1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar TongueGrose, Francis
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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Grose, Francis
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
SIR TIMOTHY. One who, from a desire of being the head
of the company, pays the reckoning, or, as the term is,
stands squire. See SQUIRE.
SITTING BREECHES. One who stays late in company, is
said to have his sitting breeches on, or that he will sit
longer than a hen.
SIX AND EIGHT-PENCE. An attorney, whose fee on several
occasions is fixed at that sum.
SIX AND TIPS. Whisky and small beer. IRISH.
SIXES AND SEVENS. Left at sixes and sevens: i.e. in
confusion; commonly said of a room where the furniture,
&c. is scattered about; or of a business left unsettled.
SIZE OF ALE. Half a pint. Size of bread and cheese; a
certain quantity. Sizings: Cambridge term for the college
allowance from the buttery, called at Oxford battles.
To SIZE. (CAMBRIDGE) To sup at one's own expence. If a
MAN asks you to SUP, he treats you; if to SIZE, you pay
for what you eat--liquors ONLY being provided by the
inviter.
SIZAR (Cambridge). Formerly students who came to the
University for purposes of study and emolument.
But at present they are just as gay and dissipated as their
fellow collegians. About fifty years ago they were on a
footing with the servitors at Oxford, but by the exertions
of the present Bishop of Llandaff, who was himself a
sizar, they were absolved from all marks of inferiority
or of degradation. The chief difference at present between
them and the pensioners, consists in the less
amount of their college fees. The saving thus made induces
many extravagant fellows to become sizars, that
they may have more money to lavish on their dogs,
pieces, &c.
SKEW. A cup, or beggar's wooden dish.
SKEWVOW, or ALL ASKEW. Crooked, inclining to one side.
SKIN. In a bad skin; out of temper, in an ill humour.
Thin-skinned: touchy, peevish.
SKIN. A purse. Frisk the skin of the stephen; empty
the money out of the purse. Queer skin; an empty
purse.
SKIN FLINT. An avaricious man or woman,
SKINK. To skink, is to wait on the company, ring the bell,
stir the fire, and snuff the candles; the duty of the youngest
officer in the military mess. See BOOTS.
SKINS. A tanner.
SKIP JACKS. Youngsters that ride horses on sale, horse-dealers
boys. Also a plaything made for children with
the breast bone of a goose.
SKIP KENNEL. A footman.
SKIPPER. A barn. CANT.--Also the captain of a Dutch
vessel.
TO SKIT. To wheedle. CANT.
SKIT. A joke. A satirical hint.
SKRIP. See SCRIP.
SKULKER. A soldier who by feigned sickness, or other
pretences, evades his duty; a sailor who keeps below in
time of danger; in the civil line, one who keeps out of
the way, when any work is to be done. To skulk; to
hide one's self, to avoid labour or duty.
SKY BLUE. Gin.
SKY FARMERS. Cheats who pretend they were farmers
in the isle of Sky, or some other remote place, and were
ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity:
or else called sky farmers from their farms being IN
NUBIBUS, 'in the clouds.'
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