fly slicers
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Life-guard men, from their sitting on horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fly slicers” mean?
Life-guard men, from their sitting on horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.
Is “fly slicers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.