1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar TongueGrose, Francis
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1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Grose, Francis
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries
TOM LONG. A tiresome story teller. It is coming by Tom
Long, the carrier; said of any thing that has been long
expected.
TOM THUMB. A dwarf, a little hop-o'my-thumb.
TOMMY. Soft Tommy, or white Tommy; bread is so called
by sailors, to distinguish it from biscuit. Brown Tommy:
ammunition bread for soldiers; or brown bread given to
convicts at the hulks.
TO-MORROW COME NEVER. When two Sundays come
together; never.
TONGUE. Tongue enough for two sets of teeth: said of
a talkative person. As old as my tongue, and a little older
than my teeth; a dovetail in answer to the question, How
old are you? Tongue pad; a scold, or nimble-tongued
person.
TONY. A silly fellow, or ninny. A mere tony: a simpleton.
TOOLS. The private parts of a man.
TOOL. The instrument of any person or faction, a cat's
paw. See CATS PAW.
TOOTH Music. Chewing.
TOOTH-PICK. A large stick. An ironical expression.
TOPPER. A violent blow on the head.
TOP ROPES. To sway away on all top ropes; to live
riotously or extravagantly.
TO TOP. To cheat, or trick: also to insult: he thought to
have topped upon me. Top; the signal among taylors
for snuffing the candles: he who last pronounces that word
word, is obliged to get up and perform the operation.--to
be topped; to be hanged. The cove was topped for
smashing queerscreens; he was hanged for uttering forged
bank notes.
TOP DIVER. A lover of women. An old top diver; one
who has loved old hat in his time.
TOP HEAVY. Drunk.
TOP LIGHTS. The eyes. Blast your top lights. See CURSE.
Top SAIL. He paid his debts at Portsmouth with the topsail;
i.e. he went to sea and left them unpaid. SCT soldiers
are said to pay off their scores with the drum; that
is, by marching away.
TOPER. One that loves his bottle, a soaker. SEE TO SOAK.
TOPPING FELLOW. One at the top or head of his profession.
TOPPING CHEAT. The gallows. CANT.
TOPPING COVE. The hangman. CANT.
TOPPING MAN. A rich man.
TOFSY-TURVY. The top side the other way; i.e. the
wrong side upwards; some explain it, the top side turf
ways, turf being always laid the wrong side upwards.
TORCHECUL. Bumfodder.
TORMENTER OF SHEEP SKIN. A drummer.
TORMENTER OF CATGUT. A fiddler.
TORY. An advocate for absolute monarchy and church
power; also an Irish vagabond, robber, Or rapparee.
TOSS POT. A drunkard.
TOSS OFF. Manual pollution.
TOTTY-HEADED. Giddy, hare-brained.
TOUCH. To touch; to get money from any one; also
to arrest. Touched in the wind; broken winded.
Touched in the head; insane, crazy. To touch up a
woman; to have carnal knowledge of her. Touch bone
and whistle; any one having broken wind backwards,
according to the vulgar law, may be pinched by any of
the company till he has touched bone (i.e. his teeth) and
whistled.
TOUCH BUN FOR LUCK. See BUN.
TOVT. A look-out house, or eminence.
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