Shoes, children’s, to make, to suffer oneself to be made sport of, or depreciated. Commonly used in Norfolk.—Cf.Mrs. Behn’s comedy,The Roundheads.Hews.“Who, pox! shall we standMAKING CHILDREN’S SHOESall the year? No: let’s begin to settle the nation, I say, and go through-stitch with our work.”Shoful, a Hansom cab. This favourite carriage was the invention of a Mr. Hansom, afterwards connected with theBuildernewspaper. It has been asserted that the termSHOFULwas derived from “shovel,” the earliest slang term applied to Hansoms by other cab-drivers, who conceived their shape to be after the fashion of a scoop or shovel. A logical friend of the present Editor’s argues thus:—Shoful, full of show,ergo, beautiful—handsome—Hansom. This is clever, but it certainly never entered into the heads of those who gave the name ofSHOFULto the Hansom cabs.Shoful, bad or counterfeit money. Perhaps, as some think, from theDanish,SKUFFE, to shove, to deceive, cheat;Saxon,SCUFAN,—whence theEnglish,SHOVE. The term, however, is possibly one of the many street words from theHebrew(through the low Jews);SHEPHEL, in that language, signifying a low or debased estate.Chaldee,SHAPHAL.—SeePsalm cxxxvi. 23, “in our low estate.” A correspondent suggests a very probable derivation, from theGerman,SCHOFEL, trash, rubbish,—theGermanadjective,SCHOFELIG, being the nearest possible translation of our shabby.Shofulmeans anything mock, asSHOFULjewellery. ASHOFULis also a humbug, an impostor.Shoful-pitcher, a passer of bad money.Shoful-pitching, passing bad money. “Snide-pitcher” and “Snide-pitching” are terms exchangeable with the preceding.Shoful pullet, a “gay” or unsteady woman, especially a young woman.Sholl, to bonnet one, or crush a person’s hat over his eyes.—North.Shool, to saunter idly, to become a vagabond, to beg rather than work.—Smollett’s Roderick Random, vol. i., p. 262.Shool, Jews’ term for their synagogue.Shoot the cat, to vomit. From a story of a man being sick in the back yard, and suffocating a cat and all her kittens.Shoot the moon, to remove furniture from a house in the night without paying the landlord.Shop.In racing slang, to secure first, second, or third position in a race, is to get aSHOP. This is also known as a place, and as a situation.SeePLACE.Shop, a house. “How are they all at yourSHOP?” is a common question among small tradesmen.Shop, the House of Commons. The only instance we have met with of the use of this word in literature occurs in Mr. Trollope’sFramley Parsonage:—“‘If we are merely to do as we are bid, and have no voice of our own, I don’t see what’s the good of our going to theSHOPat all,’ said Mr. Sowerby.”Shop, to discharge a shopman. In military slang, toSHOPan officer is to put him under arrest in the guard-room. In pugilistic slang, to punish a man severely is “to knock him all over theSHOP,”i.e., the ring, the place in which the work is done.Shop-bouncer, orSHOP-LIFTER, a person generally respectably attired, who, while being served with a small article at a shop, steals one of more value. Shakspeare has the wordLIFTER, a thief.Shop-walker, a person employed to walk up and down a shop, to hand seats to customers, and see that they are properly served. Contracted also toWALKER.Shopping, purchasing at shops. Termed by Todd a slang word, but used by Cowper and Byron.Shoppy, to be full of nothing but one’s own calling or profession; “to talkSHOP,” to converse of nothing but professional subjects.Short, when spirit is drunk without any admixture of water, it is said to be taken “SHORT;” “summatSHORT,” a dram. A similar phrase is used at the counters of banks; upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, “How will you take it?”i.e., in gold, or notes. If in notes, long or short? Should it be desired to receive it in notes for the largest possible amount, the answer is,SHORT. A conductor of an omnibus, or any other servant, is said to beSHORTwhen he does not give all the money he receives to his master.Short, hard-up; a polite term for impecuniosity used in clubs and among military men.Short commons, short allowance of food.SeeCOMMONS.Shorter, one who makes a dishonest profit by reducing the coin of the realm by clipping and filing. From a crown-piece aSHORTERcould gain 5d. Another way was by chemical means: a guinea laid in aquafortis would, in twelve hours, precipitate 9d.-worth of sediment; in twenty-four, 1s. 6d.-worth.—Rommany Rye.Shot, from the modern sense of the word toSHOOT,—a guess, a random conjecture; “to make a badSHOT,” to expose one’s ignorance by making a wrong guess, or random answer, without knowing whether it is right or wrong.Shot, from the once general, but now provincial word, toSHOOT, to subscribe, contribute in fair proportion;—a share, from theAnglo-Saxonword,SCEAT; “to pay one’sSHOT,”i.e., share of the reckoning, &c.“Yet still while I have gotEnough to pay theSHOTOf Boniface, both gruff and greedy O!”Fisher’s Garlandfor 1835.Shot, “I wish I may beSHOT, if,” &c., a common form of mild swearing.Shot, a term used among horse chaunters. ToSHOTa horse, is to give him a lot of small shot, which will for a short time effectually “open his pipes,” and make him appear sound in wind.Shot in the locker, money in pocket, resource of any kind in store.—Navy.Shoulder, when a servant embezzles his master’s money, he is said toSHOULDERhis employer.Shout, to pay for drink round. “It’s mySHOUT,” says he who pays. Possibly because the payer originallySHOUTEDto the bar-keeper of an hotel to score the drink to him.—Australian, but now general.Shove-halfpenny, a gambling pot-house pastime, played on a table. A very old game, originally called push-penny.Shove in the mouth, a glass of spirits, which is taken off quickly and at once.Shovel, a term applied by the vulgar crowd to the inelegant twisted hats worn by the dignitaries of the Church. Dean Alford says, “I once heard a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as “an old party in aSHOVEL.”—Queen’s English.Shrimp, a diminutive person.—Chaucer.Shtumer, a horse against which money may be laid without risk.SeeSAFE UN.Shunt, to avoid, to turn aside from. From the railway term.Shut of, orSHOT OF,i.e., rid of. A very common expression amongst the London lower orders. One costermonger will say to another:—“Well, Ike, did yer getSHUT O’them there gawfs [apples]?”i.e., did you sell them all?Shut up!be quiet, don’t make a noise; to stop short, to cease in a summary manner, to silence effectually. The following is from a literary paper:—“Only the other day we heard of a preacher who, speaking of the scene with the doctors in the Temple, remarked that the Divine disputant completelySHUT THEM UP!”Shut up, utterly exhausted, done for.Shy, a throw.Seethe following:—Shy, to fling;COCK-SHY,a game at fairs, consisting of throwing shortsticks at trinkets or cocoanuts set upon other sticks,—both name and practice derived from the old game of throwing orSHYINGat live cocks. This game is best known to the London public as “three shies a penny.”Shy.“To fightSHYof a person,” to avoid his society either from dislike, fear, or other reason.Shyhas also the sense of flighty, unsteady, untrustworthy.Shy, to stop suddenly, or turn off, as a horse does when frightened.Shyster, a duffer, a vagabond. Variation of “shicer.”Sices, orSIZES, a throw of sixes at dice.Sick as a horse, a popular simile,—curious, because a horse never vomits.Sickener, a dose too much of anything. Too much of even a good thing will make a man sick.Side, an affirmative expression in the cant language of the northern towns. “Do you stoll the gammy?” (Do you understand cant?) “Side, cove” (yes, mate).Side-boards, orSTICK-UPS, shirt collars. Name applied some years ago, before the present style of collars came into fashion.Sift, to embezzle small coins, those which might pass through a sieve—as threepennies and fourpennies—and which are, therefore, not likely to be missed.Sight, “to take aSIGHTat a person,” a vulgar action employed by boys and others to denote incredulity, or contempt for authority, by placing the thumb against the nose and extending the fingers, which are agitated in token of derision.