (also coolie Mary) an Indian woman, usu. a fruit or vegetable hawker, 1927 K. Johnston in Outspan Apr. 37: On a Saturday morning I go for a walk along [Durban's] garbage-littered streets where 'Marys' and 'Sammies' are feverishly chaffering for vegetables [DSAE]. 1966 L.G. Berger Where's the Madam? 142: 'Nanny' is a term that native girls hate - the same as their being called [...] 'Mary'. 1968 K. McMagh Dinner of Herbs 18; Their women folk, each called Mary, just as the Indian males were known as Sammy, hawked fruit and vegetables in flat baskets. 1971 J. McClure Steam Pig 88: Every Indian woman was Coolie Mary. 1973 Cape Herald 22 Sept. B2; Because 'Mariamma' was a common name among Indian women and 'Mun-samy' among the men, we were referred to as 'Marys and Sammies'. This was considered to be insulting [DSAE]. (d) (S.Afr.) any black woman, esp. a domestic servant. 1941 C.R. Prance Tante Rebella and her Friends (1951) 143: His fellow passenger [...] seemed to be making a point of chatting on terms of equality with 'Coloured Mary', 1952 H. Klein Land of Silver Mist 58; I went with Radebe to the Inchcape Hall, the Bantu night club. We saw 'Jim' and 'Mary' of everyday life in evening dress on the ballroom floor [DSAE]. 1969 G. Westwood Bright Wilderness 25: When they came home Mary would have set the table and prepared meals. Jim would polish the floors and mow the lawns. 1986 S. Sepamia in Ndaba One Day in June 23: Thixo! we want to rejoice Celebrating the birth of a new age [...] No more Sixpence, John is neither here nor there, Mary lives no more for tea only! [DSAE], 2 (also Marjorie) gay uses, (a) the most popular camp proper name; typically in phr. get you Mary! C.1925 R. McAlmon Miss Knight (1963) 49: With her it was 'now I'm tellin' you, Mary,' or 'now when these bitches get elegant I lay 'em out stinkin' [...] she would hastily apologize had she used the Mary phrase on a man who didn't know her well, or who might resent her queerness and undue familiarity. 1925 R. McAlmon Distinguished Air (1963) 12: 'Goodness me, Marjorie, I just love art. I love art,' Foster minced [.,.] 'Will there be some pretty pictures of naked boys?' [Ibid.] 22: Dearie, the Countess has a new lover, and she's green-eyed if I go near her Marjorie. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 104: Best known among these words are fairy [...] Mary, sissy or sis. 1954 R. Fabian London After Dark 58; There are 'queer men' - fetishist^ [...] There is one of them, a mild, elderly little chap [...] known to every prostitute in London, I should think, as 'Mary'. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 156: Before you get your finger outta your athth you're athleep, Mary. 1976 Russo 'Camp' in Levine Gay Men (1979) 206; The phrase 'Get you, Mary!' is always directed at gay men. 1978 L, Kramer Faggots 26: Everyone was 'she' or 'Mary' and various were the opinions on opera, recipes, and yard goods. 1985 K. Vacha Quiet Fire 32: I don't act like that with all that 'May' and 'Mary' shit. It shows so little discretion. 1991 D. Jarman letter 23 June Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 24; Piss off Mary, I'm a head fairy. 2000 R. Antoni Grandmother's Erotic Folktales 77: They wanted to know what do we mean to say the Syrian was an old buller? Well Mrs Carmichael smiled and she said Mary, and I [...] said jump-overthe-fence, and Mrs Carmichael said softman, and I said borrow-theBishop s crosier. 2003 K. Cage Gayle.

(b) thus, a gay man's (younger) lover. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 228: That's Cooper's Mary, so I

figure Cooper will stick with him.

(c) (S.Afr. gay) a magistrate. 2003 K. Cage Gayle. 3 drug uses, (a) (US drugs) morphine [the shared initial letter A4]. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1952 Lannoy & Masterson 'Teen-age Hophead Jargon' AS XXVII: 1 28: MARY, «. Marijuana. 2. Morphine [LAPD]. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 165: mary morphine. Obsolete. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

(b) see MARY JANE rtf'. (c) see MARY JANE n.^. m In phrases go to Mary’s room (v.) (also go to visit aunty, go to visit Mary) [euph.l (Aus.) to use the lavatory.

1982 N. Kebsing Lily on the Dustbin 49: 'Going to Mary's room' or 'going to visit Mary' or 'aunty' are examples of a range of euphemisms used by some women.

Mary, the

n. (S.Afr. prison) a beating. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 207: The Mary is corporal punishment by means of a heavy cane.

Mary

adj. (US gay) effeminate, homosexual. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 29: mary (n., adj.): [...] In its adj. form, 'Is she ever mary,' it states that the male homosexual is very

Mary! feminine, or 'Mary, you're a camp.' 1972 B.

Rodgers

Queens'

Vernacular 131: Mary [...] 2. (adj) feminine acting.

Mary! exd. [Mary n.j a cliched, camp homosexual excl. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 29: mary (n., adj.): An effeminate homosexual male, as used by other homosexuals to affectionately 'nickname' him. The term is very widely used, sometimes mock¬ ingly (indeed, perhaps, 'self-mockingly') It is a greeting: 'mary! How are you, dear?' [...] A name running this a close second is bessie. 1967 J. Rechy Numbers (1968) 70: Oh, Mary, she'll tell her 'sisters,' I'll simply die all my life thinking of that living dream on the beach — the sexy number who saved me from those muscle queens. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 213: 'See if he's got a hard-on' [...] 'Oh. Maty, has he everT 1980 A. Maupin More Tales of the City (1984) 37: Oh, Mary! You're not having another Chinoiserie period, are you, darling? 1995 Jaffe Cohen & Bob Smith 'To Think That I Saw Him On Christopher Street' [lyrics] And Bruno just smiled as he took off his shirt / And he said 'Mary, please!' as he dished out the dirt. 2005 (con. 1950s) E. White My Lives 108: Mary, the joint is hopping tonight!

mary! exd. see marry! exd. mary and johnny n. {also mary and johnnie) [play on Sp. which translates as 'mary' and 'jane'l (drugs) marijuana, 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 1944 D. Maurer in AS XIX:3 in Maurer (1981) 154/1: mary and .iohnnie. Marijuana (accidental rhyme in translation from Mexican Spanish). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: Mary and Johnny. A marihuana cigarette. Also the marihuana plant. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1971 'Hassan-i-Sabbah' Leaves of Grass 1: Gauge / Mary and Johnny / Ganja. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mary and Johnny — Marijuana.

mary arm n?

[joc. uses of proper name] 1 (Aus.) a girlfriend. 1880 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 4/4: They besiege the lemonade boy and treat their Mary Anns liberally to all that's in the basket, and if the Opera prove romantic, [...] they may be seen to pass their arm in an elephantine manner around their buxom partners' waists. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Apr. 14/3: Some 20 years ago there lived in a Southern township a Chinaman whose great ambition it was to possess a white 'Maly Ann.' 2 a dressmaker's dummy, 1922 Joyce Ulysses 715: ...I hate those ruck of Mary Ann coalboxes out for the day.

3 (also Mary Jane) an effeminate male homosexual; a young boy used as a catamite in prison. 1868 C.H. Ulrichs Memnon (1898) 37: In Paris und London giebt es Schaaren junger hiibscher Weiblinge, die sich koquettierend auf Boulevards und Promenades umhertreiben. Dies isl dem dortigen Publikum auch wohlbekannt. In London nennt sie der Volksmund 'Mary-Anns' (Marie-Annen Oder Anna-Marien). [In Paris and London there are crowds of pretty young effeminate men who carry on coquet-tishly round and about on the boulevards and promenades. This is well known to the public there, too. In London they are called in the slang 'Mary-Anns.'] [GS]. c.1870 J. Saul in Kaplan Sodom on the Thames 202: 'I am still a professional Mary-Ann' [...] he named a number of fellow 'Mary-Anns,' including a crossdresser called 'lively Poll'. 1881 Sins of the Cities of the Plain 8: The handsome youth must indeed be one of the 'Mary-Ann's' of London [.,.] often to be seen sauntering in the neighbourhood of Regent Street. 1895 Reynold's Newspaper 2 June 1, col. 4: 1 remember when residing in Oxford having pointed out to me in 'the High' more than one professional catamite; just as waiting for a bus at Piccadillycircus a few years later I heard prostitutes jocosely apostrophising the Mary-Anns who plied their beastly trade upon the pavement beside the women [F&H]. 1897 'Price Warung' Tales of the Old Regime 44: This one of Convict James Tinsley, alias Luffy Ned, alias 'Mary Jane,' touched him more deeply still. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1937 'George Orwell' Road to Wigan Pier in Complete Works V (1986) 75: They [...] feel that a man would lose his manhood if, merely because he was out of work, he developed into a 'Mary Ann.' 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 136/2: Mary Ann, the. The robbery of drunkards by combined crude pocket-picking and suave talk; frequently the thief pretends to be a sexual pervert to throw off suspicion that he is feeling for the victim's wallet. 1959 K. Waterhouse Billy Liar (1962) 161: You're like a bloody Mary Ann! 1988 A. Hollinghurst Swimming-Pool Library (1998) 41: A coachload of absolute Mary-Anns. 1999 G, Seal Lingo 115: There seems to have been no shortage of terms used either by homosexuals themselves and/or by non-homosexuals, such as [...] Margery, mary-ann, madge-cull and, what was once the great Australian insult, POOFTER,

4 (US gay) a US Marine. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 5 see Mary n. (1 b).

mary green

1540

mary arm

n.^ irhy. si.] 1 a fan. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

2 a hand; a fist. 1925 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 56: Now Buck, soon as de bell sings swing old Mary Ann right on dat palooka's button, 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 153: mary ann A knockout blow. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. n.^ (also mary anna, maryanne) (drugs) marijuana; a

mary ann

marijuana cigarette. 1916 F. Elmer A Mexican Diary [typescript] 281: The uninitiated were warned against the wiles and seductions of a much-to-be-dreaded Mexican personage rejoicing in the name of 'Mary Anna!' 1939 C.R. Cooper Designs in Scarlet 147: 'Boojies' or 'Mary Anns,' as marijuana cigarettes are known. 1940 'Jargon of Marihuana Addicts' in A5 XV:3 Oct. 336/2: The cigarettes are usually called reefers, but other names are: ]...] Mary Anns. Mary Janes. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: Mary Ann. Amarihuana cigarette. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 'Hassan-i-Sabbah' Leaves of Grass 1: Weed / Mary Ann / Gauge. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 171: Vernacular expressions reflect a corruption, abbreviation, or play on the word itself (maryanne, matyjane, mariwegee). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mary Ann — Marijuana,

mary ann

n.‘^ l? mary jane n.^ (1)1 female pubic hair. 1999 Guardian Editor 24 Sept. 18: I was surprised at her stripping off, showing her Mary Ann... [...] In my day we called it coconut mat.

mary ann! exd. see marry! exd. mary anna/maryanne n. see mary ann n.^. Mary at the cottage gate n. irhy. sL] (Aus.) the

number eight.

1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 36: Mary at the Cottage Gate Eight.

mary banger

n. an extremely plain, dowdy woman. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Mary Banger (n): unfashionable female.

Mary Blane

n. [rhy. si.] a railway train; as v., to meet a train. 1891 J. Bent Criminal Life 271: Mary Blane ... To meet a train,

marybones n. Mary Decker

see marrowbones n. n. [proper name of US athlete Mary Decker Slaney

(b.l958)] (S.Afr. black) 1 a black taxi. 1991 C. Van Ulmenstein in Weekend Argus 12 Jan. (Supplement) 5: Taxis are called Zola Budds and Mary Deckers, but these are not linked to any specific brand name of minibuses [DSAE]. 2 a fast armoured police vehicle. 1985 H. Prendini in Style Ort. 41: 'Johnnies' (soldiers), 'Zola Budds' (slow SADF hippos) and 'Mary Deckers' (fast hippos) [DSAE]. 1990 M. Malunga in Style 8 June 9: It is just after four in the morning and the streets of Soweto are already filled with roaring Zola Budds and zooming Mary Deckers flying up and down to swallow as many workers [...] as possible [DSAE], 1996 CyberBraai Lex. at www. matriots.com [Internet] They have also learned that 'Zola Budd' is township slang for a police armored personnel carrier, that 'Mary Decker' is a faster model of the Zola Budd.

Mary Ellen

n. (US Und.) a style of robbery whereby the victim is rendered drunk and then robbed. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 136/2: Mary Ellen. See Mary Ann.

mary ellens

n. [rhy. si. = melons, see under MELON n.] the female

breasts. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

Mary Fist

n. (also Mary Ellen, Mary Five-Fingers) (US) the hand, as used in male masturbation; thus married to mary fist, addicted to masturbation. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 136/2: Married to Mary Fist. (Coarse prison humor) In prison; hence, by implication, addicted to the practice of masturbation. 1960 (con. 1940s) D. MacCuish Do Not Go Gentle (1962) 124: Bet those women of yours get real jealous of Mary Five-Fingers, eh? 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 158: If each night becomes jack night exclusively, the man is brushed off as being married to Mary Fist (enslaved to autoeroticism). 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 232: Mary Ellen, from an old Music Hall song has in the UK picked up connotations of grope = covert feel. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 145; I can understand some gazoony without a woman, or with the wrong woman, watching crap like this and having it off with Mary Fist.

mary frances

n.

[euph.

using the

initial

MOTHERFUCKER n. 1994 G. Smitherman Black Talk.

marygold n. mary green

see marigold n.\ n. [rhy. sL] in cards, the queen.

1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

letters]

euph.

for

maty hick mary hick n.

mash

1541 a plain, dowdy woman.

1997 Share Slanguage. 2001 G, Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Mary Hick (n): unfashionable female.

Mary Jane n. see mary ann n.^ (3). mary jane n.^ (also mary) [generic use of female name] 1

the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues, c.1915-20 in P. Smith

Letter from My Father (1978) 76: For years I played with Lydia's 'mary'. 2 (US black) a skirt with a slit up one side; also attrib. 1960 P. Ol;ver Blues Fell this Morning 99: The legs of the passing brownskin girl with the side-slit 'Mary Jane' skirt. 3 (US) a lesbian. 1962 J. Grey Twilight Girls n.p.: Your little Edie is a Mary Jane — a chicken for some dyke. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 97: Mary - a lesbian.

mary Jane

(also mary, mary j., maryjane, mary jonas, merry) [lit. trans. of Sp.l 1 (orig. US drugs) marijuana, cannabis. 1928 Daily Express 11 Oct. 2/7: What is Marijuana? [...[ A deadly Mexican drug, more familiarly known as 'Mary Jane', which produces wild hilarity when either smoked hr eaten. 1936 (ref. to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 102: Marijuana [...] called 'griefo' or 'merry' by addicts that use it, is a product of Mexican hemp. 1943 Time 19 July 54: Marijuana may be called [...] Mary Jane. 1952 Lannoy & Masterson 'Teen-age Hophead Jargon' AS XXVII: 1 28: MARY, n. Marijuana. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 104: The unmistakable odour of maryjane hovering over us. 1970 Manchester Guardian Weekly 20 June 6: The young solider was saying that here in Vietnam cannabis, pot, the weed, giggle-smoke, grass, Mary Jane, call it what you will, is readily available. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 169: [Marijuana's] immense popularity is reflected in the striking number of terms used to identify it - Juana, maryjane, boo, shit, pot. 1997 'Danger Overhead Junkie' [poem] at cgsng.com [Internet] Girlfriend as well / I think is only on 'mary jane', but it's still hell. 1999 Africa News Service 29 Nov. [Internet] It was only a matter of time before he too began experimenting with 'Mary J' (Mary Jane, slang for marijuana), LSD, speed and anything else he was offered. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 127: He knocked on Manny's door to tell his parents their son had been smoking 'that maryjane.' 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mary — Marijuana [...] Mary Jonas — Marijuana. 2004 Guerilla Black 'Sunrise' [lyrics] Pop the champagne, then blaze the mary j. 2005 A, Lovejoy Acid Alex xvi: Roll some nice ... smelly ... sticky ... hairy - Mary Jane.

2 cocaine. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 50: Mary Jane, that's what they called the stuff now, so Selby had told him. In Leeds it was known as Bolivian marching powder.

mary jane n.^ see Mary n. (1 b). maryjanes n. [the schoolgirl sound

of the proper name] (orig. US)

round-toed shoes with a strap across the foot. 1966 Frank Sinatra [on-stage at Las Vegas] My maryjane's been bitin' me for the past few minutes ... this one's bitin' my instep. 1988 M. Atwood Cat's Eye (1989) 113: Plaid was the fashion in my day too. The white socks, the Mary Janes. 2006 The Guardian 7 June: Heaven forbid that Runga should get too big for her boots (actually little black Mary Janes by the Milan designers Costume National).

Mary Jo n. (US black)

a notably beautiful female. 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 9: When I peer into her peepers, mercy miss percy, I am sent one time, she ain't no Mary Jo, but she's on fly time,

mary jonas n. see Marylebone kick

mary iane n.^. n.

[? a speciality of the

area's thugs] a kick to the

stomach.

1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 21: Mary-le-bone kick - a kick in the belly. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835].

Marylebone stage, the n. see marylou n. [rhy. si.) glue.

marrowbone stage, the n.

1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

mary poppins n.

[joc. use of film title Ma/y Popp/ns (1964)]

(US)

the

female breasts.

1965 T. Wolfe Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (1966) 50: The letters are big, and her little mary poppins tremble honestly. 1997 Solar Project 'Zeitgest' [lyrics] on ...in Time [album] You wanna feel my Bethlehem steel / Mary Poppins, TNT, Bristol City /1 bite into your cats and kitties.

Mary Rose n. see mary walkers n.

Margaret (Rose) n. [Dr Mary Walker (1832-1919), US campaigner for

rational dress for women who would lecture on her subject wearing men's evening dress] (US) trousers. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

mary warner n. (also

marywana, mary wanner, mary werner, merry wonder) [pron.] (orig. US drugs) marijuana.

1923 Wash. Post 17 June n.p.: The first raid under the new ordinance out lawing Marijuana, a Mexican smoking weed better known as 'Mary Warner' and said to be in reality the East Indian Hashish, was made by the police today. 1933 Newsweek 5 Aug. 26: Marihuana cigarettes, better known to users as 'reefers', 'muggles', or 'Mary Warners'. 1940 'Jargon of Marihuana Addicts' in AS XV:3 Oct. I>I>bl2\ The drug, itself, is known as [...] Mary Wanner, Mary Warner, Merry Wonder. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: Mary Werner. Marihuana. Also a marihuana cigarette. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 'Hassan-i-Sabbah' Leaves of Grass 1: Maria Juanita / Mary Warner / Miggles. 1974 C. Loken Come Monday Morning 145: Maybe we oughta switch to dope, Nick - they say that marywana ain't half bad. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mary Warner — Marijuana.

mary weaver

n. [pron.] (drugs) marijuana. 1938 R.P. Walton Marihuana. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mary Weaver — Marijuana.

mary worthless

n. [pun on the camp term MARY n. (2) -E popular US cartoon Mary Worth, launched 1938] (US gay) an ageing, unattractive male homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 132: Mary Worthless (camp) very old queen one might encounter at the gay saunas; a meddlesome old fool. 1979 Maledicta III:2 222: Cinderella becomes Old Ella, the whining failure or whoring harridan, derisively [...] subjected to digs about antiques, puns on famous names (Mary Worthless, from the US comic strip).

maserati

n. [fig. use of the automobile name] (drugs) an improvised crack cocaine pipe, using a spark-plug cover and a plastic bottle (cf. LAMBORGHINI n.). 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 150: Maserati crack pipe made from a plastic rum bottle and a rubber sparkplug cover. Also called Lamborghini and Kabuki. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Maserati — Crack pipe made from a plastic rum bottle and a rubber sparkplug cover.

masers

n. [abbr.] a Maserati car. 1975 G.V. Higgins City on a Hill 94: The Ferraris and the Masers.

mash

n.^ 1 a person with whom one is infatuated; thus have a mash on, to make advances towards; make a mash on, to be the object of someone's infatuation [mash v. (2)|. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 17/4: David and his 'mash' had started out on a little trip to St. Kilda, and he was doing his best among the push at a ticket window of the Flinders-street station. 1897 W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 52: I see your mash as I was cornin' along this mornin'. 1901 A. Binstead More Gal's Gossip 166: A position which enabled him to keep on spitting on the bald head of his wife's mash. 1910 Magnet 27 Aug. 23: If they took pity on him, and were kind, he immediately thought [...] that he had made what he called a 'mash'. 1918 C.J. Dennis 'The Joy Ride' in Backblock Ballads 103: An' Rose - (Ah! how 'er eyes did stare) / Rose was my speshul mash. 2 a dandy [abbr. masher n. (2)]. 1908 A.N. Lyons Arthur's 279: Ow, Dinah, Dinah, Dinah, Doo! [...] I'm yer faller; / Not very rich; But trew as pitch; No Broadway mash / With heaps of cash; But just your Joe. 3 (orig. US) an infatuation, a crush on someone [mash v. (2)]. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 13/3: At Tumberumba young ladies are scarce and dear. So, when a fair one of ravishing charms came to visit a station near by, a local youth (a very dude, indeed), immediately established what he considered a firm mash. 1890 (con. 1860s) J.O. Kerbey On the War Path 86: She seems to have made a mash on John Smith. 1900 H. Lawson 'Joe Wilson's Courtship' in Roderick (1972) 546: I see you've made a new mash, Joe. 1912 H. Lawson 'The Lily of St Leonards' in Roderick (1972) 802: I'd call it a mash; but I wouldn't if I was you. Yeh don't know her. 1915 C.J. Dennis 'The Intro' in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 23: I'm yappin' to me cobber uv me mash . . . / I've done me dash! 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 223: Morris believed that if it wasn't for his teeth [...] the girls would get a mash on him. 4 an admirer [mash v. (2)]. 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 1 Sept. 10/7: The mash is the party willing to be mashed, and who is generally made to pay for the pleasure of the mash in a good round sum. 1915 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'An Easterly Breeze' Sporting Times 10 Apr. 1/2: Her only available mash / Was John Willie, a thinker of beautiful thinks, / But no reckless expender of cash. 1919 Van Loan 'Chivalry in Carbon County' in Score by Innings (2004) 331: Pansy has another mash. 1930 G. Milburn 'The Boss Tramp' in Hobo's Hornbook 54: I had a cross-eyed daughter, / And she was just the cheese. / Mashes! why she had 'em by the barrel, / Each one a pimple-faced hick.

5 pertaining to (illicitly distilled) alcohol [abbr|. (a) (US prison) illicitly distilled whisky, esp. prison-distilled whisky.

mash

1901 W.N. Harben Westerfelt 141: A gallon o' mash — this jug jest holds that amount [...] the only sound for a moment was the gurgling of the whiskey as it ran into the jug, 1931 W.N. Burns OneWay Ride 130: Captain John Stege, in a police raid in the neighborhood of Genna headquarters [...] seized 7,500 barrels of mash. 1948 ,1. Evans Halo For Satan (1949) 48: Back in the days when Taylor Street smelled of sour mash [...] so thick around Halstead Street the school kids could get a cheap jag from inhaling the air. 1952 1. Mobster 45: I told them where to buy the sugar and the other stuff for the mash. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 173: Mash, homemade whiskey that some inmates sold. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 39: Each gallon required a pound of sugar, a pinch of yeast and any of several things for mash to ferment. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Mash: Homemade cell wine, also called hooch or pruno.

(b)

(US prison) the ingredients of prison-made alcohol.

1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 70: Mash All the ingredients used to make 'hootch,' such as fruit pulp, raisins or potatoes. Mash includes everything but the liquid. 6 (US/Aus.) sentimental nonsense [but note mush n.^ (2)1. 1945 Baker Aus. Lan0. 128: Kidney-pie, kidstakes, macaroni, mash, bilgewater and borak cover the same meaning of misleading chatter. 1955 N. Pulliam 1 Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 235/2: mash foolishness. 7 (US) a blow, a hit [mash v. (1)]. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 379: The only thing they needed was a good hard mash in the puss. 1936 J.T. Farrell World 1 Never Made 392: He didn't know how close he'd come to a mash in the puss.

8

(W.i) (also mash-mash) small change [the larger coin or note has been 'mashed' into smaller pieces/values). 1943, 1956 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980). 9 (US campus) sexual activity that stops short of intercourse, kissing and foreplay [mash v, (2)]. 1989 J. Doyle College SI. Diet. [Internet] mash [U. of Neb. at Line.] some sort of sexual activity.

■ In compounds

mash-mash (n.) see sense 8 above. mash note (n.) (also mash letter) 1

(US) a love letter.

1880 D.K, Ranous Diary of a Daly Debutante (1910) 238: He had what is called a 'mash letter' from a schoolgirl fourteen years old. 1890 W.T. Hall Turnover Club 134: He is greatly afflicted by that dreadful bane of fine-looking actors, yclept the 'mash note' in the profession. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 37: She hoped no woman had become smitten with her Dave's good looks, and sent him a mash note. 1919 Wodehouse Damsel in Distress (1961) 22: Excuse me while I grapple with the correspondence. I'll bet half of these are mash notes. 1927 R. Lardner 'Hurry Kane' in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 92: They wrote him mash notes with fake names signed to them. 1930 W.R. Burnett Man 85: That boy's in a good racket [...] He gets mash notes by the ton. 1950 W. Winchell 10 Jan. [synd. col.] The season's mash note was sent to Lilli Palmer [...] by critic G.J. Nathan. 1976 S.J. Perelman letter 24 Dec. in Crowther Don't Tread on Me (1987) 327: The hard-featured saleslady was wrapping them up with appropriate mash-notes to each bimbo.

2 in fig. use, a begging letter. 2005 J. Stahl I, Fatty 245: I decided to compose a mash note to the ex-postmaster.

mash-tub

(n.) [note the defunct newspaper the Morning Advertiser was known as the 'Morning Mash-tub' because of its brewery interests] a brewer. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

m In phrases

make a mash

(v.)

1

(US) to 'make a pass', to seduce someone.

1884 E. Nye Baled Hay 135: Two Laramie girls on horseback yanking a fly drummer along the street at a gallop, because he tried to make a mash on them, 1890 Ade 'College Widow' in Verses and Jingles (1911) 7: For I made a mash, and knocked him out of sight. 1906 O.W. Hanley 'Dialect Words From Southern Indiana' in DN IILii 121: make a mash, v. phr. To inspire affection, 'I made a mash on him.' 1911 Alaska Citizen 28 Aug. 7/2: They could glide forty times around a hall without losing step [...] and the result was that they both made a mash. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI.

2

(US campus) to please a teacher. 1900 E.H, Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN Iht 45: mash, n. [...] In phrase 'make a mash,' to please a professor, i.e. to give him a favorable impression of one's ability,

on the mash

mash

1542

looking for a sexual conquest.

1883 G.W. Peck Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa (1887) 52: Pa is on the mash himself, and he looked at her and smiled, 1892 H. Nisbet Bushranger's Sweetheart 49: Fred's on the mash to-night. 1901 W.S.

Walker In the Blood 143: I'm often on the mash, an' I'm sometimes short of cash,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

mash-mash

(ad/.) [lit. mashed, i.e. broken, mouth] (W.l.) toothless.

1957 F.G. Cassidy 'Iteration as a Word-forming Device in Jamaican Folk Speech' in AS XXXII: 1 52: Nouns formed from verbs: dip-dip. mash-mash.

mash-mout

(n.) (W.l.) a toothless mouth.

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Mash-mout the appearance of the mouth without teeth: u. de mash mout bwoy. mash n.^ [rhy. si.; mash and peas = motor neurone disease] motor neurone disease. 2000 Observer Rev. 27 Feb. 16: Two men talking in a pub: How's your mum? [...] Deidre? She's got mash (mash and peas, motor neurone disease). mash V. [SE mash, to crush, to pulp, hence sexually to render 'soft'; note Rom. mash, to allure, to entice] 1 (US) to beat someone up; to crush. 1833 C.A. Davis Letters of Major J. Downing (1835) 76; The crowd was so great, I was eny most mashed to a slab. 1845 W.T. Thompson Chronicles of Pineville 122: Old Harley [...] kicked up a terrible rumpus, and skeered the horse, and upset the cart, and like to mashed every thing all to flinders. 1853 J.G. Baldwin Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi 310: You must mash Sam Boyd and Jo Holt into Scotch snuff; and you'll do it, too. 1866 C.H. Smith Bill Arp 176: Our enemies were a-shoutin, 'Hit him, kick him, mash him, smash him agin'. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 286: With them, a face was a 'mug' to be 'mashed;' a man, a lay figure to be sent to 'grass' [...] by a blow from their sledgehammer fists. 1884 (con. C.1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 325; We couldn't keep her from falling over, and she come mighty near mashing us. 1891 A. Day Mysterious Beggar 333: Oh you old snoozer! [...] Wouldn't I mash yer ugly strawberry mug! 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Jan. 36/1: I see your bright eyes flashin' - / The old cabildo where / They fined me stiff for mashin' / Some Dagoes with a chair! 1917 R. Lardner 'Three Kings and a Pair' Gullible's Travels 74: 'Well' says Fred, 'this'll learn you a lesson, you old masher, you!' 'I'll mash you in a minute,' says Veto, but the way he was now, he couldn't of mashed turnips. 1926 E. Walrond Tropic Death (1972) 65: Keep outa this, if you don't want to get your goddam head mashed in. 1930 G. Milburn 'The Dealer Gets It All' Hobo's Hornbook 150: He tapped me on the dingus - and mashed me on the dome. 1949 J.H. Burns Lucifer with a Book 260: He mashed out his cigarette, 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 263: Let's go mash somebody on the head and get his money. 1954 K. Amis letter 13 Nov. in Leader (2000) 413: 'Mashed you' means 'fucked you up', does it? 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 81: If a man gets wise, mash his face. 1975 T. Rhone School's Out I i: I mashed a lady on her toe. 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 58: He nearly caused two collisions as cars mashed on their brakes to avoid killing a uniformed cop. 1997 'Q' Deadmeat 154: Im couldn't live dat down, if ah lef affta mashin im breadda. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 41: Some mad fellas come round and mashed us. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 3: Call me or any a ma bredrens a Paki again an I'ma mash u. 2 (orig. US theatre) to make oneself attractive to a member of the opposite sex, to flirt with, to succeed in seduction; thus mashing below. 1879 implied in mashing below. 1885 'High School SI' in N.Y. Dispatch 31 May 7: Did you catch on to the dude I mashed? 1889 R.W. Coan 'In The Future' [lyrics] Ilf you want to mash a 'tart' upon the sly, / Before you kissie-kissie, be sure that she's a Missie. 1890 Kipling 'The Story of the Gadbsys' Soldiers Three (1907) 129: Hullo, Gaddy! 'Been trotting out the Gorgonzola! We all thought it was the Gorgon you're mashing. 1906 E. Dyson 'Benno's Little Boshter' Fact'ry 'Ands 8:1 may be wrong in thinkin' your tom was tryin't' mash ther man shootin' off ther camera. 1912 E. Pugh Harry The Cockney 151: Until we encountered two girls we had met and spoken with on some former occasion - all the girls and all the boys hunted in couples - or had the luck to mash [...] a new pair. 1916 J. Lait 'If a Party Meet a Party' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 98: If I ever ketch you annoyin' this here young lady again or mashin' on my beat I'll bust your nut and I'll run you in. 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 36: She said he was only trying to mash and that he was a big josher. 1933 Robert Edwards 'The Peril of Sheridan Square' [lyrics] She hoped to mash some guy with cash. 1955 P. Larkin 'Places, Loved Ones' Less Deceived 16: Yet, having missed them, you're / Bound, none the less, to act / As if what you settled for / Mashed you, in fact. 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves hi: He can dribble and shoot with both handsi Yeah, Roy scoffed, and mash a guy's sister. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 57: I could mash thee into.

mash dog!

3 {US black) to give one what is due; thus mash it on me, give it to me; mash me a fin, loan me $5. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 143: Mash me — Give me, 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 218: Seventh cat: Mash me a trey gate, so's I can go bust my conk. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Mama Black Widow 163: I'm gonna mash it [i.e. a $5 debt] on you next time you show. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 182: And if I ever did melt out I'd just blase' up and say, 'Mash me a fin, gate'. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street St. [unpub. ms.].

4 (W./.) to seduce, to rape. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

5 (US) to masturbate. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 280: He sat there with a peewee hard-on, secretly mashing it, skinning it back through his dungarees.

6 (US black) to pass over stolen or contraband goods. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

7 (US campus) to kiss, to neck. 1989 J. Doyle College SI. Diet. [Internet] mash [U. of Ill. at U-C] to

kiss, neck, make out, etc. 1997-2000 College Sk Research Project (Cal, State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Mash (verb) To make out; anything from kissing to oral sex, but not intercourse. 8 (US black) to work hard, to commit oneself to a task. 1985 G. Tate Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 35: That boy has got

energy up his asshole. I mean, he don't just stand there, he don't just make it, he mashes. 1998 Source Nov. 112: He mashes, he rides, and he gets his paper. He stays down on the business end of this. 1999 Dr Dre 'Some L.A. Shit' [lyrics] It don't stop, we still mash in hot pursuit from the cops / Analyze why we act this way - in L.A,! 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 26: Theys too busy mashin in an out of all the rooms in my home, clearin them one at a time. 9 to fondle the breasts in an aggressive manner. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 19: mash v. To fondle a lady's baps in a very eager fashion, as if testing them to destruction. 10 (US black) to have sexual intercourse. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mash Definition: to have sex. Example: I was mashing this fine ass girl the other day.

m Derivatives mashing (n.) the act of flirting, seducing, making advances; also attrib. 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 1 Sept. 10/7: Masher, Mash, Mashing—This

is the order in which they should be classed. The masher can be either male or female, traveling on their beauty, shape or talent, and sometimes on all three. The mash is the party willing to be mashed, and who is generally made to pay for the pleasure of the mash in a good round sum. Mashing is the attempt of both to succeed in their object, 1882 G.W. Peck Peck's Sunshine 130: There has got to be two parties to a mashing match, and one must be a woman. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 23 Aug. 14/4: The heart of the hub. who goes mashing, / Away from his home and his hearth, / Turns cold when the missis is flashing / Her eyes in connubial wrath. 1894 Richard Henry 'The Man With the Mashing Eye' [lyrics] To escape from me in vain they try. Aye! aye! [...] I'm the Man with the Mashing Eye. 1900 Sporting Times 9 June 1/4: This life that I am leading [...] this mixture of mashing and mafficking is slowly but surely knocking me out. 1922 R. McAlmon 'Backslider' A Hasty Bunch 5: The good man however touched upon the subject of mashing, and street flirtation. 1937 D.L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon (1974) 334: His bowler was not the bowler of Wednesday morning, but of the mashing curly-brimmed pattern affected by young bloods of the nineties. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 60: Dandelion was always flattered by these mashing displays, taking it [i.e. genital exposure] as a compliment.

■ In compounds mashman (n.) (UK black) a thug. 2006 DJ Cameo IXtra 3 June [BBC radio] You can be a mashman,

but you can't scare anyone but baby badmen.

mash-up see separate entries. ■ In phrases mash into a cocked hat (v.)

mashed (on)

1543

see knock into a cocked hat under

KNOCK INTO V.

mash it (up) (v.) (also mosh it up) 1 (W.I., Rasta/UK black) to achieve a huge success; to do something well. 1986 R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 118: Mi com fe mash it up-a! 1990 L. Goodison Baby Mother and King of Swords 55: Nobody had ever seen anybody 'mash it up' like that so; nobody had ever seen anybody in such a glorious temper 'mash up the place to blow wow'. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle EflS/ of Acre Lane 183: Yardman Irie was moshing it up 'pon de mic.

2 (W./.) an expression of encouragement. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Mash it an expression of encouragement: u. mash it, star/break a leg.

mash the fat (v.) (US black) to have sexual intercourse. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 153: Expressions for intercourse, to grind, to pile, to mash the fat. 1997 Solar Project 'Zeitgest' [lyrics] on ...in Time [album] We honk for cookies, we knock it out / We mash the fat, we mess around / Jig-a-jig, rub-adub, dead shot, Donald Duck / You wanna feel my Bethlehem steel / Mary Poppins, TNT, Bristol City / I bite into your cats and kitties, mash up (v.) (also mash in) 1 (orig. US/W.I.) to destroy, to break, to beat up, of a relationship, to break up. 1873 C. Rampini Letters from Jamaica 124: Don Hawk spring 'pon Ground Dove and [.,.] mash him up wid him beak. 1925 Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 123: I mashed his head in with the grubbinhoe, mashed it in like when you kick a rotten punkin. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 256: Young Rocky Kansas interrupted to tell how he had mashed in a big baboon. 1942 L. Bennett 'Greens' Jamaica Dialect Verses 24: Me full up a sarrow an strife / For me go a wan Dacta todah day / An' de man neally mash up me life, 1956 S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 122: Two sports catch a fellar hiding behind some bushes with a flash camera in his hand they mash up the camera and beat the fellar. 1968 A. Salkey Late Emancipation of Jerry Stover (1982) 195: If we don't take self-interes' in earnes', we goin' mash up like drop' breadfruit, 1979 E. Lovelace Dragon Can't Dance (1998) 63: If you try to put me out this band, I going to mash up every pan. 1980 (con. 1950s) M. Thelwell Harder They Come 107: Ah beg you try no mash up me mango. 1983 V. Bloom 'Carry-Go-Bring-Come' in Touch Mi, Tell Mi 32: Den a true yuh an Charlie mash up? 1992 V. Headley Yardie 44: Dem will mash up your life. 2005 H, Mantel Beyond Black 107: Hear Keef got mashed up last night. 2 (W.l.) to get oneself into trouble. 1979 T. Rhone Old Story Time I i: She mash up bad. 3 (W./.) to cause trouble. 1950 Bennett, Clarke & Wilson Anancy Stories and Dialect Verse 32: Poor Patto! Is Anancy mash up him life. 1979 T. Rhone Old Story Time I i: What a way she mash up! mash with (v.) (US campus) to kiss, to neck. 1989 P. Munro si. U.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases mash flat (v.) [mashing the accelerator pedal] (W.l.) to move along, to make room, as in a crowded bus; also to accelerate a car. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'Mash Flat' Jamaica Labrish 216: All of a sudden one nedda man / Halla out loud, 'Mash flat!' [...] 'Bout mash flat, mine how ye talks!' / Him grab me an fling me slap out o' de bus.

mash dog! exc/. [Carib.E. mash, a call to a dog, meaning go or walk) (W.l.) a general phr. of dismissal, get out! get out of my way! 1957 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

mashed adj. [SE mashed, crushed; but Spears, Slang and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986), suggests link of sense 1 to SE mash, the basis of whisky] 1 (US) drunk. 1882 Harvard Crimson 23 Jan, [Internet] She asks me how I'd say that I was - well, I was 'mashed' unless I used slang. Why, I'd a good deal rather say 'I'm perfectly gone;' that isn't slang, and it means just the same. 1883 E.J. Milliken Childe Chappie's Pilgrimage 27: Coarsetongued, canaille, apt at smirk and wink, / Would keep him meshed and 'mashed' on desperation's brink. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 125: Highball me, son. I'm mashed in a gin-sling: I'm jiggered, sir. 1968 A. Salkey Late Emancipation of Jerry Stover (1982) 117: You' lookin' real mash' up. 2000 Guardian Editor 4 Feb. 10: I don't go out and get mashed every night.

2 drugged. 1976 P, Theroux Family Arsenal 172: The villains step on their toes their paws, like. That one's probably been mashed. 3 (drugs) under the influence of a recreational drug. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 24: Being mashed don't help. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 64: I got mashed because I liked to. 4 ruined, destroyed. 2009 J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 125: I found this poncy dressing gown thing, I figured I had to borrow something, my gear was mashed.

mashed (on) adj. [mash v. (2)] 1 infatuated, sexually or romantically obsessed (by). 1881 'Bill Nye' Bill Nye and Boomerang 192: Ye art the damsel who erst was mashed on Obejoyfui. 1890 Bird o' Freedom 8 Jan. 5/3: Our old maid is a regular out and outer. It's no wonder she's an old maid, for I'll swear no one could ever have got mashed on her. 1891 H. Lawson 'The Ghost at the Second Bridge' in Roderick (1967-9) I 167: 'She's mashed,' said Jack, 'I do not doubt.' 1899 A. Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 60: Young swells who were hopelessly

mashed-potato circuit

mashed on the serios. 1905 Marvel 111:58 30:1 never see such a sight! All the girls will go clean mashed on him! 1913 Van Loan 'The Bachelor Benedict' in Lucky Seventh (2004) 223: If he got mashed on a girl, it might put him clean out of his stride. 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] MASHED — To be in love. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 47: If she was mashed on that damn potman, she could have him! 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'Miles Franklin' All That Swagger 148: I could never make you have me because you were so mashed on Athol Macallister. 2 in a non-sexual context. 1885 C.F. Lummis letter 10 Jan. in Byrkit Letters from the Southwest (1989) 231: He was not the first that got mashed on it [a meerschaum pipe]. 1888 "Arry at a Radical Reception' in Punch 12 May 219/1: He is mashed on old Gladstone no end. 1926 Breton 6Bevir Adventures of Mrs. May 75: 'Grace [...] would be so sorry to be away, bein' so mashed on the mission to waifs and strays,

mashed-potato circuit

n.

Mas John

1544

see rubber-chicken circuit under

RUBBER ad/.

masher

n. [mash v. (2); senses 2 and 3 are often elided] 1 an individual, of either gender, who uses charm and beauty to succeed. 1879 Cincinnati Enquirer 7 Sept. 10/7: The masher can be either male or female, traveling on their beauty, shape or talent, and sometimes on all three. 1886 "Arry's Spring Thoughts' in Punch 17 Apr. 185: No Millionaire Mashers, no Sportsmen, no moddles for chappies like me? 2 a dandy; thus masher blue, a shade of blue favoured by such men for their waistcoats. 1882 G.A, Sala in Living London (1883) Nov. 529: The 'society masher' is merely a good-looking and rather foppish 'ladies' man'. 1900 Marvel 8 Dec. 3: Eyeing the masher from top to bottom. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'You Can't Go By Looks' Sporting Times 31 Mar. 1/4: You can't go by looks, look at Biffy, the masher, / You would think 'im a out-and-out sooper-fine dasher / If you looked at 'is 'owlin' get-up. 1939 H.E. Bates My Uncle Silas 66: He carried a saucy silver-topped walking stick and smoked cigars and looked exactly what he was: a masher. 3 (or/g. US) a man who forces his unwanted attentions on women, a 'lady-killer'.

1875 Funny Fatherland 56: The soldiers are great 'mashers' among the dienst madchens [DA]. 1882 G.W. Peck Peck's Sunshine 130: There has been a great deal of talk in the papers about arresting 'mashers,' that is, young men who stand on corners and pulverize women. 1898 Binstbad & Wells Pink 'Un and Pelican 11: We all know what a fickle, flighty, unreliable lover the barmaid-masher makes. 1906 'O. Henry' 'The Cop and the Anthem' in Four Million (1915) 95: It was Soapy's design to assume the role of the despicable and execrated 'masher'. 1916 W. Pett Ridge Madame Prince 32: Jim Lambert were a bit of a masher with the gals in those times. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May (1929) 15: Once in a while I ran into a masher or a suggestive woman, but I either bawled them out or beat it. They weren't going to take me for a greenhorn! 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 165: She crossed through Peacock Alley, ignoring the glances and smirks of ambitious mashers. 1947 C.S. Montanye 'Frozen Stiff' in Popular Detective Mar. [Internet] His big, flat feet slapping down on the tiles like a hand on a masher's face. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 168: It was the top hip rendezvous for the dudes and toffs and mashers, and their birds. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 23: I yelled, 'Masher!' 1975 T. Berger Sneaky People (1980) 141: Ken Canning winking at me? He was doing it all night [.,.] He's a real masher. 1993 l.L. Allen City in SI. (1995) 44: In this century corner boys who met on street corners, gossiped, and ogled women became known as corner cowboys [...] a low variety of street masher. 4 (US black) a hard, committed worker. 1998 Source Nov. 112: Mck 10 is what we call out here a masher [...] He mashes, he rides, and he gets his paper. He stays down on the business end of this.

■ Derivatives masherdom (n.) the world of mashers. 1890 Sporting Times 25 Jan. 5/5: She will be on at the Gaiety again precious soon, you bet, and meanwhile certain sections of masherdom are inconsolobabble.

Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Oct. 13/1: Bill was in a plight / How to make her toiler; / Thought he'd look all right, / In a masher collar,

mashers n. [SE mash] 1 (lA/./.) cheap shoes, sold initially with rope soles, then with pieces of car tyre. 1943, 1959 cited in Cassidy & LbPage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

2 the female breasts. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 150: There was no mistaking

those huge tits [...] they were obviously Dandy's big fucking mashers,

mashing n.^ (UK tramp) a portion of tea leaves and sugar, enough for one cup of tea. 1936 W.A. Gape Haifa Million Tramps 134: Here, take my drum, and this 'mashing' [...] He handed me a tin. Inside it was a little screw of paper containing tea and sugar mixed,

mashing n.^ see under mash v. mashkin-shop n. (also motshkin-shop) (moskeneer

v.

(1) -i- SE

shop] a pawnbroker's. 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 13/1: Amorous actor confined to his room next day, and owing to impecuniosity has to arrange with friend to visit the 'motshkin shop' to raise funds for the purchase of a new set of grinders. 1899 A. Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 187: Hobinstock's was the only mashkin-shop that had taken its shutters down.

mashonisa n. [? Zulu mashonisa, a cause of one's losing heavily] (S.Afr. township) a money-lender. 2006 H. Rose-Innes Nice Times! 118: Even if there is no money to

spend on a party there are lots of fly-by-night loan sharks called mashonisa. They lend money and hold the borrower's bankcard.

mashuga/mashuganish/mashuggah adj. see meshuga adj. mash-up n. a song that is a mix of two completely different songs spliced into one; ext. use to other popular things. 2002 N.Y. Times 9 May n.p.: The songs, called mash-ups or bootlegs, typically match the rhythm, melody and underlying spirit of the instrumentals of one song with the a cappella vocals of another. And the more odd the pairing the better. 2004 Guardian 15 Aug. [Internet] Parkspliced...Witness the second coming with this triumphant collaboration of remixes and mash-ups of every track on the epoch-defining Parklife from the denizens of the mighty GYBO messageboard. 2009 Observer Mag. 4 Jan. 24: Spiz'ike is the name of a limited-edition trainer - a mash-up of several early styles of Air Jordan.

mash-up adj. (also mosh-up) [mash

v.] (orig. US/W.I.) 1 badly broken or bent, damaged beyond repair. 1907 'Yung-Kyum-Pyung' in W. Jekyll Jam. Song and Story 12: The old-witch had a 'mash-up side. 1977 A. Clarke Prime Minister (1978) 101: The first lash really and truly had him mash-up, like a real hairpin. 1989 C. Hyatt When Me Was A Boy 70: We boys wi fine some ole half mash up train set wid some a the line missin. 1997 C. Newland Scholar II: Not as 'ruff' as looking at mash up ham sandwich. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 31: Follow me in your mash-up car. 2005 (con. c, 1945) A. Wheatle Island Songs (2006) 47: We will give you [...] somewhere to rest ya mosh-up foot. 2005 (con. 1951) A. Wheatle Island Songs (2006) 107: Misser DaCosta's generator [...] inna de gulley. All mosh up. 2 thus in fig. use, e.g. used of someone exhausted or suffering from a hangover.

1986 R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 188: "Ow d'you get on last

night?' 'Oh I got mash-up bad'. 1999 (con. 1979-80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 196: I had to go to work [...] so if I went, I would have been all tired and mash up.

mash-up adv. of drug use, to a very great extent. 2005 DJ Cameo IXtra [BBC radio] Big shout to everyone sitting

around getting mash-up lean.

Mas John n. (also Mass John, Mess John, Miss John) [Mas, master; the hostility is underlined by the abbr.j a derog. term for a Scot. Presbyterian minister, as opposed to an Anglican or Roman Catholic. ?1661 J. T-AYLOR Serm. Works (1850) VIII 533: To prefer the private

■ In compounds mashers corners (n.) [one could best ogle the chorus-girls from the front stalls] (UK society) the opposite prompt (O.P.) and prompt side

minister before the public, the presbyter before a bishop, [...] and Mas John before the patriarch of Jerusalem [OED]. 1700 T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 101: What he calls a prayer [...] has furnish'd many a zealous Scots Miss John with an exercise for his lungs. 1772 G. Stevens 'The Sweethearts' in Songs Comic and Satyrical 244: The next a Mess John, of rank Methodist

(P.S.) entrances to the stalls at the Gaiety Theatre, London, 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

Taint, / Who thought like a sinner, but look'd like a saint. 1785 Poems in the Buchan Dialect ii 42: This breeds ill wills, ye ken fu' aft. In the

masher

adj. [masher n. (2)] flashy, dandified, fashionable.

1890 Globe (London) 7 Feb. 1, col. 4: What are umbrellas or masher canes to students immersed in Mill or Emerson [...] ? [F&H]. 1892 H. Lawson 'Billy's "Square Affair'" in Roderick (1967-9) 1 225: He wanted clothes, a masher suit, he wanted boots and hat. 1910

black coat. Till poor mass-john and the priest-craft Goes ti' the pot [F&H]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mess John, a Scotch Presbyterian teacher or parson, 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1785].

maskins

Ma State

1545

maskins n. ■ In exclamations by the maskins! see by the mack! under mack n.\ maso n. [abbr.l {US) a masochist.

both mass-ass and Maggot consumption. [Ibid.] 42: This old funk for new [...] is George's way of begging his maker for reincarnation into mass-ass appeal.

MaSSey-HarriS n. [pun

on the Massey-Harris self-binder (an early

1963 ,1. Blake letter 17 Feb. in Joint (1972) 202: Doug is capable of a vicious chilling cruelty that can be too much for a maso like me.

combine harvester); the ref. is to the 'binding' effects of cheese on the

mason n.^ [the stereotyping of Freemasons as dishonest] {UK Und.) one

1953 Baker Aus. Speaks. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 9: And a few pounds

who acquires goods fraudulently by giving a bill that they do not intend to honour; thus masoning n.

of Massey Harris for the officer's mess as well - seeing he done a bit of dairying on the side, an' had more cheese than he knew what to do with.

1753 J. PODLTER Discoveries (1774) 9: We would buy a horse or two, and give our Notes for the Money, telling the Dealer we lived at a Town where we did not. This is called Masoning. [Ibid.] 17: He did not know that they were stolen, but thought they were got on the Mason, i.e., for Paper.

■ Derivatives masoner (n.) {UK Und.) one who gives a promissory note in exchange for a purchase, with no intention of honouring it. 1753 J. POULTER Discoveries (1774) 33: Masoners are a Set of People that give Paper for Goods. [Ibid.] 42: I'm a Masoner; buy Goods for Paper. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving 14: Masoners are a sett of people that give papers for goods.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds mason’s maund (n.) {also mason’s mawnd) [maund n.j a fake sore, placed above the elbow and counterfeiting a broken arm caused by a fall from a scaffold. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Masons-mawn’d c. a Sham sore above the Elbow, to counterfeit a broken Arm, by a Fall from a Scaffold, expos'd by subtil Beggers, to move Compassion, and get Money. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classieal Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mason's mawnd, a sham sore above the elbow, to counterfeit a broken arm, by a fall from a scaffold. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum.

mason n? {also mason line) [proper name Mason-Dixon tine, dividing the US north and south along the 40th parallel] (US black) a town's main street, esp. when it delineates the line between the black and white communities. 1944 'diver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI.

mason n^ {US gay) 1 a 'masculine' male homosexual. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 153: mason A homosexual type who takes the active part. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 112: Most of the words [in Amer. Diet, of Slang] were of infrequent usage: agfay, lavender boy, mason, nola, queervert.

2 a lesbian. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 70: any gay woman [...] mason (dated, hetero si, '40s, because she lays bricks = homely gals). 1982 Maledicta VI:l+2 (Summer/Winter) 133: Here are some obsolete or nearly obsolete terms which careless lexicographers continue to list as current [...] mason.

ma’S plaster n. [one who needs a fig. plaster from their ma, i.e. mother] {Irish) a whiner, a whinger. 1997

Share

Slanguage.

mass adj. see massive adj. (3). Massa Charlie n. see Mr Charlie n. massage v. {orig. US) 1 to beat, to injure, to kill. 1927 (con. 1918) J.W. Thomason Red Pants 111: Say, one guy was all set to massage your dome wit' a table leg. 1928 Phila. Eve. Bulletin 5 Oct. 40/4: Here are a few more terms and definitions from the 'Racket' vocabulary: [...] 'massage,' to drub severely. 2002 (con. 1967) J. Laurence Cat from Hue' 442: Of all the words American troops used to describe death in Vietnam — aced, blown away, bought it, croaked, dinged, fucked up, greased, massaged, porked, stitched, sanitized, smoked, snuffed, terminated, waxed, wiped out, zapped — the one I heard most was 'wasted.'

2 of the police, to beat up a suspect during an interrogation; thus massaging n. 1930 E.H. Lavine Third Degree (1931) 3: 'Shellacking,' 'massaging,' 'breaking the news,' 'working on the 'giving him the works' and numerous other phrases are employed by the police, through¬ out America and the world. [Ibid.] 59: The two gangsters, after receiving a massaging with pieces of lead pipe, were taken to the West Thirtieth Street police station.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases massage someone’s tonsils (v.) see whitewash someone's tonsils under whitewash v.

mass-ass adj. {US black) mass. 1982 G. Tate 'Beyond the Zone of the Zero Funkativity' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 41: A masterpiece of mindless pleasure made for

digestion]

{Aus./Can.)

cheese.

massive n. (a/so masses) {W.I./UK black teen) a group of people who stick together and have shared social interests, such as a dancehall crowd; often specified by a geographical name, e.g. the Peckham massive, the Tottenham massive. 1992 V. Headley Yardie 83: Dis one goes to all the yardman massives. 1994 M. Montague Dread Culture 177: Bigup all masses and crew from Soul Connection. Jane and Finch masses hold tight. Scarborough posse, yuh LARGE. Bigup di one and only Rankin in di dance. 2000 Guardian Guide 1-6 Jan. 18: Word to the Little Mimsies massive. I'm mutha-hubbard outta here!

massive adj. 1 a general term of great approval; also as an excl. 1900 Sporting Times 7 Apr. 2/1: Excellent, my dor Dearling, a massive

idea indeed! 1951 A. Buckeridge Jennings Follows a Clue (1967) 16: 'Yes, massive idea,' agreed Darbishire. 1956 B. Behan Quare Fellow (1960) Act I: Ah, that's massive, sir. 1979 H. Leonard A Life (1981) Act I: I got a great old lie in. Massive. 1982 (con. 1930s-50s) E. Mac Thomais Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 19: The blonde outa Fullers was only massive, she was like a film star. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 72/2: massive! adolescent exclamation of approval. 1996 R. Doyle Woman Who Walked Into Doors 105: He scored a hat-trick on Sunday. Isn't that massive now? 2000 Guardian Editor 10 Mar. 16: Look, I've a great idea [...] why don't we do the whole street? Massive. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 20 Feb. 63: Football's a massive one for us. 2 {orig. W.I., Rasta) respected; ext. as massive large for emphasis. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 72/2: massive! adolescent exclamation of approval. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. 3 (US campus) {also mass) large, a lot of. 1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: mass, massive - a large amount [.,.] I've got mass studying to do tonight. 1983 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: massive humanity - large crowd.

Mass John n. see Mas ]ohn n. mass tom n. [lit. 'master tom'; thus

joc. use of proper name] (W./.) a

shark. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

massy sakes! exc/. see sakes! exc/. mast n. (Aus. prison) the (erect) penis. [1741 'Capt. Samuel Cock' Voyage to Lethe 13:1 took Possession of the Charming Sally and immediately fell to work upon her. The MainMast being a Long-side, we strove to heave it in [...] by greasing and working it to and fro [...] it went tolerably plumb into the Socket.] 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mast. Penis especially when erect.

■ In phrases (at) half-mast (adv.) in a partially lowered position, used esp. of trousers or a partial erection of the penis. 1940 L.A.G. Strong Sun on Water 139: With his trousers at half-mast [OED]. 1951 D.W. Cory Homosexual in America 112: The passive pederast, caught in the act, has his jeans at half mast. 1964 N.B. Harvey Any Old Dollars, Mister? 80: Her bloomers were half-mast. 1972 (ref. to early 1950s) B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 117: jeans at half mast (early '50s) pants lowered below the ass for sexual purposes. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words 134: Half-Mast. An incomplete erection. 1977 A. Bleasdale Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed 68: I thought of the inside of her mouth an' me flag fell to half mast. 1988 'Victoria Parker' Incest Schoolgirls [Internet] His cock was at half-mast, then the shaft started to thump to an amazing erection in his slacks. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pblecanos King Suckerman (1998) 67: Jerry's eyes were at half-mast. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 23: My eyes [...] go half-mast as if the president has died inside my head.

Ma Stats n. [ma, mother; thus the 'mother state'. New South Wales is the oldest Aus. colony] {Aus.) New South Wales; also attrib.; thus ma stater, a native of New South Wales. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Sept. 36/1: He bored so well that he punched a leak into the largest underground tank in the world. Straightway the Ma State, the Banana State, the Holy State, and Messrs. Jumbuck, Horny & Co. all started punching hundreds of holes into that big tank. [Ibid.] 24 Nov. 10/1: The Ma State railways have lately been making some interesting experiments in train¬ coasting. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Oct. 13/1: I forgot the Sydney people - /1 forgot the big Importers - /1 forgot the little Geebungs -

Master

/ I forgot the Ma-State-Frighters! 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1955 N. Pulliam / Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 70: New South Wales [...] good naturedly called the 'Ma State,'

Master n. see Mr n. master n. (US black) the absolute best; also as adj. 1880 in N.E, Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 283: In the mountain a hunter says 'It was a "Master" bear, a "Master" fight, a "Master" tree,' meaning the largest or best or greatest. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 50: Master The ultimate or absolute best. Master may refer to people, drugs or a productive way in which a prison sentence is served. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Master (n): the best, expression of approval. 'It's the master.'

■ In compounds master blaster (n.) [blast v.^ (6)1 (drugs) a large amount of freebase cocaine. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 150: master blaster large chunk of cocaine-freebase. master dog (n.) (US black) the supreme authoritarian figure (usu. a white man) within an institutional hierarchy. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Si. [unpub, ms.[.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds master-can (n.) [can n? (4b)l a chamberpot. 1776 D. Herd Collection ii, 214: She hae dung the bit fish off the brace. An' it's fallen i' the maister-can [F&H], master member (n.) [member n?] the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. master of... (n.) see separate entry. master-piece (n.) 1 (Aus. Und.) a tool used by a thief, ? a crowbar, ? a set of skeleton keys. 1901 W.S. Walker In the Blood 143: With 'master piece' in kit, I often do a bit. 2 see separate entry. master vein (n.) see separate entry.

Master John Goodfellow n. (also (Master) John Thursday) [generic use of John + SE goodfellow, a jovial companion; John Thursday was a 17C musician and dancing master, the supposed inventor of a dance known as the 'Hussarde'] the penis. 1653 Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) I Bk II 357: Here with in, — in showing her his long cod-piece, — Master John Thursday, who will play you such an antic, that you shall feel the sweetness thereof even to the very marrow of your bones. [Ibid.] 360: Hold (showing his long cod-piece), this is master John Goodfellow that asks for lodging. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocahula Amatoria (1966) 110: Epervier, m. The penis', 'Master John Goodfellow'. [Ibid.] 164: Jeudi (Jean). The penis', 'Master John Thursday'. 1942 H. Miller Roofs of Paris (1983) 11:1 can't keep her away from my dick, she begins to play with John Thursday.

Master Ketch n. see [ack Ketch n. master of... n. ■ In phrases master of ceremonies (n.) 1 the person who proposes a succession of toasts in a tavern. 1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that stands upon his strength, and begins new healths, Mr of the Ceremonies. 2 the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

master of misrule (n.) an uproarious drunkard. 1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that flings Cushions, Napkins, and Trenchers about the room, Mr. of Mis-rule.

master of the black art (n.) [in DSUE, Partridge, who dates it 16C-1 7C, notes 'the term is suspect') any beggar, irrespective of their 'speciality'. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues TV 289/2: MasterOF-THE-BLACK-ART, subs. (old), — A beggar.

master of the mint (n.) [a pun on the SE herb] a gardener. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. 1823

match

1546

Egan

Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet.

master of the novelties (n.) a playful drunkard. 1650 Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He that is first to begin new frolicks,

Mr of the Novelties. 1700 'The Art of Drinking' in Wit's Cabinet 137: He that begins new Frolicks, Master of the Novelties. master of the rolls (n.) [pun] a baker. 1641 H. Peacham Worth of a Penny in Arber Eng. Gamer VI 272: For a Penny, you may search among the rolls, and withal give the master good satisfaction. I mean, in the baker's basket [F&H]. c.1762 Derrick in Foster Goldsmith (5th edn) Bk III 167: 'No, no,' whispered

Derrick, who knew him to be a wealthy baker from the city, 'only for a master of the rolls' [F&H[. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1820 Jack Randall's Diary 51:

To Mr. Martin the Baker [...] Thou Master of the Rolls. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1826 Fancy i 123: Martin is the only baker who has appeared in Chancery Lane lately without insult; but they possess, generally, so little of the retiring modesty of their Master of the Rolls, that they deserve all they catch that way [F&H]. 1834 'The Mill' Museum of Mirth 45/1: 'How do you bet your blunt?' 'Vy, I'm six to four on the dead man.' 'Why, I'm all for doughey myself.' 'Vat, de baker?' 'Yes, I'm down upon the master of the rolls.' 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

master of the wardrobe (n.) [pun) one who pawns their clothes to get money for drink. 1700 'The Art of Drinking' in Wit's Cabinet 137: He that pawns his Cloak, Master of the Wardrobe. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the

Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

masterpiece n.

[joc. use of SE + pun on SE master + p/ece/PlECE

n.

(1)] the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

master vein n. [SE master-vein, a major vein, usu. the carotid artery or jugular vein]

■ In phrases hit on the master vein (v.) to become pregnant. 1592 Greene Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher

(1923) 29: My faire daughter was hit on the master vaine and gotten with childe.

prick the master vein (v.) of a man, to have sexual intercourse (cf.

HIT ON THE MASTER VEIN

above).

1672 'The Northern Ladd' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1893) VII: 1

171: A Barber-Surgeon came to me, whom I did take in great disdain, / He said his art I soon should see, / for he would prick my master-vein.

mat n.

[abbr. SE

mattress]

1

(US) a prostitute or sexually promiscuous

woman. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 137/1: Mat. A prostitute or a very promiscuous woman.

2 (US black) one's regular sweetheart, one's wife. 1934 J.L. Kuethe 'Prison Parlance' in AS IX: 1 27: mat. A woman. 1972

D. Dalby 'African element in American English', in Kochman Rappin' and Stylin' Out 182; mat — 'woman, wife'.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases go back to the mat (v.) (N.Z.) to return to nature, to be reduced in rank, circumstances. 1976 R. Morrieson Pallet on the Floor 49: They all go back to the mat

in the end. What's bred in the bone comes out in the flesh. And that's where you'll end up. Eating dried shark and sleeping on a mat.

on the mat [the small mat on which an accused soldier stood in the orderly room or the boxing mat; var.

ot ON THE CARPET

under

CARPET

n.^j 1 on trial.

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 726/2: from late lS90s.

2 facing a reprimand and/or punishment, also in fig. use. 1896 Ade Artie (1963) 101: That boy kind o' had me down on the mat. 1918 'Sapper' Human Touch 257: Bunny - stood on the mat in front

of his Company Commander. I use the phrase in its military sense [...] a state of affairs sometimes referred to by the vulgar phrase of 'getting it in the neck'. 1929 (con. 1916) F. Manning Her Privates We (1986) 130: I don't mind bein' on the mat, if it's wo'th it. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier. 1943 'Henry Green' Caught (2001) 74: Why would they 'ave 'ad 'im on the mat up at the station? 1951 D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 146: I'll put them on the mat for this! 1973 B.S. Johnson All Bull 24:1 was up on the mat about that as well. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 90; A lot of the guys blamed him for getting us put on the mat. 3 ready to fight; also in fig. use. 1908 Sporting Times 23 May 2/4: They'd better put the muzzle on their line of chesty chat, / An' pad their solar plexuses when I go on the mat. 1933 J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 258: If he turns you in to Norris, I'll go on the mat for you.

4 (US) under interrogation. 1929 D. Hammett 'Fly Paper' Story Omnibus (1966) 57: We can put Peggy Carroll on the mat again, but it's not likely we'll squeeze much more out of her. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 92/2: Put on the mat, a thorough questioning, usually by the police. 1945 A. Christie Sparkling Cyanide (1955) 102: I've got him on the mat again this morning.

5 in serious trouble, beaten. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 194: You're on the mat - vi'e're on the mat - how the hell are you going to get up again?

mat V. see carpet v. match n. [abbr. MATCHBOX n. (1)1 1 (US) a prison.

match 1908 B.

matey

1547 Fisher

a. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 104: I'd just

like to know why it is judges in the match.

oily John can't [...] put all troublesome

2 see MATCHBOX n. (2). match V. to light a cigarette (for someone). 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 162: Gimme a butt before I go [...] Now match me and I'm gone. 1957 E. Lehman Sweet Smell of Success [film script] Match me, Sidney. 1999 Observer Screen 26 Sept. 6: Burt Lancaster holds up his unlit cigarette and contemptuously orders Tony Curtis to 'Match me, Sydney',

matchbox n. 1 denoting size/flimsiness, (a) a very small house, or room. 1970 A. SiLLtTOE Start in Life (1979) 126: I [...] reckoned only on a short walk in the surrounding streets before going back to my matchbox for a hard-earned kip.

(b) a small car. 1961 V.S. Najpaul House For Mr Biswas 491: Matchbox, eh. English car, you know.

2 {US drugs) (also match) denoting quantity, (a) $10 worth of marijuana, orig. an actual matchbox full, by 1990s more like a thimbleful. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI' in AS L:l/2 62: matchbox « Quantity of marijuana, approximately what will fill a penny matchbox. 1980 E, Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 170: Man, in them olden days you could score a match. No more.

(b) approx. lOg (y20z) of marijuana. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues in Lingeman (1969) n.p.: He gave us a cut-rate price, a tobacco tin full-up with muta for two dollars or a Diamond matchbox full for four or five. 1969 R.R. LmGEUAti Drugs from Ato Z (1970) 166: matchbox [...] A measure of marijuana for sale; about 1/5 ounce, enough for rolling five to eight cigarettes. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2002 E. Damerson in Dusted Mag. at Trikont.com [Internet] [They] break out the matchbox as part of an abysmal, post-breakup self-destruction streak. 3 (UK Und.) an easily robbed target. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.].

matchstick n, a nickname for a very thin person; thus matchstick with the wood shaved off, an exceptionally thin person. 1959 1. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 189: He's as fat as a matchstick with the wood shaved off. [...] Thin people inspire almost as many names [...] matchstick (sometimes abbreviated to 'matchy').

mate n. lorig. used as sailor's jargon] 1 (also comate) a friend; thus (Aus.) mate up, to befriend. c,1380 Sir Ferumb. 1372: Florippe sayde: 'Maumecet my mate y-blessed mot jtou be For aled {tow hast muche debate to-ward jhys barnee' [OED]. 1573 New Custom II ii: Beleeue mee Simplicitie, that will worke us the mischiefe. Hath that same new Jacke gone him such a mate. 1576 U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 6th dialogue 29: Let us [..,] fall to drinking, for when I haue well swilde my soule, then am I a mate for all companies. 1582 Stanyhurst 0/his/EneislU.: My mates launcht forward theyre fleete. 1590 Three Lords and Three Ladies of London C 5: Now happie may we call this meris day my mates. Wherein we meet, 1602 Rowlands Greene’s Ghost Haunting Coniecatchers dedic, A4: Yet there be more notorious strumpets and their mates about the Citie and the suburbs, than euer were before the Marshall was appointed: idle mates I meane. 1605 Life and Death of Gamaliel Ratsey 7: London, thinking there to finde men of all facultie, and copes-mates to fit his humour. 1633 Ford 'Tis Pity She's a Whore III ix: Why, how now, friends! What saucy mates are you / That know nor duty nor civility? 1638 R. Brathwait Barnabees Journal II L8: Yea, my merry mates and I too / Oft to ih' Cardinals Hat fly to. 1658 W. Chamberlayne Love's Victory 56: Lost! hey - 'tis no matter and we were Both lost, so we could find some of our old Mates again - Ich can't abide these Courtknowles. 1664 C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk IV 75: Over and over then she treats / Him, and his Mates, with sundry Meats. 1670 'The Joviall Crew or Beggers-Bush' in Euing Broadside Ballads No, 150: We billet our Mates, / At vey low rates. 1681 S. Colvil Whiggs Supplication Pt II 13: Among the rest he did espy ones. Whom he conceived to be Heeones: Those he believed were his Mates. 1714 J. Lacey Sauny the Scot I i: Mates, Madam, 'Faith, no Mates for you, unless you were a little Tamer. 1724 Hist, of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard 8: He and his MATE were now in a strong and well-guarded Prison. 1772 G. Stevens 'Tom o' Bedlam' Songs Comic and Satyrical 228: To the Hospital dragg'd him [...] Tom cry'd out - At Bedlam is madness refus’d? / His Comate reply'd - Brother Tom do not fret. 1821 Tom Shuttle and Blousalinda 9: Then as he lost he fractious grew, / And swore his mates were cheating. 1837 Comic Almanack Aug. 102: Soft, simple innocent! - how well you show / The gentle pastimes of your

Cockney mates. 1844 Tom Cladpole's Jurney to Lunnun 14: Good night ol' mate Says I; an den turn'd in. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 265; Whilst my mates are drinking the 'belch,' I want to talk business with you. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 69/1: My mate got a nick with a stone just on the head. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 121: A prisoner gets tobacco [and] a 'mate' smells it, and discovers what he has got. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 236: I've always been on the square with you and your mates. 1892 Kipling 'Cells' BarrackRoom Ballads (1893) 161: I started o' canteen porter, I finished o' canteen beer, / But a dose o' gin that a mate slipped in, it was that that brought me here. 1900 Boy's Own Paper 10 Nov. 82: Three members of the party killed by the Indians had been his mate. 1908 J, Gunn We of the Never-Never (1962) 125: 'Good evening, mates,' he said dismounting. 1916 'A-No. 1' Snare of the Road 81: Chow Billy and I had been hobo mates for a good many months. 1927 (con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 91: Elmer and he had been mates; together they had [...] indulged in haymow venery. 1938 F. Blakeley Hard Liberty 119: Fellows of Australia! Blokes, and Coves, and Mates! 1943 Mass-Observation Report on Juvenile Drinking 8: 'I don't drink with me mates, only when me mother and father gets some in for a barney, and then we have a "go" at it.' (Boy, 16, Fulham). 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 247: Where's your mate, Behan? 1977 K. Gilbert Living Black 218: If a man is good enough to be himself and stand up for his mate, he's a man. A mate's a mate. 1987 B. CHATWtN Songlines 62: You and me could be mates, Bru. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 49; It was only when she was with her mates that she got brave. With her mates and dancing. 2000 Observer Screen 16 Jan. 20: He won't rape me 'cos he's my mate. 2 (orig. Aus.) a general term of address to a man, usu. by a man. C.1800 'Jack Oakum in the Suds' in Holloway & Black (1975) I 133: He cried, bear a hand mate, now with you I'll go. 1848 'Ned BUNTLtNE' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. Ill 10: Leave that to the Justice, mate, we’ve enough on our hands now, 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 344: Hullo, mate, what ship's that? 1866 Broad Arrow Jack 22: Look here, mates, there's something more earthly in this. 1871 C. Money Knocking About in N.Z. 92: Well mate, what luck? 1880 D.W. Barrett Life and Work among Navvies 105: What do you say, mate, to goin' next Sunday? 1890 H. Lawson 'Cherry-Tree Inn' in Roderick (1967-9) I 85; Do you think, my old mate (if it's thinking you be) / Of the days when you tramped to the goldfields with me? 1900 Boy's Own Paper 8 Dec. 152: Feel better, mate? 1910 Marvel 15 Oct. 20: It's all right, matel 1916 C.J. Dennis 'War' in Moods of Ginger Mick 23: 'E sez to me, 'Well, mate. I've done me luck; / An' Rose is arstin', "Wot about this war?"'. 1926 'Sapper' Final Count 811; 'E ain't been in London long, 'ave yer, mate? 1937 E. Garnett Family from One End Street 125: £500 reward, and we'd retire for life, mate. 1945 F.J. Hardy Man From Clinkapella 3: You'll be alright, mate. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 18; How long you doing mate? 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 35: Wrong number, mate. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 43: Only the best, mates, 1987 B. Chatwin Songlines 33: See you around, mate. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 40: I reckon we're on, I really do, mate. 2004 T. Winton 'Big World' in Turning (2005) 2: Up north, mate, think north!

■ Derivatives mateship (n.) (Aus.) the state of friendship. 1979 D.

Maitland

Breaking Out 322: That's what I like — good old

Aussie mateship.

■ In compounds mate’s rates (n.) 1 (orig. Aus.) discounted rates made available to friends of the business/enterprise. 1980 Cordell et al. Versatility of Kinship 198: One of our friends can 'get it for us wholesale,' another will do the job at 'mate's rates'. 1999 G. Cowlishaw Rednecks, Eggheads and Blackfells 352: Tacit rules for nepotistic relations where a friend or relation is meant to charge 'mates rates'. 2004 R, Birch Master of the Ceremonies 266: As a major Olympic sponsor, they were pretty pleased to discover that we were ordering large quantities without even asking for mate's rates. 2007 J. Thorne Stacy 11: I bet she's paying 'mate's rates' though. 2 (N.Z.) payment in cash; no actual friendship need be involved. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi Si. 72/2: mate's rates payment that may not involve the Inland Revenue department, usually for trade work, not necessarily involving mates. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit, 1988].

matelo/mateloe/matelo/matelowt n. see matlow n. matey n. (also matie, maty) [mate n.| 1 a pal, a chum, a companion; usu. as a term of address [Francis-Jackson, Official Dancehalt Diet. (1995), defines W.l. use as 'a female friend' only). 1821-5 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 24; She is quite a sky¬ rocket of an enemy - a complete Tartar, matey. 1859 H. Kingsley

Recollections ofG. Hamlyn (1891) 294: 'Matey,' says I, (you see I was

matey

matriculate

1548

familiar, he seemed such a jolly sort of bird). 1866 J. Greenwood A Little Ragamuffin 239: Cheer up, matey! 1878 Besant & Rice By Celia's Arbour III 194: Good-night, matey, 1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag &Co. 112: Giving me a hearty, 'What cheer, matey?' beckoned me towards him. 1885 J.S, Borlase Blue Cap, the Bushranger 16/1: It's my matey, Ab Sim. 1895 The Bulletin 9 Feb. n.p.: Got a cigar in yer old clothes, matey? / Lor' blue me if I'm not dead for a smoke. 1914 R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 152: That's just my opinion, matey. 1914 Chuckles 10 Jan. 1: 'Cheer up, matey,' chirrupped Ben. 1916 R. Service 'Funk' in Rhymes of a Red Cross Man 59: Don't let your mateys know it— / You're just sufferin' from funk, funk, funk. 1925 N. Lucas Autobiog. of a Thief 2A0-. 'When do you got out, matey?' said the first convict. 1930 M. Allingham Mystery Mile (1982) 321: You sit down, matey, an' 'ave a friendly game o' cards. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p,: A dime wouldn't break you, would it. Matey? 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 106: Listen, matey, how about you and me stepping out tomorrow night? 1961 H. Livings Stop it. Whoever You Are (1962) Act II: Stop mucking about, it's home-time now, old maty. 1964 Orton Entertaining Mr Sloane Act II: I had a matie. What times we had. 1991 Osborne Devu Act I: Nary a card on the mat for me, matie. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 317: If you don't have laws [...] then you certainly don't have any order matey, 2001 M. Coles The Bible in Cockney 70: Now listen here, matey. 2 (W./.) a rival. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: 2. a rival: u. to banton yuh matey/to go one up on one's rival.

matey ad/, (a/so maty) [mate n.j friendly. 1915 T. Burke Nights in Town 206: A little drop of port for the missus - 'just by way,' as he explained, 'of being matey'. 1923 Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith (1993) 582: He seemed such a dashed matey sort of bird. 1930 M. Allingham Mystery Mile (1982) 371: What's to prevent my killing you, as soon as we stop being matey? 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 100: These boangs are all too matey. 1954 (con. 1940s) T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of the Wind 35: You two seemed damned maty [...] You and the Jap. 1967 F. Sargeson Hangover 153: Booze [...] makes you feel matey - and oh yes, two senses intended. 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 232: He's just trying to be matey. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 158: The Copper was relieved that for once we weren't getting at him, and he got all matey again. 1999 Guardian Guide 12-18 June 10: The blokey, matey [...] contingent,

matie n. [abbr.l {W.I./UK black teen) an automatic weapon. 1992 V. Headley Yardie 52: One left the place and come back with a 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Matie

matie.

automatic (usually of guns).

Matie n. (also Maatie) [maat n.j 1 (S.Afr.) a student at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape. 1932 O.S. Hatch Olivia's African Diary 10: Their own nickname is 'Matie.' Their spirit, songs, and cheers seemed much like those of American students. 1985 Sun. Star 27 Oct. 16: As one of the eight Maties who wanted to meet the ANC youth, I do not understand the grounds on which our visit is opposed [DSAE], 1992 J. Momberg in Cape Times 20 May 9: As a member of the ANC, I am proud to be an old Matie [DSAE], 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1921 Cathartic (University of Cape Town) Sept. 4: We believe that the recent protest on the part of the S.R.C. to the Maatie University, re the name 'Ikey,' which has been applied to us at Inter-Varsity, has caused considerable criticism in 'Varsity circles [DSAE]. 1963 Babrow & Stent Varsity Spirit 52: The game started in a fresh burst of rain with Varsity taking play into Matie territory with a concerted forward rush. But Stellenbosch retaliated. 1971 Summary of World Broadcasts 6 Dec. [BBC radio] A group of five Matie (University of Stellenbosch) and four Ikey (University of Cape Town) students [etc.].

■ In compounds Matieland (n.) Stellenbosch University; the town of Stellenbosch. 1966 Cape Argus (S. Afr.) 8 Mar. 7: Matieland banishes Jumbo. A farewell ceremony was held at Wilgenhof hostel, Stellenbosch, yesterday in honour of a resident who has been suspended by the university authorities [DSAE]. 1979 C. Nqakula in Daily Dispatch 12 Oct. (Indaba) 7: Down Matieland [way] they call it wine tasting, but upstairs in my head I knew I was drinking wine a distinct difference between tasting the stuff and pushing the glass away [DSAE].

matie n. see matey n. matilda n. (also tilly) (Aus.) a tramp's pack; thus matilda up, carrying a pack; matilda-bearer, matilda-carrier, matilda-hawker, matilda-lumper, matilda-man, matilda-waltzer, a vagrant. 1893 H. Lawson in Seal (1999) 161: A swag is not generally referred to as a 'bluey' or 'Matilda' — it is called a 'swag' [...] You do not 'hump bluey' - you simply carry your swag. 1905 'On the Road to Gundagai' in 'Banjo' Paterson Old Bush Songs 25: So we shouldered

our 'Matildas,' and we turned our back on town. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Dec. 27/4: He was sittin' down on Matilda, lookin' fair done in, reg'ler dead beat. [...] 'Where are yer makin' for? If it's on my track. I'll give you an' Tilly a lift,' sez 1. 'Blowed if I know,' sez he. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Sept. 13/4: When Matilda and I strike Paradise I won't growl about the tucker as long as I get nothing worse than grilled wallaby on toasted halo, served up at eternity's breakfast table, 1917 'Banjo' Paterson 'Waltzing Matilda' in Saltbush Bill (1924) 24: And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling, / 'Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?' 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] MATILDA — Bushman's swag. C.1943 'Bill O. Lading' You Chirped a Chinfull! n.p.: Matilda-. Blanket roll. 1957 J, Greenway 'Australian Cattle Lingo' in AS XXXIII:3 167: matilda, n. Blanket roll loosely tied and carried over one shoulder. Often used indiscriminately with bluey, drum, swag and shiralee. Origin obscure. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 10: Bluey: A bedroll containing clothing and other odds and ends carried by a swagman, also known as a swag or Matilda. 1999 G, Seal Lingo 161: matilda is now one of the best-known terms for this bundle of belongings.

■ In phrases carry Matilda (v.) (also hump Matilda, walk Matilda) (Aus.) to go on the tramp, carrying one's pack. 1901 H. Lawson 'The Romance of the Swag' in Roderick (1972) 501: Travelling with the swag in Australia is variously and picturesquely described as 'humping bluey', 'walking Matilda', 'humping Matilda', 'humping your drum', 'being on the wallaby', 'jabbing trotters', and 'tea and sugar burglaring'. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 July 13/1: I take it that 'J, Pannikin,' who writes enthusiastically of the warm welcome he received from squatters everywhere in N.S.W. is either an unabashed liar or one who humps Matilda in a wheeled vehicle. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 231/2: CARRY the knot (CARRY MATILDA) see hump the bluey. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 26/1: carry Matilda to carry one's swag or 'matilda'; NZ variant of Australian 'waltz Matilda'. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

matinee n. [SE matinee,

an afternoon theatrical performance]

1

sexual

intercourse (usu. adulterous or with a prostitute) in the afternoon.

1944 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 429: When the husband was on the road we would have matinees - she was a swell lay. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 91: brief sex act accomplished at noontime [...] matinee [trick]. [Ibid.] 132: matinee sexual encounter taking place during the early afternoon. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 111: Who the hell orders a chicken at seven o'clock on Monday. It's always midnights or matinees. 2 a prostitute's client who makes his appointments for the afternoon. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 12: Some commuting businessmen, called matinees, reject the night hours altogether, and come afternoons between two and four-thirty,

matjieta n. see majita n. matlow n. (also matelo, mateloe, matelot, matelow, matloe) matelot, a sailor] (orig. RN) a sailor; also attrib.

[Fr.

1847 J. Downey Cruise of the Portsmouth (1963) 216: You was sure to meet lots of Matelo's [...] wending their way to their various quarters. 1904 Kipling Traffics and Discoveries 58: Simultaneous it hits the Pusser that 'e'd better serve out mess pork for the poor matlow. 1917 B.E.F. Times 15 Aug. (2006) 211/1: Our gallant mallows sing twice daily the Hymn of Hate. 1923 'Bartimeus' 'The Look' in Seaways 149: The other sort: the sort us matelows has to turn to when we wants a bit of company. 1928 (con. WWI) 'Taffrail' 'A Little Drop o' Leaf in Little Ship 242: 'You're sailors, aren't you?' [...] 'We're matloes, if that's wot you mean.' 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier. 1945 D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 88: None o' these bastards in them offices ever thinks o' the poor mallows wot 'as all the work to do. 1955 A. Covey-Crump, RN Covey Crump MATELOT or MATLOW The sailor's name for himself. From the French. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 99; One of them [...] mentioned that he wouldn't mind lumbering the matelot up his lattie. 1976 (con. 1920s) V. King Weeping and Laughter 134: 'Sailor' or 'matelot' parties were very popular. Both men and girls fancied themselves in the smart white pique or the undress vest of the lower deck.

mat-man n. (the SE mat on which he fights] (orig. US) a wrestler. 2002 advert at www.matmanwrestling.com [Internet] Matman Wres¬ tling Company — Quality Wrestling Supplies since 1969.

matriculate v. (US campus) to start on a trip, to go somewhere. 1973

Eble

Campus SI. Nov. 3: matriculate [...] Shall we matriculate

campuswards? (Based on the conversational style of the comic strip Pogo). 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 42: They also enjoy creating mock learned words that sound like polysyllabic borrowings from Greek or Latin: [...] matriculate 'start a trip'.

matrimonial

matrimonial n. [seen as the usual practice of married couples] sexual intercourse in the 'missionary position'. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

matrimonial peacemaker

n. [peacemaker under peace n.j the penis, based on sexual intercourse as an agency of peace between married couples. 1708 N. Ward Adam and Eve 109: A loving Reconciliation, by the

seasonable Intercession of the Matrimonial Peace-maker. 1733 Laugh and Be Fat 27: He had more Wit in his Anger, than to revenge himself of .an ill Tongue, by burning his Peace-maker. [Ibid.] 81: Then tumbled into Bed, where all past Differences were reconcil'd by the matrimonial Peace-Maker. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Matrimonial Peace-maker. The sugarstick, or arbor vitae. 1811 Lex. Balatronkum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1788]. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues [as cit. 1788].

matrimony n. Hit.

a 'marriage'] a mixture of two sorts of food or

drink. 1813 Examiner (London) 17 May 317/1: That injudicious mixing of wines, which is called matrimony [OED], 1883’0^;7v/e's Imperial Diet. (new edn) n.p.: Matrimony, [...] 4. A name given jocularly to raisins and almonds mixed, and various other common combinations [OED]. 1892 M. North Recollections Happy Life I 103: They gave us glasses of 'matrimony', a delicious compound made of star-apple sugar and the juice of Seville oranges,

matsakaw n. (also matsakow) |ety. 1977

S.N.

Pradhan Drug Abuse.

unknown]

2001

(drugs)

heroin.

ONDCP Street Terms 14:

Matsakow — Heroin, 1930 G. Milburn 'Who Said I Was a Bum?' in Hobo's Hornbook 143:1

haven't shaved for nearly a year, [...] A cop gave me a chase. / I thought I heard him holler, / 'Take that mattress off yer face!' 2 (US) pubic hair.

mattress polo (n.) (US) sexual intercourse. 1933 J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 221: We're all professional mattress polo players, Casy replied; they leered and snickered.

■ In phrases go to the mattresses (v.) (also hit the mattresses) [the practice of sleeping on mattresses in one's hideout, rather than in one's bed at home. Orig. a US Mafia usage, the phr. was widely popularized by the success of Mario Puzo's book The Godfather (1969) and the films that followed) (orig. US Und.) to hide, to take refuge, esp. when under siege from another gang. 1969 M. Puzo Godfather 104: Their job today was to find an apartment in case the Family decided to 'go to the mattresses'. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 1891: And all we're trying to do is stop the button men from hitting the mattresses. 2005 G. Pelecanos Drama City 77: Lee had fathered a couple of children, what they called beef babies, [...] when he'd gone to the mattresses, Corleonestyle.

maty see under matey. matZGr n. [ult. the Jewish food matze, unleaved bread] (US) a Jew. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 204: And such a bunch! Waps, Dagoes, Matzers, Syrians, all varieties,

matzo n. see motzer n. maud n. (also maude) [play on the female proper name] 1 (US black) a 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 253: If she read a Novel containing a Love Scene, the other Maud Mullers thought she was a bit Daring. 1934 J.L. Kuethe 'Prison Parlance' in AS IX: 1 27: maud. A woman. 2 a male prostitute. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 727: since ca. 1940.

1938 'Justinian' Americana Sexualis 28: Mattress, n. The pubic hair.

3 a dowdy or overweight male homosexual.

3 (US) the face. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

4 (Aus.lUS) (also mattrass) a woman as a sexual partner; a girlfriend; also attrib. [the man 'lies' on her]. 1955 W. White 'Wayne University SI.' AS XXX:4 302: mattress mary

[...] n. Woman of loose morals. 1960 (con. 1940s) G. Morrill Dark Sea Running 43: Ray was cocky good-looking guy. In every port we hit he was the big mattress man around town. 1963 G.L. Coon Short End 218: Bertha was just one great big warm mattress. 1994 P. Baker Blood Posse 64: Nadine's the mattress for the whole football team. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Mattrass someone, usually female who sleeps around. 5 (US Und.) a war between US Mafia families [backform. f. co to the below].

1963 (ref. to 1931) Chillicothe (MO) Constitution-Trib. 2 Oct.

1/2: Valachi said the 'Boss of Bosses,' Salvatore Maranzano told him there was going to be another gang war, a 'mattress.'

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds mattressback (n.) 1 (Aus.lUS) a sexually promiscuous woman. 1960 J. Barth Sot-Weed Factor (1965) 461: Whore! [...]

'Poupinette!' 'Mattressback!' ‘Brimballeuse!' 1974 C. Token Come Monday Morning 128: Even if he got drunk enough endin' up givin' ole mattressback Carol a fast jab or two. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mattress back. 1. A woman, particularly one of easy virtue. 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 227: usage: 'I hear the new mess maggot is a bit of a mattress-back'. 2 (Aus. prison) a prisoner who spends a lot of time in their cell. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mattress back. 2. A prisoner who spends a lot of time in his cell, mattress jig (n.) (US) sexual intercourse. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 404: If she who seduced me had left but the name. What do you want for ninepence. Machree, Macruiskeen. Smutty Moll for a mattress jig. And a pull alltogether. Exl mattress job (n.) dob n.^ (2)| a beating by police to persuade a person to make a confession. The victim is placed under a mattress and then jumped and stamped upon, so no visible marks are left

1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: maud:- A slightly mocking term applied to another homosexual by another person. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 226: For some reason, Maud is traditional for a fat queen,

maud and ruth n. irhy. sl.l the truth. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

mauger adj. (also maaga, mawga, mawgah, mawgar, mawgre, meagre) |Du. mager, lean or Fr. maigre, thin] (W./.) thin, scrawny. 1901 Monroe & Northup 'College Words and Phrases' in DN ILiii 143: mauger, adj. Sickly, weak in appearance. 1909 'Tom Redcam' One Brown Gal 35/1: Look how me poor little body meagre and shivrel wid hard time. 1910 Anderson & Cundall Jamaica Proverbs and Sayings 37: Mauger plantain better dan none at all. 1929 M. Beckwith Jamaica Proverbs (1970) 34: Daag mauger him head big. 1933 (con. 1900s) C. McKay Banana Bottom 303: It's [...] bettah than runnin' from pillar to post like a mawgar dawg. 1942 L. Bennett 'Show Yuh Foot' in Jam. Dialect Poems 42: You shame fe show yuh mawga foot? 1950 Bennett, Clarke & Wilson Anancy Stories and Dialect Verse 19: You care mauger cow, a you him buck. 1953 W.G. Ogilvie Cactus Village 24: Kiah is pettin' that mawgah gyal too much. 1966 (con. 1940s) L. Bennett 'Bear Up' in Jamaica Labrish 53: Noh mock mawga cow, him a bull muma. 1980 M. Thelwell Harder They Come 208: The little mauger one wid de grayhead is Raccoon de High Priest. 1983 T. White Catch a Fire 115: He looked 'maaga' (wretchedly thin). 1983 V. Bloom 'Mek Ah Ketch Har' in Touch Mi, Tell Mi 12: Dat mawga gal name Sue. 1989 C. Hyatt When Me Was A Boy 65: Slim an Sam, one was tall and mawga an the other one shorter and fat. 1990 L. Goodison Baby Mother and King of Swords 15: Well my 'friend' them was some mawgre dog! 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Mawgah extremely slim, thin: u. bwoy, yuh mawgah, eeh?/6oy, you are skinnyl 2002 L.K. Johnson 'Story' in Mi Revalueshanary Fren 45: Mi get soh resless / dat mi get careless / an goh bare mi mawgah chess. 2005 (con. c. 1945) A. Wheatle Island Songs (2006) 51: Welton knew there was no way he could tempt the harsh¬ mouthed sisters into purchasing one of his cheap 'maaga' goats.

Mauie Wowie n. (also Maui waui(e), Maui wowee, Maui Zowie) (Maui,

a Hawaiian island

-F SE wowl,

an

excl. of

pleasure or astonishment]

(US drugs) a potent variety of marijuana, grown in Maui, Hawaii.

on the victim's body. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 48: At the police station 1 was given a 'mattress job',

mattress-muncher

[Internet] Yep, when you hear a poof joke, you might bite your tongue in these politically correct days, but these guys bite their pillows. They're mattress munchers - and proud of it. Turd burglars. Drillers for Vegimite.

woman.

mattress n. 1 (US) a beard.

MATTRESSES

Mauie Wowie

1549

(n.) |his response to anal intercourse]

passive homosexual man; thus

much the mattress

(orig. Aus.)

a

v.

1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 21: Any bloke who [...] uses the adjectives 'bizarre' and 'stunning' in the same sentence munches the mattress. 1988 B. Humphries Complete Barry McKenzie v: The Australian Cultural Scene, which is, let's face it, largely run by pillow biters and raving mattress munchers. 2002 l-94Bar 3:11

1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 205: Once, after smoking half a joint of Mauie Wowie, he'd been reduced to using Crisco as a dip for Ritz crackers. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 97: Maui-waui [...] Hawaiian-grown marijuana. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 174: A plastic Sputnik model, a signed copy of Das Kapital, and a lid of grass — Maui Wowee to be specific. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Maui wauie — Marijuana from Hawaii. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 146: A corncucoopia of mind-bending brain-numbers are laid out attrac¬ tively [...] Maui Zowie Hurricane Swirl, Afghani Moses Bull Rush

mauk and Moroccan Fez Blower. 2004 T.

Dorsey

Cadillac Beach 198: One

part Maui-Wowee rad resin weed that makes you see the Devil,

mauk n. see mawkes n. maukin n. see malkin n. maul V. 1 [US campus) to have a very passionate petting session. 1875 in Harper's Mag. Sept. 618: She's de on'y girl a feller wants to maul, and she's de on'y one a feller can't. 1930 J.P. McEvoy Hollywood Girl 37: 1 am [...] what is technically known as a virgin although 1 have been most thoroughly and thrillingly mauled on many occasions. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 313: Mauling the girl. You oughter have more sense — and her too. 1945 .l.B. Priestly Three Men in New Suits 103: I've had enough mauling about and I'm off it. So don't say I didn't warn you. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2 to treat something in a sensuous manner. 1961 J.A. Williams Night Song (1962) 40: That sweet-blowing Johnny Hodges who mauled an alto.

mauldy adj. [? mauley n. (1)| (Aus.) left-handed; as n., a lefthanded person. 1926 J. Doone Timely Tips For New Australians 19: MAULDY. — Left handed. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 235/2: mauldy - a

left-handed person,

mauled ad/, very drunk. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Maul’d swingingly Drunk. 1725

New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

mauler

mauming and gauming

1550

n. (also

mawler) (SE maul, to handle roughly] 1 the hand, the

fist. 1816 W.T. Moncrieff All at Coventry II ii: Duelling's not the go now, pops have given place to maulers. 1842 Flash (N.Y.) 10 July 2/3: In the twenty-eighth Bob had utterly lost the use of his right mawler, and went to grass. 1873 W.H. Thomes Bushrangers 101: 'You can use yer mawlers, can yer, little bantam? Well, so can I [...]' He drew back his huge fist ]...] and aimed a blow at my face. 1896 G.F. Northall Warwickshire Word-Book 142: Maulers. The hands. 1901 J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life II 319: He would have [...] become enthusiastic over the sledgehammer blows of the left 'mauler'. 1926 N. Fleischer in Ring Nov. 10: mauler -- A hand. 1931 R.E. Howard 'Texas Fists' Fight Stories May [Internet] I sunk my left mauler to the wrist in his midriff. 1959 A. Sillitoe 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 23: There he stood, the palms of his upshot maulers flat and turned out so's I could step on 'em. 1976 (ref. to 1930s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 109: He caught one right under the Vera Lyn from George's great mauler. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 111: Us chinas to be there in case the others thrust their grubby maulers in. 2003 Brummagem Diet. [Internet] mawlers npl. hands. 2 (US) a boxer. 1908 Sporting Times 11 July 1/4: 'Is it X-?' asked the sacrifice. 'It is,' said the mauler. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1962 H.S. Thompson letter 16 Feb. in Proud Highway (1997) 320:1 dig a smooth mauler. 1999 N.Y. Times Books [Internet] Especially in contrast to the 'machinelike,' 'scientific' Tunney, reporters painted Dempsey as a 'mauler,' a 'vicious beast,' a dark (he usually wore a several-day-old beard) 'savage' in the ring. 3 a punch. 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 271: 'Alrite,' said Max, just getting a smack in the eye with a chunk of soap, 'for every one I get, you'll get ten maulers in the ribs.' 4 brass knuckles. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 123: He looked surprisedly down at his hand. He slipped the mauler off and threw it casually in the corner.

mauley

n. (also maulie, mauly, mawley, morley) |SE maul, to handle roughly or Shelta malya, ult. transposition of Gaelic lamh, hand]

1 the hand, a fist. 1789 implied in slang the mauleys below. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: morleys hands. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Mawley. A hand. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 219: Knowing the use of their morleys, fear is out of the question. 1821 J. Burrowes Life in St George's Fields 21: Every thing but what was capable of passing the throat was well secured from the mauleys. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 415: Tip us your flipper* [* Tip us your flipper— your mawley — your daddle, or your thieving hook, are terms made use of as occasions may suit the company in which they are introduced, to signify a desire to shake hands], c.1830 'Smith's Frolic' in Holloway & Black II (1979) 61: For down in my groper her morley I got. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 158: Lalla's right mauley was doubled up to his right ear. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 258: Vith mawleys raised, Tom bent his back, / As if

to plant a heavy thwack. 1848

'Ned Buntline'

Mysteries and Miseries of

N.Y. I 12: You will have it then, my covey; you're mighty fond of my mawleyl 1857 advert in 'Ducangb Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857) 45: Mr. H. nabs the chance of putting his customers awake, that he has just made his escape from Russia, not forgetting to clap his mawleys upon some of the right sort of Ducks to make single and doublebacked Slops for gentlemen in black. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 62: MAULEY, a fist. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 49/1: How did you manage to get your 'mauley' on them [i.e. jewels] in the dark, eh? [Ibid.] 157/2: Advancing to us with a short black pipe in his gills, he held out his big 'mauly'. 1866 Night Side of N.Y. 83: Regular hammer-and-tongs prize fights, in which the combatants have their 'mawleys' encased in the 'mufflers'. 1877 'The Fashionable Coaley' in Laughing Songster 100: Comes up to me, in all his dirt - / And offered me his mawley! 1878 C. Hindley Life and Times of James Catnach 129: They slapped a pick-axe into vone of my mauleys. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 1: It take a good man to put me on my back, or stand up to me with the gloves, or the naked mauleys, 1889 "Arry on the Battle of Life in Punch 21 Sept, in P. Marks (2006) 137: You've got to be fly with your mawleys. 1899-1901 H. Lawson '"Water Them Geraniums in Roderick (1972) 583: Don't touch Mrs Wilson's baby with them dirty maulies. 1900 Sporting Times 31 Mar, 2/1: He planted his dump-soles wide apart, smote upon his breast, shook his dexter mawley at the receding rattler. 1911 'Madge The Society Detective' in Roberts et al. Old Sleuth's Freaky Female Detectives (1990) 106/1: She used her fists, she did, and I never see a man who could use his mauleys any better. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 4: I've tried to teach you not to put the last foot first, an' not to lead off wi' the wrong mawley. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 173: Keep your mauleys off. 1946 R.L. Bellem 'Latin Blood' in Speed Detective Aug. [Internet] I strode forward with my maulies bailed [sic]. 2001 P. Bailey Three Queer Lives Ml'. She would bang her 'maulies' (her term for 'fists') on the table.

2 a finger, usu. in pi. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 727: ca. 1845. 3 a signature; handwriting. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 312/1: The 'swells' [...] 'come down with a couter' (sovereign) if they 'granny the mauley' (perceive the signature) of a brother officer or friend. 1873 SI. Diet. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 192: Mauley [...] one's signature: 'I put my mauley on it.' ]...] Mauley Handwriting.

■ In phrases fam the mauley (v.) to shake hands. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.:

Mawley.

A hand. [...] Fam the mawley;

shake hands.

slang the mauleys (v.) 1 to shake hands. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 136: I say, how are you? slang us your mauly, what lock do you cut now?

2 to fight with one's hands or fists. 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 60: Those necessary professional accomplishments, such as [...] how to slang your mawley. 1822 D. Carey Life in Paris 72: A 'first-rate slanger of the morleys'.

maulkin n. see malkin n. mauma n. see mammy n.\ mau-mau n. (US) a burglar. 1953 E. Hemingway letter 26/27 Apr. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 820: No more mau-maus (burglars) since the last shootly-maru.

mau-mau v. [proper name Mau-Mau, Kenyan guerrillas of 1950s who spearheaded the drive to free their nation from British rule. The term is bestknown in the title of Tom Wolfe's essay Mau-Mauing the Flak-Catchers (1970)].(US) of black or minority activists, to harass the white establishment for their community's gain, esp. by taking advant¬ age of liberal guilt. [1967 Ragni & Rado 'Colored Spade' [lyrics] I'm a / Colored spade / A nigger / A black nigger / A jungle bunny / Jigaboo coon / Pickaninny man man.] 1971 Harper's Mag. June 9: The English Department of Columbia University had been mau-maued by that termagant of Women's Lib. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 446: Some paper cats running around, trying to mau-mau some loose change from the bearded, white, liberal merchants. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 140: He kept staring at the guy [...] Nobody was going to man mau him. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 466: He cawls it, arfta some sixties Black Poer fing, 'Mau-Mauing'; I cawl it acting tha cunt.

mauming and gauming n. [? SE maul + Scot, glaum, to snatch at] pawing in an amorous or sexual manner. 1738 Swift Compl. Colt. Genteel Conversat. 81: Don't be mauming and gauming a Body so. Can't you keep your filthy Hands to your self?

maun

maun n, {UK Und.) a hand; thus phr. tip us your mauns, give me your hands, shake hands. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 22: Mauns, tip us your - give me your hand. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835]. C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Mauns, to tip tip us your mauns; shake hands, or give me your hand, maund n. [maund v.l {UK Und.) 1 begging; thus a specific begging ruse, e.g. a fake sore. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 39: What maunde doe you beake, what kind of begging vse you? 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 M4: When the soare is aboue the elbow, as if it were broken, or hurt by falling from a Scaffold, it is called Masons Mavnd. 2 a beggar. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: The Cove tipt the Maund but a single Baubee [...] The Gentleman has given the Beggar but a single Half¬ penny.

■ In phrases soldier’s maund (n.) {also soldier’s mawnd) {UK Und.) a fake wound, assumed by beggars who wish to pose as soldiers returned from the wars; thus the beggar who uses this ruse. 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 M4: The Souldier hath his Soare alwayes on his left arme [...] betwixt the elbow and the wrest, and is called by the name of Soutdiers Mavnd. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Souldiers-Mawn'd, a Counterfeit Sore or Wound in the Left Arm. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698[. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classieal Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p,: Soldier's mawnd. A pretended soldier, begging with a counterfeit wound, which he pretends to have received at some famous siege or battle. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. maund v. (a/so maund it, mawnd) [? Fr. mendier/quemendier, to beg, ult. Lat. mendicus, a beggar, the root of the SE mendicant. Note Rom. mang, to beg) {UK Und.) to ask or require; thus to beg; thus maunding n. and adj. C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 84: to maunde to aske or require. 1592 Groundworke of Connycatching A3: Maund of this Morte what bene peck is in hir ken. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: If we mawnd Pannam, lap, or Ruff-peck. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 39: Maunding begging. What maund doe you beake, what kind of begging vse you? [Ibid.] 42: If that she were dead [...] Then would 1 pad and maund with thee. C.1635 Cunning Northern Beggar in Ribton-Turner (1887) n.p.: I will by my maunding / Get some reliefe / To ease my griefe. c.1660 'The Knight and the Beggar-Wench' in Euing Broadside Ballads No. 155: This Beggar 1 shall describe [...] was one of the maunding tribe. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 44: Having sufficiently warmed our brains with humming Liquor, which our Lower (Silver) shall procure: if our deceitful Maunding (Begging) cannot, we then sing a catch or two in our own Language. 1674 'The Beggars Curse' Head Canting Aeademy (1674) 14: [as cit. 1608]. 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [.,.] Mawnding, Asking. Mawnd, Beg. c.1698 B. E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Maund-ing c. to Beg, Begging. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 182: He [upright man] stands in statu quo, all the Morts, Dells, and Doxies, or Women of the several Degrees and Orders amongst them, are at his Command: as likewise the best of whatever they Filch or Maund, that is. Steal or Beg. 1724 Coles Eng. Diet. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 15: To beg - Maund. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mawnding, asking, or begging, {cant). 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Maunding. Asking or begging, 1811 Lex. Balatronieum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1788], 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotlen SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

■ In phrases maund abram (v.) [abram n.| to beg while posing as a madman. 1610

maven

1551

Rowlands

Martin Mark-all 36: Abram madde. 37: He maunds

Abram, he begs as a madde man. maunding cove (n.) {also maunding mort, ...rogue) [cove n.j a beggar. C. 1603 'Sack for My Money' in Collier Book of Roxburghe Ballads (1847) 180: A maunding cove that doth it love. 1664 T. Jordan 'A Canting Rogue Parallel'd with a Phanatick' in A Royal Arbor 71: Nurs'd by a maunding mort, whose mother tongue / Directs him first the way to nipp a bung. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 24: You maunding Rogues, beware how you / do steal, for Search is made. maund on the pad (v.) {also maund upon the pad) (pad n?] to beg on the street or highway. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush II i: Do you hear? / You must hereafter maund on your own pads, he says. [Ibid.] Ill iv: To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats, / To mill from the

Ruffmans, Commission and slates. 1626 Jonson Staple of News 11 i: A very canter, I, sir, one that maunds Upon the pad. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 21: Keep you own Ways. - Maund on your own pads.

maunder n. {also maunderer, mawnder, mounder) (maund v.| {UK Und.) a beggar. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 42: Drinking there a pot of English ale, two Maunders borne and bred vp rogues wooing in their natiue language. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: I am no such nipping Christian, but a maunderer upon the pad. 1622 J. Fletcher 'Maunder's Initiation' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 19: Cast your nabs and cares away, / This is maunder's holiday. 1647 New Merry Letany 1: From a disguized Thiefe, and a maunders milling [...] Libera nos. C.1661 A Beggar I'll Be in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 26: A Graver my Father, a Maunder my Mother, / A Filer my Sister, a Filcher my Brother, [...] A Litter my Aunt, and a Beggar my self. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 3: He is admitted into their ragged society, administered by the principal Maunder, or Roguing Stroler. 1688 R. Holme Aeademy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Mawnders, rogues. Beggars, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p,: Maunders Beggers. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 196: Duds and Ruffpecks romboil'd by Harmanbecks, / and won by Maunders feats [Which the Constable after us hies, / our Tricks us away purloin]. 1719 in D'Ureey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 100: [as cit. c.1661]. 1749 B.M. Carew 'The Oath of the Canting Crew' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 50: Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer, / Irish toyle, or other wanderer. 1754 'The Beggar' Muses Delight 133: [as cit. c. 1661]. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry II vi: Cadges make holiday, / Hey, for the maunder's joys, / Let pious ones fast and pray, / They save us the trouble, my boys. 1834 H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1864) 183: Rogue or rascal, frater, maunderer. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 53: MANDERER [sic] A beggar. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 1 58: MOUNDER A beggar.

maunder v. (a/so mander) [maund v.) to beg; thus maunder on the fly, to beg in the streets; maundering, begging, prone to begging; maundering tools, items used to enhance one's begging image and thus gain more sympathy and alms. 1621 Beaumont & Fletcher Thierry and Theodoret V i: omnes: Why, what would you have us to doe Captaine? dev.: Beg, beg, and keepe Constables waking, wear out stocks and whipcord, mander for buttermilk. 1630 J. Taylor 'Fennors Defence' in Works (1869) II 152: Thou sayst, the Maundering begger credit got, / For that, thou knows! I know a Poet wrot. 1648 Dekker 'Canters Diet.' Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1748 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Diet. (5th edn). 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 115: Maundering, begging. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 62: MAUNDERING ON THE FLY, begging of people in the streets. Old cant. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 60/2: A large and varied assortment of 'maundering-tools,' consisting of wooden legs, crutches, wadded hump-backed jackets, green eye-blinders, soldiers' war-worn togs, Billy-in-the-bowls, dog wagons with dogs in harness, old greasy and tattered trowsers, coats, &c. 1873 SI. Diet.

■ In phrases maundering lay (n.) [lay n.^ (1)1 {UK Und.) begging (under false pretences). 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 'ST 12: Duffy had been on the 'moundering [sic] lay'.

maundering broth n. {also maundering belch, ...broach) [dial, maunder, to grumble, to threaten) a scolding. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Maundering-broth Scolding. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 3.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: maundering broach scolding. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant [as cit. a.1790]. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1821 Flash Diet, [as cit. a. 1790]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Plash Diet, n.p.: Maundering-belch scolding,

maureen v. {S.Afr. gay) to murder. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 81/2: Maureen v. murder (Watch out for that

number. Word's out that he Maureened his Laura),

mause n. {UK Und.) a bundle. 1718 C. Hitchin Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers n.p.: A Mause alias Bundles. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle II in Groom (1999) xxix: A Mau.se A Bundle. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving.

maut n. see mort n. maux n. see mawkes n. maven n. {also mavin, mayvin) [Heb. mavin, understanding! (US) an expert, a connoisseur. 1950 Jewish Standard (Toronto) June 36 [advert] Both of these epicures aptly describe the 'pareve', easy-to-fix dish that wins the

Mavis

applause of every 'mayvin' [OED], 1952 in N.Y. Times Mag. 21 Sept. 58/3: The most trying type [of customer] of all [,..] is the 'mayvin.' The word is of Yiddish origin [and] has entered the language [W&F]. 1968 L. ROSTEN Joys of Yiddish 226: Mavin was recently given considerable publicity in a series of newspaper advertisments for herring tidbits. 'The Herring Mavin Strikes Again!' proclaimed the caption. 1995 R. Campbell Wizard of La-La Land (1999) 14: Medical mavens hanging around gentry's Coffee Shop — where there was always at least one expert on any human belief, profession, pastime, or enterprise — maintained that something had shocked his pituitary.

Mavis n. {S.Afr. gay) an effeminate homosexual man. 2003

mawkin

1552

K. Cage

Gayle.

maw n. |SE maw, a (usu. animal's) stomach] 1 the mouth; thus mawed adj., having a mouth of a specified kind. c.1367-86 Langland Piers Ploughman (1550) V Fii line 124: May no

sugar nor swete thig aswage my swelling [...] Nether shrift nether shame, but shraping of mi maw. 1523 Skelton Colyn Chute (1550) Biiii: To chewe and to gnawe To fyll ther with your mawe. c.1538 Thersytes (1550) D ii: The mawe of the moorecocke that made mawd to mowe. 1540 D. Lyndsay Satyre ofThrie Estaits (1604) 1 5: Ane kis of your sweit mow. 1556 J. Withals Dktionarie in Eng. and Latine 'Parts of the bodie' Tiiii: The maw, ventriculus. 1568 Hist, of Jacob and Esau II iv: If I had bidden from meate any longer, I thinke my very mawe would haue frette asonder. 1589 Lyly Pappe with an Hatchet B: Bastard Junior dinde vpon them, and cramde his maw as full of malice, as his heart was of malapertness. 1591 Most Horrible Murder of Lord Bourgh in Collier (1863) I 9: That wicked and bloodye Cosby, coulde not be content with one mortall wound [...] to gorge [...] his greedie mawe. 1603 Shakespeare Measure for Measure III ii: Do thou but think What 'tis to cram a maw, or clothe a back. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley IV i; As is a knife vnsheath'd with th' hungry maw, Threatning the ruine of a chine of Beefe. 1620 Dekker Dekker His Dreame 25: Ragg'd Soldiers [...] with chill blasts quaking / And shrunke-vp mawes, did to their Worships come. 1629 R. Brome Northern Lasse I iv: What a mischeievous Maw has this she Canibai that gapes for me! 1636 W. Cartwright Raya/ Slave III i: You Grecians I think have sponges in your mawes. 1638 Ford Fancies Act IV: Rotten in thy maw, thy guts and garbage. 1640 H. Mill Nights Search I 56: The Canibai when he saw a stranger saw, He strangely entertain'd him in his maw. 1657 Marlowe Lascivious Queen V vi: There must Hortenzo hang. Like Tantalus in a maw-eating pang. 1693 Congreve Old Bachelor V ii: This letter, that so sticks in thy maw, is counterfeit. 1707 N. Ward Wooden World 99: If he sprinkle a Grace over the Platter, it's a plain Symptom, that his Maw's out of Order. 1713 W. King York Spy 19: Observe yonder two Gaudy ThumpCushions, that are cram'd up to their very Throats, whilst others have not a Morsel in their Maw. 1725 'Canter's Serenade' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 43: Rise, shake off your straw, / And prepare you each maw / To kiss, eat, and drink till you are bouzy. 1739 R. Bull Grobianus 34: With present Carnage fills his empty Maw, And grinds all Remnants with a greedy Jaw. 1744 J. Broadbottom BogHouse Poem 30: Indian Leaf suffus'd with Fragrants bland, / Comforts the Maw. 1750 Hist, of Jack Horner 22: He cram'd all these into his maw. 1765 H. Howard Choice Spirits Museum 41: They on Pollard and Oatmeal, Replenish'd their Maws. 1779 F. Moore Songs and Ballads of the Amer. Revolution (1855) 263: With their maws stuff'd with frogs, soups and jellies. 1788 Morris et al. 'Prophets' Festival of Anacreon (1810) 48: All my hope was nearly gone. Sir, / When 1 left the monster's maw. 1794 'Peter Pindar' 'A Rowland for an Oliver' Works (1794) II 433: Alas! that maw profound of thine, c.1805 'Mounseer Nong Tong Paw' Jovial Songster 62: This fellow is some mighty don! / No doubt has plenty for the maw, / I'll breakfast with this Nong tong paw. 1812 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Picturesque (1868) 69/2: Whose hungry maws are daily bent / On the fine feast of cent per cent. 1820 'L.A.W — LAW!' London Songster 14: The judge [...] advises you not to make breaches / In L.A.W — Law. / Nor play the game of see-saw / With meat for another man's maw. 1830 T. Hood 'Gog and Magog' Works (1862) II 334: So hungry is my maw, / Give me an Alderman in chains, / And 1 will eat him raw! 1846 Swell's Night Guide 51: Fuzzy, you want a gut-scraping, you dunnakin mawed son of a bi-ch. 1850 'Ned Buntline' G'hals of N.Y. 62: For the success of the g'hals was certain to turn the contents of the sailor's pockets into his own greedy maw. 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 83: Eating and guzzling, cramming your maw, while a poor devil's in agony; just like doctors. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 57/2: [He] rose to make a speech, first emptying a half-quartern glass of the 'raw' into his maw. 1873 SI. Diet. 224: Maw the mouth; 'hold your MAW,' cease talking. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 7/3: Without the wherewithal to buy / Protection from the law, / What can he do when once he gets / In its rapacious maw? 1892 A. Bierce 'Slickens' Black Beetles in Amber 239: It feeds my jaw. It crams my maw. 1929 .1.

Sale Tree Named John 41: Hyere, nigger, shevel dis in yo' maw en git out! 1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 90: She doesn't want to rob anybody of their land, because her maw is full of her undigested spoils from centuries of warfare. 1961 G.L. Coon Meanwhile, Back at the Front (1962) 210: He yanked the bottle from Moon's table and upended it over his maw. 1970 A. Sillitoe Start in Life (1979) 15: After that, other good books were chewed into my maw. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1998 B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 88: Got no class, that dog [...] He's all arsehole and maw. 2008 (ref. to 1971) F. Dennis 'Homo sapiens sapiens' Homeless in my Heart 100: Today, in a picture book I

saw / A frog with a bat gripped in its maw. 2 {US black) the vagina. 1946 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 1 181: She learned it in Stone County, Missouri, in the 1890s [...] 'I got a widder in Carico, / Sent for me 'cause her Maw couldn't go, / Meat in the smokehouse, fodder in the barn, / A little bit of friggin' wouldn' do her any harm.' 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Maw the oral or vaginal cavity: u. to look in someone's maw.

■ In compounds maw-wallop (n.) [SE wallop, a churning and bubbling, a blow] a disgusting dish of food, enough to make the eater vomit. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Maw-wallop. A filthy composition, sufficient to provoke vomiting.

1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 'JoN Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.

Maw Bell n. see Ma Bell n. maw-dicker n. [dial, maw, mother -f- DICK v.^ (1)1 (US, mainly Southwest) euph. for motherfucker n.; thus maw-dicking adj. 1971 R. Kahn Boys of Summer 122: Dick Williams, who reasoned that he would be thrown off the bench for calling an umpire 'motherfucker,' cogitated and found a solution. 'Hey,' he'd shout. 'Ump. You're a mawdicker.' 1984 (con. 1950s) A. Sample Racehoss 145: Why you Gotdam impudent shit-colored mawdicker. [Ibid.] (con. 1960s) 202: I oughta throw yore mawdickin ass in the pisser.

mawga/mawgah/mawgar/mawgre adj. see maucer adj. mawgabraw! excl. [Irish magh go brach, the field for ever] (Irish) a general excl. of abuse, usu. delivered as a parting shot, i.e. go to hell! 1997 Share Slanguage.

mawkes n. (also mauk, maux) [malkin n.] 1 a prostitute. 1596 T. Lodge Wits Miserie IV 44: But touch me hir with a pint a sack, & a French crowne, if you like any of hir trie; Wei (saith she) you seeme to be an honest gentleman, go prettie maid & shew him a chamber: now maux you were best be vnmannerly & not vse him well. 1677 Otway Cheats of Scapin Epilogue: The rugged Soldier [...] There hold impertinent chat with tawdry Maux. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 25: I began to keep, and one or other, I had the clever'St Mauks in Town.

