La!a euphuistic rendering ofLORD! common amongst females and very precise persons; imagined by many to be a corruption ofLOOK! but this is a mistake. Sometimes pronouncedLAW, orLAWKS.Lac, one hundred thousand.—Anglo-Indian.Laced, strengthened with ardent spirits. Tea or coffee in which brandy is poured is said to beLACED.Lacing, a beating. From the phrase, “I’ll lace your jacket.”—L’Estrange.Perhaps to give a beating with a lace or lash. Perhaps, also, a figurative phrase for ornamenting the article in question with stripes.Ladder, “can’t see a hole in aLADDER,” said of any one who is intoxicated. It was once said that a man was never properly drunk until he could not lie down without holding, could not see a hole through aLADDER, or went to the pump to light his pipe.Ladies’ mile, that part of Hyde Park where the feminine beauty, rank, and fashion most do congregate during the airing hours of the London season.Lag, a returned transport, or ticket-of-leave convict.Lag, to void urine.—Ancient Cant.In modern slang to transport, as regards bearing witness, and not in reference to the action of judge or jury.Lagged, imprisoned, apprehended, or transported for a crime. From the Old Norse,LAGDA, “laid,”—laid by the leg.Lagger, a sailor. Also, one who gives evidence; an informer.Lagging gage, a chamber-pot.—Ancient Cant.Lambasting, a beating. PerhapsLUMB-BASTING, from the lumbar-regions.Lamb’s wool, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems began:—Antiquum et vetus est{Ale Æn Nasalienas}dicere laudes.Oxford University.Lamb’s woolis also a hot drink, well known to the community for centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.Lame duck, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and cannot pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to “waddle out of the Alley.”Lamming, a beating.—Old English,LAM; used by Beaumont and Fletcher. Not as Sir Walter Scott supposed, from one Dr. Lamb, but from theOld Norse,LAM, the hand; also,Gaelic.Lammy, a blanket.Land-lubber, sea term for “a landsman.”SeeLOAFER.Land-shark, a sailor’s definition of a lawyer.Lane, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden Theatre is constantly spoken of as “the Garden.”Lap, liquor, drink.Lapis the term invariably used in the ballet girls’ dressing-room for gin.Lap, one circuit of a pedestrian enclosure. In running a race of any distance one man is said toLAPanother when he is one entire circuit in front.Lap.Lap the gutter, to get beastly and helplessly drunk.Lapmeans to drink.Lap the gatter, to drink up the beer; a “rareLAPPER,” a hard drinker.Lark, a frolic, a joke; “let’s have a jolly goodLARK,” let us have a piece of fun.—Anglo-Saxon,LAC, sport; but more probably from the nautical termSKYLARKING,i.e., mounting to the highest yards and sliding down the ropes for amusement, which is allowed on certain occasions.Lark, to sport boisterously, to show a disposition for “going on the spree.”Larrence, an imaginary being, supposed by the Scottish peasantry to have power over indolent persons. Hence laziness is often calledLARRENCE.Larrup, to beat or thrash.Larruping, a good beating or hiding.—Irish.Lashins, large quantities; as, “LASHINSof whisky.” An Irishism in common use.Latchpan, the lower lip—properly a dripping-pan; “to hang one’sLATCHPAN,” to pout, be sulky.—Norfolk.Lavender, “to be laid up inLAVENDER;” to be in pawn; to be out of the way for an especial purpose. From the practice among housewives of placingLAVENDERin drawers in which linen and clothes are to be kept for any period.Law, “to giveLAWto an animal” is a sporting term signifying to give the hare or stag a chance of escaping, by not setting on the hounds till the quarry has run some distance. Also, used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a difficult undertaking by allowing him so much grace or preliminary notice.Lay, a pursuit or practice, a dodge. Term in this sense much used by thieves.Lay, in wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Betters are divided in racing slang into layers and takers; they are otherwise known as bookmakers and backers.Lay, some, a piece. “Tip me aLAYof pannum,”i.e., give me a slice of bread.—North.Lay, to watch; “on theLAY,” on the look-out.—Shakspeare.Lay down the knife and fork, to die. ComparePEGGING-OUT,HOPPING THE TWIG, and similar flippancies.Lead, orFRIENDLY LEAD, a gathering at a low public-house, for the purpose of assisting some one who is “in trouble” (in these cases trouble always means imprisonment), who has just “come out of trouble,” or who is in want of a “mouthpiece.” ALEADis different from a raffle, inasmuch as no article is put up or thrown for, but in the course of the evening some friend of the troubled oneLEADS OFFby putting a certain sum in a plate, and the remainder of the party follow theLEADwith whatever they can spare. Sometimes people pay as they enter the room, but this does not alter the title or character of the meeting. In every other respect aLEADis similar to a raffle; songs, dances, drinking, and a general desire to increase the bastardy averages being the most conspicuous features of the entertainment. IrishLEADSand raffles are characterized by less vice and more quarrelling than those of the lower orders of English people.Leary, flash, knowing, artful, sly.Leary bloke, a clever or artful person.Leather, to beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often calledLEATHER. Some think the term is from theLEATHERbelts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being “nothing likeLEATHER” with which to administer a thrashing.Leathern conveniency, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, “contrary to theancient testimonies,” said, “it is not a carriage I keep, but merely aLEATHERN-CONVENIENCY.”SeeunderSimon Pure, in the Introduction.Leaving shop, orDOLLY SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest.Led captain, a fashionable spunger, a “swell” who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favours of the master of the house, and lives at his table. Probably from the fact that a real captain leads, but that a sham one is led—to the dinner-table.Leer, empty.