“The sacristan he says no word that indicates a doubt,But he puts his finger to his nose, and spreads his fingers out.”Nell Cook.Silly season, the period when nobody is supposed to be in London, when there are no parliamentary debates to publish, and when editors are at their wits’-ends to fill their papers with readable matter. All kinds of crazes on political and social subjects are then ventilated, gigantic gooseberries, monstrous births, and strange showers then become plentiful, columns are devoted to matters which would not at any other time receive consideration, and, so far as the newspapers are concerned, silliness is at a premium.Silver beggar, orLURKER, a vagabond who travels through the country with “briefs” containing false statements of losses by fire, shipwrecks, accidents, &c. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham subscription books. The former, in beggar parlance, is termed “a sham,” whilst the latter is denominated “a delicate.”Sim, one of a Methodistical turn in religion; a Low Churchman; originally a follower of the late Rev. Charles Simeon.—Cambridge.Simon, a sixpenny-piece.Simon, orSIMPLE SIMON, a credulous, gullible person. A character in a song, but now common.Simon Pure, “the realSimon Pure,” the genuine article. Those who have witnessed Mr. Charles Mathews’s performance in Mrs. Centlivre’s admirable comedy ofA Bold Stroke for a Wife, and the laughable coolness with which he, the falseSimon Pure, assuming the Quaker dress and character of the real one, elbows that worthy out of his expected entertainment, will at once perceive the origin of this phrase.—Seeact v. scene i.Simpkin, orSIMKIN, champagne.—Anglo-Indian.Derived from the manner in which native servants pronounce champagne.Simpson, water used in the dilution of milk. Term in use among cow-keepers. From this the parish pump has been called Mrs.Simpson.Sing out, to call aloud.—Sea.Sing small, to lessen one’s boasting, and turn arrogance into humility.Sing-song, a harmonic meeting at a pot-house, a free-and-easy.Sinkers, bad money,—affording a man but little assistance in “keeping afloat.”Sinks, a throw of fives at dice.French,CINQ.Si quis, a candidate for “orders.” From the notification commencingSI QUIS—if any one.Sir Harry, a close stool.Sir Reverence, a corruption of the old phrase,SAVE YOUR REVERENCE, a sort of apology for alluding to anything likely to shock one’s sense of decency.Latin,SALVÂ REVERENTIÂ.SeeShakspeare’sRomeo and Juliet, act i. scene iv. From this it came to mean the thing itself—human ordure generally, but sometimes other indecencies.Siserara, a hard blow.—Suffolk.Many derive this term from the story of Sisera in the Old Testament, but it is probably a corruption ofCERTIORARI, a Chancery writ reciting a complaint of hard usage.Sit under, a term employed in Dissenters’ meeting-houses, to denote attendance on the ministry of any particular preacher.Sit upon, to overcome or rebuke, to express contempt for a man in a marked manner. Also, to chaff or “roast” a man consumedly.Sit-upons, trousers.SeeINEXPRESSIBLES.Sivvy, “’pon mySIVVY,”i.e., upon my soul or honour. Corruption of “asseveration,” likeDAVY, which is an abridgment of “affidavit.”Sixes and sevens, articles in confusion are said to be allSIXES AND SEVENS. The Deity is mentioned in theTowneley Mysteriesas He that “set all on seven,”i.e., set or appointed everything in seven days. A similar phrase at this early date implied confusion and disorder, and from these, Halliwell thinks, has been derived the phrase “to be atSIXES AND SEVENS.” A Scotch correspondent, however, states that the phrase probably came from the workshop, and that amongst needle-makers, when the points and eyes are “heads and tails” (“heeds and thraws”), or in confusion, they are said to beSIXES AND SEVENS, because those numbers are the sizes most generally used, and in the course of manufacture have frequently to be distinguished.Sixty, “to go along likeSIXTY,”i.e., at a good rate, briskly.Sixty-per-cent, a bill-discounter. From the rate of interest generally charged. If bill-discounters profess to do the business for less, they generally make up the level sixty by extras.Six-water grog, a sea-term for the weakest grog possible—six portions of water to one of rum—hardly enough spirit to “swear by.”Size, to order extras over and above the usual commons at the dinner in college halls. Soup, pastry, &c., areSIZINGS, and are paid for at a certain specified rate perSIZE, or portion, to the college cook. Peculiar to Cambridge. Minsheu says, “SIZE, a farthing which schollers in Cambridge have at the buttery, noted with the letters.”Sizers, orSIZARS, certain poor scholars at Cambridge, annually elected, who got their dinners (including “sizings”) from what was left at the upper, or Fellows’ table, free, or nearly so. They paid rent of rooms, and some other fees, on a lower scale than the “Pensioners” or ordinary students, and were equal with the “battlers” and “servitors” at Oxford.Sizings.SeeSIZE.Skedaddle, to go off in a hurry. The American war introduced this new and amusing word. A Northerner who retreated “retired upon his supports,” but a Southerner was said toSKEDADDLE. TheTimesremarked on the word, and Lord Hill wrote to prove that it was excellent Scotch. The Americans only misapply the word, which means, in Dumfries, “to spill”—milkmaids, for example, saying, “You areSKEDADDLINGall that milk.” The Yankees therefore adopted the term, and altered the application.Skid, a sovereign. Fashionable slang. OccasionallySKIV.Skid, orSKIDPAN, an instrument for locking the wheel of a coach when going down hill. It is often said that a talkative person might put theSKIDon, with advantage to his listeners, if not to himself.Skied, orSKYED, thrown upwards, as “coppers” in tossing.Skied.Artists say that a picture isSKIEDwhen it is hung on the upper line at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy.SeeFLOORED.Skilligolee, prison gruel. Also sailors’ soup of many ingredients. The term is occasionally used in London workhouses.Skilly, abbreviation ofSKILLIGOLEE.Skimmery, St. Mary Hall, Oxford.—University.Skin, a purse. This term is mostly in use among thieves.Skin, to abate, or lower the value of anything; “thin-SKINNED,” sensitive, touchy, liable to be “raw” on certain subjects.Skin-the-lamb, a game at cards, a very expressive corruption of the term “lansquenet,” also a racing term. When a non-favourite wins a race, bookmakers are said toSKIN THE LAMB, under the supposition that they win all their bets, no person having backed the winner. This has been corrupted intoSKINNER.Skinflint, an old and popular simile for a “close-fisted,” stingy person.Sternberg, in hisNorthamptonshire Glossary, says the Eastern languages have the same expression. Abdul-Malek, one of the Ommeyade Khaliphs, noted for his extreme avarice, was surnamed Raschal-Hegiarah, literally, “theSKINNERof aFLINT.”Skinner, a term among bookmakers. “May we have aSKINNER,”i.e., may weSKIN THE LAMB, whichsee.Skipper, the master of a vessel.Germ.,SCHIFFER, fromSCHIFF, a ship; sometimes used as synonymous with “governor.”Skipper, a barn.