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(i.e., COUNTY-PRISON CROP), haircut close and round, as if guided by a basin—an indication of having been in prison. Since short hair has become fashionable the expression has fallen somewhat into disuse. In the times when long hair was worn, a man with his hair cut as described was said to have had it done with a knife and fork.
A trial-piece ; a piece of work; serving for practice.
A state stroke, and the term is applied to one of those bold measures taken by Government to prevent a supposed or actual danger; as when a large body of men are arrested suddenly for fear they should overturn the Government.
A view, glance, prospect; the effect of things at the first glance; literally "a stroke of the eye.
The finishing stroke; the stroke of mercy.
A sudden stroke, a strata- gem whereby something is effected suddenly; a coup.
Literally, a kick from the ass's hoof; figuratively, a blow given to a vanquished or fallen man; a cowardly blow; an insult offered to one who has not the power of returning or avenging it. The allusion is to the fable of the sick lion kicked by the ass.
An unforeseen or un- expected turn in a drama producing a sensa- tional effect; a piece of clap-trap, something planned for effect. Burke throwing down the dagger in the House of Commons (see DAGGER SCENE) intended a coup de theatre.
A false stroke, a miss, a failure. Shoot dead, or don't aim at all; but never make a coup manqug.— OUIDA: Under Two Flags, ch. xx.
A degraded person, who officiated as a clergyman in performing marriages in the Fleet Prison.
A person's character is judged by their bravery or moral strength, not physical appearance
Losing courage leads to total failure
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
A gay fluttering coxcomb.
A corruption of coat card, so called because these cards bear the representa- tion of a clothed or coated figure, and not because the king, queen, and knave may be considered to belong to a Court.
The information con- cerning the movements and doings of Royalty and the Court generally, supplied to the newspapers by the Court Newsman. He gives reports of levees, drawing-rooms, state balls, royal concerts, meetings of the cabinet ministers, deputations to ministers, and so on. George III. in 1803, introduced the custom to prevent misstatements on these subjects.
A movable buffet to hold flagons, cans, cups, and beakers. Away with the joint-stools, remove the court- cupboard, look to the plate.— SHAKESPEARE: Romeo ana Juliet, i, 5.
From mediaeval times till the 17th century licensed fools or jesters were commonly kept at court, and frequently in the retinue of wealthy nobles.
An obsolete Elizabethan term for fair speeches, which look like promises of favour, but end in nothing.
Fair speeches and promises, without performance.
A court convened as circumstances may require to try a person subject to military law. In Great Britain such courts were instituted in consequence of the Mutiny Act of 1690.
A court often applied to by young women who marry old men.
The office where the Chancellor carried on his business — the Exchequer, or a branch thereof— thus came to be known as the Hanaper, and its officials as Comptrollers, Clerks, etc., of the Hanaper. In England these were abolished in 1842, but for many years in Ireland the official title of the Permanent Secretary to the Chancery Division and to the Lord Chancellor remained "Qerfc of the Crown and Hanaper.
Established for the recovery of small debts in London and other trading places in the reign of Henry VIII. They were also called Courts of Requests, and are now superseded by county courts. Why should not Conscience have vacation, As well as other courts o' the nation?
A judicial court for deciding affairs of the heart, established in Provence during the days of the Troubadours. The following is a case submitted to their judgment : A lady listened to one admirer, squeezed the hand of another, and touched with her toe the foot of a third. Query: Which of these three was the favoured suitor?
The arena where public views and opinions shape reputations and decisions
A court whose proceedings are officially recorded and can be produced as evidence.
The supreme civil tri- bunal in Scotland. It dates from 1532, and represents the united powers of the Session of James I of Scotland, the Daily Council of James IV, and the Lords Auditors of Parlia- ment. Since 1830 it has consisted of an Inner and an Outer House; the total number of judges is thirteen, including the Lord President (or Lord Justice General) and the Lord Justice Clerk.
The plaster of which the court ladies made their patches. These patches, worn on the face, were cut into all sorts of fanciful shapes, some even patching their faces with a coach and four, a ship in full sail, a chateau, etc. This ridiculous fashion was in vogue in the reign of Charles I; and in Queen Anne's time was employed as a political badge.