—Oxfordshire.PureGerman, as is nearly so the next word.Leer, print, newspaper.German,LEHREN, to instruct; henceOld English,LERE, “spelt in theLEER.”SeeSPELL.—Old Cant.Leg, a part of a game. In some old games there are so manyLEGSto the chalk, and so many chalks to the game. Sometimes theLEGSare called chalks, and the chalksLEGS—one word is as good as another, provided an agreement is made beforehand.Leg, orBLACKLEG, a disreputable sporting character and racecoursehabitué; that is, one who is disreputable among sporting men.Leg-and-leg, the state of a game when each player has won aLEG. In Ireland aLEGis termed a horse,LEG-AND-LEGbeing there termed “horse-and-horse.”Leg bail, the bail or security given by absence. To giveLEG BAILis to run away.Leg it, to run; “to give aLEG,” to assist, as when one mounts a horse; “making aLEG,” a countryman’s bow,—projecting theLEGfrom behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—Shakspeare.Leg-of-mutton, humorous street term for a sheep’s trotter, or foot.Leg of mutton fist, a large, muscular or bony hand.Length, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition.—Theatrical.Length, six months’ imprisonment.SeeSTRETCH.Let alone, an expression which signifies “much less” as used in comparative statement or argument. “I cannot afford five shillings,LET ALONEfive pounds.” Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart,Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONEa tart.”Let drive, to strike at, or attack with vigour.Let in, to cheat or victimize. “He let me in heavily.”Let on, to give an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject. Ramsay employs the phrase in theGentle Shepherd. Common in Scotland.Let the cat out, orLET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.Letty, a bed.Italian,LETTO.—Lingua Franca.Levanter, a card-sharper, or defaulting gambler. It was formerly the custom to give out to the creditors, when a person was in pecuniary difficulties, and it was convenient for him to keep away, that he wasgone to the East, or theLevant; hence, when one loses a bet, and decamps without settling, he is said toLEVANT. TheLevantwas also a notorious place for queer customers, who would do anything rather than pay. Its reputation is not particularly odorous even now.Levy, a shilling.—Liverpool.Among labourers aLEVYis a sum obtained before it is due, something to keep a man going till Saturday-night comes, or his task is finished.Liberty, ground let in parts of Yorkshire for shooting purposes.Lick, a blow;LICKING, a beating; “to put in bigLICKS,” a curious and common phrase, meaning that great exertions are being made.—Dryden;North.Lick, to excel, or overcome; “if you ain’t sharp, he’llLICKyou,”i.e., be finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or conquer.Ancient cant,LYCKE.Welsh,LLACHIO, to strike.Lickspittle, a coarse but singularly expressive term for a parasite, who puts up with indignities for the sake of advantages.Lifer, a convict who is sentenced to imprisonment for life.Lift, to steal, pick pockets; “there’s a clock beenLIFTED,” said when a watch has been stolen. The word is as old as the Border forays, and is used by Shakspeare.Shoplifteris a recognised term.Old Gothic,LLIFAN, to steal;Lower Rhenish,LÖFTEN.Lig, a lie, a falsehood.—Lancashire.In old ballads the word “lie” is often spelt “LIG.” In old Saxon,LIGis to lie, but to lie as in a bed.Light, credit, trust; “to get aLIGHTat a house” is to get credit. When a man’s credit is stopped, hisLIGHTis said to be put out.Lightalso means life. “I’ll put yourLIGHTout” is a murderous threat.Light Bob, a light infantry soldier.—Military.Light Feeder, a silver spoon.Lightning, gin; “flash o’LIGHTNING,” a glass of gin.Lights, a worthless piece of meat; applied metaphorically to a fool, a soft or stupid person.Lights, the eyes. Also, the lungs; animals’ lungs are always so called.Lil, a book, generally a pocket-book.—Gipsy.Lily Benjamin, a great white coat.SeeBenjamin.Limb, a troublesome or precocious child.Limb of the law, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession.Limbo, a prison, fromLIMBUSorLIMBUS PATRUM, a mediæval theological term for purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches thatLIMBOwas that part of hell where holy people who died before the Redemption were kept.Line, a hoax, a fool-trap; as, “to get him in aLINE,”i.e., to get some sport out of him.Line, calling, trade, profession; “whatLINEare you in?” “the buildingLINE.”Liner, a casual reporter, paid by the line. Diminutive of “penny-a-liner.”Lingo, talk, or language. Slang is termedLINGOamongst the lower orders.Italian,LINGUA.