Victorian London - Words and Expressions - Passing English of the Victorian Era, by J.Bedding Ware, 1909 - "A"

PASSING ENGLISH OF THE VICTORIAN ERA

ABBREVIATIONS USED

ab. about
abbrev. abbreviation
Amer. American
art. artistic
Austral. Australia
   
Bk. Book
   
Ca. Canto
c. Eng. common English
cent. century
cf. compare
ch. chapter
C.L. common life
com., comm. common
commerc. commercial
corr. corruption
crit. criticism
   
D.C. Daily Chronicle
D. cls. Dangerous Classes
D.M. Daily Mail
D.N. Daily News
D.T. Daily Telegraph
   
E. East
eg. for example
E.N. Evening News
Eng., Engl. England, English
   
Hist. historical
   
i.e. that is
I.L.N. Illustrated London News
Ind. Indian
   
L. Low Class
L.C.and D. London, Chatham Dover
L.C. Lower Class
Lit. literary
Lond., Lon. London
   
M. Class Middle Class
Metrop. Metropolitan
Mid. Middle
Milit. Military
M.P. Morning Post
Mus. Hall Music Hall
   
N. North
Newsp. Cutting Newspaper cutting
N.Y. New York
   
O. Eng. Old English
on onwards, as 1890 on= 1890 and years following
O.S. old style
   
P. House Public House
Peo. People
Peop. Peoples'
polit. political
Pub. Sch. Public School
   
q.v. which see
q.q.v. which (plural) see
   
R. Railway, Royal
Ref. Referee
   
S. South
Sat. Rev. Saturday Review
Soc. Society
Span., Sp. Spanish
st. stanza
St. Standard
S. Exch. Stock Exchange
   
Theat., Theatr. Theatrical
Tr. Trade
   
Univ. University
U.S.A. United States of America
   
v. against
   
W. West

 


     [-1-]


    PASSING ENGLISH


    A. D. (Ball-room programme). A Drink, disguised, thus :
     

PROGRAMME OF DANCES.
1. Polka Polly J.
2. Valse A. D.
3. Valse Miss F.
4. Lanoers Polly J.
5. Valse A. D.
6. Valse Miss M. A. T.
7. Quadrille Polly J.
8. Valse   A. D.

Etc., etc.

  

