Mab, a cab, or hackney-coach.Mace, to sponge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way: “give it him (a shopkeeper) on theMACE,”i.e., obtain goods on credit and never pay for them; also termed “striking theMACE.”Mace, to welsh, to obtain money without any expectation of being able to pay or intention of paying.Maceman, orMACER, a welcher, magsman, or general swindler; a “street-mugger.”Madza, half.Italian,MEZZA. This word enters into combination with various cant phrases, mainly taken from theLingua Franca, asMADZA CAROON, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence;MADZA SALTEE, a halfpenny[seeSALTEE];MADZA POONA, half-a-sovereign;MADZA ROUND THE BULL, half a pound of steak, &c. This word is, in street phraseology, invariably pronouncedMEDZER.Mag, a halfpenny.—Ancient Cant,MAKE.Megswere formerly guineas.—B. M. Carew.Make, the old form, is still used by schoolboys in Scotland. “Not a blessedMAG!” would be the phrase of a cadger down on his luck to express his penniless state.Mag, literary and printers’ slang for magazine.Mag, to talk; henceMAGPIE. ToMAGin thieves’ slang is to talk well and persuasively.Maggoty, fanciful, fidgety. Whims and fancies were formerly termedMAGGOTS, from the popular belief that a maggot in the brain was the cause of any odd notion or caprice a person might exhibit. Deer are sometimes found to have maggots in their brains, which, perhaps, accounts for the origin of the term.Magsman, a street swindler, who watches for countrymen and “gullible” persons, and persuades them out of their possessions.Magsmenare wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage accessories; and often a wink, a look, or a slip of the tongue would betray their confederacy. Their ability and perseverance are truly worthy of a better cause.Magsmenare very often men of superior education. Those who “work” the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomplished.Mahcheen, a merchant. Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—Anglo-Chinese.Mahogany, “to have one’s feet under another man’sMAHOGANY,” to sit at his table, be supported on other than one’s own resources; “amputate yourMAHOGANY,”i.e., go away, elaboration of “cut your stick.”Mahogany flat, a bug.Mail, to post a letter; “this screeve is mailed by a sure hand.”Main-toby, the highway, or the main road.SeeTOBY.Make, any one is said to be “on theMAKE” who asks too high a price for his goods, or endeavours in any way to overreach.Make, to steal, a successful theft or swindle. A man on the look-out for swindling opportunities is said to be “on theMAKE.”Make tracks, an Americanism synonymous with skedaddle; to make oneself scarce.Make-up, personal appearance.—Theatrical.Makings, materials. A man is often said to have theMAKINGSof a good politician (or whatever he may aspire to be) in him, if they were but properly applied.Malapropism, an ignorant, vulgar misapplication of language, so named from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan’s famous comedy of theRivals. Mrs. Partington afterwards succeeded to the mantle of Mrs. Malaprop; but the phrase Partingtonism is as yetuncoined, for the simple reason that Mrs. Malaprop was the original, Mrs. Partington the imitation.Malley, a gardener.—Anglo-Indian.Manablins, broken victuals.Man a-hanging, a man in difficulties.SeeHANGING.Mandozy, a term of endearment among East-end Jews; probably from the valiant fighter named Mendoza.Mang, to talk.—Scotch.Man-handle, to use a person roughly, as to take him prisoner, turn him out of a room, or give him a beating.Man in the moon, the gentleman who is supposed to find the “pieces” to pay election expenditure and electors’ expenses, so long as the latter vote his way.SeeELECTION INQUIRIES.Marbles, furniture, movables; “money andMARBLES,” cash and personal effects.Marchioness, a little, dirty, old-fashioned maid-of-all-work; a title now in regular use, but derived from the remarkable character in theOld Curiosity Shop.Mare’s nest, a supposed discovery of marvels, which turn out no marvels at all; from a story similar to that about the cock neighing. Three Cockneys, out ruralizing, had determined to find out something about nests. Accordingly, when they ultimately came upon a dungheap, they judged by the signs therein that it must be aMARE’S NEST, especially as they could see the mare close handy. An old preacher in Cornwall up to very lately employed a different simile, as, “It’s like a cow calving up in a tree.”Marine, orMARINE RECRUIT, an empty bottle. This expression having once been used in the presence of an officer of marines, he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until some one adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was, “one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again.”Mark, to make one’sMARKis to achieve a success literary, artistic, or otherwise. Men of eminence are said to leave theirMARKSon the earth’s surface. An American poet has described this ambitious, albeit somewhat rare, proceeding as leaving “footprints on the sands of time.”Marketeer, a betting man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites, and the diseases incident to that condition of equine life. TheMARKETEERis the principal agent in all milking and knocking-out arrangements.Market-horse, a horse simply kept in the betting-lists for the purpose of being betted against.Marplot, an officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with.Marriage lines, a marriage certificate.—Provincial.Marrow, a mate, a fellow-workman, a pitman who works in a “shift” with another.—Northumberland and Durham.Marrow-bones, the knees; “I’ll bring him down upon hisMARROW BONES,”i.e., I’ll make him bend his knees as he does to the Virgin Mary. Supposed to be from Mary Bones, an objectionable term used by the first Protestants in reference to the supposed adoration of the Virgin Mary by Catholics.Marrowskying.SeeMedical Greek.Marry, a very old term of asseveration, originally (in Popish times) a mode of swearing by the Virgin Mary;q.d., by Mary.Martingale, a gambling term, which means the doubling of a stake every time you lose; so that when you win once you win back all that you have lost. So called from the fact that, as in all fair games you must win once, you have a safe hold of fortune. The difficulty is to obtain a bank large enough to do this effectively, or having the bank to find any one who will follow you far enough, in a fair game.Mary Ann, the title of the dea ex machinâ evolved from trades-unionism at Sheffield, to the utter destruction of recalcitrant grinders. She is supposed to do all the “blow-ups,” steal all the bands, and otherwise terrorize over victims of the union.Marygold, one million sterling.SeePLUM.Maskee, never mind, no consequence.—Anglo-Chinese.Massacre of the innocents, when the leader of the House of Commons goes through the doleful operation of devoting to extinction a number of useful measures at the end of the session, for want of time to pass them.VideTimes, 20th July, 1859: Mr. C. Foster, on altering the time of the legislative sessions.—Parliamentary Slang.Master of the Mint, a gardener.Master of the Rolls, a baker.Mate, the term a coster or low person applies to a friend, partner, or companion; “me and myMATEdid so and so,” is a common phrase with a low Londoner. Originally asea term.Matey, a labourer in one of Her Majesty’s dockyards. Common elaboration of the wordMATE.Maudlin, Magdalen College, Oxford. This is the old English pronunciation of the word.Mauley, a fist, that with which one strikes as with a mall.—Pugilistic.Mauley, a signature, fromMAULEY, a fist; “put your fist to it,” is sometimes said by a tradesman when desiring a fellow-trader to put his signature to a bill or note.Maund, to beg; “MAUNDERINGon the fly,” begging of people in the streets.