“Jack Randall then impatient rose,And said, ‘Tom’s speech were just as fineIf he would call that first ofGO’SBy that genteeler name—WHITE WINE.’”Randall’s Diary, 1820.WHITECHAPEL, orWESTMINSTER BROUGHAM, a costermonger’s donkey-barrow.WHITECHAPEL, the “upper-cut,” or strike.—Pugilistic.WHITEWASH, when a person has taken the benefit of the Insolvent Act he is said to have beenWHITEWASHED.WHOP, to beat, or hide. Corruption ofWHIPsometimes spelledWAP.WHOP-STRAW, cant name for a countryman;JohnnyWhop-straw, in allusion to threshing.WHOPPER, a big one, a lie.WIDDLE, to shine.—SeeOLIVER.WIDE-AWAKE, a broad-brimmed felt, or stuff hat,—so called because it never had anap, and never wants one.WIDO, wide awake, no fool.WIFE, a fetter fixed to one leg.—Prison.WIFFLE-WOFFLES, in the dumps, sorrow, stomach ache.WIGGING, a rebukebefore comrades. If the head of a firm calls a clerk into the parlour, and rebukes him, it is anearwigging; if done before the other clerks, it is aWIGGING.WILD, a village.—Tramps’ term.—SeeVILE.WILD, vexed, cross, passionate. In the United States the wordmadis supplemented with a vulgar meaning similar to our Cockneyism,WILD; and to make a manMADon the other side of the Atlantic is to vex him, or “rile” his temper—not to render him a raving maniac, or a fit subject for Bedlam.WILD OATS, youthful pranks.WIND, “to raise theWIND,” to procure money; “to slip one’sWIND,” coarse expression meaning to die.WIND, “I’llWINDyour cotton,”i.e., I will give you some trouble. The Byzantine General, Narses, used the same kind of threat to the Greek Empress,—“I will spin such a thread that they shall not be able to unravel.”WINDED-SETTLED, transported for life.WINDOWS, the eyes, or “peepers.”WINEY, intoxicated.WINKIN, “he went off likeWINKIN,”i.e., very quickly.WINKS, periwinkles.WINN, a penny.—Ancient cant.WIPE, a pocket handkerchief.—Old cant.WIPE, a blow.WIPE, to strike; “he fetcht me aWIPEover the knuckles,” he struck me on the knuckles; “toWIPEa person down,” to flatter or pacify a person; toWIPEoff a score, to pay one’s debts, in allusion to the slate or chalk methods of account keeping; “toWIPEa person’s eye,” to shoot game which he has missed—Sporting term; hence to obtain an advantage by superior activity.WIRE, a thief with long fingers, expert at picking ladies’ pockets.WOBBLESHOP, where beer is sold without a license.WOODEN SPOON, the last junior optime who takes a University degree; denoting one who is only fit to stay at home, and stir porridge.—Cambridge.WOODEN WEDGE, the last name in the classical honours listat Cambridge. The last in mathematical honours had long been known as theWOODEN SPOON; but when the classical Tripos was instituted, in 1824, it was debated among the undergraduates whatsobriquetshould be given to the last on the examination list. Curiously enough, the name that year which happened to be last wasWEDGEWOOD(a distinguished Wrangler). Hence the title.WOOL, courage, pluck; “you are not half-WOOLLED,” term of reproach from one thief to another.WOOLBIRD, a lamb; “wing of aWOOLBIRD,” a shoulder of lamb.WOOL-GATHERING, said of any person’s wits when they are wandering, or in a reverie.—Florio.WOOL-HOLE, the workhouse.WORK, to plan, or lay down and execute any course of action, to perform anything; “toWORKtheBULLS,”i.e., to get rid of false crown pieces; “toWORKtheORACLE,” to succeed by manœuvring, to concert a wily plan, to victimise,—a possible reference to the stratagems and bribes used to corrupt theDelphic oracle, and cause it to deliver a favourable response. “ToWORKa street or neighbourhood,” trying at each house to sell all one can, or so bawling that every housewife may know what you have to sell. The general plan is to drive a donkey barrow a short distance, and then stop and cry. The term implies thoroughness; to “WORKa street well” is a common saying with a coster.WORM,seePUMP.WORMING, removing the beard of an oyster or muscle.W.P., orWARMING PAN. A clergyman who holds a livingpro tempore, under a bond of resignation, is styled aW.P., orWARMING PANrector, because he keeps the place warm for his successor.