toasting-fork
A regulation sword, indicative of the general uselessness of that weapon.
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tobacco
A plant, once in great estimation as a medicine:
toby
The road. The highwayman or swell robber was in old days said to be on the high TOBY, from the high or main road, while those meaner fellows, the footpad and the cutpurse, were but "low TOBY-MEN," from their frequenting the by-ways.
toby lay
The highway. High toby man; a highway-man. Low toby man; a footpad.
today is the first day of the rest of your life
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
today we are all
shows solidarity with a group affected by a tragedy
toddle
To walk away. The cove was touting, but stagging the traps he toddled; be was looking out, and feeing the officers he walked away.
toddle off
To leave or depart.
toddy
Originally the juice of the cocoa tree, and afterwards rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg.
todge
Beat all to a todge: said of anything beat to mash.
todger dodger
A lesbian.
toe
To kick. "I’ll TOE your backside." Common in London.
toe the line
to conform to rules or expectations
toes up
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
toff
A dandy, a swell of rank. Corruption probably of TUFT. See TOFT.
toffer
A well-dressed "gay" woman. One who deals with TOFFS.
tofsy-turvy
The top side the other way; i.e. the wrong side upwards; some explain it, the top side turf ways, turf being always laid the wrong side upwards.
toft
A showy individual, a swell, a person who, in a Yorkshireman’s vocabulary, would be termed "uppish." See TUFT.
tog
A cloak.
tog
A coat. Latin, TOGA.—Ancient Cant.
toga picta
The toga embroidered with golden stars that was worn by the emperor on special occasions, by a victorious general at his "triumph," etc,
toga praetexta
The toga with a purple border that was worn by children, by those engaged in sacred rites, magistrates, etc.
toga virilis
The toga worn by men (virilis, manly), assumed by boys when 15.
together with
In addition to or accompanying something
toggery
Clothes, harness, domestic paraphernalia of any kind.
togs
Clothes.
togs
Clothes. The swell is rum-togged. The gentleman is handsomely dressed.
togs
Clothes; "Sunday TOGS," best clothes. One of the oldest cant words—in use in the time of Henry VIII. See CANT.
toke
A gratuity.
toke
Dry bread. Sometimes used to denote a lump of anything.
token
The plague: also the venereal disease. She tipped him the token; she gave him a clap or pox.
Token Payment
A small payment made as a formal and binding acknowledgement of indebtedness. The word "token" is often used to describe some action or phrase used in lieu of— but acknowledging — a greater obligation.
toko for yam
A Roland for an Oliver. Possibly from a system of barter carried on between sailors and aborigines.
Tokyo Rose
The name given by U.S. service men to a woman broadcaster of propaganda from Japan during World War II. Several U.S.A.-born Japanese (Nisei) girls were identified as taking part in these broadcasts, notably Iva Togori, of California, and Ruth Hayakawa.
tol
Lot, stock, or share.
tol-lol
Or TOL-LOLLISH, tolerable, or tolerably.
toll-shop
A Yorkshire correspondent gives this word as denoting in that county a prison, and also the following verse of a song, popular at fairs in the East Riding:—
tolliban rig
A species of cheat carried on by a woman, assuming the character of a dumb and deaf conjuror.
tolling the bell for church
The " church- going bell," as Cowper called it (Alexander Selkirk} was in pre-Reformation days rung, not as an invitation to church, but as an Ave Bell, to invite worshippers to a preparatory prayer to the Virgin.
tom
jewellery
tom
E.g., "after TOM," after the hour at which Big TOM of Christchurch rings. At its last stroke the gates are closed, and undergrads entering after have to pay an increasing sum for each hour up to twelve. To be out after that involves an interview with the Master.—Oxford University.
Tom and Jerry
Types of the roystering young man about town; from Pierce Egan's Life m London; or, The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq.
tom and jerry shop
A low drinking shop. Probably some allusion to Pierce Egan’s famous characters in his Life in London. Generally contracted to JERRY SHOP.
tom crib’s
Memorial to Congress, with a Preface, Notes, and Appendix by one of the Fancy [Tom Moore, the Poet], 12mo. 1819.
Tom Fool
A clumsy, witless fool, fond of stupid practical jokes; hence, tomfoolery.
tom long
A tiresome story teller. It is coming by Tom Long, the carrier; said of any thing that has been long expected.
Tom Long
Any lazy, dilatory man. To be kept waiting for Tom Long is to be kept hanging about for a wearisome time.
Tom Mix
six
Tom o' Bedlam
A mendicant who levies charity on the plea of insanity. In the 16th and 17th centuries applications for admission to Bedlam (<?.v.) became so numerous that many inmates were dismissed half cured. These "ticket-of-leave men" wandered about chanting mad songs, and dressed in fantastic dresses, to excite pity. Posing as these harmless "innocents," a set of sturdy rogues appeared, called Abram men (q.v.
tom of bedlam
The same as Abram man.
Tom Piper
So the piper is called in the morris dance. The Piper referred to by Drayton seems to have been a sort of jongleur or raconteur of short tales.
Tom Quad
The great quadrangle of Christ Church, Oxford.
tom t--dman
A night man, one who empties necessary houses.
tom thumb
A dwarf, a little hop-o'my-thumb.
Tom Thumb
Any dwarfish or insignificant person is so called; from the pigmy hero of the old nursery tale, popular in the 16th century. The History of Tom Thumb was published by R, Johnson in 1621, and there is a similar tale by Perrault (Le Petit Poucet), in 1630.
Tom Tiddler's ground
A place where it is easy to pick up a fortune or make a place in the world for oneself; from the old children's game in which a base-keeper, who is called
tom tit
a shit
tom toppers
A waterman, from a popular song, entitled, Overboard he vent.
Tom Tug
A waterman.
tom tug
A waterman. From the small stage-play. Also rhyming slang for a flat, or rather a "mug."
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