—Old Cant.Maung, to beg, is a term in use amongst the gipsies, and may also be found in the Hindoo vocabulary.Maund, however, is pure Anglo-Saxon, fromMAND, a basket. CompareBEG, which is derived fromBAG—a curious parallel.Maw, the mouth; “hold yourMAW,” cease talking.Mawworm, a hypocrite of the most unpleasant kind. From Bickerstaff’s play ofThe Hypocrite. Originally aMAWWORMwas a worm in the stomach, the thread worm.Max, gin;MAXupon tick, gin obtained upon credit.Mazarine, the platform beneath the stage in large theatres. Probably corruption ofItalian,MEZZANINO.M. B. coat, (i.e., Mark of the Beast,) a name given to the long surtout worn by some of the clergy,—a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a High Church customer by a tailor’s orders to his foreman.Mealy-mouthed, soft-spoken, plausible, deceitful. A specious liar is said to beMEALY-MOUTHED.Mean white, a term of contempt among negroes, in the old slavery days, for white men without landed property. A white man in the Southern States had nolocus standiunless he possessed property, and the blackest of niggers would have felt insulted at any “poor white trash” claiming to be “a man and brother.”Measley, mean, miserable-looking, “seedy;” “what aMEASLEY-looking man!”i.e., what a wretched, unhappy fellow.Medical Greek, the slang used by medical students at the hospitals. At the London University they have a way of disguising English, described by Albert Smith as the Gower Street Dialect, which consists in transposing the initials of words,e.g., “poke a smipe”—smoke a pipe; “flutter-by”—butterfly, &c. This disagreeable nonsense, which has not even the recommendation of a little ability in its composition, is often termed Marrowskying.SeeGreek,St. Giles’s Greek, or the “Ægidiac” dialect, Language ofZIPH, &c.Meisensang, a missionary, Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—Anglo-Chinese.Menagerie, the orchestra of a theatre.—Theatrical.Menavelings, odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at a railway booking-office,—usually divided among the clerks.SeeOVERSandSHORTS.Men of Kent, men born in that portion of the “garden of England” which lies east of the Medway, as distinguished from Kentish men born the other side. TheMEN OF KENTare entitled to the benefit of the old laws of the county, that of gavelkind particularly.Merkin, a term usually applied to a woman’s privities. Originally false hair for those parts.Merry Dun of Dover, a large ship figuring in sailors’ yarns. She was so large that when passing through the Straits of Dover her flying jib-boom knocked down Calais steeple; while, at the same time, the fly of her ensign swept a flock of sheep off Dover cliffs. She was so lofty that a boy who attempted to go to her mast-head found himself a grey old man when he reached the deck again. This yarn is founded on a story in the Scandinavian mythology. There is also a legendamong sailors of the gallant Thunderbomb, which had “ninety-nine decks and no bottom.”Mesopotamia, a name given to Eaton Square and neighbourhood when first built. This part was also called Cubitopolis.—Fashionable slang.Mess, to interfere unduly. Costermongers refer to police supervision asMESSING. Among sailors, a dead man is said to have lost the number of hisMESS.Metallician, a racing bookmaker. Bookmakers use metallic books and pencils.Middy, abbreviation of midshipman.—Naval.Midge net, a lady’s veil.Mike, an Irish hodman, or general labourer.Mike, to loiter; or “lazy about.” The term probably originated in St. Giles’s, which is thronged with Irish labourers, who rarely or never labour (Mikebeing so common a term with them as to become a generic appellation for Irishmen), and who loiter and lean against the public-houses in the “Dials.” It has been said that the term is Old English,MICHE, to skulk, to loiter; Old Norse,MAK, leisure, idleness.“Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove aMICHER?”Shakspeare’s Hen. IV., ii. 4.Whatever may have been its origin, there can be now no doubt that the word is supposed to have particular reference to the habits of the IrishMikes, or labourers, though now and again it is borrowed in the interests of others.Mild, second-rate, inferior.SeeDRAW IT MILD. Also feeble, inefficient, as “aMILDattempt.” Weak young men who keep bulldogs, and dress in a “loud” stable style, from a belief that it is very becoming, are sometimes called “MILDbloaters.”Milk, a term used in connexion with racing; when a horse is entered in a race for which his owner does not intend him to run, or at all events in which he does not intend him to win, and bets against him, the animal is said to “beMILKED.”Milking, is keeping a horse a favourite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance whatever, or in which he will not be allowed to try, for the purpose of laying against him.Milky ones, white linen rags.Mill, a fight, or set to.Ancient Cant,MYLL, to rob. Probably from the special opportunities afforded to pickpockets when the ring was a “national institution.”Mill, to fight or beat.Mill, the old Insolvent Debtors’ Court. “To go through theMILL” was equivalent to being “whitewashed.”Mill, the tread-MILL.Miller.To drown theMILLERis to put too much water in anything. The phrase was originally “to drown theMILLER’Sthumb,” or go over the specified mark,i.e., the thumb-mark, in adding water to ardent spirits.Miller.“To give theMILLER” is to engage a person in conversation of an apparently friendly character, when all at once the bystanders surround and pelt him with flour, grease, and filth of various kinds, flour predominating. This mode of punishing spies, informers, and other obnoxious individuals, is used by cabmen, omnibus conductors,et hoc genus omne. Eggs are useful missiles in an engagement of this description. If rotten eggs are not obtainable, ordinary ones will do.Miller.This word is frequently called out when a person relates a stale joke.SeeJoe.Milvader, to beat.Mish, a shirt, or chemise. FromCOMMISSION, the ancient cant for a shirt, afterwards shortened toK’MISHorSMISH, and then toMISH.French,CHEMISE;Italian,CAMICIA.“With his snowyCAMESEand his shaggy capote.”—Byron.Mitey, a cheesemonger.Mitten.“To get theMITTEN” is, in Canadian slang, to be jilted.Mittens, the boxing gloves.Mizzle, a frequentative form ofMISTin both senses; as applied to weather, it is used by John Gadbury in hisEphemerisin 1695—MISTYandMIZZLING—to come down as mist; while the other sense may be expressed as to fade away like a mist.Mizzle, to run away, or decamp; to disappear as in a mist. FromMIZZLE, a drizzling rain; a Scotch mist.“And then oneMIZZLINGMichaelmas night,The Count heMIZZLEDtoo.”—Hood.Mizzler, orRUM-MIZZLER, a person who is clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a difficulty.Moab, a name applied to the turban-shaped hat which was some few years back fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex. From the Scripture phrase, “Moabis my washpot” (Ps. lx. 8), which latter article the hat in question was supposed to resemble.—University.Mob.Swift informs us, in hisArt of Polite Conversation, thatMOBwas, in his time, the slang abbreviation of “mobility,” just asNOBis of “nobility,” at the present day.SeeSCHOOL.“It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as inMOB., red., pos., incog., and the like.”—Addison’s Spectator.Mob, a thief’s immediate companions, as,—“our ownMOB;”MOBSMAN, a dressy swindler or pickpocket.Mob, to hustle, crowd round, and annoy, necessarily the action of a large party against a smaller one, or an individual. Mobbing is generally a concomitant of street robbery.Mobility, the populace; or, according to Burke, the “great unwashed.” Johnson calls it a cant term, although Swift notices it as a proper expression.Mockered, holey, marked unpleasantly. A ragged handkerchief and a blotched or pitted face are both said to beMOCKERED.Modest quencher, a glass of spirits and water. Dick Swiveller was fond of aMODEST QUENCHER.Moey, the mouth.—GipsyandHindoo. Shakspeare hasMOE, to make mouths.Mofussilite, an inhabitant of an up-country district.—Anglo-Indian.Moisten your chaffer, a slang phrase equivalent to “take something to drink.” Also “moisten your clay,” originally applied to smokers, now general, and supposed to have reference to the human clay.Moke, a donkey.—Gipsy, but now general to all the lower orders. A “coster” and his “moke” are almost inseparable terms. Probably derived originally from the Arabical mocreve, a carrier.Moko, a name given by sportsmen to pheasants killed by mistake during September, before the pheasant-shooting comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they are no pheasants at all, butMOKOS.Moll, a girl; nickname for Mary.