Haberdasher,subs.(old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican (i.e., a seller oftape[q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.1599.Minsheu,Dictionarie, s.v.1632.Jonson,The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios, poetasters, poetitos.… And allhaberdashersof small wit.d.1680.Butler,Remains(1759), ii., 107. He set uphaberdasherof a small poetry.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, iii., 5. Thehaberdasheris the whistler, otherwise the spirit-merchant, Jerry—and tape the commodity he deals in.Haberdasher of pronouns,subs. phr.(common).—A schoolmaster. For synonyms,seeBumbrusher.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Habit,subs.(old University).—Seequot.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Habit.CollegeHabit, College dress, called of old, Livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.Hab-nab(orHob-nob(q.v.)),adv.(old).—1. At random; promiscuously; helter-skelter; ding-dong.1602.Shakspeare,Twelfth Night, iii., 4. His incensement at this moment is so great that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre.Hob-nobis his word; give’t, or take’t.1664.Butler,Hudibras, ii., 3. Although set downhab-nabat random.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hab-nab, at a Venture, Unsight, Unseen, Hit or Miss.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.2. (old).—By hook or by crook; by fair means or foul.1581.Lilly,Euphues, 109. Philantus determinedhabnabto send his letters.Verb(old).—To drink with; giving health for health.1836.Horace Smith,The Tin Trumpet. ‘Address to a Mummy.’ Perchance that very hand now pinioned flat Hashob-and-nobbedwith Pharaoh glass for glass.Hack(orHackney),subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A person or thing let out for promiscuous use:e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Whence (2) a coach that plies for hire; (3) (stables’) a horse for everyday use, as offered to one for a special purpose—hunting, racing, polo. (4) (Cambridge Univ.),seequot. 1803. AlsoHackster.1383.Chaucer,Canterbury Tales, 16,027. HisHakeney, which that was a pomele gris.1540.Lyndsay,Satyre of thethrieEstaits, 3237. I may finde the Earle of Rothus besthacknay.[244]1582.Hakluyt,Voyages, i., 400.There they use to put out their women to hire as we do herehackneyhorses.1594.Shakspeare,Love’sLabour’sLost, iii., 1. The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps ahackney.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, 101 (Chiswick Press, 1890). Out whore, strumpet, sixpennyhackster, away with her to prison!1672.Ray,Proverbs.Hackneymistress,hackneymaid.1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. iii., c. 1. That is no more than every lover Does from hishackney-ladysuffer.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hacks, orHackneys, Hirelings.Ibid.,Hackney Horses.Ibid.,Hackney Scribblers.Ibid.,Hackney Whores, Common Prostitutes.1738.Pope,Ep. to Sat.Shall each spurgall’dhackneyof the day, Or each new pension’d sycophant, pretend To break my windows?1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, iv., 14. With wonderful alacrity he had ended almost in an instant, and conveyed himself into a place of safety in ahackney-coach.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackney-writer, one who writes for attornies or booksellers.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Hacks.HackPreachers; the common exhibitioners at St. Mary’s, employed in the service of defaulters, and absentees.1819.Moore,Tom Crib. I first was hired to peg ahack.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a Jarvy! Better known, perhaps, by the name of ahack.1841.Leman Rede,Sixteen String Jack, ii., 3. I’ll get ahack, be off in a crack.Verb(colloquial, football).—To kick shins.Hacking= the practice of kicking shins at football.1857.G. A. Lawrence,Guy Livingstone, ch. i. I saw, too, more than one player limp out of his path disconsolately, trying vainly to dissemble the pain of a vicioushack.1869.Spencer,Study of Sociology, ch. viii. p. 186 (9th ed.). And thus, perhaps, the ‘education of a gentleman’ may rightly include giving and receivinghackingof the shins at foot-ball.1872.The Echo, 3 Nov. Some of the modern foot ball players have the tips of their shoes tipped with iron, and others wear a kind of armour or iron plate under their knicker-bockers to avoid … what is calledhacking.Hackle,subs.(common).—Pluck; spirit;bottom(q.v.).To show hackle= to show fight. [Hackle = a long shining feather on a cock’s neck.] Fr.,avoir du foie;n’avoir pas le flubart, oravoir du poil au ciel.Hackslaver,verb.(old).—To stammer; to splutter; to hesitate in speech.Hackum(orCaptain Hackum, orHackster),subs.(old).—A bully; a bravo. For synonyms,seeFurioso.1657.Lady Alimony, 1, 3 (Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 282). Vowing, like a desperatehaxterthat he has express command to seize upon all our properties.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hackam, Fighting Fellow.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackum, Captain Hackum, a bravo, a slasher.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum.Hackum, a bravado, a slasher, ‘Capt. Hackum,’ a fellow who slashes with a bowie-knife.Had.—SeeHave.Haddock,subs.(common).—1. A purse.Haddock of Beans= a purse of money. [Haddock = cod: O. Sw.,Rudde; Ic.,Koddi= a small bag.Cf.,Codpiece.] For synonyms,seePoge.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Melrusio, the fish we call ahadock, or a cod.Ibid.Metter la faua nel bacello, to put the beane into the cod.1834.H. Ainsworth,Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. ‘What’s here?’ cried he, searching the attorney’s pockets … ‘ahaddock, stuffed with nothing, I’m thinking.’[245]2.in. pl.(Stock Exchange).—North of Scotland Ordinary Stock.Haddums(orHad ’em).—Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew. The Spark has been atHaddums. He is Clapt, or Poxt.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has been atHad’emand come home by Clapham, said of one who has caught the venereal disease.Hag,subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old woman; a she-monster. Also (3) a nightmare. At Charterhouse, a female of any description; at Winchester, a matron. Hence,Hag-ridden= troubled with nightmare.Hag-born= witch-born.Hag-seed(Shakspeare,Tempest) = spawned of a witch.Hag-faced= foul-featured. In another sense,Hags= spots of firm ground in a moss or bog.d.1529.Skelton,Duke of Albany, Lyke a Scottishhag.1606.Wily Beguiled(Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 277). Like to some hellishhagor some damned fiend.1606.Shakspeare,Macbeth, iv., 1. How now, you secret, black, and midnightHags!1627.Drayton,The Moon-calf(Chalmer’sEnglish Poets, 1810, iv., 133). The filthyhagabhoring of the light.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, v. 6. Outhag!1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. As if you knew the sport of witch-hunting, Or starting of ahag.1680.Cotton,Poems, etc., ‘To Poet E.W.’ Adulteratehags, fit for a common stew.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1748.Thomson,Castle of Indolence, i., 73. Fierce fiends andHagsof hell their only nurses were.1773–83.Hoole,Orlando Furioso, xliii., 998. But such aHagto paradise conveyed, Had withered by her looks the blissful shade.1815.Scott,Guy Mannering, xliii. Hatteraick himself, and the gypsy sailor, and that oldhag.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 89. Old women were there also, with hideous vice-stamped features, veritablehagsall of them.Your Hagship!phr.(common).—In contempt (of women).Hag-finder,subs.(old).—A witch finder.1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. That I do promise, or I am no goodhag-finder.Hagged,adj.(old, now [asHaggard] recognised).—Ugly; gaunt; hag-like.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hagged, Lean, Witched, Half-starved.1716–1771.Gray,A Long Story. The ghostly prudes withHaggedface.Haggisland,subs.(common).—Scotland.Haggle,verb.(old, now recognised).—To bargain keenly; to stick at, or out for, trumpery points; to debate small issues.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1849–61.Macaulay,Hist. Eng., ch. xx.Hagglingwith the greedy, making up quarrels.Haggler,subs.(old).—Formerly a travelling merchant; a pedlar: now (in London vegetable markets) a middleman.Cf.,Bummaree.1662.Fuller,Worthies; Dorsetshire. Horses, on whichHaglersused to ride and carry their commodities.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v. AHagler, one that buys of the Country Folks, and sells in the Market, and goes from Door to Door.[246]1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop,ii, 1.I’senohagler, gadswookers;and he that says I am—’zbud, he lies!1851–61.H. Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 83. AHagglerbeing, as I before explained, the middle-man.Hail.To raise hail(orNed, orCain, orHell),verb. phr.(American).—To make a disturbance; to kick up a row.1888.Portland Transcript, 7 Mar. He is determined that they shall have a clear deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land when the question is settled, or he willraise hail.To be hail fellow well met,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be on very easy terms: alsoat hail-fellow.1574–1656.Hall’s Satires, III., i., p. 40. Now man, that ersthaile-fellowwas with beast, Woxe on to weene himselfe a god at least.1665.Homer à la Mode.The cookes too, having done, were set At tablehay fellow well met.[Quoted by Nares].1667–1745.Swift,My Lady’s Lamentation.Hail fellow, well met, all dirty and wet; Find out, if you can, who’s master, who’s man.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 108. And at first he sings small, and ishail-fellow-well-metwith Sheamus—that’s James of the Glens, my chieftain’s agent.To be hailed for the last time,verb. phr.(nautical).—To die. For synonyms,seeAloft.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 322. He’sbeen hailed for the last time.Hair,subs.(venery).—1. The female pubes. Whence (2) generic for the sex:e.g.,after hair= in quest of a woman;plenty of hair= lots of girls;hair to sell= a woman with a price;hair-monger= a wencher;bit of hair= the sexual favour. For synonyms,seeFleece.To go against the Hair,verb. phr.(old colloquial).—To go against the grain, or contrary to nature. [From the texture of furs.]1589.Nashe,Martin’s Months Minde(Grosart), i., 188. For hee euerwent against the haire.1596.Shakspeare,Merry Wives, ii., 3. If you should fight, yougo against the hairof your professions.1661.Middleton,Mayor of Queenborough, C. P. xi., 122. Books in women’s hands are as muchagainst the hair, methinks, as to see men wear stomachers, Or night-railes.Both of a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Very much alike. Also, two of a trade, and two in a tale.Not worth a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Utterly worthless.Cf.,Cent,Rap,Dump, etc.To a Hair,adv. phr.—(colloquial).—Exactly; to a nicety.Cf.,To fit to a Hair= to fit perfectly.1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop, i, 1. Here was a young gentlewoman but just now pencilled me outto a hair.1738.Swift,Polite Conversation. Miss. Well I love a Lyar with all my Heart; and youfit me to a hair.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. The fellowfitsmy temperto a hair.To split Hairs,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To cavil about trifles; to quibble; to be over-nice in argument.1693.Congreve,Old Bachelor, ii., 2. Now, I must speak; it willsplit a hairby the Lord Harry.Suit of Hair,subs. phr.(American).—Ahead of hair(q.v.).[247]To raise(orlift)Hair,verb. phr.(American).—To scalp; hence, idiomatically, to defeat; to kill.To keep one’s hair= to escape a danger.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West, p. 194. Kit Carson … hadraised more hairfrom the red-skins than any two men in the Western country.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, p. 101. If you’ll take the chances ofkeeping your hair.To comb one’s Hair,verb. phr.(common).—To castigate;to monkey(q.v.).SeeComb one’s Hair,ante.To hold(orkeep)one’s Hair(orWool)on,verb. phr.(common).—To keep one’s temper; to avoid excitement; to take easily. Alsoto keep one’s shirt on, orto pull down one’s jacket(orvest). Fr.,être calme et inodore.1885.Bret Harte,A Ship of ’49, ch. vi. ‘But what the devil——’ interrupted the young man impetuously. ‘Keep yer hair on!’ remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 78. Dokeep your ’air on, dear pal.1892.Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 5 Oct., p. 45, c. 1. ‘Who make devil’s row like that all night?’ he asked. ‘Keep your hair on, Moses Trinko,’ replied the receptionofficer, cheerily.A Hair of the Black Bear(orB’ar),subs. phr.(American).—A spice of the devil.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West,p. 6. Thar was old grit in him, too, andahair of the black b’ar atthat.To get one’s Hair Cut,verb. phr.(venery).—To visit a woman;to see a sick friend(q.v.). For synonyms,seeGreensandRide.1892.Anstey,Model Music Hall, 154.Tommy.What, Uncle, going?The W. U.(with assumed jauntiness). Justto get my hair cut.To make one’s hair stand on end,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To astonish.1697.Vanbrugh,Provoked Wife, lv., 4. It’s well you are come: I’m so frightened,my hair stands on end.1886.J. S. Winter,Army Society,ch. iii. If I were to tell you some incidents of my life since you and I last met, I should make yourhair stand on end.A Hair of the Dog that Bit you,subs. phr.(common).—A ‘pick-me-up’ after a debauch. [Apparently a memory of the superstition, which was and still is common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay it on the wound. Also figuratively,seequot. 1888.]1531.Bovilli,Prov. ii., xvi. siècle, t. i., p. 102.Du poil de la beste qui te mordis, Ou de son sanc sera guéris.1546.Heywood,Proverbs[1874], 79.What how fellow, thou knave, I pray thee let me and my fellow haveA haire of the dog that bit uslast night. And bitten were we bothe to the braine aright.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fayre, I.’Twas a hot night with some of us, last night, John: shall we pluck ahair of the same wolfto-day, proctor John?1738.Swift,Polite Convers., Dial.2.Lady Gur.But, Sir John, your ale is terrible strong and heady.…Sir John.Why, indeed, it is apt to fox one; but our way is to take ahair of the same dognext morning.1841.Dickens,B. Rudge, ch. lii. Put a good face upon it, and drink again. Anotherhair of the dog that bit you, captain!1888.Detroit Free Press.‘Talk of the Day,’ 3 Nov.Travis.—‘Hello, De Smith! You’re looking betterthan Iexpected. I understood that you were completely crushed by that love affair. How did you recover?’De Smith.—‘Hair of the dog that bit me.Fell in love with another girl.’[248]Hair-butcher,subs.(American).—A barber. For synonyms,seeNob-thatcher.1888.Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. ’Oi ’m wullin’ thot bloomin’hair-butchershud have a fit, av he wants.Hair-court,subs.phr.(venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.To take a turn in Hair-court= to copulate.Hair-divider(or-splitter),subs.(venery).—Thepenis. For synonyms,seeCreamstickandPrick. AlsoBeard-splitter.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Hair-splitter, a man’s yard.Hair-pin,subs.(American).—An individual, male or female:e.g.,That’s the sort of hair-pin I am= that’s my style.1888.Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. ‘That’s the kind ofhairpinswe are,’ said the enthusiastic swain.Hairy,adj.(Oxford University).—1. Difficult.d.1861.Arthur Clough,Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides andhairyAldrich.1864.The Press, 12 Nov.Hairyfor difficult is a characteristic epithet.2. (colloquial).—Splendid; famous; conspicuous; uncommon.1892.Rudyard Kipling,Barrack Room Ballads. ‘The Sons of the Widow.’ Did you hear of the Widow of Windsor with ahairygold crown on her head?3. (venery).—Desirable; full of sex;fuckable(q.v.). [Said only of women:e.g.,Hairy Bit= an amorous and taking wench.]SeeHair.To feel hairy,verb. phr.(venery).—To be inclined for coition; to have amust(q.v.).Hairyfordshire,subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.To go to Hairyfordshire= to copulate. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Hairy-oracle(or-ring),subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.Working the hairy-oracle= wenching. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Halbert.To get the halbert,verb. phr.(old military).—To rise to sergeant’s rank. [The weapon was carried by sergeants of foot.]To be brought to the halberts= to be flogged;to carry the halbert in one’s face= to show that one rose from the ranks (of officers in commission).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Half.It’s half past kissing time and time to kiss again.phr.(common).—The retort impudent (to females) when asked the time. A snatch from a ballad. [InSwift(Polite Conversation) = an hourpasthanging time.]Half-a-crack(orjiffy, ortick).—Half a second.Half-and-half,subs.(colloquial).—Equal quantities of ale and porter;Cf.,Four-halfandDrinks.1824.Reynolds,Peter Corcoran, 41. Over my gentlehalf-and-half.1835.Dickens,Sketches by Boz, p. 111. We were never tired of wondering how the hackney-coachmen on the opposite stand could … drink pots ofhalf-and-halfso near the last drop.[249]1841.Albert Smith(inPunch). ‘The Physiology of the London Medical Student.’Half-and-half… is … ale and porter, the proportion of the porter increasing in an inverse ratio to the respectability of the public house you get it from.1854.MartinandAytoun,Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘My Wife’s Cousin.’Half-and-halfgoes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot; And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot.1872.Fun, July. ‘The Right Tap.’ If the lever, meaning a plumper, were labelled ‘stout,’ and those recording a split votehalf and half, the illusion would be complete.Adj.(common).—Half-drunk;half-on(q.v.). For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1848.Duncombe,Sinks of London.Half and half, half seas over, tipsy.Half-and-half-coves(ormen,boys, etc.),subs.(old).—Cheap or linsey-woolsey dandies; half-bucks(q.v.) and half-tigers(q.v.).1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7.Jerry.Thehalf-and-half covesare somewhat different from the swaddies, and gay tyke boys, at the dog pit—Eh, Tom?Half-an-eye.To see with half an eye,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To discern readily; to be quick at conclusions.Half-baked(orSoft-baked),adj.(common).—Halfwitted; cracked;soft(q.v.);doughy(q.v.); alsohalf-rocked(q.v.). For synonyms,seeApartmentsandTile Loose. Fr.,n’avoir pas la tête bien cuite.1825.Scott,St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 221. He must scheme forsooth, thishalf-bakedScotch cake! He must hold off and on, and be cautious, and wait the result, and try conclusions with me, this lump of natural dough!1857.C. Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. iv. ‘A sort ofhalf-bakedbody,’ said Kate.1886.W. Besant,Children of Gibeon, Bk. II., ch. xiv. A daughter of seventeen not quite right in her head—half-baked, to use the popular and feeling expression.1890.Answers, Xmas No., p. 19, c. 3. ‘You needn’t be so crusty,’ said Todkins to his better half. ‘Better be a little crusty than nothalf-baked,’ was the reply of his amiable spouse.1892.Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 2, c. 3. Mr. Vane Tempest as serenest ofhalf-bakedcynics, and Mr. H. Vincent as most credulous of bibulous optimists.Half-breed,subs.