dart
A straight-armed blow in boxing.
English · UK & Ireland 846
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
dash
A tavern drawer. To cut a dash: to make a figure.
dash
To jot down suddenly. "Things I have DASHED off at a moment’s notice."
daub
In low language, an artist. Also a badly painted picture.
david jones
The devil, the spirit of the sea: called Necken in the north countries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
david’s sow
"as drunk as DAVID’S sow," i.e., beastly drunk. See origin of the phrase in Grose’s Dictionary.
davy
I'll take my davy of it; vulgar abbreviation of affidavit.
davy
"on my DAVY," on my affidavit, of which it is a vulgar corruption. Latterly DAVY has become synonymous in street language with the name of the Deity; "so help me DAVY," generally rendered, "swelp my DAVY." Slang version of the conclusion of the oath usually exacted of witnesses.
davy’s locker
Or DAVY JONES’S LOCKER, the sea, the common receptacle for all things thrown overboard;—a nautical phrase for death, is "gone to DAVY JONES’S LOCKER," which there means the other world.—See DUFFY.
dawdle
To loiter, or fritter away time.
dawk
The post.—Anglo-Indian.
day lights
Eyes. To darken his day lights, or sow up his sees; to close up a man's eyes in boxing.
daylights
Eyes; "to darken his DAYLIGHTS," to give a person black eyes. Also the spaces left in glasses between the liquor and the brim,—not allowed when bumpers are drunk. The toast-master in such cases cries "no DAYLIGHTS or heeltaps!"
daze
To confound or bewilder; an ancient form of dazzle used by Spenser, Drayton, &c. This is more obsolete English than slang, though its use nowadays might fairly bring it within the latter category.
dead cargo
A term used by thieves, when they are disappointed in the value of their booty.
dead men
A cant word among journeymen bakers, for loaves falsely charged to their masters' customers; also empty bottles.
dead-against
Decidedly opposed to.
dead-amiss
Said of a horse that from illness is utterly unable to run for a prize.
dead-beat
Utterly exhausted, utterly "done up."
dead-horse
"to draw the DEAD-HORSE;" DEAD-HORSE work—working for wages already paid; also any thankless or unassisted service.
dead-letter
An action of no value or weight; an article, owing to some mistake in its production, rendered utterly valueless,—often applied to any instrument in writing, which by some apparently trivial omission, becomes useless. At the general and large district post-offices, there is a department for letters which have been erroneously addressed, or for which, from many and various causes, there are no receivers.
dead-lock
A permanent standstill, an inextricable entanglement.
dead-louse
Vulgar pronunciation of the Dedalus ship of war.
dead-lurk
Entering a dwelling-house during divine service.
dead-man
A baker. Properly speaking, it is an extra loaf smuggled into the basket by the man who carries it out, to the loss of the master. Sometimes the DEAD-MAN is charged to a customer, though never delivered. Among London thieves and low people generally a "dead’un" is a half-quartern loaf.
dead-men
The term for wine bottles after they are emptied of their contents.—Old.—See MARINES.
dead-men’s shoes
Property which cannot be claimed until after decease of present holder. "To wait for a pair of DEAD-MEN’S SHOES," is considered a wearisome affair. It is used by Fletcher:—
dead-set
A pointed and persistent attack on a person.
dead’un
A horse which will not run or will not try in a race, and against which money may be betted with safety.—See SAFE UN.
deaner
A shilling. From DENIER.
dear joys
Irishmen: from their frequently making use of that expression.
death
"to dress to DEATH," i.e., to the very extreme of fashion, perhaps so as to be killing.
death hunter
An undertaker, one who furnishes the necessary articles for funerals. See CARRION HUNTER.
death's head upon a mop-stick
A poor miserable, emaciated fellow; one quite an otomy. See OTOMY.--He looked as pleasant as the pains of death.
death-hunter
A running patterer, who vends last dying speeches and confessions. More modernly the term is supposed to mean an undertaker, or any one engaged in or concerned with burials.
deb
Or DAB, a bed; "I’m off to the DEB," I’m going to bed.
deck
A pack of cards. Used by Shakspeare, 3 K. Hen. VI., v. 1. Probably because of DECKING or arranging the table for a game at cards. General in the United States.
decker’s
(Thomas) The Bellman of London; bringing to light the most notorious villanies that are now practised in the Kingdom; 4to, black letter. London, 1608.
dee
A pocket-book; term used by tramps.—Gipsy. DEE (properly D), a detective policeman. "The DEES are about, so look out."
deep-one
A thorough-paced rogue, a sly designing fellow: in opposition to a shallow or foolish one.
delicate
A false subscription-book carried by a LURKER.
dells
Young buxom wenches, ripe and prone to venery, but who have not lost their virginity, which the UPRIGHT MAN claims by virtue of his prerogative; after which they become free for any of the fraternity. Also a common strumpet. CANT.
demirep
(or DEMIRIP), a courtezan. Contraction of DEMI-REPUTATION, which is, in turn, a contraction for demi-monde reputation.
demure
As demure as an old whore at a christening.
demy-rep
An abbreviation of demy-reputation; a woman of doubtful character.
derby
To come down with the derbies; to pay the money.
derby-dog
A masterless animal, who is sure to appear as soon as the Epsom course is cleared for the great race of the season. No year passes without a dog running between the two dense lines of spectators and searching in vain for an outlet, and he is almost as eagerly looked for as are the "preliminary canters." It is said that when no DERBY-DOG appears on the course between Tattenham Corner and the judge’s box, just before the start, a dead-heat will take place between all the placed horses.
derrick
The name of the finisher of the law, or hangman about the year 1608.--'For he rides his circuit with the Devil, and Derrick must be his host, and Tiburne the inne at which he will lighte.' Vide Bellman of London, in art. PRIGGIN LAW.--'At the gallows, where I leave them, as to the haven at which they must all cast anchor, if Derrick's cables do but hold.' Ibid.
derrick
An apparatus for raising sunken ships, &c. The term is curiously derived from a hangman of that name frequently mentioned in Old Plays, as in the Bellman of London, 1616.
despatchers
False dice with two sets of numbers, and, of course, no low pips. So called because they bring the matter to a speedy issue. Great skill in palming is necessary for their successful use.
deuce
The devil.—Old. Stated by Junius and others to be from DEUS or ZEUS.
deusea ville stampers
Country carriers. Cant.
devil
The gizzard of a turkey or fowl, scored, peppered, salted and broiled: it derives its appellation from being hot in the mouth.
devil
Among barristers, to get up the facts of a case for a leader; to arrange everything in the most comprehensive form, so that the Q.C. or Serjeant can absorb the question without much trouble. DEVILLING is juniors’ work, but much depends on it, and on the ability with which it is done.
devil dodger
A clergyman; also a person who goes sometimes to church and sometimes to meeting.
devil drawer
A miserable painter.
devil's daughter
It is said of one who has a termagant for his wife, that he has married the Devil's daughter, and lives with the old folks.
devil's guts
A surveyor's chain: so called by farmers, who do not like their land should be measured by their landlords.
devilish
Very: an epithet which in the English vulgar language is made to agree with every quality or thing; as, devilish bad, devilish good; devilish sick, devilish well; devilish sweet, devilish sour; devilish hot, devilish cold, &c. &c.
devil’s books
A pack of playing-cards; a phrase of Presbyterian origin.—See FOUR KINGS.