Face, credit at a public-house, impudence, confidence, brass; thus aBRAZEN-FACE. “To run one’sFACE,” is to obtain credit in a bounceable manner. “He’s got someFACE,”i.e., he has got lots of impudence.Face entry, the entrée to a theatre. From theFACEbeing known, as distinguished from free-list entry.Facer, a blow on the face. In Ireland, a dram.Facer, a tumbler of whisky-punch. Possibly from the suffusion of blood to the face caused by it.Fad, a hobby, a favourite pursuit.Fadge, a farthing.Fadge, a flat loaf.—North.Fadge, to suit or fit; “it wontFADGE,” it will not do. Used by Shakspeare, but now heard only in the streets.Fadger, a glazier’s frame. Otherwise called a “frail,” perhaps in reference to the fragile nature of its contents.Fag, a schoolboy who performs a servant’s offices to a superior schoolmate. FromFAG, to become weary or tired out.Low German,FAKK, wearied.Fag, to beat.Faggot, a bundle of bits of the “stickings” (hence probably its name) sold for food to the London poor. It is sometimes called a duck. In appearance it resembles a Scotch “haggis,” without, however, being nearly so good as that fragrant article. Probably theFAG-ENDof a thing, the inferior or remaining part, the refuse.Faggot, a term of opprobrium used by low people to children and women; “you littleFAGGOT, you!”Faggotwas originally a term of contempt for a dry shrivelled old woman, whose bones were like a bundle of sticks, only fit to burn.—Compare the French expression for a heretic,sentir le fagot.Faggot briefs, bundles of worthless papers tied up with red tape, carried by unemployed barristers in the back rows of the courts to simulate briefs.Faggot vote, a phrase which belongs to the slang of politics, and which was applied to a class of votes, by no means extinct even now, though not so common as in the days preceding the first Reform Bill, when constituencies were smaller, and individual votes were consequently more valuable.Faggot voteswere thus created:—A large landowner who was blessed with, say, seven sons and seven brothers, and had also on his estate fourteen labourers’ cottages worth about a shilling a week each, would go through the form of sale of one cottage to each son and each brother, it being perfectly understood that the title-deeds would be returned when the occasion for their use was at an end. And thus the squire would command fifteen votes instead of one. In a famous election for the West Riding of Yorkshire during the third decade of the present century, which cost upwards of half a million sterling, and ruined the successful candidate, it was said that six hundredFAGGOT VOTESwere created by three noble lords. The origin of the term has been variously explained. One ingenious writer has suggested that as aFAGGOTmay be split into a bundle of sticks, so was one estate thus split into a bundle of votes. It is, however, more reasonable to suppose that it was derived from the old word “FAGGOT,” which was used to describe a “nominal soldier,” one, that is, whose name appeared on the muster-roll, and for whom the colonel drew pay, but who was never to be found in the ranks. The connexion is evident enough.Fake, in the sporting world, means to hocus or poison. Fake is also a mixture supposed to be used for purposes of “making safe.”Fake, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to make or construct; to steal or rob,—a verb variously used.Faked, done, or done for; “FAKEaway, there’s no down;” go on, there is nobody looking. From theLatinFACERE.Fakement, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or deception.Fakementis a word of most general application among the lower classes. Any things strange, and most things not strange, are calledFAKEMENTS, particularly if there is anything peculiar or artistic in their production.Fakement Charley, the owner’s private mark.Faker, is one who makes orFAKESanything. To “fake a cly,” is to pick a pocket.Fal-lals, trumpery ornaments, gewgaws. Forby suggests as a derivation theLatinPHALERÆ, horse trappings.Fambles, orFAMMS, the hands.—Ancient Cant.German,FANGEN.Family men, orPEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.Fan, a waistcoat.—Houndsditch term.Fancy, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, the ton of low life. Pugilists are sometimes termed theFANCY. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a favourite or pet; and the paramour of a prostitute is still called herFANCY MAN.Fancy bloak, a fancy or sporting man.Fanning, a beating.Fanningis also stealing;CROSS-FANNINGis stealing with the arms crossed so as to distract attention, as in stealing breast-pins, &c.Fanqui, a European, literally foreign devil.—Anglo-Chinese.Fantail, a dustman’s or coalheaver’s hat. So called from the shape.Farm, to contract, after the manner of those who engage to feed and lodge children belonging to the parish, at so much a head; a fruitful cause of starvation and misery.SeeOliver Twist.The baby farmings, unconnected with the parishes in which they occurred, which ultimately resulted in the trial and execution of Margaret Waters, on the 11th October, 1870, have caused the wordFARMas applied to any dealings with children, parish or private, to be one of obloquy and reproach.Farmer.In Suffolk this term is applied to the eldest son of the occupier of the farm. In London it is used derisively of a countryman, and denotes a farm-labourer or clodpole. Both senses are different from the proper meaning.Fast, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago.Quickis the synonym forFAST, but aQUICK MANwould not convey the meaning of aFAST MAN,—a person who, by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out. In polite society aFASTyoung lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talksslang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a fast young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horseflesh. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; theyarea rum lot, as the devil said of the ten commandments.” Charles Dickens once said that “fast,” when applied to a young man, was only another word for loose, as he understood the term; and a fast girl has been defined as a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect.Fast, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Sometimes synonymous with “hard up.”—Yorkshire.Fast and loose, to playFAST AND LOOSEwith a man, is to treat him as a fast friend in the days while he is useful, and to cast him loose when he is no longer necessary; also, to equivocate or vacillate. In old days it was the name of a vulgar pastime.SeePRICK THE GARTER.Fat, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called “grease,” and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.Fat, rich, abundant, &c.; “aFATlot;” “to cut itFAT,” to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance; “cut upFAT,” see underCUT. As a theatrical term, a part with plenty ofFATin it is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective display.Father, orFENCE, a buyer of stolen property.Favourite, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the betting list. When theFAVOURITEwins, the public or backers of horses generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to say, the persons who make a business of laying against the chances of horses, are the gainers.Fawney, a finger ring.Irish,FAINEE, a ring.Fawney bouncing, selling rings for a pretended wager. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he were to offer “real gold sovereigns” at a penny a-piece at the foot of London Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a tea-tray, and sold only two within the hour, thus winning the bet. This tale theFAWNEY BOUNCERStell the public, only offering brass, double-gilt rings, instead of sovereigns.Fawney rig, the ring-dropping trick. A few years ago this practice was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-bookwith some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The sharper says, “If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, the things are yours.” This the “flat” thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late. For another way of doing this trick,seeRING-DROPPING.Feathers, money, wealth; “in fullFEATHER,” rich.Feathersis also a term applied to dress; “in fullFEATHER,” means very often in full costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.Feed, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty general.Feele, a daughter, or child.—CorruptedFrench.Fellow-commoner, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle.Felt, a hat.—Old term, in use in the sixteenth century.Fence, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or warehouse of aFENCER.—Old Cant.Fen-nightingales, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at night.Feringee, a European—that is, a Frank.—Anglo-Indian.Ferricadouzer, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through theLingua Franca, from theItalian, “far’ cader’ douser,” to knock down. “Far’ cader’ morto,” is to knock down dead.Few, used to signify the reverse, thus:—“Don’t you call this considerably jolly?” “I believe you, my bo-o-oy,A FEW.” Sometimes the reply is, “just aFEW.” Another expression of the same kind isRATHER, whichsee.Fib, to beat or strike.—Old Cant.Fib, to lie, to romance.Fibbing, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance.—Pugilistic.Fiddle, a sharper, “a street mugger.” In America, a swindle or an imposture.Fiddle, “to play secondFIDDLE,” to act subordinately, or follow the lead of another. From the orchestral practice.Fiddle-face, a person with a wizened countenance.Fiddle-faddle, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—Old Cant.Fiddler, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers theFIDDLERis the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The termFIDDLERis easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.Fiddler, a sixpence. Fiddler’s money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.Fiddler, orFADGE, a farthing.Fiddlers’ green, the place where sailors expect to go when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the “Land of Cocaigne,” mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he (the sailor) was going after death. “To hell, of course,” replied the preacher. “No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!” shouted the seaman, knocking the itinerant down; “I’m going toFIDDLER’S GREEN; and if you say I’m not, I’ll throttle you.” Under compulsion, the preacher admitted the existence ofFIDDLER’S GREEN,pro tempore.Fiddles, transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use ofFIDDLES.Fiddle-sticks!an exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes “Fiddle-de-dee.”Fiddling, doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes,FIDDLINGmeans idling away time, or trifling, and amongst sharpers it means gambling.Fid-fad, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.Field, the whole of the runners in a race of any kind. “AFIELDof fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter.” In betting phraseology theFIELDrepresents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. “TheFIELDfor a pony,” means that the offerer will lay 25l.against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others. “Ten to one on theFIELD,” means that the price named can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the lowest figure or favourite’s price. Laying against favourites is calledFIELDING, and bookmakers are often known asFIELDERS.Field, “to look out,” at cricket. In the outings of an eleven theFIELDERSare those who stand away from the wickets with a view to checking the progress of the ball.Fieldingis a great essential to cricket, and to be “a goodFIELD” is no slight honour. Also to lay against favourites in the betting.Field-lane duck, a baked sheep’s head. Field Lane was a low London thoroughfare leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs. Holborn Viaduct improved all but a small portion of Field Lane off the face of the earth. There is but the smallest vestige of this famous (or infamous) thoroughfare left. The neighbourhood has received an upheaval within the past few years, and from one end the pedestrian must descend to the remains of Field Lane by means of a flight of steps.Fieri-facias.A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served with a writ ofFIERI-FACIAS.Fi-fa, a writ of Fieri-Facias.—Legal.Fi-fi, Thackeray’s term for Paul de Kock’s novels, and similar modern French literature.Fig, “in fullFIG,”i.e., full-dress costume, “extensively got up.” Possibly an allusion to the dress assumed by our first parents after they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation of figure, in the references to plates in books of fashions.Fig, “toFIGa horse,” to play improper tricks with one in order to make him lively. TheFIGis a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.Figaro, a barber; fromLe Nozze di Figaro.Fig-leaf, a small apron worn by ladies.Figure, “to cut a good or badFIGURE,” to make good or indifferent appearance; “what’s theFIGURE?” how much is to pay?Figure-head, a person’s face.—Sea term.Filch, to steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from theFILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows.—VideDecker. It was considered a cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has “FYLCHE, to robbe.” Probably from “FILICHI,” Romany for a handkerchief.File, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when toFILEwas to cheat or rob.File, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like biting aFILE.Filibuster, an American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and receives high honours, but who remains aFILIBUSTER, and is despised as such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were of aFILIBUSTERINGorder.Fillibrush, to flatter, praise ironically.Fimble-famble, a lame, prevaricating excuse.—Scandinavian.Fin, a hand; “come, tip us yourFIN,” viz., let us shake hands.—Sea.Finder, one whoFINDSbacon and meat at the market before they are lost,i.e., steals them.Finnuf, a five-pound note.Double finnuf, a ten-pound note.—German,FUNF, five.Fire-eater, a quarrelsome man, a braggadocio or turbulent person who is always ready to fight.Firkytoodle, to cuddle or fondle.First flight, the first lot to finish in a foot or horse race, in a fox hunt, &c.Fish, a person; “a queerFISH,” “a looseFISH.” Term never used except in doubtful cases, as those quoted.Fishfag, originally a Billingsgate fishwife; now any scolding, vixenish, foul-mouthed woman.Fishy, doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a “screwbeing loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in referring to any proposed speculation.Fit, an Americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight. A Yankee once came upon the wordsnihil fit, and he immediately wrote off to the editor of the paper to which he subscribed to know “Who was Nihil, who he fit, what amount he fit for, and if he won.”Five fingers, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don.Fives, “bunch ofFIVES,” the fist.Fix, a predicament, or dilemma; “an awfulFIX,” a terrible position; “toFIXone’s flint for him,”i.e., to “settle his hash,” to “put a spoke in his wheel.”Fixings, an Americanism, equivalent to our word “trimmings,” whichsee.Fiz, champagne; any sparkling wine.Fizzing, first-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with “stunning.”Flabbergast, orFlabberghast, to astonish, or strike with wonder; literally, to strike aghast.—Old.Flag, a groat, or 4d.—Ancient Cant.Flag, an apron. People who wear their aprons when not at work, are called “flag-flashers.”Flag of distress, any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person’s shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.Flam, nonsense, blarney, a lie, humbug. “A regularFLAM,” a tale devoid of truth.Flame, a sweetheart.Flannel, orHOT FLANNEL, the old term for gin and beer, drunk hot, with nutmeg, sugar, &c.; a play on the old name “lambswool.” Also called “flip.” There is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart ofFLANNELin a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman!”Flap, lead used for the coverings of roofs.Flapper, orFLIPPER, the hand.Flare up, a jovial social gathering, a “breakdown,” a “row.”Flash, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person is said to be dressedFLASHwhen his garb is showy, and after a fashion, but without taste. A person is said to beFLASHwhen he apes the appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be superior to his friends and relations.Flashalso means “fast,” roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive—and this, perhaps, is its general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to be—anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. “Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classicallanguage of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’s Greek.”—Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termedFLASHin the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of “The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of flash words.” “Flash” is sometimes exchangeable with “fancy.”“MyFLASHman’s in quod,And I’m the gal that’s willin,So I’ll turn out to-night,And earn an honest shillin’.“Tooral, looral la,What are wealth’s possessions?Bless the man we love,And blow the b—— Sessions.”—Lyra Flagitiosa.Flash it, show it—said when any bargain is offered.Flash o’ lightning, the gold band on an officer’s cap.—Sea.Also in street slang, a glass of gin.Flat, a fool, a silly or “soft” person; the opposite of “sharp.” The terms appear to be shortenings for “sharp-witted” and “flat-witted.” Or, maybe, from musical notes.Flat-feet, the battalion companies in the Foot Guards.Flats, playing cards; sometimes called “broads.” Also the storeys of large houses, built on the “independent” principle, each flat having its separate and peculiar offices, street-door, &c.Flatty, a rustic, or uninitiated person.Flatty-ken, a public-house the landlord of which is ignorant of the practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it.Flay the fox, to vomit. Now replaced by the more popular “shoot the cat.”Flemish account.—Old.Still used by sailors for a tangled and unsatisfactory account or reckoning.Flesh and blood, brandy and port in equal quantities.Flesh bag, a shirt. American humourists call a white shirt a “clean biled rag.” In the mining camps, and rough parts generally, a white shirt is called a “biled shirt” to distinguish it from the usual woollen garment, which cannot be boiled.Flick, orOLD FLICK, a comical old chap or fellow. Term of endearment among low people.Flick, orFLIG, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the same time, which causes a stinging blow. A flicking is often administered by schoolboys with a damp towel or pocket-handkerchief.Flies, trickery, nonsense. “There are noFLIESabout me, sir.” Softening of lies.Flim-flamn, idle story.—Beaumont and Fletcher.Flimp, to hustle, or rob.Flimsy, a bank-note. Bank of Elegance notes are sometimes called soft flimsies. In this particular case two good terms make a bad one, as both “soft” and “flimsies” used separately refer to good notes.Flimsy, the thin prepared copying-paper used by newspaper reporters and “penny-a-liners” for making several copies at once, which enables them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of time.Flint, an operative who works for a “society” master,i.e., for full wages.Flip, corruption ofFILLIP, a light blow. Also a hot drink.SeeFLANNEL.Flip-flap, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the “double-shuffle” danced with an air of extremeabandon. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.Flipper, the hand; “give us yourFLIPPER,” give me your hand.—Sea.Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle.Floater, a small suet dumpling put into soup.—Whitechapel.Floating academy, the hulks.Flog, to whip. Cited both by Grose and the author ofBacchus and Venusas a cant word. Many efforts have been made to ascertain the earliest use; Richardson cites Lord Chesterfield. FromFlagellum. “Flawged,” for whipped, occurs in “The Presbyterian Lash, or Nockhoff’s Maid Whipt,” published in 1663. Nockhoff was the anagram for the name of the Rev. Zachary Crofton, who had scandalized the town by subjecting his servant-maid to the discipline of the nursery. There is a good story on the proper orthography of the convertible term for castigation related in a newspaper of 1841. A county magistrate, who had sentenced a boy to be birched, wrote in his warrant that the boy was to be “floged.” The scrupulous gaoler hesitated to inflict the punishment, and sent back the warrant to the justice for amendment, who thereupon drew his pen through “floged,” and ordered the boy to be “wiped.”Flogger, a whip.—Almost obsolete.Floggeris still the term applied to a number of strips of cloth attached to a handle, and used in theatrical painting rooms to beat off the dust of the charcoal used in sketching a scene.Flogster, one addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers “Prince William HenryFlogster.”Floor, to knock down.—Pugilistic.Floored, when a picture is hung on the lowest row at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, it is, in artistic slang, said to beFLOORED, in contradistinction to “skyed,” whichsee.Floorer, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.Flop, to plump; “to goFLOPdown,” to fall suddenly, with violence and noise.Flowery, lodging, or house entertainment; “square the omee for theFLOWERY,” pay the master for the lodging.—Lingua Franca.Flue-faker, a chimney-sweep.Fluff it, a term of disapprobation, implying “take it away, I don’t want it.”Fluff, railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called “fluffings,” and the practice is known as “fluffing.”Fluke, at billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, “more by luck than judgment.”Flummery, flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense. In American ships a peculiar kind of light sweet pudding.Flummux, to perplex or hinder.Flummuxed, done up, sure of a month in quod, or prison. In mendicant freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or house corner, to express to succeeding vagabonds that it is unsafe for them to call there, is known ascircle with dot, orFLUMMUXED, which signifies that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be a “month in quod.”—SeeQUOD.Flunkey, a footman or other man-servant.Flunkeyism, blind worship of rank, birth, or riches, or of all three; toadyism.Flush, the opposite of “hard up,” in possession of money, not poverty-stricken.—Shakspeare.Flush, to whip; “FLUSHEDon the horse,” to be privately whipped in gaol; to deluge with water, as in “FLUSHINGthe sewers;” to come upon suddenly and completely,—“I cameFLUSHupon him.”Flush, a term in cribbage, signifying a hand of cards composed entirely of one suit.Flutter, to try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. “I’ll have aFLUTTERfor it,” means I’ll have a good try for it. Also to toss for anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin.Fly, knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.Fly,TO BE ON THE, to be out for a day’s drink or pleasure.Fly, to lift, toss, or raise; “FLYthe mags,”i.e., toss up the halfpence; “toFLYa window,”i.e., to lift one for the purpose of stealing.Fly-boys, men employed to clear the printed copies from the Hoe machines, on which daily papers are “worked.” So called to distinguish them from the “machine boys,” a superior grade of labourers who “lay on” the sheets.Flying mare, a throw in wrestling.Flying mess, “to be inFLYING MESS” is a soldier’s phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.Flying stationer, a paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; “Printed for the Flying Stationers” is theimprimaturon hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.Flymy, knowing, cunning, roguish.—Seven Dials and Low Life.Fly the kite, orRAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, probably in allusion to tossing paper about as children do kites.Fly the kite, to evacuate from a window,—term used in padding-kens, or low lodging-houses.Fobbed, old slang for robbed. FromFOB, the ancient breeches-pocket for the watch.Fogey, orOLD FOGEY, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person. Grose says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the Frenchfougueux, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now.Fogger, old word for a huckster.Fogger, a farm servant who feeds cattle. Probably a corruption of fodderer.Foggy, tipsy.Fogle, a silk handkerchief,—not a clout, which is of cotton. It has been hinted that this may have come from the GermanVogel, a bird, from the bird’s-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, but a more probable derivation is the Italian slang (Fourbesque),FOGLIA, a pocket, or purse; or from the French Argot,FOUILLE, also a pocket.Fogus, tobacco.—Ancient Cant.Fogo, old word for stench.Follow-me-lads, curls hanging over a lady’s shoulder.Foont, a sovereign, or 20s.Probably a corruption of vingt.Footing, “to payFOOTING.”SeeSHOE.Forakers, the closet of decency, or house of office. Term used by the boys at Winchester School. Very likely from “four acres,” the original necessary having been in all likelihood a field behind the school.Force the voucher, a term in use among sporting tricksters, who advertise to send certain winners, and on receipt of letters enclose vouchers similar to those sent out by respectable commission agents, but with double or treble the current odds marked thereon, in reference to the horse named. A plausible letter is sent with the voucher, and the victim is informed that on account of early investments made by the firm, which has of course a high-sounding title, the extra odds can be laid by them, and a remittance to the amount named, or part of it, is requested. Of course the firm “dries up” when claims become heavy, and, with a new name and new address, appears in the next week’s advertising columns.Forcing the voucherwas a fine game when it was first started, but it was soon overdone, as it required no particular ingenuity, and offered special immunities, theft of this kind being rather favoured than otherwise by the authorities. Certainly the law that punishes honest betting men seems powerless with regard to these plunderers, otherwise we should hardly be treated as often as we are to the spectacle of one man being fined for honest dealing, while another escapes simply because he is not a betting man, but a welcher.Fork out, to bring out one’s money, to pay the bill, to “stand for” or treat a friend; to hand over what does not belong to you—old cantterm for picking pockets, and very curious in its origin. In the early part of the last century, a little book was published on purloining, and of course it had to give the latest modes.Forkingwas the newest mode, and it consisted in thrusting the fingers stiff and open into the pocket, and then quickly closing them and extracting any article thus caught.Forks, orGRAPPLING-IRONS, fingers. Costermongers and other clumsy feeders have a proverb which seems to justify their taking bones and choice morsels in their hands during the progress of a meal. It is, “Fingers were the firstFORKS;” sometimes varied to “Fingers were made beforeFORKS.”Form, condition, training. “In goodFORM” or “in badFORM” refers to a man’s or horse’s state of being in the sporting world.Formhas also had a moral significance of late years, and with the qualifying adjectives attached as occasion requires, is extensively used in general conversation. As, “It was badFORMof Brown to do that.” “That article was badFORM.” In the latter cases the word “in” rarely appears.Forty foot, a derisive appellation for a very short person.Forty guts, vulgar term for a fat man.Forty-twa, the common place of retirement on a well-known French plan at Edinburgh, so called from its accommodating that number of persons at once.Forty winks, a short sleep or nap.Fou, rather more than slightly intoxicated.—Scotch.“We are na’FOU, we are na’FOU.”Foul, to jostle or bore unfairly in a race.SeeBORE. To touch any foreign substance during a race—particularly a boat-race—is toFOULit.Foul, a touch, no matter how slight, of bodies or machinery in a race of any kind.Foulsin boat-racing are often inevitable, and are not always the result of boring or any other malicious practice.Foul riding, riding which after a horse-race is made the subject of complaint, such as refusing to let a competitor pass, boring him against the rails, &c. Some jockeys are great adepts at this work, and are invaluable to a confederacy as a means, not so much of attaining victory themselves, as of preventing its attainment in others. Of course unless proof of jostling can be given, or evidence of malicious intent shown, jockeyship of this kind is not considered foul riding.Four-and-nine, orFOUR-AND-NINEPENNY GOSS, a cheap hat, so called from 4s.9d., the price at which a once noted advertising hat-maker sold his hats—“Whene’er to slumber you incline,Take a short nap at 4 and 9.”Four-eyes, a man or woman who habitually wears spectacles.Four kings,HISTORY OF THE, an old name for a pack of playing cards.SeeSir Thomas Urquhart’sTranslation of Rabelais. InArgot,LIVRE DES QUATRE ROIS.Fourth, orFOURTH COURT, the court appropriated to the waterclosets at Cambridge; from its really being No. 4 at Trinity College. A man leaving his room to go to theFOURTH COURT, writes on his door, in algebraic notation,GONE4, which expresses the Cambridge slang phrase, “gone to theFOURTH.”Fourth estate, the complete body of journalists of all descriptions. This term is much in use among “liners.”Fox, to cheat or rob.