(American political).—A nick-name applied to certain New York Republicans, who wavered in their allegiance during an election to the Senate in 1881.—Norton.Half-cocked,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1887.H. Smart,Saddle and Sabre, ch. xvii. ‘Black Bill,’ as he was called by his brother jockeys, was very oftenhalf-cockedwhen he got up to ride.… The man could ride as well half-drunk as sober.To go off at half-cock(orhalf-cocked),verb. phr.1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.1848.Lowell,Biglow Papers[Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’tgo off half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’ brains.Half-cracked,adv.(common).—Lacking in intelligence.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1887.W. P. Frith,Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly calledhalf-cracked.Half-crown Word,subs. phr.(common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; ajaw-breaker(q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = asleeveboard(q.v.).[250]Half-crowner,subs.(booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s.6d.Half-cut,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.Half-fly Flat,subs. phr.(thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.Half-grown Shad,subs. phr.(American).—A dolt. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.1838.Neal,Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than ahalf-grown shad.Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin,subs. phr.(nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.Halflings,adj.(Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]1818.Scott,Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was ahafflinscallant.Half-man,subs.(nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.Half-marrow,subs.(old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.1600–61.Rutherford,Letters, i., 123. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a treacheroushalf-marrowto her husband Jesus.2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.Half-moon,subs.(old).—1. A wig; and (2) the femalepudendum. For synonyms,seePeriwinkleandMonosyllable.1611.Lodowick Barry,Ram Alley(Dodsley,Old Plays, vii., 326, ed. 1875). Is not herhalf-moonmine?Half-mourning,subs.(common).—A black eye.Full-mourning= two black eyes ordeep grief.Half-nab(ornap),adv.(old).—Seequot.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Half-nab—at a venture, unsight unseen, hit or miss.Half-on,adj.(colloquial).—Half-drunk.Half-rocked,adv.(common).—Half-witted; silly. [From a West Country saying that all idiots are nursed bottom upwards.]SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.Half-saved,adv.(common).—Weak-minded; shallow-brained.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1834.Southey,The Doctor, ch. x. William Dove’s was not a case of fatuity. Though all was not there, there was a great deal. He was what is calledhalf-saved.1874.M. Collins,Frances, ch. xlii. This groom was what they call in the west countryhalf-saved.Half-screwed,adj.(common).—More or less in liquor.SeeDrinksandScrewed.1839.Lever,Harry Lorrequer, ch. ii. He was, in Kilrush phrase,half-screwed, thereby meaning more than half tipsy.Half-seas Over,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Loosely applied to various degrees of inebriety. Formerly = half way on one’s course, or towards attainment. For synonyms,seeScrewed.[251][In its specific sense Gifford says, “a corruption of the Dutchop-zee zober, ‘over-sea beer,’ a strong heady beverageintroducedinto Holland from England.” ‘Up-zee Freese’ is Friezeland beer. The Germanzaubermeans ‘strong beer’ and ‘bewitchment.’ Thus (1610) inJonson,Alchemist, iv., 2. ‘I do not like the dulness of your eye, It hath a heavy cast, ’tisupsee Dutch.’ Other nautical terms = drunk arewater-logged;sprung;slewed;with one’s jib well bowsed;three sheets in the wind;channels under, butseeDrinksandScrewed.]1631–1701.Dryden.I amhalf-seas overto death.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Half-seas over, almost Drunk.1697.Vanbrugh,Relapse, iii., 3. Good; that’s thinkinghalf-seas over. One tide more brings us into port.1714.Spectator, No. 616. The whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the slip. Our friend the alderman washalf-seas overbefore the bonfire was out.1738.Swift,Pol. Convers., Dial.1. You must own you had a drop in your eye; when I left you, you werehalf seas over.1751.Smollett,Peregrine Pickle, ch. ix. Who, by this time, had entered into all the jollity of his new friends, and was indeed more thanhalf-seas-over.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1829.J. B. Buckstone,Billy Taylor. The public-houses will not close till morn, And wine and spirituous liquors are so cheap, That we can all get nicelyhalf seas over, And see no sea at all.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 40. Mr. Smith, now being more thanhalf-seas over, became very uproarious.1849.Thackeray,Pendennis, ch. xxx. It’s pay-day with the General … and he’s a precious deal more thanhalf-seas over.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. There’s truth in wine, and there may be some in gin and muddy beer.… I’ve got plenty of truth in my time out of men who werehalf-seas-over, but never any that was worth a sixpence to me.1890.Globe, 16 Apr., p. 2, c. 1. The familiar phrasehalf-seas over, for example, is wanting, and for this we appear to be indebted to the Dutch.1892.The Cosmopolitan, Oct., p. 724. The fellowhalf-seas-overeveryone excuses.Half-slewed,adj.(common).—Parcel drunk. For synonyms,seeScrewed.Half-snacks(orHalf-snags),adv. phr.(colloquial).—Half-shares.Seequots.1683.Earl of Dorset,A Faithful Catalogue. She mounts the price and goeshalf snackherself.1887.Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252.Half-snagsis a corrupted form ofhalf snacks,i.e., half shares. If one of a party of arabs finds any article it becomes his entire property unless his fellows sayHalf-Snags, or ‘Quarter-bits,’ or ‘Some for your neighbours.’Half-’un,subs.(common).—Half-a-glassof spirits and water;Half-a-Go(q.v.).Half-widow,subs.(American).—A woman with a lazy and thriftless husband.[For Half in combination,seealsoBean:Borde;Bull;Case:Century;Couter;Dollar;George;Go;Grunter;Hog;Jack;James;Ned;Ounce;Quid;Skiv;Stretch;Tusheroon;Wheel.]Halifax.Go to Halifax,verb. phr.(American).—Be off!go to hell(q.v.). The full text isGo to Hell,Hull, orHalifax.Cf.,Bath,Blazes,Hull,Putney, etc.1599.Nashe,Lenten Stuffe(Grosart, 1883–84, p. 284). If frierPendelaand his fellowes, had any thing to say to him, in his admiral court of the sea, let them seek him, and neither inhull,hell, norhalifax.1875.Notes and Queries, 5 S., iv., p. 66.Go to Halifax. This expression is sometimes used in the United States as a mild substitute for a direction to go to a place not to be named to ears polite.[252]Hall,subs.(fishmongers’).—1. Specificallythe hall= Leadenhall Market.Cf.,Garden,Lane, etc.2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in Collegehall.]To hall= to dine.Go and Hire a Hall.phr.(American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.Hall by the Sea,subs. phr.(medical students’).—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]Hall of Delight,subs. phr.(Australian).—A music hall.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you coons would find your way to thishall of delight.Hallan-shaker(orHallen-shaker),subs.(old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms,seeCadgerandMumper.c.1503–4.Dunbar,A General Satyrewks. (ed.David Laing, 1834), ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sichalland-schakkaris.c.1600.Montgomerie,Poems(Scottish Text Soc., 1885–7),‘Polwart and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85.halland-shaker, draught-raiker, bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.(?) 1642.Old Ballad.‘Maggie Lauder.’Right scornfully she answered him, Begone, youHallan-shaker.1724.Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about like ahallen-shaker, You wou’d hae taen me for a water-wraith.1816.Scott,Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheenHallenshakerslike mysel’.Halliballo.—SeeHulliballo.Hallion(orHallyon),subs.(old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman’s servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew.Cf.,Hell-cat.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentishhallion.1847.Porter,Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious littlehellions!Halloo.To halloo with the under dog,verb. phr.(American).—To take the losing side.Halo.To work the halo racket,verb. phr.(common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]Haltersack,subs.(old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher … ahaltersacke.1619.BeaumontandFletcher,King and no King, ii., 2. Away, youhaltersack, you.Halves,subs.(Winchester College).—(pro. Hāves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictlynon licet(obs.).—Notions.To go(orcry)halves,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America,at the halves.1831.Neal,Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. ‘Lives by preachin’at the halvesa sabba’-days.’ ‘Preachingat the halves—how’s that?’ ‘Why don’t you know? in partnership for what’s taken arter the sarmon’s over.’1851–61.Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He’ll then again ask if anybody willgo him halves.Ham,subs.(old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: alsoHam-cases. For synonyms,seeKicks.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hams, Breeches.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Hams—breeches.[253]1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hams. Pants.2. (American).—Aloafer(q.v.). AlsoHam-fatter. [TheAmerican Slang Dict.says ‘A tenth-rate actor or variety performer.’]1888.Missouri Republican, 27 Mar. Connelly … is a good fighter, but will allow the veriesthamto whip him, if there is any money to be made by it.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. The … more prosperous professional brother of thehamfatter.No ham and all hominy,phr.(American).—Of indifferent quality; ‘no great shakes’; ‘all work and no play’; ‘much cry and little wool.’Hamlet,subs.(old and American).Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hamlet… a High Constable.1725.New Cant. Dict.,s.v.Hamlet, a High-Constable.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hamlet, a high constable (cant).1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew.Hamlet, a high-constable.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hamlet.A captain of police.Ham-match,subs.(common).—A stand-up luncheon.1890.Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. At one o’clock they relieve their exhausted frames by taking perpendicular refreshment—vulgarly termed aham match—at some City luncheon bar.Hammer,subs.(pugilistic).—1. A hard-hitter: especially with the right hand, like the illustriousHammerLane. AlsoHammererandHammer-man.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 33. A letter written on the occasion by Henry Harmer, thehammerer.1823.Bee,Dict. of the Turf, 93. When a man hits very hard, chiefly with a favorite hand, his blows are said to fall like those of a sledge-hammer. Such boxers arehammeringfighters, that do not defend their own vitals, cannot make sure of a blow, and are termedhammerersandhammermen.2. (common).—An unblushing lie. For synonyms,seeWhopper.Verb(pugilistic).—1. To beat; topunish(q.v.).1887.T. E. Brown,The Doctor, p. 159. And bedad I did, and before herself too, Andhammeredhim well.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, ch. ii. ‘Hammerhim? What with?—a club?’ ‘No, with my fists.’2. (American).—To bate; to drive down (prices, etc.).1865.Harper’s Magazine, p. 619. The chronic bears were amusing themselves byhammering,i.e., pressing down the price of Hudsons.3. (Stock Exchange).—To declare one a defaulter.1885.Fortnightly Review, xxxviii., p. 578. A ‘defaulter’ has been declared orhammered, as it is technically termed.1888.Echo, 28 Dec. If any unfortunate member behammeredto-day or to-morrow it will in all probability be a bear.1890.Daily Telegraph, 1 Nov. This being the third day after the general settlement, a defaulter who had been unable to provide cash washammered, and private arrangements are reported in other quarters without resort to this extreme measure.1891.Pall Mall Gazette, 25 July, p. 1, c. 3. But what is an ‘outside broker?’ some (possibly lady) reader may ask. Well, he may be, and often is, a regular, who has beenhammeredfor failing to meet his ‘differences.’1891.Tit Bits, 15 Aug. I need not go into the circumstances which led to my being expelled from that honourable body, orhammeredas it is familiarly called, owing to the taps with a hammer which the head porter gives before he officially proclaims the name of a defaulter.[254]Down as a hammer,adv. phr.(common).—1. Wide-awake;knowing(q.v.);fly(q.v.).1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 45. To be down to anything is pretty much the same as being up to it, anddown as a hammeris, of course, theintensivumof the phrase.2. (colloquial).—Instant; peremptory; merciless.Cf.,Like a thousand of bricks. AlsoTo be down on … like a hammer.At(orunder)the hammer,adv. phr.(auctioneers’).—For sale at auction.That’s the hammer,verb. phr.(colloquial).—An expression of approval or assent.To be hammers to one,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To know what one means.To hammer out(orinto),verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be at pains to deceive; to reiterate; to force to hear.1596.Ben Jonson,Every Man in his Humour, iii., 3. Now am I, for some five and fifty reasons,hammering,hammeringrevenge.1719.Durfey,Pills, etc., iii., 23. If any Scholar be in doubt, And cannot well bring this matter about; The Blacksmith canhammer it out.1888.J. McCarthyandMrs. Campbell-Praed,The Ladies’ Gallery, ch. i. I think the chaps that are alwayshammeringon about repentance and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong end.Hammer-and-Tongs,adv. phr.(common).—Very violently; ding-dong.1781.G. Parker,View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress were at ithammer and tongs.1833.Marryat,Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at it,hammer and tongs.1837.Marryat,Snarleyow. Ods bobs!Hammer and Tongs!long as I’ve been to sea.1861.H. Kingsley,Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon themhammer and tongs1862.M. E. Braddon,Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at ithammer and tongs.’1884.Jas. Payn,Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at ithammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything.Hammer-headed,adj.(common).—1. Oafish; stupid.1600.Nashe,Summers Last Will(Grosart), vi., 169. A number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers,hammer-headedclownes.2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped:i.e., long and narrow in the head.1865.Dickens,Our Mutual Friend,i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage consisted of a longhammer-headedold horse, formerly used in the business … a driver being added in the person of a longhammer-headedyoung man.Hammering,subs.(pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessivepunishment(q.v.).2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’).Hammering-trade,subs.(pugilistic).—Pugilism.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if made, express, by Nature for thehammeringtrade.Hammersmith.To go to Hammersmith,verb. phr.(common).—To get a sound drubbing.Hampered,adj.(old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [FromOld. Eng., hamper = a fetter:seequot. 1613].[255]1613.Browne,Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles, shacklockes,hampers, gives and chaines.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hampstead Donkey,subs. phr.(common).—Seequot. For synonyms,seeChates.c.1870.Daily Paper.The witness testified to the filthy state of the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was told not to get into bed until she had looked for theHampstead donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’Hampstead-heath,subs. phr.(rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms,seeGrinders.1887.Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And ofHampstead Heathtwo rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened Like two pretty strings of pearls.Hampstead-heath Sailor,subs. phr.(common).—Alandlubber(q.v.); afreshwater sailor(q.v.). Fr.,un marin d’eau douceorun amiral Suisse(= a Swiss admiral: Switzerland having no seaboard).Hanced,adj.(old).—In liquor. [FromHance= ‘to elevate.’] For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1630.Taylor,Works. I doe finde my selfe sufficientlyhanced, and that henceforth I shall acknowledge it; and that whensoever I shall offer to beehancedagain, I shall arme my selfe with the craft of a fox, the manners of a hogge, the wisdom of an asse, mixt with the civility of a beare.Hand,subs.(colloquial).—Properly a seaman; now a labourer, a workman, an agent.1658.Phillips,New World of Words, s.v.Hand… a Word us’d among Mariners … when Men are wanted to do any Labour they usually Call for morehands.1632–1704.Locke,Wks.A dictionary containing a natural history requires too manyhands, as well as too much time.1711.Spectator, No. 232. The reduction of the prices of our manufactures by the addition of so many newhands, would be no inconvenience to any man.1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, i, 14. The mercantile part of the world, therefore, wisely use the term ‘employinghands,’ and esteem each other as they employ more or fewer.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. We lost ahand, we lost a sailor.1871.Chambers’ Miscellany, No. 113, p. 3. He was admitted as ahandin an establishment already numbering three hundred active workers.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 70. Thehandshas all bloomin’ well struck.1892.National Observer, 22 Oct., vol. viii., p. 571. The dispute in the South-East Lancashire cotton trade is like to result in the stoppage of fourteen or fifteen million spindles which will take employment from sixty thousandhands, a fifth of them women and children.1893.Fortnightly Review, Jan., p. 62. The wages paid to the operatives in our woollen industry are, to a marked extent, lower than those received by thehandsemployed in our cotton mills.2. (coachmen’s).—Seequot.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xv. Lady Horsingham was tolerably courageous, but totally destitute of what is termedhand, a quality as necessary in driving as in riding, particularly with fractious or high-spirited horses.Agood(orcool,neat,old,fine, etc.)hand,subs. phr.(colloquial).—An expert.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.), s.v.Hand(v.). ‘He is a goodhand,’ spoke of one that is an artist in some particular mechanical art or trade, etc.[256]1773.Goldsmith,She Stoops to Conquer, iii., 1. When I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not agood handat making punch.1854.Whyte Melville,General Bounce, xii. A quaint boy at Eton,cool handat Oxford, a deep card in the regiment, man or woman never yet had the best of ‘Uppy.’1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, i., p. 33. The new man, thegreen hand, takes little or no heed of the entrance of the officers.… Not so theold hand.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 195. Ye’re agrand handat the sleeping!1892.W. E. Gladstone,Times‘Report.’… Thisold Parliamentary hand.