—Ancient Cant.From theWelsh,YSGUBOR, pronouncedSCYBOR, orSCIBOR, the proper word in that language for a barn.Skipper-birds, orKEYHOLE-WHISTLERS, persons who sleep in barns or outhouses from necessity or in preference to sleeping in lodging-houses.Skipper-it, to sleep in the open air, or in a rough way.Skit, a joke, a squib. Term generally used in reference to any pungent or pointed political allusion.Skittles, a game similar to that of Ten Pins, which, when interdicted by the Government, was altered to Nine Pins, orSKITTLES. The pins are set up in an alley, and thrown (not bowled) at with a round piece of hard wood, shaped like a small flat cheese. The costers used to consider themselves the best players in London, but they have been frequently undeceived.Skittleshas within the past few years received an awful blow—quite a floorer—from “the powers that be.”Skow-banker, a fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him, and who objects to the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne, Australia.Skrouge, to push or squeeze.—North.Skull-thatcher, a straw-bonnet-maker,—sometimes called “a bonnet-BUILDER.”Skunk, a mean or paltry fellow, one whose name stinks.Sky, a disagreeable person, an enemy.—Westminster School.The word derived its origin from a corruption of the last syllable of the word “VOLSCI:” Westminster boys being of course understood to be the Romans.Sky, to toss up towards theSKY. Term used in tossing with halfpence; “It’s all right, JimSKIEDthe browns,”i.e., threw them up, a proof that there could have been no collusion or cheating.Sky-blue, London milk much diluted with water, or from which the cream has been too closely skimmed.“Hence, Suffolk dairy wives run mad for cream,And leave their milk with nothing but the name;Its name derision and reproach pursue,And strangers tell of three-times-skimm’d—SKY-BLUE.”Bloomfield’s Farmer’s Boy.The recent Adulteration Act has done away withSKY-BLUE, and madeSimpsona relic of the past.Sky-blueformerly meant gin.Sky-lark.See underLARK.Sky-parlour, the garret.Sky-scraper, a tall man; “Are you cold up there, oldSKY-SCRAPER?” Properly a sea-term. The light sails, which some adventurous skippers set above the royals in calm latitudes, are termedSKY-SCRAPERSandMOON-RAKERS.Sky-wannocking, unsteady frolicking.—Norfolk.Slab, thick, as gruel, porridge, &c.Slack, “to hold on theSLACK,” to skulk; a slack rope not requiring to be held.—Sea.Slam, a term at the game of whist. When two partners gain the whole thirteen tricks, they win aSLAM, which is considered equal to a rubber.Slam, to talk fluently. “He’s the bloke toSLAM.” From a term in use among birdsingers at the East-end, by which they denote a certain style of note in chaffinches.Slammock, a slattern or awkward person.—West, andNorfolk.Slang, low, vulgar, unwritten, or unauthorized language.Gipsy,Slang, the secret language of the gipsies, synonymous withGibberish, another gipsy word. The word is only to be found in the dictionaries of Webster and Ogilvie. It is given, however, by Grose, in hisDictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1785.Slang, since it has been adopted as an English word, generally implies vulgar language not known or recognised asCANT; and latterly, when applied to speech, it has superseded the wordFLASH. Latterly, however,SLANGhas become the generic term for all unauthorized language. The earliest instance of the use of the word that can be found, is the following:—“Let proper nurses be assigned, to take care of these babes of grace, [young thieves].... The master who teaches them should be a man well versed in the cant language commonly called theSLANGpatter, in which they should by all means excel.”—Jonathan Wild’s Advice to his Successor.London,J. Scott, 1758.Slang, a travelling show.Slang, to cheat, to abuse in foul language.Slang, counterfeit or short weights and measures. ASLANGquart is a pint and a half.Slangmeasures are lent out at 2d. per day to street salesmen. The term is used principally by costermongers.Slang, a watch-chain.SuperandSLANG, a watch and chain.Slang, “out on theSLANG,”i.e., to travel with a hawker’s licence.Slang-whanger, a long-winded speaker.—Parliamentary.Slangy, flashy, vulgar; loud in dress, manner, and conversation.Slantingdicular, oblique, awry,—as opposed toPERPENDICULAR. Originally an Americanism, now a part of the vocabulary of London “high life below stairs.”Slap, paint for the face, rouge.Slap, exactly, precisely; “SLAPin the wind’s eye,”i.e., exactly to windward.Slap-bang, suddenly, violently. From the strike of a ball being felt before the report reaches the ear,—theSLAPfirst, theBANGafterwards.Slap-bang-shops, originally low eating-houses where the ready-money was paid down with aSLAP-BANG.—Grose.ASLAP-BANG-SHOPis now a very pretentious eating-house.Slap-dash, immediately, or quickly; at a great rate.Slap-up, first-rate, excellent, very good.Slasher, a powerful roysterer, a game and clever pugilist.Slashers, the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot in the British army.Slate, “he has aSLATEloose,”i.e., he is slightly crazy.Slate, to pelt with abuse, to beat, to “lick;” or, in the language of the reviewers, to “cut up.” Also, among bettors, to lay heavily against a particular man or animal in a race.Slate, to knock the hat over one’s eyes, to bonnet.—North.Slavey, a maid-servant.Slawmineyeux, a Dutchman. Probably a corruption of the Dutch,ja, mynheer; or German,ja, mein Herr.—Sea.Sleepless-hats, those of a napless character, better known asWIDE-AWAKES.Slender, a simple country gentleman.—Shakspeare.Slewed, drunk, or intoxicated.—Sea term.When a vessel changes the tack, she, as it were, staggers, the sails flap, she gradually heels over, and the wind catching the waiting canvas, she glides off at another angle. The course pursued by an intoxicated, orSLEWED, man, is supposed to be analogous to that of the ship.Slick, an Americanism, very prevalent in England since the publication of Judge Haliburton’s facetious stories, which means rapidly, effectually, utterly.Slick, smooth, unctuous; abbreviation of sleek.Sling, a drink peculiar to Americans, generally composed of gin, soda-water, ice, and slices of lemon. At some houses in LondonGIN-SLINGSmay be obtained.Sling, to pass from one person to another. To blow the nose with the naked fingers.Sling your hook, a polite invitation to move-on. “Sling your Daniel” has the same meaning. The pronouns may be altered to suit the context.Slip, “to give theSLIP,” to run away, or elude pursuit. Shakspeare has, “You gave me the counterfeit,” inRomeo and Juliet. Giving theSLIP, however, is a sea phrase, and refers to fastening an anchor and chain cable to a floating buoy, or water-cask, until a time arrives when it is convenient to return and take them on board. In fastening the cable, the home end isSLIPPEDthrough the hawse-pipe. Weighing anchor is a noisy task, so that giving theSLIPinfers leaving quietly.Slip, or letSLIP; “toSLIPinto a man,” to give him a sound beating, “to letSLIPat a cove,” to rush violently upon him, and assault with vigour.Slipping, a trick of card-sharpers, in the performance of which, by dexterousmanipulation, they place the cut card on the top, instead of at the bottom of the pack. It is thefaire sauter la coupeof the French. In pugilistic parlance, “toSLIPa man,” is to “duck and get away” with great dexterity.Slips, the sides of the gallery in a theatre are generally so called.Slog, to beat or baste, to fight.German,SCHLACHTEN; or perhaps from some connexion with theGaelicSLOGAN. The pretendedGreekderivation from σλογω is humbug, there being no such word in the language.Slogdollager, an Americanism, meaning the same as ourSTOCKDOLLAGER, whichsee.Sloggers,i.e.,SLOW-GOERS, the second division of race-boats at Cambridge. At Oxford they are calledTORPIDS.