—Old Cant.Molled, followed, or accompanied by a woman. When a costermonger sees a friend walking with a woman he does not know, he says on the first opportunity afterwards, “I see yer the other night when yer wasMOLLEDup and too proud to speak.”Mollisher, a low girl or woman; generally a female cohabiting with a man who gets his living by thieving.Mollsack, a reticule, or market basket.Moll Thomson’s mark, that is, M. T.—empty; as, “Take away this bottle, it hasMoll Thomson’s markon it.”SeeM. T.Moll-tooler, a female pickpocket.Mollycoddle, an effeminate man; one who “coddles” amongst the women, or does their work.Mollygrubs, orMULLIGRUBS, stomach ache, or sorrow—which to the costermonger is much the same, as he believes, like the ancients, that the viscera is the seat of all feeling. Costermongers are not alone, even in the present day, in this belief.Molrowing, “out on the spree,” in company with so-called “gay women.” In allusion to the amatory serenadings of the London cats. Another form of this is, “out on the tiles.”Mondayish, or Mondayfied, disinclined for work. “St. Monday” is a great institution among artizans and small tradesmen.Monk, a term of contempt; probably an abbreviation ofMONKEY.Monkey, spirit or ill temper; “to get one’sMONKEYup,” to rouse his passion. A man is said to have hisMONKEYup or theMONKEYon his back, when he is “riled,” or out of temper; this is old, and was probably in allusion originally to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man; also under similar circumstances a man is said to have his back or hump up.Monkey, the instrument which drives a rocket.—Army.Monkey, 500l.--Sporting Slang.Monkey, the vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.—Sea.Monkey-board, the place or step attached to an omnibus, on which the conductor stands.Monkey-boat, a peculiar, long, narrow, canal boat.Monkey with a long tail, a mortgage.—Legal.Monkey’s allowance, to get blows instead of alms, more kicks than halfpence.Monkery, the country, or rural districts. Originally an old word for a quiet or monastic life.—Hall.Monniker, a person’s name or signature.Month of Sundays, an indefinite period, a long time.Mooch, to sponge; to obtrude oneself upon friends just when they are about to sit down to dinner, or other lucky time—of course quite accidentally. CompareHULK. To slink away, and allow your friend to pay for the entertainment. In Wiltshire,TO MOOCHis to shuffle.Seethe following.Mooching, orON THE MOOCH, on the look-out for any articles or circumstances which may be turned to a profitable account; watching in the streets for odd jobs, horses to hold, &c.; also scraps of food, drinks, old clothes, &c.Moon, a month; generally used to express the length of time a person has been sentenced by the magistrate; thus “oneMOON” is one month of four weeks. A calendar month is known as a “callingder” or longMOON. A “lunarMOON,” ridiculous as the phrase may seem, is of constant use among those who affect slang of this description.Mooney, intoxicated, a name for a silly fellow.Mooning, loitering, wandering about in a purposeless manner.Moonlight, orMOONSHINE, smuggled spirits. From the night-work of smugglers.Moon-raker, a native of Wiltshire; because it is said that some men of that county, seeing the reflection of the moon in a pond, took it to be a cheese, and endeavoured to pull it out with a rake.Moonshee, a learned man, professor, or teacher.—Anglo-Indian.Moonshine, palaver, deception, humbug.Mop, a hiring place (or fair) for servants. Steps are often “about to be taken” to put down these assemblies, which have been proved to be greatly detrimental to the morality of the poor. They are supposed to contribute largely to the bastardy percentages.Mop, an habitual drunkard. Also a period of intoxication. “To be ontheMOP” is to be on the drink from day to day—to be perpetually “stale drunk.”Mop up, to drink, or empty a glass.—Old Sea term.Mops and brooms, intoxicated. Supposed by an imaginative person to be the appearance presented by the world to a very drunken man. Possibly the term was first used to express sea-sickness.Mopusses, money; “MOPUSSESran taper,” money ran short.Moral, a forthcoming result which appears certain—originallyMORALcertainty. This is racing slang, as, “The race is aMORALfor Cremorne.” TheseMORALSare often, however, of very uncertain tenure.More-ish.When there is scarcely enough of an eatable or drinkable, it is said to tasteMORE-ISH; as, “This wine is very good, but it has a slightMORE-ISHflavour.”Morris, to decamp, be off. Probably from the ancientMORESCO, ofMORRIS-DANCE.See Shakspeare.Mortar-board, a square college cap.Mortgage-deed, a pawnbroker’s duplicate.Moskeneer, to pawn with a view to obtaining more than the actual value of an article. There are, in various parts of the country, men who makeMOSKENEERINGa profession—that is, they buy jewellery which, though fairly good, is not so good as it seems, and pawn it as opportunity occurs. It is notorious that some men can obtain a much larger sum on a given article than others can; though the smallest of these professionals generally manage to get good livings, which does not say much for the judgment of those constant inspectors of personal property—pawnbrokers’ assistants.Mot, a girl of indifferent character. Formerly,Mort.Dutch,MOTT-KAST, a harlotry.Mot-cart,seeLOOSE-BOX.Mouchey, a Jew.Mouldy, grey-headed. Servants wearing hair-powder are usually termedMOULDY-PATESby street boys.Mouldy-grubs, travelling showmen, mountebanks who perform in the open air without tent or covering. Doing this is calledMOULDY-GRUBBING.Mount, a saddle-horse. According to quality, “a goodMOUNT,” or “a badMOUNT.”Mount, in theatrical parlance, to prepare for production on the stage. “The piece was excellentlyMOUNTED.”Mounter, a false swearer. Derived from the borrowed clothes men used toMOUNT, or dress in, when going to swear for a consideration.Mountain-dew, whisky, advertised as from the Highlands.Mountain-pecker, a sheep’s head.SeeJEMMY.Mourning, “a full suit ofMOURNING,” two black eyes;HALF-MOURNING, one black eye.Mouse, a black eye. By a façon de parler, any one with “aMOUSE” is supposed to have been to Blackwall.Mouth-almighty, a noisy, talkative person.Mouthpiece, a lawyer, or counsel. Thieves and their associates always speak of a counsel as aMOUTHPIECE.Move, a “dodge,” or cunning trick; “up to aMOVEor two,” acquainted with tricks. Probably derived from the game of chess.M.P., member of the police, one of the slang titles of the Force.Mrs. Grundy, the representative of the censorious world, “What willMrs. Grundysay?” Originally a character in the comedy ofSpeed the Plough.Mrs. HarrisandMrs. Gamp, nicknames of theMorning HeraldandStandardnewspapers, while united under the proprietorship of Mr. Baldwin.Mrs. Gamp, a monthly nurse, was a character in Charles Dickens’s popular novel ofMartin Chuzzlewit, who continually quoted an imaginaryMrs. Harrisin attestation of the superiority of her qualifications, and the infallibility of her opinions; and thus afforded a parallel to the two newspapers, which appealed to each other as independent authorities, being all the while the production of the same editorial staff.Seeintroductory article.Mrs. Jones, the house of office, a water-closet.M.T., railway slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or empty carriages.SeeMoll Thomson’s mark.Much of a muchness, alike, very much the same thing.Muck, to beat, or excel. “It’s no use, his luck’s dead in; he’dMUCKa thousand;” “heMUCKEDme clean out,” &c. ToRUN A MUCK, orGO A MUCKER, to rush headlong into certain ruin. From a certain religious frenzy, or intoxication caused by bhang, which is common among the Malays, and which now and again causes an enthusiast, kreese in hand, to dash into a crowd and devote every one he meets to death until he is himself killed, or falls from exhaustion.—Malay,AMOK, slaughter.Muckender, orMUCKENGER, a pocket-handkerchief.—Old.Cf.SNOTTINGER. The original name of the “Neckinger” in Bermondsey was “the Devil’s Neck-handkerchief.” There is still a Neckinger Road and Messrs. Bevington and Sons’ tannery in Bermondsey bears the name of the Neckinger Mills.Mucker,TO GO A, to go to grief, to ruin one’s prospects.