A Collection of the Canting Words and Terms, both ancient and modern, used by Beggars, Gypsies, Cheats, House-Breakers, Shop-Lifters, Foot-Pads, Highway-Men, &c;
Taken from The Universal Etymological English Dictionary, by N. Bailey, London, 1737, Vol. II, and transcrib'd into XML Most Diligently by Liam Quin.
English spelling has evolved greatly since this dictionary was publish'd. In the Eighteenth Century, Capital Letters were generally used for Nouns, and the spelling of a word could vary from one occurrence to the next. Cloaths, Clothes and Cloathes all seem to have been used, for example. You'll just have to deal with it.
Note also that i and j are treated as if they were the same letter, as are u and v, so that Urchin appears in the dictionary quite a way after Vamp, since the U is sorted as if it were a V.
Naked, or having scarce Cloaths enough to hide Nakedness.
a lusty Rogue, with hardly any Cloaths on his Back: a Tatterdemallion.
otherwise called
a Bawdy House; a Receptacle for all sorts of Villains, where
the Young Ones are initiated in the
the Comerade of a
Pick pocket, who receives stollen
Goods or Money, and scours off with
them,
Knights of the Post: mercenary and abandoned Wretches, who used to frequent the Temple and other Inns of Court, in order to be in Readiness to swear any thing that was proposed to them.
once a Privileged Place, as the Mint was lately; but suppressed, on Account of the notorious Abuses committed in it.
the Mint in Southwark.
the Inhabitants of these two Places, such as broken Tradesmen, extravagant Spendthrifts.
Vide Dutch Reckoning.
one that goes snacks in Gaming with both Parties; also a Lawyer that takes Fees of Plaintiff and Defendant at once.
to fling Dust in the Eyes; also to invent strange Tales to delude Shop keepers and others, from being upon their Guard.
a blind, or feint.
who were wont to have their Pockets filled with Dust, which they would throw into the Eyes of People they had a mind to rob, and so run away, while their Comerade, who followed them, under the Notion of pitying the half blinded Person, laid his Hand on whatever came next.
petty
Thieves, who have a Stick with a
Hook at the End, wherewith they
pluck Things out of Windows, Grates,
&c;
such as dress themselves up with Ribbons, mismatched Colours, Feathers &c;
an old Rogue, or one who has forgot, or left off his Trade of thieving, is said to be.
the
a Boat or Wherry.
Rogues, who in Conjunction with Watermen, &c; rob and sometimes murder on the Water; by picking a Quarrel with the Passenger and then plundering, stripping and throwing him or her over board, &c;
A Species of Badgers.
An Assignation, Appointment or Meeting
a Bawd, or Procuress; a Title of Eminence for the Senior Dells, who serve for Instructresses, Midwives, &c;, to the Morts.
a Church; also married.
a Preacher, or Parson, of any sect.
Dissenters of any Denomination.
a Conventicle, a Meeting-House for Dissenters.
Anabaptists.
Church-Pick-pockets; also Church-wardens, Overseers of the Poor.
pretended French Prophets.
a marry'd Woman; also one who travels up and down the Country, with one Child in their Arms, another on her Back, and often leading a third in her Hand.
Quakers
a Quaker's Meeting-House.
dead; as
the Prize, or whatever kind
which Robbers make in their Enterprizes.
is used in a Canting Sense,
for Burning in the Hand or Cheek (as
it used to be) as
Parish-Pensioners
a Crew of desperate Villains, who rob and kill near rivers, and then throw the dead bodies therein.
as the heavy Baggage, the Children and Women who are unable to travel fast in Gangs of Gypsies, and Strowlers.
Money:
a Sham or Cheat: a knavish Contrivance to amuse or deceive.
of a Cock and a Bull, an idle Relation, in order to pick Acquaintance on the Road, till a convenient Place or Opportunity offer to rob or plunder.
Highwaymen, Horse or Foot, now used for Rogues of any kind, but strictly Italian Rapparees.
a Bailiff or his Follower; a Sergeant or his Yeomen.
a Child.
a Salesman's Servant that walks before the Shop, to invite customers.
a good Job, or a Snack easily got; so called from the Gratuity given to Jockeys, for buying and selling Horses.
the Irons worn in
Goal by Felons.
A Pair of Spectacles
is also called Barnacles; as
between a bob and a long one.
to beat.
a Cudgelling
to fatten; to keep up a Fowl, &c; till it is fit for eating.
an Ox;
an old well cudgelled and bruised huffing fellow.
an Halfpenny; as
Jewels, Tweezers, Snuff-boxes, any sort of Gold or Silver Trinkets.
a Female Procuress.
a sort of diminutive Pedlars, who sell Obscene Books, Pins, Tape, &c; but live more by pilfering and stealing.
a very small one.
common, filthy, nasty talk.
a Whore-master.
an Order of Villains, Genteel-dressed Sharpers, who lie in wait to insnare and draw in young Heirs, raw Country Squires and ignorant Fops.
a Beadle
to alarm, as
any sort of Malt-liquor so called.
an Apron.
a foolish Fellow, a Simpleton.
foolish, simple.
better.
good,
strong Liquor.
a good Fellow, a merry companion.
good Night.
very good, very well.
Counterfeiters of Bills, Bonds, Notes, Receipts, &c;
Counterfeiters of Passes.
as
a small Engine to
force open the Doors of Houses;
An Afternoons Lunchion.
Garnish-money.
a Chicken.
to cheat or deceive.
a Sword.
a Bandore, or Widow's Peak.
to go, &c;
Get you hence: Begone;
haste away;
Geneva, or Brandy.
a great Geneva Drinker.
a Club of Geneva Drinkers.
a She Brandy Drinker.
Rogues of the same Gang.
hare-brained; not solid or stayed.
Robbed, Cheated or Out-Witted. Also Drunk, as
a Rogue, Sharper or Cheat;
also a Woman's Privities, as
under one's Hand, or in Writing.
one that is not to be confided in upon an Enterprize or Intrigue.
a Lawyer.
a Parson.
dirty, nasty, tatterred roguish Boys, that formerly were wont to attend at the Horse-Guards to wipe Shoes, and clean Boots.
a leather-Jug to drink in.
Newcastle, from whence the Coals are brought.
Hoods and Scarves of Alamode and Lustrings.
the Devil.
down looked, sheepish, guilty.
as
they that are cheated by Jack in a Box.
a Sheep.
as,
an easy Fellow, this is profuse with his Money, or persuaded to support all the Exravaganies of his Companion or Mistress, at his own Expence.
Wash, or After-wort.
a Feint, a Pretence, a shift.
one fit to conceal a pursued or hunted Villain.
the Breech.
Canters, who counterfeit Blindness, strowl about with Harps, Fiddles, Bagpipes, &c; led by a Dog or Boy.
Prisons, Houses of Correction, &c;
a Shop-lifter; also a Bully's pretended Wife, or Mistress, whom he guards, while she supports him; also a Whore.
i.e. to stand engaged, or be bound for any Body.
as
a Mistress; also a Whore.
i.e. To lie with a Women on the Floor or Stairs.
To lie now and then with a Woman.
the Mouth,
much Crying.
To look big or like Bull-beef.
an Inn-keeper or victualler.
an awkward Fellow.
a rude ratling Hector.
Bridewell [[prob. rdg; orig. Briedwell]] or New Prison, or any Work-house, or House of Correction, for Vagrants, Beggars and Villains, &c;
Bridewell-Birds.
a Shop-lifts Comerade, Assistant or Receiver. Bob also signifies Safety.
i.e. All is Safe.
cheated, tricked, baulked.
a light woman, also an Eunuch or impotent Fellow.
Irish Men.
Scotch or North Country Moss-troopers, or Highway-Men.
one that peeps out, but dares not venture abroad.
the nose,
to apprehend, sieze, take
or arrest.
sowre Butter-milk.
a House, as
to play with a design to lose.
Vide BOWSE.
a Shilling,
void of Wit.
as
as
a Bully.
a Bottle.
as a
Drink, or to drink; see Benbowse [[Bene-Bowse]] and Rumbowse [[Rumbowse is not actually defined]].
Drunk.
an Ale-house.
ugly, homely, ill-favoured.
a little Child.
a vapouring, or bouncing.
a mercenary Murderer, that will kill any body.
a very impudent, lewd Woman.
a Sword-man or Soldier.
a Pimp, Procurer; also a Whore-master.
that lies with the same Woman or builds in the same Nest.
a Fiddler, or Harper.
to flee, or run away.
a very full Glass of Liquor.
drink.
a drinking Bowl; also a great Drinker, also one who steals plate from public Houses.
the Pox.
To cheat or decieve.
as a
old leacherous Fellows.
a Cuckold.
one that slips into an
House in the Dark, and taking what
comes next to Hand, marches off with
it. If he meets with any body, he
asks, if such a Gentleman or Woman
be within; and is told, they know no
such Person, he begs Pardon, and says,
he was mistaken in the House, immediately
marches off, and will not stay
for a Reply.
a Dog.
a familiar Salutation among the Canting Tribe.
is a Phrase used of an obstinate hardened Rogue, who in a Robbery will not be daunted at Resistance or Opposition, or leave his Com-rogues in the Lurch, or a hardened Rogue who will confess nothing.
a Rogue that kills good sound Horses, only for their skins, by running a long wire into them, and sometimes knocking them on the Head.
a Dog-stealer, that trades in all Sorts of Dogs, selling them at a round Rate, and himself or Partner stealing them the first Opportunity.
a Dog's Head, used in a counterfiet Seal to a false Pass.
taking Money by Bailiffs and Serjeants of the Defendant not to arrest him.
a Dog.
a chubbingly Boy or Lad.
as, a
to look big and grim.
an Assistant to a File or Pick-Pocket, who jostles a Person up against the Wall, while the other picks his Pocket.
one that lodges all Night on Shop windows and bulkheads.
a Crown or Five Shilling Piece.
a supposed Husband to a Bawd, or Whore; also a huffing Fellow, a pretended Bravo, but a Coward at the Bottom.
a maggot-pated, huffing, silly, rattling Fellow.
a poor sorry Rogue, that haunts Bawdy-houses, and pretends to get Money out of Gentlemen and others, rattling and swearing the Whore is his Wife.
a Hector or bravo sets on People to quarrel, pretending to be a Second to them; and then making Advantage of both.