     The ingeniousness of this arrangement is that young ladies see 'A. D.', and assume the youth engaged.
    Abernethy (Peoples'). A biscuit, so named after its inventor, Dr Abernethy (see Bath Oliver).
    Abisselfa (Suffolk). Alone. From 'A by itself, A ' ; an old English way of stating the alphabet.
    Abney Park (East London). About 1860. An abbreviation of Abney Park cemetery, a burial ground for a large proportion of those who die in the East End of London. Cemetery is a difficult word which the ignorant always avoid. Now used figuratively, e.g., 'Poor bloke, he's gone to Abney Park ' ? meaning that he is dead.
    We had a friendly lead in our court t'other night. Billy Johnson's kid snuffed it, and so all the coves about got up a 'friendly ' to pay for the funeral to plant it decent in Abney. — Cutting.
    About and About (Soc., 1890 on). Mere chatter, the conversation of fools who talk for sheer talking's sake, e.g., 'A more about and about man never suggested or prompted sudden murder.'
    In an age of windy and pretentious gabble ? when the number of persons who can, and will, chatter 'about and about' the various arts is in quite unprecedented disproportion to the number of those who are content to study these various arts in patience, and, above all, in silence there was something eminently salutary in Millais' bluff contempt for the more presumptuous theories of the amateurs. ? D. T., 14th August 1896.
    Above-board (Peoples'). Frank, open. From sailors' lingo. Not between decks or in the hold, but above all the boards in the ship.
    Abraham's Willing (Rhyming). Shilling. Generally reduced to willing, e.g., 'Lend us a willing.'
    He don't care an Abraham's willing for anybody. ?Newsp. Cutting.
    Absolutely True (Soc., ab. 1880). Absolutely false, from the title of a book, the statements in which, of a ghostly character, were difficult of acceptation.
    Abyssinian Medal (Military). A button gone astray from its buttonhole, one in the region of the abdomen. Introduced after the Abyssinian War. (See Star in the East.)
    Academy (London). A billiard-room. Imported from Paris, 1885.
    An edict has been promulgated (Paris) forbidding the playing of games of chance on public thoroughfares or in cafes for money, and it is chiefly directed against the billiard rooms, or academies as they are called here.? D. T., 26th July 1894.
    Academy Headache. When art became fashionable to a severe degree this malady appeared ; now applied generically to headaches acquired at any art galleries.
    Art critics complain of 'Academy headache' and of the fatigue produced by  [-2-] leagues of coloured canvases. D. N., 15th April 1885.
    There has yet to arise the philosopher who can explain to us the precise cause of the 'Academy headache' . . . . It is an experience familiar to many who 'do' the great collection at Burlington House. Most persons who go to the Academy know the malady well. ?D. N., 4th June 1885.
    Academic Nudity (Oxford). Appearance in public without cap or gown.
    After a tranquil pipe in a friend's room we set out again. Shall we take cap and gown, or shall we venture forth in a state of  'Academic nudity!' Perish the slavish thought ! We go without them. ?Cutting.
    Accident. A child born out of wedlock.
    Accidented (Lit., 1884). Liable to surprise.
    An operatic season thus accidented can hardly prove prosperous, but may be pregnant of good if it teach intending managers of Italian opera to rely on general excellence of ensemble, rather than on stars that may at any moment be eclipsed. ?Globe, 1st July 1885.
    According to Cocker (Peoples'). Quite correct, according to rule. Cocker flourished in 1694, when the first edition of his Arithmetic appeared at the sign of the Black Boy on London Bridge. In the beginning there was no sense of the preposterous in declaring a thing was 'according to Cocker'. Probably the quaintness of the name brought down the dignity of the phrase.
    According to Gunter (Peoples'). Used precisely as 'according to Cocker '. Gunter was a distinguished arithmetician, and the inventor of a chain and scale for measuring. 'Gunter's chain' is dragged over the land to this day. ' Give me the Gunter' is as common a phrase amongst surveyors as 'Give me the chain '.
    Acknowledge the Corn (Amer. English). Adroit confession of minor offence to intensify the denial of the major offence: e.g., 'Sir, I believe you are after my wife and you certainly pocketed my meerschaum last Sunday evening at 10.30.' To which the answer might be: 'Well, I acknowledge the corn ? I took the pipe by incident, so to speak ; but as to Mrs H., I'm as innocent as the skipping lamb.' Said to arise from an ordinary horse -lifting case in the West of U.S.A. The victim was accused of stealing four horses from one point and four feeds of corn from another for the said four horses. 'I acknowledge the corn,' said the sufferer but legend says he was lynched in spite of the admission.  
    Acting Ladies (Theatrical, 1883). Indifferent artistes. Mrs Langtry, moving in society, having (1882) appeared as an actress in London, and in the same year gone to America, where she made vast sums of money, many ladies of more education than dramatic ability turned their attention to the stage. Eleven out of a dozen totally failed, and few 'twelfths ' kept before the public : hence an 'acting lady' soon came, amongst theatrical people, to represent an incapable actress: e.g., 'She isn't a comedian, you know, she's an acting lady.' Acting ladies, in my opinion, should be severely left alone. There is no pleasing them or their friends. ??Entr'acte, February 1883.  
    Actor's Bible (Theatrical). The Era. This phrase was one of the first directed against sacred matters, about the time when Essays and Reviews was much discussed (1860-70).  
    Mr Sydney Grundy, whose sensitiveness sometimes outruns his discretion, issued a challenge to Mr Clement Scott in 'the Actor's Bible '.?Ref. 1883.  
    There was a motion in the Court of Chancery on Friday, before Mr Justice Chitty, to commit the proprietor of the 'Actor's Bible' for contempt of Court for allowing certain remarks about 'unprincipled imitators' of Miss Genevieve Ward to appear in print. ?Cutting.  
    Adam and Eve's togs (Peoples'). Nakedness. (See Birthday suit.)  
    Adam's Ale (Peoples'). Water ? probably from the time of the Stuart Puritans. If so, it forms a good example of national history in a word or phrase.  
    Ad's my Life (Peoples'; 18 cent.). An 18 cent, form of 'God's my life '. (See Odd's life.)  
    Ad's Bud (18 cent.). God's Bud, i.e., Christ. Common in H. Fielding.  
    Advertisement Conveyancers (Soc. , 1883). Street Advertisement Board Carriers. (See Sandwich Men.) Brought in by W. E. Gladstone (2nd May 1883), during his speech at the  [-3-] inauguration dinner of the National Liberal Club in these words :
    These fellow-citizens of ours have it for their lot that the manly and interesting proportions of the human form are in their case disguised both before and after by certain oblong formations which appear to have no higher purpose than what is called conveying an advertisement. ?Newsp. Cutting.  
