Part 17

~Dutch auction~, a method of selling goods, adopted by “CHEAP JOHNS,” to evade the penalties for selling without a licence. The article is offered all round at a high price, which is then dropped until it is taken. DUTCH AUCTIONS need not be illegitimate transactions, and their economy (as likewise that of puffing) will be found minutely explained in Sugden (Lord St. Leonards) “On Vendors and Purchasers.”

~Dutch concert~, where each performer plays a different tune. Sometimes called a DUTCH MEDLEY when vocal efforts only are used.

~Dutch consolation~, “thank God it is no worse.” “It might have been worse,” said a man whom the devil was carrying to hell. “How?” asked a neighbour. “Well, he’s carrying me—he might have made me carry him.”

~Dutch courage~, false courage, generally excited by drink—pot-valour.

~Dutch feast~, where the host gets drunk before his guest.

~Dutch uncle~, a personage often introduced in conversation, but exceedingly difficult to describe; “I’ll talk to him like a DUTCH UNCLE!” conveys the notion of anything but a desirable relation.

~Earl of Cork~, the ace of diamonds.—_Hibernicism._

“‘What do you mean by the Earl of Cork?’ asked Mr. Squander. ‘The ace of diamonds, your honour. It’s the worst ace, and the poorest card in the pack, and is called the EARL OF CORK, because he’s the poorest nobleman in Ireland.’”—_Carleton’s Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry._

~Early~, “to get up EARLY,” to prepare for a difficult task. “You’ll have to get up very EARLY in the morning to beat that.” Early rising and ability seem also closely connected by certain modifications of this expression. Possibly the belief is that a man who rises early for early rising’s sake deserves to be clever. Perhaps the greatest enjoyment a day labourer—whose work commences at six in the winter mornings, and who may have to rise at half-past four and trudge off—can have, is a “quiet snooze” after the usual time of rising. The early rising in “the steel” is the chief terror of that institution in the minds of habitual criminals.

~Earwig~, a clergyman, also one who prompts another maliciously and privately.

~Earwigging~, a private conversation; a rebuke in private; an attempt to defame another unfairly, and without chance of appeal; a WIGGING is more public.

~Ease~, to rob; “EASING a bloke,” robbing a man.

~Eat his head off.~ A horse who is kept idle in the stable is said to EAT HIS HEAD OFF. Of late the phrase has been applied to servants who have little to do but constantly “dip their noses in the manger.”

~Eavesdropper~, a listener. The name is derived from the punishment which, according to Oliver, was directed in the Lectures, at the revival of Masonry in 1717, to be inflicted on a detected Cowan [g. v.], and which was

“To be placed under the eaves of the house in rainy weather, till the water runs in at his shoulders and out at his heels.”—_Mackey’s Lexicon of Freemasonry._

~Efter~, a thief who frequents theatres.

~Egg~, or EGG ON, to excite, stimulate, or provoke one person to quarrel with another, &c. From the Anglo-Saxon _eggian_; or possibly a corruption of EDGE, or EDGE ON, or even from _agere_, to drive.—_Ancient._

~Egg-flip~, or EGG-HOT, a drink made after the manner of purl and bishop, with beer, eggs, and spirits made hot and sweetened.

~Elbow~, “to shake one’s ELBOW,” to play with dice; “to crook one’s ELBOW,” to drink.

~Elbow grease~, labour, or industry. Anything that is rusty, or in household work dirty or dingy, is said to require ELBOW GREASE.

~Elegant extracts~, a Cambridge University title for those students who having failed only slightly in some one subject, and being “plucked” accordingly, were allowed their degrees. This applied to the “Poll” list, as the “Gulf” did to the “Honours.”

~Elephant~, “to have seen the ELEPHANT,” to be “_up_ to the latest move,” or “_down_ to the last new trick;” to be knowing, and not “green,” &c. Possibly a metaphor taken from the travelling menageries, where the ELEPHANT is the finale of the exhibition.—Originally an Americanism. Bartlett gives conflicting examples. General now, however. A modification of this is “having seen the king.” When a man becomes aware that he has been cheated or imposed on, and does not mean to stand it any longer, he is said to have seen the king, _i.e._, to have seen his adversary’s best card, and to be prepared for it.