—University.A hard hitter at cricket is termed aSLOGGER; so is a pugilist.Slogging, a good beating.Slop, a policeman. At first back slang, but now modified for general use.Slop, cheap, or ready-made, as applied to clothing, is generally supposed to be a modern appropriation; but it was used in this sense in 1691, by Maydman, in hisNaval Speculations; and by Chaucer two centuries before that.Slopsproperly signify sailors’ working clothes, which are of a very cheap and inexpensive character.Slope, to decamp, to run, or rather slip away. Some persons think it came originally fromLOPE, to make off; and that thesprobably became affixed as a portion of the preceding word, as in the case of “Let’s lope,” let us run. It is purely an Americanism, and is possibly but an emendation of our own word elope. Lope, leap, and elope are kindred. A humorous correspondent says that Tennyson is decidedly partial to slang, and instances amongst other proofs a passage from the laureate’s famousLocksley Hall:—“Many a night, from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,Did I look on great OrionSLOPINGslowly to the west.”Though this correspondent may not have intended it, his joke has given the key to the situation, and has shown how our cousins most probably came to use the word in its present sense. “The sun isSLOPINGfast.”Slops, any weak, wet, and warm mixture. Hard drinkers regard all effeminate beverages asSLOPS.Slops, chests or packages of tea; “he shook a slum ofSLOPS,”i.e., stole a chest of tea. Also ready-made clothes—the substantive ofSLOP.Slops, liquid house-refuse.Slopshop, a tailor’s shop where inferior work is done, and where cheap goods are sold.Slour, to lock, or fasten.—Prison Cant.Sloured, buttoned up;SLOURED HOXTER, an inside pocket buttoned up.Slowcoach, a lumbering, dull person; one slow of comprehension.Slowed, to be locked up (in prison).Slubberdegullion, a paltry, dirty, sorry wretch.“Quoth she, although thou hast deserved,BaseSLUBBERDEGULLION, to be servedAs thou didst vow to deal with me,If thou hadst got the victory”——Hudibras.Sluicery, a gin-shop or public-house.Sluicing one’s bolt, drinking.Slum, a chest, or package.SeeSLOPS.Slum, a letter.—Prison Cant.Slum, an insinuation, a discreditable innuendo.Slum, gammon, “up toSLUM,” wide awake, knowing.“And this, without moreSLUMbegan,Over a flowing pot-house can,To settle, without botheration,The rigs of this here tip-top nation.”Jack Randall’s Diary, 1820.Slum, orBACK SLUM, a dark retreat, a low neighbourhood; as Westminster and East-endSLUMS, favourite haunts for thieves.Slum, to hide, to pass to a confederate.Slum, to saunter about, with a suspicion, perhaps, of immoral pursuits.—Cambridge University Slang.Slum the gorger, to cheat on the sly, to be an eye-servant.Slumin this sense is old cant.Slumgullion, any cheap, nasty, washy beverage. An Americanism best known in the Pacific States.Slumming, passing bad money.Slush, the grease obtained from boiling the salt pork eaten by seamen, and generally the cook’s perquisite.Slushy, a ship’s cook.Sluter, butter.—North.Smack smooth, even, level with the surface, quickly.Small-beer;“he doesn’t thinkSMALL-BEERof himself,”i.e., he has a great opinion of his own importance.Small coalsis also used in the same sense.Small hours, the early hours after midnight.Small potatoes, a term of contempt. “He’s verySMALL POTATOES,” he’s a nobody. Yet no one thinks of calling an important personage “largePOTATOES.”Smalls, a University term for the first general examination of the student. It is used at Cambridge, but properly belongs to Oxford. The Cambridge term is “little go.”Smash, to become bankrupt, or worthless; “to go all toSMASH,” to break, “go to the dogs,” or fall in pieces.Smash, to pass counterfeit money.Smasher, one who passes bad coin, or forged notes.Smashfeeder, a Britannia-metal spoon,—the best imitation shillings are made from this metal.Smash-man-Geordie, a pitman’s oath.—DurhamandNorthumberland.SeeGeordie.Smeller, the nose; “a blow on theSMELLER” is often to be found in pugilistic records. Otherwise aNOSE-ENDER.Smish, a shirt, or chemise.Smithers, orSMITHEREENS; “all toSMITHEREENS,” all to smash,SMITHERis a Lincolnshire word for a fragment.Smock-face, a white delicate face,—a face without whiskers.Smoke, London. From the peculiar dense cloud which overhangs London. The metropolis is by no means so smoky as Sheffield, Birmingham, &c.; yet country-people, when going to London, frequently say they are on their way to theSMOKE; and Londoners, when leaving for the country, say they are going out of theSMOKE.Smoke, to detect, or penetrate an artifice. Originally used by London detectives, probably on account of their clouded intellects.Smudge, to smear, obliterate, daub. Corruption ofSMUTCH.Smug, smuggling.—Anglo-Chinese.Smug, extremely neat, after the fashion, in order.Smug, sleek, comfortable. Term often applied to a seemingly pious humbug, more of the Chadband than the Stiggins.
Shoes, children’s, to make, to suffer oneself to be made sport of, or depreciated. Commonly used in Norfolk.—Cf.Mrs. Behn’s comedy,The Roundheads.Hews.“Who, pox! shall we standMAKING CHILDREN’S SHOESall the year? No: let’s begin to settle the nation, I say, and go through-stitch with our work.”
Shoes, children’s, to make, to suffer oneself to be made sport of, or depreciated. Commonly used in Norfolk.—Cf.Mrs. Behn’s comedy,The Roundheads.
Hews.“Who, pox! shall we standMAKING CHILDREN’S SHOESall the year? No: let’s begin to settle the nation, I say, and go through-stitch with our work.”
Hews.“Who, pox! shall we standMAKING CHILDREN’S SHOESall the year? No: let’s begin to settle the nation, I say, and go through-stitch with our work.”
Shoful, a Hansom cab. This favourite carriage was the invention of a Mr. Hansom, afterwards connected with theBuildernewspaper. It has been asserted that the termSHOFULwas derived from “shovel,” the earliest slang term applied to Hansoms by other cab-drivers, who conceived their shape to be after the fashion of a scoop or shovel. A logical friend of the present Editor’s argues thus:—Shoful, full of show,ergo, beautiful—handsome—Hansom. This is clever, but it certainly never entered into the heads of those who gave the name ofSHOFULto the Hansom cabs.
Shoful, bad or counterfeit money. Perhaps, as some think, from theDanish,SKUFFE, to shove, to deceive, cheat;Saxon,SCUFAN,—whence theEnglish,SHOVE. The term, however, is possibly one of the many street words from theHebrew(through the low Jews);SHEPHEL, in that language, signifying a low or debased estate.Chaldee,SHAPHAL.—SeePsalm cxxxvi. 23, “in our low estate.” A correspondent suggests a very probable derivation, from theGerman,SCHOFEL, trash, rubbish,—theGermanadjective,SCHOFELIG, being the nearest possible translation of our shabby.Shofulmeans anything mock, asSHOFULjewellery. ASHOFULis also a humbug, an impostor.
Shoful-pitcher, a passer of bad money.Shoful-pitching, passing bad money. “Snide-pitcher” and “Snide-pitching” are terms exchangeable with the preceding.
Shoful pullet, a “gay” or unsteady woman, especially a young woman.
Sholl, to bonnet one, or crush a person’s hat over his eyes.—North.
Shool, to saunter idly, to become a vagabond, to beg rather than work.—Smollett’s Roderick Random, vol. i., p. 262.
Shool, Jews’ term for their synagogue.
Shoot the cat, to vomit. From a story of a man being sick in the back yard, and suffocating a cat and all her kittens.
Shoot the moon, to remove furniture from a house in the night without paying the landlord.
Shop.In racing slang, to secure first, second, or third position in a race, is to get aSHOP. This is also known as a place, and as a situation.SeePLACE.