—Eton College.In London to watch closely and narrowly.Foxed, a term used by print and book collectors to denote the brown spotted appearance produced by damp on paper.Foxing, when one actor criticises another’s performance.—Theatrical.Also in street slangFOXINGmeans watching slyly.Fox’s Sleep, orFOXING, a purposely assumed indifference to what is going on. A fox, as well as a weasel, is said to sleep with one eye open.Foxy, rank, tainted, from the odour of the animal.—Lincolnshire.Foxy, said also of a red-haired person.Frapping, a beating.French,FRAPPER.Free-and-easy, a club held at a low public-house, the members of which meet in the tap-room or parlour for the purpose of drinking, smoking, and hearing each other sing. These gatherings are generally called harmonic meetings by the landlord, butFREE-AND-EASYbest indicates the character of the proceedings.Free fight, a fight conducted on the Irishman’s principle—“Sure, wherever you see a head, hit it.” The term is, however, American, so the practice may be considered fairly general.Freeman’s quay, “drinking atFreeman’s Quay,”i.e., at another’s cost. This quay was formerly a celebrated wharf near London Bridge, and the saying arose from the beer which was given gratis to porters and carmen who went there on business.French cream, brandy.French gout, a certain disease, which is also known as “ladies’ fever.”French leave,TO TAKE, to leave or depart slyly, without saying anything; or obtaining permission.Fresh, said of a person slightly intoxicated.Freshman, a University man during his first year. The official appellation for the students until they have passed the Previous or First Cambridge Examination, otherwise called theSmallsorLittle Go, is Junior Sophs or Sophisters. After this they are Senior Sophs until their last term, when they are Questionists, or preparing “ad respondendum quæstioni.” At Oxford the titleFRESHMANlasts for the first term.Friday-face, a gloomy-looking man. Most likely fromFridaybeing a day of meagre fare among Catholics and High Church Protestants.Frisk, to search;FRISKED, searched by a constable or other officer.Frisk a cly, to empty a pocket.Frog, a policeman. Because, by a popular delusion, he is supposed to pounce suddenly on delinquents.Frog’s march, the manner in which four or more policemen carry a drunken or turbulent man to the station-house. The victim is held face downwards, one constable being at each shoulder, while the others hold on above the knees. Often there is another active and intelligent officer who beats time to the march on the recalcitrant hero’s posteriors.Frontispiece, the face.Frow, a girl, or wife.German,FRAU;Dutch,VROUW.Frummagemmed, annihilated, strangled, garrotted, or spoilt.—Old Cant.Frump, a slatternly woman, a gossip.—Ancient.In modern slang it is the feminine ofFOGEY, and means a prim old lady, who is generally termed “a regular oldFRUMP.”Frump, to mock or insult.—Beaumont and Fletcher.F sharps, fleas. CompareB flats.Fudge, nonsense, stupidity. Todd and Richardson only trace the word to Goldsmith. Disraeli, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, a great fibber, who told monstrous stories, which made his crew say in answer to any improbability, “YouFUDGEit!”—See Remarks on the Navy, 1700. At page 87 of a collection of some papers of William Crouch (8vo, 1712), the Quaker, we find a mention of this Captain. Degory Marshall informed Crouch that—“In the year 1664 we were sentenced for banishment to Jamaica by Judges Hyde and Twisden, and our number was 55. We were put on board the ship Black Eagle; the master’s name wasFudge, by some calledLying Fudge.”Some persons believe that the word comes from theGaelic,FFUG, deception.Fuggies, hot rolls.—School.Full against, opposed to. As, “I’mFULL AGAINSThim,” I decidedly object to, or dislike him, or I am opposed to him. The term originated with the bookmakers; who, when they have laid all their money against a certain horse, put a mark against his name, and reply to all inquiries, “FULL AGAINSThim.” This grew to “FULL AGAINSThis winning,” and was thus taken, when shortened, to express feeling the reverse of friendly.Fullams, false dice, which always turn up high.—Shakspeare.Full blast, a term evidently borrowed from the technology of the engine-room, and now frequently used to express the heyday or apogee of anything. As, “By the middle of the day matters were inFULL BLAST, and proceedings generally were very satisfactory.”Full feather, good condition, high spirits. Also any one gaily dressed is said to be inFULL FEATHER.Full fig, full costume, male or female uniform or evening dress.Full of beans, arrogant, purseproud. A person whom sudden prosperity has made offensive and conceited, is said to be too “FULL OF BEANS.” Originally stable slang.Fully, “to beFULLIED,” to be committed for trial. Term in general use among thieves. Possibly from the reports which, in the slang of the penny-a-liner, say “the prisoner wasFULLYcommitted for trial.” The magistrates often sayFULLYcommitted also, whatever that may mean.Funk, trepidation, nervousness, cowardice. ToFUNK, to be afraid or nervous.Funk, to smoke out, or terrify.Funking the cobbler, a bold schoolboy trick, performed with assafœtida and cotton stuffed into a hollow tube or cow’s horn. The cotton being lighted, the smoke is blown in through the keyhole of a door, or the crannies of a cobbler’s stall. A funny song, much in vogue some years back, gave all the agonies of a drunken cobbler, who believed the devil had come for him, with all sorts of accessories, till“He was told by a shoutThat ’twas only some boys who’d beenFUNKINGhim out.”Funny, a rowing boat with both ends pointed and out of the water.Funny-bone, the extremity of the elbow—or rather, the muscle which passes round it between the two bones, a blow on which causes painful tingling in the fingers. Facetiously derived, from its being the extremity of thehumerus(humorous).Fye-buck, a sixpence.—Nearly obsolete.
Face, credit at a public-house, impudence, confidence, brass; thus aBRAZEN-FACE. “To run one’sFACE,” is to obtain credit in a bounceable manner. “He’s got someFACE,”i.e., he has got lots of impudence.
Face entry, the entrée to a theatre. From theFACEbeing known, as distinguished from free-list entry.
Facer, a blow on the face. In Ireland, a dram.
Facer, a tumbler of whisky-punch. Possibly from the suffusion of blood to the face caused by it.
Fad, a hobby, a favourite pursuit.
Fadge, a farthing.
Fadge, a flat loaf.—North.
Fadge, to suit or fit; “it wontFADGE,” it will not do. Used by Shakspeare, but now heard only in the streets.
Fadger, a glazier’s frame. Otherwise called a “frail,” perhaps in reference to the fragile nature of its contents.
Fag, a schoolboy who performs a servant’s offices to a superior schoolmate. FromFAG, to become weary or tired out.Low German,FAKK, wearied.
Fag, to beat.
Faggot, a bundle of bits of the “stickings” (hence probably its name) sold for food to the London poor. It is sometimes called a duck. In appearance it resembles a Scotch “haggis,” without, however, being nearly so good as that fragrant article. Probably theFAG-ENDof a thing, the inferior or remaining part, the refuse.
Faggot, a term of opprobrium used by low people to children and women; “you littleFAGGOT, you!”Faggotwas originally a term of contempt for a dry shrivelled old woman, whose bones were like a bundle of sticks, only fit to burn.—Compare the French expression for a heretic,sentir le fagot.
Faggot briefs, bundles of worthless papers tied up with red tape, carried by unemployed barristers in the back rows of the courts to simulate briefs.
Faggot vote, a phrase which belongs to the slang of politics, and which was applied to a class of votes, by no means extinct even now, though not so common as in the days preceding the first Reform Bill, when constituencies were smaller, and individual votes were consequently more valuable.Faggot voteswere thus created:—A large landowner who was blessed with, say, seven sons and seven brothers, and had also on his estate fourteen labourers’ cottages worth about a shilling a week each, would go through the form of sale of one cottage to each son and each brother, it being perfectly understood that the title-deeds would be returned when the occasion for their use was at an end. And thus the squire would command fifteen votes instead of one. In a famous election for the West Riding of Yorkshire during the third decade of the present century, which cost upwards of half a million sterling, and ruined the successful candidate, it was said that six hundredFAGGOT VOTESwere created by three noble lords. The origin of the term has been variously explained. One ingenious writer has suggested that as aFAGGOTmay be split into a bundle of sticks, so was one estate thus split into a bundle of votes. It is, however, more reasonable to suppose that it was derived from the old word “FAGGOT,” which was used to describe a “nominal soldier,” one, that is, whose name appeared on the muster-roll, and for whom the colonel drew pay, but who was never to be found in the ranks. The connexion is evident enough.
