-
All-a-mort
·adj ·see <<Alamort>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Mort
·noun A woman; a female.
II. Mort ·noun A salmon in its third year.
III. Mort ·noun A great quanti...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
mort
A woman or wench; also a yeoman's daughter. To be taken all-a mort; to be confounded, surprised, or ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mort
many, abundance, a multitude ; a mort of money, apples, men, &c. Kent.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
all-
al-l- in words compounded with ad, see adl-.
...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary
-
All
·conj Although; albeit.
II. All ·adj Only; alone; nothing but.
III. All ·adj <<Any>>.
IV. All ·ad...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
all
The total quantity; quite; wholly.
♦ All aback, when all the sails are taken aback by the winds.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
autem mort
A married woman; also a female beggar with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity. CAN...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bingo mort
A female dram drinker. Cant.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bleached mort
A fair-complexioned wench.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
gentry mort
A gentlewoman.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
queer mort
A diseased strumpet. CANT.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
rum mort
A queen, or great lady. CANT.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
agog, all-a-gog
Anxious, eager, impatient: from the Italian AGOGARE, to desire eagerly.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
all-a-taunt-o
See a'taunto
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A
A, a, indecl. n. (sometimes joined with littera), the first letter of the Latin alphabet, correspond...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
a
a, prep.=ab, v. ab.
...
A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
-
A
A. a. as an abbreviation, 1 for the praenomen Aulus.
2 for Absolvo, on the voting-tablet of a jud...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary
-
A
·- Of.
II. A ·prep In; on; at; by.
III. A ·- An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter.
I...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A 1
·- A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-
·- A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A
Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as Omega is the last. These letters occur in the text...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
a
As for example the word alarm, alarum, a bell, from the German lärm; but the military alarm on a dru...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
All fours
·- All four legs of a quadruped; or the two legs and two arms of a person.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All hail
·interj All health;
— a phrase of salutation or welcome.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All Saints
·- ·Alt. of All Saints'.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All Saints'
·- The first day of November, called, also, Allhallows or Hallowmas; a feast day kept in honor of al...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All-hail
·vt To <<Salute>>; to <<Greet>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All-possessed
·adj Controlled by an evil spirit or by evil passions; wild.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Be-all
·noun The whole; all that is to be.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Do-all
·noun General manager; factotum.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
End-all
·noun Complete termination.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Know-all
·noun One who knows everything; hence, one who makes pretension to great knowledge; a wiseacre;
— u...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Save-all
·noun Anything which saves fragments, or prevents waste or loss.
II. Save-all ·noun A device in a c...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Ty-all
·noun Something serving to tie or secure.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Uptails all
·- An old game at cards.
II. Uptails all ·- Revelers; roysterers.
III. Uptails all ·- Revelry; con...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All Hallows
(le Mechele, the More)
See All Hallows the Great.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
all holiday
It is all holiday at Peckham, or it is all holiday with him; a saying signifying that it is all over...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
all hollow
He was beat all hollow, i.e. he had no chance of conquering: it was all hollow, or a hollow thing, i...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
all nations
A composition of all the different spirits sold in a dram-shop, collected in a vessel into which the...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
save-all
A kind of candlestick used by our frugal forefathers, to burn snuffs and ends of candles. Figurative...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
grab-all
n.
a kind of net used for marinefishing near the shore. It is moored to a piece of floatingwood, an...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
all-fired
Very, in a great degree. A low American word.
The first thing I know'd, my trowsers were plastered ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all-overish
Neither sick nor well. A low word, used both in England and America.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all-standing
Without preparation, suddenly.
This, like many other common expressions, seems to be borrowed from ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all-winsome
Winsome is a word used in the north of England, (Ang. Sax. winsum, pleasant,) sweet, pleasant. I hav...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all over
Bearing a resemblance to some particular object. The word is common in familiar language.
The South...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all-gates
See Bailey's Diet.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hold-all
A portable case for holding small articles required by soldiers, marines, and small-arm men on servi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
save-all
, or water-sail.