Shop, a house. “How are they all at yourSHOP?” is a common question among small tradesmen.
Shop, the House of Commons. The only instance we have met with of the use of this word in literature occurs in Mr. Trollope’sFramley Parsonage:—“‘If we are merely to do as we are bid, and have no voice of our own, I don’t see what’s the good of our going to theSHOPat all,’ said Mr. Sowerby.”
Shop, the House of Commons. The only instance we have met with of the use of this word in literature occurs in Mr. Trollope’sFramley Parsonage:—
“‘If we are merely to do as we are bid, and have no voice of our own, I don’t see what’s the good of our going to theSHOPat all,’ said Mr. Sowerby.”
“‘If we are merely to do as we are bid, and have no voice of our own, I don’t see what’s the good of our going to theSHOPat all,’ said Mr. Sowerby.”
Shop, to discharge a shopman. In military slang, toSHOPan officer is to put him under arrest in the guard-room. In pugilistic slang, to punish a man severely is “to knock him all over theSHOP,”i.e., the ring, the place in which the work is done.
Shop-bouncer, orSHOP-LIFTER, a person generally respectably attired, who, while being served with a small article at a shop, steals one of more value. Shakspeare has the wordLIFTER, a thief.
Shop-walker, a person employed to walk up and down a shop, to hand seats to customers, and see that they are properly served. Contracted also toWALKER.
Shopping, purchasing at shops. Termed by Todd a slang word, but used by Cowper and Byron.
Shoppy, to be full of nothing but one’s own calling or profession; “to talkSHOP,” to converse of nothing but professional subjects.
Short, when spirit is drunk without any admixture of water, it is said to be taken “SHORT;” “summatSHORT,” a dram. A similar phrase is used at the counters of banks; upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, “How will you take it?”i.e., in gold, or notes. If in notes, long or short? Should it be desired to receive it in notes for the largest possible amount, the answer is,SHORT. A conductor of an omnibus, or any other servant, is said to beSHORTwhen he does not give all the money he receives to his master.
Short, hard-up; a polite term for impecuniosity used in clubs and among military men.
Short commons, short allowance of food.SeeCOMMONS.
Shorter, one who makes a dishonest profit by reducing the coin of the realm by clipping and filing. From a crown-piece aSHORTERcould gain 5d. Another way was by chemical means: a guinea laid in aquafortis would, in twelve hours, precipitate 9d.-worth of sediment; in twenty-four, 1s. 6d.-worth.—Rommany Rye.
Shot, from the modern sense of the word toSHOOT,—a guess, a random conjecture; “to make a badSHOT,” to expose one’s ignorance by making a wrong guess, or random answer, without knowing whether it is right or wrong.
Shot, from the once general, but now provincial word, toSHOOT, to subscribe, contribute in fair proportion;—a share, from theAnglo-Saxonword,SCEAT; “to pay one’sSHOT,”i.e., share of the reckoning, &c.“Yet still while I have gotEnough to pay theSHOTOf Boniface, both gruff and greedy O!”Fisher’s Garlandfor 1835.
Shot, from the once general, but now provincial word, toSHOOT, to subscribe, contribute in fair proportion;—a share, from theAnglo-Saxonword,SCEAT; “to pay one’sSHOT,”i.e., share of the reckoning, &c.
“Yet still while I have gotEnough to pay theSHOTOf Boniface, both gruff and greedy O!”Fisher’s Garlandfor 1835.
“Yet still while I have gotEnough to pay theSHOTOf Boniface, both gruff and greedy O!”
Shot, “I wish I may beSHOT, if,” &c., a common form of mild swearing.
Shot, a term used among horse chaunters. ToSHOTa horse, is to give him a lot of small shot, which will for a short time effectually “open his pipes,” and make him appear sound in wind.
Shot in the locker, money in pocket, resource of any kind in store.—Navy.
Shoulder, when a servant embezzles his master’s money, he is said toSHOULDERhis employer.
Shout, to pay for drink round. “It’s mySHOUT,” says he who pays. Possibly because the payer originallySHOUTEDto the bar-keeper of an hotel to score the drink to him.—Australian, but now general.
Shove-halfpenny, a gambling pot-house pastime, played on a table. A very old game, originally called push-penny.
Shove in the mouth, a glass of spirits, which is taken off quickly and at once.
Shovel, a term applied by the vulgar crowd to the inelegant twisted hats worn by the dignitaries of the Church. Dean Alford says, “I once heard a venerable dignitary pointed out by a railway porter as “an old party in aSHOVEL.”—Queen’s English.
Shrimp, a diminutive person.—Chaucer.
Shtumer, a horse against which money may be laid without risk.SeeSAFE UN.
Shunt, to avoid, to turn aside from. From the railway term.
Shut of, orSHOT OF,i.e., rid of. A very common expression amongst the London lower orders. One costermonger will say to another:—“Well, Ike, did yer getSHUT O’them there gawfs [apples]?”i.e., did you sell them all?
Shut up!be quiet, don’t make a noise; to stop short, to cease in a summary manner, to silence effectually. The following is from a literary paper:—“Only the other day we heard of a preacher who, speaking of the scene with the doctors in the Temple, remarked that the Divine disputant completelySHUT THEM UP!”Shut up, utterly exhausted, done for.
Shy, a throw.Seethe following:—
Shy, to fling;COCK-SHY,a game at fairs, consisting of throwing shortsticks at trinkets or cocoanuts set upon other sticks,—both name and practice derived from the old game of throwing orSHYINGat live cocks. This game is best known to the London public as “three shies a penny.”
Shy.“To fightSHYof a person,” to avoid his society either from dislike, fear, or other reason.Shyhas also the sense of flighty, unsteady, untrustworthy.
Shy, to stop suddenly, or turn off, as a horse does when frightened.
Shyster, a duffer, a vagabond. Variation of “shicer.”
Sices, orSIZES, a throw of sixes at dice.
Sick as a horse, a popular simile,—curious, because a horse never vomits.
Sickener, a dose too much of anything. Too much of even a good thing will make a man sick.
Side, an affirmative expression in the cant language of the northern towns. “Do you stoll the gammy?” (Do you understand cant?) “Side, cove” (yes, mate).
Side-boards, orSTICK-UPS, shirt collars. Name applied some years ago, before the present style of collars came into fashion.
Sift, to embezzle small coins, those which might pass through a sieve—as threepennies and fourpennies—and which are, therefore, not likely to be missed.
Sight, “to take aSIGHTat a person,” a vulgar action employed by boys and others to denote incredulity, or contempt for authority, by placing the thumb against the nose and extending the fingers, which are agitated in token of derision.“The sacristan he says no word that indicates a doubt,But he puts his finger to his nose, and spreads his fingers out.”Nell Cook.
Sight, “to take aSIGHTat a person,” a vulgar action employed by boys and others to denote incredulity, or contempt for authority, by placing the thumb against the nose and extending the fingers, which are agitated in token of derision.
“The sacristan he says no word that indicates a doubt,But he puts his finger to his nose, and spreads his fingers out.”Nell Cook.
“The sacristan he says no word that indicates a doubt,But he puts his finger to his nose, and spreads his fingers out.”
Silly season, the period when nobody is supposed to be in London, when there are no parliamentary debates to publish, and when editors are at their wits’-ends to fill their papers with readable matter. All kinds of crazes on political and social subjects are then ventilated, gigantic gooseberries, monstrous births, and strange showers then become plentiful, columns are devoted to matters which would not at any other time receive consideration, and, so far as the newspapers are concerned, silliness is at a premium.