Fake, in the sporting world, means to hocus or poison. Fake is also a mixture supposed to be used for purposes of “making safe.”
Fake, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to make or construct; to steal or rob,—a verb variously used.Faked, done, or done for; “FAKEaway, there’s no down;” go on, there is nobody looking. From theLatinFACERE.
Fakement, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or deception.Fakementis a word of most general application among the lower classes. Any things strange, and most things not strange, are calledFAKEMENTS, particularly if there is anything peculiar or artistic in their production.
Fakement Charley, the owner’s private mark.Faker, is one who makes orFAKESanything. To “fake a cly,” is to pick a pocket.
Fal-lals, trumpery ornaments, gewgaws. Forby suggests as a derivation theLatinPHALERÆ, horse trappings.
Fambles, orFAMMS, the hands.—Ancient Cant.German,FANGEN.
Family men, orPEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.
Fan, a waistcoat.—Houndsditch term.
Fancy, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, the ton of low life. Pugilists are sometimes termed theFANCY. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a favourite or pet; and the paramour of a prostitute is still called herFANCY MAN.
Fancy bloak, a fancy or sporting man.
Fanning, a beating.Fanningis also stealing;CROSS-FANNINGis stealing with the arms crossed so as to distract attention, as in stealing breast-pins, &c.
Fanqui, a European, literally foreign devil.—Anglo-Chinese.
Fantail, a dustman’s or coalheaver’s hat. So called from the shape.
Farm, to contract, after the manner of those who engage to feed and lodge children belonging to the parish, at so much a head; a fruitful cause of starvation and misery.SeeOliver Twist.The baby farmings, unconnected with the parishes in which they occurred, which ultimately resulted in the trial and execution of Margaret Waters, on the 11th October, 1870, have caused the wordFARMas applied to any dealings with children, parish or private, to be one of obloquy and reproach.
Farmer.In Suffolk this term is applied to the eldest son of the occupier of the farm. In London it is used derisively of a countryman, and denotes a farm-labourer or clodpole. Both senses are different from the proper meaning.
Fast, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago.Quickis the synonym forFAST, but aQUICK MANwould not convey the meaning of aFAST MAN,—a person who, by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out. In polite society aFASTyoung lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talksslang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a fast young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horseflesh. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; theyarea rum lot, as the devil said of the ten commandments.” Charles Dickens once said that “fast,” when applied to a young man, was only another word for loose, as he understood the term; and a fast girl has been defined as a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect.
Fast, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Sometimes synonymous with “hard up.”—Yorkshire.
Fast and loose, to playFAST AND LOOSEwith a man, is to treat him as a fast friend in the days while he is useful, and to cast him loose when he is no longer necessary; also, to equivocate or vacillate. In old days it was the name of a vulgar pastime.SeePRICK THE GARTER.
Fat, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called “grease,” and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.
Fat, rich, abundant, &c.; “aFATlot;” “to cut itFAT,” to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance; “cut upFAT,” see underCUT. As a theatrical term, a part with plenty ofFATin it is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective display.
Father, orFENCE, a buyer of stolen property.
Favourite, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the betting list. When theFAVOURITEwins, the public or backers of horses generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to say, the persons who make a business of laying against the chances of horses, are the gainers.
Fawney, a finger ring.Irish,FAINEE, a ring.
Fawney bouncing, selling rings for a pretended wager. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he were to offer “real gold sovereigns” at a penny a-piece at the foot of London Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a tea-tray, and sold only two within the hour, thus winning the bet. This tale theFAWNEY BOUNCERStell the public, only offering brass, double-gilt rings, instead of sovereigns.
Fawney rig, the ring-dropping trick. A few years ago this practice was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-bookwith some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The sharper says, “If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, the things are yours.” This the “flat” thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late. For another way of doing this trick,seeRING-DROPPING.
Feathers, money, wealth; “in fullFEATHER,” rich.Feathersis also a term applied to dress; “in fullFEATHER,” means very often in full costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.
Feed, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty general.
Feele, a daughter, or child.—CorruptedFrench.
Fellow-commoner, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle.
Felt, a hat.—Old term, in use in the sixteenth century.
Fence, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or warehouse of aFENCER.—Old Cant.
Fen-nightingales, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at night.
Feringee, a European—that is, a Frank.—Anglo-Indian.
Ferricadouzer, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through theLingua Franca, from theItalian, “far’ cader’ douser,” to knock down. “Far’ cader’ morto,” is to knock down dead.
Few, used to signify the reverse, thus:—“Don’t you call this considerably jolly?” “I believe you, my bo-o-oy,A FEW.” Sometimes the reply is, “just aFEW.” Another expression of the same kind isRATHER, whichsee.
Fib, to beat or strike.—Old Cant.
Fib, to lie, to romance.
Fibbing, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance.—Pugilistic.
Fiddle, a sharper, “a street mugger.” In America, a swindle or an imposture.
Fiddle, “to play secondFIDDLE,” to act subordinately, or follow the lead of another. From the orchestral practice.
Fiddle-face, a person with a wizened countenance.
Fiddle-faddle, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—Old Cant.
Fiddler, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers theFIDDLERis the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The termFIDDLERis easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.
Fiddler, a sixpence. Fiddler’s money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.
Fiddler, orFADGE, a farthing.
Fiddlers’ green, the place where sailors expect to go when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the “Land of Cocaigne,” mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he (the sailor) was going after death. “To hell, of course,” replied the preacher. “No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!” shouted the seaman, knocking the itinerant down; “I’m going toFIDDLER’S GREEN; and if you say I’m not, I’ll throttle you.” Under compulsion, the preacher admitted the existence ofFIDDLER’S GREEN,pro tempore.
Fiddles, transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use ofFIDDLES.
Fiddle-sticks!an exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes “Fiddle-de-dee.”
Fiddling, doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes,FIDDLINGmeans idling away time, or trifling, and amongst sharpers it means gambling.
Fid-fad, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.
Field, the whole of the runners in a race of any kind. “AFIELDof fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter.” In betting phraseology theFIELDrepresents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. “TheFIELDfor a pony,” means that the offerer will lay 25l.against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others. “Ten to one on theFIELD,” means that the price named can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the lowest figure or favourite’s price. Laying against favourites is calledFIELDING, and bookmakers are often known asFIELDERS.
Field, “to look out,” at cricket. In the outings of an eleven theFIELDERSare those who stand away from the wickets with a view to checking the progress of the ball.Fieldingis a great essential to cricket, and to be “a goodFIELD” is no slight honour. Also to lay against favourites in the betting.
Field-lane duck, a baked sheep’s head. Field Lane was a low London thoroughfare leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs. Holborn Viaduct improved all but a small portion of Field Lane off the face of the earth. There is but the smallest vestige of this famous (or infamous) thoroughfare left. The neighbourhood has received an upheaval within the past few years, and from one end the pedestrian must descend to the remains of Field Lane by means of a flight of steps.
Fieri-facias.A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served with a writ ofFIERI-FACIAS.
Fi-fa, a writ of Fieri-Facias.—Legal.
Fi-fi, Thackeray’s term for Paul de Kock’s novels, and similar modern French literature.
Fig, “in fullFIG,”i.e., full-dress costume, “extensively got up.” Possibly an allusion to the dress assumed by our first parents after they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation of figure, in the references to plates in books of fashions.
Fig, “toFIGa horse,” to play improper tricks with one in order to make him lively. TheFIGis a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.
Figaro, a barber; fromLe Nozze di Figaro.
Fig-leaf, a small apron worn by ladies.
Figure, “to cut a good or badFIGURE,” to make good or indifferent appearance; “what’s theFIGURE?” how much is to pay?Figure-head, a person’s face.—Sea term.
Filch, to steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from theFILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows.—VideDecker. It was considered a cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has “FYLCHE, to robbe.” Probably from “FILICHI,” Romany for a handkerchief.
File, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when toFILEwas to cheat or rob.File, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like biting aFILE.
Filibuster, an American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and receives high honours, but who remains aFILIBUSTER, and is despised as such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were of aFILIBUSTERINGorder.
Fillibrush, to flatter, praise ironically.
Fimble-famble, a lame, prevaricating excuse.—Scandinavian.
Fin, a hand; “come, tip us yourFIN,” viz., let us shake hands.—Sea.
Finder, one whoFINDSbacon and meat at the market before they are lost,i.e., steals them.
Finnuf, a five-pound note.Double finnuf, a ten-pound note.—German,FUNF, five.
Fire-eater, a quarrelsome man, a braggadocio or turbulent person who is always ready to fight.
Firkytoodle, to cuddle or fondle.
First flight, the first lot to finish in a foot or horse race, in a fox hunt, &c.
Fish, a person; “a queerFISH,” “a looseFISH.” Term never used except in doubtful cases, as those quoted.
Fishfag, originally a Billingsgate fishwife; now any scolding, vixenish, foul-mouthed woman.
Fishy, doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a “screwbeing loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in referring to any proposed speculation.
Fit, an Americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight. A Yankee once came upon the wordsnihil fit, and he immediately wrote off to the editor of the paper to which he subscribed to know “Who was Nihil, who he fit, what amount he fit for, and if he won.”
Five fingers, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don.
Fives, “bunch ofFIVES,” the fist.
Fix, a predicament, or dilemma; “an awfulFIX,” a terrible position; “toFIXone’s flint for him,”i.e., to “settle his hash,” to “put a spoke in his wheel.”
Fixings, an Americanism, equivalent to our word “trimmings,” whichsee.
Fiz, champagne; any sparkling wine.
Fizzing, first-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with “stunning.”
Flabbergast, orFlabberghast, to astonish, or strike with wonder; literally, to strike aghast.—Old.
Flag, a groat, or 4d.—Ancient Cant.
Flag, an apron. People who wear their aprons when not at work, are called “flag-flashers.”
Flag of distress, any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person’s shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.
Flam, nonsense, blarney, a lie, humbug. “A regularFLAM,” a tale devoid of truth.
Flame, a sweetheart.
Flannel, orHOT FLANNEL, the old term for gin and beer, drunk hot, with nutmeg, sugar, &c.; a play on the old name “lambswool.” Also called “flip.” There is an anecdote told of Goldsmith helping to drink a quart ofFLANNELin a night-house, in company with George Parker, Ned Shuter, and a demure, grave-looking gentleman, who continually introduced the words “crap,” “stretch,” “scrag,” and “swing.” Upon the Doctor asking who this strange person might be, and being told his profession, he rushed from the place in a frenzy, exclaiming, “Good God! and have I been sitting all this while with a hangman!”
Flap, lead used for the coverings of roofs.
Flapper, orFLIPPER, the hand.
Flare up, a jovial social gathering, a “breakdown,” a “row.”
Flash, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person is said to be dressedFLASHwhen his garb is showy, and after a fashion, but without taste. A person is said to beFLASHwhen he apes the appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be superior to his friends and relations.Flashalso means “fast,” roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive—and this, perhaps, is its general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to be—anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. “Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classicallanguage of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’s Greek.”—Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termedFLASHin the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of “The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of flash words.” “Flash” is sometimes exchangeable with “fancy.”“MyFLASHman’s in quod,And I’m the gal that’s willin,So I’ll turn out to-night,And earn an honest shillin’.“Tooral, looral la,What are wealth’s possessions?Bless the man we love,And blow the b—— Sessions.”—Lyra Flagitiosa.
Flash, showy, smart, knowing; a word with various meanings. A person is said to be dressedFLASHwhen his garb is showy, and after a fashion, but without taste. A person is said to beFLASHwhen he apes the appearance or manners of his betters, or when he is trying to be superior to his friends and relations.Flashalso means “fast,” roguish, and sometimes infers counterfeit or deceptive—and this, perhaps, is its general signification. As it is used by those who best understand it nowadays, the word means that which is not what it appears to be—anything spurious, as jewellery and shoddy clothes. “Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is the classicallanguage of the Holy Land; in other words, St. Giles’s Greek.”—Tom and Jerry, by Moncreiff. Vulgar language was first termedFLASHin the year 1718, by Hitchin, author of “The Regulator of Thieves, &c., with account of flash words.” “Flash” is sometimes exchangeable with “fancy.”
“MyFLASHman’s in quod,And I’m the gal that’s willin,So I’ll turn out to-night,And earn an honest shillin’.“Tooral, looral la,What are wealth’s possessions?Bless the man we love,And blow the b—— Sessions.”—Lyra Flagitiosa.
“MyFLASHman’s in quod,And I’m the gal that’s willin,So I’ll turn out to-night,And earn an honest shillin’.
“Tooral, looral la,What are wealth’s possessions?Bless the man we love,And blow the b—— Sessions.”—Lyra Flagitiosa.
Flash it, show it—said when any bargain is offered.
Flash o’ lightning, the gold band on an officer’s cap.—Sea.Also in street slang, a glass of gin.
Flat, a fool, a silly or “soft” person; the opposite of “sharp.” The terms appear to be shortenings for “sharp-witted” and “flat-witted.” Or, maybe, from musical notes.
Flat-feet, the battalion companies in the Foot Guards.
Flats, playing cards; sometimes called “broads.” Also the storeys of large houses, built on the “independent” principle, each flat having its separate and peculiar offices, street-door, &c.
Flatty, a rustic, or uninitiated person.
Flatty-ken, a public-house the landlord of which is ignorant of the practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it.
Flay the fox, to vomit. Now replaced by the more popular “shoot the cat.”
Flemish account.—Old.Still used by sailors for a tangled and unsatisfactory account or reckoning.
Flesh and blood, brandy and port in equal quantities.
Flesh bag, a shirt. American humourists call a white shirt a “clean biled rag.” In the mining camps, and rough parts generally, a white shirt is called a “biled shirt” to distinguish it from the usual woollen garment, which cannot be boiled.
Flick, orOLD FLICK, a comical old chap or fellow. Term of endearment among low people.
Flick, orFLIG, to whip by striking, and drawing the lash back at the same time, which causes a stinging blow. A flicking is often administered by schoolboys with a damp towel or pocket-handkerchief.
Flies, trickery, nonsense. “There are noFLIESabout me, sir.” Softening of lies.
Flim-flamn, idle story.—Beaumont and Fletcher.
Flimp, to hustle, or rob.
Flimsy, a bank-note. Bank of Elegance notes are sometimes called soft flimsies. In this particular case two good terms make a bad one, as both “soft” and “flimsies” used separately refer to good notes.
Flimsy, the thin prepared copying-paper used by newspaper reporters and “penny-a-liners” for making several copies at once, which enables them to supply different papers with the same article without loss of time.
Flint, an operative who works for a “society” master,i.e., for full wages.
Flip, corruption ofFILLIP, a light blow. Also a hot drink.SeeFLANNEL.
Flip-flap, a peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the “double-shuffle” danced with an air of extremeabandon. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.
Flipper, the hand; “give us yourFLIPPER,” give me your hand.—Sea.Metaphor taken from the flipper or paddle of a turtle.
Floater, a small suet dumpling put into soup.—Whitechapel.
Floating academy, the hulks.
Flog, to whip. Cited both by Grose and the author ofBacchus and Venusas a cant word. Many efforts have been made to ascertain the earliest use; Richardson cites Lord Chesterfield. FromFlagellum. “Flawged,” for whipped, occurs in “The Presbyterian Lash, or Nockhoff’s Maid Whipt,” published in 1663. Nockhoff was the anagram for the name of the Rev. Zachary Crofton, who had scandalized the town by subjecting his servant-maid to the discipline of the nursery. There is a good story on the proper orthography of the convertible term for castigation related in a newspaper of 1841. A county magistrate, who had sentenced a boy to be birched, wrote in his warrant that the boy was to be “floged.” The scrupulous gaoler hesitated to inflict the punishment, and sent back the warrant to the justice for amendment, who thereupon drew his pen through “floged,” and ordered the boy to be “wiped.”
