mum
"to keep MUM," to hold one’s peace. Hence "MUM’S the word,"—a phrase which implies to all hearers that the matter to which it refers must remain secret.
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mum glass
The monument erected on Fish-street Hill, London, in memory of the great fire in 1666.
mum's the word
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
mumble a sparrow
A cruel sport practised at wakes and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow whose wings are clipped, is put into the crown of a hat; a man having his arms tied behind him, attempts to bite off the sparrow's head, but is generally obliged to desist, by the many pecks and pinches he receives from the enraged bird.
mumchance
An ancient game like hazard, played with dice: probably so named from the silence observed in playing at it.
mummer
A performer at a travelling theatre.—Ancient. Rustic performers at Christmas in the West of England.
mummy wheat
Wheat said to have been taken from ancient Egyptian tombs, which, when sown, fructifies. No seed, however, will preserve its vitality for centuries, and what is called mummy wheat is a species of corn commonly grown on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.
mump
To beg. In Lincolnshire, Boxing-day is known as MUMPING DAY.
mumper
A beggar.
mumper
A beggar. A collector of holiday tribute.
mumpers
Originally beggars of the genteel kind, but since used for beggars in general.
mumpers hall
An alehouse where beggars are harboured.
mumping day
St. Thomas's Day, December 21st, is so called in some parts of the country, because on this day the poor used to go about begging, or, as it was called, "a-gooding," that is, getting gifts to procure good things for Christmas.
mumps
The miserables. To feel MUMPISH is to be heavy, dull, and stupid.
munch
Food.
mundungus
Bad or rank tobacco: from mondongo, a Spanish word signifying tripes, or the uncleaned entrails of a beast, full of filth.
mundungus
Trashy, coarse tobacco. Sometimes used to represent the half-soddened, half-calcined residuum at the bottom of an all-but-smoked-out pipe, which, when knocked out, is vulgarly called the TOPPER, q.v. Spanish, MONDONGO, black pudding.
munga
Food
mungaree
food
mungarly
Bread, food. MUNG is an old word for mixed food, but MUNGARLY is doubtless derived from the Lingua Franca, MANGIAR, to eat. See the following.
mungarly casa
A baker’s shop; evidently a corruption of a Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known "Nix Mangiare" stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout, "Nix mangiare," i.e., "Nothing to eat," to excite the compassion of the English who land there,—an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of the Lingua Franca, MANGIARE being Italian, and Nix (German, NICHTS), an evident importation from Trieste, or other Austrian seaport.
munging
Or MOUNGING, whining, begging, muttering.—North.
Munich Pact
The Dact signed by Germany, France, Great Britain, and Italy on September 29th, 1938, whereby the Sudeten- land of Czechoslovakia was ceded to Germany. From this unfortunate act of appeasement the phrase has come to mean any dishonourable appeasement. Murderer's Bible, The.
muns
The face, or rather the mouth: from the German word MUND, the mouth. Toute his muns; look at his face.
muns
The mouth. German, MUND.—Old Cant.
munster heifer
An Irish woman. A woman with thick legs is said to be like a Munster heifer; i.e. beef to the heels.
munted
Drunk.
muntered
Drunk.
mur
Rum. A "nettock o’ MUR" is a quartern of rum.
murder
He looked like God's revenge against murder; he looked angrily.
murder will out
The truth about a crime will eventually be revealed
murderers' row
a group of extremely talented or formidable individuals
murderize
To murder.
murerk
The mistress of the house. See BURERK.
murkarker
A monkey,—vulgar Cockney pronunciation of MACAUCO, a species of monkey. Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, as he was mostly called, was the name of a famous fighting monkey, who used nearly fifty years ago to display his prowess at the Westminster pit, where, after having killed many dogs, he was at last "chawed up" by a bull terrier.
murphy
A potato. Probably from the Irish national liking for potatoes, MURPHY being a surname common amongst the Irish. MURPHIES (edible) are sometimes called DONOVANS.
Muscular Christianity
Hearty or strong- minded Christianity, which braces a man to fight the battle of life bravely and manfully. The term was applied to the teachings of Charles Kmgsley — somewhat to his annoy- ance.
musgrave's sentiment
He believed, if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws" (1703).
mush
An umbrella. Contraction of MUSHROOM.
mush up
to confuse or mix up
mushie
A mushroom.
mushroom
A person or family suddenly raised to riches and eminence: an allusion to that fungus, which starts up in a night.
mushroom
A hat, shaped like the fungus from which it takes its name, often worn by demure ladies.
music
The watch-word among highwaymen, signifying the person is a friend, and must pass unmolested. Music is also an Irish term, in tossing up, to express the harp side, or reverse, of a farthing or halfpenny, opposed to the head.
music has charms to soothe the savage breast
Music can calm and tame even the most violent or savage of people
music to someone's ears
Something very pleasing or welcome to hear
Musical Small-coal Man
Thomas Britton (1654-1714), a coal-dealer of Clerkenwell, who established a musical club in a loft over his shop in which all the musical celebrities of the day took part. The club met every Thursday night and was frequented by professional musicians such as Handel, talented amateurs such as Roger L'Estrange, and lovers of music generally.
musicianer
musician
muskolini
Elon Musk.
muslin
A woman or girl; "he picked up a bit of MUSLIN."
musta
Or MUSTER, a pattern, one of a sort. Anglo-Indian term used in describing the make or pattern of anything. A sample of any kind of merchandize. This word is very generally used in commercial transactions all over the world.
mute
An undertaker's servant, who stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being supposed mute with grief.
mutton
In her mutton, i.e. having carnal knowledge of a woman.
mutton chops
A sheep’s-head. A man who has dined off sheep’s-head dignifies his meal by calling it MUTTON CHOPS (chaps).
mutton dagger
The penis.
Mutton Jeff
deaf
Mutton Lancers
The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), the 2nd Foot; raised in 1661. The nickname comes from the regimental badge — the Pascal Lamb bearing a lance.
mutton monger
A man addicted to wenching.
mutton-fist
An uncomplimentary title for any one having a large and muscular, bony, or coarse hand.
mutton-walk
The saloon at Drury Lane Theatre. A vulgar appellation applied to this place early in the last century, still in use in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, which was formerly the great resort for the gay and giddy of both sexes.
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