~Elevated~, intoxicated. ELEVATION is the name of a drug-mixture much used in the fen-counties for keeping up the spirits and preventing ague. It consists mainly of opium.

~Enemy~, time, a clock, the ruthless enemy and tell-tale of idleness and of mankind generally; “what says the ENEMY?” _i.e._, how goes the time?

~Essex lion~, a calf. A calf is probably the only lively animal to be seen in a journey through Essex.

~Essex stile~, a ditch. A jocular allusion to the peculiarities of the “low county.”

~Evaporate~, to go, or run away.

~Everlasting shoes~, the feet. The barefooted children about the Seven Dials, and other low quarters of London, are said to wear EVERLASTING SHOES and stockings. Another expression in connexion with this want is, “the shoes and stockings their mothers gave them.”

~Everlasting staircase~, the treadmill. Sometimes, but very rarely now called “Colonel Chesterton’s EVERLASTING STAIRCASE,” from the gallant inventor or improver. Also known as “the STEPPER.”

~Exasperate~, to over-aspirate the letter H, or to aspirate it whenever it commences a word, as is commonly done by under-educated people who wish to show off their breeding. EXASPERATION does not refer to an omission of the aspirate.

~Exes~, expenses. “Just enough to clear our exes.”

~Extensive~, frequently applied in a slang sense to a person’s appearance or talk; “rather EXTENSIVE that!” intimating that the person alluded to is showing off, or “cutting it fat.”

~Extracted~, placed on the list of “ELEGANT EXTRACTS.”—_Camb. Univ._

~Eye teeth~, supposed evidences of sharpness. A man is said to have, or have not, cut his EYE TEETH, according to possession or want of shrewdness.

~Eye water~, gin. Term principally used by printers.

~Face~, credit at a public-house, impudence, confidence, brass; thus a BRAZEN-FACE. “To run one’s FACE,” is to obtain credit in a bounceable manner. “He’s got some FACE,” _i.e._, he has got lots of impudence.

~Face entry~, the entrée to a theatre. From the FACE being known, as distinguished from free-list entry.

~Facer~, a blow on the face. In Ireland, a dram.

~Facer~, a tumbler of whisky-punch. Possibly from the suffusion of blood to the face caused by it.

~Fad~, a hobby, a favourite pursuit.

~Fadge~, a farthing.

~Fadge~, a flat loaf.—_North._

~Fadge~, to suit or fit; “it wont FADGE,” it will not do. Used by Shakspeare, but now heard only in the streets.

~Fadger~, a glazier’s frame. Otherwise called a “frail,” perhaps in reference to the fragile nature of its contents.

~Fag~, a schoolboy who performs a servant’s offices to a superior schoolmate. From FAG, to become weary or tired out. _Low German_, FAKK, wearied.

~Fag~, to beat.

~Faggot~, a bundle of bits of the “stickings” (hence probably its name) sold for food to the London poor. It is sometimes called a duck. In appearance it resembles a Scotch “haggis,” without, however, being nearly so good as that fragrant article. Probably the FAG-END of a thing, the inferior or remaining part, the refuse.

~Faggot~, a term of opprobrium used by low people to children and women; “you little FAGGOT, you!” FAGGOT was originally a term of contempt for a dry shrivelled old woman, whose bones were like a bundle of sticks, only fit to burn.—Compare the French expression for a heretic, _sentir le fagot_.

~Faggot briefs~, bundles of worthless papers tied up with red tape, carried by unemployed barristers in the back rows of the courts to simulate briefs.

~Faggot vote~, a phrase which belongs to the slang of politics, and which was applied to a class of votes, by no means extinct even now, though not so common as in the days preceding the first Reform Bill, when constituencies were smaller, and individual votes were consequently more valuable. FAGGOT VOTES were thus created:—A large landowner who was blessed with, say, seven sons and seven brothers, and had also on his estate fourteen labourers’ cottages worth about a shilling a week each, would go through the form of sale of one cottage to each son and each brother, it being perfectly understood that the title-deeds would be returned when the occasion for their use was at an end. And thus the squire would command fifteen votes instead of one. In a famous election for the West Riding of Yorkshire during the third decade of the present century, which cost upwards of half a million sterling, and ruined the successful candidate, it was said that six hundred FAGGOT VOTES were created by three noble lords. The origin of the term has been variously explained. One ingenious writer has suggested that as a FAGGOT may be split into a bundle of sticks, so was one estate thus split into a bundle of votes. It is, however, more reasonable to suppose that it was derived from the old word “FAGGOT,” which was used to describe a “nominal soldier,” one, that is, whose name appeared on the muster-roll, and for whom the colonel drew pay, but who was never to be found in the ranks. The connexion is evident enough.