—Lingua Franca.Lint-scraper, a young surgeon. Thackeray, inLovel the Widower, uses the phrase, and gives, also, the words “Æsculapius,” “Pestle-grinder,” and “Vaccinator,” for the same character.Lionesses, ladies visiting an Oxford man, especially at “Commemoration,” which is the chief time for receiving feminine visitors at the University.Lion-hunter, one who hunts up, and has a devout veneration for, small celebrities. Mrs. Leo Hunter, inPickwick, is a splendid specimen of this unpleasant creature.Lionize, to make much of any visitor with small or moderate claims to distinction; to conduct a stranger round the principal objects of attraction in a place; to act as cicerone.Lions, notabilities, either persons or sights worthy of inspection; an expression dating from the times when the royal lions at the Tower, before the existence of Zoological Gardens and travelling menageries, were a London wonder, to visit which country cousins and strangers of eminence were constantly taken. Visitors taken round at Cambridge to see the sights are, or were, calledLIONS. The origin of the Tower collection was the three leopards sent by the Emperor Frederic to Henry III., as a living illustration of the royal arms of England. In the roll of John de Cravebeadell, constable of the Tower (B. M. Top. Collections, iii. p. 153), is a charge of 3d.per day “in support of the leopard of our lord the king.” Edward III., when Prince of Wales, appears to have taken great interest in the animals; and after he became king, there was not only the old leopard, but “one lion, one lioness, and two cat-lions,” says Stowe, “in the said Tower, committed to the custody of Robert, son of John Bowre.” The menagerie was only abolished in 1834; and the practice was to allow any person to enter gratis who brought with him a little dog to be thrown to the lions!—Dr. Doran’s Princes of Wales.Lip, talk, bounce, impudence; “come, none o’ yerLIP!”Lip, to sing; “LIPus a chant,” sing a song.Liquor, orLIQUOR UP, to drink drams.—Americanism.InLIQUOR, tipsy, or drunk.Little go, the old term for the examination now calledSMALLS.Little snakes-man, a little thief, who is generally passed through a small aperture to open a door and let in the rest of the gang.Liverpool Irishman, any man born in Liverpool of Irish parents. SeeIrish Cockney.Liverpudlian, a native of Liverpool.Live-stock, vermin of the insect kind, especially of that more than usually unpleasant kind found on tramps,&c.Loafer, a lazy vagabond. Generally considered an Americanism.Loper, orLOAFER, however, was in general use as a cant term in the early part of the last century.Landloperwas a vagabond who begged in the attire of a sailor; and the sea-phrase,LAND-LUBBER, was doubtless synonymous.Loaver, money.SeeLOUR.—Lingua Franca.Lob, a till, or money-drawer.Lob-sneaking, stealing money from tills; occasionally stealing tills and all.Lobb, the head.—Pugilistic.Loblolly, gruel.—Old: used by Markham as a sea-term for grit gruel, or hasty pudding.Loblolly boy, a derisive term for a surgeon’s mate in the navy.“Lob-lolly-boyis a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the business of a seaman as the author of this poem.”—The Patent, a Poem, 4to, 1776.Lobs!schoolboys’ signal on the master’s approach. Also, an assistant watcher, an under gamekeeper.Lobs, words, talk.—Gipsy.Lobscouse, a dish made of potatoes, meat, and biscuits, boiled together.Lobster, a soldier. A policeman, from the colour of his coat, is styled an unboiled, or rawLOBSTER.Lobster-box, a barrack, or military station.Loggerheads, “to come toLOGGERHEADS,” to come to blows.Logie, theatrical jewellery, made mostly of tin.Loll, to lie about lazily. “He wouldLOLLupon the handle of the door,” said of an incorrigibly lazy fellow.Lolly, the head.SeeLOBB.—Pugilistic.London ordinary, the beach at Brighton, where the “eight-hours-at-the-sea-side” excursionists dine in the open-air.Long-bow.SeeDRAW THE LONG BOW.Long firm, a gang of swindlers who obtain goods by false pretences. They generally advertise or answer advertisements. The wordLONGis supposed to be from a playful allusion made by one of the firm to the length of their credit.Long-ghost, a tall, thin, awkward person. Sometimes called “lamp-post.”Long-headed, far-seeing, clever, calculating.Long-hundred, a Billingsgate expression for 120 fresh herrings, or other small fish, the long-hundred being six score.Long-odds, the odds which denote that the man or animal laid against has, or is supposed to have, little or no chance.Long-shore butcher, a coast-guardsman.—Sea.All people who get their livings by the side of the Thames below bridge are calledLONG-SHOREfolk.Long-tailed beggar, a cat. The tale that hangs thereby runs thus:—A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother “what she called that ’ereLONG-TAILED BEGGAR?” Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, “But how, mate, about that ’ereLONG-TAILED BEGGAR?”Long-tailed-one, a bank-note or “flimsy” for a large amount.Long-tails, among shooters, are pheasants; among coursers and dog-fanciers they are greyhounds.Longs, the latrine at Brasenose, so called because built byLady Long.—Oxford University.Longs-and-shorts, cards made for cheating.Looking-glass, a facetious synonym for apot de chambre. This is very old. The term arose from the fact that in ancient times this utensil was the object of very frequent examination by the medical fraternity. There is an old story of a lady who called at an inn, and called for aLOOKING-GLASSto arrange her hair, and who was presented with a chamber utensil.Loony, a silly fellow, a natural. Corruption ofLOONEY TICK(lunatic). Sometimes corrupted toLOOBY.Loose.SeeON THE LOOSE.Loose-box, a brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of adame de compagnie. A more vulgar appellation is “mot-cart,” the contemptuous sobriquet applied by the envious mob to a one-horse covered carriage.Loose-box, a stable in which a horse is not tethered, but remains loose.Loot, swag or plunder; also used as a verb. The word came much into vogue during the latest Chinese campaign.Lope, this old form of leap is often heard in the streets. ToLOPEis also to steal.German,LAUFEN.Lop-sided, uneven, one side larger than the other.SeeJacob Faithful.Lord, a humpbacked man.SeeMY LORD.Lord, “drunk as aLORD,” a common saying, probably referring to the facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification; perhaps a sly sarcasm at the supposed habits of the aristocracy. This phrase had its origin in the old hard drinking days, when it was almost compulsory on a man of fashion to get drunk regularly after dinner.Lord-mayor’s-fool, an imaginary personage who likes everything that is good, and plenty of it.Lothario, a “gay” deceiver; generally a heartless, brainless villain.Loud, flashy, showy, as applied to dress or manner.SeeBAGS.Lour, orLOWR, money; “gammyLOWR,” bad money. From the Wallachian Gipsy word,LOWE, coined money. Possibly connected with the French,LOUER, to hire.