Flogger, a whip.—Almost obsolete.Floggeris still the term applied to a number of strips of cloth attached to a handle, and used in theatrical painting rooms to beat off the dust of the charcoal used in sketching a scene.
Flogster, one addicted to flogging. William IV., who was accused of unduly and excessively punishing the sailors whom he commanded when in the navy, was nicknamed in the newspapers “Prince William HenryFlogster.”
Floor, to knock down.—Pugilistic.
Floored, when a picture is hung on the lowest row at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, it is, in artistic slang, said to beFLOORED, in contradistinction to “skyed,” whichsee.
Floorer, a blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.
Flop, to plump; “to goFLOPdown,” to fall suddenly, with violence and noise.
Flowery, lodging, or house entertainment; “square the omee for theFLOWERY,” pay the master for the lodging.—Lingua Franca.
Flue-faker, a chimney-sweep.
Fluff it, a term of disapprobation, implying “take it away, I don’t want it.”
Fluff, railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called “fluffings,” and the practice is known as “fluffing.”
Fluke, at billiards, playing for one thing and getting another. Hence, generally what one gets accidentally, as an unexpected advantage, “more by luck than judgment.”
Flummery, flattery, gammon, genteel nonsense. In American ships a peculiar kind of light sweet pudding.
Flummux, to perplex or hinder.
Flummuxed, done up, sure of a month in quod, or prison. In mendicant freemasonry, the sign chalked by rogues and tramps upon a gate-post or house corner, to express to succeeding vagabonds that it is unsafe for them to call there, is known ascircle with dot, orFLUMMUXED, which signifies that the only thing they would be likely to get upon applying for relief would be a “month in quod.”—SeeQUOD.
Flunkey, a footman or other man-servant.
Flunkeyism, blind worship of rank, birth, or riches, or of all three; toadyism.
Flush, the opposite of “hard up,” in possession of money, not poverty-stricken.—Shakspeare.
Flush, to whip; “FLUSHEDon the horse,” to be privately whipped in gaol; to deluge with water, as in “FLUSHINGthe sewers;” to come upon suddenly and completely,—“I cameFLUSHupon him.”
Flush, a term in cribbage, signifying a hand of cards composed entirely of one suit.
Flutter, to try hard in defence or pursuit of an object. “I’ll have aFLUTTERfor it,” means I’ll have a good try for it. Also to toss for anything. Probably from the spinning of the coin.
Fly, knowing, wide-awake, fully understanding another’s meaning.
Fly,TO BE ON THE, to be out for a day’s drink or pleasure.
Fly, to lift, toss, or raise; “FLYthe mags,”i.e., toss up the halfpence; “toFLYa window,”i.e., to lift one for the purpose of stealing.
Fly-boys, men employed to clear the printed copies from the Hoe machines, on which daily papers are “worked.” So called to distinguish them from the “machine boys,” a superior grade of labourers who “lay on” the sheets.
Flying mare, a throw in wrestling.
Flying mess, “to be inFLYING MESS” is a soldier’s phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.
Flying stationer, a paper-worker, hawker of penny ballads; “Printed for the Flying Stationers” is theimprimaturon hundreds of penny histories and sheet songs of the last and present centuries.
Flymy, knowing, cunning, roguish.—Seven Dials and Low Life.
Fly the kite, orRAISE THE WIND, to obtain money on bills, whether good or bad, probably in allusion to tossing paper about as children do kites.
Fly the kite, to evacuate from a window,—term used in padding-kens, or low lodging-houses.
Fobbed, old slang for robbed. FromFOB, the ancient breeches-pocket for the watch.
Fogey, orOLD FOGEY, a dullard, an old-fashioned or singular person. Grose says it is a nickname for an invalid soldier, from the Frenchfougueux, fierce or fiery, but it has lost this signification now.
Fogger, old word for a huckster.
Fogger, a farm servant who feeds cattle. Probably a corruption of fodderer.
Foggy, tipsy.
Fogle, a silk handkerchief,—not a clout, which is of cotton. It has been hinted that this may have come from the GermanVogel, a bird, from the bird’s-eye spots on some handkerchiefs, but a more probable derivation is the Italian slang (Fourbesque),FOGLIA, a pocket, or purse; or from the French Argot,FOUILLE, also a pocket.
Fogus, tobacco.—Ancient Cant.Fogo, old word for stench.
Follow-me-lads, curls hanging over a lady’s shoulder.
Foont, a sovereign, or 20s.Probably a corruption of vingt.
Footing, “to payFOOTING.”SeeSHOE.
Forakers, the closet of decency, or house of office. Term used by the boys at Winchester School. Very likely from “four acres,” the original necessary having been in all likelihood a field behind the school.
Force the voucher, a term in use among sporting tricksters, who advertise to send certain winners, and on receipt of letters enclose vouchers similar to those sent out by respectable commission agents, but with double or treble the current odds marked thereon, in reference to the horse named. A plausible letter is sent with the voucher, and the victim is informed that on account of early investments made by the firm, which has of course a high-sounding title, the extra odds can be laid by them, and a remittance to the amount named, or part of it, is requested. Of course the firm “dries up” when claims become heavy, and, with a new name and new address, appears in the next week’s advertising columns.Forcing the voucherwas a fine game when it was first started, but it was soon overdone, as it required no particular ingenuity, and offered special immunities, theft of this kind being rather favoured than otherwise by the authorities. Certainly the law that punishes honest betting men seems powerless with regard to these plunderers, otherwise we should hardly be treated as often as we are to the spectacle of one man being fined for honest dealing, while another escapes simply because he is not a betting man, but a welcher.
Fork out, to bring out one’s money, to pay the bill, to “stand for” or treat a friend; to hand over what does not belong to you—old cantterm for picking pockets, and very curious in its origin. In the early part of the last century, a little book was published on purloining, and of course it had to give the latest modes.Forkingwas the newest mode, and it consisted in thrusting the fingers stiff and open into the pocket, and then quickly closing them and extracting any article thus caught.
Forks, orGRAPPLING-IRONS, fingers. Costermongers and other clumsy feeders have a proverb which seems to justify their taking bones and choice morsels in their hands during the progress of a meal. It is, “Fingers were the firstFORKS;” sometimes varied to “Fingers were made beforeFORKS.”
Form, condition, training. “In goodFORM” or “in badFORM” refers to a man’s or horse’s state of being in the sporting world.Formhas also had a moral significance of late years, and with the qualifying adjectives attached as occasion requires, is extensively used in general conversation. As, “It was badFORMof Brown to do that.” “That article was badFORM.” In the latter cases the word “in” rarely appears.
Forty foot, a derisive appellation for a very short person.
Forty guts, vulgar term for a fat man.
Forty-twa, the common place of retirement on a well-known French plan at Edinburgh, so called from its accommodating that number of persons at once.
Forty winks, a short sleep or nap.
Fou, rather more than slightly intoxicated.—Scotch.“We are na’FOU, we are na’FOU.”
Fou, rather more than slightly intoxicated.—Scotch.
“We are na’FOU, we are na’FOU.”
“We are na’FOU, we are na’FOU.”
Foul, to jostle or bore unfairly in a race.SeeBORE. To touch any foreign substance during a race—particularly a boat-race—is toFOULit.
Foul, a touch, no matter how slight, of bodies or machinery in a race of any kind.Foulsin boat-racing are often inevitable, and are not always the result of boring or any other malicious practice.
Foul riding, riding which after a horse-race is made the subject of complaint, such as refusing to let a competitor pass, boring him against the rails, &c. Some jockeys are great adepts at this work, and are invaluable to a confederacy as a means, not so much of attaining victory themselves, as of preventing its attainment in others. Of course unless proof of jostling can be given, or evidence of malicious intent shown, jockeyship of this kind is not considered foul riding.
Four-and-nine, orFOUR-AND-NINEPENNY GOSS, a cheap hat, so called from 4s.9d., the price at which a once noted advertising hat-maker sold his hats—“Whene’er to slumber you incline,Take a short nap at 4 and 9.”
