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My predecessor, the original compiler, did not live tosee his wish become an actual fact; and, failing him,it devolved upon me to undertake the task of revisionand addition. How far this has been accomplished,the curious reader who is possessed of a copy of eachedition can best judge for himself by comparing anycouple of pages he may select. Of my own share inthe work I wish to say nothing, as I have mainlybenefited by the labours of others; but I may say[vii]that, when I undertook the position of editor of what,with the smallest possible stretch of fancy, may now becalled a new book, I had no idea that the alterationwould be nearly so large or so manifest. However, asthe work is now done, it will best speak for itself,and, as good wine needs no bush, I will leave it, in allhope of their tenderness, to those readers who are bestqualified to say how the task has been consummated.
The Publishers will be much obliged by the receipt of any cant, slang, orvulgar words not mentioned in the Dictionary. The probable origin, oretymology, of any fashionable or unfashionable vulgarism, will also bereceived with thanks.
The Celtic languages have contributed many Cant andvulgar words to our popular vocabulary. These have come tous through the Gaelic and Irish languages, so closely allied intheir material as to be merely dialects of a primitive commontongue. This element may arise from the Celtic portion of ourpopulation, which, from its position as slaves or servants to itsancient conquerors, has contributed so largely to the lowestclass of the community, therefore to our Slang, provincial,or colloquial words; or it may be an importation from Irishimmigrants, who have contributed their fair proportion to ourcriminal stock.
Aggerawators (corruption of Aggravators), the greasy locks of hair invogue among costermongers and other street folk, worn twisted fromthe temple back towards the ear. They are also, from a supposedresemblance in form, termed NEWGATE KNOCKERS, and sometimesNUMBER SIXES. This style of adorning the head is, however, fastdying out, and the everyday costermonger or street thief has his haircut like any one else. The yearly militia drill may have had a gooddeal to do with this alteration.
Apple-pie Bed, a trick played at schools on new comers, or on anyboy disliked by the rest. One of the sheets is removed, and theother is doubled in the middle, so that both edges are brought to thetop, and look as if both sheets were there; but the unhappy occupantis prevented getting more than half-way down, and he has to remakehis bed as best he can. This trick is sometimes played by children ofa larger growth.
Back-Hander, a blow on the face with the back of the hand, a back-handedtip. Also a drink out of turn, as when a greedy person delaysthe decanter to get a second glass. Anything done slyly or secretlyis said to be done in a back-handed manner.
Bender, a sixpence. Probably from its liability to bend. In the dayswhen the term was most in use sixpences were not kept in the excellentstate of preservation peculiar to the currency of the present day.
Billingsgate (when applied to speech), foul and coarse language.Many years since people used to visit Thames Street to hear theBillingsgate fishwomen abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr.Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known.
Blue-Pigeon-Flyer, sometimes a journeyman plumber, glazier, orother workman, who, when repairing houses, strips off the lead, andmakes away with it. This performance is, though, by no means confinedto workmen. An empty house is often entered and the whole ofthe roof in its vicinity stripped, the only notice given to the folksbelow being received by them on the occasion of a heavy downfall ofrain. The term FLYER has, indeed, of late years been more peculiarlyapplied to the man who steals the lead in pursuance of his vocation asa thief, than to him who takes it because it comes in the way of hiswork.
Booby-Trap, a favourite amusement of boys at school. It consists inplacing a pitcher of water on the top of a door set ajar for the purpose;the person whom they wish to drench is then made to pass throughthe door, and receives the pitcher and its contents on his unlucky head.Books are sometimes used.
Bore (Pugilistic), to press a man to the ropes of the ring by superiorweight. In the world of athletics to BORE is to push an opponent outof his course. This is a most heinous crime among rowers, as it veryoften prevents a man having the full use of the tide, or compels him tofoul, in which case the decision of the race is left to individual judgment,at times, of necessity, erroneous.
Bridge, a cheating trick at cards, by which any particular card is cut bypreviously curving it by the pressure of the hand. Used in France aswell as in England, and termed in the Parisian Argot FAIRE LE PONT.
Bring-up, or BRING-TO, to stop suddenly, as a team of horses or avessel. To BRING-UP also means to feed, clothe, and educate a child.To BRING-UP by hand is to bring up a newly-born child or animalwithout assistance from the natural fount.
