old codger
An old man.
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Old Contemptibles
The British Expedi- tionary Force that crossed to France in 1914 and fought in the battle and retreat from Mons. The phrase originated in the alleged comment of the Kaiser about "the contemptible British army.
old dog
A knowing blade, an experienced person. Butler uses the phrase, Hudibras, part ii. canto iii. 208, where it was said of Sidrophel, "And was OLD DOG at physiology." An Irish proverb says, "OLD DOG for hard road," meaning that it requires an experienced person to execute a difficult undertaking.
Old Dominion
Virginia. Every Act of Parlia- ment up to the Declaration of Independence designated Virginia "the Colony and Dominion of Virginia." Captain John Smith, in his His- tory of Virginia (1629), calls this "colony and dominion" Quid Virginia, in contradistinction to New England, and other British settlements.
old enough to vote
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
old fart
an older person, often considered out of touch
old flame
A former romantic partner
old fogey
A person, typically older, who is perceived as being old-fashioned or conservative
Old Fogs
The 87th Foot, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, so called from the war-cry "Fag-an-Bealach" (Clear the way), pronounced Faug-a-bolla%h.
old friend
A person one has known for a long time
Old Glory
The United States Flag. See STARS AND STRIPES.
Old Guard
The Imperial Guard created by Napoleon in 1804 and composed of picked men, the flower of the French army. Devoted to the Emperor, with a magnificent uniform including a huge bearskin hat, with better pay and rationing than the rest of the army, the Old Guard were to be relied upon in any des- perate strait of battle, and it was they who made the last charge of the French at Water- loo.
old hand
An experienced person
old harry
A composition used by vintners to adulterate their wines; also the nick-name for the devil.
old hat
Something that is outdated or no longer interesting
old head on young shoulders
Someone with a mature and responsible attitude despite their young age
old horse
salt junk
old hoss
A term of endearment, originally an Americanism, but now in common use here among friends.
old lady in threadneedle street
The Bank of England.
old man
In American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.
Old Man of the Mountain
Hassan-ben- Sabah, the sheikh Al Jebal, and founder of the sect called Assassins
Old Man of the Sea
In the Arabian Nights story of Sinbad the Sailor, the Old Man of the Sea hoisted himself on the shoulders of Sin- bad and clung there for many days and nights, much to the discomfort of Sinbad, who finally released himself by making the Old Man drunk. Hence, any burden, figurative or actual, of which it is impossible to free oneself without the greatest exertions is spoken of as an Old Man of the Sea.
old money
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
old mr
GORY. A piece of gold.
old nick
The Devil: from NEKEN, the evil spirit of the north.
Old Nick
The Devil. The term was in use in the 17th century, and is perhaps connected with the German Nickel, a goblm (see NICKEL), or in some forgotten way with St. Nicholas. Butler's derivation from Nicholas Machiavelli is, of course, poetical licence : — Nick Machiavel had ne'er a trick (Though he gives name to our old Nick) But was below the least of these.
old one
The Devil. Likewise an expression of quizzical familiarity, as "how d'ye do, OLD ONE?"
old pegg
Poor Yorkshire cheese, made of skimmed milk.
old ral
syphilis
old salt
An experienced sailor
old saw
a common proverb or saying
Old School
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Old School Tie
Literally a necktie of the colours of the wearer's public school, but more often used figuratively m a pejorative sense as a symbol of the class distinction allegedly assumed by those who went to a public school.
Old Scratch
Probably from the personal name (cp. Old Nick), but perhaps with some allusion to the word harry, meaning to plunder, harass, lay waste, from which comes the old harrow, as in the title of the 14th-century estrif, or miracle-play, The Harrowing of Hell.
old song
a familiar or tedious story
old stager
An experienced person, especially in a particular profession or activity
old stick
a close and loyal friend
Old streets a glamour hold. (K. W. Baker)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
old thing
A familiar mode of address between friends.
old tom
Extra strong gin; sometimes termed CAT’S WATER. Various reasons are given for the use of the words OLD TOM. The distillers have the sign of a tom cat on their illuminated placards. The origin of the phrase is, however, in the fact that the managing clerk of a once celebrated "gin-spinning" firm, who was known as OLD TOM, used to keep a special bottle of extra good stuff with which to regale customers when they settled their accounts. To get a drink of OLD TOM’S was then a great favour.
old wine in a new bottle
Something old or familiar presented as new or innovative
old woman
One's wife.
Old World
So Europe, Asia, and Africa are called when compared with North and South America (the New World).
old-fashioned look
A style or appearance that is outdated or traditional
Oldenburg Horn
A horn long in the possession of the reigning princes of the House of Olden- burg, but now in the collector!
older than dirt
very old
oliver
The moon; "OLIVER don’t widdle," i.e., the moon does not shine. Nearly obsolete.
oliver's fiddler
Sir Roger L'Estrange (1616- 1704). So called because he, at one time, was playing a fiddle or viol with others m the house of John Kingston, the composer, when Cromwell was one of the guests.
oll korrect
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
ollapod
A country apothecary. From George Coleman’s comedy of The Poor Gentleman.
olli compolli
The name of one of the principal rogues of the canting crew. CANT.
Olympian Zeus
A statue by Phidias, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World." Pausamas (vii, 2) says when the sculptor placed it in the temple at Olympia (433 B.C.), he prayed the god to indicate whether he was satisfied with it, and immediately a thunder- bolt fell on the floor of the temple without doing the slightest harm.
Olympic Games
The greatest of the four sacred festivals of the ancient Greeks, held at Olympia (q.v.) every fourth year, in the month of July. The festival began with sacrifices and included racing, wrestling, and all kinds of contests, ending on the fifth day with pro- cessions, sacrifices, and banquets to the victors — who were garlanded with olive leaves.
olympus and made immortal
Hence, a cup- bearer generally. Nature waits upon thee still, And thy verdant cup does fill; 'Tis filTd wherever thou dost tread Nature's self's thy Ganymede. COWLEY: The Grasshopper (Anacreontics').
Omar Khayyam
The Aga Khan's horse of this name won the Derby in 1935. Bail (Fr. bailler, to deliver up). Security given for the temporary release of an accused person pending his trial or the completion of his trial; also the person or persons giving sucfo security. See also LEG-BAIL.
omee
A master or landlord; "the OMEE of the carsey’s a nark on the pitch," the master of the house will not let us perform. Italian, UOMO, a man; "UOMO DELLA CASA," the master of the house. Latin, HOMO.—Lingua Franca.
Omnibus Bill
The Parliamentary term for a Bill embracing clauses that deal with a number of different subjects, as a Revenue Bill dealing with Customs, Taxes, Stamps, Excise, etc.
omnibus box
A box at a theatre for which the subscription is paid by several different parties, each of which has the right of using it.
omnibus train
An old name for a train that stops at all stations — a tram for all, as apart from the specials and the expresses that ran between only a few stations.
omnibus volume
A collection in one volume of an author's works, of short stones, essays, etc.
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