Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : $b A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.Henley, William Ernest
History
Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : $b A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.
Henley, William Ernest
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; Slang -- Dictionaries
French Synonyms. Un paquet (popular); une hallebarde (popular = a
clothes-prop); un nippe-mal (popular); une bécasse (= a gaby); un
carnavale (popular = a figure of fun).
1806. W. Burrell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), i., 277.
A month ago there was neither shape nor make in use ... no guy ever
matched me.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘The Nurse’s Story.’ Did you see
her, in short, that mud-hovel within, With her knees to her nose,
and her nose to her chin, Leering up with that queer, indescribable
grin, You’d lift up your hands in amazement and cry, ‘Well!—I never
did see such a regular guy!’
1858. G. Eliot, Janet’s Repentance, ch. vi. Ned Phipps ...
whispered that he thought the Bishop was a guy, and I certainly
remember thinking that Mr. Prendergast looked much more dignified
with his plain white surplice and black hair.
1871. Morning Advertiser, 26 Jan. There is no imperative reason why
a constable should be a guy.
3. (common).—A dark lantern. [Obviously a reminiscence of the Gunpowder
Plot].
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Guy, s.v. Stow the guy, conceal the
lanthorn.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
4. (streets).—A jaunt; an expedition.
1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 5, c. 5. There was a gee, there
was a buggy, but there wasn’t a punctual Pitcher. So a cheerful guy
to Waterloo was the game.
Verb (common).—1. To quiz; to chaff; to roast (q.v.); to josh (q.v.).
1889. Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. His advent here created much
merriment, and the operators guyed him loud enough for him to hear
them.
2. (common).—To escape; to hedge (q.v.); to run away. Also to do a guy
(which also = to give a false name). For synonyms, see Amputate and
Skedaddle.
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., xl. 500. I planned with
another boy to guy (run away).
1887. Fun, 23 Mar., p. 125. ‘Boat-race Day, as per usual,’ said the
clerk to the court, ‘they’ll all be doing guys’ (giving false
names!).
1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, p. 321. To run away.... Do a
guy.
1892. Punch, 24 Sept. ‘’Arry at Arrygate.’ I just did a guy.
3. (American).—To spoil; to muddle; to disfigure or distort.
1891. New York Herald, 31 May, p. 12, c. 4. Finally, I would remind
them that they are apt to guy their cause by making ‘guys’ of
themselves, and that the best way of making women a power in the
land is by encouraging them to be womanly women.
4. (theatrical).—To damn; to hiss; to slate (q.v.) or give the bird
(q.v.).
Guzzle (or Guttle), subs. (vulgar).—1. An insatiable eater or drinker.
For synonyms, see Stodger and Lushington respectively.
2. (vulgar).—A debauch.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of Cheap Jack, 58. Doing a guzzle with
money he earned.
3. (common).—Drink.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, Bk. II., ch. i., note. It signifies
rum-booze, as our gipsies call good-guzzle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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