Highway-men, or Foot Pads, who attack with Oaths and Curses, plunder without Mercy, and frequently murder without Necessity.
a Trapan, a Sharper or Cheat.
a Bailiff or Serjeant.
a short, fat, or squat Lass.
a Purse, Pocket or Fob.
Cut purses, who with a short sharp Knife, and a horn Thumb, used to cut Purses. Since the wearing of Purses is out of Fashion, they are called Files or Pick-Pockets.
when the Grass is high enough to hide the young Men and Maids.
Petticoats.
poxed, or clapt.
is when Strollers leave an Alehouse, without paying their Quarters.
a Hanger on or Dependant.
signifies also, to cheat
or defraud in a smooth or plausible
Manner; as,
Dutchmen
lying with a Woman that has been just lain with by another Man.
a Whore.
a Bawd, also a Match-maker.
both Whore and Pickpocket.
or
a foolish, soft Fellow, drawn in and culled or tricked.
a Bastard.
to discover.
Chickens, Cocks or Hens.
Eggs.
a Cloak or Gown.
a Woman without any Substance.
a Shirt or Shift.
in a Canting Sense, the ragged, tatter'd, patch'd Coat, worn by Beggars and Gypsies, in order to move Compassion.
a little arch or knavish Boy; a Rogue or Whore taken, and clapp'd into the Cage or Round-house.
a good Stick or Cudgel, well-favouredly laid on a Man's shoulders.
Dumb.
the Plague.
an Hypocrite, a Dissembler, a double-tongu'd, whining Person.
the mysterious Language of Rogues, Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, &c;
Beggars, Gypsies.
to Swear.
a fighting, blustering Bully.
a Fellow in poor Cloaths, or Shabby.
a great Cheat; also a huffing, yet sneaking, cowardly Bully.
a Leader of the Mob; also the Mob itself.
a good round Sum of Money about a Man; also him that is cheated of it.
a Set or Rogues, who are employ'd to look out, and whatch upon the Roads, at Inns, &c; in order to carry Information to their respective Gangs, of a Booty in Prospect.
whipp'd publickly, and pack'd out of Town.
a House, Shop, or Warehouse;
also a Bawdy-house.
As
a Whore that plie in a Bawdy-house.
or Cassan, cheese.
a Cloak.
a common Whore or Prostitute.
a Foot-boy.
a precarious Time for Robbery; when many People are out upon the Road, by means of any adjacent Fair, Horse-race, &c;
a Serjeant, or Bayliff, that arrests People.
when People in Company drink cross, and not round about from the Right to the Left, or according to the Sun's Motion.
drawing a Fellow thro' a Pond with a Cat. Also whoring.
when a Rook or Cully is engag'd amongst bad Bowlers.
a Bawdy-house.
Left-handed.
awkward, not dextrous, ready or nimble.
well beaten or bang'd.
dry or thirsty.
Burnt in the Hand;
as,
the Gallows.
Lice. To
a feeble little Creature, of mean Spirit.
Money, so call'd because it chinks in the Pocket.
a Child. As,
very pleasant over a Glass of good Liquor.
a Dandyprat, or Durgen, a little trifling-Fellow.
a little puny Child.
a Kinfe, File or Saw.
To saw asunder his Irons or Fetters.
to change or barter. Also
a Job, or Booty, as
is also used to make Dispatch,
to slubber over in Post-haste, as
to cheat or trick.
a Parish Clerk.
a Woman's Tongue.
a Family, Tribe, Faction, or Party, in Scotland chiefly, but now any where else.
a Silver-tankard.
a swinging Lye.
a Silver-tankard Stealer. See Rumbubber.
a Beggar born and bred.
lustily lash'd. Also swingingly pox'd or clap'd.
very Drunk.
as,
a Pun or Quibble.
to nick a Business by
timing it; as
Sores without Pain, raised on Beggars Bodies, by their own Artifice and Cunning, (to move Charity) by bruising Crows-foot, Spearwort, and Salt together, and clapping them onthe Place, which frets the Skin; then with a Linnen Rag, which sticks close to it, they tear off the Skin, and strew on it a little Powder'd rsnick, which makes it look angrily or ill-favouredly, as if it were a real Sore.
sooth'd, sunn'd imposed
on;
to Snatch.
[among the Canters.] He whom they intrust to divide their Spoils, and proportion to every one his Share.
Copulation of Foxes, and
thence used in a Canting Sense, for that
of Men and Women; as
the Act of Fruition.
a crafty Fellow.
the Irons Felons wear in Goals.
Villains who lurk in by and dark Places, to snatch them off the Wearer's Shoulders.
a Ploughman.
Tobacco.
used of a young Woman who passes for a Maid, and is not one.
a Handkerchief.
to Steal.
Thieves, Robbers, Rogues.
Stealing, Thieving, Robbing.
Rogues.
a Wench's Propension
to Male-Conversation, by her romping
and playfulness; when they say,
a Heap or Lump.
Lumpish.
a clumsy Clown, an awkward or unhandy Fellow.
Money.
as,
an Irish Dollar.
a Turkey.
a Man who follows that base Employment, of procuring; a Pimp.
wanton, uppish, forward.
a supposed Husband to a Bawd.
a soft easy Fellow.
very sure.
a good Sum of Money; also a
Fool.
a Fool.
as COVE. Which See.
to cheat at Dice.
to wheedle one out of a Dinner.
Beg an Handkerchief, or Snuff box.
of brandy, a small Cup or Dram.
a Lye.
Brandy.
Money.
Newgate; New College, the Royal-Exchange.
the Prisoners of the one, and the Shop-keepers of the other of those Places.
wheedle.
a Man's Neck; as,
an Inn-keeper that lends a Horse to a Highway-man, or to Gentleman Beggars; also a Lad newly initiated into Roguery.
laid short of the Jack, by a [COLT-BOWLER]
a raw or unexperienced Person.
to lend.
such as are free of their Flesh; also breeding Women.
a shirt.
or rather
a Wife.
conterfeit, feigned.
a fruitless Attempt, or at an unseasonable Time.
a Mistress; also a Whore.
a Wife; also a Mistress.
Whims, Maggots, and such like.
a silly Fellow;
an Undertaker of Funerals.
the Devil of a Cook; or a very bad one.
When a Person dies, he is said to be put into his Cool-crape.
a Woman.
a Wench that sells Brandy (in Camps) a Suttler.
Brandy.
a very impudent, harden'd, brazen-faced Fellow.
the Head.
to lie down, as
a Man, a Fellow; also a
Rogue.
a well-fill'd Bawdy-house.
a genteel Cheat, a Sham or Impostor, appearing in divers Shapes: one who sometimes counterfeits Mens hands, or forges Writings; at others personates other Men: is sometimes a Clipper or Coiner; at others a Dealer in Counterfeit Jewels. Sometimes a strowling Mountebank: To Day he is a Clergyman in Distress; to Morrow a reduced Gentleman.
a gay, fluttering Fellow.
fair Speeches without Performance.
State-Policy &c;
a Calf.
a Whore.
is also used to break
open; as,
the Backside; also Crust.
boasting, vapouring.
whorish.
Hedges; as,
a Neck; also the Stomach, or Womb.
Bolts or Shackles.
Sentence of
Death passed upon a Criminal by the
Judge: as,
brisk, pert.
Money.
to Kill.
Teeth.
Men raised by others, and their Tools ever after.
to slip or slide any Thing into another's Hand.
a Knot or Gang; as,
as,
to run a Race or Horse-match foully or knavishly.
He plays booty.
the foul Disease.
Fore-stallers, Regraters; otherwise called Kidders and Tranters.
a Groat or Fourpence.
a Comerade [in a Canting
Sense.] Two or Three Rogues, who
agree to beg or rob in Partnership, call
one another Crony; as,
Money.
the Tail, as,
a Privy or Bog-house.
to draw in a Friend, yet snack with the Sharper; also to countermine or disappoint.
as,
Beggars; Also Highway Spies, who traverse the Road, to give Intelligence of a Booty, &c;
one that helps Sollicitors to Affidavit-Men.
one that lies with a Cover over his Face all Night, and uses Washes, Paint, &c;
a new Gamester drawn in to be rook'd.
Taylors.
a Mob rudely arm'd; also Cudgel-Players.
a Man.
See Quire Cuffin.
a Kick or Blow.
a Man, either honest, or
otherwise.
a Fop, a Fool, one who is easily drawn in and cheated by Whores and Rogues.
a sharp Fellow, one that sharps or shaves (as they call it) close.
Drunk.
strong-Liquor.
Clippings of Money.
reduced Lawyers, assuming to themselves the Knowledge of the Quirks and Quiddities of the Law, and are perpetually fomenting litigious Brawls, and insignificant Contentions, among the Scum of the Vulgar.
whose Practice is to cut off Pieces of Silk, Cloth, Linnen or Stuff, that hang out at the Shop-Windows of Mercers, Drapers, &c; as also sometimes the Tails of Womens Gowns, their Hoods, Scarves, Pinners, - if richly Lac'd.
cut off, dock'd, shorten'd, reduced.
Womens impertinent scolding at their Husbands behind the Curtain.
a genteel fine Miss, or Quality Whore.
Drunk.
expert, well vers'd in
Roguery.
