call on
to visit or meet someone for a short time
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call on somebody
visit someone, especially briefly
call on somebody to do something
to ask or request someone to take action
call out
Publicly criticize or condemn someone
call roll
To take attendance by calling out names
call someone every name in the book
To insult or curse someone severely
call someone everything but a child of God
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
call someone's bluff
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
call someone's number
Challenge or confront someone directly
call to account
To hold someone responsible for their actions
call to the bar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
call up
to remember or bring to mind
call-a-go
In street "patter," is to leave off trying to sell anything and to remove to another spot, to desist. Also to give in, yield, at any game or business. Probably from the "GO" call in cribbage.
calle
A cloak or gown. CANT.
Caller Herrings
Fresh herrings. The adjec- tive is also applied m Scotland to fresh air, water, etc.
Callippic Period
An intended cor- rection of the Metonic Cycle (q.v.} by Callip- pus, the Greek astronomer of the 4th century B.C. To remedy the defect in the Metonic Cycle Callippus quadrupled the period cf Meton, making his Cycle one of seventy-six years, and deducted a day at the end of it, by which means he calculated that the new and full moons would be brought round to the same day and hour.
calm before the storm
A period of peace before a crisis
calm seas never made a good sailor
Challenging experiences are necessary for personal growth and development
calm your farm
Calm down.
calvary clover
A common trefoil, Medi- cago echinus, said to have sprung up in the track made by Pilate when he went to the cross to see his "title affixed" (Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews).
Calvert's Entire
The 14th Foot, now called the Prmce of Wales's Own (West Yorks. Regiment). Called from their colonel, Gen- eral Sir Harry Calvert (1763-1826) of a well- known family of brewers, and entire, because three entire battalions were kept up for the good of Sir Harry, when adjutant-general.
calves
His calves are gone to grass; a saying of a man with slender legs without calves. Veal will be cheap, calves fall; said of a man whose calves fall away.
calves head club
A club instituted by the Independents and Presbyterians, to commemorate the decapitation of King Charles I. Their chief fare was calves heads; and they drank their wine and ale out of calves skulls.
Calves' Head Club
Instituted in ridicule of Charles I, and apparently first mentioned in a tract (given in the Harleian Miscellany) of 1703 by Benjamin Bridgwater, stating that it first met in 1693. It lasted till about 1735.
Cam and Isis
The universities of Cambridge and Oxford; so called from the rivers on which they stand.
cambrade
A chamber fellow; a Spanish military term. Soldiers were in that country divided into chambers, five men making a chamber, whence it was generally used to signify companion.
Cambrian Series
The earliest fossiliferous rocks in North Wales, consisting principally of marine sediments which were formed after the close of Archean times and before the
cambridge
Gradus ad Cantabrigiam; or, a Dictionary of Terms, Academical and Colloquial, or Cant, which are used at the University, with Illustrations, 12mo. Camb., 1803.
cambridge fortune
A wind-mill and a water-mill, used to signify a woman without any but personal endowments.
cambuscan's mirror
Sent to Cambuscan by the King of Araby and Ind; it warned of the approach of ill fortune, and told if love was returned. (Chaucer: Canterbury Tales; The Squire's Tale.
Camden Society
An historical society founded in 1838 for the publication of early historic and literary remains connected with English history, and so named in honour of William Camden (1551-1623), the antiquary. In 1897 it amalgamated with the Royal Historical Society, and its long series of publications was transferred to that body.
camden-town
A brown,—vulgar term for a halfpenny.
camel through the eye of a needle
Something extremely difficult or impossible to accomplish
camel's nose
a small part of something that may lead to larger, unwanted consequences
Cameron Highlanders
The 79th Regiment of Infantry, raised by Allan Cameron, of Errock, in 1793. Now called "The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
cameronians
THE, the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British Army.
camesa
A shirt or shift. CANT. SPANISH.
camesa
Shirt or chemise.—Span. See its abbreviated form, MISH, from the ancient Cant, COMMISSION. Probably re-introduced by the remains of De Lacy Evans’s Spanish Legion on their return. See Somerville’s account of the Span. Leg., for the curious facility with which the lower classes in England adopt foreign words as slang and cant terms. Italian, CAMICIA.
camisole de force
A strait waistcoat. Frequently mentioned in accounts of capital punishments in France.
camister
A preacher, clergyman, or master.
camp as a row of tents
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
camp candlestick
A bottle, or soldier's bayonet.
camp out
stay somewhere temporarily, often in a tent or informally
camp out on
stay somewhere for an extended period
Campaign Wig
This style of wig came from France m the early 1 8th century. It was made very full, was curled, and was 18 ins. in length in the front, with drop locks. Sometimes the back part of the wig was put m a black silk bag. The name refers to Maryborough's campaign in the Netherlands.
campbell's academy
The hulks or lighters, on board of which felons are condemned to hard labour. Mr. Campbell was the first director of them. See ACADEMY and FLOATING ACADEMY.
can
To shut up.
can it
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
can of corn
Something easily accomplished or attained
can of worms
A situation that will cause many problems if you try to deal with it
can't afford something
lacks the financial resources to buy or do something
can't afford to do something
lack the financial means to do something
can't carry a tune in a bucket
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
can't get enough
to want or enjoy something very much
can't help
Unable to refrain or resist something
can't stand
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
can't stand the sight of
to strongly dislike someone or something
can't wait
Eagerly anticipate something
canary
A sovereign. From the colour. Very old slang indeed.
canary bird
A jailbird.
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