—Oxford Univ.Muck-out, to clean out; often applied to one utterly ruining an adversary in gambling.Muck-snipe, one who has been “MUCKED OUT,” or beggared, at gambling.SeeMUCK.Mud-crusher, a word of contempt, used by the cavalry in reference to the infantry.Mudfog, “The British Association for the Advancement of Science.” Term first used by Charles Dickens inBentley’s Miscellany, about 1836.Mud-lark, a man or woman who, with clothes tucked above the knee, grovels through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is low, for silver or pewter spoons, old bottles, pieces of iron, coal, or any articles of the least value, deposited by the retiring tide, either from passing ships or the sewers. Occasionally applied to those men who cleanse the sewers, and who wear great boots and sou’-wester hats. Those who are employed in banks and counting-houses, in collecting and other out-door duties, have also this appellation.Mud-student, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the Agricultural College, Cirencester.Muff, a silly or weak-minded person, a duffer;MUFFhas been defined to be “a soft thing that holds a lady’s hand without squeezing it.”Muffin-cap, a cap similar to that worn by a charity-boy.Muffin-face, a white, soft, delicate, or whiskerless face.Muffin-worry, an old lady’s tea party.Mufti, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty.—Anglo-Indian.From an Eastern word signifying a clergyman or priest.Mug, the mouth, or face.—Old.“‘Goblet and mug.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff from the goblet afterwards appears in theMUG.”Mug, to strike in the face, or fight. Also, to rob or swindle.Gaelic,MUIG, to suffocate, oppress;Irish,MUGAIM, to kill, destroy.Mug, “toMUGoneself,” to get tipsy.Mugging, a thrashing,—synonymous with “slogging,” both terms of the “ring,” and frequently used by fighting men.Muggy, drunk. Also, as applied to weather, stifling, oppressive.Mug-up, to paint one’s face, or dress specially with a view to impersonation.—Theatrical.To “cram” for an examination.—Army.Mull, “to make aMULLof it,” to spoil anything, or make a fool of oneself.Mulligrubs.VideMOLLYGRUBS.Mullingar heifer, a girl with thick ankles.—Irish.The story goes that a traveller, passing through Mullingar, was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?” “Faith an’ I do,” said the girl; “and what then?” “Because,” says the traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it.”Multee kertever, very bad.Italian,MOLTO CATTIVO. Generally used with the affix of bloke when referring to a man. Phrase much used by circus riders.Mum, “to keepMUM,” to hold one’s peace. Hence “MUM’Sthe word,”—a phrase which implies to all hearers that the matter to which it refers must remain secret.Mummer, a performer at a travelling theatre.—Ancient.Rustic performers at Christmas in the West of England.Mump, to beg. In Lincolnshire, Boxing-day is known asMUMPING DAY.Mumper, a beggar. A collector of holiday tribute.Mumps, the miserables. To feelMUMPISHis to be heavy, dull, and stupid.Mundungus, trashy, coarse tobacco. Sometimes used to represent the half-soddened, half-calcined residuum at the bottom of an all-but-smoked-out pipe, which, when knocked out, is vulgarly called theTOPPER,q.v.Spanish,MONDONGO, black pudding.Mungarly, bread, food.Mungis an old word for mixed food, butMUNGARLYis doubtless derived from theLingua Franca,MANGIAR, to eat.Seethe following.Mungarly casa, a baker’s shop; evidently a corruption of a Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known “Nix Mangiare” stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout, “Nix mangiare,”i.e., “Nothing to eat,” to excite the compassion of the English who land there,—an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of theLingua Franca,MANGIAREbeing Italian, andNix(German,NICHTS), an evident importation from Trieste, or other Austrian seaport.Munging, orMOUNGING, whining, begging, muttering.—North.Muns, the mouth.German,MUND.—Old Cant.Murerk, the mistress of the house.SeeBURERK.Murkarker, a monkey,—vulgar Cockney pronunciation ofMACAUCO, a species of monkey. Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, as he was mostly called, was the name of a famous fighting monkey, who used nearly fifty years ago to display his prowess at the Westminster pit, where, after having killed many dogs, he was at last “chawed up” by a bull terrier.Murphy, a potato. Probably from the Irish national liking for potatoes,MURPHYbeing a surname common amongst the Irish.Murphies(edible) are sometimes calledDONOVANS.Murphy, “in the arms ofMurphy,”i.e., fast asleep. Corruption ofMorpheus.Mush, an umbrella. Contraction ofMUSHROOM.Mush(orMUSHROOM)faker, an itinerant mender of umbrellas.Mushroom, a hat, shaped like the fungus from which it takes its name, often worn by demure ladies.Muslin, a woman or girl; “he picked up a bit ofMUSLIN.”Musta, orMUSTER, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in describing the make or pattern of anything. A sample of any kind of merchandize. This word is very generally used in commercial transactions all over the world.Mutton, a contemptuous term for a woman of bad character; sometimes varied toLACED MUTTON. The expression was used as a cant term for a “wild duck” in the reign of James I. As a slang term it was employed by Ben Jonson in his masque ofNeptune’s Triumph, whichwas written for display at Court on Twelfth Night, 1623; “a fineLACED MUTTONor two,” are the words applied to wantons. Shakspeare has the term. In that class of English society which does not lay any claim to refinement, a fond lover is often spoken of as being “fond of hisMUTTON,” which, by the way, in this place does not mean the woman so much as something else.Mutton chops, a sheep’s-head. A man who has dined off sheep’s-head dignifies his meal by calling itMUTTON CHOPS(chaps).Mutton-fist, an uncomplimentary title for any one having a large and muscular, bony, or coarse hand.Mutton-walk, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appellation applied to this place early in the last century, still in use in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for the gay and giddy of both sexes.Muzzle, the mouth.Muzzle, to fight or thrash; to throttle or garrotte.Muzzler, a blow in the mouth; a dram of spirits.Muzzy, intoxicated.My aunt,Aunt Jones, orMrs. Jones, the closet of decency, or house of office.My lord, a nickname given to a hunchback.My tulip, a term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; “‘Kim up,MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick.”My uncle, the pawnbroker,—generally used when any person questions the whereabouts of a domestic article. “Oh! only atMY UNCLE’S” is the reply. “Up the spout” has the same meaning. It is worthy of remark that the French call this useful relative “ma tante,” my aunt.
Mab, a cab, or hackney-coach.
Mace, to sponge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way: “give it him (a shopkeeper) on theMACE,”i.e., obtain goods on credit and never pay for them; also termed “striking theMACE.”
Mace, to welsh, to obtain money without any expectation of being able to pay or intention of paying.
Maceman, orMACER, a welcher, magsman, or general swindler; a “street-mugger.”
Madza, half.Italian,MEZZA. This word enters into combination with various cant phrases, mainly taken from theLingua Franca, asMADZA CAROON, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence;MADZA SALTEE, a halfpenny[seeSALTEE];MADZA POONA, half-a-sovereign;MADZA ROUND THE BULL, half a pound of steak, &c. This word is, in street phraseology, invariably pronouncedMEDZER.
Mag, a halfpenny.—Ancient Cant,MAKE.Megswere formerly guineas.—B. M. Carew.Make, the old form, is still used by schoolboys in Scotland. “Not a blessedMAG!” would be the phrase of a cadger down on his luck to express his penniless state.
Mag, literary and printers’ slang for magazine.
Mag, to talk; henceMAGPIE. ToMAGin thieves’ slang is to talk well and persuasively.
Maggoty, fanciful, fidgety. Whims and fancies were formerly termedMAGGOTS, from the popular belief that a maggot in the brain was the cause of any odd notion or caprice a person might exhibit. Deer are sometimes found to have maggots in their brains, which, perhaps, accounts for the origin of the term.