Two-pence; Tip me a Dace, Lend me Two-pence, or pay so much for me.
a Gun.
a Rascal. See Dimber
a roaring, mad, blustring Fellow, a Scourer of the Streets.
Stairs.
a little puny Fellow.
ready Money; as,
Irons, Shackles or Fetters.
a married Man, who keeps a Mistress, and creeps to her in the Night, for fear of Discovery.
the Night;
one that slides into a House in the Dusk, to let in more Rogues to rob.
a Tavern-Drawer.
a Bribe, a Reward for
secret Service; as,
a Term used by Rogues, when they are disappointed in the Value of their Booty.
empty Pots or Bottles ona Tavern Table.
Irishmen
a Crown or Five Shilling Piece.
a tidy, neat, little Man.
a Sword.
young bucksome Wenches, rip and prone to Venery, but who have not lost their Virginity, which the Upright Man pretends to, and seizes: Then she is free for any of the Fraternity. Also a common Strumpet.
a sorry Painter.
the Country.
Country Carriers.
Two-pence.
Geneva, a Liquor very much drank by the lowest Rank of People.
pretty.
a pretty Fellow.
a Top Man or Prince amongst the Canting Crew; also the chief Rogue of the Gang, or the compleatest Cheat.
a pretty Wench.
to knock down.
a Rogue, a Hector, a Bully, a Sharper.
helter-skelter.
engag'd or in Debt, pawn'd or mortgag'd.
a Psalm at the Gallows.
a Mittimus, a Justice of Peace's Warrant to send a Rogue to Prison, &c;
to pick a Pocket.
a Pick-pocket. See File.
a Cloak.
to lie witha Woman.
a false Die that will run
but two or three Chances.
Rogues, pretending to have had their Tongues cut out, or to be born Dumb and Deaf, who artificially turn their Tip of their Tongues into their Throat, and with a Stick making it bleed.
Burglary, a breaking open a
House, Lock, Door, &c; as,
Dice that run low.
She beggars, Wenches, Whores.
a Whore, or Slut; a
Stockens.
Robbers of Houses that were fastened only by Latches.
a sort of Clap, or venereal Gleet.
a heavy, bundling
Thief or Rogue.
See Domerars.
to let fall (with Design to draw in and cheat) a Piece of Gold; also the Piece itself.
almost drunk.
a dull, heavy Fellow.
a smart or sharp Repartee.
a sly, close cunning Fellow.
a pick-lock Key.
open the Door.
a Picker of Locks.
Two pence.
Cloaths or Goods.
Cloaths and things
stollen.
to beat soundly.
a Stealer or Cows, or Calves, &c;
a thundering Rake, or of the first Rank, one devilishly lewd.
to enter, or open a Door:
Money;
Drink quick about.
a verbal or lump Accompt, without Particulars; as brought in at the Spunging-Houses, at Bawdy Houses, and other such like Places of ill Repute.
a winning Gamester.
Part or Share.
facile, supple, pliable, mnageable.
when there is but little money in the Pocket.
as,
or, as 'tis vulgarly call'd, To EGG one on; to stimulate, provoke, push forwards, so sharpen, or whet on for Mischief.
a Ganester or Sharper.
little.
as,
Ale, Beer, or Cyder.
rich; also having new
Cloaths.
Rogues just initiated, and beginning to practice.
Hen-Roosts.
one that lurks about to rob or steal.
a Top-woman very beautiful.
a Bumber without Lip-room.
as, It won't fadge or do.
to Beat; as,
to bind Hand and
Foot; as
a Woman in the Bloom of her Beauty.
Gold Rings, or Gloves.
Villains that go up and down selling counterfeit rings, &c;
Rings; also the Hands.
to agree or make
up a Difference.
Lew'd Women, Whores; also a Sect.
Hands.
Breeches.
a Warrant.
Boggs.
rich, as,
a Tumbler, a Juggler, a Shewer of Tricks, &c;
A kind of Gypsies, pretending to tell People their Fate or Destiny, or what they were born to.
any bad Road,
but particularly that betwixt Dunchurch
and Daintry.
an Attempt on one part of a House, or Road, &c; when their cheif Stress or Attempt lies in another.
a Strumpet, or Bawd, a common prostitute.
to spend,
is also a Receiver and Securer of Stollen Goods.
the fame.
a Warehouse, where Stollen Goods are secured.
a Hole.
all those that have not the sham Sores or Cleymes.
a Parn-broker, or Tradesman that sells Goods upn Trust at excessive Rates, and then hunts them, and often throws them into Goal, where they perish for his Debt.
cheated
a Trick or Wheedle.
to beat;
a Writ to Arrest.
Thanks and Wine.
to Steal.
a Staff, with a Hole thro' and a Spike at the Bottom, to pluck Cloaths from a Hedge or any thing out of a Casement.
the same with ANGLERS.
a Man-Thief.
a Woman-Thief.
to Rob, or Cheat.
Pick-pockets, who generally go in Company with a Rogue, called a Bulk or Bulker, whose Business 'tis to jostle the Person against the Wall, while the File picks his Pocket; and generally gives it to an Adam-tiler, who scowers off with it.
a Pick-Pocket, Thief or Rogue; the same as FILE.
a Pockey Whore.
a Groat;
a Trick or Sham Story.
of small Substance.
Pictures that look fair at a Distance, but coarser near at Hand.
a Clap or Pox.
a Peruke.
a House were Thieves use, and are connived at.
Drunk.
to Rob, Plunder or Strip.
a Match-maker; also a Bawd.
West Indian Pirates, or Buckaneers, Free-booters.
a Drinking Glass.
to cut, cutting, as,
to Whip
severely lash'd.
whipt at the Cart's Arse.
a naked Woman's
whipping with Rods an old (usually)
and (sometimes) a young Letcher.
the Beadle, or Whipper in Bridewell, or any such Place.
an old Letcher, who, to stimulate himself to Venery, causes himself to be whipp'd with Rods.
a whipping Post.
a Wench that is touz'd and ruffled.
full of Money.
Drunk.
the Recorder of London, or of any other Town.
Shoes.
Beggars plying in Bodies at Funerals.
a Cheat, or Trick.
to cheat or deceive.
Smoke.
Tobacco.
an artificial Sore made with unslak'd Lime, Soap, an the Rust of old Iron, on the Back of a Beggar's Hand, as if hurt by the Bite or Kick of a Horse.
a Crew of Villains, who rob on Foot, some of them using long Poles or Staves, with an Iron Hook at the End, with which they either pull Gentlemen from their Horses, or knock them down: At other Times, they skulk under Hedges or behind Banks in the Road, and suddenly starting out from their Covert, one seizes the Bridle, while the other dismounts the Passenger: and so rob, and often murder him.
one that engrosses all the Talk to himself.
a Pick-pocket.
is also used for a Spendthrift.
losing Gamesters.
Irishmen, Pursuers
of rich Heiresses, &c; to obtain
them in Marriage.
the Judges of Life and Death.
a Child dropt in the Streets for the Parish to keep.
a sharp, cunning Fellow.
Drunk.
a Cheat, a Rogue.
such as beg with sham Patents or Briefs for Spitals, Prisons, Fires, Innundations, &c;
lawless Robbers, and Plunderers; also Soldiers serving for that Privilege without Pay, Inroaders.
he whose Wife goes with him to the Alehouse.
a thin, small, hard Cyder,
much used by Vintners and Coopers in
parting their Wines, to lower the
Price of them, and to advance their
Gain.
the Pox.
clapt or Poxt.
a Woman well drest and genteel.
for Vrowe, (Dutch) a Wife,
Mistress, or Whore,
Dutchmen.
choaked, strangled, or hanged.
a dry Bob, or Jest.
Drink.
a Drunkard.
a Cheat, or slippery Trick;
is also used for the Backside;
as,
Tobacco Smoak.
Aldermen.
as
a fulsom, beastly, nasty Woman.
to put iron pins into the Mouths of the Robbed, to hinder them from crying out.
a Pot or Pipe.
Bubbles drawn in to be
cheated; also at a Bawdy house, lewd
Women.
a Mouth.
the Lips.
an ill Knot or Crew of Thieves, Pick-pockets or Miscreants.
a Hurdle.
what is customarily spent among the Prisoners at first coming in.
as
Money.
a Gentleman.
a Nobleman's or Gentleman's House.
a Gentlewoman.
a Half-Crown piece.
a Nose; also a Woman's Privities.
a Door,
wanton Women.
a Quartern (of Brandy, Wine &c;) also a homely Woman.
a proud Minks; also a Slut or light Housewife.
a Picklock, so called from Gilt, or Key; may of them are so expert, that from a Church-Door, to the smallest Cabinet or Trunk they will find means to open it. They generally pretending Business of Secrecy, covet to go up Stairs with their Company, in a Publick-House or Tavern, and then prying about, open any Door, Trunk or Cabinet that they think will afford them Booty, and so march off.
a spruce Wench.
Money.
gently, soft, easily.
Toys or Baubles.
an Instrument to lift up a Grate, the better to steal what is in the Window.
to fawn and flatter.
a Window.
one that creeps in at Casements, or unrips Glass-Windows to filch and steal.
Eyes.
smooth, without a Rub.
a Dark-Lanthorn used in robbing
Houses; also to burn in the Hand
as
Andirons.
angry, or in a Passion.
a Link-boy.
Fire.
such as with sham Licences, pretend to Losses by Fire &c;
a Candle-stick.
those that wheedle in Chapmen for Horse-coursers.
a Letcher, or very lascivious Person.
letcherous, wanton, lustfull.
the Mouth; also a Bit or
Morsel; hence Gobbets, now in use for
Bits;
a Turkey-Cock.
Breaking a House with Picklocks.
Sweetners, Cheats, Sharpers.
he that has often a Purse of Gold in his Fob.