Silver beggar, orLURKER, a vagabond who travels through the country with “briefs” containing false statements of losses by fire, shipwrecks, accidents, &c. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham subscription books. The former, in beggar parlance, is termed “a sham,” whilst the latter is denominated “a delicate.”
Sim, one of a Methodistical turn in religion; a Low Churchman; originally a follower of the late Rev. Charles Simeon.—Cambridge.
Simon, a sixpenny-piece.
Simon, orSIMPLE SIMON, a credulous, gullible person. A character in a song, but now common.
Simon Pure, “the realSimon Pure,” the genuine article. Those who have witnessed Mr. Charles Mathews’s performance in Mrs. Centlivre’s admirable comedy ofA Bold Stroke for a Wife, and the laughable coolness with which he, the falseSimon Pure, assuming the Quaker dress and character of the real one, elbows that worthy out of his expected entertainment, will at once perceive the origin of this phrase.—Seeact v. scene i.
Simpkin, orSIMKIN, champagne.—Anglo-Indian.Derived from the manner in which native servants pronounce champagne.
Simpson, water used in the dilution of milk. Term in use among cow-keepers. From this the parish pump has been called Mrs.Simpson.
Sing out, to call aloud.—Sea.
Sing small, to lessen one’s boasting, and turn arrogance into humility.
Sing-song, a harmonic meeting at a pot-house, a free-and-easy.
Sinkers, bad money,—affording a man but little assistance in “keeping afloat.”
Sinks, a throw of fives at dice.French,CINQ.
Si quis, a candidate for “orders.” From the notification commencingSI QUIS—if any one.
Sir Harry, a close stool.
Sir Reverence, a corruption of the old phrase,SAVE YOUR REVERENCE, a sort of apology for alluding to anything likely to shock one’s sense of decency.Latin,SALVÂ REVERENTIÂ.SeeShakspeare’sRomeo and Juliet, act i. scene iv. From this it came to mean the thing itself—human ordure generally, but sometimes other indecencies.
Siserara, a hard blow.—Suffolk.Many derive this term from the story of Sisera in the Old Testament, but it is probably a corruption ofCERTIORARI, a Chancery writ reciting a complaint of hard usage.
Sit under, a term employed in Dissenters’ meeting-houses, to denote attendance on the ministry of any particular preacher.
Sit upon, to overcome or rebuke, to express contempt for a man in a marked manner. Also, to chaff or “roast” a man consumedly.
Sit-upons, trousers.SeeINEXPRESSIBLES.
Sivvy, “’pon mySIVVY,”i.e., upon my soul or honour. Corruption of “asseveration,” likeDAVY, which is an abridgment of “affidavit.”
Sixes and sevens, articles in confusion are said to be allSIXES AND SEVENS. The Deity is mentioned in theTowneley Mysteriesas He that “set all on seven,”i.e., set or appointed everything in seven days. A similar phrase at this early date implied confusion and disorder, and from these, Halliwell thinks, has been derived the phrase “to be atSIXES AND SEVENS.” A Scotch correspondent, however, states that the phrase probably came from the workshop, and that amongst needle-makers, when the points and eyes are “heads and tails” (“heeds and thraws”), or in confusion, they are said to beSIXES AND SEVENS, because those numbers are the sizes most generally used, and in the course of manufacture have frequently to be distinguished.
Sixty, “to go along likeSIXTY,”i.e., at a good rate, briskly.
Sixty-per-cent, a bill-discounter. From the rate of interest generally charged. If bill-discounters profess to do the business for less, they generally make up the level sixty by extras.
Six-water grog, a sea-term for the weakest grog possible—six portions of water to one of rum—hardly enough spirit to “swear by.”
Size, to order extras over and above the usual commons at the dinner in college halls. Soup, pastry, &c., areSIZINGS, and are paid for at a certain specified rate perSIZE, or portion, to the college cook. Peculiar to Cambridge. Minsheu says, “SIZE, a farthing which schollers in Cambridge have at the buttery, noted with the letters.”
Sizers, orSIZARS, certain poor scholars at Cambridge, annually elected, who got their dinners (including “sizings”) from what was left at the upper, or Fellows’ table, free, or nearly so. They paid rent of rooms, and some other fees, on a lower scale than the “Pensioners” or ordinary students, and were equal with the “battlers” and “servitors” at Oxford.
Sizings.SeeSIZE.
Skedaddle, to go off in a hurry. The American war introduced this new and amusing word. A Northerner who retreated “retired upon his supports,” but a Southerner was said toSKEDADDLE. TheTimesremarked on the word, and Lord Hill wrote to prove that it was excellent Scotch. The Americans only misapply the word, which means, in Dumfries, “to spill”—milkmaids, for example, saying, “You areSKEDADDLINGall that milk.” The Yankees therefore adopted the term, and altered the application.
Skid, a sovereign. Fashionable slang. OccasionallySKIV.
Skid, orSKIDPAN, an instrument for locking the wheel of a coach when going down hill. It is often said that a talkative person might put theSKIDon, with advantage to his listeners, if not to himself.
Skied, orSKYED, thrown upwards, as “coppers” in tossing.
Skied.Artists say that a picture isSKIEDwhen it is hung on the upper line at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy.SeeFLOORED.
Skilligolee, prison gruel. Also sailors’ soup of many ingredients. The term is occasionally used in London workhouses.
Skilly, abbreviation ofSKILLIGOLEE.
Skimmery, St. Mary Hall, Oxford.—University.
Skin, a purse. This term is mostly in use among thieves.
Skin, to abate, or lower the value of anything; “thin-SKINNED,” sensitive, touchy, liable to be “raw” on certain subjects.
Skin-the-lamb, a game at cards, a very expressive corruption of the term “lansquenet,” also a racing term. When a non-favourite wins a race, bookmakers are said toSKIN THE LAMB, under the supposition that they win all their bets, no person having backed the winner. This has been corrupted intoSKINNER.
Skinflint, an old and popular simile for a “close-fisted,” stingy person.Sternberg, in hisNorthamptonshire Glossary, says the Eastern languages have the same expression. Abdul-Malek, one of the Ommeyade Khaliphs, noted for his extreme avarice, was surnamed Raschal-Hegiarah, literally, “theSKINNERof aFLINT.”
Skinner, a term among bookmakers. “May we have aSKINNER,”i.e., may weSKIN THE LAMB, whichsee.
Skipper, the master of a vessel.Germ.,SCHIFFER, fromSCHIFF, a ship; sometimes used as synonymous with “governor.”
Skipper, a barn.—Ancient Cant.From theWelsh,YSGUBOR, pronouncedSCYBOR, orSCIBOR, the proper word in that language for a barn.
Skipper-birds, orKEYHOLE-WHISTLERS, persons who sleep in barns or outhouses from necessity or in preference to sleeping in lodging-houses.
Skipper-it, to sleep in the open air, or in a rough way.
Skit, a joke, a squib. Term generally used in reference to any pungent or pointed political allusion.
Skittles, a game similar to that of Ten Pins, which, when interdicted by the Government, was altered to Nine Pins, orSKITTLES. The pins are set up in an alley, and thrown (not bowled) at with a round piece of hard wood, shaped like a small flat cheese. The costers used to consider themselves the best players in London, but they have been frequently undeceived.Skittleshas within the past few years received an awful blow—quite a floorer—from “the powers that be.”
Skow-banker, a fellow who loiters about the premises of any one willing to support him, and who objects to the necessity of working for his living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne, Australia.
Skrouge, to push or squeeze.—North.
Skull-thatcher, a straw-bonnet-maker,—sometimes called “a bonnet-BUILDER.”