    Society accepted the phrase and the Premier's enemies shot many a shaft anent it.  
    AEgis (Latin). A shield, hence protection, patronage, from Minerva's habit of putting her invisible shield in front of her favourites when in battle.  
    Madam Adelina Patti appeared yesterday afternoon under the aegis of Messrs Harrison, and once more gathered a great audience round her. ?D. T., 4th June 1897.  
    AEstheticism (Soc., 1865 - 1890). Ideal social ethics, represented outwardly by emblems, chiefly floral, the more significant flowers being the white lily and the sunflower.  
    The women wore their dresses chiefly in neutral tints, and especially in three series, viz. : greens, dead leaf (the yellows, or yellowish, of the series) ; olive (the middle path of colour) ; and sage (the blues of the series). In each of these series there were scores of tints. The pomegranate was also a fetish. (See Grego. )  
    The joke of aestheticism and sunflowers had been smiled at and had died once or twice between 1865 and 1878 before it was familiar enough to the public for dramatic purposes. D. N., 27th January 1887.  
    Affigraphy (Coster). To a T, exactly. A corruption of autograph ? the vulgar regarding a signature as of world-wide importance and gravity. (See Sivvy.)  
    Afters (Devon). Sweets ? pies and puddings. ' Bring in the afters ' is a common satirical remark in poor Devonshire houses, especially when there are no 'afters ' to follow. Also used in Scotland, e.g., 'Hey mon, a dinner, an' nae afters!'  
    Afternoon Calls (Soc., 19 cent.). Referring to exclusive society, who have never accepted the afternoon 'drums' and five o'clock teas, but adhered to the more formal 15-minute afternoon visit.  
    You had not observed that sort of thing before marriage? Never. What I saw of her was at afternoon calls. Lord Gerard's evidence in Lord Durham's Nullity of Marriage suit, March 1885.  
    Afternoonified (Soc.). Smart. What may prove a popular new adjective made its first appearance last week. A lady entered a fashionable drapery store. The lady found nothing to please her. The shopwalker then was called. This individual, with a plausible tale or compliment, will invariably effect a sale after all other means have failed. In reply to his question whether the goods were not suitable, the fastidious customer answered : 'No, thank you ; they are not "afternoonified" enough for me.' In the case of a lady armed with an argument of such calibre what was the shopwalker to say or do? Like a wise man, he expressed his regret and beat a dignified retreat. The lady did the same, but the adjective remained.? D. T., July 1897.  
    'After you with the push' (Peoples'). Said, with satirical mock politeness, in the streets to any one who has roughly made his way past the speaker, and 'smudged' him.  
    Aggeravators, Hagrerwaiters (Costermongers). Side-curls still worn by a few conservative costermongers. Of two kinds the ring, or ringlet (the more ancient), and the twist, dubbed, doubtless in the first place by satirists, 'Newgate Knockers'. Indeed the model of this embellishment might have been the knocker of the door of the house of the governor of that gaol. The aggravation may mean that these adornments excite envy in those who cannot grow these splendours, or that they aggravate or increase the admiration of the fair sex. The younger costers wear rival forehead tufts such as the Quiff, the Guiver, or the Flop. There is, however, one golden rule for these fashions the hair must stop short of the eyelids.  
    Agony in Red (Soc.). Vermilion costume. When the aesthetic craze was desperately 'on' (1879-81), terms used in music were applied to painting, as a 'nocturne in silver-grey,' a 'symphony in amber,' a 'fugue in purple,' an 'andante in shaded violet'. Hence it was an easy transition to apply terms of human emotions to costumes.
    There are many terrible tints even now to be found among the repertory of the  [-4-] leaders of fashion agonies in red, livid horrors in green, ghastly lilacs, and monstrous mauves. ?Newsp. Cutting.  
    Agreeable Rattle (Soc., ab. 1840). A chattering young man. The genus has long since disappeared. The A. R. went out with the great Exhibition of 1857.  
    Roderick Doo appeared to be what the ladies call an agreeable rattle. Albert Smith, Mr Ledbury (1842).  
    Ah, dear me! (Soc., 18 and 19 cents.). An ejaculation of sorrow, perhaps from ' Ah, Dieu mais ! ' which in its turn came from Ay de mi (q.v.). Probably introduced by Catherine of Braganza or one of her French contemporaries at Whitehall ('Ah, dear me, but it's a wicked world').  
    Ah, que je can be bete ! (Half-Soc. , 1899). A new macaronic saying French and English. Amongst the lower classes another ran 'Twiggy- vous the chose? '  
    'Aipenny Bumper (London Streets). A two-farthing omnibus ride, descriptive of the vehicles in question which were not generally great works in carriage - building, until the London County Council started (1899) a line of ?d. 'busses between Waterloo Station and Westminster along the Strand. The L.C.C. 'busses were as good as any others, and better than most.  
    Air-hole (Soc., 1885-95). A small public garden, generally a dismally converted graveyard, with the ancient gravestones set up at 'attention' against the boundary walls.  
    For some years past the churchyard has been disused, and the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, with a keen eye for what it not inaptly terms 'airholes,' has been making strenuous efforts to secure it as an ornamental space. ?D. T., 1st June 1895.  
    Air-man-chair (Music-hall transposition). Chairman effected by taking the 'ch' from the beginning and adding it, with 'air', to the termination. Very confusing and once equally popular, e.g., 'The air-manchair is got up no end to-night,' i.e., is well dressed. The chairman has now been abolished in music-halls. He was supposed to keep order and lead choruses. The modern public now do these things for themselves.  
    Albany Beef (Amer.). Unattractive viands.  
    The New York Herald concludes by observing that 'ioukka', which it calls 'really the national soup of Russia', to 'one of simple tastes, must resemble Hudson River sturgeon, otherwise known as Albany beef, struck by Jersey lightning'. G. A. Sala, in D. T., 30th June 1883.  
    Albertine (Soc. , 1860-80). An adroit, calculating, business-like mistress ; from the character of that name in Le Pere Prodigue (A. Dumas fils). She is in his play an economical housewife, but looks to her own ledger with remorseless accuracy. The word is used and understood in England only by persons of high rank. In France it is used by all classes as a term of reproach, addressed even to a wife for any display of niggardliness. (Sec Nana, Cheri.)  
    Alderman hung in Chains (City). A fat turkey decked with garlands of sausages. From the appearance of the City fathers, generally portly ? becoming more so when carrying their chains of office over their powerful busts.  
    Alderman (Peoples'). Half a dollar = half a crown, which by the way is fivepence more than the American 'half'. Its origin beyond the reach of discovery ; it is probably derived from some remote alderman who when on the bench habitually ladled out this coin to applicants for relief.  