Haberdasher,subs.(old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican (i.e., a seller oftape[q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.1599.Minsheu,Dictionarie, s.v.1632.Jonson,The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios, poetasters, poetitos.… And allhaberdashersof small wit.d.1680.Butler,Remains(1759), ii., 107. He set uphaberdasherof a small poetry.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, iii., 5. Thehaberdasheris the whistler, otherwise the spirit-merchant, Jerry—and tape the commodity he deals in.Haberdasher of pronouns,subs. phr.(common).—A schoolmaster. For synonyms,seeBumbrusher.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Habit,subs.(old University).—Seequot.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Habit.CollegeHabit, College dress, called of old, Livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.Hab-nab(orHob-nob(q.v.)),adv.(old).—1. At random; promiscuously; helter-skelter; ding-dong.1602.Shakspeare,Twelfth Night, iii., 4. His incensement at this moment is so great that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre.Hob-nobis his word; give’t, or take’t.1664.Butler,Hudibras, ii., 3. Although set downhab-nabat random.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hab-nab, at a Venture, Unsight, Unseen, Hit or Miss.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.2. (old).—By hook or by crook; by fair means or foul.1581.Lilly,Euphues, 109. Philantus determinedhabnabto send his letters.Verb(old).—To drink with; giving health for health.1836.Horace Smith,The Tin Trumpet. ‘Address to a Mummy.’ Perchance that very hand now pinioned flat Hashob-and-nobbedwith Pharaoh glass for glass.Hack(orHackney),subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A person or thing let out for promiscuous use:e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Whence (2) a coach that plies for hire; (3) (stables’) a horse for everyday use, as offered to one for a special purpose—hunting, racing, polo. (4) (Cambridge Univ.),seequot. 1803. AlsoHackster.1383.Chaucer,Canterbury Tales, 16,027. HisHakeney, which that was a pomele gris.1540.Lyndsay,Satyre of thethrieEstaits, 3237. I may finde the Earle of Rothus besthacknay.[244]1582.Hakluyt,Voyages, i., 400.There they use to put out their women to hire as we do herehackneyhorses.1594.Shakspeare,Love’sLabour’sLost, iii., 1. The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps ahackney.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, 101 (Chiswick Press, 1890). Out whore, strumpet, sixpennyhackster, away with her to prison!1672.Ray,Proverbs.Hackneymistress,hackneymaid.1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. iii., c. 1. That is no more than every lover Does from hishackney-ladysuffer.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hacks, orHackneys, Hirelings.Ibid.,Hackney Horses.Ibid.,Hackney Scribblers.Ibid.,Hackney Whores, Common Prostitutes.1738.Pope,Ep. to Sat.Shall each spurgall’dhackneyof the day, Or each new pension’d sycophant, pretend To break my windows?1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, iv., 14. With wonderful alacrity he had ended almost in an instant, and conveyed himself into a place of safety in ahackney-coach.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackney-writer, one who writes for attornies or booksellers.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Hacks.HackPreachers; the common exhibitioners at St. Mary’s, employed in the service of defaulters, and absentees.1819.Moore,Tom Crib. I first was hired to peg ahack.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a Jarvy! Better known, perhaps, by the name of ahack.1841.Leman Rede,Sixteen String Jack, ii., 3. I’ll get ahack, be off in a crack.Verb(colloquial, football).—To kick shins.Hacking= the practice of kicking shins at football.1857.G. A. Lawrence,Guy Livingstone, ch. i. I saw, too, more than one player limp out of his path disconsolately, trying vainly to dissemble the pain of a vicioushack.1869.Spencer,Study of Sociology, ch. viii. p. 186 (9th ed.). And thus, perhaps, the ‘education of a gentleman’ may rightly include giving and receivinghackingof the shins at foot-ball.1872.The Echo, 3 Nov. Some of the modern foot ball players have the tips of their shoes tipped with iron, and others wear a kind of armour or iron plate under their knicker-bockers to avoid … what is calledhacking.Hackle,subs.(common).—Pluck; spirit;bottom(q.v.).To show hackle= to show fight. [Hackle = a long shining feather on a cock’s neck.] Fr.,avoir du foie;n’avoir pas le flubart, oravoir du poil au ciel.Hackslaver,verb.(old).—To stammer; to splutter; to hesitate in speech.Hackum(orCaptain Hackum, orHackster),subs.(old).—A bully; a bravo. For synonyms,seeFurioso.1657.Lady Alimony, 1, 3 (Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 282). Vowing, like a desperatehaxterthat he has express command to seize upon all our properties.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hackam, Fighting Fellow.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackum, Captain Hackum, a bravo, a slasher.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum.Hackum, a bravado, a slasher, ‘Capt. Hackum,’ a fellow who slashes with a bowie-knife.Had.—SeeHave.Haddock,subs.(common).—1. A purse.Haddock of Beans= a purse of money. [Haddock = cod: O. Sw.,Rudde; Ic.,Koddi= a small bag.Cf.,Codpiece.] For synonyms,seePoge.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Melrusio, the fish we call ahadock, or a cod.Ibid.Metter la faua nel bacello, to put the beane into the cod.1834.H. Ainsworth,Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. ‘What’s here?’ cried he, searching the attorney’s pockets … ‘ahaddock, stuffed with nothing, I’m thinking.’[245]2.in. pl.(Stock Exchange).—North of Scotland Ordinary Stock.Haddums(orHad ’em).—Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew. The Spark has been atHaddums. He is Clapt, or Poxt.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has been atHad’emand come home by Clapham, said of one who has caught the venereal disease.Hag,subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old woman; a she-monster. Also (3) a nightmare. At Charterhouse, a female of any description; at Winchester, a matron. Hence,Hag-ridden= troubled with nightmare.Hag-born= witch-born.Hag-seed(Shakspeare,Tempest) = spawned of a witch.Hag-faced= foul-featured. In another sense,Hags= spots of firm ground in a moss or bog.d.1529.Skelton,Duke of Albany, Lyke a Scottishhag.1606.Wily Beguiled(Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 277). Like to some hellishhagor some damned fiend.1606.Shakspeare,Macbeth, iv., 1. How now, you secret, black, and midnightHags!1627.Drayton,The Moon-calf(Chalmer’sEnglish Poets, 1810, iv., 133). The filthyhagabhoring of the light.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, v. 6. Outhag!1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. As if you knew the sport of witch-hunting, Or starting of ahag.1680.Cotton,Poems, etc., ‘To Poet E.W.’ Adulteratehags, fit for a common stew.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1748.Thomson,Castle of Indolence, i., 73. Fierce fiends andHagsof hell their only nurses were.1773–83.Hoole,Orlando Furioso, xliii., 998. But such aHagto paradise conveyed, Had withered by her looks the blissful shade.1815.Scott,Guy Mannering, xliii. Hatteraick himself, and the gypsy sailor, and that oldhag.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 89. Old women were there also, with hideous vice-stamped features, veritablehagsall of them.Your Hagship!phr.(common).—In contempt (of women).Hag-finder,subs.(old).—A witch finder.1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. That I do promise, or I am no goodhag-finder.Hagged,adj.(old, now [asHaggard] recognised).—Ugly; gaunt; hag-like.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hagged, Lean, Witched, Half-starved.1716–1771.Gray,A Long Story. The ghostly prudes withHaggedface.Haggisland,subs.(common).—Scotland.Haggle,verb.(old, now recognised).—To bargain keenly; to stick at, or out for, trumpery points; to debate small issues.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1849–61.Macaulay,Hist. Eng., ch. xx.Hagglingwith the greedy, making up quarrels.Haggler,subs.(old).—Formerly a travelling merchant; a pedlar: now (in London vegetable markets) a middleman.Cf.,Bummaree.1662.Fuller,Worthies; Dorsetshire. Horses, on whichHaglersused to ride and carry their commodities.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v. AHagler, one that buys of the Country Folks, and sells in the Market, and goes from Door to Door.[246]1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop,ii, 1.I’senohagler, gadswookers;and he that says I am—’zbud, he lies!1851–61.H. Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 83. AHagglerbeing, as I before explained, the middle-man.Hail.To raise hail(orNed, orCain, orHell),verb. phr.(American).—To make a disturbance; to kick up a row.1888.Portland Transcript, 7 Mar. He is determined that they shall have a clear deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land when the question is settled, or he willraise hail.To be hail fellow well met,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be on very easy terms: alsoat hail-fellow.1574–1656.Hall’s Satires, III., i., p. 40. Now man, that ersthaile-fellowwas with beast, Woxe on to weene himselfe a god at least.1665.Homer à la Mode.The cookes too, having done, were set At tablehay fellow well met.[Quoted by Nares].1667–1745.Swift,My Lady’s Lamentation.Hail fellow, well met, all dirty and wet; Find out, if you can, who’s master, who’s man.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 108. And at first he sings small, and ishail-fellow-well-metwith Sheamus—that’s James of the Glens, my chieftain’s agent.To be hailed for the last time,verb. phr.(nautical).—To die. For synonyms,seeAloft.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 322. He’sbeen hailed for the last time.Hair,subs.(venery).—1. The female pubes. Whence (2) generic for the sex:e.g.,after hair= in quest of a woman;plenty of hair= lots of girls;hair to sell= a woman with a price;hair-monger= a wencher;bit of hair= the sexual favour. For synonyms,seeFleece.To go against the Hair,verb. phr.(old colloquial).—To go against the grain, or contrary to nature. [From the texture of furs.]1589.Nashe,Martin’s Months Minde(Grosart), i., 188. For hee euerwent against the haire.1596.Shakspeare,Merry Wives, ii., 3. If you should fight, yougo against the hairof your professions.1661.Middleton,Mayor of Queenborough, C. P. xi., 122. Books in women’s hands are as muchagainst the hair, methinks, as to see men wear stomachers, Or night-railes.Both of a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Very much alike. Also, two of a trade, and two in a tale.Not worth a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Utterly worthless.Cf.,Cent,Rap,Dump, etc.To a Hair,adv. phr.—(colloquial).—Exactly; to a nicety.Cf.,To fit to a Hair= to fit perfectly.1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop, i, 1. Here was a young gentlewoman but just now pencilled me outto a hair.1738.Swift,Polite Conversation. Miss. Well I love a Lyar with all my Heart; and youfit me to a hair.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. The fellowfitsmy temperto a hair.To split Hairs,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To cavil about trifles; to quibble; to be over-nice in argument.1693.Congreve,Old Bachelor, ii., 2. Now, I must speak; it willsplit a hairby the Lord Harry.Suit of Hair,subs. phr.(American).—Ahead of hair(q.v.).[247]To raise(orlift)Hair,verb. phr.(American).—To scalp; hence, idiomatically, to defeat; to kill.To keep one’s hair= to escape a danger.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West, p. 194. Kit Carson … hadraised more hairfrom the red-skins than any two men in the Western country.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, p. 101. If you’ll take the chances ofkeeping your hair.To comb one’s Hair,verb. phr.(common).—To castigate;to monkey(q.v.).SeeComb one’s Hair,ante.To hold(orkeep)one’s Hair(orWool)on,verb. phr.(common).—To keep one’s temper; to avoid excitement; to take easily. Alsoto keep one’s shirt on, orto pull down one’s jacket(orvest). Fr.,être calme et inodore.1885.Bret Harte,A Ship of ’49, ch. vi. ‘But what the devil——’ interrupted the young man impetuously. ‘Keep yer hair on!’ remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 78. Dokeep your ’air on, dear pal.1892.Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 5 Oct., p. 45, c. 1. ‘Who make devil’s row like that all night?’ he asked. ‘Keep your hair on, Moses Trinko,’ replied the receptionofficer, cheerily.A Hair of the Black Bear(orB’ar),subs. phr.(American).—A spice of the devil.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West,p. 6. Thar was old grit in him, too, andahair of the black b’ar atthat.To get one’s Hair Cut,verb. phr.(venery).—To visit a woman;to see a sick friend(q.v.). For synonyms,seeGreensandRide.1892.Anstey,Model Music Hall, 154.Tommy.What, Uncle, going?The W. U.(with assumed jauntiness). Justto get my hair cut.To make one’s hair stand on end,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To astonish.1697.Vanbrugh,Provoked Wife, lv., 4. It’s well you are come: I’m so frightened,my hair stands on end.1886.J. S. Winter,Army Society,ch. iii. If I were to tell you some incidents of my life since you and I last met, I should make yourhair stand on end.A Hair of the Dog that Bit you,subs. phr.(common).—A ‘pick-me-up’ after a debauch. [Apparently a memory of the superstition, which was and still is common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay it on the wound. Also figuratively,seequot. 1888.]1531.Bovilli,Prov. ii., xvi. siècle, t. i., p. 102.Du poil de la beste qui te mordis, Ou de son sanc sera guéris.1546.Heywood,Proverbs[1874], 79.What how fellow, thou knave, I pray thee let me and my fellow haveA haire of the dog that bit uslast night. And bitten were we bothe to the braine aright.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fayre, I.’Twas a hot night with some of us, last night, John: shall we pluck ahair of the same wolfto-day, proctor John?1738.Swift,Polite Convers., Dial.2.Lady Gur.But, Sir John, your ale is terrible strong and heady.…Sir John.Why, indeed, it is apt to fox one; but our way is to take ahair of the same dognext morning.1841.Dickens,B. Rudge, ch. lii. Put a good face upon it, and drink again. Anotherhair of the dog that bit you, captain!1888.Detroit Free Press.‘Talk of the Day,’ 3 Nov.Travis.—‘Hello, De Smith! You’re looking betterthan Iexpected. I understood that you were completely crushed by that love affair. How did you recover?’De Smith.—‘Hair of the dog that bit me.Fell in love with another girl.’[248]Hair-butcher,subs.(American).—A barber. For synonyms,seeNob-thatcher.1888.Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. ’Oi ’m wullin’ thot bloomin’hair-butchershud have a fit, av he wants.Hair-court,subs.phr.(venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.To take a turn in Hair-court= to copulate.Hair-divider(or-splitter),subs.(venery).—Thepenis. For synonyms,seeCreamstickandPrick. AlsoBeard-splitter.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Hair-splitter, a man’s yard.Hair-pin,subs.(American).—An individual, male or female:e.g.,That’s the sort of hair-pin I am= that’s my style.1888.Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. ‘That’s the kind ofhairpinswe are,’ said the enthusiastic swain.Hairy,adj.(Oxford University).—1. Difficult.d.1861.Arthur Clough,Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides andhairyAldrich.1864.The Press, 12 Nov.Hairyfor difficult is a characteristic epithet.2. (colloquial).—Splendid; famous; conspicuous; uncommon.1892.Rudyard Kipling,Barrack Room Ballads. ‘The Sons of the Widow.’ Did you hear of the Widow of Windsor with ahairygold crown on her head?3. (venery).—Desirable; full of sex;fuckable(q.v.). [Said only of women:e.g.,Hairy Bit= an amorous and taking wench.]SeeHair.To feel hairy,verb. phr.(venery).—To be inclined for coition; to have amust(q.v.).Hairyfordshire,subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.To go to Hairyfordshire= to copulate. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Hairy-oracle(or-ring),subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.Working the hairy-oracle= wenching. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Halbert.To get the halbert,verb. phr.(old military).—To rise to sergeant’s rank. [The weapon was carried by sergeants of foot.]To be brought to the halberts= to be flogged;to carry the halbert in one’s face= to show that one rose from the ranks (of officers in commission).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Half.It’s half past kissing time and time to kiss again.phr.(common).—The retort impudent (to females) when asked the time. A snatch from a ballad. [InSwift(Polite Conversation) = an hourpasthanging time.]Half-a-crack(orjiffy, ortick).—Half a second.Half-and-half,subs.(colloquial).—Equal quantities of ale and porter;Cf.,Four-halfandDrinks.1824.Reynolds,Peter Corcoran, 41. Over my gentlehalf-and-half.1835.Dickens,Sketches by Boz, p. 111. We were never tired of wondering how the hackney-coachmen on the opposite stand could … drink pots ofhalf-and-halfso near the last drop.[249]1841.Albert Smith(inPunch). ‘The Physiology of the London Medical Student.’Half-and-half… is … ale and porter, the proportion of the porter increasing in an inverse ratio to the respectability of the public house you get it from.1854.MartinandAytoun,Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘My Wife’s Cousin.’Half-and-halfgoes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot; And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot.1872.Fun, July. ‘The Right Tap.’ If the lever, meaning a plumper, were labelled ‘stout,’ and those recording a split votehalf and half, the illusion would be complete.Adj.(common).—Half-drunk;half-on(q.v.). For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1848.Duncombe,Sinks of London.Half and half, half seas over, tipsy.Half-and-half-coves(ormen,boys, etc.),subs.(old).—Cheap or linsey-woolsey dandies; half-bucks(q.v.) and half-tigers(q.v.).1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7.Jerry.Thehalf-and-half covesare somewhat different from the swaddies, and gay tyke boys, at the dog pit—Eh, Tom?Half-an-eye.To see with half an eye,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To discern readily; to be quick at conclusions.Half-baked(orSoft-baked),adj.(common).—Halfwitted; cracked;soft(q.v.);doughy(q.v.); alsohalf-rocked(q.v.). For synonyms,seeApartmentsandTile Loose. Fr.,n’avoir pas la tête bien cuite.1825.Scott,St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 221. He must scheme forsooth, thishalf-bakedScotch cake! He must hold off and on, and be cautious, and wait the result, and try conclusions with me, this lump of natural dough!1857.C. Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. iv. ‘A sort ofhalf-bakedbody,’ said Kate.1886.W. Besant,Children of Gibeon, Bk. II., ch. xiv. A daughter of seventeen not quite right in her head—half-baked, to use the popular and feeling expression.1890.Answers, Xmas No., p. 19, c. 3. ‘You needn’t be so crusty,’ said Todkins to his better half. ‘Better be a little crusty than nothalf-baked,’ was the reply of his amiable spouse.1892.Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 2, c. 3. Mr. Vane Tempest as serenest ofhalf-bakedcynics, and Mr. H. Vincent as most credulous of bibulous optimists.Half-breed,subs.