2 a slatternly woman. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: mawks an Abbreviation of the Word Malkin [i.e. 'a badly-dressed woman']. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Mawkes. A vulgar slattern. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1788]. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1927 'Jargon of the Und.' in DN V 455: Mawk, A slovenly whore. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 127: Mawk. - A slovenly, unclean harlot. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 808: mawk - A slovenly, unclean harlot.

■ Derivatives mawkish (adj.) slatternly. 1725 New Canting Diet.

mawkin n. [Scot, mawkin, a half-grown girl] 1 a simpleton. 1600 Dekker Shoemakers' Holiday II iii: There be more maides then mawkin, more men then Hodge, and more fooles then Firke. 1693 Congreve Old Bachelor III ii: Thou maukin, made up of shreds and parings of his superflous fopperies! 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 42: E'er since I saw that white-legg'd mawkin, / That waterwitch, that Thetis. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2 a promiscuous woman.

1589 Lyly Pappe with an Hatchet B: I was once determined to write a proper newe Ballet, entituled Martin and his Maukin. C.1617 Fletcher Chances III i: Thou look's! me up at every Word I spoke. As I had been a Maukin, a flurt Gillian. 1659 Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony III vi: kfoutre for such ranging Mawkins. 1682 Buckingham Chances III i: [as cit. c.1617]. 1694 D'Urfey Comical Hist, of Don Quixote Pt IIIV i: Ye ignorant Jade [...] Ye senseless Mawkin. 1734 J. Gay Distressd Wife I viii: Heavens! How like a Mawkin the Thing looks! 1742 H. Walpole 8 Apr. Letters I (1891) 153: I beheld a mawkin, in a chair, with three footmen, and a label on her breast, inscribed 'Lady Mary'.

mawkine mawkine n. see malkin n. mawkish adj. see under mawkes n. mawler n. see mauler n. mawley n. see mauley n.

11 Aug. 2/3: He was neither a 'max' (top rank in studies) nor a 'goat' (in lower sections of his class). 4 {US Und.) the maximum sentence for an offence. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 137/1: Max. (P) The maximum limit of an

mawmouth n. {UK Und.) one who splutters when they speak. 1835 G. Open.

Kent

max

1553

Modern Flash Did. 1848 Flash Did.

in

Sinks of London Laid

mawnd v. see maund v. mawnder n. see maunder n. maw-worm n. (proper name Mavmorm, a character who epitomized hypocrisy, in Bickerstaffe's play The Hypocrite (1769); also Lieutenant Mawworm in Middleton's play A Mad World, My Masters (c.1606), ult. mawworm, a parasitic stomach worm] a hypocrite. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 165: Maw-worm [a horse] was no hypocrite, and did his best to win. 1848 Sinks of London Laid Open 72: 'Yes!' snivelled a street-preacher (...] who could scarecely hold up his head for strong drink, 'we are now entering upon the Lord's day.' [...] 'It is so, old Mawworm, and you had better go to bed.' 1855 'Sunday Trading Bill' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 115: The mawworms seem to try. I'm sure / Each way they can to crush the poor. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1871 'George Eliot' Middlemarch I 30: A man naturally likes to look forward to having the best. He would be the very Mawworm of bachelors who pretended not to expect it. 1891 Licensed Victuallers' Gazette 17 Apr. n.p.: Superintendent S - is no mawworm. And it must have gone very much against the grain [F&H].

■ Derivatives maw-wormy (ad/.) pessimistic, fault-finding, nagging. 1885 Entr'acte 6 June in Ware (1909) 174/2: Augustus Harris insisting on Carl Rosa accepting the wreath thrown on the stage last Saturday night was a delicious and touching spectacle. Here is a glorious subject for one of our figure-painters. Without being mawwormy, I fail to see why a wreath should be presented to any man who makes a business of giving opera.

max n. {also maximus, old max) (all abbr. of SE maximum] 1 gin, esp. high-quality gin. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 10: In Compassion to the old Woman, [they] gave her the Three-Half-Pence back again, bidding her buy a Quartern of Max with it to cheer her Spirits. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 11: Let me see, [...] a Double Gage of Rum Slobber, is Thrums; and a Quartern of Max, is three Megs. C.1800 'A Scene in the Election' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 69: A glass of as good maximus as e'er tip't over an exciseman's tongue. 1810 'Jonny Raw and Polly Clark' in Batchelar's Jovial Fellows Collection of Songs 4: She got no max, so blow'd up well. 1820 'Widow Waddle, of Chickabiddy Lane' in Merry Melodist 6: Mrs. Tick, one day, inflam'd with max and muggy weather, / She with a joint-stool broke the peace, and Tommy's head together. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 268: When the fast-setting sun of our life's dimly shining — / Qh, brighten his beams with ‘Old Max’. 1833 'A Crowing Death' in Swell!!! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 15: Close to a gin-shop Fish-Meg stood [...] And every hour to warm her blood, / Cried, 'Landlord bring some max!' 1841 'A Week's Matrimony' Dublin Comic Songster 293: Ten goes of max put out of sight. 1846 New Swell's Night Guide to the Bowers of Venus 8: Song and joke swim amid the inspiring max. 1853 Dickens 'Slang' in Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2: For one article of drink, gin, we have [..,] max, juniper, gatter, duke, jackey, tape, blue-ruin, cream of the valley, white satin, old Tom. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 160/1: A 'go of rum,' or a 'glass of max,' - for so a dram of neat spirit was called then. 1870 Hotten SI. Did. 1888 W. Besant Fifty Years Ago 163: The Royal Saloon, Piccadilly, where one looked in for a 'few goes of the max'.

2 {UK Und.) any form of alcohol. 1838 W.N. Glascock Land Sharks and Sea Gulls II 110: Now, my covey [...] You don't seem to be over well off in regard o' licker. Come, come, an' take a drop o' max with us. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 51/2: We're all 'lushing' like blazes on Port, Madeira and every other 'max' in the 'drum'. 3 {US campus) the maximum score or achievement in an examination, the student who achieves this. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 310: max. [...] At Union College, he who receives the highest possible number of marks, which is one hundred, in each study, for a term, is said to take Max (or maximum); to be a Max scholar. 1862 G.C, Strong Cadet Life W. Point 64: [He was] working out an unmistakable 'max' in the mathematical section-room [DA]. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DNU:i 45: max, n. Maximum mark. 1937 K. Banning West Point Today 296: Max, n. A complete success in recitation: a maximum mark of 3.0 [DA]. 1944 Chillicothe (MO) Constitution-Trib.

indeterminate prison sentence; the maximum penalty, other than capital punishment, provided by law for any specific crime. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 249: The rest of me was in Sing Sing, for a max of fifteen years. 1976 M. Braly False Starts 354: They could keep me until I had served my max. And my max was life. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 5 {Can./US) a maximum security jail. 1968 in 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. III:2. 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 279: Normally in a 'max' there would be a dozen badmouthing creeps doing the same job. 1992 S.L. Hills Tragic Magic 138: When you get to the max joints, you get guys that are doing life.

6 {US campus) the highest level or degree. 1976 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 4: the max - greatest degree.

7 {drugs) gamma hydroxy butyrate, GBH, dissolved in water and mixed with amphetamines. ONDCP Street Terms 14: Max — Gamma hydroxybutyrate dissolved in water and mixed with amphetamines.

2001

■ Derivatives maxy (adj.) drunk. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 84/1: She [...] blamed

Squib for taking the best of her while she was 'maxy'.

■ In compounds max-ken (n.) [ken n/ (2)| {UK Und.) a tavern specializing in gin. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account 31 July [Internet] We went to a little Max-Ken, near Fleet-Lane, where we drank so long we could scarce see one another.

■ In phrases to the max (adv.) {also to the maxi) [SE maximum, orig. in the California youth cultures] to the greatest extent, to the most extreme degree. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 84: to the max adv.

to the greatest extent; to the ultimate degree. 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 171:1 really digged that, you know, getting ozoned to the max. 1984 N. Stephenson Big U (2001) 231: Dex spazzed out to the max. 1988 Ice-T 'High Rollers' [lyrics] Gangsters to the max, all marks will be taxed. 1995 G. Small Ruthless 229: Such hallowed figures are given 'respect to the max. Anybody try fi hurt him, fi hurt we,'. 1999 Guardian Rev. 9 July 10: Our trio [...] are bummed to the max. 1999 Indep. on Sun. Culture 29 Aug. 10: Yanks do sentimentality to the max. Sometimes, of course they over do it. 2008 T. PICCIRILLI Fever Kill 143: These people, jazzed up, jonesing, and jinxed to the max.

max adj. (US)

superlative, outstanding.

1905 'West Point SI.' in Howitzer (US Milit. Academy) 292-5: Cold

Max — Perfect; all that can be desired. 1952 W. Sheldon Troubling of a Star 248: If the Wing was making a max effort, he wanted to be in on it. 1968 Current SI. 11:3 4: Max, adj. Best, good, great. 1989 Hackforth & Sherman About Face (1991) 99: We requested max harassment and interdiction. 1999 Dr Dre 'Some L.A. Shit' [lyrics] Bust caps for my max crew, at Fairfax / who used to wear Air Max shoes, that's true,

max V.

[max n.]

1

to drink.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 19/2: Betty, who had been

'maxing' some before she entered the theatre, saw through the dodge. 2 to treat to a drink. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 76/2: Wattie [...] immediately presented us as friends of his, and volunteered to 'max' the company.

3 {US campus) to achieve a maximum score or grade in an examination. 1871 Q.E. Wood West Point Scrap-Book 339: To max it. — To make a perfect recitation. 1878 H.O. Flipper Colored Cadet at West Point 53: 'Maxed.' — Made a thorough recitation. 1937 K. Banning West Point Today 296: Max, v. To make a 3.0 in recitation; to do a thing perfectly [DA]. 1968 Current Si 11:3 4: Max, v. To do well, to achieve perfection. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 54: max 'do well'.

4 {US Und.) to serve the full length of a jail sentence. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 108: Max a Number Refers to an inmate who serves his entire prison sentence before being released. 5 (US) to give one's maximum effort. 1979 Pepper & Pepper Straight Life 143: These guys were shipped out to max at the farm. 1992 N. Stephenson Snow Crash (1993) 72: "Sup with you?' 'Maxing The Clink.' 'Whoa! Who popped you?' 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 65: He liked to pyramid the sets, really max it out so the veins popped in his biceps like fat pink

max

mayonnaise monkey

1554

wire. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 243: I'm in this bitch. Whoop whoop whoop. I'm maxing.

6 {US) to exceed the limit, 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 144: Coldly, Ty considered if he'd even live that much longer, especially the way Deek was maxing things lately. 7 {US black/campus) to have a very good time, to relax. 1987 Kid 'N' Play 'Last Night' [lyrics] At the house we just maxed / The girls came out ready to attack. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 116: They were giggling and maxing the way kids do in restaurants because they know their parents won't yell at them. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] max v 1. to relax; HANG OUT. ('Tm just maxing,'). 1998 Big L 'Ebonics' [lyrics] Max mean to relax. 2000 HipHop Connection Jan.-Feb. 55: Max [...] a verb meaning to chill out and enjoy. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 156: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Baggin. Maxin. Mashin. Wildin. 8 {US Und.) {also max out) to give the highest possible sentence for a cited crime. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 141: They're going to max you on the Four Eightyseven GTA. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 74: The parole board told me 'You have a bad prison record. We're going to max you out.' So I had another eleven and a half, you know. 2006 Prison Slang Mommyblogger mydogharriet.blogspot.com 26 Sept. [Internet] If she makes jackrabbit parole [...] explain that she needs to max out in the big house until you tell her shes done with her flat time.

■ Derivatives maxed (ad/.) 1 drunk or highly intoxicated.

months max, maybe a fine. 2002 'Valley Girls' on Paranoiafanzine [Internet] And I'll even show you how to be a maximum warm babe like us how to get a totally visdous dude to notice you.

Max Factor n. [rhy. si.; brandname Max Factor, a leading producer of cosmetics and make-up] (esp. fig.) an actor, i.e. one who fakes illness or injury, a footballer who 'dives' etc. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

max fuckter n. [f. brandname Max Factor, a leading producer of cosmetics] (gay) make-up. 1979 Maledicta III:2 236: Queen can also be a suffix with or without derogatory overtones: [...] UK slap queen (where slap = makeup, US war paint. Max Fuckter, etc.),

maxi n.^ {also maxy) [abbr. SE maximum; ? an obsolete a form of public transport] {W.l.) one shilling (5p).

maximum fare on

1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

maxi n.^ m In phrases to the maxi (adv.) see to the max under max n. maxie n. [Lat. maximus, the greatest] (Scot.) a major mistake, a serious blunder, 1868 G. Macdonald Robert Falconer 191: Horrors of horrors, a maxie!

maximum adv. see max adv. maximus n. see max n. Max Miller n. [rhy. si. Cockney

pron. 'piller'; ult. comedian Max Miller

(1895-1963)1 a pillow. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 12/1: He was pretty well

maxsiummed adj. [max n. (1)] {UK Und.) drunk (on gin).

'maxed,' and ordered half a dozen bottles of wine for the company. 1986 Chapman NDAS 274/2: maxed adj. narcotics Intoxicated with a

max walls n. [rhy. si. =

narcotic. 2 {US) full to maximum capacity. 1971 Army Reporter Feb. in Maledicta VI: 1+2 252: 'Your ears are maxed to the onions,' comments the Hood.

■ In phrases max and relax (v.) {US black/campus) to take life easy, to enjoy oneself; esp. in phr. maxin' and relaxin'. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 37: I was just maxin' and relaxin' here. 1999 Eble Campus SI. Nov. maxed out {adj.) 1 very drunk or highly intoxicated. 1982 P. Dickson 'Soused Synonyms' in Words! 251/1: Maxed out. 2 at one's limits, e.g. of strength or weight or credit. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 66: He'd never be that maxed out again, but he'd sworn off the 'roids ever since. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 24: 'Your credit card won't swipe. Sir,' [...[ because the thing is maxed to the locking gills. max out (v.) 1 {US prison) to complete one's sentence without gaining any remission for good behaviour. 1973 K. Burkhart Women in Prison 631: [,..] violated my CR and was sent to Alderson, to max it out. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 140: They [...] were such bad parole risks that they knew they'd max out no matter how hard they worked. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 108: Max Out [..,] Refers to an inmate who serves his entire prison sentence before being released. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 122: She maxed out at Irwin. She was in Irwin for robbing something. 2000 (con. 1940s-60s) Decharne Straight from the Fridge Dad. 2 of an object or person, to reach its limit; esp. used of a credit card. 1978 in L.A. Times 30 May I 1: We were just maxed out [...] Just scrambling to keep up [HDAS]. 1984 D. Jenkins Life Its Ownself (1985) 118: Look here [.,.] We can max out at Oklahoma at thirty thou a year. At Texas, we can max out at twenty-five a year. 1987 Ice-T 'Rhyme Pays' [lyrics] As my bass is max'n out the v.u.s on your box / There'll be no doubt within your mind whether this MC do rock. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 71: My Visa maxes out at three thousand bucks. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 348: Their credit cards were maxed out by all the charges for the medical supplies. 3 {US) to succeed. 1986 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS 11.

4 to relax. 1988 Ice-T 'Soul on Ice' [lyrics] I spied my man Jaz, maxin' out with two stone-cold freaks. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2. 5 see sense 8 above.

max adv. {also maximum) {US) extremely, at the maximum, at most. 1956 J. Thompson 'The Cellini Chalice' in Fireworks (1988) 76: If you

can bank me for two-grand max. I'll guarantee — 1977 in Texas Monthly Feb. 152: The first in a series of posters would be ready in 'six weeks max' [HDAS], 1983 C. Heath A-Team 2 (1984) 118: Half an hour ago, max. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 23: The batteries last about two hours max, 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 182:1 think you'll get four

C.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. balls n. (1); ult. comedian/Wax IVa// (1908-90)]

the testicles. 1992 R. PUXLEY Cockney Rabbit. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

Maxwell House n.

[rhy. sL, the popular brand of instant coffee] a

mouse. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

Maxwell Pond n. [proper name of the Maxwell (Sugar) Estate in Barbados. No actual pond, however, has ever been traced]

■ In phrases money gone in Maxwell Pond (n.) {also labour gone in Maxwell Pond) {W.l.) used to describe money or effort that has been wasted or 'thrown away'. 1953 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

maxy n, see maxi n.\ maxy adj. see under max n. mayate n. [Mex. Sp.) {US) a black person; also as adj. 1969 in Current SI. IV:3-4 (1970). 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 49: Other Cultural Allusions: mayate [or mayata. From Chicano Spanish mayate, a U. S. black person]. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 55: Mayate A black person. 2006 F.X. Toole Pound for Pound 129: They hated the mayate black shitbug.

Maybelline waste n. IMaybelline, a brandname of cosmetics; i.e. it was not worth getting made-up] {US campus) a disappointing social event. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 63: A 'disappointing social event' was a Maybelline waste, not worth the effort of putting on makeup (Maybelline is an inexpensive brand of cosmetics).

May-game n. m In phrases make a May-game of (v.) [the trad. Mayday pastimes] to play games with, to trick or deceive. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew.

maymay-lippy adj. [? SE mama +

lippy

adj.] {W.l., Antg.) talkative,

gossipy. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

mayo n. [? the colour white; ? possible misreading of YEYO n.] {drugs) 1 cocaine. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Ansunger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: mayo. [..,] cocaine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mayo — Cocaine. 2 heroin; morphine. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: mayo. Morphine [...] or heroin. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: Mayo — [...] heroin,

mayonnaise midget n. {US black) a white man's penis, stereotyped as small. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mayonaise midget Definition: derogatory term for a white man's penis. Example: Yo that freak Latisha like to ride dem maynoise midgets.

mayonnaise monkey n. {US black) a white person.

Mayor McCheese

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] tnayonaise derrogotory term for a causasian person Example: I'm bout to bust a cap in dat mayonaise monkeys ass over there.

2000

monkey Definition:

Mayor McCheese v. see cheese maypole n. [the shape] the penis.

mazuma

1555

(3).

1621 Rowley, Dekkbr & Ford Witch of Edmonton IV i: Else all our

Wives will do nothing else but dance about their Country Maypoles, 1624 Sun's Darling III i: A sweet creature; and yet a great raiser of May-poles. 1655 Mercurius Pumigosus 48 25 Apr.-2 May 377: Wee'l Increase and Multiply, and may with any man. You may, indeed good Sir, you May, your May-pole stiff and strong. 1672 J. Lacy Old Troop IV i: Now here be de Queen of Swiveland [.,.] Den dere be de whore of Babylon, she make great love to de May-pole in de Stran. 1758 New Atalantis 65: The maypole of love [is] bold and erect like the monument of London. 1788 Harris's List of Covent-Garden Ladies in Pentelow & Rowe Characters of Fitzrovia (2001) 96: [Miss Corbett of 16 Goodge Street] always measures a gentleman's may-pole by a standard of nine inches, and expects a guinea for every inch it is short of full measure.

■ In phrases play at maypole (v.) (gay) to indulge in sexual activity. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 44: One day Lincoln got the message. He had his shoe off and his foot was up in my crotch, playing maypole.

maypop n. [pun. on SE may pop/US dial, maypop, the passion flower] {US black) a very worn tyre; also attrib. 1980 Eble Campus SI. Spring 4: maypop tires - worn, slick tires which could burst any time. 2001 Triples Forum [Internet] Next you'll be telling us that the T160 handles better on the Firestone 'maypop' Wilderness tyres...hehehe. 2002 Church of the Ressurection 22 Mar. [Internet] The old pile of metal that rolled on precarious, MayPop tires wasn't worth investing the time, effort or money to maintain [,,.] From the picture you can see that not much effort goes into making this road safe to travel, especially if you are driving a worthless heap on MayPop tires!

maytag n. [the Maytag brand of home appliances] {US prison) a weak male prisoner who is abused by other inmates, forced to do their menial chores and poss. raped. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abemethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 210: Maytag, n. - an inmate who is forced to hand wash another inmate's clothes. 1982 Grandmaster Flash 'The Message' [lyrics] Now your manhood is took and you're a Maytag / Spend the next two years as an undercover fag. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] May tag: Passive homosexual partner.

maytag v. [maytag n.l {US prison) to perform anal rape. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 95: Good looks had been a problem in Rikers, getting him 'maytagged' at least eight times before he got old enough and fast enough to cause some pain in the process. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 97: Maytag - to commit the act of homosexual rape.

mayvin n. see maven n. may your chooks turn into emus and kick your shithouse down phr. see under chook n. may your prick and purse never fail you phr. see under PRICK n.

mazard n. {also mazer, mazzard) [SE mazer, a hard wood (usu. but not invariably maple) used as a material for drinking cups) 1 the head. c,1600 Shakespeare Hamlet V i: Chapless, and knocked about the

mazzard with a sexton's spade. 1605 Chapman All Fooles III i: But in thy amorous conquests at the last Some wound will slice your mazer. 1627 G. Peele Merrie Conceited Jests 18: But Master Peele had another drift in his mazzard; for he did ply her with wine. 1639 Beaumont & Fletcher Wit Without Money II iii: The pint-pot has so [...] fortified your mazard, that now there's no talking to you. 1663 S. Butler Hudibras Pt I canto 2 line 707-8: Where thou might'st stickle without hazard / Of outrage to thy hide and mazzard. 1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) I 70: I've a great mind, you lousy wizard, / To lay my fist across your mazzard. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 491: pandocus next he struck hap hazard / And laid a stick across his mazard. c.1790 'Luke Caffrey's Cost' Luke Cajfrey's Cost 2: He squar'd up to de two Bailies, tip'd one of dem a loving sqeeze [...] and a back spang in de mazzard, dat made his daylights dance to de tune of de old cow and de hay-stack. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 348: Rouge-et-noir and Hazard / With each knowing mazzard. 1833 Cruikshank 8- Wight Sun. in London 63: The fairest and most intellectual portion of this beautiful world are celebrating [...] by tossing for mutton-pies, bibulating in beer-shops [....] and knocking each other over the mazzard for a qvort’n of gin! 1848 Plash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 115: Mazzard, the head. 1858 'The Honour of the Family' Town Talk 10 July 110: That slice on thy mazzard, which thou gottest by tumbling over thine own hanger in

Virginia Meg's brandy shop. 1861 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) 9 Nov. 216: Cramp BILLY SEWARD, stave in CHASE'S mazzard. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 213: Mr. Contango would instantly fetch him a crack across the mazzard with a bar towel. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 5: If anyone had told me that a tie like that suited me, I should have [...] struck them on the mazzard. 2 the face. 1628 R. Speed Counter-Rat F4: Then me they struck / Ath' mazzard. An action of strong Battry! Good! They made my nose then gush out bloud. 1762-71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) TV 103: His countenance harmonized with his humour, and Christian's mazard was a constant joke [OED]. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 14: While the Porpus kept guard / O'er his beautiful mug, as if fearing to hazard / One damaging touch in so dandy a mazzard. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 69: He did not mean to hurt this man, for if he did, he would not have left an ivory in his mazzard. 1859 'Scene in a London Flash-Panny' Matsell Vocabulum 100: Another fair damsel [...] emphatically declared, that if the tenant in possession did not immediately leave that, she would astonish her mazzard with the contents of a 'nipperkin of thunder and lightning'. 1885 D.C. Murray Rainbow Gold I 197: The master-builder waxed that wroth at him he lent him a clout across the mazzard with a trowelful o' mortar. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 38: The preacher, smearing the blood across his grizzled mazzard in a broad red streak, seized the rail. 1928 'Sapper' Female of the Species (1961) 202: 1 pasted him good and hearty in the mazzard. 1949 Wodehouse Season 100: A woman who [...] would press the trigger and let me have a fluid ounce of whatever the hell-brew was squarely in the mazzard. 3 {Anglo-Irish) the 'head' of a coin. 1802 M. & R. Lovell Edgeworth Essays on Irish Bulls 129: 'Skull!' says I - and down come three brown mazzards.

mazard v. [mazard n. (1)] to hit on the head. a.1616 JoNSON Love Restored in Works (1756) 403: The rogues let a huge trap-dore fall o' my head. If I had not been a spirit, I had been mazarded.

mazawattSG n. [rhy. si.; ult. Mazawattee, a brand of tea] a potty. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

mazda crown n. [Mazda, a popular brand of lightbulb; coined by columnist Walter winchell (1897-1972)1 {US) a bald-headed man. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

Mazda Lane n. {also mazda thoroughfare) [see prev] {US) Broadway, New York. 1927 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 56: There have been rumors running up on Broadway recently regarding a secret meeting of Dempsey and Tunney. Mazda Lane is always full of rumors. 1928 N.Y. Times 25 Nov. X2: Here, free from Mazda Lane's monoxide scent, without New York's huge profit and huge rent. 1944 C.S. Montanye 'Shoulder Straps' in Thrilling Detective Feb. [Internet] Humpty Keller [...] had been around the mazda thoroughfare for a long time.

mazeh n. (a/so mazehette) [Heb. mah ze?, what is this?] {US campus) a very attractive man or woman. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 128: mazeh gorgeous guy [...], mazehette gorgeous girl,

mazer n. see mazard n. Mazola party n. [Mazda, a brand of vegetable oil -I- SE party] {US) a party of two or more people who cover their bodies in vegetable oil to engage in sexual activity and intercourse. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 156: Mazola party A wild party. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 148: mazola party an orgy where all participants grease up before sliding around on each other; a human salad.

mazoo n, (a/so mazoola) [abbr./var. mazuma n.] (US) money. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 21: Kind of low on the mazoo? 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS. 1961 R. Gover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 23: All that mazoola, he kin be jes's dum's dum kin be! 1982 J. Sullivan 'The Yellow Peril' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Give us the money then, give us the mazoola.

mazoom n. {also mazum, mazume) [abbr. mazuma n.] (US) money. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 173: I got such a toss from my mazoom in Philadelphia that [etc.]. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 12: I'm shy with the mazume. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 127: Otis was supposed to possess the Faculty of copping the Mazume. 1924 F.J. Wilstach SI. Diet. Stage 29: 'Mazum,' 'mazuma,' 'cush,' 'denoya,' 'rocks,' 'spons,' 'spondulix,' 'long green,' 'yellowbacks,' 'dough,' 'mononny,' 'da mon'.

mazuma n. {also mazooboes, mazooma) [Yid., ult. Heb. mazuma, prepared, ready; note Barry Popik mail to American Dialect Society List 6 Sept. 2002: 'There are two earlier [than 19001 New York Times hits. On 6

mazzard

meal

1556

September 1890, pg. 3, there is a horse called "Mazumah." On 28 October 1890, pg. 3, there is a horse called "Mazuma."') 1 money. 1900 T.J. Carey Hebrew Yarns and Dialed Humor 89/1; But nefer mind — he maigs us crin, / Ant I haf hoid a rumor; / Besides his chokes, he also maigs / A lot of real 'mazooma'. 1902 'Billy Burgundy' Toothsome Tales Told in SI. 33: He annexed himself to a mammoth mass of mazuma by the refined process of inheritance. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 19: We'll simply put up a thousand each [...] and after the opening night begin to gather in the mazooboes. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 61: Oh, they are real hummers, your boss and mine, when it comes to sheddin' the mazuma an' never mindin' other folks' feelin's. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Lonesome Camp' in Ade's Fables 261: After [...] the Collectors had brought in the Dinero, then Elam had to sit at a Mahogany Desk [...] and figure how much of the hard-earned Mazuma would be doled out to his greedy Employees. 1924 F.J. WiLSTACH SI. Diet. Stage 29: 'Mazum,' 'mazuma,' 'cush,' 'denoya,' 'rocks,' 'spons,' 'spondulix,' 'long green,' 'yellowbacks,' 'dough,' 'mononny,' 'da mon'. 1929 R.E. Howard 'Pit of the Serpent' Fight Stories July [Internet] This house used to be owned by a crazy Spaniard with more mazuma than brains. 1939 J. Weidman What's In It For Me? 83: Yeah, you know. Money. Bills. Greenbacks. Silver. Coins. Cush. Kale. Mazuma. Gelt. 1946 S. Jackson An Indiscreet Guide to Soho 62: When we've got enough of the mazuma I'm gonna open a fish and chipper. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 34: This 'Lolly's' a beauty [...] He comes up here one night and blows down my ear about all the mazooma he's won. 1951 M. Spillane One Lonely Night 68: You've brought in a lot of mazuma. 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 319: While you're out there, fighting for mom's apple pie, your A-hole buddy [...] is raking in the old mazooma. 1964 P. Highsmith Two Faces of January (1988) 213: 'He's got a lot of mazuma, eh?' Niko asked dreamily. 1974 D. Ireland Burn 65: All you need now is the mazuma, the dough, the lettuce, the gelt, the loot, the spondulicks. 1980 (con. 1930s) Barltrop & Wolveridge Muvver Tongue 17: 'Mazuma' was sometimes used, more often by the film and radio comedians than the public. 1989 R. McDonald Rough Wallaby 210: A supply of betting money was a 'mazuma'. 2004 T. Dorsey Cadillac Beach 189: On the other side, a man was pacing. [...] Talking to himself: 'Need to run down the Chinese angle on the shy lock's mazuma [...]'. 2 a dollar bill. 1968 1. Reed Free-Lance Pallbearers 49: 'That'll be five mazumas.' 1 shoved the bills into his hand, mazzard n. see mazard n. mazzy n. see temazzy n. m.b. n. [abbr. brandnamel {Aus.) Melbourne Bitter; thus suffer from m.b., to be drunk. 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks. m.b. coat n. [abbr. mark of the beast; the 'beast' in this context was Poperyl a long coat worn by clergymen. 1853 W.J. Conybeare Edinburgh Rev. Oct. 315: Who does not recognise .... the stiff and tie-less neckcloth, the m.b.coat and cassock waistcoat, the cropped hair and un-whiskered cheek? 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn) 173: M.B. Coat i.e., Mark of the Beast, a name given to the long surtout worn by some of the clergy, — a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a Tractarian customer by a tailor's orders to his foreman. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. m.b. waistcoat n. lorig. worn by tractarians only, c.1840, but later adopted by other clergymen] a kind of waistcoat with no opening in front, worn by Anglican clergymen. 1884 Graphic 20 Sept. 307/2: He has begun to affect the strictest clerical garb - m.b. waistcoat, hard felt hat with band and tassels. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant. M.C. n. {also emcee) [lit. master of ceremonies, as such orig. 1930s] 1 one who is in charge, a leader, a boss. 1951 Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 61: Even with James J. Morton as its m.c., it failed to click. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 230: The blue material of a fat female emcee was what farmhands repeat behind the silo. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 126: Blue Baby, an MC-singer at a club in the French Quarter. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 95: Some phony fuckin' emcee thought that stunt up. 1997 L. Davies Candy 78: Being MC, I was first diver off the block. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 326: Tran played MC. Tran dropped kadre bios — all last names di di. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1952 L. Hughes Laughing to Keep from Crying 29: 'We can't use that M.C. outfit you got on,' he said, talking about the tux. 3 (orig. US black) the lead singer of a rap band; e.g. M.C. Noise. 1987 in N. George 'Rakin and Eric B.' in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 79: I take seven MC's, put them in a line. 1988 Ice-T 'Heartbeat' [lyrics] Make it or break it, although most emcees do

fake it. 1998 Hip-Hop Connection Dec. 8: But that's a million miles away from criticising an emcee's music. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 46: He was the first [DJ] to have his own crew of MCs — the artists who would later become known as 'rappers', rhyming over the beats.

Mc/Mac see under Mac. m.c. V. (also emcee) [M.C.

n.|

1

to present a (rock) concert; thus

MC-ing/emceeing n. 1940 J.H. O'Hara Pal Joey 4: 1 m.c.'d, and they had a couple of kids

[...] doing tap. 1953 L. Durst J;V« of Dr. Hepcat 0989) 6: We stop by a spot where it's floor show time and a real gone guy is doing the emceeing and he has several artist male and female piano duet singers, dancers, etc., and it's his job to keep the show moving and on time. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 136: A ballad-andblues festival he was MC-ing [...] up there on Denmark Hill. 1965 L. Bruce How to Talk Dirty 28: The owner asked my mother to m.c. 2 to perform as a rapper. 2000 W. Shaw Westsiders 50: With a small number of exceptions, MC-ing has remained a boy thing,

McGee n. see Joe McGee n. (2). M.C.L. phr. see much clown love phr. M’Coy, the n. see real McCoy, the n. mc^ adj. [the shorthand for Einstein's theory of relativity

-E pun on SQUARE

adj. (10)1 (US campus) overly studious, over-devoted to books and uninterested in parties, drink, drugs and other forms of pleasure. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 128: mc'^ overly studious, geeky, nerdy.

m.d.g. phr.

[abbr, mutual desire to grope] (US campus) Strong physical

attraction. 1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: MDG -[...] strong physical attraction

usually excluding feelings of love and friendship: 'On GH, Jeff and Diana had an MDG'. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 37: Two kinds of shortening reduce words to letters. The dominant type in college slang is initialism, which names the individual letters: [...] MDG (mutual desire to grope) 'strong physical attraction',

m.d.l.

n. [abbr. mutton dressed as lamb under mutton n.] a person, usu. a woman, who dresses younger than her years. 2002 'Tell Me About It' Advice Column Wash. Post 28 Jan. [Internet]

I remember vividly how hapless and lame older people used to seem to me when I was these kids' age — now, though, I want to seem 'with-it' and relevant, without appearing to be MDL (mutton dressed as lamb) in spirit.

me pron.

used at the end of a sentence to indicate preference or

for emphasis, e.g. I like lard, me. 1959 W. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1968) 49: I had a yage hangover, me. 1974 R. Stone Dog Soldiers (1976) 12: Scag isn't me. — me phr. [the locus classicus comes in the film The Sweet Smell of Success (1957) where the venal columnist J.J. Hunsecker confirms his absolute power over the venal, scrabbling press agent Sidney Falco with the command. Match me, Sidney, i.e. Light my cigarette] (orig. US) used with a relevant n. to denote an imper., e.g. pen me, hand me a pen. 1922 Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent 29 Apr. 7/2: Flapper Dictionary butt

ME - Give me a cigaret. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 8/1: Fag me - Give me a cigarette. [Ibid.] 11/1: Mitt me - Shake my hand. 1940 'Smokers' SL' in AS XV:3 Oct.' 336/1: You may light your cigarette with a light, some fire, [..,] or you may ask somebody to 'Match me.' 1957 E. Lehman Sweet Smell of Success [film script] Match me, Sidney. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 129: 'Pen me,' Julie said to the bank teller. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 14: 'Beer me,' he said, looking straight ahead. 1999 W. Gibson All Tomorrow’s Parties 62: 'Beer me,' Buell said. 2000 R. Burnett Ed episode 4 29 Oct. [TV script] Burger me! 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 149: 'Bic me,' he commanded his partner. 'My thumb's too sore to flick.' [Ibid.] 241: 'Mac-a-dino, pipe me,' Zank sang. 'I need to beam up.' 2007 T. Dorsey Hurricane Punch 177: Coffee me!

meadow mayonnaise n. (also meadow dressing)

[euph. pun

on BULLSHIT n.) (Aus./US) nonsense, rubbish. 1915 R. Bolwell 'College SI. Words And Phrases' in DN IV:iii 234:

meadow dressing, n. incredible nonsense, 1951 D. Sttvens Jimmy Brackett 92: Jimmy Brocket! was a terrible bull artist. I knew him pretty well and I chyacked him about it one day. 'Look here, brother, [...] you bet I spread a bit of meadow mayonnaise around.' 1959 Baker Drum.

meadow muffin

n. (also meadow cake, trail muffin) (US) a

lump of manure. 1974 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II. 2001 PATH (Atlanta, GA)

Sept. [Internet] Trail muffins — After many complaints of dog dooty on Atlanta trails, PATH developed a campaign designed to make it easier to pick up after dogs. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 134: meadow cake Cow pat. ANZ.

meag n. see mac n.^. meagre adj. see maucer adj. meal n. (S.Afr. gang) an act of

sexual intercourse.

mealie-muncher

mean

1557

Matthews The Park and Other Stories (1983) 23: 'She ripe and ready forra meal.' 'We come by forra meal?' Sly asked. 'No dice. Sly ou pellie,' Janimie said. 'No gangbang dis time. I doan wanna scare de goosies.'

hangin' in the balance, I was quick to respond, 'Hell, yes, I will go!'

1974

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases dive for a meal (v.) see under dive v. mealie-muncher n. {also mealie) [S.Afr.E. mealie, maize + SE muncher] (S.Afr.) an Afrikaner.

2000 Guardian Mag. 13 May 28: Comedy gradually emerged as Hope's meal ticket.

4

(U5) a personal preference. 1958 R.

Chandler

Playback 42: The right [fist] wasn't his meal ticket.

5 (US gay) as senses 1-3 above, in homosexual contexts. 1989-2003 R.O. Scott Gay SI. Diet. [Internet] a meal ticket: 1. [70s] a john that is picked by a nonprofessional male prostitute when the money gets low. 2, older man who shows affection for his younger

1970 informants in DSAE (1996). 1998 U. Smit '"People" in South

male lover with gifts. 3. the guy that pays a prostitute. 4. older man

African English' in Views (Vienna) 104: White-Afrikaans [...] Mealie-muncher. 2007 posting at www.noseweek.co.za Aug. [Internet] Shame on you for referring to Ronald Suresh Roberts as 'Shuga Mon'! [...] That's as childishly rude as referring to a Free Stater as a 'mealie-muncher'.

who supports a younger lover or friend. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 82/1:

meal-mouth n.

[SE mealy-mouth, one who fears to speak their mind) one who demands money, but in a sly, sheepish manner. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Meal-mouth, a sly, sleepish Dun, or Sollicitor for Money.

meals on wheels n. 1

(US gay) teenagers cruising the streets in

their cars. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

2 jellied eels [rhy. si.]. 2000 Guardian G2 17 Feb. 3: To have some jellied eels. Some meals

on wheels? The very same. 3 (S.Afr. gay) men on motorcycles. 2003 K.

Cage

Gayle 82/1: meals on wheels n. sexy men on

motorcycles.

meal ticket n. 1 (orig. US)

anyone good for the price of a meal. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 388: 'Meal-ticket.' This is a tramp term for a person who is 'good' for a meal. 1906 'Hugh McHugh' Skidoo! 58: The mosquitos still look upon me as their meal ticket. 1919 F. Hurst 'Oats for the Woman' in Humoresque 48: You'd shove over the Goddess of Liberty if you thought she had her foot on a meal ticket. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 102: She sure must be a good meal ticket all right [...] Setdowns, I s'pose. 1929 V.W. Saul 'Vocab. of Bums' in AS IV:5 342: Meal ticket — One who carries the wherewithal of another's eats. 1949 Montbleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 2 {orig. US) anyone who provides money or a livelihood for someone else, who thus needs to make less effort; also the object which earns one's income. 1899 Irving Jones 'There Ain't No Use to Keep On Hanging Around' [lyrics] I've been your meal tecket [sic] long enough - Money home you never bring. 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 66: All the Tin-Horn Sports and Shoe-String Gamblers speak of him as their Meal Ticket. 1916 R. Lardner 'Champion' Coll. Short Stories (1941) 122: Jerome Harris [...] saw in Midge a better meal ticket than his popular-priced musical show had been. 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 71: The haughty dowagers and their ambulatory meal tickets retired to their cabins. 1936 R. Chandler 'Guns At Cyrano's' Red Wind (1946) 240: Your mother just wished you on to him like any cheap broad who sees herself out of a swell meal ticket. 1943 W. Guthrie Bound for Glory (1969) 29: I don't give a damn how drippin' I git, boys, but I gotta keep my meal ticket [guitar] dry! 1959 A. Zugsmith Beat Generation 2: It's only her wanting her old man to get back to work. He's her meal ticket. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 84: She was a damned good meal ticket and a status symbol with high prestige for him. 1972 R. Barrett Lovomaniacs (1973) 42: Their mamas coach them — trade it for a lifetime meal ticket. 1984 P. Barker Blow Your House Down 95:1 had to go round the flat [...] and break the sad news to Dave that his meal-ticket was out of action. 1997 P. Theroux Kowloon Tong 122: As they hunted for a passport, or a meal ticket, or a way out, they were all reaching hands and twitching fingers. 2005 Mad mag. Apr. 12: Darling meal tickets. I am your dear, sweet fourth cousin. 3 {orig. US) employment, wages, whatever provides the price of a (fig.) meal. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 176: Any One who [...] used to

stake him to a Meal Ticket now and then. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Uplifter' in Ade's Fables 114: When it came to a show-down between Dough and Art he didn't propose to tear up his Meal Ticket. 1925 D. Hammett 'The Scorched Face' Story Omnibus (1966) 90: Those [i.e. blackmail pictures] [...] are Hador's meal-tickets — the photos he was either collecting on or planning to collect on. 1939 P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 23: I am very very sad, Sehor, because I have lost what you call my meal ticket. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 85: The combination was his daily 'meal ticket' [...] in the South Amercan port. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 52: Seriously, Marty, we can make a go of it, live well [...] this hotel will be our meal ticket. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 101: We're not [...] giving a load of clapped-out ancient retainers a meal ticket for life. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 119: With my meal ticket

meal ticket n. older man who supports a younger lover or friend.

6 an opportunity. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 189: And it dawned on me that the whole purpose of the dinner [...] was a meal ticket to mock, to sit in judgement upon people whom money made into clowns,

mealy bustle n. {US short order)

mealy potato.

1887 'Diet, of Diningroom Sl.' in Brooklyn Daily Eagle 3 July 13: 'Mealy bustle' is mealy potato,

mealy potato

n. (Aus.) the right thing.

1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 66: 'What rot, girls: why don't yer get er shift on?' cried Feathers virtuously. [...] "Taint ther mealy pertater, polin' on the firm like this.'

meamies

n.

■ In phrases

screaming meamies (n.) mean n. aggressiveness.

see screaming meemies under meemies n.

1988 D. VJoouRELL Muscle for the Wing 135: Brazen dash, rough talk, and an ounce or two of mean were clearly required. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 174: He liked to see some mean in a fighter,

mean

adj. 1 (orig. US) very good, very clever, adroit, with implications of 'so good it's unfair', on the 'outlaw' bad = good model. 1890 Sporting Times 11 Jan. 1: Certain it is that our merry boys blue are no mean elocutionists or chirrupers. 1919 E. Hemingway letter 30 Apr. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 24: Rather good-looking and a pretty mean dancer. 1926 S. Young Encaustics 4: 'What was it to throw a mean bust?' 'To have a fine figure,' he exclaimed. 'Like saying she's a mean kisser. Special or extra or something like that.' 1931 Wesley Wilson & Harry McDaniels [song title] She Shakes a Mean Ashcan. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 5: She had one of the meanest rolls a man could want. 1951 S. Lewis World So Wide 46: Hell, I used to skip down to Florida, one time, and enjoy yanking in a mean tarpon. 1978 R. De Christoforo Grease 144: It was a mean, hot song. 1989 G. Tate 'Adeva' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 113: Adeva ain't no fake; she's skying a mean Cameo haircut. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 31: He plays the meanest piano! 2000 Indep. on Sun. Rev. 14 May 54: She does a mean shepherd's pie. 2006 C.W. Ford Deuce's Wild 27: He's stylin' himself as the meanest, baddest rapper. 2 (US black) exceptionally attractive or stylish. 1955

'Hal Ellson'

Rock 89: She moves off, switching a mean tail.

■ In compounds

mean machine

(n.)

1

(orig. US) a fast or stylish car.

1982 W. Safire What's the Good Word? 80: While rolling in your ride or mean machine. 1983 S. King Christine 187: I was looking over your mean machine. 1999 Guardian 5 Apr. [Internet] And you drive this on the street? I do, yeah. It's quite a mean machine. It does get a few looks. It's definitely not quiet. 2 fig. a powerful team or person. 2000 Guardian 20 Mar. [Internet] Gold stars for Houllier's mean machine.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

mean-ass mean-eye 1937 E.

see separate entries. (v.) (US) to stare at aggressively, in a hostile manner.

Anderson

Thieves Like Us (1999) 21: That girl of yours sure

mean-eyed me this morning,

mean-hair

(adj.) (gay) unpleasant, cruel. 1966 H.S. Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 88: They're a bunch of mean-hair fairies, that's all. They're enough to make anyone sick,

mean mug (v.) (mug n.'' (1b)| (US black) to look at someone in a disrespectful and hostile manner. 2006 Guardian G2 14 Feb. 5/1: As it said in the New York Times 'Suspects tell the police they killed someone who "disrespected" them [...] or someone who was "mean-mugging" them, which the police loosely translated as giving a dirty look', mean potatoes (n.) see small potatoes n. mean reds (n.) (coined by Truman Capote in Breakast at Tiffany's (1958)] (US campus) a fit of depression.

mean-ass

1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's [film] holly: Listen. You know those days when you get the mean reds? Paul: The 'mean reds?' You mean, like the blues? holly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat or it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of. Don't you ever get that feeling? 1963 F. Kohner Affairs of Gid^et 67: Poor Mimsy had the mean reds. 1982 R.M. Brown Southern Discomfort (1983) 70: 'Why are you singing the blues?' 'More like the mean reds, really.' 2006 K. FRAZtER Scoop 233:1 flopped face-down on my bed with a bad case of Holly Golightly's Mean Reds.

mean soup (n.) (Aus.) alcohol. 1999 Bug (Aus.) 14 May [Internet] Do you know how many times The Bash was found outside a cop shop in a taxi comatosed from the mean soup? Twenty fucking four!

mean white (n.) [SE mean, impoverished] (US black) an extremely poor white person. 1837 H. Martineau Society in America ii 311: There are a few, called by the slaves mean whites, signifying whites who work with the hands [F&H]. 1869 A.W. Tourgee Toinette ix 104: There was no chance of patronizing this woman, if she was a 'mean white' [DA]. 1873 SI. Diet. 224: Mean white a term of contempt among negroes, in the old slavery days, tor white men without landed property. 1873 .1. McCarthy Fair Saxon xix: That despised and degraded class, the mean whites - the creatures who had neither the social postition and property that seemed essential to freedom in the South, nor the protected comfort of slavery [F&H]. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Bra 175/1: Mean white (Anglo-Indian). A poor Englishman.

■ In phrases so mean... (also mean enough...) (Aus./N.Z.) used in phrs. denoting an individual's meanness, usu. prefaced by they're so mean they wouldn't...; combs, are cited below; others include ...give a wave if they owned the ocean, ...give you a fright if they were a ghost, .. .give you their cold, .. .spit in your mouth if your throat was on fire, and so mean they still have their lunch money from school. 1918 Aussie (France) IX Dec. 22/2: Mean! Why if the cow owned an electric power station he wouldn't give a man a shock! 1919 Aussie (France) XIII Apr. 3/1: Gripes! the cow was mean enough to pinch a fly from a blind spider! 1936 'Banjo' Paterson Shearer’s Colt 93: He's that mean he wouldn't give a dog a drink at his mirage. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 58: Wouldn't shout if a shark bit him: The person referred to shows a marked reluctance to stand his 'round' in the public bar 'school' and is seldom, if ever, in the 'chair'. 2003 Jennifer 'Australian SI. Phrases' Jennifer's Jibberish [Internet] wouldn't shout in a shark attack . a person who will not take their turn in buying a round of drinks. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. SI. 195: so mean/tight he/she couldn't pass caraway seeds Mean with money. [...] so mean/tight he/she wouldn't give a rat a railway pie/piss on you if you were on fire/sell you the steam off his/her shit Memorably mean with money. ANZ. [...] so mean/ tight you couldn't pound a toothpick up her/his arse with a piledriver/screw anything out of her/him with a post-hole borer up her/ his bum Astonishingly mean with money. ANZ. [Ibid.] 234: wouldn't piss down someone's throat if their guts were on fire Held in contempt. ANZ.

too mean to part with one’s shit (ad/.) vety mean indeed. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1248: [...] late C. 19-20.

mean-ass n.

[SE mean -f-ass sfx] an unpleasant person.

1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 170: Tell that crotch-eared meanass to take it easy on us.

mean-ass adj. [mean-ass n.] very unpleasant. 1969 S.C. Wilson Time Warp Tales [comic bk] Mixing it up with some mean ass foe buccaneers. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 93: He's a mean¬ ass little sucker. 1991 P. Cornwell Body of Evidence (1992) 127: Old Man Hunt who thinks his only kid's a fuckin' fairy because you're not a mean-ass-son-of-a-bitch slumlord who don't give a shit about anybody's welfare or feelings.

me-and-yOU

n. [a play on words rather than rhy. sl.l a menu.

1932 'P.P.' Rhy. SI. 1944 C. Fluck ‘Bubbles' of the Old Kent Road 24: Sporty cards were displayed - one read, 'What the devil's on the "Me and You'". 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog. 1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. me and

meat

1558

you n.

[rhy. si.] 1 (bingo) the number two or 22.

1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SI. 109: 2 = me an' you. 2001 J. Burkardt 'The Bingo Code' Wordplay [Internet] 2: me and you. 2002

(con. 1960s) M. McGrath Silvertown 223: The Walters fall to their cards, frantically marking the numbers as they're called: two fat ladies, eighty-eight [...] Twenty-two, me and you. 2 sexual intercourse [= screw n} (1b)].

1978 Maledicta lI:U-2 (Summer/Winter) 117: There are other, more

general if less modern and correct, studies of Cockney rhyming slang, though they tend to skirt [...] me and you ('screw', which in England often means pay packet or wages but has come to mean, as in the US, 'fuck', stuff even bugger).

me and you

phr. (US black) an invitation to start fighting; esp. in

phr. it's gonna be me and you. 1964 R. Abrahams Deep Down In The Jungle 266: Me and you - Short for 'there's just me and you and we're going to fight'.

me arse and Katty Barry! measure n.

exc/. see under arse n.

m SE in slang uses ■ In phrases one’s measure (n.) the right person for the circumstances. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1902 H. Baumann Londinis-

men

(2nd edn).

measure (out)

v. [? SE measure out blows; measure one's length, to fall

prostrate] (US Und.) to strike hard. 1891 Morning Advertiser 3 Apr. n.p.: The prisoner Tounsel took an

empty lemonade bottle from his pocket and said, 'Look out, or I'll measure you out' [F&H]. 1904 'Number 1500' Life In Sing Sing 251: Measured. Struck. 1927 H.C. Witwer Classics in SL 59: 'Well, the fates is right, then,' says MacDuff, pushin' him off and measurin' him with his right. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 137/2: Measure. To knock down or out, with or without a weapon.

measure over the counter

v. to die.

1841 W.J. Neale Paul Periwinkle 240: I'm blowed if we shan't be

measured over the counter, and no mistake about that,

measures n. see medzers n. measure someone for a new overcoat someone for a new suit of clothes) [i.e. a WOODEN adj.]

1

v. (a/so measure

wooden overcoat under

to dispense a beating.

1894 G.F. Northall Folk-Phrases of Four Counties 26: To be measured

for a new suit of clothes = To have a thrashing. 2 (US) to bury. 1936 L. Pound 'American Euphemisms for Dying' in AS XI:3 200: The tailor (undertaker) measured the man for a new overcoat (casket),

meat

n.

1

a body, usu. a woman's, as an object of sexual pleasure.

1515-16 Skelton Magnyfycence line 2265: And from thens to the halfe

strete. To get us there some freshe mete. Why, is there any store of rawe motton? Ye, in faythe. 1533 J. Heywood A Merry Play in Farmer Dramatic Writings (1905) 87: And had ye no meat, Johp John? 1538 J. Bale Comedye Concernyng Three Lawes (1550) Ciii: What wylte thou fall to mutton? [...] Rank loue is full of heate where hungrye dogges lacke meate. They wyll durty puddynges eate For want of befe and conye. 1590 Cobbler of Canterbury (1976) 15: Why how now Scull quoth hee? will no worse meat go downe with you then my wife? 1608 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) Ill iii: We haue meates of all sorts of dressing; we haue stew'd meat for your Frenchman, pretty light picking meat for your Italian, and that which is rotten roasted, for Don Spaniardo. 1615 W, GoddarId Neaste of Waspes D4: Or'e stoues Dutch-women sitts ... to roste meate for theire men. c.1616 Fletcher Bloody Brother II iii; Make room there, Roome for the Dukes meate. c.1642 T. Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) V ii: What say you, is't a Match? Your bed is big enough for two, and my meat will not cost you much. 1656 Mennis & Smith et al. 'A Song' Wit and Drollery 55: Her thighs and belly, soft and faire. To me were only shewn. To have seen such meat, and not to have eat. Would have angred any stone. 1663 Cary Marriage Night in Dodsley Old Plays XV II i; But is she man's meat? I have a tender appetite, and can scarcely digest One in her teens. 1675 T. Duffet Psyche Debauch'd III i: The delicat'st bit of Man's meat that e'er lips weer laid to, or legs laid over. 1684 J. Lacy Sir Hercules Buffoon III iii: I am so plagued with Citizens, that I cannot have a Deer that's mans meat, but they .steal it out of my Park, my Lord. 1704 N. Ward Libertine’s Choice 8: What tho' I chiefly love one sort of Meat, 'Tis Punishment to've nothing else to eat. 1722 'Whipping-Tom' Immodest Wearing of Hoop-Petticoats I 39: She that is growing up fit for Man's Meat, may, by some Spark measuring the Dimensions of her Hoop, be rotten before she's ripe. 1760 Foote Minor in Works (1799) I 257: She has brought a pretty piece of man's meat already; as sweet as a nosegay, and as ripe as a cherry. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 301: He finds her flesh so very sweet, / He swears he'll touch no other meat, c.1791 Kilmainham Minit in Walsh Ireland Sixty Years Ago (1885) 88: But when dat we come to de Row, / Oh, dere was no meat in de market; / De boy he had travelled afore. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India I 91:1 keep a pretty little piece of brown meat, and have my regular greens twice a week, c.1895 F. Norris Vandover and the Brute (1914) 80: He looked after the girl a moment and muttered scornfully: 'Cheap meat!' 1936 Lil Johnson 'Meat Balls' [lyrics] Tryin' to find a

meat

meat

1559

butcher that grind my meat / Yes I'm lookin' for a butcher / He must be long and tall / If he want to grind my meat / Cause I'm wild about my meat balls. 1949 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 1 402: She heard the song near Ponca City, Oklahoma, before 1918 [...] 'I went down to Jenny's place. At ten o'clock or later, / She give me some hog-eye meat, / An' I give her a 'tater.' 1952 in F.C. Brown North Carolina Folklore III 366-7: Fry a little meat, and make a little gravy, / Hug my wife and kiss my baby. 1965 (con. 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 76: Lawd, that guy sure loves his meat. 1967 J. Rechy Numbers (1968) 28: (in male homosexual context) My 'sisters' and their 'aunties' are furnishing lots and lots of liquor, and I'm rounding up [...] the meat! 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 32: 'No need to, man, there's meat all around.' 'The women I meet generally want to get married.' 'Stay away from that type,' advised Willie. 1979 J. Rechy Rushes (1981) 30: (in homosexual context) All he can see is the illumined flesh — 'meat, prime meat,' he loves to call it. 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 67: No one has one [i.e. a body] unless he took it from someone else. You are bodies, all of you. Meat is what we all are. 1998 P. B/ULEY Kitty and Virgil (1999) 188: She is half his age. He claims he loves her [...] She's juicier meat is the reason. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 284: Kara was becoming quite the radical feminist, refusing to be used as meat by the boys.

Gentile cunt. Smelled sweeter, he said. 1949 H.

4

C.1564 Buckley 'Oxford Libell' Arundel Ms. II 285: The baker he did

3 the vagina; also attrib. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley V i: Faith take a maide, and leaue the widdow, Maister Of all meates I loue not a gaping Oyster. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 24 8-15 Nov. 107: The Streams of Concupis¬ cence so in her floate, / That many a Water-man rows in her Meate. 1700 T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1744) III 68: The women were [...] like frogs, only their lower parts were man's meat. 1785 'Roger Ranger' Covent Garden Jester 73: Attend, ye young virgins, to this moral tale, / Dispose of your meat ere it hangs till 'tis stale. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1931 Bo Carter 'Banana in Your Fruit Basket' [lyrics] Now my baby's got the meat, and I got the knife, / I'm gonna do her cuttin', this bound to solve my life. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 161: With us he got a change of meat - Gentile cunt, as he put it. He liked

Sexus (1969)

(or/g. US) one's body or flesh. 1834 W.A. Caruthers Kentuckian in N.Y. I 27: If I hadn't had so many inches, he'd have been into my meat. 1847 J.S. Robb Streaks of Squatter Life 59: The afarr raised jessy in Nettle Bottom, and Old Tom Jones'ye// [...] gives my meat a slight sprinklin' of ager whenever I think on it. 1855 Whitman 'Children of Adam' Leaves of Grass (1982) 258: The curious sympathy one feels when feeling with the hand the naked meat of the body, c.1920 'All Night Long' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 171: I'm seeking a fair sefiorita, / Not thin, and yet not too much meat. 1938 R. Chandler 'The King in Yellow' Spanish Blood (1946) 62: I been in the ring long enough to size up a guy's meat. 1942 W. Pegler George Spelvin Chats 95: Show the camera a lot of leg-meat. 1953 K. Tennant Joy/«/ Condemned 27: If you wanted a woman, you might as well have one with some meat on her. 1965 E. Bond Saved Scene x: Yer wan'a get some meat on yer. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonifll: He was a homo and as I was younger and somewhat repulsively attractive, he wanted me as young meat, 1978 S, King Stand (1990) 184: That's no joke for a man who's carrying around the extra meat you are. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 157: Her whole face was open. All this meat was hanging down. As she walked out of the bar the girl just sliced her.

2 (also lump of meat, piece of meat) the penis. cram the cockes with bread well baked for y' nonce and she her meatie mouth well stoppes w'h pleasinge meate quite free from bones. 1595 S. Gosson Quippes for Upstart Newfangled Gentlewomen in Hazlitt Early Popular Poetry (1866) IV 259: That you should coutch your meat in dish. And others feel it is no fish. 1624 Fletcher Rule a Wife I i: She has a greedy eye that must be fed With more than one mans meat. a.1661 'The Sence of the House' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) I 104:1 eat their Lordships meat by day, and giv't their Wives by night. 1673 Arrowsmith Reformation II i: May thou always gape for meat, and it be death for any man to feed you. 1702 Vanbrugh Aesop III i: I'll make you stay your Stomach with Meat of my chusing, you liquorish young Baggage you. 1837-8 'The Man Who Had Too Much Meat' Cuckold's Nest 22: He'd got such a tail that it frightened the nurse [...] If little you've got, you may bless your lot, / For too much meat's no use at all. 1842 'Sally May' Nancy Dawson's Cabinet of Songs 8: For her with glee I'd ever strive, / To fill both mouth's with meat, c.1864 'The Wife's Randy Dream' Rakish Rhymer (1917) 19: His bit of meat was hanging out, I strok’d it o'er. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) VII 1308: A fresh bit of meat up her cunt, put in on the sly [...] is a treat few can refuse themselves. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1936 Lil Johnson 'Take It Easy, Greasy' [lyrics] I'm going downtown to old butcher Pete's, / Cause I want a piece of his good old meat. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 185: While we're slipping a piece of meat to them every night. 1958-59 in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 391: There'll be no more wine, women or cunt. / We'll lay in our trenches and dream of fine wenches, / And beat off our meat with a grunt. 1969 H. Ellison 'A Boy & his Dog' Beast that Shouted Love (1976) 185: Solitary bitches like the one in the Market Basket [were] just as likely to cut off your rneat with a razor blade. 1970 in R.A.L. Humphreys Tearoom Trade 72: If the man has a very large piece of meat - I know from experience - I will not have somebody ram that thing down my throat. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 191: 'Ridin all day [...] ruins a man's bladder in later life,' he explained, shaking his once proud meat, dropping it back into his sagging underwear. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 44: No, listen, said Jimmy. - Meat is slang for your langer. There were cheers and screams. 1990 S. Morgan Flomeboy 75: Pack that meat in, you cumsuckin bitch! 2003 K. Cage Gayle. 2005 Mad mag. Sept. 36: If there is some technology that allows vegetative folks to enjoy an active sex life, keep me hooked up! Dom 'The Meat' Cappicola. 2007 UGK 'The Game Belongs To Me' [lyrics] Turnin whores to carnivores, they just can't leave my meat alone.

Miller

23: We had persuaded them to try it, to get them to drape a leg over an armchair and expose a little salmon-colored meat. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246: meat 1. [...] 2. Vagina. 1985 O. Hawkins Chili 52: The ecstatic rubbing of our meat together [...] Meat on meat, meat against meat, meat into meat. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 157: 'Meat shots', 'Hamburger shots' in the jargon of the world of home-made pornography and contact magazines.

5

prey, as in he's my meat referring to a potential victim, 1621 Rowley, Dekker & Ford Witch of Edmonton III i: There's my Rival taken up for Hang-man's meat. 1845 W.T. Porter Big Bear of Arkansas (1847) 123: 1 knoed he were my meat without an accident. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 468: I've broken ye in, an' ye're my meat now! 1880 C.L. Martin Sketch of Sam Bass (1956) 57: You are a brave little cuss, but you are my meat. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 19: The signs an' signal-smokes shorely p'ints to this yere Cherokee as our meat. 1907 J. London Road 83: He was my 'meat.' I 'cottoned' to him. 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) II xvi: We'll have de bulls down here in a minute — an' he's our meat, not theirs. 1920 'Sapper' Bulldog Drummond 238: And you understand fellows, don't you? — he's my meat. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 147:1 want McClosky fer me own meat. Get me? 1 don' want nobody to croak dat hoodlum but Biff Glasson. 1941 B. Schulberg What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 34: I've got a hunch Hollywood is my meat. 1957 J. Braine Room at the Top (1959) 32: Don't introduce him to Alice [...] She's hunting for fresh meat. 1967 E. Shepard Doom Pussy 168: Anything that will stand still is his meat. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 156: They had crossed the state line [,..] and so they had become meat for the FBI. 1986 S. King It (1987) 42: Let's go grease some queermeat! 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 273: 'Reed [...] Would you like to take this on?' Reed smiled [...] 'It's my meat, Mr. Burke.' 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 74: You get a punk jacket in here and you are just meat.

6 a prostitute; thus fresh meat, a novice prostitute; raw meat, a woman in flagrante delicto; the price of meat, the cost of a prostitute. 1845 in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 283: There is lots of good stuff floating up and down the streets every night ... it is the best sort of mulatto meat. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 264: ViANDE,/ A whore; 'meat'. 1994 G. Indiana Rent Boy 25: They know anybody they get after that's gonna be pretty fucked-out meat.

7 (orig. US)

a person (or thing) that fits the bill, meets one's needs.

1872 'Mark Twain' Roughing It 357: Capt. Ned sprung to his feet and said: 'Come along - you're my meat now, my lad, anyway.' 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 117: 'Whew!' I whistles. 'That's a large order. But I'm your meat.' 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 119: I gleefully fell in with the scheme, and told Cassell I was his meat. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 450: She was his meat. She weighed about a hundred and twenty-five pounds, nice figure. 1944 News of the World 11 .lime 6: If you're feeling musicomedy-conscious 'Meet the People' is just your meat (Ugh!). 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 218: That's a good story of yours, but it's not my meat. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 119: Movies were my meal. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 153: Sob stories are not my meat. 1993 Eble Campus SI. Apr.

8 (US)

a corpse, a wounded person; also attrib.

1907 'O

Henry'

'Hygeia at the Solito' in Heart of the West 111: A

doctor that couldn't tell he was graveyard meat ought to be skinned with a cinch buckle. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1977

meat

meat

1560

(con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 153: 'The meat-run' he explained [...] 'I've got a load of wounded from Alikambos.' 1978 .1. Webb Fields of Fire (1980) 370: Now, let's count some meat, all right? 1983 S. King Christine 309: The boy was run over three times each way. He was meat. 1999 Indep. Mag. 3 July 23: One moment he was a sentient being. The next moment he was meat. 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 101: He leaned over the dead woman. Every time he put on the plastic gloves (or 'meat-mitts' as the pros liked to call them) he felt like a wage slave at Burger King. 9 (or/g. US) a person of another race as an object of sexual gratification, constructed with a colour; thus dark meat n. (2); white MEAT n. (2). [C.1888 in Stag Party 38: At an elegant tea in Washington were present Representative B., whose wife was a very pronounced brunette. The hostess, also a brunette, asked the usual question as to Mr. B.'s preference in chicken [...] '1 prefer the dark meat always.'] C.1926 implied in black meat below. 10 (US) an inferior person, poss. physically robust but mindless or gullible, thus often used to describe sportsmen; also affectionate use. 1960 J. Brosnan Long Season (1975) 93: Meat, you're crazy as a crab! [Ibid.] 271: Meat A term of indiscriminate affection. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 156: Meat. A person without much social or academic ability. 11 (US) in pi., a set of car tyres. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: meats Tires 'Got to get me some new meats for my ride'.

■ Derivatives meaty (adj.) sexually attractive, sexually exciting. 1930 A.R.D. Fairburn letter in Edmond Letters (1981) 1 Feb. 31: Sounds meaty, don't it? 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 598: A girl whose slim, tall but meaty figure was wrapped in a stylish blue cloth coat. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 730: from ca. 1820.

■ In compounds meat axe (n.) (US) the penis. 1976 in National Lampoon Mar. 64: Well, I'm going to lay some pipe! [...] Beat her with the meat ax! [HDAS], meatbag (n.) 1 the stomach. 1848 G.F. Ruxton Life in the Far West (1849) 11: Dick was as full of arrows as a porkypine: one was sticking right through his cheek, one in his meat-bag. 1850 L.W. Garrard Wah-to-yah and the Taos Trail 46: I bet I make you eat dogmeat [...] and you'll say it's good, and the best you ever hid in your 'meatbag'. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 a heavily muscled man. 1994 T. WiLLOCKS Green River Rising 45: The white muscle yard where the cons, particularly the meatbags [...] pumped iron, meatbeater (n.) a masturbator, esp. one who masturbates excessively; thus a general term of abuse. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

meat cart (n.) (a/so meat crate) (US) a hearse. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. of SI. 81: Hearse. . . meat cart, — crate or wagon,

meat curtains (n.) the female vaginal lips or labia majora. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 155: A woman lay spread-eagled across the page, displaying what the boys back home would so eloquently call her 'meat curtains',

meat fancier’s (n.) a brothel. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

meat-flasher (n.) an exhibitionist, one who exposes themselves indecently; thus meat-flashing, exhibitionism. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues IV 297/2: Meat¬ flashing, subs, (common). Exposure of the person. Hence, meatflasher =a public offender in this line,

meat horn (n.) the penis. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 103: Back with the guys, who had probably been [.,.] pounding or pulling their collective pud, wang, schlong, dong, skin flute, meat horn, beef tube, pecker, meathound (n.) [-hound sfx] 1 (US) a lecher.

the block; / She's always got the gimme. 1944 T. Hartley gloss, in Simes DAUS (1993). 3 (US police) a morgue. 1933 D. Runyon More Guys and Dolls (1951) 24: He never will be as

close to the meat house again and be alive. That's the morgue,

meat injection (n.) (orig. US) an act of penetration by the penis. 1984 K. Weaver Texas Crude 108: What's this, dear heart, your famous meat injection? 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 9: That beats any meat injection ... that beats any fuckin cock in the world, meat lance (n.) (a/so meat spear, meat stick) (US) the penis. 1976 Atlee Domino 119: Any [...] man would want to bury his meat lance in them for five minutes, while he held his breath [HDAS]. 2001 Gay Video Dad Behind Closed Doors [Internet] Rev. of Natural Instinct: Cummings and Grand flip-flop so Grand can loss some salad and then use his meat stick to poke at Cummings' hot ass. 2002 Eight Hand Reviews 'Devinn Lane's Succulent Blossom' Adult

Novelty Reviews [Internet] Once fully erea, which never takes long watching Devinn, I stabbed my meat spear into what I was imagining as Devinn's very own Succulent Blossom, meat mag (n.) [mag n.'* (1)] (US) a magazine of homosexual pornography. 1979 Maledicta III:2 250: After Dark and some others are approaching the meat-mag status of gay pornography,

meat market (n.) see separate entry, meat-merchant (n.) a prostitute. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

meat-monger (n.) a womanizer, a philanderer. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

meat packer (n.)

meat puppet (n.)

partner), 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). meat house (n.) [house n.^ (1)/SE house] 1 (US) one's body. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 403: Try an' git back here by Monday night, or I'll try an' git inter yer meat-house! 2 (a/so meat shop) a brothel. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1929 McKinney's Cotton Pickers 'Beedle-Um-Bum' [lyrics] She's got a meat shop on

[SE puppet, both 'jump up and down'] (US)

1 a

gullible person. 1984 W. Gibson Neuromancer 147: Where's the meat puppet? 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 391; I'm down wid dat, my little Hispanic meat puppet. 2002 White Panty Superette (Internet] unlike real-life meat puppets, Victoria's the kind of girl whose picture you're never ashamed to show the folks back home.

2 the penis. 1997-2002 Alt. Eng. Diet. [Internet] meat puppet (noun) penis. (Not

common) 'Do you want to play with my meat puppet?'

meat rack (n.) see separate entry. meat salesman (n.) a pimp. 1971 WiNiCK & Kinsie Lively Commerce 109: A pimp [...] is sometimes

called a 'meat salesman',

meat shop (n.) see meat house above, meat shot (n.) (US) a flesh wound. 1992 R. Price dockers 490; He wasn't too worried about Horace. It

looked like just a meat shot,

meat skewer (n.) the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

meat spear/stick (n.) see meat lance above, meat tool (n.) [tool n.’’ (1)] (US) the penis. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 81: Like with your meat tool? You got no girl, who do you fuck other than your hand? meat wagon (n.) [lit. and fig. uses of sense 9 above -F SE wagon] 1 (US) an ambulance. 1925 (ref. to 1918) J.H. Taber Story of 168th Infantry 189; By this time all of the old members of the regiment [...] cheerfully referred to the ambulance as the 'meat wagon'. 1931 'Und. "Lingo" Brought Up-toDate' L.A. Times 8 Nov. K3: MEAT-WAGON: Ambulance. 1947 B. Stiles Serenade to the Big Bird 42:1 saw the meat-wagon start toward a ship taxi-ing in. 1949 (con. 1943-5) A. Murphy To Hell and Back (1950) 91: 'How'd he get it?' [...] 'How would I know? I don't run the meat wagon.' 1957 H, Ellison 'Kid Killer' Deadly Streets (1983) 121: Down the street the meat wagon came toward them [...] clanging sacriJigiously. 1966 'Tom Pendleton' Iron Orchard (1967) 80: After the Odessa undertaker's 'meat wagon' had carted the bodies away. 1970 E. TTdyman Shaft 162: The meat-wagon crevv was scraping the pieces of him off a wall someplace, 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 192: Gotta go now, honey. The meat wagon must've arrived. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 397:

Medics hauled gurneys. Medics hauled vies. Meat wagons hauled Code 3, -

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 2 (US black) one who indulges in oral sex [they eat v, (4) their

[play on SAmE meatpacker] (US) an undertaker.

1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

2

a vehicle used for conveying prisoners to and from court, police stations, prisons etc, a general police van. 1944 in R.E. Weinberg et al. Tough Guys (1993) 549: You're bait for

the meat wagon. I talked, boys. Oh yes, I talked. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 9-. You get in the second peter on the right [...] till the meat waggon arrives. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 77: I'll radio through to the morgue to see if the meat-wagon is on its way. 1974 Adamson & Hanford Zimmer's Essay 46: There were fourteen men

inside the meat wagon. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 33: As we were

meat

meat

1561

about to get into the police 'meat wagon' which takes remand prisoners to court, the screws gave us a rub-down. 1995 J, Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 19: Loved a bit of bother the Filth, first there was thirty seconds, six more inside two minutes, stripes, trannies, meat-wagons. 2000 Siin. Times News Rev. 12 Mar. 1; When he left for the gentler regime at Stanford Hill [...] Razor Smith carried his bags to the meat wagon. 3 {US) a hearse. 1943 R.L. Bellem 'Dissolve Shot' Dan Turner - Hollywood Detective May [Internet] Phone the [...] homicide squad and tell [them] to bring a meat wagon. Also an ambulance for Mr. Michaelson. 1943 R. Chandler Lady in the Lake (1952) 106: Murder-a-day Marlowe they call him. They have the meat wagon following him around to follow up on the business he finds. 1950 Side Street [film script] There's your customer, everything else is for the meat wagon. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 73: There was a city meat wagon on the street. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 176: The homicide team had taken charge [...] They all waited for the coroner's meat wagon. 1994 P. Baker Blood Posse 205: The dead were thown into meat wagons. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 362: We moved by the meat wagon. 1 craned a look and caught the corpses within. 4 a large, expensive automobile. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 11: [He would] pick me up in his Oldsmobile convertible — a big, fat luxury car, a real meat wagon, meat whistle (n.) (US) the penis, esp. as an object of fellatio. C.1930 'The Iceman and the Cook' [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 48: Maybe you blow da tune on da meat whistle, ha? 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 82: What're you going to do on the variety show [..,[ Perform on the meat whistle? 1975 T. Berger Sneaky People (1980) 214: Soon's you play a little tune on my meat whistle. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 61: Meat Whistle The penis. meat-works (n.) (Aus.) a brothel. 1944 in T. Hartley glossary in Simes DAUS (1993).

■ In phrases beat one’s meat (v.) (orig. US) 1 (also flog one’s meat) to masturbate; also fig. and in dismissive phr. go beat your meat! C.1940 'Wild Buckaroo' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 107: One evenin' in Bishop, I walked up the street, / And I was damn fed up with heatin' my meat. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 636: You get to thinkin about women you come all apart at the seams and be floggin your meat all a time. 1958 Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 58: Are you here for masturbation? [...] You know — onanism — 'beating your meat'. a.1962 'Answer to the Letter' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 143: You talk like I lost something real sweet, / But I got more kick out of beating my meat. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 32: Keep your hands off your meat, boys [...] 'He who beats it depletes it.' 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 92: Hey homeboy, what chu doin' dere heatin' yo' meat? Nigger's makin' whip cream! 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 41: They talked about things like 'beating your meat', 'bustin' a nut,' and 'gettin' some head'. 2002 Sandmann ' Burning Down the House' Planet Sex Stories [Internet] As I stared down through the cracks of the roof I was rewarded with the sight of Eddie beating his meat. It was the first cock I'd ever seen, 8 or 9 inches long, and it immediately made my mouth water.

2 to brag, to boast. 1947 N. Mailer Naked and the Dead 422:1 was president of our junior class in high school [...] I don't mean that that's anything to beat my meat about, but it taught me how to get along with people, bit of meat (n.) 1 the vagina. 1842 'The Blowen & The Swell' Nobby Songster 42: So if you want a bit of meat that is both sweat and clean; / O come with me, for I can see, that you are very green. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

2 sexual intercourse. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 729/2: C.18-20. 3 a woman considered as nothing more than a sex object. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 85: The feller what poisoned his Judy years ago and legged it to America with his bit of meat dressed up as a lad.

black meat (n.) 1 a black woman's genitals. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 52: black meat n [L] Pudendum of a black woman.

2 a black woman. C.1926 in P. Smith Letter from My Father (1978) 170: He was getting used to fucking black meat preparatory to marrying Tinena. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 9/1: Black meat, a negress. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 24: black meat A negro female. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 46: Color Allusions, Other than 'Black' and 'Negro': black-meat, piece-of-dark meat, rare-peice[s\c]-ofdark-meat, hot-piece-of-dark-meat. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna

Holler (1995) 203: White men live for the day to get a piece a' black meat.

bust one’s meat (v.) (UK black) of a man, to ejaculate. 2003 J2K 'Love You' [lyrics] Let me offload and bust my meat quick,

don’t let your meat loaf [pun on SE loaf, the iood/loaf, to loiter! (US) a general phr. of encouragement, the implication being 'don't procrastinate'. 1963 cited in Lighter HDAS II. 1974 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS 11. 1984 Frank Zappa Thing-Fish [album] Don't let your meat loaf. 1988 C.E. Lincoln The Avenue, Clayton City (1996) 6: Good night. Guts. Don't let your meat loaf, your gravy might curdle. 1995 [film title] Don't Let Your Meat Loaf. 1996 P. Gerald 'An Alaska Sailor's Vocabulary' 16 June [Internet] MEAT LOAF - it's not just a meal anymore, it's something to avoid. The saying, always said to a male person, is 'Don't let your meat loaf.' Chris proudly tells the story of when a woman told him not to let his meat loaf and right off the top of his head he came up with the perfect response: 'Don't let your pussy willow.' 2002 Thirty Below Band homepage [Internet] Stay Cool and don't let your meat loaf.

fond of meat (ad/.) used to describe a man who is fond of sex, esp. with prostitutes. 1834 'The Old Woman's Mutton' Bang-Up Songster hi-. A butcher who was fond of meat. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. give someone some meat (v.) (also give someone some) of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 142: I'll give you some meat

this morning when I go to bed. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 216: I must have been looking better than a little bit, 'cause this bitch was like, 'What's up, baby? How you doing? My name is Michael.' And from there, it was like I liked him that much, I wanted to give him some. hang one’s meat (v.) (US) of a man, to urinate. 1918 Noyes MS n.p.: To Hang one's Meat = to empty this, to wring out

one's swab 'to relieve one's self' [HDAS].

have a bit of meat (v.) to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer

Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 179: Manger de la chair crde = to copulate; 'to have a bit of meat', hawk one’s meat (v.) to display one's body. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 539/1: C.19-20. hot meat (n.) (hot ad/, (la)] (US) exposed female flesh. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

light meat (n.) (US) white people, usu. women, considered as sex objects. 1961 C. Himes Pinktoes (1989) 73: 'You likes dark meat or light meat,

honey?' [...] 'I know what part Joe likes.'

lump of meat (n.) see sense 2 above, little meat (n.) see small miat under small adj. make cold meat of (v.) [var. on SE phr. make mincemeat of\ (orig. US) to kill. 1836-7 Dickens Pickwick Papers (1999) 246: You mustn't handle your piece in that 'ee way [...] or I'm damned if you won't make cold meat of some of us! 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 91: To make cold meat [of someone] is to kill a person. meat and two veg (n.) (also meat and two bits) the penis and testicles. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1996 K. Lette Mad Cows 95: Penises, like snowflakes, are each of them different. And Maddy liked them all. [...] The round-heads. The hooded eyes. The meat and two veg packed lunch variety. 1999 L. GouLD Shagadelically Speaking 32: Austin realizes all is not well with his meat and two bits. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] meat and two veg. n. male genitalia. 2004 Guardian Weekend 7 Feb. 12: Men in dresses with birds'-nest hair chopping off their meat and two veg in order to enjoy the privileges of using the women's bog. meat for your master (n.) that which is considered out of reach of the speaker, and due only to their superiors. 1681 Otway Soldier's Fortune II i: She's meat for thy master, old boy; I have my belly-full of her every night, 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 30: You have the wrong Sow by the Ear; I assure you that's Meat for your Master. 1749 Fielding Tom .lones (1959) 348: He love my lady! I'd have you know, woman, she is meat for his master. 1760 Foote Minor in Works (1799) I 242: De opera, pardonnez, by gar dat is meat for your master. piece of meat (n.) see sense 2 above, pound one’s meat (v.) (US) to masturbate. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 403: He had a fast vision of himself stashed away on a funny farm [...] pounding his meat like a fiend. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. pound someone’s meat (v.) (US) to have sexual intercourse. 1968 (con. c, 1900) J. Thompson King Blood (1989) 20: Ray was

pounding his mother's meat. Ray was diddling his mother's pussy.

meat

meat

1562

pull on one’s meat (v.) to masturbate. 1977 A. Brooke Last Take 122: Don't trust me no dude that pray while he pull on his meat.

pump one’s meat (v.) to masturbate. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 128: As soon as she was gone 1 started pumping my meat again.

put the meat to (v.) {also throw the meat to) of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1964 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 11 653: When a good-looking filly would come into heat, / Was the Strawberry Roan that throwed her the meat. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 125: Sam wanted the brothers to beat up on you and crack your nuts tor putting the meat to his bitch. 1974 D. Goines Swamp Man 145: You put the meat to his sister. 1979 (con. c.1970) G. Hasford Short Timers (1985) 6: You maggots are huffing and puffing the way your momma did the first time your old man put the meat to her.

sink one’s meat (v.) (US) to have sexual intercourse. 1927 'Rangy Lil' in Bold (1979) 192: Where every man could find a seat / And watch that greaser sink his meat. 1934 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) 11 667: Where every man could gel a seat / And watch the half-breed sink his meat. c,1935 'Mae West in "The Hip Flipper'" [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 99: Hardly had they sunk the meat and settled down for another amorous session [etc.],

small meat (n.) see under small ad/, swinging on the meat (adj.) see under swing v. take meat in/up the back (v.) (US) to submit to anal intercourse. 1964 R. Abrahams Deep Down In The Jungle 52: Least my brother ain't no store; he takes meat in the back,

take one’s meat out of the basket (v.) (gay) to reveal one's genitals to another man. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VIl in Henry Sex Variants. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds meat axe (n.) see separate entry, meatball see separate entries, meatbrain (n.) (orig. US) a fool. 1981 (con. 1967) P. Conroy Lords of Discipline 4\6: You are disgraced, meatbrain. 1997 A. Wasserman 'Lion's Tale' [Internet] 'Watch it. Ham,' snarls Beef. 'You're getting my stuff wet!' 'So what, meatbrain?' asks Hambone in mock challenge. 2002 Dragonling.com [Internet] He was known by several nicknames such as 'Peebrain', 'Meatbrain', 'Dipstick', 'Fleabag', 'Booboo Dog', 'Old Man', and 'The Lurker' but to me he was always 'My Baby.'

meat-eater (n.) [antonym of crass-eater under GRASS n.’j (US Und.) a police officer who, not content with the payoffs, bribes and perks that are freely offered, actively compels people to offer him such monies. 1972 in N.Y. Times Mag. 17 Dec. 42: There are two kinds of crooked cops: 'grasseaters,' who take what minor graft comes their way but don't make any particular effort to get it, and 'meat-eaters,' who go all out for the buck [HDAS]. 1986 T. Philbin Under Cover 102:1 know they accused you of grass-eating [...] Everybody eats grass, 1 don't see that as bad. As long as you aren't a meat-eater, that's fine. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 97: Meat eater - a police officer who will actively seek bribes.

meat fosh (n.) [var. on psh-fosh, kedgeree] hash, stew. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

Meat-Freezer (n.) see separate entry, meat-grinder (n.) (US) 1 a car with a loud engine.

landlords, the foremen, the cops, the judges, the nagging spouse, the fools in charge,

meathead (n.) see separate entry. meathook (n.) 1 a curl on the temple, then fashionable among London cockneys; thus in pL, curls in general. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 730: —1887. 2 (Aus./US) the arm. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 33: meat-hook — Arm. 1924 (con, WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss. SI. [...I in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev, t/s) n.p.: meat hook. The arm. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 246:1 noticed his big meat-hooks, 3 (US) a hand; often in pi. 1911 E. Dyson 'The Truculent Boy' in Benno and Some of the Push 50: 'Take yer meat-hooks outer me,' snarled Nipper. 1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS VII:5 334: meat hooks — hands. 1939 F. Gruber 'Sad Serbian' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2007) 172: Big Mamie reaches down and twists one of her meat hooks in the back of her purple dressing gown. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 J.T. Farrell 'The Fastest Runner' in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 16: Tony had very big strong hands. The other kids sometimes called them 'meat hooks'. 1969 J. Hibberd Dimboola (2000) 83: Put your meat-hooks up! 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 48: Her with those huge meathooks folded calmly in her lap. 1983 R. Price Breaks 195: His hands looked like meat hooks - big scarred jobs. 1990 R. Campbell Sweet La-La Land (1999) 154: 1 saw Hooligan clamp his meat hook on that A-rab's arm. 1999 Guardian Weekend 26 June 3: Their grubby little meathooks. 4 (US) the penis. 1982 Mfl/crf/cto VI: 1-1-2 (Summer/Winter) 23: Penis [...] meathook. meat man (n.) (US black) an ordinary person. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso xvi: meat men - ordinary people, jibid.] 151: You see, a person is a meat person. But I have seen so many white women think that they are so much that they might just as well be nothing. [...] Men ain't nothing but meat men too. meat-mincer (n.) in boxing, the mouth. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 189: The return blow came quick as a racer's kick and 'dabbed the paint' about the giant's 'meatmincer,' making the lip rise like balm, meat pie (adj.) see separate entry. meat ticket (n.) [var. on meal ticket n.j 1 anyone who provides money or a livelihood for someone else, who thus needs to make less effort. 2002 Molly Women's Channel Message Board Asiaxpat 13 Aug. [Internet] are you saying only filipinas? waiting for the meat ticket? look arround you it's everywhere! 2 see DEAD-MEAT TICKET Under dead meat n.

meat trap (n.) [SE trap/iRAP nj' (5)1 (Aus./US) the mouth. 1851 M. Reid Scalp-Hunters II 10: 'Shet up yur meat-traps,' answered he. 1918 Aussie (France) 4 Apr. 4/2: Fer heaven's sake shut your meat trap or your teeth will get sunburnt! 1919 Aussie (France) XI Feb. 5: Babbling Brook (fed-up with complaints from grousing offsider): 'For Gawd's sake shut your meat-trap and go outside and demobilize yourself!' 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss. SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: meat trap. The mouth, meat water (n.) (W.l.) stock, soup, 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

meat wrapper (n.) see fish-wrapper under fish ■ In phrases meat and drink (n.) 1 drunken love-making.

n\

1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 729: C.19-early 20.

2 (W.l.) strong drink in general, but spec, liquor thickened with egg yolks. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of Si, Jargon and Cant.

1942 A.C. Johnston Courtship of Andy Hardy [film script] I'm gonna change this old meat-grinder here into a tow-truck [HDAS]. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

meat and potatoes see separate entries. meat and two veg (adj.) [the stereotypically basic dish, roast meat,

2 any tough situation or place in which an elimination process is

1989 T. Blacker Fixx 89: 1 favoured the straightforward meat-andtwo-veg approach to physical relations. 1999 Indep. Rev. 16 July 14: There was more to life than meat-and-two-veg rock,

being carried out, such as training. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 243: In our town the mobs don't kill a cop. [...] And a live cop who has been put through the meat grinder is a much better advertisement. 1962 G. Marx letter 31 Mar. in Groucho Letters (1967) 221: 1 am so exhausted from the five and a half days in the meat grinder. 1985 (con. 1968) D.A. Dye Citadel (1989) 137: Meanwhile, good oT Tremblin' two-Five goes back the way it came and gets its ass caught in the meat-grinder again. 1992 R. Marcinko Rogue Warrior (1993) 266: It's gonna be a motherfucking meat-grinder, remember — you don't have to like it. You just have to do it. 3 someone who controls one and renders one's life unpleasant, usu. by issuing orders. 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 102: The toughmen were just convenient foils for the true meatgrinders of the world: the

potatoes and cabbage) plain, unadorned, 'no-frills'.

meat-drink-washing-and-lodging (n.) [its image as a universal panacea] gin. 1728 J. Gay The Quaker's Opera I i: QU.: What hast thou got? POOR.:

Sir, you may have what you please. Wind or right Nantz , [...] or Diddle or Meat Drink-Washing-and-Lodging, or Kill-Cobler, or in plain English Geneva.

meat-in-the-pot (n.) [its use in obtaining food] (US, mainly Western) a rifle, a shotgun, a revolver. 1869 'South-Western SI.' in Overland Monthly (CA) Aug. 126: Among the names of revolvers I remember the following: Meat in the Pot, Blue Lightning, Peacemaker, Mr. Speaker, Black-eyed Susan, Pill¬ box, My Unconverted Friend. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 7: There I grabbed old

meat and potatoes

Meat-in-the-pot and made a climb for the tall country. 1944 R.F. Adams Western Words (1968) 98: Meat in the pot. Slang name for a rifle, because this weapon is used by the hunter to secure meat for the camp [DA].

not for all the meat in China see

not for all the tea in China

under

TEA n.

meat and potatoes n. Ithe stereotyped plain meal] (US) the essence, the basics, the 'brass tacks'; thus meat-and-potato adj., basic, essential. 1967 Maclean's (Toronto) July 65: Textbooks remain the meat and potatoes of publishing in Canada. 1975 L. Rosten Dear 'Herm' 17: I mean real meat-and-potatoe stuff. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 122: Tryone said lots of things, .but let's get to meat and potatoes.

meat-and-potatoes adj.

meathead

1563

[meat and potatoes n.l

(US) average,

run-of-the-mill, unexciting, basic. 1968 New Scientist 15 Aug. 351: This is the kind of 'meat and potatoes' information amateur astronomers [...] are eager to glean from an experienced observer. 1983 J. Ciardi A Set;ond Browser's Diet. 182: Meat-and-potatoes. Basic. [...] Let’s get down to the meat-and-potatoes. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 117: Wants to keep this a meatand-potatoes, middle-of-the-road, bar-food kind of place. I'd like to do a whole lot more. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 175: It's [i.e. a pistol] blue-collar, meat-and-potatoes, just like you said.

meat axe n. 1 (US) used in similes, see below. 1838 T. Haliburton Clockmaker II 127: She was as smart as a fox-trap, and as wicked as a meat-axe. 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms. 1856 N.O. Weekly Delta 23 Nov. p.l in A.P. Hudson Humor of the Old Deep South (1936) n.p.: I went aboard as sassy as a meat-axe, and struttin' 'bout de dex as large as life. 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 188: She was not quite as gentle and kindly as a meat axe.

2 (Aus.lN.Z.) an eccentric, a mad person. 1993 Dominion (Wellington) 27 Sept. 10: Assorted meat axes and wombats like Gilbert Miles [...] will provide supporting sideshows [DNZE].

■ In phrases mad as a meat axe (adj.) (Aus.lN.Z./US) 1 (also wild as a meat axe) very angry. 1861 R.F. Burton City of the Saints 227: I'm intire mad as a meat axe. 1938 F. Anthony 'Gus Tomlins' in Me And Gus (1977) 172: They looked as mad as meat-axes, thinking about the cat, but neither had the nerve to say anything. 1947 D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 76: The Colonel had come out, mad as a meat-axe. 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958)212: I'm sick as a dog and mad as a meat-axe. 1964 B. Hesling Dinkumization or Depommification 48: Frank, in the manner of Australians standing up to criticism, was mad as a meat axe. 1970 O. Sansom Stewart Islanders 145: Sold to him as 'bullocks broken in to the harness' they were 'wild as meat-axes'.

2 completely insane. 1943 J.A.W. Bennett 'Eng. as it is Spoken in N.Z.' in AS XVIII:2 Apr. 90: Phrases like 'mad as a maggot', 'mad as a meat axe' are obviously linked with these expressions [i.e. to go maggoty]. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 231: He went mad and they shot him mad as a meat axe. 1960 'Nino Cvlotta' Cop This Lot 15: Ironed me bloody socks yesterday. Put fruit salts in the gravy the night before. Mad as a meat-axe she is. 1974 D. Ireland Burn 97: Struth, love, you're mad as a meat-axe. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 132: The exasperating person who is 'mad as a meat ant (or meat axe)', 'silly as a tin of worms (or a cut snake)'. 1987 M. Bail Holden’s Performance (1989) 334: She's as mad as a meat axe. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 49: The drag queen was as mad as a meat axe and about as dangerous. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Apr. [Internet] Race and religion aside, Hopa is as mad as a meataxe.

savage as a meat axe (adj.) (also fierce as a meat axe) very angry. 1834 D, Crockett Narrative of the Life of D.C. (1934) 45: The old lady appeared to be mighty wrathy; and when I broached the subject, she looked at me as savage as a meat axe. 1842 C.M. Kirkland Forest Life I 103: Why, you don't eat nothing! [...] tidin' don't agree with you, I guess! Now, for my part, it makes me savage as a meat-axe. 1842 Spirit of the Times (Phila.) Feb, 10 n.p.: He was as keen and fierce as a meat axe. 1851 Polly Peasblossom’s Wedding 149: [He] looked at me right plum in the face, as savage as er meat axe. 1857 J.G. Holland Bay Path 88: He looked as savage as a meat axe, till she began to cry and take on. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 July 36/2: Savage as a meat-axe, she grabs him by one arm, and drags at him strongly to get him in the open.

meatball n. 1 (US) a stupid person; thus a potential victim [fig. ext. -F ref, to MEATHEAD n.j. 1939 B. Appel Power-House 12: 'Look who's talkin' now. The big meatball,' Ray sneered. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Pall (1971)

239: He wasn't such a meatball that he couldn't find a way to get around Vince's reluctance to declare a dividend. 1957 R. Prather Always Leave 'Em Dying 130: This was L.A., the Land of the Abnormal. Nobody even tries to deny it any more: L.A. is the magnet for meatballs. 1960 (con. 1940s) G. Morrill Dark Sea Running 214: I'm not the meatball you think. 1977 E. Torres QeL4 91: John, you're a meatball, 1987 T. Wolfe Bonfire of the Vanities 372: It you weren't worried after those two meatballs came to see you, there'd have to be something wrong with you. 1996 (con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 216: Which is what I'll be talkin' about [...] to all those meatballs on my beat. 2003 N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 246: He tossed the gun he'd taken away from the meatball in his room into the Dumpster.

2 (US) an Italian [the stereotyped partiality of Italians for the dish], 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 137/2: Meat-ball. 1. (Chiefly N. Y. State

prisons; Ital.-Amer.) [...] (applied derisively) a Negro. 2. (Same area; adopted by Irish-Amer. convicts) An Italian. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 357: Didn't I tell you to stay with that meatball and get him to work? 1983 Maledicta VII 23: On top of all this spaghetti is a meatball, an Italian. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 12: The time-honored tradition of disparaging other nationalities, including the [...] Italians (Eyetalians, macaronis, meatballs). 3 an African-American. 1950 see sense 2.

4 (US)

as ext. of sense 1 above, a prostitute's customer.

1956 J. Stern Sisters of the Night 5: Clerks, bellhops and elevator

operators were recruited to steer the customers - the 'Johns' or 'meatballs' - to the selected suites.

5 (US Und.) a minor or false criminal charge [backform. f. meatball adj.]. 1973 'A.C. Clark' Crime Partners 103: You guys picked me up on a meatball. I ain't robbed nobody, so you ain't got no case on me [HD AS].

meatball adj. 1 (US Und.) used of a criminal charge for a petty crime, e.g., meatball beef, meatball rap [the smallness or common¬ ness, thus unimportance, of the food], 1944 in A. Hassler Diary of a Self-Made Convict (1955) 65: 'Nine years a square John,' he burst out at me, 'and now I'm in on a meatball rap!' 1952 'Hal Ellson' Golden Spike 240: 'They caught me with a set of works.' 'Aw, that's a meatball rap, you'll get out tomorrow,' 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 133: Armed robbery is no meatball rap. 1964 J.D. Harris Junkie Priest 83: The arrest was a frame, a meatball rap, but you took it in your stride. 1976 M. Braly False Starts 186: It was a meatball beef, 1980 D. Hamill Stomping Ground 168: A meatball charge like underage drinking [HDAS]. 1999 E. E. Bunker Mr Blue 264: This meatball case could be stalled for many months.

2 (US) stupid

[MEATBALL n. (1)].

1965 R. Hardman Chaplains Raid 7: In all of recorded United States

Marine Corps history has there ever been such a meatball deal? [HDAS]. 1976 H. Kissinger in Woodward & Bernstein Final Days n.p.: You tell our meatball President I'll be there in a few minutes [R].

meater n. ['said of a dog who only bites meat, that is to say, one who will not fight' (Ware)] a coward. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. Meat-Freezer n. [the export of deep-frozen N.Z. Iamb[ (Aus.) a New Zealander. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Jul, 24/2: 'No "lambed-down" shearer' (writes The Bulletin's London correspondent) 'was ever chucked out of "The Traveller's Rest" into the dusty road in a limp heap as the Maorilanders have been shot out of the Antipodean bowling team. [...] Looks as if the Meat-freezers were becoming thoroughly Seddonized, and the whole Southern Pacific will be necessary to reduce their ballooned heads.'

meathead n. [SE meat -f -head sfx (1), implying that solid flesh, rather than brains, occupies one's skull) 1 (US) a stupid person; thus as a term of address. 1929 (con. 1917-18) C. MacArthur War Bugs 140: We bawled them out for a lot of meat-heads. 1953 'Curt Cannon' 'The Death of Me' in I Like ’Em Tough (1958) 101: You must take me for a meathead, Semmler. 1965 (con. 1944) E.M. Nathanson Dirty Dozen (2002) 359: I've always been glad it was me and not some meathead you talked to. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 173: Hey, that's what I've been trying to tell a bunch of Missouri, Iowa and Oklahoma meatheads since I've been in. 1989 G. Tate 'Adeva' in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 113: She excused herself at one point to cold dismiss some meathead acting all loud. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 199: They're in a kind of limbo-land. Not the macho meatheads they were brought up to be, or the Male Feminists they claim to be on telly chat shows. 2001 K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 142: Al Stanton of the purple SLK. Meathead. Fucking bully. 2004 Mad mag. July 45: Lawsuits that pour in from bimbos and meatheads.

meat market 2a

mechanic

1564

general term of abuse.

1949 W.R, Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 144: Look,

meathead [...] no use us being sore at each other. 1953 L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 117: O.K., you meatheads, take off your packs. 1999 USA Today 23 Dec. 04D: While Buffy hasn't yet had a word achieve the breakout status of Seinfeld's 'yada, yada,' or All in the Family's 'meathead,' it is a rich source.

■ Derivatives meatheaded (ad/.) stupid, foolish. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 166: Whose

would you take [...] some meat-headed tart's? Or mine. 1959 'Ed McBain' Killer's Wedge (1981) 26: Not even meatheaded Captain Frick.

meat market n. [meat n. (1); in sense 1c below note synon. 1910s US meet market] 1 as a place, usu. for sexual encounters, (a) {also market) a rendezvous for prostitutes of either sex. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 43: Boucherie,/ A brothel; 'a

meat-market'. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 136/1: Market. The rendezvous of male oral sodomists and pederasts — with robbery and extortion as an indirect objective of youths frequenting these sections. 1964 Lavender Lex. n.p.: meat market:- A gathering place on a street or park where hustlers and prostitutes gather in search for a paying customer. Also the gathering place for amateurs in competition with the professionals. This is usually a fence or a wall where the individuals can pose to best display their qualifications. 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 30: A dark corner of the beach known as 'the meat market.' It is little more than an open air brothel. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 145: Hustler bars, which bear such determinedly macho names as Dallas, Cowboys & Cowgirls, etc., to name some New York meat markets. (b) (US) any situation or place where people are regarded as commodities, such as a recruiting agency or a modelling agency. 1941 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 118: They gave us a hundred

days on the county gang [...] When the inmates on the gang saw us, they hollered 'New meat in the market!' They jumped on us and took our money and cigarettes, (c) anywhere that people gather for the primary purpose of finding sexual partners, often used in universities to describe first-year parties. 1957 J. Osborne Entertainer 18: Every tart and pansy boy in the district are in that place [...] It's just a meat-market. 1964 see sense la above, 1970 J.P. Stanley 'Homosexual SI.' in AS XLV:l/2 58: meat market n Street on which homosexuals gather, cruise, and pick up tricks. 1983 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: meat market - place where members of the opposite sex are plentiful and available. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 172: Your best friend is baring all for one of the tackiest meat market magazines in the whole of the Western world, 1998 1. Welsh Filth 145: Aw aye, 1 say, looking disdainfully around the meat market. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 82/1: meat market n. place where gay men gather to find sex partners - usually bars, and

steam baths. (d) in fig. use, the world of commercial sexuality. 1967 Oz 6 20/1: Girodias [is] the single most dedicated provider of sexual delicatessen for the Anglo-Saxon mental meat-market,

2 as a part of the body, (a) the female breasts. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 730: C. 19-20.

(b) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer 8- Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

meat pie n. Irhy. sl.j 1 a fly (the insect or that of the trousers). 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

2 an eye, usu. in pi. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 13: She sits by a flickering Ron Randell in sweet celestial bliss / She sits there with meat pies like pools of hit and miss. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 150: He closed his meat pies in respect for Senegal.

3 a necktie. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 36: Meat Pies Neck

ties. 4 a lie. 1993 T. Pratchett Men at Arms (1994) 175: Someone is telling meat

pies. Never trust anyone who fails on their arse for a living.

meat pie adj. [the cheapness of meat p/es] (Aus.) small-time; esp. in meat p/e bookie, a small-time bookmaker. 1915 A. Wright Sport from Hollowlog Flat 24: Don't bet with these

meat-pie bookies. Dave Doem'il offer a fair price directly [AND]. 1922 A. Wright A Colt from the Country 122: 'They're meat-pie

bookies, all right', he exclaimed displaying a bunch of tickets. 'Had to make four bets of it.' [GAW4]. 1988 C. Galea Slipper 211: Tamarama Boy is a meat pie champ. He has beaten nothing in his two runs and I doubt if he can even run a place [GAW4]. 1989 Sun. Tel. (Sydney) 9 July 120: Jockey Darby Munro once called Ajax a

'meat pie champion', meaning that he never beat any really topclass horses [GAW4]. meat rack n. [pun on SE meat/MEAT n. (1)/MEAT n. (8)11 (orig. gay) a place, such as a bar or a particular street, where homosexuals display their charms to potential customers. After the 'singles bar' explosion of the 1970s, the term was extended to heterosexuality. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 50: We got up, walked [...] toward the 'meat rack' — the gay part of the park. 1978 L, Kramer Faggots 61: That fabled Meat Rack! The sexual pits incarnate. 1980 (con. 1970) W. Sherman Times Square 36: Nor did he mention how queasy he felt [...[ after the hours at what Gray called 'the meat racks'. [Ibid.] 105: These kids had put themselves up for sale on the meat rack voluntarily, 1994 R.P. McNamara Times Square Hustler 53: The terminal is known among hustlers and clients as the 'Meat Rack'. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 70: 'Where do you work?' [...] 1 just don't think 'The Meat Rack, Piccadilly Circus' was the sort of thing they liked to hear! 2002 M. Houlbrook Sun among Cities 92: The Monkey Walk, or the terrace below the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the Meat Rack in the 1930s. 2 an ambulance, usu. from a morgue. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 25: That's the meat rack from the morgue coming to take you home.

■ In phrases off the meat rack (adj.) (US black) superlative, first-rate, astonishing. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] off the meat rack Definition: off the hook or it is the bomb. Example: Yo G. that new DMX CD is off the meat rack. 2001 Eble Campus SI. Fall 8: OFF THE MEAT RACK -- inspiring awe, great wonder, astonishment.

meaty n. (UK juv.) a lump of spittle containing a proportion of phlegm. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] meaty n. Material ejected from the mouth consisting of a mixture of saliva and mucus, that contains a high proportion of mucus. In other words. Spit with a fair amount of snot in it.

mebs n. (a/so mebbs) (Irish) the testicles. 1997 Share Slanguage. 2002 Blue Pages (Dublin) 'Dublin Dictionary' [Internet] A kick in the mebbs Means a kick in the privates,

mec n. see make n.^. meccano set n. [Meccano, a popular construction kit used by children] (N.Z. prison) the portable, silver-painted, steel gallows, moved and erected as and when required. 1980 D.F. Mackenzie While We Have Prisons 44: At this time it was decided to have a movable scaffold capable of being transported to wherever required [...] A later version of this contraption became known as the Meccano Set - a term used in official telegrams 'Meccano Set arrived safely and erected' [DNZE]. 1998 N.Z. Herald 25 Nov. [Internet] 'The Meccano Set', was used to hang 20 people. The last was convicted poisoner Walter Bolton in 1957. 2005 (ref. to 1920) www.nzcrime.com [Internet] Euphemistically christened the 'Meccano Set', the silver painted scaffold made its debut at Mt Eden Prison on Christmas week of 1920. Its' first client was Samuel John Thorne who had been convicted of the murder of his ex-employer some three months previously.

mech n. (also mach) [abbr.j (orig. RAF) a mec/ianic. 1918 K. MacLeish letter 22 Feb. in Rossano Price of Honor (1991) 104: The C.O. got fed up on this and sent an American mech out. 1919 in Columbia Press Yank Talk 17: The 'mech' expired without a sound. 1931 Post & Gatty Around World 57: His 'mech' was giving the Bellanca its last testing. 1943 W. Simmons Joe Foss Flying Marine 47: We watched 'mechs' start the planes, check magnetos, props, engine, and tabs. 1950 Popular Science May 142: Senior mech Harry Baker said, 'Imagine a mechanic that's never on his back.' [HDAS]. 1953 W. Harrison Army Girl (1962) 13: Is it true the motor machs gave a mosquito a complete overhaul over there before they realized it wasn't a B-36? 1962 S, Smith Escape from Hell 68: The motor mechs did a job on 'em [HDAS].

mechanic n. [mechanic adj.] 1 a general term of abuse. 1629 JONSON New Inn 11 i: These base mechanics never keep their word. 1636 'T.H.' Discourse of Two Infamous Upstart Prophets 16 Apr. 11: The blind and besotted ignorance of these poore and sencelesse Mechanicks 1 leave to the consideration of any indifferent Reader. a.1661 'To Whom it Concerns' Rump Poems and Songs (^b(>2) I 113: Go, ply your Trades, Mechanicks, and begin, / To deal uprightly, and Reform within. 1674 T. Duffet Epilogue Spoken by Heccate and Three Witches 31: Be damn'd you Whore! did fierce Mechanick cry. And most unlike a true bred Gentleman, Drunk as a Bitch he left me there in Pawn. 1683 Whores Rhetorick 50: You must forget the distinction of Gentleman, and Mechanick; but let men be divided in your Books under the names of Poor, Rich, Liberal, and Niggardly. 1697 Bern False Count 1 i; A little Citizen and Merchant - she so

mechanic

reviles. Calling me base Mechanick, Sawcy Fellow. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1 714) 16: The High-Hall, where when you see them taking a Turn together, it would puzzle one to know which is the Gentleman, which the Mechanick, and which the Beggar. 1712 J. Arbuthnot Hist, of John Bull 22: Fellows of a low genius, poor grovelling mechanicks. 1727 J. Gay Beggar's Opera III iv: Of all Mechanics, of all servile Handycrafts-men, a Gamester is the vilest. 1735 Pope 'Satires of Dr. Donne' Works 11 151: Lord! Sir, a meer mechanic! stangely low. And course of phrase. 1740 Garrick Lethe Act I: Stow a lady of fashion with tradesmen's wives and mechanics! 1751 W. Kenrick Falstaff's Wedding (1766) II ix: Lo! there was 1, jamm'd fast in the midst of a vile groupe of mechanics. 1760 Foote The Minor 64: Insolent mechanic! 1772 G. Stevens 'Water' Songs Comic and Satyrical 240: From Monarch to meanest Mechanic. 1781 G. Parker View of Society II 69: If you hear. Out glim, which is flash for 'put out the candle,' depend on it that your best way is to commence Mechanic, pick up your limbs. 1814 I. PocoCK John of Paris II i: A princess dine with a mechanic! oh, monstrous degredation! 1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 215: Ay ev'ry step some odious face, / Of true mechanic cut, will place / Themselves plump in your way. 1839 W.A. miles Poverty, Mendicity and Crime: Report 138: Their dress is most frequently like a mechanic, shabby, with no attempt to be stylish. 1842 C. Mathews Career of Puffer Hopkins 2: The knot of tough-fisted mechanics kept its course, roaring out its rough sarcasms and great gusts of invective.

2 {US gambling) one who invents methods of cheating. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 213: Of the different methods of cheating at faro, none have been invented by sharpers, or even gamblers, but have principally emanated from the brains of mechanics.

3 (or/g. US) a professional cheat at cards or dice; thus mechanic's grip, a way of holding a deck of cards. 1938 (con. 1820S+) H. Asbury Sucker's Progress 14: In the heyday of American gambling, a first-class faro dealer, variously called a 'mechanic' and an 'artist,' was paid from $100 to $200 a week, 1944 D. Runyon Runyon d la Carte 198: What I must know is are you a mechanic at gin? 1953 Baker Aus. Speaks v. 121: Mechanic, a person who cheats at cards, especially a professional card sharp (Americans use mechanic for a dishonest player at faro). 1963 A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 141: As a card mechanic I was finished. My hands wouldn't hold still for it any more. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 91: I'm a first-class crap dealer. I'm a pretty good card mechanic, pretty good dice mechanic. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 187: I was a top-class mechanic and the bread was there. 1989 (con. 1940s) Courtwright & Des Jarlais Addicts Who Survived 64: He also supported himself as a pickpocket and as a 'mechanic,' or card shark. 1991 in J. Breslin Damon Runyon (1992) 143: [He] worked the card tables with [...] a card mechanic known as the Professor. 1999 E. Bunker Mr Blue 113: Also the various signals that con men, boosters and card mechanics use. 2003 St Petersburg Times (FL) 17 Apr. [Internet] the reader does not learn how the dealer, an experienced card 'mechanic,' manipulated the cards so successfully.

4 any notably successful player. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. ' 5 (W./.) a trick, a contrivance, usu. involving some form of physical activity. 1907 'Chicken-Hawk' in W. Jekyll Jam. Song and Story 94: They get Monkey an' Goat to come an' dance to let the sister laugh. They make all sort of mechanic.

6 {US Und.) a pickpocket or safe-breaker. 1933 H. Craigie 'Reverse English' Detective Nov. [Internet] He was an excellent 'mechanic,' too, in the crook sense. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 95: There were a very few 'mechanics' who could make an ordinary safer holler uncle. 1970 'Red' Rudensky Gonif 79-. Learn those locks and keys. Get the touch. Get the feel [...] Us mechanics are the class in the outfits. 7 a trainer who uses drugs to stimulate his horses. 1952 in Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 22 Mar. 14/4: Such larcenous jockeys as used a small, hand-batter to stimulate a steed to greater speed, used a joint or a machine and a trainer who stimulated his horses, internally or externally, was a mechanic.

8

a hired killer. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 250: Overnight he became the best grunt we had, a real killer, a mechanic. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds mechanics’ avenue (n.) {also ...alley, ...street, Mechanicsburg) [SE mechanic, a manual labourer -E SE avenue/alley/street] {US) a poor or run-down part of a town or city.

med

1565

1850 W.C. Hall 'Mike Hooter's Bar Story' Spirit of the Times 26 Jan.

(N.Y.) 581: Speakin' of Mechanicsburg, the people down in that mud hole ain't to be beat no whar this side of Christmas. I've hearn o' mean folks in my time. 1968-70 in DARE.

mechanic ad/, {also mechanical) |SE mechanic, 'pertaining to or involving manual labour' (OfD)| vulgar, contemptible. 1595 Maroccus Extaticus B3: A mechinicall fellowe shall go farre into a

Gentleman, and a Gentleman so farre out of hlmselfe. 1599 Shakespeare Henry V I ii: The poor mechanic porters crowding in. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 5: There be Fellowes, Of course and common bloud; Mechanick knaues. Whose wittes lie deeper buried then in graues. 1612 J. Taylor Laugh and Be Fat 43: When base mechanicke, muddy minded slaues, / Whose choicest food is garlicke & greene cheese. c,1620 Beaumont & Fletcher Little French Lawyer III i: Ere I cherish Such a mechanick humour. I'll be nothing. 1632 T, Randolph Jealous Lovers I ii: Away mechanick trash: Tie kick thee sonne of earth [...] For torturing my poore father. 1643 A. Brome 'To a Potting Priest upon a Quarrel' Songs and Poems (1661) 194: That rebellions beer usurp'd your crown. And your Mechanick heels gaz'd on the stars. 1659 J. Gauden Tears, Sighs, etc. of the Church of England Bk IV 426: What Christian is there of so popular, plebian, triviall, and mechanick a spirit, as not to desire to see proper and meet judges. 1681 S. Colvil Whiggs Supplication Pt II 37: The Pastors who do rule this Kirk, What are they, but the handy-work Of mens Mechanick Paws. 1705 Vanbrugh Confederacy I i: A Woman must indeed be of a mechanick Mold, who is either troubled or pleas'd with any thing her Husband can do to her. 1771 Cooke in Foote Maid of Bath Married A2: Reducing the Maid of Bath to the Dilemma of either chusing a Husband out of an old Hunks or Grub, a Debauchee [...] and a mechanical Prig. 1787 'Peter Pindar' 'Peter's Pension' Works (1794) II 159: 'Nothing but poor, mechanic stuff,' they cry, 'Shall be quoted for the public eye.' 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 215: Ay ev'ry step some odious face, / Of true mechanic cut, will place / Themselves plump In your way.

mechanical digger n. [rhy. si. = nigger n.^ (1)] a derog. term for a black person. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

mechanized

dandruff n. see

callopinc

dandruff

under

galloping adj.

meckem-peckam adj. [? SE make

-e pernickety] {W.l.) fault¬ finding, very hard to satisfy. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

mecks n. [ety. unknown) wines and spirits. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 9: Mecks ... Wine,

Liquors, or Spirits.

med n. [abbr.] 1 a medical student; also attrib.; thus (1940s-E) med college, medical school; med business, medical business. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 312: med, medic. A name sometimes given to a student in medicine, 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 248/2: Medical students are sometimes sweet on Liza, but [...] 'Meds' aint good for much; they're larky young blokes, but they've never much money. 1899 A.H. Quinn Pennsylvania Stories 19: The Meds waited till the visitors were opposite them [DA]. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 13/1: A big surgeon [...] came to a lady-student's 'case,' neatly bandaged. Removing the outer wrapping he discovered a rather dirty bandage, and demanded of the terrified lady 'med.' an explanation. 1956 I. Shulman Good Deeds Must Be Punished 87: A sophomore pre-med. 1962 (con. 1940s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 158: Tack was taking a pre-med course. 1967 K. Kolb Getting Straight 11: One of the med students was over him, listening with a stethoscope. 1972 B. Hannah Geronimo Rex 253: I've been in med school. 2006 G. Ilbs Turning Angel 88: This is Susan Salter, my med tech. 2 a doctor. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Oct. 3/2: And when years crowd round your carcase, and your soul gets old and brown, / Flout the med. whose vain remark is that your system's 'broken-down.' 1943 J. Phelan Letters from the Big House 39: Member saying to the med as how if I was balmy then I couldn't have bread-and-water nor the pussy. 1963 M. Spillane Return of the Hood 10: I had [...] the critical, anti-social personality that, according to the psycho meds, made such a deed possible. 3 medicine; medication; usu. in pi. 1931 implied in med-man below. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 263: They upped his meds today. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 205: By the time he left some of the meds kicked in. 2000 Observer Screen 16 Jan, 19: The first programme begins in the psychosis unit and considers the tricky business of 'meds' or medication. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 165: No more hiding the meds, OK?

4 medical school; also attrib. 1952 K. Vonnegut 'The Package' in Bagombo Snuff Box (1999) 47: He went to med school. 1959 M. Richler Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

meddle (with)

medico

1566

(1964) 169: Only three Jewish kids got into med in his year. 1967 A. Baraka Tales (1969) 8: He's in med school and married and lost to you, hombre. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 669: If we had somebody from med school. 1993 T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 105: The English faculty had its med school counterparts. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 264: Henry recalled an offprint from med school.

■ In compounds med-man (n.) [abbr.] 1 (US) a quack or a patent medicine seller. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 128: Med Man. - In pitchman's

argot and at a fair or carnival a 'medicine man' or fake doctor; one who peddles proprietory remedies. 2 a doctor [SE medicine man], 1943 Billboard 26 June 61: In England ...a med man is a crocus

[HDAS].

■ In phrases hot meds in.) {US prison) controlled medication. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Hot Meds:

Controlled medications, including psychotropic medication or anti¬ depressants.

meddle (with) v. 114C-17C SE meddle, to have sexual intercourse] 1 {US) to have sexual intercourse. [1612 N. Field Woman is a Weathercock II i: wag.: I am with child by

you. P,EN.: By me? Why, by me? A good jest [...] Why, do you think I am such an ass to believe nobody has meddled with you but I?] 1942 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 131: A hermit who lived on St. Roque / Had a lily perfected to poke. / He diddled the donkeys / And meddled with monkeys. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 62: meddle vt [...] 2: Have sexual intercourse with. 2 {US black) to be intimate, but not spec, on a sexual level. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 62: meddle vt [...]

3: Be intimate with (someone) but not necessarily through sexual intercourse (black use).

Meddy, the n. [abbr.] the Mediterranean. 1944 Observer 11 June 5: But I only got back from the Meddy a few

days ago.

medical Greek n. see marrowsky n. medicine n. 1 (orig. US) an intoxicating drink. 1861 implied in take one's medicine below. 1881 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Jan. 5/1: From an early hour the streets presented a lively aspect, chiefly by reason of the action of those individuals who had gone out for their 'morning medicine' piling on a few extra rums in honor of the festive season. 1898 A.J. Bovd Shellback 277: Call the steward and tell him to bring the medicine in. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 227: What's your medicine? 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 286: Grandfather Earle would [...] have to dose himself with 'medicine', which he drank from a pint bottle. 1975 Randy Newman 'Guilty' [lyrics] It takes a whole lot of medicine for me to pretend that I'm somebody else. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett L/rr/e Legs 176:1 feel the weight of my bag to see if there's enough [money] for my medicine. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 93: He came back with our drugs and alcohol [...] I

downed my medicine.

