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Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
A person whose complexion indicates a mixture of negro blood, is said to have had a lick of the TAR-BRUSH. Sometimes a man of this description is said to have been dipped in the black-pot, and he is often reminded that "another dip would have done it," i.e., another dip would have made a negro of him.
To punish, to serve out.
A coarse cloth tarred over: also, figuratively, a sailor.
A punishment lately inflicted by the good people of Boston on any person convicted, or suspected, of loyalty: such delinquents being "stripped naked", were daubed all over wilh tar, and afterwards put into a hogshead of feathers.
Sour, sharp, quick, pert.
To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from a story of an Irish-soldier in the Imperial service, who, in a battle against the Turks, called out to his comrade that he had caught a Tartar. 'Bring him along then,' said he. 'He won't come,' answered Paddy. 'Then come along yourself,' replied his comrade. 'Arrah,' cried he, 'but he won't let me.'--A Tartar is also an adept at any feat, or game: he is quite a Tartar at cricket, or billiards.
A savage fellow, an "ugly customer." To "catch a TARTAR," is to discover somewhat unpleasantly that a person is by no means so mild or good-tempered as he or she at first appeared.
Tit for tat; an equivalent.
One that uses false dice.
"s’elp my TATER," an evasion of a profane oath, sometimes varied by "s’elp my greens."
A watch. To flash a tatler: to wear a watch.
A watch; "nimming a TATLER," stealing a watch.
Old rags; milky TATS, white rags.
A ragged fellow, whose clothes hang all in tatters.
A beat of the drum, of signal for soldiers to go to their quarters, and a direction to the sutlers to close the tap, and draw no more liquor for them; it is generally beat at nine in summer and eight in winter. The devil's tattoo; beating with one's foot against the ground, as done by persons in low spirits.
A pony.—Anglo-Indian.
A schoolboy's game, played with small round balls made of stone dust, catted marbles. I'll be one upon your taw presently; a species of threat.
A large or principal marble; "I’ll be one on your TAW," I will pay you out, or be even with you,—a simile taken from boys aiming always at winning the TAW when playing at marbles.
Garish, gawdy, with lace or staring and discordant colours: a term said to be derived from the shrine and altar of St. Audrey (an Isle of Ely saintess), which for finery exceeded all others thereabouts, so as to become proverbial; whence any fine dressed man or woman said to be all St Audrey, and by contraction, all tawdry.
Thieves who snatch gentlemens swords from their sides. He drew the cull's tayle rumly; he snatched away the gentleman's sword cleverly.
An iron with which, when heated, press down the seams of clothes.
To titter, "Upon this I TE-HE’D."—Madame d’Arblay. As an interjection it is as old as Chaucer. See Miller’s Tale:—
Ireland. Teaguelanders; Irishmen.
An evening party, alias a "muffin-worry."
Five thousand pounds. See SPOONS.
Ireland. From the national character of the name TEAGUE.
Right, otherwise TADGER.
The drippings of liquor on a man's waistcoat.
St. Edmund Hall.—Oxford University.
An address to a supposed simple fellow, or nysey,
"he has cut his eye TEETH," i.e., is old and ’cute enough.
Wrenching off knockers. Medical students’ term.
A total abstainer from alcoholic drinks. The origin of this term is not known. It is said to be from the expression of a fanatical and stuttering enthusiast in the cause of total abstinence. It has nothing to do with tea.
Amplification of TOTALLY.
To-nap the teize; to receive a whipping. CANT.
To tell about, to talk of, to inform against. (This is formed by a simple misuse of the preposition.)
Pumping a bailiff; a punishment formerly administered to any of that fraternity caught exercising their functions within the limits of Temple.
An usurer; more than five in the hundred being deemed usurious interest.
A married man; i.e. possessed of a woman for life.
The Penitentiary, of which it is a contraction. See STEEL.
A tender creature, fearful of the least puff of wind or drop of rain. As tender as Parnell, who broke her finger in a posset drink.
An outrageous scold from Termagantes, a cruel Pagan, formerly represented in diners shows and entertainments, where being dressed a la Turque, in long clothes, he was mistaken for a furious woman.
The slip of paper on which the examiners testify (testari) to the fact that the candidate has satisfied their requirements.—University.
A sixpence: from TESTON, a coin with a head on it.
Sixpence. From TESTONE, a shilling in the reign of Henry VIII., but a sixpence in the time of Queen Elizabeth.—Shakspeare. French, TESTE, or TÊTE, the head of the monarch on the coin.
A shilling. Costermongers’ and tramps’ term.
He will not find out a way to set the Thames on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is no conjuror.
The human hair. "He’s well THATCHED," is said of a man with a good head of hair.
A rogue, or man of bad character.
The party cheated, perhaps from his being like an air bubble, filled with words, which are only wind, instead of real property.
A cook's shop, under Furnival's Inn, where many attornies clerks, and other inferior limbs of the law, take out the wrinkles from their bellies. DIP is also a punning name for a tallow-chandler.
SOCIETY OF NEWMAN'S HOTEL.
The sign of the Cheshire cheese.
New Inn Hall.—Oxford University.
The style, the proper proportion. Application varied. A good appearance, a decent dinner, or a fair bottle of wine, is said to be "the THING," sometimes "the correct THING."
Or Ingenuity displayed in its Perfection, being the Newest and most Useful Academy, Songs, Art of Love, and the Mystery and Art of Canting, with Poems, Songs, &c., in the Canting Language, 16mo. J. Clarke, 1735.
And Defrauding Discovered: being a Caution to all Housekeepers, Shopkeepers, Salesmen, and others, to guard against Robbers of both Sexes, and the best Methods to prevent their Villanies; to which is added an Explanation of most of the Cant terms in the Thieving Language, 8vo, pp. 46. 1786.
(or TEAICH) gen, eight shillings.
Intimate. They are as thick as two inkle-weavers.
Intimate, familiar. The Scotch use the word "chief" in this sense, as, "the two are very chief now."