1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar TongueGrose, Francis
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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Grose, Francis
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
TO SMACK. To kiss. I had a smack at her muns: I kissed
her mouth. To smack calves skin; to kiss the book, i.e.
to take an oath. The queer cuffin bid me smack calves
skin, but I only bussed my thumb; the justice bid me
kiss the book, but I only kissed my thumb.
SMACKSMOOTH. Level with the surface, every thing cut away.
SMACKING COVE. A coachman.
SMALL CLOTHES. Breeches: a gird at the affected delicacy
of the present age; a suit being called coat, waistcoat,
and articles, or small clothes.
SMART. Spruce, fine: as smart as a carrot new scraped.
SMART MONEY. Money allowed to soldiers or sailors for
the loss of a limb, or other hurt received in the service.
SMASHER. A person who lives by passing base coin. The
cove was fined in the steel for smashing; the fellow was
ordered to be imprisoned in the house of correction for
uttering base coin.
SMASH. Leg of mutton and smash: a leg of mutton and
mashed turnips. SEA TERM.
TO SMASH. To break; also to kick down stairs. CANT.
To smash. To pass counterfeit money.
SMEAR. A plasterer.
SMEAR GELT. A bribe. GERMAN.
SMELLER. A nose. Smellers: a cat's whiskers.
SMELLING CHEAT. An orchard, or garden; also a nosegay.
CANT.
SMELTS. Half guineas. CANT.
SMICKET. A smock, or woman's shift.
SMIRK. A finical spruce fellow. To smirk; to smile, or
look pleasantly.
SMITER. An arm. To smite one's tutor; to get money
from him. ACADEMIC TERM.
SMITHFIELD BARGAIN. A bargain whereby the purchaser
is taken in. This is likewise frequently used to express
matches or marriages contracted solely on the score of
interest, on one or both sides, where the fair sex are bought
and sold like cattle in Smithfield.
SMOCK-FACED. Fair faced.
TO SMOKE. To observe, to suspect.
SMOKER. A tobacconist.
SMOKY. Curious, suspicious, inquisitive.
SMOUCH. Dried leaves of the ash tree, used by the smugglers
for adulterating the black or bohea teas.
SMOUS. A German Jew.
SMUG. A nick name for a blacksmith; also neat and spruce.
SMUG LAY. Persons who pretend to be smugglers of lace
and valuable articles; these men borrow money of
publicans by depositing these goods in their hands; they
shortly decamp, and the publican discovers too late that he has
been duped; and on opening the pretended treasure, he
finds trifling articles of no value.
SMUGGLING KEN. A bawdy-house.
TO SMUSH. To snatch, or seize suddenly.
SMUT. Bawdy. Smutty story; an indecent story.
SMUT. A copper. A grate. Old iron. The cove was lagged
for a smut: the fellow was transported for stealing a
copper.
SNACK. A share. To go snacks; to be partners.
TO SNABBLE. To rifle or plunder; also to kill.
SNAFFLER. A highwayman. Snaffler of prances; a horse
stealer.
TO SNAFFLE. To steal. To snaffle any ones poll; to
steal his wig.
SNAGGS. Large teeth; also snails.
SNAKESMAN. See LITTLE SNAKESMAN.
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