| 18th Century Thieves Cant |
|---|
| Misc |
| Misc : Clubs and Societies |
|---|
| BINGO-CLUB | a Club of Geneva Drinkers. | 1737 |
| BOTHERAMS | A convivial society. | 1811 |
| CAT AND BAGPIPEAN SOCIETY | A society which met at their office in the great western road: in their summons, published in the daily papers, it was added, that the kittens might come with the old cats without being scratched. | 1811 |
| COMUSS COURT | A social meeting formerly held at the Half Moon tavern Cheapside. | 1811 |
| FINISH | The finish; a small coffee-house in Coven 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 Carpenters coffee- house. | 1811 |
| HUGOTONTHEONBIQUIFFINARIANS | A society existing in 1748. | 1811 |
| HUM-DRUMS | or Hums; a Society of Gentlemen, who meet near the Charter-House, or at the Kings Head in St. Johns Street. Less of Mystery, and more of Pleasantry than the Free Masons. | 1737 |
| KILL CARE CLUB | The members of this club, styled also the Sons of Sound Sense and Satisfaction, met at their fortress, the Castle-tavern, in Paternoster-row. | 1811 |
| KIT-CAT CLUB | A society of gentlemen, eminent for wit and learning, who in the reign of queen Anne and George I. met at a house kept by one Christopher Cat. The portraits of most of the members of this society were painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, of one size; thence still called the kit-cat size. | 1811 |
| LOBONIAN SOCIETY | A society which met at Lob Hall, at the King and Queen, Norton Falgate, by order of Lob the great. | 1811 |
| LUMBER TROOP | A club or society of citizens of London. | 1811 |
| MACCARONI | An Italian paste made of flour and eggs. Also a fop: which name arose from a club, called the Maccaroni Club, instituted by some of the most dressy travelled gentlemen about town, who led the fashions; whence a man foppishly dressed, was supposed a member of that club, and by contraction styled a Maccaroni. | 1811 |
| MEN OF KENT | Men born east of the river Medway, who are said to have met the Conqueror in a body, each carrying a green bough in his hand, the whole appearing like a moving wood; and thereby obtaining a confirmation of their ancient privileges. The inhabitants of Kent are divided into Kentish men and men of Kent. Also a society held at the Fountain Tavern, Bartholomew Lane, A.D. 1743. | 1811 |
| MUGGLETONIANS | The sect or disciples of Lodowick Muggleton. | 1811 |
| ODDFELLOWS | A convivial society; the introduction to the most noble grand, arrayed in royal robes, is well worth seeing at the price of becoming a member. | 1811 |
| PISCINARIANS | A club or brotherhood, A.D. 1743. | 1811 |
| PIZZY CLUB | A society held, A. D, 1744, at the sign of the Tower, on Tower Hill: president, Don Pizzaro. | 1811 |
| PREADAMITE QUACABITES | This great and laudable society (as they termed themselves) held their grand chapter at the Coal-hole. | 1811 |
| ROYAL STAG SOCIETY | Was held every Monday evening, at seven oclock, at the Three tuns, near the Hospital Gate, Newgate-street. | 1811 |
| RUSSIAN COFFEE-HOUSE | The Brown Bear in Bow-street, Covent Garden, a house of call for thief-takers and runners of the Bow street justices. | 1811 |
| RUSSIAN COFFEE-HOUSE | a name given by some punster of the family, to the Brown Bear public-house in Bow-street, Covent-garden. | 1819 |
| SCALD MISERABLES | A set of mock masons, who, A.D. 1744, made a ludicrous procession in ridicule of the Free Masons. | 1811 |
| SPOUTING CLUB | A meeting of apprentices and mechanics to rehearse different characters in plays: thus forming recruits for the strolling companies. | 1811 |
| Misc : Documents |
|---|
| BLACK and WHITE | under ones Hand, or in Writing. | 1737 |
| BLACK AND WHITE | In writing. I have it in black and white; I have written evidence. | 1811 |
| BLOT THE SKRIP | and jark it, i.e. to stand engaged, or be bound for any Body. | 1737 |
| CHANT | a cipher, initials, or mark of any kind, on a piece of plate, linen, or other article; any thing so marked is said to be chanted. | 1819 |
| FASTNER | a Warrant. | 1737 |
| FASTNER | A warrant. | 1811 |
| FIDDLE | a Writ to Arrest. | 1737 |
| GYBE | or JYBE; any Writing or Pass sealed. | 1737 |
| GYBE, or JYBE | Any writing or pass with a seal. | 1811 |
| JUKRUM | a Licence. | 1737 |
| JUKRUM | A licence. | 1811 |
| SCREEVE | a letter, or written paper. | 1819 |
| SCRIP | a Shred or Scrap of Paper. As, The Cully did freely blot the Scrip, and tipt me 40 Hogs; One enterd into Bond with me for 40 Shillings. | 1737 |