—Clerical slang.WRINKLE, an idea, or fancy; an additional piece of knowledge which is supposed to be made by aWRINKLEà posteriori.WRITE, “toWRITE ONE’S NAMEon a joint,” to have the first cut at anything,—leaving sensible traces of one’s presence on it.YACK, a watch; to “churchaYACK,” to take it out of its case to avoid detection.YARD OF CLAY, a long, old-fashioned tobacco pipe, also called achurchwarden.YARMOUTH CAPON, a bloater, or red herring.—Old—Ray’s Proverbs.YARN, a long story, or tale; “a toughYARN,” a tale hard to be believed; “spin aYARN,” tell a tale.—Sea.YAY-NAY, “a poorYAY-NAY” fellow, one who has no conversational power, and can only answeryeaornayto a question.YELLOW BELLY, a native of the Fens of Lincolnshire, or the Isle of Ely,—in allusion to the frogs and a yellow-bellied eel caught there; they are also said to beweb-footed.YELLOW-BOY, a sovereign, or any gold coin.YELLOW-GLOAK, a jealous man.YELLOW-JACK, the yellow fever prevalent in the West Indies.YELLOW-MAN, a yellow silk handkerchief.YOKEL, a countryman.—West.YOKUFF, a chest, or large box.YORKSHIRE, “toYORKSHIRE,” or “comeYORKSHIREover any person,” is to cheat orBITEthem.—North.YORKSHIRE ESTATES, “I will do it when I come into myYORKSHIRE ESTATES,”—meaning if I ever have the money or the means. The phrase is said to have originated withDr. Johnson.YOUNKER, in street language, a lad or a boy. Term in general use amongst costermongers, cabmen, and old-fashioned people.Barnefield’s Affectionate Shepherd, 1594, has the phrase, “a seemelieYOUNKER.”DanishandFriesic,JONKER. In theNavy, a naval cadet is usually termed aYOUNKER.YOUR-NIBS, yourself.ZIPH, LANGUAGE OF, a way of disguising English in use among the students atWinchester College. CompareMEDICAL GREEK.ZOUNDS, a sudden exclamation,—abbreviation ofGod’s wounds.
“Jack Randall then impatient rose,And said, ‘Tom’s speech were just as fineIf he would call that first ofGO’SBy that genteeler name—WHITE WINE.’”Randall’s Diary, 1820.
“Jack Randall then impatient rose,And said, ‘Tom’s speech were just as fineIf he would call that first ofGO’SBy that genteeler name—WHITE WINE.’”Randall’s Diary, 1820.
“Jack Randall then impatient rose,
And said, ‘Tom’s speech were just as fine
If he would call that first ofGO’S
By that genteeler name—WHITE WINE.’”
Randall’s Diary, 1820.
WHITECHAPEL, orWESTMINSTER BROUGHAM, a costermonger’s donkey-barrow.
WHITECHAPEL, the “upper-cut,” or strike.—Pugilistic.
WHITEWASH, when a person has taken the benefit of the Insolvent Act he is said to have beenWHITEWASHED.
WHOP, to beat, or hide. Corruption ofWHIPsometimes spelledWAP.
WHOP-STRAW, cant name for a countryman;JohnnyWhop-straw, in allusion to threshing.
WHOPPER, a big one, a lie.
WIDDLE, to shine.—SeeOLIVER.
WIDE-AWAKE, a broad-brimmed felt, or stuff hat,—so called because it never had anap, and never wants one.
WIDO, wide awake, no fool.
WIFE, a fetter fixed to one leg.—Prison.
WIFFLE-WOFFLES, in the dumps, sorrow, stomach ache.
WIGGING, a rebukebefore comrades. If the head of a firm calls a clerk into the parlour, and rebukes him, it is anearwigging; if done before the other clerks, it is aWIGGING.
WILD, a village.—Tramps’ term.—SeeVILE.
WILD, vexed, cross, passionate. In the United States the wordmadis supplemented with a vulgar meaning similar to our Cockneyism,WILD; and to make a manMADon the other side of the Atlantic is to vex him, or “rile” his temper—not to render him a raving maniac, or a fit subject for Bedlam.
WILD OATS, youthful pranks.
WIND, “to raise theWIND,” to procure money; “to slip one’sWIND,” coarse expression meaning to die.
WIND, “I’llWINDyour cotton,”i.e., I will give you some trouble. The Byzantine General, Narses, used the same kind of threat to the Greek Empress,—“I will spin such a thread that they shall not be able to unravel.”
WINDED-SETTLED, transported for life.
WINDOWS, the eyes, or “peepers.”
WINEY, intoxicated.
WINKIN, “he went off likeWINKIN,”i.e., very quickly.
