round about
An instrument used in housebreaking. This instrument has not been long in use. It will cut a round piece about five inches in diameter out of a shutter or door.
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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.
round dealing
Plain, honest dealing.
round mouth
The fundament. Brother round mouth, speaks; he has let a fart.
round robin
A mode of signing remonstrances practised by sailors on board the king's ships, wherein their names are written in a circle, so that it cannot be discovered who first signed it, or was, in other words, the ringleader.
round the houses
Trousies,—vulgar pronunciation of trousers.
round un
An unblushingly given and well-proportioned lie. Sometimes known as a "whacker."
roundabout
A large swing with four compartments, each the size, and very much the shape, of the body of a cart, capable of seating six or eight boys and girls, erected in a high frame, and turned round by men at a windlass. Fairs and merry-makings generally abound with these swings. The frames take to pieces, and are carried in vans from fair to fair by miserable horses.
roundheads
A term of reproach to the puritans and partizans of Oliver Cromwell, and the Rump Parliament, who it is said made use of a bowl as a guide to trim their hair.
rout
A modern card meeting at a private house; also an order from the Secretary at War, directing the march and quartering of soldiers.
row
A disturbance; a term used by the students at Cambridge.
row
"the ROW," i.e., Paternoster Row. The notorious Holywell Street is now called by its denizens "Bookseller’s Row."
rowdy
Money. In America, a ruffian, a brawler, a "rough." Rowdyism is the state of being of New York roughs and loafers.
rowdy-dow
Low, vulgar "not the CHEESE," or thing.
rowland
To give a Rowland for an Oliver; to give an equivalent. Rowland and Oliver were two knights famous in romance: the wonderful achievements of the one could only be equalled by those of the other.
royal scamps
Highwaymen who never rob any but rich persons, and that without ill treating them. See SCAMP.
royal stag society
Was held every Monday evening, at seven o'clock, at the Three tuns, near the Hospital Gate, Newgate-street.
royster
A rude boisterous fellow; also a hound that opens on a false scent.
rub
A quarrel or impediment; "there’s the RUB," i.e., that is the difficulty.—Shakspeare and L’Estrange.
rubbed out
Dead,—a melancholy expression, of late frequently used in fashionable novels. RUBBED OUT is synonymous with WIPED OUT, which see.
rubber
A term at whist, &c., the best of three games.
ruck
The undistinguished crowd; "to come in with the RUCK," to arrive at the winning-post among the thick of the unplaced horses.—Racing term.
ruction
An Irish row. A faction fight.
ruff
An ornament formerly worn by men and women round their necks. Wooden ruff; the pillory.
ruffian
The devil. CANT.--May the ruffian nab the cuffin queer, and let the harmanbeck trine with his kinchins about his colquarren; may the Devil take the justice, and let the constable be hanged with his children about his neck. The ruffian cly thee; the Devil take thee. Ruffian cook ruffian, who scalded the Devil in his feathers; a saying of a bad cook. Ruffian sometimes also means, a justice.
rufflers
The first rank of canters; also notorious rogues pretending to be maimed soldiers or sailors.
ruffmans
The woods, hedges, or bushes. CANT.
rug
It is all rug; it is all right and safe, the game is secure. CANT.
rule
"To run the RULE over," is, among thieves, to try all a person’s pockets quietly, as done by themselves, or to search any one thoroughly, as at the police-station.
rule the roast
To be at the head of affairs, to be "cock of the walk."
rum
Fine, good, valuable.
rum
Like its opposite, QUEER, was formerly a much-used prefix, signifying fine, good, gallant, or valuable; perhaps in some way connected with ROME. Nowadays it means indifferent, bad, or questionable, and we often hear even persons in polite society use such a phrase as, "What a RUM fellow he is, to be sure," in speaking of a man of singular habits or appearance.
rum beck
A justice of the peace. CANT.
rum bite
A clever cheat, a clean trick.
rum bleating cheat
A fat wether sheep. CANT.
rum blowen
A handsome wench. CANT.
rum bob
A young apprentice; also a sharp trick.
rum booze
Wine, or any other good liquor. Rum boozing welts; bunches of grapes. CANT.
rum bubber
A dexterous fellow at stealing silver tankards from inns and taverns.
rum bugher
A valuable dog. CANT.
rum chub
Among butchers, a customer easily imposed on, as to the quality and price of meat. CANT.
rum clout
A fine silk, cambric, or holland handkerchief. CANT.
rum cod
A good purse of gold. CANT.
rum cole
New money, or medals.
rum cove
A dexterous or clever rogue.
rum degen
A handsome sword. CANT.
rum diver
A dextrous pickpocket. CANT.
rum drawers
Silk, or other fine stockings. CANT.
rum duke
A jolly handsome fellow; also an odd eccentric fellow; likewise the boldest and stoutest fellows lately among the Alsatians, Minters, Savoyards, and other inhabitants of privileged districts, sent to remove and guard the goods of such bankrupts as intended to take sanctuary in those places. CANT.
rum fun
A sharp trick. CANT.
rum gaggers
Cheats who tell wonderful stories of their sufferings at sea, or when taken by the Algerines, CANT.
rum glymmer
King or chief of the link-boys. CANT.
rum kicks
Breeches of gold or silver brocade, or richly laced with gold or silver. CANT.
rum mawnd
One that counterfeits a fool. CANT
rum mort
A queen, or great lady. CANT.
rum nantz
Good French brandy. CANT.
rum ned
A very rich silly fellow. CANT.
rum padders
Highwaymen well mounted and armed. CANT.
rum peepers
Fine looking-glasses. CANT.
rum quids
A great booty. CANT.
rum ruff peck
Westphalia ham. CANT.
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