| SCRIP | A scrap or slip of paper. The cully freely blotted the scrip, and tipt me forty hogs; the man freely signed the bond, and gave me forty shillings.--Scrip is also a Change Alley phrase for the last loan or subscription. What does scrip go at for the next rescounters? what does scrip sell for delivered at the next day of settling? | 1811 |
| SKRIP | Paper. | 1737 |
| SKRIP | See SCRIP. | 1811 |
| SQUEEZING OF WAX | being bound for any Body; also sealing of Writings. | 1737 |
| TICKRUM | a Licence. | 1737 |
| TICKRUM | A licence. | 1811 |
| VESSELS OF PAPER | Half a quarter of a sheet. | 1811 |
| Misc : Greetings |
|---|
| BENE-DARKMANS | good Night. | 1737 |
| HOW DOST DO MY BUFF | a familiar Salutation among the Canting Tribe. | 1737 |
| Misc : Happy and Sad |
|---|
| NUTS | It was nuts for them; i.e. it was very agreeable to them. | 1811 |
| NUTS | Fond; pleased. Shes nuts upon her cull; shes pleased with her cully. The coves nutting the blowen; the man is trying to please the girl. | 1811 |
| NUTS UPON IT | to be very much pleased or gratified with any object, adventure, or overture; so a person who conceives a strong inclination for another of the opposite sex, is said to be quite nutty, or nuts upon him or her. | 1819 |
| NUTS UPON YOURSELF | a man who is much gratified with any bargain he has made, narrow escape he has had, or other event in which he is interested, will express his self-satisfaction or gladness by declaring that he is, or was, quite nuts upon himself. | 1819 |
| Misc : Houses and Shops |
|---|
| BOOTH | a House, as Heave the Booth; Rob the House. | 1737 |
| CABIN | a house. | 1819 |
| CASE | a House, Shop, or Warehouse; also a Bawdy-house. As Toute the Case, view, mark, or eye the House or Shop. Tis all Bob; now let us dub the Gigg of the Case; now the Coast is clear, let us fall on, and break open the door of the House. | 1737 |
| CASE | A house; perhaps from the Italian CASA. In the canting lingo it meant store or ware house, as well as a dwelling house. Tout that case; mark or observe that house. It is all bob, now lets dub the gig of the case; now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house. | 1811 |
| CHANDLER-KEN | a chandler's shop. | 1819 |
| DORSE | a lodging ; to dorse with a woman, signifies to sleep with her. | 1819 |
| GENTRY COVE KEN | A gentlemans house. CANT. | 1811 |
| GENTRY-COVE-KEN | a Noblemans or Gentlemans House. | 1737 |
| KEN | a House. A bob-Ken, or a Bowman-ken, a good or well furnished House; also a House that harbours Rogues and Thieves. Biting the Ken, robbing the House, tis a bob Ken, Brush upon the Sneak, i.e., Tis a good House, go in and tread softly. We have bit the Ken, The House is robbd, or the Business is done. | 1737 |
| KEN | A house. A bob ken, or a bowman ken; a well-furnished house, also a house that harbours thieves. Biting the ken; robbing the house. CANT. | 1811 |
| KEN | a house ; often joined to other descriptive terms, as, flash-ken, a bawdy-ken, &c. | 1819 |
| KNACK SHOP | a Toy-shop, freighted with pretty Devices to pick Pockets | 1737 |
| KNACK SHOP | A toy-shop, a nick-nack-atory. | 1811 |
| LIBBEN | a private Dwelling-House. | 1737 |
| LIBBEN | A private dwelling-house. CANT. | 1811 |
| LIBKEN | A house to lie in. CANT. | 1811 |
| LIBKIN | a House to lie in; also a Lodging. | 1737 |
| LOBKIN | A house to lie in: also a lodging. | 1811 |
| LUSH-CRIB or LUSH-KEN | a public-house, or gin-shop. | 1819 |
| NlCKNACKATORY | A toyshop. | 1811 |
| PANNY | A house. To do a panny: to rob a house. See the Sessions Papers. Probably, panny originally meant the butlers pantry, where the knives and forks, spoons, &c. are usually kept The pigs frisked my panney, and nailed my screws; the officers searched my house, and seized my picklock keys. CANT. | 1811 |
| PANNY | a house. | 1819 |
| RED LATTICE | A public house. | 1811 |
| SPELL | the play-house. | 1819 |
| SQUARE-CRIB | a respectable house, of good repute, whose inmates, their mode of life and connexions, are all perfectly on the square. See Cross-crib. | 1819 |
| SWAG | a Shop. Rum Swag; Full of rich Goods. | 1737 |
| SWAG | A shop. Any quantity of goods. As, plant the swag; conceal the goods. Rum swag; a shop full of rich goods. CANT. | 1811 |
| Misc : Lies |
|---|
| CANTERBURY STORY | A long roundabout tale. | 1811 |
| CLANKER | a swinging Lye. | 1737 |
| CLANKER | A great lie. | 1811 |
| COKER | a Lye. Rum Coker, a whisking Lye. | 1737 |
| COKER | A lie. | 1811 |