Magsman, a street swindler, who watches for countrymen and “gullible” persons, and persuades them out of their possessions.Magsmenare wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage accessories; and often a wink, a look, or a slip of the tongue would betray their confederacy. Their ability and perseverance are truly worthy of a better cause.Magsmenare very often men of superior education. Those who “work” the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomplished.
Mahcheen, a merchant. Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—Anglo-Chinese.
Mahogany, “to have one’s feet under another man’sMAHOGANY,” to sit at his table, be supported on other than one’s own resources; “amputate yourMAHOGANY,”i.e., go away, elaboration of “cut your stick.”
Mahogany flat, a bug.
Mail, to post a letter; “this screeve is mailed by a sure hand.”
Main-toby, the highway, or the main road.SeeTOBY.
Make, any one is said to be “on theMAKE” who asks too high a price for his goods, or endeavours in any way to overreach.
Make, to steal, a successful theft or swindle. A man on the look-out for swindling opportunities is said to be “on theMAKE.”
Make tracks, an Americanism synonymous with skedaddle; to make oneself scarce.
Make-up, personal appearance.—Theatrical.
Makings, materials. A man is often said to have theMAKINGSof a good politician (or whatever he may aspire to be) in him, if they were but properly applied.
Malapropism, an ignorant, vulgar misapplication of language, so named from Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan’s famous comedy of theRivals. Mrs. Partington afterwards succeeded to the mantle of Mrs. Malaprop; but the phrase Partingtonism is as yetuncoined, for the simple reason that Mrs. Malaprop was the original, Mrs. Partington the imitation.
Malley, a gardener.—Anglo-Indian.
Manablins, broken victuals.
Man a-hanging, a man in difficulties.SeeHANGING.
Mandozy, a term of endearment among East-end Jews; probably from the valiant fighter named Mendoza.
Mang, to talk.—Scotch.
Man-handle, to use a person roughly, as to take him prisoner, turn him out of a room, or give him a beating.
Man in the moon, the gentleman who is supposed to find the “pieces” to pay election expenditure and electors’ expenses, so long as the latter vote his way.SeeELECTION INQUIRIES.
Marbles, furniture, movables; “money andMARBLES,” cash and personal effects.
Marchioness, a little, dirty, old-fashioned maid-of-all-work; a title now in regular use, but derived from the remarkable character in theOld Curiosity Shop.
Mare’s nest, a supposed discovery of marvels, which turn out no marvels at all; from a story similar to that about the cock neighing. Three Cockneys, out ruralizing, had determined to find out something about nests. Accordingly, when they ultimately came upon a dungheap, they judged by the signs therein that it must be aMARE’S NEST, especially as they could see the mare close handy. An old preacher in Cornwall up to very lately employed a different simile, as, “It’s like a cow calving up in a tree.”
Marine, orMARINE RECRUIT, an empty bottle. This expression having once been used in the presence of an officer of marines, he was at first inclined to take it as an insult, until some one adroitly appeased his wrath by remarking that no offence could be meant, as all that it could possibly imply was, “one who had done his duty, and was ready to do it again.”
Mark, to make one’sMARKis to achieve a success literary, artistic, or otherwise. Men of eminence are said to leave theirMARKSon the earth’s surface. An American poet has described this ambitious, albeit somewhat rare, proceeding as leaving “footprints on the sands of time.”
Marketeer, a betting man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites, and the diseases incident to that condition of equine life. TheMARKETEERis the principal agent in all milking and knocking-out arrangements.
Market-horse, a horse simply kept in the betting-lists for the purpose of being betted against.
Marplot, an officious bungler, who spoils everything he interferes with.
Marriage lines, a marriage certificate.—Provincial.
Marrow, a mate, a fellow-workman, a pitman who works in a “shift” with another.—Northumberland and Durham.
Marrow-bones, the knees; “I’ll bring him down upon hisMARROW BONES,”i.e., I’ll make him bend his knees as he does to the Virgin Mary. Supposed to be from Mary Bones, an objectionable term used by the first Protestants in reference to the supposed adoration of the Virgin Mary by Catholics.
Marrowskying.SeeMedical Greek.
Marry, a very old term of asseveration, originally (in Popish times) a mode of swearing by the Virgin Mary;q.d., by Mary.
Martingale, a gambling term, which means the doubling of a stake every time you lose; so that when you win once you win back all that you have lost. So called from the fact that, as in all fair games you must win once, you have a safe hold of fortune. The difficulty is to obtain a bank large enough to do this effectively, or having the bank to find any one who will follow you far enough, in a fair game.
Mary Ann, the title of the dea ex machinâ evolved from trades-unionism at Sheffield, to the utter destruction of recalcitrant grinders. She is supposed to do all the “blow-ups,” steal all the bands, and otherwise terrorize over victims of the union.
Marygold, one million sterling.SeePLUM.
Maskee, never mind, no consequence.—Anglo-Chinese.
Massacre of the innocents, when the leader of the House of Commons goes through the doleful operation of devoting to extinction a number of useful measures at the end of the session, for want of time to pass them.VideTimes, 20th July, 1859: Mr. C. Foster, on altering the time of the legislative sessions.—Parliamentary Slang.
Master of the Mint, a gardener.
Master of the Rolls, a baker.
Mate, the term a coster or low person applies to a friend, partner, or companion; “me and myMATEdid so and so,” is a common phrase with a low Londoner. Originally asea term.
Matey, a labourer in one of Her Majesty’s dockyards. Common elaboration of the wordMATE.
Maudlin, Magdalen College, Oxford. This is the old English pronunciation of the word.
Mauley, a fist, that with which one strikes as with a mall.—Pugilistic.
Mauley, a signature, fromMAULEY, a fist; “put your fist to it,” is sometimes said by a tradesman when desiring a fellow-trader to put his signature to a bill or note.
Maund, to beg; “MAUNDERINGon the fly,” begging of people in the streets.—Old Cant.Maung, to beg, is a term in use amongst the gipsies, and may also be found in the Hindoo vocabulary.Maund, however, is pure Anglo-Saxon, fromMAND, a basket. CompareBEG, which is derived fromBAG—a curious parallel.
Maw, the mouth; “hold yourMAW,” cease talking.
Mawworm, a hypocrite of the most unpleasant kind. From Bickerstaff’s play ofThe Hypocrite. Originally aMAWWORMwas a worm in the stomach, the thread worm.
Max, gin;MAXupon tick, gin obtained upon credit.
Mazarine, the platform beneath the stage in large theatres. Probably corruption ofItalian,MEZZANINO.
M. B. coat, (i.e., Mark of the Beast,) a name given to the long surtout worn by some of the clergy,—a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a High Church customer by a tailor’s orders to his foreman.
Mealy-mouthed, soft-spoken, plausible, deceitful. A specious liar is said to beMEALY-MOUTHED.
Mean white, a term of contempt among negroes, in the old slavery days, for white men without landed property. A white man in the Southern States had nolocus standiunless he possessed property, and the blackest of niggers would have felt insulted at any “poor white trash” claiming to be “a man and brother.”
Measley, mean, miserable-looking, “seedy;” “what aMEASLEY-looking man!”i.e., what a wretched, unhappy fellow.
Medical Greek, the slang used by medical students at the hospitals. At the London University they have a way of disguising English, described by Albert Smith as the Gower Street Dialect, which consists in transposing the initials of words,e.g., “poke a smipe”—smoke a pipe; “flutter-by”—butterfly, &c. This disagreeable nonsense, which has not even the recommendation of a little ability in its composition, is often termed Marrowskying.SeeGreek,St. Giles’s Greek, or the “Ægidiac” dialect, Language ofZIPH, &c.
Meisensang, a missionary, Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—Anglo-Chinese.
Menagerie, the orchestra of a theatre.—Theatrical.