~Fake~, in the sporting world, means to hocus or poison. Fake is also a mixture supposed to be used for purposes of “making safe.”

~Fake~, to cheat, or swindle; to do anything; to go on, or continue; to make or construct; to steal or rob,—a verb variously used. FAKED, done, or done for; “FAKE away, there’s no down;” go on, there is nobody looking. From the _Latin_ FACERE.

~Fakement~, a false begging petition, any act of robbery, swindling, or deception. FAKEMENT is a word of most general application among the lower classes. Any things strange, and most things not strange, are called FAKEMENTS, particularly if there is anything peculiar or artistic in their production.

~Fakement Charley~, the owner’s private mark. FAKER, is one who makes or FAKES anything. To “fake a cly,” is to pick a pocket.

~Fal-lals~, trumpery ornaments, gewgaws. Forby suggests as a derivation the _Latin_ PHALERÆ, horse trappings.

~Fambles~, or FAMMS, the hands.—_Ancient Cant._ _German_, FANGEN.

~Family men~, or PEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.

~Fan~, a waistcoat.—_Houndsditch term._

~Fancy~, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, the ton of low life. Pugilists are sometimes termed the FANCY. Shakspeare uses the word in the sense of a favourite or pet; and the paramour of a prostitute is still called her FANCY MAN.

~Fancy bloak~, a fancy or sporting man.

~Fanning~, a beating. FANNING is also stealing; CROSS-FANNING is stealing with the arms crossed so as to distract attention, as in stealing breast-pins, &c.

~Fanqui~, a European, literally foreign devil.—_Anglo-Chinese._

~Fantail~, a dustman’s or coalheaver’s hat. So called from the shape.

~Farm~, to contract, after the manner of those who engage to feed and lodge children belonging to the parish, at so much a head; a fruitful cause of starvation and misery. _See Oliver Twist._ The baby farmings, unconnected with the parishes in which they occurred, which ultimately resulted in the trial and execution of Margaret Waters, on the 11th October, 1870, have caused the word FARM as applied to any dealings with children, parish or private, to be one of obloquy and reproach.

~Farmer.~ In Suffolk this term is applied to the eldest son of the occupier of the farm. In London it is used derisively of a countryman, and denotes a farm-labourer or clodpole. Both senses are different from the proper meaning.

~Fast~, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago. QUICK is the synonym for FAST, but a QUICK MAN would not convey the meaning of a FAST MAN,—a person who, by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast, and wears himself out. In polite society a FAST young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talks slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a fast young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horseflesh. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; they _are_ a rum lot, as the devil said of the ten commandments.” Charles Dickens once said that “fast,” when applied to a young man, was only another word for loose, as he understood the term; and a fast girl has been defined as a woman who has lost her respect for men, and for whom men have lost their respect.

~Fast~, embarrassed, wanting money, tied up. Sometimes synonymous with “hard up.”—_Yorkshire._

~Fast and loose~, to play FAST AND LOOSE with a man, is to treat him as a fast friend in the days while he is useful, and to cast him loose when he is no longer necessary; also, to equivocate or vacillate. In old days it was the name of a vulgar pastime. _See_ PRICK THE GARTER.

~Fat~, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called “grease,” and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.

~Fat~, rich, abundant, &c.; “a FAT lot;” “to cut it FAT,” to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance; “cut up FAT,” see under CUT. As a theatrical term, a part with plenty of FAT in it is one which affords the actor an opportunity of effective display.

~Father~, or FENCE, a buyer of stolen property.