Skunk, a mean or paltry fellow, one whose name stinks.
Sky, a disagreeable person, an enemy.—Westminster School.The word derived its origin from a corruption of the last syllable of the word “VOLSCI:” Westminster boys being of course understood to be the Romans.
Sky, to toss up towards theSKY. Term used in tossing with halfpence; “It’s all right, JimSKIEDthe browns,”i.e., threw them up, a proof that there could have been no collusion or cheating.
Sky-blue, London milk much diluted with water, or from which the cream has been too closely skimmed.“Hence, Suffolk dairy wives run mad for cream,And leave their milk with nothing but the name;Its name derision and reproach pursue,And strangers tell of three-times-skimm’d—SKY-BLUE.”Bloomfield’s Farmer’s Boy.The recent Adulteration Act has done away withSKY-BLUE, and madeSimpsona relic of the past.Sky-blueformerly meant gin.
Sky-blue, London milk much diluted with water, or from which the cream has been too closely skimmed.
“Hence, Suffolk dairy wives run mad for cream,And leave their milk with nothing but the name;Its name derision and reproach pursue,And strangers tell of three-times-skimm’d—SKY-BLUE.”Bloomfield’s Farmer’s Boy.
“Hence, Suffolk dairy wives run mad for cream,And leave their milk with nothing but the name;Its name derision and reproach pursue,And strangers tell of three-times-skimm’d—SKY-BLUE.”
The recent Adulteration Act has done away withSKY-BLUE, and madeSimpsona relic of the past.Sky-blueformerly meant gin.
Sky-lark.See underLARK.
Sky-parlour, the garret.
Sky-scraper, a tall man; “Are you cold up there, oldSKY-SCRAPER?” Properly a sea-term. The light sails, which some adventurous skippers set above the royals in calm latitudes, are termedSKY-SCRAPERSandMOON-RAKERS.
Sky-wannocking, unsteady frolicking.—Norfolk.
Slab, thick, as gruel, porridge, &c.
Slack, “to hold on theSLACK,” to skulk; a slack rope not requiring to be held.—Sea.
Slam, a term at the game of whist. When two partners gain the whole thirteen tricks, they win aSLAM, which is considered equal to a rubber.
Slam, to talk fluently. “He’s the bloke toSLAM.” From a term in use among birdsingers at the East-end, by which they denote a certain style of note in chaffinches.
Slammock, a slattern or awkward person.—West, andNorfolk.
Slang, low, vulgar, unwritten, or unauthorized language.Gipsy,Slang, the secret language of the gipsies, synonymous withGibberish, another gipsy word. The word is only to be found in the dictionaries of Webster and Ogilvie. It is given, however, by Grose, in hisDictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1785.Slang, since it has been adopted as an English word, generally implies vulgar language not known or recognised asCANT; and latterly, when applied to speech, it has superseded the wordFLASH. Latterly, however,SLANGhas become the generic term for all unauthorized language. The earliest instance of the use of the word that can be found, is the following:—“Let proper nurses be assigned, to take care of these babes of grace, [young thieves].... The master who teaches them should be a man well versed in the cant language commonly called theSLANGpatter, in which they should by all means excel.”—Jonathan Wild’s Advice to his Successor.London,J. Scott, 1758.
Slang, low, vulgar, unwritten, or unauthorized language.Gipsy,Slang, the secret language of the gipsies, synonymous withGibberish, another gipsy word. The word is only to be found in the dictionaries of Webster and Ogilvie. It is given, however, by Grose, in hisDictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1785.Slang, since it has been adopted as an English word, generally implies vulgar language not known or recognised asCANT; and latterly, when applied to speech, it has superseded the wordFLASH. Latterly, however,SLANGhas become the generic term for all unauthorized language. The earliest instance of the use of the word that can be found, is the following:—
“Let proper nurses be assigned, to take care of these babes of grace, [young thieves].... The master who teaches them should be a man well versed in the cant language commonly called theSLANGpatter, in which they should by all means excel.”—Jonathan Wild’s Advice to his Successor.London,J. Scott, 1758.
“Let proper nurses be assigned, to take care of these babes of grace, [young thieves].... The master who teaches them should be a man well versed in the cant language commonly called theSLANGpatter, in which they should by all means excel.”—Jonathan Wild’s Advice to his Successor.London,J. Scott, 1758.
Slang, a travelling show.
Slang, to cheat, to abuse in foul language.
Slang, counterfeit or short weights and measures. ASLANGquart is a pint and a half.Slangmeasures are lent out at 2d. per day to street salesmen. The term is used principally by costermongers.
Slang, a watch-chain.SuperandSLANG, a watch and chain.
Slang, “out on theSLANG,”i.e., to travel with a hawker’s licence.
Slang-whanger, a long-winded speaker.—Parliamentary.
Slangy, flashy, vulgar; loud in dress, manner, and conversation.
Slantingdicular, oblique, awry,—as opposed toPERPENDICULAR. Originally an Americanism, now a part of the vocabulary of London “high life below stairs.”
Slap, paint for the face, rouge.
Slap, exactly, precisely; “SLAPin the wind’s eye,”i.e., exactly to windward.
Slap-bang, suddenly, violently. From the strike of a ball being felt before the report reaches the ear,—theSLAPfirst, theBANGafterwards.
Slap-bang-shops, originally low eating-houses where the ready-money was paid down with aSLAP-BANG.—Grose.ASLAP-BANG-SHOPis now a very pretentious eating-house.
Slap-dash, immediately, or quickly; at a great rate.
Slap-up, first-rate, excellent, very good.
Slasher, a powerful roysterer, a game and clever pugilist.
Slashers, the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot in the British army.
Slate, “he has aSLATEloose,”i.e., he is slightly crazy.
Slate, to pelt with abuse, to beat, to “lick;” or, in the language of the reviewers, to “cut up.” Also, among bettors, to lay heavily against a particular man or animal in a race.
Slate, to knock the hat over one’s eyes, to bonnet.—North.
Slavey, a maid-servant.
Slawmineyeux, a Dutchman. Probably a corruption of the Dutch,ja, mynheer; or German,ja, mein Herr.—Sea.
Sleepless-hats, those of a napless character, better known asWIDE-AWAKES.
Slender, a simple country gentleman.—Shakspeare.
Slewed, drunk, or intoxicated.—Sea term.When a vessel changes the tack, she, as it were, staggers, the sails flap, she gradually heels over, and the wind catching the waiting canvas, she glides off at another angle. The course pursued by an intoxicated, orSLEWED, man, is supposed to be analogous to that of the ship.
Slick, an Americanism, very prevalent in England since the publication of Judge Haliburton’s facetious stories, which means rapidly, effectually, utterly.
Slick, smooth, unctuous; abbreviation of sleek.
Sling, a drink peculiar to Americans, generally composed of gin, soda-water, ice, and slices of lemon. At some houses in LondonGIN-SLINGSmay be obtained.
Sling, to pass from one person to another. To blow the nose with the naked fingers.
Sling your hook, a polite invitation to move-on. “Sling your Daniel” has the same meaning. The pronouns may be altered to suit the context.
Slip, “to give theSLIP,” to run away, or elude pursuit. Shakspeare has, “You gave me the counterfeit,” inRomeo and Juliet. Giving theSLIP, however, is a sea phrase, and refers to fastening an anchor and chain cable to a floating buoy, or water-cask, until a time arrives when it is convenient to return and take them on board. In fastening the cable, the home end isSLIPPEDthrough the hawse-pipe. Weighing anchor is a noisy task, so that giving theSLIPinfers leaving quietly.