WINKS, periwinkles.
WINN, a penny.—Ancient cant.
WIPE, a pocket handkerchief.—Old cant.
WIPE, a blow.
WIPE, to strike; “he fetcht me aWIPEover the knuckles,” he struck me on the knuckles; “toWIPEa person down,” to flatter or pacify a person; toWIPEoff a score, to pay one’s debts, in allusion to the slate or chalk methods of account keeping; “toWIPEa person’s eye,” to shoot game which he has missed—Sporting term; hence to obtain an advantage by superior activity.
WIRE, a thief with long fingers, expert at picking ladies’ pockets.
WOBBLESHOP, where beer is sold without a license.
WOODEN SPOON, the last junior optime who takes a University degree; denoting one who is only fit to stay at home, and stir porridge.—Cambridge.
WOODEN WEDGE, the last name in the classical honours listat Cambridge. The last in mathematical honours had long been known as theWOODEN SPOON; but when the classical Tripos was instituted, in 1824, it was debated among the undergraduates whatsobriquetshould be given to the last on the examination list. Curiously enough, the name that year which happened to be last wasWEDGEWOOD(a distinguished Wrangler). Hence the title.
WOOL, courage, pluck; “you are not half-WOOLLED,” term of reproach from one thief to another.
WOOLBIRD, a lamb; “wing of aWOOLBIRD,” a shoulder of lamb.
WOOL-GATHERING, said of any person’s wits when they are wandering, or in a reverie.—Florio.
WOOL-HOLE, the workhouse.
WORK, to plan, or lay down and execute any course of action, to perform anything; “toWORKtheBULLS,”i.e., to get rid of false crown pieces; “toWORKtheORACLE,” to succeed by manœuvring, to concert a wily plan, to victimise,—a possible reference to the stratagems and bribes used to corrupt theDelphic oracle, and cause it to deliver a favourable response. “ToWORKa street or neighbourhood,” trying at each house to sell all one can, or so bawling that every housewife may know what you have to sell. The general plan is to drive a donkey barrow a short distance, and then stop and cry. The term implies thoroughness; to “WORKa street well” is a common saying with a coster.
WORM,seePUMP.
WORMING, removing the beard of an oyster or muscle.
W.P., orWARMING PAN. A clergyman who holds a livingpro tempore, under a bond of resignation, is styled aW.P., orWARMING PANrector, because he keeps the place warm for his successor.—Clerical slang.
WRINKLE, an idea, or fancy; an additional piece of knowledge which is supposed to be made by aWRINKLEà posteriori.
WRITE, “toWRITE ONE’S NAMEon a joint,” to have the first cut at anything,—leaving sensible traces of one’s presence on it.
YACK, a watch; to “churchaYACK,” to take it out of its case to avoid detection.
YARD OF CLAY, a long, old-fashioned tobacco pipe, also called achurchwarden.
YARMOUTH CAPON, a bloater, or red herring.—Old—Ray’s Proverbs.
YARN, a long story, or tale; “a toughYARN,” a tale hard to be believed; “spin aYARN,” tell a tale.—Sea.
YAY-NAY, “a poorYAY-NAY” fellow, one who has no conversational power, and can only answeryeaornayto a question.
YELLOW BELLY, a native of the Fens of Lincolnshire, or the Isle of Ely,—in allusion to the frogs and a yellow-bellied eel caught there; they are also said to beweb-footed.
YELLOW-BOY, a sovereign, or any gold coin.
YELLOW-GLOAK, a jealous man.
YELLOW-JACK, the yellow fever prevalent in the West Indies.
YELLOW-MAN, a yellow silk handkerchief.
YOKEL, a countryman.—West.
YOKUFF, a chest, or large box.
YORKSHIRE, “toYORKSHIRE,” or “comeYORKSHIREover any person,” is to cheat orBITEthem.—North.
YORKSHIRE ESTATES, “I will do it when I come into myYORKSHIRE ESTATES,”—meaning if I ever have the money or the means. The phrase is said to have originated withDr. Johnson.
YOUNKER, in street language, a lad or a boy. Term in general use amongst costermongers, cabmen, and old-fashioned people.Barnefield’s Affectionate Shepherd, 1594, has the phrase, “a seemelieYOUNKER.”DanishandFriesic,JONKER. In theNavy, a naval cadet is usually termed aYOUNKER.
YOUR-NIBS, yourself.
ZIPH, LANGUAGE OF, a way of disguising English in use among the students atWinchester College. CompareMEDICAL GREEK.
ZOUNDS, a sudden exclamation,—abbreviation ofGod’s wounds.