~Favourite~, the horse that has the lowest odds laid against it in the betting list. When the FAVOURITE wins, the public or backers of horses generally are the gainers. When an outsider wins, the ring, that is to say, the persons who make a business of laying against the chances of horses, are the gainers.

~Fawney~, a finger ring. _Irish_, FAINEE, a ring.

~Fawney bouncing~, selling rings for a pretended wager. This practice is founded upon the old tale of a gentleman laying a wager that if he were to offer “real gold sovereigns” at a penny a-piece at the foot of London Bridge, the English public would be too incredulous to buy. The story states that the gentleman stationed himself with sovereigns on a tea-tray, and sold only two within the hour, thus winning the bet. This tale the FAWNEY BOUNCERS tell the public, only offering brass, double-gilt rings, instead of sovereigns.

~Fawney rig~, the ring-dropping trick. A few years ago this practice was very common. A fellow purposely dropped a ring, or a pocket-book with some little articles of jewellery, &c., in it, and when he saw any person pick it up, ran to claim half. The ring found, the question of how the booty was to be divided had then to be decided. The sharper says, “If you will give me eight or nine shillings for my share, the things are yours.” This the “flat” thinks very fair. The ring of course is valueless, and the swallower of the bait discovers the trick too late. For another way of doing this trick, _see_ RING-DROPPING.

~Feathers~, money, wealth; “in full FEATHER,” rich. FEATHERS is also a term applied to dress; “in full FEATHER,” means very often in full costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.

~Feed~, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty general.

~Feele~, a daughter, or child.—Corrupted _French_.

~Fellow-commoner~, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle.

~Felt~, a hat.—_Old term_, in use in the sixteenth century.

~Fence~, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or warehouse of a FENCER.—_Old Cant._

~Fen-nightingales~, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at night.

~Feringee~, a European—that is, a Frank.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Ferricadouzer~, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through the _Lingua Franca_, from the _Italian_, “far’ cader’ douser,” to knock down. “Far’ cader’ morto,” is to knock down dead.

~Few~, used to signify the reverse, thus:—“Don’t you call this considerably jolly?” “I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW.” Sometimes the reply is, “just a FEW.” Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, which _see_.

~Fib~, to beat or strike.—_Old Cant._

~Fib~, to lie, to romance.

~Fibbing~, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance.—_Pugilistic._

~Fiddle~, a sharper, “a street mugger.” In America, a swindle or an imposture.

~Fiddle~, “to play second FIDDLE,” to act subordinately, or follow the lead of another. From the orchestral practice.

~Fiddle-face~, a person with a wizened countenance.

~Fiddle-faddle~, twaddle, or trifling discourse.—_Old Cant._

~Fiddler~, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers the FIDDLER is the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The term FIDDLER is easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.

~Fiddler~, a sixpence. Fiddler’s money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.

~Fiddler~, or FADGE, a farthing.

~Fiddlers’ green~, the place where sailors expect to go when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the “Land of Cocaigne,” mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he (the sailor) was going after death. “To hell, of course,” replied the preacher. “No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!” shouted the seaman, knocking the itinerant down; “I’m going to FIDDLER’S GREEN; and if you say I’m not, I’ll throttle you.” Under compulsion, the preacher admitted the existence of FIDDLER’S GREEN, _pro tempore_.

~Fiddles~, transverse pieces of wood used on shipboard to protect the dishes at table during stormy weather. Swing tables obviate the use of FIDDLES.

~Fiddle-sticks!~ an exclamation signifying nonsense. Sometimes “Fiddle-de-dee.”

~Fiddling~, doing any odd jobs in the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, &c., for a living. Among the middle classes, FIDDLING means idling away time, or trifling, and amongst sharpers it means gambling.

~Fid-fad~, a game similar to chequers, or drafts, played in the West of England.

~Field~, the whole of the runners in a race of any kind. “A FIELD of fourteen runners was placed in care of the starter.” In betting phraseology the FIELD represents the bulk of the horses, as opposed to the favourite. “The FIELD for a pony,” means that the offerer will lay 25_l._ against the favourite, preferring the chances of a winner turning up amongst the others. “Ten to one on the FIELD,” means that the price named can be obtained about any horse in the race, that being the lowest figure or favourite’s price. Laying against favourites is called FIELDING, and bookmakers are often known as FIELDERS.