Emptiers of Jakes or Houses of Office.
a Pot Companion or Friend of the Bottle.
a Fool.
Money but chiefly Gold.
made a Cuckold of.
Corn.
a Lawyer.
a throwing of young Lasses on the Grass, and kissing them.
a very raw Novice, or unexperienced Fellow.
a Farthing;
Teeth.
blind Men.
a Grave.
to eat, to dine, &c;
Victuals.
false, forg'd News.
murmuring, muttering, repining.
a sucking Pig.
a Pig.
Pork.
a Cheat.
cheated, rooked, sharped.
a By-stander that lends Money to the Gamesters.
as
a Lie.
a fat, pursy Fellow.
an old Woman.
exceeding hungry.
eating much.
a very fat, gross Person.
the Throat.
rifling it, clearing it.
eating it.
Drink.
drinking much.
any Writing or Pass sealed.
jeering or jerking
They endeavour to persuade the Ignorant, that they derive their Origin from the Egyptians, a People heretofore very famous for Astronomy, Natural Magick, the art of Divination, &c; and therefore are great Pretenders to Fortune-telling. To colour their Impostures, they artificially discolour their Faces, and rove up and down the Country in a Tatterdemalion Habit, deluding the ignorant Vulgar, and often stealing from them what is not too hot for their Fingers, or too heavy to carry off.
It is the Custom of these Wretches to swear all that are admitted into their Fraternity, by a Form and Articles annexed into it, administred by the Principal Maunder or Roguish Strowler, and which they generally observe inviolably. The Manner of admitting a new Member, together with the said Oath and Articles, are as follows.
The Name of the Person is first demanded, and a Nick-name is then given him in its stead, by which he is ever after called, and in Time, his other Name is quite forgotten. Then standing up in the middle of the Fraternity, and directing his Face to the Dimber-Damber, or Prince of the Gang, he swears in this Manner, as is dictated to him by one of the most experienced,
I Crank-Cuffin do swear to be a True Brother, and will in all Things, obey the Commands of the great Tawny Prince, and keep his Councel, and not divulge the Secrets of my Brethren.
I will never leave nor forsake this Company, but observe and keep all the Times of Appointments, either by Day or by Night, in any Place whatsoever.
I will not teach any one to cant; nor will I disclose ought of our Mysteries to them, although they flog me to death.
I will take my Prince's Part against all that shall oppose him, or any of us, according to the utmost of my Ability; nor will I suffer him, or any belonging to us, to be abused by any strange, Abrams, Rufflers, Hookers, Palliards, Swadlers, Irish-Toyls, Swig-men, Whip-Jacks, Jark-men, Bawdy-Baskets, Dommerars, Clapperdogeons, Patricoes or Curtals, but will defend him or them as much as I can against all other Outlyers whatever.
I will not conceal ought I win out of Libkins, or from the Ruffmans; but will preserve it for the Use of the Company.
Lastly, I will cleave to my Doxy Wap stiffly, and will bring her Duds, Margery, Praters, Goblet, Grunting-cheats, or Tibs of the Buttery, or anything else I can come at, as Winnings for her Wappings.
The Canters have, it seems a Tradition, that from the Three first articles of this Oath, the first Founders of a certain boastful, worshipful Fraternity, who pretend to derive there Origin from the earliest Times, borrowed of them, both the Hint and form of their Establishment. And that their pretended Derivation from the first Adam, is a Forgery, it being only from the first Adam Tiler. See ADAM TILER.
At the Admission of a new Brother, a general Stock is raised for Booze, or Drink, to make themselves merry on the Occasion. As for Peckage, or Eatables, they can procure it without Money; for while some are sent to break the Ruffmans, or Woods and Bushes, for Firing, others are detached to filch Geese, Chickens, Hens, Ducks or Mallards, and Pigs. Their Morts are their Butchers, who presently make bloody Work with what living Things are brought them, and having made Holes in the Ground, under some remote Hedge in an obscure Place, they make a fire, and broil or boil their Food, and when 'tis enough, fall to work, Tooth and Nail, and having eaten more like Beasts than Men, they drink more like Swine than human Creatures, entertaining one another all the Time with Songs in the Canting Dialect.
As they live, so they lie together promiscuously, and know not how to claim a Property either in their Goods or Children, and this general Interest ties them more firmly together, than if all their Rags were twisted into Ropes to bind them indissolubly from a Separation; which detestable Union is farther consolidated by the above Oath.
They strowl up and down all Summertime in Droves, and dextrously pick Pockets, while they are telling of Fortunes; and the Money, Rings, Silver-Thimbles, &c; which they get, are instantly conveyed from one Hand, to another, till the remotest Person of the Gang, who is not suspected, because they come not near the Person robbed, gets Possession of it, so that in the strictest Search, it is almost impossible to recover it, while the Wretches with Imprecations, Oaths and Protestations, disclaim the Thievery. That by which they are said to get the most Money, is, when young Gentlewomen of good Families and Reputations have happenned to be with Child before Marriage, a round Sum is often bestowed among the Gypsies, for some one Mort to take the Child; and as that is never heard of more by the true Mother and Family, so the Disgrace is kept concealed from the World, and if the Child lives, it never known its Parents.
a Schoolmaster or Usher.
to cut in pieces.
Hirelings.
a fighting Fellow.
Six-Pence.
Six-Pence.
Half a Crown.
almost drunk.
Breeches.
a High Constable.
Fisty-cuffs.
speaking of the Reckoning at a Bowsing-Ken score it up.
a silly Fellow, a meer Codshead.
Jack in the Box, Child in the Womb.
as
whispering on one side to borrow Money.
a Constable.
the Stocks.
a Beadle.
one that is half a Whore, half a Bawd, also a notorious Shrew, or noisy old Woman.
drinking to the same Man again.
hard favoured, homely.
as,
to beat any one with a Hazle Stick or Plant.
the Top Tilter of that Gang, throughout the whole Army, who demands and receives Contribution from all the Pass-Banks in the Camp.
Ears.
a Twenty Shilling Piece.
a sorry poor tattered Fellow, whose Breech may be seen through his Pocket-holes.
to rob.
to rob a House.
the Breast.
a vapouring, swaggering Coward.
to secure a desperate Bet,
Wager or Debt.
a scoundrel or sorry Fellow.
a Robber of Hedges.
a sorry hackney Underling, an Vagabond. See Patrico.
a jilting, sharping Tavern, or blind Ale-house.
the Place where the Taylors lay up their Cabbage, or Remnants.
a lewd, graceless, notorious Youth.
a very lewd Woman.
a Coachman.
a profligate, lewd Fellow.
one whose Husband was hanged.
whose Commander and Officers are absolutely swayed by their Wives.
whose Wife wears the Breeches.
any Person from whom a Booty is taken, a silly Country Fellow; a Booby.
impudent, forward, loose, light Women, also bold Adventurers.
a Play at Dice who Drinks.
an Order of Villains, and the boldest of all others. Before they commence, they furnish themselves, with good Horses, Swords, Pistols, &c; and sometimes singly, but mostly in Company, commit their execrable Robberies. They have a Vizor-Mask, and two or three Perukes of different Colours and Make, the better to conceal themselves. When they meet a Prize upon the Road, they have a Watch-Word, among them, which is no sooner pronounced, but every one falls on. It is usually the Rule among them, that the strongest and bold seize first; the Weaker generally bid stand, and fall in afterwards as Occasion requires. The Instructions given them are, to catch the Bridle in the Left-Hand, and to have the Sword or Pistol in the Right, and, if Opposition be made, or they are likely to be overpowered to kill as fast as they can, and then, either with Booty or without, to make off with all Expedition; and if they are pursued by an Hue or Cry, to conceal themselves in some By place, and let it pass by them.
a Country Clown.
a Romp or rude Girl.
when the Pocket is full of Money.
a plain Country Fellow or Clown.
the same [[as Hob]].
as Sir
a High-shoon or Country Clown.
disguised in Liquor; drunk.
see Hotch-Potch.
a Shilling;
a close-fisted, narrow soul'd sneaking Fellow.
to keep him under, or tie him Neck and Heels into the Bargain.
a very bad Bowler.
the first Month of Marriage.
Blind-folded or Bluffed.
to walk on Foot.
See Anglers.
over reached, snapt, trikt.
a Dancing-master.
stark staring mad because Cuckolded.
said of agreeable News, or a Cup of Comfort, Wine or Cordial Water.
at a desperate Pass, or Condition, or in a fair way to be lost.
severely lash'd or flogg'd.
a Bullying Fellow.
a silly, foolish Fellow.
a Pulpit.
old, mellow, and very strong Beer.
a Society of Gentlemen, who meet near the Charter-House, or at the King's Head in St. John's Street. Less of Mystery, and more of Pleasantry than the Free Masons.
Double Ale, Stout, Pharaoh.
a great Lye, a Rapper.
a Bagnio.
Ale boil'd with Brandy.
Persons at Church; as,
decoying, or drawing others into Play.
murder'd, &c;
Money given to hush up, or conceal a Robbery or Theft, or to take off an Evidence from appearing against a Criminal, &c;
a Jobs, or Guinea.
a Farthing;
Clerkenwell.
a Sharper, or Cheat.
See Jarkmen
a Dwarf, or very little Fellow, a Hop on my-thumb.
a poor Hackney Parson.
Sham or Collar Shirts.
a Ditch.
the Mob, sometimes so called, and Bailiffs, Serjeants-Followers, yeomen, Setters, and any lewd Gang depending upon others.
a Seal.
Those who make Counterfeit Licences and Passes, and are well paid by the other Beggars for their Pains.
a Citizen cheated of his Gold.
Prisoners.
a Gold Ring;
an Instrument to lift up a Grate, and whip any thing out of a Shop-window.
a Lawyer.
a Parson.
any over-reaching Dealer, or
hard sharp Fellow.