2 punishment, usu. deserved. 1865 implied in take one's medicine below. 1891 C.H. Hoyt A Trip to

Chinatown Act III: I'll give you your medicine! 1898 Binstead 6r Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican 256: It was never openly known who 'gave him his medicine', but his head was pounded like a Hamburg steak. 1906 A.H. Lewis Confessions of a Detective 33: They'd have handed you your medicine for keeps. 1932 Z. Grey Robbers’ Roost 236: Say, it's you who'll shet his trap [...] Or you'll git a dose of medicine. 1934 R. Chandler 'Finger Man' in Pearls Are a Nuisance (1964) 119: There was a hideous burn on her chest almost between her two breasts. I said: 'Okay, sister. That's nasty medicine'. 1955 D. Niland Shiralee 206: They'd give him his medicine, some medicine, not half enough. 3 sexual intercourse. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 730/2: from ca. 1855.

4 {US) information, knowledge. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 113: My medicine's good. When 1 get a hunch it's sure right. An' we're in wrong on this stampede. 1922 P.A. Rollins Cowboy 79: Thus a puncher was apt to describe as

'making medicine' his preparations for a journey, or his planning of an enterprise; to state later that this 'medicine' had been 'good' or 'bad' according as his preparations had proved sufficient or insufficient. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 33; medicine, good or bad. Straight dope or the reverse. 5 {US black) semen. 1936 Walter Davis 'I Think You Need a Shot' [lyrics] Yeh your

medicine's come now baby, put your leg upside the wall [..,] 1 don't want to waste none of it mama, I want you to have it all.

6 drugs. 1938 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in AS XIII;3 188/1: medicine. Morphine. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Si. (rev. edn). 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: medicine. Drugs. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 60: He has been (sniff) taking medicine since then. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 307: Yeah, Jim, I gotta get down, baby, gotta get my medicine, you dig. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 338: medicine: Methadone. 1988 H. Gould Double Bang 90: 'Gotta take my medicine,' he said, digging the powder out with a silver spoon. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 344: You think I go round hustlin' motherfuckers to get me my medicine every day, you fucking wrong, 2001 J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 147: Tina could still hear her whisper as she slammed the door: 'You little hitch, that was my medicine money'.

u In compounds medicine sharp (n.)

(sharp n.’’ (2)]

{US) a physician.

1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 68: Three medicine-sharps - an' each as good as Doc Peets.

■ In phrases make medicine (v.) {US, Western) to converse. 1906 A. Adams 'Around the Spade Wagon' Cattle Brands [Internet] Some geranium out there wants me to come out and shake hands, pow-wow, and make some medicine with him.

take one’s medicine (v.) 1 to have sexual intercourse. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 730/2: from ca. 1855.

2 to drink. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor II 20/1: Young men that's conceited about their musical talents, fond of taking their medicine (drinking). 1939 R. Chandler 'Pearls Are a Nuisance' in Spanish Blood (1946) 123: Right now I am just taking my medicine. 3 to accept a (deserved) punishment or reprimand. 1865 A.D. Richardson Secret Service 75: The leaders refused to take their own medicine. 1899 C. Chesnutt 'Mars Jeems's Nightmare' in Conjure Woman 83: He wuz bleedzd ter take his med'eine. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 257: A bloke's got to take his med'eine over here if they catch him. 1912 G.R. Chester Five Thousand an Hour Ch. iii: 'I suppose I must take my medicine,' said Gresham glumly. 1917 A.G. Empey Over the Top 95: They had no cover; just had to take their medicine. 1922 (con. 1917-18) S.V. Benet Beginning of Wisdom 187: Come out, you damn Red! Take your medicine! 1934 O. Strange Sudden 75: I'll stay an' take my medicine. 1939 (con. 188090s) S. O'Casey I Knock at the Door 201: Are you going to come up quietly, boy, to take your medicine, or must I go down, and wallop you up to me? 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 244: If he was alive, do you think he'd let you make a deal for him and go to prison to save his reputation? [...] He'd lake his medicine, wouldn't he? 1960 E. De Roo Big Rumble 47: Feeling like staying here and taking my medicine. 1974 (con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 219: She'll just have to take her medicine. 1983 J. Clardi A Second Browser's Diet. 183: Take one's medicine [...] 2. To face up to the bitter consequences of one's actions. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 158: He might not like taking his medicine from girlies.

medicine adj. [the soothing effects of SE medicine] {US) persuasive. 1873 Overland Monthly (CA) Feb. 113: So Smith had a medicine-talk with him, and tried to coax him, but the soft-soap dodge wouldn't work [HDAS]. 1907 S.E. White Arizona Nights 135: He had the medicine tongue! Ten days later him and me was occupin' an old ranch fifty mile from anywhere.

medico n. [SE late i7C-mid-l9C] 1 a doctor; thus she-medico, a female doctor. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle’s Log (1862) 206: 'I am regularly done up myself,' quoth the medico. 1844 A.W, Kinglake Eothen 308: The Medico held my chin in the usual way, and examined my throat. 1853 G.J. Whyte-Melville Digby Grand (1890) 57: Dr Squirt, the quaintest, jolliest 'medico' that ever handled lancet. 1863 G.A. Sala Breakfast in Bed 227: 'Try it,' said my medico, 'and come to me in three week's time.' 1887 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Oct. 13/1: The savage was so flabbergasted that the medico would not get an inkling of the trouble, but as this happened at a time in his career when a case was a circumstance, the doctor mounted his chariot, and followed in the wake of the spud-miner's go car. 1888 Soldiers' Stories and Sailors' Yarns 145: Even the medico admitted the percentage of tannin to be excessive. 1898 Binstead & Wells A Pink 'Un and a Pelican ly. Hugh [.,.] watched the great medico step across the room to the washstand. 1901 E.W. Hornung Black Mask (1992) 157: Our medico had married the week before, nor was any fellow-practitioner taking his work. 1906 'O, Henry' 'The Skylight Room' in Four Million (1915) 56: The capable young medico, in his white linen coat, ready, active, confident. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 571: Most of all he commented adversely on the desertion of Stephen by all his pubhunting

medieval

1567

confreres, a most glaring piece of ratting on the part of his brother medicos under all the circs. 1938 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 1 Nov.

meet

should fade. To loath a Medlar, being an Open-taile. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. [synd. col.] The George Gershwin's mater will wed a Central Park 2 a promiscuous woman. West medico soon. 1940 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh Act !: He strikes 1603 Shakespeare Measure for Measure IV iii: Else they would have me as the only bloody sensible medico I ever heard of. 1959 A. married me to that rotten medlar. 1659 Greene & Lodge Lady ZUGSMITH Beat Generation 113: The medicos now, they don't want Alimony II ii: The next her in rank, and as right as my leg in her you to gain over a certain amount of weight. 1962 H.S. Thompson career, is Madam Medler, a cunning Civil Trader. 1705 London-Bawd letter 28 Aug. in Proud Highway (1997) 351: Most of the medicos on (3rd edn) Ch. i: She's the most like a Medlar of any thing, for she's the continent. 1970 H.E. Bates A Little of What You Fancy (1985) 511: never ripe till she's rotten. Will report at the same hour tomorrow if the medico permits. Press 3 (UK Und.) a man who smells. on. 1995 A. Higgins Donkey's Years 292: A resident medico beckoned 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. me into a small well-heated room (...] and told me in effect that my meds n. see med n. (3). mother was dying. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 227: Both sides trotted out a medza/medzer n. see madza n. string of medicos. medzers n. (also measures) labbr. madza caroon under madza n.; 2 a medical student. measures is mispron.j (Ling. Fr./Polar!) money. 1947 K. Amis letter 19 Dec. in Leader (2000) 147: That crazy Welsh 1962 R. Hauser Homosexual Society Appendix 3, 167: Measures, medico (Brown) came up to us. money. 1972 B. RODGERS Queens' Vernacular 137: Money in general: [...] measures (Brit gay si, fr Parlyaree medzer = halfpenny // It medieval adj. (the stereotype of the Middle Ages as symptomatic of such excesses; the phr. was coined in the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction mezzo = a half). (1993)1 meemies n. (also meemees, meeyams) (?var. on heebie-jeebies n.; note WWII US milit. si. screaming meemie, the German nebelwerfer, a ■ In phrases multi-barrelled mortar] (orig. US) hysteria; usu. as screaming meemies get medieval on someone’s ass (v.) (a/so get medieval on below. someone’s arse) to treat with extreme savagery. 1945 R.L. Bellem 'Coffin for a Coward' in Hollywood Detective Dec. 1993 Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 108: Hear me [Internet] There was something about his stillness that gave me the talkin' hillbilly boy?! [...] I'm gonna git Medieval on your ass. 1999 drizzling meemies. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 270: The Observer Mag. 22 Aug. 14: At least until Kathy Bates got medieval on hophead oblivion, the jangled nerves [...] the underworld meemies. his ankles in Misery. 2000 T. Pratchett Truth 149: An' then ... then 1' 1952 W.R. BuwsKTt Little Men, Big World 37: 'Anything wrong?' After gonna get medieval on his arse. a long pause, she seemed about to tell him something, then she medina n. [? as opposed to Mecca, presumably Manhattan, but note spoke hastily. 'No. Maybe the meemees. I don't know.' 1965 J. Arab, medina, the Arab section of a town; note 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 49: Knock off that daddy-mama (an. 12/1: And it is just to hand, the new crack prima donna [...] at a alfalfa [...] It's beginning to give me the meeyams! minute's notice, 'guyed a whack to her own Medina' - which means ■ In phrases London) (US black/rap music) a nickname for Brooklyn. screaming meemies (n.) (also screaming meamies, screaming 2002 Arch Entertainment (N.Y.) [Internet] A hot smokin' gun from mimis, screemies) (US) 1 nerves, paranoia. BK's Brownsville section. These Blood brothers are a rap duo in a 1945 E. Hemingway letter 2 Apr. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 578: A class with the best in this rap game. Their lyrical style and classic battle fatigued radio bloke who got the screemies a couple of times. hooks are no doubt a combination made in Medina. 2002 'Toure' 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 126: Susie scared him, then what Portable Promised Land (ms.) 159: We Words (My Favorite Things) hapened to Jigaboo must have given him the screaming meamies. [...] Fakin the funk. Funky cold medina. 1956 F. Brown [title] The Screaming Mimi. 1986 S. King It (1987) 609: meditation n. Ithe loneliness of the punishment] (US prison) solitary Henry Bowers's sudden attack of the screaming meemies in West or segregated confinement; als attrib. Garden was interesting in some more than technical way. 1987 (con. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 808: meditation 1968) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 381: His lieutenant MANOR - Solitary. 1971-2 C. Shafer 'Catheads 1...] and Cho-Cho who must by now be in the middle of the screaming meemies. 1987 Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 210: meditation, «. - the R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 138: Somebody threw a guards' name for solitary confinement. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: building block through the plate glass, gave Hetty the screaming Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Meditation: Solitary or segregated meemies. 2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 31: They are takin' confinement. Halcion like housewives with the screamin'-meemies. Mediterranean back n. (Aus.) a supposedly fake illness or 2 delirium tremens. incapacity, used to justify malingering, apparently by Italians, 1941 M. Prenner 'Drunk in SI.' in AS XVI: 1 Jan. 70/1: ... has the Creeks, Yugoslavs and others seen as lazier than 'white' screaming meemies. 1953 S. Bellow Augie March (1996) 358: When Australians. last heard from he was in the booby-hatch for the insulin cure, with 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 51: There are racist overtones to the screaming meemies. 2002 S. Phillips Walkaway (2003) 237: [...] the 'Mediterranean back', which denotes derisive suspicion Waking up wih the screaming meamies. about a back-ache and 'Mediterranean gut-ache', usually shortened meerschaum n. [SE meerschaum, a type of mineral often made into a to 'MGA' which is just as suspect as the back-ache, tobacco pipe] (US) a saxophone. medium n. 1 (Irish) an indeterminate measure, approx 0.3 litres 1934 Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 31 July 6/8: Musicians have slang (a half-pint) of beer. terms for every instrument [...] Meerschaum - saxophone. 1935 1993 (con. 1930s) M. Verdon Shawlies, Echo Boys, the Marsh and the Indiana Eve. Gazette 20 Mar. 9/2: A saxophone [may be called] a Lanes 60: The women would slip into the snug for a quiet drink. 'meerschaum'. They drank the 'meejums', the half-pints. 1994 C. Houlihan Rose of meet n. 1 (UK Und.) a meeting place. Tralee Souvenir Programme n.p.: It wasn't a standard measure but it 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 68/2: This was a regular was very popular a generation ago. When you entered a pub you 'meet' for the 'cop' and those who were 'ryebuck' with him, and hardly ever called for a medium as your first drink. You called for a when anything 'came off,' it was here they were to meet and 'put it pint. When you had finished it, you proferred your glass and said round'. 'throw a medium into that'. The quantity poured depended upon 2 (orig. US) a meeting, appointment, in 20C-b esp. for illicit the person behind the bar ]BS]. purposes such as drug selling [now SEl. 2 (Irish) the Irish language [SE medium of communication], 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 5/1: One of the 'guns' [...] 1944 M.J.F. Matthews 'Puss' 'Moryah' in TCD, A College Misc. 9 Mar. had brought his 'molT with him to show her off before the 'meet'. n.p.: What, you did your Christmas shopping through the medium? 1879 'Autobiog. of a Thief in Macmillan's Mag. (London) XL 503: At / You were under your O'Dearest in '16 [BS]. 1991 T. Gray Mr six I was at the meet (trysting-place). 1889 "Arry in Parry' in Punch Smyllie, Sir n.p.: A scheme to encourage the use of Irish in the home 29 June in P. Marks (2006) 95: This is a rum meet. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 62:1 told her we had a business meet on by payment of an annual bonus of £2 to parents who succeeded in persuading their children to conduct their everyday lives 'through here. 1915 C.J. Dennis 'The Intro' in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 23:1 dunno 'ow I 'ad the nerve ter speak / An' make that meet wiv 'er fer the medium', as we used to say [BS]. Sundee week! 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 411: Meet. A medlar (tree) n. 1 the vagina. rendezvous. A crooks' hang-out. 1938 J.E. O'Donnell 'Overcoat 1595 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet II i: Now he will sit under a Bennie' in Mss. from the Federal Writers' Project [Internet] On that first medlar-tree. And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit As maids 'meet' he inspected the swag and set a price and arranged a second call medlars when they laugh alone [...] O that she were An open'meet.' There was always a second 'meet,' because Bennie never arse and thou a poperin pear! 1608 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) I bought anything until he had first found a customer for the loot. i: Women are like medlars (no sooner ripe but rotten]. 1611 Davies 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 52: It led him to the 'meet'. 1952 I. OF Hereford Scourge of Folly 10: I muse her stomacke now so much

meet

megsman

1568

Mobster 32: You shouldn't make no meets without telling me first. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 38: He's dead keen on a meet. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 161: Manso was trying to make a meet with you. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 285: Impatiently Chemo said, 'So where the meet?' 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 281: That psychotic slug has sent his hatchet for a meet. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 17: We were running kit all over London, making meets to sort things out [...] and the rest as they say is history. 2007 (con. 1962) E. Bunker Stark 14: How was he going to make his meet, with Dummy watching his every move?

3 (US) a gathering for the purpose of an activity, usu. sport, e.g. a swim meet, also a conference or convention, 1928 R.J. Tasker Grimhaven 214: Preparations were being made for a field meet that took place twice each year in prison. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 332: He wants to be buried in that pine coffin he got from the swap meet. 1993 S. King Dolores Claiborne 252: She went to Boston for a swim-meet. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 136: Never clocked a meet like it. Never had a meeting before, none of us knew how to get started. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 195: All you'd have to do is turn up for a few meets and come up with some titles,

meet v. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases meet hell (v.) (W.l.) to find it hard to make enough money to live, to subsist, to suffer great hardship. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

meet rosie Hancock (v.) Ipun on name/SE hand + COCK n.^i to masturbate. 2000 Sex-Lexis [Internet].

meet with mother thumb and her four daughters (v.) to masturbate. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 116: mother and [her] four children (kwn NYC, black gay si, late '60s) the masturbator's best girl friend - his hand: the thumb is the mother to the four fingers. 2000 Sex-Lexis [Internet]. 2005 'Dave and Julia' at asstr.org [Internet] Dave was growing more frustrated. Dates with 'Ma Thumb and her four daughters' had given way to browsing the internet,

meeyams n. see meemies n. meff n. [? pron. of SE methylated spirits, often drunk by alcoholic tramps] a dirty, smelly person; a vagrant. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 83: Poelly smacked this grock, big fucken meff, really twatted him but would the cunt go down. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 151: It's 'meff', innit? Yer've just caught sight of yerself in the wing mirror so the word is 'meff.

me for phr. (orig. US) I want. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' Down the Line 22: Me for the Pretty Boy! How much? 1920 F. Packard White Moll 186: Me for a fence I knows about, an' we gives 'em the merry laugh!

meg n.^ (also megg) (generic uses of MAC n.^1 1 a guinea. 1688 T. Shad well Squire of Alsatia I i: Prithee, noble squire, equip me with a couple of megs, or two couple of smelts, c.1698 B.E, Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Meggs c. Guineas. We fork'd the rum Cull's Meggs to the tune of Fifty, c. We Pickt the Gentleman's Pocket of full Fourty Guineas, 1709 N, Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 228: Then on with your Night-Caps and tie up your Legs, / A Begging let's go for the Smelts and the Megs. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) II [as dt. c.1698]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Meggs, guineas, (cant). 1859 Hottbn Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 61: meggs were formerly guineas. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 2 (US) a dollar. 1917 R. Lardner 'Three Kings and a Pair' in Gullible's Travels 62: Some doll she was, too, in a fifty-meg evenin' dress marked down to thirty-seven. 1926 Maines & Grant Wise-crack Diet. 11/1: Meg - Any denomination of silver money between ten cents and one dollar, signified by fifteen megs, twenty megs, etc. 1987 W.T. Vollmann You Bright and Risen Angels (1988) 314: Here's how we clean out their cush, their C-notes and megs, their deemers and crisp green bumblebees.

3 see MAC n.^. meg (also megg, meggie) [var. on maccy ann n.j (drugs) marijuana. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 154: megg marihuana. 1953 Anslinger Er Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: megg [...] Marihuana. Also a marihuana cigarette. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Meggie [...] Megg — Marijuana cigarette [...] Meg — Marijuana. 2002 A. Mariello 'Dirty Dictionaries' on Weekly Dig [Internet] He's as thick

as pig shit, but we like him anyway cos he always brings the megg and the morph, and he usually has surprises up his brown highway,

meg v. [meg

(1)] to swindle; thus megging, swindling.

1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 118: Megging —

obtaining the megs, thus two or more fellows, pretending to be utter strangers, conspire to cheat a third by laying wagers, or othwerwise do him out of his bustle.

mega adj. [adopted Creek pfx mega-, great] (orig. US teen) 1 of an objector person, superlative, excellent, extra-special; usu. as pfx. 1966 Current SI. 1:3 5/2: Mega, adv. The ultimate. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 56: I could tell he was a mega-personality. 1991 M. Myers et al. Wayne's World [film script] This band 'Crucial Taunt,' had this megababe for a lead singer. 2001 'John le Carre' Constant Gardener 275: I've landed myself with a five-star mega¬ creep with the hots for me.

2 of an object, huge, enormous, substantial. 1942 P. Wylie Generation of Vipers 185: Megaloid momworship has got completely out of hand. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 156: Mega load A great deal of something. 1970 Times 27 June 13: The closer links which are already developing within the personal finance industry, could be logically developed into a mega-association for all parties. 1986 Newcastle Eve. Chronicle 29 Aug. 10: It's a perfect mega-read for the beach, guaranteed to keep you happy for the whole fortnight. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 12: The bitch blows a mega raspberry. 2002 S. Maloney Something Fishy (2006) 75: He goes to work, never comes home. Vanishes. So does mega-tits, his bit on the side. 3 of a person, very well known or very successful, also later used

predicatively e.g. the movie was mega. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 10: He had read in the Johnny Raper that Balmain had been taken over by the mega¬ trendies and the would-be-if-they-could-be brigades. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 193: Reckoned it was some film script maybe. I was mega round there. 4 of a person, extreme in type. 1985 in Tracks (Aus.) Aug. 5: Semi-yobbs, mega-yobbs, yobettes.

mega adv. extremely, to a great extent. 1966 Current SI. 1:3 5/2: Mega [...] extremely. 1982 Eble Campus SI.

Spring 6: mega- [...] I had a mega-good time. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 19: If you stay in now you're just gonna get mega depressed.

megablast n. (mega adj. (1) + blast n.^ (4)] (drugs) 1 an act of inhalation of cocaine or from a crack pipe. 1994 Source July 56: [heading] A Megablast from the Past: Cocaine's Greatest Hits. 1995 Public Enemy 'Megablast' [lyrics], Yo! Bum Rush The Show ]album] Ya should have kept yo ass away from that blast / MEGABLAST! 2 an extremely exciting, satisfying experience. 1988 Bomb the Bass [song title] Megablast.

megg n. see under meg. meggie n. see meg n.^. megging n. see magging n.\ megilla n. (also megillah, megilleh, migila) [Yid. gantse MegiUah, a whole (tedious) story, ult. Heb. megillah, roll, scroll. In standard use the term refers to five Old Testament books - the Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther - that are trad, associated with certain festivals, esp. the Book of Esther, read at Purim] a long, tedious or complicated story, a complicated state of affairs, a long explanation; esp. in phr. the whole megillah, everything, the lot. 1943 D.O. SELZNiCKMcmo 10 July in Behlmer Memo from D. 0. Selznick (1972) 334: Sydney Guilaroff [...] was in wrong with the union because of an elaborate megillah. 1954 B. Wolfe Late Risers 134: Frana slipped her coat off and began to remove her sweaters. 'Oh, come on, Frana. Not the whole megilleh.' 1958 Mad mag. Jan.-Feb. 48: Big eyes should be made of more solid megillah. 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 126: Everything we make such a big migila. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 118: And that was it. The whole megillah. 1976 New Yorker 16 Aug, 26: She uses expressions like 'the whole megillah' (meaning the whole long story) and 'humongous' (meaning huger than huge and more tremendous than tremendous). 1983 E, Litvinoff Falls the Shadow 59: I could give you the whole megilla - I've got pretty good recall - but it would take too long. 1992 L. Sanders McNally's Luck 279: Listen, let's go through the whole megillah one more time from the top, 2002 J. Barth Coming Soonll! 321: Anyhow, the whole megillah will no doubt come out in the official inquiry.

megimp n. see McCimp n. Meg Ryan n. [rhy. si. = iron (hoof) n.; ult.

us film

actress Meg Ryan

(b.1961)1 a male homosexual. 1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit.

megsman

n. [meg v.; var. on macsman n.] a petty criminal, a cheat.

1938 F.D. Sharpe Sharpe of the Flying Squad 332: megsmen : North-

country term for card-sharpers. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 193:

mehawn!

mellow

1569

Megsmen Petty thieves and cheats, in a small way of business, and used contemptuously.

mehawn! excl. (Irish mo th6n\ my arse!] (Ulster) nonsense! rubbish! Irish Times 10 Mar. n.p.: The man from Belfast was in scathing mood [...] 'Come to Belfast and have a look at our trams if you want to see real stream-lining. Stream-lining, mehawn!' [BS]. 1937

meidnaaier n. (Afk, lit. 'maid-fucker'i (S.Afr.) one who has intercourse with black women. A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 102: He was the meanest-looking motherfucker. [...] Probably a meidnaaier too.

2005

meig n. [var. on meg n.^] (US) a nickel, a five-cent coin. & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 57: meig [...] A nickel; a five-cent piece. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 128: Meig.- A five cent piece; also one cent when found in the plural, as 'fifty meigs' for fifty cents. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 808: MEIG - A five-cent piece; also, one cent when found in the plural, as 'fifty meigs'. 1914 Jackson

-meister sfx [Cer. meister, master, Yid. meyster, master] (orig. US

melia murder! exc/. (also melia murdher! melia murther! millia...!) [Irish mfle murdar, lit. 'a thousand murders', thus 'horror of horrors!'] (Irish) a general excl. of surprise, horror, regret. 1832 S. Lover Legends and Stories 168; 'Oh then millia murther!' says

Paddy, 'what'll become of me at all.' 1841 'A Letter [...] From Peter Strongbow etc.' Dublin Comic Songster 310: Och, millia murther! 1866 Greenwood a Little Ragamuffin 211: Melia murther! but it does the heart of an Irishman good to hear that swate song. 1908 L. Doyle Ballygullion (1927) 81: Michael in the middle av thim, an' the wimmen hanging round, pullin' the skirts av the men's coats, an' cryin' melia murdher. c.1950 'Flann O'Brien' 'Natotion' in Hair of the Dogma (1989) 75: But there was sacred holy melia murder about it afterwards.

melkpens n. [Afk. melk, milk -f pens, stomach] (S.Afr.) a young, naive and inexperienced person. 1974 Drum (Johannesburg) 22 Mar. 28: I always get very worried when I see some 'melkpens' in Western Township thinking that there is some glamour in the underworld [DSAE].

campus) 1 master, i.e. expert; used in comb, with a relevant n. to denote the leader of a profession, although the praise may often be tinged with irony.

mellish n. [? Lat. met, honey, thus the image of money as a 'sweetener'

Campus SI. Fall 7; slackmeister - someone who is slack. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 129; stewmeister [...] kegmeister. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 78: German meister 'master' has become a popular second element in compounds like slackmeister.

Miel-ish a sovereign. Probably from Miel, honey, i.e. a 'sweetener of life.'

1987 Eble

2 used in comb, with a personal name or first syllable of a name. Mad mag. Jan. 37; Speaking of the old Carveymeister [i.e. Dana Carvey]. 2001 Amer. Pie 2 [film script] Oh, yeah. The Stifmeister's coming back to Grand Harbor. Deck the halls. Bye-bye, Great Falls. Wipe my ass and lick my balls. 2004 P. Howard Teenage Dirtbag Years 10; We're talking the old Snoopmeister here, 1997

mejoge n. (also mejum, midjic, midget) [Shelta] one shilling (5p). J. PouLTER Discoveries (1 774) 43: Mejoge or Hogg; a Shilling. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving [as cit. 1753]. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 9: Deaner or Midget ... One Shilling. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 418: When Griffin seen the plate turn hup agen like a snide midgic, his face were a picter. 1905 Bluefield (WV) Daily Tel. 11 Mar. 4/2: In addition [...[ the following [names for money] are given: [...] Mejum. 1955 N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 236/1: midgic - a shilling. 1753

mek-mek n. [SE make (a fuss) + redup.] (W.l.) 1 a quarrel, quarrelling. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. 2 a pernickety person, a fault-finder.

(1980).

&

(1980).

1954 cited in Cassidy

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

&

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

mek-mek v. [mek-mek n. (2)] (W.L) to hesitate, to be indecisive, to make a half-hearted attempt. 1943 cited in Cassidy Sr LePage Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

melancholy hat n. a smart, fashionable hat. J. Cook Greenes Tu Quoque Scene ii: Pray thee honest friend, goe to the next Haberdashers, and bid him send me a new melancholy 1611

hat.

Melba n. m In phrases do a Melba (v.) (/Aus.) to announce, with great fanfare, one's imminent retirement, only to return, time and time again, for another 'farewell', a practice of Dame Nellie Melba (1861-1931) and many other 'showbiz greats'. 1971 Australian 20 Feb. 22: The later years were marked by a seemingly endless round of farewell performances. 'Doing a Melba', they call it [GAW4]. 1981 Sun. Mail (Brisbane) 20 Sept. 60: Scamp has been known to do a 'Melba' before. In fact he has announced his retirement four times, and yesterday's exclusive to the Sunday Mail was his fifth retirement [GAW4]. 1994 M. MORRisoN Aus. Life in the 1920s [Internet] The incomparable opera singer Dame Nellie Melba [...] had an unfortunate habit of giving multiple farewell concerts, giving rise to the expression 'to do a Melba'. 2000-02 Macquarie Diet. [Internet] Melba phrase to do a Melba, to make a habit of returning from retirement, in a number of 'farewell' performances, [from Dame Nellie Melba, 1861-1931, who had several 'farewells'].

Melbourne cup n. (N.Z.) a chamberpot. 1988 McGill

Diet, of Kiwi SI.

72/2:

Melbourne cup chamber pot,

after the famous horse race first run 1861. 2003 McGill

N.Z. SI.

Reed Diet, of

[as cit. 1988].

melching n. [mince n. (2) + felch v. (1)] sucking the newly ejaculated semen from the vagina (poss. with the aid of a straw). 1999

Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 19; melching v. mmge

felching.

1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 209: Mellish, or

mellow n.^ a smooth drink. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew.

mellow n.^ [mellow adj.] 1 (US black) a homosexual. 1960 P. Oliver Blues Fell this Morning 113: A homosexual is a 'freak',

a 'mellow', a 'sissy', or a 'drag'.

2 (US black) a favourite boy- or girlfriend, a good friend of either sex. 1964 'Return of Honky-Tonk Bud' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 68: Tell my mellows / I'll spring 'em, 'cause I've got the price. 1973 D. Goines Street Players 204: I'm glad you're lookin' out for me, mellow. 1979 Sugar Hill Gang 'Rapper's Delight' [lyrics] Master G, my mellow. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246; mellow n. 1. Good friend. 2. Favorite lover, girl/boyfriend. 1987 D. Hebdige Cut 'n' Mix 137: He would shout phrases like 'Rock on my mellow! This is the joint!' 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 160: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] He's official. That's whoa. My mellow. 3 (US) a state of calm relaxation. 1971 Current SI. V:4 16: Mellow, n. That part of a drug trip when one starts piecing things together or when everything seems clear. 2005 N. Gaiman Anansi Boys 83: Brother of mine, you are harshing a potential mellow here,

mellow adj. 1 pleasantly drunk, tipsy.

mek-mek adj. [mek-mek n. (1)] (W.l.) quarrelsome. 1958 cited in Cassidy

and/or the golden colour] a sovereign.

1613 Beaumont & Fletcher Coxcomb V i: Being a little mellow in his ale. a.1668 A. Brome 'Grinning Honour' in Ebsworth Alcrry Drollery Compleat (1875) 38: Lets drink good Canary until! we grow mellow. 1691 N. Ward 'The Poet's Ramble alter Riches' in Writings (1704) II: And Stagg'ring Swore, his Brains being mellow, / St. Greg'ry was an honest Fellow, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1711 N. Ward Vulgus Britannicus IV 46: Supply'd their Wants with thin Old-Groats, / To cheer their Hearts and wet their Throats; / That they might Revel, Whoop and Hollow, I With more undaunted Zeal when Mellow. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1742 N. Hooke Sarah-Ad 19: My Mistress wou'd herself get mellow, / So hated a sly sober Fellow. 1764 K. O'Hara Midas I v: Our Squire, when mellow, 'Tis he shall do't - he's a rough, hect'ring fellow. 1774 Garrick Epitaph on Goldsmith n.p.: 'Here, Hermes,' says Jove, who with nectar was mellow [F&H]. c,1785 'The Dog and Duck Rig' in Holloway & Black I (1975) 79; She will laugh whilst you've bit to get mellow. 1792 C. Dibdin 'A Little Mellow' Buck's Delight 5: For ev'ry night we'll merry be, / When we're a little mellow. 1803 Anon, in 'A Pembrochian' Gradus ad Cantabrigiam 115: A Cantab was banish'd a year, t Just for roving a little when mellow. 1819 Beppo in London x: A captivating fellow [...] fond of something that would make him mellow. 1822 C. Dibdin Yngr Larks of Logic, Tom and Jerry I ii: nickem: Drink! why, dang it, you're always drunk. SNAGGS: O, fie! a little mellow, but never maudling. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 292; Tom was rather mellow, but correct. 1841 'Bet Farrell' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 38: Now Bet you must know would get mellow, / Tho' she was never known to drink gin. 1851 'How Sally Hooter Got Snake-Bit' in T.A. Burke Polly Peablossom's Wedding 67: After patronizing all the groceries, and getting rather mellow, he grew garrulous in the extreme. 1884 (con. c. 1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn (2001) 265: They both got powerful mellow. 1894 S. Crane in N.Y. Press 20 May in Stallman (1966) 52: Billie came in, mellow with drink and in the eloquent stage, 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 June 28/2: The play in itself is good enough. So is Walker's whisky; but if you put a bottle of said whisky into a cask of water you'd have trouble getting mellow on the mixture. 1910 J. London 'An Episode' in Bamford Mystery of Jack London (1931) 251: They were not tight; only 'mellow'. 1928 M.

mellow yellow

'SI. Synonyms for "Drunk"' in AS IV:2 102: basted mellow. 1931 A. Hardin 'Volstead English' in AS VII:2 88: Terms referring to the state of intoxication: [...] Adjectives, etc: Mellow. 1941 B. SCHULBERG What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 15: 'Good evening, young man,' 1 said, feeling mellow on four or five highballs, 1968 J. Colebrook Cross of Lassitude 292: Cocaine's a light, mellow, crazy high. 1985 E. Leonard Glitz 211:1 get mellow when I drink. I mel-low. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp’s Rap 1: I had been sipping on rum and coke all night long. [...] I was feeling good and mellow. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 166: A fleshy man with a nailbrush haircut, tie loosened, getting mellow, Prenner

2 (orig. US black) {also mellowed) perfect, fine; esp. in phr. mellow as a cello. 1896 P.L. Dunbar 'The Spellin'-Bee' in Lyrics of Lowly Life 100: She spelt the word, then looked at me so lovin'-like an' mello'. 1938 Cab Calloway Hi De Ho 16: mellow (adj.): all right, fine. Ex., 'That's mellow. Jack.' 1944 Helen Humes 'Keep Your Mind On Me' [lyrics] Baby your mind is fine, and your body's mellow as can be. 1945 C. Himes 'Make with the Shape' in Coll. Stories (1990) 113: It was strictly okay by him, mello as a cello, if you get what I mean, and fine as wine, 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 1: Gator, take a knock down to those blow tops, who are upping some real crazy riffs and dropping them on a mellow kick. 1956 L. Hughes Simply Heavenly li hi: The stuff is here and it's mellowed! 1960 Lonnie Johnson 'Big Leg Woman' [lyrics] She's so fine, she's so mellow. 1965 W. King 'The Game' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 302:1 was in a mellow position. 1971 D. Goines Dopefiend (1991) 101: 'Mellow,' Snake replied. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 101: The bread is mellow, but the smack goes down the crapper. 1998 (con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 32: Everything was so mellow. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 111: Quincy Jones captured a lot of that sound [...] Ooh, it was mellow. Real mellow.

3 (US black) of people and situations, relaxed and comfortable. 1939 Cab Calloway 'Hep! Hep! The Jumpin' Jive'

[lyrics] Cats gonna beat out this mellow jive; / Hep-hep! I Beat it out on the mellow side. 1947 M.H. Boulware Jive and SI. n.p.: Mellow ... Just right. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 187: He was much more mellow [...] and he seemed concerned about many of the lifers. 1960 'Lord Buckley' Hiparama of the Classics 19; Up go Nero, he feel very mellow in-deed. 1965 (con, 1930s) R. Wright Lawd Today 197: This is a mellow joint. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 95: You sure are mellow, baby. 1980 (con. 1975) W. Sherman Times Square 348: At least he'll stay mellow. 1993 R. Shell Iced 136:1 had never, ever, ever felt so mellow. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 3: The mellow chilledout days mere mythic history. 2006 G. Iles Turning Angel 338: Up by the stage it's mellow. Everybody's hugging and holding hands. 4 (US black) attractive, stylish. 1944 Slanguage Diet. 59: A mellow mouse - What a babe! 1969 'Iceberg

Everybody knows that your game is 'mellow'. 1972 'Pimp in a Clothing Store' in Milner & Milner (1972) 287: Well looka here, we got this old thing up here, this mellow fellow shirt, mel-low fel-low shirt. This shirt here is called 'French Tony.' Slim'

Pimp

61:

'Soulful Spider'

5 (US black) of a friend, close, intimate. 1941 in Leadbitter & Slaven Blues Records 108; [title] My Mellow

Man. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America adj. [...] Intimate, close.

72:

mellow

6 calm, peaceful, unconcerned with the material or painful, a state often induced by smoking cannabis, 1942 Cab Calloway 'Let's Go Joe' [lyrics] Come on, Joe, let's go! /

Stuff's really mellow on the Alamo. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 75: The gauge [...] had them treetop tall, mellow as a cello. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 79: This is light green 'pot' from 'chilli gut' country. It will make us mellow. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 150: They returned [from injecting cocainej somewhat 'mellow,' enjoying their high. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 91: A halt of one of those joints — and those guys were smoking two or three joints by themselves and just getting mellow — half a joint got six guys high. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 71: She'd become more mellow, less hyper in the short time she'd worked with Guy. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 138: They'd [...[ smoked a shit load of skunk to get them mellow. 7 of drugs, relaxing. 1971 Current SI. V:4 16: Mellow, adj. Clear, especially as applied to a

certain part of a drug trip. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 286: Smoke so mellow somebody gets blown away every time it rains hard. 1994 J. Wambaugh Finnegan's Week 283: Naw, this ain't even good cringe [...[ I'm jist mellow. ■ In compounds

mellow-back (adj.) [back adv.] (US black) fashionable, chic, welldressed.

melodies

1570

1938 'Idioms of the Present-Day American Negro' in AS XIII:4 Dec.

314/2: MELLOW BACK. Adjective used to describe a killer. 1970 C. Major Diet. Afro-Amer. SI. n.p.: Mellow-back...lashionahly dressed,

mellow black (n.) (US black) an attractive young black woman. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

mellow dude (n.) (also mellow fellow) [dude n.^j (US drugs) a drug user. 1969 Cressey & Ward Delinquency, Crime, and Social Process 806: The primary difference between a 'mellow fellow' and a 'pot head' lies in the regularity of drug use [...] Mellow dudes distinguish themselves from pot heads in that they take no special pride in

using drugs. 1971 E.E.

Landy

Underground Diet. (1972).

mellow man (n.) (US teen) an attractive boy. 1945

(Far East edn) 24 Mar, 18/2-3: Some of today's teen-agers-

pleasantly not many - talk the strange new language of 'sling swing.' In the bright lexicon of the good citizens of tomorrow [...] A boy whose mug and muscles appeal to the girls is a 'mellow man', a 'hunk of heartbreak' or a 'glad lad'.

mellow roof (n.) [roof n. (2)) (US black) the human head. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

mellow yellow (n.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases

mellow drag with the sag (n.) (also mellow drag that has that sag) (US black) the exaggeratedly long jacket of a zoot suit n. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 1944 D.

Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 53: Then you ease into your racket jacket with the mellow drag that has the sag, Burley

mellow drug of America (n.) MDA (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), a hallucinogenic that resembles LSD in its effects; it has the same chemical formula as MDMA, but is not identical. 1991 A. Shulgin PiHKAL [Phenethylamines i Have Known and Loved]

[Internet] MDA was called the 'hug-drug' and was said to stand for Mellow Drug of America. 2003 Community Counseling and Resource Center [Internet] 'Designer Drugs': MDA - love drug, speed for lovers, mellow drug of America.

mellow out (v.) (also mellow off) (orig. US) to calm oneself down, to calm someone down, to relax, esp. under the influence of drugs. 1969 Cressey & Ward Delinquency, Crime, and Social Process 806: I mean it's a boss high (pleasant experience), mellow off, listen to music, just groove you know. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 25: How about we all smoke a little dope and mellow out. 1978 Harper's Mag. Nov. 33: They will 'hang loose' and 'lay back' and, so mellowed out, the last thing of which they wish to hear is heroism. 1986 C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 58: Viceroy Wilson [...] lit up a joint, jacked up the a/c, and mellowed out. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 98: Mellow off - to quieten down, as in 'I told him to mellow off'. 1998 Source Nov. 138: A very lifted Bobo mellows out by the swimming pool. 2001 S, King Dreamcatcher 97: Ma'am, they're almost gone. Mellow out, okay?

mellow yellow n. 1 (US black) a light-skinned girl or woman; usu. attractive [mellow adj. (4) -f yellow n. (1) -f assonance]. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 141: Terms for a lightcomplected person - high yellow, melted butter, mellow yellow - were most often seen in a positive light.

2 (also yellow) in drug uses [‘Mellow Yellow' (1967) a song by HIPPIE n.^ (3) folk-singer Donovan -)- MELLOW adj. (6)]. (a) dried banana skins, which, according to contemporary rumour, could be smoked. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. 111:2 34: Mellow yellow, v. Intoxicated from smoking banana peel. 1969 L. Yablonsky Hippie Trip 138; I accepted one of the 'mellow yellows' Bill offered me. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972).

(b) (drugs) (also yellow) a variety of LSD. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972) 202; yellow [...] LSD. 1977

L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1980 'Gloss, of Drug Terms' National Instit. Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mellow yellow — LSD. [Ibid.] 23; Yellow — LSD. 3 (S.Afr. township) a CASSPIR armoured truck, used to maintain order in the townships [the colour of the vehicles, thence the proprietary name of a yellow-coloured soft drink, ult. f. the song, see sense 2]. 1996 CyberBraai Lex. at www.matriots.com [Internet[ MELLOW YELLOW: A township name for yellow police patrol vehicles,

mellum n. [pron, of melon, head?] (US) common sense. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 152: Why in hell don't ya use a little 'mellum' (commonsense) in these things?

melodies n. (also melody lingers) [rhy. si. abbr. melody lingers] the fingers. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazel! and the Three-card Trick (1977) 57: A wizard whose melody lingers could make cards stand on end and do backsprings. 1981 P. Wright Cockney Dialect and SI. 105: melodies 'fingers'.

melon

melt

1571

melon n. 1 (Aus.lCan.lN.Z./US black) the human head; thus do one's melon, go off one's melon, to lose one's temper, to become over-excited.

authorised, poorly dubbed version of 'Motherfucker' used in films such as 'Die Hard' and the entire 'Beverly Hills Cop' series. Also everloving.

1868 C. White The Hop of Fashion in Darkey Drama 4 Act I; Now, look

melonhead n. [melon n. (3) -f -headsfx (1)1 (Aus./US) a fool; thus

here, old Moco. I'll squeeze your melon. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 92: So after inferring that he'd use the sap on my melon (head) he gave it up as a bad job. 1954 J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 50: The old codger's gone off his melon. 1966 D. Niland Pairs and Loners 115: Looks like he's cracked his melon on that rock there. 1971-2 C. 'Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks' in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 217: 'Watch your melon!' v. - 'Watch what you're doing!' 1978 R. Caron Go-Boy! 28: He looks just like my Uncle Bruno did when my pa hit him over the melon with the soapstone. 1998 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 30: Gonged his melon pretty bad, but he finally came out of the coma. 2 [US) a windfall or unexpected profit [financial jargon cut a melon, to announce an extra dividend). Shafer-

1911 Chicago Daily News 16 Sept. 18/2: They are at any rate no worse than the similar inventions regarding 'deals,' and 'melons' and 'extra dividends' and 'inside buying' which were distributed through Wall Street in 1906 and 1909 [DA]. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Hatch a melon, planning a robbery. 1948 Aurora Beacon News (IL) 7 Nov. 39/2: This year, a record number of your friends and neighbors will split a record 'melon' in our 1948 savings clubs [DA]. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 222: The Coast is where the big melon is.

3 {Aus./Can./N.Z./US black) a fool. 1925 S. Lewis Arrowsmith 393: This Inchcape - to try to master them with strychnine! A noble melon! 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 27: Strewth - how big a melon can a man be? I oughta get me head read! 1986 T. Winton That Eye, The Sky 120: You can tell the melons. We all look scared to death. 4 (also cantaloupes, honeydews, lopes) in pL, the female breasts, esp. when large. ]1937 R.L. Bellem 'Labyrinth of Monsters' in Goodstone Pulps (1970) 152/1: [He] could see the girl's heaving, panting breasts, twin ripe half-melons of cream-white flesh.] 1942 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 39: There was a young girl of Llewellyn / Whose breasts were as big as a melon. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harri' Grey' Hoods (1953) 229: Your appeal [is] centred around your [...] sweet, small, round honeydews. 1964 J. Charyn Once upon a Droshky 220: Her cantaloupes kiss the midget's head. 1975 L. ROSTbn Dear 'Herm' 104: He took 1 gander at those bouncing cantalopes. 1977 Butler & Shryack Gauntlet 84: Them pretty little melons all pink and tight. 1985 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 5: hooters - women's breasts. Syn.: cantaloupes. 1989 K. Dunn Geek Love 300: A boy! Yes! By the bouncing melons of Mary! I'm a grandpa! 1992 D. Jarman letter 2 Apr. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 110: Lady Helen 'Melons' Windsor was expected. 2001 'Randy Everhard' Tattoo of a Naked Lady 11: Bunny squeezed her 'lopes together, serving them up for my hungry eyes: 'These tits alone cost five bucks to look at.' [...] She neared the bed and leaned over me to let those massive, allAmerican melons swing inches above my face. 'Wanna taste them?' she goes, c.2003 P. Voltaire Blue Undercover Episode 8-12 at McStories.com [Internet] Instead of cantaloupes, she now had volleyballs on her chest. Her new size did made her a true shirtstretcher like her three friends, and the rest of the station started to take notice. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 57: Check out da size a her melons. ■ In compounds melonhead (n.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases

cut a melon (v.) (US) to divide up, esp. the spoils of a large coup or a crime. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 38: That's an income, all right, with Tractions payin' between 7 and 9, besides cuttin' a melon now and then. 1917 Van Loan 'Levelling with Elisha' in Old Man Curry 30: If Engle is going to cut a melon, we might as well have a knife in it too. 1920 Ade Hand-made Fables 43: He is Rich and High-Toned and has been living at one of those $12-a-Day Palaces and we must cut a big Melon when he comes. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

melon-farmer n. 1 (US) an unsophisticated person; a peasant. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 27: melon farmer -A square; a seed. 1968-70 Current SI. IlI-IV (Cumulation Issue) 76: Jive melon farmer, n. A Negro who is really a poor, hard-working laborer but who pretends to be hip [...] one who pretends to be

'with it' but really is not. 2 a euph. for motherfucker n. often used as the 'equivalent' when dubbing [coined by Alex Cox, director of Repo Man (1984) when re¬ dubbing the film for television). 1984 Repo Man [film] Flip you, melon farmer! 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 19: melon-farmer exclm. The BBC

melon-headed, stupid. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 July 24/4: Do ut, thin, [...] 'n' do ut quick if

you're thinkin', or that shlit-mouthed, melon-headed Orange oaf, conshtable McCracken in thinkin', a bit iv a warrant is a shootable coshtume fer a lady t' be paradin' the streets in. 1947 N. Algren 'El Presidente de Mejico' in Texas Stories (1995) 86: There's always the right way to do a thing, Melonhead. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 477: James looking like a melonhead In the foreground, dressed in formal evening-wear and cummerbunds. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Li-ttle Steel Toes 10: You gonna scuff those shiny boots all up kicking those sons of bitches in their melon heads. 2003 Guardian 8 Sept. [Internet] The officious supervisor bloke quickly halted his progress and confiscated the flag, to a huge cheer from the butchers, pirates and melonheads in the crowd. 2007 M. Rowson Stuff 45: The front row is filled with cabbage-faced, melon-headed party stooges.

m6lt n?

[metonymy of SE melt, the spleen) (US) one's self.

1845 W.T. Porter Big Bear of Arkansas (1847) 135: I raised my arm,

trimblin' like a leaf, and says I, 'Jem! - I'll have your melt!' 1858 in G.W. Harris High Times 134: Why, durn my melt ef the passon's sister didn't have his haslet outen him.

melt n? [OE mitt, spleen; the tongue is spleen-shaped) (Ulster) the tongue; usu. in phrs. break one's melt, to infuriate one beyond reason; keep in your melt, hold your tongue; knock in one's melt, to drive one mad. 1950 S. Murphy Stone Mad (1966) 135: Many's the pound I've earned for him an' I'm not going to break me melt at this hour of the day. 1997 Share Slanguage.

melt n.^ [SE whore's melt, ult. milt, roe) (UK Und.) an unpleasant person. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 182: A runner named Gilbert, a right melt [.,.] who thought he was a gangster.

melt

V.

1 to spend money, esp. on drink.

C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Melt c. to spend Money. Will you

Melt a Bord? c. Will you spend your Shilling? The Cull Melted a couple of Decusses upon us c. the Gentleman spent ten Shillings upon us. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 19: And if any of their Acquaintance gives them L’argent, then they jump into their Cellar to melt it. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1748 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Diet. (5th edn). 1756 W. Toldervy Hist, of the Two Orphans IV 45: Heartley then gave a crown to Gregory, who [...] had the ambition (according to the words of Humphry) to melt it at Ashley's pinchhouse. 1765 Foote The Commissary 6: mrs. mech.: Give him the sixpence, then. [...] coachm.: It will be to your health, mistress; it shall melt at the Meuse, before I go home. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Melt. To spend; (cant) will you melt a horde? will you spend a shilling; the cull melted a couple of decusses upon us; the gentleman spent a couple of crowns upon us. C.1790 'De Kilmainham Minit' in Luke Caffrey's Cost 6: And when dat he mill'd a fat slap, / He me-ri-ly melted de winner. 1804 Sporting Mag. Jan. XXIII 189/1: The nobleman whose acres were nightly melting in the dice-box. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 189: He keeps up such a flashy show; / And then he's melted down. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London II ii: He seems in a melting mood; now's the time to get something outof him. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open 115: Mest [sic], to spend. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 54: melt To spend money. 'The cove melted a finiff in lush before we parted,' the fellow spent five dollars for drink before we parted. 1868 Reade & Boucicault Foul Play III 84: I had him arrested before he had time to melt the notes. 1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag & Co. 228: If there's a pound earned I'll wager she melts half of it in gin. 1890 Sporting Times 3 May 1/3: Its a wonderful thing, in connection with cash, / There's never much trouble in 'blewing' it / Some melt it in gargles, or else on a mash. 1904 R. Sunyasee 'Dad's Cheque' in Bulletin 28 Jan. n.p.: There's this and that the kiddies want, / There's rent, and tea, and flour; / Dad's money takes a month to earn - / 'Tis melted in an hour! 1910 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'His Lincoln Form' Sporting Times 12 Mar. 1/3: The few in the know always cater / In accordance, and take special care so to act / That he shan't melt it all on some plater. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Father Who Jumped In' in Ade's Fables 84: Daughter alone could induce him to un buckle, and melt, and jar loose, and come across, and kick in, and sting the CheckBook. [2000 Guardian 2 \ Jan. 32: How is we footballers going to keep up our rep as the biggest of spenders if he can swan around unhindered melting the plastic?]

2 to come to orgasm. 1620 T. Carew 'Second Rapture' Poems (1772) 174: In whose sweet

embraces I, May melt myself to lust and die. 1654 Mercurius

melt! Fumigosus

24 8-15 Nov. 105: But come (quoth he) let's swive[?] and

melt together,

/

Nor

Bashfulness

nor

Modesty

weighs a feather.

3 to beat up; thus melter n.; melting n. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 118: Melting — a

melter is he who punisheth and melting — a corruption of malletting. 4 to cash a cheque or break a note. sound drubbing, all one way. A

the

thing administered is a

1868 Reade & Boucicault Foul Play lii: 1 had him arrested before he had time to melt the notes [OED].

1929 J.B. Booth London Town 245:

Sam [...] if the security had his approval, would be prepared to

5 (Aus./N.Z.) to spend one season's pay on one extended binge. 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 Nov. 16/3: [M]ost of our fellows are fighting, cursing, blaspheming and drinking, drinking, drinking! notwithstanding the fact that this may be their last shearing cheque for a year or two to come. When their cheques are melted they'll jump their horses over the bar, and then, maddened and weakened, will have to foot it away across those endless downs to God knows where. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Sept. 36/1: No more his cheques, as the cheques one-time, / He'll melt in the old way mulish; / No more he'll graft through a year of grime / For the sake of 'benders' foolish, 6 (US black) [also melt out) to run out of money, to have no money. 1934 J.T. Farrell 'The Benefits of American Life' in Short Stories (1937) 221: Takiss was out of work in the winter, and again his savings melted. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 200: At first it was like all right, because 1 had some bread going for me, but them few hundred bucks melted real fast and all I had was a growing habit. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 182: And if I ever did melt out I'd just blase up. 7 (US campus) to drink oneself into unconsciousness. 1932 J.A. Shidler 'More Stanford Expressions' in AS Vn:6 436: A drunkard is a 'funnel' 'tank,' 'blotter,' or 'sponge'; he 'passes out', 'folds,' 'melts,' is 'whipped,' if he drinks to unconsciousness. 8 (US campus) to delight, thrill or attract someone. 1968 Current SI. 11:4 8: Melt, v. To impress. 9 to leave. 1957 C. MacInnes City of Spades (1964) 65: 1 could see no sign of Hamilton, and hoped he'd melted.

■ In phrases melted out (adj.) (US black) without money and thus desperate. 1944 Cab Calloway New Flepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 258: MELTED OUT (adj.): broke. 1944 'liver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. FIbk of Harlem Jive. melt out (v.) see sense 6 above.

exc/.

(MELT

grease n.’’.

v. (9)1 (US) as imper., leave! get lost!

1961 F. Kohner Gidget Goes Hawaiian 10: Melt means — get lost!

melted

2001 G. COUGHLAN Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Melted (a): very

tired. n.

1

semen.

2 (US black) an attractive woman, esp. if mixed race [her 'yellow' skin tone], 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246: melted butter

1.

Attractive female. 2. See casper.

1989 P. Munro SI.

U. 92: give (someone) a melvin to yank (someone's) underwear up abruptly or roughly. 1991 J. Algeo Fifty Years Among the New Words (1993) 241: 1990 Fall. Wedgy appears to be a term for a high-school prank [...] Connie Eble reports the synonyms melvin and murphy. 1992 D, Burke Street Talk 2. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] Melvin n. v. A reverse wedgie. Pulling the frontside of someones underwear as high as possible, or until he screams and cries in pain. Usually given to wiseass kids who taunt older classmates. Can be especially painful if the person getting the melvin is wearing boxer shorts,

melvin adj. [melvin n. (1)1 old-fashioned, socially inept, dull, foolish. 1982 M, Pond Valley Girl's Guide to Life 60; Melvin — Creepy, like out in space, like a weird person [HDAS[. 1992 Simpsons [TV script] Some say to love your country is old-fashioned — uncool — melvin [HDAS].

melvin v. [melvin n. (2)] (US campus) to tug someone's underwear up suddenly and roughly with the aim of lifting them off the ground. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] Melvin n. v. A reverse wedgie. Pulling the frontside of someones underwear as high as possible, or until he screams and cries in pain. Usually given to wiseass kids who taunt older classmates. Can be especially painful if the person getting the melvin is wearing boxer shorts.

Meivyn (Bragg) n. [rhy. si.; ult. UK broadcaster Bragg (b.1939)1 1 sexual intercourse [= shag n.^j.

and author Melvyn

1992 R. PUXLEY Cockney Rabbit. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney

Rhy. Si 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI. 79: 'Did you get a Melvyn?' 'No, she blew me out again.' 2 a promiscuous woman [= slag n} (4)]. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] But the problem was that Dionne was very partial to being melvyn bragged by everything in strides.

2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 193: Should mem up dem names for security.

member n? [prior use is SE, Eat. membrum virile, 'the virile member', i.e. the penis) the penis. 1356 J. Mandeville Travels 197: Thei gon all naked, saf a litylle Clout,

fat

people

having sexual

intercourse. 1811 Lex. Balatronieum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar

Tongue. 2 ardent, intense passion. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

melting pot

n. (a/so baking pot) [it 'softens' the penis after ejaculation] the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

1896 Farmer

Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 85: Creuset, m. The female pudendum', 'the melting-pot'. 1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 182: Occasionally, the colloquialism acknowledges the functions of the part, as is seen with [...] baking pot (where you keep a bun in the oven),

melting pot receiver

n. (UK Und.) a receiver of stolen silver plate who melts down the stolen goods, thus rendering them untraceable. 1789 G. Parker Life's Painter 172: Melting-pot receiver. People who

keep melting pots over the fire the whole day, as a Cook's-shop keeps a pot in beans and pea season.

m©lvin

thus give someone a melvin, to tug someone's underwear up suddenly and roughly; have a melvin/have melvins/have a murphy, to receive this [seen as a typical problem for sense 1 above).

mem v. [abbr.l to memorize.

1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 192: Melted butter is spunk.

melted out adj. see under melt v. melting moments n. 1 two

look at him, he's like, a total Melvin.

Melvyn Bragg v. [Melvyn (Bragg) n.] to have sexual intercourse.

adj. [SE melt] [Irish) tired.

melted butter

Handle for a square person who is puttin' the drag on, 1986 Eble Campus SI. Fall 4: merv - loser; a spindly, underweight person who appears to study a lot. 1987 N.Y. Times 12 Apr. n.p,: When 'nerds' travel in pairs they are referred to as 'Elroy and Melvin' [R], 1997 L. Davies Candy 96: 1 parted my hair at the side [...] I combed it back and stood there looking like just the right kind of Mervin. 2002 'Valley Girls' on Paranoiafanzine [Internet] Okay, like, this guy isn't a total double-bagger, but, like, he's not a fox at all. I mean, just

3 a cigarette [= fag n.^ (2)1. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. 2000 personal correspondence: Melvyn Bragg - Modern Rhyming Slang for 'fag' (cigarette), e.g. 'Oi mate, can I scrounge a Melvyn off you?'

■ SE in slang uses

melt one’s grease (v.) see under

1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 51: melvin -

2 a condition in which clothing gets stuck between the buttocks;

'melt' an acceptance at the rate of sixty per cent.

melt!

member

1572

n, (a/so Merv, Mervin) [image of Melvin as a 'nerdy' proper name] 1 (Aus./US) a dull, tedious, socially inept and otherwise distasteful person.

that thei coveren with here knees and hire membres [F&H]. 1522 Skelton Why Come Ye Nat to Courte? line 209: And Asmodeus of hell Maketh his membres swell With Dalyda to mell. That wanton damosell. 1592 T. Kyd Soliman and Perseda G2: They lopt a collop of my tendrest member. 1598 Florio Worlde ofWordes n.p.: Priapo, [...] Also a mans priuy member or yard. 1609 Jonson Silent Woman I i: When wee come to haue gray hair, and weake hammes, moist eyes, and shrunke members. 1611 Bible Deut. XXIIII [Authorised Version] n.p.: He that hath his privy member cut off [F&H]. 1639 H. Glapthorne Argalus I ii: The Nymphs are all stark and mad for it. Because they think the rest of my members proportionable, c.1642 T. Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) I iii: She converses with naked men, and handles all their members. 1648 Cryes of Westminster n.p.: May the pox eate up your bones, consume your rotten Members. 3.1661 'On the Goldsmiths Committee' Rump Poems and Songs (1662) I 236: Pox keep 'um in bed / Until they are dead, / And repent for the losse of their Members. 1673 Rochester 'A Satyr on Charles IT in Works (1999) 86: While she employs Hands, Fingers, Mouth, and Thighs, / Ere she can raise the Member she enjoys. 1698 Proceedings against Capt. Edward Rigby for intending to commit the Abominable Sin of Sodomy, on the Body of one William Minton 7 Dec. 1: Rigby [..,] took him by the hand, and squeez'd it; put his Privy Member Erected into Minton's Hand; kist him, and put his Tongue into Minton's Mouth.

member

mensch

1573

1720-50 'The Button Hole' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II

179; There was something still wanting, / They found not out yet: / Then the Member rose up [...] And cry'd its worth nothing, / If 'tis not well flitch'd. 1740 Dialogue between a Married Lady and a Maid II: That which embraces the Man's Member, when it is in, is called the Sheath. 1750 Friar and Boy Pt I 15: A woeful pickle he was in. With dancing thro' and thro'. His cloaths he tore, and then his Skin, His privy members too. 1801 Burns Answer to a Poetical Epistle in Works (1842) 60/2; You should remember To cut if aff, an' what for no Your dearest'member. 1835 'The Rakish Gentleman' Knowing Chaunter 44: I'm called the randy gentleman, [...] Tm a standing member of the house, / And the ladies all so free. Declare they like no member, sires, / Upon the w-hole like me. 1842 'O Dear What Can The Matter Be' Nobby Songster 8: He show'd me a thing he call'd a stiff member. 1881 Sins of the Cities of the Plain 37: He began to frig my stiff member. 1890 'Neaniskos' Priapeia Ep. xxv 26; Either lop off my seminal member, which the neighbouring women, ever itching with desire, exhaust the whole night through [,..] or I shall be ruptured. 1939 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 247: A nudist by name Roger Peet, / Loved to dance in the snow and the sleet, / But one chilly December / He froze every member. 1946 in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 92: A whimsical Arab from Aden, / His masculine member well laden. 1958 Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 93: She pointed an accusing finger at Uncle Jack's member. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 99: [He] stood now in a cubicle in the empty boys' room, wiping his own wet member off with toilet paper. 1999 D. Healy Sudden Times 36: He told me once • that he had such a huge member that when he got an erection the blood would drain from his face. 2004 J. McCourt ''Vilja de Tanquay Exults' in Queer Street 298: What a memorable member! ■ In compounds member mug (n.) a chamberpot. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Member-mug a Chamber-pot. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 207: [...] Tip me the jockum-gage, i.e., hand me the member-mug. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698]. 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1790 Dying Groans of Sir John Barleycorn 4: In company with good wife's member-mugs, where I must stand in the stink until starved as dead as a doornail. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue,

m In phrases dropping member (n.) the flaccid penis, esp. when afflicted with (temporary) impotence or with venereal disease. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: dropping member A man's yard with a gonorrhoea. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 102: Egout, m. 1. The penis: 'the dropping member'. hot member (n.) see separate entry, jolly member (n.) the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. member for cockshire (n.) [puns on SE member and Coc/c(shire)/COCK n.^ (1)] the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

member for horncastle (n.) [punning on S£ member -e horn n.\- thus double entendre in D'Urfey, Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719): 'I am a cunning Constable, / And a Bag of Warrants I have here, / To Press sufficient Men and able, / At Horn-castle to appear /[.,.]/ Where / miss the Man Til press the Wife'] a cuckold. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 470/2: C.18-early 19.

unruly member (n.) [play on usu. sense of tongue, from General Epistle of James, 3:5-8: 'Even so the tongue is a little member [...[ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison'] the penis. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c. 143: We have an unruly Member, and that stubborn Piece of Flesh hath no Forecast at all. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 17: Ardillon, m. The penis: 'the unruly member'.

sanguinary temperament [F&H]. 1912 G.R. Chester Five Thousand an Hour Ch. xvii: By the way, I owe my poker guests to Johnny Gamble [...] He's a live member! Did I ever tell you how he helped me skin old Mort Washer? 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. St.

2 {US black) {also club member) a fellow black person. 1962 N.Y. Times Mag. 20 May 45: member: a Negro. 1964 L. Hairston

'The Winds of Change' in Clarke Harlem, USA (1971) 321: But this member — daddy, she was a real fox! 1972 K. Johnson 'Vocab. of race' in Kochman Rappin' and Stylin' Out 149: Club member or Member. Also connotes the kinship or 'all-in-it-together' aspect of being black in white America. The label is complimentary because the struggle against white racism is viewed favorably by black people. To recognize another black as a 'club member' or 'member' is to recognize that black person's membership in the group which is waging a noble struggle. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246: member Another black person.

3 {US gay) a fellow homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 133: member (kwn LV, midlate '60s, fr si clubhouse = toilet, room) a fellow gay. ■ In phrases

member for Berkshire (n.) [pun on SE bark/Berkshire] one who is suffering from a harsh, persistent cough (cf. have been to Barking creek under Barking creek n.). 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Barkshire. a member or candidate for Barkshire, said of one troubled with a cough, vulgarly styled barking. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

member of the union (n.) {US gay) a member of the homosexual community. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Member of the

Union - Gay or lesbian person.

memo n. m In phrases get the memo (v.) see get the message under message n. memory box n. {Aus.) the mind. 1900 Marvel XIV:344 June 12: A gentle bump on the stones just jogs his memory-box up a bit. 1972 (con. 1940s) N. Conway Bloods 100: He felt that the old memory box could still do its stuff.

Memphis dominoes n. {US) dice. 1961 J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling. 1969 H. King Gambling and

Org. Crime 233: Memphis Dominoes — Dice [HDASj.

men n. [the pi. of SE man implying the homosexuality] {W.l.) a homosexual. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Men used as a

singular word to mean a homosexual: u. dat bwoy is a men.

menavelings n. [? link to naut. jargon manarvel, to pilfer from the ship's stores] odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at railway offices. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

mench see under mensh. mendic adj. {also mindic) [Nyungar m/nda//;, sick] {Aus.) sick, ill. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn).

men in blue n. see boys in blue n. meno n. [abbr.l the menopause; also attrib. 1998 CyberHealth XIII [Internet] This happens with all major diseases:

more or less up to meno women have a low mortality, much lower than male mortality, and then there is the sudden dramatic increase. 2000 'DorothyL Digests' MysteryVault.net 23 Mar. [Internet] And, for those of you in the know, my mother is much better. They changed her meds to just prozac and her meno-meddy (as she called it)...and she's much more alert, and aware,

meno adj. [abbr.j menopausal. 1997-2002 Menopause

and Beyond [Internet] 'The UP side of Menopause (and beyond)...' 1. Surges of empathy towards other meno women.

■ SE in slang uses

mensch n. {also mensh) [Yid. mensch, Cer. Mensch, a person] a 'real

■ In phrases

man', the implication being of character and integrity rather than

member of the catch club (n.) [they catch villains] a bailiff or

sexual or physical prowess. 1914 M. Glass Abe and Mawruss 100: Nowadays, if a feller wants to make a success he must got to wear good clothes and look like a mensch, y'understand? 1931 G. Berg Rise of the Goldbergs 195; 'Everyting vould be ulleright if that Mendel vas only a mensch,’* sighed Jake, finishing his fish. *Human. 1941 A. Kobbr My Dear Bella 78: What'sa metla you can't fix by you the tie you should look like a mensch? 1953 S. Bellow Augie March (1996) 43: I want you to be a mensch. 1963 A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 121: Lovely people. A mensch. A gentleman. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 217: To her credit, Dordogna took it like a mensch. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 35; He had a lot of heart and a lot of class. A real mensch. 1985 S. Berkoff Westin Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 119: To avenge the dead / to

bailiff's assistant. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811

Lex. Balatronicum. 1812-82

B.M. Carew

Life and Adventures.

member n.^ [SE member as abbr. of member of the community is SE 16C17C1 1 a fellow, a chap; usu. with adj. e.g. hot member. 1862 E.K. Wightman letter 3 Jan. in Longacre From Antietam to Fort

Fisher (1985) 99: Of the dissentions among the soldiers the most savage come from the abuse of recruits by 'old members' [...] The 'old men' are 'patriots' who sprang forward at the first call of the Government. 1891 Sporting Life 28 Mar. n.p.: Accordingly Jem was put to work, but, warm a member as our hero was, standing in front of a blazing furnace for hours [...] was too hot even for Jem's

mensh

mere

1574

annihilate the oppressor / to be a mensh. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 16: Just quite callin em leche bags [...] Be a mensch. Show some respeck. They'w bwests. 2004 .1. Ellroy 'Hot-Prowl Rape-O' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 258: Danny the G. was a mensch.

mensh n. (a/so mench) [abbr.] a mention. 1981 A. Payne 'You Need Hands' in Minder [TV script] 49:1 do believe this particular hotel gets a mensh in the Michelin Guide. 2000 Guardian 28 Jan. 32: Give an associate of mine a little mench, boy. 2001 K. Waterhouse Soho 147: That new film release, what was it called?, got a good mensh in What’s On In Leeds.

mensh v. {also mench) [abbr.] to mention; usu. in phr. don't mensh, don't mention it. 1909 Pearson's Mag. 21:4 439: 'That's very kind of you.' 'Don't mensh.' 1911 Gem 9 Dec. 16: Don't mench, dear boy! 1922 G.A. Milton Fugitive Millionaire 21: Don't mensh. I understand my dear. 1947 J. Maclaren-Ross Of Love And Hunger 138: 'Thanks a lot.' 'Don't mench.' 1954 E. Hun'ter Blackboard Jungle 105: 'You got a keen analytical mind.' 'Thank you,' Rick said, 'Don't mensh it.'

mental n. [abbr. SE mental case/ability/home] 1 an insane, deranged person, a mental patient. 1913 E. Meynell Life F. Thompson 279: Many a time I've asked him to have his bit of lunch with me and the other 'mental' — O yes, she's a mental case, as I may have told you [OED]. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: a mental ... a psychopathic case. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] mental adj. [.,.] 7) mentalist, a mentler.

2 intelligence. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 53: If you ain't got the mental, there's always a con to feed you your lines. 3 (Aus.) an emotional outburst, a display of ill temper; see chuck a

MENTAL below. 4 (Irish) a psychiatric institution. 1981 J. Bradner Danny Boy 95: Why you-all don't send John to de flipping mental? 1994 P. Quigley Borderland 55: Aunt Nell told me that the Gunner had been taken to a place called 'the Mental' for treatment. ■ In phrases

chuck a mental (v.) {also crack a mental, do a mental) 1 {Aus./ N.Z.) to lose one's temper; to have a fit. 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 51: 'What happened?' 'He cracked a mental' 1983 K. Cue Crooks, Chooks and Bloody Ratbags (1988) 193: Do ya wanna go down to old Doc's and watch him do a mental? 1986 T. Winton That Eye, The Sky 83: 'Henry chucked a mental,' I say [...] 'It was a fit.' 1993 T. Winton Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster (1995) 80: The guy chucked a mental. 2002 HBW at wvew.hbdub.com [Internet] This program has performed an illegal operation, so sod off you bodgie dipstick! Your computer's in a bit of a brothel, you boofhead. Your about as bright as a two-watt bulb. But don't chuck a mental at me, mate. Talk to that illywacker Laporte.

2 to have an emotional breakdown. 1997 T. Winton Lockie Leonard, Legend (1998) 179: His mum chucked a mental you know.

mental adj. 1 insane, crazy, out of one's mind. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville LI 5: Texas is still in a fog, speakin' mental, an' about bled to death; while them exhortin' people is outen their minds entire. 1936 W. Holtby South Riding (1988) 62: The mother's in an asylum and the child's mental as anything. 1941 G. Kersh They Die with Their Boots Clean 78: Gord forgive him. He's mental, 1959 A. Sillitoe 'The Match' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 119: You're a lunatic [...] You're mental. 1962 F. Norman Guntz 65: It's enough to drive you mental. 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 79: Wee Frankie, pure mental he is, brass¬ necked it, walkin' up the road wi' his stupid, mid-grey flannels. 1975 S. Roberts 'For No Reason' Outside Life's Feast 58: I'm sure that kitchen kaffir is mental. 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita I i: rita: Do you understand that? frank: Yes. rita: Yeh. They wouldn't round our way. They'd think I was mental. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 89: The Beast is fuckin mental. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 231: Spent some time in Northern Ireland, before the ceasefire like ... that must be enough t'send anybody fuckin mental. 2006 P. Shannon Davey Darling 26: Some people would consider them mental [...] not quite right in the head.

2 a general intensifier meaning wonderful, bizarre, terrifying, according to context.

■ In phrases go mental (v.) 1 to become insane, to have a mental breakdown or outburst. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 156: Go mental Go wild. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 175: Whata you goin' mental on me, Kenny? 1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: go mental - become increasingly mentally unstable. 1991 F. Mac Anna Last of the High Kings 101: The dog's gone mental. [Ibid.] 104: The chicks will go mental for us. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 6: Monica is gonna go mental when I take hers for the school run in the a.m.

2 to have an uproarious time. 2000 Guardian Guide 8-14 Jan. 26: The whole place is going mental to that wicked William Orbit tune. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds mental giant (n.) {US campus) a fool, an idiot. 1989 P. Munro si. U. mental hernia (n.) (US) 1 a fool, an idiot. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972) 130: mental hernia n. Seemingly ignorant person.

2 a mental breakdown. 1972 B. Hannah Geronimo Rex 26: The old man fell into his study for about two weeks of fake mental hernia [...] and hollered at anybody who disturbed him. mental job (n.) [job n.^ (4)] one who is or potentially might be insane. 2002 GEOLINDA 'Superhawk' on RunLevelZero [Internet] I've been cursing out loud like a mental job for the last hr. mental midget (n.) (US) a stupid person. 1966 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 2004 J. Gorman My Last Busy Season 364: I would leave right now if I weren't leaving this place in the hands of a crook and your son, the mental midget.

mentalist n. (also mentaller, mentler) (UK juv.) an eccentric. 2001 G, Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Mentaller (a): crazy guy. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] mentalist n. someone considered to be a bit lacking in the brain department: i.e. 'the lights are on but no-one's home.'. Always more effective when used as part of the phrase, 'You big spastic, you're a mentalist.' [...] mentler n. A mental person.

mentler n. [pron. of mental adj.\ a crazy person. 1997 C. McPherson Weir 73: I'm like some fucking mentler, I do be watching it! 2001 C. McPherson Port Authority 10: There was no point in buying stuff for a bunch of mentlers who were going to come and just basically drink you out of house and home. ■ In phrases do a mentler (v.) to act outrageously. 2004 T. Kennedy In Mulligans 40: 'I did a mentler,' he says,

mentler adj. [mentler n.] insane, crazy. 1993 R. Doyle Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha 206: Missis Kilmartin roared it at her mentler son.

Merc n. (also Merk) [abbr.] 1 a Mercedes Benz. 1930 E. Waugh Vile Bodies 176: '...Tailwag ...' '...Speed-wobble...' '... Merc 1959 E, De Roo Go, Man, Go! 7: With a quick glance over his shoulder, he checked the Merc standing across from his house. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 169: I wonder what they'd call us if they hadda seen us the other night when we had Elaine and Bev stripped off in the Merc. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 197: There was the great Merk, parked near the rear of the building, empty. 1974 (coit. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 124: He had a '32 Ford roadster with a '40 Merc motor. 1984 'Derek Raymond' He Died with His Eyes Open 86: It was all right for drivers with capital — they'd invested it in Rollers or Mercs. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto 31: A Merc pulls up beside me and who is there as the door swings open but [...] His Eminence Mr Dummy Teat! 2002 A. Duff Jake's Long Shadow 42: A sea of four-wheel drive vehicles. Range Rovers and more than a Merc or two.

2 a Ford /Vlercury automobile. 1961 'Duncan Lee' Castro Assassinated (2009) 43: His tail [...] stepped in to an old Mercury, idling at the curb. The Merc pulled out.

mere n. [abbr.l a professional mercenary soldier. 1967 Time 11 Aug. 28/2: Zambesi Club 'meres' are white Rhodesians and South Africans from Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare's Fifth

1994 I. Welsh 'A Smart Cunt' in Acid House 277: This acid is mental shit . . . Spud says. 2000 Guardian Guide 1-6 Jan. 18: Big up to everyone who went clubbing on NYEY2K and made it such a

Commando. 1979 High Times Jan. 108: A squad of Dutch and West German mercenaries invaded the platform and took possession — on behalf of the foreign minister himself. [...] Six days later. Bates

mental booyaka ding dong.

and four other armed men retook Sealand and ousted the meres, 1999 W. Gibson All Tomorrow's Parties 199: He had a feeling the scarf was the one he'd really have to watch for; he couldn't say why. 'What if those meres scope us leaving?'

3 angry. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 135: If Dad finds out about the stealing [.,.] he gets more mental than with surfing.

Mercedes

mercy!

1575

Mercedes n. [the car of the same name and status] (US black) an elegant woman with good looks and an attractive figure. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 142: Women dey like a Porsche, a Mercedes or a Cad: [...] Mercedes is not too big an' not too small. Jus' fine to look at and bad to ride,

mercer’s book

n. [SE mercer, a dealer in luxury textiles + SE book. Any Elizabethan gallant worth his name was in debt to his clothier] debt; thus in the mercer's book, the state of being in debt.

1591 Greene Farewell to Folly To Gent. Stud. sig. A4: Such wags as [...] haue marched in the Mercers booke to please their Mistris eye with their brauerie. 1601 Jonson Poetaster III i: Faith sir, your mercer's booke Will tell you with more patience, then I can. 1675 Character of a Town-gallant in C. Hindley Old Bk Collector's Misc. 4: Thence he posted to one of the Inns of Court, but [...] never read six Lines in Littleton, for he loved a Placket better than a Moot-case, and was more in his Mercer's Books than in Cokes. ■ In phrases

drowned in the mercer’s book (adj.) see separate entry, merch n. [abbr.] the merchant navy. 1958 H. Ellison Deadly Streets (1983) 19: I'll be shippin' out inna Merch Marine next Summer. 1997 (con. 1950s) D. Farson Never a Normal Man 177: I joined the merch and it was a right disillusionment.

merchandise n. [euph.] 1 women as sex objects. 1683 Whores Rhetorick 114: Let her Frenchifie her Commodities, or, (to avoid ribbaldry) her Merchandize, not with that Country Pox, but with hard names, and Je ne sqaiquois. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 98: I'm not after merchandise, kid. I'm after information. 1961 G.L. Coon Meanwhile, Back at the Front (1962) 141: Hey [...] where're you taking the merchandise? 2 (US) constr. with the, the real thing, the ideal thing, the ideal person. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 171: The Young Man thought that Lutie was all the Merchandise. 3 contraband liquor. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 231: merchandise — Any form of contraband: liquor. 1931 D. Runyon 'The Lily of St. Pierre' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 136: We load a thousand cases of very nice merchandise. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 39: He would bank roll our venture if I copped the merchandise. 4 (drugs) drugs. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981). 1949 'HalEllson' Duke 111: 'Would you like a shot?' he said. 'Naw, I just want the merchandise,' I said. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1977 B. Davidson Collura (1978) 172: If you got merchandise to sell. I'm lookin' to buy. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 65: She laid her suction cunt and a sawed off shotgun on a snot nose heistman [...] to rip off their merchandise. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Merchandise — Drugs. 5 a man, often a male prostitute, as a sex object. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 111: a male prostitute [...] merchandise. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 144: hey slip into [...] kit that shows off the merchandise and walk about on the bash, casually looking.

now say a chap (with much the same meaning, being only a contraction of chapman), a saucy chap, or the like. 1837 Disraeli Venetia I 152: 'We'll make a Turkey merchant* of you yet,' said an old gipsy. (*i.e. We will teach you to steal a turkey). 1908 Gem 17 Oct. 13: I rather like Railton [...] Seems a decent sort of merchant. 1915 Wodehousb Psmith Journalist (1993) 196: I will interview these merchants. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 148: He's not dumb, like the old-fashioned merchant. 1926 E. Wallace Joker (1950) 44: I've just got a feeling that you might. I'm a hunch merchant [...] premonitions are my long suit. 1930 N. Gale 'The Favourite' in Messrs Bat and Ball 38: You and 1, / As snowbound fancy often chooses, / Upon our hearthrug will defy / The Leg-Break Merchant and his ruses. 1936 K. Mackenzie Living Rough 151:1 left the land of [...] high-powered salesmen, hot-air merchants. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 34: Old rogues and wagon grifters, shakedown artists and coneroos, heel thieves and strong-arm merchants, [...] cat burglars from Brooklyn and live wires from nowhere. 1958 F. Norman in Sun. Graphic 20 July in Norman's London (1969) 18: The teenagers and skiffle merchants. 1965 H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 34:1 guess that was jus' too much for a shit merchant like him. 1965 L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 86: I was a big-chat merchant, I could talk to anybody. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 174: Y'all shitbags an' cack merchants. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazel! and the Three-card Trick (1977) 39: How did you know they were boardsmen — three-card trick merchants? 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 356: Well, what have you got in the middle? one asks. The violence merchants. 1983 A. Payne 'Senior Citizen Caine' in Minder [TV script] 28: You eyeball that doctor they come up with? Right strait-jacket merchant, if ever I saw one. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 108: Fastbuck merchants from the City, publishers, the odd egghead sewer rat. 1993 1. Welsh Trainspotting 18: An ex-skag merchant always knows when some¬ one is sick. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 61:1 thought on other powder merchants. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 16: There's only about five or six regular Stanley [knife] merchants in The Pack. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 139: Guy's a one-punch merchant. 2000 Indep. Rev. 27 Jan. 7: Such doom merchants [...] forget the The Archers' story lines, 20 or 30 years ago, used to be considerably fruitier, darker and more violent. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 462: Barstard fuckin crusty rip-off merchant wankas. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 56: The action merchants [...] got tooled up.

merchant banker n. (also Swiss banker) [rhy. sl. = wanker n.] a masturbator; thus a general term of abuse. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 132: 'We ain't had a banker like Helmet in years ...' 'Merchant Banker, yeah!' 2000 Guardian G2 20 Jan. 16: There appear to be few instances where a job lends itself to a home¬ made Cockneyism. 'Merchants' (as in 'merchant bankers') is the most obvious. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI. 80: I had to quit my job because the bosses were all a bunch of merchant bankers. [Ibid.] 97: Swiss banker wanker.

merchant of eel-skins n. [? his slipperiness, the unlikeliness of their supposed commodity! one who only poses as a merchant. 1546 J. Heywood Proverbs n Ch. v: We shall see him prove a merchant of eels-skins - / A merchant without either money or ware.

merchant n. a man, a fellow, esp. as an adept of a particular

merck n. (also merk) [the Merck pharmaceutical company] (drugs)

interest, use is usu. in a variety of qualifying combs., e.g. blacUnder blag n.; bull merchant under bull n.®; caper MERCHANT under caper n.^; fanny merchant under fanny n.^; feather MERCHANT Under FEATHER n.; HOIST-MERCHANT Under HOIST n.; HOP MERCHANT under hop n.''; jump-up merchant under iump-up n.; laydown MERCHANT n.; LUSH MERCHANT Under LUSH n.\' MUTTON MERCHANT under mutton n.; reader merchant under reader n.; timber-merchant under timber n.; tootle-merchant under tootle n.; wood merchant

cocaine. 1922 E. Murphy Black Candle 184: The finest grade of cocaine in the world is manufactured in Germany and is known as 'Mercks'. 1976 K. R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 72: 'Merck', as it is commonly called, is cocaine hydrochloride. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Merck [...]

MERCHANT

under wood n.^. 1549 W. Latimer Sermon before Edward VI (Arb.) n.p.: The crafty merchant (what-ever he be) that will set brother against brother, meaneth to destroy them both [Nj. 1568 Hist, of Jacob and Esau V vi: What ye saucie merchaunt, are ye a prater now? 1573 New Custom I i: I woulde so haue scourged my marchant, that his breeche should ake. 1582 Stanyhurst Of Virgil his Alneis II: A brasse bold merchaunt in causes dangerus hardye. 1595 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet 11 iv: I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery? 1612 N. Field Woman is a Weathercock III iii: The merchant is dead for shame, c.1629 R. Brome City Wit III ii: We hop'd he would have prov'd a crafty Merchant, and he prov'd an honest man, a Beggar. 1633 Rowley Match at Midnight V i: I knew you were a crafty Merchant, you helped my Master to such bargaines vpon the Exchange last night. 1662 'M.W.' Marriage Breaker II i: We are call'd Merchants of the Maidenhead. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 375: [footnote] This Grimstone is a preaching shoemaker, and as fine a fellow as either of the other two brimstone merchants. 1822 R. Nares Gloss. (1888) II 564: merchant, Familiarly used, as we

Merk — Cocaine.

mercy! excl. (also for mercy’s sake! mercy me! mercy sakes (alive)!) a general oath (esp, popular in the 1950s-60s camp gay world, with its overtones of a classic 'Southern belle'). a.1300 Cursor Mundi 841: Merci, lauerd! Strang wickedhed Broght adam to suilk a ded [OED]. 1823 J.F. Cooper Pioneers (1827) II 60: Oh, for massy's sake! 1853 W. Sketch & 'Nelse' The Down-Trodden 67/2: O, la! a massy sakes! 1872 Schele De Verb Americanisms 617: Mercy’s sake alive, a most emphatic ejaculation, descended from the imperative summons in great danger: For Mercy's sake, be alive! Mercy is, especially with the negroes, always pronounced Mussy. 1884 (con. c. 1840) 'Mark Twain' Huckleberry Finn 360: Mercy sakes! 1896 P. L. Dunbar 'Speakin' O' Christmas' in Lyrics of Lowly Life 186: Mercy sakes! it does seem queer / Christmas day is 'most nigh here. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' John Henry 14: 'Mercy me!' says my lady friend ]...] 'what are they talking about?' 1905 'Central Connecticut WordList' in DN IILi 14: mercy sakes alive. An exclamation. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson 198: Mercy sakes, what is it? 1915 Van Loan 'On Account of a Lady' in Taking the Count 135: Mercy sakes! [...] They must have had a quarrel! 1917 'Wally' Wallgren [comic strip] Mercy I'm afraid this mud will ruin my pumps! 1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 9: When I peer into her peepers, mercy miss percy, I

mercy blow through

am sent one time, she ain't no Mary Jo, but she's on fly time. 1970 J.P. Stanley 'Homosexual SL' in AS XLV;l/2 58: mercy! excl A cry of joy, amazement, or shock; a verbal tic, used as a filler expression in camp sessions. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 46: Mercy Pronounced with exaggeration as Mwr-say. An exclamatory reply or remark.

mercy blow through phr. ifor ety. see mercy buckets phr.] (Aus.) thank you. 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss. SI. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: mercy blow through. Thank You. (From the French Merd Beaucoup).

mercy buckets phr. (also mercy buckup) [intentional malapropism of Fr. merd beaucoup, thank you very much] thank you. 1960 'Nino Culotta' Cop This Lot 80: 'Merci, messieurs,' he said.

Dennis said, 'Mercy buckup ter you too, mate,' 1979 G. Swarthout Skeletons 240: Oh my God Annie. Mercy buckets! 1983 New Society 10 Mar. 384/2: Meals begin with 'horses doovers', are accompanied by 'dray wait wane' or 'bow-jollies.' 'Thank you' is 'mercy buckets'. 1996 Eble si. and Sociability 79: Merci beaucoup 'thank you very much' [inspires] mercy buckets and mercy buttercups.

mercy buttercups phr. [for ety. see mercy buckets phr.i (US 1981 Eble Campus SI. Fall 5: merci buttercups - thanks. 1996 Eble SL

and Sociability 79: Merci beaucoup 'thank you very much' [inspires] mercy buckets and mercy buttercups.

mercy fuck n. (also mercy pussy) [SE mercy -e fuck n. (1 )/pussy n. (1)1 (US) an act of sexual intercourse engaged in out of pity; thus also V. 1978 E. Kazan Acts of Love 114: You give him one more night, what men call a mercy fuck. 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 204:1 just want you to know, it wouldn't have been a mercy fuck. It would have been the real thing. 1993 R. Shell Iced 146: I took Maggie back to my place and gave her a mercy fuck. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 88: Nothing but mercypussy for young Russell. 2001 'Mr. Kiosetic' Tommy and Shelly [Internet] The ink on Joe and Laura's divorce hadn't even dried before they were at it, even if it was for one last time. A mercy fuck, 'for old times sake,' whatever you wanted to call it.

mercy fuck v. [backform. f. MERCY FUCK n.j (US) to have sexual intercourse with someone out of pity; thus mercy-fucking n. 1968 P. Newman Playboy July n.p.: There was sport fucking. There was mercy fucking, which would be reserved for spinsters and librarians [R]. 1980 M. Gordon Company of Women 141: 'Who's this one?' she heard someone say. 'One of Robert's rescuees. He believes in mercy-fucking.' 2006 G. Nicholson Sex Collectors 217: We mercyfucked him and gave him fifteen dollars. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 152: He was mercy-wokked by Shyanne Moore after a burning session at Blackie Norton's gates.

mercy mary! excl. [mercy! excl.

-e Mary n.\ (gay) an excl. of

surprise. 1970 J.P.

Stanley 'Homosexual up

of words

SL' in AS XLV:l/2 51: A core known

by

a

majority of the

informants [...] Mary! Mercy! Mercy Mary!

mercy me! exc/. see mercy! exc/. mercy percy n, (US) an exciting performance. 1938 Pic (N.Y.) Mar. 6: mercy Percy. — hot rendition. When Prima plays a riffout or solo, he really gets hot.

mercy pussy n. see mercy fuck n. mercy sakes (alive)! excl. see mercy! excl. meri n. see Mary n. (la). Merk n. see Merc n. merk n. see merck n. merk v. 1 (US black) (also mirk) to leave. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] merk Definition:

to leave. Example: Yo, I’m about to merk. 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 1: bounce - leave [...] Also mirk. 2 (UK black) to surpass, in fig. use, to kill. 2002 50 Cent 'Wangsta' [lyrics] And you play me close, for sure

Imma pop my heat / Niggas sayin they gone merk 50 How? We ridin around wit guns the size of Lil' Bow Wow. 2004 Observer Music Monthly 9 May 40: Grime works to ritualise and contain aggression between crews through battles and clashes in which the aim is to 'merk' rival MCs on the set - kill them lyrically. 2005 DJ Cameo IXtra 11 July [BBC radio[ The hits out there absolutely merking the dance-floor. 2008 A. Wheatle Dirty South 57: There's bare shootings in this estate. I wonder who got merked this time,

merkin

which no Prick doth now belong at all. 1661 Merry Drollery in Choyce Drollery (1876) 196: He laid her on the ground, / His Spirits fell a ferking, / Her Zeal was in a sound, / He edified her Merkin. c.1674 Rochester 'Argument' in Works (1999) 83: The Crowns of Kings, were offer'd to this Shrine, / Dildoes and Merkins, of the Royal Line. 1684 Rochester (attrib.) Sodom I 1: My Prick to Bald Cunt shal no more resort: / Merkins rub off & often spoile the sport. 1707 J. Dunton Bumography 16: Her Rump and Merkin too, it's said. 1714 A, Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. 11 6: A strange Whim came into his Head, for hearing that an old fat Hostess, who was lately bang'd [...] had been delivered for an Anatomy, he procured the hairy Circle of her Merkin. 1724 Coles Eng. Diet. 1731 Beau's Misc. 63: The Buxom young Widow has lost the first Game [...] She'll [...] stand t'other Game, To pleasure again Her Merkin. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 17: Country girls with nutbrown merkins. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley Si. and Its Analogues. 2 a man who poses as the husband or lover of a lesbian who wishes to hide her real sexual preference [pun on beard n. (3c)]. Ebsworth

Online SI. Diet. [Internet) merkin n 1. a straight man married to or involved with a lesbian. The lesbian may be in the public eye and may have a merkin to hide the fact that she is a 1997-2001

lesbian.

campus') thank you.

vocabulary made

merry

1576

n. [Early Mod. E malkin, a mop, thus the false pubic hair as worn

by actors and prostitutes, now SE[ 1 the female genitals. 1656 R. Fletcher trans. Martiall his Epigrams X No. 90 95: Why dost

thou reach thy Merkin now half dust? Why dost thou provoke the ashes of thy lust? [...[ Thou err'st, if this a C--- thou dar'st to call To

mermaid n. [the mythical fish-women (based on the Creek sirens) reputed to lure sailors to their doom] 1 a prostitute. C.1591 Shakespeare Comedy of Errors III ii: O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note [...] Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs. And as a bed I'll take them and there lie. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle I i: Nature repents she made her: 'tis a mermaid Has toled my son to shipwreck. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 48: A wanton Meremayd, that does sing. To bring youths crazie backe to ruining, c.1619 Rowley All's Lost by Lust III hi: There are fowle, and there are fish, there are wag-tayles, and there are

Mermayds.

2 (N.Z.) a police officer at a weigh station [see cit.]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 134: mermaids The police at weigh stations, because they are 'cunts with scales'. ANZ.

mero chingon, el n. [Sp. si., lit. the 'biggest fucker'] 1 (US teen gang) the leader. 1988 J.D. Vigil Barrio Gangs 177: chingon Someone who is in command and controls the social situation, the top guy: good fighter. 2006 Chingo Bling [album title] El Mero Chingon. 2 (US) an exemplary or admirable person. 2003 C. Mencia CarlosMencia.com [Internet] An extra special thanks to the guy who drove all the way up from Tijuana, Mexico. I would put his name, but I didn't get his permission. You da man!! Tu eres el mero chingon!

mero mero n. [Sp. lit. 'the biggest biggest'] (US black/teen) 1 Cod. 2000 Little Worker newsletter [Internet] what? Oh my, oh my, oh

my...It is not Almighty God the one and only? Then, who is the Head Honcho, the Big Kahuna, the Mero Mero? 2002 Cypress Hill SI. Gloss. [Internet] mero mero-. god, the greatest, the biggest.

2 a gang leader; thus ext. to any important/admirable person. 2001 mercury.beseen.com 3 Dec. [Internet] Que Rollo!!! Keep up the

good work you guys are the Mero Mero's de la Musica Norteno You need to come and play in Las Cruces one of these Days show everyone here what a bad ass concert you guys give !!!!! 2002 Nat. Alliance of Gang Investigators [Internet] This leader appoints a second in command and issues orders to the soldiers. The leader is called 'Mero Mero,' which means Chief or Godfather.

merry n. see mary jane n.^. merry ad), used in many expressions, e.g. merry hell, as an elaboration. 1814 J. Wetherell Adventures of John Wetherell (1954) 5 Apr. 254: My

messmates were all quite merry over a game at cards. 1842 W.H. Maxwell Rambling Recollections of a Soldier of Fortune 8: You had a 'right merrie' comrade over night. 1879 in W.A. Graham Custer Myth (1953) 325: Whittaker had a recent letter in the N.Y. Sun, in which [...] Gen, S and myself catch, well. Merry H. 1902 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 6: We want no ten-up-and-eight-toplay lads; no two-to-de green boys giving us de merry 'ha-ha,' and parting us from our silverware. 1907 C. M'Govern By Bolo and Krag 196: And where the merry hell have you been for the last six months? 1918 A.C. Huber Diary of a Doughboy 22 Sept. [Internet] 'Old Fritz' is in for a merry time, and shortly too. 1925 D. Hammett 'The Gutting of Couffignal' Story Omnibus (1966) 11: Where's everybody — all the merry villagers? 1927 (con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 16: If they tell me they didn't know about this, you'll get merry Hail Columbia for not telling 'em. 1958 A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 31: Brenda and me'll play merry hell in all the beds and nooks we can find. 1964 P. Terson Night to Make the Angels Weep (1967) I iii: She'll be givin' them merry hell, that one will. 1976 J. Hanley Dream Journey 223: What the stinking merry

merry and bright

mersh

1577

hell. 1995 H. Giles Little Better Than Plumb 226: I vowed I [...] raised merry hell with everybody connected with the business. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

merry-arsed Christian (n.) \merry-arsed, cheerful + joc. reversal of Christian n.'] a prostitute. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1841 'Jack Sheppard & the Carpenter's Daughter' in Gentleman's Spicey Songster 10: The Carpenter's Daughter was gay and free, / And a very merry a--s'd Christian was she. merry-begotten (n.) (also merry-begot) [i.e. conceived when the parents were merry] a bastard. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1797 M. Leeson Memoirs (1995) III 162: Elinor West was a merry begotten, of R-- A-- of Capel-street, who when nine years old bound her to a ribbon-weaver. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1893 H. Caine Bondman 45: Maybe you think it wise to bring up your daughter with the merry-begot of any ragabash that comes prowling along, merry bit (n.) see under bit n.\ merry bout (n.) (also bout) sexual intercourse. 1685-8 'Debauchery Scared' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) 1161: Bumpkin was arch, as he homeward did come, / he gave her a bout by the way, sir. 1780 Newgate Calendar V 314: Being asked [... ] if she thought it proper for a woman of decency to ask another 'how she did after this merry-bout', and 'whether she thought a rape was a merry-bout' [OED]. 1904 Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 36: She took off her clothes while he disrobed and then she said, 'we took a bout on the carpet'. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 192: To melt is the same as to meld, to have a merry bout, to sleep with, swive with, copulate with, merry-go-down (n.) a variety of strong ale. C.1530 Hoow Gossip Mine in Neuenglische Lezehuch (1895) 154:1 know a draught of merry-go-down. The best it is in all the town [F&H]. 1599 Nashe Praise of the Red Herring Epist. Ded.: Present mee with the best mornings draught of merry-go-downe in your quarters. 1637 J. Taylor Drinke and Welcome 10: It [ale] is called Merry-go-downe, for it slides down merrily. 1661 Antidote Against Melancholy in Ebsworth Choyce Drollery (1876) 114: The Merry-go-down without pull or hale, / Perfuming the throat, when the stomack 'afloat, merry-go-round see separate entries, merry-go-up (n.) [? its effects after 'going up' the nose] snuff. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London II 90: Always something short, but pungent, like a pinch of merry-go-up* — satire and sentiment — mirth, morality and good humour. [* Merry-go-up — Snuff], merry grig (n.) a close companion. 1566 T. Drant (trans.) 'The Thyrd Satyre' Horace his Satyres Bk I Bii: A merry grigge, a iocande frende for euery sillye misse. 1611 R. Cotgrave Diet, of Fr. and Eng. Tongues n.p.: Gale-bon-temps. A merry grig. 1641 R. Brome Jovial Crew II.ii: Let us hear and see something of your merry grigs, that can sing, play gambols, and do feats. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue III 643: 'Nay, now,' said Mall, 'my little merry Grig, here's to the mistress of thy affections,' speaking to me, and drinking heartily. 1673 Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-Master I i: Hah, ah, ah, cousin, dou art a merry grigg - ma foy. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Pantagruelian Prognostications (1927) II 692: Those who belong to Sol, as topers [...] cupshotten swillers, merry grigs, with crimson snouts. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: A merry Grig, a merry Fellow. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: grig [...] a merry grig, a merry fellow; as merry as a grig, allusions to the apparent liveliness of a grig, or young eel. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1830 J.B. Buckstone Wreck Ashore II i: You were then but a merry little grig. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Duncombe New artd Improved Flash Diet. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

merry legs (n.) see merry bit under bit n.^. merry-maker (n.) (also merry-man) the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 26: Badinage d'amour, m. 2. The pent- 'the merry-maker'.

merry-merry (n.) [the cheeriness of the girls or the songl 1 (US) a chorus line; also attrib. 1902 Ade Forty Modern Fables 65: He opens Cold Magnums for the Merry-Merry almost every Midnight, and he is having Diamonds set into the Teeth of Nine of the Peroxide Sisters. 1905 F. Deshon [bk title] Chorus Girls 1 Have Known: Forty Types of the Merry, Merry. 1908 K. McGapfey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. i: There is more than one of the merry-merry putting her little sister through school and don't you forget it for a minute. 1908 W. Browne Everywoman acting version 38: Young and gay, bald and gray, / Not a man but does adore us: / Pays his toll, sells his soul, / For the merry, merry chorus.

1911 C.B. Davis Tales of the Town 118: In five years the girls I'm working with now will be still in the merry-merry, but there'll be one new electric sign on Broadway. 1927 W.A. Page Behind the Curtains of the Broadway Beauty Trust 181: It is rather to the credit of those who have succeeded in being featured artists that once upon a time they were in the merry-merry.

2 a song. 1911 Louis Chevalier 'Getting into Society' Variety Stage Eng. Plays [Internet] So that's why we chirp the merry-merry!

merry-thought (n.) a turkey. 1788 J. O'Keeffe Prisoner at Large 26: The old likes a bit o' the merry¬ thought [turkey]. merry widow (n.) see separate entries,

merry and bright n. (rhy. sl.l a light, usu. in pi. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit. 2002 M. Coles More Bible in Cockney 77: There was suddenly this real dazzling merry-and-bright that flashed in the apple pie.

merrybones n. see marrowbones n. merry-go-round n.'' [rhy. si.] £1 sterling. 1972 Dodson & Rabbit.

Saczek

Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 1992

R. Puxley

Cockney

merry-go-round n.^ [US racetracks are oval] (US) 1 a racetrack. 1903 Ade People You Know 110: He might be out at the Merry-GoRound. 1919 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 56: We'll invite Charlie — He won a chunk at the merry-go-round today. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 2 a roulette wheel. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

merry-go-round n? [var. on

runaround n. (3)] 1 (orig. US) an evasion. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 2 (US black) one who is attempting to deceive or swindle another person. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

merry-go-round v. (US Und.) of a prisoner, to clear all administrative and bureaucratic procedures before being dis¬ charged from prison at the end of a sentence. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 8: Merry-Go-Round Before an inmate can leave a prison he must clear all the various agencies within the institution, such as the library and recreation department. This is to insure the inmate is not in possession' of any items from these agencies,

merryheart n. [rhy. si.] a sweetheart. 1998-2002 G.D. Smith Cockney Rhy. SI. [Internet] Merryheart: Tart (sweetheart).

Merry Mac n. (rhy. si.; ult. Merry Mac's Fun Parade, title of the comic section in the Sunday Post (publ. in Dundee) in 1960s-70s] (Scot, drugs) crack cocaine. 1995 1. Rankin Let It Bleed 213: 'How long have you been on the Bob Hope, Kirstie?' 'You mean the Merry?' [...] 'Merry Mac, crack,' he explained.

Merry-macka n. [lit. 'merry but thorny'; also mispron.] (W.l.) America. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 33: Merry-macka dancehall slang for America, transliterated it means 'merry but thorny'.

merry old soul n. [rhy. sl.l 1 coal. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

2 a hole. 1969

S.T. Kendall

3 the anus [= 2003 B.

Dark

hole

Up the Prog. 1992

R. Puxley

Cockney Rabbit.

n} (1)].

Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

merry widow n.^ [Fr. veuve, widow -F pun on The Merry Widow (1906), light opera by Franz Lehar] Veuve Cliquot champagne, 1967 B. Crump Odd Spot of Bother 125: He swung a panicky leg out of the bed and knocked over a nearly full bottle of Merry Widow,

merry widow

[a popular brand of condoms] (US) a condom. 1929 E, Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 263: He took to carrying merrywidows in his vestpocket. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 454: Mickey Flannagan slept in the corner [...] Barney Keefe folded his hands, and placed a soggy Merry Widow in them. 1935 J. Conroy World to Win 194: Three for a quarter, and genuine Merry Widows. Won't rip, ravel, tear or run down at the heels. 1992 (con. 1920s) F.M. Davis Livin' the Blues 37: To avoid 'blue balls,' a dose, or sores with a strange broad you used either a Fish Skin or a thin rubber called a Merry Widow,

merry wonder n. see mary warner n. mersh n. [clipping] (UK drugs) unexceptional, average cannabis, lit. 'commercial'. 2006 personal communication. 2008 A. Wheatie Dirty South 19: He had a ready supply of skunk, mersh and high grade weed.

mershugga

mess

1578

mershugga adj. see meshuca adj. Merv/Mervin n. see melvin n. Meryl Streep n. [rhy. si.; ult. us film actress Me/yf Streep (b.1949)] sleep. 1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit.

merzer n. [abbr. immerser] {Aus. prison) a

homemade piece of

equipment for boiling water. 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss.

[Internet] Merzer.

Home-made apparatus for boiling waters,

merzky adj. [? echoic of a 'myeugh' snort of disgust or Fr. rnerde + 'Slavic' sfx -ski] (US teen) dirty or nasty. 1993-2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] merzky 'Murz-kee' Filthy. Here's your merzky money, pimp.

mesc n. (also meze) [abbr.l (orig. US drugs) mescaline. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 Harper's Mag. Sept.

63: [He] is off everything at the moment — pot, hash, speed, acid, STP, mesc, psyl, coke, scag — because 'It's all a bummer, man; I got my head together'. 1981 S. King Roadwork in Bachman Books (1995) 476: 'You're probably peaking now. Is it very visual mesc?' 'Yes. A little too visual.' 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 36: The most frequent pattern of clipping is the loss of sounds from the ends of words: [...] mesc, from mescaline. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mesc [...] Meze — Mescaline.

mescal n. [abbr., note Mex. mescal, a drink made from the fermented juice of the agave plant] (drugs) mesca/ine.

business man and his rating is O. K. But he's eppis a little meshuga. 1936 San Quentin Bulletin in L.A. Times 6 May 7: MESHUGA, crazy, 1941 A, Kober My Dear Bella 216: Because I'm meshugeh, that's why! 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 343: He [...] shouted after me in Yiddish, 'Meshuggeneh merder.' 1959 B. Kops Hamlet of Stepney Green II ii: I don't like saying this, Bessie, but your boy is meshuga. 1961 J. Kirkwood There Must Be a Pony! 238: I also told myelf I was - in Jay's language - 'Mishoogena!' [sic]. 1963 A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 17: Now this is mad. It is stone bonkers meshuggah. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 70: You never did anything meshuga before. 1968 Kerouac letter 4 June in Charters II (1999) 452: I may be mashuganish but I'm still not yet a schmuck. 1977 P.-D. Uys Paradise is Closing Down in Gray Theatre One (1978) 152: Here I am. Molly Mashuga with as her best friends, a Boer and a Shiksa. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 221: I even chased Davey away when those meshugeneh brothers came calling! 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 248: Meshuga wig! He reached up to snatch it off. 1999 T. Parker South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut (film script] The woild is such a rotten place / And city life's a complete disgrace / That's why I moved to this redneck, meshuggenah, quiet mountain town. 2000 M. Amis Experience 235: I should remind myself of the ordinary misery of the the thing, the meshugga ill luck of it. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 113: Mein Gott, are ya meshugenah? Lookatcha, no fuckin' front teeth. 2005 Mad mag. Apr. 31: You'll hav to excuse my wife. Razz, she's a little

mushuggeneh.

1959 Kerouac letter 6 Oct. in Charters II (1999) 219: Okay for

Mesopotamia n. [SE Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers Tigris

mescal, be in soon. 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 139: I'll get you some mescal and maybe that'll warm up your pipes. 1974 P. Gent North Dallas Forty 221: Did I really eat the worm at the bottom of that bottle of mescal? 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mescal — Mescaline.

and Euphrates, lit. 'between the rivers': although, much earlier, the Westbourne River once meandered through Belgravia, thus rendering the area 'between' that and the Thames, the implication is less geographical than racist; the Belgravia area was seen as the home of newly rich lews. Oxford University jargon use is geographical, referring to that area of Oxford between the rivers Cherwell and Isis] Belgravia.

meschugenah/meschugener n. meschugge adj. see meshuca adj. meserole n. see mezzroll n. mesh adj. (W.l.) well-dressed.

see meshuca n.

1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehal! Diet. 34: Mesh [...] 2. welldressed.

meshuga n. (also meschugenah, meschugener, meshigner, meshugana, meshugener, meshuggina, meshugineh, mischigunah, mishuga, mishugenah, mishugeneh) [meshuca adj.] a crazy person, an obsessive, an eccentric. 1900 Atlantic Monthly LXXXVI

108/2: 'Meschugener,' leered the banker [OED]. 1941 A. Kobbr My Dear Bella 78: I know where she is, that meshugineh! 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 216: Pat heard Firesten calling. 'You mischigunahs! Get back!' 1961 T.I. Rubin In the Life 12: Ape, you know: for the nut wagon, psycho, mishuga. 1964 J. Chajryn Once upon a Droshky 107: He runs like a meshuggina towards Delancey Street. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 150: 'Meshuga,' Doc Freeman muttered. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 52: You like to tell me that story, you meschugenah. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 37: Sid grimaced in pain. 'No, mishugenah, the country for Chrissake! Lichtenstein'. 1975 A. Goldman Lenny Bruce 23: Is he crazy, this meshugana? 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 158: You got the kid's meshugana or whatever. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 294: You want to take the word of a shiksa, a prosecution witness and a certified meshuga, against mine. 1996 H. Roth From Bondage 391: Mishugeneh crazy: a crazy person. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 2 Apr. 1: Big up to the meshugener massive. 2002 JuHA 'Polari' [lyrics] on Polari [album] Beach in the screech. Alamo jo! / This dizzy hoofer gonna dowry jeebo. / Varda me fatcha, meshigner bona. / Savvy you gettin fericadooza.

meshuga adj. (also mashuga, mashuganish, mashuggah, mershugga, meschugge, meshugeh, meshugenah, meshugeneh, meshugga(h), meshugge(nah), meshuggeneh, mushuggeneh) [Yid. mushuge, crazy, ult. f. Heb. shagag, to wander, to go astray] crazy, insane, eccentric. 1881 Jewish Chronicle (London) 12 Aug. 10/2: This dialect generally

known by the name of Judisch-Deutsch [...] furnishes a clue to several entirely non-German expressions and phrases that are currently used in South Germany.such as uzen (to banter), meschugge (crazy), schote (fool), schlimmassel (ill-luck), schlemihl (an awkward person), &c. 1892 I, Zangwill Children of the Ghetto 156: She's meshuggah — quite mad! 1899 A. Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 26: D'ye mean to say as you 'ad no buyers [...] What's come to 'em — mershugga? 1901 M. Wolfenstein Idyls of the Gass (1969) 21: What nonsense, the way she makes herself me.shugge (crazy) with that Yungel (little lad)! 1922 Joyce Ulysses 152: His loose jaw wagging as he spoke earnestly. Meshuggah. Off his chump. 1925 Mencken letter 7 Nov. in Riggio Dreiser-Mencken Letters II (1986) 543: Tom Smith is mashuggah. 1927 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana I 47: He's a

1864 E. Yates Broken to Harness (1873) xv 143: A house in Great

Adullam Street, Macpelah Square, in that distria of London whilom [sic] known as Mesopotamia [F&H]. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 225: Mesopotamia a name given to Eaton Square and neighbourhood when first built. This part was also called Cubitopolis. — Fashionable slang.

mess n.^ [SE mess, a sufficient quantity to make a dish] (US) a large quantity. 1600 Dekker Shoemakers' Holiday IV v: I know now a messe of

shoemakers meate at the woolsack in Ivie lane, to cozen my gentleman of lame Rafes wife. 1809 T. Batchelor Orthoepical Anal. Eng. Lang. 138: What a mes [sic] there is [OED]. 1823 J.F, Cooper Pioneers (1827) II 252: I'll give you a mess of fish that is fit to place before the Governor. 1833 C.A. Davis Letters of Major J. Downing (1835) 77: I never sich a mess of fellers as they have here. 1848 J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers (1880) 93: Git up all sound, be put to bed a mes o' hacks an' smashes. C.1850 F.M. Whitcher Widow Bedott Papers (1883) 8: A mess o' men in a double team [...] hysted us out. 1862 'Artemus Ward' Artemus Ward, His Book 32: If I should sow 'em on the rock of Gibralter probly I should raise a good mess of garding sass. 1888 M.D. Woodward Checkered Years (1937) 19 Aug. 240: We had just one mess of cucumbers and no corn or beans, c.1895 'O. Henry' 'Aristocracy Versus Hash' in Rolling Stones (1913) 201: Who can gel up a mess of hot cornbread and Irish stew at regular market quotations. 1900 Boy's Own Paper 1 Dec. 133: The whole mess of rice and bread and goat's flesh was piled together on a tray. 1905 G.W. Peck Peck's Bad Boy Abroad 23: He had always taken a mess of pills. 1917 Van Loan 'Playing Even with Obadiah' in Old Man Curry 66: Looks like a weight pad to me [...] with quite a mess of lead in it. 1929 J. Sale Tree Named John 34: In mos' no time he wuz back at de kang's house wid a big mess uv peas. 1935 Peters & Sklar Stevedore I hi: You git funny wid Walcott, and you find yourself head down in a mess of trouble. 1942 W. Pegler George Spelvin Chats 95: Skin up your skirt to show a mess of leg. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 253: 1 just been a-honin ' for a good mess of fried catfish. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 187: He had a whole mess a bills tu pay. 1977 Rolling Stone 22 Sept. 28: Just head out Route 190 and look for a mess of cars on the left-hand side. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 19: She handed Linda a mess of change. 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 154: That woman's spilled a mess of blood. A whole mess of blood.

mess n.^ 1 excrement, usu. canine or feline; thus

make a mess, to

excrete on a carpet, floor or similar unsuitable place. 1905 J. Wright EDD IV 95/2: Mess ]..,] Ordure, the quantity of dung

excreted at one time. 1928 Kipling 'The Woman in His Life' Limits and Renewals (1932) 50: It's [i.e, a dog] made a mess in the corner. 1950 A.B. Guthrie Way West 48: God yes, shoot the dogs. They weren't no real good to nobody. Just made more mess to step in. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 279: The dog

mess

has made a mess on the carpel. 1966 (con. 1954) J. McGrath Events While Guarding the Bofors Gun II ii; Youre just making a mess in your trousers in case they find out about you. 1968 J. Hersey Algiers Motel Incident 369: My car [...] had bird mess and all types of stuff all over it. 1983 S. Gee Never in My Lifetime in Best Radio Plays (1984) 60: Dotting about in front gardens in the lupins and the dog mess. 1999 Guardian Weekend 18 Sept. 76: Sue trod some dog's mess into the studio. 2001 A. Bennett diary in Untold Stories (2006) 298: It's a dog owner whose social responsibility stretches to picking up the mess but not to putting it in their own bin. 2 {US milit./prison) food. 1754 E. Burt Letters from Scotland I 130: I was speaking of Provisions

in this Town [...] There are two or three People, not far from the Town, who, having an Eye to our Mess, employ themselves now and then to fattening Fowls, and sometimes a Turkey, a Lamb etc. 1865 MOULTON letter in Drickamer Fort Lyon to Harper's Ferry (1987) 237: I think I am about as well off here with the 'mess,' pork for breakfast with pork and beans for dinner and cold beans for supper. 1917 A.C. Huber Diary of a Doughboy [Internet] We reached Alton, Oklahoma at dusk and were eating 'mess' as we stopped there for a few moments. 1926 .1. Tully Jarnegan (1928) 31: The food was known as 'mess'. 3 [US black) nonsense, rubbish. 1921 Z.N. Hurston John Redding Goes to Sea (1995) 927: Ain't Ah done toT you forty times not tuh tahk dat lowlife mess in front of mah boy? 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 141: Aw, you tryin' to bully de game, but if you ain't prepared to back yo' crap wid hot lead, don't bring de mess up. [Ibid.] 77: Oh lemme spread my mess. Dis is Will Richardson doin' dis lyin'. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 97: 1 couldn't dig this mess, but I kept my mouth shut. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 126: He [...] takes no jive, no mess. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 23: Ah hope to God you don't try that mess in public, cuz that's a good way to git yourself bitchslapped, son. 4 (orig. US) an objectionable, ineffectual or stupid person. 1928 M. West Pleasure Man (1997) II ii: 1 just laid him out stinkin', the shopworn mess. 1954 (con. 1920s-30s) J.O. Killens Youngblood (1956) 414: Old Youngblood's a mess [...] Trying to make time with the lady already. 1965 K. Marlowe Mr Madam (1967) 260: He was a mess'. Just some nellie old ribbon counter clerk. 1979 B. Gutcheon New Girls (1982) 168: That mess doesn't have any nerves. She's so crazy to be in on everything, she says 'yes' no matter what you ask her. 1982 P. Theroux London Embassy 208: I used to be a mess. 5 {US black) something good or praiseworthy, if slightly confusing or disturbing |SE mess, a state of confusion or muddle). 1936 Lil Hardin Armstrong 'It's Murder' [lyrics] Now, all you gals, come gather 'round, stop ravin' about your men! / And let me tell you how sweet mine is, though he's a mess of sin. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 258: mess (n.): something good. Ex., 'That last drink was a mess.' 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 105: You see I'm out West, knocking my mess, busting my vest on the simple chicks and wealthy hicks. 1972 D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 162: This here's some kind of mess, baby.

6 {US black) unspecified 'stuff in general. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 65: Well, the head chick pulls a Rudolph Hess, and hikes for some mess. 1956 R. Ellison 'A Coupla Scalped Indians' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 268: We gotta stop cussing and playing the dozens if we're going to be boy scouts. Those white boys don't play that mess. 1971 (con. 1960s) D. Wells Night People 95: Children a couple of years old can talk more mess than I would have dreamed of when I was ten. Talk about being down! 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 221: My cousin is one of them Moozlums [...] My susta's oldest boy is into that mess. 2001

Source Aug. 129: Man, that mess was fast!

7 semen. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 30: mess (n.): Ejaculated semen which has been discharged by accident during heavy love play and messes up one's clothing and/or body. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: mess n. Semen; gunk: cock hockle. See also lose your

mess.

8 {US campus) male or female genitalia. 1987 Eble Campus SI. Spring.

9 {Irish) foolish behaviour, fun. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 578: They were really excited and they ran around the corner to Mulligans, pushing each other for the mess. 1997 C. McPherson The Weir 23: Don't be acting the mess,

mess n.^ [abbr.] {US black/drugs) mescaline. 1972 D.

Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 72: mess «.

V.

1

bad, don't mess with me.

2 (US) to fight. (ref. to a.l910) D. Maurer 'Lingo of Good-People' AS X:1 18/1: To Mess. To fight. 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 117: If squaring up to a rival team the boys shouted almost hysterically: 'Dae youse want tae mess?' 2001 1. Welsh Glue 75:

1935

Pagger any radge that messes, wee man.

3 to have sexual intercourse, esp. adulterously; thus messing n. 1987 (con. 1930s) L. Redmond Emerald Square 132: The line was drawn at 'messin' with little kids. Incest was so dreadful a crime, that not one of them had ever come close to a case of it before. 1999 Observer Mag. 13 June 34: 'Messing', in East Texas, is the term for

fucking.