(American political).—A nick-name applied to certain New York Republicans, who wavered in their allegiance during an election to the Senate in 1881.—Norton.Half-cocked,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1887.H. Smart,Saddle and Sabre, ch. xvii. ‘Black Bill,’ as he was called by his brother jockeys, was very oftenhalf-cockedwhen he got up to ride.… The man could ride as well half-drunk as sober.To go off at half-cock(orhalf-cocked),verb. phr.1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.1848.Lowell,Biglow Papers[Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’tgo off half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’ brains.Half-cracked,adv.(common).—Lacking in intelligence.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1887.W. P. Frith,Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly calledhalf-cracked.Half-crown Word,subs. phr.(common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; ajaw-breaker(q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = asleeveboard(q.v.).[250]Half-crowner,subs.(booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s.6d.Half-cut,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.Half-fly Flat,subs. phr.(thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.Half-grown Shad,subs. phr.(American).—A dolt. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.1838.Neal,Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than ahalf-grown shad.Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin,subs. phr.(nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.Halflings,adj.(Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]1818.Scott,Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was ahafflinscallant.Half-man,subs.(nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.Half-marrow,subs.(old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.1600–61.Rutherford,Letters, i., 123. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a treacheroushalf-marrowto her husband Jesus.2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.Half-moon,subs.(old).—1. A wig; and (2) the femalepudendum. For synonyms,seePeriwinkleandMonosyllable.1611.Lodowick Barry,Ram Alley(Dodsley,Old Plays, vii., 326, ed. 1875). Is not herhalf-moonmine?Half-mourning,subs.(common).—A black eye.Full-mourning= two black eyes ordeep grief.Half-nab(ornap),adv.(old).—Seequot.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Half-nab—at a venture, unsight unseen, hit or miss.Half-on,adj.(colloquial).—Half-drunk.Half-rocked,adv.(common).—Half-witted; silly. [From a West Country saying that all idiots are nursed bottom upwards.]SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.Half-saved,adv.(common).—Weak-minded; shallow-brained.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1834.Southey,The Doctor, ch. x. William Dove’s was not a case of fatuity. Though all was not there, there was a great deal. He was what is calledhalf-saved.1874.M. Collins,Frances, ch. xlii. This groom was what they call in the west countryhalf-saved.Half-screwed,adj.(common).—More or less in liquor.SeeDrinksandScrewed.1839.Lever,Harry Lorrequer, ch. ii. He was, in Kilrush phrase,half-screwed, thereby meaning more than half tipsy.Half-seas Over,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Loosely applied to various degrees of inebriety. Formerly = half way on one’s course, or towards attainment. For synonyms,seeScrewed.[251][In its specific sense Gifford says, “a corruption of the Dutchop-zee zober, ‘over-sea beer,’ a strong heady beverageintroducedinto Holland from England.” ‘Up-zee Freese’ is Friezeland beer. The Germanzaubermeans ‘strong beer’ and ‘bewitchment.’ Thus (1610) inJonson,Alchemist, iv., 2. ‘I do not like the dulness of your eye, It hath a heavy cast, ’tisupsee Dutch.’ Other nautical terms = drunk arewater-logged;sprung;slewed;with one’s jib well bowsed;three sheets in the wind;channels under, butseeDrinksandScrewed.]1631–1701.Dryden.I amhalf-seas overto death.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Half-seas over, almost Drunk.1697.Vanbrugh,Relapse, iii., 3. Good; that’s thinkinghalf-seas over. One tide more brings us into port.1714.Spectator, No. 616. The whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the slip. Our friend the alderman washalf-seas overbefore the bonfire was out.1738.Swift,Pol. Convers., Dial.1. You must own you had a drop in your eye; when I left you, you werehalf seas over.1751.Smollett,Peregrine Pickle, ch. ix. Who, by this time, had entered into all the jollity of his new friends, and was indeed more thanhalf-seas-over.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1829.J. B. Buckstone,Billy Taylor. The public-houses will not close till morn, And wine and spirituous liquors are so cheap, That we can all get nicelyhalf seas over, And see no sea at all.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 40. Mr. Smith, now being more thanhalf-seas over, became very uproarious.1849.Thackeray,Pendennis, ch. xxx. It’s pay-day with the General … and he’s a precious deal more thanhalf-seas over.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. There’s truth in wine, and there may be some in gin and muddy beer.… I’ve got plenty of truth in my time out of men who werehalf-seas-over, but never any that was worth a sixpence to me.1890.Globe, 16 Apr., p. 2, c. 1. The familiar phrasehalf-seas over, for example, is wanting, and for this we appear to be indebted to the Dutch.1892.The Cosmopolitan, Oct., p. 724. The fellowhalf-seas-overeveryone excuses.Half-slewed,adj.(common).—Parcel drunk. For synonyms,seeScrewed.Half-snacks(orHalf-snags),adv. phr.(colloquial).—Half-shares.Seequots.1683.Earl of Dorset,A Faithful Catalogue. She mounts the price and goeshalf snackherself.1887.Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252.Half-snagsis a corrupted form ofhalf snacks,i.e., half shares. If one of a party of arabs finds any article it becomes his entire property unless his fellows sayHalf-Snags, or ‘Quarter-bits,’ or ‘Some for your neighbours.’Half-’un,subs.(common).—Half-a-glassof spirits and water;Half-a-Go(q.v.).Half-widow,subs.(American).—A woman with a lazy and thriftless husband.[For Half in combination,seealsoBean:Borde;Bull;Case:Century;Couter;Dollar;George;Go;Grunter;Hog;Jack;James;Ned;Ounce;Quid;Skiv;Stretch;Tusheroon;Wheel.]Halifax.Go to Halifax,verb. phr.(American).—Be off!go to hell(q.v.). The full text isGo to Hell,Hull, orHalifax.Cf.,Bath,Blazes,Hull,Putney, etc.1599.Nashe,Lenten Stuffe(Grosart, 1883–84, p. 284). If frierPendelaand his fellowes, had any thing to say to him, in his admiral court of the sea, let them seek him, and neither inhull,hell, norhalifax.1875.Notes and Queries, 5 S., iv., p. 66.Go to Halifax. This expression is sometimes used in the United States as a mild substitute for a direction to go to a place not to be named to ears polite.[252]Hall,subs.(fishmongers’).—1. Specificallythe hall= Leadenhall Market.Cf.,Garden,Lane, etc.2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in Collegehall.]To hall= to dine.Go and Hire a Hall.phr.(American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.Hall by the Sea,subs. phr.(medical students’).—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]Hall of Delight,subs. phr.(Australian).—A music hall.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you coons would find your way to thishall of delight.Hallan-shaker(orHallen-shaker),subs.(old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms,seeCadgerandMumper.c.1503–4.Dunbar,A General Satyrewks. (ed.David Laing, 1834), ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sichalland-schakkaris.c.1600.Montgomerie,Poems(Scottish Text Soc., 1885–7),‘Polwart and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85.halland-shaker, draught-raiker, bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.(?) 1642.Old Ballad.‘Maggie Lauder.’Right scornfully she answered him, Begone, youHallan-shaker.1724.Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about like ahallen-shaker, You wou’d hae taen me for a water-wraith.1816.Scott,Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheenHallenshakerslike mysel’.Halliballo.—SeeHulliballo.Hallion(orHallyon),subs.(old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman’s servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew.Cf.,Hell-cat.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentishhallion.1847.Porter,Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious littlehellions!Halloo.To halloo with the under dog,verb. phr.(American).—To take the losing side.Halo.To work the halo racket,verb. phr.(common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]Haltersack,subs.(old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher … ahaltersacke.1619.BeaumontandFletcher,King and no King, ii., 2. Away, youhaltersack, you.Halves,subs.(Winchester College).—(pro. Hāves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictlynon licet(obs.).—Notions.To go(orcry)halves,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America,at the halves.1831.Neal,Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. ‘Lives by preachin’at the halvesa sabba’-days.’ ‘Preachingat the halves—how’s that?’ ‘Why don’t you know? in partnership for what’s taken arter the sarmon’s over.’1851–61.Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He’ll then again ask if anybody willgo him halves.Ham,subs.(old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: alsoHam-cases. For synonyms,seeKicks.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hams, Breeches.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Hams—breeches.[253]1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hams. Pants.2. (American).—Aloafer(q.v.). AlsoHam-fatter. [TheAmerican Slang Dict.says ‘A tenth-rate actor or variety performer.’]1888.Missouri Republican, 27 Mar. Connelly … is a good fighter, but will allow the veriesthamto whip him, if there is any money to be made by it.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. The … more prosperous professional brother of thehamfatter.No ham and all hominy,phr.(American).—Of indifferent quality; ‘no great shakes’; ‘all work and no play’; ‘much cry and little wool.’Hamlet,subs.(old and American).Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hamlet… a High Constable.1725.New Cant. Dict.,s.v.Hamlet, a High-Constable.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hamlet, a high constable (cant).1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew.Hamlet, a high-constable.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hamlet.A captain of police.Ham-match,subs.(common).—A stand-up luncheon.1890.Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. At one o’clock they relieve their exhausted frames by taking perpendicular refreshment—vulgarly termed aham match—at some City luncheon bar.Hammer,subs.(pugilistic).—1. A hard-hitter: especially with the right hand, like the illustriousHammerLane. AlsoHammererandHammer-man.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 33. A letter written on the occasion by Henry Harmer, thehammerer.1823.Bee,Dict. of the Turf, 93. When a man hits very hard, chiefly with a favorite hand, his blows are said to fall like those of a sledge-hammer. Such boxers arehammeringfighters, that do not defend their own vitals, cannot make sure of a blow, and are termedhammerersandhammermen.2. (common).—An unblushing lie. For synonyms,seeWhopper.Verb(pugilistic).—1. To beat; topunish(q.v.).1887.T. E. Brown,The Doctor, p. 159. And bedad I did, and before herself too, Andhammeredhim well.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, ch. ii. ‘Hammerhim? What with?—a club?’ ‘No, with my fists.’2. (American).—To bate; to drive down (prices, etc.).1865.Harper’s Magazine, p. 619. The chronic bears were amusing themselves byhammering,i.e., pressing down the price of Hudsons.3. (Stock Exchange).—To declare one a defaulter.1885.Fortnightly Review, xxxviii., p. 578. A ‘defaulter’ has been declared orhammered, as it is technically termed.1888.Echo, 28 Dec. If any unfortunate member behammeredto-day or to-morrow it will in all probability be a bear.1890.Daily Telegraph, 1 Nov. This being the third day after the general settlement, a defaulter who had been unable to provide cash washammered, and private arrangements are reported in other quarters without resort to this extreme measure.1891.Pall Mall Gazette, 25 July, p. 1, c. 3. But what is an ‘outside broker?’ some (possibly lady) reader may ask. Well, he may be, and often is, a regular, who has beenhammeredfor failing to meet his ‘differences.’1891.Tit Bits, 15 Aug. I need not go into the circumstances which led to my being expelled from that honourable body, orhammeredas it is familiarly called, owing to the taps with a hammer which the head porter gives before he officially proclaims the name of a defaulter.[254]Down as a hammer,adv. phr.(common).—1. Wide-awake;knowing(q.v.);fly(q.v.).1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 45. To be down to anything is pretty much the same as being up to it, anddown as a hammeris, of course, theintensivumof the phrase.2. (colloquial).—Instant; peremptory; merciless.Cf.,Like a thousand of bricks. AlsoTo be down on … like a hammer.At(orunder)the hammer,adv. phr.(auctioneers’).—For sale at auction.That’s the hammer,verb. phr.(colloquial).—An expression of approval or assent.To be hammers to one,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To know what one means.To hammer out(orinto),verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be at pains to deceive; to reiterate; to force to hear.1596.Ben Jonson,Every Man in his Humour, iii., 3. Now am I, for some five and fifty reasons,hammering,hammeringrevenge.1719.Durfey,Pills, etc., iii., 23. If any Scholar be in doubt, And cannot well bring this matter about; The Blacksmith canhammer it out.1888.J. McCarthyandMrs. Campbell-Praed,The Ladies’ Gallery, ch. i. I think the chaps that are alwayshammeringon about repentance and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong end.Hammer-and-Tongs,adv. phr.(common).—Very violently; ding-dong.1781.G. Parker,View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress were at ithammer and tongs.1833.Marryat,Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at it,hammer and tongs.1837.Marryat,Snarleyow. Ods bobs!Hammer and Tongs!long as I’ve been to sea.1861.H. Kingsley,Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon themhammer and tongs1862.M. E. Braddon,Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at ithammer and tongs.’1884.Jas. Payn,Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at ithammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything.Hammer-headed,adj.(common).—1. Oafish; stupid.1600.Nashe,Summers Last Will(Grosart), vi., 169. A number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers,hammer-headedclownes.2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped:i.e., long and narrow in the head.1865.Dickens,Our Mutual Friend,i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage consisted of a longhammer-headedold horse, formerly used in the business … a driver being added in the person of a longhammer-headedyoung man.Hammering,subs.(pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessivepunishment(q.v.).2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’).Hammering-trade,subs.(pugilistic).—Pugilism.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if made, express, by Nature for thehammeringtrade.Hammersmith.To go to Hammersmith,verb. phr.(common).—To get a sound drubbing.Hampered,adj.(old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [FromOld. Eng., hamper = a fetter:seequot. 1613].[255]1613.Browne,Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles, shacklockes,hampers, gives and chaines.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hampstead Donkey,subs. phr.(common).—Seequot. For synonyms,seeChates.c.1870.Daily Paper.The witness testified to the filthy state of the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was told not to get into bed until she had looked for theHampstead donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’Hampstead-heath,subs. phr.(rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms,seeGrinders.1887.Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And ofHampstead Heathtwo rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened Like two pretty strings of pearls.Hampstead-heath Sailor,subs. phr.(common).—Alandlubber(q.v.); afreshwater sailor(q.v.). Fr.,un marin d’eau douceorun amiral Suisse(= a Swiss admiral: Switzerland having no seaboard).Hanced,adj.(old).—In liquor. [FromHance= ‘to elevate.’] For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1630.Taylor,Works. I doe finde my selfe sufficientlyhanced, and that henceforth I shall acknowledge it; and that whensoever I shall offer to beehancedagain, I shall arme my selfe with the craft of a fox, the manners of a hogge, the wisdom of an asse, mixt with the civility of a beare.Hand,subs.(colloquial).—Properly a seaman; now a labourer, a workman, an agent.1658.Phillips,New World of Words, s.v.Hand… a Word us’d among Mariners … when Men are wanted to do any Labour they usually Call for morehands.1632–1704.Locke,Wks.A dictionary containing a natural history requires too manyhands, as well as too much time.1711.Spectator, No. 232. The reduction of the prices of our manufactures by the addition of so many newhands, would be no inconvenience to any man.1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, i, 14. The mercantile part of the world, therefore, wisely use the term ‘employinghands,’ and esteem each other as they employ more or fewer.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. We lost ahand, we lost a sailor.1871.Chambers’ Miscellany, No. 113, p. 3. He was admitted as ahandin an establishment already numbering three hundred active workers.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 70. Thehandshas all bloomin’ well struck.1892.National Observer, 22 Oct., vol. viii., p. 571. The dispute in the South-East Lancashire cotton trade is like to result in the stoppage of fourteen or fifteen million spindles which will take employment from sixty thousandhands, a fifth of them women and children.1893.Fortnightly Review, Jan., p. 62. The wages paid to the operatives in our woollen industry are, to a marked extent, lower than those received by thehandsemployed in our cotton mills.2. (coachmen’s).—Seequot.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xv. Lady Horsingham was tolerably courageous, but totally destitute of what is termedhand, a quality as necessary in driving as in riding, particularly with fractious or high-spirited horses.Agood(orcool,neat,old,fine, etc.)hand,subs. phr.(colloquial).—An expert.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.), s.v.Hand(v.). ‘He is a goodhand,’ spoke of one that is an artist in some particular mechanical art or trade, etc.[256]1773.Goldsmith,She Stoops to Conquer, iii., 1. When I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not agood handat making punch.1854.Whyte Melville,General Bounce, xii. A quaint boy at Eton,cool handat Oxford, a deep card in the regiment, man or woman never yet had the best of ‘Uppy.’1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, i., p. 33. The new man, thegreen hand, takes little or no heed of the entrance of the officers.… Not so theold hand.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 195. Ye’re agrand handat the sleeping!1892.W. E. Gladstone,Times‘Report.’… Thisold Parliamentary hand.