Slip, or letSLIP; “toSLIPinto a man,” to give him a sound beating, “to letSLIPat a cove,” to rush violently upon him, and assault with vigour.
Slipping, a trick of card-sharpers, in the performance of which, by dexterousmanipulation, they place the cut card on the top, instead of at the bottom of the pack. It is thefaire sauter la coupeof the French. In pugilistic parlance, “toSLIPa man,” is to “duck and get away” with great dexterity.
Slips, the sides of the gallery in a theatre are generally so called.
Slog, to beat or baste, to fight.German,SCHLACHTEN; or perhaps from some connexion with theGaelicSLOGAN. The pretendedGreekderivation from σλογω is humbug, there being no such word in the language.
Slogdollager, an Americanism, meaning the same as ourSTOCKDOLLAGER, whichsee.
Sloggers,i.e.,SLOW-GOERS, the second division of race-boats at Cambridge. At Oxford they are calledTORPIDS.—University.A hard hitter at cricket is termed aSLOGGER; so is a pugilist.
Slogging, a good beating.
Slop, a policeman. At first back slang, but now modified for general use.
Slop, cheap, or ready-made, as applied to clothing, is generally supposed to be a modern appropriation; but it was used in this sense in 1691, by Maydman, in hisNaval Speculations; and by Chaucer two centuries before that.Slopsproperly signify sailors’ working clothes, which are of a very cheap and inexpensive character.
Slope, to decamp, to run, or rather slip away. Some persons think it came originally fromLOPE, to make off; and that thesprobably became affixed as a portion of the preceding word, as in the case of “Let’s lope,” let us run. It is purely an Americanism, and is possibly but an emendation of our own word elope. Lope, leap, and elope are kindred. A humorous correspondent says that Tennyson is decidedly partial to slang, and instances amongst other proofs a passage from the laureate’s famousLocksley Hall:—“Many a night, from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,Did I look on great OrionSLOPINGslowly to the west.”Though this correspondent may not have intended it, his joke has given the key to the situation, and has shown how our cousins most probably came to use the word in its present sense. “The sun isSLOPINGfast.”
Slope, to decamp, to run, or rather slip away. Some persons think it came originally fromLOPE, to make off; and that thesprobably became affixed as a portion of the preceding word, as in the case of “Let’s lope,” let us run. It is purely an Americanism, and is possibly but an emendation of our own word elope. Lope, leap, and elope are kindred. A humorous correspondent says that Tennyson is decidedly partial to slang, and instances amongst other proofs a passage from the laureate’s famousLocksley Hall:—
“Many a night, from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,Did I look on great OrionSLOPINGslowly to the west.”
“Many a night, from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,Did I look on great OrionSLOPINGslowly to the west.”
Though this correspondent may not have intended it, his joke has given the key to the situation, and has shown how our cousins most probably came to use the word in its present sense. “The sun isSLOPINGfast.”
Slops, any weak, wet, and warm mixture. Hard drinkers regard all effeminate beverages asSLOPS.
Slops, chests or packages of tea; “he shook a slum ofSLOPS,”i.e., stole a chest of tea. Also ready-made clothes—the substantive ofSLOP.
Slops, liquid house-refuse.
Slopshop, a tailor’s shop where inferior work is done, and where cheap goods are sold.
Slour, to lock, or fasten.—Prison Cant.
Sloured, buttoned up;SLOURED HOXTER, an inside pocket buttoned up.
Slowcoach, a lumbering, dull person; one slow of comprehension.
Slowed, to be locked up (in prison).
Slubberdegullion, a paltry, dirty, sorry wretch.“Quoth she, although thou hast deserved,BaseSLUBBERDEGULLION, to be servedAs thou didst vow to deal with me,If thou hadst got the victory”——Hudibras.
Slubberdegullion, a paltry, dirty, sorry wretch.
“Quoth she, although thou hast deserved,BaseSLUBBERDEGULLION, to be servedAs thou didst vow to deal with me,If thou hadst got the victory”——Hudibras.
“Quoth she, although thou hast deserved,BaseSLUBBERDEGULLION, to be servedAs thou didst vow to deal with me,If thou hadst got the victory”——
Sluicery, a gin-shop or public-house.
Sluicing one’s bolt, drinking.
Slum, a chest, or package.SeeSLOPS.
Slum, a letter.—Prison Cant.
Slum, an insinuation, a discreditable innuendo.
Slum, gammon, “up toSLUM,” wide awake, knowing.“And this, without moreSLUMbegan,Over a flowing pot-house can,To settle, without botheration,The rigs of this here tip-top nation.”Jack Randall’s Diary, 1820.
Slum, gammon, “up toSLUM,” wide awake, knowing.
“And this, without moreSLUMbegan,Over a flowing pot-house can,To settle, without botheration,The rigs of this here tip-top nation.”Jack Randall’s Diary, 1820.
“And this, without moreSLUMbegan,Over a flowing pot-house can,To settle, without botheration,The rigs of this here tip-top nation.”
Slum, orBACK SLUM, a dark retreat, a low neighbourhood; as Westminster and East-endSLUMS, favourite haunts for thieves.
Slum, to hide, to pass to a confederate.
Slum, to saunter about, with a suspicion, perhaps, of immoral pursuits.—Cambridge University Slang.
Slum the gorger, to cheat on the sly, to be an eye-servant.Slumin this sense is old cant.
Slumgullion, any cheap, nasty, washy beverage. An Americanism best known in the Pacific States.
Slumming, passing bad money.
Slush, the grease obtained from boiling the salt pork eaten by seamen, and generally the cook’s perquisite.
Slushy, a ship’s cook.
Sluter, butter.—North.
Smack smooth, even, level with the surface, quickly.
Small-beer;“he doesn’t thinkSMALL-BEERof himself,”i.e., he has a great opinion of his own importance.Small coalsis also used in the same sense.
Small hours, the early hours after midnight.
Small potatoes, a term of contempt. “He’s verySMALL POTATOES,” he’s a nobody. Yet no one thinks of calling an important personage “largePOTATOES.”
Smalls, a University term for the first general examination of the student. It is used at Cambridge, but properly belongs to Oxford. The Cambridge term is “little go.”
Smash, to become bankrupt, or worthless; “to go all toSMASH,” to break, “go to the dogs,” or fall in pieces.
Smash, to pass counterfeit money.
Smasher, one who passes bad coin, or forged notes.
Smashfeeder, a Britannia-metal spoon,—the best imitation shillings are made from this metal.
Smash-man-Geordie, a pitman’s oath.—DurhamandNorthumberland.SeeGeordie.
Smeller, the nose; “a blow on theSMELLER” is often to be found in pugilistic records. Otherwise aNOSE-ENDER.
Smish, a shirt, or chemise.
Smithers, orSMITHEREENS; “all toSMITHEREENS,” all to smash,SMITHERis a Lincolnshire word for a fragment.
Smock-face, a white delicate face,—a face without whiskers.
Smoke, London. From the peculiar dense cloud which overhangs London. The metropolis is by no means so smoky as Sheffield, Birmingham, &c.; yet country-people, when going to London, frequently say they are on their way to theSMOKE; and Londoners, when leaving for the country, say they are going out of theSMOKE.
Smoke, to detect, or penetrate an artifice. Originally used by London detectives, probably on account of their clouded intellects.
Smudge, to smear, obliterate, daub. Corruption ofSMUTCH.
Smug, smuggling.—Anglo-Chinese.
Smug, extremely neat, after the fashion, in order.
Smug, sleek, comfortable. Term often applied to a seemingly pious humbug, more of the Chadband than the Stiggins.