Brokers behind St. Clement's Church in London, so called by (their Brethren) the Taylors.
a Trick;
a tricking Woman.
abused by such a one [[i.e. by a JILT]]; also deceived or defeated in one's Expectation, expecially in Amours.
Leathern Jacks tipt and hung with Silver Bells, formerly in use among Fuddle-caps.
Horse-Coursers frequenting Country Fairs.
a Maggot-pated Fellow.
a Nine-pence.
one that stands by, and lends Money to the Gamester at a very high Interest or Premium.
Encroaching upon.
a Guinea, Twenty Shillings,
or a Piece.
to copulate with a Woman.
a Chamberpot.
a great Blow or Staff;
also a Chamber-Pot.
a Cloak or Coat.
Rogues &c; carrying Pins, Points, Laces, and such like Wares about, and, under pretence of selling them, commit Thefts and Robberies.
a Prison.
Scotland.
a Licence.
any very bad or rough Road.
a Pick-lock.
Lightermen that carry coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.
one that maintains a Mistress, and parts with his Money very generously to her.
a Horse.
as,
a House.
a House-breaker, who usually, by getting into an empty House, finds Means to enter into the Gutters of Houses inhabited, and so in at the Windows, &c;
Six-pence:
gone, fled, departed; as,
Breeches.
a Child.
an Order of Rogues, who meeting a Youth with a Bundle or Parcel of Goods, wheedle him by fair Words, and whipping Six-pence into his Hand, to step on a short and sham Errand, in the mean Time run away with the Goods.
one that decoys or spirits (as it is commonly called) Children away, and sells them for the Plantations.
an old sorry Frize Coat.
Rum.
to Trick, Sharp, or
Cheat; also to Beat severely, or to
Bully.
a Thief:
a little Child.
little Children whose Parents are dead, having been Beggars; as also young Lads running from their Masters, who are first taught Canting, then Thieving.
a little Man.
Girls of a Year or two old, whom the Morts (their Mothers) carry at their Backs in Slates (Sheets) and if they have no Children of thir own, they borrow or steal them from others.
the Captain, Chief, or Ringleader of the Gang, the Master of Misrule, otherwise called Uprightman. Vide Gypsies.
the Prison of Newgate.
Money.
a Dancing Master.
a Toy-shop, freighted with pretty Devices to pick Pockets.
one of the First Rate.
a Hector or Bully.
a mercenary common Swearer, a Prostitute to every Cause, an Irish Evidence.
the chief Highwayman, best mounted and armed, the stoutest Fellow among them.
the Head or Skull.
very strong Ale or Beer.
to give over Thieving.
a Crew of Gang of Villains.
a Woman
beating, drubbing;
a very crooked, deformed and ill-shapen Woman.
light, or lewd Women.
Water; also last.
a Buck of Cloths; as,
to beat soundly.
beating or drubbing.
the Judges of the several Courts.
Vagabonds that beg and steal about the Country.
Highwaymen or any other Robbers.
as,
He that comes into Company with but Two-pence in his Pocket.
a very lean, thin-faced Fellow.
the Servant or Agent that receives the Bribe (at Court).
Pottage, Butter-milk, or Whey.
said when the true Name of the Things must (in Decency) be concealed.
let in.
an Enterprize, or Attempt;
pawn'd or dipt for present Money.
a Thick-skill'd, heavy-headed Fellow.
(by the Quakers) a Coach.
Let's hire a Skuller.
Let us scour off, and make what Shift we can to secure our selves from being apprehended.
a Priest or Parson.
to tumble or lie together.
a private Dwelling-House.
a Bed.
a House to lie in; also a Lodging.
as Women's Faces with a Wash.
a Crutch.
See Lib.
Thievish.
the Day or Day-break.
a Whore; also a Cruiser.
a Chimney-Sweeper.
a Dram of Brandy.
Taylors.
Wapping.
run away;
a heavy, dull Fellow.
laid by the Heels, or clap'd up in Jail.
a red Coat Soldier.
as,
one that buys and conceals stollen Goods.
the Warehouse whither the Thieves carry stollen Goods. Also an Hospital for pocky Folks in Southwark &c;
thin, lean, sharp-visag'd
a Watch.
a lazy, idle Droe.
a very tall Woman.
long-legged.
a Chamber-pot.
a Lout.
a Thirteen-pence Half-penny.
a very crooked deformed, or ill-shapen Person.
Money.
Scotland.
a Comb.
a Foot-Pad.
when there's no Money in a Man's Pocket.
Ludgate Prison.
Ears.
a Child.
too much.
beaten at any Game.
Money, Watches, Rings, or other Moveables.
a Bawd.
a very tall, lank Person.
a Whore;
stolen.
alias of Bedlam; otherwise called Abram-men.
when none are hang'd.
a Half-penny.
to steal; seize; to run away with.
one in a rueful Dress, enough to fright one.
a jolly red Nose.
a lewd Spark, or very Debauchee.
any Liquor made of the Fruits of English Growth, as Ale, Beer, Cyder, &c;
a Hen.
transported into some Foreign Plantation.
Childrens Cries.
a Sham Sore above the Elbow; to counterfeit a broken Arm, by a Fall from a Scaffold.
swinglingly drunk, or soundly beat.
Beggars
begging.
Scolding.
weepingly drunk.
Guineas.
to spend Money.
a Term used by Goalers, when their Prisoners will bleed freely to have some Favour, or to be at large.
to steal, rob, or kill.
to kill a Sheep.
a Woman's Tongue.
to break a Hedge.
to kill a Pig.
to rob a House.
a House-Breaker.
break open the Window.
kill them.
a Killer or Murderer.
Gold.
Shirt, Smock, or Sheet.
a Coat or Petticoat.
a Whore of Quality.
Serjeants, Bailiffs and their Crew.
a Wench or Harlot.
a Hanger-on among the Cheats, a Spunger.
a Link-boy, or one that, under Colour of lighting Men, (especially they who get in Drink, or have the Fields, or any uninhabited or By place, to go over) robs or leads them to a Gang of Rogues, that will do it for him.
Gypsies.
a Dowdy, or homely Woman.
maz'd.
a Half-penny or Farthing.
a Watchman's brown Bill; as Glaives, are Bills or Swords.
to hang dangling in the Air, to be executed.
Yeomans Daughters; also a Wife, Woman, or Wench.
a Bawd.
a Midwife (often a Bawd).
Rings, Watches, Swords, and such Toys of Value.
as
a noisy Fellow.
a Cow.
a Drover.
Money, Wealth.
a Woman's Secrets,
a Napkin.
not a Word of the Pudding.
one that fits mute.
the Monument, erected at the City Charge, in Memory of the dreadful Fire 1666, which consumed the greatest part of the City.
genteel Beggars, who will not accept of Victuals, but of Money or Cloaths. The Male Mumper often appears with an Apron before him, and a Cap on his Head, pretending to be a decayed Tradesman, who having been a long Time sick, hath spent all his remaining Stock, ans is so weak he cannot work. At other times he appears like a decayed Gentleman, who, especially since the fatal South Sea Scheme, has been undine, and reduced to the Necessity of imploring good People's Charity.
The Female Mumper will confidently knock at the Door of a House, and desire to speak with the Mistress, and after apologizing for her Boldness, she acquaints her how urgent her Necessity is: That she has a Husband and two small Children lying at the Point of Death: That she was a Gentlewoman born; but marrying against her Friends Consent, was by them disowned, and so by her Husbands Sickness, is reduced to this miserable Condition. Sometimes she appears big with Child, and begs Cloaths or Linnen to make Clouts of. The Word Mumper is now generally used to denote all sorts of Beggars.
several Ale-houses in and about this City and Suburbs, in Alleys, and By-places, much used by them, and resorted to in the Evening, where they will be very merry, drunk, and frolicksome.
the Face;
the Watch-word among High-way-men, to let the Company they were to rob, alone, in return to some Courtesy from some Gentleman among them.
a Lover of Women; also a Sheep-stealer.
Women
a beard, (usually) long and nasty.
the Constable's Attendants, or those whom he commands (in the King's Name) to aid and assist him: Also the Watchmen.
a Hat, Cap, or Head, also a
Coxcomb.
a Hat.
a Bridle.
a Servant-maid.
a Bawdy-house.
by cheating with the Dice
to ecure one chance; also a Clap or
Pox, and a short sleep,
a Cheat, or Thief.
of Naps, a sheep-stealer.
very strong, heady.
a Prison or Bridewell.
a Mistress, a Wench.
a By-word, or Proverb.
Drunken.
a Drunkard.
a she Drunkard.
Drunken Coxcombs.
the Pot-Boy at a Tavern or Ale-house.
a Sharper.
tiezed, provoked, made uneasy.
to win at Dice, to hit the Mark.
a Sharper, also a rooking Ale house or Inn-keeper,Vintner, or any Retailer.
a Fool, also a silly, soft, uxorious Fellow.
an emty Fellow, a meer Gods-head.
the clippings of Money.
Clipping.
a Clipper.
accompanying with a Woman.
a Constable.
a Bellman; also a light Woman; a Thief, a Rogue.
qu. an Ideot, i.e. a Fool.
a very silly fellow.
a Natural, or very soft Creature.
to steal.
or whip off or away any thing;
a Doctor, Surgeon, Apothecary, or any one that cures a Clap or a Pox.
a canting, whining Beggar; also a Fool.
a Cheat.
to pinch or sharp any thing.
the Shears with which Money was wont to be clipt.
a Fool or Coxcomb.
a Head.
a silly, dull Fellow.
the Head.
a Fool.
or
a Blow, a Knock on the
Pate; as
a Recluse or Nun.
the Neck; also Coition.
hanging.
the Gallows.
the Hangman.
the Sessions House.
a Word of Love, as
a sham, or Collar-shirt, to hide the other when dirty.
a Pillory,
a rich Man, of good Substance and Credit.
good or expert.
a poor Hackney Parson that can read but not preach well.
a Composition used by Vintners when they bedevil their Wines.
a Piece of Gold.
the Devil.
a brisk old Fellow.
a Chamber Pot.
a Parson.
a Wench.