—Ancient CantandGipsy.Louse-trap, a small-tooth comb.—Old Cant.SeeCATCH-’EM-ALIVE.Love, at billiards, rackets, and many other games, nothing: five points to none would be “fiveLOVE,”—aLOVEgame being when one player does not score at all. The term is also used at whist, “sixLOVE,” “fourLOVE,” when one side has marked up six, four, or any other number, and the other none. A writer in theGentleman’s Magazinefor July, 1780, derives it either fromLUFF, an old Scotch word for the hand, or from theDutch,LOEF, theLOOF, weather-gauge (Sewell’s Dutch Dictionary, 4to, 1754); but it more probably, from the sense of the following, denotes something done without reciprocity.Love, “to do a thing forLOVE,”i.e., for nothing. A man is said to marry forLOVEwhen he gets nothing with his wife; and an Irishman, with the bitterest animosity against his antagonist, will fight him forLOVE,i.e., for the mere satisfaction of beating him, and not for a stake.Loveage, tap droppings, a mixture of stale spirits, sweetened and sold to habitual dram-drinkers, principally females. Called also “alls.”Low-water, but little money in pocket, when the finances are at a low ebb.Lubber, a clown, or fool.—Ancient Cant,LUBBARE. Among seamen an awkward fellow, a landsman.Lubber’s hole, an aperture in the maintop of a ship, by which a timid climber may avoid the difficulties of the “futtock shrouds;” hence as a sea-term theLUBBER’S HOLErepresents any cowardly way of evading duty.Luck, “down on one’sLUCK,” wanting money, or in difficulty.Lucky, “to cut one’sLUCKY,” to go away quickly.SeeSTRIKE.Ludlam’s dog.An indolent, inactive person is often said to be “as lazy asLudlam’s dog, which leaned its head against the wall to bark.” Sailors say “as lazy as Joe the Marine, who laid down his musket to sneeze.”Lug, “my togs are inLUG,”i.e., in pawn.Lug, to pull, or slake thirst.—Old.Lug chovey, a pawnbroker’s shop.Luke, nothing.—North Country Cant.Lully, a shirt.Lully prigger, a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry.Lumber, to pawn or pledge. Probably fromLombard.Lumbered, pawned; sometimes imprisoned.Lummy, jolly, first-rate.Lump, anything exceptionally large, “as aLUMPof a man,” “a greatLUMPof a fellow,” &c.Lump, the workhouse; also called the Pan.Lump it, to dislike it; “if you don’t like it, you mayLUMP IT;” sometimes varied to, “if you don’t like it, you may do the other thing.”Probably from the fact that, in bulk or in lump, the good has to be taken with the bad. What you don’t like must be reckoned with theLUMP. ToLUMP ITis also to take off at a draught, as medicine or a dram. “HeLUMPED ITdown at once.”Lump the lighter, to be transported.Lump work, work contracted for, or taken by theLUMP.Lumper, a contractor. On the river more especially a person who contracts to deliver a ship laden with timber.Lumper, a low thief who haunts wharves and docks, and robs vessels, also a person who sells old goods as new.Lumpy, intoxicated. Also used to signifyenceinte.Lunan, a girl.—Gipsy.Lurch, a term at the game of cribbage. A is said toLURCHB when the former attains the end, or sixty-first hole, of the board before the latter has pegged his thirty-first hole; or, in more familiar words, before B has turned the corner. ALURCHsometimes, and then only by agreement, counts as a double game or rub.Lurk, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. An imposition of any kind is aLURK.Lurker, an impostor who travels the country with false certificates of fires, shipwrecks, &c. Also, termed aSILVER BEGGAR, whichsee.Lush, intoxicating drinks of all kinds, but generally used for beer. It is generally allowed, as has been stated, thatLUSHand its derivatives claim Lushington, the brewer, as sponsor.Lush, to drink, or get drunk.Lush-crib, a public-house.Lushington, a drunkard, or one who continually soaks himself with lush. Some years since there was aLushington Clubin Bow Street, Covent Garden.Lushy, intoxicated. Johnson says, “opposite to pale,” so red with drink. He must, however, have been wrong, as the foregoing derivation shows.Lylo, come hither.—Anglo-Chinese.Lynch-law, summary punishment. From an American judge famous for hanging first and trying afterwards.
La!a euphuistic rendering ofLORD! common amongst females and very precise persons; imagined by many to be a corruption ofLOOK! but this is a mistake. Sometimes pronouncedLAW, orLAWKS.
Lac, one hundred thousand.—Anglo-Indian.
Laced, strengthened with ardent spirits. Tea or coffee in which brandy is poured is said to beLACED.
Lacing, a beating. From the phrase, “I’ll lace your jacket.”—L’Estrange.Perhaps to give a beating with a lace or lash. Perhaps, also, a figurative phrase for ornamenting the article in question with stripes.
Ladder, “can’t see a hole in aLADDER,” said of any one who is intoxicated. It was once said that a man was never properly drunk until he could not lie down without holding, could not see a hole through aLADDER, or went to the pump to light his pipe.
Ladies’ mile, that part of Hyde Park where the feminine beauty, rank, and fashion most do congregate during the airing hours of the London season.
Lag, a returned transport, or ticket-of-leave convict.
Lag, to void urine.—Ancient Cant.In modern slang to transport, as regards bearing witness, and not in reference to the action of judge or jury.