| GAMMON | flattery; deceit; pretence; plausible language ; any assertion which is not strictly true. or professions believed to be insincere, as, I believe you're gammoning, or, that's all gammon, meaning, you are no doubt jesting with me, or, that's all a farce. To gammon a person, is to amuse him with false assurances, to praise, or flatter him, in order to obtain some particular end ; to gammon a man to any act, is to persuade him to it by artful language, or pretence; to gammon a shopkeeper, &c., is to engage his attention to your discourse, while your accomplice is executing some preconcerted plan of depredation upon his property ; a thief detected in a house which he has entered, upon the sneak, for the purpose of robbing it, will endeavour by some gammoning story to account for his intrusion, and to get off with a good grace; a man who is, ready at invention, and has always a flow of plausible language on these occasions, is said to be a prime gammoner ; to gammon kishy or queer, is to pretend drunkenness, or sickness, for some private end. | 1819 |
| GUN | a Lie. | 1737 |
| HUMMER | a great Lye, a Rapper. | 1737 |
| HUMMER | A great lye, a rapper. See RAPPER. | 1811 |
| RAPPER | a swinging great Lye. | 1737 |
| RAPPER | A swinging great lie. | 1811 |
| STRETCH | to tell a Lye; as, He stretcht hard; He told a whicking Lye. | 1737 |
| SWINDGING-CLAP | Swindging Fellow, Swindging Lye; a very great one. | 1737 |
| TARADIDDLE | A fib, or falsity. | 1811 |
| WHISKER | a great Lye. | 1737 |
| WHISKER | A great lie. | 1811 |
| WHITE LIE | A harmless lie, one not told with a malicious intent, a lie told to reconcile people at variance. | 1811 |
| WRINKLE | to lie, or utter a falsehood. | 1819 |
| WRINKLE | an untruth. | 1819 |
| WRINKLER | a person prone to lying; such a character is called also a gully, which is probably an abbreviation of Gulliver, and from hence, to gully signifies to lie, or deal in the marvellous. | 1819 |
| Misc : Miscellaneous |
|---|
| JUDGEMENT | prudence ; economy in acting ; abilities, (the result of long experience,) for executing the most intricate and hazardous projects ; any thing accomplished in a masterly manner, is, therefore, said to have been done with judgement; on concerting or planning any operations, one party will say, I think it would be judgement to do so and so, meaning expedient to do it. | 1819 |
| Misc : Miscellaneous Adjectives |
|---|
| BENAR | better. | 1737 |
| BENDER | an ironical word used in conversation by flash people ; as where one party affirms or professes any thing which the other believes to be false or insincere, the latter expresses his incredulity by exclaiming bender! or, if one asks another to do any act which the latter considers unreasonable or impracticable, he replies, O yes, I'll do it - bender ; meaning, by the addition of the last word, that, in fact, he will do no such thing. | 1819 |
| BENE | or BIEN; good, Pike on the Bene, i.e. Run away as fast as you can. | 1737 |
| BENE | Good--BENAR. Better. Cant. | 1811 |
| BENESHIP | very good, very well. Beneshiply Worshipfully. | 1737 |
| BENESHIPLY | Worshipfully. Cant. | 1811 |
| ELF | little. | 1737 |
| ELF | A fairy or hobgoblin, a little man or woman. | 1811 |
| GINGERLY | gently, soft, easily. | 1737 |
| GINGERLY | Softly, gently, tenderly. To go gingerly to work: to attempt a thing gently, or cautiously. | 1811 |
| GLIB | smooth, without a Rub. | 1737 |
| GLIB | Smooth, slippery. Glib tongued; talkative. | 1811 |
| KELTER | as, Out of Kelter, Out of sorts. | 1737 |
| KELTER | Condition, order. Out of kelter; out of order. | 1811 |
| LUMB | too much. | 1737 |
| LUMB | Too much. | 1811 |
| MYNABS | me, myself. | 1819 |
| NE-DASH | nothing. | 1819 |
| OLD-DOG AT IT | good or expert. | 1737 |
| OUT-AND-OUT | quite; completely; effectually. See Serve and Fake. | 1819 |
| PLUMMY | It is all plummy; i.e. all is right, or as it ought to be. | 1811 |
| PLUMMY | Right; very good; as it should be; expressing your approbation of any act, or event, you will say, That's plummy, or It's all plummy; meaning it is all right. | 1819 |
| PRIME | Bang up. Quite the thing. Excellent. Well done. Shes a prime piece; she is very skilful in the venereal act. Prime post. Shes a prime article. | 1811 |
| PRIME | In a general sense, synonymous with plummy; any thing very good of its kind, is called a prime article. Any thing executed in a stylish or masterly manner, is said to be done in prime twig. See Fakement, and Gammon The Twelve. | 1819 |