Bone handled Knives.
in a declining Condition going down the Wind.
strong Drink.
the Highway; also a Robber thereon.
an Execution of Malefactors at Tyburn.
I'll prevent your doing me any Mischief: the Tar Cant when they quarrel onw with another.
those whose Fathers were Clapperdogeons, or born Beggars, and who themselves follow the same Trade. The Female sort of these Wretches frequently borrow Children if they have none of their own, and planting them about in Straw, draw the greater Pity from the Spectators, screwing their Faces to the moving Postures, and crying at Pleasure, and making the Children also cry by pinching them, or otherwise; mean time her Com rogue, the Male Palliard, lies bagging in the Fields, with Cleymes or artificial Sores, which he makes by Spere-wort or Arsnick, which draws them into Blisters.
Bread.
a Heart.
a Butler.
Milk-Pottage.
the Clippings of Money.
strolling Priests that marry under a Hedge, without Gospel or Common-prayer Book: The couple standing on each side a dead Beast, are bid to live together till Death them does part; so shaking Hands the Wedding is ended, also any Minister, or Parson.
See Palm [[not present]].
a Hand.
the same as Palm, which see. [[not present]]
any kind of Lace.
a Mistress; also particular, private, proper.
a Basket.
a Looking-glass.
Eyes.
fearful, shy, fly.
a Portmanteau, or Cloak-bag.
as
blind, obscure.
a Pillory.
a very broad brimmed hat.
soundly clapt or Poxt.
a Peruke, or Perriwig.
Rogues who follow petty Thefts; such as cutting Portmanteau's, &c; from behind Coaches, breaking Shop Glasses, &c;
a Gallant maintained for secret Service.
very strong Malt Drink.
See Firedrakes.
Serjeants, Bailiffs and
their Crew. Also Drunkards.
little Stealing, Pilfering Petty Larceny.
a very shabby poor Fellow.
very arch or waggish.
Six-pence.
a silly Fellow.
to run away, flee, quit or
leave the Place; also to die,
a top Trader in pimping.
to steal or convey slily
any Thing away.
pricked with a Sword in a
re-encounter or Duel.
the Hole under the Gallows, into which those that pay not the Fee, (viz. 6s. 8d.) are cast and buried.
sadly scared, greviously frighted.
to lay, place or hide.
one warm Belly clapt to another.
when the Money comes to Hand.
a very broad ordinary faced Woman.
to play Booty; also to
throw away, at Gaming, so much and
no more.
Ring the Bell at the Tavern.
flush of Money.
a Crutch; also a Trader.
a Sword.
a good Rap there.
Pistols,
a Sword.
as
Drunk.
a Bubo.
the pocky Hospital at Kingsland near London.
big with Child.
red Haired.
a Horse.
a Horse's Head, used in a sham Seal to such a Pass.
the Thighs or Buttocks; also a Tinder-box or Touch-box.
a Tongue.
a Talking Boy.
Money.
a Crop whose Ears are longer than his Hair.
a Taylor.
married.
a Thief, a Cheat: also a nice,
beauish, silly Fellow, is called a
Thieves.
lying with a Woman.
a Rival in Love.
Thievish.
a Horse-stealer; also a Thief Taker.
Poultry-stealers.
Horse-stealers, who carry a Bridle in their Pockets, and a small pad Saddle in their Breeches.
a King of the Gypsies; also Top-Thief, or Receiver General.
a pert, forward Fellow.
nicely dressing.
such a stiff, overnice precise Madam.
Meat.
to beat,
to wheedle-Secrets out of any one.
bawdy-houses.
a little Whore.
Tutors at the Universities.
a Mistress.
a Top-Mistress or fine Woman.
Canary with a Dash of Wormwood.
a Fencing-School; also a Bawdy house.
a Duck.
a Woman's Tongue.
a Calf or Sheep.
a Glazier.
a Body.
a Whore or Slut.
base, roguish,
naught.
such as having got loose, return to their old Trade of roguing and thieving.
a sneaking sharping, Cut-throat Ale-house Man or Inn-keeper.
an empty Purse.
a sorry old Handkerchief, not worth nimming.
clipt, counterfeit Money.
a false Coiner.
a Receiver and Putter off of false Money.
a Rogue.
a Justice of Peace; also a churl.
a Fop or Fool, a Cods-head; also a shabby poor Fellow.
an Iron, Steel or Brass hilted Sword.
a bungling Pick-pocket.
a jilting Jade, a sorry shabby Wench.
Yarn, or coarse Worsted, ordinary or old Stockings.
a poor decayed Gentleman, also a lean, thin, half-starved Fellow.
a bungling Cheat or Trick; also Game or Merriment.
an ill House, a Prison or a place of Correction.
course ordinary or old tattered Breeches.
a dirty Drab, a jilting Wench, a pocky Jade.
a Felt, Carolina Cloth or ordinary Hat.
old-fashioned, ordinary or common Looking glasses.
a foundered Jade, an ordinary low prized Horse: also a cowardly or faint hearted Horse-stealer.
sorry Head-dresses.
to trifle or pun.
a trifling, silly shatter-brained Fellow; a meer Wittol or Punter, likewise a Whiffler.
Cash, or ready Money.
Newgate; also a Prison, tho'
generally for Debt.
Snack, Share, Part, Proportion or Dividend.
young Unthrifts taking Goods on Tick of Pawnbrokers or Tallymen, at excessive Rates.
wooden Cans to drink out of, once used on the Roads, now almost laid by.
a Farthing.
a Taterdemallion.
a common sort of strong Water.
a lewd Spark or Debauchee.
a Fool.
intriguing, and enjoying many Women.
a Highwayman; also a Jockey.
a rude wild Boy or Girl.
to swop or exchange a Horse or Goods; also a Polt on the Pate.
a swinging great Lye.
poor Savoyards strolling up and down with portable Boxes of Puppet-shows at their Backs; Pedlars of Puppets.
a drunken Man or Woman
taken up by the Watch, and carried
by the Constable to the Compter.
a Coach.
a Coach-man.
such as run after, or ply Coaches &c;
to move off, or be
gone.
Money in Possession.
Money (expected.)
Claret, or red Port-Wine.
a Roman Catholick.
a Tongue.
q. d. Pray Sir drink about. A Norfolk Phrase.
ready Money.
Money.
a red-Face.
a Gold-smith.
the Rabble or Scum of the People, Tagrag and Longtail.
Game, Diversion, Ridicule. See Fun.
Cloaths.
fine Cloaths.
Money extorted by Rogues on the Highway, or by Gentlemen Beggars.
Holiday-Cloaths.
mighty Thieves, like Robin Hood.
two torn Smocks, and what Nature gave.
a Portmanteau, a Goose; also a Man's Yard. Likewise a Thief-taker.
a name which includes all the other Denominations.
sought after with a Warrant.
Watch and Ward.
a drinking Glass; also wider.
a Cheat a Knave.
sanguine or fresh colour'd
a Coach, or Waggon, any thing that runs upon Wheels; but prinicipally a Cart.
very small or thin Beer.
Pyrates, Wanderers, Vagabonds.
as,
rude roaring Rogues.
to run away.
He sends us to Newgate.
an old-fashioned double
Band; from whence the Pillory is called,
the Devil; as
notorious Rogues, who, under Pretence of being maimed Soldiers or Seamen, implore the Charity of well disposed Persons, and fail not to watch Opportunities either to steal, break open Houses, or even commit Murder.
the Woods or Bushes.
Bacon.
gallant, fine, rich, best or excellent.
any Justice of the Peace.
a clever Cheat, a neat Trick.
a very fat Weather. [[See Bleating-Cheat]]
a veru handsom Mistress, kept by a particular Man.
a jolly Host, Inn-keeper, or Victualler.
a Prison or Goal.
a young Apprentice; also a sharp, sly Trick. Likewise a pretty short Wig.
a Ward or Watch.
Wine; also very good or string Drink.
Bunches of Grapes.
a dexterous Fellow at stealing Silver Tankards from Publick Houses.
a very pretty and valuable Dog.
a full Purse.
bravely, cleverly, delicately, &c;
which is, (among the Butchers) an ignorant Market-man or Woman, that is bit by them.
a large Silver Tankard.
a Silk, fine Cambrick, or Holland Handkerchief.
a good Purse of Gold, or round Sum of Money.
new Money, or Medals curiously coin'd.
a great Rogue.
a rich Fool, that can be easily bit, or cheated by any body; also one that is very generous and kind to a Mistress.
a Silver-hilted or inlaid Sword.
the same as, Rum-Doxy.
a compleat or clever Pick-pocket, The same with Files or Bung-nippers. Which see.
a beautiful Woman, or light Lady.
Silk Stokings, or very fine worsted Hose.
a Vintner.
an experienc'd or expert Picker of Locks. The same with GILT, which see.
a jolly handsome Man,
a jolly handsome Woman.
the same as Rum-diver.
a Calf.
a clever Cheat or sharp trick.
the same as Rum-Cole.
the King or Chief of the Linkboys.
Canary-Wine; also fine Eating.
a Drawer.
Silver or Gold Brokade Breeches, or very rich with Gold or Silver Galloon.
one that counterfeits himself a Fool.
a Queen, or great Lady.
a Beaver, or very good Hat.
true French Brandy.
a very silly Fellow.
the Highway.
the better Sort of Highwaymen, well mounted and armed. See High Pad.
a Silver Looking-glass.