Lagged, imprisoned, apprehended, or transported for a crime. From the Old Norse,LAGDA, “laid,”—laid by the leg.
Lagger, a sailor. Also, one who gives evidence; an informer.
Lagging gage, a chamber-pot.—Ancient Cant.
Lambasting, a beating. PerhapsLUMB-BASTING, from the lumbar-regions.
Lamb’s wool, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems began:—Antiquum et vetus est{Ale Æn Nasalienas}dicere laudes.Oxford University.Lamb’s woolis also a hot drink, well known to the community for centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.
Lamb’s wool, spiced ale, of which the butler at Brasenose every Shrove Tuesday supplies as much as is required at Hall, with a copy of verses on the subject, generally written by a Brasenose man. One of these poems began:—
Antiquum et vetus est{Ale Æn Nasalienas}dicere laudes.Oxford University.
Lamb’s woolis also a hot drink, well known to the community for centuries. Supposed by some to be derived from Lammas, at which time it was drunk, and by others to be derived from the similarity between the foam of the drink and the white wool obtained from lambs.
Lame duck, a stockjobber who speculates beyond his capital, and cannot pay his losses. Upon retiring from the Exchange he is said to “waddle out of the Alley.”
Lamming, a beating.—Old English,LAM; used by Beaumont and Fletcher. Not as Sir Walter Scott supposed, from one Dr. Lamb, but from theOld Norse,LAM, the hand; also,Gaelic.
Lammy, a blanket.
Land-lubber, sea term for “a landsman.”SeeLOAFER.
Land-shark, a sailor’s definition of a lawyer.
Lane, a familiar term for Drury Lane Theatre, just as Covent Garden Theatre is constantly spoken of as “the Garden.”
Lap, liquor, drink.Lapis the term invariably used in the ballet girls’ dressing-room for gin.
Lap, one circuit of a pedestrian enclosure. In running a race of any distance one man is said toLAPanother when he is one entire circuit in front.
Lap.Lap the gutter, to get beastly and helplessly drunk.Lapmeans to drink.Lap the gatter, to drink up the beer; a “rareLAPPER,” a hard drinker.
Lark, a frolic, a joke; “let’s have a jolly goodLARK,” let us have a piece of fun.—Anglo-Saxon,LAC, sport; but more probably from the nautical termSKYLARKING,i.e., mounting to the highest yards and sliding down the ropes for amusement, which is allowed on certain occasions.
Lark, to sport boisterously, to show a disposition for “going on the spree.”
Larrence, an imaginary being, supposed by the Scottish peasantry to have power over indolent persons. Hence laziness is often calledLARRENCE.
Larrup, to beat or thrash.
Larruping, a good beating or hiding.—Irish.
Lashins, large quantities; as, “LASHINSof whisky.” An Irishism in common use.
Latchpan, the lower lip—properly a dripping-pan; “to hang one’sLATCHPAN,” to pout, be sulky.—Norfolk.
Lavender, “to be laid up inLAVENDER;” to be in pawn; to be out of the way for an especial purpose. From the practice among housewives of placingLAVENDERin drawers in which linen and clothes are to be kept for any period.
Law, “to giveLAWto an animal” is a sporting term signifying to give the hare or stag a chance of escaping, by not setting on the hounds till the quarry has run some distance. Also, used for giving any one a chance of succeeding in a difficult undertaking by allowing him so much grace or preliminary notice.
Lay, a pursuit or practice, a dodge. Term in this sense much used by thieves.
Lay, in wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Betters are divided in racing slang into layers and takers; they are otherwise known as bookmakers and backers.
Lay, some, a piece. “Tip me aLAYof pannum,”i.e., give me a slice of bread.—North.
Lay, to watch; “on theLAY,” on the look-out.—Shakspeare.
Lay down the knife and fork, to die. ComparePEGGING-OUT,HOPPING THE TWIG, and similar flippancies.
Lead, orFRIENDLY LEAD, a gathering at a low public-house, for the purpose of assisting some one who is “in trouble” (in these cases trouble always means imprisonment), who has just “come out of trouble,” or who is in want of a “mouthpiece.” ALEADis different from a raffle, inasmuch as no article is put up or thrown for, but in the course of the evening some friend of the troubled oneLEADS OFFby putting a certain sum in a plate, and the remainder of the party follow theLEADwith whatever they can spare. Sometimes people pay as they enter the room, but this does not alter the title or character of the meeting. In every other respect aLEADis similar to a raffle; songs, dances, drinking, and a general desire to increase the bastardy averages being the most conspicuous features of the entertainment. IrishLEADSand raffles are characterized by less vice and more quarrelling than those of the lower orders of English people.
Leary, flash, knowing, artful, sly.
Leary bloke, a clever or artful person.
Leather, to beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often calledLEATHER. Some think the term is from theLEATHERbelts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being “nothing likeLEATHER” with which to administer a thrashing.
Leathern conveniency, a carriage. A Quaker being reprimanded by the Society of Friends for keeping a carriage, “contrary to theancient testimonies,” said, “it is not a carriage I keep, but merely aLEATHERN-CONVENIENCY.”SeeunderSimon Pure, in the Introduction.
Leaving shop, orDOLLY SHOP, an unlicensed house where goods are taken into pawn at exorbitant rates of interest.
Led captain, a fashionable spunger, a “swell” who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favours of the master of the house, and lives at his table. Probably from the fact that a real captain leads, but that a sham one is led—to the dinner-table.
Leer, empty.—Oxfordshire.PureGerman, as is nearly so the next word.