Titles assumed or granted by social custom, but not of any legal value. The courtesy title of the eldest son of a duke is marquis', of a marquis is earl; of an earl is viscount. Younger sons of peers are by courtesy called lord or honourable, and the daughters are lady or honourable. These titles do not give the holders the right to sit in the House of Lords.
So Cornishmen are called in the western counties, and in places where they are working as miners.
The Germans are so called. Michel, in Old German, means "gross"; Cousin Michael is meant to indicate a slow, heavy, unrefined, coarse-feeding people.
A sovereign. HALF-A-COUTER, half-a-sovereign. From the Danubian-gipsy word CUTA, a gold coin.
A man, a fellow, a rogue. The cove was bit; the rogue was outwitted. The cove has bit the cole; the rogue has got the money. CANT.
Or COVEY, a boy or man of any age or station. A term generally preceded by an expressive adjective, thus a "flash COVE," a "rum COVE," a "downy COVE," &c. The feminine, COVESS, was once popular, but it has fallen into disuse. Originally ancient cant (temp. Henry VII.), COFE, or CUFFIN, altered in Decker’s time to COVE. See Witts’ Recreations, 1654: "there’s a gentry-COVE here," i.e., a gentleman. Probably connected with CUIF, which, in the North of England, signifies a lout or awkward fellow.
A binding agreement or promise
A farthing.
Captain Xavier, a principal character, is for ever repeating the same yarns, with variations. He was telling about one of his exploits connected with a cork-tree, when Pablo corrected him, "A chestnut-tree, you mean, captain." "Bah! " replied the captain, "I say a cork-tree." "A chestnut-tree," insisted Pablo. " I must know better than you," said the captain; "it was a cork-tree, I say." " A chestnut," persisted Pablo.
To send one to Coventry; a punishment inflicted by officers of the army on such of their brethren as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. The person sent to Coventry is considered as absent; no one must speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative to duty, under penalty of being also sent to the same place.
"to send a man to COVENTRY," not to speak to or notice him. Coventry was one of those towns in which the privilege of practising most trades was anciently confined to certain privileged persons, as the freemen, &c. Hence a stranger stood little chance of custom, or countenance, and "to send a man to COVENTRY" came to be equivalent to putting him out of the pale of society.
To prepare for all possibilities to avoid mistakes or criticism
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
To hide or conceal the truth about something
A tossing coin with a false cover, enabling either head or tail to be shown, according as the cover is left on or taken off. The cover is more generally called a CAP. This style of cheating is now obsolete. A man who cannot manage to cheat at tossing without machinery is a sorry rogue.
The first complete English Bible to be printed, published in 1535 as a translation out of Douche (i.e. German) and Latin by Myles Coverdale. It consists of Tyndale's translation of the Pentateuch and New Testament, with translations from the Vulgate, a Latin version (1527-8) by the Italian Catholic theologian, Sanctes Peginus, Luther's German version (1534) and the Swiss- German version of Zwingli and Leo Juda (Zurich, 1527-9).
A collection of whores. What a fine covey here is, if the Devil would but throw his net!
To sleep like a cow, with a **** at one's a-se; said of a married man; married men being supposed to sleep with their backs towards their wives, according to the following proclamation:
Butter.
The product of a sort of bean, which excites an insufferable itching, used chiefly for playing tricks.
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Done to a cow's thumb; done exactly.
To be very angry, to scold or reprimand violently.—Anglo-Chinese.
Clumsy about the ankles; with large or awkward feet.
The term given to the lock of hair which costermongers and tramps usually twist forward from the ear; a large greasy curl upon the cheek, seemingly licked into shape. These locks are also called NUMBER SIXES, from their usual shape. The opposite of NEWGATE-KNOCKER, which see.
A sneak, an inquisitive or prying person. Greek, κύων, a dog. Term given by Freemasons to all uninitiated persons. Used in Anderson’s Constitutions, edit. 1769, p. 97. If derived from κύων, its use was probably suggested by such passages in the N. T. as Matt. vii. 6, and Phil. iii. 2. The Moslems apply dog in a similar manner. It is probably Oriental.
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
A person or thing that destroys or defeats cowboys
a quick wash with baby wipes or towels