safety matches
In 1847 Schrotter, an Austrian chemist, discovered that red phos- phorus gives off no fumes, and is virtually inert; but being mixed with chlorate of potash under slight pressure it explodes with violence.
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sail the high seas
to travel or adventure on the open ocean
sail the Red Sea
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
sail under false colors
To pretend or misrepresent oneself
sails
Nickname for the sail-maker on board ship.
saint
A piece of spoilt timber in a coach-maker's shop, like a saint, devoted to the flames.
saint geoffrey's day
Never, there being no saint of that name: tomorrow-come-never, when two Sundays come together.
saint luke's bird
An ox; that Evangelist being always represented with an ox.
saint monday
A holiday most religiously observed by journeymen shoemakers, and other inferior mechanics. A profanation of that day, by working, is punishable by a fine, particularly among the gentle craft. An Irishman observed, that this saint's anniversary happened every week.
sal
An abbreviation of SALIVATION. In a high sal; in the pickling tub, or under a salivation.
sal
A salary.—Theatrical.
salaam
A compliment or salutation.—Anglo-Indian.
salad days
A period of youthful inexperience and idealism
salad days
Days of inexperience, when persons are very green. My salad days. When I was green in judgment.
salad tossing
Anilingus.
salad year
a period of inexperience or youth
salamander
A street acrobat and juggler who eats fire.
salamander's wool
Asbestos, a fibrous mineral, affirmed by the Tartars to be made "of the root of a tree." Jt is sometimes called "mountain flax," and is not combustible.
salami
The penis.
salami slicing
Divide and conquer by making a series of small, incremental attacks
Sales Resistance
The negative attitude of a possible buyer which hinders or prevents the sale of a commodity.
salesman's dog
A barker. Vide BARKER.
Salic Code
A Prankish law-book, written in Latin, extant during the Merovingian and Carolingian periods.
Salisbury Crags
These rocky hills, near Arthur's Seat just outside Edinburgh, are so called from the Earl of Salisbury who accom- panied Edward HI on an expedition against the Scots.
Sally Lunn
A tea-cake; so called from a woman pastrycook of that name in Bath, who used to cry them about in a basket at the close of the 18th century. Dalmer, the baker, bought her recipe, and made a song about the buns.
salmon-gundy
Apples, onions, veal or chicken, and pickled herrings, minced fine, and eaten with oil and vinegar; some derive the name of this mess from the French words SELON MON GOUST, because the proportions of the different ingredients are regulated by the palate of the maker; others say it bears the name of the inventor, who was a rich Dutch merchant; but the general and most probable opinion is, that it was invented by the countess of Salmagondi, one of the ladies of Mary de Medicis, wife of King Henry
salt
Lecherous. A salt bitch: a bitch at heat, or proud bitch. Salt eel; a rope's end, used to correct boys, &c. at sea: you shall have a salt eel for supper.
salt and pepper
experienced and youthful people together
salt and vinegar
a flavoring combination
salt away
save or store something, especially money, for future use
Salt Hill
The mound at Eton where the Eton scholars used to collect money for the
salt in the wound
Something that makes a bad situation worse
salt junk
Navy salt beef. See OLD HORSE.
salt lick
A place [where salt is found naturally and in a position available to animals which resort thither to lick it from the rocks, etc.
salt of the earth
A very good and honest person
salt the earth
To destroy or ruin something completely
salt-box
The condemned cell in Newgate.
saltee
A penny.
saltee
A penny. Pence, &c., are thus reckoned:—
salty tooth
A preference for savory foods over sweet ones
Salvation Army
A religious organization founded by William Booth, a Methodist minister. Its origin was the East End Revival Society, which became the Christian Mission in 1865. Booth selected the name Salvation Army in 1877 and organized it on semi- military lines, himself being called "General" having under him "Colonels," "Adjutants," "Corporals," etc.
salve
Praise, flattery, chaff.
sam
I.e., DICKY-SAM, a native of Liverpool.
Sam and Max
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
Sam Browne I belt
The leather belt with straps over the shoulders and originally with a sword-frog, compulsory for officers and warrant officers in the British Army up to 1939, when it was declared optional. This belt was invented by General Sir Sam Browne, V.C. (1824-1901) a veteran of the Indian Mutiny. Its pattern has been adopted by almost every military power in the world.
sambo
A sandwich.
same difference
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
same old story
A familiar or predictable situation
same, same, but different
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
sampan
A small boat.—Anglo-Chinese.
sample room
A grogshop.
samshoo
A fiery, noxious spirit, distilled from rice. Spirits generally.—Anglo-Chinese.
samson and abel
A group of wrestlers in the centre of Brasenose quadrangle. Some said it represented Samson killing a Philistine; others Cain killing Abel. So the matter was compromised as above.—Oxford University.
Samson and Delilah
A couple where one person has great strength and the other is a source of weakness
San Sisto
The Madonna painted by Raphael (about 1518) for the church of St. Sixtus (San Sisto) at Piacenza; St. Sixtus is shown kneeling at the right of the Virgin. The picture was in the Royal Gallery, Dresden, but after World War II passed into Russian hands.
Sancho Panza
The squire of Don Quixote (#.v.), in Cervantes's romance, who became governor of Barataria; a short, pot-bellied rustic, full of common sense, but without a grain of "spirituality." He rode upon an ass, Dapple, and was famous for his pro- verbs. Panza, in Spanish, means paunch.
sanctification
Blackmail.
sand crab
A civilian.
Sandford and Merton
The schoolboy heroes of Thomas Day's old-fashioned children's tale of this name (published in three parts, 1783-89). "Master" Tommy Merton is rich, selfish, untruthful, and generally objectionable; Harry Sandford, the farmer's son, is depicted as being the reverse in every respect.
sando
Sandwich.
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