4 (US) to defecate. I Can Get It For You Wholesale 42: They want to mess in the street, like horses. 1974 (con. late 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 686: 'I just messed all over myself,' he confessed. 1980 A. Fugard Tsotsi 139: Boston stank as bad as a backyard. He had also messed in his trousers. 1998 B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 131: Dog came up here this morning. Messed itself. [...] 1938 J. Weidman

Under the bed.

5 (US) to gossip maliciously. & Christian Death Row 113: Men is worse than old ladies. I used to think ladies gossip. The men, they start messing, messing, messing. They become unreal [...] that's all they got to do is down each other talking, start messing, everything. 1980 Jackson

6 to tease, to joke. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 12: Ah, cop on, said Jimmy. - I was only messin'. 1997 C. McPherson The Weir 18: Don't be messing. Come on. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 131: Christ am only fuckin mesin, Jesus, keep yer fuckin wig on. 7 to masturbate. 1996 R. Doyle Woman Who Walked Into Doors 80: I used to mess with myself thinking about him [...] I could come in thirty seconds, no problem, thinking about him. 8 see MESS about v. ■ In phrases mess over (v.) (US black) to harm, to mistreat, to annoy. 1964 P. Marshall 'Some Get Wasted' in Clarke Harlem, USA (1971) 349: Them Crowns been messing all over us. Pulling sneaks on our turf. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 176: They really messed over Gordon. They made him eat a shit sandwich [...] and they started fucking him. 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: mess over v. to interfere with the freedom or activity of another,

mess! exd.

[mess n.^ (1)1 a euph. excl. for shit! excl.

1923 J. Manchon

Le Slang.

mess about v. {also mess, mess around, mess round) 1 to handle roughly, to mistreat, to swindle, to deceive. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Oct. 35/2:1 reckon Bogan had thirty or forty pairs of eyes watching out for him in case he'd run against something or fall. It irritated him to be messed round too much; he said a baby would never learn to walk if it was held all the time. 1917 'Sapper' No Man's Land 298: The men despise vacillation and chopping and changing. Being 'messed about,' they call it, only the word is not messed. 1921 D.L. Sayers Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1977) 129:1 quite see that you can't mess about with the Home Office. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 198: Looky here, boss, we ain't going to mess you around none or tear down the joint, but just give us back our passes. 1958 R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 111: If he messed around long enough, he could get us all killed. 1960 H. Pinter Caretaker Act III: Well, nobody messes me about for long. 1965 E. Bond Saved Scene viii: I ain' goin' a be messed around over this! 1976 P. Theroux Family Arsenal 65: These rich people - they're messing the other ones about, and like the other ones don't have anything. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: mess around To engage in illegal activity [...] 'No way, man, I don't mess around.' 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 48: When Masterrap missed an appointment with his girlfriend he came back to the apartment and said he wanted a 'hit' because the girl was 'messing him around'. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 6: You know them up Chingford George. Mess you around. 1999 Guardian G2 8 Oct. 18: No one messes 'im and me abaht. Tomorrow night we'll 'ave a word and they'll be sorted. 2000 T. Blacker Kill Your Darlings 219: Don't mess me about now, Greg. 2000 Guardian Guide 1—6 Jan. 44: You have to ring round for them and then wait all night for people to mess you around. adulterously.

to interfere, to disturb Ibackform. f. mess with v.].

1873 SI. Diet. (5th edn) 225: Mess, to interfere unduly. Costermongers

refer to police supervision as 'messing'. 1972 D.

Jargon in White America 72: mess v. to bother; harass; interfere with either physically or verbally. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 21: I'm

2 to indulge in varying degrees of sexual intimacy, usu.

mescaline.

mess

mess about

1579

Claerbaut

Black

1896

Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 32: Batifoler. To 'mess R. Whiteing No. 5 John Street 218: If I ever ketch yer

Farmer

about'.

1899

message

messenger

1580

messin' abaht wi' any o' them. I'll sling 'im one in the eye. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 88; Come to that, what you want to go messin' about wi' the gel at all for? 1923 Alberta Hunter 'Aggravatin' Papa' [lyrics] Listen while I get you told, / Stop messin' round with my jellyroll. 1937 R. Westerby Wide Boys Never Work (1938) 158: I haven't been messing around with your missus. 1937 J. Curtis There Ain't No Justice 114-5; How you come to let a bastard like him mess you about beats me. 1947 C. Willingham End as a Man (1952) 146: I'm not so hard up I have to mess around with a hare-lipped hag. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 85: Tell her not to come crying around here when she gets all bigged from messing around with you. 1963 C. Wood 'Prisoner and Escort' in Cockade (1965) I iii; But I wasn't on the game properly - never took money ... I just messed about. 1974 D. Mamet Sexual Perversity in Chicago (1994) 76: You mean like 'messing' around with other boys? 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 266: If you mess around with her and bollix things up for the rest of us [...] I'll give you more than a flash. 1997 G. Sikes 8 Ball Chicks (1998) 1 59: He messed behind my back when I was pregnant. I got a disease. Chlamydia. 2000 C. Cook Robbers (2001) 16; Back in the old days, your old lady mess around you could shoot her, no questions asked. Crime of passion.

3 to waste time, to fool around, to wander off the subject, to distract someone's attention; thus messing n. [epitomized in Kenneth Williams's (1926-88) catchphrase Stop messing about! used in various Kenneth Horne BBC radio comedy shows and in the UK Cany On... films (1950s-80s)|. 1896 E. Pugh Man of Straw 13; 'Put it down. Mister Ike,' she said. 'Don't mess about.' He laughed in her face, extended his arm, and dropped the water-bottle on the floor. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 July AT 12: You put on as much dog as a bloomin' king! Wot's 'appened to yer moter-car that you're messin' round in my cab? 1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS VII;5 334: me.ss around — to 'kill time'; to interfere; to meddle. 1949 Wodehouse Mating Season 13: Messing about in the parish and getting up village concerts. 1956 R. Ellison 'A Coupla Scalped Indians' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 271: What you doing messing 'round in my yard? 1963 Dundes & SCHONHORN 'Kansas University SI.; A New Generation' in AS XXXVIII:3 170: Wasting time: messing around. 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: mess around v. to engage in a great deal of purposeless activity. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 108; Short legs were shortcuts . . . Yeah. They didn't mess about. Short legs were shortcuts to the biz. 1993 R. Doyle Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha 8; If a teacher caught five fellas smoking or doing serious messing he got a bonus in his wages. 4 {US black) to dance. 1928 Pine Top Smith 'Pine Top's Boogie Woogie' [lyrics] When I say git it, want you all to mess around. 1935 Cleo Brown 'Pinelop's Boogie Woogie' [lyrics] When I tell you to hold it this time, I don't want you to move a peg. / And when I tell you to get it, I want you to mess around!

5 to be involved with. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 67: Barber's just givin' him kid stuff t' do to keep him from messin' around the big stuff.

6 to spend time with, to socialize. 1968 J. Hbrsey Algiers Motel Incident 87: I used to mess around with

Herbert [...] then we sort of drifted apart, and 1 got to be friends with Fred. 7 to assault sexually. 1975 Sepe & Telano Cop Team Ti: My sister [...] was messed around

with by some dirty beast. ■ In phrases

no messing (about) a general intensifier, without a doubt, absolutely, certainly; often as and no messing about. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 32: You can lose half a streatch

remishion and no messing about. 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: Are you looking for trouble, bamforth? Because if you are, you can have it, and no messing. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 11: 'Bleeding animals,' Abrey growled, 'I'd chase 'em back up their bloody banana trees, no messing.' 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 95: And there's no messin' at all; they don't want to know who he is [...] so there's no argy-bargy. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 19/2: since ca. 1930. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 178: Bang you up straight off no messing. 1997 Daily Dispatch (S. Afr.) [Internet] Indeed, for Border it is a case of getting the job done today, and no messing about. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 9: If there's one cunt at Buckley who wants to fucken know we're off this fucken train. No messing about. 2001 Hansard (UK) 1 May col. 732: Mr. Wilson. We condemn anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia, from whatever source they come--full stop, no fancy words and no messing about. 2002 iVillage.co.uk [Internet] With short-cropped mousy hair, studious glasses and little or no make-up, Furse gives off a strictly business and 'no messing about'

message. 2003 N.

Griffiths

Stump 9: — Caught a fuckin pike once.

Yowge fuckin thing it was [...] No messin. message n. {UK Und.) instructions passed on among criminals. 1989 (con. 1950s-60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 195: message the

euphemism for instructions given by one criminal to another suggesting that a third party be wounded or even killed, as in 'give Johnny the message'. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

get the message (v.) {also get the memo) [orig. jazz use, but now general] to appreciate, to understand. 1965 A. James America's Homosexual Underground 71: He [...] looked down at the bulge in his pants. I got the message. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 263: Claude got the message and peddle his ass elsewhere. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 69: I stood there clocking it, wanting her to get the message, 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 75: But Dugan didn't get the message. 2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 3: get the memo - do the acceptable thing, Commenting on a student talking in class after the teacher had asked students to stop: Apparently Glenn didn't get the memo.

mess-around n. {W.l.) a cake made of flour that must be stirred for a long time. 1943 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

messed (up) adj. 1 ruined in any sense, physically, emotionally or mentally. 1919 G.B. Shaw Heartbreak House II 85:1 get my whole life messed up with people falling in love with me. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 156: Now, I'm all messed up about this sex business. 1935 Helena (MT) Indep. 27 Oct. 9/1-2: G-Man's sweetheart. Brother a notorious gang leader [...] Gets all messed up in G-men, desperadoes, iron knuckles and machine guns. 1953 W.P. McGivern Big Heat 141: He told you I'm messed up for good, didn't he? 1960 Mad mag. June 48: This messed-up, longhaired, queer old beatnik crow. 1969 F. Norman Norman's London 246: It is really quite a time since I lunched with anyone who wasn't messed up in some way. 1973 in C. Browne Body Shop 102: I've seen guys in the hospital [...] and they're really messed up in the head. Some of them them give up. 1984 (con. 1964-73) W. Terry Bloods (1985) 5: My leg is really messed up. I'm hoppin'. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 27; Faces were all messed, hard to recognise anyone but no one I knew. 1999 Guardian Guide 18-24 Sept. 20: With Robert De Niro as a messed-up mafioso and Billy Crystal the shrink who treats him. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 52: And those kids'll be messed up for life. 2 {orig. US) extremely intoxicated by a drug or drink; one of a number of terms that equate extreme drunkenness with suffering violence. Many of such terms can also apply to the effects of drugs. 1952 'Hal Ellson' Golden Spike 175: You're messed up in more ways than one [...] Keep it up and you're going to goof yourself out of existence. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 114: They'd snort half a cap [...] save half a cap for some other time. You could stay messed up all day long. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 325: His head's so messed up with all the stuff he's done, everything in the drugstore, that he couldn't get past the physical. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 176: Messed up, fucked up, or gone refer to destruction at the hands of others or self-destruction through excessive use of drugs or marijuana. 1993 P. Munro U.C.L.A. SI. II 58: My roommate was so messed last night, she couldn't remember what room we live in [HDAS]. 1994 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6: messed up - very drunk or very high on drugs. 2000 M. Collins Keepers of Truth 159: He got so messed up on the drugs, it was like meeting Satan in a business suit in the dark of your worst dreams. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 249: Wanting a drink, too messed up to be able to go get one. 3 injured. 1972 T. O'Brien If I Die in a Combat Zone (1980) 14: Someone had to get messed up during all that [i.e. gunfire].

4 {US black) troubled, suffering bad luck, wrong, unfair. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: messed up Used to indicate that something is righteously wrong. 'Scooter got taken off, man, that's messed up.' 1994 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6; messed up [...] unfair, wrong, absurd: 'That test was messed up! Was any of that stuff in your notes?' 1999 J. Ridley Everybody Smokes in Hell 6: Why are you getting messed up with this guy? 5 {US black) irrational. 1991 L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 90: I love my brother [...] but to tell the truth, that's a messed-up attitude,

messen n. [Scot, messen, a small dog; thus synon. with SE cur] {Ulster) a contemptible person. 1997 Share Slanguage.

messenger n. jit passes the cheat a 'message'! (N.Z.) a false die, used by a cheat.

messer 1880 Eve.

Post (Wellington)

15 Apr. 2; Other implements of

gambling. Among them was a false die or, in the 'speelers' slang, a 'messenger.' [DNZE].

messer n. [mess about v.l 1 one who 'makes a mess', a bungler. 1900 Marvel XIV:344 June 6: A wooden-'eaded messer. 1903 A.

Pitcher in Paradise 184; I'd rather drop a few thousands to Bob Sinclair than I'd get it off of some of the [...] messers that passes for workmen nowadays. 1919 Wodehouse Damsel in Distress (1961) 211: Of all the worthless, idle little messers it's ever been my misforrune to have dealings with, you are the champion. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 571: I don't know what you two messers are up to — 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 65: In this end of town it's all young babes with tit-jobs, messers, chancers and hustlers. Binstead

2 an 'amateur prostitute', one who while not actively swapping sex for cash, will take 'presents' from her admirers. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular 159; messer (fr pros si) a girl who is new to prostitution; an unskilled whore. Syn: amateur. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 734: from ca. 1916.

3 (US Und.) a professional thug. 1935 (ref. to a. 1910) D. Maurer 'Lingo of Good-People' AS X:1 18/1: MESSER,

mess with

1581

a strong-arm man; a professional bully; a bouncer.

4 {Irish) an extremely incapable or irresponsible person. 1973 H. Leonard Da (1981) Act I: Messer! 1987 V. Caprani Vulgar

Verse and Variations n.p.: Such 'messers' and insufferable triflers were the curse of any decent pub [BS]. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1998) 377; Anyone - not messers now, or drug pushers or annyone like tha' - annyone tha' behaves themselves an' likes their pint should be allowed in.

messerole n. see mezzroll n. Mess John n. see Mas John n. messorole n. see mezzroll n. mess round v. see mess about v. mess-up n. [mess up v.] 1 a blunder, a botch. 1902 C.J.C. Hyne Mr Horrocks, Purser 111:1 should say he feels this mess-up more than any of us [OED]. 1934 J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 28: I'm rather a mess-up, you know! 1946 G. Gibson Enemy Coast Ahead (1955) 37: What a complete mess up! 1950 A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 103: And now what a ghastly mess-up it all

was!

2 (Aus.) a fight. W2 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Dec. 13/4: There has been a little mess-up in Melbourne, and a discolored brother has got his face broken. The melee was pretty brisk while it lasted, and might easily have been worse. 3 an inadequate or incompetent person, a person with problems. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 21: Leave the chap alone. He's a damned mess-up as it is.

mess up V. 1 (US) to ruin, to botch.

3 (orig. US) to beat up, to assault. 1912 J. London Smoke Believe Pt 9 [Internet] Come on! Out of that an' into them duds of yourn, double quick, or I'll sure muss up the front of your face. 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 239: He wouldn't even let his partner mess up Pepe. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 151: I messed him up good. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 276: I knew he would have messed up that cat if he could have held on to that knife. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 29: I couldn't ask two or three amigos to break into Rocky's block and help me mess up his boys. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246: mess up (one) [...] 2. Physically assault. 3. Beat severely. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 35: Everyone wanted to earn a rep for being able to [...] mess somebody up. 2002 D.H. Sterry Chicken (2003) 23: If you try to ... you know ... I'm gonna have to ... mess you up ... good. 4 to ridicule. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 246: mess up (one) 1. Disparage or ridicule. 5 to involve in. 1939 R. Chandler Big Sleep 161: If he ever messed Mona up in any criminal rap, he'd be around to see him. 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 56: 'I'm going to—' 'What? Tell. I'll mess you up, too.' 6 to confuse, to make an emotional mess of. 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 15: You come messing me up wid your sweet talking. 1967 in S. Harris Hellhole 219: I can't see taking a girl and messing her up, because when you first come into gay life you're so confused. 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 13: Thousands of high-loving heads out there messing up the minds of the cops. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 87; Messing up their mind — or, as one teenager puts it, 'To righteously fuck with d' person mind-wise, fightin'-wise, all ways.' 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 103; 'When he knew he wasn't [going to win] he didn't even bother to play.' 'So how's that mess you up?' 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 153; Those fancy triple-bocks he'd tried down at the Brew House had really messed up his head. 7 (US) to pla)/ around, usu. in a sexual manner. 1959 Mad mag. Apr. 14: I don"t like to see cheap hoods messing up sweet kids like you. 1962 R. Hauser Homosexual Society 38: In this way I'm more interesting than the men they usually go with who mess them up on the way home. 1970 A. Young Snakes (1971) 17: We used to mess up a lot together [...] We'd skip school and do a lot of crazy things. ■ In phrases

mess up someone’s game (v.) (also mess up someone’s action, ...play, ...style) [cameo. (2)/action n. (4)/PLAYn. (2)/STYLEn.| (US black) to interfere in someone else's attempt at seduction. 1980 E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 94: Like a pootbutt come. Like you tryin' to talk to a young lady. Messes you up, talkin' trash. [Ibid.] 246: mess up (one's) action/game/play/style See cock block.

1909 Magnet 10 July 3: The excursion's messed-up anyway. 1923

mess with v. (US) 1 to become involved with, to use, to fool

Jim Maitland (1953) 185: You don't mean to say they've gone and messed it up? 1927 E.C.L. Adams Congaree Sketches 12: God ain guh have a passel of niggers messen up he business. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 53: You didn't have to take the finest music [...] in America and mess it up because you were a white man. 1953 'William Lee' Junkie (1966) 113: They had messed up the deal by coming on like Federals and by searching the house without a warrant. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 54: I'm messing up his chat. 1970 E. Tidyman Shaft 51:1 can trip over him or have him mess up my play. 1977 A. Hoffman Property Of (1978) 207: Don't mess up McKay's plans. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 283: If he messes up my face. I'll kill him on the spot. 1994 J. Wambaugh Finnegan's Week 287; I tol' joo, Buey. Speed mess up the brains! 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 82: I'm selling an impression here |...] And I don't need any photographic evidence to mess it up. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 288: You think some squeegee refugees gonna mess up my big

around with. 1880 in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 91: In this coast country [i.e. of N.C.] the peculiar word is 'Mess.' [...] A politician says 'That fellow is "messing" (associating) with the Radicals.' A hunter says 'You better not "mess" with a wounded buck.' [...] A lawyer says 'What did you "mess" (interfere) with the matter for?' 1890 Kipling 'The God from the Machine' in Soldiers Three (1907) 5: Twas just my way, messin' wid what was no business of mine. 1913 G.D. Chase 'Lists From Maine' in DiV IV i 5: mess with, v. To associate with. 'We don't mess with those people.' 1927 K. Nicholson Barker II i: The crummiest broad on the outfit, an' you have to get messed up with her! 1930 Wesley Wilson 'You Rascal You' [lyrics] You done messed with my wife, you rascal, you! 1947 B. Stiles Serenade to the Big Bird 139: There were courses in home-making and sewing [.,,] but the P.E.G. didn't mess with them much. 1953 W. Eyster Far from the Customary Skies 325: Yuh think I'd be stupid enough to mess with jail bait? Huh? 1962 (con. 1930s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 21: They ruled their part of the yard and nobody messed with them. 1969 Cressey & Ward Delinquency, Crime, and Social Process 813: Yeah, I shot up some stuff a few times. It was a trip, man, but I don't mess with dope-fiends. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 215: He's got three Black women. But I don't mess with them 'cause Black women will cause you more of a hassle. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 35: Cain't be messin' wid no ol' pootbutt, some rookie. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 41: The two head for a row of tables where they can mess with a handful of battered board games. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan.-Feb. 17: I saw this girl I once messed

'Sapper'

stroke?

2 (US) to make a mistake, to get into trouble, to fail. 1918 H. Simon 'Prison Diet.' in AS VIII:3 (1933) 29/2: MESS UP. Get

into a scrape. 1947 J.W. Arnold 'The Language of Delinquent Boys' in AS XXII;2 Apr. 122: Mess up. (1) To get into trouble. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 83: He's only out of recruit drill a month, and he messes up and catches all the extra details, but he's a good boy. 1961 R. Cover One Hundred Dollar Misunderstanding 35: Naecher done mess me up at the most baddest time. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 119: When one of johnny's girls messed up on him [...] he sure was hard on them. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 1999 J. Ridley Love Is a Racket 37: I wanted to tell him how bad he'd messed up. 2000 Observer Screen 6 Feb. 2: He had to suffer the social stigma of having messed up in front of 33 million people.

with. 2 to harass, to annoy, to interfere with. 1880 see sense 1. 1928 C. McKay Home to Harlem 198; There are no cops in Philly going to mess with this girl. 1935 Z.N. Hurston Mules

messy

meth

1582

and Men (1995) 144: dealer: Well Ah got de cards. I can cheat if I want to and beat you anyway, big sweet: You mess wid dem cards and see if Ah don't fill you full of looky-deres. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Realty the Blues 4: Mitter Foley [...] messed with the law some kind of way and got twenty years in Joliet. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 5: Nobody messes with you. Nobody pushes you around. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 41: Have you been messing with my daughter? 1972 (con. 1960s) D. Goines Whoreson 276: The only ones I wouldn't mess with were the Jews. 1985 Beano Comic Library No. 19 37: How dare he mess with one of my pupils! 1992 V. Headley Yardie 10: Very few boys were foolish enough to mess with him. 2000 M. Amis Experience 5: Because it messes with the head. 3 to laugh at, to ridicule, to tease. 1984 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 5: mess with - tease, joke with. 1998 (con.

1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 23: I'm just messin' with you, man. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 164: — I talked to your mum earlier. Now that's a statement not to mess with. 2006 G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 22: Ain't nobody mess with us [...] Take some advice from me, don't mess wid us. ■ In phrases

mess with nature (v.) (nature n. (2)1 {US black) to lose one's potency, esp. through excess use of narcotics or alcohol. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 179: Like you git a young man

high. His thang git hard, den it go down. He jus' drop entirely too many reds. Mess with nature.

mess (with) someone’s mind (v.) (orig. US black) to disturb or harm someone emotionally. 1966 JAGGER Er RICHARD 'Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown' [lyrics] You were still in school when you had that fool who really messed your mind. 1975 F. ScOTT Weigh-in 185: The men were bluffing and merely trying to mess with my mind. 1987 J. Auer What's Right? 26: He might mess with my mind and turn me into a freak. 1994 S. Cameron Pure Delights 76: He needed a diversion, a soft, sexy female diversion — one who didn't resemble a big-eyed waif and who didn't mess with his mind, 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 139: My son done messed your little mind. 2001 Cincinnatti Mag. Nov. 17: But his coach tells him these people are just trying to mess with his mind. 2004 R. Lamb Atlanta Blues 194: 'What are you gonna do?' Johnny Lee said, sighing. 'Mess with his mind. Do a number on

him.'

messy adj.^ immoral, unethical. 1944 D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 126:1 feel sorta messy, just as

if I'd blow my top if I didn't lay this heavy scribe on you. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds

messy attic (n.) see under attic n. ■ In phrases

get messy (v.) [euph.] 1 to act in unrestrained manner, poss. sexually. 1915 S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 60: 'What you got, Jim?' puffs

one. 'Young hick that got messy in the tango joint,' says Jim.

2 {US) to have sexual intercourse. 1954 J.D. MacDonald All These Condemned (2001) 169: He had to start leering at me in that way he has. I told him not to get messy. Honestly, he wants to get messy at the darnedest times. There's never any buildup. He just looks at you and boom,

messy adj? [mess n.^ (5)] {US black) good, first-rate. 1994 C. Major Juba to Jive.

mestee n. see mustee n. Met n. [abbr.] 1 the Metropolitan Music Hall, London. Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Aug. 9/2: We saw this young lady some years ago at the 'Met.' where her song-and-dance constituted a considerable attraction. 1908 Sporting Times 4 Apr. 4/3: The 'Met.' is one of the oldest of the London halls, dating from last century's 'early sixties'; and it has had a uniformly successful career. 1914 E. Wittmann 'Clipped Words' in DN IV:ii 133: The Met, the Metropolitan Music-hall.

2 the Metropolitan Railway, part of the London Underground system. 1937 'C. McCabe' Face on Cutting-Room Floor iii 18: Then I was

suddenly in the crowd of clerks and typists rushing towards King's Cross Met station [OED]. 3 {US) {also Mett) the Metropolitan Opera House, New York; also attrib. 1915 R. Bolwell 'College SI. Words And Phrases' in DN IV:iii 236: mett. Metropolitan (Grand Opera House). 1937 J.M. Cain Serenade

(1985) 182: He may want you to sing at the Met. 1951 Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 172: Caruso spared the Met any such embarrassing predicament, 1958 J. Blake letter 21 Aug. in Joint (1972) 120: New boy has also worked as a singer in the met chorus.

1960 (con. 1930s) R. Barber Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) 307: The Met deal was not mere fancy.

4 (a/so Mets) the Metropolitan Police, serving London. 1944 'D. Hume' Toast to Corpse 91: You haven't had thirty years in the

Mets for nothing, and you've been about a bit [OED]. 1970 ‘Metropolitan Police SI.' in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 325: MET, THE: the Metropolitan Police - as opposed to other forces. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 78: It's plainclothes from the Met. Asking about you and the deal on the house. 1997 (con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 212: I do not know where 'here' is [...] I suspect it is in London. The Met coppers were hardly likely to take me anywhere else. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 72: The old bill round there are, compared to the Met, a bit of a joke, carrot crunchers,

5 the Meteorological Office, responsible for weather forecasting; usu. as the Met Office; thus Met man, a weather forecaster. 1946 G. Gibson Enemy Coast Ahead (1955) 214: The met. man says the

weather will be clear all the way. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 42: Not even the Chaldeans - who was sorta court stargazers, like our Met Office - could give him the dinkum oil about 'em.

metal n. [abbr. precious metal] 1 money. 1796 Sporting Mag. Jan. VII 216/1: The Punters who occasionally

make their bankers of all the tables tremble by the weight of their metal are Mr. Boone of the Guards [...] and Mr. Dashwood. 1829 ViDOCQ Memoirs (trans. W, McGinn) III 78: She's only a fence for metal, tickers, and frippery. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Uplifter' in Ade's Fables 111: The Simp that pushed his Metal into the Box Office wanted Something Doing every minute and many Gals. 2 a pistol, a revolver, a gun. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 110: The hounds round here ain't dressed right if they ain't carrying metal. 3 a bullet, ammunition. 2004 T. Dorsey Cadillac Beach 189: On the other side, a man was pacing. [...] Talking to himself: 'Need to run down the Chinese angle on the shylock's mazuma before the twist cops a roscoe and squirts metal at the brunos.'

metalhead n, [SE {heavy) metal -E

-HEAD sfx (3)1 (orig. US teen) a fan

of heavy metal music. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 1991 M. Myers et al. Wayne's World [film script] We pull back to reveal Alan Nilan, a large Viking-like metal head on camera one. And Terry Roberts, a cleaner-cut metal head on camera two. 2007 D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 6: The devotion of the metal-heads at his school seemed contrived to him.

metal mouth n. {US campus/UK juv.) a person with orthodontic braces. 1978 in Daily Beacon (TN) 10 Nov. 4: Painful kisses, baby food for dinner and nicknames like 'metal mouth' and 'tinsel teeth.' [HD AS]. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] metal mouth! n. unkind name tor someone wearing braces on their teeth,

mete adj. [Sp. meterse, to interfere in, to meddle] {W.l.) meddlesome, interfering. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

meter n. [the coin then required to operate a gas meter] {US black) a quarter, 25 cents. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 258: meter (n.): quarter, twenty-five cents.

1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley

Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. ■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds meter thief (n.) [their targets never rise above gas meters, parking meters etc.) {UK Und.) a term of contempt for a petty villain. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 193: Meter thief Term of contempt for a petty thief.

meth n. [abbr.] {drugs) 1 {also meths) the drug Methedrine, a methamphetamine; also attrib.; thus meth trip, the experience of the drug. 1963 J. Blake letter 5 May in Joint (1972) 208: He tried Meth on the

street. He said it lit him up like a Roman candle and that he dominated six conversations at once at a cocktail party. 1967 Oz2 13/ 4: Heroin (£1 to £3 per grain) coke, meths (5/- an ampoule). 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 171: It was a super freak-out, like a meth trip. 1974 P. Gent North Dallas Forty 102: Heavier stuff — coke, liquid amphetamine, and meth crystals — had found its way inside. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 119: The careless laughing girl, happy stoned, flying on her meth and beer. 1985 J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 181: Sidney Blackpool had to resist a policeman's urge to glance at the biker's enormous forearms for meth tracks. 1997 E, Little Another Day in Paradise 17: I want the rush of meth, that hair-raising, overwhelming chemical voyage into hyperspace. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 158: Rubbing a fingertip of crystal meth around her gums. 2001 N.

metha Griffiths

metzel

1583 Sheepshagger 55: Comes out of jail that very fuckin day an

to celebrate OD's on meth. Carked it. 2007 J. Stahl 'Pure' in Love Without 165: Fucking guys on meth made the time pass faster. 2 met/iadone; also attrib. 1980 T. Jones Adrift 184: We're on methadone treatment at the meth

center. 1987 in Delacoste & Alexander Sex Work (1988) 112: One counselor at the meth clinic whom I would call. 1992 S.L. Hills Tragic Magic 167: I was on the meth program. 3 marijuana. 2000 Hip-Hop Connection Jan.-Feb. 55: Meth. Not a particularly well

known slang term for marijuana until Method Man turned making the exact same record over 100 times into an absolute artform. 4 see METHS n.\ ■ In compounds meth fiend (n.) a regular user of amphetamine. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 11: With a meth-fiend's paranoia, I believed they [i.e. showroom dummies] were denouncing me. meth freak (n.) I-freak sfx] (US drugs) a regular user of Methedrine or methamphetamine. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation xli: The meth-freaks who took their trips on a needle. 1969 L. Yablonsky Hippie Trip 33: The main drugs they use are 'speed' (Methedrine) [...] Even some high priests and novices refer to the 'new breed' as 'Meth' or 'speed freaks'. 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 150: A meth freak must keep clean: he can't help himself. meth-head (n.) (-heads6< (4)] (drugs) a regular user of Methedrine or methamphetamine. 1966 Bob Dylan Tarantula 134: A meth-head but he's all beautiful. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 72: 1 know a couple of places ... that have had more and more meth heads going all the time, and girls are getting stoned on meth. 1971 E.E. Tandy Under¬ ground Diet. (1972). 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 146: Now he was a meth head, totally addicted to that drug. 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 1 57: Meth-heads and dope-fiends, runaways and their pimps, street grifters, fences, and the like. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 9^-. 'Some woman's [...] acting crazy.' (...) 'Probably a meth-head.' meth lab (n.) a laboratory used for the illicit production of methamphetamine. 2007 T. Dorsey Hurricane Punch 9: Usually when we get a Hip-Hop Redneck in a motel room this involved, it's a meth lab. meth monster (n.) (-monster s/x] (US drugs) 1 a person who has a violent reaction to methamphetamine. 1967 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction (3rd edn). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Meth monster — One who has a violent reaction to methamphetamine.

2 a methamphetamine addict. 1968 'SI. of Watts' in Current SI. 111:2 34: Meth monster, n. Someone who is addicted to methedrine. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 8: The mysterious tactile jones every meth monster knows. ■ In phrases methed up (ad/.) intoxicated with methamphetamine. 2000 W.T. Vollmann Royal Family 312: In came the owner, coked up, or cracked up or methed up, manic and red-eyed. (Ibid.) 633: Domino, drunk, coked up and methed up. metha n. see meths n.\ Metho n. labbr. -F -o sfx (3)] (Aus./N.Z.) a Methodist; also as adj. 1940 Rutherford Rumblings (Tamworth) 17 May 1: Why did the 41 st pinch our Metho. Padre? (AND|. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1961 P. White Riders in Chariot 20%: Arch and me are Methoes, except we don't go; life is too short. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. metho n. labbr.) (Aus.) 1 methylated spirits, beloved by extreme alcoholics; also attrib. 1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 107: Anything came well to the Kidger, plonk, plink, metho, bombo. 1957 J.M. Hosking 'Alcoholics' Aus. First and Last 98: Metho can kill you on your feet, whether you take it mixed or neat. 1960 J. Walker No Sunlight Singing (1966) 32:1 can liven up with a shot of metho. 1968 J. Alard He who Shoots Last 229: An old wine dot [...] no doubt much metho had been consumed when the wine ran out. 1973 (con. 1930s) F. HUELtN ‘Keep Moving' 48: Such things as metho-drinking, petty theft (...) and sexual perversion were accepted as inevitable. 1975 D. Malouf Johnno 63: A wino, or a metho-drinker. 1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 27: Now he drinks metho. 1997 L. Davies Candy 158: The cheapest palatable alcohol short of metho that we could find. 2005 K. Greenwood Blood and Circuses 88: 'What's red biddy, sir?' asked Constable Harris. 'Ruby port and metho,' said Robinson. 2 a drinker of methylated spirits; ext. as metho fiend, metho king. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 272: You ought to know not to camp with metho fiends by now. 1960 N. Hilliard Maori Girl 115: There's the metho and the trammie and his old bitch. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi

SI. 72/2: metho methylated spirits addict. 2003

McGill

Reed Diet, of

N.Z. SI. 134: metho/metho king Methylated spirits addict. ANZ.

Methody n. (Aus./Irish) a Methodist. 1828 W. Carr Dialect of Craven 11 312: Methodies say, how yower

prayers er tiresome. 1859 'George Eliot' Adam Bede (1873) 94: I reckon it's wi' bein' a Methody. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 12/1: The tar said, 'O Lord, save us poor beggars afloat. 1 never asked anything from you in my life before, and if you help us this time I'll never trouble you again. I'm not a going to be like those crawling Methodies, bothering you every day.' 1899 C.J.C. Hyne Further Adventures of Captain Kettle 190: Skipper's a bit of a methody. 1903 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 July 13/2: The Methodies all reunited again, and let the Salvarmy (Boss Booth was a Methody, too) shiver at the street corners. 1912 J. London Smoke Bellew (1926) 208: 'Hello, Spike; hello, Methody,' she greeted. 1931 S.F. Bullock After Sixty Years n.p.: What religion Mr Bean and his family observed 1 cannot say. Perhaps they were Methodys (BS). 1946 J. Cary Moonlight (1995) 245: Phyllis is a Methody, a touchy maid.

Methody adj.

[Methody n.) Aus./Irish) Methodist.

1841 S.C. Hall Fate of the O'Leary's n.p.: 'Miss Milly Naylor is going to

be married to - guess who?' 'Guess, how should I guess? A methody parson?' (BS). 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 76: None of your Methody palaver with me. 1864 G.A. Sala Quite Alone III 88: It's enough to make a fellow (...) turn Methody parson at once. 1879 "Arry on Niggers' in Punch 15 Mar. 113/2: Cornin' 'ome I 'ob-nob'd with a bloke, bloomin' Methody spouter I guess. 1925 L. MacKay Mourne Polk 71: He tould us a yarn about an ould fella that went to his chapel. I think it was a Methody chapel. 1934 C. Stead Seven Poor Men of Sydney 95: Silly old woman, his mother ought to've put him in petticoats. A Methody parson. 1940 O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 12: Good chance to try out his methody ideas. 1969 (ref. to 1930s) R. Greacen Even without Irene 39: A handful of boys who had been at the 'methody' prep school.

meths n.’' (also meth, metha) methylated spirits, usu. as drunk by alcoholic tramps or meth(s)-dtinkers; also attrib. 1933 M. Marshall Tramp-Royal on the Toby 352: Man, you ought to know better than drink meth. 1938 R. Hyde Nor the Years Condemn 1 52: Two of them were drinking methylated spirits, which they called 'metha' and 'Johnny Gee'. 1943 R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 100: She'd had half a bottle of meth to keep her quiet. 1956 B. Behan Quare Fellow (1960) Act 11: I thought it was as good a drop of meths as ever I tasted. 1961 B. Crump Hang On a Minute, Mate (1963) 31: What I put up with for six months (...) was enough to send a man fair round the screamin', meth-drinkin' bend. 1965 F. Norman in Sun. Times 21 Mar. in Norman's London (1969) 167: I know as soon as he gets out he will go down the East End and get hold of some red wine or meths. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 200: He must have been on the old meths. 1980 J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 21: Merchants and money-lenders, beggars and methsdrinkers lying about legless. 1992 D. Jarman diary 7 Nov. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 249: The alcoholic who lurched out at me in a meths haze on the doorstep. 2000 Guardian Rev. 25 Feb. 27: Willis

has the tastebuds of a meths connoisseur.

meths n.^ see meth n. (1). met-pot n. [dial, met, a gathering, a dance, a fair] (W.l.) a large pot used for cooking for parties, celebrations or any occasions requiring many servings. 1949 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

metrop n. [abbr.] a metropolis; usu. London. 1914 Ade 'The New Fable of the Aerial Performer' in Ade's Fables 194: The gallus Offspring hurried to the Metrop to pick the Primroses. 1923 WODBHOUSE Inimitable Jeeves 194: They must not wander at

large about the metrop.

metros n. (US black) metropolitan police. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 67: You find expressions like

(...) metros for the metropolitan police.

Mets n. see Met n. (4). Mett n. see Met n. (3). mettle n. ['the mettle of generation', SE mettle, spirit, pluck) semen. 1608 Dekker Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) I ii: (Til) try what mettle is in

his new bride, if there be none, we'll put in some. 1615 J. Swetnam Araignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward and unconstant Women IV iii: A Ladie (...) Will sooner meet a Tinker in the street, / And try what Metall lyes within his Budget, 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1800 Burns 'Citadel' Merry Muses of Caledonia (1843) 65: His metal flew about like hail / In the centre of my citadel. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

metzel n. [Cer. Metzelsuppe, metzel soup, made with sausage] (US) a German-born immigrant. 1983 Maledicta VIl 21: Gerrnan-Americans were called metzel deriving, I speculate, from Metzelsuppe or metzel soup (made with

Mex

Mexican

1584 19th-century immigrant

Sarjint Larry an' Frinds 58; It was not annie 'Mex.' foive mode that

Mex n. [abbr.; note late 19C-1940s US forces use Mex, any form of foreign currency, esp. that of the Philippine Islands] 1 {US) {also Mexi) a

■ In compounds Mex town (n.) {US) the area of a town populated by Mexican

sausage),

a popular dish in the

communities.

Mexican; a nickname for a Mexican. 1848 S.C. Reid Scouting Adventures of McCullochs Texas Rangers 204: Look here, boys, do you see those two Mexes on the corner of the house opposite me? 1899 Boy's Own Paper 15 July 658: The Mexies are cooking a beautiful curry. 1906 McClure's Mag. June 121/1: 'Where'd you get the coat?' 1 asked the Mex [DA]. 1925 D. Hammett 'Corkscrew' Story Omnibus (1966) 212: A big, black-whiskered Mex that's got a rancho down the canon. 1935 R. Chandler 'Spanish Blood' in Spanish Blood (1946) 27: My blood is Spanish, pure Spanish. Not nigger-Mex and not Yaqui-Mex. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 66: Fugged if I'll take an order from a Mex. 1956 N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 36: City unions teach you that Chinamens are your brothers! Ayrahsl Mexes! 1966 M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 58: Them goddamn Mex's is all chicken shit. 1977 J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 9: Boyle Heights was tough mick then, just like it's tough Mex now. 1986 R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust {1999) 134: 'The dark-skinned girl was the one came in here for coffee?' 'That's right. She was a Mex.' 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 288: A Mex brought coffee. Said Mex kissed ass.

2 {US) the Mexican/Spanish language. 1858 T.G. ViELE Following The Drum 158: Very little conversation took place between them, and that little in a language called 'Mex,' a kind of Spanish patois differing widely from pure Castilian. 1933 N. Algren 'So Help Me' in Texas Stories (1995) 19: 1 yelled back, you yellow Mexican bastard you, oney 1 said it in Mex. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 159: Can you talk Mex? 1959 J. Thompson Getaway in Four Novels (1983) 9: El Rey — that means the King, y'know, in Mex. 3 {US) Mexico; thus Mex City, Mexico City. 1885 S.S. Hall Gold Buttons 2: 1 war tole yer follered some [...] clean inter Ole Mex' [HDAS]. 1950 Kerouac letter 27 Dec. in Charters I (1995) 244: 3 wonderful lazy years perhaps in provincial Mexico (cheaper than Mexcity). 4 {US) Mexican money. 1898 Amer. Soldier (Manila) 11 Dec. n.p.: We will send a set [...] to any address in America for 25 cents (mex). 1906 C. M'Govern 'Soldier SI.' in Sarjint Larry an' Frinds n.p.; mex [...] the name for the kind of bastard currency in use during the Days of the Empire, one dollar of American money being about equal to two dollars of the Mexican. 1913 McClure's Mag. Mar. 119: Is that gold or Mex, dear? 1924 Our Navy 15 July 29: A boot who was worth about six cents Mex to the government. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 269: Just in time he noticed that the Syrian was giving him hundred dollars mex. 5 {US drugs) Mexican drugs. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 107: This pot's real beat stuff. You know where we can pick up some Mex? 1982 L. Gwin Going Overboard 245: A certain guy with bags of good Mex for forty dollars [HDAS].

Mex adj. [abbr.] 1 Mexican. 1853 G.D. Brewerton Overland With Kit Carson (1930) 154: The United States Hotel upon the plaza provided 'chicken fixin's and corn doin's' or, if a stranger wanted 'Mex \ Wm',' JHjoles and tortillas to boot [DA]. 1906 C. M'Govern Sarjint Lariy an' Frinds 29: De prices range from 100 pesos, for a beauty [...] to 50 cents Mex for an auld woman. 1926 H. Moore 'The Lingo of the Mining Camp' in AS 11:2 88: In recent years in the copper camps farther south, a large Mexican element has been brought in. Of course, the American soon moves on, deploring the fact that the town has become a Mex camp. 1939 W. Attaway Let Me Breathe Thunder (1940) 20; Ain't nothing there but Spick and Mex shacks. 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 98: 1 heard him start explaining how he was tying in the Mex turnover gimmick. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 89: Groups of Mex chicks swaggered around in slacks. 1963 in T.l. Rubin Sweet Daddy 22: Crooked as Mex two buck billtwo-doolarr. 1977 (con. 1911) J. Monaghan Schoolboy, Cowboy, Mexican Spy 131: There's no law - Mex' ner 'Merican - in them bastards camp. 1988 (con. 1940s) C. Bram Flold Tight (1990) 228: 'No handouts. Get lost,' said a mexlooking man. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 208: We been too nice a you, protectin you mex ass and not chargin you.

2 {US) second-rate, inferior; in measurement, half the length/ weight/value, etc. 1899 New Oxford Item (Gettysburg, PA) 7/2: A Mexican dollar is accepted in trade as worth just half of an American dollar, so 'Mex' has come to mean half [...[ A Nebraska volunteer [...[ inquired how much further it was out to the firing line. 'Eight miles,' was the reply. 'American or Mex?' he eagerly inquired. 1906 C. M'Govern

we hiked.

immigrants. 1929 E. Booth Stealing Through Life 257: That's the Mexican outfit. Mex town is over there. 1951 Kerouac On the Road (The Orig. Scroll) (2007) 192: It all went on in rickety alleys of little Mextown. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 41: This was Mex Town, Spicsville, a lousy slum where [...] you could eat Mexican food and pick yourself up a hot little number for the night. 1961 'Duncan Lee' Castro Assassinated (2009) 69: Spic Harlem in New York, Ybor City in Tampa, Mex Town in San Diego.

Mexicali revenge n. [the Mexican town of/^ex/ca//| {US) diarrhoea, as contracted by travellers in foreign countries. 1973 Atlantic Monthly July 38: He brought his own food, water, and liquor to Acapulco to avoid the embarrassment of his 1970 trip when nearly all of his guests developed classic cases of 'Mexicali revenge'.

Mexican n. [such people come from 'south of the border/Down Mexico way'l {Aus.) a Victorian as seen from New South Wales, or a native of New South Wales or Victoria viewed from Queensland. 1980 Sydney Morning Herald 21 Apr. 3: Victorians - whom South Coasters affectionately call Mexicans - used to use the Hume [Highway] as the quickest route to holiday spots such as Surfers Paradise and the Sunshine Coast [GAW4]. 1985 in Tracks (Aus.) Sept. 5: Hello all you Mexicans, how's life in the Garden State [i.e. Victoria]. 1992 W. Goss in Australian 7 Sept. 4: This election is not about Canberra, it is not about Victoria or Mexicans or southern banks, it's about the future of Queensland and our future as a community [GAW4[.

Mexican adj. used in a variety of combs, to imply cheapness, inadequacy, stupidity, mediocrity and a dependence on donkeys. The stereotype of Mexicans in the US is uniformly negative. 1935 N. Algren Somebody in Boots 141: Don't take no Mex nickels. 1950 Goldin el al. DAUL 138/1: Mexican. Inferior; counterfeit; phony, as 'Mexican money,' a 'Mexican payoff,' etc. 1979 Maledicta III:2 165: Mexican adj Cheap, inferior: some Southwestern dialect usage.

■ In compounds ■ General uses

Mexican athlete (n.) 1 (US) a person who exaggerates [he 'shoots the bull']. 1912 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 57: I'm tired of being the boob around town. I'm going to be a mexican athlete. Throw the bull about being a fighter and get away with it. 2 (US) an unsuccessful candidate for a college or school sports team. 1934 H, Sebastian 'Negro SI. in Lincoln University' in AS IX:4 288; Mexican athlete One who tries to gain a place on all the teams, but makes none. 1979 Maledicta III:2 165: Mexican athlete n Un¬ successful candidate for a sport's team. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican athlete. One who fails to make the team. Mexican bankroll (n.) (US Und.) a banknote of high denomina¬ tion rolled around a large number of notes of small denomination. 1941 'Gypsy Rose Lee' G-String 286: The bankroll...was no Mexican: the twenties went right through to the bottom [HDAS[. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 138/1: Mexican bankroll. See Michigan bankroll. 1971 WINICK & Kinsie Lively Commerce 117: A pimp often has a 'Mexican bankroll' a large bill on the outside covering a roll of singles. Mexican Bogner’s (n.) IBogner's, a fashionable brand of choice in skiwear] (US) jeans worn as ski pants. 1979 Maledicta III:2 165: Mexican Bogner's n [Cray 1960] Jeans

worn as ski pants,

Mexican boxing glove (n.) (Aus.) a knife. 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 78: Any drunken mug

can whiz out the old Mexican boxing glove and stab an unarmed man.

Mexican breakfast (n.) (US, Texas) a cigarette and a glass of water (alt. urination), i.e. nothing nourishing at all. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

1972 (ref. to 1930s) J. in N.Y. Rev. of Bks 31 Aug, [Internet] There was then [i.e, 1930s] a regular joke about 'the Mexican breakfast: a cigarette and a piss'. 1979 Maledicta III:2 165: Mexican breakfast n Cigarette and glass of water; from the stereotype of Mexican poverty and hunger. 1989 H, Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican breakfast. A glass of water and a cigarette. Womack

Mexican Buick (n.) |the antithetical status of the cars] (US) a Chevrolet. 1979 Maledicta III:2 165: Mexican Buick n [Cray 1959] Chevrolet.

Mexican Cadillac (n.) (US) an old but showily decorated Chevrolet.

Mexican

1962 D. Dempsey 'Lang, of Traffic Policemen' in AS XXXvn:4 270: MEXICAN CADILLAC, 11.

An old, bul 'dolled-up,' Chevrolet automobile. Mexican carriage (n.) (US) a donkey. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican carriage « Burro, donkey.

Mexican carwash (n.) (US) washing the car by leaving it out in the rain. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican carwash n [Cray 1950] Leaving a

car in the rain.

Mexican cashmere (n.) (US) a sweatshirt. 1979 Maledicta

111:2

165: Mexican cashmere n [Cray 1957]

Sweatshirt.

Mexican chrome (n.) (US) 1 aluminium paint used to simulate real (and more expensive) chrome on a car. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican chrome n 1: [Cray 1960] 1 Aluminum paint used as a substitute for automotive chrome 2: [Cray 1955] Any silver paint.

1979 see sense 1. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican

chrome. Silver paint (hot-rod talk).

Mexican credit card (n.) (US) a piece of hose used to siphon petrol from another car into the tank of one's own. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican credit card n Siphon hose for stealing gasoline. Mexican dragline (n.) (US) a shovel or spade. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican dragline n [Cray 1959] Shovel. 1982 Mers & Grieder Ups and Downs of a Rebel Longshoreman 5:

Armed with a shovel apiece—the old 'idiot spoon,' 'Mexican dragline,' the muckstick [etc.].

Mexican filling station (n.) (US) a hose used to siphon petrol from another car into one's own. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican filling station n [Cray 1959]

Siphon for stealing gasoline.

Mexican foxtrot (n.) (US) diarrhoea, dysentery. 1962 Western Folklore XXI 28: The North American in Mexico has

collected a number of names for the inevitable dysentary [sic] and diarrhea: [...] 'Mexican fox-trot'. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican fox-trot n [Cray 1960] Dysentery. Mexican hairless (n.) [pun on SE Mexican hairless, a breed of dog] an old, hairless tennis ball. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 165: Mexican hairless n Old tennis ball; a play

on the dog breed. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican hairless. A well-used tennis ball.

Mexican hayride (n.) (US) an overcrowded automobile. 1962 D. Dempsey 'Lang, of Traffic Policemen' in AS XXXV11:4 270: HAYRIDE,

n. An automobile badly overloaded with

passengers.

Mexican jeep (n.) (US) a donkey. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican jeep n Burro, donkey.

Mexican Jelly bean (n.) [the car bounces up and down on its special suspension] (US) a Chevrolet that has been lowered in the rear and fitted with a Venetian blind in the rear window. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican jelly bean n [Cray 1955] 1936

Chevrolet lowered in the rear and fitted with a Mexican window shade (Venetian blind) in the rear window.

Mexican lightning (n.)

[lightning n. (2)]

(US) tequila.

1975 Newsweek

13 Jan. 75: 'Mexican Lightning' has become particularly popular among younger drinkers at singles bars and ski resorts [HDAS].

Mexican lipstick (n.) (also pasata grin) smears of blood around the mouth of one who has been having cunnilingus with a menstruating woman. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 20: Mexican lipstick n. Pasata grin (qv). The embarrassing facial tide marks often found after eating out with a lady who was up on blocks (qv). 2001 P. Meditzy 'A Day In The Life Of...' 29 Apr. [Internet] It stunk like an 'anchovies fanny' and I could feel the 'Mexican lipstick' all over my chops but I didn't give a shit as I hadn't been 'muff diving' for ages.

Mexican look (n.) (US) a hostile stare. 1917 R. Lardner Gullible’s Travels 137: He dropped the fork and they both blushed till you could see it right through the sunburn. Then they give me a Mexican look and our acquaintance was at an end.

Mexican Maserati (n.) (US) a Mercury. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican Maserati n [Cray 1960] Mercury.

Mexican milk (n.) (US) tequila. 2000 www.tulleeho.com

[Internet] Mexican Milk Shake (Tequila,

Kahlua, Vodka),

Mexican motor mount (n.) inner tubing used as a shock absorber, rather than the purpose-built material. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican motor mount n [Cray 1959] Inner tubing used as shock-absorbing material instead of special

mounting parts.

Mexican muffler (n.) (also cherry-bomb muffler) [SAmE muffler, a silencer] (US) a homemade silencer made from a tin can stuffed with steel wool that is then attached to the car's exhaust pipe. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican muffler n [Cray 1953] Auto¬ mobile muffler made of a tin can stuffed with steel wool. 1986 S. King It (1987) 940: He gave the Fury, which still burbled softly through its dual cherry-bomb mufflers (cherry-bombs had been outlawed in the State of Maine in 1962), a wide berth. Mexican nightmare (n.) (gay) gaudy ceramic crockery, typical of that sold to tourists in Mexico. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 59: Mexican nightmare n [R] Gaudy ceramic crockery; homosexual slang,

Mexican nose guard (n.) (US) an athletic support or jockstrap. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican nose guard n [Cray 1959] Athletic supporter. Mexican oats (n.) [euph. for bullshit n. (1)] (US) nonsense, rubbish. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican oats n Nonsense.

2 any form of silver paint.

MEXICAN

Mexican

1585

Mexican overdrive (n.) (also Georgia overdrive) (US) coasting or freewheeling in order to save petrol. 1955 M.W. Frazier 'Truck Drivers' Language' in A5 XXX:2 94: MEXICAN OVERDRIVE, n. A term used for coasting down hill with gears disengaged. 1962 D. Dempsey 'Lang, of Traffic Policemen' in AS XXXVII:4 270: MEXICAN OVERDRIVE, n. The (illegal) act of coasting with the gears in neutral. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican overdrive n [Cray 1955] Coasting downhill in an automobile. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican overdrive. Disengaging the clutch and coasting down a hill. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 222: Slipping into sweet Georgia overdrive for the long downhill coast. Mexican promotion (n.) (also Mexican raise) (US) a better job but one that brings no increase in salary. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican promotion; Mexican raise n Advance in rank or status without increase in salary. Mexican quarter-horse (n.) (US) a mule. 2002 S. Cameron & R. Clare 'Memorial Drive' Taking Notes and Stealing Quotes [Internet] 'Mexican quarter horse' is a mule, and 'Mexican donkey' has been used to mean heroin. Mexican rig (n.) (US) anything that has been poorly constructed. 2001 M. Wanskasmith 'The Twig' Buffoonery.org 7 Nov. [Internet] Me and my dad used to be our own fucking copier repairmen.... as the service contracts on those fuckers cost way too much... so we done fixed that shit up Mexican rig style with rubber bands and hoky paper clips and shit.... Mexican schlock (n.) [schlock n. (1)) (US gay) any art in poor taste, typically that sold to tourists in Mexico. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 59: Mexican schlock n [R] Any art in poor taste; homosexual slang. Mexican seabag (n.) (US) a newspaper or paper bag in which poor sailors carry their belongings. 1935 'Sailor SI.' A5 X:1 79: Mexican seabag A newspaper or paper bag in which the poor sailor carries his belongings. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican sea bag n Paper bag in which a poor sailor carries his belongings. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 247: Mexican seabag. A paper bag in which a sailor who cannot afford a more durable container carries his belongings. Mexican shower (n.) (US) a rudimentary wash, cleaning only the face and armpits. 2002 ADS-L 17 Nov. [Internet] Moore was asked if he bathes. Moore said that he takes a 'Mexican shower' - washing just the face and armpits. Mexican sidewalls (n.) (US) black tyres painted white to imitate expensive white sidewalls. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican sidewalls n [Cray 1955] Blackwall tires painted white. Mexican standoff (n.) 1 (orig. US) a situation in which two parties are at a deadlock, with neither party willing to back down from a stated position and neither party having a superior edge; the result is that both parties give in and walk off. 1891 Sporting Times 19 Sept. 4: Cline, who got a Mexican stand-off from Dave Rowe, has signed with Louisville. 1932 V.F. Nelson Prison Days and Nights 13: Paddy very naturally resents my attitudes as I resent his [..,] It is a Mexican stand-off. 1958 L.F. Cooley Run For Home (1959) 124: It's a Mexican stand-off! No breeze south-bound — and too much north-bound! 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 255: Suddenly it is a Mexican standoff — with both sides glaring but nobody swinging a punch yet. 1978 S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 259: Your top brass want to save face. I want to hold on. It's a Mexican standoff. 1985 (con. 1968) D.A. Dye Citadel (1989) 163: You got a Mexican Stand-off here. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper Prom The Inside 26: Invited out for a night on the town, then used as a cover to back out of a Mexican standoff. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 208: We stood there in a nationally

Mexico

mexicoon

1586

televised Mexican standoff, neither wanting to kill, neither willing to give in. 2 (US) a partial victory or defeat, but one that still fails to provide a decisive outcome. 1904 McClure's Mag. Mar. 557: We jest made a 'Mexican stand-off lost our money, but saved our lives - and mighty lucky at that [DARE]. 1905 R. Beach Pardners (1912) 77: Boys, as fur as the coin goes, we're out an' injured; we jest made a 'Mexican stand-off — lost our money, but saved our lives. 1927 C.M. Russell Trails Plowed Under 48: Barrin' a bundle o' robes Bad Meat grabs when we're quittin' the camp it's a Mexican stand-off, which means gettin' away alive. 1961 J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling 685: Mexican stand-off - act of quitting a gambling game when one is a very small winner or loser. 1979 Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican standoff n 1: Escape from a serious difficulty; from alleged Mexican cowardice. 1989 Hackforth & Sherman About Face (1991) 187; There is seldom a Mexican standoff in battle; you either win or lose. 3 a round in poker when no one is willing to open the betting or no one wins the pot. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Mexican stand off, no chance to win. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican standoff n [...] 2: [Cray 1958] Poker hand in which no one can open the betting or when no one wins the pot. 4 a head-on collision between two trains. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican standoff n [...] 3: Head-on collision between two trains, a 'cornfield meet'. 5 {US) execution by firing squad. 1929 Hostetter & Beesley It's a Racket! 231: Mexican stand-off — To kill in cold blood. 1934 J.H. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) 222: The men were the victims of the St. Valentine's Day massacre in Chicago, when seven men were given the Mexican stand-off against the inside wall of a gang garage. Mexican straight (n.) any five cards and a knife in poker. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican straight n [Cray 1950] In poker, any hand and a knife.

Mexican threads (n.) (US) a stripped bolt that has been forced into a hole to cut new threads. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican threads n [Cray 1959] Stripped bolt which has been forced into a hole to cut new threads. Mexican time (n.) (US) poor timekeeping, unpunctuality. 2002 A. A. O'Dell Cultural Nuances and The Concept Of Time [Internet] Depending on the situation, Mexicans can and do arrive on time, known as hora americana (American time). Mexicans have a very different sense of which situations require exact attention to the clock and which do not. For most occasions, Mexicans live by the more flexible hora mexicana (Mexican time). Mexican toothache (n.) diarrhoea, often contracted on a foreign holiday. 1962 Western Folklore XXI 28: The North American in Mexico has collected a number of names for the inevitable dysentary [sic] and diarrhea: [...] 'Mexican toothache'. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican toothache ii [Cray 1960] Dysentery. Mexican two-step (n.) diarrhoea. 1962 Western Folklore XXI 28; The North American in Mexico has collected a number of names for the inevitable dysentary [sic] and diarrhea: 'Mexican two-step'. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican two-step n [Cray 1960] Dysentery. Mexican valium (n.) [SE valium] (US drugs) Rohypnol. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican valium — Rohypnol. Mexican valve-job (n.) (US) flushing the carburettor of a running engine with kerosene. Maledicta III:2 166: Mexican valve job n [Cray 1958] Flushing carburetor of a running engine with kerosene. Mexican window-shade (n.) Venetian blinds in the back window of a car. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 166: Mexican window shade n [Cray 1955] Venetian blind mounted in the rear window of a car. ■ Pertaining to drugs

Mexican brown (n.)

(also Mexican tar) (US drugs) 1 high-strength marijuana. 1961 L. Block Diet of Treacle (2008) 50: Mexican brown [...] seemed a little stronger. The joint [...] halt regular green and half Mexican brown. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican brown — Marijuana; heroin.

2 heroin, usu. weak, inferior. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 237: The Turkish ban [...] more than any single factor accounted for the popular emergence of Mexican Brown on the streets of New York. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 151:1 just dropped in with a briefcase full of Mexican brown. Can 1 pencil you in for a kilo? 1994 T. Willocks Green River Rising 162: He'd made more on electrical goods and porn that Larry ever

did out of cocaine and Mexican brown, 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 219: One-man parades [...] to my favorite stall to cook more Mexican wonder-tar. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican brown — Marijuana; heroin. [bush n.^ (5a)l (US drugs) an inferior variety of

Mexican bush (n.) marijuana. 1946 Mezzrow &

Wolfe

Really the Blues 215: As soon as we got some

of that Mexican bush we almost blew our tops. Mexican cigarette (n.) (a/so Mexican cigar) (US) a (poorly made) marijuana cigarette. [1887 F. Francis Jr Saddle and Mocassin 153: Squito would nestle down on a log by the hearth [...] gaze dreamily into the fire, rolling herself little Mexican cigarettes, in bits of maize leaf, from time to time.] 1913 Van Loan 'The Mexican Marvel' in Lucky Seventh (2004) 188: Bill breezed into the sanctum [...] with a pocketful of Mexican cigars, and, after lighting one, proceeded to go into a trance and tear off the most amazing dream concerning one [...[ Oliveras, who, is according to Bill's hemp nightmare, [etc.]. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 107: They were something like the Mexican cigarettes I've tried — a blow-your-head-off impressiveness with the first puff, and no body, no satisfaction, behind it. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 210; a poorly rolled joint [...] Mexican cigarette. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 58: Mexican cigarette n [R] Poorly made marijuana cigarette: homosexual slang.

Mexican commercial (n.) (US drugs) average strength Mexican marijuana. 2002 VitaminT posting 4 Jun. on 'The Real Dope' at Cannabis News [Internet] I've been smokin' the good herb for 28 years now and I can say that the Mexican commercial 1 smoked in the seventies was about as effective then as the Mexican commercial 1 smoke today! Mexican crack (n.) [crack n.^[ (US drugs) methamphetamine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican crack — Methamphetamine with the appearance of crack; methamphetamine. Mexican green (n.) [green n.^ (3)] (drugs) a weak grade and type of marijuana. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1981 D.E, Miller Bk of Jargon 338: Mexican green: Common, low-potency marijuana from Mexico. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican green — Marijuana. Mexican horse (n.) [horse n. (7)] (drugs) heroin, presumably from Mexico. 1977 S.N.

Pradhan

Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms

15: Mexican

horse — Heroin.

Mexican jumping beans (n.) 1 (drugs, gay) amphetamines. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 134: Mexican jumping beans amphetamines. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 59: Mexican jumping bean n [R] Amphetamine; homosexual slang. 2 (drugs) barbiturates, esp. Seconal, made in Mexico. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). Mexican mud (n.) [mud n. (3d)] (US drugs) heroin. 1986 in Time 7 Apr. 31; Black tar (also known as tootsie roll and Mexican mud) is most prevalent [HDAS]. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 70: Mexican Mud also Mud Mexican heroin. [.,.] This heroin is brown in color and forms a brown liquid when mixed with water and cooked. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican mud — Heroin.

Mexican mushroom (n.) [the psilocybe mushroom grows in Mexico) (drugs) psilocybin, psilocin, 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican mushrooms — Psilocybin/psilocin. Mexican red (n.) (drugs) 1 a barbiturate. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1980 'Gloss, of Drug Terms' National Instit. Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mexican reds — Depressants. 2 a potent variety of Mexican marijuana. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms Mexican red — Marijuana. Mexican tar (n.) see Mexican brown above,

Mexico n. ■ In phrases in Mexico 1 (US Und.)

15:

in prison.

1914 Wash. Post 11 Nov. Miscellany 3/4: At times a 'subscription' was raised for the brother 'in the shade' or 'in Mexico.' 2 (US Und.) on the run. 1950

Goldin

et al. DAUL 107/1: In Mexico. In parts unknown, as a

fugitive from justice. 'Swaggie's in Mexico. They got a knock-off (murder) reader (warrant) out on him with a plenty heavy tail (reward offered).'

mexicoon n. [SE Mexican

-E COON n. (5)1 (US black) a black man

who pursues Hispanic women. 2000 Ebonics Primer at wunv.dolemite.com [Internet] mexicoon Definition: a Brotha Who digs on hispanic snatch. Example: Damn,

mexx up

that mexicoon be allin dat spic hitches azz... sheeit he givin him goddamn diahrea, gonnerea. and... pass me one o 'them mutha-fuckin cinimon twist be-atch!!!

mexx up 2000

V.

[? SE mix up] to join, to form a partnership with.

J.J. Connolly

Layer Cake

207: So he pulled up his cash and

mexxed up with these dudes?

mezc n. see mesc n. mezonny n. [SE money + -iz- infix] (US drugs) the act of arranging for and taking the delivery of drugs from one's dealer. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS XI:2 124/1: MEZONNY. A cryptic peddler-addict idiom which is difficult to translate; it conveys the idea that one 'has his money working,' i.e. is about to score a connection or receive dope from a peddler. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

mezz n. (also mighty mezz) [the jazz musician and marijuana-dealer Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow (1899-1972)1 marijuana, orig. spec, that sold by Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow. 1936 C.R. Cooper Here's to Crime n.p.: Commonly it now being called 'fu', 'mezz', 'mu', 'moocah', 'muggles', 'weed' and 'reefers'. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 106/1: MEZZ. Marijuana. Probably derived from the name of a wellknown 'swing' conductor and composer. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 215: Overnight I was the most popular man in Harlem. New words came into being to meet the situation: the mezz and the mighty mezz, referring, I blush to say, to me and to the tea both; mezzroll, to describe the kind of fat, well-packed and clean cigarette I used to roll (this word later got corrupted to meserole and it's still used to mean a certain size and shape of reefer, which is different from the so-called panatella); the hard-cuttin’ mezz and the righteous bush. [...] Stuff Smith wrote a song, later recorded by Rosetta Howard for Decca under the name of If You 're a Viper, that started out Dreamed about a reefer five foot long | The mighty mezz but not too strong, \ You’ll be high but not for long \ If you 're a viper. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312; mezz. Marihuana. Also a marihuana cigarette. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 98: Mighty mezz outsize marijuana cigarette. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mighty mezz — Marijuana cigarette.

mezz adj. [the positive reputation of 'Mezz' Mezzrow (see mezz n.)l (US black) honest, dependable. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 258; mezz (n.): anything supreme, genuine. Ex., 'This is really the mezz.' 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

mezzroll n. (also meserole, messerole, messorole, mezzrole, mezz’s roll) [mezz n. + SE roll] (drugs) a large, generously filled marijuana cigarette. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 215: New words came into being to meet the situation: the mezz and the mighty mezz, referring, I blush to say, to me and to the tea both; mezzroll, to describe the kind of fat, well-packed and clean cigarette I used to roll (this word later got corrupted to meserole and it's still used to mean a certain size and shape of reefer, which is different from the so-called panatella). 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 172: messerole [Ibid.] 171: meserole. [Ibid.] 176: mezzrole. 1989 (con. 1938) Courtwright 8- Des Jarlais Addicts Who Survived 132: We were smoking the best reefer around, because we were smoking meserole [...] Mezzrow was a man's name, and the reefer took his name. He was musician, [footnote: Milton 'Mezz' Mezzrow was a white, Chicago-born jazz clarinetist [...] also well known as a dealer in Harlem, and imprisoned in 1940-42 for selling marijuana], 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 98; Mezzrole - a highly potent marijuana cigarette. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Messorole — Marijuana.

m.f. n.

[abbr.l (orig. US) euph. for MOTHERFUCKER n.

1959 Jazz Rev. Sept. 7: You go and buy me a tenor saxophone and I'll play the m-f. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 245: Oh shit. I thought, you poor m.f. One way or another, some bastard puts us down. 1971 B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 151: The blacks have to murder you white MF's for cripplin our lives. 1980 Jackson & Christian Death Row 201: I was cussing every other breath, every word that come out of my mouth was ME, SB, GD. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 70: She called him a black m.f. and tossed a glass of Old Tom in his face, 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Micky ficky (noun) It is synonomous to mother f*#ker. (It is a nicer way to say M.F. It was taken from the movie 'Do the Right Thing' [Spike Lee's[ and it was taken from when the movie was aired on public TV. Micky ficky was used as a voice over for M.F.). 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 95: The toughest roughneck shield-wearing MFs on the planet.

m.f. adj.

michael

1587

[abbr.] (orig. US) euph. for motherfucking ady.

3,1972 in G.M. Simmons et al. Black Culture 219: That M-F-in' jive [HDAS]. 1995 CNN Sat. Morning 17 Jun. [CNN-TV] A little two yearold girl has said, 'I want to be an m.f. gangster' [HDAS],

m’fucka n, see motherfucker n. m-fugging adj. see motherfucking adj.

m.f.U.t.U.

phr. [abbr., orig. WWII milit., inscribed on B-1 7 bombers with a cartoon of General Hideki Tojo (1885-1948) getting 'the finger'] (US) a term of abuse, motherfuck you too. 1942 in W.N. Hess B-I7 Flying Fortress 32: [photo of Pacific B-17 plane nose art] MFUTU.

m.f.W.i.C. phr.

[abbr.] (orig. US milit.) motherfucker who's/what's /n charge.

a

term

of abuse,

1980 D. Cragg Lex. Militaris 285: MFWIC. Mother/ucker what's In Charge [HDAS]. 1996 Dr. Dobb's Journal Mar. n.p.: Frank Grossman, the MFWIC ('main fellow who's in charge') at Nu-Mega, was demonstrating BoundsChecker for Windows [HDAS].

m.g.a. phr. [abbr.] (Aus.) Mediterranean gut-ache, an 'illness' supposedly contracted by Creek, Yugoslav and similar 'Medi¬ terranean' immigrants to Aus., seen as innately lazier than their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 51: There are racist overtones to [...] the 'Mediterranean back', which denotes derisive suspicion about a back-ache and 'Mediterranean gut-ache', usually shortened to 'MGA' which is just as suspect as the back-ache,

M’Gimp n. see McCimp n. m.h. n. [mental health] (US) a

mentally unstable, insane person.

1999 Dallas Morning News 28 Nov, 6P: His illness is obvious enough that even the thugs who prey on street people steer clear. In the slang of the homeless, he's 'MH' - 'mental health' - which means it's best to just leave him alone.

m.h.c. n. see mile high club n. miaow! (miaow!) exc/. [such a conversation is SE catty] used by a third party when overhearing a pair of speakers engaged in malicious gossip. 1954 K. Amis letter 20 Dec. in Leader (2000) 417: His book did less well than mine - miaouuuu!!!!!

mic n.^ [abbr.; cf. SE colioq. mike, a microphone] a m/crophone. 1961 A. Berkman Singers' Gloss. Show Business 58: Microphone: (Abbr. mike or mic) [OED]. 1984 Run DMC 'Rock Box' [lyrics] When Tm rockin on the mic, you should all applaud. 1987 King Tee & Mixmaster Spade 'Ya Better Bring a Gun' [lyrics] When I'm on the mic I take no slack. 1993 Dr Dre 'Nuthin But a G Thang' [lyrics] When I'm on the mic, it's like a cookie, they all crumble. 2004 Observer Music Monthly 9 May 37: D Double E takes the mic at Pals Bar. ■ In phrases

rock someone’s mic (v.) (US black) of a woman, to fellate. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] rockin' his mic Definition: suckin' his dick Example: C'mon bitch rock my mic.

mic n.^ (also mike) [abbr.] (drugs) one m/crogram (one millionth of a gram), the basic measurement of LSD. An average dose of LSD is approx. 250 mics. 1967 Underground Digest No. 1 Oct. in Verzuh Underground Times (1989) 30: [She] gets picked up by a seventeen year-old street dealer who spends all day shooting her full of speed again and again, then feeds her 3000 mikes and raffles her temporarily unemployed body for the biggest Haight Steet gang bang since the night before last. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 94: Here was some dude, not even a chemistry major, coming on to you with mikes, grams, bricks, kilos and hundredweights. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 338: mikes: Micrograms (of LSD). 1999 J. Stahl Perv (2001) 301: I was doing 800 mics of Sunshine. 2002 Fabian & Byrne Out of Time (ms.) 144; He [...] thought dipping a matchstick in a pile of hallucinogenic crystal very unscientific. He had been using carefully measured doses of lOOmics per patient, I told him we were taking ten times that amount.

mich V. see mitch v. michael n. 1 (US) a hip flask [? the 'Irish' name Michael and thus stereotype of Irish drinkers], 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 58: michael [,..] A flask of liquor. Example: 'Have you got a michael on your hip?' 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 128: Michael. - A bottle or flask carried on the hip, and hard to trace as to origin, but declared by one old-time tramp to be a reference to the fact a person proffering a drink on a cold, wet night is as welcome and as gracious as the archangel Michael. 2 (Aus.) the vagina [play on Michael Hunt, i.e. CUNT n. (1); esp. used in joc. phr. 1930S-E 'Has anyone seen Mike Hunt?']; thus michael-muncher n., a cunnilinguist. [1841 F.L.G. Swells Night Out n.p.: The dance was followed by an outand-out song by Mike Hunt, whose name was called out in a way

Michael Caine

that must not be mentioned to ears polite.] 1950 'No. 35' Argot in G. DAUS (1993). 1986 B. Hudson First Aus. Diet. Vulgarities n.p.: Michael, the formal term of address for the female genitals. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 134: michael-muncher [...] a cunnilinguist. ANZ. 2006 J. O'Keeffe Red Sands 9: 'Have you seen Mike Hunt?' Stacey asked, smirking at all three of them. 'What?' said Teague. 'Who's he?' 'It ain'ta he; it's a joke, numb-nuts.' 3 {US) a 'knockout drop', as placed in a drink [abbr. mickey Finn n.j. 1952 (con. 1920s) G. Fowler Schnozzola 76: I slipped little Michael into his glass. In about five minutes little Michael took a-hold of George McManus. 1977 (con. 1940s) Hodes & Hansen Selections from the Gutter 20: She was handed a Mickey — or Michael. Now, to you who don't know what a Michael is (and are there any who don't?) a mickey is a pill that works wonders with a stomach [...] it makes a sissy out of a killer. SiMES

Michael Caine

n.

|rhy. sL;

ult. the English actor Michael Caine

PuxLEY

Cockney Rabbit. 2002 B.

Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney

of a Boomer Op. 54: That 'Mick' is some scrapper, I'll say. 1932 (con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 11: He had almost got into a mixup with some soused mick. 1955 B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 119: The Irish and Italians — the Micks and the Guineas. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 15: One mick, one spic, one hick. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 29: Looks like a mick, but I don't even know his name. 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 143: You can piss off out of here, then. We don't serve Micks in this pub. 1999 N. Cohn Yes We Have No 82: I bet you've got Irish disease, you Micks are all the same. 2006 J. Ridley What Fire Cannot Burn 1 56: It was the girliest drink Soledad'd ever seen. A queer alky mick going dry on St. Paddy's Day wouldnt

(b) (Aus./US) a Roman Catholic. 1934 'L. Parker' Trooper to Southern Crass 151: We used to have a

Rhy. SI.

Michael Miles n.

Irhy. si.; ult. British television game show host

Michael Miles (1919-71)] piles. 1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit. 2003

Michael Schumacher

B. Dark

Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

n. [rhy. sL; Cockney pron. 'terbaccer'; ult.

Michael Schumacher (b.1969), FI racing driver] tobacco. 1998 R. PUXLEY Fresh Rabbit.

Michael Winner

n. [rhy. si.; ult. Michael Winner ib.lOiS), film director

PUXLEY

Fresh Rabbit. 2002 B.

Michelin (tyre) n. (W.l.) 1 a bulla cake.

Kirkpatrick

Wicked Cockney Rhy.

[the tyre makers and their 'Michelin man' logo]

1956 cited in Cassidy & 2 a dumpling. 1958 cited in Cassidy & 3 a fat person. 1966 cited in Cassidy &

song at school: Catholic dogs. Jump like frogs which we always yelled at the Micks [AND]. 1948 P. White Aunt’s Story 258: He says that Mother is wrong to send a girl to a convent with a lot of micks [OED]. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxvi 4/2: mick: Catholic. 1986 R. Fitzgerald Pushed from the Wings (1989) 89: He's (...) a red-hot Mick [...] Sherline's presented him with nine kiddies. 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 233: mick a Catholic.

and latterly restaurant critic] dinner.

1998 R. SI.

'Sweeney to Sanguinetti' in Ten-Thousand-Dollar Arm 44: The red-headed, fighting mick. 1915 E. Poole Harbor (1919) 17: I caught glimpses of strange, ragged boys. 'Micks,' Belle sometimes called them, and sometimes, 'Finian Mickies'. 1922 M.E. Smith Adventures Loan

touch the stuff.

(b.l933)] lit. and fig., a pain.

1992 R.

mick

1588

(c) a labourer on the roads. 1937 in Partridge DU (1949) 437/2: Mick a road mechanic. 1939 H. Miller Tropic of Capricorn (1964) 278: It was the face of a hod carrier, an ignorant mick.

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

LePage

Diet. Jam. Eng.

(1980).

(d) (US) a potato. 1931 Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, OH) 22 June 19/1: 'Two Micks in

Michigan n. [? anecdotal] (US Und.) a confidence trick; also attrib. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Si. 58: Michigan [...] A spectacular ruse; a deceptive appearance [...] a hoax staged with sinister intent. Example: 'They started a michigan scrap and trimmed the sucker in the mix-up.'

Michigan roll n. (also Michigan, Michigan bankroll) [roll n. (2)] (US) a fake bankroll, a note of a high denomination around a large number of notes of smaller denomination. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 58: Michigan [...] A spectacular ruse; a deceptive appearance, as a fake bank roll. 1934 J.L. Kuethe 'Prison Parlance' in AS IX: 1 27: Michigan-roll. A bankroll made up of stage money with a genuine banknote wrapped around the outside. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 23 June [synd. col.] Beverly Smith (the ace scribe of his day) outfitted himelf in a 'hayseedy' suit, and, armed with a Michigan bankroll, sauntered through the Island. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 138/1: Michigan bankroll. 1. A roll of paper with a bank note of large denomination wrapped around the outside to simulate a bankroll — for use in swindling. 2. A roll of single bills wrapped inside a bank note of large denomination to be exhibited for effect. 1961 J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 52: He pulled out a phony bankroll to pay for it - a Michigan, two hundreds on top and fifty ones underneath. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner {^998) 320: Arm him with a Michigan roll faced with a $100 note, and he was good enough to go on the road, taking off jewelers up and down the coast,

mick n.^ 1 with ref. to the given name, esp. as used in Ireland, and thus bearing the 'Irish' stereotypes of Catholicism, manual labouring and potato-eating; note milit. the Micks, the Irish Guards; any Irish unit, (a) [orig. US) (also mickie) an Irish person; usu. but not invariably derog. 1838 W.N. Glascock Land Sharks and Sea Gulls H 108: A hodman, known by the name of Irish Mick. 1856 'Mark Twain' in Butte Record (Oroville, CA) 20 Sept. 3: One of the 'bucks' jerked something from his belt, that glistened in the moonlight, and looked very much like an Arkansas toothpick, and made for a Mick, c.1863 J.H. Browne Four Years in Secessia 288: 'Running a Mick' was to get an Irishman drunk: induce him to enlist for two or three hundred dollars; obtain five times that sum from a citizen desirous of procuring a substitute. 1873 J. O'Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 313: When it came to combats on the brick-bat, slung-shot, 'knock-down and dragout' principle, her champions could 'whale blazes' out of the 'Micks,' but in a forty foot ring they found themselves nowhere. 1893 S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 3: 'Naw,' responded Jimmie with a valiant roar, 'dese micks can't make me run.' 1903 A.H. Lewis Boss 67: He's one ol thim patent-leather Micks an' puts on airs. 1912 Van

kimonas' - Irish potatoes with the skins on. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 210: For reasons that should not seem terribly obscure, the Irish potato also have been known as a bog orange. Donovan, Mick, or murphy.

(e) (US) as a generic, an Englishman. 1941 J. Smiley Hash House Lingo 37: Mick, Englishman.

2 (Aus.) in female senses [abbr.

michael

n.]. (a) the vagina.

1941 Baker Aus. Vulgarisms 5: mick: The female pudend [DAUS]. 1988 L. Johansen

Dinkum Diet.

(b) the queen in a pack of cards [? from sense 2a above). 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 33: mick [...] (2) a queen in a pack of cards. 3 (US campus) anything easy, esp. an academic class or test [Mickey Mouse adj.^ (4)]. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS 157: Mick Easy course. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 130: I heard that Astro 3 is a mick. 4 see mickey n.^ (3).

■ In phrases

at the micks (adj.) (also at the mix) [pun on micks/Mix v. -f ? ref. to sense la above, a (rowdy) Irishman) causing trouble. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 193: Mick's, at the Causing trouble [...] Mix, at the See Mick's, at the. mick n.^ (Aus.) in two-up, the 'tail' of a coin; thus as v., to spin the coins so that they come up tails. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 33: mick (n.).— (1) The Queen's

head on a coin (e.g. 'Micks are right' when two heads have turned up in a game of two-up). 1924 (con. WWI) A.G. Pretty Gloss. SI. [...] in the A.LF. 1921-1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: micks. The tails of the pennies used in a game of 'Two-Up.' 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 46: Mick, the 'head' of a penny. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 126:1 got ten bob to say he tails 'em - ten bob the micks! 1999 G. Seal Lingo 150: Bets are won or lost on whether the result is two heads (skulls, nuts, NEDS): two tails (two micks), or one of each (ones).

mick adj.

[mickd.^]

1 (orig. US) Irish.

1894 P.L. Ford Hon. Peter Stirling Ivii 369; Fortunately it's a Mick

regiment, so we needn't worry over who was killed [OED]. 1929 E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 208: He [...] slewed into the micksection of Frisco. 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 300: It's a mick block. 1947 S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 91: It won't feel flat when Biddy and I get kicked off a Tennessee bus by a Mick conductor. 1952 I, Mobster 9; I knew [...] how far it was safe to go alone without getting caught by some Jew or mick gang. 1969 J. Hibberd Dimboola (2000) 78: FATHER O'SHEA: Dickies. General laughter [...] knocka: Jesus, never thought I'd hear a reverend say something like that. Especially a mick one. 1976 N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 58: Who the hell do you think I am anyway, some half-assed mick toilet paper salesman. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 8; With my strict Mick upbringing I've always drawn the line at bunging a bird on Diner's. 1998 1. Welsh Filth 314: A couple of the lads [...] used to play for the

Mick Dooley

Republic. They've been teaching me all these daft Mick songs. 2004 K. Bruen 'Fade To . . . Brooklyn' in Brooklyn Noir 308: Tm [...] in some Italian joint and sounding Mick. 2 (Aus./US) Roman Catholic. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age 201: I suppose you refer to Parker and Einstein — my one mick friend, although he isn't Irish, and my one Jewish friend.

3 (US campus) easy. 1989 P. MUNRO SI. U. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk2 242: mick class exp. (teen slang) easy class.

Mick Dooley n. see Mickey Doolan n. mickey n.^ (also mickle, micky) 1 ext. or fig. uses of mick n.\ pertaining to Irishness and its stereotypes, (a) (US) (also mikey) an Irish person. C.1865 'The Divil's own Boy' in Fred Shaw's Champion Comic Melodist 16: One Mickey Free, from Dublin town. 1867 'Johnny Cross' 'Hail Columbia, Right Side Up' in Orig. Pontoon Songster 37: Yankee Doodle and Mickey Free / Will soon shake their hands in union. 1877 S. James Vagabond Papers (4th Ser.) 71: Nearly every 'Mickey' and 'Biddy' throughout the States gave out of their hard earnings to help 'Quid Ireland'. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1915 E. POOLE Harbor (1919) 17: I caught glimpses of strange, ragged boys. 'Micks,' Belle sometimes called them, and sometimes, 'Finian Mickies'. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). (b) (Aus./US) a Roman Catholic. 1966 R. Harbinson No Surrendern.p.-. The mountain was inaccessible because to reach it we had to cross territory held by the Mickeys IBS). (c) (US) a potato, esp. a roasted sweet potato. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act III: Hey guys, duh mickeys ah awmost done! 1943 J. MtxCHELL MeSorley's Wonderful Saloon (2001) 22: Sometimes they roast mickies in the gutter fires. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 322: We stole our first mickies together from Gordon's fruit stand. 2 (Aus.) a wild bullock [? the stereotyped 'wild Irishman']. 1881 A.C. Grant Bush-Life in Queensland I 227: There are three or four Mickies and wild heifers. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant. 1898 H. Macilwaine Dinkinbar 49: I hankered after the station any way, and the - and your infernal bullocks topped the market; and there's not a mickey or a broken fence or gate on the run. 1901 'Rolf Boldrewood' In Bad Company 171: Anything of the nature of post and rails is very terrifying to the uneducated 'Mickies' and 'dear-skins'. 1926 M. Forrest Hibiscus Heart 124: The mob of 'mickies' [...] somewhere in the fastnesses of the range. 1931 'William Hatfield' Sheepmates 244: Nothing pleased them more than for one of their number to be caught by a charging 'Mickey' [...] No one ever got hurt beyond a bruise or two from stumpy horns. 1951 in E. Hill Territory. 1958 W.E. Harney Content to Lie in the Sun 75: We stockmen were after the wanted heifers and 'mickies' (young bulls) fleeing for safety. 1980 H. Lunn Behind Banana Curtain 86: Pat managed to round up several 'Mickey' bulls (uncastrated wild cattle).

3 (Irish) (also mick) the penis; also attrib. 1909

letter 8 Dec. to Nora Barnacle in Ellman Sel. Letters (1975) Gently take out your lover's fat mickey, lap it up in your moist mouth and suck away at it till it gets fatter and stiffer and comes off in your mouth. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 729: Ill put on my best shift and drawers let him have a good eyeful out of that to make his micky stand for him. 1935 in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 369: Got to get a little shaggin' every day; / I leave my mark wherever I go, / With my long old horny mickabri-ne-o! 1965 D. Martin Hero of Too 315: 'You made him his little mickey shield.' [...] 'the thing batsmen wear at cricket matches'. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1983 T. Murphy Gigli Concert in Plays 3 (1994) Scene v: Trying to get my - my micky into her. 1987 (con. 1930s) L. Redmond Emerald Square 109: The boys [...) spotted my unusual [i.e. circumcised] penis and started calling me 'Mushroom Mickey'. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 130: Then he was still rolling about pulled his strides down poured some stuff over his hairy mick. 1996 D. Healy Bend for Home 264: He was old enough not to know a mickey from a pussy, shrieks Nancy. 2004 P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 235: Trevor's as excited as a Frenchman with ten Joyce

185:

mickeys.

4 (mainly Can./US black)

mickey

1589

a small bottle of wine or spirits [Michael

n.

(D).

1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 58: micky [...] A corruption of Michael [...] a flask of liquor. 1926 J. Black You Can t Win (2000) 63: If we was in the city I'd take fifty cents of it purty pronto and get myself a four-bit micky [...] a fifty-cent bottle of alcohol. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 53: micky, n. 1. A drink of hard liquor. 2. A bottle of hnoie. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.:

Mickey, half pint of bootleg whiskey. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 187: Many wines could be had in pint bottles, they too had their special names — short dog, puppy, mickey (little mouse). 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 76: All they came up with was forty cents and a half mickey of moonshine. 2004 Bezmozgis 'Minyan' in Natasha 134: The Russian man [...] contributed a mickey of cheap vodka. 5 (Irish/Aus./N.Z.) the vagina. 1961 (con. 1930s) D. Behan Teems of Times and Happy Returns 143: 'There was an old lady, God bless her, / Who threw her leg over a dresser, / The dresser was sticky an' stuck to her mickey ...' That's what big people called dirty songs. 1991 B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 21: [as cit. 1961]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. SI. 134: michael/mickey/ mickeydidi The vagina, from obsolete English word mick, female genitals.

6 (US) (also mickey’s) a knockout drug, usu. administered via an alcoholic drink [abbr. mickey Finn n.|. C.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 231: Some men were given mickeys, rolled, sandbagged, and even killed and dropped in the river. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 30 June [synd. col.] Now look, lady, please be quiet - we're short of Mickeys! 1952 W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 171: He left a prescription. You just drop the stuff in his milk, like a mickey. 1960 C. Himes Big Gold Dream 140: So when she was getting herself baptized, I dropped a little mickey into her bottle of drinking water. 1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 240: 2 or 3 guys were just laying around [...] it smelled like Mickey's, well, a gringo's got it coming. [...] I drink the Mickey, but I fool them. I walk right out. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 62: mickey n Tranquilizer. 7 attrib. use of sense 6. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 103: Sailors off the Bremen Heil-Hitler'd at the bar and got the mickey treatment. 8 (US prison) a fellow inmate. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 138/2: Mick or micky. (P) An inmate of a penal institution. 2. A person. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 264:1 watched him huddle in a corner of the yard with all the green mickies. 9 (US) a fellow, a person. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 138/2: Mick or micky. (P) [...] A person. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 181: You must be new mickies 'cause you don't call a ship a boat. Le's see your papers. Messmen. Go on back aft and see the steward. 10 (US) aggressiveness, macho. 1972 E. Grogan Ringolevio 461: One of the round steel toes rammed clean ini# his balls, taking all the mickey out of him.

■ In compounds

mickey-muncher (n.) (Aus.) a man who performs cunnilingus; thus mickey-munching adj. 1979 D. Maitland Breaking Out 169: You are a bloody lop-eared, [...] muff-diving, mickey-munching [...] fart-faced flip of a fucking galah! 1997 The Editor 'Jackie's Family Lessons' [Internet] He was a fine mickey muncher. The fact that 1 was climaxing didn't stop him for a second. He ate, licked, sucked, and loved every part of my cunt over and over, and he soon began to include my asshole in his rounds. ■ In phrases

act the mickey (v.) (Irish) to play the fool. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 39: Acting

the mickey in school, that's about the worst of it.

chuck a mickey (v.) (also throw a mickey) (Aus.) to lose one's temper, to have a tantrum. 1952 T.A.G. Hungerford Ridge and River (1966) 84: She'd chuck a micky if you touched her where it wouldn't show. 1954 (con. 1940s) T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of the Wind 12: He's chucking a mickey! 1960 M. Henry Unlucky Dip 90: Not that it was such a terrible thing really - but the Boss threw a mickey [AND]. 1978 L. Randall Aus. Family Plays 118: Don't throw a micky, Bert, it only cost fourpence [AND].

do a mickey (v.) see do a mike under mike v. slip someone a mickey (v.) (also slip someone a Mickey Finn) (US) to render a victim unconscious through adding a sedative, esp. chloral hydrate, to their drink. 1942 R.L. Bellem 'Daughter of Murder' Dan Turner - Hollywood Detective Dec. [Internet] Are you saying your mother's business agent slipped you a mickey. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 217: Maybe you could slip the guy a mickey. 1952 I, Mobster 68: If it's some bitch from Park Avenue, slip her a micky. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 151: The man you slipped the Mickey to before stealing his purse tells us you are not to be trusted. 1971 WODEHOUSE Much Obliged, Jeeves 109: You mean you slipped him a Mickey Finn? 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper

mickey

Mickey Mouse

1590

88: The crafty bitch had slipped me a Mickey! 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 155: Wendy hitman had managed to slip me a Mickey. 2004 Jehst & Yungun 'Outrageous' [lyrics] Slip a little mickey to them iced-out Cristal sippers. take the mickey (v.) see separate entry.

aired on public TV. Micky ficky was used as a voice over for M.F.). 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mickey fickey Definition: term for a friend that you dont wanna call motherfucker. Example: This mickey fickey just lied on me.

mickey n.^ [rhy. si.] 1 (UK tramp) a casual ward [mickey = mike =

mickey-fine n. see mickey finn n. mickey finn n. (also mickey flynn, micky-fine, mike finn) [the

SPIKE n.^ (1)]. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 735: [...] late C.19-20. 2 the chin [rhy. based on MICKEY n? (6), i.e. MICKEY FINN n. (1)j. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 July 13/3: He had mud-colored whiskers, a billy hat, projecting 'mickey,' large teeth, and a voice like a broody

saloon-keeper Mickey Finn, who ran Chicago's Lone Star and Palm Saloons c.l896-190? He, in turn, had supposedly picked up the recipe from voodoo operators in New Orleans; for a detailed history of Finn and his drug, see Asbury, The Gangs of Chicago, (1940) pp.171-6] 1 (orig. US) a knockout drug, poss. chloral hydrate, mixed into an unsuspecting

hen.

mickey adj^ (also micky) [rhy. si.] sick. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

mickey adj.^ [abbr.

/yIickey Mouse adj.^

(1)1 (US) second-rate,

corny. 1958 M.A. Crane 'Miscellany' in AS XXXI1I:3 225: A mickey or Mickey Mouse band is not merely a 'pop tune' band [...] but the kind of pop band that sounds as it it is playing background for an animated cartoon.

Mick(e)y Bliss n. see Johnny Bliss n. mickeydazzler n. 1 (Irish) a ladykiller. 1991 B. Quinn Smokey Hollow 51: He was the first to use 'Corporation hairoil' or water to achieve a quiff in his hair and was called a mickeydazzler because of it.

2 see bobby-dazzler n. Mickey Do/Doolan/Doolin n. see Mickey Doolan n. Mickey Doolan n. (a/so Mick Dooley, Mickey Do, Mickey Doo, Micky Doo, ...Doolan, ...Doolin; Doolan, Doolie) [generic Irish name] (N.Z.) an Irish immigrant; a Roman Catholic. 1905 Truth 9 Sept. 1: A Mick Dooley asked a Wellington barmaid for 'some of that new French drink'. [Ibid.] 23 Sept. 1: Where Mickey Doos have always been [DNZE]. 1965 McEldowney Full of Warm South (1983) 123: When she came in from shopping she found that Michael Hickey had the gym full of 'little Micky Doos' - Holy Name children. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 161: Trouble was she was a Mickey Doo - / Buggered for the want of an Irish king. 1972 Salient (Wellington) 5 July 5: However the (act that Mike only polled 529 votes against 434 for a wog, 409 for a micky doolan and 253 for Professor Liley's stand in shows [DNZE]. 1976 (con. 1935) A. Campbell Island To Island (1984) 87: We'd gang up on the kids who chucked off at us — like the boys from the Catholic home [...] we'd call them 'doolans', 'doolies', 'Mickey Doolans' — or worse. 1982 National Business Rev. 2 Aug. 32: And it [i.e. boxing] was something Catholic kids (Mickey Doos) were forced to do that gave us another excuse for avoiding them [DNZE]. 1987 Landfall 162 163: And this time I promised Dad that I'd never play with that little Micky Doolin bastard again [DNZE]. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi St. 72/2: Mickey Doolan Roman catholic and usually Irish aka mick, mickey, Mickey Doo; 'mick' used elsewhere. 1995 Dominion (Wellington) 1 Apr. 21: It's enough to start a horrid little internecine scrap - them Mickey Dos trying to flog the Protty Dog [=Anglican] nuns for their turgid little doco [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

Mickey D’s (Rainbow Steakhouse) n. (also Mickey Dee’s) [initial letters of McDooa\d/Mickey D] (US black/campus) a McDonald's hamburger restaurant. 1977 Wash. Post 28 Aug. n.p.: McDonald's - fondly known as 'Mickey D's' to those who follow the fast-food circuit [HDAS]. 1982 US Patent and Trademark Office [Internet] Typed Drawing Word Mark MICKEY DS [...] Owner (REGISTRANT) McDonald's Corporation [...] Other Data The mark is a fanciful name and is not the name of any living individual. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: Mickey-D's [...] 'I got these frys at Mickey D's.' 1992 UGK 'Something Good' [lyrics] But I saw a fiend chase ya from, BJ's up to Mickey D's. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 281: I was soon to be a proud employee of Mickey Dee's. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 64: Mickey D’s Rainbow Steakhouse [...] refers to McDonald's restaurant by a combination of things associated with the fast-food chain — its nickname, the shape of the arches that are its identifying symbol, and, sarcastically, the beef served there. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 242: More immediately, she needs to get DeAndre that birth certificate and see if he can hook up at Mickey D's. 2005 V. Gischler Suicide Squeeze 165: He [...] waited for the kid to return from Mickey-D's.

Mickey Duff adj. [rhy. si.; = SE rough] unwell, 'under the weather'. 1998 R. PUXLEY Fresh Rabbit.

mickey-fickey n. (also micky-ficky) (US black) euph. for motherfucker n. (1). 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona)

[Internet] Micky ficky (noun) It is synonomous to mother f*#ker. (It is a nicer way to say M.F. It was taken from the movie 'Do the Right Thing' [Spike Lee's] and it was taken from when the movie was

victim's drink; thus as v. 1918 Wash. Post 23 June 1: Mr. Hoyne had a report that waiters used a certain powder in the dishes of known opponents to the system. The powders, according to Mr. Hoyne, produced nausea and were known as 'Mickey Finns.' It is thought that many cases of supposed ptomaine poisoning reported after meals in downtown cafes and hotels may have been caused by the 'Mickey Finns.' 1923 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 2 Sept. [synd. col.] In that period when Tom Sharkey's saloon, Maison Doree, Sans Souci [...] dotted Fourteenth street, the 'knock-out drop' or 'Mickey Finn' claimed almost a dozen victims a night. 1924 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 57: Why don't that big slob get on an excursion boat — He don't wanna fish he wants a sail — Wish I had a drink and a Mike Finn for him. 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Ft 1 in AS XI:2 124/1: mickey flynn or mickey FINN. A knockout dose (often cigar ashes in a carbonated drink) adminis¬ tered to an addict or a sucker. 1938 (ref. to 1920s) R. McAlmon Being Geniuses Together 298: I told Jimmie to mix a cocktail to make the man sick. 'You know, Jimmie, a real micky-fine.' 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 294: For the first time in my life I had met up with a great old American institution, the Mickey Finn. 1956 B. Behan Quare Fellow (1960) Act I: Many's the seaman myself and Meena gave the hey and a do, and Mickey Finn to. 1959 Mad mag. Mar. 30: Fenwick Furd passes out after downing a 'Mickey Finn'. 1960 C. Himes Big Gold Dream 140: I ain't no fighter. And I has to have some kind of way to protect myself. So I just carrys me a little Mickey Finn. 1971 Wodehouse Mitc/t Obliged, Jeeves 129: Jeeves [...] gave him a Mickey Finn. 1992 Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore I 173: Some male hanger-on or minor client was presumably given a 'mickey finn' of chloral hydrate in his drink. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 359: The motherfuckers Mickey Finned me. 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 91: The odd pharmaceutical surprises administered via hypo, herbal tea and Mickey Finn. 2 attrib. use of sense 1; note joc. nonce use in cit. 1915. 1915 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 57: (Sign in saloon:] Try a Michael Finneka Cocktail. 3 (Aus.) in carnival use, the person who goes out and touts for business. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 141: In the show world a 'gee-man' or 'micky finn' was socially on the level of a duck's feet. He is the man who goes out in the crowd and touts, for custom. 4 (N.Z. prison) a sleeping pill. 1982 G. Newbold Big Huey 251: mickey finn (n) Sleeping pill.

5 (US drugs) any form of depressant. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mickey Finn — Depressants. ■ In phrases

slip someone a Mickey Finn (v.) see MICKEY

sup someone a mickey under

n.^.

Mickey Mouse n. 1 in derog. senses [Mickey Mouse adj.^]. (a) (US black) a white person. 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: mickey mouse n. (b) (US) a small, silly or inconsequential person.

a white man.

1935 S. Lewis It Can't Happen Here 86: Dr. Goebbels. [...] is privily

known throughout Germany as 'Wotan's Mickey Mouse'. 1941 S.P. Examiner! Mar. (Picture Rev. section) 7/1: George Graham, a timid, middle-aged mickey mouse who was afraid of crowds, people, anything [OED]. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 27: mickey mouse - Very square; jive melon farmer. 1973 A. Bennett Habeus Corpus Act I: Mad? You? You Mickey Mouse. Why don't you marry someone your own size? 1979 E. Torres After Hours 181: These guys was no Mickey Mouse.

(c) (US black) one who plays commercialized music, esp. uninspired jazz music [Mickey Mouse adj.^ (1)]. C.1940 Louis Jordan 'Boogie Woogie Comes To Town' [lyrics] Don't you be no Mickey Mouse, / If you can't play no Boogie Woogie / Lock yourself in the barrelhouse.

(d) (US) a trivial, petty or unnecessary activity. 1958 J. Davis College Vocab. 13: Mickey mouse - An activity which has

purpose. 1969 H. Ellison 'A Boy and his Dog' in Beast that Shouted Love (1976) 190: Come on, forget the mickeymouse. What's up? 1977 no

Mickey Mouse

mickey T

1591

(con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 29: My last tour was better though, not so much mickeymouse. 1987 (con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 38; My job is [...] to keep the Marine Corps off their backs. [...] Fuck the mickey mouse.

(e) (US) foolish or nonsensical talk. 1980 'John le Carre' Smiley's People 145; They make up some piece

of mickey-mouse.

2 in rhy. si.(a) (orig. theatre) a house. [1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 96/1: Mickey Mouse House [...] Current' in the theatrical world. The 'House ' is the theatre - the auditorium - the audience.] 1971 J. Jones Rhy. Cockney SI. 1978 Maledicta II;l+2 (Summer/Winter) 120: The Telegraph author [...] doesn't seem to recognize the American origin of George Raft ('draught'), Mickey Mouse ('house'), Raquel Welch ('belch'), and so on. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney 28: You're in charge of everything in my Mickey. (b) a Liverpudlian [== ScousE n. (1)|. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

3 (US) ref. to the orig. black and white Disney cartoons, (a) a black and white police patrol car; also attrib. 1971 J.D. Horan Blue Messiah 54: The Mickey Mouse comes around and the cop puts out his hand. You pay or the bastards lock you up. 1971 S. Stevens Way Uptown 161: Two Mickey Mouse wagons are down the end of the block at Park Avenue, their blood-red eyes turning 'round and 'round. (b) a police officer. 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972). 4 (US) a watch [a line of watches manufactured in 1930s with a picture of Mickey Mouse on the face]. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 99: My 'Mickey Mouse' read one-thirty A.M.

■ In phrases

Mickey Mouse in the house, and Donaid Duck don’t give a fuck (US black) a phr. used to encourage party guests to move to a new and more abandoned level of self-indulgence. [1953 L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 1: We're going to dig a cat that will make mickey mouse rock the house, and the goon leave Saskatoon, you can believe this kitty is ready, willing, and able.[ 2003 T. Daugherty Axeman's Jau 105: 'Mickey Mouse in the house and Donald Duck don't give a fuck.' 'Etta darling, how 'bout a Forty or an Eight Ball?' 2008 posting at youlittlewonder.livejournal.com 25 Aug. [Internet] mickey mouse is in the house & donaid duck don't give a fuck! sorry, that has nothing to do with anything except that it means 'hell yeah, let's do this!' meaning i am pumped for you and your achievements!

Mickey Mouse adj? [Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney's anodyne, albeit hugely successful, cartoon creation, created in 1928; sense 2 very quickly becomes used primarily as sense 3] 1 (orig. US) second-rate, badly made, artificial; thus (US black) Mickey Mouse music, com¬ mercialized jazz or pop music. 1936 E. Blair letter 27-27 Aug. in Complete Works X (1998) 495: 1 think on the whole you [i.e. Henry Miller] have moved too much away from the ordinary world into a sort of Mickey Mouse universe where things and people don't have to obey the rules of space and time. 1946 B. Ulanov Duke Mington 126: The field was overrun with 'Mickey Mouse' music. 1958 M.A. Crane 'Miscellany' in AS XXXIII:3 225: A mickey or Mickey Mouse band is not merely a 'pop tune' band [...] but the kind of pop band that sounds as if it is playing background for an animated cartoon. 1963 M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 18: He couldn't refuse a job that wasn't outright mickey-mouse. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 25: They're Mickey Mouse . . . amateurish [...] bad acting, bad lighting, bad camera, bad everything. 1985 J. Sullivan 'Hole in One' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] I don't want no Mickey Mouse magistrates! I want the High Court, I want a pukka brief, 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 50: He'd have to talk to Bernard about dropping off Micky Mouse bullshit like that. 2003 Bug (Aus.) Sept. [Internet] Of course they were typically ungracious after the win, saying it was a Mickey Mouse title which Mundane would soon lose anyway.

2 small, miniature. 1940 S.F. News 26 Sept. 22: The big, bad Bears, outweighing their

Mickey Mouse rivals by some 20 pounds per man [OED].

3 (orig. US) silly, puerile, contemptible. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 170: He didn't believe that heaven and

hell crap, or [...] the rest of that Mickey Mouse junk. 1966 (con. 1958) R. Farina Been Dornt So Long (1972) 112: It's not all as Mickey Mouse as you might think. 1979 (con. c.1970) G. Hasford Short Timers (1985) 28: What's this Mickey Mouse shit? Just what in the name of Jesus H. Christ are you animals doing in my squad bay? 1983 N, Proffitt Gardens of Stone (1985) 212: Tm feeling useless in this Mickey Mouse outfit. 1993 (con. 1969) N.L. Russell Suicide

Charlie 65; We were still mourning the loss of nearly forty men, and nobody cared much for the chickenshit lifer Mickey Mouse crap. 2002 J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 1 30; I'm sure the board won't appreciate having their time wasted by some trumped-up Mickey Mouse charges. 4 (US campus) easy, facile. 1958 M.A. Crane 'Miscellany' in AS XXX1II:3 226: A 'Mickey Mouse course' means a snap course, or what Princeton undergraduates in my day called a gut course. 1965 Harper's Mag. Oct. 68: College courses in 'the movies' are a kind of trade-school apprenticeship or something easy to relax with ('Mickey Mouse' in today's campus parlance). 1982 W. Safire What's The Good Word? 300: The Californian 'mick course' (not an ethnic slur, but a derivation of 'Mickey Mouse,' or 'inconsequential.' 1994 (con. 1950s) P. HamillA Drinking Life (1996) 183: Some old salts who [...] knew that a helicopter base in the Florida panhandle was Mickey Mouse duty. 2002 Guardian Education 19 Feb. 8: [cartoon script] I'm sorry. Miss Smith, but I fear that the appointment of our teacher of GCSE Tourism and leisure is only going to fuel the prejudice that the subject is rather mickey mouse. ■ In compounds

Mickey Mouse ears (n.) (US campus) siren lights on a police car. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 154: The 'Mickey Mouse ears' on

the roof of the police car, which is what students call the siren lights. [habit n. (1)1 (drugs) a limited addiction

Mickey Mouse habit (n.)

to or occasional use of heroin. 1973 M. Agar Ripping and Running 155: I'm sittin here with a Mickey Mouse habit myself. 1998-2003 Fitomaro 'Board to reveal the facts and truths' Archive 9 Oct. Komulo Families [Internet] So you know 'mickey mouse habit'? hehehe it means 'junckie' or 'joy boy' (sort of mild addiction). Oh! The next time to go Tokyo DisneyLand, I ask Mickymouse what his habit is. Mickey Mouse money (n.) 1 any unfamiliar currency, inch the UK's decimal coins in the immediate aftermath of their introduction. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 735/1: later C.20.

2 counterfeit money. 1985 J. Sullivan 'To Hull and Back' Only Fools and Horses [TV script[

All that money, it's Mickey Mouse money,

Mickey Mouse ticket (n.) (US prison) a disciplinary report. 2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July [Internet] Mickey

Mouse Ticket: Disciplinary report. (WY). 2005 Prison Slang Mommyblogger mydogharriet.blogspot.com 23 Sept. [Internet] It's time to put on a heat wave and issue a Mickey mouse ticket.

Mickey Mouse adj.^ [rhy. si. = grouse ad/.; ult. see Mickey Mouse adj.^] (Aus.) excellent, wonderful, the best; note ad hoc var. in cit. 1983. 1967 'Whisper All Aussie Diet.' in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxvi

4/2:

Grouse. 1977 in J. Ramsey Cop It Sweet! 1983 R. Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 14: The tucker in the bayne marie looked like it was the Michael Rodent, and he settled on a portion of rats and mice with a chow style loop the loop. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mickey Mouse. Very good. Rhyming slang for 'grouse'. 2002 Pete's Aussie St. Home Page [Internet] Mickey Mouse: grouse, good-oh (great). MICKEY mouse:

Aven-Bray

Mickey Mouse v. [Mickey Mouse ad/."'] (US) to fool around, to botch; often as Mickey Mouse around, Mickey Mouse it. 1969 N. Spinrad Bug Jack Barron 19: It doesn't pay to mickeymouse

me.

Mickey Mouser n. [rhy. si. = Scouser n. (1)[ a Liverpudlian. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 110: The character of the Manks and

the Mickey Mousers is vastly different.

Mickey Rooney

n. (rhy. si.; ult.

us

film star/W/cLey Rooney (b.l920)]

1 macaroni. 1976 (ref. to 1930s-70s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 208: Micky Rooney - Macaroni. 1980 Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 67: Macaroni was Mickey Rooney.

2 an eccentric, a mad person [loony n.[. 1992 R, PuXLEY Cockney Rabbit.

Mickey Rourke n. [rhy. si. = fork n.' (5);

ult. Mickey Rourke

(b.l956), Hollywood film star] the penis. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] 'OK,' Monica says. 'Harry, you lie down on your cadbury snack and Dionne can get on board your micky rourke.'

mickey’s n. see mickey n? (6). Mickey Spillane n. [rhy. sL;

ult. popular novelist Mickey Spiltane

(1918-2006)] (Aus.) a game. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] Micky Spillane: a game,

mickey T n. [ety. unknown; ? anecdotal] (US black) a woman who pursues powerful and/or wealthy men only, 2001 Outkast 'Six Minutes (Dungeon Family It's On)' [lyrics] Bubba on them white guts / custom made ain't a stain / 0-2 Z-7-1 on them

Mickey the Mouse

Mickey T's / standing with ya man wanting me to sign your hickey please /1 don't need no worries keep ya white guts / how I'm riding these days keep me with the right sluts.

Mickey the Mouse n. [mickey n? (1) + play on Mickey Mouse (see adj.)] {Aus.) a Roman Catholic priest. 1973 (con. 1930s) F. Huelin 'Keep Moving' 14: From a priest (Mickey the Mouse) he had received a pot of jam.

mickie n. 1 see mick n.^ (la). 2 see MICKEY

middy

1592

.

mickser n. [mick n? (1)] an Irishman who has emigrated to the UK. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 735: [...] since ca. 1950.

micky n. see mickey n.\ micky adj. see mickey adj.\ micky-ficky n. see mickey-fickey n. micro v. (abbr.l microwave. 2001 N. Barlay Hooky Gear 11: Buyin stale doughnut an micro'd coffee.

micro-chip n. [rhy. si. = Nip n. (1) + ref. to Japanese technological expertise] a Japanese person. 1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit.

microdot n. [drugs] a small dose of LSD, usu. as placed on squares of blotting-paper. 1972 N.Y. Post 3 Jan. 5: Normally the drug produces hallucinations, but these microdots create fear, terror and suicidal tendencies. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 338: microdots: Weak LSD doses of approximately 100 micrograms each, usually in small blue beads. 1996 R. Rendell Keys to the Street 3281: He'd never been interested in acid, microdot, mushrooms or any of that stuff. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Microdot — LSD.

mid n. see middy n. (1). midden n. [SE midden, a dunghill, manure-heap, refuse-heap] (Scot.) a filthy, slatternly person. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Midden (n): a sloppy person.

middle n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases

in the middle (adj.) (orig. US) in trouble, in a dangerous or difficult situation. 1928 Phila. Eve. Bulletin 5 Oct. 40/4: Here are a few more terms and definitions from the 'Racket' vocabulary: [...] 'Put in the middle,' to compromise [i.e. a third party]. 1933 J. Spenser Limey 162: A friend o' mine's got himself 'in the middle' (into trouble) an' I gotta get him out. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 185: put in the MIDDLE To be placed in an untenable or dangerous position. 1954 'Nicholas Blake' Whisper in the Gloom (1959) 187:1 still don't like it. How d'ya know he's not leaving us in the middle? 1960 E. De ROO Big Rumble 58: You're no zero. You're in the middle. 1972 J. Burmeister Running Scared 131: But I am the man in the middle. If your note giving my location should go astray [...] 1 could quietly starve to death. 1982 L. Cody Bad Company 119: Why do 1 always get caught in the middle?

middle adj.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds middle cut (n.) (US black) the vagina. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.],

middle finger (n.) 1 a prostitute's trick, involving the middle finger and the man's anus, to ensure that each client arrives at a speedy orgasm so that she can maximize her nightly earning potential. 1983 R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street SI. [unpub. ms.]. 2 see MIDDLE LEG below. middle kingdom (n.) [a pun on SE Middle Kingdom, in ancient Egypt, the 11 th and 12th dynasties (22-18C BC), doubtless a back-handed tribute to the Victorian fascination with things Egyptian] the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 188: Mitan, m. The female pudendum) 'the Middle Kingdom'. middle leg (n.) (also middle, middle finger, middle stump) the

penis. [C.1660 'The Diib'd Knight' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) 1 126: Streight leg and a foot, and his body tall, / But that in the middle is rarest of all.] [1762 Bridges Homer Travestie (1764) I 182: And to himself, he felt as if / His middle parts were growing stiff.] 1834 'The Middle Leg' in Black Joke 31: He died — but though he was no more, / His middle leg was as stiff as before, c.1864 'The Cartoons' in Rakish Rhymer (1917) 45: 'The landing of the Romans' did a young girl rarely please her, / Especially the middle leg of Mr. Julius Caesar. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 21: Avance, / The penis', 'the middle-leg'. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 428: Are you going far.

queer fellow / How's your middle leg? / Got a match on you? / Eh, come her till 1 stiffen it for you. c.1935 'Mae West in "The Hip Flipper'" [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 93: Quite a middle leg you've got down there. 1943 joke cited in G. Legman Rationale of the Dirty Joke (1972) 1 315: My middle leg doesn't touch the ground. 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 73: All I wanted t'do was take his mind off his middle leg. 1977 (con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 27: Just take out his middle stump. 1998 (con. 1960s) G. WASmnGTOK Blood Brothers 109: '1 don't hear nothing,' answered Irma, rubbing my middle leg. 2000 Desdemona at www.asstr.org [Internet] Mama said that if she squeezed tight enough, every man there would bid his middle leg to open Cherry's treasure chest.

middle name (n.) (orig. US) something one likes or identifies with strongly; esp. in phr. ... is my middle name. 1905 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 57; This is a year for recordbreaking, and for retiring you're the — well, that's your middle name. 1915 S. Ford Torchy, Private Sec. 121: 'Chance is my middle name,' says I. 1929 (con. WWI) H. Odum Wings on My Feet 13: War an' me is buddies, fightin's my middle name. 1944 W. Blair Tall Tale America 47: I'm a tornado, a cyclone and a snag all rolled into one, and fight's my middle name! I fight against all creatures, human and inhuman. 1970 G. Scott-Heron Vulture (1996) 53: 'Eight-thirty?' she asked. 'Punctuality is my middle name,' I said. 1985 J. Sullivan 'Watching the Girls Go By' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Sophistication is my middle name. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 95: 'My middle name,' said Joe Winder,

middle piece (n.) (also middle-pie) the stomach. 1821 Flash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 155: middle piece Pickpocket term for a vest,

middle storey (n.) the stomach. 1675 J. Crowne Country Wit iv I: I'll lodge a cudgel in your middlestorey backward [F&H].

middleweight (n.) [boxing imagery] (US) a person, usu. criminal, of medium power and influence. 1979 E. Torres yf/rer Honrs 26: He was just a middleweight. [...] Black Bart is yesterday's news.

middle v. [SE middle, to put in the middle, in this context, of an illicit scheme] to make a fool of, to cheat. 1863 E. Farmer Scrap Bk (3rd edn) 53: For I've been humbugged, middled, got the best on [OED].

Middlesex clown n. an inhabitant or native of the county of Middlesex. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) II 313: 'A Middlesex clown' Some English words, innocent and inoffensive in their primitive notion, are bowed by custom to a disgraceful sense. 1790 Grose Provincial Gloss. 84/1: Fuller and Ray suppose the Middlesex yeomen to have been styled clowns, from their not paying the same deference to the nobility and gentry, that was shewn by the inhabitants of more remote counties, to whom the sight of them was less common. Perhaps it was likewise owing to the sudden contrast between the behaviour of the inhabitants of the metropolis, and of some of the small villages a few miles off: several of which [...] are more countrified than the rustics, of Cornwall or Northumberland,

middle n. a middle-class person. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 163: We [...] spend the last few hours chatting away to these two very nice, very elegant middlos.

middy n. 1 (also mid) a midshipman. 1812 Southey letter 30 Dec. Letters (1856) II 315: I have written to Bedford to learn what mids of the Victory fell in that action. 1818 'A. Burton' Adventures of Johnny Newcome I 34: The Mids, as oft as John drew near To stare about him, seemed to sneer. For John [...] They knew was but a 'Johnny Raw'. 1832 Quid 11: Three saplings, youths; the two first, middies. 1842 Flash (N.Y.) 10 July 3/1: Her passions thus excited, she rushed madly onward in her career of vice, and at one time she was the common gamester of all the Middies in our Navy Yard. 1850 (con. 1843) Melville White-Jacket (1990) 5: In the steerage, the middies were busy raising loans to liquidate the demands of their laundress. 1867 J. Greenwood Unsentimental Journeys 139; I've got an uncle a soldier [...] and a nephew a middy in Green's service. 1878 Besant & Rice By Celia's Arbour III 41: We went [...] into the gallery, where there were a dozen middies and young naval fellows. 1888 Soldiers' Stories and Sailors' Yarns 6: They were capital specimens of the genus 'middy'. 1894 G.A. Sala Things I Have Seen I 104: The witty author of that comedy had [...] been rated as a middy on board the guard-ship. 1904 Marvel 22 Oct. 16: A rollicking young middy, off to join his ship. 1915 G. Malone Gallipoli diary in Phillips, Boyack & Malone Great Adventure (1988) 19 May 51: There were about seven Naval Officers, 'middies' or 'snotties' as they are endearingly called by Captains and Lieutenants. 1925 N. Lucas Autobiog. of a Thief 42: She described me as: 'The most

midge-net

miff

1593

wonderful little middy!' 1932 Sheboygan (WI) Press 17 Sept. 8/3: Like students the world over, the middies have developed among themselves a 'patois' of slang that, although highly descriptive when understood, forces an outsider to seek an interpreter. 2 (Aus.) (also midi) a measure of beer, approx. 285ml (lOfI oz), or

2 (Aus.) a man who goes to a male prostitute.

the glass that holds it (the measure is 'middle sized'; however, note Hornadge, Aus. Slanguage (1986): 'In New South Wales a middy of beer is a small glass (lOoz) while in Western Australia it shrinks [...| down to a 7 oz measure'].

the sudden night-time transfer of a convict.