    Alexandra Limp (Soc., ab. 1872). An affected manner of walking seen for several years amongst women. Said to have been imitated from the temporary mode in which the then Princess of Wales walked after some trouble with a knee. (See Buxton Limp, Grecian Bend, Roman Fall.)  
    Alhambra War Whoop (Theatricopolitical, l870). The 'historical' defiance cast at each other by the Germans and French in London during the Franco- German war. Speaking of the destruction of the theatre by fire (Dec. 1882) G. A. Sala wrote at the time in The Illus. London News :  
    Do you remember the ' War Whoop at the Alhambra'? That was during the Franco-German war in 1870? in the late Mr Sawyer's time, and just after the refusal of the dancing licence to the place. The enterprising lessee, not to be baffled by the unkind action of the Areopagus of Clerkenwell Green, determined to 'take it out' in international noise ; so every evening towards the close  [-4-] of the performance he organised one band which played the 'Marseillaise', the strains of which were immediately followed by the enlivening notes of the German 'Wacht am Rhein '. Then ensued the Alhambresque ' War Whoop '. The Frenchmen in the house cheered their own melody to the echo, and groaned, whistled, and yelled at the Teutonic air. The Germans, on their side, received the 'Wacht am Rhein ' with clamorous exultation, and hooted and bellowed at the ' Marseillaise '. The English portion of the audience impartially screamed and howled. The appalling charivari nightly drew crowds to the Alhambra ; but the excitement did not last long.  
    All (L. Peoples'). Perfect, extreme, complete, absolute the sum of street gentlemen's admiration, e.g., 'She's all there,' 'All a lark,' 'All on,' 'All a neat bit.'  
    'It's all bosh.' All is a big word. Does he refer to the meeting, the Royal Exchange, the speeches, the speakers, or the existence of unemployed thousands ? His favourite word comes in again in the supplementary remark: 'It's all a game.' My friend says he is a French polisher, and he smells like one. He further informs me that he belongs to some mysterious commonwealth, that he is a teetotaler, a vegetarian, a non-smoker. When I hint to him ?emphasizing his own term? that he is all too good for me, he cheerily comforts me with ' Not a bit of it ; it's all right '. This is as it should be ?all bosh, all a game, all right. ?D. N., 5th February 1885. (See Neat.)  
    All his buttons on (C. L., 1880 on). Sharp, alive, active, not to be deceived.
    He is eighty-three years of age, but as we say hereabouts, has all his buttons on (laughter), and he says, ' I never heard of greater nonsense in all my life. Here I am, W. G. of the "Blue Boar", who, if the Duke of So-and-So gives me notice in September to quit next Lady Day, have to leave my licence behind me without any compensation.' ?Sir W. Harcourt, Speech in Bermondsey, 20th May 1890.  
    All a-cock (Peoples'). Overthrown, vanquished. It may be a version of knocked into a cocked hat, (q.v.), or, more probably it is derived from cockfighting ; e. g. , ' He's all a kick, ' meaning a dying bird, from the motion of the legs during the agony of death. This would pass into ' cock ' readily, seeing that the conquering bird was always called ' a game ' one ; or ' he just only tripped me, an' I was all a-cock in a one-two '.  
    All a treat (Street). Perfection of enjoyment, sometimes used satirically to depict mild catastrophe.  
    All-fired (Amer.). A euphemism for hell-fired, used as a general intensive, e.g., 'I was in an all-fired rage.'  
    All it is worth (Amer.). To the fullest extent, as fully as possible. Scalchi, to use a side-walk phrase, played Siebel for all the character was worth, and was evidently the favourite. ?N. Y. Mercury, 1883.  
    All my eye and Betty Martin (Peoples'). An expression of disbelief, evasive declaration that the person addressed is a liar. Perhaps the finest example extant of colloquial exclamations reaching to-day from pre-Reformation times. St Martin was, and is, the patron saint of beggars. The prayer to St Martin opens, 'O, mihi, beate Martine.'  
    This phrase was used by English mendicants (and is still used by South- Italian beggars) when asking for alms. When indiscriminate charity 'went out' in England at the date of the Reformation, this phrase fell into bad repute as representing a lazy and lying class. It is still used by the commoner classes as an expression of doubt, though it has been very widely superseded by 'humbug' (q.v.).  
    All my own (London Apprentices, 19 cent.). Freedom, 'mastership. Its use is disappearing with the tendency to abolish apprenticeship.
    I'm quite in the world alone
    And I'll marry you
    If you'll be true,
    The day I'm all my own. (1896).  
    All my eye and my elbow (London, 1882). Fictional : appears to be a flight of genius starting from 'all my eye and Betty Martin', got into form, not because Betty Martin had become vulgar, but possibly because her vague identity led to conventional divergencies. There is a smart aspect about this term, for, while eye and elbow offered a weak alliteration, there is some sort of association and agreement in the action of these personal belongings, for one can wink with the eye and nudge with the elbow at once.      All of a piece (Peoples'). Awkward, without proper distribution or relation of parts, e.g., 'He lounged in all of a piece.' 'Have you seen his new Venus ? Awful all of a piece.'
     [-5-] All over grumble (Peoples'). Obvious.  
    In some of the things that have been seen here it has been a case of all over grumble, but Thursday's show was all over approval. Ref., 28th March 1886.  
    All over red (Railway, to public, 1840 on). Dangerous, to be avoided. From red being the colour signal of danger throughout the railway world. The phrase has been accepted by the public at large. (See Be Green, White Light, Paint the Town Red.)  
    All poppy cock (Amer.). Mere brag, nonsense. Perhaps a figure of speech drawn from the natural history of the field-poppy, which looks very braw, military, cockish, and flaunting, but which tumbles to pieces if touched, or droops and faints almost directly it is gathered.  
    All right up to now (Street). Smiling, serene. Derived from enceinte women making the remark as to their condition. Used by Herbert Campbell as a catch-phrase in Covent Garden Theatre Pantomime, 1878.  
    All-round muddle (Stock Exchange, 1870). Complete entanglement.  
    Her 'bondage ' is not of lengthened duration, inasmuch as the husband, finding himself in an all-round muddle, shoots himself dead. ?Cutting.  
    When reporters get hold of a new phrase they are liable to work it to death. At present they are grinding away at 'all-round '. They tell about the all-round fighter, the all-round baseball player, the all-round reporter, the all-round thief, and the all-round actor. One reporter said the other day that whisky was the best all-round mischiefmaker there was in the world, and he probably hasn't been all-round either. ?Cutting, 1888.  
    All very fine and large (Lond., 1886). Satirical applause ; from the refrain of a song sung by Mr Herbert Campbell.  