~Field~, “to look out,” at cricket. In the outings of an eleven the FIELDERS are those who stand away from the wickets with a view to checking the progress of the ball. FIELDING is a great essential to cricket, and to be “a good FIELD” is no slight honour. Also to lay against favourites in the betting.

~Field-lane duck~, a baked sheep’s head. Field Lane was a low London thoroughfare leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell. It was formerly the market for stolen pocket-handkerchiefs. Holborn Viaduct improved all but a small portion of Field Lane off the face of the earth. There is but the smallest vestige of this famous (or infamous) thoroughfare left. The neighbourhood has received an upheaval within the past few years, and from one end the pedestrian must descend to the remains of Field Lane by means of a flight of steps.

~Fieri-facias.~ A red-faced man is often jocularly said to have been served with a writ of FIERI-FACIAS.

~Fi-fa~, a writ of Fieri-Facias.—_Legal._

~Fi-fi~, Thackeray’s term for Paul de Kock’s novels, and similar modern French literature.

~Fig~, “in full FIG,” _i.e._, full-dress costume, “extensively got up.” Possibly an allusion to the dress assumed by our first parents after they were naked and not ashamed, or else an abbreviation of figure, in the references to plates in books of fashions.

~Fig~, “to FIG a horse,” to play improper tricks with one in order to make him lively. The FIG is a piece of wet ginger placed under a horse’s tail for the purpose of making him appear lively, and enhance his price.

~Figaro~, a barber; from _Le Nozze di Figaro_.

~Fig-leaf~, a small apron worn by ladies.

~Figure~, “to cut a good or bad FIGURE,” to make good or indifferent appearance; “what’s the FIGURE?” how much is to pay? FIGURE-HEAD, a person’s face.—_Sea term._

~Filch~, to steal, or purloin. Originally a cant word, derived from the FILCHES, or hooks, thieves used to carry, to hook clothes, or any portable articles from open windows.—_Vide_ Decker. It was considered a cant or gipsy term up to the beginning of the last century. Harman has “FYLCHE, to robbe.” Probably from “FILICHI,” Romany for a handkerchief.

~File~, a deep or artful man, a jocose name for a cunning person. Originally a term for a pickpocket, when to FILE was to cheat or rob. FILE, an artful man, was used in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. To deal with an artful man is sometimes said to be like biting a FILE.

~Filibuster~, an American adventurer, who, if successful, helps to extend the boundaries of the United States, becomes a General, and receives high honours, but who remains a FILIBUSTER, and is despised as such, if he fails. The Texan, Nicaraguan, and kindred expeditions were of a FILIBUSTERING order.

~Fillibrush~, to flatter, praise ironically.

~Fimble-famble~, a lame, prevaricating excuse.—_Scandinavian._

~Fin~, a hand; “come, tip us your FIN,” viz., let us shake hands.—_Sea._

~Finder~, one who FINDS bacon and meat at the market before they are lost, _i.e._, steals them.

~Finnuf~, a five-pound note. DOUBLE FINNUF, a ten-pound note.—_German_, FUNF, five.

~Fire-eater~, a quarrelsome man, a braggadocio or turbulent person who is always ready to fight.

~Firkytoodle~, to cuddle or fondle.

~First flight~, the first lot to finish in a foot or horse race, in a fox hunt, &c.

~Fish~, a person; “a queer FISH,” “a loose FISH.” Term never used except in doubtful cases, as those quoted.

~Fishfag~, originally a Billingsgate fishwife; now any scolding, vixenish, foul-mouthed woman.

~Fishy~, doubtful, unsound, rotten; used to denote a suspicion of a “screw being loose,” or “something rotten in the state of Denmark,” in referring to any proposed speculation.

~Fit~, an Americanism denoting the preterite of the verb to fight. A Yankee once came upon the words _nihil fit_, and he immediately wrote off to the editor of the paper to which he subscribed to know “Who was Nihil, who he fit, what amount he fit for, and if he won.”

~Five fingers~, the five of trumps, at the game of Five-cards, or Don.

~Fives~, “bunch of FIVES,” the fist.