1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 169: The middy, a beer glass containing nine ounces, is a measure used only in N.S.W. hotels. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 331: A hand reached out, passed over a ten-shilling note, and took a middy from her. 1957 'Nino Culotta' They're a Weird Mob (1958) 25: Those big glasses are called schooners and those small ones are called middies. 1969 A. Buzo Rooted I hi: Ever had a middy of Bacardi neat? 1977 K. Gilbert Living Black 130: Angus and his brother Doug went in for a couple of middies. 1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 80: [They] play pool and drink a few slow middies to while away the time. 1996 Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 176: Take them all now with a midi of beer. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 30: In New South Wales there are [...] middy, a 10 fluid ounce glass (though the same order will only get you 8 fluid ounces in Perth). 2007 D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 1: He wished he was able to be drunk at three in the arvo but he couldn't risk a middy.

■ In compounds two-middy screamer (n.) see two-pot screamer under screamer n. midge-net n. [SE midge, a gnat] a woman's veil. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn). 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

midge’s knee-buckle n. (also midge’s dick) ISE midge, a gnat] (Ulster) something infinitesimally small. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 98: Midge's dick - something very small. 1997 Share Slanguage.

midget n. see mejoce n. midget from Harlem n. (US short order) a small chocolate soda. 1936 Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 9 Oct. 8/8: This is the fantastic jargon of the soda jerkers: [...] a 'midget from Harlem' is a small chocolate soda.

midi n. see middy n. (2). midjic n. see mejoce n. Midland Bank n. see Barclay's (bank) n. midlands n. the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 187: Milieu, m. 1. The female pudendum: 'the Midlands'.

midnight n. (US) the point twelve in craps. 1919 C.E. Piesbergen Overseas with an Aero Squadron 56: 'Whatta 'y' shoot?' [...] 'Midnight!' 1927 C. Sandburg Good Morning. America 14: Fate's crapshooters fading each other, big Dick or snake/eyes, midnights, and deuces chicken one day feathers the next. 1949 (con. 1943-5) A. Murphy To Hell and Back (1950) 33: Snuffy rolls a twelve. 'Hot damn. Midnight. A mighty hard point but I think 1 can make it.'

midnight adj. [midnight (the cat) n.j (US) of people, black. 1864 'Edmund Kirke' Down in Tennessee 112: 'Nigger kentries, Mr. Midnight,' replied Tom promptly. 1916 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. 117: [caption of panel showing two black women]: Midnight Blondes. 1968 A. Buzo Norm & Ahmed (1973) 17: You haven't got a really dark skin, have you? [...] they'd never call you 'Mr. Midnight,' would they?

■ In compounds midnight lace (n.) [lace n?) (US gay) a black man's penis. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

midnight queen (n.) [queen n. (2)[ (US gay) a white homosexual man who prefers black partners. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language.

1981 A. Weller Day of the Dog 18: Floyd's cousin has become a

homosexual and was getting two hundred dollars a go from old midnight cowboys in the Hay Street mall,

midnight express (n.) (also midnight mystery tour) (Aus. prison) 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Midnight Express. Sudden transfer of a prisoner at night [...] Midnight mystery tour. A transfer at night,

midnight flit (n.) see moonlight flit n. midnight oil (n.) [play on phr. burning the midnight oil] (drugs) opium. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 39: burn the midnight oil To

smoke opium. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: midnight oil. Opium. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore 110: Midnight oil - Opium or its derivatives. Midnight-oil burner - A smoker-addict of the opium pipe. Midnight oil, burning the - Addicted to opium. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Midnight oil — Opium.

Midnight Revue (n.) (US gang) a prostitute hired by a group of young boys; thus the act of group sex. 1949 'Hal Ellson' Duke 61: It was the Midnight Revue. Everybody

plays jam in that park, gets their trim. We got on her. Seven of us. 1953 W. Brown Monkey On My Back (1954) 107: His sexual activity had begun at the age of thirteen, when, with a group of other boys he had 'pulled a Midnight Revue.' [...] It was like this. A whole gang of guys got together and each one chipped in maybe a quarter or half a buck and they hired a trim for the night. Then each guy took turns while the others watched. 1956 'Vin Packer' Young and Violent 24: There'll be a midnight revue on Tuesday [...] it'll cost you two skins.

midnight talk (n.) (Aus. prison) the beating of a prisoner by officers. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Midnight talk.

1. Summary 'justice', ie a thrashing from correctional staff,

midnight (the cat) n. 1 (US) a black person. 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 233: midnight a negro; any very

dark-skinned person. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 110: Give us a fucking name [.,.] A fucking name. Midnight!

2 (US black) a particularly dark-complexioned black person. 1972 D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 72: midnight n. a black person whose skin color is very dark. 1980 E, Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 30: Expressions like coal bin, black bird, midnight, midnight the cat [...] are used both playfully and pointedly to characterize extreme blackness,

mid-ocean n. (US) boiled eggs. 1897 L.A. Times 9 Apr, 5: 'Mid ocean' - boiled eggs,

midshipman’s watch and chain n. a sheep's heart and pluck (the liver and lungs). 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex.

Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

midway n. [carnival/fairground jargon the Midway, the central avenue along which the major shows and amusements are situated. The term originated in 1893, when the Chicago Exposition featured the Midway Plaisance] 1 (US) the main street or streets of a town or city. 1993 I.L. Allen City in SI. (1995) 41: Carnies similarly projected a

word image of their world, the midway, onto the main street of a town. Slang came to use it for any brightly lighted thoroughfare, especially an entertainment strip, such as Sunset Strip in Hollywood and The Strip in Las Vegas.

2 (US black) a hallway or corridor. 1934 J.L. Kubthe'Prison Parlance'in AS IX: 1 27: midway. A hall. 1944

'diver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

midzer n. see madza n. mierda n. [Sp. mierda, SHIT n.[ excrement. 2002 W. Lippmann Marxism Mailing List Archive 14 Aug. [Internet] Musical response to journlistic mierda.

miff n. [an expression of disgust, i.e. 'Mminpphh!'] 1 a tantrum, a petty quarrel, a tiff; thus miffed ad/.; miffiness, the propensity to take offence at the slightest justification.

m SE in slang uses m In compounds midnight cowboy (n.) [film title Midnight Cowboy (1969)1 1 (US) a

1623 C. Butler Feminine Monarchy sig, v, L4v: This is not to be done

male prostitute, esp. when posing as a 'cowboy'. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 136: A model acting out the cowboy theme is a midnight cowboy. 1975 L. Dills CB Slanguage. 1979 Maledicta 111:2 223: Five and two (five pounds or dollars for the services of a UK rent boy or US hustling midnight cowboy, plus two for the room) is pre-inflationary. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 144: They joke about themselves as crack salesmen, dealers in sporting goods. Circus cowboys (U S. midnight cowboys), and faggot

(1959) 69: She would throw it in the teeth of Allworthy himself, when a little quarrel, or miff, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them, 1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man Act IV: I knew one Bett Stubbs, of our town, that was married in red; and, as sure as eggs is eggs, the bridegroom and she had a miff before morning. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary in Waverley (1855) II 35; In accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite, little miffs would occasionally take place. 1843 R. Carlton New Purchase 1 183: Mrs. Ashford soon got over her miff. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer.

workers.

[,..] lest some of the Bees take a miffe, and goe home againe [OED]. 1721 Cibber Refusal 35: She's in a high Miff. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones

miff

mike

1594

SI. 1978 L. Kramer Pacjgots 211: He had picked up the special order he'd placed in a moment of miff.

2 (US) a general term of abuse.

sounding title has recently been given to a fidl glass of ale. — the usual quantity of what is termed a glass being half a pint, mighty adj.

1907 'Hugh McHugh' Beat It 63: That miff is over here to pick out an

■ SE in slang uses

heiress and fall in love with her because he needs the money,

m In compounds

miff adj. see miffed adj. miff v.^ [MIFF n.] 1 to become irritated. 1956 'Ed Lacy' Men from the Boys (1967) 26: 'Mr. King was miffed about it.' 'He miffs too easy.'

mighty mezz (n.) see mezz n. mighty mouth (n.) (camp gay) 1 a fellator.

2 (US) to irritate. 1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of the City (1984) 137: The outburst

miff v2 see NIFF V. (1), miffed adj. (also miff) [miff n.] annoyed. 1824 (con. 17C) W. Scorr Redgauntlet (1827) 75: 'What needs she another till she gets a gudeman?' answered my Thetis, a little miffed perhaps — to use the women's phrase. 1846 D. Corcoran Picking from the Picayune 27: Our new hat had been taken 'by mistake' from a party, and a shocking bad one left in its stead, at which we felt 'miffed'. 1851 M. Reid Scalp-Hunters II 124: 'No-o,' slowly drawled Rube, apparently 'miffed' at being thus interrupted. 1865 letter in SiLBER & SlEVENS Yankee Correspondence (1996) 152: I was in hopes you would keep on the right side of her you know that when she gets a little miff against anyone she will go to all lengths. 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 102: Nor would the obstinate old thing admit that she was miffed. 1916 Hall & Niles One Man's War (1929) 160: Leon was slightly miffed because I didn't bring home a victory. 1920 E. Hemingway letter 1 Jan. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 31: Several girls got a bit miffed because I told 'em they couldn't dance as well as you all. 1939 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 8 Oct. [synd. col.] Carmen Miranda [...] saw Imogene Coca's travesty on her routine [...] and is very miffed about it. 1947 B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 21: Beth is miffed again — her impatience with me had been increasing lately. 1951 S. Lewis World So Wide 205: But naturally she was miffed - you can't blame her. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 140: I was so miffed. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 39: When he had purchased the El Dorado, his wife had gotten miffed. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 240: Clearly miffed at the note of realism that I had introduced into the discussion. 1990 S. Morgan Homehoy 50: Sheriff [...] got miffed and one day caught her in a bar and whipped a case on her. 2000 J. Hawes Dead Long Enough 119:1 realised to my slightly miffed surprise that neither of them was in the least concerned about what I thought. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 78: Life just wasn't panning out as planned and he grew increasingly miffed, the Devil.

1790 Grose Provincial Gloss. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

miffy adj. [miff n.j tetchy, cantankerous, likely to take offence. 1810 J. Beresford Bibliosophia 119: And very lucky it was, by the way (considering how very mijfy those Ladies are said to have been). 1836 T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 232: Well, says I, I'll tell you if you won't be miffy with me. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 135: Mr. Robert was a little miffy because I hadn't [...] played Clifford for a favorite from the start.

mifky-pifky n. (also mufki pufki)

[ety. unknown] (US) silly behaviour, esp. romantic or sexual. 1970 Currents! V:3 10: Mufki pujki, n. Light or moderate petting. 1988 Sun (Baltimore) 29 Dec. [Internet] Come off it. It's mifky-pifky in the bushes. 2000 N.Y. Times Bk Rev. 1672/2: Nor does he equate Nixon's systematic effort to undermine constitutional government with a few incidents of mifky-pifky in Clinton's Oval Office,

mifty adj. [miff n.] apt to take offence for minimal reason. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mifty [sic] apt to take Pet, or be out of Humour. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1740 Cibber Life of Colley Cibber 248: She mutter'd out her Words in a sort of mifty manner, at my low Opinion of her.

mig n.

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

2 a gossip or one who boasts.

miffed Mary Ann.

miffy n. [? Fr. maufe, the Devil]

mighty dome (n.) (US black) the US Congress building or any similar large, institutional edifice. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.

[pron. of the SE abbr. mg] a milligram.

2000 G.V. Higgins At End of Day (2001) 67: Demerol — max nine hundred migs a day.

miggle n. (also miggles, miggy) [var. meg n.^] (US drugs) a marijuana cigarette. 1940 'Jargon of Marihuana Addicts' in AS XV:3 Oct. 336/2: The cigarettes are usually called reefers, but other names are: [...[ miggles. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 155: miggles Marihuana cigarettes. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore 110: Miggies [...] Miggles - Marihuana cigarettes. 1971 'Hassan-iSabbah' Leaves of Grass 1: Mary Warner / Miggles / Hemp,

might n. see mite n. (2). mighty n. a pint of ale. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London II 342: The contest, which it afterwards appeared was for two mighty'sf [* Mighty — This high

1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. mighty quinn (n.) [the Bob Dylan song 'The Mighty Quinn' (1966), esp. the line 'You ain't seen nothin' like the Mighty Quinn'] (drugs) LSD. 1975 Hardy & Cull Drug Lang, and Lore. 1977 S.N. Pradhan Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mighty Quinn — LSD.

■ In phrases mighty-come-a-tooting (also mighty come-a-right, mightycome-a-shouting, mighty-come-a-whistling, mighty shouting, mighty whistling) (US) quite right; usu. preceded by you're... 1905 DN 3.88: Mighty (come-a)shoutin'. mighty whistling. . . Right. 'You're mighty (come a-)shoutin'. 'You're mighty whistlin'.' [DARE]. 1941 J.H. Street In Father's House 171; 'Did you see any good trucks?' 'You mighty come a'right. I picked out one and made a down payment.' [DARE]. 1970 in Thompson Collection. mighty Joe Young (n.) [the film Mighty Joe Young (1949)1 (drugs) 1 an extremely heavy narcotics addiction. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from AtoZi^ 970). 1972 Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective. 1979 J. Homer Jargon. 2 a depressant. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mighty Joe Young — Depressants, migila n. see mecilla n. Mike n. (US) 1 a familiar term of address to an unknown male. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 45: Hey, Mike, d'ye want to see the scrap? 1906 'O. Henry' 'The Cop and the Anthem' in Four Million (1915) 96: 'Ah there, Bedelia! Don't you want to come and play in my yard?' [.,.] 'Sure, Mike,' she said joyfully, 'if you'll blow me to a pail of suds.' 1909 Coshocton (OH) Daily Times 27 Aug. 8/7: Why, hadn't he lived Here since '84 and found that the Place was punky? Sure, Mike! 1936 (con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 963: Sure, mike, [...] I've got enough on him to retire on the blackmail any time now. 1945 A. Kober Farm Me 146: Sure, Mike! [...] A fine listening! 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 94: Well, Mike, / ain't gonna slow up on no convoy. 2 a generic term for an Irishman. 1891 J. Maitland Amer. SI. Diet. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 11: Here Ike and Mike mix jargon and brogue over the bar of a German saloon. 1927 (con. 1918) J. Stevens Mattock 293: Hold yer head up, buddy. Walk straight now, soldier, till old Mike finds ye a flop.

■ In exclamations for Mike’s sake! see for Pete's sake! exc/. mike n.^ [abbr. Michael, the stereotypical Irish forename] 1 a labourer, a hod-carrier, esp. when Irish. 1865 T. Archer Pauper, Thief and Convict 94: Irish Mike carries a hod, while his wife sits behind a fruit-stall [...] and between them they make a better income than many a decent mechanic. 1873 SI. Diet. 2 (Aus.) a cup of tea. 1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 101; "Ere's yer mike,' said his host, shoving over a pannikin of stewed and boiling tea. mike n.^ [joc. use of SE colloq. mike, a microphone] 1 (US black) in pL, ears. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive. 2 see MIC n^. mike v. [mooch v., but Hotten (i860) notes racial stereotyping: Mike is a generic term for an Irishman and Irish labourers were seen as congenitally idlel 1 to loiter, to 'hang about'; thus do/have a mike, to loiter, to waste time. 1825 Egan Life of an Actor 28; To have a mike is to loiter away the time, when it might be more usefully or profitably employed [F&H]. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: You sponges miking round the pubs, / You flymy titters fond of flam. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 52; Very well, then, I mike, an' I do it as a sacred duty. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier 139; Mike. — To dodge duty or to work half-heartedly. 1936 M. Harrison All the Trees were Green 100: We've plenty who come here to mike in pubs and teashops instead of getting on with the job. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 153: I'd better be getting back on the job. I got me rent to earn.

mike finn

milish

1595

Don't want Mr. Johnson to catch me miking. 1980 Barltrop & WOLVERIDGE Muwer Tongue 97: An unauthorized rest is 'having a mike' or 'miking'.

2 to steal, to make off with. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 737: earlier C.20.

■ In phrases do a mike (v.) (also do a mickey) to escape, to run away. 1917 W. Muir Observations of Orderly 230: A verb which I never met

before I enlisted was 'to spruce.' This is almost, it not quite, a blend of 'swinging the lead' and 'doing a mike'. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 213: Dig the dirt, disappear, do a mickey, dog off.

Night Gardener 21: She had some mileage on the odometer, but she was attractive, Pelecanos

mile end n. [rhy. sl.j a friend. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney 12: Now, it ain't good for the geezer to live on 'is Tod. I'm gonna make 'im a Mile End to help 'im.

mile high club n. (also m.h.c.) (orig. US) a notional 'club' of those who have enjoyed sex in an aeroplane. This has now been joined by the mile-deep club, those who have had sex while travelling through the Channel Tunnel between UK and France.

ES

1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Maggie Mahone, a telephone.

1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 152: The reporters had been going on about this mile-high club. 1992 D. Jarman diary 6 Aug. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 184: 1 asked the young man if he had joined the 'mile high club'. 2006 Sam and the City at blogs.smh.com.au 20 June [blog] Yet we can't talk about sex in public places without the mention of the Mile High Club (or MHC as it's known to members),

1989 in G. Tremlett Little Legs 195: mike malone phone. 2002 B.

miler n. (also myla) [Rom. meita, a mule, ? ult. Lat. mulus] a donkey, an

ike finn n. see mickey finn n. ike Malone n. (also Maggie Mahone) [rhy. sl.l a telephone.

Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI.

mike malone adv. see on one's pat (malone) under pat malone n. miker n. [mike v. or Gloucestershire dial.] a loafer, a scrounger. 1898 W. Pett Ridge MordEm'ly 186: I'm a bit of a miker meself. 193784 Partridge DSUE (1984) 737: [...] from ca. 1880.

mikey n.^

[mic n.^] (US drugs) someone who volunteers to personally test illicit drugs. 2003 Microgram Bulletin XXXVI: 11 249: [Internet] The tablets were

seized during a probation check from a local drug user who is a socalled 'Mikey' (a volunteer 'guinea pig' who is willing to 'test' (by self-administration) illicit drugs and drug mixtures of virtually any type.

mikey n.^ see mickey n.’' (la). mil n. (abbr.l 1 a million, usu. of money. 1967 P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 72: Thanks a mil, sir. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 148: They made what, about a quarter of a mil in a month? 1982 A. Maupin Further Tales of the City (1984) 40: Two mil a movie must soften the blow. 1990 .1. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 219: The house across from Margie's is in escrow for nearly seven mil! 2007 W. Ellis Crooked Little Vein 16: You're just sending me into the wilds with half a mil and this? 2 a milligram, usu. of a drug. 1997 L. Davies Candy 121: We talked about a quick methadone reduction program: start on just 40 mils, go to zero in two months, something like that. 2002 (con. 1981) W. Self Dorian 37: 'What's he on nowadays?' [...] 'Same as ever, five-mil Dexies in the day, tombstones or bombers if he's out on the razzle.'

milch-cow n. (also milch-kine) [SE mikh-cow, a cow 'in milk' + used fig. as an easy source of money) (UK prison) a prisoner who is generous in bribing warders; one who is easily tricked out of money or property. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Milch-kine, a Term us'd by Goalers, when their Prisoners will bleed freely to have some Favor, or be at large. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. e.l698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 54: milch cow A man that is easily cheated out of his money.

mild and meek n. [rhy. sl.j (7\us.) the cheek. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] mild and meek: the cheek,

mild bloater n. a second-rate dandy. 1864 Hotten si. Diet. 178: Weak young men who keep bull-dogs, and dress in a 'loud' stable style, from a belief that it is very becoming, are sometimes called mild bloaters. 1870 Hotten Sl. Diet. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

mildewed adj. [SE mildewed, tainted with mildew] 1 miserable, miserable-looking. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 July 18/2: [S]eeing that the new genius can already reel off the old mildewed idioms and worn-out phrases of the training-stable, there was no occasion to hint at his want of fluency. 1946 H.A. Smith Rhubarb 23: I'm going to throw you so that your mildewed carcass wraps itself around that tree. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 181: Mardy, mildewed, mingy.

2 pitted with smallpox. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

mileage n. (orig. US) experience of life. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey, But the Season's Over 174: Why

she's got so much mileage on her you couldn't trade her in if you wanted to. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 35: Carol's van had a lot of mileage on it and so, he suspected, did Carol. 1985 J. Sherwood Botanist at Bay 157: If Bertie did kill her there's no political mileage in it. 1999 Guardian G2 26 Aug. 7: Women can't credit the fact that men often like someone with a bit of mileage on her. 2006 G.

ass. 1821 J. Burrowes Life in St George's Fields 26: Miler a donkey. 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 140: I no longer drummed with my heels [...] Charlotte's patriarchal white myla. 1900 Sporting Times 31 Mar. 2/1: If anybody will show me the hiding-place of the caitiffwretch who told me Survivor was the best miler in the world and as good a plucked-'un as they make, the nark shall receive a presentation copy of 'the great game'. — miles of bad road n. (US) 1 a very unattractive or unappealing person, sight or situation; the number can differ, but is commonly forty...; often in phr. look like... 1927 Wall Street Journal 29 Mar. 2: An odd simile was used recently by a young motorist in speaking of a very plain-looking girl. 'She looks,' he said, 'like seven miles of bad road.' 1959 Duane Eddy [instrumental title] Forty Miles of Bad Road. 1969 S. Greenlee Spook who Sat by the Door (1972) 103: I'll take care of your old lady [...] The one looks like twenty miles of bad road. 1977 (con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 28: You only look like about ten thousand miles of bad road. 1989 P. Munro SI. U. 123: Like five miles of bad road like something really awful. 1998 T. Sanders 'Operation Fishhook' in Jack mag. 11:2 [Internet] 'You look like forty miles of bad road, Tui. You'll need to see a doctor, and you're probably gonna have a few scars.' Tui winced as Zeke probed a wound with forceps. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 255: He's got a face like five miles of bad road. 2 a phr. describing one who is completely exhausted; often in phr. look like... 1986 C. Stroud Close Pursuit (1988) 91: Kennedy. You been on since six this morning. You look like forty miles of bad road. 2003 D. Belton Underground Asylum 228: 'You look like you just drove forty miles of bad road.' 'Yeah, I'm beat.'

miles’s boy n. [Bee (1823) cites a tax-collector called Miles, who employed a boy to check on people who might be attempting to default on their dues by moving away] 'a very knowing lad in receipt of much information' (B&L). 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 119: Miles's boy — 'Who told you? 1 thought no one knew.' Ans. 'I had it from Miles's boy.' 1841 'F.L.G' Swell's Night Guide K4: Miles's Boy, Nobody,

milestone n. [they stand at the side of the road] a country bumpkin. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 the Vulgar Tongue,

Egan

Grose's Classical Diet, of

m SE in slang uses ■ In compounds milestone inspector (n.) (UK tramp) a professional tramp. 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 211: Milestone Inspector - a professional tramp. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 175: A tramp, very generally, is a 'milestone inspector', milestone-monger (n.) (tramp) a professional tramp. 1883 J. Greenwood Tag, Rag & Co. n.p.: Of all men I should be the last to utter a harsh word against the most inveterate milestonemonger that ever fled from his family to enjoy the sweets of freedom. J. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

milf n. [acronym for mom / would like to fuck; coined in movie Amer. Pie (1999)1 (US campus) an attractive (older) woman. 1999 A. Herz Amer. Pie [film script] mile guy #2: Dude that chick's a MILF! MILE guy #3: What to hell is that? milf guy #2: M-I-L-F Mom I'd Like to Fuck! 2001 Eble Campus SI. Fall 7: milf - (mother I'd like to fuck) sexy female. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 76: She was a total MILF, as in Mother I'd Like to Fock.

milherm n. see millihelen n. milihelen n. see millihelen n. milish n. (abbr.) (US) the militia. 1862 R.B. Hayes Diary and Letters (1922) II 192: Three thousand milish are [...] on or near Flat Top Mountain. 1883 Daily Kansas State Journal 7 June in Miller & Snell Why the West was Wild 559:

militant

milk

1596

Another call for the 'railish' is expected by tomorrow morning, 1907 D. Runyon 'The Defence of Strikerville' in From First To Last (1954) 11: The sad circumstances of J. Wallace Hanks' enlistment in the

2 usu. in pi., the female breasts.

Colorado State milish.

milk bottle bottoms (n.) see coke bottle classes n. milk factory (n.) (US) in pi., the female breasts.

militant adj. [weak use of SE] (black) aggressive, energetic, purposive. C.1978 Bob Marley quoted in L. Gardner 'Honoring Bob Marley' (2000) Jahworks.or0 [Internet] Right now is a more militant time on earth, because it's Jah Jah time. But me always militant, you know. Me too militant. That's why me did things like 'Kaya,' to cool off the pace. 2001 (con, 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 145: I was jus' ramping wid you, an' you wanna get militant. 2003 'Smitty' hiphopinfinity.com [Internet] Review of JEL's !0 Seconds album [...] Moving on to 'Dynamic Button,' the track begins with a militant drum loop accompanied by a guitar riff and organ combination,

military wedding n. [play on shotgun wedding n.j (US) a wedding that is forced on the groom through his girlfriend's (soon to be bride's) pregnancy. 1981 (con. 1920s) P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Out! 32: Fights between women [...] consisted of a good deal of hand-slapping and repetitive name-calling, culminating in a question like 'Who was it had a military weddin?' This was the signal for real action. 1992 W.G. Cahan No Stranger to Tears 81: The four of us were often called upon as witnesses for a military wedding, 'Military' in both senses of that word: it was of the shotgun variety. This usually involved a pregnant nurse or WAC. 2004 J. Dunn Willis Ave 57: It was a military wedding. The very pregnant Angie's father showed up with a shotgun.

milk n. 1 bodily fluids, (a) semen; thus milk-pail, the vagina. 1619-20 I.C. Two Merry Milke-Maids I iii: Vdfoot, and my Dagger had not bin rustie, that I might haue drawne it with credit. I'd a stucke it in the middle of your Milk Pale. 1632 J. Shirley Flyde Park IV iii: I know by her pail: an she were otherwise, T'would turn her milk. 1683 XV Comforts of Marriage 69: She wants due Benevolence, and requires more Milk than he can give her, and therefore is resolved to Lap elsewhere. 1969 H. Rap Brown Die Nigger Die! 29: I'm the bed tucker the cock plucker the motherfucker / The milkshaker the record breaker the population maker. 1988 H. Max Gay (S)language. 1999 'Master Pimp' Pimp's Rap 106: Her lips locked around my 10-1/ 2 like a starving infant sucking a mother's breast. I exploded my milk into her mouth. 2003 review of Man Academy 2 at www. gayvideodad.com 24 Apr. [Internet] Michaels and Johnson tag-team Kelley's butt, and the scene ends with milk on everyone's cookies, (b) vaginal secretions. 1669 J. Aubrey Ms. Aubr. 21 n.p.: Her breath is sweet as the rose in June Her skin is as soft as silk And if you tickle her in the flank She'll freely give down her milk. 1686 'Vindication' Harleian Mss. 7319.464: 'Twas the Indian Silk That brought down the Milk Which her Husband did take for a Kindness. 2 a weakling [abbr. SE milksop]. 1881 "Arry on Fashion' in Punch 10 Sept. 110/2: Patriotic? Well, them as talks Muggins like that to our gurls must be milks. 3 methylated spirits mixed with water and drunk by down-and-out alcoholics [the resulting white 'milky' colour). 1996 R. Rendell Keys to the Street 59: The meths and water mixture, cloudy white fluid the jacks men called milk.

■ In compounds milk jug (n.) (also milk pan) the vagina. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy III 9: Mind well your Milkpan, And ne'er touch a Man. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

milkman (n.) 1 the penis. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: milkman euph. affectionate Penis; pork sword. 2 a person who masturbates frequently. 1984 Partridge DSVE (8th edn) 738/1: C.19-early 20.

■ In phrases make a milk run (v.) (US gay) to frequent a men's lavatory looking for sex. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 134: make a milk run to tour the all-night washrooms in an attempt to secure a partner. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Make a Milk Run To cruise a men's room.

put milk in the coffee (v.) (W./.) to have sexual intercourse. 1998 (con. 1940s) P. Cumper One Bright Child 53: You know how much Jamaicans love to put milk in the coffee!

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds milk bottle (n.) 1 a baby. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 176/1: Milk-bottle (Com. Peoples'). Baby.

1949

Monteleone

Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1972

B.

Rodgers

Queens'

Vernacular.

1946 J.H. Burns Gallery (2004) 211: Nuttin but rear ends bouncin like Jello and milk factories under dere dresses. 2002 (con. 1970s) P. Rust No Stale Juh [Internet] Josh, I heard that at the end of 'Grease,' Olivia-Newton John wears a tight outfit and you can see her milkfactories. And yes. Josh, her milk-factories are larger than most average-sized milk factories!

milk route (n.) (US) a female breast. c,1935 'Mae West in "The Hip Flipper'" [comic strip] in B. Adelman Tijuana Bibles (1997) 94: He tried to appease her boundless lust by chewing on her milk route,

milk shake (n.) 1 (US) in pL, the female breasts. 1916 H.N.

Cary

SI. ofVenery. 1935 J.

Conroy

World to Win 192: Look at

them milk shakes!

2 see a/so separate entry. milk shop (n.) (also milk walk) the female breasts. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 108/1: Apple dumplings, a woman's bosom, dugs, cat's heads, milk shops. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 738: [...] C.19-early 20.

milktoast (n.) see Caspar Milquetoast n. milk wagon (n.) (US gay) in pL, the female breasts. 1972

B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular.

milk walk (n.) 1 (US Und.) a beggar's 'beat'. 1872 N.Y. Times 17 Mar. 2/7: How's the milk-walk, Jerry? 2 see MILK SHOP above.

milk-woman (n.) 1 (Scot.) a wet-nurse; thus green milk-woman, one who has only recently given birth. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

2 a female masturbator. 1890-1904

Farmer & Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases bring someone to their milk (v.) [? image of a baby quietening when given its milk; ? a stubborn calf that refuses to drink but gives in when overwhelmed by hunger) (US) to subdue someone, to bring someone to their senses, to make them accept authority; also come to one's milk, to come to one's senses. 1857 J.G. Holland Bay Path 209: There ain't anything that'll bring you to your milk half so quick as a good double-and-twisted thrashin [DA].

do the milk route (v.) [the image of a milk roundsman) of one who is searching for or selling sex, to tour bus stations or other such places very late at night or very early in the morning looking for trade. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 150: Occasionally a female pro will [...] do the milk route (tour bus stations or other such places very late at night or very early in the morning looking for trade), let the milk down (v.) (also give down one’s milk) [breastfeeding imagery) (US, Southern) to reveal the facts after withholding them for some time. 1973 W. Crawford Stryker 25-. You're thinning out my patience. [...] Give down your milk before you give me the ass [HDAS]. 1984 R. Wilder You All Spoken Here 22: Let the milk down: Tell it all; don't hold back; wring it out. milk and honey route (n.) (US tramp) a rail route that is

renowned for good hand-outs, esp. one passing through Mormon parts of Utah; note in cit. 1926, bread-and-milk route is prob, a fabrication on the part of the speaker. 1915 H.F. Day Landloper 33: Have you ever hit the sage-brush trail, hiked the milk-and-honey route from Ogden through the Mormon country [...] Hey? 1926 W.H. Davies Adventures of Johnny Walker 2^8: Chicago Slim, who was relating to Bony - an English beggar - his awful suffering for a week in The State of Utah, where a beggar had no other food than bread and milk [...] and how travelling in that part was known to all beggars as 'the bread-and-milk route'. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 24: Often the hobos speak of a railroad as a 'milk and honey route'. The original milk and honey route was a railroad from Salt Lake City southward through the valleys of Utah. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 101: On the way I Slopped at Salt Lake City, Utah, which is what the bums call the milk-and-honey route.

milk in the coco(a)nut (n.) (or/g. US) a puzzling fact or circumstance, a crux; esp. in phr. that accounts for the milk in the coconut, a phr. used to respond to someone's explanation of an event or action; note ad hoc var. in cit. 1885. 1840 Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 21 Mar. 25/2: All of 'vich' [...] fully accounts [...] for the milk in the cocoa-nut [DA]. 1850 W.K. Northall Life and Recollections of Yankee Hill 162: This part of your subject may not account for the milk in the cocoa nut, but it does account for why your humble sarvint is here. All owin' tew his New

milk

milk jug

1597

England. 1873 SI. Diet. 124; Cocoa-nut, the head. [...] Also, when anything is explained to a man for the first time, it is not unusual for him to say, 'Ah, that accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut' — a remark which has its origin in a clever but not very moral story. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 6/4: Mr. Minister Wright refused to give him the appointment because he (Mr. Holborrow) was unpopular with the officers. Upon hearing this, the Richmond Wolseley replied that so far as three of the officers in question were concerned, he could easily explain how the lacteal fluid got into their particular cocoa-nuts, because one of those heroes bold was heavily in his [.,.] debt, another was a discharged servant of his, and the third he had refused to recommend for an appointment under Government. 1893 Congressional Record 28 Feb. 2299/1: Here is the milk in the cocoanut! A frank confession it is [DA]. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Sept. 15/1: The fact that Mr. Reid is a graduate and was for a long time a bright star of Sydney Debating Society aforesaid possibly accounts for the milk in the cocoanut. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Dec. 13/2: Or the Bench might itself have been a sheep-owner, which would account for the milk in the cocoanut and divers other things. 1980 Barltrop & WOLVERiDGE Muwer Tongue 88: Explanations of how things work or have come out are usually capped with 'And that's how the milk got in the coconut!'

■ In exclamations milk and water! (exd.) {also both ends of the busk!) [the ref. is to the female breasts and the vagina, which give respective milk and urine or vaginal juices; a SE busk is a corset, or the wood, steel or whalebone that stiffens it] a toast, further defined as 'Both ends of the busk!' 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

milk

V. 1 in senses of taking illegally, (a) to defraud, to extract money from.

C.1526 Frith Disputacion Purgatorye n.p.: To Rdr. Avj, This theyr painful purgatorye [...] hath of longe time but deceaued the people and mylked them from theyr monye [OED]. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 109: He had been forc'd to promise to bring her some Rich Cull, whom she might Milk to good Advantage. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 25: There if Lour we want I'll milk / a gage or nip from thee a bung. 1801 G. FLangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 60; Your flash-man, is following his occupation, scampering on his prancer upon the high tober or at some country fair mulking [sic.] the flatts of the quid. 1861 R.F. Burton City of the Saints 255: 'Milking the Gentiles,' coining 'Bogus-Money, whistling and whittling'. 1870 W.W. Fowler Ten Years In Wall Street 32: The ring, to use a Wall Street phrase in this way, 'milk the street,' taking money out of the bears, who sell at a low price; and out of the bulls, who buy at a high price. 1873 SI. Diet. 225: Milking, is keeping a horse a favourite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance whatever, or in which he will not be allowed to try, for the purpose of laying against him. 1885 F. Gilbert 'I'm the Fellow that Tells the Truth' [lyrics] Our statesmen all 'milk' us, our purse is the 'Cow'. 1928 M.C. Sharpe Chicago May: Her Story in Hamilton (1952) 131: Sometimes [the blackmailer] exposes the dupe after he has been milked dry. 1936 R. Chandler 'Goldfish' Red Wind (1946) 169: Peeler played with a girl and she milked him. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 84: Beefy cattlemen who were sure to be milked. 1952 Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 19: They milk treasuries of companies in which they infiltrate. 1969 S. Greenlee Spook who Sat by the Door (1972) 31: This was the easiest trick she had in a week. She wondered how much she could milk him for. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 81: Haagen Dazs up to a buck a cone at the pot-bellied gouger's. Milk the faggots dry. 1983 A-Team Storybook 33: We're all here to milk the suckers. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 175: I've got to milk 'em for all they're worth. 2000 Guardian Editor 7 Jan. 13: What's done for the wise guys is the decline of the blue-collar unions, whose pension funds they used to milk.

(b) to intercept telegrams addressed to others. 1869 Times 14 Aug. in Brewer Phrase and Fable (1894) II 1212/1: 'Telegram.' They receive their telegrams in cipher to avoid the risk of their being milked by rival journals. 1871 Milk Journal n.p.: Milking the wires is telegraphic slang for tapping the wires [F&H]. 1884 Sat. Rev. (London) 10 May 607: The Central News telegram, if it was milked at all, was milked throught the medium of Sir C.Wilson's, etc [F&H[.

(c) {Aus.) to siphon petrol from a car (whether legally or not). 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 212: [He] supported both a motor-car and bicycle due to his economical use of the company's petrol. In one of the shops on his run he kept a big oil drum and when occasion offered he would refill this without expense by the simple expedient of crawling under his 'bus and 'milking' her. 1982 J. Davis Dreamers 78: ROY: Hope they don't come round lookin' for boondah for petrol to git 'ome. [...] peter: Don't you know how to milk a bowser?

2

to masturbate oneself or someone else, to cause to ejaculate [note

in D'Urfey, Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719): 'But stupid Honesty; / May teach her how to Sleep all Night / And take a great deal more Delight, / To Milk the Cows than thee'; note MILK n.].

1610 Jonson Alchemist III iii: For she must milk his epididimis. / Where is the doxy? 1707 N. Ward London Terraefilius II 20: That Airy Lass [was] brought from the Innocent Squeezing of Cows Dugs, to the Wicked Milking of Town Bulls. 1833 'Milking The Bull' in Lummy Chaunter 92: In short, I never was before / Pleas'd half so much, I vow, / So ever since I milk young Hodge, / Before I milk my cow. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 101: Ecremer. To cause ejaculation: 'to milk'. 2003 Milkers.com [Internet] Just Awesome, Jaw-Dropping, Dick-Milking JO Fun! 3 to add milk to tea or coffee. 2003 Princeton University WordNet 1.7.1 [Internet] The verb 'milk' has 3 senses in WordNet. 1. milk -- (take milk from female mammals; 'Cows need to be milked every morning'). 2. milk -(exploit as much as possible: 'I am milking this for all it's worth'). 3. milk -- (add milk to: 'milk the tea').

4 to laze around, to be idle. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 38: Milkin' about at 'ome an' 'idin' money. 1995 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 7: milk around act in a carefree and lazy manner; 'I should have been getting some work done, but I've just been milking around all afternoon'.

■ In phrases milk a duck (v.) (US) to attempt the impossible. 2002 J.M. Pickard K'ang Ch. 12 on digitalZendo [Internet] Gutha! It would be easier to milk a duck!

milk the lizard (v.) see under lizard n. milk the pigeon (v.) to attempt an impossible task. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. milk bar cowboy n.

a person, esp. a motorcyclist, who

frequents milk bars. 1985 J. Sherwood Botanist at Bay 38: I'm sure you don't talk like a milk-bar cowboy at the commune. 1988 (ref. to 1950s) McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 73/1: milkbar cowboy a postwar bikie, though probably not anymore. 2003 McGill Reed Diet. ofN.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988]. milken n. see mill-ken under

mill

v? .

milker n. [milk v. (2)] 1 one who intercepts telegrams addressed to others. 1891 Cassell's Sat. Journal Sept. 1036, col. 2: When a telegram sent to a specific person is surreptitiously made use of or drawn from by others, it is said to have been 'milked;' and those who thus steal are called milkers [F&H].

2

the vagina [it 'milks' the penis of semen].

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 3 a masturbator. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 738/1: C. 19-20; ob.

4 an idler. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets 52: I'm a milker out an' out, an'I 'ope I shall always remain a milker. The less a worker does the more 'as to be imployed, don't they? 5 usu. in pi., the female breast. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks. 2003 Buxom Milkers.com [Internet] The scantily clad enormous breast girl was flashing me her sexy buxom milkers crevice. 2005 Roger's Profanisaurus in Wz Apr. 48: nipnosis n. Trance-like state induced by [...] a pair of bobbing milkers. milker’s calf n. [SE milker's calf, a calf that is still with its mother] (Aus.) a petted, favourite child, a 'mother's boy'. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 2: I used to laugh at him, and call him a regular old crawler of a milker's calf, milkie n. a milkman. 2003 'An Adventuring Life for Me! (by the members of Sendero Luminoso)' Crasimoff's Quest World 'Crasimoff's Chronicles' Issue 204 [Internet] They heard the cheery whistling of the man who brought fresh milk to town. It was a homely sound, one that made them feel secure. Then the whistling stopped as the milkie shouted, 'Mornin' love.' milking pail n. [note double entendre in D'Urfey, Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719): 'What )oys are found, / In Russet Gown, / Young, plump and round, / And sweet and sound, / That carry the Milking Pa//'] the vagina. 1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) IV 412: You girls of Venus game [...] If men were so wise to value the prize Of the wares most fit for sale. What store of beaux would daub their clothes. To save a nose, by following those Who carry the milking-pail? 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 242: Seau, m. The female pudendum-, 'the milking-paiT. milk jug n. {also milkie) [rhy. si. = mug n.^ (2a)l 1 (Aus.) a fool, a simpleton.

milkman’s horse

1972 Dodson & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit. 2 see under

mill

1598

milk n.

milkman’s horse n. Irhy, si. = Cockney pron, 'crorss'] adversity; an emotional burden. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 268: ^ tosser on a Wilkie Bard, IA lord on a Charing Cross, / Is 'ow I fell, and it’s bread-'n-lard / To bear my milkman's ’orse.

milko n. [also milk-oh) [SE milk + -o .sfx (3)1 1 {orig. Aus.) a milkman. 1905 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 July 12/1: [T]he milkman called, whereupon the marauder appeared with a jug and said, 'A pint and a half, please.' Thinking it over later 'milk-o' decided it was curious and spoke to the Law. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Sept. 10/3: [pic. caption] Milko. 'Pint, sir?' [Ibid.] 8 Dec. 10/4: [T]he two-gallon licence holders at Powlett (Vic.) vend their wares in handy spring carts, just as the common or noisy Milk-oh! does. And the billy is stuck out just as the milk jug is. 1926 Breton & Bevir Adventures of Mrs. May 54: I've known 'em come and knock as though they was the postman [...] or call out 'milko' at the back door. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 154: They'd been there so long, the milko delivered milk to the car. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 118: The 'milko' poured the daily order into the household billy, 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco (1998) 3: He was a milko with a van and a milk run. 2 (Aus.) dawn; the very early morning (i.e. milk delivery time). 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 38/4: Well, 1 never once got home between midnight and milk-o without havin' that flamin' torch flashed in my face. 3 (Aus.) a cow-hand. 1946 F. Clone Try Nothing Twice 111: What with watering the milk and letting calves strip the cows, 1 was candidly a failure as a milkoh [AND].

4 (UK drugs) a mix of heroin and lactose. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 99: In conclusion, I would introduce the authorities to the latest export of the dope 'rings'. It is called 'Milko', and is a concoction of heroin and lactose, a milk by¬ product. It costs one shilling and twopence a gramme and it has been introduced by the racketeers as a substitute for other drugs the last Great War has restricted. milkshake n. [resemblance] 1 (N.Z.) a mix of bicarbonate of soda, used illegally in the hope of enhancing a racehorse's perform¬ ance; thus as V., to administer such a mixture; thus milkshaking n. 1990 Dominion (Wellington) 2 May 1: 'Milkshakes' - the use of stomach tubing to give a horse a mixture believed by some to enhance performance - came to a head early in March when the [Harness Racing] conference issued a statement outlawing the practice on racedays [DNZE]. 1991 Eve. Post (Wellington) 22 Feb. 28: Milkshaking is the common term for administering a large dose of bicarbonate of soda [...] mixture to a horse which harness racing officials say enhances stamina [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

2 (N.Z. teen) fellatio. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 85: get a milkshake Experience fellatio. Teen slang.

milky adj.^ (UK Und.) white; thus milky duds, white clothes; milky tats, white rags. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 168: The paper makers get the tats and [...] fence the milky ones with some swag chovey bloak. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1839]. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 62: MILKY ONES, white linen rags. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 54: milky White. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. [as cit. 1859]. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 10/2: The Parson is on the highfly in a fantail banger and a milky mill toy. He got the cant of togs from a shickster whose husband's in a bone-box. He'll gammon the swells. He touched one for an alderman the first ten minutes.

■ In compounds milky way (to bliss) (n.) (UK Und.) the female breasts. 1633 Carew Caelum Brit. (Ebsworth) 139: Jupiter begins to learn to lead his own wife: I left him practising the milky way [F&H]. 1699 N. Ward London Spy VI 146: Every now and then drop'd a Lady from her Pillion, another from her Side-Saddle, some shewing the Milkyway to Bliss, others their Bugbears to the Company. 1707 Fifteen Plagues of a Maiden-Head 3: Let your wanton Palm a little stray [...] dip thy Fingers in the milky way. 1833 'Modest Obadiah' in Fun Alive 0! 52: Then surely love must blunder, / Because the Bible says 'tis good / In the milky way to wander, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Tet-galaxy or the milky-way, a woman's bosom.

milky adj^ [SE milksop] cowardly. 1893 "Arriet on Labour' in Punch 26 Aug, 88/2: My young man [...] whose temper's really milky / Whose 'art is soft as 'is merstarche —

and that is simply silky. 1927 (con. 1920s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 375: But he was not milky. He was staring hard enough. 1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock (1943) 47: You aren't milky, are you? 1954 R, Fabian London After Dark 83: Boastful young spivs who will do anything rather than admit to being 'milky'. 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 27: Before you started giving anyone the strength of anything, you always went a bit milky.

■ In compounds milky beak (n.) [beak n.’’ (1)] (UK Und.) a drunken magistrate. c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet, n.p.: Beak, milky a magistrate who will forego the strict duty of his office for a good treat of wine, &c,

milky bar kid n. [the child advertising the Milky Bar, a sweet, was known as the Milky Bar Kid] (Aus. prison) a petty criminal, 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Milky bar kid. One who burglarises local stores. Has contemptuous overtones reserved for small time criminality,

milky way adj. [rhy. si.

=

cay ad j. (6)] homosexual.

1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI.

mill n.^ 1 the vagina [a play on SE gr/nd/CRlND v. (1)]. 1533 J. Heywood Play of Weather in Farmer Dramatic Writings (1905)

118: She would have the mill pecked, pecked, pecked, every day! C,1580 'I.T.' Grim The Collier of Croydon I iv: You may do as other

Millers do, grind your grist at home, knock your coggs into your own Mill, you shall not cogg with her. 1623 Fletcher & Rowley Maid in the Mill V ii: I have oft been found-a Thrown on my back, on a well-fill'd sack, while the Mill has still gone round-a. 1646 Parliament of Women B4: Rachael Rattle-a-pace [said] so I hope that I bringing my sack to the mill, it may be ground among the rest, c.1660 'I Cannott Bee Contented' in Furnivall & Hales Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript of Loose and Humorous Songs (1868) 95: Looke in the dam, & you may spye / heere is soe much that some runs by; / that neuer came a yeere soe drye / cold keep the Mill ffrom grindinge. 1683 Whores Rhetorick A5: He that would grind with you, must pay the Toll before hand, even before he is permitted to bring his Grist to the Mill. C.1707 'Bonny Peggy Ramsey' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 151: And square is her Wethergig made like a Mill [...] For Peggy is a bonny Lass and grinds well her Mill. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy II 24: She said his Corn was musty, nor should her Toll-dish fill, / His Measure too so scanty, she fear'd t'would burn her Mill. 1836 'The Lady's Water Mill' Frisky Vocalist 15: Her mill's surrounded thick with moss! 1841 'Fanny's Mill' Gentleman's Spicey Songster 13: For Roger knew well how to grind / Her mill, for it, was new and clean, / A neater mill could ne'er be seen. 2 in (UK Und.) use [SE mill, covering a variety of engines and tools], (a) a housebreaker. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 738: C.17.

(b) housebreaking. 1676 'A Newgate ex-prisoner' A Warning for House-Keepers 3: Those that go upon the Mill, which are house-breakers, they are the most dangerous of all sorts, they have an instrument [...] which they call a Betty. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 242: Upon the Mill, which is breaking open Houses in the Night.

(c) a chisel. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Mill, a Chizel. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 13: Mill, a Chizel. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

3 a fist-fight

[MILL

v.^ (3)1. (a) a prize-fight.

1812 Mr Lawson 'Chaunt' in Egan Boxiana I 477: Come list ye all ye

fighting Gills, I And Coves of boxing note, sirs, / Whilst I relate some bloody Mills, / In our time have been fought, sirs. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London I 83: There was a most excellent mill at Moulsey Hurst on Thursday last, between the Gas-light man, who appears to be a game chicken, and a prime hammerer — he can give and take with any man — and Oliver — Gas beat him hollow, it was all Lombard-street to a china orange. 1827 P. Cunningham New South Wales II 64: Scientific mills often take place, also, between lads of the fancy, for prize purses. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 8: His rattler was sure to be full, both inside and out on the road to a prize mill. 1859 G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 97: The 'mill' between Lurky Snaggs and Dan Pepper (the 'Kiddy') for one hundred pounds a side. 1869 J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 379: Some brief account of a 'mill' that has recently taken place between those once highlypopular gentlemen — the members of the 'P.R.' 1881 Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Jan. 5/2: A 'mill' took place in Essex on the 10th instant, between Taylor and Longen. 1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 143: I used now and again Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 215: world today can be compared to H.C. WiTWER Fighting Blood 344:

to go and see a merry mill. 1903 A. Nothing to be seen in the boxing the merry mills of yesteryear. 1923 Eleven people in all at a battle for

mill

mill

1599

the heavyweight championship of the world and ten of the low¬ voiced eleven is connected with the mill as principals or officials. 1927 H.C. WiTWER Classics in Si. 62: As twenty-four hours' notice is much more than I usually get for a mill, I cheered up considerably.

(b) a fight, a brawl, sometimes a battle. 1836 'The Drummer's Stick' in Frisky Vocalist 5; So he laid them all

upon the grass, / Brought forth the magic stick, alas! / They look'd at it till fit to burst, / The had a mill which should have it first. 1843 W.T. Moncrieff Scamps of London III ii: Lor, I had two or three mills, was thrown out of the house like a dog. 1853 'Cuthbert Bede' Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 6: The jolly mills they used to have with the town cads. 1865 'The County Jail' in I. Beadle Comic and Sentimental Song Bk 55: At ten we raised a glorious mill / And smathered each other with right good will. 1873 W.H. Thomes Slaver's Adventures 248: Of all things I like to see a galllant mill. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 14/3: Our long stay at the Quay was rather enlivened by a couple of rounds between two amateur pugs [...] and their mill continued till an old gentleman stepped in. 1896 S. Crane George's Mother (2001) 104: Zeusentell an' O'Connor had a great old mill. They were scrappin' all over the place. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands 198: Hot 'n' willin' was ther mills he had up under ther roof. 1913 A. Lunn Harrovians 191: To be hauled up by a boy you could knock into a cocked hat in a mill, to be warned, then dismissed like the veriest fag. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1934 D. Hammett 'His Brother's Keeper' in Nightmare Town (2001) 172: Boy, was that a mill!

4 in sense of going or passing or putting through the mill, (a) [UK Und.) the Insolvent Debtors' Court. 1864, 1867, 1870 Ho'tten SI. Diet. 179: Mill the old Insolvent Debtors'

Court. To go through thetAiu. is equivalent to being whitewashed. 1873 SI. Diet.

(b) any institution that acts to process its affairs by rote, rather than deal with them on their individual merits. 1899 Ade Fables in SI. (1902) 93: A Modern Solomon, who had been

chosen to preside as a Judge in a Divorce Mill, climbed to his Perch and unbuttoned his vest for the Wearisome Grind. 1929 S. Ornitz Haunch Paunch and Jowl 69: I began to haunt the entrance to Essex Market Magistrates' Court, the East Side's police tribunal ... It was a busy mill of agonized humanity. 1932 E.S. Gardner 'Honest Money' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2006) 42: Graves [...J told me her'd let me cop a minimum sentence if I'd rush her through the mill and make a plea. 1940 W.R. Burnett High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 332:1 got a couple of diploma-mill doctors that I wouldn't let work on my own dog. 1957 M. Shulman Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1959) 48: Doc [...] had received his M.D. from a Boston diploma mill. 1970 Gaddis & Long Panzram (2002) 95: A pain-and-punishment mill of almost legendary repute, Clinton Prison had virtually lost its name [...] in favor of Dannemora. 2004 J. Ellroy 'Hollywood Fuck Pad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 208: Those places were abortion mills back in the '50s. (C) {US drugs) anywhere that pure heroin, purchased in bulk, is diluted and packaged for street sales. 1989 (con. 1950s) Courtwright & Des Jarlais Addicts Who Survived

66: Dope is maybe 97 or 98 percent pure [...] The big boys, they'll sell it to somebody who's damn near as big, somebody who'll buy a quarter of a million dollars' worth of dope. They'll take the dope they call the place where they cut up the dope 'mills' - they'll take it and put twice as much on it as there is dope. 2003 A.N. LeBlanc Random Family 43: He set up a processing mill. He bought heroin, mannitol (a dilutant), a glass table, six chairs, a triple-beam scale, and glassine envelopes.

5 in context of imprisonment, (a) a treadmill.

Patton and Finke turned loose. Peine put in mill. 1918 H. Simon 'Prison Diet.' in AS VIII:3 (1933) 29/2: MILL. A prison or jail. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 138/2: Mill. (Chiefly Central and mid-Western) A prison; a jail; reformatory; penitentiary.

(c) a military prison or guardhouse. C.1880 'O'Reilly' [US army poem] They ran him in the mill, they've got him in there still, / His bob-tail's coming back by mail, / O'Reilly's gone to Hell, 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 104: Jack Fahey [...] had been busted from post Sergeant-Major [...] and he had been running mate of mine in the mill off and on. 1906 C. M'Govern 'Soldier SI.' in Sarjint Larry an' Frinds n.p.: mill:— Guardhouse. 1918 D.G. Rowse Doughboy Dope 45: J is the Jug, otherwise known as the can, the pen or the mill. 1928 (con, 1918) L. Nason Sergeant Eadie 78: Put 'em in the mill! c.1943 'Bill 0. Lading' You Chirped a Chinful!! n.p.: Jail [,..] Mill. 6 {US) a bar. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 47: There were products of France all that day [...] at the mills 'way over on the South Side,

7 as a machine, (a) {US) a typewriter (it 'grinds out' the words], 1911 Pacific Monthly Aug. 29/1:1 hammered the story off on my 'mill' [OED]. 1919 E. Hemingway letter 3 Mar. in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 321: My typewriter, slang for mill, battered key board etc. 1930 J. Lait Put on the Spot 107: He had learned to operate the 'mill' overseas in a machine gun unit. 1948 Mencken Amer. Lang. Supplement II 717: Writers' cramp was cured [...] on the advent of the mill, i.e., the typewriter. 1969 J. Crumley One to Count Cadence (1987) 47: We recorded the messages - Morse Code groups by typewriter (mill) and voice on tape. [Ibid.] 52:1 saw him resting his head on his mill, (b) {US) an engine of an aircraft or 'souped up' car; thus turn the mill, start the engine [note WWI Fr. si. moulin a cafe, 'coffee-grinder', i.e. a machine gun, operated by a crank handle). 1918 Atlantic Monthly Sept. 414: Motor is 'moulin' — to start it, one 'turns the mill,' c.1943 'Bill O. Lading' You Chirped a Chinful!! n.p.: Mill: Airplane motor. 1954 'Hot Rod Lexicon' in Hepster's Diet. 5: Mill - Automobile engine. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 16: How many carbs on your mill? 8 {US) by metonymy from sense 1 above, a woman. 1933 C. Himes 'Prison Mass' in Coll. Stories (1990) 165: She was the kind of mill who was ready-made for him, notorious, single, attractive.

■ In compounds mill doll see separate entries. mill-dose (n.) {UK Und.) a spell of hard labour in prison. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

mill-ken (n.) a lodging house. 1741 Ordinary of Newgate Account 31 July [Internet] From thence I proposed to go Home to our II Mill Ken. [...] II Lodging,

mill-lay (n.) [lay n? (1)1 breaking and entering for the purpose of robbery; thus mill-layer, a housebreaker. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 4: The Mill-Lay: which is breaking into Houses by forcing Doors or Windows open with Betties and Chizels. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 5: Mill-Layers, Such as break into Houses, by forcing Doors or Shutters open with Betties or Chizels. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

■ In phrases dance the mill (v.) {W.l.) to walk on the prison treadmill. 1837 J. Williams Narrative of Events Since the First of August, 1834 (2001) 10: Two young women was sent in [...] to dance the mill, and put in dungeons. 1838 J. Kelly Voyage to Jamaica 53: To work in chains and dance the treadmill,

1833 'The Cly-Pecker' in Swell!!! or. Slap-Up Chaunter 39: And the

mill on the green (n.) see w/cs on

next day the beaks made her grind at the mill. 1841 'The Mill! The Mill!' Dublin Comic Songster 104: I'm on the mill. I'm on the mill. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1865 T. Archer Pauper, Thief and Convict 162: The tread-wheel, which was first brought into use at Brixton prison in 1817 [...] has been the terror of idle scoundrels ever since, and is generally known among them as 'the mill.' 1873 SI. Diet. 1888 J.

■ SE in slang uses

Runciman Chequers 143: At one you mount the mill again.

(b) a prison. 1833 'The Covey Of The Mill' in Regular Thing, And No Mistake 64: He's gone to Brixton Mill for the prigging he has done. 1841 'Pat And His Leather Breeches' Dublin Comic Songster 155: The justice spoke his will, / And with upbraiding speeches, / He sent me to the mill. 1853 G.J. Whyte-Melville Digby Grand Ch. x: The latter worthy... gave a policeman such a licking the other night, that he was within an ace of getting a month at the mill. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 15/1: One day he got rather lumpy / And got sent seven days to the mill. 1908 Hopper & Bechdolt '9009' (1909) 4: You'll wish that more'n once before ye've croaked in this mill! 1917 C. Sherwood diary 10 Dec. [Internet]

the creen under wic n?.

■ In compounds mill-clapper (n.) {also mill-clacker) [SE mill-clapper, an instrument which by striking the hopper causes the corn to be shaken into the mill¬ stones] a (woman's) tongue. [1638 Ford Fancies Act III: His tongue troules like a Mill-clack.] c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mill-clapper, a (Woman's) Tongue. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1738 Swift Polite Conversation 22: Her Tongue runs like the Clapper of a Mill; she talks enough for herself and all the Company, c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 3.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1821 Flash Diet. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 DUNCOMBE n.p.: New and Improved Flash Diet. Millclacker a woman's tongue.

■ In phrases soak the mill (v.) see

under soak v.\

mill mill n.^

mill

1600 [abbr.] [US]

1 a m///imetre, esp. in the diameter of a tube or

gun barrel [Latin, mille, thousand). 1877 Journal Anthropological Institute 6 21: The thickness of the

cylindrical wall of the humerus is 20 millimeters. The extreme width at the condyles is 120 mill [OED]. 1946 C.B. Sheppard in Moore School Lectures (1985) 255: This is constructed in the form of a nearly closed C-shaped iron core with a scanning gap of about one mill width. 1960 E. Morgan You're Long Time Dead 386: Sandy, I'll be getting pictures of you in that outfit, don't worry, as good as anyone can take - Best Man, What, on 35 mill? [OED). 1980 M. Bail Homesickness (1999) 19: 'There was a film here.' [...] 'Sixteen-mill,' Kaddock told them. 1998 P. Cornwell Point of Origin (1999) 113: Ball. Remington nine-mill.

2 a million, usu. dollars. 1938 W. WiNCHELL 'On Broadway' 16 Mar. [synd. col.] Some time ago we itemed that Life's 1937 loss would be 3 14 mill [...] The N.Y. Times reports Life lost $3,424,000. 1946 W. Winchell 29 Mar. [synd. col.] Mike Todd is [...] readying a film to cost over two 'mill.' 1966 R.E. Alter Carny Kill (1993) 52: This place grossed thirty mill last year. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 253: He's only asking half a mill. 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 211: We've never dropped twenty-four mill before, Izzy. 1999 .1. Baker Walking With Ghosts (2000) 5: I bet if it wasn't two and a half mill you'd have paid him by now. 2000 Indep. Rev. 14 Mar. 1: The old Stock Exchange, when one flick of the nostril bought you 'two mill of copper futures'. 2003 50 Cent 'In da Club' [lyrics] I got a mill out the deal

and I'm still on the grind. 3 (drugs) $1000 worth of heroin [Lat., mille, thousand). 1961 RiGNEY 6- Smith Real Bohemia xx: The purchases are made in cash: an ace ($1) [...] a yard ($100), and a mill ($1000).

mill V.^ (a/so myll) [SEmill, to grind

down, to break into small parts] 1 (UK Und.) to steal, to rob, to break open; thus mill a ken below; mill a go, to succeed in a robbery or theft; mill a quod, to break out of prison; milling n., goods worth stealing. C.1566 implied in mill a ken below. 1592 Grouxndworke of Connycatching n.p.: Yonder dwelleth a quier cuffen it were beneshp to mill him. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: We mill in deuse a vile. 1622 Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar's Bush III iv: To maund on the pad, and strike all the cheats, / To mill from the Ruffmans, Commission and slates. 1637 Dekker 'Canting Song' in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) 02: In a Bowsing Ken weele cast. There (if Loure we want) He Mill a Gage, or Nip for thee a Boung. 1648 Dehcer 'Canters Diet.' Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1651 T. Randolph Hey for Honesty III i: Darkmans for pannum Should the grand Ruffian come to mill me, I Would scorn to shuffle from my poverty. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 50: Mill, To steal. 1674 Head Canting Academy (1674). 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] To Mill, to Steal. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of StreetRobberies 9: They follow'd her a considerable Way before they could agree who should Mill her. 1752 N.Y. Gazette Revived 27 Nov. 2/5: Roach told Kennedy he had mill 'd a Pocket-Book, and would have him go along to see what was in it. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 14: We left our Horses in Mount Pleasant, while we went a milling that Swag, i.e., breaking open that Shop, [Ibid.) 43: Mill the Quod; break the Gaol. 1788 'Rolling Blossom' in Festival of Anacreon in Wardroper Lovers, Rakers and Rogues (1995) 180: To Scamping Sam I gave my hand, / Who milled the blunt and tatlers. c.1790 'De Kilmainham Minit' Luke Caffrey's Gost 6: And when dat he mill'd a fat slap, / He me-ri-ly melted de winner, / To snack wid de boys of de Pad* [*footnote: The last Line of every Verse is to be spoken in the Newgate Style]. 1809 G. Andrbwes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian (1883) 309: Rat me, one might have milled the Bank of England, and less noise about it. 1822 Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 5: Mackcoull returned [...] without attempting to queer a stilt, draw a taller, or mill a wipe. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 62: Ancient cant, myll, to rob. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 1871-82 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures, 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 346: Good 'milling,'

i.e. shirts, stockings, silk 'wipes' etc., are switched off the line.

2 to smash, to break open, to spoil. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 39: He myll your maund He spoyle

your begging. 1612 Dekker 0 perse 0 L3: Another, Mills a Crackmans, breaks a hedge, and that wood heates the Oven. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Mill, a Chizel, or to break. 1708 J. Hall Memoirs (1714) 13: Mill, [...] to break. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 43: Mill his Nobb; break his Head. 1809 G. Andrbwes Diet. SI. and Cant n.p.: Mill his nobb break his head. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London 1181: I'm the boy for a bit of bobbery, / Nabbing a lantern, or milling a pane. 3 to thrash, to fight, to overcome; to hit.

1612 Dekker 'Canting Song' 0 per se 0 02: A canniken, mill quier Cuffin, so quier to ben coues watch. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 33: Mill, to heat. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar'sFrench Diet. 116: The Devil break your Neck The Ruffin mill your Nob. 1748 Dyche & Pardon New General Eng. Diet. (5th edn). 1754 G. Stevens 'A Cant Song' Muses Delight 177: While I mill'd his mazzard she snaffl'd his poll. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 176: Now is your time to go and mill him / But if you can. I'd have you kill him. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving. 1790 'The Bowman Prigg's Farewell' in Wardroper (1995) 284: We will mill all the culls with our fibs / And teach them a new morris-dance, sir. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1810 'A New Song Called The Mill' in Holloway & Black II (1979) 251: He's come to mill our champion Cribb. 1819 'One of the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress xxviii: Thus, to mill which was originally 'to rob,' is now 'to beat or fight;' [...] To mill, however, sometimes signified 'to kill' Thus, to mill ableating cheat, i.e, to kill a sheep. 1822 'Life in London' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 131: Mill the Charlies —oh! what fun. 1833 'The Coalheaver's Feast' Fun Alive 0/61: Pulling and tearing, / Tugging and swearing, / Milling away at the Coalheaver's feast. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. HI 57: Vot hever you says, is, [...] but I'd just give a mug o' yale to mill that one-eyed buffer. 1858 G. Thompson Gay Girls of N.Y. 13: Two dashing courtezans, actuated by jealousy, are 'milling' each other. 1864 B. Hemyng Eton School Days 70: Although you are bigger than me, I am not afraid to mill you. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Mar. 14/3: The big 'un, though short of condition, stuck to his work in manly style, but [...] he spoiled by all through making play, and allowing the little one, who was in tip¬ top condition, to draw him out and mill on the retreat. 1897 A.H. Lewis Wolfville 139: Stay within whoopin' distance, though; so if he tries to stampede or takes to millin' I can get he'p. 1913 A. Lunn Harrovians 232: That melodramatic little Jew wants to mill me. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 15: My brother would have milled you with the mawlies. It was only the gloves saved you. 1953 F. Palby Rumble on the Docks (1955) 89: The Diggers and the Stompers were now milling. c,1968 'Old Zebra Dun' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 81: When the herd stampeded he was Johnnie on the spot, / He could mill a thousand longhorns as easy as you could turn a pot. 1998 J. O'Connor Salesman 93: We milled him. 2001 G. COUGHLAN Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Millie up! (phr): a fight going to start. Milling (v): fighting.

4 to kill, to murder. 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 L2: They are sworne neuer to disclose their skill in Canting to any Householder for, if they do, the other Maunderers or Roagues Mill them (kill them), c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: Mill, signifies also to [...] kill. 1737, 1759, 1760,1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 42: Mill the Cull to his Long Libb; kill the Man dead. 1786 J. Poulter Whole Art of Thieving Discovered [as cit. 1753]. 1799 'Cant Lang, of Thieves' Monthly Mag. 7 Jan. n.p.: Mill the Cull to his long lib Kill the Man you rob. 1811 J. Poole Hamlet Travestie III iii: O, let me catch him, and I'll sweetly mill him. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1906 A. McCormick Tinkler-Gypsies of Galloway 104; The following words appear to be still in use in one form or another amongst Galwegian tinkler-gypsies Millin ' in the darkmans - Murder by night. 5 to consume. 1741 Canting Academy, or the Pedlar's-French Diet, n.p.: Wapping and Busing mills all the Lowyer Whoring & drinking consumes all the Money.

■ In compounds mill-ken (n.) (also milken) a housebreaker. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 50: Milken, One that Breaks houses. 1671 'L.B.' New Academy of Complements 204: The fourth is a Mill-ken, to crack up a Door: / His venture to rob both the Rich and the Poor. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 176: Milken An house breaker. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Milken, c. A house-breaker. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 21: The Golden Ball in Drury-Lane [...] where most of the Milkins and night Files use. [Ibid.] 22: Edward Merrit, A Milken, he has been in Newgate several times. 1725 'The Twenty Craftsmen' [ballad] in New Canting Diet, n.p,: The fourth was a millken to crack up a door. He'd venture to rob both the rich and the poor. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1743 Fielding Life of Jonathan Wild (1784) I 117: The same capacity which qualifies a Mill-ken, a Bridle-cull, or a Buttock and File, to arrrive at any degree of eminence in his profession, would likewise raise a man in what the world esteem a more honourable calling. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle 11 in Groom (1999) xxvii: A Mill Ken A House-breaker. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1869 'Thief-Catcher's Prophecy' in W.H. Logan Pedlar's Pack of Ballads 143: [as cit. 1725]. 1897 C.

Whibley

'Jonathan Wild'A Back

mill

of Scoundrels 79: He lived on terms of intimacy with the mill-kens, the bridle-culls, the buttock-and-files of London.

m In phrases mill a cly (v.) [cly n. (2)] {UK Und.) to pick a pocket. 1728 J. Gay The Quaker's Opera I iii: Thou fairest Whore That ever grac'd a Bulk, or mill'd a Clie. 1824 'Sonnets for the Fancy' Egan Boxiana III 622: The boldest lad / That ever mill'd the cly, or roll'd the leer.

mill a ken (v.) [ken n.^j [UK Und.) to rob a house. C.1566 flARMAN Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 67: They wyll send them into some house at the window to steale and robbe, which they call in their language, Milling of the ken. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching [as cit. e.l566]. 1608 Dekker Belman's Second Nights Walk B4: We will filch some duddes Off the Ruffmans Or mil the Ken For a lagge of Duddes. 1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle V i: Ben mort, shall you and I heave a bough, mill a ken, or nip a bung. 1637 Dekker 'Canting Song' in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) O: If we niggle or mill a Bowsing Ken, or nip a Boung that hath but a Win. 1648 Dekker 'Canters Diet.' Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1659 Catterpillers of this Nation Anatomized 3: There are few (Kens mild) houses broken open, wherein some servant of that house is not an actor. 1669 W. Winstanley New Help To Discourse 135: Aiitem Marts, are such as are married, being always attended with children, whom they employ to pilfer away what they can light on, which in their language they call Milling of the Ken. 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Mill a Ken, to rob a House, c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mill-a-ken, c. to Rob a House. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: When we bien back in the Duceavil, then we will flesh some Duds off the Ruffmans, or Mill a Ken. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 196: And Jybe well jerk'd, tick rome conseck, / for back by Glimmar to maund, / To mill each Ken, let Cove bring then, / though Ruffmans Jauge or Laund [A License got with forged Seal, / to Beg, as if undone / By Fire, to break each House and Steal, / o'er Hedge and Ditch to run]. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 16: We made our Way for the City of Cambridge, in order to mill some Ken; that is, to break open some Houses. 1764 Bloody Register I 125: He took to Milling of Kens (house-breaking) and had not been long in that employment, before he was apprehended and convicted at the Old Bailey. 1777 J. Fielding Thieving Detected 8: House-Breaking, or, in the flash language, to Mill a Kin [sic]. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. mill someone’s glaze (v.) [fig. use of glaze n. (1)) to knock out someone's eye. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: I'll mill your glaze; I'll beat out your eye. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 75; They are hammered into a fight [...] mill the glaze, or darken two or three peepers. (v.) [glaze n.I (UK Und.) to break a window, esp. as

mill the glaze

a means of entering a house. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Milling the Glaze, c. Breaking open the Window. 1719 A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 11. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c. I698[. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 284: If you don't doff your knowledge bag and come to the door, we'll mill all your glaze. 1837 (N.Y) Herald 4 Jan. 2/ 5; [The men] went into the tavern [...[ where they commenced milling the glaze — (breaking windows), upsetting decanters, and shying the tumblers at the persons assembled. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum.

mill v? 1838

Miller’s point

1601

[MILL

n.^ (5a)l to sentence to the treadmill, to imprison.

Dickens

Oliver Twist (1966) 231: I shouldn't have been milled, if

it hadn't been for her advice.

mill doll n. (also mill-dolly) [mill doll v.] a prison, orig. the Bridewell in Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London. 1751 Fielding Amelia (1926) I 57: I am sent hither to mill-doll, d--n my eyes. 1761 Nancy Dawson's Jests 33: D--- my blood, sir, - away you must all to mill doll. 1781-2 J. Messink Choice of Harlequin I viii: I'm jigger dubber here, and you are welcome to mill doll. 1794 Sporting Mag. Apr. IV 29/1: There was no alternative, but to pay the money, or go to Mill Doll. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.; Mill-doll. An obsolete name for Bridewell house of correction, in Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 119: Mill doll — a prison, that part of it which is appropriated to working,

hemp-beating, treading the wheel, &c. 1833 'Ye Scamps, Ye Pads, Ye Divers' Regular Thing, And No Mistake 62: [as cit. 1781-2]. mill doll V. (also mill dolly) [mill n.' (5b) -l ? SE Dolt, a woman's name, a woman's job; ? although chronology mitigates against this, from MILL doll n., where doll = woman = play on bride] to beat hemp in prison; thus milldolling. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 141: Hard Labour in Bridewell, which beating of hemp the Thieves call Mill-Dolly. 1733 Cibber Harlot's Progress 11: Soon shall 1 see or hear, / Madam, in Bridewell, milling Doll. 1764 Bloody Register I 125: The facts being plainly proved upon him, he was sent to Mill Doll (to beat hemp in Bridewell). 1780 R. Tomlinson SI. Pastoral 7: But now she mills doll, tho' the greens are still there. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1801 G. Hangar Life, Adventures and Opinions II 73: They were committed to the house of correction, and sentenced to mill doll. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1832 in Egan Bk of Sports 146: A saucy, tipslang, moon-eyed, hen, / Who oft' mills doll at block. 1833 'Her Muns with a Grin' in Swell!!! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 50: A cut from the trine — or milldolling line — / Ora Sam darkly met. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open, c.1850 Duncombe New and Improved Flash Diet. millennium dome n. [rhy. si.) a comb. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. miller n.^ [mill v.^[ 1 a housebreaker, a thief. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 88: The miller may adopt a stick or otherwise, as seems most convenient.

2 (UK Und.) a killer, a murderer. c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Miller c. a Killer or Murderer. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.l698[. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.l698[. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 3 a vicious, intractable horse. 1825 C.M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I 177: eglan. (to the ostler) Well, Dick, what sort of a stud, hey? any thing rum, a ginger or a miller, three legs or five, got by Whirlwind out of a Skyscraper? 4 a boxer, esp. one who relies on aggression rather than skill. 1810 'A New Song Called The Mill' in Holloway & Black II (1979) 251: Come all you jolly millers bold, / Whose hearts are cast of British mould. 1821 W.T. Moncrieff Tom and Jerry I iv: This what do you call it? - this cover-me-decently, was all very well at Hawthorn Hall, I daresay; but here, among the pinks in Rotten-row, the lady¬ birds in the Saloon, the angelics at Almack's [...] even among the millers at the Fives, it would be taken for nothing less than the index of a complete flat, 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 119: Millers - second-rate boxers, whose arms run round in rapid succession, not always falling very hard, or with determinate object. 1832 S. Warren Diary of a Late Physician in Works (1854) III 49: The Captain put himself instantly into attitude, and, being a first-rate miller [...[ let fall a sudden shower of blows about Mr. Warninham's head and breast. 1840 T. Hood 'Miss Kilmansegg and Her Precious Leg' in Poems (1846) 1 171; Because she refused to go down to a mill / She didn't know where but remembered still / That the miller's name was Mendoza. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 5 (Aus.) a cicada [the grinding of its legs).

1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. Si. 46: Miller, a nickname for a cicada,

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds dance the miller’s reel (v.) see nder dance v. ■ In phrases give someone the miller (v.) to pelt someone with flour, grease or other rubbish. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 179: To give the miller, is to engage a person in conversation of an apparently friendly character, when all at once the bystanders surround and pelt him with flour, grease, and filth of various kinds, flour predominating. This mode of punishing spies, informers, and other obnoxious individuals, is used by cabmen, omnibus conductors, et hoc genus omne. 1876 C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 193: Some of his pals gave him the 'Miller;' that is, a lot of flour is wrapped up in thin paper about the size of a fist, and when thrown, the first thing it comes in contact with, breaks and smothers the party all over, miller n.^ [[oe Miller n.[ a joke, esp. an old 'chestnut', 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. miller’s daughter n. [rhy. sl.l water. 1930 (con. 1914-18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and SI. of the British Soldier. Miller’s point n. [rhy. si. = ioint n. (5c)| (N.Z prison) a cannabis cigarette.

milli 1982

million

1602 G. Newbold Big Huey 251: millers point (n) Marijuana

cigarette.

milli n. [abbr.l {US black) a nine millimetre pistol. 1997 The Roots 'The Roots is Comin" [lyrics] The Roots, is out to

blow up like a clip from out the milli or the oo-wop. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.ciolemite.com [Internet] milli Definition: 9mm. Example: You betta back tha fuck up 'for I pull out my milli.

millia murther! exd. see melia murder! exd. millihelen n. (a/so milihelen) [pun on Helen

of Troy whose face

'launched a thousand ships', in Doctor Faustus (1604) by Christopher Marlowe, or, for men, on the Creek god Hermes] {US campus) an imaginary unit of measurement to calculate female beauty; thus

milliherm, for male beauty. 1969 Current SI. I & IT 1974 G. Davenport 'The Dawn in Erewhon' in Tatlin! 172: Chest, back, abdomen lost milliherms because of paleness [...] His penis [...] was accorded the full complement of milliherms, 1986 T. Weller Science Made Stupid [Internet] Glossary: milliHelen: the amount of physical beauty required to launch one ship; 1/1000 of a Helen. 2002 'scottinmn' 'Holiness Unit of Measurement' 17 Oct. halfbakery.com [Internet] But returning to the main topic: measuring the immeasurable. Do you all know the basic unit of beauty? The miliHelen, which of course is the amount of beauty it takes to launch one ship,

milliner’s shop n the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

milling n. [mill v.’] 1 robbing, stealing. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 59: Adieu to all the hurryscurry of Foot-Scampering, filing, chiving, milling, and sneaking. 1739 Poor Robin n.p.: Money is now a hard commodity to get, insomuch that some will venture their necks for it, by padding, cloying, milling, filching, nabbing, etc., all which in plain English is only stealing [N]. 2 of a horse, kicking. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 739/1: -1897 f. 3 a beating, a thrashing. C.1813 'Captain Mulligan' in 'Wellington's Laurels 4: Cruel Jewel Killing Milling Mrs. Mulligan. 1822 'The Treadmill' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 139: And he who brought the Bill in, / Is threatn'd by the cribbing coves / That he shall have a milling. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 171: If Adam had been fly he would have taught his sons to box [...] Cain would have given Abel a good milling, perhaps queered his ogles, or spoiled his box of dominoes. 1862 J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd Ser. (1880) 74: All is, to give the other side a millin'. 1868 'The Famous East Side of Town' in Rootle-Tum Songster 15: To assist a poor fellow they are willing [...] But insult them, you're sure of a 'milling'. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 114: By the looks of him he got a damn good milling. 4 (a/so milling-bout, milling match) boxing for money, prize¬ fighting; also attrib. 1812 Mr Lawson 'Chaunt' in Egan Boxiana I 477: The milling-bout they got that day, / Sent both ding-dong to glory. 1819 'One oe the Fancy' Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress 57: The memory of his milling glories past. 1824 National Advocate (N.Y.) 28 May 2/4: There was also a foot race for five dollars half the course round, and three milling matches - it being in Kings county, Baron Nabem of our Police did not feel authorised to carry them to the Roundabout. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 12: On that great day of milling, when blood lay in lakes. 1835 N.Y. Transcript 5 Feb. 2/2; Prize Fighting. — We would not have our readers conclude, because we published an account of the milling match of a day before yesterday, that we approve of such sport: on the contrary. 1843 Comic Almanack Sept. 376: That extraordinary 'Brick' Harry Gibbons, the descendant of the immortal Bill Gibbons (of great milling memory). 5 fighting, usu. with the fists; also attrib. 1815 (con. 18C) W. Scott Guy Mannering (1999) 148: Men were men then, and fought other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans. 1822 'Life in London' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 127: To shew his skill in the milling trade. 1842 Egan 'The Bould Yeoman' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 137: Twas cut for cut while it did last, / Thrashing, licking, hard and fast, / Hard milling for the gold. 1900 A.H. Lewis 'Jess' in Sandburrs 19: Stop your millin' now, right yere! 1936 A. Russell Gone Nomad 55: Just a hard, bare¬ knuckle 'milling' for the entertainment of the crowd.

■ In compounds milling-bout (n.) see milling n. (4).

milling-cove (n.) (a/so milling kiddy cove) [cove n. (1)] a prize¬ fighter. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1812

Egan

Boxiana (1971) I 23: Among the

milling coves the day was looked for with uncommon anxiety. 1821 'Battle' in Fancy I XVII 405: An out-and-outer - a terror to all the milling coves in the neighbourhood of Chatham. 1822 'The Sprees of Tom, Jerry and Logick' in C. Hindley James Catnach (1878) 124:

Among the milling kiddy coves young Jerry took delight. 1828 N.-Y. Enquirer 15 Apr. 2/4: Though his former encounters had added little to his fame as a milling cove. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 241: Zoroaster was [...] a thorough milling-cove. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 127: milling coves. Persons who regularly frequent milling-pannies, for the purpose of exhibiting their skill in boxing. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 9: 'Lives of all the milling coves,' he cried. 'Tom and Jerry, or Flash Life in London.'

milling match (n.) see milling n. (4). milling-panney (n.) [panny n.^ (1)1 a place where prize-fights are held. 1812 Egan Boxiana (1971) I 4: The milling pannies, where characters are to be drawn from real life. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 127: MILLING-PANNIES. Places of resort for pugilists in which sparring exhibitions are given.

million n. [abbr. of SE phr. million to one] a sure bet. 1958 F. Norman in Vogue Oct. in Norman's London (1969) 28: It's a million that you'll get a carpet the next morning and no larking about. 1960 F. Norman in Daily Mail 18 May in Norman's London (1969) 95: One thing which is a million is that he [i.e. a villain] is right for himself which is all that matters to him. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 188: That was something Sneed could drop from a great height on the DS, and it would certainly get him busted out; but, then he would be a million to chuck some shit around, try and open up one or two of the safe ramps that Sneed had had through Rosi.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds mlHion-dollar wound

(n.) [equivalent to UK blighty one (see BLIGHTY n.) in WWI] {US mint.) any wound that guarantees the victim a

passage out of a war zone and back to the USA. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 428: There ain't a goddam place you can get a million-doUar wound that it don't hurt. 1977 L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 173: Ain' that some shit? Dusted off an' gone home witha million dollars wortha gunge on his pecker, all the way to Michael Reese Hospital. 1989 Hackforth & Sherman About Face (1991) 55: You just prayed for a clean wound [...] a million-dollar wound to get you home.

■ In phrases feel like a million dollars (v.) (a/so feel like a million, ...million big ones, ...million bucks, ...million seeds) (orig. US) to feel excellent, very cheerful, extremely well, in the best of spirits; thus taste like a million v., to taste very good. 1925 E. Hemingway letter 21 June in Baker Sel. Letters (1981) 164: I have been having a swell time [...] and feel like a million seeds. 1925 WODEHOUSE Carry on, Jeeves 46: I had just climbed out from under the cold shower, feeling like a million dollars. 1930 R. Whitfield Green Ice (1988) 43:1 had some oysters that tasted like a million. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act II; gimpty: How are you feeling? KAY: All right. And you? gimpty: Like a million dollars! 1937 E. Anderson Thieves Like Us (1999) 103: I feel like a million bucks. 1947 Time 17 Mar. 43: You'll go home feeling like a million dollars, rested and refreshed as never before! [DA]. 1957 Kerouac On The Road (1972) 96: I felt like a million dollars. I was adventuring in the crazy American night. 1968 G. CVOMO Among Thieves 232: He went out that day feeling like a million dollars. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 291: I was feeling like a million bucks because the loot from the first score was in the same neighborhood. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 143: I felt like a million big ones. [Ibid.] 210:1 felt like a million bucks. 1983 C. Heath A-Team 2 (1984) 102: Feelin' better? Are you kiddin'? I'm like a million bucks. 1984 Flame: a Life on the Game 121: We added a full-length fox fur coat [...] I felt like a million dollars. 1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg 'Lodi Dodi' [lyrics] Now I'm fresh, dressed, like a million bucks. 1999 Indep. Rev. 13 Oct. 8; I feel like a million dollars and I wonder where I have been all these years. 2008 T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 166: 'How do you feel?' 'Like a million.' gone a million (ad/.) [? coined by the profligate John Scadden, Prime Minister of Western Australia, (1911-16)] 1 completely in love with. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Aug. 40: [cartoon caption, 'a clergyman addresseth a very badly injured tramp'] Proofs of Affection. / 'You have certainly been unfortunate, my pooah friend; but remember the good Book says, "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.'" / 'Struth, Mister, He must be gone a million on me!' 1930 K.S. Prichard Haxby's Circus 187: George, hugging his wife, exclaimed: 'Lord, mum, if it weren't for you. I'd be gone a million on the minx,' 2 {Aus./N.Z.) in a hopeless state. 1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Battle of the Wazzir’ in Moods of Ginger Mick [unpub. unrevised proof version] Fer young Bill, wus gone a million, an' 'e never guessed the game. 1941 G. Casey 'Short Shift Saturday' in Mann Coast to Coast 209: If they drop their bundles they're gone a million. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 197: He's

milltog

mimi hill

1603

gone a million if the Bastard lamps him. 1963 'Nino Culotta' Gone Fishin' 194: He says he's a Fisheries Inspector, an' 'e tells me I haven't got a licence, an' I got undersized fish, an' I got an illegal net, an' I'm gone a million. 1976 R. Morrieson Pallet on the Floor 75: You're all gone a million. 1986 G. Casey 'Short-shrift Saturday' in L. Hergenhan Aus. Short Story 97: If they drop their bundles they're gone a million. 1995 P. Barnes Luna Park Eclipses in New Theatre Qly (Cambridge) Aug. (1996) 205/1: jack; stone the crows and stiffen the lizard. Alice: I'm gone a million. Jack, gone a million,

go over like a million bucks (v.) to succeed absolutely, to do very well. 1999 K. ScHiLDROTH 'Wrestling at the Chase' in St Louis Post-Dispatch

[Internet] Sam wanted to put wrestling on TV. [...] It went over like a million bucks. Other promoters saw this on TV from around the country and it set the stage for the next 40 years,

look (like) a million dollars (v.) (a/so dress (up) like a million dollars, look (like) a million (bucks), ...million on a hoof) (US) to be extremely attractive; extremely smartly/fashionably dressed. 1915 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 54: Did you get that

manager with the trick coat — looks like a million. 1918 G. Bowerman diary 5 May in Carnes Compensations of War (1983) 80: We saw some real honest to goodness American girls and they looked like a million dollars. 1920 F.S. Fitzgerald 'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald V (1963) 97: If she looks like a million dollars she can talk about Russia, ping-pong or the League of Nations. 1922 T. Thursday 'Art for Artie' in Argosy All-Story 30 Dec. [Internet] They're all dressed up like a million dollars. 1924 H.L. Wilson Professor How Could You! 273: He looks a million to me. 1930 (con. 1900s-10s) Dos Passos 42nd Parallel in USA (1966) 144: Gee, you look like a million dollars. 1937 P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 13; She's got class an' she dresses like a million dollars. 1938 D. Runyon 'Social Error' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 454: Miss Harriet Mackyle may not look a million. 1939 C. Himes 'With Malice Toward None' in Coll. Stories (1990) 53: You're loooking well, you're looking like a million. 1945 Good Housekeeping Dec. 259/1; I get some white paint and make Randy's old ones look like a million dollars [DA]. 1946 W.L. Gresham Nightmare Alley (1947) 122: Clothes that will make you look like a million bucks. 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 25: She looked like a million dollars in gold. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 269: Looks a million dollars to me. 1951 M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 90: She was a million bucks in a green dress under artificial lights and two million in bed. 1952 /, Mobster 40: They came in all tricked out like a million dollars. 1954 (con. 1920s30s) J.O. Killens Youngblood (1956) 438: The cracker was dressed up like a million dollars. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 87: It was driven by a woman who looked like ten million dollars. 1964 Larner & Tefferteller Addict in the Street (1966) 89: I look like a million dollars with a sun tan, and everything is great. I'm healthy again. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 50: I spotted Jonathan. He looked like a million. 1975 T. Berger Sneaky People (1980) 210: Kid, you look like a million onna hoof. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moodier and Me 72: Man, we looked like a million dollars. 1978 R. De Christoforo Grease 145: We looked like a million bucks. 1981 A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 86: You look like a million. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 372: Nicola looked like a million dollars. Or a million pounds, anyway. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 12: The guy looked like a million bucks. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 56: She'd look, quite sincerely, a million dollars. 2000 Observer 9 Jan. 31: He could wear my granny's old cardie and still look like a million dollars, million to a bit of dirt a phr. used of a very sure bet. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 176/1: Million to a bit of dirt (Sporting, 1860). A sure bet requiring no caution. 'It's a million to a bit o' dirt the Plunger pulls it off.'

milltog n. (a/so milltag, milltuig, mill twig, tuig) [Shelta me/t/tog, a shirt] a shirt. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 39: A Highland farmer dressed in a blue cherry top tile, sky blue tuig, benjy and keeks. [Ibid.] 133: Few had either a mill tuig, toper, or crabs. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mill Twig. A shirt. Scotch cant. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 164/1; Mill Tog - a shirt. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 63: MILL-TOG, a shirt — most likely the prison garment. 1861 (con. 1840s—50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 217/2: I give below a vocabulary of their talk to each other: [...] Mill Tag_ A shirt. 1868 F. Henderson Six Years in the Prisons of England (2008) 61: He'll go without a shirt, perhaps, and beg one from house to house. I have known him get thirty 'mill-togs' in one day. 1870 Hotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 10/2: The Parson is on the highfly in a fantail banger and a milky mill tog. He got the cant of togs from a shickster whose husband's in a bone-box. He'll gammon the swells. He touched one for an alderman the first ten minutes. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 48: All I get is my kip and a clean mill tog, a pair of pollies and

a stoock, and what few medazas 1 can make out of the lodgers and needles.

Millwall Reserves n. [rhy. si.,- ult. Millwall football club, based in Isle of Dogs, London] nerves. 1998 R.

milly

Puxley

Fresh Rabbit.

n.^ [abbr. MiLLTOC n.l a shirt.

1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 737: [...] C.20 — perhaps since ca. 1880.

milly n.^ see nine n. (2). milly adj. [abbr. militant ad/.] 1 (UK black) aggressive, pugnacious; thus get milly, to become aggressive. 1997 C. Newland Seholar 90:1 admit he's a milly brer, but I don't fear 'im man. [Ibid.] 185: Gimme my t'ings man, 'fore I have to get milly on the situation.

2 (S.Afr. gay) mad, 'dizzy'. 2003

K. Cage

Gayle.

miln V. [proprietary name Milne, a firm of locksmiths] (UK prison) to lock into a cell. 1950 P. Tempest Lag's Lex. 136: milned in. Locked in. 'To miln' lock up. From the well-known makers of locks and safes,

=

to

mi loca vida n. see la vida loca n. milquetoast n. see Caspar Milquetoast n. milt n. [SE milt, the roe of the male fish] semen. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In compounds milt market (n.) (also milt shop) the vagina. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

■ In phrases double one’s milt (v.) to ejaculate twice without withdrawing. 1890-1904

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its Analogues.

milton n. [? pun on Cray's Elegy written in a Country Churchyard (1751) 'mute inglorious Miltons'] an oyster. 1841 Thackeray Comic Tales and Sketches II 175: Mrs. Grampus herself operated with the oyster-knife, and served the milton morsels to the customers. 1845 in Martin & Aytoun Bon Gaultier Ballads (1884) 180: These mute inglorious miltons are divine [F&H].

miltonian n. [ety. unknown] a policeman. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 9: Miltonian ... Policeman. [Ibid.] 15: They always look round to see that there is no 'Mithonian' [sic] or policeman about.

Milton Keynes n. [rhy. si.; ult. Milton Keynes, town in Buckingham¬ shire, UK] 1 beans, usu. baked beans. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. 2 a homosexual |= queen n. (2)]. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

milvad n. [Scot.] a blow. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 65: I think the Doctor gave him one milvad, when I interfered.

milvader v. [milvad n.) to beat, to assault; to box; thus milvadering n., a set-to, a fight, a boxing-match. 1821 D. Haggart Autobiog. 33; Barney struck him, I joined in, and a terrible milvadering took place. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Milvadering. Boxing. Scotch cant. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten

SI. Diet.

Milwaukee adj. used in combs, with ref. to the city's breweries. ■ In compounds Milwaukee cider (n.) (also Milwaukee special, Milwaukee water) (US) beer. 1915 glossary In Committee for the Adoption of the Constitution, N.Y. (State) in PADS (1952) 65: Nicknames for beer: suds/brew/Milwaukee cider/Dutch milk. 1950 WELS [DARE]. Milwaukee goitre (n.) (US) a beer belly. 1941 P. Kendall Army and Navy SI. 9: Milwaukee goitre — obesity at the waistline, c.1943 'Bill O. Lading' You Chirped a Chinful!! n.p.: Milwaukee goitre: Obesity at the waistline. 1950 WELS [DARE]. 196770 IN DARE. 1992 G. Wolff 'Waterway' in A Day at the Beach (1992) 228: A fine full belly of the sort termed 'Milwaukee goiter',

mim adj. m In phrases as mim as old Betty Martin at a funeral [dial, mim, affectedly modest, demure, primly silent or quiet; the term is imitative of pursed lips. Whether this is the same Betty Martin as ALL MY EYE ,5ND BETTY MARTIN phr. is unknown] walking in a prim, ordeily manner. 1821-6 'Bill Truck' Man o' War's Man (1843) 135: Walk, one after the other, as mim and orderly as old Betty Martin at a funeral,

mimi hill n. [Maori mimi, to urinate] (N.Z.) on a journey, an opportunity to stop and use a lavatory. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 7511: mimi hill comfort stop; from Maori 'mimi', to urinate; eg 'Coming up to mimi hill, chief?' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. Si. [as dt. 1988].

mimis

mind-bender

1604

E. E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972) 133: mind opener [...] mind

mimis nJ (US campus) sleep. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 19: Mimi's: Sleep.

mimis n.^ ■ In phrases screaming mimis (n.) see screaming mince n. an act of wandering.

tripper [...] User of LSD. 2 (US campus/teen) someone seen as eccentric, odd, abnormal. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 62: mind tripper n

meemies

under meemies n.

2006 thelondonpaper 4 Sept. 32: I was enjoying a lovely mince round

Person considered strange or weird.

■ In phrases get one’s mind right (v.) to think clearly, to agree with. 1965 D. Pearce Cool Hand Luke (1967) 177: Have you got your mind right, Luke? [...] Are you sure, Luke? You ain't gonna backslide on me are yuh? You sure your mind's right? 1971 D. Goines Dopefiend

Covent Garden.

mince v. (N.Z.) to work as a prostitute on several different boats in a single night; used by a ship-moll under ship n.^; thus mincing n. 1982 Truth (Wellington) 19 Jan. 7: And the Napier girls talked about 'mincing'. That means when they hop from one ship in port to another [DNZE]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 135: mince How ship girls describe jumping ship-to-ship. 1980s.

■ In phrases mince about (v.) (N.Z.) to loiter, to 'hang about'. 1982 H. Beaton Outside In 1 i: sandy: I've been up to the office eh? Runnin' messages for cowface, eh? ma: You'll mince about once too often, lady. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 135: mince about To lurk. 1980s.

mince (pie) n. (also mincers) |rhy. si.] an eye; usu. in pi. 1857 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 169: Phil intimating that, as soon as he had put on his trousers, he would black Bill's eyes, roared out, 'Wait till I've togged my "round-the-houses," and then I'll cook your "mince-pies'" for you. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1880 D.W. Barrett Life and Work among Navvies 40: Keep your mince pies on the Billy Gorman. 1893 Brian Daly 'Jerusalem's Dead' [lyrics] My mince-pies are waterin' jes like a pump. An' they're red as a ferret's. 1900 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Victimless Villain' Sporting Times 3 Mar. 1/4: She shut up his mince with her fairy-like fist. 1906 E. Dyson Faet'ry 'Ands 229: He thinks he'll never be able t' shut his mince pies again. 1914 E. Dyson Spats' Faet'ry (1922) 58: Cast yer mince-pies over Nippo O'Kieffe, late of the push, now a leading light in Methodist circles. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 404: Fine! Got a prime pair of mincepies, no kid. 1937 J. Curtis There Ain't No Justice 124: If I get my minces on the bastard again I'll break him in half, straight I will. 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 201: That's a fine sight for yer old mincepies, eh? 1946 S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 43: He [...] uses his 'mince pies' for the first sign of anyone dodging the queue. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 149: 'I know what's in there,' said the boggie looking Solie straight in the minces. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 176: He's got his dirty big mince pies on a bit of pussy. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 106: His 'mince pies' [are] his eyes. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog 13: She 'ad golden Barnet Fair an' a smashin' pair of mince pies. 1976 (ref. to 1930s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 76: We both sat crying our mincers out. 1977 S. Berkoff East in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 47: We two first set our minces on each other. 1979 R. Barker Fletcher's Book ofRhy. SI. 25: His mince pies were watery. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge OzJack Lang 36: Mince Pies Eyes. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 134: You could have shown a face at least to plonk your minces on the scene. 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 22: One mince pie was covered up. All round it was blotched, bruised. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 8: There's fuck all wrong with his minces far as i know. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney H44: He couldn't take 'is minces off her. She was a real looker! 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 70: 1 notice the bird [...) basically giving me the mince pies on a grand scale.

minch n. see mince n. (1). mind n. m SE in slang uses m In compounds mind-bend (n.) see mind-bender n. (3). mind-bender/-bending see separate entries, mind-blow (n.) see mind-blower n. mind-blow/-blower/-blowing see separate entries. mind-cracking/-crunching (adj.) see mind-bending adj. mind detergent (n.) a psychedelic or psychotropic drug.

(1991) 57: You better get your mind right, boy.

have five minds to (v.) [var. on SE be in two minds] (W.l.) to be Strongly inclined to do something (usu. rash). 1975 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

have mind (v.) (W.l.) to possess courage, to be brave. 1969 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996).

take someone’s mind (v.) (US black) to manipulate someone's mind, usu. for negative purposes. 1967, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS 748/1: take [someone's] mind To disturb someone, to upset someone psychologically; to obsess someone Mainly Negro and beat use. 1968 'Hv Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 39: take one's mind - Mess someone's mind, confuse him completely. mind v. (minder n. (1)1 (UK Und.) 1 to protect, to act as a bodyguard. 1906 G.R. Sims Mysteries of Modern London 43: One or two are pugilists who go to race-meetings to look after or 'mind' bookmakers who carry large sums of ready money. 1939 V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 130: He had probably bribed them [...] to 'mind' him from sudden attack. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 41: Joe's job was to 'mind' the [...] van, in other words to keep a strict watch out for police machines. 1959 H. Salisbury Shook-Up Generation (1961) 17: 'Minding our turf is the main preoccupation of the Cobras. 1978 F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 31: He had minded some of the biggest tearaways in the British Isles.

2 to bribe regularly. 1970 'Metropolitan Police SI.' in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 325: MIND, TO: to bribe on a regular basis.

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases mind one’s own pigeon (v.) (corruption of SE pidgin, concern, affair] (Aus./N.Z.) to mind one's own business. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 90: Here is a group of examples which fall midway between bush and city idiom and should be included in this section: [...] to mind one's own pigeon (or pidgin), to mind one's own business.

mind one’s own tune (v.) to guard one's behaviour or speech. 1968 P. Terson Apprentices (1970) I iv: Just stick your snout in that thermos and mind your tune.

mind the store (v.) (also watch the store) (US) to take care of someone or something. 1957 J. Blish Fallen Star 75: The cabin door opened and the Commodore came out [...] 'Who's minding the store?' I asked him. 'Hanchett. We're on autopilot and he's watching the instruments.' [OED]. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy Lit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 7: bustin' CONCRETE - Takin' care of business; watching the store. 1978 S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 280: And you're minding the store? 1986 Chapman NDAS 278/2: mind the store v phr To attend to routine business; carry on. 2001 1. Rankin Falls 10: Who's left to mind the store?

mind your own fish (v.) see under fish r).\ ■ In exclamations mind your eye! (exc/.) see under eye n. min dae phr. (Afk. min dae, few days) (S.Afr.) used as a greeting in the S. Afr. army by national servicemen who have 40 or fewer days to serve; also the period of service itself. 1971 on Radio S. Afr. 31 Dec. n.p.: The only reason we could bear to cross them [i.e. weekends] off at all was that any crossing off of days brought us nearer and nearer to the end of yet another term like the army and their 'min dae' [DSAE]. 1977 G. Hugo in Quarry 77 95: 'Don't tell anyone, hey, but you're going to be permanently discharged.' His thick face breaks into a grin. 'Min dae, hey.' [DSAE]. 1983 W. Steenkamp Borderstrikel Another universal phrase was 'min dae', literally 'few days', meaning a serviceman's tour of duty was almost complete.

1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 178: mind detergent, the LSD. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mind detergent — LSD. mind-expander (n.) see mind-bender n. (2).

mindfuck/fucker/fucking see separate entries, mind-guzzling (adj.) see mind-bending adj. mind-snapper (n.) see mind-bender n. (3). mind-tripper (n.) (tripper n.| 1 (also mind-opener) a user of hallucinogens. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 178: mind trippers Youths seventeen to twenty-two who use drugs for self-therapy, introspection, self-awareness, in the vaguely defined hope of becoming more creative, aware, loving, etc., human beings. 1971

mind-bender n. hallucinogens.

(SE mind + bend/expand/snap]

1

a

user of

1967 Time 7 Apr. 60: Youthful mind-benders have tripped (or thought they did) on everything from airplane glue to morningglory seeds, from nutmeg to black tea.

2

(also mind-expander) a psychedelic or psychotropic drug.

mind-bending

mindfuck

1605

1967 Science News 22 July 80: Mescaline, the cactus-derived mindbender. 1970 Times 26 Mar. 7: L.S.D., mescaline and other so-called mind-expanders.

3 [also mind-bend, mind-snapper) anything that, through the difficulty of its solution or comprehension, fig. 'bends the mind'. 1965 New Scientist 18 Mar. 694: The other 86 mindbenders. 1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 238: An epic three-hour freak-out every Saturday night, a veritable mind-snapper. 1971 Harper's Mag. Dec. 97: What the Republican mind-benders are thinking about is individualized communication. 1981 J. Sullivan 'The Russians are Coming' Only Fools and Horses (TV script] Yeah, that's a real mindbender Del that! 1993 K. Scott Monster (1994) 104: Gang members who are combat soldiers are subject to the same mindbend as are veterans of foreign wars.

mind-bending ad/, (a/so mind-cracking, mind-crunching, mind-guzzling) [mind-bender n.] 1 amazing, fantastic, remarkable, orig. in the context of hallucinogenic drug use. 1966 New Scientist 21 Apr. 151: Already 'mind-bending' gases for military purposes are said to be at an advanced stage of development. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 260: Maybe STP gonna be harder. It's going to be the mind-cracking motherfucking drugs that gonna be the hard kicks. 1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 158: He'd been given a mind-bending drug. 1991 O.D. Brooks Legs 41: He's mind-guzzling and half pissed already. 1999 Guardian Rev. 23 July 22: A mind-bending weekend of physical and psychological punishment. 2002 J. Cervantes Indoor Marijuana Horticulture xv: Cannabinoids are ingredients unique to cannabis; the psychoactive cannabinoids are responsible for the mind-bending effects of marijuana. 2 also in non-drug use. 1970 Sun. Times 25 Jan. 29: The theoretical mathematics of the situation are positively mind-bending. 1976 (con. 1969) C.R. Anderson Grunts 87: Living the agony of thirst and heatstroke, then gorging themselves on a sudden flood of water [...] produced a mind-bending bewilderment. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 190: After reducing them to a frenzy with his mind¬ crunching Rock'n'RolI? 1985 (con. 1968) D.A. Dye Citadel (1989) 283: Get right into this mind-bending shit-storm with both feet. 2004 T. Gold Tao of Mom v: Entire libraries of huge books examine this quest in mind-bending detail.

mind-blow v. (blow one's mind v.J to shock, amaze, surprise. 1970 Listener 22 Oct. 540: It can mind-blow a long-haired GI to know he'll have to live straighter to survive in Sweden than in the Army,

mind-blower n. {also mind-blow) [mind-blowing adj.] 1 some¬ thing that is astonishing, remarkable. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS. 1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 13: The thing was fantastic, a freaking mind-blower. 1969 Gandalf's Garden 6 n.d. 11: mindblower an experience or idea which changes one's thought pattern, enlivening the mind and emotions, 1969 Harvard Crimson 17 Nov. [Internet] Night, the final play of the trilogy, is in every way the third act of the evening. It is an answer to the chaotic world depicted in the first two plays [...] It is both devastating and exhilirating, an even bigger mind-blow than Morning or Noon. 1977 C. McFadden Serial 43: It was just a mindblower that they'd all survived.

2 a psychedelic drug. 1968 New Scientist 27 June 703: One might be a real mind-blower and the other as ineffective as a sugar lump, 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 128: One user heard on television it was a mind-blower and so went out to buy it. 3 a hallucinogenic drug-user, 1969 Time 30 May 55: For most of the 19th century's mind blowers, opium meant laudanum, mind-blowing adj. [blow one's mind v.| astounding, amazing, remarkable, orig. in the context of hallucinogenic drug use; thus mind-blowingly adv. 1968 Times 4 May 21: The poet celebrates the mindblowing effects of LSD. 1971 J. Mandelkau Buttons 87: The Fisherman's Wharf dance for Geno Haniki's widow was a mind-blowing event. 1992 D. Jarman diary 8 Nov. Smiling in Slow Motion (2000) 252: Colin's report on Kenneth Branagh's new film was even worse - mind-blowingly trivial. 1999 Eve. Standard 4 June 54: Egypt may be magnificent on land, but fathoms down it's mind-blowing. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 9 Jan. 8: I thought it was quite the most mind-blowing experience I've had. minder n. 1 {orig. UK Und.) a criminal's bodyguard, a 'strong-arm man', someone who guards stolen property. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 96: A patron arrived who knew him of old; who had employed him, indeed, as 'minder' — which means a protector or bully, as you please to regard it. 1900 Sporting Times 2 June 2/2: A 'minder' was carefully told off, to pick up all the banana skins. 1914 W. Sickert New 19 Mar. 631: If he

could organise it he would carry with him the 'minder,' who keeps watch for him. 1939 V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 105: The men who command the greatest respect are the gang leaders of crime 'combines,' [...] 'minders' carry their contraband for them, and by lifting a finger their battles can be fought for them. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 37: They served as 'minders', or carriers of burglary tools. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 15: Bunge Marks and College Harry, his minder, were sitting drinking tonic and lemon. 1960 F. Norman in Daily Mail 18 May in Norman's London (1969) 96: They expect everything that comes — including having an unwanted minder who they may have to bung a pony a week. 1978 F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 31: Len Stokes was a professional minder, minder being common parlance in the underworld for a bodyguard, 1986 F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 42: Big Baz Ally's minder - was standing casually just in front of the door, 1996 J. Cameron It Was An Accident 77: George got his minders with him you understand. He doesn't know that yet on account of he never woke up, but he got his monkeys guarding him. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 65: Biscuit was surprised to see Nunchaks without his minders.

2 {UK Und.) a pimp. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 104: Each 'minder' has a school of

girl harpies under his care [...] every girl pays 25 per cent of her earnings. 1997 L. Davies Candy 54: I was the minder, obviously. [...] As if Candy, being so beautiful, would have selected me as the toughest and meanest from some pimp employment bureau.

3 {UK Und.) a young criminal's patron, who sets up crimes for his protege to carry out. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 49: I'll fix for you to meet my

'minder'.

4 extended to a variety of non-criminal milieux, e.g. governmental minders, journalistic minders. 1975 J. Ryan Remembering How We Stood 75: One of the last of his

'minders' [...] told me how he would be dragged from bed at any old hour of the night by Brendan, who would arrive in a taxi, to commence the day's marathon of drinking. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 78: He dialled up call minder to see if there was any word from the group.

mindfuck n. [SE mind +

FUCK n. (la)]

1 a fantasy copulation.

1964 I, Faust Steagle 226: He could lie down side by side and think.

Oh, a mind fuck? That's nowhere. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 23: 'When I busted your mamma's booty I didn't have to ask.' 'That's because she gave you a mind-fuck.'

2 (orig. US) an emotionally overwhelming experience, usu. through drugs. 1971 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 7: All that electro-distort stuff that rocked you guys to sleep when you were first tokin' in your cradles was really unheard-of then, a real earthquake mindfuck. 1981 M. Baker Nam (1982) 17: When you weren't going through that [i.e. physical intimidation] you [were] memorising your eleven general orders. It was a real mind fuck. 1993 R. Shell Iced 205: Hey the Army is the Army. It's supposed to be a mind-fuck. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 329: Tell me again. Not all of it, just about the part you called the mind-fuck.

3 {US campus) one who delights in manipulating others. 1960,1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS (Supplement). 1989 P. Munro

SI. U.

4 a psychotic individual. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 312: 'How many people you kill

over there?' 'Didn't count.' 'Didn't count! Is that great? Comes back such a mindfuck he can't remember. Fuckin space cowboy'.

5 deception, bafflement, confusion. 1977 J. Sayles Union Dues (1978) 188: You just a little Cathlict

mindfuck [...] You'll see how any kind of morals you got that's holdin you back got no foundation, cause the people set up those morals, they is a lie. 1999 Indep. Rev. 12 July 5: No wonder this war [...] was summed up by a British officer as a 'Bosnian mind-fuck'. 2002 D. Flusfeder Gift 203: It's a mindfuck.

mindfuck v. [mindfuck n. (2)l 1 {orig. US) to manipulate emotionally; to deceive, to tease, esp. while the victim is under the influence of drugs and thus less emotionally stable. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 17: Their consciousness

has been permanently altered [...] They've been mind-fucked. 1989 (con. 1960s) M. Kingston Tripmaster Monkey 179: It mind-fucks dogs to be called good when they're trying to be fierce. 1992 R. Marcinko Rogue Warrior (1993) 192: 1 was a veteran of mind-fucking the Vietnamese. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff\66: I be mind-fucking hos, stupid. 2005 A. Lane Vulnerable 136: 'And mind fucked her as well' Green added. 'It wasn't pretty — someone had laid a pretty stiff compulsion on her.'

2 to subject to a fantasy act of intercourse.

mindfucker 2006

'Annalise'

minger

1606 Venus Rising 136: Kiss me and consider yourself

mind fucked anyway,

■ Derivatives mind-fucked {adj.) (orig. US/US campus) 1 drunk, under the influence of drugs. 2002 D. Jblani-Miller Demon Siege 222: He felt hung over from too many tabs of acid. In a word: mind-fucked. 2 emotionally overcome. 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 280: mind-fucked. Profoundly influenced by something. 1979 R.D. Rosen Psychobabble 17: Are you mind-fucked, or just engaged in cortical foreplay? Are you a whole person or only a fraction thereof? 1987 R, Miller Slob 156: They both felt giddy, hysterical, a little confused, mind-fucked, spent. 2004 mindfucked.blogspot.com [Internet] Your consciousness has been permanently altered--you've been mindfucked! 3 unintelligent. 2002 posting at backwash.com 28 Jan. [Internet] Any party that will appoint a mindfucked nutcake moron to any position that has actual power doesn't deserve to win ANY election. 2002 W. Harwood Autobiog. of God 116: Show me a human with no pride, and I'll show you a contented slave, a contented beggar, or a contented mind-fucked god worshipper,

mindfucker n. [mindfuck v.j 1 (orig. US) a person or event that is totally confusing or amazing. 1969 Woodstock [film] This thing is a real mindfucker! 1971 E.E. Tandy Underground Diet. (1972) 133: Mind/weter...person who attempts to manipulate another's thinking without consideration for the other. 1980 A. Maupin More Tales of the City (1984) 130: Jon shook his head incredulously. 'That is ... a mind-fucker.' 1996 New Yorker 26 Feb. 84: Sigmund Freud, figurehead for all professional mindfuckers [HDAS]. 2005 E. Garnet Impulse Archaeology 1: [A] reputation as a shapeshifter, a seducer, and a mindfucker,

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1999 G. Held et al. Generation Ecstasy 303: DBN is a record label specializing in PCP-style industrial-strength hardcore and mind¬ fucker acid [rock],

mindfucking adj. [mindfuck v.l (orig. US) baffling, confusing, amazing. 1971 S.B. Kopp Guru 145: Away from intellectual 'mind-fucking' words [HDAS], 2000 T. Prigge Deconstructing Edward Mar. [Internet] 'Film Rev. of Catch-22' Unfortunately one of my viewingmates had just a fortnight ago finished the massive, labyrinthine, mindfucking book, and so a lot of it was him reminding me how much of the book was given the cold shoulder,

ming n.^ [minC V. (1) or, given the unpleasant taste, ? ref. to SF character Ming the Merciless in the series Flash Cordon (from 1936)] a marijuana cigarette made of discarded butts. 1984 Abel Diet, of Drug Abuse Terms.

ming n? [ming v.] (Scot.) a smell, a stench. 1985 M. Munro Patter 46: ming To ming is to stink; a ming is a bad smell, Mingin means stinking but can also be used to describe anything bad. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 35:1 open my overcoat and flap it to see if the ming is as steadily rancid as I imagine it to be.

ming v, [Scot.] (orig, Scot.) to stink; in fig. use, to be very unattractive. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: ming Scotch v. To emit a foul smell. As in: 'Christ, it's minging in here!' 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 154: Christ that fuckin mings [...] It smells like fresh shit,

minga n. see mincer n. minge n. [Suffolk dial., ult. synon. Rom. mingra, note East Anglian minge, to drizzle] 1 (also minch) women in general. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 156:

Minge: Female society. [1958 D. Reeve Smoke in the Lanes 235: 'Wotsever this, you mother's minchV the enraged Jesse burst out finding that his pony refused to budge. [Ibid.] (Gloss, of Romani terms) 302: Minch ... Term of abuse.] 1989 M. Amis London Fields 153: It's tough, with all this spare minge around but you got to draw the line somewhere. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 145: I go up to the bar to see if there's any stray minge about. 2003 www.thepantsman.com [Internet] Fuck me, you're in a foreign country with the focus on bending over belters, yet none of you will fork out a single peso to guarantee a bit of Mexican minge.

2 the vagina; the female pubic hair. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 80: I'm going to give you a kick in the minge if you don't shut up. 1981 S. Berkoff Decadence in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 27: When you were in my minge / once there you would swear all. 1997 N, Barlay Curvy Lovebox 88: Somewhere [...] there's this woman screamin' her minge off. 2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 62: No men were trying to get their cocks up her minge. 2006 P. Shannon Davey Darling 21: She started hitching up her panties. [...] Then I saw it. Her great forest of minge. Her big black

bush. 3 pornography. 2008 (ref. to 1971) F. Dennis 'Old Bailey' Homeless in my Heart 180: After the raid / Where coppers as bent as a hinge / March in and bellow their trade: / 'We've come for the drugs and minge!'

■ In compounds minge bag (n.) 1 an unpleasant or disliked woman. 1982 A, Bleasdale 'Jobs for the Boys' in Boys from the Blackstuff (1985)

mindic n. see mendic adj. mine n. (also mines) (US Und.; latterly US black) myself, me; usu. as for mine. 1904 'Hugh McHugh' I'm from Missouri 24: The fence for mine. 1917 B.E.F. Times 20 Jan. (2006) 163/2: 'Well,' said Ferdy [...] 'Its oats for mine.' 1921 C.B, Booth 'Mr Clacksworthy Within the Law' Detective Story 13 Aug. [Internet] Mebbe he'd like t' be stuck out here in this pocket-edition of a town, bearin' the crickets sing [...] The roarin' city fer mine! 1963 in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 57: Why should I care? I got mine. 1996 L. Pettiway Honey, Honey, Miss Thang 79: I got into fights with girlfriends of mines.

■ In phrases go for mines (v.) (also take care mines) (black var. on SE mine] (US black teen) to look after oneself, to indulge one's own interests. 2001 Master P 'Trick or Treat Whodi' [lyrics] Game Face [album] Nah, fuck the world. I'm about to go for mines / Cause I'm trapped in this dream like I'm trapped in crime. 2002 D. Carter LiveJournal. com 1 Nov. [Internet] Y'know? I got to take care mines first,

[TV script] 34: It's her - the minge bag. 2003 el picador posting 3 Dec. at LiveJournal.com [Internet] Firstly, id jump up on da bonnet of the car and show her DEEEZ NUUTZZ [...] After that you can simply walk away, knowing that, not only have you exacted revenge on the horrible old minge bag.