Menavelings, odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at a railway booking-office,—usually divided among the clerks.SeeOVERSandSHORTS.
Men of Kent, men born in that portion of the “garden of England” which lies east of the Medway, as distinguished from Kentish men born the other side. TheMEN OF KENTare entitled to the benefit of the old laws of the county, that of gavelkind particularly.
Merkin, a term usually applied to a woman’s privities. Originally false hair for those parts.
Merry Dun of Dover, a large ship figuring in sailors’ yarns. She was so large that when passing through the Straits of Dover her flying jib-boom knocked down Calais steeple; while, at the same time, the fly of her ensign swept a flock of sheep off Dover cliffs. She was so lofty that a boy who attempted to go to her mast-head found himself a grey old man when he reached the deck again. This yarn is founded on a story in the Scandinavian mythology. There is also a legendamong sailors of the gallant Thunderbomb, which had “ninety-nine decks and no bottom.”
Mesopotamia, a name given to Eaton Square and neighbourhood when first built. This part was also called Cubitopolis.—Fashionable slang.
Mess, to interfere unduly. Costermongers refer to police supervision asMESSING. Among sailors, a dead man is said to have lost the number of hisMESS.
Metallician, a racing bookmaker. Bookmakers use metallic books and pencils.
Middy, abbreviation of midshipman.—Naval.
Midge net, a lady’s veil.
Mike, an Irish hodman, or general labourer.
Mike, to loiter; or “lazy about.” The term probably originated in St. Giles’s, which is thronged with Irish labourers, who rarely or never labour (Mikebeing so common a term with them as to become a generic appellation for Irishmen), and who loiter and lean against the public-houses in the “Dials.” It has been said that the term is Old English,MICHE, to skulk, to loiter; Old Norse,MAK, leisure, idleness.“Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove aMICHER?”Shakspeare’s Hen. IV., ii. 4.Whatever may have been its origin, there can be now no doubt that the word is supposed to have particular reference to the habits of the IrishMikes, or labourers, though now and again it is borrowed in the interests of others.
Mike, to loiter; or “lazy about.” The term probably originated in St. Giles’s, which is thronged with Irish labourers, who rarely or never labour (Mikebeing so common a term with them as to become a generic appellation for Irishmen), and who loiter and lean against the public-houses in the “Dials.” It has been said that the term is Old English,MICHE, to skulk, to loiter; Old Norse,MAK, leisure, idleness.
“Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove aMICHER?”Shakspeare’s Hen. IV., ii. 4.
“Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove aMICHER?”
Whatever may have been its origin, there can be now no doubt that the word is supposed to have particular reference to the habits of the IrishMikes, or labourers, though now and again it is borrowed in the interests of others.
Mild, second-rate, inferior.SeeDRAW IT MILD. Also feeble, inefficient, as “aMILDattempt.” Weak young men who keep bulldogs, and dress in a “loud” stable style, from a belief that it is very becoming, are sometimes called “MILDbloaters.”
Milk, a term used in connexion with racing; when a horse is entered in a race for which his owner does not intend him to run, or at all events in which he does not intend him to win, and bets against him, the animal is said to “beMILKED.”Milking, is keeping a horse a favourite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance whatever, or in which he will not be allowed to try, for the purpose of laying against him.
Milky ones, white linen rags.
Mill, a fight, or set to.Ancient Cant,MYLL, to rob. Probably from the special opportunities afforded to pickpockets when the ring was a “national institution.”
Mill, to fight or beat.
Mill, the old Insolvent Debtors’ Court. “To go through theMILL” was equivalent to being “whitewashed.”
Mill, the tread-MILL.
Miller.To drown theMILLERis to put too much water in anything. The phrase was originally “to drown theMILLER’Sthumb,” or go over the specified mark,i.e., the thumb-mark, in adding water to ardent spirits.
Miller.“To give theMILLER” is to engage a person in conversation of an apparently friendly character, when all at once the bystanders surround and pelt him with flour, grease, and filth of various kinds, flour predominating. This mode of punishing spies, informers, and other obnoxious individuals, is used by cabmen, omnibus conductors,et hoc genus omne. Eggs are useful missiles in an engagement of this description. If rotten eggs are not obtainable, ordinary ones will do.
Miller.This word is frequently called out when a person relates a stale joke.SeeJoe.
Milvader, to beat.
Mish, a shirt, or chemise. FromCOMMISSION, the ancient cant for a shirt, afterwards shortened toK’MISHorSMISH, and then toMISH.French,CHEMISE;Italian,CAMICIA.“With his snowyCAMESEand his shaggy capote.”—Byron.
Mish, a shirt, or chemise. FromCOMMISSION, the ancient cant for a shirt, afterwards shortened toK’MISHorSMISH, and then toMISH.French,CHEMISE;Italian,CAMICIA.
“With his snowyCAMESEand his shaggy capote.”—Byron.
“With his snowyCAMESEand his shaggy capote.”—Byron.
Mitey, a cheesemonger.
Mitten.“To get theMITTEN” is, in Canadian slang, to be jilted.
Mittens, the boxing gloves.
Mizzle, a frequentative form ofMISTin both senses; as applied to weather, it is used by John Gadbury in hisEphemerisin 1695—MISTYandMIZZLING—to come down as mist; while the other sense may be expressed as to fade away like a mist.
Mizzle, to run away, or decamp; to disappear as in a mist. FromMIZZLE, a drizzling rain; a Scotch mist.“And then oneMIZZLINGMichaelmas night,The Count heMIZZLEDtoo.”—Hood.
Mizzle, to run away, or decamp; to disappear as in a mist. FromMIZZLE, a drizzling rain; a Scotch mist.
“And then oneMIZZLINGMichaelmas night,The Count heMIZZLEDtoo.”—Hood.
“And then oneMIZZLINGMichaelmas night,The Count heMIZZLEDtoo.”—Hood.
Mizzler, orRUM-MIZZLER, a person who is clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a difficulty.
Moab, a name applied to the turban-shaped hat which was some few years back fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex. From the Scripture phrase, “Moabis my washpot” (Ps. lx. 8), which latter article the hat in question was supposed to resemble.—University.
Mob.Swift informs us, in hisArt of Polite Conversation, thatMOBwas, in his time, the slang abbreviation of “mobility,” just asNOBis of “nobility,” at the present day.SeeSCHOOL.“It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as inMOB., red., pos., incog., and the like.”—Addison’s Spectator.
Mob.Swift informs us, in hisArt of Polite Conversation, thatMOBwas, in his time, the slang abbreviation of “mobility,” just asNOBis of “nobility,” at the present day.SeeSCHOOL.
“It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as inMOB., red., pos., incog., and the like.”—Addison’s Spectator.
“It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, that in familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as inMOB., red., pos., incog., and the like.”—Addison’s Spectator.
Mob, a thief’s immediate companions, as,—“our ownMOB;”MOBSMAN, a dressy swindler or pickpocket.
Mob, to hustle, crowd round, and annoy, necessarily the action of a large party against a smaller one, or an individual. Mobbing is generally a concomitant of street robbery.
Mobility, the populace; or, according to Burke, the “great unwashed.” Johnson calls it a cant term, although Swift notices it as a proper expression.
Mockered, holey, marked unpleasantly. A ragged handkerchief and a blotched or pitted face are both said to beMOCKERED.
Modest quencher, a glass of spirits and water. Dick Swiveller was fond of aMODEST QUENCHER.
Moey, the mouth.—GipsyandHindoo. Shakspeare hasMOE, to make mouths.
Mofussilite, an inhabitant of an up-country district.—Anglo-Indian.
Moisten your chaffer, a slang phrase equivalent to “take something to drink.” Also “moisten your clay,” originally applied to smokers, now general, and supposed to have reference to the human clay.