Leer, print, newspaper.German,LEHREN, to instruct; henceOld English,LERE, “spelt in theLEER.”SeeSPELL.—Old Cant.
Leg, a part of a game. In some old games there are so manyLEGSto the chalk, and so many chalks to the game. Sometimes theLEGSare called chalks, and the chalksLEGS—one word is as good as another, provided an agreement is made beforehand.
Leg, orBLACKLEG, a disreputable sporting character and racecoursehabitué; that is, one who is disreputable among sporting men.
Leg-and-leg, the state of a game when each player has won aLEG. In Ireland aLEGis termed a horse,LEG-AND-LEGbeing there termed “horse-and-horse.”
Leg bail, the bail or security given by absence. To giveLEG BAILis to run away.
Leg it, to run; “to give aLEG,” to assist, as when one mounts a horse; “making aLEG,” a countryman’s bow,—projecting theLEGfrom behind as a balance to the head bent forward.—Shakspeare.
Leg-of-mutton, humorous street term for a sheep’s trotter, or foot.
Leg of mutton fist, a large, muscular or bony hand.
Length, forty-two lines of a dramatic composition.—Theatrical.
Length, six months’ imprisonment.SeeSTRETCH.
Let alone, an expression which signifies “much less” as used in comparative statement or argument. “I cannot afford five shillings,LET ALONEfive pounds.” Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart,Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONEa tart.”
Let alone, an expression which signifies “much less” as used in comparative statement or argument. “I cannot afford five shillings,LET ALONEfive pounds.” Barham, in one of the Ingoldsby Legends, says:—
“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart,Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONEa tart.”
“I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart,Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONEa tart.”
Let drive, to strike at, or attack with vigour.
Let in, to cheat or victimize. “He let me in heavily.”
Let on, to give an intimation of having some knowledge of a subject. Ramsay employs the phrase in theGentle Shepherd. Common in Scotland.
Let the cat out, orLET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.
Letty, a bed.Italian,LETTO.—Lingua Franca.
Levanter, a card-sharper, or defaulting gambler. It was formerly the custom to give out to the creditors, when a person was in pecuniary difficulties, and it was convenient for him to keep away, that he wasgone to the East, or theLevant; hence, when one loses a bet, and decamps without settling, he is said toLEVANT. TheLevantwas also a notorious place for queer customers, who would do anything rather than pay. Its reputation is not particularly odorous even now.
Levy, a shilling.—Liverpool.Among labourers aLEVYis a sum obtained before it is due, something to keep a man going till Saturday-night comes, or his task is finished.
Liberty, ground let in parts of Yorkshire for shooting purposes.
Lick, a blow;LICKING, a beating; “to put in bigLICKS,” a curious and common phrase, meaning that great exertions are being made.—Dryden;North.
Lick, to excel, or overcome; “if you ain’t sharp, he’llLICKyou,”i.e., be finished first. Signifies, also, to whip, chastise, or conquer.Ancient cant,LYCKE.Welsh,LLACHIO, to strike.
Lickspittle, a coarse but singularly expressive term for a parasite, who puts up with indignities for the sake of advantages.
Lifer, a convict who is sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Lift, to steal, pick pockets; “there’s a clock beenLIFTED,” said when a watch has been stolen. The word is as old as the Border forays, and is used by Shakspeare.Shoplifteris a recognised term.Old Gothic,LLIFAN, to steal;Lower Rhenish,LÖFTEN.
Lig, a lie, a falsehood.—Lancashire.In old ballads the word “lie” is often spelt “LIG.” In old Saxon,LIGis to lie, but to lie as in a bed.
Light, credit, trust; “to get aLIGHTat a house” is to get credit. When a man’s credit is stopped, hisLIGHTis said to be put out.Lightalso means life. “I’ll put yourLIGHTout” is a murderous threat.
Light Bob, a light infantry soldier.—Military.
Light Feeder, a silver spoon.
Lightning, gin; “flash o’LIGHTNING,” a glass of gin.
Lights, a worthless piece of meat; applied metaphorically to a fool, a soft or stupid person.
Lights, the eyes. Also, the lungs; animals’ lungs are always so called.
Lil, a book, generally a pocket-book.—Gipsy.
Lily Benjamin, a great white coat.SeeBenjamin.
Limb, a troublesome or precocious child.
Limb of the law, a lawyer, or clerk articled to that profession.
Limbo, a prison, fromLIMBUSorLIMBUS PATRUM, a mediæval theological term for purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches thatLIMBOwas that part of hell where holy people who died before the Redemption were kept.
Line, a hoax, a fool-trap; as, “to get him in aLINE,”i.e., to get some sport out of him.
Line, calling, trade, profession; “whatLINEare you in?” “the buildingLINE.”
Liner, a casual reporter, paid by the line. Diminutive of “penny-a-liner.”
Lingo, talk, or language. Slang is termedLINGOamongst the lower orders.Italian,LINGUA.—Lingua Franca.
Lint-scraper, a young surgeon. Thackeray, inLovel the Widower, uses the phrase, and gives, also, the words “Æsculapius,” “Pestle-grinder,” and “Vaccinator,” for the same character.
Lionesses, ladies visiting an Oxford man, especially at “Commemoration,” which is the chief time for receiving feminine visitors at the University.
Lion-hunter, one who hunts up, and has a devout veneration for, small celebrities. Mrs. Leo Hunter, inPickwick, is a splendid specimen of this unpleasant creature.
Lionize, to make much of any visitor with small or moderate claims to distinction; to conduct a stranger round the principal objects of attraction in a place; to act as cicerone.