2 a miser, a general term of abuse. a.2004 'P in the Park' at FirstFoot.com [Internet] My Mammy went tae

school wi him and she said he wiz a fight minge-bag. So ah'm no huvvin ma photie taken wi him. 2004 Learoy posting 24 Aug. at SuicideGirls.com [Internet] I've been sacked, so this wkend won't be as mad as intended as I have to be a minge bag with money now, so we only gonna go to one or two gigs this wkend. minge mouse (n.) a pubic louse. 1977 (ref. to 1940s) G. Melly Rum, Bum and Concertina (1978) 97: Crabs [...] were referred to by such synonyms as 'fanny rats', 'minge mice', 'mobilized blackheads' and 'mechanized dandruff', minge-muncher (n.) (N.Z.) a cunnilinguist. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. Till: minge-muncher enthusiast for

mine! exd. (US campus) my fault! 1989 Eble Campus SI. Sept. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 57: Mine means 'my fault': 'The phone is disconnected - I forgot to pay the phone bill. Mine'.

cunnilingus. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

minge wagon (n.) a flashy car seen as an adjunct to the seduction of foolishly impressionable young women. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 248: Gets this eyecatching minge-wagon, plus a new fur coat.

mine of pleasure n. the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 182: Occasionally, the colloquialism acknowledges the functions of the part, as is seen with [...] Gate of Life or mine of

■ In phrases ginge minge

horny as fuck and you'd all like that ginge-minge in yer face for a few hours and you know it!

mines n. see mine n. minette n. [Fr. minette, 'pussycat'] fellatio. 1879 'Nursery Rhymes' in Pearl 4 Oct. 33: There is a new Baron of Wokingham; / The girls say he don't care for poking 'em. / Preferring 'Minette,' / What is pleasant, but yet, / There is one disadvantage, his choking 'em. 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 201: She asked me if I had ever played at minette. I did not know

mingee adj. see mingy ad/, mingelicious adj. see bootylicious ad/. (2). minger n. (also minga) iminc v.] 1 one who lit. or fig. smells, a 'stinker', 1999 J. Poller Reach 18: What do you mean, 'to-die-for'? He's an

what it meant. She told me it was having my prick sucked,

minette v. [minette n.] to fellate. 1888-94

'Walter'

(n.) [abbr. SE ginger] ginger female pubic hair.

2003 'Evacuate' posting 24 Jan. at dogbomb.co.uk [Internet] Nicole is

pleasure.

My Secret Life (1966) X 2002:1 licked her little quim,

then cautiously she minetted my cock.

2

absolute minger. an unattractive and/or stupid person. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] minga n 1. an unattractive and/or

fat person. ('Look at that fat minga.'). 1999 Guardian G2 30 Sept. 3:

minging

[headline] Ginger binger bags a minger. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] minger (ming-er) «. (1) used to denote someone who is apparantly less favoured mentally than those taunting him/her (2) ugly (usu. female) Ali G. (UK 'comedian') once described called royal polo pony Camilla Parker Bowles as a minger. 2003 Observer Mag. 13 July 31/2: Never scout when you're out drinking [...] because 'You'll get the beer goggles on and pull a minger.' 2008 Guardian G2 29 Dec. 12/2: Pretty women in lab coats were paraded in magazines to prove not all scientists are mingers.

minging adj. [mince n. or ming v.j 1 a general derog. term: disgusting, ugly, smelly etc.

2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] mlngin(g) adj. ugly: often applied to a swamp donkey. 3 very drunk. 2001 Online Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] mingin(g) adj. [...] 3) extremely drunk.

mingo n. [? ming

v.;

tat. mingo, l make water] {US campus) a

chamberpot. 1775 Essex Institute Historical Collections XIII 187: 5 Mingos and a Bed pan [DA]. 1795 Will of Charles Prentiss in Hall (1856) 322: To him who occupies my study, /1 give for use of making toddy, / A bottle full of white-face Stingo, I Another, handy, called a mingo. 1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 322: mingo [...] this word was formely used to designate a chamber-pot. [obs. SE meng, to have sexual intercourse] to have sexual

intercourse.

C.1650 'A cup of old Stingo' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 141: 'Twill make a Parson not to flinch, / Though he seem wondrous holy, / But for to kiss a pretty Wench, / And think it is no follie; / 'Twill make him learn to decline / The Verb that's called Mingo, / 'Twill make his Nose like Copper shine, / If his head be lin'd with stingo.

mingo v.^ [mingo n.] {US campus) to urinate. 1734-5 Harvard College regulation in Hall (1856) 216: 20. No freshman shall mingo against the college wall or go into the fellow's cuzjohn.

mingy n. [mingy adj.] a mean, ungenerous person. 1912 E. Pugh Harry The Cockney Ti\ 'All right, mingy,' he growled,

mingy adj. {also mingee)

(? SE mean/mangy + stingy] mean, tight-

fisted, miserly. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Oct. 10/3: And what do you think it was? A penny! One solitary, mingy penny! 1911 J.W. Horsley Memoirs of a 'Sky Pilot' 254: Other [words] were new to me, such as [...] 'mingee' for greedy. 1929 'Henry Green' living (1978) 221: Tupe said perhaps that was why he was so mingy, not a penny coming from his pocket without his making a groan. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 57: Right mingy lot of bastards. 1946 P. Larkin letter 6 Dec. in Thwaite Sel. letters (1992) 131: It was good of you to write so quickly in answer to my mingy letter. 1959 D. Hewett Bobbin Up (1961) 138: The extra five minutes was worth it for the sake of the few mingy perks. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 148: They gave up working for a mingy boss and set out on their own. 1974 D. Ireland Burn 60:1 can't see that mingy little cow parting up with too much. 1993 K. Lette Foetal Attraction (1994) 4: The mingy, stingy bastard. 2006 P. Carey Theft 33: Why Fish-oh would act like a mingy witholding bastard does not matter.

mini n.

[abbr.; orig. created as the fashion statement of the 'swinging

Sixties', more recently resurgent in the 1980s and 2000s] a m/n/skirt,

1967 Punch 27 Dec. 986: The rag trade's mini maxi race is hotting up. 1970 T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 26: Leaning over in such a way that her extremely brief mini revealed the back of bare brown legs and a precious, perfectly rounded derriere. 1972 C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 142: An eighteen-year-old cunt with a mini up to her hips, high heels and long stockings. 1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool 7: Looking up the leather mini of the spunky little hornbag. 2000 Guardian G2 I Feb. 6: A group of women in identical minis, red lipstick and slicked-back hair,

minibennie n. [SE benzedrine] {US drugs) amphetamine. 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Minibennie — Amphetamine.

Minie rifle n. {also Minnie rifle)

1859 l.A. Star 23 Apr. 4: Minnie rifle, Knock-'em stiff and flaming red-eye — Such as kills 'em at the counter. Forty rods or any distance. a.1865 J.H. Browne Four Years in Secessia 194: Its classic communities would turn their attention from imbibing Minie rifle whisky [DA]. mini-mini n. {also minny-minny) [Eat. minimus, smallest, but note Twi mini-mma, a small, stinging fly -t Hausa mfni, smallness] {W.l.) small spots that one sees in front of one's eyes, either as a result of a blow to the head, or from the mild hallucinations that may accompany the smoking of 'ganja'. 1952 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

1985 M. Munro Patter 46: ming To ming is to stink; a ming is a bad smell, Mingin means stinking but can also be used to describe anything bad. 1993-2003 Urban Diet. [Internet] cod trench The furry cup. / about boked when I got down to her cod trench, fucking minging man! 1999 Guardian 14 May 30: What's the point of doing the mingin' thing if I can't clean up, Rodds? 2004 C. Brookmyre Be My Enemy 249: That's the most mingin' thing I've ever seen. 2 of a person, unattractive.

mingo v.^

Minnesota

1607

[the power of its effect; ult. SE Minie

Mini Moke n. [rhy. si.; ult. the once-popular Mini Moke, a Mini Minor with a 'jeep'-style body] smoke. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. minister’s face n. {also minister’s head, minister’s snout, parson’s face) [anti-clericalism] {US) a boiled or roasted hog's head with the eyes and jowls removed. 1855 C.G. Parsons Inside View of Slavery 115: The upper part of a pig's head - 'the minister's face' - was on the table. 1873 W.H. Thomes Slaver's Adventures 155: I'll give up eating old boss and ministers' faces, and have a farm and lots of pigs. 1926 N. Klein 'Hobo Lingo' in AS 1:12 652: Minister's face — pigs head served in cheap restaurant. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 129: MtNiSTER's Head. - Boiled pig's head. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). mink n. 1 {US black) a pretty, sexy young woman. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. II 10: You remember the little mink that we tossed up for in front of Florence's, don't you? [1946 H.A. Smith Rhubarb 84: She was as sexy as a mink.] 1971 H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: mink n. an attractive lady. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 33: Deek had girls up all the time . . . minks that would never have looked twice at Ty. 2 {US) the vagina. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 39: A mink is an especially attractive or high-class beaver. 3 (US) a lecher or scoundrel. 1900 O. WisTER Jimmyjohn Boss and Other Stories 61: You ornery old mink! 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DNIV:iii 196: mink, a treacherous person, 'She's a mink that needs watching.' 1946 H.A. Smith Rhubarb 271: Listen, you mink in sheep's clothing. 4 a sexual obsessive. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 170: The little doctor was a regular mink — a different girl every night. 5 {Irish) a traveller. 2001 G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and SI. [Internet] Mink (n): traveller.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases not for mink see not for all

the tea in China under tea n.

mink and manure belt n. 1 affluent suburbs, typified by wealth and a love of horses, when found outside any city; the inhabitants can be black or white; thus milk/mink and manure (belt), as adj. 1960 Jazz Rev. Ill 36/1: Westbury lies at the heart of the North Shore's 'mink and manure' belt and its principle thoroughfare [is] named for one of the pioneer millionaires. 1977 J. Waring Hot Air 12: The Mink and Manure set of Johannesburg might seem a trifle nouveau riche to the Constantia and Bishopscourt dwellers. 1984 J.T. MacFadyen Gaining Ground 130: Sudbury, Massachusetts, twenty miles north of Boston — a wealthy mink-and-manure-belt suburb. 1985 Frontline Sept. 23: Our car eventually hits the clean smelling mink and manure black area called Diepkloof Extension. It is like another world [DSAE[. 1998 T. Harpur Prayer 48: It runs over a corner of the greater Toronto area's 'mink and manure belt'.

2 {S.Afr.) the affluent rural areas that lie between Pretoria and [ohannesburg. 1981 Signature May 9: Often I am asked how Cape Town so far from the mink and manure belt draws the cream of South African riding talent to the [...] International Show [DSAE]. 1991 Bedside Guardian 40 86: One of the country's oldest townships, Alex sprawls across about one square mile of hillside, abutting the 'mink and manure belt' of Johannesburg's northern. 1998 C. Mitchell Passport S. Afr. 79: Among wealthy whites in the so-called Milk and Manure belt of Johannesburg's northern suburbs, grand displays of [...] imported haute couture were once the rage. 2001 S. Conn Distances I'. Smack in the mink and manure belt; in its post-Raj way, more English than the English. Minnesota adj.

■ In compounds Minnesota bankroll (n.) {US Und.) an ostensibly substantial

rifle, named after inventor Claude Etienne Minie (1804-79), which fired a

bankroll, of which only the visible outer note is high-denomination

'Minie' (or 'minnie') ball] {US) cheap Strong bourbon.

or, in some versions, even cash.

Minnie 1966 M.

Braly

It's Cold Out There (2005) 242: The Minnesota bankroll,

a large wad of ones with a single twenty showing. Minnesota thirteen (n.) [the brand of corn used] (US) an illegal brand of bourbon, 1927 G.D. Eaton Plain Talk 386: [...] stills [...] turning out a steady supply of 'Holdingford rye' or 'Minnesota Thirteen' which is being peddled freely in every part of the State. 1966-67 in DARE. 1983 (con. 1920s) H. Salisbury A Journey for Our Times 15: These were Prohibition days and some had plain pint bottles of Minnesota Thirteen, the best moonshine whiskey in the state, distilled from a corn called Minnesota 13.

Minnie

mint drop

1608

n.

(also

Minnie Apples)

[abbr.]

(US) Minneapolis,

Minnesota. 1912 Ade Knocking the Neighbors 58: Out in that place called MinnieApples the stupid Waiter had never heard of Bloaters for Breakfast. 1927 C. Samolar 'Argot of the Vagabond' in AS 11:9 387: Minneapolis, Minnie. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 129: Minnie. - Minneapolis, Minn. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 808: MINNIE - Minneapolis, Minnesota,

minnie five fingers n. (US) the hand, as used in male masturbation. 1992 (con. 1910s) F.M. Davis Livin' the Blues 41: 'You might fool these tadpoles,' he went on waving his hand toward the younger boys [...] 'but you gotta put somethin' straighter'n that for an old ace like me. You never had nothin' but ol' Minnie Five Fingers!'

Minnie Mouse n. [rhy, si.; ult. the Disney character Minnie Mouse (created 1928)) (Aus.) the house. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] Minnie Mouse: the house.

Minnie rifle n. see Minie rifle n. minnow n. (SE minnow, the fish; i.e. small bottle/can] (US campus) a 340ml (12fl oz) bottle or can of beer. 1975 G. Underwood 'Razorback SI.' in AS L:l/2 63: minnow n Twelve-ounce bottle or can of beer,

minny-minny n. see mini-mini n. minor n. (UK black) an unimportant matter. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 207: Nah, dat's all right, it's a minor. I would let you guys in, but I got a male friend cornin' aroun'.

minor clergy n. l? the blackness of their clothes] young chimney¬ sweeps. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

minor-league adj.

[baseball

imagery]

(orig. US) small-scale,

modest. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 54:1 didn't feel like standing for that - not from any Class Y, minor league town like Cincinnati. 1947 B. SCHULBERG Harder They Fall (1971) 33: I was a little surprised that Nick [...] would get himself involved with a minor league thief. 1953 A.J. Liebling Honest Rainmaker (1991) 5: That then distinctly minorleague city. 1959 H. Ellison 'Sally in Our Alley' in Gentleman Junkie (1961) 119: I felt like a minor-league Herbert Philbrick, spying on all my friends. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 46: There are more than a few minor-league achievers all over the world. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 164: But Jack Butler was a minor-league player [...] he represented no threat.

minstrel n. (also black and white minstrel, nigger minstrel)

[the

drug's black and white capsules; thus a pun on the popular Black and White

Minstrel Show (from 1960)1 (drugs) Durophet. 1967 Glatt el al. Drug Scene in Grt Britain 115: Minstrel (black and white) - Durophet. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 47: black and tan, black and white, black and white minstrel (from the colour) durophet capsules, 12,5 milligrams. [Ibid.] 191: nigger minstrel [..,] durophet capusles. 1971 E.E. Tandy Under¬ ground Diet. (1972) 34: black and white minstrel. [...] 12.5 mg. capsule of an amphetamine and a sedative. 1980 S, McConville 'Prison Language' in Michaels & Ricks (1980) 526: Amphetaminebarbiturate mixtures seem to have spawned a particularly vivid range of nicknames and images, often arising from the appearance or color of capsules in which they are taken. These include [...] black and white minstrel, [...] nigger min,strel, [etc.]. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 104: Nigger minstrel - Durophet capsule,

mint n.^ [8C SE mint, money. The term was wholly si. by 16C, although the Mint, as a place, remained SE] 1 (UK Und.) a piece of money.

C.1566 Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 83: mynt golde. 1592 Groundworke of Conny-catching n.p.: [as cit. c.1566]. 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 39: Mynt gold. 1648 Dekker Eng. Villainies (9th edn). 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn) 76: Mynt Gold. 1688 R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. hi item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Mynt, gold, c,1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mint c. Gold. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 Scoundrel s Diet. 17: Gold - Mint. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1852 N.Y. Herald 22 Jan. 6/3^: Murray said, 'They can do nothing with us; they could only send us up on the bag; and as to "the mint" (a flash expression for gold coin) say your brother came from California, &c, and stick to the same story. 3 a great deal of money. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1816 W.T. Moncrieff All at Coventry I i; Haven't I had you larnt Latin by Doctor Bushwig? — laid out a mint of money upon you! 1839 (con. 1703) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 35: It's a diamond, and worth a mint o' money. 1859 G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 76: Mr. Scrayles, the eminent corn-chandler (reported to be worth a mint of money). 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar A\ 12: It was a regular mint to the 'gun' who could 'work it'. 1883 'Mark Twain' Life on the Mississippi (1914) 345: There's mints of money in it [i.e. cattle farming] in Californy. 1905 'Hugh McHugh' You Can Search Me 17: Skinski is out mint, and we're going to [...] drag a fortune away from Mr. and Mrs. Reub. c.1910 H.E. Lee 'Tough Luck' Variety Stage Eng. Plays [Internet] Well you dont think I'd be peddling secrets if I owned a mint. 1929 N. Jacob Man Who Found Himself (1952) 100: Aye, Ah'll bet those cost a mint! 1934 D.L. Sayers Nine Tailors (1984) 161: It'll cost a mint of money. 1948 Kerouac letter 8 Dec. in Charters I (1995) 174: The three of us would come back with a mint. 1959 F. Norman Fings I i: I do me fair stint / I'm coinin' a fair mint. 1969 F. Norman Norman's London 208: The strippers [...] earn a mint of money, eighty to a hundred pounds a week, tax free, no doubt. 1976 Cab Calloway Of Minnie the Moocher and Me 71: The movie industry was making a mint. 1987 B. Chatwin Songlines 91: Bruce had made a mint of money. 1999 Guardian Weekend 10 July 3: That irritating cow H, who did get her novel published and made a mint from it. 2001 (con. 1964-8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 57: She'll make a mint. This place will be a national monument.

4 a great deal. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Mar. 31/1: Maybe ye'll want another [track] to bring yer back, seein' as how it takes some people a mint o' time to go to even a little place. They wear the road out goin' there.

■ Derivatives minted (adj.) 1 (Scot.) excellent, first-rate. 1988 M. Munro Patter: Another Blast 44: Ah hear ye passed yer test. That's minted, wee man.

2 wealthy. 2000 F. Mac Anna Cartoon City 93: 'We've got champagne,' Myles said. 'That's different,' Stick said, taking his arm. 'Why didn't you say you were minted? Come on girls.' 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 271: It's [i.e. money] not a problem to me any more. I'm minted.

mintful (n.) a large sum of money. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 213: He had cleaned up a mintful in Africa.

mint n.^ [numerous advertisements promoting products with 'a hint of mint'; note earlier MINTY n.) (US gay) effeminacy; usu. in phr. a hint of mint, a trace of homosexual tendencies. 1971 H. Raucher a Glimpse of Tiger 201: He modeled his outfit, with a hint of mint. 'Oh — just something I stole from a Bowery mission on the recommendation of my seeing-eye dog. Do you like it?' a,1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 107: Hint of mint ('50s) trace of homosexual tendencies. 1999 J. Stahl Perv (2001) 83: Oh sure. Ned can spot 'em. Ned can always pick up a hint of mint,

mint adj. (also mintox, mont, real mint) [SE mint, unblemished] (Can./US/UK teen) a general term of thorough approval.

C. 1420 Palladius Husbondrie Heritage (1873-9) 99: Thees if me spende, or mynt for them receyve. 1608 Dekker Belman's Second Nights Walk B4: Thus have I builded up a little Mint [...] The payment of this was a debt. 1621 Jonson Gypsies Metamorphosed 8: Strike faire at some iewell that minte may accrue well. 1659 Catterpillers of this Nation Anatomized 3: Trust not too much (lowre or mint) wealth in your house, c.1698 B.E, Diet. Canting Crew. 1785 Grose

1989 J. Doyle College SI. Diet. [Internet] mint [CMU] really cool. 19972001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] mint adj 1. attractive, usually a male. ('That guy is mint.'). 2000 Guardian Rev. 3 Nov. 17: Purely Belter

Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

McGill

2 (also mynt) gold.

means more brilliant than 'cushdy' or 'mint': it means, as it were, doubleplusgood. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] mint, mintox, mont adj. excellent. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] real mint n. great, good to look at, fine looking. 2003 Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

mint drop n. see Benton's mint drops n.

minted

misery

1609

minted adj. see under mint n.\

3 {US campus) as a negative retort.

mintee n. see minty n.

2003 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 5: minus - retort of disagreement: 'That song's great.' 'Minus.'

minter n. see after dinner mint n. mintie n.^ (the advertising slogan 'It's moments like these you need Minties', launched by James Stedman-Henderson in 1922, for Minties, a peppermint-flavoured lollipop sweet] {Aus.) comfort, solace. 1978 Sydney Morning Herald 9 June 1: In a Sydney court yesterday a solicitor representing Life Savers Ltd was told by a Sydney magistrate that his clients' case could not be heard because it was not listed. 'It's moments like these,' the magistrate added, 'you need Minties.' [GAW4]. 1983 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 5 June 113: At moments like these, it isn't Minties I need, it's a pantry shelf and freezer stocked with instant or almost instant foods [GAW4]. 1993 Bulletin 19 Oct, 93: There was one of those Minties moments at the beginning of the Australian String Quartet's Adelaide concert. Three of its members sailed happily into the allegro of Beethoven's Opus 18, No 4, leaving behind astonished violinists who knew they were supposed to be playing the Sculthorpe No 9.

minute n. {US black) a long time. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Minute (noun) A long time. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www. dolemite.com [Internet] minute Definition: a long time. Example: Yo. / aint seen that nigga in a minute.

■ In phrases in a minute {US black) a phr. of farewell, goodbye. 1974 V.E. Smith Jones Men 24: 'In a minute,' Foxy said. 1989 (con. 1982-6) T. Williams Cocaine Kids (1990) 137: in a minute time of no certain duration; in the future - a day, a week, an hour, but not in a minute. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 49: In a Minute A phrase black inmates use when leaving or going somewhere,

miraculous adj. {Scot.) very drunk. 1905 J. Wright EDD. 1985 M. Munro Patter 44: miraculous Usually, who knows why, pronounced 'marockyoolus', this is a slang term for drunk. 'Maroc' is sometimes heard as a shortened form [...] 'Ah seen him stotin roon George Square, pur maroc he wish

■ In phrases man with the minties (n.) {Aus.) a racing tipster. 1986 R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Diet. 35: Man with the Minties: A tipster or a sleevetugger who tips you a horse which promptly loses,

miraculous pitcher (that mouth down) n. the vagina.

mintie n.^ see minty n.

holds water with the

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

mintie adj. see minty ac//.\ mint leaf nj' {also mint ticket) (the colour of dollar bills] {US) a banknote, money.

mirk v. see merk v. (1). mirror man n. (he is always going to 'look into it'.] {Aus. prison) an

1920 R.J. Brown 'Thirty Days on the Island' in Argosy 3 Jan. [Internet] Slip me a couple more of them mint tickets — just to show you're on the level. 1929 M. Prenner 'SI. Terms for Money' in AS IV:5 357: For bills as such, we may say [...] frogskin.s, mint leaves [...] or yellow boys.

officer who promises help, advice, information etc, but never manages to provide it. 1990 Tupper fir Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mirror man. Any prison officer renowned for promising 'to look into it' but doing nothing in the event.

mint leaf n? {also mint weed) {drugs) mint or poss. parsley leaves impregnated with phencyclidine (PCP) for smoking. 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 124: The large number of street names it has been accorded over the years: [...] mint leaf, 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mint leaf — PCP. [...] Mint weed — PCP. mintox adj. see mint ad/. mint sauce n. (laboured pun on SE mint -E source; but note MINT n.^j money. 1825 'The Ugly Old Widow of Estramadura' Universal Songster I 2: There's too much mint-sauce to refuse her. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 53: I [...] hope that he gets lots of mint-sauce* [* Mint-Sauce. One of the numerous cant terms for money], 1867 J. Greenwood Unsentimental Journeys 230: 'Mint sauce' (as that horribly vulgar and slangy B.B. terms money), mint ticket n. see mint leaf nj'.

mis n. {also miss)

[abbr.] 1 a miscarriage. 1897 W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 95: I've 'ad twelve, ter sy nothin' of two stills an' one miss. 1942 N. Mitchison Among You Taking Notes 16 Feb. 187: She has had a mis; there seem to be so many these days. 1959 D. Hewett Bobbin Up (1961) 23: Dick had no right puttin' you on that big rover, the way you are. It's enough to bring on a mis. 1969 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II. 1994 Donahue [NBC-TV] The two of you [each] had a miss? [HDAS]. 2 (a/so mizz) a misery, a state of unhappiness. 1918 Chambers's Journal Mar. 156/2: He won't get any peace now we've seen him. We'll make his life a mizz. 1936 'Hectic Harlem' in N.Y. Amsterdam News 8 Feb, sect. 2: MIZZ, - Blue, melancholy, unhappy, as 'She's in the mizz.'

misbehave n. [rhy. si.] {Aus./US) a shave. 1949 Monteleonb Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1953 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. (2nd edn). 1972 Dodson & Saczbk Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] misbehave: a shave,

mint weed n. see mint leaf n.^. minty n. {also mintee, mintie) [? link to Fr. minet, an effeminate young man] {US gay) 1 an effeminate male homosexual. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular Ti\ stereotype effem.inate homosexual [,..] mintie ('40s cf ‘hint of mint = a flavor of homosexuality). [Ibid.] 132: Vanity, vanity, thy name is Mintie. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 233: Three little minties had rushed right into this very Ladies Room and felt her dress and its fabric's texture.

miscarriage n. {US) a term of abuse for an incompetent person. 1974 M. Cherry On High Steel 193: Get back here, you miserable miscarriage.

mischigunah n. see meshuca n. misdeal n. [card imagery] (US) a mistake. 1882 G.W. Peck Peck's Sunshine 19: The man said he had always tried to lead a different life [...] but that he might have made a misdeal some way. 1903 A.H. Lewis Boss 32: Sheeny Joe there has made a misdeal, that's all.

2 a masculine lesbian. 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexuality' Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants. minty adj? {also mintie) (minty n.] 1 frequented by homosexuals. 1963 G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 18: Next to it there's a minty cafe which serves homemade chilli. 2 effeminate in mannerism, if not actually homosexual. 1965 Guild Diet. Homosexual Terms 30: mintie (adj.): Effeminate. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1977 A. Ebert Homosexuals 174: In other words, the 'Gay Hairdresser,' the minty queen with a hair dryer who blow cuts, blow dries and blow jobs, is a myth. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 238: A great many minty men and butch women are completely heterosexual, minty adj.^ [mint ad/.] {US campus) excellent, first-rate. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 19: Minty: Cool, minus adj. 1 lacking, bereft of. 1813 Chronicle in Annual Register 44: He was considerably minus at the last Newmarket meeting [OED], 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries ofN.Y.lll: Only you are a little minus in the filling up - you have to work, I reckon? Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Aug. 16/3: Just fancy what was picked up in Paling's music room the other night, after Madame Woolner's soiree musicale! An odd glove, a small cloud, and a lady’s improver! (...] [W]hat agony the poor lady must have suffered when she felt herself 'minus' - Oh, it's too horrible to think about.

2 absent. 1858 A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 342: If we ain't minus in less than no time we're blowed upon.

miserable adj. [pun on SE miserabie/miser] tight-fisted, grasping, mean. 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life (1944) 17: The more swellisher a man is, the more miserabler he is about a bit o' grass for a team, or a feed for a traveller. 1958 F.J. Hardy Pour-Legged Lottery 183: Not all bookies are miserable; some of them are happy-go-lucky, generous blokes. 1976 Australian 20 May 6: A 'lousy dollar a day!' Could any government be more miserable? [GAW4]. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 135: miserable Mean with money. ANZ from mid C19.

miserables, the n. a hangover. 1902 H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

misery n.

[its effects]

1

gin.

1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 229: Perhaps, your tipple is gin; then you are for (...] misery. 2

{US) (bad) coffee. 1935 N. Algren Somebody in Boots 51: Gimme an extra lot o' beans an' two cups o' misery. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

■ SE in slang uses m In phrases get the miseries (v.) 1 (US) to be tetchy, to be irritated. 1997-2003 'Menstruation' on Women's Health on ninemsn [Internet] I get the miseries. Periods are so depressing.

miserygut(s) 2 (US black) to be in pain, to be ill.

2002 Lighter 'Blog' 28 Oct. on Redneckin' [Internet] They say the bad news is we get the miseries (arthritis), then the good news is we forget we have it as the Alzheimer sets in.

miserygut(s) n. a depressing, censorious person. 1953 J. Franklyn Cockney 275: 'Worrygut', 'Miserygut', 'Grizzlegul' all speak for themselves. 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 47: When old misery guts takes a gink at Shad, Mesh and Ab. 1972 Galton & Simpson 'Loathe Story' Steptoe and Son [TV script] He doesn't seem anything like a misery-guts. 1981 G. Johnston Fish Factory 108: Don' be such a spoil-sport and misery guts. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 127: Ask her what she thought of her son, she'd sneer, 'Misery guts,' 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 2004 E. Murfin Sabbatical 86: He was regarded [as] standoffish or withdrawn or even as a miseryguts. He had long been made to realise that the miseryguts is not highly regarded.

misfortunate n. euph. for a prostitute. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 119: Misfortunate — properly miss-fortunate, used of women who may have missed their way in walking along the undulating paths of life, which are laid with pebbles of vice [...]. 1665 Head Eng. Rogue I 48: Mish, A Shirt. 1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). 1684 W. Nevison in Newgate Calendar I (1926) 291: 'Now,' saith he, 'that thou art entered into our fraternity, thou must not scruple to act any villainies which thou shalt be able to perform, whether it be to nip a bung, bite the Peter Cloy, [...] or to cloy a mish from the crack man's.' c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mish c. a Shirt or Smock. 1703 Hell Upon Earth 5: Mish, a Shirt, 1707 'Maunder's Praise of His Strowling Mort' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 33: What though I no togeman wear, / Nor commission, mish, or slate; / Store of strammel we'll have here, / And ith' skipper lib in state. 1718 C. Hitchin Regulator 19: Mishes, alias Shirts. 1728 Defoe Street Robberies Considered 33: Mish, a Smock. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c. 105: [as cit. 1684], 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, n.p.: mish Shirt, Smock, or Shee. 1754 Scoundrel’s Diet. 19: A Shirt - Mish. 1768 (con. 1710-25) Tyburn Chronicle If in Groom (1999) xxix; A Mish A Shirt. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1833 'A Shove In The Mouth' in Regular Thing, And No Mistake 61: Arrd remember the mish that I brought you before / You went up to stare the big wig. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1914 E. WiTTMANN 'Clipped Words' in DN IV:ii 132: mish, from commission. A shirt or chemise. [abbr.j 1 a missionary.

1939 J.

Cary

Mister Johnson 164: That's wot's wrong with some of

these teetotal mishes [OED].

2 in sexual intercourse, missionary position, 1997 A. Petkovich X Factory 195: A white guy in his early forties wearing a Gang Bang 2 T-shirt is soon fucking Jaz in the mish pazzish. 2000 'Sugar 3' Mr Web Rev. Aug. [Internet] They move into doggy & Marcus slams her like there isn't a tomorrow, but she seems too much for him. They switch to missionary and Marcus stops every few strokes to keep from cumming but once they switch to spoon its more than he can take, he slips in one quick mish then let's loose the juice. 3 (N.Z.) hard work, in the sense of a 'mission'. 2003

McGill

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI.

135:

mish

Hard

work,

mish-topper n. (a/so misstopper) topper'] (UK Und.) 1 an overcoat,

[mish n.^ + SE topper, lit. 'shirt

1674 Head Canting Academy (2nd edn). c.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mish-topper c. a Coat or Petticoat. 1707 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1754 Scoundrel's Diet. 16: A Coat - Mishtopper. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795). 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 22: Misstopper - coat and petticoat. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 2 a petticoat.

c.1698 B.E, Diet. Canting Crew. 1725 New Canting Diet. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. a.1790 H.T. Potter JVew Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: mish topper a coat and petticoat. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1835 see sense 1. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

mishuga/mishugenah/mishugeneh n. misle V. see mizzle v. misper v. [SE m/ssing person]

see meshucah.

to go missing.

2005 B. Hare Urban Grimshaw viii: Mispering To go missing, to

mish n.’’ Iltal. camisa, a shirt] (UK Und.) a shirt, a smock; a sheet.

mish

Miss

1610

an

abbreviation of 'mission' in the sense of something being a mission.

mish V. [MISH n.^l to work as a missionary. Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Nov. IIV. Under the headline 'Thinking Black' the S. M. Herald lately published the tale of an interesting missionary named Crawford, who has mished in Africa for 23 years, and is now visiting Sydney.

mishegaas n. (also tnishegas, mishegoss, mishigoss) [Yid.l nonsense, obsession, tomfoolery. 1958 Mad mag. Sept.-Oct. 4: [poster] Camp Mishigoss meets here. 1971 A. Goldman in N.Y. Mag. 6 Sept, 36: Buttonholing Lenny [...] they plead with him to forget this mishegaas, to release them from this mission impossible. 1978 L. Kramer Faggots 60: His case had entered the international journals as 'A Famous Son: The Transmission of Psychoneurotic Mishegas from Old World to New'. 1980 S, Steinberg Fairy Tale 43: Or shall I tell her it was just some of your mishegaas? I guess I'd better talk to Uncle Hymie about it. 1998 D. DeLillo Underworld 545: Steiger plays him as a moody and sensitive loner burdened by the whole mishegaas of Russian history. 2001 (con. 1975-6) E. Little Steel Toes 134: Meshugenah, what a mishegoss this is gonna be. 2002 L. Brett Too Many Men 75: 'To run to somewhere where there is no need to run is a mishegaas.' [...] A mishegaas, was a stupidity, a madness.

become a missing person.

Miss n. (also Dame, Lady, Madam(e), Mistress, Mrs, Princess) 1 a title used in comb, with a n. to express the subject's primary characteristic, e.g. Miss Grind, a very hard worker; thus 'Frenchified' as Mademoiselle. 1577 Misogonus in Farmer (1906) II iv: What, doth Dame Fortune now begin to frown? 1595 'W.S.' Lamentable Tragedie of Locrine III iv: Mistresse nicebice, how fine you can nickname me, I think you were brought up in the vniuersity of bridewell. 1596 Chapman Blind Beggar of Alexandria vii: Well, Madam Short-heels, I'll be even with you. 1599 H. Porter Two Angry Women of Abington C3: Mistresse Hurt - you foule strumpet. 1602 J. Cooke How A Man May Choose A Good Wife From A Bad Act III: He tell my Mistris as soone as I come home, that Mistris light-heeles comes to dinner to morrow. 1607 Rowlands Diogenes Lanthorne 12: See how hee laughs to him selfe, at yonder playne gentlewoman in the old fashion, because she ha's not the trash and trumpery of mistris Loose-legges about her, 1612 N. Field Woman is a Weathercock (1888) I ii; God's precious! Save you Mistresse Wagtail. 1612 Dekker 0 per se 0 N2; Euery one of them hath a peculiar Nick-name [..,] And (as I haue heard) there was an Abram, who called his Mort, Madam Wap-apace. 1622 J. Mabbe (trans.) Life of Guzman Pt II Bk I 7: Euen my Lady Ninny-hammer would that I should onely write for her pleasure. 1636 W. Cartwright Royal Slave I i: Sirrah Gaoler, see you send Mistris Turn-key your wife to take us up whores enough. 1637 T. Heywood Royal King and Loyal Subject III iii: Here they say dwells my Lady Bawdy-face; here will we knock, c.1642 T. Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) IV i: And who do you think I saw there? [...] Your Aunt and Mistress Pleasant. 1697 Vanbrugh Relapse II i; There is my Lady Tattle, my Lady Prate, and my Lady Titter, my Lady Leer, my Lady Giggle, and my Lady Grin. 1706 R. Estcourt Fair Example II i: D'ye hear how she answers me. Sir? Of Age! Why how old do you think I am, Mrs. Pert? [Ibid.] Ill ii: Do I so, Mrs Nimblechaps! 1707 N. Ward London Terraefilius IV 33: Mrs. Busiebody of a Prattlebox is such an unsufferable Plague to the Neighbourhood she Lives in. 1708 W. Taverner The Maid the Mistress IV i: Look you Mrs. Nimble-chops, if you can make it out, that I got her with Child, I'll marry her. 1728 Vanbrugh & Cibber Provoked Husband II i: Hah! Miss Pert. [Ibid.] V ii: And for you Mrs. Hot-upon't [...] Did you know, Hussy, that you were within two Minutes of marrying a Pick-Pocket? 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen (J-c252: Walden was known among the Pyrates mostly by the Nick-name of Miss Nanney (ironically its presumed from the Hardness of his Temper). 1754 Sadler Song 128 Muses Delight 278/2: Miss Forward is known by th' air of her dress, / With painting and patches so neat. 1773 'Geoffrey Wildgoose' Spiritual Quixote I Bk v 317: Lady Shockingphyz was mortified this morning. 1778 Mme D'Arblay Diary and Letters (1904) I 140: His lady, a sort of Mrs. Nobody. [Ibid.] 227: Miss Slyboots! — that is exactly the thing. 1785 'Three Monks' in Nightly Sports of Venus 26: 'Twas not enough, said Mistress Sly. 1803 'C. Caustic' Petition Against Tractorising Trumpery 62: Madam Hoaxhoax, in her glass. Beholding what it truly was, Exclaim'd 'My last new wig I'll burn up'. 1811 J. Poole Hamlet Travestie III iv; Miss Prim is seated at her glass. With paints and washes to bedaub her face. 1818 J. Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck I 111; No juggling with me, old Mrs Skinflint. 1823 J.F. Cooper Pioneers (1827) II 61: I ask you. Mistress Pretty-bones, if she didn't walk. 1836 M. Scott Cruise of the Midge II 195: Indeed, Miss Tomboy! c.1850 Mrs. Cuddle's Bed-Room Lectures (10-15) 6: Pray where have you been all the day. / With sweet Miss Prettyman I suppose. 1863 (con. mid-18C) G.A. Sala Strange Adventures of Captain

Miss

Dangerous 95: Mistress Slyboots, the Maid, used to say that he was in love. 1919 R.J. Cassidy Gipsy Road 51:1 saw Mademoiselle Money¬ bags step out of that elegant car. 1920 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 1 5: Miss Applesauce, I want you to meet my friends. 1924 E. Ferber 'Classified' One Basket (1947) 224: Oh, aren't you. Miss Nosy! And why not? 1925 J.H. O'Hara letter 1 Nov. in Bruccoli Sel. Letters 15: No liquor and lots of milk [...] and even a cutting down of my lone vice Madame Nicotine. 1929 H.C. Witwer Yes Man's Land 302: I'm no Miss Fix-It. 1933 (con. 1904) F. Riesenberg Log of the Sea 185: A'Miss Corker took quite a shine to the boatswain. 1943 in T. Harrisson Mass-Observation War Factory: Report 11: He catches sight of a piece of bread left on someone's plate on the supper table. He snatches it up and throws it in the fire ... 'Well, that's one bit less for Mrs. Scrounge when she comes in to see what we've left.' 1949 L. Hughes Tambourines to Glory II i: A toast - to Miss Bitch. 1949-51 in M. Daly Profile of Youth 123: A teacher who dyes her hair may be referred to as 'Miss Peroxide'. 1953 H.G. Lamond Big Red 85: Mrs. Public-House disturbed spiders from dark corners when she dusted spare bedrooms. 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 11: Little Miss Teasie-Bubs. 1962 P. Manbel Mainside 73: You'll put it all down, how VF-86 had this big orgy [...] and miss nicey-pants did this and that. 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 58: They think I think I'm some kind of Miss Priss broad. 1971 M. Novotny Kings Road 137: And now Miss Copy-Cat has followed your lead. 1972 (con. 1950s) Jacobs & Casey Grease II iv: Just a minute. Miss Goody-Goody! Who do you think you are? 1974 (con. 1945) M. Angelou Gather Together In My Name 91:1 shall call you Miss Idiot, Miss Stupid, Miss Fool. 1976 P. Conroy Great Santini (1977) 98: Here comes Miss Hang Crepe, morose as ever. 1979 G. Swarthout Skeletons 233:1 could be a cowardly son of a bitch and say, okay, baby, I christen you Miss Incest of 1946. 1981 O'Day & Eells High Times Hard Times 36:1 was only fifteen and acted like Miss Priss. 1987 (con. 1968) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 385: Man ... who the fuck you think you be? Miss Victory, 1968? 1988 (con. 1940s) C. Bram NoW D^/tt (1990) 97: Whooey! [...] Miss Muscles again? 1990 L. Goodison Baby Mother and King of Swords 73: It was really she he was dancing with not Miss High-andMighty in the red chiffon dress. 2001 (con. late 1940s) V. Foot Sixteen Shillings And Tuppence Ha'penny 32: Okay, Miss Clever Clogs. 2001 S. King Dreamcatcher 91: Check Princess Dipshit. She justs sits there.

2 (gay) a title prefixed to a name to imply that the subject's homosexuality is known or obvious. The pfx was a staple of preCay Liberation Front camp usage, e.g. Miss Ugly. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 37: One Oviat [...] and another Molly, a Butcher of Butcher-Row, near Temple-Bar, stood as Bridesmaids, and that Oviat went by the Name of Miss Kitten, the Butcher by the Name of the Princess Saraphina. [Ibid.] 38: There is a Club of these Mollies [...] The Stewards are Miss Fanny Knight, and Aunt England. 1813 HOLLOWAY (printer)Vere Street Coterie 12: These reptiles assume feigned names [...] for instance, Kitty Cambric is a Coal Merchant; Miss Selina, a Runner at a Police office; Black-eyed Leonora, a Drummer; Pretty Harriet, a Butcher; Lady Godina, a Waiter; the Duchess of Gloucester, a gentleman's servant; Duchess of Devonshire, a Blacksmith; and Miss Sweet Lips, a Country Grocer, 1926 Ma RAtNEY 'Sissy Blues' [lyrics] My man got a sissy, his name is 'Miss Kate'. 1932 'R. Scullv' Scarlet Pansy 251: Men that were real hemen were often referred to as 'Miss So-and-So' [...] 'See! Miss Soand-So is all dressed up in drag this morning.' c.1935 'Jimmy Cagney in "Boys Will Be Girls'" [comic strip[ 'Oh fuck Miss Powell!' 'Yeah, that's what he always wants!' 1941 G. Legman 'Lang, of Homosexu¬ ality' Appendix vn in Henry Sex Variants. 1952 (con. 1920s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 230: 'You mean tackling that queer,' she laughed [...] 'Yeg, him. Miss Theodorah,' 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 98: Miss Lorelei — I mean. Officer Morgan, dear — is as much a lady as I am. 1964 H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 15: What would you know about opera Miss Cocksucker? 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 163: I don't know about you, honey, but I'm gonna mingle. They might be giving out a Miss Congeniality award. 1983 N. Heard House of Slammers 3: Lust for a queen named Miss Amber had done Junior down. 2003 K. CAGE Gayle 83/1: Mrs n. title prefixed to a man's surname (Here comes Mrs Smith). 2005 (con. 1960s) E. White My Lives 180: We spoke of every man in the feminine [...] Everyone was titled 'Miss' (as in 'Miss Thing' or 'Miss Postman').

■ Used with specific or metonymic proper names ■ In compounds Miss Amy (n.) |1980 President jimmy Carter]

dt, suggests source in Amy Carter, daughter of US

{US black)

a young white woman.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 209: Miss Lillian and Amy have taken their place alongside Miss Ann as expressions for a white female.

Miss Ann (n.) (a/so Miss Anne, Miss Annie) (US black) a white woman; esp. when considered to be hostile or patronizing to blacks.

Miss

1611

1926 Van Vechten Nigger Heaven 280: Look at Buddie wid Miss Annie ... Dat ain' Miss Annie, dat's kinkout. 1928 R. Fisher Walls Of Jericho 303: Miss ANNE Non-specific designation of 'swell' whites [...] 'His mamma's got a fur coat just like Miss Anne's, too.' 1929 T. Gordon Born to Be (1975) 236: Miss Ann and Mister Eddie: Emancipated blue-bloods. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' in Novels and Stories (1995) 1004: I had to leave from down south 'cause Miss Anne used to worry me so bad to go with me. 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 177: I heard all this head action going down in the next stall. I didn't dream it was Miss Ann and her sweet girl taking off. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 175: After a while Efam showed up in a fine horse-drawn carriage with the master and Miss Anne. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 48: I got an older sister that thinks she's white [..,] She was high and mighty Miss Anne. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines xxi: Their tonguein-cheek cynicism [...] finds the proverbial Miss Ann replaced by Miss Lillian and Amy. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 138: These yallas try to play Miss Anne.

Miss Astor (n.) (a/so Mrs Astor) (the wealthy Astor family, once social arbiters of New York! (US) 1 a woman who overdresses. 1966-70 in DARE.

2 usu. mocking, an elite 'social leader' of a community. 1966-70 in DARE.

Miss Big Stockings (n.) (US black) an attractive, well-built, conspicuous young woman. 1957 H. Simmons Corner Boy 27: 'Hey, Jake, who's Miss Big Stockings the boys tell me you done latched onto?' [...] 'Built like a brick ...' The guys cut off Jake's comment with laughter.

Miss Brown (n.) (also Madam Brown) [joc./euph. use of proper name) the vagina. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1890-1904 Farmer 8- Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta 1V:2 (Winter) 185: The elliptic mood is still sometimes found, however, in the advertisements of those on the game, where they delicately refer to Miss Brown. Madam Brown, Itching Jenny, Mary Lane, Madge Hewlett and Miss Laycock in shop-window come-ons.

Miss Bull (n.) see ]ohn Bull n?. Miss Carrie (n.) (pun on carrylCarrie] (drugs) a quantity of drugs carried on one's person. 1967 Maurer

&

Vogel

Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction (3rd edn).

Miss Cubba (n.) see cubba n. Miss Emma (n.) [the letter M] (drugs) morphine. 1938 D. Maurer 'Lang, of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 106/1: miss emma. Morphine. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 145: Miss Emma. Morphine. 1959 J.E. SenmoT Narcotics Lingo and Lore. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from AtoZ (1970). 1971 E.E. Landy Underground Diet. (1972). 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Miss Emma — Morphine, 2006 F.X, TOOLE Pound for Pound 60: He used Dilaudid if he was low on morphine, but he preferred 'Miss Emma.'

Miss Emma Jones (n.) [prev. -e jones n.^] an addiction to morphine. 1959 J.E.

Schmidt

Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

Miss Fine (n.) (fine adj. (3)) (US) form of address aimed at one who is considered to be overly self-opinionated. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 172: You can start getting ready for the track too. Miss Fine. 1974 D. Goines Daddy Cool (1997) 23: And another thing. Miss Fine [...] you had better make sure that motherfuckin' door hits you in the crack of your ass before twelve o'clock at night. 1979 'Iceberg Slim' Airtight Willie and Me 105: Hi, Miss Fine, didn't expect you until tonight.

Miss Fist (n.) the hand, in the context of masturbation. 1984

Partridge

DSUE (8th edn) 742: mid-C,20. 2000 Sex-Lexis

[Internet].

Miss Fitch (n.) [rhy. si. =

BITCH n.^l

1 an unpleasant woman.

1981 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. (2nd edn).

2 (US gay) a 'feminine' male homosexual. 1978 Maledicta II:l-i-2 (Summer/Winter) 118: Elsewhere Aylwin lists a few more 'Vulgarities': [...] bitch (Miss Fitch, the opposite of masculine butch in camp homosexual slang).

Miss Flash (n.) (also flash queen) [flash n} (8)] (camp gay) a user of amphetamines or Benzedrine. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 82: flash queen (fr narc si flash - jolt brought about by drugs) gay drug user. Syn: Miss Flash.

Miss Frosty Pants (n.) see frosty face n. (3). Miss Green (n.) see green n.^ (3). Miss It (n.) (orig. US gay) a greeting to a fellow homosexual man. 1968 N.

Heard

Howard Street 115: Oh, Miss It, you're just too much.

Just look at his gorgeous hair.

Miss Jane (n.) (W.l.) an effeminate man. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980),

miss

miss

1612

Miss Lashey (n.) l? lasher n.^, but while this man also chases women, it

miss n? (also miss of the town, town miss) [a heaviiy ironic use of

is for gossip rather than seduction, thus the effeminate M/ss| (W./.) a male

SE[ a prostitute, 'a Whore of Quality' (B.E.); a kept woman. 1512 Hickscorner Cv: It thou wylt forsake thy mysse Surely thou shake come to the blysse And be inherytoure of heuen. 1662 J. Evelyn Diary 9 Jan. (1850) I 359: In this acted the fir and famous comedian called Roxalana [...] she being taken to be the Earle of

gossip. 1958 cited in Cassidy & LePage Diet. Jam. Eng. (1980).

Miss Laycock (n.) (also Gammar Laycock, Lady Laycock, Mrs Laycock, Nancy Laycock) Ipun on lay v.^ + cock n.^ (1 )1 the vagina; thus anthropomorphized in 18C as a prostitute. 1706 Betterton Amorous Widow [dramatis personae] Lady Laycock. 1721 N. Ward Northern Cuckold in Misc. IV 26: [A] Blowze just tumbl'd by her Lover, Sweating as much as Gammar Laycock, just rais'd by Ralph from Mow or Haycock. 1756 'Capt. Samuel Cock' Voyage to Lethe (2nd edn) [title page] printed for Mrs. Laycock, at Mr, Clevercock's in Smock Alley. 1765 Kitty's Attalantis 52: Received of John Goodcock, esq; the sum of five guineas, for my maidenhead; which is more than any of the Badcocks in the parish wou'd give. NANCY LAYCOCK. 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue, c.1880 'US Army SI. 1870s-1880s' [compiled by R. Bunting, San Diego CA, 2001] Miss Laycock A vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 185: The elliptic mood is still sometimes found, however, in the advertisements of those on the game, where they delicately refer to Miss Brown, Madam Brown, Itching Jenny, Mary Lane, Madge Howlett and Miss Laycock in shop-window come-ons.

Miss Lillian (n.) [1980 cit. suggests link to Lillian Carter, mother of President Jimmy Carter] (US black) a white girl or woman of any age, but usu. an older woman. 1980 E. Pole Runnin' Down Some Lines xxi: Their tongue-in-cheek cynicism [...] finds the proverbial Miss Ann replaced by Miss Lillian and Amy.

Miss Lily (n.) see lily law n. Miss Lizzie Tish (n.) (also Miss Tizzie Lish) [? anecdotal or a joc. of a generic proper name] (US) 1 a woman who overdresses.

use

1994 in DARE file.

2 usu. mocking, an elite 'social leader' of a community. 1995 in DARE tile.

Miss Lucy (n.) (US black) generic for a white girl or woman of any age, but usu. an older woman. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 139: Your old lady, she may have a square job cleaning Miss Lucy's kitchen, but she's holdin' policiers, bettin' on the numbers. Miss Man (n.) [man n. (4)] (US black gay) the police. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 125: the police [...] Miss Man (black gay si.).

1972 B, Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 29: Mexican homosexual [...]

Miss Morales ('Just cause Miss Morales paints her nails is no sign that she doesn't know how to point her Johnson'). Miss Morph (n.) [morph/morpho n.] (drugs) morphine. 1967 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction. 1977 S.N. Pradhan Drug Abuse. 2003 SI. Synonyms for Drugs on Ajax.org [Internet] morphine miss morph. Miss Nancy (n.) see separate entry.

Miss One (n.) see Miss Thing n. Miss Peach (n.) [peach v.] (camp gay) an informer. 1972 B, Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

Miss Piggy (n.) Irhy, si. =

CICGIE n.; ult. the character in the TV puppet series The Moppets (1976-80)] a cigarette. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit. Miss Placed Confidence (n.) (US Asian) venereal disease. 1868 S.P. Boyer diary 13 June in Barnes Naval Surgeon (1963) 54: I

am afraid that he 'will carry the pitcher once too often to the well.' If so, why, he'll be compelled to weep for his Japanese lady friend and have occasion to remember her for some time. For a victim of 'Miss Placed Confidence' in Japan is the worst kind of victim. [Ibid.] 12 Aug. 89: Lanced a bubo for Mr. Heaton, right groin — another victim of 'Miss Placed Confidence'. Miss Prissy-pants (n.) see prissy-pants n.

Right (n.) see Mr Right n. Roundheels (n.) see roundheels n. (2). Thang (n.) see Miss Thing n. Thing (n.) see separate entry. Tizzie Lish (n.) see Miss Lizzie Tish above. van Neck (n.) (also Mrs van Neck) [joc. use of supposed proper

name] a woman with large breasts. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn). 1811

Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

Miss Xylophone (n.) [the equation of protruding ribs and of the instrumenti (camp gay) a notably thin person. 1972 B, Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

(1897) IV 115: Where Fop and Miss, like Dog and Bitch, do couple under Benches. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 65: [title] The Misses Complaint. 1721 Penkethman's Jests 55: An effeminate Fop calling his Whore his Miss. 1733 Laugh and Be Pat 85: By soft and gentle Steps he makes his Approaches towards Happiness, Miss lying the while very circumspect to watch his Entrance. 1748-49 Cleland Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (1985)85: Without adding to the guilt of my infidelity that of an audacious defense of it, in the old style of a common kept Miss, my answer was modest. [Ibid.] 127: I had neither the feathers, nor j'umet of a tawdry town-miss. 1775 J. Ash Diet. Eng. Lang. 1786 Burns The Inventory (1904) 225: I ha'e nae wife, and that my bliss is. An' ye haue laid nae tax on misses [...] My sonsie smirking dear-bought Bess, c.1790 'The Rakes of Mallow' Luke Caffrey's Gost 2: Keeping misses but no wives, / Live the Rakes of Mallow. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1821 'An Amateur' Real Life in London II 96: 'The lucky hit was all a miss.' 'Yes, there was a Miss taken, and a Biter bit. Love is a lottery as well as life.' 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 55: Miss A mistress. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor 1201/1: The women of the town [... ] kept misses, and such like. 1886 M.E. Braddon Mohawks III 25: She is some vizard Miss that ought to be sitting in the slips. I'll be sworn.

■ SE in slang uses ■ Derivatives missing (n.) courtship. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

Miss Mary (n.) see separate entry. Miss Molly (n.) see under molly n.\ Miss Morales (n.) (US gay) a Mexican homosexual.

Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss

Oxford's Miss (as at this time they began to call lewd women). 1675 Character of a Town-Miss in C. Hindley Old Bk Collector's Misc. 1: A Miss is a Name, which the Civility of this Age bestows on one, that our unmannerly Ancestors call'd Whore and Strumpet. 1680 T. Betterton Match in Newgate I ii: A Whore! Oh call her a Miss, a Ladie of the Town, a Beautie of delight, or any thing. Whore! 'tis a nauseous name. 1691 'The Virgin's Complaint' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) II 930: I was never Miss nor Whore, / I ne'er had my Placket tore. 1701 N. Ward 'A Walk to Islington' Writings (1704) 65: And that you may know such a good Wife as this, / From buxom Suburbiun, or common Town Miss, / In Colours most proper her Picture I'll Paint, / And shew you a Devil drest up like a Saint, c.1707 'The Suburbs is a Fine Place' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads

the metal bars

miss n.^ ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases give someone/something a miss (v.) to avoid seeing someone or doing something. 1905 Sporting Times 15 Apr. 2/3: Yet, Spider, 1 think you'll give the tart a miss, an' hang along o' me to Marrowbon'. 1910 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'Guid Advice' Sporting Times 2 July 1/3: For a lass wi' too much chat I always give a miss. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 164:1 was just thinking of suggesting we should lay off and give the rest of the proceedings a miss. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 98: Looks like we've got to give it a miss this time. 1951 Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 327: Tryin' to give them blokes in the liontamer uniform a miss. 1954 Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 116: Give it a miss, is my advice. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 202: I'd give him a miss. 1974 G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 169: 'Wouldn't you be better off giving it a miss ? It's a bit sussy, Terry.' 'You worry too much, son [...] Be all right.' 'You hungry bastard you must've earnt more than enough. Drop him right out.' 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita I v: Don't you think that for tonight we could give the class a miss? 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 79: They might give you a miss if you keep your head down,

miss n? see mis n. miss V. ■ SE in slang uses m In phrases miss one’s figure (v.) see under figure n.\ miss one’s tip (v.) see under tip n,^. miss the bus (v.) (also miss the A-train) to lose an opportunity, to forfeit a chance. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Nov. 32/1: I am the groom who's lost his blessed bride - / The bloke who's missed the 'bus. 1915 C.E.W. Bean Anzac Book 'i2l2: Yes; some d-d gobblers thought they would catch our mob nappin' but missed the bus, and some of 'em are still runnin' yellin' to Aller to stick to 'em. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'A Holy War' in Rose of Spadgers 41: 'Young friend!' ... I tries to duck, but miss the bus. / 'E sees me first. 1934 Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 75: It is true.

missee

missis

1613

Jeeves [...] that once or twice in the past I may have missed the bus.

1923

1944 L. Glassop We Were the Rats 2: I am sorry to have to tell you the Lord's had a fair crack of the whip and He's missed the bus. 1965 W. King 'The Game' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 302: I was disgusted and pretty damn mad. If you ever missed that A-train, you know what I mean. I had just lost six hours to which I could have applied to making four-five other broads. 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up 126: He's missed out, he's missed the bus.

to the 'sky pilots' and the 'mission squawkers'. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 129: Mission Squawker. - An evangelist. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

missee n. see missy n. (1). misses n'. see missis n. missey/missie n. see missy n. (1). missile n. [its 'explosive' effects] {drugs) phencyclidine. 2002 'Drug SI. Vault' on Erowid.org [Internet] Missile PCP. Missile Basing Crack liquid and PCP.

■ In compounds missile basing (n.) [basing n.| {drugs) a mixture of liquid crack cocaine and phencyclidine. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Missile basing — Crack liquid and PCP. 2002 'Drug SI. Vault' on Erowid.org [Internet] Missile PCP. Missile Basing Crack liquid and PCP.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases guided missile (n.) {US black) the erect penis. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 149: guided missile erect penis,

heat-seeking (moisture) missile (n.) {US campus) the penis. 1989 Playboy Feb. n.p.: The pet name for his yang (Enormous HeatSeeking Moisture Missile, etc.) and for her love glove (Alice, Gertrude and One Size Fits All) [HDAS]. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Fall. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 71: The 'penis' is a heat-seeking missile,

missing n. see under miss n.\ missing adj. [note the phr. be missing, used first used by Chicago mobster Spike O'Donnell in rejecting the overtures/threats of Al Capone (1899-1947); also Scheie de Vere, Americanisms (1872): 'Missing, to be found, denotes, in Western parlance, to be absent, or to run away'] {US) absent, departed.

N.

Anderson

mission stiff (n.) 1904 'Number

Hobo 217: They are unanimous in their opposition

[stiff

n? (5a)] (US) 1 a missionary worker.

1500' Life In Sing Sing 256: Mission Stiff. Missionary.

2 a convert. 1904 'Number

1500' Life In Sing Sing 256: Mission Stiff, a convert.

3 (a/so jesus guy, mission bum, mission kid) a tramp or vagrant who frequents charitable missions, looking for hand-outs, food and shelter, esp. one who pretends conversion. 1909 W.H. Davies Beggars 46: Then there is the mission stiff [...] if he was in any place where there was no mission-room he would be likely to starve. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 98: L.D., forty-five years old, is a typical so-called 'mission bum'. He has not been known to work for eight months. During winter he is always present in some mission. [Ibid.] 103: The Mission Stiff who preys upon the missions. He will often submit to being converted for his bed and board. 1926 W.H. Davies Adventures of Johnny Walker 55: The mission stiff is greatly despised. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 58: You may hang on to the good life for a time, while your erstwhile companions in sin dub you a 'mission stiff'. [Ibid.] 208: Jesus guy — A mission stiff. Sometimes called a faith man. 1944 O. Ferguson 'Vocabulary for Lakes, [etc.]' AS XIX:2 103: Most sailors who have come through the lean times have bummed up and down the country. They are mission stiffs or box-car sailors:. 1956 F.O, Beck Hobohemia 21: Not all bums are mission stiffs but all mission stiffs are bums; and bums are the best patrons of rescue missions. 1967 (con. 1920s) J. Thompson South of Heaven (1994) 3: The men had been drifting in [...] jailbirds, misson stiffs, hoboes, 1968 L. Wolf Voices from the Love Generation 127: You don't get a lot of winos in the dance halls [...] You don't get a lot of Mission kids in the dance halls. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 84: These facilities [...] made Chicago a haven for hobos, tramps, oddballs, mission stiffs, home guards and cripples.

4 attrib, use of sense 3. 1976 H. Garner Legs of the Lame, and Other Stories 29: How'd you get this mission-stiff job anyways, delivering bills for some phony politician?

[1821 Egan Life in London (1830) 45: It was expedient that he should [...[if necessary, be ' missing’heioxe his antagonist had recovered the use of his pins.] 1958 F. Norman in Vogue Oct. in Norman's London (1969) 33: He [...] gave us the slingers on the spot saying if we wasn't missing in ten minutes he would call the law. 2001 (con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 238: 'Why don't I call Biscuit [...].' 'No! Do dat an' I'm missing, believe.'

missionary man n. [SE missionary position, considered the least adventurous of all the positions of love-making] (US campus) an

mission n. [ext. of SE mission, 'the commission, business, or function with

missis n. {also misses, missus) [SE Mrs] one's wife; the mistress

which a messenger, envoy, or agent is charged' [OLD); the specific allusion is to the introduction to episodes of the TV series Star Trek (from 1966); the overall inference is of the seriousness of such an activity] {drugs) 1 a search for drugs, esp. for crack cocaine or cocaine. 1992 T. Williams Crackhouse 123: Monica likes to go out on missions to find Scotty. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mission — Trip out of the crackhouse to obtain crack.

2 a binge on crack cocaine. 1994 R.P. McNamara Times Square Hustler 82: Users quickly develop an insatiable appetite for crack, and three-to-four day binges or 'missions' [...] become common,

■ In phrases on a mission 1 {US black gang) searching for, in pursuit of, performing any gang-related activity, esp. killing members of a rival gang or simply penetrating their territory. 1988 Ice-T 'Power' [lyrics] I'm on a mission mackin hard as a hammer. 1993 Dr Drb 'Rat-a-Tat-Tat' [lyrics] California, back in and on a mission, makin a point / ain't no fuckin' competition. 2002 Cypress Hill SI. Gloss. [Internet] on mission: to be determined to do something.

2 {drugs) looking for and/or bingeing on drugs. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: on a mission - out of touch with reality. 1986 S.F. Chronicle 2 July 6: (Factiva) Cocaine sold as free-base is called 'hubba' or 'ready rock,' they said. When it is mixed with marijuana and smoked, it becomes 'fry daddy' or 'chewy.' When you go out to buy cocaine, you're on 'a tweek mission.' 1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg 'Gz Up Hoes Down' [lyrics] I mob to the beach, on a mission for my DJ Warren G. 1995 (con. 1985-90) P. BOURJOIS In Search of Respect 79: Let me tell you about one time when I was on a mission [crack binge]. I wanted a blast. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 16: On a mission — Searching for crack and/or being high on crack. 3 {US campus) in search of. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 31: We're on a mission for a cool bar and some fine dudes.

■ SE, referring to a mission house, in slang uses ■ In compounds mission squawker (n.) {US tramp) a mission evangelist.

uninspired lover. 1989 P. Munro

SI. U.

of the household. 1833 D. Crockett Sketches and Eccentricities 41: My ole misses she don't like me, / Bekase I don't eat de black eye pea. 1838 Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 91: He tried to murder me, sir; and then he tried to murder Charlotte; and then missis. 1848 Thackeray Vanity Pair II 144: 'What 'ave you done. Sir; Misses can't abide 'em.' 'Missis needn't smoke,' said James. 1854 G.J. Whyte-Melville General Bounce (1891) 21: 'Good gracious! Missus's bell!' exclaims Gingham. 1858 R.S. Surtees Ask Mamma 285: The heavily laden family vehicles began to arrive, containing old fat paterfamilias in the red coat of his youth, with his 'missis' by his side. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 340/1: So what I took wasn't enough to earn the commonest living for me and my missus. 1865 H. Kingsley Hillyars and Burtons (1870) 45: If it had n't been for Bill Avery hitting his missis downstairs [etc.]. 1876 'Mark Twain' Tom Sawyer 27: Ole missis, she tole me I got to go an' git dis water. 1879 G.R. Sims Dagonet Ballads 4: I never said now't to the missus — we both on us liked her well. 1883 R.L. Stevenson Treasure Island 87: And can you trust your missis? 1888-94 'Walter' My Secret Life (1966) I 189: If Missus should hear us, what will become of me? 1891 C. Roberts Adrift in America 75: When we got up to the house we were glad to find that the 'Missis' was up and had made a big pot of hot coffee forus. 1894 A. Momisott Tales of Mean Streets {t 983) 127:There the missis put an end to doubt by repeating what the lawyer's clerk said. 1899 Boy's Own Paper 15 Apr. 457: 'Well, missus,' said her husband. 1908 H. Lawson 'A Song of General Sick-and-Tiredness' in Roderick II (1967-9) 243: You'll find, when his Washup has had his say, 'tis the Missus that pays the fine. 1914 C. Holme Lonely Plough (1931) 86: Oh, put it on the missis! 1 guess a bad excuse is better than none. 1916 J.N. Hall Kitchener's Mob 6: Gor blimy, 'Arry, 'ow's the missus? 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 202: Somewhere or other some time ago Bingo's missus managed to dig up a Frenchman of the most extraordinary vim and skill. 1930 H. Ashton Doctor Serocold (1936) 159: I've got my missus to consider. 1939 A. Durie One Jamaica Gal 21: If the 'missis' gave out four eggs for puddings, Mrs. Ryan saved one [...] for her own home larder. 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 101: Bring your missus along and have a good time. 1956 'Charles Raven'

Und. Nights 136: That evening Harry's missus came round.

Mississippi

1959 W. Hail Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: You ever want to see a bloke carved up? Proper, So his missis thinks he's someone else. 1962 H. Livings Nil Carborundum (1963) Act III: I want to slip down to Geldon to see the missis. She's expecting me. 1965 F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 107: [He] loved his horses better than his missus. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 157: Why don't you try it on the missis. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 127: How often did you want to impress the missus? 1989 S. Armitage 'Poem by the Boy Outside the Fire Station' in Zoom 42: He's only ever missed a call-out once / when he was getting to the pitch with his missis. 1995 J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 79: They reckoned his missis made him get the hard chair for his back. 1999 Guardian Rev. 27 Nov. 1: How's your good self and the missus? 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 78: Poor man lost his missus.

Mississippi adj. ■ Proper name in slang uses ■ In compounds Mississippi marbles (n.) (US) dice, or the game of craps. 1926 F.W. Pollock 'The Current Expansion of Si.' in AS 11:3 146: A certain game of dice, formerly 'crap,' now enjoys distinction under such names as 'Mississippi marbles,' 'African golf,' and 'Senegambian cricket'. 1949 Monteleone Criminal Si. (rev. edn). 2004 'Animated Dominoes, Dice' at Old and Sold [Internet] Some crap-shooting terms fade but a few have proved durable: Mississippi marbles: dice,

Mississippi mud (n.) see mud n. (2a). Mississippi mule (n.) [its 'kick'] (US) illicitly distilled, 'bootleg' bourbon. 1967 in DARE.

Miss John n. see Mas John n. Miss Mary n. (US black) generic for any white woman. 1932 G. Kahn Manhattan Oases n.p.: These bojangs hanging around the entrance have seen Mister Charlie and Miss Mary before.

Miss Nancy n.

[generic use of female name; NANCY

n. (2a) is a later

concept] an effeminate man, presumably a homosexual; also as

adj.; thus Miss Nancyish, effeminate; Miss-Nancyism, effeminacy. 1828 W. Carr Dialect of Craven II 2: A miss-nancy, an effeminate, insignificant man. 1848 Bartlett Dirt. Americanisms. 1850 (con. 1843) Melville White-Jacket (1990) 247: There's that nambypamby Miss Nancy of a white-face, Stribbles, who, the other day [...] ordered me to hand him the spyglass, as if he were a commodore. 1872 'Mark Twain' Roughing It 178: [They] did not go jiggering up and down after the silly Miss-Nancy fashion of the riding-schools. 1874 M. Clarke Term of His Natural life (1897) 272: Now then. Miss nancy [...] what's the matter with you! 1883 Phila. Times 2 July n.p.: The milksops and Miss-Nancys among the young men, etc [F&H], 1898 Sporting Times 19 Feb. I 3: But do you think we enjoyed these superfine Miss Nancies a quarter as much as we did the daring darlings who subsequently lured them down the Madeira Drive? [F&H], 1912 R.W. Brown 'Word-List From Western Indiana' in DN IILviii 583: Miss Nancy, n. An effeminate man [...] 'He's a regular Miss Nancy'. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 252: Nancy, a rhyme on fancy, and usually reserved for effeminate men or outright catamites, as in Miss Nancy or nancy-hoy. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 115: There seems to have been no shortage of terms used either by homosexuals themselves and/or by non-homosexuals, such as miss nancy (surviving in Lingo as nancy or

NANCY BOY).

■ Derivatives Miss-Naneyfied (adj.) (also Miss-Nancified) effeminate; prim. 1874 Southern Mag. XIV 353: Poh! 'Miss-Naneyfied' men! 1921 E.M. Robinson Enter Jerry 202: I could not help considering them a MissNancified lot. 1945 J.B. McMillan 'New American Lexical Evidence' in AS XX: 1 37: MISS nancyfied. Prim, sissified.

■ In phrases talk Miss Nancy (v.) to speak in an effeminate manner. 1916 in W.

Riley

missy

1614

Netherleigh (in DSUE 1984).

miss of the town n. see miss n.\ Missou n. see Mizzoo n. Missouri adj. m Proper name in slang uses ■ In compounds Missouri-bake (n.) (US) bread that is burnt on the outside but under-cooked inside. 1870 J.H. Beadle Life in Utah 222: Half the time our bread was 'Missouri-bake,' i.e., burnt on top and at the bottom, and raw in the middle.

Missouri bankroll (n.) [coined by the industrial Workers of the World (IWW or 'Wobblies'), who designed this form of 'bankroll' to foil the thieves who preyed on newly paid-off workers] (US) 1 a roll or wad of blank paper, cut to the same size as dollar bills, surrounded by a few real notes of high denomination.

1973 B. Phillips 'Wobbly Dehorn Crew' at www.utahphillips.org [lyrics] Well, I fumbled in my bedroll for a little tinhorn bait, / A Missouri bankroll bigger than your fist. 2002 R.J. Thompson Panacea 43: A grease-smeared apron stuffed with what must have been a Missouri bankroll of ones and fives from generous customers.

2 also in fig. use. 1998 G. Plimpton Truman Capote 448: It turned out to be a Missouri bankroll, which is to say, the top three pages had typewriting on them and the rest were blank. It was for show.

Missouri featherbed (n.) (US, mainly Western) a straw mattress. 1961 R.F. Adams Old-Time Cowhand 101: 'Bout the only mattress the cowhand knowed was the one at the cheap frontier hotel, stuffed with 'prairie feathers [=straw],' and knowed as 'Missouri featherbeds.' [DARE],

Missouri hummingbird (n.) (also ...nightingale) (US) a mule. 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1960 A. Lomax Folk Songs of North America 429: That [...] critter, known to Americans variously as the barnyard yodeller, the hard-tail, the jug-head, the long-eared chum and the Missouri humming bird.

Missouri mule (n.) (US) a blow to the testicles. 1990 S. Morgan Homehoy 188: Only the prospect of an assault and battery charge restrained Belly from whipping a Missouri mule on the geek.

Missouri toothpick (n.) see Arkansas toothpick under Arkansas adj. Miss Thing n. (also Miss One, Miss Thang, Ms Thing) 1 (orig. US gay) a homosexual man, also as greeting between such men. 1968 N. Heard Howard Street 115: 'Miss Onel’ Lillie exclaimed enthusiastically, 'I'm here to say that you're simply de-vineV [...] 'Now, Miss Thing,' Lillie retorted in mock indignation. 'You know better than that.' 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: miss-thang A homosexual. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 7: Miss Thing - noun of address used among gay men to one who is self-centered and preoccupied with his own appearance. 1991 W.T. Vollmann Whores for Gloria 115:1 guess he's just a fag I guess he's just another one of them Miss Things. 1993 R. Shell fed 107: She called our manager Ms Thing even though he was this fifty-year-old Jewish man. 1998 R. Scott Rebecca's Diet, of Queer Si [Internet] Miss Thang or Miss Thing — a drag queen. This has its origins in American Black culture, where 'Miss Fine Thang' meant a woman who thought a lot of herself and had a big attitude, thereby making it perfect for many drag queens. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 149: The one in the turquoise blouse and Ms. Thing with the beehive hairdo and red halter top [...] they probably owned penises bigger than his. 2005 (con. 1950s) E. White My Lives 109: So, how many of these guys have you had. Miss Thing?

2 (U5 gay) one's innate femininity. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 117: the woman in us all, but especially the feminine qualities in men [...] Miss Thing.

3 (UK black/campus) any unnamed woman. 1986 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 4: Miss Thing - general noun of address. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 11: 'You want a piece. Miss Thang?' Rooster asked Yolanda. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 3: Check Miss Thing boppin' down the street. 4 (US black) a woman who is seen as arrogant and unpleasant. 1992 D. Burke Street Talk 2 yi-. Yeah, she could really bust a move [...] every time I tried jaw jackin' with Miss Thang, she got so frosted that I fin'lly jus' folded.

misstopper n. see mish-topper n. Missus n. (Aus.) the trad, title of the wife of the owner or manager of a sheep station. 1893 H. Lawson 'Settling on the Land' in Roderick (1972) 72: He got a 'missus' and a few cows during the next year. 1908 J. Gunn We of the Never-Never (1962) 91: Good day, boss! Good day, missus! 1954 T. Ronan Vision Splendid 112: The gins ran to the 'Missus' screaming for protection. 1957 J. Greenway 'Australian Cattle Lingo' in AS XXXII1:3 167: MISSUS, n. The manager's wife,

missus n. see missis n. missy n. 1 (also missee, missey, missie) a young girl, esp. as characterized by servants and sometimes derog. 1676 in I2th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. Appendix v 29: A coach fitt for pretty Missee is not to be found ready made [OED]. 1900 Sporting Times 9 June 1/4: Hold on, missie, not all the soda. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 700: ...little chits of missies they have now singing Kathleen Kearney and her like, 1941 K. Tennant Battlers 313: Here y'are. Missy? 1954 (con. 1920s-30s) J.O. Killens Youngblood (1956) 491: Running smiling sirring mamming seeing-and-not-seeing white missey's birthday garments.

2 (US gay) an underage boy. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 44: any boy under the age of consent [...] missy (camp, kwn LV, mid '60s: any teenage boy, gay or straight: 'Hi, missy, wanna come over and have a completely unique experience in depth?').

mist

1615

3 (US drugs) cocaine

[note cocaine is a 'feminine' drug, see GIRL n.^j.

1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 62: They called it 'girl' or 'Jane' or 'Missy' in feminine contrasts to 'boy' or 'John' or 'Mister' for king heroin. mist n. (drugs) 1 phencyclidine. 1979 H. Feldman et al. Ange/ Dust 124: The large number of street names it has been accorded over the years: [...] mist. 1981 D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 338: mist: PCP. 2 smoke created by a crack cocaine pipe. 2001 ON'DCP Street Terms 15: Mist — PCP; crack smoke in the bottom of a glass pipe,

3 (UK Und.) a state of high excitement, drug-induced or otherwise. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith a Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 143: The mist was on me and I wasn't about to stop. I grabbed him by the hair and tried to lift his face so I could cut him again. Mistah Big n. see Mr

Bic

under Mr n.

mistake n. [euph.l an unplanned pregnancy and the child that follows. 1957

C.

MacInnes

City of Spades

mistake before she met our Dad.

(1964)

1970

27:

Arthur

C, Brown

was

Mum's

Down All the Days

89: Put your little mistake on the sofa there.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases and no mistake (also and no mistake about it, make no mistake) a general intensifier, certainly, without any doubt. 1830 W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London III hi: covey: What, my little dealer in lace and chapman. Jemmy? james: Andrew Covey! covey: And no mistake! 1831 'Gallery of 140 Comicalities' Bell's Life in London 24 June 2/2: A nice cove this, and no mistake! 1833 [bk title] Regular Thing, And No Mistake. 1843 Comic Almanack Feb. 352: [illus.] It's quite awful and no mistake. 1850 F.E, Smedley Frank Fairlegh (1878) 40: A jolly dodge for a shower of rain, and no mistake. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor 1 417/2: Tip-top swells used to come among us, and no mistake. 1876 C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 171: Oh, you'll have a rare houseful, and no mistake about it. 1889 C. Deveureux Venus in India 141: You are a good poke! and no mistake! 1898 Boy's Own Paper 3 Dec. 149: Hurrah! [...] we've done it at last, and no mistake! 1900 C. Chesnutt House Behind The Cedars (1995) 117:1 wuz jes' glad to see you gettin' 'long so fine, dat I wuz, certain sho' an' no mistake about it. 1910 H.G. Wells Hist, of Mr Polly (1946) 191: But he's a Scorcher and no Mistake ... Gramma don't like him. 1914 M. Glass Potash and Perlmutter 17: He's got us, Barney. Louis Grossman's got us and no mistake. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 291: So they started arguing about the point. Bloom saying he wouldn't and couldn't and excuse him no offence and all to that and then he said well he'd just take a cigar. Gob, he's a prudent member and no mistake, 1935 B. Bunting 'The Well of Lycopolis' in Complete Poems 37: Whatever I may have done at other times / on the sly /1 was in love then and no mistake, 1947 J. Maclaren-Ross Of Love And Hunger 205: You're a cool customer. And no mistake. 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act II: They saw you coming, and no mistake. 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up 106: We'll see some horticulture in Waitapa, make no mistake! 1992 P. McCabe Butcher Boy (1993) 138: I'd give h'er the johnny and no mistake. 2004 J. McCourt 'Vilja de Tanquay Exults' in Queer Street 306: Just then what some bleedin' dreary-sof Jerry / Jad to say [...] / Got up / My nose an no mistake. Mister/Mr for all combs, of Mister, the abbr. Mr has been used, unless no citations have been found with the abbreviation. (a/so Don, Dr, Earl, Lord, Major, Master, Monsieur, Professor, Sir) an honorific title used (both pos. and neg.) in

Mr n.

comb, with a n. to express the subject's primary characteristic, e.g. Mr Grind, a very hard worker. C.1550 C. Bansley Pryde and Abuse of Women line 81: What, shall the graye mayre be the better horse. And be wanton styll at home? Naye, then, welcome home, syr woodcocke. Ye shall be tamed anone. 1562 'Entertainments at the Temple' in J. Nichols Progresses and Processions of Queen Elizabeth (1823) I 140: Sir Francis Flatterer [,..] Sir Randle Rackabite, of Rascal-hall [...] Sir Morgan Mumchance, of Much Monkery [...] Sir Bartholomew Boldbreech, of Buttocks-bury. 1589 Nashe Almond for a Parrat title page: Imprinted at a Place, not farre from a Place, by the Assignes of Signior Some¬ body, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Trouble-knaue Street. 1590 Cobbler of Canterbury (1976) 12: Why how now sir sauce, quoth she [...] my husband is a wise man to send companions vp into the chamber where I am in bedde. 1592 Nashe Pierce Pennilesse 20: You shall see a dapper Jacke [.,.] talke English through the teeth, like Jacques Scabd-hams, or Monsieur Mingo de Mousetrap. 1593 'Philip Foulface' Bacchus' Bountie in Harleian Misc. II (1809) 305: Don Tyburne will invite thee to a liveles feast, and teach thee the crosse caper in a halfepennie halter. 1602 Rowlands Greene's Ghost

Mr Haunting Coniecatchers F: There was one Monsieur Libidinoso dwelling at the signe of Incontinencie, hauing cast vp his accounts for the weeke past (for it was Saturday night) [...] Monsieur Libid. beat of lust [,..] feeling his pocket [...] finds nothing but a Tester, or at least so little, that it was not sufficient to please dame Pleasure for her hire. 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 3: Monsieur Gutgroper steales away of purpose to auoid the receipt of it. a.1618 J. Harington Epigrams II No. 2: A learned Prelate late dispos'd to laffe, / Hearing me name the Bishop of Landaffe: / You should say, he aduising well hereon, / Call him Lord Ass: for all the land is gone. 1621 R. Burton 'Democritus to Reader' Anatomy of Melancholy (1893) I 92: Therefore Nicholas Nemo, or Monsieur No-body shall go free. 3.1625 Beaumont & Fletcher Love's Cure II ii: What should you do in the Kitchin? [...] Don Lucio? Don Quotquean, Don Spinster, wear a petticoat still, c.1635 W. Cartwright Ordinary II i: Stout Mr. Have-itall, / Let's be sworn brothers. 1647 Two Knaves for a Penny title page: A Dialogue between Mr Hord the Meal-man & Mr Gripe the Broker. 1675 Head Nugae Venales 58: Two notable Gamesters, Mr. Prick and Mr. Cunny. 1680 Merry Maid of Islington 10: She in the Silk-Gown you shall have Mr. Lovechange, and the Milk-wench you shall have Mr. Wenchtove. 1689 T. Shadwell Bury Fair I i: I have been visited this Morning, by three most confounded Fops [...] Trim, Sir Humphrey Noddy, and Mr. Oldwit [...] How now. Monsieur Cutbeard? what makes you at Bury-Fair? 1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 548: Why, how now, Mr. Prate-apace? [...] Well, what have you got to say for yourself, Mr. Rogue-enough, hah? 1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-Craft I 23: But, good Mr. TrencherChaplain, good Mr. Say-grace, do not throw a Plate at my Head. 1707 Cibber Double Gallant V i: I'll cool your love, Mr. Dog! 1709 'Phoebe Crackenthorpe' Female Tatler (1992) (17) 42: Mr. Fribble, Mr Bisket and Mr Nincompoop. 1734 C. Johnson Hist, of Highwaymen &c 362: Come, come, Mr. Blood sucker, open your Purse-strings. 1741 'Capt. Samuel Cock' Voyage to Lethe n.p.: Subscribers Names [...] Mr. Smallcock, 50 ditto. Mr. Badcock, 25 ditto. Mr. Nocock, 12 ditto. 1754 T. Sheridan Brave Irishman I iv: I left him last with Mr Cheatwell. 1756 W. Toldervy Hist, of the Two Orphans I 164: Marry come up, Mr. Sauce-box, I should not of thought of this assurance from you, cried Betty. 1759 J. Townley High Life Below Stairs II i: Harkyee, you Mr. Honesty, don't be so saucy. 1766 Midnight Spy 124: Behold a gang of right honourable pickpockets. The venerable company is composed of the Duke of Odds, the Earl of Bilk, Lord Viscount Cogem, Baron Jockey, Sir Samuel Snatchall, [...] and Mr. Live-by-wit. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 106: You'll hear folks call him Earl of Cheat-him. 1778 F. Burney Evelina (1861) 462: I'll be second to my friend Monsieur Clapperclaw here. Come, to it at once! 1793 F. Reynolds How to Grow Rich V ii: So, Mr. Pain-in-the-face, You and the young alderman here have done it. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 20: Nor shall I, Mr. Bluff, d'ye see, / resign my girl to pleasure thee. 1809 B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Bias (1822) I 132: Then master lazy-bones did not like sitting up! 1815 T. Whittell 'Alnwick Election's Wedding' Poetical Works 117: Don Gold and Sir Selfish / Combining together, / The twisting their interests made them so strong. 1820 'Professional Dinner Parties' Orange Boven Songster 2: Four-and-twenty tailors sat 'em down to dine [...] Mr. Snip, do you take turkey? 1834 'Chapter Of Cocks' Luscious Songster 32: Mr. Badcock's the man for the ladies [...] Mr. Bowcock is straight as an arrow [...] Mr. Longcock is small as a sparrow. 1841 W.J. Neale Paul Periwinkle 38: I say, Mr. Sauce-box, if you're inclined for a fight. 1859 G.H. Miles Mary's Birthday I i: Well, Mr. Impudence. 1866 J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 259: Mr Bobby [i.e. a policeman] [...] warn't so much hurt as he was playing possum. 1871 H.B. Stowe Sam Lawson's Oldtown Fireside Stories (1881) 39: There was this 'ere Master Slick Tongue talkin' this way to one side, and that way to t'other. 1878 J. Hatton Cruel London II 36: One of 'em kept a-calling master Mr. Slyboots. 1882 W. Besant All Sorts and Conditions of Men II 97: Oh! Mr. Feeblemind! Oh! Mr. Facing-BothWays! 1885 C.A. Siringo Texas Cow Boy (1950) 131: Mr. 'Nig' hadn't gone but a few hundred yards when he was captured by the White Oak boys. 1899 J.W. Davis Gawktown Revival Club 33: I exchanged ideas with Professor Poppycock. 1902 P.L. Dunbar Jest of Fate (1903) 57: Mistah Rich Niggah [...] He wanted to dress his wife an' chillen lak white folks. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 132: But you mustn't tear off the notion that Clifford's a Mr. Lush, that goes and gets himself all lit up like a birthday cake and then begins to mix it. 1912 A. Berkman Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist (1926) 164: Think I'd open my guts to my Lord Bighead? 1913-14 Van Loan 'Easy Picking' Taking the Count 291: Mr. Nobody from Nowhere waded through Tommy Derrick. 1925 D. Hammett 'Tom, Dick, or Harry' Nightmare Town (2001) 240: What did Mr Robber look like? 1928 Thurman & Rapp Harlem in Coll. Writings (2003) 333: Let me tell you som'pin. Mister Holier-ThanMe! 1929 M. Beckwith Black Roadways 68: If Mr. Go-' no come, Mr. Deat' come. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Mr. Cox and Mr.

Mr

Mr

1616

Box, a dual personality; a person concealing the truth. 1936 (ref, to 1920s) L. Duncan Over the Wall 120: Ah wakes up in dis heah town with Mistah John Law a-shakin'me. 1943 W. Guthrie Bound for Glory (1969) 353: You're not going to hurt anybody. Mister Blowoff! 194951 in M. Daly Profile of Youth 123: He himself was called 'Mr. Tightwad.' [...] A teacher who dyes her hair may be referred to as 'Miss Peroxide'. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 54; Who are you to butt in anyway, Mr. Nobody? 1953 R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together (1966) 188: Try again. Mister Ass-hole. 1956 R, Ellison 'A Coupla Scalped Indians' in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 264: Mister Know-it-all Buster challenged me, 1957 (con. 1943) A. Myrer Big War 124: An old army colonel debouched from a car [,..] 'Man, just look at that Mr. Brass.' 1958 Casey 'Kid' Motsisi 'Mattress' Casey and Co. (1978) 18: Some woman whom I reckon is Mr Bible-Swinger's illegally married wifey. 1958 I, Fleming Dr No (1960) 86: 'All right, Mr Know-all,' she said angrily. 1962 Kbrckhoff 'Talk to Me, Talk to Me' in Algren Lonesome Monsters (1963) 26: Mr, Unhinged called room service. 1966 T.C. Bambara 'The Hammer Man' Gorilla, My Love (1972) 40: He's gonna be Mister Basketball when he grows up. 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 379: The Mr. Trouble premiere. 1969 D. Pendleton Executioner (1973) 98: Let me tell you something, Mr. Hot Stuff. 1970 D. Ponicsan Last Detail 4: Gee, Mr. Bad-Ass. 1975 (con. 1900s) G. Swarthout Shootist 132: So just you remember. Mister Blowhard. 1977 S. Kernochan Dry Hustle 47: Some Lord Goon Esquire who wants to take you shopping. 1979 H. Feldman et al. Angel Dust 104: I'm goin' more straight than 'Mr. Normal'. 1985 E, Bogosian Talk Radio (1989) 16: Listen, you Mister Fuckin' Big Shot. 1986 H.B. Gilmour Pretty in Pink 116: Give Mr. Perfecto a squeeze for me. 1989 (con. 1960s) M, Kingston Tripmaster Monkey 317: Let me educate you, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, on what isn't funny, 1990 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6: Major geekster - a stereotypic geek or nerd: 'Look at Major Geekster with his pocket protector'. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 3: Dr. Slide - professor known for easy classes. 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 90: It's only grass. Mister Goody-goody. 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco (1998) 198: 'Up we get Sir Stupidhead,' I grunted. 1998 Guardian Sport 31 July 16: Notice how Athers was able to get right up Donald's pipe [...] generally provoking Mr 98 mph into behaving like a big girl's blouse. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 97: This gangster [...] looking like Mister Pimpman, Mister Drug Man. 2006 P. Shannon Davey Darling 231: Oh, it's Mister Perfect, little Mister

1969 N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 41: From then on he was a natural Mister Big. 1976 'Herge' Tintin and the Picaros 41: And just where do you think you've been Mr Big? 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 52: I became the recognised and even slightly feared Mr Big of the Melton hall underworld. 1998 G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 102: Her father was a Pakistani shopkeeper and a Mr. Big of the Gorbals. 1999 Observer 18 July 33: For once, the Mistah Bigs were behind bars. 2008 Camden New Journal (London) 13 Mar. 2: A gang of five charged with running a crack cocaine ring under a shadowy 'Mr Big'.

Mr Block in.) {US tramp) a gullible person. 1930 'Dean Stiff' Milk and Honey Route 200: Block, Mr, — The original john Dubb. The man who believes that the police mean well and that sharks are good fellows.

Mr Blue (n.) [? a blue elixir of morphine sulphate) {drugs) hydromorphone, the basis of the synthetic opiate Dilaudid. 1970 R. Gilmore Drug Education Hbk. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms

15:

Mister blue — Morphine. Mr Bobo (n.) see po-po n. Mr Boozington (n.) see boozincton n. Mr Boss Hoss (n.) {US) a slightly mocking ref. to a leader. 1988

D. Woodrell

Muscle for the Wing

150: We been here before, Mr.

Boss Hoss.

Mr Brown (n.)

[brown n. (3)1 a homosexual. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 35/1: Brown, Mr. [...] A passive pederast. 1952 J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 422: Thats what Chief

Bulgier Houston was - a regular Mister Brown. Charles (n.) see Charlie n.

Mr Mr Mr Mr

Charlie (n.) see separate entry. Chuck (n.) see Chuck n. Clean (n.) [the character 'Mr Clean'

in advertisements for a brand of

household cleaner of the same name, first marketed in late 1950s| 1

{US)

an

obsessively neat and prudish man.

1972

Dahlskog

Diet. Contemp. and Colloq. Usage 41/2: Mr Clean, n. An

Mr Anybody (n.) a generic name for an anonymous member of

obnoxiously neat or prudish fellow. 2 (ong. US) someone who makes a point of portraying themselves (sincerely or otherwise) as free of corruption; esp. in politics, business, sport or other forms of public life in which a proclaimed moral stance is useful; ext. as Miss Clean, Mrs Clean. 1976 Maclean's 9 Feb. 47: A tough, outspoken Texan who was dubbed 'Mr. Clean' by the Toronto Star. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 209: Now he's the Mr Clean of the BBC. Mr Cool (n.) [rhy. si. = TOOL n.''] 1 the penis. 2002 D. Shaw 'Dead Beard' at www.asstr.org [Internet] She's very easy on the eye is that polo mint, and she looks even better as I help her slide her edinburgh fringe down onto the top of my mr

the public. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 7: We got a big kick out of joyriding in someone else's car. We could take Mr. Anybody's car

2 see joe Coot under joe n.^. Mr Cracker (n.) [cracker n.^l {US black)

Tattle-tale.

■ Used with specific or metonymic proper names

m In compounds

any time we had a mind to. Mr Arnold (n.) see Arnold n.

Mr Astorbilt (n.) see Astorbilt n, Mr Average (n.) [also Mr Averageman) the average member of the public. 1914 Wash. Post 11 Nov. Miscellany 3/4: It behooves Mr. Averageman to examine well into his pockets if he should hear such expressions as 'let him through,' 'hold him back' or 'right breech.' 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 66: He was just little Mr Average, one of the faceless working herberts. 1989 T. Blacker Fixx 45: The achiever is [...] obliged to be jostled by Mr Average, Mrs Normal, Ms Ordinary. 1991 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper From The Inside 95: Mr and Mrs average Aussie doesn't really believe it is all happening here. Mr Bates (n.) (a/so Bates, Johnnie Bates, Johnny Bates) (? pun on Mr. Bates/SE masturbates, thus the individual is a JERK n.^1 {US Und.) a potential victim, a confidence man's dupe. 1909 F.H, Tillotson How I Became a Detective 93: Mr. Bates - A mark. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 409: Johnny Bates. Victim sucker, sap, dupe, gull, come-on, greenhorn. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 189: When I bump into Mr. Bates I can hold my own with him on most any subject. [Ibid.] 210: I always avoid a hare-lipped Bates. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 134: Johnnie bates A greenhorn; a sucker; a sap; a victim; a dope.

Mr Big (n.) (a/so Mistah Big, Mister Big) (on'g. US) an important, influential person, esp. a 'criminal mastermind'; also attrib. 1938 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 15 Mar. [synd. col.] President Roosevelt was addressing that group's representatives .... Mr. Big said in part [etc.|. 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 70: If I can do anything [...] to convince our Mister Bigs to think the right way [...] then the risks on the way simply do not count. 1959 E. De Roo Go. Man. Go! 30: Don't gimme that Mr. Big stuff. I take enough of it at home. 1962 'Ed Lacy' Freeloaders 183: There is a Mr. Big, Sometimes I wish the sonofabitch would stop getting Mr. Bigger.

cool.

1980

E. Folb

a white person.

Runnin ’ Down Some Lines 208: Mr Cracker [...]

any white

male.

Mr Cunningham (n.) see Cunningham n. Mr Double Tripe (n.) see double tripe n.\ Mr Do-you-wrong (n.) {US black) a man who mistreats women. 1980

E. Folb

Runnin' Down Some Lines

148: A number of terms were

used to characterize the young man who could not be trusted [...]

Mr Do-you-wrong, no-account, bad-ass, no-account nigger.

Mr Eddie 1926 Van

(n.) [generic use]

{US black)

a white man.

Nigger Heaven 286: Mr. Eddie: a white man. 1929 T. Gordon Born to Be (1975) 236: Miss Ann and Mister Eddie: Emancipated blue-bloods. Mr Fakus (n.) see fake n? (1). Vechten

Mr Ferguson (n.) {UK Und.) a phr. used to announce that a policeman is present. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 64/2: Looking them steadily in the 'mug,' asked 'Who let you in here?' — at the same time giving the 'office' through the open door that 'Mr. Ferguson's' beer was ready for him. This Mr Ferguson is a name used by first class 'guns' to intimate in the absence of any other opportunity that a 'copper' is present.

Mr Fish (n.) {US drugs) an addict who volunteers to undergo a Federal cure in prison. 1936 D, Maurer 'Argot of the Und.i Narcotic Addict' Ft 1 in AS XI:2 124/1: MR, fish. An addict who gives himself up to Federal officials voluntarily and goes to prison in an effort to break himself of the habit. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: Mister Fish. An addict who gives himself up to the law in order to break the habit, 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore. Mr Five-by-Five (n.) [title of a 1942 pop song by Don Raye and Gene de Paul] {US) a very short, fat man. 1944 C.S. Montanye 'Publicity for the Corpse' in Thrilling Detective Dec. [Internet] The coffee magnate was as wide as he was tall. A light tan edition of Mr. Five-by-Five. 1957 (con. 1943) R. Leckie

Mr

Mr

1617

Helmet for My Pillow 122: Mr. Five-by-Five got his nickname from his

build — a few inches over five feet in height and almost that much in breadth [HDAS|. Mr Fixit (n.) (a series of short religious films in 1950s featured 'Mr Fixit', a carpenter who combined the mending of furniture with delivering pious homilies to the attendant children] 1 a general facilitator. 1971 N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 128; You are really Mr Fix-it, aren't you, brother? 1999 Guardian Weekend 6 Nov. 39: He became Death Row's Mr Fixit. 2 a DIY expert. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 46: Me? I'm Handy Andy. Mr Fixit innit. Mister Franklin (n.) 1 a euph. for motherfucker n. [initial letters]. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 258: Such variations on the unstated theme as M.F., Marshall Field, and Mister Franklin, the slurred mo '-fo' and muh-fuh, the rococo triple-clutcher, popularized by black truck drivers in army construction battalions: and the clipped momma, mother, and muther. 2 see Ben Franklin n. Mr Gotrocks (n.) see cotrocks n. Mr Green (n.) a gullible man, a 'sucker'. 1827 Egan Anecdotes of the Turf, the Chase etc. 201: The knowing cockney, the leary dog-merchant, and the cunning countryman, all upon the look out for a Mr. Green from the city. Mr Grim (n.) see old Mr Crim under old adj. Mr Grog (n.) see croc n.^ (1). Mr Happy (n.) (orig. US) the penis. 1986 M. Petit Peacekeepers 89: Just keep saying hello to Mr. Happy. 1990 S. Morgan Homeboy 296: You could always gag me with Mr. Happy there. 2003 'Your Correctional Officer' 'What's Grosser Than Gross' 7 Jan. at Dooce.com [Internet] Flossing your ass with barbed wire. / Jumping off the Empire State Building and catching your eyelid on a nail. / Similarly, jumping naked off said building and catching the ridge of Mr. Happy's Helmet on said nail. 2000 Erotic Rev. Mar. 6: Nice for a person to know, but irrelevant while attempting a game of Mr Happy Hides His Helmet. Mr Harding (n.) (also Mister Harding) [SE hard) (W.l.) a hard task¬ master, a strict superior. 1974 cited in Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage (1996). Mister Hawkins (n.) see Hawkins n?. Mr Hickenbothom (n.) any nameless object. 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Mr. Hickenbothom; a ludicrous name for an unknown person, similar to that of Mr. Thingambob. Hickenbothom, i.e. a corruption of the German word ickenbaum, i.e. oak tree. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. Mr Hombug (n.) (US black) a security policeman, e.g. at a school. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 247: Mr. Hombug 1. School security officer. 2. Security police in general. Mr Hopkins (n.) (also Hopkins) [pun on SE hop: note Notes and Queries, March 13, 1858: 'It originated from the ease of one Hopkins, who, having given one of his creditors a promissory note in regular form, added to it this extraordinary memorandum: It is expressly agreed, that the said Hopkins is not to be hurried in paying the above note') a lame or limping person; thus don't hurry, Mr Hopkins, meaning in US 'hurry up', and in UK 'don't bother to go too fast'. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mr. Hopkins; a ludicrous address to a lame or limping man, being a pun on the word hop, 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1872 Schele De Verb Americanisms 610: In the West, on the contrary, they have a phrase, Don t hurry. Hopkins! [...] used ironically in speaking to persons who are very slow in their work, or in meeting an obligation. Mr Horner (n.) Ihorn n.^) 1 a promiscuous man, esp. one who cuckolds others. a.1704 T. Brown Satire on Marriage in Works (1760) I 58: Cries the bone of your side, thanks, dear Mr. Horner. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer {4th edn) I 165: He like a pointer rang'd about / [...] / In hopes to spy this Mr. Horner. 2 the penis [the object that does the cuckolding but note also HORN n} (1a)|. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 78: Corns,/ 1. The penis; 'Mr. Horner'. Mr Jones (n.) see iones n.^ (1). Mr Ketch (n.) see Jack Ketch n. Mr Lo (n.) see to n.^. Mr Lushington (n.) a state of drunkenness. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 321: The attention he displayed towards any of his party; when Mr Lushington had got 'the best of them,' showed his judgement. 1832 Egan Bk of Sports 27: Fond of a bit of life; a gay boy in principle; frequently meeting with Mr. Lushington. 1899 A. Binstead Gal's Gossip 134: She will have to make a personal application to the sitting magistrate at Bow Street — a Mr Lushington, I believe.

Mr McGee (n.) see Joe McGee n. (2). Mr Maiden (n.) an effeminate man, who wears female clothing. 1703 T. Baker Tunbridge Walks dramatis personae: Maiden, A NiceFellow, that values himself upon all Effeminancies. Jlbid.J I i: maiden; You have a fine daughter lo dispose of here; I design to make some Overtures, woodc.: You —Thou Effeminate Coxcombe, Dost though think she'll like one of her own Sex. [Ibid.] II i: Enter Mr. Maiden with Mustek [...] (While the Song's Performing, Maiden uses a Fan, a Pocket Lookinglass, &c.) [...J See, Nymphs, a Swain more soft than you: We Patch, and we Paint, [..,J We play with a Fan, / We Squeak, and we Skream, / We're Women, meer Women i' th' end. [,..J hill; But pray Mr. Maiden, How d'you employ your self for want of an Office in London^ maiden: Why, Madam, 1 never keep Company with lewd Rakes that go to nasty Taverns, talk Smuttily, and get Fuddl'd, but Visit the Ladies, and Drink Tea, and Chocolate. [...J I love mightily to go abroad in Women's Clothes. Mr Mason (n.) see benny mason n. Mr Mention (n.) (W.l./UK black teen) a person known as a popular figure or as a successful womanizer. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 34; Mr Mention someone who is very popular.

Mr Milquetoast (n.) see Caspar Mr Money (n.) 1 a rich person.

Milquetoast n.

1958 R. Chandler Playback 124: A big shot from the treasury Department [...J happened to see Mr. Money. 2 (US black) a derog. name for a Jew. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 61: Other labels [...J three balls, and Mr. Money, characterized the Jew — particularly the Jewish merchant. Mr Moto (n.) [the fictional Jap. detective created by novelist J.P. Marquand (1893-1960)1 (US) a Japanese or Asian man; also attrib. 1942 Time 9 Feb. 24; The Jap, who is variously 'Mr. Moto,' 'Tojo,' 'Charlie,' or 'the Japanzy' to U.S. troops, was beginning to show a heavy preference for night movement [HDASJ. 1957 J. Blake 'Day of the Alligator' in Algren Lonesome Monsters (1963) 133: Die like a dog, Mr. Moto! Take that, and that! 1967 C. Cooper Jr Farm (1968) 114: She was [...J wearing a stupid pair of Mr. Moto-type glasses. 1975 M*A*S*H [CBS-TVJ Get the message, Mr. Moto? [HDASJ. Mr Much (n.) [rhy. si. = SE crutch = crotch] (Aus.) the groin. 2002 Pete's Aussie SI. Home Page [Internet] Mister Mulch: the crutch (groin). Mr Muscles (n.) (US) a well-built man. 1955 'Hal Ellson' 'Wrong Way Home' in Tell Them Nothing (1956) 146: We meet Mr. Muscles coming up. His shoulders is too wide and he don't give an inch. Mr Nawpost (n.) [one who, if hungry enough, would 'gnaw a post') a fool, a simpleton. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

Mr Nice Guy

(n.) (also Mr Nice) 1 a pleasant, amenable person, although that status carries a certain conditionality; thus no more Mr Nice Cuy, also used ironically. 1960 A. Buzo Front Room Boys Scene vii: I'll be back to talk to you [...] because I'm 'Mr Nice Guy', and you like me a lot. 1974 J. Lahr Hot to Trot 125: Aren't there a few tears for dear old Mr. Nice Guy? 1983 J. Sullivan 'Wanted' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] One of them pretends he really wants to beat you up bad, right, and the other one pretends to be Mr Nice! 1993 Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 114: One of the guys tried to stab Dave with a fork. That was the end of being Mr Nice Guy. 2007 C.K. Robinson No More Mr. Nice Guy [title]. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1986 J. Campbell Gate Fever 32: He didn't trust the comparatively liberal regime [...J and he didn't want any part of 'their mister-niceguy games'. 2003 Music from the Corner 'This Tune Ain't Shit' [lyrics] No more Mr Nice stuff. 2004 (con. 1988) N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 330; I was suspicious when he started coming over with a Mr Nice Guy routine. Mr Patel (n.) (also Mr Patel’s) [generic use of Patel, the most common Ind. surname in the UK and one borne by many of the Ugandan Asians who arrived in the early 1970s and began running such shops] the local corner newspaper/sweet shop or small grocery. 1998 N. Bhushan connect 1 Aug. [Internet] The weekend shopping get-together at Mr Patel's grocery where vintage Bollywood hits played in the subdued background, kept visitors, from Goans to South Indians, connected with their inner identity. 2003 C. Lowes 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the North East' BBC.co.uk [Internet] On the corner / Mr. Patel sells / samosas on Sundays / wine in plastic, / Woodbines in fives. Mr Peanut (n.) ['Mr Peanut' the dandified logo of Planter's Peanuts (created 1916)] (US black) a white man.

Mr

Mr

1618

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 208: Mr Peanut

any white

male.

1977 J.L. Dillard Lex. Black Eng. 33: Other Black terms for the penis include arm [...] swipe, private, Jones, pecker, stallion. Mister Tom and Johnson.

Mr Peeler (n.) see peeler n?. Mr Peter (n.) a black man.

Mr Twenty-six (n.) (drugs) a 26-gauge hypodermic syringe. 1967 Maurer & Vogel Narcotics and Narcotic Addiction (3rd edn). 1975

1968 (con. late 19C) S. Longstreet Wilder Shore 216: Mister Peters

Hardy & Cull Drug Lang, and Lore.

(Negroes, so called because of the legend of the size of their

Mr Two-to-one (n.) (UK Und.) a pawnbroker.

genitalia).

Mr Plod (n.) see plod n.^. Mr Prunella (n.) (also Parson Prunello) ISE prunella, a strong textile, orig. silk, commonly used for gowns worn by clergymen, barristers and graduates] a parson,

1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 183: 'Mister

Two-to-one' — a pawn-broker; that being the advantage he takes of his customers' necessities: the method of suspending his goldenballs — two above one below, seems to tell this plainly.

1774 Foote Cozeners in Works (1799) II 162: Did I not tell you what

Mr Warner (n.) (var. on mary warmer n.] (drugs) a marijuana smoker.

Parson Prunello said. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the

Mr Whipple (n.) (US black/drugs) phencyclidine mixed with for¬

Vulgar Tongue.

maldehyde.

1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

Mr Richard (n.) see Richard n. (2). Mr Right (n.) see separate entry. Mr Roper (n.) |his primary tool] the hangman.

1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 51: Mr. Whipple and Bomb

Expressions used in reference to the drug PCP that has been mixed with embalming fluid.

3.1705 Dorset 'Song' in Chalmers Eng. Poets VIII (1810) 345: The

Mr Whiskers (n.) [the trad, portrait of a be-whiskered Uncle Sam] (US)

queen, overhearing what Betty did say. Would send Mr, Roper to

the American government or its law enforcement agencies.

take her away.

Mr Sin (n.) (US black/L.A.) a member of the vice squad. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 67: You find expressions like [...] Mr. Sin for vice cops. [Ibid.] 247: Mr. Sin Vice squad officer.

Mr Six-by-six (n.) (US) a very large man. 1957 'Ed Lacy' Lead With Your Left (1958) 45: He was a giant, a real mister six by six.

Mr Smarty (n.) see smarty n. Mr Smoke-a-Bowl (n.) (US drugs/teen) a regular smoker of mari¬ juana.

1938 W. WiNCHELL 'On Broadway' 23 Aug. [synd. col] The divorce is being retarded over which of them will pay Mr. Whiskers the tax on his parting gift of $300,000. 1940 N.Y. Herald Trib. 17 July 38/2: [advert] [...] So What?; Jallopy; Very spotty dealer situation; high hat; cut it out; Mr. Whiskers; Swing it!; C.O.D.; Hi ya, kid! 1953 T. Runyon In for Life 234: But toward the minions of Mr. Whiskers' justice machine I still had plenty of resentment. 1967 'M.T. Knight' Terrible Ten 81: Mr. Whiskers's snoopers [couldn't make you talk]

[HDAS].

Mr Wiggins (n.) a fool, a simpleton. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 195: Wiggins — Mr. any mannerist of small brains and showy feather. The 'three Mr. Wigginses,' portrayed by Dighton, were 'habited alike from top to toe,' and kept the step of the bird-cage walk, in their Sunday

2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. [Internet] smoke-a-boal (Mr... )

n. a person who uses a bong regularly.

Mr Speaker (n.) (also Mister Speaker) [its noise + the political office of the Speaker, who 'lays down the law' in the US House of Representatives or the British Parliament; 1940s+ use is US black] (US) a revolver, a pistol. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1944 D. Burley Orig.

ambulations.

Mr Wigsby (n.) (also wigsby, wigster) 1 a man wearing a wig. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p,: Wigsby,

Hbk of Harlem Jive 17: She flagged a kill joy who soon had Mister Speaker facing the skull. And that's that. 1994 P. Baker Blood Posse 228: Brother man, you ain't got to use that there speaker on me.

Mr. Wigsby; a man wearing a wig. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: Wigsby; a man wearing a wig. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the

Vulgar Tongue.

Mr stitch (n.) a tailor. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 71: His Taylor

2 (UK Und.) a judge. 1788 'Rolling Blossom' in Festival of Anacreon in Wardroper Lovers, Rakers and Rogues (1995) 180: Wigsby has passed sentence.

[,..] who had lately arrested him for a Summ of four or five Pounds which he ow'd Mr. Stitch.

Mr Strong-eye (n.) (W.I./Jam.) a determined individual. 1873 C. Rampini Letters from Jamaica 87: A determined person is 'Mr.

Mr Wind (n.) (US black) chilly winter winds, esp. as experienced in northern cities. 2001 J. Mercer Joshmercer.com 22 Dec. [Internet] I've discovered that

Strong-eye'.

I drive like a southerner. Let me elaborate on the driving conditions in Minnesota. I was driving 70 mph all through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Then in Minnesota it starts to snow. 70...60... 50...40.,.30! [...] And then Mister Wind decided that my car should be in the left lane. And then my car decided to dance with some black ice, turning my vehicle about 15 degrees.

Mr Switch (n.) [SE switch, a whip] a coachman. 1714 A. Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway-men, etc. I 151: He laid upon

Mr. Switch like a D—1.

Mr T (n.) [ety. unknown; ? anecdotal] (W./., Rasta) the boss. 2004 'Patois Diet.' at www.dancehallareaz.com.

Mr Ten Per Cent (n.) (orig. US) 1 an agent, usu. in show business, who takes 10% (at least) of their client's earnings. 2002 J. Powell Bobby Moore: The Life and Times of a Sporting Hero 224:

Through it all. Turner was strictly Mr Ten Per Cent. He said: 'Other agents expected fifteen or twenty per cent but I believed Bobby was

Mr Wong (n.) see wonc n.’'. Mr Wood (n.) (also Charlie Wood) a police truncheon. 1957 (con. 1919) P. Beveridge Inside the C.I.D. 17: We had some

something special.'

2 a middleman, esp. between interest groups and politicians, who arranges 'favours' and directs influence for some cut of the

practice with the truncheon, a fifteen-inch length of hard wood known as 'Mr. Wood', 1968 Partridge DU (3rd edn) 848/1: Mr. Wood. A truncheon [...] since ca. 1920. 1989 J. MORTON Lowspeak

subsequent profits. 1970 R. First Power in Africa 102: In one country after another,

African politicians came to be known as Mr Ten Per Cent. Politicians extracted such a commission for services rendered. 2001 T. Bachand 'A Vagabond World' ThomasBachand.com [Internet] He looked around to make sure none were listening to our English and said, 'That's Mr. Ten Percent.' 'What?' I said, not certain I had heard him correctly. 'Mr. Ten Percent,' he repeated quietly. 'That is how we call General Suharto. He takes ten percent of everything.'

Mr Thingstable (n.) see cit. 1785. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mr. Thingstable, Mr. Constable, a ludicrous affectation of delicacy in

avoiding the pronunciation of the first syllable in the title of that officer, which in sound has some similarity to an indecent monosyllable. [1798 in Sporting Mag. June XII 160/1: 'April 22th 1798. I Hear By giv Notius that all the Ship and cattel Sail Be kept Out [...] .Cunstobble'.] 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

Mr Thomas (n.) see Uncle Tom n. Mr Three Balls (n.) see three balls n. Mr Tom (n.) (US black) the penis.

Mr Wobbly (n.) see play Mr Wobbly hides his helmet under play (at)... V.

(1).

150: Charlie or Mr. Wood - a police truncheon. 'If you don't come quiet I'll introduce you to my friend Charlie.'

Mr Zip-Zip (n.) [title of a 1918 pop song] (US) a barber, 1918 Robert Lloyd 'Good morning. Mister Zip-Zip' [lyrics] Good morning. Mister Zip-Zip-Zip, with your hair cut just as short as mine, / Good morning. Mister Zip-Zip-Zip, You're surely looking fine! 1945 in Calif Folklore Quarterly V (1946) 383: Mr. Zip-Zip. Ship's barber [HDAS]. 2003 R. Schickel [bk title] Good Morning, Mr. Zip Zip Zip. Movies, Memory, and World War 11.

■ In phrases Mr Knap is concerned (also Mr Knap has been there) of a woman, pregnant (knapped adj.]. Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 248: Speaking of a woman supposed to be pregnant, it is common to say, I believe Mr Knap is concerned, meaning that she has knap'd. 18901904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues IV 118/1: Mr. Knap's been there, is said of a pregnant woman. 1812 Vaux

Mr Nash is concerned see under nash v.\ Mr Paimer and his five sons (n.) (orig. gay) the hand, used for masturbation.

mister

2003 Urban Terrorist Empire [Internet] Who better than Mr. Palmer

and his five sons to keep old granny warm on those cold nights, now that grandpa has gone to a better place? Mr Palmer is concerned see under palm v. Mr Pullen is concerned see under pull v.

mister n. {also Mister Man) 1 (US) a form of address to a man whose proper name one does not know. 1864 E. Wardley Confessions of Wavering Worthy 132: They addressed

you as 'Mate,' or 'Old Man,' 'Mister,' or some other disrespectfully familiar epithet derived from your dress or person. 1886 'Lady Kate, the Dashing Female Detective' in Roberts et al. Old Sleuth's Freaky Female Detectives (1990) 15/2: You were seen to take it. Mister Man! 1908 'Old Sleuth' Dock Rats of N.Y. (2006) 115: I [have] some valuable information for you. Mister Man, and now throw up your hands. 1919 J. Buchan Mr Standfast (1930) 521: 'Let that alone, you fool,' I growled in his ear. 'Sure, mister,' he said, and the next second we were in the thick of it. 1925 D. Hammett 'The Gutting of Couffignal' Story Omnibus (1966) 23: Mister, they didn't none of 'em come down that way. 1935 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 607: He was just calmly puffing at a fag, and that, mister, was Studs Lonigan. 1942 R. Chandler Fligh Window 90: 'You got a good safe?' 'Mister, in this business are the best safes money can buy.' 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 220: Hey, Mister [...] You're getting a flat tire. 1960 C. Cooper Jr Syndicate (1998) 7: Look, mister [...] I'm in no mood to play games. 1979 Fantastic Four Annual 57: Mister, you just don't know how dangerous! 1985 J. Sullivan 'Happy Returns' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Oh thanks mister. 1990 (con. early 1950s) J. Ellroy L.A. Confidential 155: Mister, Dukey was a dreamer. 2 used of a homosexual man considered neither pleasant nor attractive. 1988 A. Hollinghurst Swimming-Pool Library (1998) 66: It was all a

game, any man in the least attractive being dubbed a 'she' and only males too dire for such a conceit being left an unadorned 'he' or, occasionally, sinisterly, 'mister' - as in the poisonous declaration 'I trust you won't be seeing Mister Elizabeth Arden again', 3 (US drugs) heroin [heroin is a 'masculine' drug; see boy n.^ (1)]. 1997 Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 62: They called it 'girl' or 'Jane' or 'Missy' in feminine contrasts to 'boy' or 'John' or 'Mister' for king heroin.

Mr Charlie n. {also Massa Charlie, Mister Charley, Mister Charlie, Mr. Charley) [SE Mr + generic 'white' name Charlie] 1 {US black) any white man. 1928 R. Fisher Walls Of Jericho 303: mr. charlie Non-specific designation of 'swell' whites [...] 'That boogy's got a straight-eight just like Mr. Charlie's.' 1932 G. Kahn Manhattan Oases n.p.: These bojangs hanging around the entrance have seen Mister Charlie and Miss Mary before, c.1935 C. Himes 'In the Rain' in Coll. Stories (1990) 304: 'Keep the convicts out of the corn.' That's what Mister Charley says. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' in Novels and Stories (1995) 1009: Mister Charlie: a white man. 1953 W. Fisher Waiters 53: To earn a living they had to Uncle Tom 'Mr. Charley' by day. 1965 C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 7: Good-bye to the cotton fields, good-bye to 'Massa Charlie', good-bye to the chain gang. 1968 N. Heard Howard,-Street 159: Dig us. Mister Charlie, white man! We is down, and baby let the good times roll! 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 139: Whenever some nigga brings in some money from Mister Charlie, all the other nlggas want a piece. 1994 N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 104: Pretty soon it's gonna be all over for Mr. Charlie. 2002 'Toure' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 89: Black leaders [...] smart enough to never fall into the trap of screaming Cracker! at Mister Charlie.

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1998 (con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 80: Ain't no way he was gonna let Tutt, or that other Mr. Charley cop, Murphy, show him

up. 3 thus the man in power. 1971 H.E, Roberts Third Ear n.p.: Mister Charley n. [...] the boss.

■ In phrases fast-talking

mitch

1619

charlie

(n.)

{US black) a Jew, esp. a Jewish

storekeeper. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 61: One teenager defined 'fasttalkin' Charlie' as 'a slicker, one o' dem ol' fast-talkers. Someone who's slick. Like Jews, you call 'em dat, 'cause dey are fast talkin'. When you come in d' store, dey get to talkin', be tryin' to make dat bidness'. 1997 C. Hiaasen Lucky You 330: They didn't appreciate getting jerked around by some fast-talking Charlie.

Mr Foot’s horse n. ■ In phrases travel by Mr Foot’s horse (v.) to go on foot. 1823 'Jon Bee' Did. of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 82: 'Foot’s horse, Mr. to travel by' — is to walk.