Moke, a donkey.—Gipsy, but now general to all the lower orders. A “coster” and his “moke” are almost inseparable terms. Probably derived originally from the Arabical mocreve, a carrier.
Moko, a name given by sportsmen to pheasants killed by mistake during September, before the pheasant-shooting comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they are no pheasants at all, butMOKOS.
Moll, a girl; nickname for Mary.—Old Cant.
Molled, followed, or accompanied by a woman. When a costermonger sees a friend walking with a woman he does not know, he says on the first opportunity afterwards, “I see yer the other night when yer wasMOLLEDup and too proud to speak.”
Mollisher, a low girl or woman; generally a female cohabiting with a man who gets his living by thieving.
Mollsack, a reticule, or market basket.
Moll Thomson’s mark, that is, M. T.—empty; as, “Take away this bottle, it hasMoll Thomson’s markon it.”SeeM. T.
Moll-tooler, a female pickpocket.
Mollycoddle, an effeminate man; one who “coddles” amongst the women, or does their work.
Mollygrubs, orMULLIGRUBS, stomach ache, or sorrow—which to the costermonger is much the same, as he believes, like the ancients, that the viscera is the seat of all feeling. Costermongers are not alone, even in the present day, in this belief.
Molrowing, “out on the spree,” in company with so-called “gay women.” In allusion to the amatory serenadings of the London cats. Another form of this is, “out on the tiles.”
Mondayish, or Mondayfied, disinclined for work. “St. Monday” is a great institution among artizans and small tradesmen.
Monk, a term of contempt; probably an abbreviation ofMONKEY.
Monkey, spirit or ill temper; “to get one’sMONKEYup,” to rouse his passion. A man is said to have hisMONKEYup or theMONKEYon his back, when he is “riled,” or out of temper; this is old, and was probably in allusion originally to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man; also under similar circumstances a man is said to have his back or hump up.
Monkey, the instrument which drives a rocket.—Army.
Monkey, 500l.--Sporting Slang.
Monkey, the vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.—Sea.
Monkey-board, the place or step attached to an omnibus, on which the conductor stands.
Monkey-boat, a peculiar, long, narrow, canal boat.
Monkey with a long tail, a mortgage.—Legal.
Monkey’s allowance, to get blows instead of alms, more kicks than halfpence.
Monkery, the country, or rural districts. Originally an old word for a quiet or monastic life.—Hall.
Monniker, a person’s name or signature.
Month of Sundays, an indefinite period, a long time.
Mooch, to sponge; to obtrude oneself upon friends just when they are about to sit down to dinner, or other lucky time—of course quite accidentally. CompareHULK. To slink away, and allow your friend to pay for the entertainment. In Wiltshire,TO MOOCHis to shuffle.Seethe following.
Mooching, orON THE MOOCH, on the look-out for any articles or circumstances which may be turned to a profitable account; watching in the streets for odd jobs, horses to hold, &c.; also scraps of food, drinks, old clothes, &c.
Moon, a month; generally used to express the length of time a person has been sentenced by the magistrate; thus “oneMOON” is one month of four weeks. A calendar month is known as a “callingder” or longMOON. A “lunarMOON,” ridiculous as the phrase may seem, is of constant use among those who affect slang of this description.
Mooney, intoxicated, a name for a silly fellow.
Mooning, loitering, wandering about in a purposeless manner.
Moonlight, orMOONSHINE, smuggled spirits. From the night-work of smugglers.
Moon-raker, a native of Wiltshire; because it is said that some men of that county, seeing the reflection of the moon in a pond, took it to be a cheese, and endeavoured to pull it out with a rake.
Moonshee, a learned man, professor, or teacher.—Anglo-Indian.
Moonshine, palaver, deception, humbug.
Mop, a hiring place (or fair) for servants. Steps are often “about to be taken” to put down these assemblies, which have been proved to be greatly detrimental to the morality of the poor. They are supposed to contribute largely to the bastardy percentages.
Mop, an habitual drunkard. Also a period of intoxication. “To be ontheMOP” is to be on the drink from day to day—to be perpetually “stale drunk.”
Mop up, to drink, or empty a glass.—Old Sea term.
Mops and brooms, intoxicated. Supposed by an imaginative person to be the appearance presented by the world to a very drunken man. Possibly the term was first used to express sea-sickness.
Mopusses, money; “MOPUSSESran taper,” money ran short.
Moral, a forthcoming result which appears certain—originallyMORALcertainty. This is racing slang, as, “The race is aMORALfor Cremorne.” TheseMORALSare often, however, of very uncertain tenure.
More-ish.When there is scarcely enough of an eatable or drinkable, it is said to tasteMORE-ISH; as, “This wine is very good, but it has a slightMORE-ISHflavour.”
Morris, to decamp, be off. Probably from the ancientMORESCO, ofMORRIS-DANCE.See Shakspeare.
Mortar-board, a square college cap.
Mortgage-deed, a pawnbroker’s duplicate.
Moskeneer, to pawn with a view to obtaining more than the actual value of an article. There are, in various parts of the country, men who makeMOSKENEERINGa profession—that is, they buy jewellery which, though fairly good, is not so good as it seems, and pawn it as opportunity occurs. It is notorious that some men can obtain a much larger sum on a given article than others can; though the smallest of these professionals generally manage to get good livings, which does not say much for the judgment of those constant inspectors of personal property—pawnbrokers’ assistants.
Mot, a girl of indifferent character. Formerly,Mort.Dutch,MOTT-KAST, a harlotry.Mot-cart,seeLOOSE-BOX.
Mouchey, a Jew.
Mouldy, grey-headed. Servants wearing hair-powder are usually termedMOULDY-PATESby street boys.
Mouldy-grubs, travelling showmen, mountebanks who perform in the open air without tent or covering. Doing this is calledMOULDY-GRUBBING.
Mount, a saddle-horse. According to quality, “a goodMOUNT,” or “a badMOUNT.”
Mount, in theatrical parlance, to prepare for production on the stage. “The piece was excellentlyMOUNTED.”
Mounter, a false swearer. Derived from the borrowed clothes men used toMOUNT, or dress in, when going to swear for a consideration.
Mountain-dew, whisky, advertised as from the Highlands.
Mountain-pecker, a sheep’s head.SeeJEMMY.
Mourning, “a full suit ofMOURNING,” two black eyes;HALF-MOURNING, one black eye.
Mouse, a black eye. By a façon de parler, any one with “aMOUSE” is supposed to have been to Blackwall.
Mouth-almighty, a noisy, talkative person.
Mouthpiece, a lawyer, or counsel. Thieves and their associates always speak of a counsel as aMOUTHPIECE.
Move, a “dodge,” or cunning trick; “up to aMOVEor two,” acquainted with tricks. Probably derived from the game of chess.
M.P., member of the police, one of the slang titles of the Force.
Mrs. Grundy, the representative of the censorious world, “What willMrs. Grundysay?” Originally a character in the comedy ofSpeed the Plough.
Mrs. HarrisandMrs. Gamp, nicknames of theMorning HeraldandStandardnewspapers, while united under the proprietorship of Mr. Baldwin.Mrs. Gamp, a monthly nurse, was a character in Charles Dickens’s popular novel ofMartin Chuzzlewit, who continually quoted an imaginaryMrs. Harrisin attestation of the superiority of her qualifications, and the infallibility of her opinions; and thus afforded a parallel to the two newspapers, which appealed to each other as independent authorities, being all the while the production of the same editorial staff.Seeintroductory article.
Mrs. Jones, the house of office, a water-closet.
M.T., railway slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or empty carriages.SeeMoll Thomson’s mark.
Much of a muchness, alike, very much the same thing.