Fidlers that play at Feasts, Fairs, Weddings &c; and live chiefly on the Remnants of Victuals.
a very beautiful Horse.
a great Booty, or large Snack.
Westphalia-Ham.
much Wine or good Liquor given among the Fidlers.
a good Fillip on the Nose.
the same as Rum-degen, being the newest Cant Word of the two.
the same as Rum-tol, or Rum-degen.
a rich Head-dress.
London
the same as Rum-Clout
to turn Spark, and run out of all.
Hawkers, or those that cry News and Books about the Streets.
the same as Budge.
an old blunt Fellow.
a Pocket.
also signifies to be drunk;
As,
the same as Barker.
the Beggar's Sacrament or Oath.
a sorry Wench, or scoundrel Fellow.
a sorry Perriwig.
a thorough-pac'd Alsatian, or Minter; one harden'd, or past Shame.
See Skew.
a Bawdy-house.
the Itch.
a sober, soaking Rain.
a Hedge bird or sorry Scab.
to wear.
to run away or scamper.
Drunkards beating the Watch, breaking Windows, clearing the Streets, &c;
a Reckoning at a Boozing-ken, &c;
s Design, a purpos'd Villainy, a vile Intention; also a perpetrated
Roguery:
a Shred or Scrap of Paper.
As,
a Ragamuffin.
the Itch.
to copulate with a Woman.
a Strumper, a common Prostitute.
the Riff-raff, or Tagrag and Longtail.
one that gives Bonds and Judgement for Goods and Money.
as,
poor, Money-less, exhausted.
a Bawdy-house; so called from the Great Turk's Palace.
a lousy, vile, sorry Bawdy-house, a meer Dog-hole.
as
they that draw in Bubbles, for old Gamesters to rook; also a Serjeant's Yeoman, or Bailiff's Follower, or Second. Also an Excise Officer.
to stun, or knock
down; as,
in poor sorry Rigging.
a Ragamuffin.
sneak'd, or fled away.
a poor shabby Fellow.
a Cheat, or Trick.
one that goes
wide, and shuffles his Feet about.
for Chappeau, F. a Hat.
a Cheat, one that lives by his Wits.
false Dice.
the Chippings of Money.
a Woman Thief-catcher; also a Hen-bawd, or Procuress; a Debaucher of young Virgins; a Maiden head-jobber.
a Prison.
one that Steals under pretence of cheap'ning.
imprison'd.
as,
Clapt or Pox'd.
a Serjeant or Bailiff.
a Partner to a File.
a Taylor.
a slippery, shifting Fellow.
a Shark or Sharper.
Six-pence.
to knock him
down, so as to stun him: To lay him
down for dead.
a Set of Varlets, who snatch Hoods, Scarves, Handkerchiefs, or any Thing they can come at.
a Fool.
Six-pence.
a very foolish, silly Fellow.
the Country-Vicar or Parson.
one that treats every Body, and pays the Reckonings every where.
a Beggar's wooden Dish.
a griping, sharping, close-fisted Fellow.
that fills the Glass or Cup.
Yougsters that ride Horses for Sale.
a Barn.
Paper.
a Trick; also also a Game intirely lost, without getting one on that Side.
a Sheet.
a half Crown; also the
same as
without Shop, Warehouse or Cellar, only for a private Family.
See Zlouch.
a slovenly, dirty, nasty Fellow.
a Cheat at Dice; also a slight Scandal or Affront.
a seeming silly, but subtle Fellow.
a Coachman.
to quell, to beat or abuse violently; to kill.
to smite, to kick down
Stairs.
a Painter, or Plaisterer, &c;
a Nose.
a Nose-gay; also an Orchard or Garden.
Half-Guineas.
an Arm.
to suspect or smell a Design.
a Tobacconist.
Jealous, as,
a Blacksmith.
a Bawdy-house.
Bawdy.
Share or Part.
to rifle, to strip, or
plunder.
to steal, to rob, to
purloin.
taken, caught.
one that robs alone, and deals chiefly in petty Larcenies.
to cut.
to eye or see any Body.
a Cheat;
a Filip on the Nose.
to wipe, or flap.
a Hogshead.
Snow-water.
one that lurks under a Bed, to watch an Opportunity to rob the House.
a Pocket.
demanded and spent upon Marriage.
a large one.
the Mass.
a Scholar.
a Soldier.
a Lover of Women.
a Wit. Also a Thief.
a Lawyer.
a Parson.
one that loves Brandy.
a counterfeit Sore or Wound in the left Arm.
to fall upon, to beat cruelly; also to plunder or kill.
a strong distill'd Liquor, so called by the Inhabitants and Clients of Newgate, &c;
Geneva.
a Pig.
a Fool.
a Female Child.
to beat violently, &c;
As,
Ends of Gold or Silver.
the Pox.
fair Words and Compliments.
Money, Gold or Silver.
to steal.
a coloured Handkerchief.
the same asKidnap.
a Parson.
a Grocer.
a Lawyer.
to draw a
Person in to be bit.
to drink at others Cost.
a By-prison.
one tat lives upon the rest, and pays nothing.
a very fat, truss Person; a new-hatch'd Chick; also a Couch.
a Voice; as,
to discover, or impeach;
also to cry out.
a Barboy; also a Bastard,
or any other Child.
being bound for any Body; also sealing of Writings.
one that squints very much.
a Man of Fortune,
drawn in, cheated, and ruin'd by
a Pack of poor, lowsy, spunging Fellows,
that lived (formerly) in White-Fryars.
foolish; also one that pretends to pay all Reckonings, and is not strong enough in the Pocket.
a Term (inverting Qualities)
used for an Enemy, a Pursuer;
as,
old, dull.
at her last Prayers.
a Whore-Master; so called from a Stone-horse kept to cover Mares.
a Bastard.
making or ordaining.
a Broker's Shop, or any House that receives stollen Goods.
to Cant; as,
a brawny, lusty, strapping Wench.
Legs.
Shoes; also Carriers.
a Question; also a Flincher.
a Pair of Gloves.
humming, strong Liquor.
very strong Ale.
Stockings.
quite dead.
a Prison.
as,
the Nick-name of the chief Rendezvous of the Canting Crew of Gypsies, Cheats, Thieves, &c;
a great Blow.
i.e. You have said enough.
lying with a Wench.
a swinging two-handed Woman.
hanging.
to tell a Lye; as,
to beg or rob; also to
borrow Money.
to rob or gut a House, to unrig any Body; or to bite them of their Money.
To gut the House.
To win all
the Money on the Place.
Strap, or Hair, as,
Vagabonds, Itinerants, Men of no settled Abode, of a precarious Life, Wanderers of Fortune, such as Gypsies, Beggars, Pedlars, Hawkers, Mountebanks, Fidlers, Country-Players, Rope-dancers, Jugglers, Tumblers, Shewers of Tricks, and Raree-show-men.
who, pretending to be Widows, often travel the Countries, making Laces upon Yews, Beggar's-tape, &c; Are light-finger'd, subtle, hypocritical, cruel, and often dangerous to meet, especially when a Ruffler is with them.
a Ferriwig.
Hold your Tongue.
the same as Stalling Ken. Which see.
Wine or strong Drink.
drunkish, maudling, half-Seas over.
good Store of Brandy or any agreeable Liquor.
clapt.
a good, rousing Winter-Fire.
not so much as a Drop left to be poured upon the Thumb nail, so cleverly was the Liquor tipt off.
an Hostess or Landlady.
he that pockets up Gloves, Knives, Handkerchiefs, Snuff and Tobacco-boxes, and other lesser Moveables.
Rogues, who, not
content to rob and plunder, beat and
barbarously abuse, andoften murder
the Passengers. Hence,
a Shop.
to vapour or bounce.
easy to be taken in; Also
expert, dexterous, clever: As,
Guinea-droppers,
Cheats, Sharpers.
a draught of Liquor;
carrying small Haberdashery-Wares about, pretending to sell them, to colour their Roguery. Fellows crying Old Shoes, Boots, or brooms; and thos pretending to buy Old Suits, Hats or Cloaks, are also called Swig-Men, and oftentimes, if an Opportunity offers, make all Fish that comes to Net.
a very great one.
to beat him soundly.
a Mistress; also good
Cloaths.
Seize the Men in order to rob them.
a sort of Servants in use with the great Men in Ireland, to lull them asleep with Stories of a Cock and a Bull, &c;
as,
a Pottle or two Quart Pot.
Brokers that let out Cloaths to wear per Week, Month or Year. See Rabbit-Suckers.
a Blow; a small Tap, &c;
Geneva, Aniseed, Clove water, so called by Canters and Villains, and the Renters of the Trap, &c; in Newgate, ans other Prisons.
wretched, sorry Drink, or Hogwash.
sharp, quick, pert.
a notorious Rogue or
Sharper, who sticks not to rob his
Brother Rogue. Hence
a tattered
Beggar, sometimes half naked, with
Design to move Charity, having better
Cloaths at Home.
an Alarum, or striking Watch; or indeed any other Watch.
false Dice.
garish, gawdy, with
Lace, or mismatched and staring Colours:
A Term borrow'd from those
Times when they trick'd and bedeck'd
the Shrines and Altars of the Saints, as
being at Emulation with each other
upon that Occasion. The Votaries of
St. Audery (in Isle of Ely Saint) exeeding
all the rest in the Dress and
Equipage of their Altar, it grew into a
By-word, upon any thing very gawdy,
that it was All Taudry; as much as to
say,
a Sword.
Sword-Stealers.
The same as Wiper-Drawers.
Ireland.
Irishmen.