Mister Man n. see mister n. mister-man n. (W.l.) a term of respect. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 34: Missa-man a term of respect not related to gangsterism.

mister-me-friend n. {also mister-me-man) (Irish) a person, an acquaintance. 1940s-50s 'Flann O'Brien' 'Bad Humour' in Hair of the Dogma (1989)

95: That class of talk was excitin' ME, crippled with corns all me life and mister-me-friend this doc standing there as bould as brazen brass tellin' me I can spend sixteen hours a day behind this counter. 1946 'Myles na gCopaleen' Drink and Time in Dublin in Irish Writing No. 1 May n.p.: I'm nearly too weak to walk and the shakes getting worse every day [...] Lookat here, mister-me-man, I say to meself, this'll have to stop [BSJ.

Mr Right n. {also Lieutenant Right, Miss Right) the ideal lover, husband, wife, boy- or girlfriend for anyone so searching; also used ironically. 1841 Comic Almanack Jan. 255: She'd once a quiver-full of beaus; /

Old, young, short, tall, dark, light [...] But never Mister Right. 1860 G.A. Sala Baddington Peerage 310: I suppose Tm not the Mr. Right of her affections, and that she doesn't like me. 1891 Kipling Light that Failed 164: Couldn't you take and live with me till Miss Right comes along? 1922 Joyce Ulysses 352: Till Mr Right comes along then meet once in a blue moon. [Ibid.] 610: In the nature of single blessedness he would one day take unto himself a wife when Miss Right came on the scene. 1945 A. Kober Farm Me 9: She was waiting until 'Mr. Right,' as she put it, came along. 1954 J. Steinbeck Sweet Thursday (1955) 109:1 got him staked out for Miss Right. 1960 B. Kops Dream of Peter Mann Act I: When Mr Right comes along. I'll know all right. 1960 Galton & Simpson 'The Reunion Party' Hancock's Half-Hour [TV script] I shall probably do it myself, you know, when Miss Right comes along. 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 20: I do believe the little Pommy is Mister Right for Winnie. 1975 'P.B. Yuill' Hazel! and the Three-card Trick (1977) 43: Where the hell was Miss Right? 1977 G. Melly Rum, Bum and Concertina (1978) 45: I suspected that [...] she was saving herself for Lieutenant Right. 1978 A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 57: There are other people in the world besides Mr Right. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 131: You birds have scored into your head / some geezer all identikit / a mister right. 1988 J. Healy Grass Arena (1990) 117: I'm not looking for Miss Right, lads. 1992 K. Lette Llama Parlour 12: She truly believed there was a bloke out there for every girl. And that one day I'd meet my Mr Right. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 41: Those guys, the trail of mister rights, who came in and went out and then had to wait for a lift. 2000 Guardian Guide 12-18 Feb. 95: Holding out for Miss Perfect may mean missing out on Miss Right.

Mistress n. see Miss n. Mistress Jones n. see Mrs Jones under Mrs n. Mistress Princum Prancum n. (also Mrs Princum Prancum) [PRINK V. (1)] a woman who is preoccupied by turning herself out neatly, and maintaining a concomitantly 'precise' character. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Mistress Princum-Prartcum, such a one [i.e. 'Stiff-starched']. 1725 New Canting Diet, n.p.: Mistress VRincVM-Pranciim, such a stiff, over-nice, precise Madam. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. 1725]. 1785, 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mrs. Princum Prancum; a nice, precise, formal madam. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

mit n. see mitt n. ■ In phrases have one’s mit out (v.) see have one's hand out under hand n.^. mit V. see mitt v. (2). mitch n. (US Und.) a fake wad of money used in a confidence trick. 1997 L. Pettiway Workin' It 109: He had a knot full of money, but it'll be money on top ... It's a mitch, they call it, but it don't be nothing but a green dollar bill or something on top of this mitch. You just got to convince somebody to put their money with your money. Supposed to be your money, but it ain't no real money there,

mitch

V. (also mich, mitche) [synon. UK dial.] (Irish) to run off, to abandon one's duties, to play truant; thus mitching n. and adj. [1577 Holinshed Irish Chronicle 7: He was so crost in the nycke of thys determination, that his historie in mitching wyse wandred through sundry hands.] 1833 W. Carleton Traits and Stories of Irish Peasantry II 135: I'll pluck the crow wid you on my return. If you don't find yourself a well flogged youth for your 'mitchin'. 1877 'The Connaught College' in Laughing Songster 132: You dog. I'll cut you, how dare you mitche from school! 1907 J.M. Synge Playboy of the Western World Act II: You're pot-boy in this place, and I'll not have you mitch off from us now. c.1914 C. Mac Garvey Green Line and the Little Yellow Road in Mac Thomais (1982) 158: The top-line

mitcher

mitt

1620

double turn, Mick Maguire and Jamesy Byrne, / Were buttys since the days they mitched from school. 1918 K.F. Purdon Dinny on the Doorstep 197: Maybe it's miching from school you were, all the time! 1943 (con. 1850s) G.A. Little Malachi Horan Remembers 87; 'Out on the gur' = mitching. 1961 (con. 1930s) D. Behan Teems of Times and Happy Returns 87: Mrs Clancey [...] wanted to know why we were home so early from school. 'I hope yeh weren't mitching.' 1977 W. Burrowes Riordans 89: His nine-year old son Christy was to go to court for mitching from school. 1981 (con. 1920s) P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Out! 220: on the jare mitching. 1994 (con. 1930s) K.C. Kearns Dublin Tenement Life 11: Sometimes we'd go mitching down to where the banana boats would come in and take a few bananas. 1996 D. Healy Bend for Home 32: We wheel right instead of left and go mitching [...] We duck and weave till we're in a field opposite the school. 2004 (ref. to 1950s) Guardian 9 Feb. 11: My father was told to deliver me to a children's court [...] The judge said I was there for mitching school,

mitcher n. a petty thief. 1508 Dunbar 'A General Satyre' in Mackenzie Poems (1932) 152; Sa

mony theivis and mycharis weill kend. 1530 Palsgrave Lesclarcissement de la Langue Francoyse n.p.; Substances: Mecher, a lytell thefe; Micher, a lytell thefe, 1573 T. Tusser Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie (1878) 20: Once placed for profit [...] beware of such michers as thease.

mite n. [SE mite, a tiny insect found in cheese] 1 {also mitey) a cheesemonger. 1765 Foote The Commissary 47; There liv'd Miss Cicely Mite, the only daughter of old Mite the cheesemonger. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balalronkum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1862 E. de la Bedolliere Londres et les Anglais 31611: mite, [...] marchand de homages. 1873 SI. Diet. 2 {also might) a whit or jot, a bit [SE l4C-mid-l 7C]. 1855 J.S. Coyne Pippins and Pies 66: He doan't care a might about that red-hared creetur at number 19. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 206/1: 1 didn't know anything about photographs then, not a mite. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 28; It ain't changed a mite, Johnny. 1933 N. Algren 'So Help Me' in Texas Stories (1995) 16: We got a mite friendly then. 1947 W.D. Overholser Buckaroo's Code (1948) 81: You're a mite cocky, son. 1954 Oh Boy! No. 18 8: Reckon I'd better thin it out a mite. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 378: He was becoming a mite too persistent. 3 a particle, a tiny piece [SE 17C[. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H, Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 91/2; You see they all give; even a child will give its mite. 1898 E. Pugh Tony Drum 85: Well, a mite of warm gin. 1916 J. Lait 'It Wasn't Honest, But It Was Sweet' in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 225: She would poise the can in her left hand and hold it up, and with her right would slip in the day's mite, rattle her treasure again. 1933 N. Algren 'So Help Me' in Texas Stories (1995) 17: He [...] didn't offer the kid none 'cause he oney had a mite left for hisself. 1934 O. Strange Sudden 166: I ain't scared a mite. 4 a farthing. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) 175: A farthing is a 'mite'.

mitigated afflictions n. see afflictions n. mitre n. [SE mitre, a bishop's ceremonial headgear] {US Und.) a hat. 1807 H. Tufts Autobiog. (1930) 291: Mitre signifies a hat.

mitred ad/. {UK Und.) standing on the gallows wearing a hood, thus awaiting execution by hanging. C.1850 Buncombe New and Improved Flash Diet.

mitt n. {also mit) [abbr. SE mitten] 1 {Aus./US) usu. in pL, a glove; often a boxing glove. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 252: mitts gloves. 1877 F. Remington letter 13 Nov. in Splete Sel. Letters (1988) 16: He demands these articles and interests the Gov. to put on the 'mitts' with him [...] When he get [sic] old enough I'll learn him to 'box'. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 35: Oh, he can handle the mitts some, all right; none of your parlor Y. M. C, A. business. 1907 D. Runyon 'Fat Fallon' From First to Last (1954) 30: Devaney never laid a mitt on Fat. 1914 E. Packe letter 25 Nov. [Internet] Please thank Ruth ever so much for her letter & parcel of mitts. 1916 A. Stringer Door of Dread 66: 'Yuh wait until I grab me hat and mitts,' she explained to him. 1920 Marvel 7 Aug. 18: Here's Sam Atkins come all the way through the storm to have the mitts on with you. 1937 J. Curtis There Ain't No Justice 140: In a couple of years we'll see the old ref holding up your dexter mitt. 1940 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh Act II; I ain't laid my mits on a box in Gawd knows when. 1942 N. Algren Never Come Morning (1988) 10: Casey took a catcher's mitt from under the mattress. 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 8: He put on his mitts, then his rubbers. 1967 (con. 1940s) M, Dibner Admiral (1968) 31 1: His baseball mitt was still there. 1977 P. Hamill Flesh and

Blood (1978) 1 13: Gus came over and held up the catcher's mitt. 1991 (con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 106: I rapped on the door without taking my mitt off. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 4: He'd take me through the usual four 3-minute rounds on the punch mitts. 2 {US) a hand of cards. 1896 J.F. Lillard Poker Stories 197: Do you suppose all those big 'mitts' dropped into you like angels from the skies? 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 58: mitt [...] a card hand in any square game. 1961 J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling. 3 {US) usu. in pL, the hand. 1893 M. Philips Newspaper 118: She drew her feet together and with outstretched mits exclaimed, — 'I am Cora Muggins!' 1905 A. Binstead Mop Fair 78: Extending the joyous mitt to her pals to join her in a cigarette. 1908 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'The Hand-Shaking Peril' Sporting Times 18 July 1/3: Upon her ungloved little 'mit,' / Evaline recognised what, without any doubt, / Was her ring, the identical 'it'. 1914 Joyce 'The Boarding House' Dubliners (1956) 60: He was also handy with the mits and sang comic songs. 1916 J. Lait 'Omaha Slim' Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 110-11: A dime for a flop on de kip and a rub o' de brush in de mornin' — in me mitt. 1922 M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 28: He reaches me his mit about the size of a California ham. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 183: Wishing like hell he had mightier lungs and stronger mitts. 1937 E. Raymond Marsh 233: All right, slap me ole mit, as they say in the donkey market. It's a deal. 1946 J. Evans Halo in Blood (1988) 58: Either you lay it in his mitt or your dad will be asked to pay off. 1949 W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 158: If I'm wrong. I'll pay you myself. You got my mitt on it. 1959 F. Norman Fings II i: I'm gonna use my wits / Instead of just my mitts. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 58: I had led with my dick instead of my mitt. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 147: He could rip the gates on store fronts [...] with his mitts. 1982 J. Sullivan 'Ashes to Ashes' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Just you keep yer mitts off that right? 1999 Guardian Guide 26 June-2 July 40: The opportunity to get their greasy mitts on a new motor. 2006 P. Shannon Davey Darling 42: 'Just hold your horses, will ya?' [...] said the Old Man, planting his bloody big mitt on my shoulder. 4 {US prison) in pL, handcuffs. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 5 {US tramp) usu. in pi, a tramp who has lost one or both hands. 1918'A-No. l' Mother of the Hoboes 43: The Rating Of The Tramps. 17 Mitts: train rider who lost one or both hands. 1923 N. Anderson Hobo 100: [From A No. 1, The Famous Tramp] 17. Mitts. Train rider who lost one or both hands. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 130; Mitts. - A one-handed or a handless person. 6 {US Und.) a roll of money. 1983 in N.Y. Times 29 Aug. B2: A 'mitt' is a roll of money [HDAS].

■ Derivatives mitted (ad/.) {US Und.) armed. 1917 in Editor 24 Feb. 153: Go mitted or heeled - to go armed. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 303; Go Mitted or Heeled — to go armed. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/1: Mitted. 1. (Rare) Armed with any weapon capable of being used with one hand, especially firearms, a knife, or a bludgeon.

■ In compounds mitt artist (n.) {US) a prizefighter. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 88: Some of these mitt artists is nice, decent boys, but then again you'll find others that you can't take much pride in. mitt broad (n.) {also mit artist) [broad n? (3)[ {US Und.) a fortune teller, a palm-reader. 1928 Phila. Eve. Bulletin 5 Oct. 40/4; Here are a tew more terms and definitions from the 'Racket' vocabulary: [...] 'mitt broad,' a female fortune teller. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Mit artist, a palmist. mitt camp (n.) a palmist's or fortune-teller's establishment, tent etc. 1927 K. Nicholson Barker II i: Swell place for a mitt camp. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 90: Mitt-camp (fortune telling booth) is of

Gypsy origin. 1949 F. Brown Dead Ringer 147; Flo and I were both mentalists with the same carney once, years ago. She ran the mitt camp. 1956 H. Gold Man Who Woe Not With It (1965) 4: She would smile and [...] take the tickets to Palmistry Pauline's mittcamp. 1977 Rolling Stone 22 Sept. 44: He also ran a 'mitt camp' for reading palms,

mittflopper (n.) {orig. US milit.) a toady, the image is of one who constantly shakes hands. 1939 Army and Navy Register (US) 18 Nov. 3/2: 'Mitt-flopper,' a hand¬

shaker. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: a mitt flopper ... a yes man, caters to officers, salutes unnecessarily, mitt game (n.) boxing; prize-fighting. 1919 O.R. Cohen Come Seven 99: He knew just enough about the mitt

game to stave off Cleophus' rushes for a round or two. 1920 Marvel

mitt

21 Aug. 15: A skilful exponent of the mitt-game. 1943 in D. Moe Lords of the Ring (2005) 97: Boxing is spreading like wildfire and some of the strongest opponents to the sport have been won over and are ready to install the mitt game as an important part of the physical education program.

mittglommer (n.) Iglom v. (1)) (US, orig. milit.) an ingratiating person, a sycophant; thus mittglom n. and v. H. Simon 'Prison Diet.' in AS VIII:3 (1933) 29/2: MITT¬ GLOMMER. Handshaker, fin-flipper. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in AS VI:6 440: mitt glommer, n. A hand-shaker; a 'yes-man.' 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison Si 53: mitglom, v. To handshake, to play up to officials, mitglommer, n. A handshaker. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/1: Mitt-glom. A handshake, i.e., a cordial reception [...] Mitt¬ glommer. A hand-shaker; a 'yes-man.' 1918

mitt joint (n.)

mitt

1621

[joint

n. (3)] 1 (US) a crooked gambling estab¬

lishment. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 59: A 'mitt joint' is a

gambling house where victims are 'steered' for fleecing by means of deceptively 'sure thing' hands. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.

2 (a/so mit joint) a palmist's or fortune-teller's establishment, tent etc. 1928 'Carnival SI.' AS III:3 253/1: Mit Joint—Fortune teller's tent. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 155: mitt joint A fortune

teller's establishment. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/1: Mitt-joint. (Carnival) A palm-reader's booth or tent. 1952 in Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 22 Mar. 14/4: Pardon me, but I feel lucky today. I'll just go over to see the beezock in the mitt-joint and get her to read my palm. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

mitt-juggler (n.) a prize-fighter, a boxer. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 10: I'm a mitt juggler [...] and they call

me Shorty McCabe.

mitt man (n.) (US Und.) a confidence man, esp. when specializing in religious charlatanry. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 163: He should be maybe a 'Murphy' player or even a'mitt man'. [Ibid.] 315: Mitt Man [...] a hustler who uses religion and prophecy to con his victims, usuallly the victims are women.

mitt pounding (n.) (US black) applause, clapping. 1944 Cab Calloway New Hepsters Diet, in Calloway (1976) 258: mitt

(n.): applause. 1944 'Jiver's Bible' in D. Harlem Jive.

POUNDING

Burley

Orig. Hbk of

mitt-pusher (n.) (US) a boxer. 1906 National Police Gazette 10 Feb. 7: These Are Busy Days...For The Mitt Pushers [HDAS]. 1918 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. 117: St. Clair is one of the mitt-pushers who fights...at the local clubs,

mitt-reader (n.) (US) a fortune-teller, a palmist; thus mitt-reading. 1928 'Lang, of the Lot' AS III:5 June 414: Mitt reader - A palmist, or

fortune teller. 1937 T. Thursday 'Good Luck is No Good' in Federal Agent Nov. [Internet] Never again would Shrimpo Todd have faith in luck, omens, hunches, mitt-readers, astrologists [...] or what have you. 1946 J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 90: The expressions 'mitt¬ reading' and 'duke reading' naturally came from calling one's hands mitts and dukes. 1951 Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 569: Mitt-reader - palmist. 1962 C. Clausen I Love You Honey. But the Season's Over 139: I was married ten years to a mitt reader on the carnie.

mitt Store (n.) (US Und.) a form of confidence trick in which a supposedly legitimate business masquerades as a front for crooked poker games (ostensibly being played 'just to pass the time'). The victim is 'mitted', i.e. dealt into such a game and fleeced of his money. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 9: The mitt store masqueraded behind the

front of a legitimate business. mitt-wobbler (n.) (US, orig.

milit.) an ingratiating person, a

sycophant. 1917 R. Lord Capt. Boyd's Battery 30 Nov. 24: Handshaker n. — See

Lily Presser, Mitt Wobbler, Dog Robber. 1923 Amer. Legion Weekly 6 Apr. 11: Movie of the Amateur Mitt Wobbler and Hard Boiled Top ['first sergeant'] mittwobbler: — handshaker.

■ In phrases big mitt (n.) (also big mit) (US Und.) a form of swindling involving the use of a stacked hand while playing poker. 1903 Daily Chronicle 6 May 7/2: A 'big mit' [...] is a big boodle game, graft [DA], 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 289: The big mitt. A short-con game played against a store with insidemen and ropers. The victim is enticed into the store, drawn into a crooked poker game, and is cold-decked on his own deal.

big mitt man (n.) (a/so big mit man, big mitter) (US Und.) a confidence trickster. 1916 A. Stringer Door of Dread 100: When yuh mosey round wi' the big-mitters you gotta watd he deck or drop your pile! 1935 A.J.

Pollock

Und. Speaks 7/2: Big mit man, card cheater. 1949 Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

Monteleone

chance one’s mitt (v.) (a/so chance one’s mit)

(var.

on chance

one's arm under ARM n.\ to take risks. 1917 W. Muir Observations of Orderly 227: There is a sardonic tang in the army's condemnation of one who has been telling a far-fetched story: he has been 'chancing his arm' (or 'mit'). 1937-84 Partridge DSUE (1984) 196/2: chance one's mitt WWl.

chilly mitt (n.) (US) constr. with the, a rejection, a snub; usu. in phr. getigive the chilly mitt. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 143: Renshaw '11 make some old Rube chief o' police, an' we'll all get the chilly mitt.

cold mitt (n.) (US) a snub, a rejection. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 411: Cold mitt - cold welcome. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

frozen mitt (n.) (also frozen face, frozen mitten, frozen word, icy mitt) (US) a rejection, an unfriendly reception. 1896 H. Blossom Checkers 117: Before long she'll make a play at you - give her the frozen face. 1898 Sunset mag. 280: Without a thought she chucked the Oro mine into the well [and] gave the frozen mitt to the steamship line. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 176: Society gave him the Frozen Face. 1906 E. Hubbard 'Love' in Philistine [periodical] 85: The only places where the ex-convicts get the icy mitt are pink teas and prayer meetings. 1906 S. Ford Shorty McCabe 175: She'd got the frozen face ever since she came to town. 1910 WODEHOUSE Gentleman of Leisure Ch. xi: De old mug what showed me round give me de frozen face when I come in foist. 1911 R.W. Chambers Common Law 282: 'Got the frozen mitt, didn't he?' 'And the Grand Cordon of the double cross.' 1917 F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) I x: Who'll he deal the icy mitt to next? 1918 C.J. Dennis 'Jim's Girl' in Digger Smith 68: She'd turn 'im down - give 'im the bird, / An' 'and 'im out the frozen word. 1922 'Sapper' Black Gang 361:1 got handed the frozen mitten. 1927 (con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 183: There's a fellow we'll get rid of. A man like me, he gives me the icy mitt. 1931 O. Strange Law O' The Lariat 143: So she give you the frozen mitt, eh? 1945 G. Fairlie Capt. Bulldog Drummond 172: 'What devil is he doing here?' 'And why the frozen mitt?' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 127: icy mitt Being turned down by your best girl. 1977 1. Stone Jack London 61: After that Jack and his comrades were met with 'the icy mitt,' and were forced to go back to the regular Army. 2002 G. Thomas Assassination of Robert Maxwell (2003) 189: He told Rafi Eitan over lunch that day he believed that he had been 'given the frozen mitt.' give someone the mitt (v.) (also give someone the frosty hand,

...the frosty mit, ...the frosty paw, ...the icy mit, ...the icy mitt) 1 to say goodbye. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 78: I gave the cheerful grafter the parting mitt. 2 (US) to reject, esp. in the context of a proposal of marriage. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 16: give the frosty hand To be uncivil, or distant. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackboard Compilation (1977) 80: Fair alpine miss has just given the General the icy mitt. 1910 H. Hapgood Types From City Streets 331: When 'Chuck' came in a little later the regulars gave him the frosty mit. 1911 S. Ford Torchy 143: She starts to lay out Mr. Robert good, for givin' the frosty paw to a relation. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'A Word List From Montana' in DN IV:iii 244: give (one) the icy mit, v. phr. To reject as a suitor. greased mitt (n.) (also greased mit) [crease v.'] (US) anyone who has been bribed. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Greased mits, public officials, underworld bosS'or politicians who have been bribed for protection, grease one’s mitts/paw (v.) (US) to accept/solicit bribes; thus grease someone's mitts, to bribe. 1901 G. Fitzmaurice 'The Disappearance of Mrs. Mulreany' in Weekly Freeman 16 Nov. (1970) 77: It has sthruck me that Sylvester havin' a share o' money, might have graizhed your paw for you. 1969 'Iceberg Slim' Pimp 168: Every copper in the district [...] greases his mitts in that lard bucket. hand someone the (icy/frozen) mitt(en) (v.) (US) to reject, to

turn down, to dismiss. 1903 R. McCardell Conversations of a Chorus Girl 30: 1 [...] handed him out the warm mitt. 1914 S. Lewis Our Mr Wrenn (1936) 27: Oh, yes. I'm sure you didn't intend to hand me the icy mitt. 1922 'Sapper' Black Gang 361: I got handed the frozen mitten. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 20: She's handed you the mitten, throw the mitt(s) (v.) (US Und.) to pick pockets. 1903 (con. C.1865) H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 6i: Jack [...] gave

his patron a lesson in the art of throwing the mitt (dipping). 1949 Monteleone

Criminal SI.

(rev. edn).

mitt V. (MITT n.j 1 (US) to punch. T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 83: Mickey McDonough, standing outside the Sharkey Club, was mitted by 1909

mitten

two bruisers last night who wore tin ears and scars by the score. 1955 R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 187: I mined 'em high over my head and the cell block was full of cheers. 2 {also mit) to shake hands, or to press something into someone's hand, e.g., a bribe. 1908 B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 82: This wonderful photograph [,..] shows Mr. Mutt in the act of being mitted in person by the Czar, upon his triumphant entry into Russia. 1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 280: He mitts me and says thank God he's got one pal. 1925 Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 158:1 turned to mitt the female, and stood there with my hand out, gaping. 1927 Clark & Eubank Lockstep and Corridor 174: Mitt — put hush-money into an officer's hand. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 70: 'Tommy, pleased to mitt you!' And they mitted. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 53; mit, v. 1. to shake hands. 2. to congratulate. 1962 Ragen & FiNSTON World's Toughest Prison 808; mitt - To greet or

who is expelled is said to get the mitten. 2 {US) to be turned down as a suitor, to be rejected. 1844 J.C. Neal Peter Ploddy and Other Oddities 14: Young gentlemen

that have got the mitten, or young gentlemen who think they are going to get the mitten. 1858 O.W. Holmes Autocrat of the Breakfast Table 339: A cheaply got-up youth [...] laughed at by the girls in his village [...] 'got the mitten'. 1873 J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 109: Mitten, To have got the mitten, to be jilted by a lady. 1887 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. (Phila.) Aug. 241: Popped the question, and got the mitten [F&H]. 1906 'O. Henry' 'The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock' in Four Million (1915) 193: I've got the mitten instead of the scarf. 1910 B.L. Bowen 'Word-List From Western New York' in DN IILvi 445: mitten, n. 'To get the mitten,' to have one's suit rejected, 1926 Wood & Goddard Diet. Amer. SI. 1927 C. Woofter 'Dialect Words and Phrases from West-Central West Virginia' in AS 11:8 360: The

3 to be dismissed from employment.

1915 G. Bronson-Howard God's Man 128: A big green harness-bull sees the shooting [...] and, jest my luck, mitts me.

4 to wave to.

1884 Punch 1 Mar, 108/2: Lifeboat hands who are found shrinking.

Or with fear of danger smitten. Get, not medals, but the mitten [F&H].

1930 W.R. Burnett Iron Man 73: Joe Savella, thinking the applause was for him, got up and mitted the crowd again. 1937 J. Curtis There Ain't No Justice 66: He looked around for Dot, Arthur and Sammy. Dot waved her hand, her diamonds sparkling. Tommy mitted them. 1947 B. SCHULBERG Harder They Fall (1971) 187: Red threw his arms round George [...] and mitted the crowd happily.

■ In phrases mitt in (v.) {US Und.) to inveigle someone into a cheating card game. 1940 D. Maurer Big Con 301: To mitt a man in. To get a mark to bet a stack of checks placed before him, or to bet them for him, to get him into a mitt-game. me!)

{US) shake hands, esp. in context of

congratulations. 1932 J.L. Kuethe 'Johns Hopkins Jargon' in AS Vll:5 334: mit me kid — 'congratulate me.' 1942 J. Archibald 'Knife Thrower' in Popular Detective June [Internet] 'Mit me pal,' a customer said. 'My dame left me, too.' 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). mitten n. 1 usu. in pi., the hand, esp. the fist. 1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang, in McLachlan (1964) 252: mittens the hands. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1859 Hottbn Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 63; MI'TTENS, fists. 1864, 1867, 1870 Rotten SI. Diet, [as cit. 1859]. 1967 (con. 1940s) M. Dibner Admiral (1968) 152: A hell of a lot of good it does a guy with mittens like

give someone the mitten (v.) {US) to reject a proposal of marriage, to end a relationship. 1844 J.C. Neal Peter Ploddy and Other Oddities 162: 'Thank me!' exclaimed Jack Spratte, hysterically, 'me! - me! to whom you guv' the mitten!' 1848 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms 156; to give him the MITTEN. This phrase is used of a girl who discards her sweetheart. She gave him the mitten means that she gave her lover his dismissal or discarded him. 1851 C.L. Canfield Diary of a Forty-Niner (1906) 95: She is telling everybody that she has given me the mitten. 1863 J.F. Brobst letter in Brobst Well Mary, Civil War Letters 20: Too bad for Elsie [...] she had no business to give me the mitten then. 1867 O.W. Holmes Guardian Angel 370: Some said that Susan had given her young man the mitten, meaning thereby that she had signified that his services as a suitor were dispensed with. 1879 "Arry on the 'Igher Education of Women' in Punch 5 Apr. in P. Marks (2006) 151: Yus, she gave me the mitten. 1891 F. Harris Elder Conklin and Other Stories (1895) 4: 'What does "giving the mitten" mean?' he questioned [...] 'Why, jest the plainest kind of refusal, I guess.' 1900 P.G. McLean 'A Long Shot' Variety Stage Eng. Plays [Internet] The beautiful Lady Immerset has given Billy Smith the mitten. 1901 A. Binstead More Gal's Gossip 74; I told you in my last how she gave the athletic stockbroker at Hove the mitten. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 176/2: Mitten {Amer.. Hist.). Refusal of marriage by a lady. 'She gave him the mitten.'

tip someone the mitten (v.) to dismiss from a job. 1886 "Arry on Commercial Education' in Punch 26 Sept, in P. Marks

these.

2 {US) a rejection or dismissal; usu. in phrs. below. 1840 T. Haliburton Clockmaker III 156; Cuss them had shillin’s, they are always a-comin' back to you [... ] for they won't take the mitten if you do try to cut them. 1871 E. Eggleston Hoosier School-Master (1892) 86: Young men were timidly asking girls if 'they could see them safe home,' [...] and were trembling in mortal fear of 'the mitten'. 1908 L.W. Payne Jr 'Word-List From East Alabama' in DN IILiv 293: bounce, the (grand), n. phr. Summary dismissal; in love or matrimonial affairs, 'the mitten'.

3 a boxing glove; usu. in pL; thus mitten-mill n., a prize-fight. 1859 Matsbll Vocabulum 127; mittens. Boxing-gloves, mitten-mill. A glove fight. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Mar. 14/2; While Donald Dinnie and Graham were on the war-path in the back-blocks, rumours by the score used to reach Sydney as to the manner in which the pair said they could chaw up Larry Foley, either with or without the 'mittens;' Graham going so far, it was alleged, as to state that he could put our champion through with one hand only. 18901904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1919 Marvel 3 Mar. 7; Fight it out with the mittens. 1927 (con. 1835-40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 207; I am ready to make up for it by a bout with the mittens. 1973 Christopher 'Battling' Battalino in Heller In This Corner (1974) 148; Took my mittens and I hung 'em up.

4 a handcuff; usu. in pi. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 743/1: -1933. 5 {US Und.) a knuckle duster. 1952 (con. 1920s) G. Fowler Schnozzola 49: The callers were nastytempered fellows, expert in the use of 'Tammany mittens,' as the boys say when speaking of brass knuckles.

■ In compounds mitten queen (n.) I-queen

sfx

(2)]

{US gay) a man who masturbates

other men. 1999 Gaymart.com Queer SI. in the Gay 90s [Internet] Mitten Queen A gay man who likes to masturbate others.

■ In phrases get the mitten (v.)

1856 B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 324: mitten. [...] a student

boys all got the mitten at Three Poplars last night.

shake hands with.

3 {US Und.) to handcuff, to arrest.

■ In exclamations mitt me! {also mit

mittimus

1622

1 {US campus) to be expelled from a college.

(2006) 123: The Boss tipped me the mitten next day.

mitten v. [mitten n.j 1 [US) to seize or grab; usu. as mitten onto. 1841 Man o' War 179: Both Flukes and Bowser, mittened onto de article in question, with the rapidity of greased lightning [HDAS].

2 to reject (someone) as a lover. 1873 W. Carleton Farm Ballads (1882) 19: Once, when I was young

as you, and not so smart, perhaps. For me she mittened a lawyer, and several other chaps [DA]. 1881 M.J. Holmes Madeline 114: When she mittened him, it almost took his life. He was too old for her, she said [DA].

mittimus n. [tat. mittimus, we send. The word is used in legal Lat. as the first word of an arrest warrant and thus of the writ itself] a dismissal from an office or job; thus (mid-19C) get one's mittimus, to be dismissed, to be killed, to be sent to prison; also as v., to dismiss. 1596 Nashe Have With You to Saffron-Walden in Works III (1883-4) 136:

Out of two Noblemens houses he had his Mittimus of ye may be gone. 1605 Life and Death of Gamaliel Ratsey 27: But the foot-post (or rather picklocke) hearing his mittimus, was blanke and cold at heart, and had not a worde to say. 1611 L. Barry Ram-Alley III i: How? I tell thee lustice Tutchin, not all Thy Baylifes, Sergants, busie Constables, Defeasants, warrants, or thy Mittimusses, Shall saue his throte from cutting. 1621 Rowley, Dekker & Ford Witch of Edmonton V i: Your Mittimus shall be made thither, but your own Jaylors shall receive you. Away with here. 1627 J. Taylor 'An Armado' in Works (1869) I 92; The Mittimus, a dangerous Barke, whose word is. At your perill. 1632 T. Nabbes Covent Garden II ii: Thy dullnesse is capable of no more then to frame Hetroclites from mens names, and scribble a warrant or a mittimus by a president, c.1642 T. Killigrew Parson's Wedding (1664) IV ii: Make his Mittimus to the Hole at New-gate. 1665 Eng. Rogue I 63: Having sworn, my Mittimus was made, and therewith sent to Prison. 1691 'Penance' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 178: And when he comes before my Lord, / And hath no ready Tale, / His Mittimus is straight-waies made. 1703 Hell Head

Upon Earth 2: A Schollar in Iniquity comes to Newgate, by Vertue of a Mittimus. 1715 S. Cbntlivre Gotham Election I i: We wou'd have had

mitting

the Mayor made his Mittimus, and zend him to a Gaol. 1725 J. Sheppard Sheppard in Egypt 28: He call'd for Pen, Ink, and Paper, to make our Mittimus’s to Newgate. 1731 Fielding Letter Writers III x: A Mittimus! for whom? 1742 Fielding Joseph Andrews (1954) II 154: The justice [...] ordered his clerk to make the mittimus. 1756 W. Toldervy Hist, of the Two Orphans III 25: Well, you rascal, what have you to say for yourself, that the mittimus should not be made? 1764 Foote Mayor of Garrat in Works (1799) I 164:1 would have mittimus'd the rascal at once. 1794 ‘Peter Pindar' 'Subjects for Painters' Works (1794) n 285: His mittimus would soon be made. 1795 J. O'Keeffe Life's Vagaries 41: Enough, write his mittimus. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 170: The handkerchief was dropped, and Tarpaulin fell. 'By Jasus he has got his mittimus,' said Gram. 1845 J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 261: No claim to a man whose mittamus [sic] were put in to my awn hands? Go, hang thseT, Rob, 1864 G.A. Sala Quite Alone I 5: Aggravated assaults, says the magistrate, as he signs their mittimuses, are not to be tolerated,

mitting n. (ety. unknown] a shirt. 1886 W. Newton Secrets of Tramp Life Revealed 16: This is 'mitting'

hunting, or begging shirts [...] he will go from door to door, say he is a tradesman and has got employment, and that he is ashamed to go to it without having a 'mitting'.

mitts n. see mitt n. Mitzi adj. (S.Afr. gay) small, usu. of the genitals.

n.

1880 E.J. Milliken 'Cad's Calendar' in Punch Almanack n.p.: Lor! the

world would not be worth a mivvey, / If there warn't no fools to cheek and chivy. 1917 'Henry Handel Richardson' Aus. Felix (1971) 29: You were always a good one at striking a bargain, my boy! What about 'Four mivvies for an alley!' - eh. Dickybird?

mivvy n.^ [? ironic abbr. SE marvel or Cockney pron. of 'mother' as muvva] 1 in 'female' senses, (a) a contemptuous term for a woman. 1881 "Arry on Fashion' in Punch 10 Sept, 110/1: Lor' bless yer, they don't know the ropes, these old mivvies don't, more than a mug. 1898 Binstead & Wells Pink 'Un and Pelican 244: J'yer, Jack, what'er yr done with yer bloomin' mivvy? (b) in fig. use, a complainer, a whiner, an 'old woman'. 1879 "Arry on the Rail' in Punch 13 Sept. 109/1: We put some old guys on the wax / [...] A fig for such mumchance old mivvies! 1883 "Arry on His Critics and Champions' in Punch 14 Apr. 180/1: Nice sort of old mivvy he makes me. I'm 'poor and ill-dressed,' Charlie — me! 1891 "Arry on Wheels' in Punch 7 May 217/2: There's a lot of old mivvies been writting long squeals to the Times about hus. / They call us 'road-tyrants' and rowdies. (C) (also mivey, mivy) the landlady of a lodging-house.

the old 1889-90 Mlvies

and Its

Analogues. 2 an expert, an adept. 1906 E. Pugh Spoilers 162: He's a mivvy at makin' things easy,

mix n. 1 a fight, a brawl. 1938 L. Ortzen Down Donkey Row 22: Just a mix in the street.

2

a muddle, a mess. 1882 W.D. Howells A Likely Story iii: What a fatal, fatal mix [F&H]. 1918 C.J. Dennis 'Half A Man' in Chisholm (1951) 104: My part's to fix / A meetin' so there won't be any mix. 3 (Aus. drugs) a combination of cannabis and other herbs, usu. tobacco. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 176: He was arrested stepping off a plane from Miami in priest's garb, carrying a kilo of mix. 4 (S.Afr.) methylated spirits, as drunk by alcoholics. 1991 J. & W. Branford Diet. S. Afr. Eng. (4th edn).

5 (US drugs) a powder used to cut cocaine. 1976 R. Sabbag Snowblind (1978) 180: Alice collected the mix (half a kilo of borax), 6 (US black) one's private life. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6: mix - someone's personal space or business. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mix Definition: personal affairs Example: Ya betta tell that ho'ta quitgettin up in my mix. 2002 'TOURE' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] The mix. The mack. The shit. The whips. 7 (US black) the record turntable or turntables as used by hip-hop and rap DJs, and the music played. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

8 (US black) in abstract senses, (a) a difficult situation.

1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 50: Another way in which mix is

used is to remember information for future reference. When facts or information about someone or something are recorded in one's memory for future reference, it is referred to as putting that information in the mix. 9 an environment in which drugs are involved. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mix — A term used to refer to cocaine or a drug environment.

■ In phrases at the mix see at the micks under mick n.^. in the mix [orig. record industry jargon] 1 (US black) involved, esp. in gang activities. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI. 36: mix, in the [...] 'Dudes are buff in jail n' lose it all once they get back out in the mix.' 1993 Dr Dre '187' [lyrics] Now it's time to put they ass in the mix. 2006 G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 1 56: There were some [people] like that in the mix. But not us. 2 (US prison) in prison. 2002 (con. 1998-2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 40: Kinda

old to be up in the mix, dawg, know what Tm sayin'?

marble.

1887 Punch 10 Sept. Ill: Talk about stodge! Jest you arsk mivvy as caters for me at the crib where I lodge [F&H]. Barrere & Leland Diet, of SL, Jargon and Cant II 57/2: (popular), landladies. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI.

1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 50: Mix A situation in which the

circumstances create an unfavorable and compromising position, (b) the memory.

put the mix in (v.) (SE mix things up] to cause trouble deliberately, to

2003 K. Cage Gayle.

mivey n. see mivvy n.^ (1c). mi vida loca n. see la vida loca mivvy n.^ (also mivvey) 1? pron.] a

mix

1623

interfere in a malicious manner. 1959 F. Norman Fings II i: I reckon Meatface put the mix in with the Governor. 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 82: The gang's only other pastime was 'puttin' the mix in'. [Ibid.] 234: Mix, as in 'to put the mix in' - to contrive a quarrel, to cause a fight by intrigue. mix

V.

[MIX n. (1)1 1 (US) to fight; thus mixing n.

1876 'Dan de Quille' Big Bonanza (1947) 276: Blazer was a man who

never felt at peace except when at war. [...] When unable to 'mix' in a 'muss' of some kind, he was the most miserable dog alive. 1890 Bird o' Freedom 22 Jan. 3: Now, brother, you just come out flatfooted agin tramps in general, an' that parable tramp in particular, or we'll mix right here. 1908 A.N. Lyons Arthur's 164: They was mixed up proper for nigh on ten minutes. Put 'em up grand, 'e did the toff, I mean. 1912 R.W. Brown 'Word-List From Western Indiana' in DN IILviii 583: mix, v. To fight, 'Both of them had been drinking, and it was not long before they began to mix’. 1920 R.J. Fry Salvation of Jemmy SI. I ii: Him and me'll mix some day. You see if we don't. a.1932 'Wild Buckaroo' in G. Logsdon Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing (1995) 107: For rough and tough mixin' I'm hard to out-do. 1933 C.G. Booth 'Stag Party' in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2006) 112: Art and McFee mixed over a pair of Jacks. 1957 Laurents & Sondheim West Side Story I viii: O.K., no rumpus, / No tricks - / But just in case they jump us, / We're ready to mix / Tonight! 1974 (con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 142: Td still like to mix wit' 'im. 2 to inject a drug, usu. heroin [the mix of blood and heroin in solution that forms the injection). 1979 J. Homer Jargon (in Spears 1986).

■ In compounds mix-metal (n.) see separate entry, mix-up (n.) see separate entry. ■ In phrases mix in (v.) (also mix up) to initiate or join a fight. 1873 Daily Missouri Democrat 15 Mar. in Miller & Snell Why the West was Wild 207: When the Texan shot Wild Bill, he asked the crowd in the bar-room if any gentleman had any desire to 'mix in'. 1891 C.H. Hoyt A Trip to Chinatown Act III: Don't mix in and spoil things. 1900 Sporting Times 9 June 1/5: I'm the P.C. with landscapes on the line, I am. You surely don't expect a R'yal Academician to ruin his hands by mixin' up in street scraps, do ye? 1973 (con. mid-1960s) J. Patrick Glasgow Gang Observed 234: Mix, as in 'to put the mix in' - to contrive a quarrel, to cause a fight by intrigue, mix it (up) (v.) (Aus./US) 1 (also mix matters) to fight, to foster

trouble. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 July 18/1: After several rounds had been fought, Dooley went in and 'mixed it' with the Barrier champion, and got on to him at will with both hands, but he had fallen weak. 1892 'Fanny Flukem's Ball' in Bird o' Freedom (Sydney) in J. Murray Larrikins (1973) 40: Then Fat Mag sailed in and mixed it, / And said, 'You ice-cream trash, / I didn't come in on the nod, / But parted up my smash'. 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Dec. 36/2: Nipper got spliced yesterday, and last night he invited 'the herd' to have a 'dance and general jollo.' Towards 10 o'clock some of 'cm mixed matters, and Nipper left 'em to it and came outside with a few of his cobbers. 1903 Ade 'Hickey Boy and the Grip' in In Babel 107: The gong sounded Monday afternoon. I shook hands with one of them microbe boys and then it was us mixin it and I ve been against the ropes ever since. 1903 A.H. Lewis Boss 134: He was in the crowd an' saw you

mix and muddle

mixin' it up with th' Blacksmith, an' let him have it. 1917 WODEHOUSE ' Crowned Heads' in Man with Two Left Feet 98: There's you and me mixing it [...] Pretty soon you land me one on the plexus, and I take th' count. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'The Crusaders' in Chisholm (1951) 83: An' then we mix it. Strife an' merry 'ell / Breaks loose a treat, an' things git movin' fast, 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 142: It was unthinkable that Bramely would 'mix it' with a couple of chaps on a street corner. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 158: You'd better help us all you know or we'll mix it for you. 1941 F.S, Fitzgerald 'Mightier than the Sword' in Pat Hobby Stories (1967) 154: I can't mix it up with you. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 332: You're not afraid to step in and mix it. 1958 (con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 310: So long as you're not asking me to mix it with you. 1959 W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 98: Some stud even accused him of being chicken, afraid to mix it up with the colored. 1962 R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 106: Lucky for you it wasn't him you mixed it up with there. 1968 P. Terson Apprentices (1970) II iii: I'm not mixing it with a karate. 1970 (con. 1950s) H. Junker 'The Fifties' in Eisen Age of Rock 2 (1970) 101: Switchblade and zip gun for stomping, mixing it up, rumbles. 1983 S. King Christine 54: He and Arnie were standing almost nose to nose, apparently ready to start mixing it up. 1997 N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 101: The mums're already mixin' it tryin' to be the first through the doors. 1999 Guardian Guide 6-12 Nov. 9: Norton [...] enthusiastically starts mixing it up with him. 2000 J. Hawes Dead Long Enough 255: He tried to mix it with Sty. 2007 C. Gofpard Snitch Jacket 27: 'Couple friends can't mix it up a little bit?' panted Rathead.

2 to cause trouble for someone else. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 183: We'll be able to mix it up with these new chum Englishmen and Americans [...] and puzzle Sergeant Goring and his troopers more than ever. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 290: The bastard, thought the Gilt Kid. He's mixing it for me. 1958 F. Norman Bang To Rights 28: The screw [...] starts telling a load of bleeding lies and mixing it for you. 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 30: Mr Nicoloff is not the kind of gentleman that it'd be worth while for you to mix it with.

3 to enjoy oneself. 1891 "Arry on a 'ouseboat' in Punch 15 Aug. 76: And with larfter and banjos permiskus we managed to mix it up 'ot. 2005 J. Stahl /, Fatty 92: The trick was to keep coming up with new places for Mabel and me to mix it up.

mix it up (v.) 1 to agree secretly how to cheat or deceive another party. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 119: To Mix it up — to agree secretly how the parties shall make up a tale, or colour a transaction in order to cheat or deceive another party, as in case ot a justice-hearing, of a law-suit, or a cross in a boxing-match for

money. same time. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mix it up Definition: change a song around or play multiple songs at the same time. Example: Vo dj why don’t you mix it up??

■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases mix giblets (v.) see join ciblets under giblets mix and muddle n. [rhy. sl.l a cuddle.

n.

1992 R. PuxLEY Cockney Rabbit. adj.

1 confused, at a loss.

1880 Punch 4 Sept. 106: 'Tomkin's First Session.' Rather mixed after

twenty-one hours' continuous sitting [F&H]. 1902 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 14: When I gets a ting explained by bote Duchess and Mr. Paul, I am worse mixed dan a Coney Island cocktail. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 19 Nov. 43/2: I guess yew hev me kinder mixed.

2 slightly drunk. 1872 Leeds Mercury 29 Aug. n.p,: 'Nottingham Police Report.' 'Was

defendant drunk?' 'No, Sir, he was not drunk, and he worn't sober.' 'You say he wasn't drunk?' 'No, Sir, he was mixed.' 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Apr, 11/3: Was once on a pleasure-trip round the world, and one night, as our ship lay in Naples harbor, several of us went ashore and had a wild and woolly time. Later on I was very mixed [...] and didn't remember much about it. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Nov. 14/1: We only had a quart of rum to start with, but with the aid of spirits-of-wine, tobacco and strong tea, we made it up to about a gallon of very good grog, so that when the buggy arrived things were a bit mixed. 1912 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Oct. 47/2: No, I've had five already, and might catch cold if I had any more [...]. Besides, I might get mixed, and then my reputation would be gone. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 226: He is [...] mixed.

3 (S.Afr. gay) of a male prostitute who operates as either active or passive partner. 2003 K. Cage Gayle 82/2: mixed adj. 1. male prostitute who operates as both active or passive in a sexual encounter, depending on the wishes of his customer [Johannesburg, 1930s].

mixed-ale oration n. Ithe assumption is that the speaker is drunk or may as well be so] a poor political oration, typified by its illiterate use of the language; thus mixed-aler, mixed-ale philosopher, a drunken know-it-all, 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 45: All the tall chap was good for was to take punishment, and he could beat any mixed-aler at that that I ever saw. 1908 J.M. Sullivan Criminal SI. 16: Mixed-ale oration, a cheap political harangue containing bad English grammar. Mixed-ale philosopher, a drunken know it all.

mixer n. [mix

v.)

1 a trouble-maker, a gossip, usu, deliberately

malicious, one who 'stirs things up'. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak.

2 a fighter, a brawler. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 53: A great mixer who could stick one on any three krauts when he was completely bevvied,

mix-metal n. [a silversmith's function] a silversmith. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

mixologist n. ISE mix

+ sfx -ologist] (orig. US) a bartender, esp. as a mixer of cocktails; thus mixology, mixing cocktails.

1856 Knickerbocker (N.Y.) XLVII 615: Who ever heard of a man's [...] calling the barkeeper a mixologist of tipicular fixins? [DA]. 1870 W.F. Rae Westward by Rail xv. 201: The most delicate fancy drinks are compounded by skilful mixologists in a style that captivates the public. 1908 W.G. Davenport Butte and Montana beneath the X-Ray 45: Brandy and cigarettes were furnished by an expert mixologist from the Thornton Hotel [DA]. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 169: Miriam here is the best little mixologist in the Stati Unidos. 1948 New Yorker 6 Nov. 62/3: In 1901, the Police Gazette, then at the apex of its educational influence, attempted to revive and glorify mixologist, but the effort failed miserably [DA]. 1999 B. Emmons Book of Gins and Vodkas 63: The difference between a bartender and a mixologist can be confusing [...] The bartender is more of a people type of guy and a mixologist has acquired the facility for making drinks very fast. 2004 M. Hellmich Sangria 6: The key character of sangria is in its adventuresome flexibility, enabling endless ingredient variations depending on [...] the mixologist's preferences,

mixum n. [the mixing of medidnesl 1 an apothecary. 1635 H. Glapthorne Hollander I i: Sir, I am sent from Mr. Mixum, your

Apothecary.

2 a vintner.

2 (US black) to change a song around or play multiple songs at the

mixed

mizzle

1624

1742 Bilker Bilk'd 3: Mixum, that Rogue of a Vintner,

mix-up n. [now SE] a fist-fight. 1899-1900 C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 107: I wasn't such a slob at the game of taking care of myself in a mix-up. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 31: The peach's husband was a handy lad in a mixup. 1910 H. Hapgood Types from City Streets 322: I've been in many a mix-up that resulted in blood. 1919 E. Dyson 'Mickie Mollynoo' in ‘Hello, Soldier!' 39: A shine John Hop is Mollynoo. A mix-up / with the push Is all his joy. 1920 B. Cronin Timber Wolves 223: Well, that certainly was one hell of a mix-up. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 411: Mix-up. A fight, a fracas. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 154: Unaware of what the fight was about or who was fighting — sailors, stevedores and hums — unable to resist a good scrap, jumped into the mixup. 1942 S. Philips Big Spring 169: He

seemed to have got into a mix-up with his wife. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

■ In compounds mix-up artist (n.) [-artist sfxl (W.l.) a troublemaker. 1995 Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Diet. 35: Mix-up artist a

mischief maker: u. dem people deh a mix-up artist,

mizake the mizan v. [make

v.

(1) -i- man n. (4d)| (US drugs) to

buy narcotics, 1936 D. Maurer 'Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict' Pt 1 in AS XI:2

124/1: MIZAKE the mizan. To score a connection and buy dope from a peddler. Perhaps a corruption of the phrase 'make the man.' 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.

mizz n. see mis n. (2). mizzard n. [mazard n. (2)] the face, the mouth. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 47: It the beds ain't all made, the rooms swept [...] they open their mizzards and slam,

mizzle v. (a/so misle) |? Shelta misli, to go, note naut. jargon mizzle one's dick, to miss one's passage] 1 to leave, to go quickly, to escape; thus excl. mizzle! go away! be off!

mizzled

1781 G. Parker View of Society II 231: He preferred mizzling off to France. a.1790 H.T. Potter New Diet. Cant (1795) n.p.: mizzle to sneak, or run away, c.1800 'Song No. 12' Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: The Doxy gone and left me naked, / Mizzled off with all my clothes. C.1811 'A Leary Mot' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 77: A blue bird's-eye o'er dairies fine - as she mizzled through Temple Bar. 1829 'On the Prigging Lay' trans. of 'Un jour a la Croix Rouge' in ViDOCQ (1829) IV 263: Then he calls - 'Stop thief!' Thinks I, my master; / That's a hint to me to mizzle faster. 1837 R. Nicholson Cockney Adventutes 16 Dec. 53: He left the widow to secure her retreat as best she could, and mizzled into the street. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 59: Right as a jemmy! - mizzle's the word. 1848 'Ned Buntline' Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. V 19:1 think I better mizzle now. 1856 C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend III 214: Then mizzle! That is the road. 1863 T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act 11: I ain't a-going to be inspected — I'll mizzle. 1870 'Dover Volunteer Rev.' Songs for the Army 58: Our General fears you're catching cold, so bids you homeward mizzle. 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 153: 'Islema! Ogda the opperca!' which in slang is 'Misle! Dog the copper!' otherwise — 'Vanish! See the policeman!' 1891 F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 434: We 'ad ought 'er jump the crib, cop the cherpin, and misle in an 'our and a 'arf. [Ibid.] 442: Well hall's well as hends well, and now my deal's a-goin' to misle (*Now I'm off). 1901 Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Dec. 35/2: Where's Tommy? [...] I want a warrant for Dick Danty. He's mizzled with my grey mare, and the — must be well off to Mimosa by now. c.1905 J. Furphy Buln-Buln and the Brolga (1948) [Internet] You chaps kin take that ezzinc for makin' dumps [...] Now, mizzle! 1916 C.J. Dennis 'The Call of Stoush' Moods of Ginger Mick 33: So Ginger Mick 'e's mizzled to the war. 1933 H. Drake-Brockman Dampier's Ghost Act I: I'm afraid I must mizzle off and get packed. 1940 J.G. Brandon Gang War 110: Where was it you say Wayne mizzled into after he'd left Schurtz car? 1958 D. Stivens Scholarly Mouse and other Tales 16: [He] fell over on his back with funk, mizzled out the door, out of the house and kept on going. 1963 R. McGregor-Hastie Compleat Migrant 107: Mizzle, to: to disappear.

2 to die. 1843 T. Hood 'Confessions of a Phoenix' Works (1862) VI 233: What, hopped the twig? - kicked the bucket? - bowled out? - gone to pot? - mizzled?

■ In phrases do a mizzle (v.) to leave, to run off. 1906 Marvel 21 Apr. 352: We 'ad to do a mizzle. 1925 (con. WWI)

Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 156: Mizzle. To Do A\ To disappear. To slink off. on the mizzle leaving, en route. 1892 "Arry in 'Arrygate' Second Letter in Punch 15 Oct. 169/1: Though I said in my last — wot wos true — I was jest on the mizzle for town.

mizzled adj. [? SE mizmaze, a state of confusion] drunk. 1583 P. Stubbes Anatomic of Abuses 47: Then their bodies beeyng

satisfied, and ther heades preely mizzeled with wine, thei walke abroade for a time. 1599 H. Porter Two Angry Women of Abington D3: Bloud, what though that honest Hodge haue cut his finger heere? or as some say, cut a feather? what though he be mump, misled, blind. 1840 Marryat Poor Jack 366: I've been thinking of lowering the quarter boat down, when they are a little more mizzled; they are getting on pretty fast, for Frenchmen haven't the heads for drinking that Englishmen have. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang.

mizzler n.^ [SE mizzle, to complain, to whimper] a whinger, a complainer; thus mizzle v., to complain. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 134; To complain: to mizzle and to whinge

(whence come the nouns mizzler and whinger, and the verbal nouns mizzling and whingeing). 1948 R. Raven-Hart Canoe in Aus. 66: To 'mizzle' was to complain, moan about something,

s 3

izzler n.^ see rum mizzler under rum adj. izzoo n. (also Missou, Mizzou) [abbr.] (US) the Missouri River,

Missouri. 1899 W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 70: He was from K.C., Mizzoo. 1914 W.C. Handy Blues Treasury 88: I'll...wash my hands in the Old Mizzou' in K.C [HDAS]. 1936 in E. Pyle Ernie's America 141: He came...from Missouri. That's why they call him Mizzoo [HDAS]. 1943 in R.R. Rea Wings of Gold 67: The river, 'old Missou,' is very high [HDAS]. a.1953 in B. IvES Song Book 154: The old Mizzoo, she's a

mighty river [HDAS].

m.j. n. (MARY jane n.^1 (orig. US drugs) marijuana. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970). 1977 L. Heinemann Close

Quarters (1987) 17: Smoke is M.J. Mike Juliet. Ya know — grass. 1989 P. Munro si. U. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 14: M.J. — Marijuana.

mjita n. see majita n. m.I.a. n. [abbr. massive /ip action] (US campus) passionate kissing.

mo

1625

1981 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 4: MLA - making out, kissing. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 37: Two kinds of shortening reduce words to letters. The dominant type in college slang is initialism, which names the individual letters: [...] MLA (massive lip action) 'passionate kissing',

m.m.’s n. [abbr.; SE marijuana + MUNCHIE n.^ (3)] (drugs) the hunger that follows smoking marijuana; i.e. marijuana munchies. 1971 Current SI. V.

Mo n.^ [abbr.; the Mogul, near Drury Lane was established in 1850, according to Ware on the site of 'a public garden there...kept by some wonderful Indian'] the Mogul Music Hall, later the Middlesex. 1883 press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era (1909)

116/2: What was the good, thought we, of saving your rhino, if you've got no girl to take for trots down the Lane or into the Mo. 1900 Marvel 21 Dec. 15: I trotted that trotter-storl gel to the Mo fer a 2 penerth up in the gawds. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 116/2: Down the Lane and into the Mo (Central London, Low). Here the Lane is that called Drury: the 'Mo' is abbreviated 'Mogul Music Hall'. 1929 J.B. Booth London Town 126: When he first went to the Middlesex - the old Mo.

Mo n? (also Moe) [abbr. black pron. of Fillmo'] (US black teen) the Fillmore area of San Francisco. 2003 A. Newitz 'Bay Area SI.' on Berkeley University Amer. Studies 102

Course Website [Internet] Moe - Short for the Fillmore.

Mo n.^ see ikey-mo n. m.O. n. [abbr. Lat. modus operand!, the way of working] 1 (UK Und.) the distinguishing working style of a criminal or gang. 1953 Mad mag. Jan.-Feb. 6: I [...] had them run the I.B.M. on Taxiderm's M.O. 1959 A. Zugsmith Beat Generation 62: It isn't the same M.O., Captain. The Aspirin Kid goes after married women. 1969 B. Jackson Thief's Primer 77: They knew he was a safe man. They had his M.O., everything, and whenever he'd bust a safe, they'd know. 1970 G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 64: Very few criminals ever changed their MO's. 1981 J. Ellroy Brown's Requiem 207: The Big Man is everywhere. He knows my M.O.!!!! 1995 M. Dibdin Dark Spectre (1996) 45: Then there's the MO [..,] This guy sounds like a violent slob, a wife-beater. You'd expect him to use a shotgun. 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 19: He had a pretty clever MO when it came to blagging. 2 way of thinking. 1955 E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 197: I dig your MO, West. 1999 K. Sampson Powder 267: He knew their MO. He knew what they thought they were getting out of the deal.

3 as sense 1 above in non-criminal contexts, a regular way of life. 1995 J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 24; This was our MO — proctoopium parties and pan-fried Nazi banter. 4 see mota n.

mo n.^ [abbr.] 1 (Aus./N.Z.) a moustache. 1900 Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Mar. 11/1: [P]assing round the wearer's

face - a heavy silver chain, which after consideration I decided was intended to keep his jawbone in position and possibly to help his 'mo.' to maintain that fiercely-horizontal twist. 1911 E. Dyson 'Susie Gannon's Young Man' in Benno and Some of the Push 106: But what iv the down droopin' yaller mo? 1915 F. Garrett diary 18 Nov. [Internet] He is a Corporal and has a Charlie Chaplin mo. 1924 G.H. Lawson Diet, of Aus. Words And Terms [Internet] MO. — Contraction of [...] moustache. 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 273: That's Sam Snigger, the lanky old coot with the ginger mo. 1946 D. Sttvens Courtship of Uncle Henry 18: 'I'll warm your pants for you, young shaver, if you touch that dang collar,' he'd warn me, the ends of his long black mo shaking. 1959 G. Hamilton Summer Glare 139: A tall thin joker [...] with a la-te-da little mo. 2001 (con. 1945-6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 65: His dark hair was slicked back, his thin mo trimmed. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 136: mo A moustache. ANZ late Cl9.

2 a moment, a second; often as half a mo n)'. 1905 'Doss Chiderdoss' 'An Improved Understanding' in Sporting

Times 14 Jan. 1/4: If you hadn't asked for her. I'll have you to know, / You'd have gone through that window in less than a mo', 1908 J. Gunn We of the Never-Never (1962) 104: In 'half a mo' the seals were broken, and the mail-matter shaken out. 1921 N&Q 12 Ser. IX 424: Arf a Mo'. Wait a bit. 1941 V. Hodgson Diaries (1999) 22 Feb. 129: He got rid of the other customers and then whispered, 'Wait a mo.' I found half a pound of cheese being thrust into my bag with great secrecy and speed! 1950 A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 216: Come outside on the landing a mo'. 1965 G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 230; Will this do for the mo, cock? 1971 N. Armfelt Catching Up 181: Just a mo. 1988 T. Harris Silence of the Lambs (1991) 130: Just a mo', sweetheart. 1999 K, Sampson Powder 111: Wants to see you when you get a mo. 2003 N. Griffiths Stump 24: Startling extremes of the chronic dipso who just happens not to be drinking at the mo. 3 (US) a month.

mo

mob

1626

1918 R. Lardner Treat 'Em Rough 70: I was the only one that passed

up all that jack to work for Uncle Sam at $30.00 per mo. 1952 (con. 1948) G. Mandel Flee the Angry Strangers 93; 'How long a trip?' Carter asked. 'Six moes.' 4 (US campus/UK teen) a homosexual [abbr. homo n.^), et al. CUSS 158: Mo An effeminate male. A homosexual. 1987 G.A. Fine With the Boys 169: Mo, n. Homosexual. 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal. State Poly. Uni., Pomona) [Internet] Mo (noun) 1, A homosexual. 2. Used among friends as a teasing vocative. 2001 OnLine Diet, of Playground SI. (Internet] mo n. a 1967-8

Baker

homosexual.

mo n.^ ■ In phrases like a mo (adv.) see like a mo n.^ see mota n. mo adj. (US black) stupid.

mojo under mo|o n.

2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] mo Definition: a

person that is stupid or something that is ironic Example: This cat Conrad is mo dawg, he try to be like Jordan and he ran into the wall with his dum azz. mo V.'' (also mo-out) [mo adj.] (US teen) to embarrass someone, especially in front of their peers. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

mo v.^ [MO n.’’ (4)1 (US/UK teen) to act towards someone in a manner that is perceived as being homosexual. 1980 L. Birnbach Official Preppie Hbk 222: Stop moing me...Don't touch me. When boys inadvertently touch each other in elementary and secondary school; homophobic. (Also, mo, moing out, heavy mo action).

moab n. [joc. ref. to Ps.60:8, 'Moab is my washpot'] a turban-shaped hat, worn by women, 1864 Reader 22 Oct. n.p.: Moab, a... hat [F&H], 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten si. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1884 Graphic 20 Sept. 307/2: The third, with his [...] stiff brown moab of the newest fashion [F&H].

Moabite n. [SE Moabite, an enemy of the biblical Israelites and occas. used in 16C-17C as a pej. nickname for Roman Catholics) a bailiff. C.1698 B.E. Diet. Canting Crew n.p.: Moabites, Serjeants, Bailiffs and their Crew. 1699 N. Ward London Spy IX 224: Accordingly my Fellow Servant went back to the Moabite, and told him that the gentleman was within. 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey UniversalEtym. Eng. Diet, [as cit. c.1698]. c.1750-1882 B.M. Carew Life and Adventures. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1809 G. Andrewes Diet. SI. and Cant. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 'JoN Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 1834 (con. 1737-9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 85: You must now free yourself [...] from these Moabites. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890) 22/2: Moabites, constables,

moa-fugg n. see mofuck n. moak n. see moke n.'' (2). moan n. ISE to moan) (orig. milit.) a grievance, a complaint, 1911 'Guns' & 'Theeluker' Middle Watch Musings 12: 'Guard and Steerage 'ammicks. Sir!' I wake up with a groan; Why can't I sleep till 7 a.m.? Once more I had a moan. 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Moans and Groans, poor luck in gambling or in love; misery. 1956 'Charles Raven' Und. Nights 181: To hear the moan they put up, you'd have thought they were being made to sew mailbags at cut price rates.

■ In phrases put on the moan (v.) (US) to complain. 1938 D. Runyon 'Madame La Gimp' in Runyon on Broadway (1954)

239: She comes shuffling along putting on the moan about her tough luck.

moan and wail n. [rhy. si.) a gaol. 1935 A.J, Pollock Und. Speaks. 1942 D. Runyon in Star (Marion, OH)

31 July 6/8: An American switch on 'sorrowful tale' is 'moan and wail' meaning jail. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

moaner’s bench n. [black English pron. of SE mourner's bench] (US black) a special pew reserved during a black church revival for those who wish to be 'saved'. Under the direct eye of the preacher and other church dignitaries, they moan and groan, confess their sins and hope to be 'visited by the Spirit'; thus moaner, one who makes a public repentance. 1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris 24: Sinner riz fum de moaner's bench [DARE]. 1954 Harder Collection [DARE]. 1988 C.E. Lincoln The Avenue, Clayton City (1996) 14: When it was all over, those who had tarried faithfully on the moaner's bench until they finally got religion were marched down to the river and baptized,

moat n.^ (US Und.) a river; thus moat palace, a steamboat. 1848 Ladies' Repository (N.Y.) Oct. VIII:37 316/2: Moat, a river. Moat Palace,

a steamboat.

moat n.^ ■ In phrases black moat (n.) see black mote under mota n.

mob n.^ [var. on MAB n?] a prostitute. 1641-74 'North Countrey-Taylor' in Rawlinson coll, ballads n.p.:

One of the City Mobs, c.1655 'The Merry Man's Resolution' in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) II 486: Farewel unto Shore-ditch, and More-fields eke also, / Where Mobs to pick up Cullies, a night¬ walking do go. 1660 'Aretine' Strange and True Newes 3: Nightwalkers, Mobbs and wandring whores, such as Mrs. Diamond whose nose lies flat, c.1670 'Two Penny Whore' in Euing Broadside Ballads No, 191: A Lusty young Shaver [...] chanced with one of his Mobs for to meet. All in her silks [...] adorned. With Complement he there his Mopsie did greet. 1679 'Poets Dream' in Pepys Ballads (1987) IV 302: Your Moore field Mobbs, and Whetston-Whores. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue.

mob n? (also mobb, mobocracy) [abbr. mobile vulgus, the fickle crowd, mob was a term cited by Swift in 1712 as one of those that should be purged from the language. Surprisingly Johnson, whose Diet. (1755) eschewed (inter alia) dumfound, ignoramus and touchy allowed it] 1 the rabble, the city proletariat [SE f. 1800). 1688 in M.M. Verney Memoirs (1989) IV 447: John describes the sacking of the Spanish Ambassador's house and how 'The Mobb' (an abbreviation of Mobile vulgus now first coming into use) carried away the very boards and rafters. 1697 M. Fix Innocent Mistress IV ii: Who was that imposter that told me my friend Mr Beaumont was taken up for a Jacobite, and the mob was pulling him to pieces? 1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-Craft II (1716) 111: God bless every Good man (and Great Man too) from the Violence of the Mob, when sometimes (like Dogs) they run mad. 1714 A, Smith Lives of Most Noted Highway¬ men, etc. I 106: Hoping you'll be so civil as not to raise any hubbub of the Mob about me. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 14: He [...] then ventur'd to walk and ask Questions amongst the Mobb. 1732 Proceedings at Sessions (City of London) July 157/2; By-and-by Moll Harvey, with a Mob of I believe an Hundred Pick-pockets came and made a Riot about my House. 1747 H. Simms Life of Henry Simms/Alias Young Gentleman Harry 34; I came off the Forest for London, perceiving a Hurly Burly, and a great Mob at Thetford Turnpike, I rode up to see what was the Matter. 1756 J. Cox Narrative of Thieftakers, alias Thief-makers 56: So great was the Mob, that the PeaceOfficers found it impossible to protect the Prisoners. 1778 Mme D'Arblay Diary (1891) I 33: The English mob is most insufferable! 1785 'Peter Pindar' 'The Lousiad' Works (1794) I 287: The Mob. with brandy, ale and gin. Got roaring drunk, c.1790 'Luke Caffrey's Cost' Luke Caffrey's Cost 2: You know in Ram-alley, dey pin'd him, / Do dey had de mob at dir back. 1812 W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Picturesque (1868) 102/1; Should City Praters leave their tools, / To talk by Ciceronian rules; / And at our meetings in Guildhall / Puzzle the mob with Classic brawl! 1818 'A. Burton' Adventures of Johnny Newcome III 146: Visitors from morn to night Flocked off to ask about the fight; And Girls and Jews came off to try For Sailors' Love, and Agency. Our Hero often had the job To keep the ship clear of the mob. 1837 Disraeli Venetia III 179; A brutish mob in a fit of morality about to immolate a gentleman. 1841 'Donnybrook Jig' Dublin Comic Songster 261; For the fair very soon, / Was as full as the moon, / Such mobs upon mobs as was there. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 273: That vulgar sport round the green-table, at which the mob, with whom we have little to do, was elbowing each other. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 69/2; It's very seldom that the police say anything to us, so long as we don't stop too long in the gangway not to create any mob. 1866 Wild Boys of London I 204/2: 'That man'll be a stiff'un with cold, policeman,' chorussed a second member of the mobocracy. 1874 J.R. Green Short Hist, of Eng. People 729; When mobs were roaring themselves hoarse for 'Wilkes and liberty,' he denounced Wilkes as a worthless profligate. 1890 Sporting Times 18 Jan. 1: Thereby espousing the cause of the most contemptible mob of scoundrels that ever pirated the high seas, adulterated decent wine, encouraged slavery in Africa, and generally raised social and political Cain. 1898 W. Besant Orange Girl II 98: The soldiers drew up before the door: the mob began throwing stones.

2 a company or group of associates; occas. of non-human groups. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869) 259: I know there's a precious mob

going from our yard. 1837 R. Nicholson Cockney Adventures 9 Dec. 48: He became attached to the London swell mob, and finally was transported for picking pockets. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 191/1: There's the Somer's-town 'mob' now in London; the King-street, the four St. Giles's mobs. 1874 W.M.B. Narrative of Edward Crewe 223: A contractor in a large way, having a mob of men in his employ. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Mar. 12/3: Rosebery is married into the Rothschild mob. 1890 'Rolf

mob

mob

1627

Colonial Reformer I 134: The overseer, pointing to a flock of two thousand more or less, said, 'There's your mob'. 18991901 H. Lawson "'Water Them Geraniums'" in Roderick (1972) 571: James hadn't found himself called upon to do more than milk old 'Spot' (the grandmother cow of our mob). 1908 K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. vii: I shook the rest of the mob and descended to Boldrewood'

the floor. 1916 H. Ash diary 29 Mar. [Internet] Start again at 4 p.m. after being terribly hot, but managed to keep with the mob all the afternoon. 1916 J. Lait 'Omaha Slim' in Beef Iron and Wine (1917) 108: One of them, a foreman or colonel or something above the mob, was standing. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 106: Bingo was too busy introducing the mob to take much notice. 1934 (con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (.1936) 257: If they travelled and didn't have a big enough mob along, they'd get the clouts. 1947 J. Maclaren-Ross Of Love And Hunger 35: 'What's it like?' 'Better'n your mob. No ruddy canvassing. Girls do it all for you.' 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 122: Me and the mob are going to help him celebrate the big event. 1960 A. Seymour One Day of the Year I i: I'm sick of everybody in our mob, everybody. 1977 K. Gilbert Living Black 39: The Newcastle Trades Hall mob, they backed me and that helped. 1981 W. Russell Educating Rita II vii: Tiger's asked me to go down to France with his mob. 1999 Guardian G2 12 Nov. 2: You can be sure there will be an England mob 'up for it'.

3 (ong. US) a criminal gang. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 164/1: Mobs -

companions. Working with mobs. Robbing with companions. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 5/1: Doncaster races were 'coming off,' so our 'mob' made up their mind to 'nam' down there on the 'dip'. 1879 Macmillan's Mag. (London) 'Autobiog. of a Thief XL 502: Being with this nice mob [of criminals] you may be sure what I learned. 1888 'Rolf Boldrewood' Robbery Under Arms (1922) 156: Sergeant Goring [...] would be after Starlight's mob to-morrow morning. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 46: An' 'ere's the on'y real toff in the mob with 'ardly 'arf a pipeful left, an' no lights. 1903 A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 127: He and his mob rattled a friend of mine [...] against the iron shutters of a jewellers at the corner of West Street. 1911 G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 210: If it wasn't for me, [you'd] be 'stalling' on the 'shorts' for a lousy gun mob. 1920 F. Williams Hop-Heads 81: Later I learned the mob cleaned up $750 in 20 minutes - while the dicks were watching me. 1938 G. Kersh Night and the City 7: You don't want no trouble with that mob. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 66: The mob figured that Frank and I were cooking up something. 1957 P. Beveridge Inside the C.I.D. 75: There was William Hill, now the self-styled 'Boss of the Underworld,' Harry Bryan and Georgie Ball, all of whom were part of what was known as the Kentish Town Mob. 1958 C. Himes Real Cool Killers (1969) 49: If I had me a real mob like Dutch Schultz's I could take over Harlem. 1962 Ragen & Finston World's Toughest Prison 809: mob - A criminal band or gang. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 83: One mob who used to exchange confidences in the cinema. 1985 S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 92: You know that gruesome mob / they're hard men Mike.

4 a gang of ruffians or thugs. 1849 J.P. Townsend Rambles in New South Wales 231: These men were

known [...] as the 'flash mob.' They spoke the secret language of thieves. 1882 Sydney SI. Diet. 9/2: Shake this mob. Bill, and speel to the den, and let our lushy shicksters bring the ruin in. Get away from these fellows. Bill, and come away home, and let our tippling women bring in the gin. 1924 C.J. Dennis 'Termarter Sorce' in Rose of Spadgers 36: She feared, if I got with the old, crook mob / In Spadgers Lane / That I might miss the step. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 11: Your mob's too milky as it is. 1947 I. Shulman Amboy Dukes 49: He bragged about what a tough mob the Dukes were. 1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 44: What about the mob, the click? Have they been re-owsed as well? 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 86: I heard that there were a lot of mobs at this school. 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 16: They could have been from the mob the cops broke up. 1986 R. Hewitt White Talk Black Talk 22: We're having a bit of trouble with this geezer's mob. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 96: Two silly wee cows who know that Setterington's and Gorman's mob were there.

5 (US) constr. with the, the US Mafia. 1939 P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 109: Tony Scalla is one of

Istria's boys. He works for the mob. 1956 I. Fleming Diamonds Are Forever (1958) 106: Don't think you can ask for a lawyer or the British Consul if you get in bad with the Mob. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 29: I'd be inclined to think he was somewhere with the Mob. 1985 N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 5: Henry Hill was introduced to life in the mob almost by accident. 1992 N. Stephenson Snow Crash (1993) 72: Jason is bullish on the Mob. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 133: Bruce Willis [...] is sitting in the cross¬

town cab with the night flashing in his eyes, on the lam from the mob.

6

by ext., e.g. in UK, any form of organized crime. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 34: Telling us he's on our side if we don't

fancy underwriting Christy's little spat with The Mob. 2000 T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 23: Mad Ivan Karamazov, ex KGB and Spetznaz, now an enforcer for the Moscow mob. 7 see MOBSTER n.

■ In compounds mob-handed (ac/v.) (-handed ad/.l accompanied by a large gang. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack 72: They work mob-handed. As soon as one is finished another will have a go. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 65: They want to graft mob-handed. 1957 G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 19: The Fowlers End Superman Association comes mob¬ handed to bust in. 1962 B. McGhee Cut and Run (1963) 34: 'Who's giein' ye the chase?' Pat asked. 'The Hatchet,' I answered laconically. 'An they seem tae be 'mob-handed'.' 1974 'P.B. Yuill' Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 116: Don't go steamin' in on ouer tod [...] Them O'Rourkes niver goes in but mob-handed. 1998 I. Welsh Filth 168: It had better be [good]. Or else I'll be back mob-handed. Right?

mob adj. [mob n.^ (3)1 (US) related to a criminal gang, esp. the US Mafia, or its culture and lifestyle. 1837 implied in Mob Town below. 1931 implied in mob cuy below. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 156: mob head A gang leader [...] MOB MOLL A female gangster. 1989 C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 22: They think it's a mob hit? 1991 B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 9: Denny better watch his shit cuz these mob pricks were no one to try and slip a change-up by. 1998 C. Fleming High Concept 128: A New Yorker with a shady past and a family history of mob ties. 2000 Guardian Editor 7 Jan. 12: To get the most out of Donnie Brasco, it helps to see it as a primer in Mob lingo.

■ In compounds mob guy (n.) (a/so mob boy, mob gee, mob ghee) (US Und.) 1 a member of a criminal gang. 1931 G. Milburn 'Convicts' Jargon' in 45 VI:6 440: mob gee, n. A member of a mob. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 156: mob gee a gangster. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/1: Mob-ghee. One who works with a gang in preference to operating alone; a member of a criminal gang. 1975 E. Torres Carlito's Way 137: You're not a mob guy; you don't owe them a thing. 1977 E. Torres QeM 20: He's a regular mob guy, a boss. 2 a member of the US Mafia; thus. ext. to counterparts in other countries. 1970 La Motta, Carter & Savage Raging Bull 26: I figured I'd show the mob boys they weren't dealing with a couple of fairies in me and Pete. 1978 P. Hamill Dirty Laundry 152: The bank was essentially a laundry, used by mob guys and C.I.A. types. 1987 C. Hiaasen Double Whammy (1990) 62: Dennis flew down two mob guys from Queens. Offered them eighty grand to bump off Dickie. 1987 (con. 1970s) J. PiSTONE Donnie Brasco (2006) 353: They could say they recognize us as mob guys. 1993 M.B. 'Chopper' Read How to Shoot Friends 34: He thought he was a real mob guy, just like in the movies. Mob Town (n.) (also Mob City) (US) Baltimore, Maryland. 1837 A. Greene Glance at N.Y. 97: Baltimore has been emphatically called the Mob-City. 1889 Farmer Americanisms 47: Mobtown. — The city of Baltimore, This place has always been, and still is, notorious for the gangs of roughs and rowdies which infest its streets [DA]. 1946 Sat. Eve. Post 11 May 15/2: Baltimore [...] in an earlier time when it was only moderately industralized [...] was known, with good reason, as 'Mob-town' [DA],

mob v.^ (also mob it) (mob n.^j 1 to move around with or act in a crowd, 1699 N. Ward London Spy VII 175: The unfortunate Madams [...] were forc'd to Mob it on Foot with the rest of their Sisters. 1711 N. Ward Vulgus Britannicus IV 45: That they might learn when Young and Bold, / To Mob with better Grace when Old. 1919 Marvel 3 Mar. 6: We've mobbed together to protect a little rat like Beilby. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 306: The Santry boy was declared victor to the frenzied cheers of the public who broke through the ringropes and fairly mobbed him with delight. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 68: Look at those idiots [...] mobbing about and having a gay old time. 1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg 'Gin and Juice' [lyrics] As I mob with the Dogg Pound, feel the breeze.

2 to attack in a large group; thus mobbing n. 1722 'Whipping-Tom' Immodest Wearing of Hoop-Petticoats I 32: Pride, which is rivetted as close to them as the Itch to the Blue-coat Boys of Christ's Hospital, or mobbing to the Blue-wastcoat Prentices of Bridewell. 1741 H. Walpole 12 Nov. Letters I (1891) 89: The city-shops are full of favours, the streets of marrowbones and cleavers, and the night will be full of mobbing, bonfires and lights. 1753 Foote Englishman in Paris in Works (1799) I 37: Mobb'd! I should be glad to

mob

see that — No! they han't spirit enough to mob here. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxford (1880) 29: You'll never be able to wear them [i.e. very gaudy trousers]; even in Oxford the boys would mob you. 1873 SI. Diet. 226: Mob to hustle, crowd round, and annoy, necessarily the action of a large party against a smaller one, or an individual. Mobbing is generally a concomitant of street robbery. 1894 A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 49: The situation being explained (an expression devised to include mobbings and kickings and flingings into docks). 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 79: 'Mob 'em!' cried one indignant citizen. 1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 41: 'We'll give him hell' 'By God, we'll mob him.' 1926 Boys' Realm 16 Jan. 267: Mob 'im, boys! 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 240: Engaged in mobbing policemen or tongue lashing 'scabs'. 1959 A. SiLLiTOE 'Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner' Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1960) 35; Tarts who'd mob me when they saw who I was. 1962 K. Williams Diaries 21 Feb. 186: Mobbed by people and autograph hunters until it became embarrassing. 1984 C. White Life and Times of Little Richard 73: In the intermission, you went to the bar to get a drink, people'd mob you. 1998 M. Ferguson 'Unstoppable SI.' in Columbia Missourian 19 Oct. lA; 8A: mobbing yelling, beating up on someone.

3 (US black) to associate.

Keep steppin.

■ In phrases mobbed up (adj.) (US Und.) 1 connected with, usu. in a criminal context, but other than organized crime. 1929 D. Hammett 'Fly Paper' Story Omnibus (1966) 38: Who's he mobbed up with? 1931 D. Runyon 'Gentlemen, the King!' in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 171: He is mobbed up with some very good people in Philly in his day. 2000 J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 190: They reckon this geezer's mobbed up with you-know-who from outta town.

2 connected with or run by organized crime. 1975 E. Torres Carlito’s Way 18: He was mobbed up with the Pleasant

Avenue outfit. 2003 N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 120: My mother's father was the guy that was really mobbed up [...] Domenic Scalia. mob out (v.) (US Und.) to murder on the instructions of a criminal gang. 1930 R. Whiteield Green Ice (1988) 55: Cherulli had it coming and was mobbed out. 1931 R. Whitfield 'About Kid Deth' in Penzier Pulp Fiction (2007) 288: What did you mob out Lou Rands for?

mob up (v.) (US Und.) 1 to join a gang. 1924 D. Hammett 'The Golden Horseshoe' in Continental Op (1975) 49: He couldn't tell me where Ashcraft had lived [...] or who he had mobbed up with. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/1: Mob up. To associate oneself with a criminal gang in preference to operating independently; to ally oneself with a criminal gang, syndicate, or faction. 1970 G.V. Higgins Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) 53: I got a line that the brothers're mobbing up.

2 to collect in a gang. 1998 K. Sampson Awaydays 43: Most of The pack start to mob up Sampson

Powder 28: [They] had all

mobbed up in front of the stage.

3 to ally oneself with. 1926 D. Hammett 'Assistant Murderer' in Nightmare Town (2001) 143:

If there's any gravy you'll get yours, but don't count on me mobbing up with you. 1930 G. Milburn 'The Boomer's Blues' in Hobo's Hornbook 242: Mob up and flop down around me, / Punch wind with an old-time 'bo.

mob v.^ [f. mobilize, to drive a car] (US black) to go, to travel. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] mob v 1. to go. ('Let's mob to the

party over on fifth street'),

mobb n. see mob n.^. mobber n. see mobster n. mobe n. (abbr.l 1 automobile. 1901 L.A. Times 1 Jan. n.p.: What happened to McLeod will not encourage the inhuman practice of checking mobes. 1902 E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 55: It was a dinky little mobe, wit only two handles to its name — one to start and stop, one

to steer,

2

2000 L. Rajakarunanayake Bakehouse Sun. Observer [Internet] The

leader of the UNP who failed to attract sufficient votes from the youth in the last Presidential Election with his offer of gold bracelets, gold chains, and all the chewing gum they need, has not made it clear whether he has abandoned the denim, gold bracelet, gold chain and chewing gum approach, and has replaced it with the motor cycle, or whether the mo-bike will be in addition to the earlier promises.

mobile n, (US drugs) a large rock of cocaine. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

-mobile sfx (US campus) a vehicle, usu. a car, with a pfx. 1971 F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 98: 'The pissmobile boys

[sewage truckdrivers] has knocked off but all my fellas is here, Turdy Tom informed them. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6; -mobile vehicle. Drunkmobile, scuzmobile, etc. Drunkmobile is a car full of people who have been drinking. 1991 C. Hiaasen Native Tongue 164: It was exactly the sort of campy junkmobile that some dumb Yuppie would love. 1995 D. Lodge Therapy (1996) 36: Jane refers to it as the 'Richmobile'. 2000 W.T. Vollmann Royal Family 644: The gangstermobile pulled up an' fired one gunshot into our car. 2004 E. Weiner Drop Dead, My Lovely (2005) 234: Wendy Litman pulled her purring ritzmobile into the driveway.

1999 Dr Dre 'The Next Episode' [lyrics] You know I'm mobbin with the D.R.E. 2002 'TOURE' Portable Promised Land (ms.) 158: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Never slippin. Set trippin. Steady mobbin.

behind the kiosk. 1999 K.

mobster

1628

a mobile phone; also attrib. 1999 Guardian Rev. 14 Aug. 12: I urge readers not to follow the

example of the man who clubbed a mobe user to death in Hamburg last week. 2000 Guardian 14 Jan. 32: Then [...] the bleedin' mobe starts up,

mobey/mobi n. see moby n. mo-bike n. [abbr.l a motorbike.

mobile dandruff n. see callopinc dandruff under galloping adj. mobility n. [backform. from MOB n.^ on model of NOB n.^ (1) and SE nobility; Swift allowed mobility, while Johnson condemned it as 'cant ] the populace, the masses. 1755 JOHNSON Diet. Eng. Lang. (1785) n.p,: mobility [In cant language] The populace. 1771 Foote Maid of Bath in Works (1799) II 219: A little play-actor, who gets applauded or hiss'd just e'en as the mobility wills. 1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Mobility. The mob: a sort of opposite to nobility, c.1800 'A Scene in the Election' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 69: The scum of mobility [...] must be attended to. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1788]. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet

mobilize v. (also mobilise, mopolize) [SE mob but note mopel, to abort] (US, esp. N.Y.) of street gangs, to beat up, to vanquish. 1929 S. Ornitz Haunch Paunch and Jowl 39; The Irish lads shouted,

'Kill the Christ killers,' and the Jewish boys cried, ‘Mopolize the Micks.' (A strange word, probably coming from the root mopel, to abort. In any event it implied the direst punishment). 1934 H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 269: Maybe you ain' gonna ged mobilized. 1935 S. Kingsley Dead End Act I: Aw, I'll mobilize yuh! 1939 B. Appel PowerHouse 24: Cut the cryin' or I'll mobilize you. 1996 (con. 1950s) C. Kenneally Maura's Boy 24: I'm soaked. They're me new anklets; me Mam will mobilise me.

mob it V. see mob v.\ mobocracy n. see mob n.^. moboton n. (? SE mob -i- marathon] (W.l.) a great many, a large amount. 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 77: Mob-o-'ton. [...] He is a mob-o-'ton of a batsman, or. She got a mob-o-’ton of backside.

mobsman n. [a member of the elite ranks of pickpockets, the SWELL MOB n.l 1 (UK Und.) anyone who uses manual dexterity for theft, a category that includes both pickpockets and shoplifters. 1856 H. Mayhew Great World of London I 46: 'Mobsmen' or those who plunder by manual dexterity, like 'buzzers' who pick gentlemens' pockets. 1859 Hotten Diet of Modern SI. etc. 63: mobsmen, dressy swindlers. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor IV 25: 'Mobsmen,' or those who plunder by manual dexterity — as the 'light-fingered gentry.' 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet [as cit. 1859], 1873 SI. Diet. 1889 Clarkson & Richardson Police! 260: Nearly 200 were first-class thieves or 'swell-mobsmen'. [Ibid.] 321: Companions in crime ... Mobsmen. 1896 A, Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 96: Few Mobsmen were at the Bag of Nails that day. 1900 Marvel XIII: 322 Jan. 4: I've turned out a few good mobsmen in my time, but my present pupil [...] more than tops 'em all. 1924 S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 15: Professional crooks ranging from the lobby thief, to the expert mobsman. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn).

2 (US Und.) a gangster. C.1930 (ref. to late 19C) N. Kimball Amer. Madam (1981) 133: A lot just stayed on till they got a dose, were beaten up or killed, or went wrong with some mobsman and ended up in jail. 1931 M. Harris 'Facing the Mob' in Gangland Stories Feb. [Internet] Jimmy was a mobsman and I'm his moll. 1935 Centralia (WA) Chronicle Advertiser 15 Nov. 4/3: Every chief mobsman has his clown,

mobster n. (also mob, mobber) [mob n.^ (3)-i- -ster sfx] 1 (orig. US) a gangster.

moby

mockers

1629

1917 Lincoln (NE) Eve. News 11 July 4: Many mobsters have left the

city, it is asserted, and leaders of the mob are going to be hard to find [OED], 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 151: Cyclone Tim's order crackled like a rookery fire through the district: in groups and singly his mobsters crawled from their dark holes. 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 24: Some of the best mobs around the Loop were playing billiards and pool. 1947 I. Shulman Amboy Dukes 4: Speaking reverently to real mobsters who might pass by. 1954 J. Thompson Swell-Looking Babe 18; He had been the brains [...] of a group of black-market mobsters. 1961 J.A. Williams Night Song (1962) 40: The mobbers caught his father shortchanging on hooch. 1969 M. Puzo Godfather 366: He's not a crazy machine-gunning mobster. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 31: The mobster [...] has to have a substantial clientele to live. 1988 R. McGough An Imaginary Menagerie 59: Ever see a lobster dine with a mobster? / The Crayfish Twins did. 1999 Indep. Rev. 10 June 3: Police are constantly asking mobsters [...] to 'rat on' their friends. 2002 50 Cent 'Wanksta' [lyrics] Me I'm no mobsta / Me I'm no gangsta / Me I'm no hitman, me I'm just me, me. 2 a member of the US Mafia. 1985 N. PiLEGGi Wiseguy (2001) 185: A top mobster, who was a member of the Joe Colombo crime family. 1999 Guardian G2 12 July 17: A mobster who takes Prozac and visits a shrink? 2000 Guardian Editor 7 Jan. 13: The mobsters have been yielding their turf to the Latinos.

moby n. {also mobey, mobi) [abbr.l a mobile telephone. 1997 C. Newland Scholar 121: You got me moby number, so gimme a bell dis week, yeah? 1999 Guardian 12 Nov. 35: I have to turn off the mobey after seven calls from Vic. 2000 N. Barlay Crumple Zone 40: Bennie's mobile which is somewhere as mobis generally are. 2000 Guardian Media 6 Mar. 7: They have bigger front pockets (almost big enough to hold a moby, in fact). 2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black 334: If you leave your moby, I could call a cab.

moby ad/, (the fictional whale Moby-Dick, created by US novelist Herman Melville (1819-91)1 (US campus) enormous. 1970 Current SI. V:3 10: Moby, adj. Obese,

moby (dick) n. [rhy. si.; ult. the US novel Moby-Dick (1850) by Herman Melville] 1 prison I= NICK n.^ (2a)|. 2001 M. Coles Bible in Cockney 28: He had Joseph chucked in the

Moby.

2 the penis [= prick n. (1)]. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 188: The old man can mean the Moby Dick itself.

moby (dick) adj. irhy. si.] ill, sick. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit. 2003 B. Dark Dirty Cockney Rhy. SI. 81:1 knew I shouldn't have eaten those cockles; I feel Moby Dick now. 2005 P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 4: I'm feeling a bit Moby and I think I'm going to vom. [Ibid.] 21: I'm starting to feel moby Dick all of a sudden,

moccasined adj. (abbr. phr. bitten by the moccasin (snake)] (US) drunk. 1872 SCHELE De Vere Americanisms 35: In the South, a man made drunk by bad liquor is said to have been 'bitten by the snake,' or simply to be 'mocassined'. 1877 Bartlett Diet. Americanisms (4th edn) 398: Moccasoned [sic] Intoxicated. South Carolina,

moccasins n. (US) any kind of footwear; also used fig. as {walk a mile) in my moccasins, to experience my life. 1894 F.P. Dunne in Schaaf Mr Dooley's Chicago (1977) 182: He's th' la-ad that have made th' Prince iv Wales thrimble in his moccasins. 1903 A. Adams Log of a Cowboy 379: My little pattering feet...will require fifteen-dollar moccasins. 1913 L. lAcm: Modern Hobo 38; I put on my moccasins. 1924 W. James Drifting Cowboy (1931) 17: I'll be dag-gone if I didn't catch myself wishing 1 was in his warm moccasins. 1981 (con. \ 9Q0s) A.B. Eacey Fortunate Life 43: He noticed my bag boots and asked me why I was wearing moccasins [...] he told me that 'moccasins' was the name of the type of boots. 2002 Senator Sanders 'Senate Sketches #796' 27 Aug. on Aladems.org Alabama Democratic Party [Internet] There is a saying attributed to Native Americans similar to these words, 'Don't criticize how I walk until you have walked a mile in my moccasins.' I wish you could walk just a quarter mile in the moccasins of those who really struggle to effect economic development in the poor, rural and left out Alabama Black Belt,

moch n. see mock n.^. mocha n. see mocker n.\ mocha adj. (SE mocha, a variety of coffee] (US) of people, black, African-American. 1943 1. Wolfert Tucker's People (1944) 208: 'You're a known street¬ walker.' 'A real, regular mocha tart,' said Egan. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 46: Color Allusions, Other than 'Black' and 'Negro': mocha [often fern. Probably from mocha, the color and the blend of coffee and chocolate. Used as an adjective since the 1850s[,

mocha and java v. [the brandnames of coffee, thus the image of chatting over a cup of coffee] to get on, to be friendly. 1900 Ade More Fables in SI. (1960) 113: They did not Mocha and Java worth a Cent.

mocher n. 1 see macher n. 2 see MOOCHER n. (1).

mochie n. {S.Afr. prison) a woman. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 167: Me, Gino, Fuzzy, two coloured

mochies and a white gintu were playing a prison game called dominoes.

mochy n. see mouchey n. mock n.^ |? mac n.^ (1)] (Aus.) a halfpenny. 1941 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 1955 N. Pulliam 1 Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 236/1: mock - a halfpenny,

mock n.^ (a/so moch) [abbr. mockie n.] (US) 1 a newly arrived Jewish immigrant, 1931 (con. 1914) C.W. Willemse Behind The Green Lights 298; Morris Kaplan alias the Mock, a 'mock' in the slang of the East Side meaning a newly arrived immigrant. 2 a Jew, 1927 H. Miller Moloch 133: We've got a big mock for a landlord and he wants to throw us out. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 22: I tell all these Mochs — Jewish people, you know.

mock n.^ ■ In phrases put a/the mock on (v.) see put the mockers on under mockers n. mocker n.^ {also mocha, mokker) [? link to Yid. macha, a big man, a 'big shot'] {Aus./N.Z.) clothing, esp. a woman's dress, occas. a suit or suit pattern. 1914 Jackson & Hellyer Vocab. Criminal SI. 59: mocha [...] Cloth; a suit pattern. Example: 'I know a derrick who'll peddle a mocha for a finif.' 1947 P. Newton Wayleggo (1953) 149: Climbing out of bed and donning clammy, greasy shearing mocker. [Ibid.] 154: Mocker: Clothes. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 51: Gets into his old mocker and gets stuck in. 1967 B. Crump Odd Spot of Bother 116: Why don't you nick down to one of those places on Glass Street and get them to fit you out with some flash mocker? 1968 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) li 7/2: Look your best at this interview [.,.] however, carry a small bag with some shabby mocker in it. 1972 B. Crump 'Fred' in Best of Barry Crump (1974) 295: The composty smell of Scratcher's malodorous mocker. 1976 D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 57: 'Now who's got a good mocha on?' he says, looking round at us. Sure enough, Danny's gone mad for the occasion and has his grey suit on [...] 'Danny, you'll do'. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 36; Mocker Clothing. 1984 Aus. Short Stories viii. 54: Just wear ordinary mokker [AND]. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 73/1: mocker - clothing [...] Possibly Romany word 'mockodo' or 'mockeedo', filthy, used ironically to mean opposite. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988],

mocker n ^ ■ In phrases put the mocker on (v.) see put the mockers on under mockers n. mockered adj. (Rom. mockodo, mookeedo, dirty, filthy) of a face, pitted, full of holes (the result of smallpox). 1873 SI. Diet. 227: Mockered holey, marked unpleasantly. A ragged hankerchief and a blotched or pitted face are both said to be MOCKERED.

mockered up phr. {also all mockered up, all mokkered up) [MOCKER n.^1 (Aus.) dressed up in one's best, poss. flashy garments. 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Nov. 39/2: It's like this: I'm goin' to dinner at Guv'ment 'Ouse, an' them sort o' people thinks a lot of a bloke's clobber, y' know; so I'll 'ave to go mockered up classy-like. 1937-84 Partridge DSUE. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (2nd edn). 1957 D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 174: Don't think of the Apostles as silvertails, all mokkered up in the best, and a cheque-book for every pocket. 1977 D. Stuart Drought Foal 180: Or an Admiral, any of them coves, all mockered up, real bloody desert lairs? 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 73/1: mockered up dressed up, specifically from 1935 woman's dress. 2002 Joyzine 'Strine Decoded' [Internet] all laired/mockered up - dressed in one's best clothes. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

■ In phrases mockered up like a pox-doctor’s clerk {adj.) see done up like a pox doctor's clerk under pox-doctor's clerk n.

mockers n. ■ In phrases put the mockers on (v.) {also put a/the mock on, put the mocker on, put the mocks on, put the moz on) [? Yid. makkes, ult. Heb. makot, plagues, blows, (evil) visitations. The phr. was poss. orig. used in Aus., but given the ety., there may be a link to 19C London market traders) to jinx, to put a curse on, to frustrate someone's plans.

mockie

1911 E. Dyson 'Dukie M'Kenzie's Dawnce' in Benno and Some of the

Push 33: It's up t' me t' put a mock on that tripester et the 'ay-an'corn.' 1938 X. Herbert Capricomia (1939) 434: Cornin' here to put the mocks on us. 1943 Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. (3rd edn) 51: Mocks on, put the, to upset someone's plans, to spoil a person's calculations. Also, 'put the mock on'. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 134: put the mocks (or moz) on, to To upset a person's calculations, to spoil a person's game. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 104: Well, wasn't I right when I told you I was putting the mocker on us? 1959 W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: You think that he'd have second thoughts before he put the mockers on the lot of us? 1968 S. Gore Holy Smoke 56: It's no good whipping the cat if a man's such a dill as to come the double on anyone - like tryin' to scale the trammie for your fare and then gets the mockers put on him. You know, like being jinxed? 1979 F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 126: I didn't like the way she said 'friend' - it put the mockers on my proposal. 1984 A. Sayle Train to Hell 147: At first she thought the strike would put the mockers on the filming. 1994 J. O'Connor Secret World of the Irish Male (1995) 214: Unfortunately, Campos then saves a John Sheridan shot, which puts the mockers on us again. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 14 May 2: The mayor of Cannes [...] was all set to put the mockers on a fashion show staffed by models from Victoria's Secret lingerie catalogue. 2002 J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 105: Noreen my missis she put the mockers on that [i.e. crime].

mockie n. (also mockey, mocky, moxie) [proper name Moses, but cf. SMOUS n. and MOUCHEY n.DARE suggests Yid. makeh, a boil or sorel (US) a derog. term for a jew. 1893 F. Remington letter May in Splete Sel. Letters (1988) 171: Very interesting and dead right - make all the Moxies crazy and red in the face. 1931 D. Runyon in Collier's 10 Jan. 10/3: I consider this [...] disrespectful, like calling Jewish people mockies, or Heebs, or geese. 1938 J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 75: These mockies didn't have to know how much we were making. 1943 I. Wolfert Tucker's People (1944) 364: Love thy neighbour if he's not [...] a squarehead or a mockie or a slicked-up greaseball from the Argentine. 1948 (con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 93: 'You're a mockey,' Whitey had told him. 1949 N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 230: That mocky ain't workin' no door where I'm dealin'. 1952 (con. 1910s) 'Harry Grey' Hoods (1953) 15: Twenty-three skidoo, sheeny. Out of the park, you goddam mocky. 1955 E. Hunter Blackboard Jungle 235: It's not okay, and you'll snap right back and call Levy a kike or a mockie. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 39:1 don't wanna be there with those Mockies! 1971 J.D. Horan Blue Messiah 120: Just a little wise guy mocky. 1986 S. King It (1987) 53: Feeling more Jewish than they ever felt in their lives [...] feeling like mockies, sheenies, kikes. 1987 R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 57: Wales had been known as Mocky Hush in her hooking days. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 250: mocky (mockey, mockie). A Jew.

mockie adj. (also mocky) [mockie n.) (US) Jewish. 1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief l^956) 12: 1

[...] saw this Jew who was pointed out to me as one of their best mocky cannons. 1955 PADS xxiv. 90: Jewish organizations are referred to as mocky mobs or mocky jew mobs. 'Mocky is not a Jew. It's a Sixth Avenue Jew.' 2004 J. Ellroy 'Jungletown Jihad' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 384: The Oscars. [...] The Sheeny Shangri-la, the Mockie Matterhorn, the Kike Kilimanjaro. More Jews than the Old Testament.

mockingbird n. [rhy. si.) 1 (or/g. theatre, UK; Aus.) a word. 1960 J. Franklyn Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz

Jack Lang 36: Mockingbird [...] word. 2 (Aus.) a piece of excrement [= turd n. (1)]. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 36: Mockingbird Turd, word. 1990 Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet]

Mocking bird. Faeces. Rhyming slang for turd.

mock litany men n.

mode

1630

[such beggars are reminiscent ofthe origins of the

CANTING CREwn.] (Irish) beggars who make their demands in a sing¬ song or versifying manner. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

mock out V. ISE mock] (US campus) to tease.

1984 N.Y. Times 18 Jan. B2: They traded recipes for 'mocktails' — drinks with no alcohol [HDAS]. 2002 Amesbury News 26 Dec. at Townonline.com [Internet] Just say no to alcohol if you know you will be driving. Order a festive MADD-approved non-alcoholic 'mock tail', mocky see under mockie. mocs n. [abbr. SE moccasins] (US) slip-on shoes. 1959 E. De ROO Go, Man, Go! 15: She took off her mocs and stood barefooted in his hands. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 172: A kid could stroll past [...] in Levis, mocs, and a skivvy shirt. mocus adj. see mokus adj. mod n.^ [abbr.I often in pi., mocfification(s). 1943 C.H. Ward-Jackson It's a Piece of Cake 43: Has this Wimpey got the new escape gear mod? 2003 J. Nelson 'The Shipbuilder's Special in Vette Mar. [Internet] Before the body was re-united with the frame, modifications were needed to accommodate the new powerplant and gearbox. [...] When the mods were finished, Rob and the Roscioli crew sprayed the body with PPG White Diamond Pearl paint, mod n.^ [abbr. SE modernist] 1 a member of a teenage cult orig. C.1961, who wore smart clothes, rode motor scooters and fought their main rivals, the motorcycle-riding, leather-clad 'rockers'. 1960 New Left Rev. Sept./Oct. 4/2: Teds and Mods, Beatniks and Ravers. 1966 T. Keyes All Night Stand 22: Gin and orange is out this year [...] It's port and lemon for fashionable little mods. 1979 Sun. Times Mag. 'The Pictures You Missed' Nov. 43: Latest youth cult: the New Mods. Kids have resuscitated the pimpled peaock vanities of the 'old' mods of the mid-Sixties. 1981 J. Sullivan 'Big Brother' Only Fools and Horses [TV script] So while all the other Mods were having punch-ups down at Southend and going to the Who concerts, I was at home baby-sitting! 1988 R. Doyle Commitments 100: The audience was dancing, a lot of them, little mods and modettes, shaking, turning in time together. 1999 Guardian Guide 14—20 Aug. 15: Give him some amphetamines and a scooter and he's a mod. 2000 Z. Smith White Teeth 23: Ryan fancied himself as a bit of a Mod. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1967 Oz 3 5/2: Paisley shirts and pre mod western levi jackets. 1989 T. Blacker F/xx 109: Jostling idiots in mod regalia. 2000 Guardian G2 18 Feb. 11: Of course, 'mod' always did mean modern, but who'd have thought a movement that started in the 60s could look so right for now. 3 (Aus.) one who discards the conventional past and looks to the future. 1968 R.D. Magoffin We Bushies 23: Most publications, what sad change, / Also no longer care [...] They're more impressed by purple gods / And hefted dinosaurs / Composed by scruffy, bearded mods / With new poetic laws! 4 (US campus) a well-dressed, fashionable person. 1967-8 Baker et al. CUSS.

■ Derivatives moddy (adj.) in a 'mod' style. 1978 D. Hebdige Subculture 26: Moddy crops and skinhead strides, mod adj. [abbr. SE modern] fashionable, up-to-date. 1968 H. Sebold Adolescence 222: In early 1966 [.,,] Dayton's Department Store brought the top English designer of Mod Clothing, John Stephen, to Minneapolis to open a special shop. 1975 J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 290: Spencer's so mod he wears flared jockey shorts, 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 48: He ain't mod, he ain' dress mod, comfortable, nothin'.

■ In compounds mod squad (n.) plainclothes police, usu. young and dressed in the prevailing teenage and early 20s fashions, who look for crime in colleges and local youth centres. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 67: You find expressions like [...] mod squad for young undercover officers.

■ In phrases (in a) mod bag (adj.) fashionable. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 247: mod bag Modish or contemporary costuming, the lattest style of dress,

1960 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar.

mod to the bone (adj.) [to the bone under bone n.^] (US black) very

1994 Parade 4 Sept. 19: You don't have the right to mock out that

fashionably dressed,

religion [HDAS]. 2001 Michigan Daily 5 Jan. letter [Internet] I distinctly remember when MSU fans mocked Robert Traylor by bringing buckets of KFC chicken to their home games, or times when they made signs saying 'Remedial Robinson' to mock out Rumeal Robinson's learning disability.

mocks n. m In phrases put the mocks on (v.) see put the mockers on under mockers n. mocktait n. [SE mock -E (cock)tail] (US) a non-alcoholic drink.

1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 110: You see me mod to the bone tomorrow night. 1992 R.C, Cruz Straight Outta Compton 18: Flip ].,.] pointing to the threads he had on as if he was clean/fonky/ mod/ragged/sharp/silked and tabbed to the bone, modams n. [ety. unknown) (drugs) marijuana. 1977 S.N. Pradhan Drug Abuse. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Modams — Marijuana. mode

V.

(? to place in a fig.

'shame' or 'embarrassment'

campus) to embarrass, to humiliate.

mode]

(US

Model, the

moer

1631

1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 19: Moded: Ridiculed. You got moded!

moe n. (US prison) a 'married' prison homosexual.

1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] moded adj 1, messed up, weird,

2000 Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner's Diet. July

('My computer got all moded and then it crashed.') 2. embarassed. Usually used after someone does something stupid. ('Now don't you feel moded!').

Married homosexual in prison.

MocJbI, the n. [Pentonville was opened in 1842 and designed as a mode/ prison on the 'separate system', i.e. continuous solitary confinement irrespective of one's crime (pioneered in the Haviland Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia)] Pentonville prison, Caledonian Road, London. 1856 H.Mayhew Great World of London 113: This is Pentonville Prison,

vulgarly known as the model. 1890-1904 Analogues.

Farmer

&

Henley

SI. and Its

model V. (UK black) to pose, e.g. at a party or club. 1992 V. Headley Yardie 118: He intended to go and 'model' with his

girls at the dance.

modelling n. (S.Afr.) the parading of an offender naked through a township as a form of punishment. 1990 M. Ndwandwe in Tribute Sept. 65: 'Modelling' was the practice

whereby offenders would be forced to parade through the public streets naked while being stoned and beaten with sticks [DSAE]. 1994 R.W. Johnson in London Rev. of Books 6 Jan. 10: Both sides operated 'people's courts', dispensing summary justice, sometimes death, but more usually whippings or 'modelling', in which the guilty party has to strip naked and walk through the camp amid a crowd of jeering onlookers.

Model T adj. (also T Model) [the inexpensive Ford Model T motorcar, last manufactured in 1927] (US) out-of-date, cheap; also as n. 1932 (con. 1929) R.E. Burns I Am a Fugitive 172: He drove an old

model-T that could not make over twenty miles an hour. 1942 R. Chandler High Window 90: I hear how in Noo York they got elevators that just whiz [...] Must take a good man to run them fast babies. [...] Now you take a Model T job like this - it takes a man to run it. 1943 W. Guthrie Bound for Glory (1969) 175: We moved in an old T Model truck.

mo dicker n, [mo, abbr. SE mother + DICK

(1)] (US) synon. for

MOTHERFUCKER n.; thus mo-dicking adj. 1969 in Current SI. IV: 3-4 (1970) 21: A/o dicker, n. A lazy, irresponsible person. 1987 (con. 1968) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 291: 'Long as Blind Pig be here, be nobody's mo-dickin' Christman fucked up.

modicum n. [as well as the comestibles, the vagina is something one can EAT V. (4); note Williams (1994) 'This derives, by synecdoche, from the "woman" sense found in Dekker Roaring Cirle I i, where a girl visiting a man is termed "a daintier bit or modicum than any lay upon his trencher at dinner.'"] the vagina. 1660 Practical Part of Love 67: There was no medium nor modicum like that between Helena's legs if good parts and ... fine words could but rime to Cunny. 1675 C. Cotton Scoffer Scoff'd (1765) 262: Such knees, such thighs, and such a Bum And such a, such a Modicum. 1707 N. Ward London Terraefilius IV 24: [She] continually wears Drawers, that her Modicum may be kept warm with a Flannel Badge of her Old Authority. 3,1712 N. Ward 'Merry Observations' Miscellaneous Writings III 105: [A] Dutch-Woman [who would] keep a Stove under her Petticoats, to keep her Modicum from freezing. 1732 'Jeremy Jingle' Spiritual Fornication 21: Her Bum He Kiss'd, and eke her Modicum. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

modie n. (US black) a motel. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] modie Definition;

motel. Example: We wants to dah modie last night.

modiewark/modiewart n. see mouldiworp n. modigger n. [ ? SE my digger] the penis. 1971 Current SI. VI 8: Modigger, n. The penis,

modock n. ['a flashy chap who goes around wearing helmet and goggles, and more than likely, leather boots and riding breeches, too, and talking about the big things he is going to do for aviation' (Allen & Lyman, Wonder Book of the Air, 1936); ety. unknown. Supposedly a mythical bird, which 'flies backwards to keep the sun out of its eyes', but other than an aviators' joke, this has no validity as an ety.] (US) one who becomes an aviator for the social prestige or publicity. 1933 Stewart Airman Speech 78; Modock. One who talks about aviation but never flies [HDAS]. 1945 F. Walton Airman’s Almanac 402: The Modock was a sartorial hanger-on at airports.

modock V. [see MODOCK n.] (US) to rush off. 1974 (con, late 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 583: 'Let's cut!'

Someone kicked his head. Another kicked his side. 'Les mo-dock, muthal' [...] He watched them scramble up the riverbank and race along the drive.

mods and rockers n. [rhy. si. mods and rockers = KNOCKER n.^ (2b)] the female breasts. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

Moe n. see Mo n.^.

[Internet] Moe:

moegoe n. (also moegie, moggoe, mogoe, muggu, mugu) [Afk.] (S.Afr.) a lazy lout, a country bumpkin, a gullible person. 1953 Drum (Johannesburg) May 40: They make sure, with their guns and knives, that they win everything or don't lose too much to any 'moggoe' [DSAE]. 1958 in L.F, Freed Crime in S. Afr. (1963) 127: 'Da ap toun tjat ons met moggos' (In town we play dice and gamble with the stupid ones). 1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 71: He was sent home in 1955 [...] by his senior home-boys whom he referred to as moegie - country bumpkins. 1970 Drum (Johannesburg) Aug. 23; You can see I'm not a moegoe (country bumpkin) [DSAE]. 1971 M.O. Mtshali 'The Detribalised' in Chapman & Danger Voices from Within (1982) 74; He's a 'clever' / not a 'moegie'; / he never say baas / to no bloody white man. 1977 F. Dike First South African 4: This location is full of mogoes. 1979 A. Brink Dry White Season 180: 'What's this mugu got to do with him?' [...] 'You may not think it [...] but this rotter used to be one of the top lawyers in the township, lanie.' 1980 M. Melamu 'Bad Times, Sad Times' in Mutloatse Forced Landing 50: I tell him to lay off [...] Die moegoe vat my nie koptoe nie. He ignores my brotherly advice. 1982 M.V. Mzamane Children of Soweto 19: We weren't the moegoes they sometimes took us for. 1985 B. Simon 'Outers' Born in the RSA (1997) 70: Ek is Bles se cherry. Auntie Gwen, het jy hierdie moegoe gehoor? 1986 Sophiatown in M. Orkin At the Junction (1995) 145: Moegoes nou moet voetsak - All the stupids must bugger off now. 1987 (con. 1950s) G. Moloi My Life 216: We were all overshadowed by these country boys referred to as muggus. I tell you they started driving fast cars while the city boys could hardly afford a bike. 1990 A. Dangor Z Town Trilogy 105; Any young man of my age who was still a virgin in the township was a moegoe. 2000 (ref. to 1940s) C. Glaser Bo-Tsotsi 107: The antithesis to 'clever' was moegoe, a country bumpkin.

moer n. [Du. moder, mother] 1 (S.Afr.) the buttocks. 1969 A. Fugard Boesman and Lena Act I: It was too early in the

morning to have your life kicked in its moer again. Sitting there in the dust with the pieces . . . Kaalgat! That's what it felt like! 2 a synon. for hell in phrs. like to hell and gone, hell of a. 1974 B. Simon Hey, Listen ... in Gray Market Plays (1986) 113: I'll fucken kick you down moer and gone that's what I'll do. 1982 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at the Palace (1985) 17: Jussis. I'm going to have one moer of a hangover tomorrow. 1985 B. Simon 'Outers' Born in the RSA (1997) 79; He throws his kierie at me and I get the moer in - a kierie like that can kill you. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 156: I was really moer-in with Caveman and tore straight into him. 2006 M. Orford Like Clockwork 177: This poor girl got one moer of a klap on the head. [Ibid.] 224: There had been one moer of a geodoente about who gets what and why,

■ In exclamations jou moer! (also moer! sy moer! your moer!) [fig. 'your mother's womb') a term of obscene abuse. 1946 C.A, Smith letter in Partridge DU 444; moer! [...] 'A word used only in the worst of company'. 1963 K, Mackenzie Dragon to Kill 127; 'Jou moer!' Jan hissed, 1977 D. Muller Whitey 83: 'Hello, Whitey darling' she said. [...] He caught the remark passed by her companion: 'Sy moer, forrkin'; witgat'. 1978 M.J. Mtsaka Not His Pride I i; Throw in a few words like 'jou gat' 'jou moer' and so on. 1980 A. Dangor 'Waiting for Leila' Waiting for Leila (2001) 13: Leila! Leila your moer! 1982 M.V. Mzamane Children of Soweto 38: 'Bliksem . . . Moer]' continued to be heard above the Chairperson's voice calling for order. 1995 1. Mahomed Cheaper Than Roses in Perkins (1998) 64: Jou blerrie moer, man! First we were not too white ... now we're not too black. 1997 J.M, Coetzee Boyhood (1998) 77; If they passed each other in the street one day, would Eddie, despite all his drinking and dagga-smoking [...] recognize him and stop and shout 'Jou moer!'

moer v. (also moor) [? moer n. or Afk. moor, murder] 1 (S.Afr.) to thrash, to beat up. 1961 A. Fugard Notebooks (1983) 25: The old coloured women [...] had stolen an armful of the best dahlias [...] Mr X, Park Superintendent, said, 'Take her down, moer her and learn her a lesson'. 1978 M. Tholo 1 Jan. in Hermer Diary of Maria Tholo (2001) 180: Go on Isaac, moer horn. 1985 B. Simon 'Outers' Born in the RSA (1997) 39: They jumped a buddy of mine too. They moered him lekker and took his gold watch. 1987 (con. 1950s) G, Moloi My Life 82: Each time he landed a blow the girls would scream 'Yoh!' and the boys would shout 'Moer 'omV 1990 R. Gool Cape Town Coolie 178: Vam, kid. Cut a line quick, [...] They gonna moor you! 2000 A. Brink Rights of Desire (200t) 310: (to) moer - to administer a beating. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 208: The doctor nods and the boer rears back and moers the cane across your gat.

moersa 2 to kill someone.

1985 Frontline Aug. 54: When I saw what was left of him 1 just

wanted to moer them. Even before that it was drummed into us that what we were there for was to moer the terrs. You feel nothing [DSAE].

moersa n.

moggie

1632

(also

moerse)

[moer n.]

a

general

intensifier,

enormous, lit. 'a mother of a'. 1982 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at the Palace (1985) 13: Jeez! I mean, take last Saturday, Katz has that moersa argument with the ref you know what Carstens tunes him? 1989 P. Slabolepszy 'Small¬ holding' Mooi Street (1994) 172: A Father is a king in his own castle, that's what they tell you. But it's a klomp twak. Nothing but moersa klomp twak. 1993 Sun. Times (S. Afr.) 4 Apr. 17: The notice board [...] advertises a forth-coming event, a moersa party [DSAE]. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 170: I can see he has a moerse cockstand. [Ibid.] 212: The doctor walks up and klaps a moerse fat needle into your heart.

moey n. (also

mooe, mooey, mouee) [Rom.

mooi] the mouth] 1 (US

Und.) a petition. 1859 Matsell Vocahulum 55: 'My pals have got up a bene moey to send to the head bloke, and if it comes off rye buck, I shall soon vamose from the stir; but if it should turn out a shise, then I must do my bit,' my partners have got up a good petition to send to the Governor, and if it turns out well, I shall soon leave the prison; but if it should be good for nothing, I must stay my time out.

2 the mouth; the face. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 64: MOOE, the mouth. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet. 1930 (con. 1910-20$) D. Mackenzie

Hell's Kitchen 119: Mouee ... mouth. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 169; You remember, he done that bully-cunt Jonesy with a ladle? Smashed him right in the mooey! 2007 N. 'Razor' Smith Raiders 184: I closed my cell door in Gilbert's sour mooey. 3 the vagina.