Lions, notabilities, either persons or sights worthy of inspection; an expression dating from the times when the royal lions at the Tower, before the existence of Zoological Gardens and travelling menageries, were a London wonder, to visit which country cousins and strangers of eminence were constantly taken. Visitors taken round at Cambridge to see the sights are, or were, calledLIONS. The origin of the Tower collection was the three leopards sent by the Emperor Frederic to Henry III., as a living illustration of the royal arms of England. In the roll of John de Cravebeadell, constable of the Tower (B. M. Top. Collections, iii. p. 153), is a charge of 3d.per day “in support of the leopard of our lord the king.” Edward III., when Prince of Wales, appears to have taken great interest in the animals; and after he became king, there was not only the old leopard, but “one lion, one lioness, and two cat-lions,” says Stowe, “in the said Tower, committed to the custody of Robert, son of John Bowre.” The menagerie was only abolished in 1834; and the practice was to allow any person to enter gratis who brought with him a little dog to be thrown to the lions!—Dr. Doran’s Princes of Wales.
Lip, talk, bounce, impudence; “come, none o’ yerLIP!”
Lip, to sing; “LIPus a chant,” sing a song.
Liquor, orLIQUOR UP, to drink drams.—Americanism.InLIQUOR, tipsy, or drunk.
Little go, the old term for the examination now calledSMALLS.
Little snakes-man, a little thief, who is generally passed through a small aperture to open a door and let in the rest of the gang.
Liverpool Irishman, any man born in Liverpool of Irish parents. SeeIrish Cockney.
Liverpudlian, a native of Liverpool.
Live-stock, vermin of the insect kind, especially of that more than usually unpleasant kind found on tramps,&c.
Loafer, a lazy vagabond. Generally considered an Americanism.Loper, orLOAFER, however, was in general use as a cant term in the early part of the last century.Landloperwas a vagabond who begged in the attire of a sailor; and the sea-phrase,LAND-LUBBER, was doubtless synonymous.
Loaver, money.SeeLOUR.—Lingua Franca.
Lob, a till, or money-drawer.
Lob-sneaking, stealing money from tills; occasionally stealing tills and all.
Lobb, the head.—Pugilistic.
Loblolly, gruel.—Old: used by Markham as a sea-term for grit gruel, or hasty pudding.
Loblolly boy, a derisive term for a surgeon’s mate in the navy.“Lob-lolly-boyis a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the business of a seaman as the author of this poem.”—The Patent, a Poem, 4to, 1776.
Loblolly boy, a derisive term for a surgeon’s mate in the navy.
“Lob-lolly-boyis a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the business of a seaman as the author of this poem.”—The Patent, a Poem, 4to, 1776.
“Lob-lolly-boyis a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the business of a seaman as the author of this poem.”—The Patent, a Poem, 4to, 1776.
Lobs!schoolboys’ signal on the master’s approach. Also, an assistant watcher, an under gamekeeper.
Lobs, words, talk.—Gipsy.
Lobscouse, a dish made of potatoes, meat, and biscuits, boiled together.
Lobster, a soldier. A policeman, from the colour of his coat, is styled an unboiled, or rawLOBSTER.
Lobster-box, a barrack, or military station.
Loggerheads, “to come toLOGGERHEADS,” to come to blows.
Logie, theatrical jewellery, made mostly of tin.
Loll, to lie about lazily. “He wouldLOLLupon the handle of the door,” said of an incorrigibly lazy fellow.
Lolly, the head.SeeLOBB.—Pugilistic.
London ordinary, the beach at Brighton, where the “eight-hours-at-the-sea-side” excursionists dine in the open-air.
Long-bow.SeeDRAW THE LONG BOW.
Long firm, a gang of swindlers who obtain goods by false pretences. They generally advertise or answer advertisements. The wordLONGis supposed to be from a playful allusion made by one of the firm to the length of their credit.
Long-ghost, a tall, thin, awkward person. Sometimes called “lamp-post.”
Long-headed, far-seeing, clever, calculating.
Long-hundred, a Billingsgate expression for 120 fresh herrings, or other small fish, the long-hundred being six score.
Long-odds, the odds which denote that the man or animal laid against has, or is supposed to have, little or no chance.
Long-shore butcher, a coast-guardsman.—Sea.All people who get their livings by the side of the Thames below bridge are calledLONG-SHOREfolk.
Long-tailed beggar, a cat. The tale that hangs thereby runs thus:—A boy, during his first very short voyage to sea, had become so entirely a seaman, that on his return he had forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother “what she called that ’ereLONG-TAILED BEGGAR?” Accordingly, sailors, when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing too largely on nautical matters, are very apt to say, “But how, mate, about that ’ereLONG-TAILED BEGGAR?”
Long-tailed-one, a bank-note or “flimsy” for a large amount.
Long-tails, among shooters, are pheasants; among coursers and dog-fanciers they are greyhounds.
Longs, the latrine at Brasenose, so called because built byLady Long.—Oxford University.
Longs-and-shorts, cards made for cheating.
Looking-glass, a facetious synonym for apot de chambre. This is very old. The term arose from the fact that in ancient times this utensil was the object of very frequent examination by the medical fraternity. There is an old story of a lady who called at an inn, and called for aLOOKING-GLASSto arrange her hair, and who was presented with a chamber utensil.
Loony, a silly fellow, a natural. Corruption ofLOONEY TICK(lunatic). Sometimes corrupted toLOOBY.
Loose.SeeON THE LOOSE.
Loose-box, a brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of adame de compagnie. A more vulgar appellation is “mot-cart,” the contemptuous sobriquet applied by the envious mob to a one-horse covered carriage.