| QUEER | bad; counterfeit; false; unwell in health. | 1819 |
| ROCK'D | superannuated, forgetful, absent in mind ; old lags are commonly said to be thus affected, probably caused by the sufferings they have undergone. | 1819 |
| RUM | gallant, fine, rich, best or excellent. | 1737 |
| RUM | Fine, good, valuable. | 1811 |
| RUM | good, in opposition to queer. | 1819 |
| SHOOK | synonymous with rock'd. | 1819 |
| SNIV | an expression synonymous with bender, and used in the same manner. | 1819 |
| SPANKING | Large. | 1811 |
| STALE JEST | old, dull. | 1737 |
| TATS AND ALL | an expression used out of flash, in the same manner as the word bender; and has a similar meaning. | 1819 |
| TO THE NINES or TO THE RUFFIAN | These terms are synonymous, and imply an extreme of any kind, or the superlative degree. | 1819 |
| TRUMPERY | old Ware, old Stuff. | 1737 |
| WALKER | an ironical expression, synonymous with bender, and used in the same manner. | 1819 |
| YELLOW | To look yellow; to be jealous. I happened to call on Mr. Green, who was out: on coming home, and finding me with his wife, he began to look confounded blue, and was, I thought, a little yellow. | 1811 |
| YELLOW | jealous; a jealous husband is called a yellow gloak. | 1819 |
| Misc : Miscellaneous Terms |
|---|
| ABEL-WACKETS | Blows given on the palm of the hand with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has lost games. | 1811 |
| AMUSE [in a Canting sense] | to fling Dust in the Eyes; also to invent strange Tales to delude Shop keepers and others, from being upon their Guard. | 1737 |
| ASSIG | An assignation. | 1811 |
| ASSIG. | An Assignation, Appointment or Meeting | 1737 |
| AWAKE | Acquainted with, knowing the business. Stow the books, the culls are awake; hide the cards, the fellows know what we intended to do. | 1811 |
| AWAKE | an expression used on many occasions; as a thief will say to his accomplice, on perceiving the person they are about to rob is aware of their intention, and upon his guard, state it, the cove's awake. To be awake to any scheme, deception, or design, means, generally, to see through or comprehend it. | 1819 |
| BACON | the Prize, or whatever kind which Robbers make in their Enterprizes. He has saved his Bacon; i.e. He has himself escaped with the Prize, whence it is commonly used for any narrow Escape. The Cove has a bien squawl to maund Bacon; i.e. he has a good Voice to beg Bacon; used to jeer a bad Voice, or an indifferent Singer. The Bacon Sweard rakes in his Throttle; i.e. the Sweard of the Bacon sticks in his Throat; used to a person who has Hoarseness, or one, who at their Merry-Meetings, excuses himself from Singi | 1737 |
| BACON | He has saved his bacon; he has escaped. He has a good voice to beg bacon; a saying in ridicule of a bad voice. | 1811 |
| BAD HALFPENNY | When a man has been upon any errand, or attempting any object which has proved unsuccessful or impracticable, he will say on his return, It's a bad halfpenny ; meaning he has returned as he went. | 1819 |
| BAGGAGE | as the heavy Baggage, the Children and Women who are unable to travel fast in Gangs of Gypsies, and Strowlers. | 1737 |
| BAGGAGE | Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, wanton baggage, &c. | 1811 |
| BARNACLE | a good Job, or a Snack easily got; so called from the Gratuity given to Jockeys, for buying and selling Horses. | 1737 |
| BARNACLE | A good job, or snack easily got: also shellfish growing at the bottoms of ships; a bird of the goose kind; an instrument like a pair of pincers, to fix on the noses of vicious horses whilst shoeing; a nick name for spectacles, and also for the gratuity given to grooms by the buyers and sellers of horses. | 1811 |
| BET | as secure the Bet, secure the Prize. | 1737 |
| BET | A wager.--TO BET. To lay a wager. | 1811 |
| BLACK DIAMONDS | coals. | 1819 |
| BLEW-JOHN | Wash, or After-wort. | 1737 |
| BLOW | as He has bit his blow, he has stollen the Goods, etc. | 1737 |
| BLOW | He has bit the blow, i.e. he has stolen the goods. Cant. | 1811 |
| BLUE-PIGEON | lead. | 1819 |
| BREAKING UP OF THE SPELL | the nightly termination of performance at the Theatres Royal, which is regularly attended by pickpockets of the lower order, who exercise their vocation about the doors and avenues leading thereto, until the house is emptied and the crowd dispersed. | 1819 |
| BULKER | one that lodges all Night on Shop windows and bulkheads. | 1737 |
