1869. Whyte-Melville, M. or N., p. 110. Rather a flat-catcher, Tom? said that nobleman, between the whiffs of a cigar. Flat-catching, subs. (common).—Swindling. 1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 118, The no-pinned hero, on being elevated, gave, as a toast, ‘Success to flat-catching,’ which produced roars of laughter and shouts of approbation. 1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. To mark the many kinds of bait that are used in flat-catching, as the turf slang has it. Flatch, adj. (back-slang).—A half. flatch-kennurd = half drunk; flatch-yenork = half-a-crown; flatch-yennep = a half-penny (see subs., sense 1). Subs. 1.—A half-penny. [An abbreviation of flatch-yennep.] For synonyms, see Mag. c. 1866. Vance, The Chickaleary Cove. I doesn’t care a flatch as long as I’ve a tach. 2. (coiners’).—A counterfeit half-crown. For synonyms, see Madza. Flat-cap, subs. (old).—A nickname for a citizen of London. [In Henry the Eight’s time flat round caps were the pink of fashion; but when their date was out, they became ridiculous. The citizens continued to wear them long after they were generally disused, and were often satirized for their fidelity]. 1596. Ben Jonson, Every Man in H., ch. ii., v. 1. Mock me all over From my flat-cap unto my shining shoes. 1602. Dekker, Honest Whore. Old Plays, iii., 304. Come, Sirrah, you flat-cap, where be those whites? 1605. Marston, Dutch Court, ii., 1. Wealthy flat-caps that pay for their pleasure the best of any men in Europe. 1613. Beaumont and Fletcher, Hon. Man’s Fort., v. 3. Trade? to the city, child: a flat-cap will become thee. Flat-cock, subs. (old).—A female. [Grose, 1785.] For synonyms, see Petticoat. Flat-feet, subs. (common).—Specifically the Foot Guards, but also applied to other regiments of the line. Also (generally with some powerful adjective), applied to militia men to differentiate them from linesmen. For synonyms, see Mud-crusher. Flat-fish, (generally, a regular flat-fish) subs. (common).—A dullard. [A play upon flat = stupid, and Fish = something to hook or catch.] For synonyms, see Buffle, Cabbage-Head, and Sammy-Soft. Cf., Fr., platpied = a contemptible fellow. Flat-footed, adj. (American).—Downright; resolute; honest. [Western: the simile, common to most languages, is of a man standing, his back to the wall, resolute to accomplish his purpose.] 1858. Harper’s Magazine, Sept. His herculean frame, and bold, flat-footed way of saying things, had impressed his neighbours, and he held the rod in terrorism over them. 1871. Philadelphia Bulletin, Mar. 23. ‘The row at St. Clement’s Church.’ Now the Committee of the vestry put their foot flatly down on auricular confession and priestly absolution.