Loose-box, a stable in which a horse is not tethered, but remains loose.
Loot, swag or plunder; also used as a verb. The word came much into vogue during the latest Chinese campaign.
Lope, this old form of leap is often heard in the streets. ToLOPEis also to steal.German,LAUFEN.
Lop-sided, uneven, one side larger than the other.SeeJacob Faithful.
Lord, a humpbacked man.SeeMY LORD.
Lord, “drunk as aLORD,” a common saying, probably referring to the facilities a man of fortune has for such a gratification; perhaps a sly sarcasm at the supposed habits of the aristocracy. This phrase had its origin in the old hard drinking days, when it was almost compulsory on a man of fashion to get drunk regularly after dinner.
Lord-mayor’s-fool, an imaginary personage who likes everything that is good, and plenty of it.
Lothario, a “gay” deceiver; generally a heartless, brainless villain.
Loud, flashy, showy, as applied to dress or manner.SeeBAGS.
Lour, orLOWR, money; “gammyLOWR,” bad money. From the Wallachian Gipsy word,LOWE, coined money. Possibly connected with the French,LOUER, to hire.—Ancient CantandGipsy.
Louse-trap, a small-tooth comb.—Old Cant.SeeCATCH-’EM-ALIVE.
Love, at billiards, rackets, and many other games, nothing: five points to none would be “fiveLOVE,”—aLOVEgame being when one player does not score at all. The term is also used at whist, “sixLOVE,” “fourLOVE,” when one side has marked up six, four, or any other number, and the other none. A writer in theGentleman’s Magazinefor July, 1780, derives it either fromLUFF, an old Scotch word for the hand, or from theDutch,LOEF, theLOOF, weather-gauge (Sewell’s Dutch Dictionary, 4to, 1754); but it more probably, from the sense of the following, denotes something done without reciprocity.
Love, “to do a thing forLOVE,”i.e., for nothing. A man is said to marry forLOVEwhen he gets nothing with his wife; and an Irishman, with the bitterest animosity against his antagonist, will fight him forLOVE,i.e., for the mere satisfaction of beating him, and not for a stake.
Loveage, tap droppings, a mixture of stale spirits, sweetened and sold to habitual dram-drinkers, principally females. Called also “alls.”
Low-water, but little money in pocket, when the finances are at a low ebb.
Lubber, a clown, or fool.—Ancient Cant,LUBBARE. Among seamen an awkward fellow, a landsman.
Lubber’s hole, an aperture in the maintop of a ship, by which a timid climber may avoid the difficulties of the “futtock shrouds;” hence as a sea-term theLUBBER’S HOLErepresents any cowardly way of evading duty.
Luck, “down on one’sLUCK,” wanting money, or in difficulty.
Lucky, “to cut one’sLUCKY,” to go away quickly.SeeSTRIKE.
Ludlam’s dog.An indolent, inactive person is often said to be “as lazy asLudlam’s dog, which leaned its head against the wall to bark.” Sailors say “as lazy as Joe the Marine, who laid down his musket to sneeze.”
Lug, “my togs are inLUG,”i.e., in pawn.
Lug, to pull, or slake thirst.—Old.
Lug chovey, a pawnbroker’s shop.
Luke, nothing.—North Country Cant.
Lully, a shirt.
Lully prigger, a rogue who steals wet clothes hung on lines to dry.
Lumber, to pawn or pledge. Probably fromLombard.
Lumbered, pawned; sometimes imprisoned.
Lummy, jolly, first-rate.
Lump, anything exceptionally large, “as aLUMPof a man,” “a greatLUMPof a fellow,” &c.
Lump, the workhouse; also called the Pan.
Lump it, to dislike it; “if you don’t like it, you mayLUMP IT;” sometimes varied to, “if you don’t like it, you may do the other thing.”Probably from the fact that, in bulk or in lump, the good has to be taken with the bad. What you don’t like must be reckoned with theLUMP. ToLUMP ITis also to take off at a draught, as medicine or a dram. “HeLUMPED ITdown at once.”
Lump the lighter, to be transported.
Lump work, work contracted for, or taken by theLUMP.
Lumper, a contractor. On the river more especially a person who contracts to deliver a ship laden with timber.
Lumper, a low thief who haunts wharves and docks, and robs vessels, also a person who sells old goods as new.
Lumpy, intoxicated. Also used to signifyenceinte.
Lunan, a girl.—Gipsy.
Lurch, a term at the game of cribbage. A is said toLURCHB when the former attains the end, or sixty-first hole, of the board before the latter has pegged his thirty-first hole; or, in more familiar words, before B has turned the corner. ALURCHsometimes, and then only by agreement, counts as a double game or rub.
Lurk, a sham, swindle, or representation of feigned distress. An imposition of any kind is aLURK.
Lurker, an impostor who travels the country with false certificates of fires, shipwrecks, &c. Also, termed aSILVER BEGGAR, whichsee.
Lush, intoxicating drinks of all kinds, but generally used for beer. It is generally allowed, as has been stated, thatLUSHand its derivatives claim Lushington, the brewer, as sponsor.
Lush, to drink, or get drunk.
Lush-crib, a public-house.
Lushington, a drunkard, or one who continually soaks himself with lush. Some years since there was aLushington Clubin Bow Street, Covent Garden.
Lushy, intoxicated. Johnson says, “opposite to pale,” so red with drink. He must, however, have been wrong, as the foregoing derivation shows.
Lylo, come hither.—Anglo-Chinese.
Lynch-law, summary punishment. From an American judge famous for hanging first and trying afterwards.