| BULKER | One who lodges all night on a bulk or projection before old-fashioned shop windows. | 1811 |
| BUSTLE | any object effected very suddenly, or in a hurry, is said to be done upon the bustle. To give it to a man upon the bustle, is to obtain any point, as borrowing money, &c., by some sudden story or pretence, and affecting great haste, so that he is taken by surprise, and becomes duped before he has time to consider of the matter. | 1819 |
| CANK | Dumb. The Culls Cank; the Rogues Dumb; a Term used by Canters, when one of their Fraternity, being apprehended, upon Examination, confesses nothing. | 1737 |
| CANK | Dumb. | 1811 |
| CANT | an Hypocrite, a Dissembler, a double-tongud, whining Person | 1737 |
| CANT | An hypocrite, a double-tongue palavering fellow. See PALAVER. | 1811 |
| CATMATCH | when a Rook or Cully is engagd amongst bad Bowlers. | 1737 |
| CATTING | drawing a Fellow thro a Pond with a Cat. Also whoring. | 1737 |
| COLT BOWL | Laid short of the jack by a colt bowler, i.e. a person raw or unexperienced in the art of bowling. | 1811 |
| COLT-BOWL | laid short of the Jack, by a [COLT-BOWLER] | 1737 |
| COME TO THE MARK | to abide strictly by any contract previously made ; to perform your part manfully in any exploit or enterprise you engage in; or to offer me what I consider a fair price for any article in question. | 1819 |
| CONTRE-TEMPS | a fruitless Attempt, or at an unseasonable Time | 1737 |
| CONVENIENCY | A necessary. A leathern conveniency, a coach. | 1811 |
| CONVENIENCY | A necessary. A leathern conveniency, a coach. | 1811 |
| COURT-TRICKS | State-Policy etc. | 1737 |
| CRAB 'D | affronted; out of humour; sometimes called, being in Crab-street. | 1819 |
| CUFFIN-QUIRE | See Quire Cuffin. | 1737 |
| DAWB | a Bribe, a Reward for secret Service; as, The Cull was gybbed, because he could not dawb. The Rogue was punished, because he had no Pence to bribe off his Sentence. | 1737 |
| DICKY or DICK IN THE GREEN | very bad or paltry ; any thing of an inferior quality, is said to be a dicky concern. | 1819 |
| DING DONG | Helter skelter, in a hasty disorderly manner. | 1811 |
| DING-DONG | helter-skelter. | 1737 |
| DINGABLE | any thing considered worthless, or which you can well spare, having no further occasion for it, is declared to be dingable. This phrase is often applied by sharps to a fiat whom they have cleaned out; and by abandoned women to a keeper, who having spent his all upon them, must be discarded, or ding'd as soon as possible. | 1819 |
| DO IT UP | to accomplish any object you have in view ; to obtain any thing you were in quest of, is called doing it up for such a thing ; a person who contrives by nob-work, or ingenuity, to live an easy life, and appears to improve daily in circumstances, is said to do it up in good twig. | 1819 |
| DOLLOP | a dollop is a large quantity of any thing ; the whole dollop means the total quantity. | 1819 |
| DOWN AS A HAMMER, DOWN AS A TRIPPET | These are merely emphatical phrases, used out of flash, to signify being down, leary,fly, or awake to any matter, meaning, or design. | 1819 |
| DRIZ | lace, as sold on cards by the haberdashers, &c. | 1819 |
| DRUMMOND | any scheme or project considered to be infallible, or any event which is deemed inevitably certain, is declared to be a Drummond; meaning, it is as sure as the credit of that respectable banking-house, Drummond and Co. | 1819 |
| EARNEST | Part or Share. Tip me my Earnest, Give me my Snack or Dividend. | 1737 |
| EARNEST | A deposit in part of payment, to bind a bargain. | 1811 |
| EDGE | as, Fall Back, fall Edge; i.e. At all Adventures; used to express a villainous and daring Resolution for Mischief, whatever may be the Consequence. | 1737 |
| FADGE | as, It wont fadge or do. | 1737 |
| FADGE | It wont fadge; it wont do. A farthing. | 1811 |
| FANCY | any article universally admired for its beauty, or which the owner sets particular store by, is termed a fancy article ; as, A fancy clout, is a favourite handkerchief, &c. ; so a woman who is the particular favourite of any man, is termed his fancy woman, and vice versa. | 1819 |
| FLANDERS-Pieces | Pictures that look fair at a Distance, but coarser near at Hand. | 1737 |
| FLAT-MOVE | Any attempt or project that miscarries, or any act of folly or mismanagement in human affairs is said to be a flat move. | 1819 |
| GEE | as It wont Gee, it wont hit, or go. | 1737 |
| GEE | It wont gee; it wont hit or do, it does not suit or fit. | 1811 |