A small sail sometimes set under the foot of a lower studding-sail.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
stern-all
A term amongst whalers, meaning to pull the boat stern foremost, to back off after having entered an...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
through all
Carrying canvas in heavy squalls without starting a stitch. It demands not only courage, but seamanl...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A cappella
·- A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.
II. A cappella ·- In church or chapel style;
— sai...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A cheval
·add. ·- Astride; with a part on each side;
— used specif. in designating the position of an army w...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A fortiori
·- With stronger reason.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A posteriori
·- Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; i...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A priori
·- Applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-mornings
·adv In the morning; every morning.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-sea
·adv On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
A-tiptoe
·adv On tiptoe; eagerly expecting.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Due-a
·noun ·see Do-a.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a
·add. ·noun The <<Pineapple>>.
II. Pi-a ·add. ·noun Pi-a cloth or the fiber of which it is made.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vicu-a
·noun ·Alt. of <<Vicugna>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
a-many
a great number, pronounced Meyny. North.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-scat
broken like an egg. Dev.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-slat
crack'd like an earthen vessel. Dev.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
a-burton
The situation of casks when they are stowed in the hold athwart ship, or in a line with the beam.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-cockbill
(see cock-bill). The anchor hangs by its ring at the cat-head, in a position for dropping.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-hull
A ship under bare poles and her helm a-lee, driving from wind and sea, stern foremost. Also a ship d...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-lee
The contrary of a-weather: the position of the helm when its tiller is borne over to the lee-side of...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-poise
Said of a vessel properly trimmed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-starboard
The opposite to a-port.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-stay
Said of the anchor when, in heaving in, the cable forms such an angle with the surface as to appear ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-trip
The anchor is a-trip, or a-weigh, when the purchase has just made it break ground, or raised it clea...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-wash
Reefs even with the surface. The anchor just rising to the water's edge, in heaving up.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weather
The position of the helm when its tiller is moved to the windward side of the ship, in the direction...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a-weigh
The anchor being a-trip, or after breaking out of the ground.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
All Fools' Day
·- The first day of April, a day on which sportive impositions are practiced.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All Souls' Day
·- The second day of November; a feast day of the Roman Catholic church, on which supplications are ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
All Hallows Barking
On the north side of Great Tower Street at the south-east corner of Seething Lane. In Tower Ward.
E...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Colemanchurch
Qy. = Katherine (St.) Colman and Colemanchurch (q.v.).
All the references to this church and parish...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Lane
1) Tenements in All Hallows Lane in parish of All Hallows Barking given to the poor of that parish (...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Passage
West out of Gracechurch Street at No. 18 on the north side of All Hallows Church, Lombard Street. In...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Pier
South of All Hallows Lane Stairs in the Thames (O.S. 1875 ; and Bacon, 1912).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Semannescyrce
A Charter of Gilbert, Bishop of London, confirmed the church, " Omnium Sanctorum in London quae dici...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Staining
On the west side of Mark Lane, where the Tower and churchyard still stand, entrance by a passage out...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Stairs
See All Hallows Lane Stairs.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Cornhill
A grant of land by Stephen the prior and the convent of Holy Trinity to John the goldsmith held of t...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Fenchurch
First mention 1283-4 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p.80).
Forms of name: " All Hallows de Phanchurch," 1283-4 (ib...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Little All Hallows
In Thames Street, 1537 (L. and P. H. VIII. XII. (1), p. 511).
See All Hallows the Less.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
shod all round
A parson who attends a funeral is said to be shod all round, when he receives a hat-band, gloves, an...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to beat all hollow
To surpass or overcome completely; thus, "Eclipse beat Sir Henry all hollow." Also, to take wholly b...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all-to-smash
Smashed to pieces. This expression is often heard in low and familiar language. It is an English pro...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
all sorts of
A Southern expression, synonymous with expert, acute, excellent, capital. It answers to the English ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
of all loves
See love.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
back off all
The order when the harpooner has thrown his harpoon into the whale. Also, to back off a sudden dange...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
down all chests!
The order to get all the officers' and seamen's chests down below from off the gun-decks when cleari...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
down all hammocks!