Haberdasher,subs.(old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican (i.e., a seller oftape[q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.1599.Minsheu,Dictionarie, s.v.1632.Jonson,The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios, poetasters, poetitos.… And allhaberdashersof small wit.d.1680.Butler,Remains(1759), ii., 107. He set uphaberdasherof a small poetry.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, iii., 5. Thehaberdasheris the whistler, otherwise the spirit-merchant, Jerry—and tape the commodity he deals in.Haberdasher of pronouns,subs. phr.(common).—A schoolmaster. For synonyms,seeBumbrusher.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Habit,subs.(old University).—Seequot.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Habit.CollegeHabit, College dress, called of old, Livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.Hab-nab(orHob-nob(q.v.)),adv.(old).—1. At random; promiscuously; helter-skelter; ding-dong.1602.Shakspeare,Twelfth Night, iii., 4. His incensement at this moment is so great that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre.Hob-nobis his word; give’t, or take’t.1664.Butler,Hudibras, ii., 3. Although set downhab-nabat random.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hab-nab, at a Venture, Unsight, Unseen, Hit or Miss.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.2. (old).—By hook or by crook; by fair means or foul.1581.Lilly,Euphues, 109. Philantus determinedhabnabto send his letters.Verb(old).—To drink with; giving health for health.1836.Horace Smith,The Tin Trumpet. ‘Address to a Mummy.’ Perchance that very hand now pinioned flat Hashob-and-nobbedwith Pharaoh glass for glass.Hack(orHackney),subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A person or thing let out for promiscuous use:e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Whence (2) a coach that plies for hire; (3) (stables’) a horse for everyday use, as offered to one for a special purpose—hunting, racing, polo. (4) (Cambridge Univ.),seequot. 1803. AlsoHackster.1383.Chaucer,Canterbury Tales, 16,027. HisHakeney, which that was a pomele gris.1540.Lyndsay,Satyre of thethrieEstaits, 3237. I may finde the Earle of Rothus besthacknay.[244]1582.Hakluyt,Voyages, i., 400.There they use to put out their women to hire as we do herehackneyhorses.1594.Shakspeare,Love’sLabour’sLost, iii., 1. The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps ahackney.1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, 101 (Chiswick Press, 1890). Out whore, strumpet, sixpennyhackster, away with her to prison!1672.Ray,Proverbs.Hackneymistress,hackneymaid.1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. iii., c. 1. That is no more than every lover Does from hishackney-ladysuffer.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hacks, orHackneys, Hirelings.Ibid.,Hackney Horses.Ibid.,Hackney Scribblers.Ibid.,Hackney Whores, Common Prostitutes.1738.Pope,Ep. to Sat.Shall each spurgall’dhackneyof the day, Or each new pension’d sycophant, pretend To break my windows?1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, iv., 14. With wonderful alacrity he had ended almost in an instant, and conveyed himself into a place of safety in ahackney-coach.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackney-writer, one who writes for attornies or booksellers.1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Hacks.HackPreachers; the common exhibitioners at St. Mary’s, employed in the service of defaulters, and absentees.1819.Moore,Tom Crib. I first was hired to peg ahack.1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a Jarvy! Better known, perhaps, by the name of ahack.1841.Leman Rede,Sixteen String Jack, ii., 3. I’ll get ahack, be off in a crack.Verb(colloquial, football).—To kick shins.Hacking= the practice of kicking shins at football.1857.G. A. Lawrence,Guy Livingstone, ch. i. I saw, too, more than one player limp out of his path disconsolately, trying vainly to dissemble the pain of a vicioushack.1869.Spencer,Study of Sociology, ch. viii. p. 186 (9th ed.). And thus, perhaps, the ‘education of a gentleman’ may rightly include giving and receivinghackingof the shins at foot-ball.1872.The Echo, 3 Nov. Some of the modern foot ball players have the tips of their shoes tipped with iron, and others wear a kind of armour or iron plate under their knicker-bockers to avoid … what is calledhacking.Hackle,subs.(common).—Pluck; spirit;bottom(q.v.).To show hackle= to show fight. [Hackle = a long shining feather on a cock’s neck.] Fr.,avoir du foie;n’avoir pas le flubart, oravoir du poil au ciel.Hackslaver,verb.(old).—To stammer; to splutter; to hesitate in speech.Hackum(orCaptain Hackum, orHackster),subs.(old).—A bully; a bravo. For synonyms,seeFurioso.1657.Lady Alimony, 1, 3 (Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 282). Vowing, like a desperatehaxterthat he has express command to seize upon all our properties.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hackam, Fighting Fellow.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackum, Captain Hackum, a bravo, a slasher.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum.Hackum, a bravado, a slasher, ‘Capt. Hackum,’ a fellow who slashes with a bowie-knife.Had.—SeeHave.Haddock,subs.(common).—1. A purse.Haddock of Beans= a purse of money. [Haddock = cod: O. Sw.,Rudde; Ic.,Koddi= a small bag.Cf.,Codpiece.] For synonyms,seePoge.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Melrusio, the fish we call ahadock, or a cod.Ibid.Metter la faua nel bacello, to put the beane into the cod.1834.H. Ainsworth,Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. ‘What’s here?’ cried he, searching the attorney’s pockets … ‘ahaddock, stuffed with nothing, I’m thinking.’[245]2.in. pl.(Stock Exchange).—North of Scotland Ordinary Stock.Haddums(orHad ’em).—Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew. The Spark has been atHaddums. He is Clapt, or Poxt.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has been atHad’emand come home by Clapham, said of one who has caught the venereal disease.Hag,subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old woman; a she-monster. Also (3) a nightmare. At Charterhouse, a female of any description; at Winchester, a matron. Hence,Hag-ridden= troubled with nightmare.Hag-born= witch-born.Hag-seed(Shakspeare,Tempest) = spawned of a witch.Hag-faced= foul-featured. In another sense,Hags= spots of firm ground in a moss or bog.d.1529.Skelton,Duke of Albany, Lyke a Scottishhag.1606.Wily Beguiled(Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 277). Like to some hellishhagor some damned fiend.1606.Shakspeare,Macbeth, iv., 1. How now, you secret, black, and midnightHags!1627.Drayton,The Moon-calf(Chalmer’sEnglish Poets, 1810, iv., 133). The filthyhagabhoring of the light.1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, v. 6. Outhag!1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. As if you knew the sport of witch-hunting, Or starting of ahag.1680.Cotton,Poems, etc., ‘To Poet E.W.’ Adulteratehags, fit for a common stew.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1748.Thomson,Castle of Indolence, i., 73. Fierce fiends andHagsof hell their only nurses were.1773–83.Hoole,Orlando Furioso, xliii., 998. But such aHagto paradise conveyed, Had withered by her looks the blissful shade.1815.Scott,Guy Mannering, xliii. Hatteraick himself, and the gypsy sailor, and that oldhag.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 89. Old women were there also, with hideous vice-stamped features, veritablehagsall of them.Your Hagship!phr.(common).—In contempt (of women).Hag-finder,subs.(old).—A witch finder.1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. That I do promise, or I am no goodhag-finder.Hagged,adj.(old, now [asHaggard] recognised).—Ugly; gaunt; hag-like.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hagged, Lean, Witched, Half-starved.1716–1771.Gray,A Long Story. The ghostly prudes withHaggedface.Haggisland,subs.(common).—Scotland.Haggle,verb.(old, now recognised).—To bargain keenly; to stick at, or out for, trumpery points; to debate small issues.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1849–61.Macaulay,Hist. Eng., ch. xx.Hagglingwith the greedy, making up quarrels.Haggler,subs.(old).—Formerly a travelling merchant; a pedlar: now (in London vegetable markets) a middleman.Cf.,Bummaree.1662.Fuller,Worthies; Dorsetshire. Horses, on whichHaglersused to ride and carry their commodities.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v. AHagler, one that buys of the Country Folks, and sells in the Market, and goes from Door to Door.[246]1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop,ii, 1.I’senohagler, gadswookers;and he that says I am—’zbud, he lies!1851–61.H. Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 83. AHagglerbeing, as I before explained, the middle-man.Hail.To raise hail(orNed, orCain, orHell),verb. phr.(American).—To make a disturbance; to kick up a row.1888.Portland Transcript, 7 Mar. He is determined that they shall have a clear deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land when the question is settled, or he willraise hail.To be hail fellow well met,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be on very easy terms: alsoat hail-fellow.1574–1656.Hall’s Satires, III., i., p. 40. Now man, that ersthaile-fellowwas with beast, Woxe on to weene himselfe a god at least.1665.Homer à la Mode.The cookes too, having done, were set At tablehay fellow well met.[Quoted by Nares].1667–1745.Swift,My Lady’s Lamentation.Hail fellow, well met, all dirty and wet; Find out, if you can, who’s master, who’s man.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 108. And at first he sings small, and ishail-fellow-well-metwith Sheamus—that’s James of the Glens, my chieftain’s agent.To be hailed for the last time,verb. phr.(nautical).—To die. For synonyms,seeAloft.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 322. He’sbeen hailed for the last time.Hair,subs.(venery).—1. The female pubes. Whence (2) generic for the sex:e.g.,after hair= in quest of a woman;plenty of hair= lots of girls;hair to sell= a woman with a price;hair-monger= a wencher;bit of hair= the sexual favour. For synonyms,seeFleece.To go against the Hair,verb. phr.(old colloquial).—To go against the grain, or contrary to nature. [From the texture of furs.]1589.Nashe,Martin’s Months Minde(Grosart), i., 188. For hee euerwent against the haire.1596.Shakspeare,Merry Wives, ii., 3. If you should fight, yougo against the hairof your professions.1661.Middleton,Mayor of Queenborough, C. P. xi., 122. Books in women’s hands are as muchagainst the hair, methinks, as to see men wear stomachers, Or night-railes.Both of a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Very much alike. Also, two of a trade, and two in a tale.Not worth a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Utterly worthless.Cf.,Cent,Rap,Dump, etc.To a Hair,adv. phr.—(colloquial).—Exactly; to a nicety.Cf.,To fit to a Hair= to fit perfectly.1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop, i, 1. Here was a young gentlewoman but just now pencilled me outto a hair.1738.Swift,Polite Conversation. Miss. Well I love a Lyar with all my Heart; and youfit me to a hair.1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. The fellowfitsmy temperto a hair.To split Hairs,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To cavil about trifles; to quibble; to be over-nice in argument.1693.Congreve,Old Bachelor, ii., 2. Now, I must speak; it willsplit a hairby the Lord Harry.Suit of Hair,subs. phr.(American).—Ahead of hair(q.v.).[247]To raise(orlift)Hair,verb. phr.(American).—To scalp; hence, idiomatically, to defeat; to kill.To keep one’s hair= to escape a danger.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West, p. 194. Kit Carson … hadraised more hairfrom the red-skins than any two men in the Western country.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, p. 101. If you’ll take the chances ofkeeping your hair.To comb one’s Hair,verb. phr.(common).—To castigate;to monkey(q.v.).SeeComb one’s Hair,ante.To hold(orkeep)one’s Hair(orWool)on,verb. phr.(common).—To keep one’s temper; to avoid excitement; to take easily. Alsoto keep one’s shirt on, orto pull down one’s jacket(orvest). Fr.,être calme et inodore.1885.Bret Harte,A Ship of ’49, ch. vi. ‘But what the devil——’ interrupted the young man impetuously. ‘Keep yer hair on!’ remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 78. Dokeep your ’air on, dear pal.1892.Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 5 Oct., p. 45, c. 1. ‘Who make devil’s row like that all night?’ he asked. ‘Keep your hair on, Moses Trinko,’ replied the receptionofficer, cheerily.A Hair of the Black Bear(orB’ar),subs. phr.(American).—A spice of the devil.1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West,p. 6. Thar was old grit in him, too, andahair of the black b’ar atthat.To get one’s Hair Cut,verb. phr.(venery).—To visit a woman;to see a sick friend(q.v.). For synonyms,seeGreensandRide.1892.Anstey,Model Music Hall, 154.Tommy.What, Uncle, going?The W. U.(with assumed jauntiness). Justto get my hair cut.To make one’s hair stand on end,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To astonish.1697.Vanbrugh,Provoked Wife, lv., 4. It’s well you are come: I’m so frightened,my hair stands on end.1886.J. S. Winter,Army Society,ch. iii. If I were to tell you some incidents of my life since you and I last met, I should make yourhair stand on end.A Hair of the Dog that Bit you,subs. phr.(common).—A ‘pick-me-up’ after a debauch. [Apparently a memory of the superstition, which was and still is common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay it on the wound. Also figuratively,seequot. 1888.]1531.Bovilli,Prov. ii., xvi. siècle, t. i., p. 102.Du poil de la beste qui te mordis, Ou de son sanc sera guéris.1546.Heywood,Proverbs[1874], 79.What how fellow, thou knave, I pray thee let me and my fellow haveA haire of the dog that bit uslast night. And bitten were we bothe to the braine aright.1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fayre, I.’Twas a hot night with some of us, last night, John: shall we pluck ahair of the same wolfto-day, proctor John?1738.Swift,Polite Convers., Dial.2.Lady Gur.But, Sir John, your ale is terrible strong and heady.…Sir John.Why, indeed, it is apt to fox one; but our way is to take ahair of the same dognext morning.1841.Dickens,B. Rudge, ch. lii. Put a good face upon it, and drink again. Anotherhair of the dog that bit you, captain!1888.Detroit Free Press.‘Talk of the Day,’ 3 Nov.Travis.—‘Hello, De Smith! You’re looking betterthan Iexpected. I understood that you were completely crushed by that love affair. How did you recover?’De Smith.—‘Hair of the dog that bit me.Fell in love with another girl.’[248]Hair-butcher,subs.(American).—A barber. For synonyms,seeNob-thatcher.1888.Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. ’Oi ’m wullin’ thot bloomin’hair-butchershud have a fit, av he wants.Hair-court,subs.phr.(venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.To take a turn in Hair-court= to copulate.Hair-divider(or-splitter),subs.(venery).—Thepenis. For synonyms,seeCreamstickandPrick. AlsoBeard-splitter.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Hair-splitter, a man’s yard.Hair-pin,subs.(American).—An individual, male or female:e.g.,That’s the sort of hair-pin I am= that’s my style.1888.Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. ‘That’s the kind ofhairpinswe are,’ said the enthusiastic swain.Hairy,adj.(Oxford University).—1. Difficult.d.1861.Arthur Clough,Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides andhairyAldrich.1864.The Press, 12 Nov.Hairyfor difficult is a characteristic epithet.2. (colloquial).—Splendid; famous; conspicuous; uncommon.1892.Rudyard Kipling,Barrack Room Ballads. ‘The Sons of the Widow.’ Did you hear of the Widow of Windsor with ahairygold crown on her head?3. (venery).—Desirable; full of sex;fuckable(q.v.). [Said only of women:e.g.,Hairy Bit= an amorous and taking wench.]SeeHair.To feel hairy,verb. phr.(venery).—To be inclined for coition; to have amust(q.v.).Hairyfordshire,subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.To go to Hairyfordshire= to copulate. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Hairy-oracle(or-ring),subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.Working the hairy-oracle= wenching. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.Halbert.To get the halbert,verb. phr.(old military).—To rise to sergeant’s rank. [The weapon was carried by sergeants of foot.]To be brought to the halberts= to be flogged;to carry the halbert in one’s face= to show that one rose from the ranks (of officers in commission).1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Half.It’s half past kissing time and time to kiss again.phr.(common).—The retort impudent (to females) when asked the time. A snatch from a ballad. [InSwift(Polite Conversation) = an hourpasthanging time.]Half-a-crack(orjiffy, ortick).—Half a second.Half-and-half,subs.(colloquial).—Equal quantities of ale and porter;Cf.,Four-halfandDrinks.1824.Reynolds,Peter Corcoran, 41. Over my gentlehalf-and-half.1835.Dickens,Sketches by Boz, p. 111. We were never tired of wondering how the hackney-coachmen on the opposite stand could … drink pots ofhalf-and-halfso near the last drop.[249]1841.Albert Smith(inPunch). ‘The Physiology of the London Medical Student.’Half-and-half… is … ale and porter, the proportion of the porter increasing in an inverse ratio to the respectability of the public house you get it from.1854.MartinandAytoun,Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘My Wife’s Cousin.’Half-and-halfgoes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot; And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot.1872.Fun, July. ‘The Right Tap.’ If the lever, meaning a plumper, were labelled ‘stout,’ and those recording a split votehalf and half, the illusion would be complete.Adj.(common).—Half-drunk;half-on(q.v.). For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1848.Duncombe,Sinks of London.Half and half, half seas over, tipsy.Half-and-half-coves(ormen,boys, etc.),subs.(old).—Cheap or linsey-woolsey dandies; half-bucks(q.v.) and half-tigers(q.v.).1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7.Jerry.Thehalf-and-half covesare somewhat different from the swaddies, and gay tyke boys, at the dog pit—Eh, Tom?Half-an-eye.To see with half an eye,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To discern readily; to be quick at conclusions.Half-baked(orSoft-baked),adj.(common).—Halfwitted; cracked;soft(q.v.);doughy(q.v.); alsohalf-rocked(q.v.). For synonyms,seeApartmentsandTile Loose. Fr.,n’avoir pas la tête bien cuite.1825.Scott,St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 221. He must scheme forsooth, thishalf-bakedScotch cake! He must hold off and on, and be cautious, and wait the result, and try conclusions with me, this lump of natural dough!1857.C. Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. iv. ‘A sort ofhalf-bakedbody,’ said Kate.1886.W. Besant,Children of Gibeon, Bk. II., ch. xiv. A daughter of seventeen not quite right in her head—half-baked, to use the popular and feeling expression.1890.Answers, Xmas No., p. 19, c. 3. ‘You needn’t be so crusty,’ said Todkins to his better half. ‘Better be a little crusty than nothalf-baked,’ was the reply of his amiable spouse.1892.Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 2, c. 3. Mr. Vane Tempest as serenest ofhalf-bakedcynics, and Mr. H. Vincent as most credulous of bibulous optimists.Half-breed,subs.(American political).—A nick-name applied to certain New York Republicans, who wavered in their allegiance during an election to the Senate in 1881.—Norton.Half-cocked,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1887.H. Smart,Saddle and Sabre, ch. xvii. ‘Black Bill,’ as he was called by his brother jockeys, was very oftenhalf-cockedwhen he got up to ride.… The man could ride as well half-drunk as sober.To go off at half-cock(orhalf-cocked),verb. phr.1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.1848.Lowell,Biglow Papers[Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’tgo off half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’ brains.Half-cracked,adv.(common).—Lacking in intelligence.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1887.W. P. Frith,Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly calledhalf-cracked.Half-crown Word,subs. phr.(common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; ajaw-breaker(q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = asleeveboard(q.v.).[250]Half-crowner,subs.(booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s.6d.Half-cut,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.Half-fly Flat,subs. phr.(thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.Half-grown Shad,subs. phr.(American).—A dolt. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.1838.Neal,Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than ahalf-grown shad.Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin,subs. phr.(nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.Halflings,adj.(Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]1818.Scott,Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was ahafflinscallant.Half-man,subs.(nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.Half-marrow,subs.(old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.1600–61.Rutherford,Letters, i., 123. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a treacheroushalf-marrowto her husband Jesus.2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.Half-moon,subs.(old).—1. A wig; and (2) the femalepudendum. For synonyms,seePeriwinkleandMonosyllable.1611.Lodowick Barry,Ram Alley(Dodsley,Old Plays, vii., 326, ed. 1875). Is not herhalf-moonmine?Half-mourning,subs.(common).—A black eye.Full-mourning= two black eyes ordeep grief.Half-nab(ornap),adv.(old).—Seequot.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Half-nab—at a venture, unsight unseen, hit or miss.Half-on,adj.(colloquial).—Half-drunk.Half-rocked,adv.(common).—Half-witted; silly. [From a West Country saying that all idiots are nursed bottom upwards.]SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.Half-saved,adv.(common).—Weak-minded; shallow-brained.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.1834.Southey,The Doctor, ch. x. William Dove’s was not a case of fatuity. Though all was not there, there was a great deal. He was what is calledhalf-saved.1874.M. Collins,Frances, ch. xlii. This groom was what they call in the west countryhalf-saved.Half-screwed,adj.(common).—More or less in liquor.SeeDrinksandScrewed.1839.Lever,Harry Lorrequer, ch. ii. He was, in Kilrush phrase,half-screwed, thereby meaning more than half tipsy.Half-seas Over,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Loosely applied to various degrees of inebriety. Formerly = half way on one’s course, or towards attainment. For synonyms,seeScrewed.[251][In its specific sense Gifford says, “a corruption of the Dutchop-zee zober, ‘over-sea beer,’ a strong heady beverageintroducedinto Holland from England.” ‘Up-zee Freese’ is Friezeland beer. The Germanzaubermeans ‘strong beer’ and ‘bewitchment.’ Thus (1610) inJonson,Alchemist, iv., 2. ‘I do not like the dulness of your eye, It hath a heavy cast, ’tisupsee Dutch.’ Other nautical terms = drunk arewater-logged;sprung;slewed;with one’s jib well bowsed;three sheets in the wind;channels under, butseeDrinksandScrewed.]1631–1701.Dryden.I amhalf-seas overto death.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Half-seas over, almost Drunk.1697.Vanbrugh,Relapse, iii., 3. Good; that’s thinkinghalf-seas over. One tide more brings us into port.1714.Spectator, No. 616. The whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the slip. Our friend the alderman washalf-seas overbefore the bonfire was out.1738.Swift,Pol. Convers., Dial.1. You must own you had a drop in your eye; when I left you, you werehalf seas over.1751.Smollett,Peregrine Pickle, ch. ix. Who, by this time, had entered into all the jollity of his new friends, and was indeed more thanhalf-seas-over.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1829.J. B. Buckstone,Billy Taylor. The public-houses will not close till morn, And wine and spirituous liquors are so cheap, That we can all get nicelyhalf seas over, And see no sea at all.1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 40. Mr. Smith, now being more thanhalf-seas over, became very uproarious.1849.Thackeray,Pendennis, ch. xxx. It’s pay-day with the General … and he’s a precious deal more thanhalf-seas over.1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. There’s truth in wine, and there may be some in gin and muddy beer.… I’ve got plenty of truth in my time out of men who werehalf-seas-over, but never any that was worth a sixpence to me.1890.Globe, 16 Apr., p. 2, c. 1. The familiar phrasehalf-seas over, for example, is wanting, and for this we appear to be indebted to the Dutch.1892.The Cosmopolitan, Oct., p. 724. The fellowhalf-seas-overeveryone excuses.Half-slewed,adj.(common).—Parcel drunk. For synonyms,seeScrewed.Half-snacks(orHalf-snags),adv. phr.(colloquial).—Half-shares.Seequots.1683.Earl of Dorset,A Faithful Catalogue. She mounts the price and goeshalf snackherself.1887.Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252.Half-snagsis a corrupted form ofhalf snacks,i.e., half shares. If one of a party of arabs finds any article it becomes his entire property unless his fellows sayHalf-Snags, or ‘Quarter-bits,’ or ‘Some for your neighbours.’Half-’un,subs.(common).—Half-a-glassof spirits and water;Half-a-Go(q.v.).Half-widow,subs.(American).—A woman with a lazy and thriftless husband.[For Half in combination,seealsoBean:Borde;Bull;Case:Century;Couter;Dollar;George;Go;Grunter;Hog;Jack;James;Ned;Ounce;Quid;Skiv;Stretch;Tusheroon;Wheel.]Halifax.Go to Halifax,verb. phr.(American).—Be off!go to hell(q.v.). The full text isGo to Hell,Hull, orHalifax.Cf.,Bath,Blazes,Hull,Putney, etc.1599.Nashe,Lenten Stuffe(Grosart, 1883–84, p. 284). If frierPendelaand his fellowes, had any thing to say to him, in his admiral court of the sea, let them seek him, and neither inhull,hell, norhalifax.1875.Notes and Queries, 5 S., iv., p. 66.Go to Halifax. This expression is sometimes used in the United States as a mild substitute for a direction to go to a place not to be named to ears polite.[252]Hall,subs.(fishmongers’).—1. Specificallythe hall= Leadenhall Market.Cf.,Garden,Lane, etc.2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in Collegehall.]To hall= to dine.Go and Hire a Hall.phr.(American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.Hall by the Sea,subs. phr.(medical students’).—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]Hall of Delight,subs. phr.(Australian).—A music hall.1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you coons would find your way to thishall of delight.Hallan-shaker(orHallen-shaker),subs.(old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms,seeCadgerandMumper.c.1503–4.Dunbar,A General Satyrewks. (ed.David Laing, 1834), ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sichalland-schakkaris.c.1600.Montgomerie,Poems(Scottish Text Soc., 1885–7),‘Polwart and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85.halland-shaker, draught-raiker, bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.(?) 1642.Old Ballad.‘Maggie Lauder.’Right scornfully she answered him, Begone, youHallan-shaker.1724.Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about like ahallen-shaker, You wou’d hae taen me for a water-wraith.1816.Scott,Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheenHallenshakerslike mysel’.Halliballo.—SeeHulliballo.Hallion(orHallyon),subs.(old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman’s servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew.Cf.,Hell-cat.1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentishhallion.1847.Porter,Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious littlehellions!Halloo.To halloo with the under dog,verb. phr.(American).—To take the losing side.Halo.To work the halo racket,verb. phr.(common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]Haltersack,subs.(old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher … ahaltersacke.1619.BeaumontandFletcher,King and no King, ii., 2. Away, youhaltersack, you.Halves,subs.(Winchester College).—(pro. Hāves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictlynon licet(obs.).—Notions.To go(orcry)halves,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America,at the halves.1831.Neal,Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. ‘Lives by preachin’at the halvesa sabba’-days.’ ‘Preachingat the halves—how’s that?’ ‘Why don’t you know? in partnership for what’s taken arter the sarmon’s over.’1851–61.Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He’ll then again ask if anybody willgo him halves.Ham,subs.(old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: alsoHam-cases. For synonyms,seeKicks.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hams, Breeches.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Hams—breeches.[253]1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hams. Pants.2. (American).—Aloafer(q.v.). AlsoHam-fatter. [TheAmerican Slang Dict.says ‘A tenth-rate actor or variety performer.’]1888.Missouri Republican, 27 Mar. Connelly … is a good fighter, but will allow the veriesthamto whip him, if there is any money to be made by it.1888.New York Herald, 29 July. The … more prosperous professional brother of thehamfatter.No ham and all hominy,phr.(American).—Of indifferent quality; ‘no great shakes’; ‘all work and no play’; ‘much cry and little wool.’Hamlet,subs.(old and American).Seequots.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hamlet… a High Constable.1725.New Cant. Dict.,s.v.Hamlet, a High-Constable.1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hamlet, a high constable (cant).1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew.Hamlet, a high-constable.1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hamlet.A captain of police.Ham-match,subs.(common).—A stand-up luncheon.1890.Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. At one o’clock they relieve their exhausted frames by taking perpendicular refreshment—vulgarly termed aham match—at some City luncheon bar.Hammer,subs.(pugilistic).—1. A hard-hitter: especially with the right hand, like the illustriousHammerLane. AlsoHammererandHammer-man.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 33. A letter written on the occasion by Henry Harmer, thehammerer.1823.Bee,Dict. of the Turf, 93. When a man hits very hard, chiefly with a favorite hand, his blows are said to fall like those of a sledge-hammer. Such boxers arehammeringfighters, that do not defend their own vitals, cannot make sure of a blow, and are termedhammerersandhammermen.2. (common).—An unblushing lie. For synonyms,seeWhopper.Verb(pugilistic).—1. To beat; topunish(q.v.).1887.T. E. Brown,The Doctor, p. 159. And bedad I did, and before herself too, Andhammeredhim well.1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, ch. ii. ‘Hammerhim? What with?—a club?’ ‘No, with my fists.’2. (American).—To bate; to drive down (prices, etc.).1865.Harper’s Magazine, p. 619. The chronic bears were amusing themselves byhammering,i.e., pressing down the price of Hudsons.3. (Stock Exchange).—To declare one a defaulter.1885.Fortnightly Review, xxxviii., p. 578. A ‘defaulter’ has been declared orhammered, as it is technically termed.1888.Echo, 28 Dec. If any unfortunate member behammeredto-day or to-morrow it will in all probability be a bear.1890.Daily Telegraph, 1 Nov. This being the third day after the general settlement, a defaulter who had been unable to provide cash washammered, and private arrangements are reported in other quarters without resort to this extreme measure.1891.Pall Mall Gazette, 25 July, p. 1, c. 3. But what is an ‘outside broker?’ some (possibly lady) reader may ask. Well, he may be, and often is, a regular, who has beenhammeredfor failing to meet his ‘differences.’1891.Tit Bits, 15 Aug. I need not go into the circumstances which led to my being expelled from that honourable body, orhammeredas it is familiarly called, owing to the taps with a hammer which the head porter gives before he officially proclaims the name of a defaulter.[254]Down as a hammer,adv. phr.(common).—1. Wide-awake;knowing(q.v.);fly(q.v.).1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 45. To be down to anything is pretty much the same as being up to it, anddown as a hammeris, of course, theintensivumof the phrase.2. (colloquial).—Instant; peremptory; merciless.Cf.,Like a thousand of bricks. AlsoTo be down on … like a hammer.At(orunder)the hammer,adv. phr.(auctioneers’).—For sale at auction.That’s the hammer,verb. phr.(colloquial).—An expression of approval or assent.To be hammers to one,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To know what one means.To hammer out(orinto),verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be at pains to deceive; to reiterate; to force to hear.1596.Ben Jonson,Every Man in his Humour, iii., 3. Now am I, for some five and fifty reasons,hammering,hammeringrevenge.1719.Durfey,Pills, etc., iii., 23. If any Scholar be in doubt, And cannot well bring this matter about; The Blacksmith canhammer it out.1888.J. McCarthyandMrs. Campbell-Praed,The Ladies’ Gallery, ch. i. I think the chaps that are alwayshammeringon about repentance and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong end.Hammer-and-Tongs,adv. phr.(common).—Very violently; ding-dong.1781.G. Parker,View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress were at ithammer and tongs.1833.Marryat,Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at it,hammer and tongs.1837.Marryat,Snarleyow. Ods bobs!Hammer and Tongs!long as I’ve been to sea.1861.H. Kingsley,Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon themhammer and tongs1862.M. E. Braddon,Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at ithammer and tongs.’1884.Jas. Payn,Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at ithammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything.Hammer-headed,adj.(common).—1. Oafish; stupid.1600.Nashe,Summers Last Will(Grosart), vi., 169. A number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers,hammer-headedclownes.2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped:i.e., long and narrow in the head.1865.Dickens,Our Mutual Friend,i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage consisted of a longhammer-headedold horse, formerly used in the business … a driver being added in the person of a longhammer-headedyoung man.Hammering,subs.(pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessivepunishment(q.v.).2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’).Hammering-trade,subs.(pugilistic).—Pugilism.1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if made, express, by Nature for thehammeringtrade.Hammersmith.To go to Hammersmith,verb. phr.(common).—To get a sound drubbing.Hampered,adj.(old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [FromOld. Eng., hamper = a fetter:seequot. 1613].[255]1613.Browne,Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles, shacklockes,hampers, gives and chaines.1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hampstead Donkey,subs. phr.(common).—Seequot. For synonyms,seeChates.c.1870.Daily Paper.The witness testified to the filthy state of the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was told not to get into bed until she had looked for theHampstead donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’Hampstead-heath,subs. phr.(rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms,seeGrinders.1887.Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And ofHampstead Heathtwo rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened Like two pretty strings of pearls.Hampstead-heath Sailor,subs. phr.(common).—Alandlubber(q.v.); afreshwater sailor(q.v.). Fr.,un marin d’eau douceorun amiral Suisse(= a Swiss admiral: Switzerland having no seaboard).Hanced,adj.(old).—In liquor. [FromHance= ‘to elevate.’] For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.1630.Taylor,Works. I doe finde my selfe sufficientlyhanced, and that henceforth I shall acknowledge it; and that whensoever I shall offer to beehancedagain, I shall arme my selfe with the craft of a fox, the manners of a hogge, the wisdom of an asse, mixt with the civility of a beare.Hand,subs.(colloquial).—Properly a seaman; now a labourer, a workman, an agent.1658.Phillips,New World of Words, s.v.Hand… a Word us’d among Mariners … when Men are wanted to do any Labour they usually Call for morehands.1632–1704.Locke,Wks.A dictionary containing a natural history requires too manyhands, as well as too much time.1711.Spectator, No. 232. The reduction of the prices of our manufactures by the addition of so many newhands, would be no inconvenience to any man.1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, i, 14. The mercantile part of the world, therefore, wisely use the term ‘employinghands,’ and esteem each other as they employ more or fewer.1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. We lost ahand, we lost a sailor.1871.Chambers’ Miscellany, No. 113, p. 3. He was admitted as ahandin an establishment already numbering three hundred active workers.1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 70. Thehandshas all bloomin’ well struck.1892.National Observer, 22 Oct., vol. viii., p. 571. The dispute in the South-East Lancashire cotton trade is like to result in the stoppage of fourteen or fifteen million spindles which will take employment from sixty thousandhands, a fifth of them women and children.1893.Fortnightly Review, Jan., p. 62. The wages paid to the operatives in our woollen industry are, to a marked extent, lower than those received by thehandsemployed in our cotton mills.2. (coachmen’s).—Seequot.1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xv. Lady Horsingham was tolerably courageous, but totally destitute of what is termedhand, a quality as necessary in driving as in riding, particularly with fractious or high-spirited horses.Agood(orcool,neat,old,fine, etc.)hand,subs. phr.(colloquial).—An expert.1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.), s.v.Hand(v.). ‘He is a goodhand,’ spoke of one that is an artist in some particular mechanical art or trade, etc.[256]1773.Goldsmith,She Stoops to Conquer, iii., 1. When I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not agood handat making punch.1854.Whyte Melville,General Bounce, xii. A quaint boy at Eton,cool handat Oxford, a deep card in the regiment, man or woman never yet had the best of ‘Uppy.’1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, i., p. 33. The new man, thegreen hand, takes little or no heed of the entrance of the officers.… Not so theold hand.1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 195. Ye’re agrand handat the sleeping!1892.W. E. Gladstone,Times‘Report.’… Thisold Parliamentary hand.
H
aberdasher,subs.(old colloquial: now recognised).—1. A dealer in small wares; specifically (1) a hatter, and (2, humorously) a publican (i.e., a seller oftape[q.v.]). Now restricted to a retail draper.
1599.Minsheu,Dictionarie, s.v.
1632.Jonson,The Magnetic Lady, ‘Induction.’ Poetaccios, poetasters, poetitos.… And allhaberdashersof small wit.
d.1680.Butler,Remains(1759), ii., 107. He set uphaberdasherof a small poetry.
1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, iii., 5. Thehaberdasheris the whistler, otherwise the spirit-merchant, Jerry—and tape the commodity he deals in.
Haberdasher of pronouns,subs. phr.(common).—A schoolmaster. For synonyms,seeBumbrusher.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Habit,subs.(old University).—Seequot.
1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Habit.CollegeHabit, College dress, called of old, Livery: the dress of the Master, Fellows, and Scholars.
Hab-nab(orHob-nob(q.v.)),adv.(old).—1. At random; promiscuously; helter-skelter; ding-dong.
1602.Shakspeare,Twelfth Night, iii., 4. His incensement at this moment is so great that satisfaction can be none but by pangs of death and sepulchre.Hob-nobis his word; give’t, or take’t.
1664.Butler,Hudibras, ii., 3. Although set downhab-nabat random.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hab-nab, at a Venture, Unsight, Unseen, Hit or Miss.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.
2. (old).—By hook or by crook; by fair means or foul.
1581.Lilly,Euphues, 109. Philantus determinedhabnabto send his letters.
Verb(old).—To drink with; giving health for health.
1836.Horace Smith,The Tin Trumpet. ‘Address to a Mummy.’ Perchance that very hand now pinioned flat Hashob-and-nobbedwith Pharaoh glass for glass.
Hack(orHackney),subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A person or thing let out for promiscuous use:e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Whence (2) a coach that plies for hire; (3) (stables’) a horse for everyday use, as offered to one for a special purpose—hunting, racing, polo. (4) (Cambridge Univ.),seequot. 1803. AlsoHackster.
1383.Chaucer,Canterbury Tales, 16,027. HisHakeney, which that was a pomele gris.
1540.Lyndsay,Satyre of thethrieEstaits, 3237. I may finde the Earle of Rothus besthacknay.[244]
1582.Hakluyt,Voyages, i., 400.There they use to put out their women to hire as we do herehackneyhorses.
1594.Shakspeare,Love’sLabour’sLost, iii., 1. The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps ahackney.
1594.Nashe,Unf. Traveller, 101 (Chiswick Press, 1890). Out whore, strumpet, sixpennyhackster, away with her to prison!
1672.Ray,Proverbs.Hackneymistress,hackneymaid.
1678.Butler,Hudibras, pt. iii., c. 1. That is no more than every lover Does from hishackney-ladysuffer.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hacks, orHackneys, Hirelings.Ibid.,Hackney Horses.Ibid.,Hackney Scribblers.Ibid.,Hackney Whores, Common Prostitutes.
1738.Pope,Ep. to Sat.Shall each spurgall’dhackneyof the day, Or each new pension’d sycophant, pretend To break my windows?
1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, iv., 14. With wonderful alacrity he had ended almost in an instant, and conveyed himself into a place of safety in ahackney-coach.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackney-writer, one who writes for attornies or booksellers.
1803.Gradus ad Cantabrigiam.Hacks.HackPreachers; the common exhibitioners at St. Mary’s, employed in the service of defaulters, and absentees.
1819.Moore,Tom Crib. I first was hired to peg ahack.
1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a Jarvy! Better known, perhaps, by the name of ahack.
1841.Leman Rede,Sixteen String Jack, ii., 3. I’ll get ahack, be off in a crack.
Verb(colloquial, football).—To kick shins.Hacking= the practice of kicking shins at football.