| GRUB STREET NEWS | Lying intelligence. | 1811 |
| GRUB street-News | false, forgd News. | 1737 |
| GUN | a view; look; observation; or taking notice ; as, there is a strong gun at us, means, we are strictly observed. To gun any thing, is to look at or examine it. | 1819 |
| HAMMERISH | down as a hammer. | 1819 |
| HANK | He has a Hank upon him; He has an Advantage, or will make him do what he pleases. | 1737 |
| HANK | He has a hank on him; i.e. an ascendancy over him, or a hold upon him. A Smithfield hank; an ox, rendered furious by overdriving and barbarous treatment. See BULL HANK. | 1811 |
| HANK | to have a person at a good hank, is to have made any contract with him very advantageous to yourself; or to be able from some prior cause to command or use him just as you please ; to have the benefit of his purse or other services, in fact, upon your own terms. | 1819 |
| HIS-NABS | him, or himself; a term used by way of emphasis, when speaking of a third person. | 1819 |
| HODGE PODGE | An irregular mixture of numerous things. | 1811 |
| HODGE-PODGE | see Hotch-Potch. | 1737 |
| IN HUCKSTERS Hands | at a desperate Pass, or Condition, or in a fair way to be lost. | 1737 |
| INCHING | Encroaching. | 1811 |
| INCHING-IN | Encroaching upon. | 1737 |
| IT IS ALL BOB | i.e. All is Safe. | 1737 |
| IT REVIVES THE COCKLES OF MY HEART | said of agreeable News, or a Cup of Comfort, Wine or Cordial Water. | 1737 |
| JILTED | abused by such a one [[i.e. by a JILT]]; also deceived or defeated in ones Expectation, expecially in Amours. | 1737 |
| JILTED | Rejected by a woman who has encouraged ones advances. | 1811 |
| LAND | as, How lies the Land? How stands the Reckoning? Who has any Land in Appleby? a Question askd the Man, at whose Door the Glass stands long. | 1737 |
| LAND | How lies the land? How stands the reckoning? Who has any land in Appleby? a question asked the man at whose door the glass stands long, or who does not ciculate it in due time. | 1811 |
| LARE-OVER | said when the true Name of the Things must (in Decency) be concealed. | 1737 |
| LEATHER-LANE | any thing paltry, or of a bad quality, is called a Leather-lane concern. | 1819 |
| LICKT | as Womens Faces with a Wash. | 1737 |
| LIG | See Lib. | 1737 |
| LILL | a pocket-book. | 1819 |
| LOCK | as, He stood a queer Lock; i.e. He stood an indifferent Chance, etc. | 1737 |
| MOPD | mazd. | 1737 |
| MOVE | any action or operation in life; the secret spring by which any project is conducted, as, There is move in that business which you are not down to. To be flash to every move upon the board, is to have a general knowledge of the world, and all its numerous deceptions. | 1819 |
| NIX | Nothing. | 1811 |
| NIX or NIX MY DOLL | nothing. | 1819 |
| NOD | He is gone to the land of nod; he is asleep. | 1811 |
| OLIVER | the moon. | 1819 |
| OLIVER IS IN TOWN | a phrase signifying that the nights are moonlight, and consequently unfavourable to depredation. | 1819 |
| OLIVER WHIDDLES | the moon shines. | 1819 |
| OLIVER'S UP | the moon has risen. | 1819 |
| ONE UPON YOUR TAW | a person who takes offence at the conduct of another, or conceives himself injured by the latter, will say, never mind, I'll be one upon your taw ; or, I'll be a marble on your taw; meaning, I'll be even with you some time. | 1819 |
| PHENIX MEN | See Firedrakes. | 1737 |
| PIT-MAN | a pocket-book worn in the bosom-pocket. | 1819 |
| POUND IT | To ensure or make a certainty of any thing; thus, a man will say, I 'll pound it to be so ; taken, probably from the custom of laying, or rather offering ten pounds to a crown at a cock-match, in which case, if no person takes this extravagant odds, the battle is at an end. This is termed pounding a cock. | 1819 |
| POUNDABLE | Any event which is considered certain or inevitable, is declared to be poundable, as the issue of a game, the success of a bet, &c. | 1819 |
| PRIGSTAR | a Rival in Love. | 1737 |
| PRIGSTAR | A rival in love. | 1811 |
| PULL | An important advantage possessed by one party over another; as in gaming, you may by some slight, unknown to your adversary, or by a knowledge of the cards, &c., have the odds of winning considerably on your side; you are then said to have a great pull. To have the power of injuring a person, by the knowledge of any thing erroneous in his conduct, which leaves his character or personal safety at your mercy, is also termed having a pull upon him, that is (to use a vulgar phrase) that you have him under your thumb. A person speaking of any intricate affair, or feat of ingenuity, which he cannot comprehend, will say, There is some pull at the bottom of it, that I 'm not fly to. | 1819 |