    How many people passed the turnstiles at the Alexandra Palace I am not in a position to say, but that the attendance was all very fine and large is beyond dispute. ?Ref., 7th August 1887.  
    Alley (Peoples'). A go-between. Evidently from 'aller', to go. Mrs Cox was an alley for her. ?Bravo Coroner's Inquest.  
    Allee samee (Pidgeon English). All the same. Used by Chinese cheap abourers when detected in trying to cheat. 'Washy money allee samee,' applied by Anglo-Asiatics in a satirical spirit where things are not quite satisfactory. ' It appeared that they were not quite married, but that they lived together allee samee.' ? N. Y. Mercury, February 1883.  
    Alligators (Amer.). People of Florida, so named from the alligators there ; used also because the Floridans are supposed to be as greedy as these reptiles. Of course, an invention of some other State or States.  
    'Will you kindly tell me which way the wind blows?' asked a Northern invalid of the landlord of a Florida hotel. 'Certainly, sir,' replied the landlord, stepping to the door;' the wind now blows due north, sir.'  'Thank you.' A little later the landlord said to the bookkeeper : 'Have you made out Mr Smith's bill yet?'  'No, sir.' 'Well, just charge one dollar to his account for information about the direction of the wind.'  
    Alls (Public-House). Waste pot at public-houses. On all public-house pewter counters may be seen holes, down which go spillings of everything. Popular mistrust runs to the belief that these collections are used up hence the comment upon bad beer. 'This must be alls.' As a fact, the brewer allows a barrel of good beer for every barrel of alls forwarded to the brewery. What does the brewer do with it? This is indeed wanting to know, at the end of the book, what became of the executioner ? Probability is in favour of the sewer-grating.  
    Allsopp (Peoples'). Short for Allsopp's Pale Ale.  
    Ally Luja lass (Lond. Street, 1886 on). Hallelujah lass was the name given to the girl contingent of the Salvation Army, when the movement rose into importance in London, and General Booth made an effort to purchase all the theatres, succeeding, however, only in one case, that of the Grecian Theatre, City Road. She sed thay wur Ally Luja's lasses. 'Ally Luja's asses,' I sed; 'thay wants kikkin.' ? Comic Report of a Salvation Meeting (1870).  
    Ally Sloper (Street, 1870 on). A dissipated -looking old man with a red and swollen nose. Invented by Mr Charles Ross, who ran him in print for a score of years.  [-6-] Almighty dollar (Amer.). This expression, a derisive synonym for money os Mammon, originated with Washington Irving. It is found in his Creole Village, and reads thus :  
    'The Almighty Dollar, that great object of urdversal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotees in these peculiar villages.'  
    Alphonse (Soc., 1870 on). A man of position who accepts money from a married woman or women richer, and probably older, than himself, as recompense for remaking her or their lover. Quite understood in Paris not known out of society ii London. From the play Monsieur Alphonse (Alexandre Dumas, fils).  
    There was yesterday evening and up to the small hours of the morning a serious riot in the Latin Quarter, caused by the students who continue from time to time to make violent demonstrations against those professional allies of certain women men who bear the name of ' Alphonse ' a sobriquet invented by Alexandre Dumas, one which has passed into the language. ?Newsp. Cutting.  
    Altogether (Soc., 1894). The nude in art. From Du Maurier's Trilby, who is an artist's model. ' I sit for the altogether.'  
    The New York Mercury, 27th September 1895, has this heading: Will the next fad be photographs of modern woman taken in the ' altogether' ? Society women now have their busts done in marble, their hands and arms in bronze, and their legs photographed.  
    In The Demagogue and Lady Phayre, the labour leader appears as a figure of rude nobility. The proportions are not heroic ; they are simply life-size. In the altogether they make up an individuality rich, massive, and imposing. ?Weekly Sun, 29th December 1895.
    They wore little underclothing scarcely anything or no thing
    And their dress of Coan silk was quite transparent in design?
    Well, in fact, in summer weather, something like the ' altogether ',
    And it's there I rather fancy, I shall have to draw the line !
    ? Mr W. S. Gilbert's 'The Grand Duke', March 1896.
    There was no earthly necessity why the Hotel du Libre Echange should be an improper play, except that the modern French audience revels in impropriety. They like it, they wallow in it, and they destroy their native ingenuity in construction and invention with what we may call ' the cult of the altogether'. ?D. T., 30th April 1896.
    Altogethery (Soc.). Drunk from the tendency of a drunken man to lounge himself. Byron uses the term in a letter of 1816.
    Amen Corner (Californian). A church.
    Sunday found them, judge and lawyers, seated in the 'amen corner '. ?All the Year Round, 31st October 1868.
    A'mighty (Amer.). One of the first evasions of an oath - like word. It is, of course, a corruption of 'almighty '.
    As you know, young fellur, them goats is a'mighty kewrous anymal ? as kewrous as weemen is.
    Ammedown Shop (Poor). Corruption of Hand-me-down Shop. A good example of a phrase getting bastardized into one meaningless word. ' George, my dear, ammedown my gal's Turkeyred frock.'
    Amok. See Run a-muck.
    Anatomy (Peoples', formerly Literary). A thin needy boy, or old withered soul. In common English ; it has been reduced to natermy, e.g., 'He were a perfick 'nattermy.'
    A boy of twelve stood leaning against a fence on Duffield Street, hat pulled down, feet crossed, and his right hand going up occasionally to wipe his nose, when along came another anatomy about his size. ?Detroit Free Press.
    Ancient Mariners (Cambridge Univ.). Graduates still associated with the University who continue to row.
    At Cambridge Fawcett rowed stroke (the necessary position of a blind man) in the crew of ' Ancient Mariners ', as the older members of the University who still ply the oar are called. ?D. N., 7th November 1884.
    Androgynaikal (Art.). Appertaining to the nude figure, and to the anatomy of both sexes.
    Simeon Solomon's notion of the classic ideal in his picture called 'Sacramentum amoris', a small figure, as nude as may be, girt with a skin of a panther and a light blue sash, and background of yellow drapery, but of that peculiar type of form to which the term 'androgunaikal ' is applied in art, and holding a long thyrsus. ?Newsp. Cutting.
    Angel (N. London Street). A woman of the town fringing the Angel at Islington, e.g., 'What are you doing  [-8-] here? you ain't a Angel you're only a Sinker' (i.e., St Luker, from the Parish of St Luke, in the City Road, which is considered at the Angel as socially below Islington, as it is comparatively depressed in its physical want of elevation in comparison with the Angel, which is quite at the top of the hill).