Backward 20: Get your white ass in the truck, mofo. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 258: Such variations on the unstated theme as M.F., Marshall Field, and Mister Franklin, the slurred mo '-fo' and muhfuh, the rococo triple-clutcher, popularized by black truck drivers in army construction battalions; and the clipped momma, mother, and muther. 1997 Eble Campus SI. Fall 5: mo-foe - an abbreviation for 'mother-fucker' [...[ 'He's one crazy Mo-Foe.' 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 107: 'Whose theory is that?' 'It's my theory, mofo,' Gusto answered.

2 synon. for motherfucker n. (3). 1989 W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran Backward 20: 'Shee-it, mofo.

You mofo lucky they sent me along.' [...[ It wasn't till I saw Green the next morning that I knew we were still friends. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] mo fo n 1. good friend: BUDDY. Abbreviation of 'mother fucker'. ('That's my mo fo over there.'),

mofo adj. (also mo’fo’) [abbr.] synon. for motherfucking adj. 1989 (con. 1968) W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran Backward 20: Move, honky. I'm relieving you out here. Get in the mofo truck [.,.] Shee-it, mofo. You mofo lucky they sent me along. 1999 Indep. on Sun. 18 July 9; To blow those mo'fo' Heffalumps to hell,

mofuck n.

(also

moa-fugg, mo-fucker) [abbr.l synon. for

motherfucker n.; also as adj. 1962 (con. 1950s) H. Simmons Man Walking On Eggshells 143: Get out the way, moa-fugg. 1982 (con. 1970) J.M. Del Vecchio 13th Valley (1983) 477: This mofuck division fucked up. 1987 (con. 1967) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 62: You be thinkin' that, mofucker, 2002 K.C. Goldman 'A Pound of Flesh' on Bloodlust - UK [Internet] 1 seen you earlier too when you chewed at my face like you was some pit bull hungry enough to eat the ass hole out of a bear! That weren't no bad-assed mo'fuck I saw earlier, J-Bird. That was some kind of snap case demon, one whipped up crazy.

mog n.^ (also mogue) [? Fr. se moquer de, to jeer, to deride] a lie; thus no mogue, no lie. 1835 G. Kent Modern Flash Diet. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open.

1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 64: MOOE

[...] the female generative organ. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. [as cit. 1859]. 1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 20: mooey n. A sausage

mog n.^ [abbr. moccie n.^ (2)] 1 a fur, a tippet, a fur coat. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 745/2; -1932.

2 a cat.

wallet. 4 (Aus.) a moustache. 1949 R. PARK Poor Man's Orange 82: Your mother didn't have any call

1927 W.E. COLLINSON Contemp. Eng. 26: As school-boys [...] Tike for dog, moke for donkey..mog for cat were quite usual. 1953 J. Franklyn Cockney 267; I don't mind you borrowing our old mog, he's a grand

to go slinging off at me moey. moph) [abbr.; note farming jargon moff, a dual-purpose

mouser, he is. 3 a monkey. 1941 V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 43: A tiny monkey with exceptionally long arms [...] 'What do you eat, Mog?'

moff n. (also

farm wagon] a hermaphrodite. 1823 'Jon Bee' Diet, of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 210: [.,.[ whether derived from the muff worn by ladies, for the most part, or hermaphrodite abbreviated, is uncertain; but he who fails in an endeavour, is said to 'make a moph of it,' and if he is commonly guilty of failure, he is himself 'a proper moph.' 1966 Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.

moffie n. [? Du. si. mofrodiet, a hermaphrodite; note UK naut. jargon mophy, 'a delicate well-groomed youth' (DSUE 8)] (S.Afr.) 1 a homosexual; thus koffie-moffie, an airline steward (lit. 'coffeequeen'). 1959 A. Delius Last Division 76: Masters never saw such a blerry mixup. / It was like the annual Moffies' dance. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 137: moffie (Cape Town gay si, fr si moff = hermaph¬ rodite) homosexual. 1975 S. Roberts 'For No Reason' Outside Life's Feast 60: Man it's too much city life that turns them into moffies and queers. 1989 B. Simon 'Score Me the Ages' Born in the RSA (1997) 136: Hey nooit I'm not a moffie hey, 1 only touch chicks. 1997 (con. 1950s) J.M. Coetzee Boyhood (1998) 148: There are rumours that Theo is a moffie, a queer. 2005 A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 62: I took up rugby for fear of being a moffie.

2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1982 P. Slabolepszy Sat. Night at the Palace (1985) 66: Then you get

your child psychiatrists - their moffie advice. 1989 B. Simon 'Score Me the Ages' Born in the RSA (1997) 137: Child molestors, kak man, the fucken problem is moffie molestors. 1995 I Mohammed Cheaper than Roses (1988) 55: Tant Sennah and her moffie husband. 3

(also

moffee) a transvestite.

1954 Drutn (Johannesburg) Jan. 12: 'Madame' (as Joey is known on the stage) leads a troupe of brilliant Coloured female impersonators who perform their popular 'Moffee Concerts' to packed houses

[DSAE].

moffry n. [abbr.] (W.l.) 1 a hermaphrodite. 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage. 2 a weak, effeminate man.

mo-fo, mo-foe) [abbr.]

slowly. 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 62: With joyous phizz away they mog off. 1797 Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) II 128: The rest, I hope, will scorn to mog off. / And dim my day-lights if I jog off. 1895 DN I 398: Mog [...] to walk. 1927 'Expressions of the Maine Coast' AS III:2 139: Mog meaning to move slowly, to depart. 1938 B.C. Damon Grandma called it Carnal 262: They mogged slowly all the way home in a delicate silence [OED]. 1950 in Time 22 May 24: Exhausted federal mediators who dutifully mogged back and forth trying to find a formula [HDASj. 1989 H.F. Mosher Stranger in the Kingdom 16; Val [...] rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and mogged back out to the kitchen [DARE]. 1993 in DARE file,

mog v.^ see mug v.'' (la). mogadored adj. (also moggadored) [rhy. si. = colloq.//oored, ? ult. Irish magadh, to mock, to jeer, to laugh at, ? Rom. mokardi/mokodo, tainted] beaten, defeated, confused. 1963 B. Naughton Alfie III i: Now if she'd done a murder she couldn't be more moggadored than she was. 1980 (con. 1930s) Barltrop & Wolveridge Muwer Tongue 33: A widely used term [...] is 'mogadored'. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit.

mogambo n. [? film Mogambo (1953), starring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner big-game hunting in Kenya] (US black) sexual intercourse. 1985 T.R. Houser Central SI.

mogg v. see mog v? . moggadored adj. see mogadored adj. moggie n.^ (also moggy) [? proper name Maggie or dial, moggie, a calf] 1 an untidily dressed woman, a slattern. 1699 N. Ward London Spy VII 174; A parcel of Scotch Pedlars and their Moggies, dancing a Highlanders Jig to a Horn-pipe. 1801 C. Dibdin Yngr Song Smith 43: Moggy's affectionate determination of follow¬ ing her lover she had put in verse.

2 a cat.

1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

mofo n. (also (1).

mog v.^ (also mogg) [ety. unknown] to amble, to trudge along

1 synon. for motherfucker n.

1966 in H.S, Thompson Hell's Angels (1967) 40: The 'Mofo' Club from

San Francisco, 1989 (con. 1968) W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran

1900 Marvel XIV:343 June 15: At eleven at night, jest when the moggies begin howling. 1914 E. Pugh Cockney At Home 66: Her back

was up in a tick, for all the world like a yowlin' moggy. 1916 N. Douglas London Street Games 30: Moggies are cats. 1943 M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 61: Yer might's well try ter keep a old moggie

moggie

ort of er bit of fish. 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore and Lang, of Schoolchildren (1977) i75: Moggy (cat). 1962 K. Waterhouse There is a Happy Land (1964) ii4: All the other kids stood round like tom moggies. 1988 Beano Comic Library No. 146 1; Winston The Bash Street School 1999 Guardian Guide 3 July-9 July 69: Sammy, an ailing 18year-old moggy. 2000 Indep. 10 Jan. 18: The top popular moggy names may be headed by Charlie. 2008 Camden New Journal Rev. 11 Dec. 19: The burly moggie did not make the gender swap. 3 an unpleasant woman. 1975 A. Bleasdale Scully 93: I've actually seen him laughing when he's given our class to one of those old moggies on the staff that he doesn't like.

moggie n? {also mogie) (drugs) Mogadon, a mild sleeping pill; thus moggified adj.; cit. 1989 is erroneous. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak 99: Moggies - amphetamines. 1992 I. Rankin Strip Jack 62: Cath Kinnoul was on drugs, tranquillizers of

some kind [...] Valium? Moggies even? 2000 I. McDowall A Study in Death 272: After a nightcap of moggified whisky or decaf. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 92: Glad a dropped those mogies before, like, calm me down a bit like,

moggie adj. (S.Afr.) crazy. 2001 personal correspondence 26 Mar.: I also heard 'moggie' used in

the context 'Uncle Bill went moggie in the bottle store before he left for the UK he couldn't believe how cheap the booze is here',

moggoe n. see moecoe n. moggy n. see moggie n.\ mogie n. see moggie n}. mogimper n. see McCimp n. mogoe n. see moecoe n. mogue n. see moc n.^. mogue v. [moc n.^l to trick or deceive. 1848 Flash Diet, in Sinks of London Laid Open. 1893 P.H. Emerson Signor

Lippo Ti: Good on yer, Sammy, you're a fair take down, mogued us all.

mogul

n. (US short order) ham.

1945 F.H. Hubbard Railroad Avenue 325: A timid little man sat at a railroad counter and ordered ham and eggs [...] the waiter turned his face to the kitchen and called casually, 'A Mogul with two headlights'.

Mohack n. see Mohock n. mohair n. 1 a derog. name for a civilian, as named by a soldier [a civilian's mohair-covered buttons; a soldier had the unadorned brass]. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Mohair, a man in the civil line, a townsman, or tradesman: a military term, from the mohair buttons worn by persons of those descriptions, or any others not in the army, the buttons of military men being always of metal: this is generally used as a term of contempt, meaning a bourgeois, tradesman, or mechanic. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 2 (US Und.) an upholsterer.

Matsell Vocabulum. mohair knickers n. (also mohair stockings) an extremely hairy vagina. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 40: Few girls desire 'a forest' or 1859

'mohair stockings' and will assiduously 'mow the lawn' to control them. 1997 Roger's Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: mohair knickers euph. A large minnie moo.

mohasky n. (also mohasty, mohoska, mosky) [ety. unknown; ? play on SE, thus cf. MARIHOOCH n.] (drugs) marijuana. 1938 R.P. Walton Marihuana. 1959 J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and

Lore. 1993-2002 '420 Dictionary' at 420TIMES.COM [Internet]. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mohasky — Marijuana. [...] Mohasty — Marijuana.

mohasky adj. (also mohasty, mohoska, mosky)

mojo

1633

[mohasky n.j

(drugs) intoxicated by marijuana. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

Mohock n. (also Mohack, Mohawk) [SE Mohawk] a dissolute and violent young man, usu. an aristocratic rowdy, who caroused through the streets of London beating up passers-by, attacking watchmen, smashing windows etc; occas. of a woman, a prostitute; thus mohacking/mohawking n., behaving in this way. 1712 Lady Strafford Wentworth Papers diary 14 Mar. in Massingham

London Anthology 106: I am very much frightened with the fyer, but much more with a gang of Devils that call themselves Mohocks; they put an old woman into a hogshead, and rooled her down a hill, they cut some nosis, others hands. 1718 M. Prior Alma in Works (1959) 1 506: From Milk-sop He starts up Mohack: [...] So thro' the Street at Midnight scow'rs: Breaks Watch-men's Heads, and Chair¬ men's Glasses. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy II 347: Where Fops and Strumpets, and Mohocks might be, / And rakehells, just like Pinktheman And Lee. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally

Salisbury 110: The first question our Female-Mohock ptit to the He One, were: Do you think the Pimp will come down? Will he bleed plentifully? Is he flush of gold? 1723 advert in Proceedings Old Bailey 16 Jan. 8/2: A complete Collection of remarkable Trials [...] for the Crimes following: Murders, Highway-Robbing, Piracy, House¬ breaking, Foot padding. Rapes, Sodomy, Polygamy, Fortune¬ stealing, Trespassing, Shop-lifting, Callicoe-tearing, Mohocking, High-Treason. 1755 Gent.'s Mag. xxv 65: The mohocks and HellFire-Club, the heroes of the last generation [F&H]. 1785 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Chalkers, men of wit in Ireland, who in the night amuse themselves, with cutting inoffensive passengers across the face with a knife. They are somewhat like those facetious gentlemen, some time ago known in England, by the title of sweaters and mohocks. 1786 F. Pilon He Would be a Soldier V i: We'll drive round [...] and take this young mohawk by surprise; the moment you get possession of him, banish him to Wales. 1818 Times 28 Oct. 3/2: The bucks among our ancestors were designated by the name of Mohawks, and wherever they went they were avoided like American savages. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I 227: Does he ever go out 'a mohawking'? 1839 (con. 1715) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 116: So, the Mohocks have been at work, I perceive. 1859 G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 209: The 'Mohocks,' 'Scourers,' and 'Sweaters' of Queen Anne's time. 1883 "Arry on His Critics and Champions' in Punch 14 Apr. 180/1: Can't say as to Mohocks and sech like, but undergrads. Mashers or me, / We all likes a turn at the bellows when properly out on the spree. 1892 H. Garland Spoil of Office 194: We old mohawks are a damage to any man's campaign. 1894 (ref. to c.1710) G.A. Sala Things I Have Seen II 71: The Mohocks of Queen Anne's time. 1968 G. Legman Rationale of the Dirty Joke (1972) I 180: The sword-bearing, aristocratic Mohocks.

■ In phrases act the mohawk (v.) (Irish) to misbehave. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats are Grey 159: Still the pony refused to budge. 'Get up there, you silly girl! Stop acting the mowhawkl' he pleaded.

mohoska see under mohasky. moisher v. [play on the Jewish name Moishe/Moses, i.e. the 'wandering Jew'] to wander. 1962 R.

Cook

Crust on its Uppers

142:

Our

ex-passenger

had

moishered over to the door.

moist n.

(1)] (US) an alcoholic drink. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 40: My friend was still riding

[play on DAMP n.

1902 C.L.

and purchasing Gallic moists.

■ In compounds moistmill (n.) (US) a bar. 1902 C.L. Cullen More Ex-Tank Tales 43: The darky bootblack whose plant was outside the moistmill.

moist ’un (n.) (US) a drunkard. 1933 'William Juniper' True Drunkard's Delight 233: A term for a drunkard [...] moistim.

moist adj. (US campus) second-rate, inferior. 1997-2000 Da Bomb [Internet] 19: Moist: Bad; distasteful.

moisten v ■ SE in slang uses ■ In phrases moisten one’s chaffer (v.) see under chaffer n.^. moisten one’s wick (v.) see under wick n.\ moisten the clay (v.) see under clay n. moistie n. (N.Z.) a desirable female. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. mojo n. [? Cullah moco, witchcraft, magic, Fula moco'o, medicine man.] 1 (orig. US black) spirituality, magic, thus power and influence; also attrib. 1927 Ida Cox [song title] Mojo Hand Blues. 1937 Robert Johnson

'My Little Queen of Spades' [lyrics] Everybody say she got a mojo, now she's been using that stuff / Mmmm, everybody say she got a mojo, cause she's been using that stuff, 1958 Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 375: You may tip out sweet poppa, while tippin' is grand, / But yo' tippin' will be over when Momma gits her Mojo hand. 1960 C. Himes Big Gold Dream 66: She said it was just mojos and potions and charms [...] African and Haitian stuff. 1973 D. Goines Street Players 142: You must have your mojo workin', girl. 1980 (con. 1950s) M. Thelwell Harder They Come 62: This is the cool fool with the live jive with mah mojo workin' and the music perkin'. 1999 Observer Screen 20 June 6: He time-travels back to 1969 to recapture his mojo, aka his libido. 2000 Guardian 12 Jan. 23: This is one man who knows how to keep his mojo working. 2003 G. Tate Midnight Lightning 112: The musicians were working their 'Mojo', 1 didn't want that sound to ever stop. 2007 C. Goffard Snitch Jacket 213: They refused to allow the hippies back home to sap their mojo.

mojo 2 {US drugs) any narcotic drug, esp. morphine.

1935 A.J. Pollock Speaks mi: Mojo, any of the poisonous habit forming narcotics (dope). 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 156: MOJO Morphine. 1953 Anslinger & Tompkins Traffic In Narcotics 312: mojo. Drugs, especially morphine, heroin, or cocaine. 1969 R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 179: mojo [...] heroin, cocaine, or morphine, 1972 D. Dalby 'African element in American English', in Kochman Rappin' and Stylin' Out 182—3: mojo — [...] mainly used today in sense of 'something working in one's favor,' also 'narcotics'. 2001 ONDCP Street Terms 15: Mojo — Cocaine; heroin. 3 (US black) a kind of dance. 1970 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 60: She let her pussy do the mojo, the pop-grow, the turkey, and the grind, / left Dolomite's ass nine strokes behind.

■ In phrases like a mojo (adv.) {also

like a mo) (US black/campus) a great deal.

1989 P. MUNRO SI. U. 122: He was scoring like a mojo. 1992 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 6: like a mo - very intensely. From like a motherfucker, the

mojo and

mokus

1634

the

say-so (n.) (or/g. US black) qualities giving one

power and influence over others. 1926 Butterbeans & Susie [song title] My Daddy's Got the Mojo But I Got the Say-So. 1980 J.L. Gwaltney Drylongso 97: White people have the power. After all, they have the mojo and the sayso, as my father used to say. 1987 A, Rahman Mojo and the Sayso [play]. 2002 (con. 1940s) J. McBride Miracle at St Anna quoted in Rev. at CNN. com 25 Feb. [Internet] He re-creates one of Bishop's sermons in which he ecstatically declares God is 'the baddest kitty kat in the firmament. He got the mojo and the sayso.' mojo V. [MOJO n. (1)] (or/g. US) 1 to fool, to deceive. 1938 I.H. Warner 'A Word List From Southeast Arkansas' in AS XIII: I 6: MOJO, v. To hoodwink, or to get the best of one. 2 to jinx, to charm.

1972 R.M. WtNTROB in Smith Conjuring Culture (1995) 51: The person who comes under the spell of a rootworker is considered rooted, mojoed, criss-crossed, hoodooed or conjured, moke nl' [? Devon/Hampshire dial, mokus, a donkey. In DSUE, Partridge suggests Rom. moxio, a donkey, or Moke, the dimin. of the proper name Margaret, on the pattern of MOC (2), MOGGIE n.^ (2); also f. Margaret, a cat] 1 a donkey, an ass. 1836 'Jack of Horslydown' in Flash Casket 59: His moke is first at Billingsgate, / His cly ne'er vants a crown. 1845 J. Lindridgb SixteenString Jack 107: Forward wid the moke, do you hear, or we shall have Oliver looking after us before we know it. 1854 Thackeray Newcomes I 296: The one who rides from market on a moke. 1869 'International Boat Race' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 146: He wack'd the moke till he made him start. 1877 "Arry on His 'Oliday' in Punch 13 Oct. 161/1: There's rollicking rides on a moke. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 22/1: An old man and his little boy were driving an ass to the market to sell. 'What a fool is this fellow,' said a man upon the road, 'to be swagging it on foot with his son, that the moke may go light!' 1892 Albert Chevalier 'The Coster's Serenade' [lyrics] Seemed that the moke was saying 'Do me proud;' Mine is the nobbiest turn-out in the crowd. 1900 Punch 28 Mar. 217/ 3: Despite opinions to the contrary I incline to identify the moke with the ass or donkey. [...] In the works of one Punch, a learned writer, who alone redeems the 19th Century from the charge of barbarism, there is an account of a creature Mokeanna, which I take to be the feminine form of moke. 1916 G. Squiers Skitologues 17; 'E marched 'em up the Old Kent Road wif their barrers and their mokes. 1925 S. O'Casey Juno and the Paycock Act II: The voice pfJoxer is heard singing [... ] 'Me pipe I 'll smoke, as I dhrive me moke ’. 1939 Rover 18 Feb. 28: None [...] thought he'd be 'ass' enough to carry his 'moke' when it gave up the ghost. 1944 J, Cary Horse's Mouth (1948) 259:1 was not surprised to hear that Lolie didn't admire the abstract; no more than if a coster's moke had told me it didn't take much interest in St Paul's dome, 2 (a/so moak) a fool.

1855 D.G. Rossetti letter 25 Nov. in Letters (1965) I 282: He has an irreconcilable grudge against a poor moke of a fellow called Archer Gurney [OED], 1867 G.E, Clark Seven Years of a Sailor's Life 80: Say, old moke, what time does the train start for Bangor? - He don't know anything. 1873 J. Mair Hbk of Phrases 109: Moke, an old person, disrespectfully spoken to, 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 6: moke n. [...] A senseless, foolish fellow. 1900 T.J. Hains Mr Trunnell Mate of the Ship 'Pirate' Ch. vii: May the devil grab me, ye moke, if I wouldn't rather swell up an' bust wid th' scurvy than swallow them fellows kickin'. 1911 Out West Oct. 240: This same lady [... I considers the user of 'in the push,' — synonymous with 'in the swim,' — 'moak,' 'cove,' et cetera, a subject for missionary effort. 1915 M.G. Hayden 'Terms Of Disparagement' in DNlV-.m 199: moke, about the same meaning and usage as mutt, or hoob. 1933 R.

Tate

Doughman 151; A gelded old moke, he called me! 1992 R. Price

Clockers 505: A lot of running around knocking myself out and feeling like a moke. 1998 H. Wilkinson Cincinnati Enquirer 4 Oct. [Internet]

These

high-priced

talking

heads

who

have

been

yammering on the network news shows for months about how this great bilious cloud of Bill Clinton will hang like a pall over this year's congressional elections are going to look like grade A mokes if you people don't get with the program.

3 {Aus.) a horse, often a second-rate one. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Nov. 20/1: The bushman then picked up the revolver and made the trooper handcuff himself, and walk ahead, while he [...] comfortably rode the Government moke. On arriving at their destination, the bushman [...] handled] over the policeman, his horse, and revolver to the inspector in charge. 1894 G. Boothby On the Wallaby 266: He only appears sulky and says he wishes they'd give him 'a bit better moke, and he'd give 'em a run for their money, anyhow!' 1897 W.T. Goodge 'Great Australian Slanguage' in Baker Aus. Lang. (1945) 117; And a bosom friend's a cobber, / And a horse a prad or moke. 1903 J. Furphy Such is Life 8: Grey mare belongs to you, boss — don't she? — an' the black moke with the Roman nose follerin'? 1911 L. Stone Jonah 123; Wait till I put the nosebag on the moke. 1923-4 F. Anthony 'Gus Buys a Horse' in Me And Gus (1977) 17: What's the use of shooting a good moke like that just because she's high-spirited? 1938 F. Anthony 'Gus Tomlins' in Me And Gus (1977) 122: The old moke just dropped off into a sleep. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 71: Moke [...] a horse, especially one of inferior type. 1958 F.J. Hardy Four-Legged Lottery 176: Darby Munro stealing a weight for age race on a moke. 1964 T. Ronan Packhorse and Pearling Boat 157: Our mokes got a good bellyful of weedy, luke warm, but still drinkable water. 1977 T. Ronan Mighty Men on Horseback 60: I slid to the ground, hooked my old moke's bridle to the nearest post. 1981 J. Charles Black Billy Tea 9; I used to go to every show / Where they had a buck-jump ring. / The wildest moke 1 thought a joke, /1 really had a fling. 1988 McGill Dia. of Kiwi SI. 73/ 1: moke an inferior horse, or jocular reference to a horse. 2003 McGill

Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

■ In phrases cop a moke (v.) (US prison) to escape, lit. 'grab a donkey'. 1932 L.E. Lawes Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing 61:1 thought it over, expecting that Mike wanted to get away, 'cop a moke' they termed it in those days. 1970 E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 274: 'Cop a moke,' was his advice to Jack. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Prison SI. 107: Cop a Moke To escape from prison,

moke n? [? Sp. mocha, dark-skinned; ult. Sp. cafe de Moca (an Arabian port on the Red Sea), but note SMOKE n. (3a)] (US) 1 a black person, any dark-skinned foreigner. 1855 Broadway Belle (N.Y.) 29 Oct. 1/3-4: The crib is ruled by mokes and Micks. My health is rummy. 1867 'Johnny Cross' 'Me And Matilda Jane' Orig. Pontoon Songster 34: The first time at a colored ball, the other mokes would say, / 'Here somes Pomp with Matilda Jane, you'd better clear de way'. 1868 'Lively as a Jaybird' Rootle-Tum Songster 27: I'm that moke called Daddy Stokes, so keep your eye on me, / I'm the darkey that's got dancing on the brain. 1881 Trumble SI. Diet. (1890). 1902 Ade Girl Proposition 110: Azalea always had a number of Musical Mokes on her Staff. 1914 Andrew Allison 'Down At Jasper Johnson's Jamboree' [lyrics] Old Jasper Johnson, a Kentucky colored moke. 1928 H. Brackbill 'Midshipman Jargon' in AS 111:6 453: Moke — Negro. 1947 S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 147: That's what I am [...] A coon. A moke. A boogie. 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 228: bluegum moke: n. A Negro whose gums are bluish rather than red. It is said that the bite of a blue-gum moke means certain death. 1978 W. Donaldson Balloons in Black Bag 90: If the Major calls him darky, sooty, Gunga Din, Sambo, coon, jig, moke, dinge, [...] skunk or Zulu to his face, we're going to be short of a valuable new comedy act. 1983 I.L. Allen Lang, of Ethnic Conflict 46: Color Allusions, Other than 'Black' and 'Negro': moke [1856. Probably a clipping of smoke, but possibly from mocha].

2 a foolish, tedious person. 1872 SCHELE De Vere Americanisms 617; Moke, possibly a remnant of the obsolete moky, which is related to 'murky,' is used in New York to designate an old fogy or any old person, disrespectfully spoken to. 1900 E.H. Babbitt 'College Words and Phrases' in DN II:i 46: moke,

n. A moderate bore. 3 a Hawaiian, esp. a young, thuggish man. 1967 in DARE.

mokers n. see mokus n. (2). mokker n. see mocker n.^. mokus n. [? mockers n.] (US) 1 a working man, an 'average joe'. 1914 Ade Ade's Fables 19: Every downtrodden Mokus owing $800 on a $500 House is honing for a Chance to Hand it to somebody

wearing a Seal-Skin Overcoat.

2 {also mokers) a depressed state, 'the blues'.

mokus

moll

1635

1928 H. Brackbill 'Midshipman Jargon' in AS 111:6 453: Mokus — Loneliness. 1944 P. Kendall Diet. Service SI. n.p.: I've got the mokers . . . the blues: depressed. 3 a very intoxicated state. 1960, 1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS.

mokus adj. (also

1: moleskin squatter working man who has acquired a small sheep run; from his moleskin trousers. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

moley n. [it 'burrows into' the victim's flesh] a potato, its surface jagged with the edges of safety razor blades.

mocus) [mokus n. (3)1 (US) drunk but wanting

1950 J.D. Carr Below Suspicion 132: 'Use the moleys when you catch

another drink.

'im.' The moley was an ordinary potato, its surface jagged with the edges of safety-razor blades. They ground it into your face, [and] twisted it. 1959 Spectator 6 Mar. 314/1:1 suppose if I go on criticising him I shall end up by having the boys with the moleys call on me one dark night [OED].

1971 in Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol XXXII 734: Mocus Intoxicated [HDASh 1970 M. Gattzden Black Vendetta 38: I'm mokus. Canned. Don't know nothing [HDAS],

mola n. see moola n. mold V. (US campus) to humiliate; to catch someone out in a contradiction or other error. 1989 P. MuNRO SI. U.

moll n. [dimin. of proper name Mary, reinforced by the early 17C criminal Moll Cut-purse, immortalized in Middleton & Dekker's play The Roaring Girl (1611)] 1 a woman, usu. a promiscuous one.

moldy adj. 1 (US) foolishly sentimental.

1611 Middleton & Dekker Roaring Girle II ii: She is loose in nothing but in mirth; Would all Molls were no worse! 1613 Middleton Chaste Maid in Cheapside II ii: This Lent will fat the whoresons up with sweetbreads / And lard their whores with lamb-stones; what their golls / Can clutch goes presently to their Molls and Dolls. 1654 Mercurius Fumigosus 24 8-15 Nov. 203: When Moll must kneel to her maid done. 1687 'Lovers' Session' in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 177: Harry Wharton fresh reeking from Norfolk's lewd Moll. 1696 D'Urfey Comical Hist, of Don Quixote Pt 3 III i: Doll, Sue, Bess, and Moll, with Hodge. 1707 Humours of a Coffee-House 30 July 27: Love Moll, and let her not Controul: / What if she Whine, Shed Tears, and Frown / Laugh at her Folly. 1727 J. Gay Beggar's Opera I i: Black Moll hath sent word her Tryal comes on in the Afternoon. 1753 J. Poulter Discoveries (1774) 37: I stall at the Jegger to nap the Slangs from the Cull or Moll; that is take [...] I stop at the Door to take the Things from the Man or Woman. 1767 'Andrew Barton' Disappointment I iii: A Room in Moll Placket's house. 1768 Gentleman's Bottle-Companion 55: Bet Wymes of Wedderby the pride, / By baliffs yet untam'd, / Bespoke Moll Fulgame by her side, / With lust and rage inflam'd. 1775 'The Potato Man' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 54: A moll I keep that sells fine fruit / There's no one brings more cly. 1786 Whole Art of Thieving [as cit. 1753], 1821 'Miscellaneous' Fancy I TV 101: So down to Cateaton-street went she, accompanied by [...] as many Long-alley Lads of the Village and their Molls, as could turn out of their dabs at that early hour. 1839 H. Brandon Diet, of the Flash or Cant Lang. 164/1: Moll - a girl. 1859,1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1868 H.L. Williams Black-Eyed Beauty 30: How much will you put in my way to stop me going to tell your old man of your visits to such a veteran moll as Matty? 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1887 W.E. Henley 'Villon's Good-Night' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 174: Likewise you molls that flash your bubs / For swells to spot and stand you sam. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 24: Giving them amusing accounts of how the 'Molls dove out o' the windows' in their haste to give him room. 1910 H. Hapgood Types From City Streets 54: It was a moll, yer know. She was a swell-looking lass. 1915 H. Russell diary 21 May [Internet] Went for a walk over to Estaires, struck a good joint plenty of molls but very hard to find. 1920 F. Packard White Moll 13: The vernacular of the underworld where men called their women by no more gracious names than 'molls' and 'skirts'. 1930 J. Lait Gangster Girl 48: He's got this Schuyder moll — s'ciety, dough, class, fam'ly an' woozy about him. 1944 in A. Marshall These Are My People (1957) 73: Charles II gave that old moll, Sara Jennings, to the Duke of Marlborough and she became the Duchess of Marlborough. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 197: You'll be on the hard road if the Bastard catches you doddering round the kitchen like a sick moll. 1964 B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 100:1 was a yegg and one of the toughest of yeggs / was ever poled in the latter soup / till I met a moll with the face of a doll / that put my head in a loop. 1970 B. Oakley Salute to the Great McCarthy 171: You and your Moll. She'll be [...] writing notes. McCarthy's Whore [...] Screwer of Loose Women. 1979 Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 78: A moll was just a lump of meat with a hole in it — and that's how they were treated. 1989 M. Amis London Fields 69: There are molls for all men, and vice versa. 1997 T. Winton Lockie Leonard, Legend (1998) 179: I can't believe her. What a moll. 2005 M.B. 'Chopper' Read Chopper 4 76: From what I've seen, half the toss up molls in Australia live in Tassie.

1927 B. Hecht 'Portrait of a Flapper' in Brookhouser These Were Our Years (1959) 172: I don't let any John get moldy on me. 2 see MOULDY adj.

moldy fig n. [i.e. that which is 'stale and shrivfelled'l 1 (orig. US) a very boring or old-fashioned person, esp. as applied by modern jazz fans to their antitheses, the fans of trad. New Orleans jazz. 1948 Collier's 20 Mar. 88: The moldy figs [...] are certain that the greatest jazz ever played [...] was played in New Orleans in 1915. 1959 W. Balliett Sound of Surprise 211: The term 'moldy fig,' which is one of the aptest derogatory colloquialisms in the language, was first used in jazz to describe those who believe that the music has been in steady decline since around 1930. 1968 'Hy Lit' Hy hit's Unbelievable Diet, of Hip Words 28: moldy fig - Put down word for a square person who always spoils all the fun because he doesn't appreciate the finer things in life. 2 attrib. use of sense 1. 1975 A. Goldman Lenny Bruce 23: Moldy fig Dixielanders blow above the bar to an audience of [...] out-of-towners.

mole

1 the penis [the animal and the penis 'burrow in'].

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 2 (US prison) someone who tunnels into a bank to rob it. 1931-4 D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 334/1: mole, n. A bank robber who tunnels under the vault. 3 (US prison) someone who escapes by digging their way out of prison. 1992 Bentley & Corbett Pnsow SI. 108: Mole An inmate who escapes by digging his way out of the prison.

■ In compounds mole-catcher (n.) the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

mole n.^ [? MOLLY n.^

(2) or MOLL n. (1)) (Aus./N.Z.) a woman, esp. a promiscuous one. 1965 W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 269: Don't ever swear at me again, yuh bloody mole. 1985 in Tracks (Aus.) Jan. 21: No time to recapture the mole from Raymond's effeminate chatter, no time to bash any poncy date-punchers, I just got out! 1993 B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 234: usage: 'Did you see the mole Danny brought to the dining-in night?'

molehill n. [? mole n.^ (1)/visual resemblance to SE molehill] a pregnant stomach. C.1705 'As Oyster Nan Stood by her Tub' in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 178: Her Mole-hill belly swell'd about,

moles n. |SE moleskin, a strong, soft, fine-piled cotton fustian, the surface of which is 'shaved' before dyeing) (Aus.) moleskin trousers. 1858 'A. Pendragon' Queen of the South 35: Sol shouted out, 'only a cove as wants a pair of moles'. 1899 H. Lawson 'The Stranger's Friend' in Roderick (1967-9) I 370: At the end of the spree, in clean white 'moles', clean-shaven, and cool as ice. 1904 L.M. PalmerArcher Bush Honeymoon 327: Nearly all wore sad-coloured moles. 1929 K.S. Prichard Coonardoo 234: I've always thought of you in a pair of old white moles with a shirt to match the sky.

moleskin n. (US) derog. term for a black person. 1992 D. Pinckney High Cotton (1993) 140: I would come to no good among the no accounts, burrheads, shines, smokes, charcoals, dinges, coons, monkeys, jungle bunnies, jigaboos, spagingyspagades, moleskins, California rollers, Murphy dogs, and diamond switchers.

2

a prostitute [now survives only in Aus. use].

moleskin squatter n. [such men wore moleskin trousers] (Aus./

1604 Middleton Father Hubburd's Tales in Works VIII 78: They should

N.Z.) 'a working man who has come to own a small sheep run' (OED); thus Moleskin, used as a nickname. 1933 (ref. to 1890-1910) L.G.D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs (1951) 387: Moleskin squatter - Woxkmg man who had come to own a small sheep run. 1936 A. Russell Gone Nomad 67: At the border we had been joined by 'Moleskin' Harry. 1945 Baker Aus. Lang. 33: Moleskin squatter, a working man who has come to own a small sheep run. 1956 T. Ronan Moleskin Midas [title]. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 73/

be none of these common Molls neither, but discontented and unfortunate gentle-women [.,.] and they, poor squalls, with a little money, which cannot hold out long without some comings in. 1680 T. Betterton Match in Newgate I ii: Moll, thou hast an honest Calling of Bawding. 1723 'Whipping-Tom' Democritus III 18: In [...] came Mol Prate-apace, a common Harlot, fora Glass of Usquebaugh. 1731 Swift 'Strephon & Chloe' Medley (1749) 110: Miss Moll the jade will burn it blue. 1747 Life and Character of Moll King 18: Mother Haywood, well

moll

known in Covent Garden [...] used very often in the Night Time, to pay a Moll a Visit, but her chief Errant was to look after her Girls. 1761 Nancy Dawson's Jests 36: Ye brimstones of Drury and Exeterstreet / Ye frows of the town, and ye molls of the Fleet. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1793 Sporting Mag. Nov. Ill 105/2: Full thirty years the nymph had been / A vot'ry of the Cyprian Queen [...] And Moll's an honest woman! 1811 Lex. Balatronkum. 1842 Flash (N.Y.) 10 July 1/2: Moll Quiff — What do you mean by writing to me in that style, you India rubber harlot? What do 1 know about your George's and your Jem's, and your Dick's, and your Harry's. I believe you lay off with a thousand of 'em. 1866 H.L. Williams N.-Y. After Dark 32: I 'spose she's had a break with the old moll, and is after a new house, 1885 M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary 1151: Little Dickey from the New Cut. 10 and a ticket. Put away by a moll (sold by an unfortunate). 1892 H. Lawson 'The Captain of the Push' in Roderick (1967-9) 1 187: Would you have a 'molT to keep yer — like to swear oft work for good? 1916 C.J. Dennis 'In Spadger's Lane' Moods of Ginger Mick 71: Frum shadder inter shadder, up the street, / A prowlin' moll sneaks by, wiv eyes all 'ate. 1927 W. Edge Main Stem 194: Chi [...] It's de hobo's pararrdize. Free slum from de privates; de Molls is softer-hearter'n hell. I could find a dozen whores to keep me. 1938 J. Devanny Paradise Flow 250: Every moll in the district knows Big Anton. 1959 D. Niland Big Smoke 152: You broken down old moll, you'd be no use to a dog, let alone a man! a.1963 'The Fall' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 80: She was a brown-skin moll like a Chinese doll, / Walking up and down in sin. 1974 (con. 1930s) I. Agnew Loner 45: 'She a moll,' Mario insisted [...] 'She make wida quid.' 1992 A. Duff One Night Out Stealing 43: Not like a Tavi moll who's all wrong timing and harsh kisses and untender touch. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 45: A cab and drum were terms for a brothel - cab molls, or just molls were those who worked in them.

3 a girlfriend; esp. in gangster's moll, a gangster's female companion. 1823 'JON Bee' Diet, of the Turf the Ring, the Chase, etc. 120: Molls — are

the female companions of low thieves, at bed, board, and business. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 246: Lots of the blades and their molls were locked up by the officers. 1841 'Ax My Eye' Dublin Comic Songster 101:1 keeps a rousling tousling / Moll, full fat and finely shaped. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 5/1: One of the 'guns' [...] had brought his 'moIT with him to show her off before the 'meet'. 1877 Five Years' Penal Servitude 242: I never had nothin' to do with any 'moll' who couldn't cut her own grass. 1899 J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 241: Each moocher had his Judy (wife), and each little kid had his Moll (sister). 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 191: Nearly every one of the professional criminals has his 'MolT or female companion with whom he has a furnished room or flat. 1912 H. Lawson 'The Lily of St Leonards' in Roderick (1972) 802: My ole moil's good enough for me. 1920 0.0. McIntyre 'New York Day by Day' 12 Oct. [synd. col.] Each [gambler] has his Moll - or girl. 1927 D. Hammett 'The Big Knockover' Story Omnibus (1966) 297: Whoever this gunman's moll was, she [...] had learned her stuff well. 1937 J. Worby Other Half 60: How am I to know you ain't some guy's Moll? 1 don't want my block knocked off, get me? 1949 A. Hynd We Are the Public Enemies 9: His moll was part Indian and a professional blues singer. 1953 T. Runyon In For Life 45: Carl's young girlfriend [...] was a far cry from the gunman's moll type, 1963 C. Rohan Down by the Dockside 189: I am now the complete gunman's moll. 1972 P. Fordham Inside the Und. 98: It is easy enough to condemn some of these more authentic 'MolT figures. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 41: To some Australians 'molT has an affectionate connotation very puzzling to non-Australians [...] This usage is akin to the way Australian males intend words like 'bastard' or 'bugger' to be terms of friendship and acceptance, 1990 in D. Campbell That Was Business, This Is Personal 13: All the women, all the gangsters' molls, they were all done up to the nines. 2000 Guardian G2 23 Feb. 12: Terry, this wannabe jazzer's moll, is a lovely paradox. 4 (UK Und.) a landlady, a proprietress, the 'lady of the house'; usu. ext. as moll of the crib, moll of the drum. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 35/2: As for the 'molT of the 'crib,' I was all right with her, for I had used the house every time I had been in Dover. [Ibid.] 62/2: The trio was made up with the 'moll of the drum,' Maria (or as she called herself for shortness) 'Ria Hogg. [Ibid.] 132/1: The wine was brought, uncorked, and paid

for, after which the 'molT of the 'drum' disappeared. 5 (US) an effeminate male homosexual. 1927 M. West Drag (1997) Act II: Where are you molls calling from? Scully' Scarlet Pansy 147: Fairies with their sailors or marines or rough trade: tante's (aunties) with their good looking

1932 'R.

clerks or chorus molls. 1972 1. hard as nails queen.

moll

1636

B. Rodgers

Queens' Vernacular 137: moll

6 (S.Afr.) a female Teddy Boy. 1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 74: The jobless ducktails and the

high-kicking molls who foregather there. [Ibid,] 75: It was not uncommon to find the ducktails and their molls locked in passionate embraces.

7 see MOLLY n? (1). ■ Derivatives moiled (up) (adj.) 1 followed or accompanied by a woman. 1859, 1860 Hottbn Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1865 Leaves from Diary of

Celebrated Burglar 38/2: Ere many minutes the two London 'swell mobs' [...] were promenading the streets of Dover 'moiled up' to their hearts' content. 1873 SI. Diet. 227: Moiled followed, or accompanied by a woman. When a costermonger sees a friend walking with a woman he does not know, he says on the first opportunity afterwards, 'I see yer the other night when yer was MOLLED

up and too proud to speak.'

2 sleeping with a woman other than one's wife; thus moll it up v. 1826 R. Morley 'Flashey Joe' in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 97: You

moiled it up with Brick-dust Sail / And went to live with her in quod! 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 310/2: There is a great many furnished cribs, let to needys (nightly lodgers) that are 'moiled up,' [that is to say, associated with women in the sleeping-rooms[.

moiling (adj.) (UK Und.) pertaining to women. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 38/1: He was now about

played out, and a 'shiser' in the 'moiling' line.

■ In compounds moll buzzer (n.) [buzzer n.VwORKER n.\ note Goldin et at. Diet, of American Und. Lingo (1950): 'The theft is accomplished in the following manner: An accomplice, known as the buzzer, accosts a victim and asks to be directed to a given place in the neighborhood. The destination is so chosen that the victim must turn her back to the carriage to point. The purse-snatcher now advances from the direction which the viaim is facing and deftly seizes the purse. The victim seldom discovers her loss until the thieves have disappeared. Premature discovery requires the buzzer, feigning solicitude, to block pursuit and delay any outcry until the snatcher has escaped.'] 1 (UK! US Und./police) (also dame buzzer, moll buzzard, moll worker) a pickpocket or a beggar who specializes in women as victims; thus moll-buzzing n, and adj., purse- or bag-snatching; by ext., any minor thief; buzz a moll v. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 55: moll buzzer A thief that devotes himself to picking the pockets of women. 1872 Brooklyn Eagle 9 Apr. 12: He was what is termed in police parlance a 'moll buzzer,' or in other words a thief to [sic] operate among females. 1886 A. Pinkerton Thirty Years a Detective 50: Pick-pockets who operate on ladies [...] are called 'Moll-buzzers'. 1900 A.H. Lewis 'Mulberry Mary' Sandburrs 8: She hooks up wit' Billy, d' moll-buzzard. 1900 Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 225: Her gift for mathematics made it clear that 'Moll-buzzing' was much more remunerative than sleeping in cellars. 1909 H. Green Mr. Jackson 181: He ain't nawtin' but a cheap panhandlin' moll buzzer. 1910 H. Hapgood Types from City Streets 316: Moll-buzzers like me had a soft snap of it, for women kept their leathers in a big open pocket in the back of their dresses. 1918 H. Simon 'Prison Diet.' in AS VIII:3 (1933) 29/2: MOLL-BUZZARD. Purse-snatcher or, by extension, other petty larcenist: usually opprobrious. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 48: Moll-buzzing is one of the easiest games for the dip. 1925 J. Tully Beggars of Life 198: A moll buzzer taught me in Boston. She worked wit' a gang o' dips. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 130: Moll Worker. - See 'moll buzzer.' 1931 M. Harris 'Facing the Mob' in Gangland Stories Feb. [Internet] Be careful of what you eat, you moll-buzzing, cheap grafter — 1933 'Goat' Laven Rough Stuff 19: Working with the mob on what they call 'moll-buzzing' (picking women's pockets, or bag snatching). 1935 A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Dame buzzer, a pickpocket who specializes in robbing women. 1937 (con. 1905-25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (1956) 149: The shopping districts are the spots where moll-buzzers do their best work. 1938 J. Curtis They Drive by Night 203: Wide boys looked out for a chance to nick a wallet or buzz a moll. 1947 N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 74: 'R you one of them Chicago Av'noo moll-buzzers? 1952 'I Was a Pickpocket' in C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 75: We operated [...] entirely upon women, and were consequently known technically as 'moll-buzzers' — or 'flies' that 'buzz' about women. 1955 Q. Reynolds Police Headquarters (1956) 235: The two moll buzzers will apologize profusely as they jostle the woman. 1967 M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 227: The mimeographed lists of underworld slang [...] lexicons still defining such almost forgotten usages as 'stool pigeon,' 'snowbird,' 'copacetic,' and 'moll buzzer'.

2 (US Und.) a female thief, pickpocket or beggar. 1931 Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. SI. 130: Moll Buzzer. -[...] a store thief.

moll

Moll Thompson’s mark

1637

moll crib (n.) [crib n.'' (3)1 a brothel,

moll

V.

[MOLL n.)

1 to go around with women.

1866 Night Side of N.Y. 40: A midnight descent has just been made

C.1800 'Song No. 12' Papers of Francis Place (1819) n.p.: Young men

upon a 'moll crib' as he calls the 'boarding house' of the portly dame.

take warning, night and morning, / Just like me you go a Moiling / You the same sad fate may share. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 180: MOLL'D, followed, or accompanied by a woman.

moll hook (n.) (hook nJ (2a)] a female pickpocket. 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Feb. 22/3: It can only be worked with the assistance of a first-class mollhook (female thief), such as may be enlisted off the Haymarket or Waterloo-place at midnight, moll-hunter (n.) a womanizer. 1909 J, Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

moll-knuck (n.) [knock n. (1)| (UK Und.) a female pickpocket. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 53/2: These were the

worthies I was obliged to pass the time with during Joe's 'palling-in' with the little 'moll-knuck' from the Dials, moll sack (n.) [SE sack, lit. 'woman sack'] a handbag; a market basket. 1839 H. Brandon in Miles Poverty. Mendicity and Crime; Report 164/1: Mollsack, reticule. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 63: mollsACK a reticule, or market basket. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. moll shop (n.) (also molly shop) [shop n.^ (3)1 a brothel. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang. 1957 M. K. Joseph I'll Soldier no More (1958) 181: Pretty faces [...] peered shyly into the street. 'Looks like a moll-shop,' said Connolly [OED]. 1991 C. Howell Book of Naughty Nomenclature [Internet] Brothel Moll shop, Molly shop (male). 2002 B. E. Sherman 'Gold, Frankincense & A Funhouse Myrrh' 25 Mar, Elwinshumor.com [Internet] How else could I come to terms with that time I picked up those genital warts in that Bangkok moll shop? moll slavey (n.) see slavey n. moll-tooler (n.) (also molley, moll-tool) [tooler n.| a female pickpocket. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 52/1: This was said by a lashy little piece, who had been about the first regular 'moll-tooT that had turned out from the Dials. [Ibid.] 70/2: We saw her go ashore and, in company with our 'molley,' who carried her seed bag, adle along the pier, 1873 SI. Diet. mollwhiz (n.) [whiz n.^ (2)] (US Und.) a female pickpocket. 1933 Ersine Und. and Prison SI. 1939 Howsley Argot: Diet, of Und. SI. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 139/2: Moll-whiz. (Very rare) A female pickpocket. moll-wire (n.) [wire n.^l 1 a pickpocket who specializes in robbing female victims. 1909 I.L. Nascher Wretches of Povertyville 205: The pickpockets whose 'graft' or dishonest work is to rob women are called 'moll buzzers' or 'moll wires.' 2 a female pickpocket. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 76/1: It was with difficulty that we prevailed upon the 'moll-wire' to enter the 'close' [...] but

at last she consented,

moll worker (n.) see moll buzzer above. ■ In phrases bury a moll (v.) to run away from one's mistress. 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1896 Farmer

Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 29:

Balancer

sa largue [...] To get rid of a

mistress; 'to bury a molT.

like old molls at a christening (ad/.) (also like an old moll...) (N.Z.) 1 noisy, verbose. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. 2 in a state of confusion. 1968 G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 164: Shagging about like an old moll at a christening.

moll of the cross (n.) [cross n.’' (4)] (UK Und.) a girl or woman of the Underworld. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 157/2: I had seen so much incontinence among the 'molls of the cross' that I, for one, had little or no faith in them.

Moll’s three misfortunes (n.) [the phr., while appearing in manuscript in Grose's own working copy of the 1785 edition (in the British Library), was not transferred into any of the published versions of the Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue; its first appearance in print is in Partridge DSUE (1937)1 a proverbial phr. defining the misfortunes as 'broke the [chamber-] pot, bes[hi]t the bed and cut her a[r]se' (Grose, 1785). C. 1786 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [ms. note in unpub. working copy of 1785 1st edn] Moll's three misfortunes: broke the [chamber-] pot, bes[hi]t the bed and cut her a[r]se. posture moll (n.) a prostitute who specializes in stripping and adopting sexually arousing positions before her customer. C.1700 London-Bawd (1705) 147: You shall see a Jolly Crew of Active Dames, which will perform such lecherous Agilities [...] by Madam Creswel, Posture Moll, the Countess of Alsatia, or any other German Rope-dancer whatever,

square moll (n.) an honest woman. 1859,1860 HOTTEN Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864,1867,1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1873 SI. Diet.

2 of a man, to act effeminately. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 137: moll [...] 2. to walk, skip or

mince. 3 (US) to work as a prostitute. 1954 Time 28 June 57: When a girl cannot get modeling dates in New York, there is nothing for her to do, it would appear, but to accept the $100 kind. She winds up moiling for mobsters [HDAS],

moll blood n. [Scot, nickname] the gallows. 1818 W. Scort Heart of Mid-Lothian (1883) 219: It's d---d hard, when three words of your mouth would give the girl the chance to nick Moll Blood.

Moll Doyle n. ■ In phrases give someone Moll Doyle (v.) [Moll Doyle's daughters, a clandestine agrarian society, pitted against rapacious landlords and similar figures] (Irish) to scold, to reprimand, usu. of a wife to a husband. 1997 Share Slanguage.

■ In exclamations by the powers of Moll Doyle! (also by the powers of Moll Kelly!) [see cit. 1905] (Irish) a mild oath. 1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 63: 'By the powers of Moll Kelly!' smiled Gram. 1836 T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 208: 'By the powers of Moll Kelly,' said he. 1837 'Paddy Blake's Echo' in Bentley's Misc. Feb. 187: Oh! by the pow'rs of Moll Kelly. 1863 'Rafferty's Party' in Donnybrook-Fair Comic Songster 50: By the powers of Moll Kelly, 'twas rare fun. 1895 J. Kirby Old Times in Bush 182: Be the powers of Moll Kelly [.,.] who cud shtand that. 1905 P.W. Joyce in Wright E.D.D. 147/1: During the 18th and the early part of the 19th century the Irish peasantry often formed themselves into various secret societies [...] these societies were always supposed to be under some leader, generally fictitious, with a fanciful name, Moll Doyle was one [....] 'By the powers of Moll Doyle,' [was] often heard as a sort of harmless oath.

molley n. 1 see moll-tooler under moll n. 2 see MOLLY n.^ (2).

mollie n. see molly n.^ (2). mollisher n. (also mollesher) [moll n. woman] 1 a woman.

(1);

?

link to Rom.

monishi,

a

1812 Vaux Vocab. of the Flash Lang. 1821 Egan Life in London (1869)

217: Jerry is in Tip Street upon this occasion and the Mollishers are all nutty upon him. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 424/2: One old mollesher (woman), brought out 8 lbs. of white rags. 2 a slattern. 1822 Tom and Jerry; A Musical Extravaganza 54: Mollishers, hunters. 1830 Egan Finish to the Adventures of Tom and Jerry (1889) 245: Don't be alarmed, mollishersf [f Low women on the town], 1859, 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 1864, 1867, 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 3 a thief's mistress. 1859 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. 63: Mollisher a low girl or woman; generally a female cohabiting with a man, and jointly getting their living by thieving. 1861 Melbourne Punch 'City Police Court' 3 Oct. n.p.: The Mayor. - Oh, I can voker Romany as well as you; so shut your gob, and don't be kicksy. What's become of your mollisher? 1870 Hotten SI. Diet. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 157: mollesher [...] MOLLISHER the Sweetheart of a criminal.

Moll Kelly n. m In exclamations by the powers of Moll Kelly! see by the powers of Moll Doyle! under Moll Doyle n. mollock V. [? dial, marlock, to frolic, to gambol -I- rollick, coined by Stella Gibbons in Cold Comfort Farm (1932)] to cavort, to have a good time, to have sexual intercourse. 1959 A. Sinclair Breaking of Bumbo (1961) 70: Hoo's tha' auld City wurrrld bin mollockin' ye around the noo?

Moll Peatley’s jig n. (also Moll Peatley’s jigg, Moll Peatly’s gig, ...jigg) [? the name of a well-known contemporary prostitute -I- GIG n.^ (VISEJig] sexual intercourse, 'a rogering bout' (Grose, 1788). 1772 Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 126: Whilst thus they danc'd MOLL peatley's jig, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Moll Peatly's Jigg. A rogering bout. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788[. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1788],

moll-rowing n. see molrowing n. Moll Thompson’s mark n. [the sign M.r. inscribed on empty packages] used to describe an empty bottle.

molly

1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p,: Moll Thompson's mark M.T. i.e. empty, take away this bottle, it has Moll Thompson's mark upon it. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1864,1867, 1870 Hottbn SI. Diet. 1873

SI. Diet.

molly n.’' Igeneric use of female name, underlined by Fr. molle, soft; note US regional dial, cut up molly, to act in an extravagant, frolicsome manner; ballad 'The Maid's Resolution to follow her Love' (c.1820) which uses 'Madam Molly' for a woman who poses as a soldier] 1 {also moll) a male homosexual, an effeminate man; also attrib. 1693 'Jenny Cromwells Complaint against Sodomy' Harleian Mss.

7315.226: Scarsdale [...] skulks about the Alleys And is content with Bettys, Nans and Mollys. 1707 N. Ward London Terraefilius V 10; He behaves himself more like a Catamite, an Eunuch, or one of those Ridiculous Imitators of the Female Sex, call'd Mollies, than like a Son oiAdam. 1722 Select Trials at Old Bailey (1742) 1281: Clayton came in and quarrelled with me, and called me Molly and Sodomite. 1728 Proceedings Old Bailey 16 Oct. 6/1: When any Member enter'd into their Society, he was christened by a female Name, and had a Quartern of Geneva thrown in his Face; one was call'd Orange Deb, another Nel Guin, and a third Flying Horse Moll. 1729 Life of Thomas Neaves 35; Those detestable Set of People call'd Molly’s,or Sodomites. 1732 Proceedings Old Bailey 6 Sept. 219/2: The Boy complain'd to me about three Quarters of a Year ago, that the Prisoner was a Molly and a Sodomite, and that he had committed Sodomy with him, and been the ruin of him. 1749 Satan's Harvest Home 50; Some of our Tip top Beaus dress their Heads on quilted Hair Caps, to make 'em look more Womanish; so that Master Molly has nothing to do but slip on his Head Cloaths and he is an errant Woman. 1785, 1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Molly. A Miss Molly; an effeminate fellow, a sodomite. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1785]. 1855 Yokel's Preceptor title page: Here will be found A Capital Show-Up of the Most Infamous Pegging Kens, Sharking Fakes, Gulping Holes, Bellowsing Rooms, Fencing Cribs, Molly Clubs, Dossing Hotels, Fleecing Holes, c.1864 parody in Rakish Rhymer (191 7) 122: O, where will I go when the law breaks my f—king, / And the Mollies have to scatter around? 1896 "Arry on Blues and Bluestockings' in Punch 21 Mar. 135/1: Us as is men and not mollies. [Ibid.] 135/2: A man as is really a man, mate, and not just a molly in bags. 1898 H. Macilwaine Dinkinbar 72: I'd call you a Molly if I didn't think you'd get in a rage and read no more of this. 1910 P.W. Joyce Eng. As We Speak It In Ireland (1979) 295: Molly; a man who busies himself about women's affairs or does work that properly belongs to women. 1929 M. Bodenheim Sixty Seconds 43: It was all right to be a molly and see queer things and love to pick bunches of wild flowers and get so damn soft inside you couldn't recognize yourself; if you didn't show this weaker side to any one — the boys in particular. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn). 1961 F. O'Connor An Only Child (1970) 101: Everything would go well [...] till I said something wrong or used a word that no one understood, and then the whole group jeered me, and called me 'Molly' (our word for sissy). 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 131: feminine acting [...] molly. 1981 (con. 1920s) P. Crosbie Your Dinner's Poured Outl 132; Further up the river were other pools [...] 'Last in is a Molly'. [Ibid.] 218: He's a bit of a molly. 1995 A. Higgins Donkey's Years 96: Grogan is no Molly. 1999 G. Seal Lingo 114: The gay culture, long a clandestine network, by necessity developed a sophisticated little lingo for communication. This includes [...] molly, a term in use at least as early as the 1720s.

2 (a/so molley, mollie) a prostitute. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 5: Town follies and cullies,

and Molleys and Dolleys. 1904 'Number 1500' Life In Sing Sing 250: Molly. A prostitute. 1913 B.T. Harvey 'Word-List From The North¬ west' in DNW'.i 28: tommy, n. A girl. Also called [...] molly. 1924 G. Henderson Keys to Crookdom 411: Molly. Disreputable woman. 1949 Monteleone Criminal SI. (rev. edn) 156: mollie [...] molly A prostitute. 3 (Irish) a young woman. 1886 M.E. Braddon Mohawks III 127; The cry of the sweep [...] and

Irish Molly with her clattering milk-pails. 1973 (con. 1940s-60s) Hogbotel & EFUCKES 'The Ballad of Dan Homer' in Snatches and Lays 18: There's none av yer mollies-come-roll-on-the-grass, / But the foine-spoken gels of the best social class. 1982 E. Mac Thomais Janey Mack, Me Shirt is Black 86: I've known Mollys with bikes, Mollys with skates, Mollys with foot scooters. 1993 R. Doyle Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha 63: Dreaming about a molly, said James Q'Keefe.

4 (US) a fool. 1905 H. Green Actors' Boarding House (1906) 97; What molly you? Gettee 'way, gettee 'way, heap damn fool!

molly

1638

■ Derivatives mollyish (adj.) effeminate. 1802 Sporting Mag. May XX 119/2: If it wan't for the petticoat-geer.

With their squeaking so molly-ish, tender, and soft. One should scarcely know ma'am from monsieur. 1891 in Punch 10 Jan. 21: Home-staying fogies of mollyish mood.

■ In compounds molly-booby (n.) (W.I., Bdos) a fool. 1970 F. Collymore Notes for Gloss, of Barbadian Dial. 77: Molly-booby.

[...] A silly person, a duffer, n.'' (4)] a catamite. 1726 Select Trials at Old Bailey (1 742) II 367: He removed to Beech-lane. where he likewise kept Rooms for the Entertainment of the MollyCulls. 1732 Proceedings Old Bailey 5 July 168/1: Why he's one of them as you call Molly Culls, he gets his Bread that way; to my certain Knowledge he has got many a Crown under some Gentlemen, for

molly-cull (n.) [cull

going of sodomiting Errands, (n.) (US gay) a lesbian. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular. 1982 Maledicta VI;H-2 (Summer/ Winter) 134: molly dike (which Rodgers traces to U.K. 'molly = bosom, woman, effeminate' but the point is in the connection between molly and women's clothes, as with the disguised Molly

molly dike

Maguires).

molly-dodger

(n.) (US) a euph. for motherfucker n.

1964-69 in S. Calt Rather Be Devil 64: 1 say, 'I don't want no

mollydodger (motherfucker)... to ease mein' [the'dozens'] [HDAS].

molly-dooker (n.) [?

duke n^, with derog. sense that an effeminate man,

like a left-handed person, would be clumsy or ? MAULEY n.j (Aus.) a lefthanded person; thus molly-dook(ed), left-handed. Baker Popular Diet. Aus. SI. 47: Mollydooker, a left-handed person. Whence, 'mollydook' (adj.): left-handed, mollyhead (n.) (also mollyhawk) (-head six] a fool, a simpleton.

1941

1900 T.J. Hains Mr Trunnell Mate of the Ship 'Pirate' Ch. ii: 'Who are

you, you molly-hawk, to give orders aboard here?' roared Andrews. 1902 Munsey's Mag. Jan. 492/1: Stephens is in it to pass the stuff to the mollyheads that can't be got at without him [OED]. 1993 D. Carey Best Destiny 126: Burgoyne jabbed his finger forward and spat his mustache out so he could speak. 'It's roight theh, Dazzo,' he said. 'See it, mollyhead? '. (n.) [SE house/HOUSE n.’' (1)1 a male homosexual

molly house

brothel. 1726 Proceedings Old Bailey 20 Apr. 6/1: Samuel Stephens thus depos'd. Mrs. Clap's house was notorious for being a Molly-house. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 36: If Dalton and Susan would go to such a Place, naming a noted Molly-house, near Billingsgate, they would come to them. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 137: molly house (dated, Brit) a heterosexual whore¬ house that would accommodate wealthy homosexuals, molly man (n.) an effeminate homosexual. 1928 Moses Mason 'Molly Man' [lyrics] Molly man's coming /1 hear his voice / He's got hot tamales. 1999 (con. 1916) R. Doyle A Star Called Henry (2000) 102: Call yourselves men? You're only molly men. molly-mop (n.) (dollymop n.j an effeminate man. 1829 Marryat Naval Officer Ch. xvi: I'll disrate you, [...] you d—d

molly mop.

molly’s hole

(n.) [moll n. -e hole n.^j the vagina.

1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

molly shop (n.) see moll shop under moll n. mollyslop (adj.) (slop nj' (2)] nonsensical, weak, with overtones of effeminacy. 1885 "Arry on 'onesty' in Punch 31 Jan. 60/1: /shouldn't go spouting of morals, pure art, and such mollyslop muck. 1895 "Arry on the Season' in Punch 22 June 298/1: 'The sun rolling bounteous from Aries,' and reams o' such molly slop muck, mollywopper (n.) (US) a euph. for motherfucker n. 1973 D. PONICSAN Cinderella Liberty 59: I can't find the mollywopper.

But eventually I will, and then I'd like to kill him.

■ In phrases Miss Molly (n.) an effeminate homosexual. 1725 N. Ward Amorous Bugbears 36: Another [...] comes behind Miss Molly and throwing a Box full of Spanish Snuff upon the Seat of her Smicker, made her Backside look as offensively besmear'd, as the hind Lappet of a Drayman's Shirt. 1785,1788,1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Molly. A Miss Molly; an effeminate fellow,

a sodomite.

Tom Molly

(n.) an effeminate homosexual.

1821 'A Real Paddy' Real Life in Ireland 269: I suppose you're a bit of

a Tom Molly, and think you do these things better than the women. I shouldn't wonder if you carry the key of the tea-chest in your pocket.

molly

momma

1639

molly n.^ [play on SE black molly, a species of tropical fish, which the black

1863 G.A. Sala Breakfast in Bed 105: 'Tis like an old hat that has been

pills may be seen as resembling) {US drugs) usu. in pi. mollies, amphetamines; usu. as blue mollies, black mollies, or even yellow mollies.

'molokered', or ironed and greased into a simulacrum of its pristine freshness. 1889-90 Barrere & Leland Diet, of SI., Jargon and Cant 11 60/1: Molocher (popular) a cheap hat. 1892 Westminster Gazette 4 Aug. 3: Molocker, it appears, is the trade term for renovated old chapeaux [F&H]. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 747/1: molo(c)ker, A renovated hat.

1975 L.

Dills

CB Slanguage. 1976

Lieberman

&

Rhodes

CB Hbk 132:

Mollies — Uppers or sleep-retarding pills. 2003 SI. Synonyms for Drugs on Ajax.org [Internet] nembutal yellow mollies.

■ In phrases black mollies (n.) (US drugs) amphetamine. 1977 L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs. 1979 D. Gram Foxes (1980) 40: Sweet things, like [...] Black Mollys and even some Wild Turkey. 2000 J. Ellroy 'Grave Doubt' in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 108: He boozed. He sniffed coke. He smoked weed. He popped black mollys.

Molly Ban/Bawn n. [used as(?coined by) the title of a popular ballad by Samuel Lover (1797-1868)1 [Irish) confusion, worry; thus the times of Molly Ban, a riotous good time. 1916 W. Ryan Letter in Share Slanguage n.p.: They were drawing a cordon round the city [...] This caused 'Molly Bawn' with us - we were trying to finish off the [whiskey] stills and shut down [BS]. 1992 B. Leyden Departures n.p.: Why should they get married when Mammy does it all? They have the times of Molly Ban, with mothers dancing attendance on them [BS].

mollyfock n.

a euph. for motherfuck n.

1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aict Acid Test (1969) 174: What the mollyfock is hairy krishna — who is this hairy freak,

mollyfocking adj. [also mollyfogging)

a euph. for motherfuck-

iNC adj.

1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 175: These mollyfocking Pranksters were test-proof. The Angels didn't know what permissive was until they got to Kesey's. 1978 T. Wolfe in Harper's Mag. Mar. 117: The next one of you peckerwoods who [...] refers to me as 'you mollyfoggin' lamehead' is gonna gel a new hole in his nose [HDAS].

mollygrubs n. see mulligrubs n. mollying adj. [molly n.^ (1)1 homosexual. 1726 Proceedings Old Bailey 20 Apr. 6/2: But they look'd a ske upon Mark Partridge , and call'd him a treacherous, blowing-up Mollying Bitch. 1726 Select Trials at Old Bailey (1742) II 371: I was [...] sent to Bridewell a second Time. And a third Time was only for raising a Disturbance about a Mollying-Cull in Covent-Garden. 1728 J. Dalton Narrative of Street-Robberies 33: He being outrage'd at such effeminate Actions, took up a Quart Pot, and calling them a Pack of mollying Sons of B-—s, swore he would drive 'em all to the D---1. 1729 J. Dyer Narrative of Life before Execution 24: The Molleying-Bitch had a Goose with him, which we made bold to take with us, and we had it roasted the next Day.

molly maguire n. [rhy. si.] (orig. Aus.) a fire. 1951 E. Hill Territory 446: You take the drive-me-silly and go down to the bubble-and-squeak and get some mother-and-daughter, and I'll light the Molly Maguire and we'll have some Gypsy Lee. 2002 B. Kirkpatrick Wicked Cockney Rhy. SI. 2004 Pete's Aussie SI. Page [Internet] Molly Maguire: a fire.

Molly Maguired adj. [rhy. sl.l tired. 1998 R. PuxLEY Fresh Rabbit.

molly (malone) n. [rhy. si.) the telephone. 1969 S.T.

Kendall

Up the Frog. 1977 D. Powis Signs of Crime 193: Molly

(Malone) The telephone.

Molly O’Morgan n. [rhy. s[.] 1960 J.

an organ.

Diet, of Rhy. SI. 1969 S.T. Kendall Up the Frog. 1972 & Saczek Diet, of Cockney Rhy. SI. 1992 R. Puxley Cockney

Franklyn

Dodson

Rabbit.

molly (the monk) adj. [rhy. s[.] [Aus.) drunk. 1966 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxvi. 6/1: Now the basic type of booze, and that which induces the most popular result (gets you molly the monk) is - wait for it - beer. 1973 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) cliv. 2/4: Ophelia was more than a little bit Molly the Monk after Parkinson had been loosening her up a bit with three bottles of Quelltaler hock.

molo adj. (? SE molly, a meeting of ships' captains, poss. for drinking] (Aus.) drunk. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 34: molo (adj.) — Drunk. 1925 (con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 157: Molo: Drunk. 1953 T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 186: It's usually a good turn down at the Causeway, even if the blokes do get a bit molo and want to fight. 1983 R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 15: He was half molo when he jumped into a slapsie to go home,

molocher n.

[also molocker, moloker) [? SE lacquered] a renovated hat, ironed and greased back to something resembling its original condition; note v. use in cit. 1863; cit. 1889 is prob. mis-defined.

molonjohn n. see mulenyam n. molrower n. [molrowinc n.] a womanizer. 1978 Maledicta 11:1+2 (Summer/Winter) 118: He misses the acting duo of The Lunts and junta = cunter 'playboy', ass-bandit, formerly molrower (now obsolete, like so many other vivid sex terms: swive, Athenian, ell, etc.).

molrowing n. {also moll-rowing) [moll n. (1)/moll n. (2) + SE row, a noise (the woman's amatory groans are compared to the screeching of mating cats)) 1 going out on a (whoring) spree; thus molrow v. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modem SI. etc. 1873 SI. Diet. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 83: Courtisaner. To whoremonger; 'to molrow'. 2 caterwauling, making a noise; also as adj.; also as v., molrow. 1840 R.B. Peake Devil In London I iv: The man wot crows, the person wot molrows, the individual wot brays, c.1860 'What Shall We Do For Meat!' in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 127: She would be moll-rowing all the night, / And mewing in the morning. 1865 Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 47/1: With one blow from his 'neddy' [Joe] laid the poor cat lifeless, exclaiming: 'There, you moll¬ rowing devil: take that for showing your "mug" where 'twasn't wanted'. 1894 G.A. Sala Things 1 Have Seen II 121: Cats [...] whose diabolical moll-rowings still ring in my ears.

■ In phrases go molrowing (v.) of a man, to have sexual intercourse. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues.

moivyn n. {S.Afr. gay) a male homosexual. 2003 K. Cage Gayle.

mom n. {US gay) a passive partner in a lesbian relationship. 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast the First Stone 34: She was the head pop and all the other moms thought I was hot stuff to get her. 1967 S. Harris Hellhole 84: And, at Hudson, I gained a lot because I was Jerry's mom. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular.

mome n. [? Fr. mome, a little child or an innocent, or mum, dumb] a fool, a simpleton. 1550 Udall Ralph Roister Doister V ii: It was none but Roister Doister,

that foolish mome. 1560 Nice Wanton Aii: I had rather be hanged were. Then I would syt quakyng like a mome for feare. 1568 Hist, of Jacob and Esau I i: No, that were in vaine: Alas, good simple mome. a.1583 Flodden Field in Child Ballads vii 73: Away with this foolish mome. 1600 J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act II: I must keep company with none but a sort of Momes and Hoydens that know not chalk from cheese. 1609 Dekker Gul’s Horne-Booke 5: Growtnowles and Moames will in swarmes fly buzzing about thee. 1612 J. Taylor Laugh and Be Fat 15: That man may well be call'd an idle mome. 1630 J. Taylor 'Brood of Cormorants' in Works (1869) III 12: And so like Coles dog the vntutor'd mome, / Must neither goe to Church nor bide at home. a.1658 'Wooing of Robin & Joan' in Ebsworth Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII:2 310: ‘You must' (Sir Clown) is for the king: / And not for such a mome. 1668 A. Brome 'The Contented' in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 271: A stout tongued Lawyer is but a mome, / Compared to a stout file-leader. 1682 Mennis & Smith et al. 'The West-Country Batchelors Complaint' Wit and Drollery 92: Sir Clown, is for a King, / And not for zuch a Mome. 1719 in D'Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 131: At this the Knight look'd like a Mome.

momick v. (a/so mommuck) (US) to beat, to injure, to damage. 1924 D. Hammett 'Nightmare Town' in Nightmare Town (2001) 12:

Some day we're going to find him all momicked up. 1934 Z.N. Hurston Jonah's Gourd Vine (1995) 46: Is you heard who took and

scratched it, and put smut out de chimbley all over it and mommucked it all up?

momma rtf'

[var. on mama n.] 1 (US black) {also mommy) a woman, any woman, spec, as a term of address. 1939 P. Cheyney Don't Get Me Wrong (1956) 48: Nine hundred and ninety-nine guys out of every thousand believe that all the mommas they happen across are just sweet, soft an' lovin' babies. a.1955 'Kitty Barrett' in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 53: Say, Mommy, where are you from? 1958 Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 119: Here's a credential for you, momma! 1962 P. Crump Bunt, Killer, Burn! 92: Dig my man Roach kicking them weird sounds, momma. 1972 Milner & Milner Black Players 194: Most often the ho is called 'Momma' affectionately by her man. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 18: Listen, Mommy, you're gonna be fine tonight. 1981 J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 151: At least one massive momma came wallumping into the Hollywood vice office bitching about a Tuna Can Tommy Polaroid she found on her windshield. 1998 (con.

momma

1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 11: Oh, she was a juicy

2

momma! a male-to-male term of friendly address. 1962 P. Crump Burn. Killer, Burnt 19: You know we's ace-boon-

coons, momma. 3 (US black) a girlfriend, a lover. 1962 P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 163: That momma Marion would jump salty if she knew you was blowing weed. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 247: momma [...] 2. A lover, mate, girlfriend. 4 synon. for motherfucker n. 1975 CBS-TV 1 June [TV] If I don't defrost this momma [a refrigerator] pretty soon, I can return it to Peggy Fleming to rehearse in [R]. 1989 H. Rawson Diet, of Invective (1991) 258: Such variations on the unstated theme as M.F., Marshall Field, and Mister Franklin, the slurred mo ’-fo ’ and muh-fuh, the rococo triple-clutcher, popularized by black truck drivers in army construction battalions; and the clipped momma, mother, and muther.

■ In compounds momma-hopper (rt.) see under mother- n. momma’s game (n.) (a/so momma’s dozen) (US black) a name¬ calling ritual that depends heavily on

mutually abusing the

participants' mothers. 1980 E. Folb Runnin' Down Some Lines 93: Somebody get to sayin' somethin' 'bout some else's momma. 'Aw, y' momma!' They be playin'. 'You momma's a dog!' Start d' momma's game! [...] We don't play d' momma's dozen too much. That starts confusion. [...] A lotta confusion, a lotta fightin'. Don' shoot on d' moms less'n you fittin' to fight. 1992 R.C. Cruz Straight Outta Compton 17: [chaper heading] Momma's Game.

■ In phrases sweet momma (n.) see sweet mama under sweet adj\ momma n.^ see mammy n.\ mommuck v. see momick v. mommux (up) v. see momox (up) v. mommy n. 1 (S.Afr./US gay) the lesbian equivalent of a daddy n. (8). 1966 R. Giallombardo Gloss, in Study of a Women's Prison 124: The

'femme' or 'mommy' plays the female role in a homosexual relationship. 2003 K. Cage Gayle. 2 see MOMMA n.^ (1). mommy up v. (SAmE mommy, mother] (US campus) to love, to hug, to comfort. 1988 Eble Campus SI. Oct. 6: mommied up - loved, hugged, comforted: He was mommied-up by his girlfriend when he stepped off the plane. 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 30: Athough English has dozens of particles available for word building, almost all of the examples in college slang use out, on, ojf and up-. [...] mommy up 'love, hug, comfort'.

momo n. (also mo-mo) [abbr.

SE mo(ron) -E redup.) (US) a stupid

person. 1960,1975 Wentworth & Flexner DAS. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 52: Theres gonna be hobos! homos! and momos! in Our Park long after youve grown deaf and dumb. 1978 R. Price Ladies' Man (1985) 86: La Donna would be sitting there with some big momo from Duluth front row centre. 1997 (con. 1970s) G. Pelbcanos King Suckerman (1998) 20: Standing there, sipping their drinks like a couple of mo¬ mos. 2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] momo Definition: a person of low intelligence Example: Listen to me, you dumb fuckin ’ momo!

momox n. [momox (up) v.) a mess, a muddle. 1869 G.W. Harris 'Sut Lovingood Sets Up with a Gal' Knoxville Daily

Press and Messenger IV 29 Sept, in Inge (1967) 216: I allways manages to make a momox ove the juty.

momox (up) v. (also mommux (up)) [? flummox v. (3)] (US) to confuse, to bewilder, to confound, to botch. 1867 G.W. Harris Sut Lovingood's Yams 206: I'll bet yu my shut agin

that ar momoxed up roas'in har, that hits chawed into dish rags. 1909 L.W. Payne Jr 'Word-List From East Alabama' in DN IILv 350: mommux (up), v. To botch, spoil in the making. 'He mommuxed up that house' [...] To mix badly, confuse utterly. 'He got all mommuxed up on that job.' 1953 Randolph & Wilson Down in the Holler 266: The fellow momoxed the job.

mompara n. (also momparra) [Eanakalo mompara, a fool, waste matter] (S.Afr.) 1 of black workers, a novice, a greenhorn. 1899 G.H. Russell Under the Sjambok 29: Except for the ordinary

Kafir mouchi, he wore no clothing, and I could see that he was a mompara.

2

monarch

1640

mompara (fool) could follow their trail. 1950 R. McNab Towards the Sun: A Misc. of Southern Africa 188: You mompara, so you've been messing up the place all the time. I'll kick you when you re better and there's a bit of room. 1989 J. Hobbs Thoughts in a Makeshift Mortuary 159: Don't be such a mompara. Bra Jake. 2008 A. Lovejoy 'The Smell of Tears' at www.acidalex.com [Internet] 3: Fokking momparras.

mompyns n. (also munpins)

[lit. 'mouth-pins'] the teeth.

C.1460 Towneley Mysteries 'Prima Pastorum' (3) line 209: Let vs go

foder Cure mompyns. c.1475 Lydgate Minor Poems 30: Thy monepynnes bene lyche old yuory Here are stumpes feble and her are none. 1523-4 Skelton 'How the Douty Duke of Albany' in Henderson Complete Poems (1948) 406:1 shrewe thy Scottishe lugges. Thy munpynnys, and thy crag.

momser n. (also momza, momzer, momzir) [Heb. mamzer, a bastard, adapted in Eat. and thus used throughout the Middle Ages. The modern use, however, is related to Yid., and imported by Jewish immigrants to US and UK] a catch-all term implying everything from great affection to deep dislike. [1866 Amer. Hebrew 22 Oct. 163/1: 'Mamser tome' (rascal) said Saloshitz with indignation.] [1899 Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 27: No, ye miserable momzie-bedniddah.] 1900 Sporting Times 3 Mar. 1/4: Accha Nebbish! the momzir's owed me five times fifty since las' Ascot. 1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 9: Take him! You should be proud of such a little momser for a son! 1929 S.J. Perelman in Marschall That Old Gang o' Mine (1984) 81: 'Look here, momzer,' said old Judge Prouty. 1941 B. Schulberg What Makes Sammy Run? (1992) 188: Oh, you dumb son-of-a-bitch, you glutton for punishment, you momser you, 1958 (con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 122: Smuck, puhtz, momser, shtup ... I keep learnin', Mel, I'll be talkin' Jewish right good. 1962 S. Longstreet Flesh Peddlers (1964) 28: Let the momsers at the other offices sweat to make the big names. [Ibid.] 193: You lying momser. 1965 R.L. Pike Mute Witness (1997) 70: If it wasn't for that momser Chalmers I'd be calling you 'Captain' instead of the other way round. 1967 L. Bruce Essential Lenny Bruce 197: There's always momzas that ask about your wife. 1971 N. Smith Gumshoe (1998) 119: The Scottish, Jewish hood from the dole, Straker. My Yiddisher momser. 1989 W. Kotzwinkle Midnight Examiner (1990) 13: The strapless brassiere people are reliable [...] But these other momsers ... 1999 R.K. Tanenbaum Act of Revenge 144: Him and Heshy Panofsky, the momser, that was his partner. [.,.] He's still a momser. 2004 H.R. Goodman My Sister's Wedding 16: The momser got in late and is a total mess. I can't promise you he's coming.

mon n.^ (also mun) [abbr.] (US) money. 1893 S. Crane Maggie, a Girl of the Streets (2001) 64: Put yer mon in yer pocket! Yer loaded an' yehs on'y makes a damn fool of yerself. 1896 W.C. Gore Student SI. in Cohen (1997) 7: mun n. Money. 1913 Nebraska State Journal 8 Dec. in DN IV:ii 120: No hold-up man who draws his gun on me will ever get my mon. 1917 R. Lardner 'The Water Cure' in Gullible's Travels 192: I don't have to work [..,] I got the mon. 1924 F.J. Wilstach SI. Diet. Stage 29: 'Mazum,' 'mazuma,' 'cush,' 'denoya,' 'rocks,' 'spons,' 'spondulix,' 'long green,' 'yellow¬ backs,' 'dough,' 'mononny,' 'da mon'-.

mon

[imitation of W.l. pron.]

(orig. US campus)

used as a term of

address, man.

1968 T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 71: Everybody is off

the bus [...] laughing, giggling, yahooing, zonked to the skies on acid, because, mon, the woods are burning. 1977 Eble Campus SI. Apr. 3: mon - an alternative pronunciation of man: Hey, mon, what you doing? 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 18: Got us a little Rasta mon here. Peace, love, an ganja.

monacher/monack/monacker/monacre n. see monni KER n. monaghan n. [proper name, presumably of a specific individual] (Irish) a fool, a clown. 1689 Irish Hudibras n.p.: And today make Holy-day / When all de Monaghans shall play / Ordain a statute to be drunk, / And burn tobacco free as spunk [BS]. c.1735 Swift A Dialogue in Hibernian Stile n.p.: I have seen him often riding on a sougawn. In short he is no better than a spawlpeen, a perfect Monaghan [BS].

monaker n. see monniker n. Mona Lisa n. [rhy. si.] 1 a freezer. 1985 Wheeler & Broadhead Upper Class Rhy. SI. 12: When Ma finds

out that Willy's raided the Mona Lisa, she'll wipe that smile off his face. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

2 a pizza. 1998 R. Puxley Fresh Rabbit.

monarch n.^ [the monarch's head on the coin] a sovereign.

a fool, an idiot, also used as a term of affection.

1857 advert in 'Ducange Anglicus' Vulgar Tongue (1857) 45: Upper

1930 S. Macdonald Susan Outside 240: He is very scornful of my poor

Benjamins built on a downy plan, a monarch to half a finnuff, 1890 Sporting Times 11 Jan. 1: [He] Asked him Politely if he had Dropped a

Lancelot whom he refers to as 'lo Mompara' (the fool). 1933 J.T. Muirhead Ivory Poaching and Cannibals in Africa 37: [...] any

Monarch. 1938 (con.

1900s)

J.B.

Booth

Sporting Times

24:

A couple

monarch

of [...] Youths, the Elder of whom Asked him Politely if he had Dropped a Monarch,

monarch n.^ Monday n.

see monniker n.

■ SE in slang uses ■ Derivatives Mondayish (ad/.) {also Mondayfied) disinclined to work, esp. after a festive weekend. 1873 SI. Diet. 227: Mondayish, or Mondayfied disinclined for work. 'St.

Monday' is a great institution among artizans and small tradesmen.

■ In compounds Monday mouse (n.)

[mouse n. (3)] a black eye, resulting from a

Saturday or Sunday night (drunken) fight. 1909 J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

■ In phrases blue Monday (n.) see separate entry. crib-crust Monday (n.) [? crib v.^ + SE crust; one has no money for food and must scrounge crusts] {UK juv.) the Monday before Advent. 1860 Hotten Diet, of Modern SI. etc. (2nd edn).

Monday and Tuesday (ad/.) [the correct order of the days of the week] slow, steady, careful. 1959 E. De Roo Young Wolves 57: Play it cool, I hope. We got to be Monday and Tuesday, brother. It's us against them downstairs, and what they don't know won't hurt 'em. St Monday (n.) see separate entry.

Monday morning quarterback

n. {also (Saturday night and) Sunday morning quarterback) [amateur criticism of the week's pro football matches, played on Sundays] {US) a person who criticizes with the benefit of hindsight. 1931 Arcadia (CA) Trib. 30 Oct. 5/4: But he found a Roman army there before him, with another close on his trail. He was licked, and he knew it. He didn't spend any time in vain regrets. Spartacus was never a Sunday morning quarterback. 1931 N.Y. Times 5 Dec. 22: Barry Wood, Harvard's all-America quarterback, mounted the ramparts in the role of a defender today [...] The answer to overemphasis was to be found not on the field, but in the stands, where sit what Wood called 'the Monday morning quarterbacks.' 1931 Sheboygan (WI) Press 17 Nov. 4/3: Are you one of those Saturday night and Sunday morning quarterbacks who knows what they 'should have' done to win the game? 1958 R. Chandler Playback 101: Common sense is the Monday morning quarterback who could have won the ball game if he had been on the team. 1978 P. Theroux Picture Palace 32: I know all old people are Monday morning quarterbacks.

Monday morning quarterback with the benefit of hindsight; quarterbacking.

v. (see prev.) (US) to criticize usu. as n., Monday morning

1946 N.Y. Times 16 Jan. 16/6: Mr. McHale, attacking 'all the Monday

morning quarterbacking' on veterans' problems, said inadequate planning was responsible for the present lack of housing [OED]. 1950 N.Y. Times 22 Oct. VII 1: This Monday-morning quarterbacking is balanced by the fact that he knew the Allied course was wrong even in Italy [HDAS]. 1962 R. Tregaskis Vietnam Diary 43: It's easy to do Monday-morning quarterbacking, but the Rangers [...] reported that the VC were going to move in. 1971 Seattle Times 17 Jan. A7: Shaw criticized 'Monday-morning quarterbacking' of field opera¬ tions from Washington [HDAS]. 1994 N.Y. Times 24 June A24: Analyzing, second-guessing, prognosticating, handicapping, Mon¬ day morning quarterbacking [HDAS], 2002 Guardian 18 Sept. [Internet] Equally, he was critical of what he called 'Monday morning quarterbacking', which is an American expression for hindsight.

mondo

ad/, [mondo- pfx] considerable, substantial, huge.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TV series) Whoa! Mondo nutsiness. 1999 T. Dorsey Florida Roadkill 150: They tore off two 1985

more mondo lines.

mondo

money

1641

adv. [mondo- pfx] (US teen/campus) completely, abso¬

lutely, very, exceedingly. 1982 M. Pond Valley Girl's Guide to Life 52: It was mondo party time [...] All these foxy dudes. 1992 J. Mowry Way Past Cool 10: 'Mondo gross,' said Ric, 2002 'Valley Girls' on Paranoiafanzine [Internet] We're the popular girls at school who are always into the mondo full buf and who everyone thinks are totally bitchen.

mondo-

pfx [Ital. mondo, the world (cf. -CITY sfx), first popularized by the Italian cult film Mondo Cane (1961) and, like COWABUNGA! exc/., DUDE n.^ and other Californian teen/surfer slang, mondo gained a new lease of life with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze of the late 1980sl (US) used to describe a bizarre, surprising or anarchic view of the topic under consideration, with the implication of salaciousness or (kitschy) bad taste; usu. combined with a real or cod Italian n., e.g. mondo trasho, mondo weirdo, mondo bizarro.

1966 [film title] Mondo Bizarro. 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet]

mondo bizarro adj 1, extremely strange; WEIRD. ('That bird is mondo bizarro,').

monekeer/moneker/monekur n. see monniker n. monet n. [a critical view of the work of the Fr. artist Claude/Wonet (18401926)1 (US teen) something that (lit. and fig.) looks good from afar but appears less appealing in close-up. 1995 A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] cher: No, she's a full on Monet. TAi: What's a monet? CHER: It's like a painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess. Let's ask a guy. Christian, what do you think of Amber? 1998 Eble Campus SI. Apr.

money n. 1 ref. to the commercial potential of the organs, (a) esp. of young girls, the vagina. 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Money, a girl's private parts, commonly applied to little children: as, take care, miss, or you will shew your money. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1785]. 1859 Matsell Vocabulum 56: money A private place. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1972 R.A. Wilson Playboy's Book of Forbidden Words. 1986-7 Maledicta IX 150: The original argot of prostitution includes some words and phrases which have gained wider currency and some which have not [...] money (on a girl the pussy). (b) of boys, the anus; thus used as a form of address between homosexual men. 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 137: money [...] 'I'll follow you anywhere money, er, I mean, honey!' 1986-7 Maledicta IX 150: The original argot of prostitution includes some words and phrases which have gained wider currency and some which have not [...] money ([...] on a boy the anus). 2 money's worth. 1861 (con. 1840s-50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 91/1: I sell dry fruit, sir, in February and March, because I must be doing something, and green fruit's not my money then. 3 (US) in general, the critical element or aspect, used fig., e.g. that's where the money is. 1899 W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter's Letters 55: Isn't that love lump all the money, though? It makes a well-developed case of indigestion look like a sunny summer day. 1901 'Hugh McHugh' Down the Line 13: I was anxious to make Clara Jane think that she was all the money. 1918 T. Thursday 'Words 6- Music' in Top-Notch 15 June [Internet] Hit that 'do' key; harder, Miss Hemp [...] It sounds like money. 1921 P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 157: It sounds like the money all right. Red, but I dunno. 1939 R. Chandler 'Pearls Are a Nuisance' in Spanish Blood (1946) 132: That Sunday punch of yours was the money. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 106/1: If money. If things turn out well. 'I meet the Board (Parole Board) next month, so I'll be back on the turf (out stealing) in a couple of months if money.' 1968 K. Brasselle Cannibals 226: He looked like the friggin' money. 4 {US black) {also money dog, money grip) one's best friend. 1990 Eble Campus SI. Nov. 2001 Fat Joe 'We Thuggin' [lyrics] Money lookin happy with his wife but we triz that. 5 {also money grip) a man; a rich man. 1991 Eble Campus SI. Mar. 6: money grip - person who has money and flaunts it. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 52; Money was worth a couple of hundred mil at least.

6 a general form of address to any man. 1982 Grandmaster Flash et al. 'The Message' [lyrics] What's up, money? 1992 R. Price dockers 121: He nodded to the kid. 'What's up. Money?' 2000 P. Beatty Tuff 218; Sorry about that. Money, but you know how it is when you doing business.

■ SE in slang uses ■ In compounds moneybag(s) (n.) 1 a lover of money. 1613 Rowlands Knave of Spades & Diamonds 103: To Mr. Mony-Bag

the Userer. 1818 Keats Isabella xviii: How could these money-bags see east and west? [OED]. 1936 (con. 1830s-60s) 'Miles Franklin' All That Swagger 372: My father's vision will be bearing the fruit of life when the money-bags kind of success is suppressed as out-ofdate barbarism. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Real Life 20 Feb. 5: Moneybags: both Paula Yates [...] and Elizabeth Taylor [...] had expensive partners. 2 {also money-bagger) a wealthy person; often as Mr Moneybags. 1795 R. Cumberland Wheel of Fortune IV ii: I'll marry that money¬ bag, and enrich you with the pillage of it. 1884 M.V. Fuller Mrs Rasher's Curtain Lectures 56: The only comfort I've had to-night was when I was resting on the sofa beside Mrs. Moneybags, talking over our new dresses — there! 1885 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Mar. 22/4: Had he written three figures, he would have been taken for a 'mere colonial money-bags,' who gave to the titled delegates of fashionable pauperism in the same ostentatious way as the old-fashioned Yank used to throw his dollars at the Langham hotel waiter. 1898 W.

money

money

1642

Bbsant Orange Girl I 48: What? You have deserted the money-bags? 1908 J. Guinan Soggarth Aroon 200: The post of scullery maid [...] in the service, perhaps, of some upstart 'moneybags'. 1912 Bulletin

(Sydney) 26 Dec. 13/4: Besides, when the clever son of the poor man has the same chance of superior education as a Moneybag's offspring, the latter is likely to have to earn his crust with a pick and shovel a good deal oftener than he does at present. 1931 D. Runyon 'A Nice Price' Runyon on Broadway (1954) 192: Who is my papa but an old moneybags. 1938 S. Beckett Murphy (1963) 55: For what was all working for a living but a procuring and a pimping for the money-bags, one's lecherous tyrants the money-bags, 1947-53 W. Guthrie Seeds of Man (1995) 379: I'll see how much dough I c'n raise up when 1 uncork my mouth an' tell my grubstake troubles ta my old, rich, money-bagger Aunt. 1953 W.P. McGivern Big Heat 40: Me, the fat-tailed moneybags, so they say. 1966 P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 226: Uncle Moneybag's photograph seemed to promise the certainty of honourable mention in his last will and testaments. 1978 S. King Stand (1990) 183: Tell moneybags here to pay for it. 1980 W.C. Anderson 135: What say, moneybags? 1995 M. Simpson 'Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool' Catching Up with Hist. 12: Christ our merchant prince, old money-bags in frockcoat, toffee-nosed, and well-to-do. 2008 Sun. Times (S.Afr.) 6 Jan. 1: Mr Moneybags: Schabir Shaik forked out for all Zuma's needs. moneybag{s) (adj.) wealthy. 1962 T. Berger Reinhart in Love (1963) 98: The present client is the black sheep, the foul ball, of the moneybags clan who own [etc.]. 1970 L. Bangs in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 37: Mick dagger gets immediate pie-ority as a fake moneybags revolutionary. 1988 D. WOODRELL Mwjcfe/cr the Wing 12: He [...] saw so many of the things he'd never liked reflected in these tony, awestruck, money-bag types. 1999 Guardian Rev. 6 Nov. 8: Her moneybags father had been found dead in the library. moneybox in.) (also moneybag) (its commercial potential] the vagina. 1896 Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 45: Boursavit,/. The female pudendum: 'the money-bag' [Ibid.] 101: Ecu, m. The female pudendum: 'the money-box', money bug in.) [bug n.^1 iUS) a millionaire. 1898 People 20 Mar, in Ware (1909) 177/1: It is estimated, I see, that the Vanderbilt family of millionaires [...] afford employment for three millions of human beings. The happiness or the misery of three millions of people wholly dependent on the whims and caprices of, say, half a dozen 'money bugs'. 1904 'O. Henry' Cabbages and Kings 337: The chief had got together the same old crowd of moneybtigs with pink faces and white vests to see us march in. money-cuffie in.) [cuffee n.l iW.I.) a foolish spendthrift. 1894 T. Banbury Jamaica Superstitions 43: Money Cuffie:- A fellow who can afford it, and rather makes a boast of his means, money dog in.) see money n. (4). money-dropper in.) see cold-dropper n. money grip in.) 1 see money n. (4). 2 see money n. (5). money machine in.) [its commercial potentiall iUS) the vagina. 1961 T.I. Rubin In the Life 41: Well, hole, snatch. You know, my money machine, that's what I thought of. The cash register. 1971 Rader Government Inspected 13: That's a money machine down there....I ain't no charity worker, dummy [HDAS]. money-maker in.) [the commercial potential] 1 the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer 6- Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1934 'J.M. Hall' Anecdota Americana 11 21: Liza [...] saw the reflection of her pussy in one of the puddles. She playfully pointed her finger at the reflection and said, 'There you is, you little ol' moneymaker.' [1942 Z.N, Hurston Dust Tracks On a Road (1995) 693: You kiss my black, independent, money-making ass!] 1961 Elmore James 'Shake Your Moneymaker' [lyrics] She won't shake her moneymaker, won't shake her moneymaker. She wanna roll her activator. 1977 J.L. Dillard Lex. Black Eng. 88: Her [i.e. a whore's] sexual equipment may be a moneymaker or a money 'cumulator. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 1999 Dr Drb 'Housewife' [lyrics] I mostly sold dick while I packed a gold clip / Worked my money-maker, she got paper, she bout to trip. 2 iUS) the female buttocks; also used of gay men. 1963 J. Rechy City of Night 100: 'Shake that moneymakuh, honey! —' (this to a spadequeen swishing by). 1972 B. Rodgers Queens' Vernacular 107: hit somebody in the cocksucker and knock him on his moneymaker to hit somebody in the face so hard that the blow knocks him on his ass. 1981 H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 100: She did a slow walk down the hallway, hips swaying, heels clicking. She could still shake that money maker. 1989-2003 R.O. Scott Gay SI. Diet. [Internet]. 2003 R. Kelly 'Snake' [lyrics] Let your moneymaker jump now, money pocket in.) [its commercial context) iUS black) the vagina.

2000 Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com [Internet] money pocket Definition: [...] 2. the vaginal region of a female prostitute Example: Yo, bitch you ain’t makin no money, work dat money pocket and get me some cash, now!!! You slut like a retarded midget,

money-puker in.) [SE puke, to vomit] (US) an automatic teller machine.

1993 W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 23 May 14: Moneypuker, a vivid word picture for 'automatic teller machine'. 1999 Englischlehrer.de [Internet] money puker: an automatic teller machine/cashpoint (Geldautomat). money shot in.) [SE money refers to the commercial potential of such shots -F phr. ON THE MONEY below; note, however, sense la above] 1 in pornographic still or moving pictures, a close-up of the genitalia, male or female at the moment of ejaculation (which for purposes of 'verisimilitude' always takes place outside the body).

1999 Roger's Profanisaurus 3 in Viz 98 Oct. 20: money shot n. The scene in a pornographic film where the leading man makes a small deposit from Kojak's moneybox (qv), usually over the leading lady's stomach. A pop-shot. 2006 C. Hiaasen Nature Girl 203: Tell her how much the guy's old lady was gonna pay for the money shot! 2 also fig. use, the big climax. 2000 Observer Screen 13 Feb. 2: The People's Princess speech became his political 'money shot' - the one that led to those ludicrous and unsustainable 93 per cent popularity ratings. 2001 Source Aug. 118: The 12-story historical building is the money shot. money’s mammy in.) [fig. a 'member of money's family'] (US black) a very rich person. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' Novels and Stories (1995)

1007: I got money's mammy and Grandma change, money-spinner in.) [its commercial potential] the vagina. 1890-1904 Farmer & Henley SI. and Its Analogues. 1980 Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 182: Other references to function occur in money spinner. ■

In phrases

don’t-go money in.) (US) money that one cannot afford to lose. 1972 (con. 1950s) D. Goines Whoreson 100: It would gradually accelerate until most of the players were wagering the don't-go money. money gone in Maxwell Pond in.) see under Maxwell Pond n. money talks - bullshit walks a dismissive phr. aimed at a person.

1973 K. Burkhart Women in Prison 3: Money talks, bullshit walks. If you're a Kennedy and you get busted for dope, you never do time. 1998 T, Wolfe A Man in Full 559: Money talks and bullshit walks. 2000 F.X. Toole Rope Burns 210: See there [...] Money talk and bullshit walk, like the man say. on the money iadj.) [betting imagery] (orig. US) excellent, perfect, just right.

1947 B. Stiles Serenade to the Big Bird 36: I checked the oil pressure and tuned the RPM on the money. 1972 Sat. Rev. (US) 4 Nov. 28: [The article] on politcal double talk from a poet's vantage point was right on the money. 1983 N. Heard House of Stammers 226: You're right on the money, Brotha Wally. 1992 M. Leyner Et Tu. Babe (1993) 76: Was I absolutely, 100 percent on-the-money when I hired Desiree Buttcake or what? 2000 G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 160: You w.ere right on the money. Reverend Bob. put one’s money where one’s mouth is (v.) (ong. US) fig., to back one's boasting with suitable action;

lit., to back one's

opinions with wagered money. 1942 Z.N. Hurston 'Story in Harlem SI.' in Novels and Stories (1995) 1003: 'Put your money where your mouth is!' he challenged, as he

mock-struggled to haul out a huge roll. 'Back your crap with your money.' 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 42: Say did you put your money where your mouth is? 1968 (con. 1940s) J. Healy Death of an Irish Town 26: The 'ignorant bosthoon of a spailpeen' who told you 'put your money where your mouth is' in too many arguments. 1976 M. Braly False Starts 289:1 either had to shit some real art or get off the pot, put my money where my mouth had always been. 1986 L. Heinemann Paco's Story (1987) 6: Put your money where your mouth is, Slopehead. smart money in.) (a/so right money) [note milit. jargon smart money, compensation for injuries received in service] 1 (US) spec, the way in which experienced gamblers bet. [1894 J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 240: One or two paid 'smart money' [i.e. to get out of the army].] 1926 Amer. Mercury Dec. 464/2:

In referring to money wagered by persons with good tips or information, the term used is smart money [OED]. 1930 W.R. Burnett Iron Man 5: All the smart money's on the black boy. 1952 W. Winchell 'On Broadway' 6 Aug. [synd. col.] The Smart Money must be on the Dems. 1956 J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 49: I'd figure you're right about this Coolavin. Looks like all the smart money's on. 1971 T. Thackrey Thief 183: All the smart money that

money

day was on a long shot. 1973 G.V. Higgins Digger's Game (1981) 9: I bet with the smart money this time. 1989 J. Morton Lowspeak. 2 {US Und.) a clever and successful criminal. 1950 Goldin et al. DAUL 199/1: Smart money. A clever and successful racketeer: any shrewd person. 'That ghee (fellow) is real smart money.' 3 attrib. use of sense 2. 1956 'ViN Packer' Young and Violent 36: Pushing caps for a smart money man Tea knows only by the name Ace. 4 in fig. use, good sense. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask 1: The smart money was home in bed. throw money around like a man with no hands (v.) {Aus.) to be very mean. 1984 Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1226: [...] since ca. 1950. throw money at (v.) to spend an extravagant amount of money on something, esp. in the hope of remedying a problem. 1999 Guardian G2 11 Oct. 16: 1 don't like its unreliability - I've thrown a lot of money at that car. 2000 Guardian G2 5 Jan. 5: We will do anything they tell us, throw any amount of money in their direction, just as long as they keep our computers working.

money adj. {orig. US) 1 used prenominally to denote success, proficiency, ability to win or to fulfil high expectations; e.g. money star, a famous film star; money jockey, a jockey who wins often; money card, the card that completes a winning hand in poker; money quote, a quote of a sensational exposure in a news story. 1934 Weseen Diet. Amer. SI. 260: [Sports - Miscellaneous] Money play - A professional athlete. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. SI. 572: Popular actor [...] money star. [Ibid.] 673: Knockout blow [...] money punch. 1959 E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 145: At the last meet he attended, he was only an onlooker; this time, the driver of a money car. 2 used without a n. with the same meaning, e.g. You're money; That's really moneyl 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] money adj 1. hip, suave, cool, ('You're money'). 2002 Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry [Internet] money adj./adv. Right on the mark. To be excellent. 'Yo . . . Billie . . . you are money.' 'Billy is our leading scorer on the team. He's the money.'

mong nj' [SE mongrel] (Aus.) a dog, not necessarily of mixed breed. 1941 Hackston 'The Horse from Bungowannawinnie' in Mann Coast to Coast 163: No mong's going to heel that horse. 1944 A. Marshall These Are My People (1957) 52: He had the blood of all the mongs in the district running through his veins. 1968 J. O'Grady Gone Troppo (1969) 16: Poms and Pekes, Poodles and Pugs [...] Mutts and Mongs. 1978 T. Davies More Aus. Nicknames 69: Mong (Short for Mongrel Dog). 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. Till: mong mongrel. 2003 McGill Reed Diet, of N.Z. SI. [as cit. 1988].

mong n.^ {also mongy) [abbr. SE mongol] a general term of opprobrium. The overriding implication is that of stupidity. 1988 McGill Diet, of Kiwi SI. 73/2: mong [...] a mild term of abuse. 2000 M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 77: Like a lot of Downys, the salacious mong was sex-mad. [Ibid.] 80: He banged off almost the second he was locked in the mongy's wet velvet shitlocker. 2001 Annanova 14 Dec. [Internet] An 83-year-old Australian man stabbed his wife to death because she called him a mong. Albert Hilder Goodwin is believed to be Victoria state's oldest killer. 2003 M. Haddon Curious Incident of the Dog 56: People used to call [...] the children at school spaz and crip and mong. 2004 N. 'Razor' Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 466: 'You fucking useless mongs!' I shouted at the jury.

mong adj. see mongy adj. mong v. {also do a mong) [Romany mong, to beg] (Aus.) to cadge. 1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 102: 'to do a mong' is to beg, borrow, or cadge anything. 1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Oct. 30/3: Like me, no doubt, his life was spent / In paying T.P. duns and rent, / And never left himself a cent, / But had to 'mong' on friends for cash. 1958 D. Reeve Smoke in the Lanes 32: Romanies have, for centuries, monged most of their clothing. 2006 D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 304: Books never taught a man to mong or ducker.

mongary n. see muncaree n. monged adj. {also monged-out) (mong n.^1 intoxicated by a drug, usu. MDMA. 1996 N. Blincoe 'Ardwick Green' in Champion Disco Biscuits (1997) 7: He was monged but he kept it together with a kind of feverish energy. 2000 Indep. on Sun. Culture 27 Feb. 14: Totally monged-out. 2000 N. Griffiths Grits 359: Weed so fuckin strong that ya monged afta arfa spliff.

mongee n. {also mungy) [Er. manger, to eat] {US tramp) food (cf. muncaree n.).

monger

1643

1907 J. London Road 159: You hit the French country of Montreal [...] you say, 'Mongee. tnadame, mongee, no spika da French,' an' rub your stomach an' look hungry. 1919 W.H. Downing Digger Dialects 34: MUNGY (n.) (Fr., Manger) — Food; a meal. 1926 N. Klein 'Hobo Lingo' in AS 1:12 652: Mongee — food. 1934 T. Minehan Boy and Girl Tramps of America (1976) 217: Skating on my uppers I mush talks him out of a hustle buggy ride and into mongee. 1964 (con. 1920s-40s) in J.L. Kornbluh Rebel Voices 407: Mongee - food,

monger n.

[mong V.l (Aus.) a cadger.

1900-10 Stephens & O'Brien Materials for a Diet, of Aus. SI. [unpub. ms.] 102: A push idiom is 'a regular monger,' i.e. any person always borrowing or cadging.

-monger s/x [SE monger, a dealer, a trafficker] an enthusiast or knowledgeable person. 1589 Lyly On Queen's Visit to Theobalds Works I (1902) 418: This weasel-monger, [a molecatcher] who is no better than a cat in a house or a ferret in a cony-gat, shall not dissuade your majesty from a gardener whose art is to make walks pleasant. 1589 Nashe Almond for a Parrat 2: Beare with me good Maister Pistle-monger, 1590 Book of Sir Thomas Moore facs. (E,C) (1911) I viii: I care not to bee tournd off, and twere a ladder, so it bee in my humor, or the fates becon to mee [...] and to avoid the headach, hereafter before He bee a hayrmonger He bee a whore monger. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Supererogation 45: Only in that singular veine of asses, thou art incomparable; and such an egregious arrant foole-munger, as liueth not againe. c.1595 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost II i: Thou art an old love-monger. 1598 Marston 'In Lectures' Satyres I B: Each quaint fashion-monger, whose sole repute / Rests in his trim gay clothes. 1599 Jonson Every Man Out of his Humour III ii: These star-monger knaves, who would trust them? One says dark and rainy, when 'tis as clear as chrystal. 1600 Shakespeare As You Like It III ii: If 1 could meet that fancy-monger, I would give him some good counsel. 1602 Dekker Satiromastix V ii: Make a Campe royall of fashion-mongers quake at your paper Bullets. 1607 A Knight's Conjuring Ch.VII 12: Monsieur Money-monger stood onely staring and yawning vpon him. 1611 Rowlands Knave of Clubs 29: Signieur Worde-Monger, The Ape of Eloquence. 1619 Two Wise Men and All the Rest Fooles V iv: He not give a fart for a monie-monger that shall lose a minute negligently. 1624 R. Davenport City-Night-Cap (1661) I 3: Let Balletmongers crown him with their scorns: Who buys the Bucks Head, well deserves the Horns. 1638 Ford Fancies I ii: Indeed? Th'art worse, a drie shaver, a copper basand-suds-monger. 1640 The Wandering Jew 36: I am a money-monger of Fortie in the hundred. 1653 A. Wilson Inconstant Ladie 1 i: 'Tis the best posture For your lip-mongers, that are all meere out side. Whose tongues do wander so far from the hart, 1662 'M.W,' Marriage Broaker III i: Now, Mrs. Cunnimonger. 1671 'L.B.' New Academy of Complements 100: How mad is that damn'd Money-monger, / That to purchase to him and his heirs, / Grows shrivel with thirst and hunger? 1680 T. BettertonMnfe/j in Newgate II iii: You Barbers are notable News-mongers. 1696 Motteux (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel (1927) II Bk V 496: Little hulch-backed Aesop got for himself the office of apologue-monger. 1700 T. Brown Amusements Serious and Comical in Works (1 744) HI 13: T'other directs you to a divinity-monger, who [...] is ready to attend that [etc.]. 1708 True Characters of A Deceitful Petty-Fogger et al. 12: The Almighty himself is in danger of being Blasphem'd, if the Metaphor-Monger had not the Art of bringing himself off, with a Limping, As it were. As I may so say. 1718 Swift 'To Mr. Delany' in Chalmers Eng. Poets XI (1810) 404/1: What humour is, not all the tribe / Of logic-mongers can describe. 1740 R. North Examen 218: For that Reason, the Witness-mongers put forward another Witness. 1758 A. Murphy Upholsterer U i: Go thy Ways for an old Hocuspocus of a News-monger. 1767 'Andrew Barton' Disappointment III i: Where are the mud-mongers? 1775 Sheridan St Patrick's Day Ii iv: Will you submit to be cured by a quack nostrum-monger? 1796 G. Colman Yngr Iron Chest 111 ii: Then let a system-monger Bung it with Logick. 1840 E. Howard Jack Ashore 1 283: You affection-monger, you have married them already. 1845 S. Judd Margaret (1851) I 37: 'Stultiloquent yarbmongerl' he broke out. 1880 G.R. Sims Zeph (1892) 86: Preliminary puff paragraphs appeared in the organs of publicity [...] Sensationmongers prepared themselves for a treat. 1896 A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 112: He preferred the frank rogue before the calculating snivel-monger. 1899 B, Tarkington Gentleman from Indiana 362: You are a pitiful nonsense-monger! 1917 'Henry Handel Richardson' Aus. Felix (1971) 209: What's my little surprise-monger got up her sleeve today? 1932 F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 135: We were plain unadulterated agony-mongers. 1952 R. Holles Now Thrive the Armourers 50: Cave was the platoon's rumour-monger, 1973 D. Williamson What If You Died Tomorrow (1977) II i: Hubbard is a precious little word-monger. 1980 W.C. Anderson Bat-21 135: Well, from where this peace monger sits. I'd say the black hats are succeeding. 1992 S. King Gerald's Game (1993)

mong-mong

270: She could hardly believe it - and the doom-monger buried deep inside refused to, 1993 Eble Campus SI. Oct, 3: hose monger female with questionable morals, 1999 K, Sampson Powder 335: I'm not saying that the Grams are, like, angstmongers, far from it, but we understand both sides of the Emotion Signal, 2008 Guardian 8 Oct, 21/2: I'm a retailer, not a clairvoyant [,,,] I'm not in the doommongering camp,

mong-mong n. Ipron, of Carib,E, Mount St Moritz Bajan, a poor white one of whose ancestors moved to the Grenadan estate of St Moritz c,1870s, working as a market gardener] (W,/,, Gren.) a poor white, 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

mongo n. [mono n?, but Mongo is a trad, name for a shambling idiot, often the servant of a 'mad professor' in films etc; however, that too may be rooted in SE mongot] {US) an idiot, 1975 oral testimony in Lighter HDAS II, 1984 in 'Joe Bob Briggs' Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 247: The mongo's died four times, 1990 Tupper & WORTLEY Aus. Prison SI. Gloss. [Internet] Mongo, Retarded prisoner,

mongo adj. [? humoncous adj.] {US teen/campus) considerable, substantial, huge, 1985 Eble Campus SI. Oct, 1989 P, Munro SI. U. 132: I've got a mongo bruise on my leg, 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 78: Mongo 'huge' and the term of endearment mongolito are perhaps mock Spanish,

mongo adv, [mongo adj.] extremely; note cit, mis-defines this

monish

1644

as

an adj, 1997-2001 Online SI. Diet. [Internet] mongo adj 1, to a great degree; EXTREMELY, VERY, ('That house is mongo expensive,'),

Mongolian n. (also Mongol) (/\us,) a Chinese immigrant to Australia, or the United States, 1902 Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Oct, 35/2: He couldn't remember his Chinaman's face, and didn't know him from Adam, Out of the 300,000,000 Mongols he plugged one at a venture, and plugged the right one, 1907 S,E, White Arizona Nights III 250: Just then Sang returned with the broom [,,,] The rustling of papers aroused Senor Johnson from his reverie. At once he exploded, 'Get out of here, you debased Mongolian,' he shouted, 1910 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Aug, 14/2:1 can speak feelingly, because I know to my sorrow the habits of the Mongolian, Crush at one time kept an hotel at Brock's Creek, where there is a Chow-town - a reeking abomination of foul¬ smelling heathen, opium, blackfellow and decaying matter,

mongolito n, [cod Sp, 'little mongol'l {US campus) a term of endearment, 1989 Eble Campus SI. Sept, 1996 Eble SI. and Sociability 78: Mongo 'huge' and the term of endearment mongolito are perhaps mock Spanish,

mongoloid n, a stupid, dumb person; as ad],, stupid, 1978 Devo 'Mongoloid' [lyrics] Mongoloid he was a mongoloid / His friends were unaware / Mongoloid he was a mongoloid / Nobody even cared, 1997 Eble Campus SI. Apr, 6: mongoloid - stupid; lacking in culture or refinement, 1997-2000 College SI. Research Project (Cal, State Poly, Uni,, Pomona) [Internet] Mongoloid [offensive] (noun) Illiterate person, 2001 J, Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 30: 'I thought he was a genius,' 'Was he?' 'Sometimes [,,,] Other times he was a total Mongoloid,' mongOOSG n. (the animal, which has a light-brown coat and reddish eyes] (W,/,) an albino, esp, as a term of abuse, 1933 (con, 1900s) C, McKay Banana Bottom 70: Teach him to keep am mongoose mout' offen folkses bettarn him,

mongoose gang n. [lOSOs campaign to eradicate the mongoose in Grenada; those who claimed a bounty for killing the creatures had to produce a tail and became known as the 'mongoose gang'] {W.t., orig. Gren.) a group of thugs working for a politician and acting as a form of private army/secret police, 1996 Allsopp Diet. Carib. Eng. Usage.

mong (out)

v, [monced adj.] to be dully comatose, 2000 N, Griffiths Grits 272: Sis sacks of torpor and stupor mongin out at me feet,

mongrel n. 1 in UK Und, senses, (a) an accomplice who helps in a confidence trickster's pose as a poor scholar, 1608 Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch, 5: He that walkes the horses, and hunts dry foote, is cald a Mongrel,

(b) a hanger-on among confidence tricksters, a sponger, c,1698 B,E, Diet. Canting Crew n,p,: Mongrel c, a Hanger on among the Cheats, a Sponger, 1725 New Canting Diet, [as cit, c, 1698], 1737, 1759, 1760, 1776 Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Diet, [as cit, c,1698], 1785,1788, 1796 Grose Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 1811 Lex. Balatronicum. 1823 Egan Grose's Classical Diet, of the Vulgar Tongue. 2 {also mungrel) a general term of abuse, e,g, you bloody mongrel [despite the synon, of mongrel and half-breed, there appears to be no racial implication], c,1580 Polwart Invectiues Capitane Allexander Montgomeree and Pollvart in Parkinson Poems (2000) IX line 46: Gleyit gangrell, auld mangrell.

to thy hangrell vith pyne, 1610 Beaumont & Fletcher Scornful Lady II iii: Steward, you are an ass, a measled mongrel, a,1625 Beaumont & Fletcher Love's Cure II i: Thou Mungril [,,,] are not you he that was whipt out of Toledo for Perjury? 1681 S, COLVIL Whiggs Supplication Pt II 19: Your cursed Antichristian Rable, Ye Mungrels of the Whore of Babel. 1708 W, Taverner Maid the Mistress V 1: Hark ye, Mungrels, what do you grin at? 1730 J, Miller Humours of Oxford II i: Why, thou Mungrel, thou thing of the doubtful Gender, how can's! thou have the consummate Impudence, to open thy Mouth, 1764 Foote Mayor of Garrat in Works (1799) I 171: Is that your manners, you mongrel? 1797 'T,B, Junr,' Pettyfogger Dramatized I i: He is a fellow I don't much care about; he is an impudent mongrel, 1827 T, Morton School For Grown Children IV i: Silence, mongrell 1830 Mr Mathews' Comic Annual 14: After threatening to lay hold of the Black mongrel by the gills, and pull him about like a salmon, 1881 Savile 'The Snobiad and Gown Row in Cambridge' in Whibley In Cap and Gown (1889) 145: Oh, curse the mongrel, he's not worth a groat! 1903 J, Furphy Such is Life 10: Go an' bark up a tree, you mongrel! 1921 (con, WWI) E, Lynch Somme Mud 37: Suppose you chaps think I'm a bloomin' mongrel for doing that? 1922 Joyce Ulysses 443: Give him ginger, Thrash the mongrel within an inch of his life, 1924 Lawrence & Skinner Boy in Bush 244: 'Wot cheer, mate!' said one, a ruffianly mongrel, 1930 I