1857.G. A. Lawrence,Guy Livingstone, ch. i. I saw, too, more than one player limp out of his path disconsolately, trying vainly to dissemble the pain of a vicioushack.
1869.Spencer,Study of Sociology, ch. viii. p. 186 (9th ed.). And thus, perhaps, the ‘education of a gentleman’ may rightly include giving and receivinghackingof the shins at foot-ball.
1872.The Echo, 3 Nov. Some of the modern foot ball players have the tips of their shoes tipped with iron, and others wear a kind of armour or iron plate under their knicker-bockers to avoid … what is calledhacking.
Hackle,subs.(common).—Pluck; spirit;bottom(q.v.).To show hackle= to show fight. [Hackle = a long shining feather on a cock’s neck.] Fr.,avoir du foie;n’avoir pas le flubart, oravoir du poil au ciel.
Hackslaver,verb.(old).—To stammer; to splutter; to hesitate in speech.
Hackum(orCaptain Hackum, orHackster),subs.(old).—A bully; a bravo. For synonyms,seeFurioso.
1657.Lady Alimony, 1, 3 (Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 282). Vowing, like a desperatehaxterthat he has express command to seize upon all our properties.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hackam, Fighting Fellow.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hackum, Captain Hackum, a bravo, a slasher.
1859.Matsell,Vocabulum.Hackum, a bravado, a slasher, ‘Capt. Hackum,’ a fellow who slashes with a bowie-knife.
Had.—SeeHave.
Haddock,subs.(common).—1. A purse.Haddock of Beans= a purse of money. [Haddock = cod: O. Sw.,Rudde; Ic.,Koddi= a small bag.Cf.,Codpiece.] For synonyms,seePoge.
1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes.Melrusio, the fish we call ahadock, or a cod.Ibid.Metter la faua nel bacello, to put the beane into the cod.
1834.H. Ainsworth,Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. ‘What’s here?’ cried he, searching the attorney’s pockets … ‘ahaddock, stuffed with nothing, I’m thinking.’[245]
2.in. pl.(Stock Exchange).—North of Scotland Ordinary Stock.
Haddums(orHad ’em).—Seequots.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew. The Spark has been atHaddums. He is Clapt, or Poxt.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has been atHad’emand come home by Clapham, said of one who has caught the venereal disease.
Hag,subs.(old: now recognised).—1. A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old woman; a she-monster. Also (3) a nightmare. At Charterhouse, a female of any description; at Winchester, a matron. Hence,Hag-ridden= troubled with nightmare.Hag-born= witch-born.Hag-seed(Shakspeare,Tempest) = spawned of a witch.Hag-faced= foul-featured. In another sense,Hags= spots of firm ground in a moss or bog.
d.1529.Skelton,Duke of Albany, Lyke a Scottishhag.
1606.Wily Beguiled(Dodsley,Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 277). Like to some hellishhagor some damned fiend.
1606.Shakspeare,Macbeth, iv., 1. How now, you secret, black, and midnightHags!
1627.Drayton,The Moon-calf(Chalmer’sEnglish Poets, 1810, iv., 133). The filthyhagabhoring of the light.
1632.Jonson,Magnetic Lady, v. 6. Outhag!
1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. As if you knew the sport of witch-hunting, Or starting of ahag.
1680.Cotton,Poems, etc., ‘To Poet E.W.’ Adulteratehags, fit for a common stew.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.
1748.Thomson,Castle of Indolence, i., 73. Fierce fiends andHagsof hell their only nurses were.
1773–83.Hoole,Orlando Furioso, xliii., 998. But such aHagto paradise conveyed, Had withered by her looks the blissful shade.
1815.Scott,Guy Mannering, xliii. Hatteraick himself, and the gypsy sailor, and that oldhag.
1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 89. Old women were there also, with hideous vice-stamped features, veritablehagsall of them.
Your Hagship!phr.(common).—In contempt (of women).
Hag-finder,subs.(old).—A witch finder.
1637.Jonson,Sad Shepherd, ii., 2. That I do promise, or I am no goodhag-finder.
Hagged,adj.(old, now [asHaggard] recognised).—Ugly; gaunt; hag-like.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hagged, Lean, Witched, Half-starved.
1716–1771.Gray,A Long Story. The ghostly prudes withHaggedface.
Haggisland,subs.(common).—Scotland.
Haggle,verb.(old, now recognised).—To bargain keenly; to stick at, or out for, trumpery points; to debate small issues.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.
1849–61.Macaulay,Hist. Eng., ch. xx.Hagglingwith the greedy, making up quarrels.
Haggler,subs.(old).—Formerly a travelling merchant; a pedlar: now (in London vegetable markets) a middleman.Cf.,Bummaree.
1662.Fuller,Worthies; Dorsetshire. Horses, on whichHaglersused to ride and carry their commodities.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v. AHagler, one that buys of the Country Folks, and sells in the Market, and goes from Door to Door.[246]
1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop,ii, 1.I’senohagler, gadswookers;and he that says I am—’zbud, he lies!
1851–61.H. Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 83. AHagglerbeing, as I before explained, the middle-man.
Hail.To raise hail(orNed, orCain, orHell),verb. phr.(American).—To make a disturbance; to kick up a row.
1888.Portland Transcript, 7 Mar. He is determined that they shall have a clear deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land when the question is settled, or he willraise hail.
To be hail fellow well met,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be on very easy terms: alsoat hail-fellow.
1574–1656.Hall’s Satires, III., i., p. 40. Now man, that ersthaile-fellowwas with beast, Woxe on to weene himselfe a god at least.
1665.Homer à la Mode.The cookes too, having done, were set At tablehay fellow well met.[Quoted by Nares].
1667–1745.Swift,My Lady’s Lamentation.Hail fellow, well met, all dirty and wet; Find out, if you can, who’s master, who’s man.
1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 108. And at first he sings small, and ishail-fellow-well-metwith Sheamus—that’s James of the Glens, my chieftain’s agent.
To be hailed for the last time,verb. phr.(nautical).—To die. For synonyms,seeAloft.
1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 322. He’sbeen hailed for the last time.
Hair,subs.(venery).—1. The female pubes. Whence (2) generic for the sex:e.g.,after hair= in quest of a woman;plenty of hair= lots of girls;hair to sell= a woman with a price;hair-monger= a wencher;bit of hair= the sexual favour. For synonyms,seeFleece.
To go against the Hair,verb. phr.(old colloquial).—To go against the grain, or contrary to nature. [From the texture of furs.]
1589.Nashe,Martin’s Months Minde(Grosart), i., 188. For hee euerwent against the haire.
1596.Shakspeare,Merry Wives, ii., 3. If you should fight, yougo against the hairof your professions.
1661.Middleton,Mayor of Queenborough, C. P. xi., 122. Books in women’s hands are as muchagainst the hair, methinks, as to see men wear stomachers, Or night-railes.
Both of a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Very much alike. Also, two of a trade, and two in a tale.
Not worth a Hair,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Utterly worthless.Cf.,Cent,Rap,Dump, etc.
To a Hair,adv. phr.—(colloquial).—Exactly; to a nicety.Cf.,To fit to a Hair= to fit perfectly.
1697.Vanbrugh,Æsop, i, 1. Here was a young gentlewoman but just now pencilled me outto a hair.
1738.Swift,Polite Conversation. Miss. Well I love a Lyar with all my Heart; and youfit me to a hair.
1891.W. C. Russell,Ocean Tragedy, p. 30. The fellowfitsmy temperto a hair.
To split Hairs,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To cavil about trifles; to quibble; to be over-nice in argument.
1693.Congreve,Old Bachelor, ii., 2. Now, I must speak; it willsplit a hairby the Lord Harry.
Suit of Hair,subs. phr.(American).—Ahead of hair(q.v.).[247]
To raise(orlift)Hair,verb. phr.(American).—To scalp; hence, idiomatically, to defeat; to kill.To keep one’s hair= to escape a danger.
1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West, p. 194. Kit Carson … hadraised more hairfrom the red-skins than any two men in the Western country.
1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, p. 101. If you’ll take the chances ofkeeping your hair.
To comb one’s Hair,verb. phr.(common).—To castigate;to monkey(q.v.).SeeComb one’s Hair,ante.
To hold(orkeep)one’s Hair(orWool)on,verb. phr.(common).—To keep one’s temper; to avoid excitement; to take easily. Alsoto keep one’s shirt on, orto pull down one’s jacket(orvest). Fr.,être calme et inodore.
1885.Bret Harte,A Ship of ’49, ch. vi. ‘But what the devil——’ interrupted the young man impetuously. ‘Keep yer hair on!’ remonstrated the old man with dark intelligence.
1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 78. Dokeep your ’air on, dear pal.
1892.Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 5 Oct., p. 45, c. 1. ‘Who make devil’s row like that all night?’ he asked. ‘Keep your hair on, Moses Trinko,’ replied the receptionofficer, cheerily.
A Hair of the Black Bear(orB’ar),subs. phr.(American).—A spice of the devil.
1848.Ruxton,Life in the Far West,p. 6. Thar was old grit in him, too, andahair of the black b’ar atthat.
To get one’s Hair Cut,verb. phr.(venery).—To visit a woman;to see a sick friend(q.v.). For synonyms,seeGreensandRide.
1892.Anstey,Model Music Hall, 154.Tommy.What, Uncle, going?The W. U.(with assumed jauntiness). Justto get my hair cut.
To make one’s hair stand on end,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To astonish.
1697.Vanbrugh,Provoked Wife, lv., 4. It’s well you are come: I’m so frightened,my hair stands on end.
1886.J. S. Winter,Army Society,ch. iii. If I were to tell you some incidents of my life since you and I last met, I should make yourhair stand on end.
A Hair of the Dog that Bit you,subs. phr.(common).—A ‘pick-me-up’ after a debauch. [Apparently a memory of the superstition, which was and still is common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay it on the wound. Also figuratively,seequot. 1888.]
1531.Bovilli,Prov. ii., xvi. siècle, t. i., p. 102.Du poil de la beste qui te mordis, Ou de son sanc sera guéris.
1546.Heywood,Proverbs[1874], 79.What how fellow, thou knave, I pray thee let me and my fellow haveA haire of the dog that bit uslast night. And bitten were we bothe to the braine aright.
1614.Jonson,Bartholomew Fayre, I.’Twas a hot night with some of us, last night, John: shall we pluck ahair of the same wolfto-day, proctor John?
1738.Swift,Polite Convers., Dial.2.Lady Gur.But, Sir John, your ale is terrible strong and heady.…Sir John.Why, indeed, it is apt to fox one; but our way is to take ahair of the same dognext morning.
1841.Dickens,B. Rudge, ch. lii. Put a good face upon it, and drink again. Anotherhair of the dog that bit you, captain!
1888.Detroit Free Press.‘Talk of the Day,’ 3 Nov.Travis.—‘Hello, De Smith! You’re looking betterthan Iexpected. I understood that you were completely crushed by that love affair. How did you recover?’De Smith.—‘Hair of the dog that bit me.Fell in love with another girl.’[248]
Hair-butcher,subs.(American).—A barber. For synonyms,seeNob-thatcher.
1888.Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. ’Oi ’m wullin’ thot bloomin’hair-butchershud have a fit, av he wants.
Hair-court,subs.phr.(venery).—The femalepudendum. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.To take a turn in Hair-court= to copulate.
Hair-divider(or-splitter),subs.(venery).—Thepenis. For synonyms,seeCreamstickandPrick. AlsoBeard-splitter.
1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.Hair-splitter, a man’s yard.
Hair-pin,subs.(American).—An individual, male or female:e.g.,That’s the sort of hair-pin I am= that’s my style.
1888.Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. ‘That’s the kind ofhairpinswe are,’ said the enthusiastic swain.
Hairy,adj.(Oxford University).—1. Difficult.
d.1861.Arthur Clough,Long Vacation Pastoral. Three weeks hence we return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason, Three weeks hence unbury Thicksides andhairyAldrich.
1864.The Press, 12 Nov.Hairyfor difficult is a characteristic epithet.
2. (colloquial).—Splendid; famous; conspicuous; uncommon.
1892.Rudyard Kipling,Barrack Room Ballads. ‘The Sons of the Widow.’ Did you hear of the Widow of Windsor with ahairygold crown on her head?
3. (venery).—Desirable; full of sex;fuckable(q.v.). [Said only of women:e.g.,Hairy Bit= an amorous and taking wench.]SeeHair.
To feel hairy,verb. phr.(venery).—To be inclined for coition; to have amust(q.v.).
Hairyfordshire,subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.To go to Hairyfordshire= to copulate. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.
Hairy-oracle(or-ring),subs.(venery).—The femalepudendum.Working the hairy-oracle= wenching. For synonyms,seeMonosyllable.
Halbert.To get the halbert,verb. phr.(old military).—To rise to sergeant’s rank. [The weapon was carried by sergeants of foot.]To be brought to the halberts= to be flogged;to carry the halbert in one’s face= to show that one rose from the ranks (of officers in commission).
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Half.It’s half past kissing time and time to kiss again.phr.(common).—The retort impudent (to females) when asked the time. A snatch from a ballad. [InSwift(Polite Conversation) = an hourpasthanging time.]
Half-a-crack(orjiffy, ortick).—Half a second.
Half-and-half,subs.(colloquial).—Equal quantities of ale and porter;Cf.,Four-halfandDrinks.
1824.Reynolds,Peter Corcoran, 41. Over my gentlehalf-and-half.
1835.Dickens,Sketches by Boz, p. 111. We were never tired of wondering how the hackney-coachmen on the opposite stand could … drink pots ofhalf-and-halfso near the last drop.[249]
1841.Albert Smith(inPunch). ‘The Physiology of the London Medical Student.’Half-and-half… is … ale and porter, the proportion of the porter increasing in an inverse ratio to the respectability of the public house you get it from.
1854.MartinandAytoun,Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘My Wife’s Cousin.’Half-and-halfgoes down before him, Gurgling from the pewter-pot; And he moves a counter motion For a glass of something hot.
1872.Fun, July. ‘The Right Tap.’ If the lever, meaning a plumper, were labelled ‘stout,’ and those recording a split votehalf and half, the illusion would be complete.
Adj.(common).—Half-drunk;half-on(q.v.). For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.
1848.Duncombe,Sinks of London.Half and half, half seas over, tipsy.
Half-and-half-coves(ormen,boys, etc.),subs.(old).—Cheap or linsey-woolsey dandies; half-bucks(q.v.) and half-tigers(q.v.).
1823.Moncrieff,Tom and Jerry, i., 7.Jerry.Thehalf-and-half covesare somewhat different from the swaddies, and gay tyke boys, at the dog pit—Eh, Tom?
Half-an-eye.To see with half an eye,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To discern readily; to be quick at conclusions.
Half-baked(orSoft-baked),adj.(common).—Halfwitted; cracked;soft(q.v.);doughy(q.v.); alsohalf-rocked(q.v.). For synonyms,seeApartmentsandTile Loose. Fr.,n’avoir pas la tête bien cuite.
1825.Scott,St. Ronan’s Well, ii., 221. He must scheme forsooth, thishalf-bakedScotch cake! He must hold off and on, and be cautious, and wait the result, and try conclusions with me, this lump of natural dough!
1857.C. Kingsley,Two Years Ago, ch. iv. ‘A sort ofhalf-bakedbody,’ said Kate.
1886.W. Besant,Children of Gibeon, Bk. II., ch. xiv. A daughter of seventeen not quite right in her head—half-baked, to use the popular and feeling expression.
1890.Answers, Xmas No., p. 19, c. 3. ‘You needn’t be so crusty,’ said Todkins to his better half. ‘Better be a little crusty than nothalf-baked,’ was the reply of his amiable spouse.
1892.Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 2, c. 3. Mr. Vane Tempest as serenest ofhalf-bakedcynics, and Mr. H. Vincent as most credulous of bibulous optimists.
Half-breed,subs.(American political).—A nick-name applied to certain New York Republicans, who wavered in their allegiance during an election to the Senate in 1881.—Norton.
Half-cocked,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.
1887.H. Smart,Saddle and Sabre, ch. xvii. ‘Black Bill,’ as he was called by his brother jockeys, was very oftenhalf-cockedwhen he got up to ride.… The man could ride as well half-drunk as sober.
To go off at half-cock(orhalf-cocked),verb. phr.1. (sporting).—To fail through hasty and ill considered endeavours; and 2. (venery) = to ejaculate before completing erection.
1848.Lowell,Biglow Papers[Wk. 1891], p. 231. Now don’tgo off half-cock: folks never gains By usin’ pepper-sarse instid o’ brains.
Half-cracked,adv.(common).—Lacking in intelligence.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.
1887.W. P. Frith,Autobiog., i., 129. Who was what is vulgarly calledhalf-cracked.
Half-crown Word,subs. phr.(common).—1. A difficult or uncommon vocable; ajaw-breaker(q.v.) or crack-jaw. Also (tailors’) = asleeveboard(q.v.).[250]
Half-crowner,subs.(booksellers’).—A publication costing 2s.6d.
Half-cut,adv.(common).—Half-drunk. For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.
Half-fly Flat,subs. phr.(thieves’).—A thief’s jackal; a man (or woman) hired to do rough or dirty work.
Half-grown Shad,subs. phr.(American).—A dolt. For synonyms,seeBuffleandCabbage-head.
1838.Neal,Charcoal Sketches. No more interlect than ahalf-grown shad.
Half Laugh and Purser’s Grin,subs. phr.(nautical).—A sneer; a half-and-half meaning.—Clark Russell.
Halflings,adj.(Scots’).—Betwixt and between. [Usually said of a boy or girl just leaving childhood.]
1818.Scott,Heart of Midlothian, xi. In my youth, nay, when I was ahafflinscallant.
Half-man,subs.(nautical).—A landsman rated as A.B.
Half-marrow,subs.(old Scots’).—1. A faithless spouse; also a parcel husband or wife.