    Angel-makers (Peop., 1889 on). Baby-farmers ; because so many of the farmed babies die. Probably from the French 'Faiseuses des anges '.
    'ANGEL-MAKING '. ?Another case of baby-farming, or ' angel-making', as it is called in Austria, has just been discovered by the Lemberg police, who have arrested three women on the charge of systematically starving to death infants committed to their care.? Newsp. Cutting, December 1892.
    They are not only under a cloud owing to the deaths of Miss Thompson and Mademoiselle Madet, but every day a fresh charge is laid at their doors, and some people have even gone so far as to describe them as members of a band of what Parisians call 'angel-makers'. ?D. T., 7th December 1896.
    Angels on Horseback (Virginia). Fricasseed oysters ? meaning exquisite. Origin not known.
    Anglican Inch (Church, 1870 on). Description given by the ritualistic clergy of the short square whisker which is so much affected by the Broad Church party. The Rits (q.v.) call themselves the 'Church of England', the generally accepted Broad Church, or Taits as they were called in Archbishop Tait's time, are 'Anglicans' ? hence the 'inch'. (See St Alban's Clean Sweep.)
    Anguagela (Transposed) Language. A good example of the confusion produced by transposing and repeating a syllable or letter ; e.g.,
    How the Lord Chamberlain's people pass this stuff goodness only knows. Perhaps they don't understand the French anguagela.
    Animal (L. C. and D. Railway Passengers, 1860). Synonym for the 'Elephant and Castle ' station. 'Third-class Animal ' is, or was, quite understood by the railway booking-clerks of the district.
    Animal (Tavern). A disguised, or flippant, reference amongst boon companions to the tavern, used in common when the sign is zoological, such as the Bull, Bear, Lion, Dragon ? but more especially referring to the Elephant and Castle (S. London) ; until (1882) this place was exceptionally dubbed 'Jumbo' (q.v.).
    Anno Domini, B.C. (Soc., 1890 on). Relating to unknown longevity. 'He must be very anno domini, mustn't he?'  'A.D. ? my dear fellow, say B.C.'
    Anonyma (Soc., 1862). A name given to women of gallantry in an article in the Times commenting on a well-known Phryne of that day. The word lasted many years and came to be synonymous with a gay woman.
    She could kick higher in the can-can than any anonyma there. ? N. Y. Mercury, 1882.
    Anti-queer-uns (Soc., 18 cent.). A perversion of 'antiquarians', due to Foote.
    So many interesting associations cluster around the remains of the old nunnery at Godstow, a mile or two out of Oxford, that it is rather surprising so little attention has been bestowed on the ruin. Perhaps it may be difficult even for 'Anti-queer-uns ', as Foote calls them, to get up much enthusiasm over nameless graves, ? D. N., 3rd February 1885.
    Anti-Tox (Amer. , reaching England 1885). A drug to sober a drunken person. Tox is, of course, the abbreviation of intoxication.
    A reporter noticed the singular fact that nearly every one who went into a leading saloon was under the influence of some powerful stimulant, and nearly every one who came out was painfully sober. Then he determined to go in and see about it. 'Have a dose of Anti-Tox?' asked the barkeeper, recognising the reporter. 'It's the greatest thing on earth ; you come to me rocking from one side of the saloon to the other and reeking with the fumes of the vilest whisky, and I will make a new man of you while you are getting out a twentycent piece.' ?Minneapolis Gaz., 1885.
    'Apenny-lot day (Costers'). A bad time for business really, when everything has to be sold cheap.
    Apostle of culture (Soc., 1880). An individual who sets up as a perfect judge of taste. Probably started by Sir Francis Burnand in Punch.
    Our self-elected apostle of culture has told us that it is as ridiculous to say that such and such a colour is the fashion as it would be to assert that B flat was the fashionable key. ?D. N., 13th January 1885.  [-9-]
    Apostles of murder (Polit., 1867 on). A name given generally to political agitators who included assassination in their programme.  
    To say nothing of dynamite, and of that horrible compound found at Liverpool which presents the innocent appearance of sawdust but of which every grain is an explosive agency, the apostles of murder are reported to have employed methods of offence even more diabolical. ?D. N., 6th April 1883.  
    Apple-jack (Amer. ). Spirit distilled from cider or from the pulp of apples already pressed for cider. (See Sweet Waters. ) ' Jack ' is a common term for spirits in U.S.A. In Normandy this liquor is calvados.  
    'A grindstun can,' remarked a weazened farmer, who had just called for some apple-jack. ? Newsp. Cutting, 1883.  
    Apples (Corruption of Rhyming Slang). Stairs, as thus : 'Apples and pears stairs.' 'Bill an' Jack's gone up apples.'
    'Apples and pears in no birdlime ? time.' ?(Rhyming Street, 1882).  
    An obscure mode of describing sudden ejection from a house; e.g.,
    The flunkeys had me down stairs (apples and pears) in no time (birdlime).
    'Appy dosser (Low Life, 19 cent.). A satirical description of a homeless creature, so wretched as not to have the few halfpence necessary to pay for a 'doss', or bed in a common lodging-house.
    Elizabeth, poor storm-tossed bit of one of the myriad wrecks that strew the ocean of life, homeless and starving, dying of an agonizing ailment, was, having neither money nor friends, what is professionally known as a "appy dosser '. That is to say, she would crawl at night into the open passages of a low lodging-house, and fall down where she could in the yard or the passage and sleep. ?Ref., February 1882.
    Archer up (London, 1881). Safe to win. Formerly a popular phrase of congratulation. A man was seen running for and catching a 'bus : 'Archer up,' shouted the on-lookers. A man appeared in new clothes : 'Archer up ! ' Another threatened to knock another down : 'Archer up ! ' here used probably satirically. The phrase took its rise from a celebrated jockey who suddenly sprang to the front in 1881, and carried everything 9 before him. It is short for 'Archer is up in the saddle'. He rode with an absolute recklessness which may account for his end, for he shot himself. At once the phrase passed away utterly, and was heard no more.
    Arctics (Amer.). Winter clothing, which in the earlier settled States is decidedly built on a vast scale.
    I hate a hotel where you have to get up at 4.15 A.M., dress in a cold room, and walk down to the station because the 'bus doesn't go to that train, and about half-way down you discover that you left your arctics in the office. ? Newsp. Cutting.
    Ardent (Soc., 1870). A shortened form of 'ardent spirits'. From the Mexican aqua ardente, through America.
    After this we all felt in such good humour that the bottle passed freely, and I fear that more than one of our number swallowed a little too much of the ardent. ? Newsp. Cutting, 1878.
    Arer (Peoples'). More so. From 'are ', emphatically used. 'We are, and what's more, we can't be any arer.'
    'Arf-a-mo' (Peoples', 1890 on). Abbreviation of ' half a moment ', cf., 'half a sec.' and 'half a tick' (of a watch).
    I'll bet you never noticed all the things that you can do
