Related Words
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first-swathe
First quality; first chop. A New York word. Nothing'll serve you but a first-swathe mug, about twen...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
Of the first class or order; superior; superexcellent. An expression now in very common use, applied, as most superlatives are in the United States, with very little discrimination. It was formerly said of large and important things, as 'a first rate ship.' Now we hear of 'first rate pigs,' 'first rate liquors,' 'first rate lawyers.' It is also used adverbially; thus if we ask a person how he is, he replies, 'I am first rate,' i. e. in excellent health, very well.
The first rate importance of the subject, and the real merits of the work, are deserving of a portion of our space.--Westminster Rev. July, 1847.
A young woman wants a situation as a chambermaid. She is a first rate washer and ironer, and plain sewer.--Adv. in N. Y. Tribune.
Well, there's some men whose natural smartness helps them along first rate.--Major Jones's Courtship, p. 31.
Mary liked all the speakers first rate, except one feller who gin the galls all sorts of a shakin.--Ibid. p. 168.
First quality; first chop. A New York word. Nothing'll serve you but a first-swathe mug, about twen...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.