1600–61.Rutherford,Letters, i., 123. Plead with your harlot-mother, who hath been a treacheroushalf-marrowto her husband Jesus.
2. (nautical).—An incompetent seaman.
Half-moon,subs.(old).—1. A wig; and (2) the femalepudendum. For synonyms,seePeriwinkleandMonosyllable.
1611.Lodowick Barry,Ram Alley(Dodsley,Old Plays, vii., 326, ed. 1875). Is not herhalf-moonmine?
Half-mourning,subs.(common).—A black eye.Full-mourning= two black eyes ordeep grief.
Half-nab(ornap),adv.(old).—Seequot.
1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Half-nab—at a venture, unsight unseen, hit or miss.
Half-on,adj.(colloquial).—Half-drunk.
Half-rocked,adv.(common).—Half-witted; silly. [From a West Country saying that all idiots are nursed bottom upwards.]SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.
Half-saved,adv.(common).—Weak-minded; shallow-brained.SeeApartmentsandTile Loose.
1834.Southey,The Doctor, ch. x. William Dove’s was not a case of fatuity. Though all was not there, there was a great deal. He was what is calledhalf-saved.
1874.M. Collins,Frances, ch. xlii. This groom was what they call in the west countryhalf-saved.
Half-screwed,adj.(common).—More or less in liquor.SeeDrinksandScrewed.
1839.Lever,Harry Lorrequer, ch. ii. He was, in Kilrush phrase,half-screwed, thereby meaning more than half tipsy.
Half-seas Over,adv. phr.(colloquial).—Loosely applied to various degrees of inebriety. Formerly = half way on one’s course, or towards attainment. For synonyms,seeScrewed.[251]
[In its specific sense Gifford says, “a corruption of the Dutchop-zee zober, ‘over-sea beer,’ a strong heady beverageintroducedinto Holland from England.” ‘Up-zee Freese’ is Friezeland beer. The Germanzaubermeans ‘strong beer’ and ‘bewitchment.’ Thus (1610) inJonson,Alchemist, iv., 2. ‘I do not like the dulness of your eye, It hath a heavy cast, ’tisupsee Dutch.’ Other nautical terms = drunk arewater-logged;sprung;slewed;with one’s jib well bowsed;three sheets in the wind;channels under, butseeDrinksandScrewed.]
1631–1701.Dryden.I amhalf-seas overto death.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Half-seas over, almost Drunk.
1697.Vanbrugh,Relapse, iii., 3. Good; that’s thinkinghalf-seas over. One tide more brings us into port.
1714.Spectator, No. 616. The whole magistracy was pretty well disguised before I gave them the slip. Our friend the alderman washalf-seas overbefore the bonfire was out.
1738.Swift,Pol. Convers., Dial.1. You must own you had a drop in your eye; when I left you, you werehalf seas over.
1751.Smollett,Peregrine Pickle, ch. ix. Who, by this time, had entered into all the jollity of his new friends, and was indeed more thanhalf-seas-over.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1829.J. B. Buckstone,Billy Taylor. The public-houses will not close till morn, And wine and spirituous liquors are so cheap, That we can all get nicelyhalf seas over, And see no sea at all.
1839.Ainsworth,Jack Sheppard[1889], p. 40. Mr. Smith, now being more thanhalf-seas over, became very uproarious.
1849.Thackeray,Pendennis, ch. xxx. It’s pay-day with the General … and he’s a precious deal more thanhalf-seas over.
1866.G. Eliot,Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. There’s truth in wine, and there may be some in gin and muddy beer.… I’ve got plenty of truth in my time out of men who werehalf-seas-over, but never any that was worth a sixpence to me.
1890.Globe, 16 Apr., p. 2, c. 1. The familiar phrasehalf-seas over, for example, is wanting, and for this we appear to be indebted to the Dutch.
1892.The Cosmopolitan, Oct., p. 724. The fellowhalf-seas-overeveryone excuses.
Half-slewed,adj.(common).—Parcel drunk. For synonyms,seeScrewed.
Half-snacks(orHalf-snags),adv. phr.(colloquial).—Half-shares.Seequots.
1683.Earl of Dorset,A Faithful Catalogue. She mounts the price and goeshalf snackherself.
1887.Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252.Half-snagsis a corrupted form ofhalf snacks,i.e., half shares. If one of a party of arabs finds any article it becomes his entire property unless his fellows sayHalf-Snags, or ‘Quarter-bits,’ or ‘Some for your neighbours.’
Half-’un,subs.(common).—Half-a-glassof spirits and water;Half-a-Go(q.v.).
Half-widow,subs.(American).—A woman with a lazy and thriftless husband.
[For Half in combination,seealsoBean:Borde;Bull;Case:Century;Couter;Dollar;George;Go;Grunter;Hog;Jack;James;Ned;Ounce;Quid;Skiv;Stretch;Tusheroon;Wheel.]
Halifax.Go to Halifax,verb. phr.(American).—Be off!go to hell(q.v.). The full text isGo to Hell,Hull, orHalifax.Cf.,Bath,Blazes,Hull,Putney, etc.
1599.Nashe,Lenten Stuffe(Grosart, 1883–84, p. 284). If frierPendelaand his fellowes, had any thing to say to him, in his admiral court of the sea, let them seek him, and neither inhull,hell, norhalifax.
1875.Notes and Queries, 5 S., iv., p. 66.Go to Halifax. This expression is sometimes used in the United States as a mild substitute for a direction to go to a place not to be named to ears polite.[252]
Hall,subs.(fishmongers’).—1. Specificallythe hall= Leadenhall Market.Cf.,Garden,Lane, etc.
2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in Collegehall.]To hall= to dine.
Go and Hire a Hall.phr.(American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.
Hall by the Sea,subs. phr.(medical students’).—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]
Hall of Delight,subs. phr.(Australian).—A music hall.
1892.Hume Nisbet,Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you coons would find your way to thishall of delight.
Hallan-shaker(orHallen-shaker),subs.(old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms,seeCadgerandMumper.
c.1503–4.Dunbar,A General Satyrewks. (ed.David Laing, 1834), ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sichalland-schakkaris.
c.1600.Montgomerie,Poems(Scottish Text Soc., 1885–7),‘Polwart and Montgomerie’s Flyting,’ p. 85.halland-shaker, draught-raiker, bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.
(?) 1642.Old Ballad.‘Maggie Lauder.’Right scornfully she answered him, Begone, youHallan-shaker.
1724.Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about like ahallen-shaker, You wou’d hae taen me for a water-wraith.
1816.Scott,Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheenHallenshakerslike mysel’.
Halliballo.—SeeHulliballo.
Hallion(orHallyon),subs.(old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman’s servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew.Cf.,Hell-cat.
1817.Scott,Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentishhallion.
1847.Porter,Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious littlehellions!
Halloo.To halloo with the under dog,verb. phr.(American).—To take the losing side.
Halo.To work the halo racket,verb. phr.(common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]
Haltersack,subs.(old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.
1598.Florio,Worlde of Wordes,Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher … ahaltersacke.
1619.BeaumontandFletcher,King and no King, ii., 2. Away, youhaltersack, you.
Halves,subs.(Winchester College).—(pro. Hāves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictlynon licet(obs.).—Notions.
To go(orcry)halves,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America,at the halves.
1831.Neal,Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. ‘Lives by preachin’at the halvesa sabba’-days.’ ‘Preachingat the halves—how’s that?’ ‘Why don’t you know? in partnership for what’s taken arter the sarmon’s over.’
1851–61.Mayhew,Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He’ll then again ask if anybody willgo him halves.
Ham,subs.(old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: alsoHam-cases. For synonyms,seeKicks.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.Hams, Breeches.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew,Life.Hams—breeches.[253]
1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hams. Pants.
2. (American).—Aloafer(q.v.). AlsoHam-fatter. [TheAmerican Slang Dict.says ‘A tenth-rate actor or variety performer.’]
1888.Missouri Republican, 27 Mar. Connelly … is a good fighter, but will allow the veriesthamto whip him, if there is any money to be made by it.
1888.New York Herald, 29 July. The … more prosperous professional brother of thehamfatter.
No ham and all hominy,phr.(American).—Of indifferent quality; ‘no great shakes’; ‘all work and no play’; ‘much cry and little wool.’
Hamlet,subs.(old and American).Seequots.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.Hamlet… a High Constable.
1725.New Cant. Dict.,s.v.Hamlet, a High-Constable.
1785.Grose,Vulg. Tongue, s.v.Hamlet, a high constable (cant).
1791.Bampfylde-Moore Carew.Hamlet, a high-constable.
1859.Matsell,Vocabulum, s.v.Hamlet.A captain of police.
Ham-match,subs.(common).—A stand-up luncheon.
1890.Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. At one o’clock they relieve their exhausted frames by taking perpendicular refreshment—vulgarly termed aham match—at some City luncheon bar.
Hammer,subs.(pugilistic).—1. A hard-hitter: especially with the right hand, like the illustriousHammerLane. AlsoHammererandHammer-man.
1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 33. A letter written on the occasion by Henry Harmer, thehammerer.
1823.Bee,Dict. of the Turf, 93. When a man hits very hard, chiefly with a favorite hand, his blows are said to fall like those of a sledge-hammer. Such boxers arehammeringfighters, that do not defend their own vitals, cannot make sure of a blow, and are termedhammerersandhammermen.
2. (common).—An unblushing lie. For synonyms,seeWhopper.
Verb(pugilistic).—1. To beat; topunish(q.v.).
1887.T. E. Brown,The Doctor, p. 159. And bedad I did, and before herself too, Andhammeredhim well.
1891.Gunter,Miss Nobody, ch. ii. ‘Hammerhim? What with?—a club?’ ‘No, with my fists.’
2. (American).—To bate; to drive down (prices, etc.).
1865.Harper’s Magazine, p. 619. The chronic bears were amusing themselves byhammering,i.e., pressing down the price of Hudsons.
3. (Stock Exchange).—To declare one a defaulter.
1885.Fortnightly Review, xxxviii., p. 578. A ‘defaulter’ has been declared orhammered, as it is technically termed.
1888.Echo, 28 Dec. If any unfortunate member behammeredto-day or to-morrow it will in all probability be a bear.
1890.Daily Telegraph, 1 Nov. This being the third day after the general settlement, a defaulter who had been unable to provide cash washammered, and private arrangements are reported in other quarters without resort to this extreme measure.
1891.Pall Mall Gazette, 25 July, p. 1, c. 3. But what is an ‘outside broker?’ some (possibly lady) reader may ask. Well, he may be, and often is, a regular, who has beenhammeredfor failing to meet his ‘differences.’
1891.Tit Bits, 15 Aug. I need not go into the circumstances which led to my being expelled from that honourable body, orhammeredas it is familiarly called, owing to the taps with a hammer which the head porter gives before he officially proclaims the name of a defaulter.[254]
Down as a hammer,adv. phr.(common).—1. Wide-awake;knowing(q.v.);fly(q.v.).
1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 45. To be down to anything is pretty much the same as being up to it, anddown as a hammeris, of course, theintensivumof the phrase.
2. (colloquial).—Instant; peremptory; merciless.Cf.,Like a thousand of bricks. AlsoTo be down on … like a hammer.
At(orunder)the hammer,adv. phr.(auctioneers’).—For sale at auction.
That’s the hammer,verb. phr.(colloquial).—An expression of approval or assent.
To be hammers to one,verb. phr.(colloquial).—To know what one means.
To hammer out(orinto),verb. phr.(colloquial).—To be at pains to deceive; to reiterate; to force to hear.
1596.Ben Jonson,Every Man in his Humour, iii., 3. Now am I, for some five and fifty reasons,hammering,hammeringrevenge.
1719.Durfey,Pills, etc., iii., 23. If any Scholar be in doubt, And cannot well bring this matter about; The Blacksmith canhammer it out.
1888.J. McCarthyandMrs. Campbell-Praed,The Ladies’ Gallery, ch. i. I think the chaps that are alwayshammeringon about repentance and atonement and forgiveness of sin have got hold of the wrong end.
Hammer-and-Tongs,adv. phr.(common).—Very violently; ding-dong.
1781.G. Parker,View of Society, II., 108. His master and mistress were at ithammer and tongs.
1833.Marryat,Peter Simple, ch. xxxv. Our ships were soon hard at it,hammer and tongs.
1837.Marryat,Snarleyow. Ods bobs!Hammer and Tongs!long as I’ve been to sea.
1861.H. Kingsley,Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Mr. Malone fell upon themhammer and tongs
1862.M. E. Braddon,Lady Audley’s Secret, ch. iv. ‘I always said the old buffer would marry,’ he muttered, after about half an hour’s reverie. ‘Alicia and my lady, the stepmother, will go at ithammer and tongs.’
1884.Jas. Payn,Talk of the Town, ch. xx. Both parties went at ithammer and tongs, and hit one another anywhere and with anything.
Hammer-headed,adj.(common).—1. Oafish; stupid.
1600.Nashe,Summers Last Will(Grosart), vi., 169. A number of rude Vulcans, vnweldy speakers,hammer-headedclownes.
2. (colloquial).—Hammer-shaped:i.e., long and narrow in the head.
1865.Dickens,Our Mutual Friend,i., 9. Mr. Boffin’s equipage consisted of a longhammer-headedold horse, formerly used in the business … a driver being added in the person of a longhammer-headedyoung man.
Hammering,subs.(pugilistic and colloquial).—1. A beating; excessivepunishment(q.v.).
2. (printers’).—Over-charging time-work (as ‘corrections’).
Hammering-trade,subs.(pugilistic).—Pugilism.
1819.Moore,Tom Crib, p. 49. The other, vast, gigantic, as if made, express, by Nature for thehammeringtrade.
Hammersmith.To go to Hammersmith,verb. phr.(common).—To get a sound drubbing.
Hampered,adj.(old: now recognised).—Let or hindered; perplexed; entangled. [FromOld. Eng., hamper = a fetter:seequot. 1613].[255]
1613.Browne,Britannia’s Pastorals, bk. i., s. 7. Shackles, shacklockes,hampers, gives and chaines.
1690. B. E.,Cant. Crew, s.v.
1725.New Cant. Dict., s.v.
Hampstead Donkey,subs. phr.(common).—Seequot. For synonyms,seeChates.
c.1870.Daily Paper.The witness testified to the filthy state of the linen which she wore, and also the state of the sheets. Was told not to get into bed until she had looked for theHampstead donkeys. ‘Did you know what that meant?’—‘No sir, not until I looked on the pillow and saw three’ (loud laughter). ‘Do you mean lice?’—‘Yes, sir, I do.’
Hampstead-heath,subs. phr.(rhyming).—The teeth. For synonyms,seeGrinders.
1887.Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, c. 3. She’d a Grecian ‘I suppose,’ And ofHampstead Heathtwo rows, In her ‘Sunny South’ that glistened Like two pretty strings of pearls.
Hampstead-heath Sailor,subs. phr.(common).—Alandlubber(q.v.); afreshwater sailor(q.v.). Fr.,un marin d’eau douceorun amiral Suisse(= a Swiss admiral: Switzerland having no seaboard).
Hanced,adj.(old).—In liquor. [FromHance= ‘to elevate.’] For synonyms,seeDrinksandScrewed.
1630.Taylor,Works. I doe finde my selfe sufficientlyhanced, and that henceforth I shall acknowledge it; and that whensoever I shall offer to beehancedagain, I shall arme my selfe with the craft of a fox, the manners of a hogge, the wisdom of an asse, mixt with the civility of a beare.
Hand,subs.(colloquial).—Properly a seaman; now a labourer, a workman, an agent.
1658.Phillips,New World of Words, s.v.Hand… a Word us’d among Mariners … when Men are wanted to do any Labour they usually Call for morehands.
1632–1704.Locke,Wks.A dictionary containing a natural history requires too manyhands, as well as too much time.
1711.Spectator, No. 232. The reduction of the prices of our manufactures by the addition of so many newhands, would be no inconvenience to any man.
1754.Fielding,Jonathan Wild, i, 14. The mercantile part of the world, therefore, wisely use the term ‘employinghands,’ and esteem each other as they employ more or fewer.
1811.Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. We lost ahand, we lost a sailor.
1871.Chambers’ Miscellany, No. 113, p. 3. He was admitted as ahandin an establishment already numbering three hundred active workers.
1892.Milliken,’Arry Ballads, p. 70. Thehandshas all bloomin’ well struck.
1892.National Observer, 22 Oct., vol. viii., p. 571. The dispute in the South-East Lancashire cotton trade is like to result in the stoppage of fourteen or fifteen million spindles which will take employment from sixty thousandhands, a fifth of them women and children.
1893.Fortnightly Review, Jan., p. 62. The wages paid to the operatives in our woollen industry are, to a marked extent, lower than those received by thehandsemployed in our cotton mills.
2. (coachmen’s).—Seequot.
1856.Whyte Melville,Kate Coventry, ch. xv. Lady Horsingham was tolerably courageous, but totally destitute of what is termedhand, a quality as necessary in driving as in riding, particularly with fractious or high-spirited horses.
Agood(orcool,neat,old,fine, etc.)hand,subs. phr.(colloquial).—An expert.
1748.T. Dyche,Dictionary(5th ed.), s.v.Hand(v.). ‘He is a goodhand,’ spoke of one that is an artist in some particular mechanical art or trade, etc.[256]
1773.Goldsmith,She Stoops to Conquer, iii., 1. When I was in my best story of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not agood handat making punch.
1854.Whyte Melville,General Bounce, xii. A quaint boy at Eton,cool handat Oxford, a deep card in the regiment, man or woman never yet had the best of ‘Uppy.’
1877.Five Years’ Penal Servitude, i., p. 33. The new man, thegreen hand, takes little or no heed of the entrance of the officers.… Not so theold hand.
1886.R. L. Stevenson,Kidnapped, p. 195. Ye’re agrand handat the sleeping!
1892.W. E. Gladstone,Times‘Report.’… Thisold Parliamentary hand.