        In half a mo' ? half a mo',
    So cock your ears and listen and I'll mention one or two,
        In half a mo' ? half a mo'.
    Tho' you're as sane as Satan you can go clean off your dot,
    And then start backing gee-gees on a system very hot ;
    Have five-and-twenty thousand quids and lose the blessed lot
    In half a mo' ?  half a mo'.
    Chorus : In half a mo' half a mo'
    Your pluck and perseverance you can show,
    You can go with other people
    Down a sewer, climb a steeple,
    Fall an' break your blooming neck in half a mo'.
                           ?1896.
    Arf-an-arf (London Public-house, 19 cent.). Half-and-half. A mixture half of black beer (porter) and half ale. (See Cooper.)
    Arf'arf'an'arf (Peoples'). A figure of speech, meaning 'drunk', the substitution of cause for effect, the intoxication being the latter, ' arfarfanarf' the former. It may be thus  [-10-] explained, arf ' = half pint of; arfanarf = half and half = half ale and half beer = half and half. This liquor is fourpence the quart, therefore, the mystic refreshment is called for as 'arf o' four d arfanarf,' the 'd' being used to express pence = denarii. Is used to describe drunken men, e.g., ' 'E's very arfarfanarf ' really meaning that he has had many 'arfs '.
    Argol-bargol. To have a row. May be argue turned into argol, from the old term 'argil' (see the Gravedigger in Hamlet), corrupted from ' ergo '. The ' bargol ' is a rhymed invention following a common habit. The whole term, however, is pervaded apparently by depreciation:? 'Well ?well? d'yer want ter argol-bargol ? '
    Aristocratic veins (Theatrical). Blue lines of colour usually frescoed on the temples, and sometimes on the backs of the hands and wrists. Supposed to be a mark of high and noble birth. Sometimes adopted by women in society. 'Pass me the smalt, girl I want to put in my veins.' (See Mind the Paint.)
    Arkansas tooth-pick (Amer.). A bowie-knife. Arkansas is notorious for sudden blood-letting.
    And he jabbed an eighteen Arkansas tooth-pick into whoever it happened to be. ? Mark Twain.
    He had a seductive way of drawing his 18-inch Arkansas tooth-pick, and examining it critically with a sinister smile, while humbly requesting the temporary loan of five dollars. ?Texas Siftings.
    'Arrydom (Soc., 1885). The kingdom and rule of 'Arry, the typical London cad.
    It seems a pity that the Whitehall Review did not confine itself to saying, in the speech of 'Arrydom, 'You're another,' instead of appealing to a special jury. ?Sat. Rev., 26th March 1885.
    'Arry's Worrier (Peoples', 1885 on). The deadly and bronchitical concertina common to 'Arry's hand, and as deadly as his fist or his ' Hinglish '.
    If our readers are inclined to be curious, they may, on further investigation, discover the player of "Arry's' favourite ' worrier ' in the form of a patient-looking little lady, who sits on the stonework of the railings which guard the select piece of grass and trees. ?People, 19th February 1897.
    'Arrico Veins (Common people, 19 cent.). Varicose veins.
    ' Bless yer, 'arrico veins don't kill. I know an old lady o' ninety-one, an' she's 'ad 'era these forty years. Ill-conwenient, but they ain't dangerous ?on'y a leak.'
    Artful Fox (Music-hall, 1882). A nonsense rhyme for 'box '.
    You capture the first liker at him in a snug artfulfox at some chantin ken where there's a bona varderin serio comic, and Isle of Francer engaged. ?From Biography of the Staff Bundle Courier, the gentleman who accompanies 'serio-comics' from music-hall to music-hall when 'doing turns '.
    Artistic Merit (Society, 1882). A satirical criticism of a flattering portrait. A celebrated sculptors' case (Belt v. Lawes, 1882) brought this term into a general use. Belt complained that Lawes had said of him that he (Belt) had no 'artistic merit,' and that all his many busts were artistically finished by competent men, commonly called 'studio ghosts '. Belt and his friends maintained that he possessed not only good modelling power, which was also denied, but finishing power also. For Lawes, the then President of the Royal Academy (Sir F. Leighton) and many other eminent art followers gave evidence that Belt had no artistic merit. Gradually, during a long trial of over forty days, the public grew to comprehend that in sculpture 'artistic merit ' might mean the use of flattering refinement in finish. Hence arose the use of the phrase as an euphemism for flattery.
    Sincerity may raise a costume ball from the mere pastime of an evening to an undertaking involving culture, patience, and self-denial, and bring about a result not perhaps without 'artistic merit'. ? Newsp. Cutting, February 1885.
    Fancy asking a policeman to decide upon the morality or immorality of a ballet! You might as well ask a policeman to pass judgment on the decency of a statue of Venus, and at the same time to criticise its 'artistic merits'. ?Ref., 11th February 1883.
    Ashkenazic. German and Polish Jews.
    Ash-plant (Military, 1870). Light, unvarnished, un peeled, rough-cut ash swish, for carrying in the hand. Subalterns at Dover first carried these swishes, value about Id., the head  [-11-] formed by a knot got at a branching. They became very fashionable, and soon, owing to their valuelessness, very common. Therefore, after a time, they were mounted in gold or silver, the swish remaining impeded, and in no way polished or varnished.
    Bringing his ash-plant down on the counter with ten Slade force, he said, 'If that's the sort of man you are, I'm off to take tea with Miss Murnford.' And he offed.? Bird o' Freedom, 7th March 1883.
    Ask another (Street, 1896 on). A protest against a reiterated or worn-out joke, an expression of boredom ; directed at a 'chestnut', e.g., 'I say, Joe, when's a door not a door?' to which Joe disgustedly replies, 'Oh, ask another.'
    Aspect (Lond., chiefly Hatton Garden district). A look of eager love. Used chiefly in the Italian quarter, but spreading. Where there is a foreign colony in London, as French in Soho, Italian in Clerkenwell Road, German in Clerkenwell, the English amongst them, to some extent fraternizing, adopt any forcible word or phrase used by them, as, for instance, in the Whitechapel district the Jewish 'selah ' (God be with you, or good-bye) has become ' so long ', a phrase which has spread all over England. Amongst Italians ' aspetto ' is a very common word. Used alone no doubt it may be translated, * Hold on a bit ! ' but it retains its meaning ' look ', ' aspect ', and it is this translation which has been accepted by the observant English lower-middle-class in the Italian district. A fiery youth looking too fiercely into the eyes of a gutter donzella, she observes, 'aspetto ? aspetto ! ' Her English sister has accepted the word, and under similar circumstances cries, ' Not too much aspect, Tom ! ' Applied also in other ways, e.g., 'Well, Jack, not too much aspect, or you might run agin one o' my fists ! '
    Aspinall (Peoples'). Enamel. Also as a verb. From Aspinall, the inventor and manufacturer of an oxidized enamel paint.
    Astarrakan (Street, 1890). A jocular mispronunciation of the astrachan fur. Used satirically, after Mr Gus Elen's (1898) song, the first line of the chorus running :