Muck, to beat, or excel. “It’s no use, his luck’s dead in; he’dMUCKa thousand;” “heMUCKEDme clean out,” &c. ToRUN A MUCK, orGO A MUCKER, to rush headlong into certain ruin. From a certain religious frenzy, or intoxication caused by bhang, which is common among the Malays, and which now and again causes an enthusiast, kreese in hand, to dash into a crowd and devote every one he meets to death until he is himself killed, or falls from exhaustion.—Malay,AMOK, slaughter.
Muckender, orMUCKENGER, a pocket-handkerchief.—Old.Cf.SNOTTINGER. The original name of the “Neckinger” in Bermondsey was “the Devil’s Neck-handkerchief.” There is still a Neckinger Road and Messrs. Bevington and Sons’ tannery in Bermondsey bears the name of the Neckinger Mills.
Mucker,TO GO A, to go to grief, to ruin one’s prospects.—Oxford Univ.
Muck-out, to clean out; often applied to one utterly ruining an adversary in gambling.
Muck-snipe, one who has been “MUCKED OUT,” or beggared, at gambling.SeeMUCK.
Mud-crusher, a word of contempt, used by the cavalry in reference to the infantry.
Mudfog, “The British Association for the Advancement of Science.” Term first used by Charles Dickens inBentley’s Miscellany, about 1836.
Mud-lark, a man or woman who, with clothes tucked above the knee, grovels through the mud on the banks of the Thames, when the tide is low, for silver or pewter spoons, old bottles, pieces of iron, coal, or any articles of the least value, deposited by the retiring tide, either from passing ships or the sewers. Occasionally applied to those men who cleanse the sewers, and who wear great boots and sou’-wester hats. Those who are employed in banks and counting-houses, in collecting and other out-door duties, have also this appellation.
Mud-student, a farming pupil. The name given to the students at the Agricultural College, Cirencester.
Muff, a silly or weak-minded person, a duffer;MUFFhas been defined to be “a soft thing that holds a lady’s hand without squeezing it.”
Muffin-cap, a cap similar to that worn by a charity-boy.
Muffin-face, a white, soft, delicate, or whiskerless face.
Muffin-worry, an old lady’s tea party.
Mufti, the civilian dress of a naval or military officer when off duty.—Anglo-Indian.From an Eastern word signifying a clergyman or priest.
Mug, the mouth, or face.—Old.“‘Goblet and mug.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff from the goblet afterwards appears in theMUG.”
Mug, the mouth, or face.—Old.
“‘Goblet and mug.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff from the goblet afterwards appears in theMUG.”
“‘Goblet and mug.’—Topers should bear in mind that what they quaff from the goblet afterwards appears in theMUG.”
Mug, to strike in the face, or fight. Also, to rob or swindle.Gaelic,MUIG, to suffocate, oppress;Irish,MUGAIM, to kill, destroy.
Mug, “toMUGoneself,” to get tipsy.
Mugging, a thrashing,—synonymous with “slogging,” both terms of the “ring,” and frequently used by fighting men.
Muggy, drunk. Also, as applied to weather, stifling, oppressive.
Mug-up, to paint one’s face, or dress specially with a view to impersonation.—Theatrical.To “cram” for an examination.—Army.
Mull, “to make aMULLof it,” to spoil anything, or make a fool of oneself.
Mulligrubs.VideMOLLYGRUBS.
Mullingar heifer, a girl with thick ankles.—Irish.The story goes that a traveller, passing through Mullingar, was so struck with this local peculiarity in the women, that he determined to accost the next one he met. “May I ask,” said he, “if you wear hay in your shoes?” “Faith an’ I do,” said the girl; “and what then?” “Because,” says the traveller, “that accounts for the calves of your legs coming down to feed on it.”
Multee kertever, very bad.Italian,MOLTO CATTIVO. Generally used with the affix of bloke when referring to a man. Phrase much used by circus riders.
Mum, “to keepMUM,” to hold one’s peace. Hence “MUM’Sthe word,”—a phrase which implies to all hearers that the matter to which it refers must remain secret.
Mummer, a performer at a travelling theatre.—Ancient.Rustic performers at Christmas in the West of England.
Mump, to beg. In Lincolnshire, Boxing-day is known asMUMPING DAY.
Mumper, a beggar. A collector of holiday tribute.
Mumps, the miserables. To feelMUMPISHis to be heavy, dull, and stupid.
Mundungus, trashy, coarse tobacco. Sometimes used to represent the half-soddened, half-calcined residuum at the bottom of an all-but-smoked-out pipe, which, when knocked out, is vulgarly called theTOPPER,q.v.Spanish,MONDONGO, black pudding.
Mungarly, bread, food.Mungis an old word for mixed food, butMUNGARLYis doubtless derived from theLingua Franca,MANGIAR, to eat.Seethe following.
Mungarly casa, a baker’s shop; evidently a corruption of a Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known “Nix Mangiare” stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout, “Nix mangiare,”i.e., “Nothing to eat,” to excite the compassion of the English who land there,—an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of theLingua Franca,MANGIAREbeing Italian, andNix(German,NICHTS), an evident importation from Trieste, or other Austrian seaport.
Munging, orMOUNGING, whining, begging, muttering.—North.
Muns, the mouth.German,MUND.—Old Cant.
Murerk, the mistress of the house.SeeBURERK.
Murkarker, a monkey,—vulgar Cockney pronunciation ofMACAUCO, a species of monkey. Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, as he was mostly called, was the name of a famous fighting monkey, who used nearly fifty years ago to display his prowess at the Westminster pit, where, after having killed many dogs, he was at last “chawed up” by a bull terrier.
Murphy, a potato. Probably from the Irish national liking for potatoes,MURPHYbeing a surname common amongst the Irish.Murphies(edible) are sometimes calledDONOVANS.
Murphy, “in the arms ofMurphy,”i.e., fast asleep. Corruption ofMorpheus.
Mush, an umbrella. Contraction ofMUSHROOM.
Mush(orMUSHROOM)faker, an itinerant mender of umbrellas.
Mushroom, a hat, shaped like the fungus from which it takes its name, often worn by demure ladies.
Muslin, a woman or girl; “he picked up a bit ofMUSLIN.”
Musta, orMUSTER, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in describing the make or pattern of anything. A sample of any kind of merchandize. This word is very generally used in commercial transactions all over the world.
Mutton, a contemptuous term for a woman of bad character; sometimes varied toLACED MUTTON. The expression was used as a cant term for a “wild duck” in the reign of James I. As a slang term it was employed by Ben Jonson in his masque ofNeptune’s Triumph, whichwas written for display at Court on Twelfth Night, 1623; “a fineLACED MUTTONor two,” are the words applied to wantons. Shakspeare has the term. In that class of English society which does not lay any claim to refinement, a fond lover is often spoken of as being “fond of hisMUTTON,” which, by the way, in this place does not mean the woman so much as something else.
Mutton chops, a sheep’s-head. A man who has dined off sheep’s-head dignifies his meal by calling itMUTTON CHOPS(chaps).
Mutton-fist, an uncomplimentary title for any one having a large and muscular, bony, or coarse hand.
Mutton-walk, the saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appellation applied to this place early in the last century, still in use in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for the gay and giddy of both sexes.
Muzzle, the mouth.
Muzzle, to fight or thrash; to throttle or garrotte.
Muzzler, a blow in the mouth; a dram of spirits.
Muzzy, intoxicated.
My aunt,Aunt Jones, orMrs. Jones, the closet of decency, or house of office.
My lord, a nickname given to a hunchback.
My tulip, a term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; “‘Kim up,MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick.”
My uncle, the pawnbroker,—generally used when any person questions the whereabouts of a domestic article. “Oh! only atMY UNCLE’S” is the reply. “Up the spout” has the same meaning. It is worthy of remark that the French call this useful relative “ma tante,” my aunt.