| PUSH | a crowd or concourse of people, either in the streets, or at any public place of amusement, &c., when any particular scene of crowding is alluded to, they say, the push, as the push, at the spell doors ; the push at the stooping-match, &c. | 1819 |
| QUOTA | Snack, Share, Part, Proportion or Dividend. | 1737 |
| QUOTA | Snack, share, part, proportion, or dividend. Tip me my quota; give me part of the winnings, booty, or plunder. CANT. | 1811 |
| RANK | complete; absolute, downright, an emphatical manner of describing persons or characters, as a rank nose, a rank swell, &c. &c. | 1819 |
| ROMBOYLES | Watch and Ward. | 1737 |
| ROMBOYLES | Watch and ward. Romboyled; sought after with a warrant. | 1811 |
| RUG | Its all a Rug, The Game is secured. | 1737 |
| RUG | It is all rug; it is all right and safe, the game is secure. CANT. | 1811 |
| RUG | Asleep. The whole gill is safe at rug; the people of the house are fast asleep. | 1811 |
| RUGGINS'S | to go to bed, is called going to Ruggins's. | 1819 |
| RUM BOILE | a Ward or Watch. | 1737 |
| RUM QUIDS | A great booty. CANT. | 1811 |
| RUM SNITCH | A smart fillip on the nose. | 1811 |
| RUM-QUIDDS | a great Booty, or large Snack. | 1737 |
| RUM-SNITCH | a good Fillip on the Nose. | 1737 |
| RUN-RIOT | to turn Spark, and run out of all. | 1737 |
| SCANDAL PROOF | One who has eaten shame and drank after it, or would blush at being ashamed. | 1811 |
| SCANDAL-PROOF | a thorough-pacd Alsatian, or Minter; one hardend, or past Shame. | 1737 |
| SCHOOL | a party of persons met together for the purpose of gambling. | 1819 |
| SCRAPE | To get into a scrape; to be involved in a disagreeable business. | 1811 |
| SET | as Dead Set, a Term used by Thief-catchers when they have a Certainty of seizing zome of their Clients, in order to bring them to Justice. | 1737 |
| SET | A dead set: a concerted scheme to defraud a person by gaming. | 1811 |
| SHOT | as, To pay ones Shot; To pay ones Club or Proportion. | 1737 |
| SHOT | To pay ones shot; to pay ones share of a reckoning. Shot betwixt wind and water; poxed or clapped. | 1811 |
| SHOVE-UP | nothing. | 1819 |
| SNACK | Share or Part. To go snacks. To go halves, or Share and Share alike. | 1737 |
| SNACK | A share. To go snacks; to be partners. | 1811 |
| SNITCH | or Snitchel; a Filip on the Nose. | 1737 |
| STAG | a Term (inverting Qualities) used for an Enemy, a Pursuer; as, I spy a Stag, used by that notorious young Robber Shepherd, lately executed, when he first saw the Turnkey of Newgate, who pursud and took him after his first Escape from the Condemnd Hold. | 1737 |
| STARTER | a Question; also a Flincher. I am no Starter; I shant flinch, or cry to go home. | 1737 |
| STASH | To stop. To finish. To end. The cove tipped the prosecutor fifty quid to stash the business; he gave the prosecutor fifty guineas to stop the prosecution. | 1811 |
| STASH | To stash any practice, habit, or proceeding, signifies to put an end to, relinquish, or quash the same ; thus, a thief determined to leave off his vicious courses will declare that he means to stash (or stow) prigging. A man in custody for felony, will endeavour, by offering money, or other means, to induce his prosecutor's forbearance, and compromise the matter, so as to obtain his liberation ; this is called stashing the business. To stash drinking, card-playing, or any other employment you may be engaged in, for the time present, signifies to stow it, knife it, cheese it, or cut it, which are all synonymous, that is, to desist or leave off. See Wanted. | 1819 |
| STRETCH | A yard. The cove was lagged for prigging a peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag; the fellow was transported for stealing a trunk, containing several yards of ribband, from a waggon. | 1811 |
| STRETCH | Five or ten stretch, signifies five or ten yards, &c.; so in dealing for any article, as linen, &c., I will give you three hog a stretch, means, I'll give three shillings a yard. See Hog. | 1819 |
| STUBBS | nothing. | 1819 |
| SWAG | a bundle, parcel, or package ; as a swag of snow, &c. The swag, is a term used in speaking of any booty you have lately obtained, be it of what kind it may, except money, as Where did you lumber the swag? that is, where did you deposit the stolen property ? To carry the swag is to be the bearer of the stolen goods to a place of safety. A swag of any thing, signifies emphatically a great deal. To have knap'd a good swag, is to have got a good booty. | 1819 |