Bumble-Puppy, a game played in public-houses on a large stone, placedin a slanting direction, on the lower end of which holes are excavated,and numbered like the holes in a bagatelle-table. The player rolls astone ball, or marble, from the higher end, and according to thenumber of the hole it falls into the game is counted. It is undoubtedlythe very ancient game of Troule-in-madame.
Bundling, men and women sleeping together, where the divisions of thehouse will not permit of better or more decent accommodation, withall their clothes on. Bundling was originally courting done in bed,the lovers being tied or bundled up to prevent undue familiarities.The practice still obtains in some parts of Wales.
Butcher, the king in playing-cards. When card-playing in publichouses was common, the kings were called butchers, the queensbitches, and the knaves jacks. The latter term is now in general use.
Buz-Bloke, a pickpocket who principally confines his attention topurses and loose cash. Grose gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cantword. Gloak was old cant for a man. Buz-napper, a young pickpocket.
Cad, or CADGER (from which it is shortened), a mean or vulgar fellow; abeggar; one who would rather live on other people than work forhimself; a man who tries to worm something out of another, eithermoney or information. Johnson uses the word, and gives huckster asthe meaning, in which sense it was originally used. Apparently from[107]CAGER, or GAGER, the old Cant term for a man. The exclusives at theEnglish Universities apply the term CAD to all non-members. It has alsobeen suggested that the word may be a contraction of the French CADET.
Castor, a hat. Mostly used in pugilistic circles. Indeed many hangers-onof the P.R. have considered that the term arose from the custom ofcasting the hat into the ring, before entering oneself. Castor wasthe Latin name for the animal now known as the BEAVER; and, strangeto add, BEAVER was the slang for CASTOR, or hat, many years ago,before gossamer came into fashion.
Checks, counters used in games at cards. In the Pacific States ofAmerica a man who is dead is said to have handed (or passed) in hischecks. The gamblers there are responsible for many of the colloquialismscurrent.
Choker, a cravat, a neckerchief. White-choker, the white neckerchiefworn by mutes at a funeral, waiters at a tavern, andgentlemen in evening costume. Clergymen and Exeter Hallites arefrequently termed WHITE-CHOKERS.
Cock-a-hoop, in high spirits. Possibly the idea is from the fact that,if a cock wins a fight, he will mount on anything near, and crow lustilyand jubilantly. It is noticeable that under these circumstances a cockalways gets off the ground-level if he can.
Cold meat train, the last train at night by which officers can reachAldershot per South Western Railway. So called because by thistrain corpses are often conveyed on account of the NecropolisCompany to Woking.
Colour, a handkerchief worn by each of the supporters of a professionalathlete on the day of a match, so as to distinguish them from thepartizans of the other side. The professional chooses his colours, andhis backers, and as many of the general public as can be persuaded todo so, take one each to wear on the eventful day, the understandingbeing that the man is to be paid, say, a guinea if he wins, and nothingif he loses. Some of these handkerchiefs used to be, in the palmy daysof pugilism and professional rowing on the Thames, very finespecimens of work; but as their purveyors expected to be paid whetherthey won or lost, and as the price was generally about four times theintrinsic value, colours are rather shyly dealt with now. Thecustom is, however, a very ancient one, and such men as TomSayers, Tom King, Harry Kelley, and Bob Chambers have, even[126]in these degenerate days, received very large sums for their winningcolours.
Cook, a term well known in the Bankruptcy Courts, in reference toaccounts that have been meddled with, or COOKED, by the bankrupt;also to form a balance-sheet from general trade inferences; stated by acorrespondent to have been first used in reference to the celebratedalteration of the accounts of the Eastern Counties Railway, by GeorgeHudson, the Railway King. Any unfair statements of accounts orreports are now said to be COOKED.
Corner-man, the end singer of a corps of Ethiopian or nigger minstrels.There are two corner men, one generally plays the bones and theother the tambourine. Corner-men are the grotesques of a minstrelcompany.
Cover-down, a tossing coin with a false cover, enabling either head ortail to be shown, according as the cover is left on or taken off. Thecover is more generally called a CAP. This style of cheating is nowobsolete. A man who cannot manage to cheat at tossing withoutmachinery is a sorry rogue.
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