Drops of the good Liquor that fall beside.
the Pumping of Bailiffs, Bums, Setters, Pick-Pockets, &c;
a very nicely educated Creature, apt to catch cold on the least Puff of Wind.
a Knight or Gentleman of a good Estate; also any rich Man.
an Estate in Land;
the Woman uppermost.
who make a Trade of helping People (for a Gratuity) to their lost Goods and sometimes, for Interest, or Envy, snapping the Rogues themselves, being usually in Fee with them, and acquainted with their Haunts.
farting and coughing at the same time.
in at one Ear and out at t'other.
over Shoes, over Boots.
Tyburn.
half common Ale, and half Stout or double Beer.
Three-pence.
Throat or Gullet;
Three Pence.
a Punishment (in Scotland) by hard squeezing or pressing of the Thumbs, to extort Confession, which stretches them prodigiously, and is very painful. In Camps, and on Board of Ships, lighted Matches are clapt between the Fingers to the same Intent.
to beat with a Stick or Cudgel.
a young Lass.
a Goose.
as,
a Tosspot, or Pot-companion. A lewd Man or Woman.
a Licence.
lying with a Wench, also Drinking.
a Sword.
Hit for Hit, Dash for Dash.
to give or lend:
a Fuddle-cap, or Toss pot.
almost drunk.
a Horse; also a young prim Lass.
a fine Snack, or choice Morsel.
idle, impertinent Talk.
to laugh at a Feather.
one ready to reel, at every Jog, or Blast of Wind.
a Coat.
a Gown, or Cloak.
the Plague; also Presents
from one to another; also a Farthing.
Toledo, a Sword.
a Tom Rig, or Romp.
the same as Abram-Man. Which See.
a very silly Felow.
a Dwarf or diminutive Fellow.
tedious; as
a smooth, glib-tongued, insinuating Fellow.
a silly Fellow or Ninny.
an Implement fit for any Turn, the Creature of any Cause or Faction; a meer Property, or Cat's Foot.
to cheat or trick any one;
also to insult.
a Lover of Women.
to drink.
Drunk.
who has reach'd the Pitch and greatest Eminence in any Art; the Master, and the Cock of his Profession.
the Gallows.
the Hangman.
Bum sodder.
Irish Thieves or Rapparees.
to name or
begin a new Health.
giddy-headed, hare-brained.
to look out sharp, to be
upon one's Guard.
a Tavern or Ale-house Bar.
a Slap on the Face and a Kick on the Breech.
one that rides all the Women he meets.
a Cant Word, used to denote
bad, or clipped Money: as,
to go.
to come up with any Body.
Sellers of old Shoes and Boots, between Shoemakers and Cobblers; also that turn or translate out of one Language into another.
or rather Transmigrafy, to alter or new vamp.
See Crocker.
he that draws in or
wheedles a Cull, and Bites him.
a dangling Slattern.
Three Pence.
an idle She-companion.
a Prison.
Dress.
cheating People of their Money.
to hang; also Tyburn.
hanging.
Toys and Trifles.
a Whim or Maggot.
the Belly or Guts.
a short Voyage or Journey; also an Error of the Tongue, or Pen; a Stumble, a false Step, a Miscarriage. Also a Bastard.
as,
Feet, usually Sheeps.
to saunter, loiter, or wander about.
a half Crown.
troubled, cast in Law punished.
a dirty Puzzle, an ordinary sorry Woman.
a Whore, also a Tinker's travelling Wife or Wench.
old Ware, old Stuff.
Pease.
a Nose
a sure Friend or Confidant.
hang'd.
a Cart.
any cruel hard-hearted Man.
Drivers of Turkeys.
Lambeth, Southwark and Rotherhith Side of the Water.
very sharp or ill dealing in Business.
he that quits one and embraces another Party.
white or Fair-hair'd.
as
a Shilling.
to disingage, to sunder,
to snap, to break off; as,
half Tea, half Coffee:
Likewise Brandy and Eggs mixed. Hot-Pot.
Also to Eat; as,
to eat heartily.
executed, hanged.
to hit in the Teeth.
to laugh much with little Noise; also to tremble.
wild Rambles, extravagant Frolicks.
a wandering Rogue, a strolling Vagabond.
or Ostentatious Man,
one that boasts without Reason, or, as
the Canters say,
a Servant.
to parn anything. [[pawn?]]
Stockings.
as
now Rogues, Rascals, &c; tho' formerly Yeomens Servants.
as,
a Bawdy-house.
a Tongue.
a Cloak; also the Fellow that makes a Ring, and keeps Order amongst Wrestlers, Dudgel-Players, &c;
a masculine Woman, or a great two-handed Female.
stripp'd, undress'd.
undone, ruin'd.
rank, fulsom Bawdry.
high Dice.
that put off false Money for sham Coiners. Also one that warrants Gagers or under Officers Accompts, either at the Excise Office; or elsewhere.
rampant, crowing, full of
Money.
As, an
new raised to Honour.
a little sorry Fellow; also a Hedge-hog.
Ireland, with us, because of its frequent and great Rains; as Heidelberg, and Cologn in Germany, have the same Name upon the same Account; also a Chamber-pot, or Glass.
to go like a Duck.
arch, gamesome, pleasant.
a malkish, ill Taste.
to lie with a Man.
that has sore or running Eyes.
the Act of Coition.
well lined of flush in the Pocket.
an old fashion'd
large Watch.
he that is Security for Goods taken up on Credit, by extravagant young Gentlemen; also a Boarding-school, or a Bawdy-house, which are too much the same Thing.
Paint for Faces.
peevish.
one that robs Ships, Hoys, Lighters, Barges or Boats in the River of Thames. A sort of BADGERS. Which see.
Ears; also Sheep-folds.
Cloth of any Sort.
Plate, or Silver or Gold Moveables and trinkets: Also Money.
the Itch.
a Whore and a Rogue married together.
a Drunkard of that Sect.
a Sharper.
regular drinking over the left Thumb.
a Lane betwixt Holbourn and Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, formerly a noted Nest for Whores, now dispark'd.
Words.
to enter into a Parley,
to compound with, or take off by
a Bribe; as,
a Peacher (or rather Impeacher) of his Gang.
Scotland.
Prayers, Supplications, &c;
Yorkshire.
a sharp, or subtle Fellow.
to steal, to drink cleverly,
to snatch and to run away.
a Maggot.
maggotish.
a low or small Cry.
a low or feigned Cry.
to cry squeekingly.
a Sword.
a very small sprightly Boy.
counterfeit Mariners begging with false Passes, pretending Ship-wrecks, great Losses at Sea, narrow Escapes, &c; telling dismal Stories, having learnt Tar-Terms on purpose: but are meer Cheats, and will not stick to rob a Booth at a Fair, or an House in soem By-road. They often carry their Morts or Wenches, which the pretend to be their Wives, whom they miraculously saved in the Shipwreck, altho' all their Children were drowned, the Ship splitting on a Rock near the Lands-End, with such like Forgeries.
Testicles.
a little inconsiderable, impertinent Fellow.
a great Lye.
shallow, brown Bowls to drink out of.
the Throat.
Newgate. As,
two torn Smocks, and what Nature gave.
See Tape.
Silver.
an insolent prescribing, very, Wife.
a Bastard.
a Milk-maid.
sad Drink.
a Casement, also a little
Door. As,
See Witcher-Cully.
mourning
Cloaths.
such as are trained up from Children to Nim golden or silver Buttons off of Coats, to creep in at Cellar and Shop-windows, and to slip in at Doors behind People; also that have been whipt, burnt in the Fist, and often in Prison for Roguery.
Tricks, Intrigues, cunning Stratagems.
cunning, crafty, intriguing.
a little Horse that Travels chearfully; also a coming Girl.
poor, and of no Reputation.
a Penny.
a great Fortune fallen unexpectedly by the Death of a Friend.
without Sense or Reason.
empty Projects.
a Signal or Intimation.
Money, or Reward:
a Blow; also a Reflection.
a Handkerchief.
a Handkerchief-stealer.
a Fetch or Trick to
wheedle in Bubbles; also to screw,
over-reach, or deal hard with.
a Fool.
to know or understand.
Newgate, New Prison, or Bridewell. The same as Whit.
Silver.
a Silver Bowl.
a Silver-smith.
a Silver-hilted
Sword.
to boil.
a Prostitute, or common Harlot.
the Indisposition
of a Drunkard after a Debauch in
Wine or other Liquors: As,
a Pillory.
a By-stander that bets, while others game.
In a Peck of Troubles; being in a Doubt, or at a Loss, what Course to take, by Reason of some very critical Turn in one's Affairs; or, among Canters, by being surpriz'd, and in great Danger of being taken, in a Robbery, or any other unlawful Act.
a soft-headed Fellow.
as,
one that plays with Words: A Punster.
undermined, rooked,
cheated, tricked;
a Scold; the Name of Socrates's scolding Wife; who never cold move his Patience, tho' by premeditated and repeated Injuries. Whence it is used for any Shrew, or scolding, brawling Woman.
to eat heartily, to stuff lustily.
a red Herring.
a sorry slow Cart to ride on, drawn by one Horse.
made of Herrings, highly spic'd, and presented by the City of Norwich annually to the King, on pain of forfeiting their Charter.
Milk, or Food made of Milk.
a Phrase originally applied to Quakers; but now used for any simple Fellows.
at first used by the Canters only, but now in common Speech, for being jealous.
a Guinea, or Piece of Gold of any Coin.
(from the Yelping of a Dog) to cry, to bawl, to complain.
a Town-Cryer; also, one subject to complain, or make pitiful Lamentation for trifling Incidents.
a Diminutive of Yesterday; a Day ago.
married.
a Yorkshire Manner of Man.
crooked, like the letter Z;
as,
a Mountebank's Merry-Andrew, or Jester, to distinguish him from a Lord's Fool.
a slovenly ungenteel Man.
Frost, or Frozen;
the same as Znees.