| TATTLE | or Tattler; an Alarum, or striking Watch; or indeed any other Watch. | 1737 |
| TEMPLE PICKLING | the Pumping of Bailiffs, Bums, Setters, Pick-Pockets, etc. | 1737 |
| THOROUGH PASSAGE | in at one Ear and out at tother. | 1737 |
| THOROUGH-COUGH | farting and coughing at the same time. | 1737 |
| TINNY | a fire; a conflagration. | 1819 |
| TINT FOR TANT | Hit for Hit, Dash for Dash. | 1737 |
| TIT-BIT | a fine Snack, or choice Morsel. | 1737 |
| TORCH-CUL | Bum sodder. | 1737 |
| TORCHECUL | Bumfodder. | 1811 |
| TRANTER | See Crocker. | 1737 |
| TRANTER | See CROCKER. | 1811 |
| TURKISH-Treatment | very sharp or ill dealing in Business. | 1737 |
| TURNIPS | to give any body turnips signifies to turn him or her up, and the party so turned up, is said to have knap'd turnips. | 1819 |
| TWADDLE | Perplexity, confusion, or any thing else: a fashionable term that for a while succeeded that of BORE. See BORE. | 1811 |
| WACK | to sharp or divide any thing equally, as wack the blunt, divide the money, &c. | 1819 |
| WACK | a share or equal proportion as give me my wack, that is, my due part. | 1819 |
| WARREN | he that is Security for Goods taken up on Credit, by extravagant young Gentlemen; also a Boarding-school, or a Bawdy-house, which are too much the same Thing. | 1737 |
| WHITE-TAPE | See Tape. | 1737 |
| WINK | a Signal or Intimation. He tipt the Wink; He gave the Sign or Signal. | 1737 |
| WOOD (in a) | or, In a Maze; In a Peck of Troubles; being in a Doubt, or at a Loss, what Course to take, by Reason of some very critical Turn in ones Affairs; or, among Canters, by being surprizd, and in great Danger of being taken, in a Robbery, or any other unlawful Act. | 1737 |
| YORK | a look, or observation; a flash-cove observing another person (a flat) who appears to notice or scrutinize him, his proceedings, or the company he is with, will say to his palls, That cove is yorking as strong as a horse, or, There is York-street concerned. | 1819 |
| YOURNABS | yourself; an emphatical term used in speaking to another person. | 1819 |
| Misc : Things |
|---|
| CRACKMANS | Hedges; as, The Cull thought to have lopd, by breaking thro the Crackmans; but we fetchd him back by a Nope on the Costard, which made him silent; i.e. The Gentleman thought to escape by breaking through the Hedges; but we brought him back by a great Blow on the Head, which laid him for Dead. | 1737 |
| CUMP | a Heap or Lump. | 1737 |
| FERME | a Hole. | 1737 |
| FERME | A hole. CANT. | 1811 |
| LIFTER | a Crutch. | 1737 |
| LIFTER | A crutch. | 1811 |
| NAB-GIRDER | a Bridle. | 1737 |
| Misc : Time |
|---|
| DARKMANS | the Night; The Child of Darkmans or Darkness, a Bell-man. | 1737 |
| DARKMANS | The night. CANT. | 1811 |
| DARKY | night. | 1819 |
| HOLIDAY-BOWLER | a very bad Bowler. Blind Mans Holiday, when it is Night. | 1737 |
| LIGHTMANS | the Day or Day-break. | 1737 |
| LIGHTMANS | The day. CANT | 1811 |
| YEST | a Diminutive of Yesterday; a Day ago. | 1737 |
| YEST | A contraction of yesterday. | 1811 |
| Misc : Weather |
|---|
| JERRY | a fog or mist. | 1819 |
| SCOTCH MIST | A sober soaking rain; a Scotch mist will wet an Englishman to the skin. | 1811 |
| SCOTCH-MIST | a sober, soaking Rain. | 1737 |
| ZNEES | Frost, or Frozen; Zneesy weather; Frosty Weather. | 1737 |
| ZNUZ | the same as Znees. | 1737 |
| Misc : Whimsies |
|---|
| CONUNDRUMS | Whims, Maggots, and such like. | 1737 |
| CONUNDRUMS | Enigmatical conceits. | 1811 |
| MOONSHINE | A matter or mouthful of moonshine; a trifle, nothing. The white brandy smuggled on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, and the gin in the north of Yorkshire, are also called moonshine. | 1811 |
| QUIBBLE | to trifle or pun. | 1737 |
| RANDLE | A set of nonsensical verses, repeated in Ireland by schoolboys, and young people, who have been guilty of breaking wind backwards before any of their compa- nions; if they neglect this apology, they are liable to certain kicks, pinches, and fillips, which are accompanied with divers admonitory couplets. | 1811 |
| RIG | Game, Diversion, Ridicule. See Fun. | 1737 |
| TRINGUM TRANGUM | A whim, or maggot. | 1811 |
| TRINGUM-TRANGUM | a Whim or Maggot. | 1737 |
| VAGARIES | wild Rambles, extravagant Frolicks. | 1737 |
| WHIM | a Maggot. | 1737 |
| WHIMSICAL | maggotish. | 1737 |
