1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar TongueGrose, Francis
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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Grose, Francis
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
SWADDLERS. The tenth order of the canting tribe, who not
only rob, but beat, and often murder passenges. CANT.
Swaddlers is also the Irish name for methodist.
SWAG. A shop. Any quantity of goods. As, plant the swag;
conceal the goods. Rum swag; a shop full of rich goods.
CANT.
SWAGGER. To bully, brag, or boast, also to strut.
SWANNERY. He keeps a swannery; i.e. all his geese are
swans.
SWEATING. A mode of diminishing the gold coin, practiced
chiefly by the Jews, who corrode it with aqua regia. Sweating
was also a diversion practised by the bloods of the last
century, who styled themselves Mohocks: these gentlemen
lay in wait to surprise some person late in the night, when
surrounding him, they with their swords pricked him in
the posteriors, which obliged him to be constantly turning
round; this they continued till they thought him sufficiently
sweated.
SWEET. Easy to be imposed on, or taken in; also expert,
dexterous clever. Sweet's your hand; said of one dexterous
at stealing.
SWEET HEART. A term applicable to either the masculine
or feminine gender, signifying a girl's lover, or a man's
mistress: derived from a sweet cake in the shape of a
heart.
SWEETNESS. Guinea droppers, cheats, sharpers. To sweeten
to decoy, or draw in. To be sweet upon; to coax, wheedle,
court, or allure. He seemed sweet upon that wench; he seemed to
court that girl.
SWELL. A gentleman. A well-dressed map. The flashman
bounced the swell of all his blunt; the girl's bully frightened
the gentleman out of all his money.
SWELLED HEAD. A disorder to which horses are extremely
liable, particularly those of the subalterns of the army.
This disorder is generally occasioned by remaining too
long in one livery-stable or inn, and often arises to that
height that it prevents their coming out at the stable door.
The most certain cure is the unguentum aureum--not
applied to the horse, but to the palm of the master of the inn
or stable. N. B. Neither this disorder, nor its remedy,
is mentioned by either Bracken, Bartlet, or any of the
modern writers on farriery.
SWIG. A hearty draught of liquor.
SWIGMEN. Thieves who travel the country under colour of
buying old shoes, old clothes, &c. or selling brooms, mops,
&c. CANT.
TO SWILL. To drink greedily.
SWILL TUB. A drunkard, a sot.
SWIMMER. A counterfeit old coin.
SWIMMER. A ship. I shall have a swimmer; a cant phrase
used by thieves to signify that they will be sent on board
the tender.
TO SWING. To be hanged. He will swing for it; he will
be hanged for it.
SWING TAIL. A hog.
TO SWINGE. To beat stoutly.
SWINGING. A great swinging fellow; a great stout fellow.
A swinging lie; a lusty lie.
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