    Astarrakan at the bottom of my coat.
    Atavism (Society, c. 1890-5). The antithesis of decadent. The difference between these newly meaninged words is very marked. The decadent may show ability, genius even, but his life demonstrates that he is in a general way mentally, morally, and physically inferior to his forebears; and, as a rule, he dies childless, or his children have no families. The atavist, on the other hand, is a human being who is relegated by some hidden natural force to a condition assimilating to an early form of mankind. He is therefore, as a rule, a physical improvement upon his immediate or modern forebears, and even possibly a mental superior ? but morality from the modern standpoint has little or no existence for him. He tends to the animal life ? he takes what he wants; society calls him a kleptomaniac ; plain people dub him a thief, while as a dipsomaniac he again imitates the mammal, which, once indulged in liquor, becomes a hopeless drunkard. An atavist may become a decadent ; a decadent never becomes an atavist.
    Athletic Drolls (Music-hall, 1860 on). Comic performers whose songs were interspersed with gymnastic feats. (See Knockabout Drolls, Singing Drolls.)
    Atlantic Greyhounds (Soc. ). Quick Atlantic steamers.
    The booking of passengers desirous of securing berths on board one or other of the 'Atlantic greyhounds' now plying between the Old and New Worlds far exceeds the accommodation available for their reception. ?D. T. , 20th May 1895.
    Attorney-General's Devil (Legal). He was chosen by Sir John Holker, whose practical shrewdness was seldom at fault, to succeed the present Lord Justice Bowen as junior counsel to the Treasury, commonly called ' Attorney- General's Devil'.?Newsp. Cutting, 1883.
    The working barrister who does the heavy work of a K.C. or other legal big-wig is generally called a 'devil '. But the term is dying out owing to increased legal amenities.
    Auctioneer (Peoples'). The fist because it ' knocks down '.
    Milo, the boxer, was an accomplished man. He did not, however, use the sculptor's hammer, but rather the 'auctioneer ' of the late Mr Thomas Savers. ?D. N.
    Auditorium (Press, 1870). The portion of a theatre occupied by the  [-12-] audience called the theatre until Dion Boucicault took 'Astley's ', spoilt the ceiling by cutting ventilating holes in it, and then wrote a long letter to the Times in which he spoke of the improvements he had made in 'the auditorium'. The word was at once accepted with much laughter. Now used seriously.
    Some time before the curtain rose large crowds of seat-seekers might have been observed surging down the tunnels that lead to the auditorium of this house (Opera Comique, now swept away). ? Ref., 14th June 1885.
    Aunt Sally (Low London). A black-faced doll. Early in the century the sign of a rag-shop ; afterwards adopted as an entrancing cock-shy, a pipe either forming the nose or being placed between the teeth. From Black Sail and Dusty Bob, characters in the elder Pierce Egan's Life in London, and probably adopted owing to the popularity of that work, precisely as in a later generation many of Dickens's characters were associated with trade advertisements. Aunt Sally is vanishing, even at race-courses. Soon, but for a portrait, she will be only a memory. Very significant of Pierce Egan's popularity, which from 1820 to 1840 was as great as that of Dickens, whose fame threw Egan into obscurity.
    Aunt's sisters (London Middle-class). A foolish perversion of ' ancestors '.
    Corrie Koy was once more restored to the home of his aunt's sisters. ?Comic Romance.
    Away (London Thieves' Etiquette). A man is never spoken of as ' in prison ', though he is there for many a 'stretch*. It would evince great want of etiquette to mention the detaining locality, e.g., 'Mine's away, bless 'is 'art,' the grasswidow of lower life will say, as indicative that her husband is in jail. The answer should be, 'A 'appy return 'ome to 'im, mum.'
    'Awkins (Lower Classes, 1880 on). A severe man, one not to be trifled with. Name-word from the Judge, then Sir Frederic Hawkins, who about this time impressed the lower and criminal classes as a 'hanging' judge, e.g., 'Joe, don't you play around Tom Barr ? 'es' a 'Awkins, and no mistake.'
    'Awkins (Mid-London, 1905). A princely costermonger. From a music-hall song sung by Albert Chevalier, with the catch line, 'And 'Enery 'Awkins is a first-class name'.
    And, indeed, if not in Walworth, where should Mr Hawkins be supreme ? It is the epical home, so to speak, of his race a district traversed by that Old Kent-road in which their lyric hero ' knocked ' the passers-by with the unexpected splendours of his attire and turn-out. Disestablishment is not understood to trouble his repose, and the downfall of the Welsh Church would probably leave him as unmoved as the just man in Horace, so long as the ' Harp ' of the same nationality continues to open its hospitable doors to himself and Mrs Hawkins on their 'Sundays out'. ?D. T., 14th May 1895.
    Axe to grind (Amer.-Engl.). I.e., a personal end to serve, originally a favour to ask ; from men in backwoods pretending to want to grind their axes when in reality they required a drink. Mr Ebbs, an American etymologist, says that the origin of this phrase has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin. It is true, many of his sayings in Poor Richard bear a striking similarity to the saying ; still, not one of them can be tortured into the above phrase.
    Every one seems to have had what the Americans call ' an axe to grind '. ? Yates, Recollections (1884).
    Finally, Mr Irving stepped forward, and in a voice trembling with emotion, bade farewell to his American friends. He said among other things: 'Now that I can speak without fear or favour, and without the suspicion that I have an axe to grind, I can say for the first time how deeply grateful we are for the innumerable acts of kindness received from the American people.' ? Newsp. Cutting, April 1885.
    Conservatives with axes to grind will soon make the word Beaconsh'eld as wearisome by mere iteration as the word Jubilee. ? D. N., 7th April 1887.
    Axe-grinders (American). Men who grumble, especially politically. Willard's Hotel was closed, and, even if it had not been, with its clientele of barloafers, swaggerers, drunkards, and axegrinders (a class of politicians peculiar to Washington hotels), it would not have been the place for Mr Dickens in his state of health. Dolby, Dickens as I knew him,
    Ay de mi, sometimes Ay de my (Hist.). It pervades all Western European literature. It is found in  [-13-] Tom Cringle's Log, also in Gil Blas, bk. xi. 5.
    Ay de my! un anno felice
    Parece un soplo ligero ;
    Pero fin dicha un instante
    Es un siglo de tormento.
    Smollett translates the phrase 'alas'. It was Carlyle's favourite protest, and is found frequently in Froude's biography of him :
    The dinners, routs, callers, confusions inevitable to a certain length. Ay de mi ? I wish I was far from it.
    It was probably brought to England by Catherine of Braganza. (See 'Oh dear me ! ')