Four-and-nine, orFOUR-AND-NINEPENNY GOSS, a cheap hat, so called from 4s.9d., the price at which a once noted advertising hat-maker sold his hats—
“Whene’er to slumber you incline,Take a short nap at 4 and 9.”
“Whene’er to slumber you incline,Take a short nap at 4 and 9.”
Four-eyes, a man or woman who habitually wears spectacles.
Four kings,HISTORY OF THE, an old name for a pack of playing cards.SeeSir Thomas Urquhart’sTranslation of Rabelais. InArgot,LIVRE DES QUATRE ROIS.
Fourth, orFOURTH COURT, the court appropriated to the waterclosets at Cambridge; from its really being No. 4 at Trinity College. A man leaving his room to go to theFOURTH COURT, writes on his door, in algebraic notation,GONE4, which expresses the Cambridge slang phrase, “gone to theFOURTH.”
Fourth estate, the complete body of journalists of all descriptions. This term is much in use among “liners.”
Fox, to cheat or rob.—Eton College.In London to watch closely and narrowly.
Foxed, a term used by print and book collectors to denote the brown spotted appearance produced by damp on paper.
Foxing, when one actor criticises another’s performance.—Theatrical.Also in street slangFOXINGmeans watching slyly.
Fox’s Sleep, orFOXING, a purposely assumed indifference to what is going on. A fox, as well as a weasel, is said to sleep with one eye open.
Foxy, rank, tainted, from the odour of the animal.—Lincolnshire.
Foxy, said also of a red-haired person.
Frapping, a beating.French,FRAPPER.
Free-and-easy, a club held at a low public-house, the members of which meet in the tap-room or parlour for the purpose of drinking, smoking, and hearing each other sing. These gatherings are generally called harmonic meetings by the landlord, butFREE-AND-EASYbest indicates the character of the proceedings.
Free fight, a fight conducted on the Irishman’s principle—“Sure, wherever you see a head, hit it.” The term is, however, American, so the practice may be considered fairly general.
Freeman’s quay, “drinking atFreeman’s Quay,”i.e., at another’s cost. This quay was formerly a celebrated wharf near London Bridge, and the saying arose from the beer which was given gratis to porters and carmen who went there on business.
French cream, brandy.
French gout, a certain disease, which is also known as “ladies’ fever.”
French leave,TO TAKE, to leave or depart slyly, without saying anything; or obtaining permission.
Fresh, said of a person slightly intoxicated.
Freshman, a University man during his first year. The official appellation for the students until they have passed the Previous or First Cambridge Examination, otherwise called theSmallsorLittle Go, is Junior Sophs or Sophisters. After this they are Senior Sophs until their last term, when they are Questionists, or preparing “ad respondendum quæstioni.” At Oxford the titleFRESHMANlasts for the first term.
Friday-face, a gloomy-looking man. Most likely fromFridaybeing a day of meagre fare among Catholics and High Church Protestants.
Frisk, to search;FRISKED, searched by a constable or other officer.
Frisk a cly, to empty a pocket.
Frog, a policeman. Because, by a popular delusion, he is supposed to pounce suddenly on delinquents.
Frog’s march, the manner in which four or more policemen carry a drunken or turbulent man to the station-house. The victim is held face downwards, one constable being at each shoulder, while the others hold on above the knees. Often there is another active and intelligent officer who beats time to the march on the recalcitrant hero’s posteriors.
Frontispiece, the face.
Frow, a girl, or wife.German,FRAU;Dutch,VROUW.
Frummagemmed, annihilated, strangled, garrotted, or spoilt.—Old Cant.
Frump, a slatternly woman, a gossip.—Ancient.In modern slang it is the feminine ofFOGEY, and means a prim old lady, who is generally termed “a regular oldFRUMP.”
Frump, to mock or insult.—Beaumont and Fletcher.
F sharps, fleas. CompareB flats.
Fudge, nonsense, stupidity. Todd and Richardson only trace the word to Goldsmith. Disraeli, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, a great fibber, who told monstrous stories, which made his crew say in answer to any improbability, “YouFUDGEit!”—See Remarks on the Navy, 1700. At page 87 of a collection of some papers of William Crouch (8vo, 1712), the Quaker, we find a mention of this Captain. Degory Marshall informed Crouch that—“In the year 1664 we were sentenced for banishment to Jamaica by Judges Hyde and Twisden, and our number was 55. We were put on board the ship Black Eagle; the master’s name wasFudge, by some calledLying Fudge.”Some persons believe that the word comes from theGaelic,FFUG, deception.
Fudge, nonsense, stupidity. Todd and Richardson only trace the word to Goldsmith. Disraeli, however, gives the origin to a Captain Fudge, a great fibber, who told monstrous stories, which made his crew say in answer to any improbability, “YouFUDGEit!”—See Remarks on the Navy, 1700. At page 87 of a collection of some papers of William Crouch (8vo, 1712), the Quaker, we find a mention of this Captain. Degory Marshall informed Crouch that—
“In the year 1664 we were sentenced for banishment to Jamaica by Judges Hyde and Twisden, and our number was 55. We were put on board the ship Black Eagle; the master’s name wasFudge, by some calledLying Fudge.”
“In the year 1664 we were sentenced for banishment to Jamaica by Judges Hyde and Twisden, and our number was 55. We were put on board the ship Black Eagle; the master’s name wasFudge, by some calledLying Fudge.”
Some persons believe that the word comes from theGaelic,FFUG, deception.
Fuggies, hot rolls.—School.
Full against, opposed to. As, “I’mFULL AGAINSThim,” I decidedly object to, or dislike him, or I am opposed to him. The term originated with the bookmakers; who, when they have laid all their money against a certain horse, put a mark against his name, and reply to all inquiries, “FULL AGAINSThim.” This grew to “FULL AGAINSThis winning,” and was thus taken, when shortened, to express feeling the reverse of friendly.
Fullams, false dice, which always turn up high.—Shakspeare.
Full blast, a term evidently borrowed from the technology of the engine-room, and now frequently used to express the heyday or apogee of anything. As, “By the middle of the day matters were inFULL BLAST, and proceedings generally were very satisfactory.”
Full feather, good condition, high spirits. Also any one gaily dressed is said to be inFULL FEATHER.
Full fig, full costume, male or female uniform or evening dress.
Full of beans, arrogant, purseproud. A person whom sudden prosperity has made offensive and conceited, is said to be too “FULL OF BEANS.” Originally stable slang.
Fully, “to beFULLIED,” to be committed for trial. Term in general use among thieves. Possibly from the reports which, in the slang of the penny-a-liner, say “the prisoner wasFULLYcommitted for trial.” The magistrates often sayFULLYcommitted also, whatever that may mean.
Funk, trepidation, nervousness, cowardice. ToFUNK, to be afraid or nervous.
Funk, to smoke out, or terrify.
Funking the cobbler, a bold schoolboy trick, performed with assafœtida and cotton stuffed into a hollow tube or cow’s horn. The cotton being lighted, the smoke is blown in through the keyhole of a door, or the crannies of a cobbler’s stall. A funny song, much in vogue some years back, gave all the agonies of a drunken cobbler, who believed the devil had come for him, with all sorts of accessories, till“He was told by a shoutThat ’twas only some boys who’d beenFUNKINGhim out.”
Funking the cobbler, a bold schoolboy trick, performed with assafœtida and cotton stuffed into a hollow tube or cow’s horn. The cotton being lighted, the smoke is blown in through the keyhole of a door, or the crannies of a cobbler’s stall. A funny song, much in vogue some years back, gave all the agonies of a drunken cobbler, who believed the devil had come for him, with all sorts of accessories, till
“He was told by a shoutThat ’twas only some boys who’d beenFUNKINGhim out.”
“He was told by a shoutThat ’twas only some boys who’d beenFUNKINGhim out.”
Funny, a rowing boat with both ends pointed and out of the water.
Funny-bone, the extremity of the elbow—or rather, the muscle which passes round it between the two bones, a blow on which causes painful tingling in the fingers. Facetiously derived, from its being the extremity of thehumerus(humorous).
Fye-buck, a sixpence.—Nearly obsolete.