The order for all the sailors to carry their hammocks down, and hang them up in their respective ber...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
haul of all!
An order to brace round all the yards at once a manœuvre sometimes used in tacking, or on a sudden c...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heaving through all
The surging or slipping of the cable when the nippers do not hold.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
one-and-all
A mutinous sea-cry used in the Dutch wars. Also, a rallying call to put the whole collective force o...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
rode of all
Improperly so written for rowed of all (which see). The order to throw in and boat the oars.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
rowed of all!
The orders for the rowers to cease, and toss their oars into the boat simultaneously, in naval style...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
tipping all nines
, or tipped the nines.
Foundering from press of sail.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hoddy doddy, all a-se and no body
A short clumsy person, either male or female.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mine a-se on a bandbox
An answer to the offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is wanted, just as a band...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Desire of all nations
(Hag. 2:7), usually interpreted as a title of the Messiah. The Revised Version, however, more correc...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
All Hallows ad Fenum
See All Hallows the Great.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Barking Churchyard
On the north and east sides of the Church of All Hallows Barking (O.S.). Churchyard mentioned in Wil...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Barking Vicarage
Adjoined the church (Maskell, p.26). Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt (ib.).
Removed 1862 to widen the...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows de Stanningechirche
See All Hallows Staining.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Lane Stairs
At the south end of All Hallows Lane, Dowgate (Bacon, 1912). In Dowgate Ward.
Earliest mention: (St...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows le Grant
See All Hallows the Great.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows Staining School
Founded 1669 by Wm. Winter's Will for the education and apprenticeship of 6 boys (Dodsley).
Boys no...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows super Cellarium
See All Hallows the Less.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows the Great
On the east side of All Hallows Lane at the corner of Upper Thames Street. In Dowgate Ward (O.S. 188...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows the Less
On the south side of Thames Street, at the north-west corner of the street called Cole Harbour leadi...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Bread Street
On the east side of Bread Street at the corner of Watling Street (O.S. 1875). In Bread Street Ward. ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Honey Lane
In Honey Lane, at the north-west corner of Honey Lane Market (Leake, 1666). In Cripplegate Ward With...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Lombard Street
On the north side of Lombard Street at No.48, and west of Gracechurch Street (P.O. Directory). In La...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, London Wall
On the north side of London Wall at No. 85 (P.O. Directory). In Broad Street Ward. Parish extends in...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
All Hallows, Tower Street
See All Hallows Barking.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
mother of all saints
The Monosyllable.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mother of all souls
The same. IRISH.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
woman of all work
Sometimes applied to a female servant, who refuses none of her master's commands.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
good-at-all-points
Practical in every particular.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A B C
·- The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance.
II. A B C ·- A primer for teach...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Black-a-vised
·adj Dark-visaged; swart.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Bric-a brac
·noun Miscellaneous curiosities and works of decorative art, considered collectively.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Char-a-bancs
·noun A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Chars-a-banc
·pl of Char-a-bancs.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cock-a-hoop
·adj Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornet-a-piston
·noun A brass wind instrument, like the trumpet, furnished with valves moved by small pistons or sli...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Cornets-a-piston
·pl of Cornet-a-piston.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Dos-a-dos
·add. ·noun A sofa, open carriage, or the like, so constructed that the occupants sit back to back.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Flute a bec
·- A beak flute, an older form of the flute, played with a mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held li...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-dandy
·noun A little dandy; a little, foppish, impertinent fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Jack-a-lent
·noun A small stuffed puppet to be pelted in Lent; hence, a simple fellow.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Penny-a-liner
·noun One who furnishes matter to public journals at so much a line; a poor writer for hire; a hack ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Pi-a cloth
·add. ·- A fine fabric for scarfs, handkerchiefs, embroidery, ·etc., woven from the fiber obtained f...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Tete-a-tete
·adj Private; confidential; familiar.
II. Tete-a-tete ·noun A short sofa intended to accomodate two...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Vis-a-vis
·adv Face to face.
II. Vis-a-vis ·noun One who, or that which, is face to face with another; ·esp.,...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-bit
·add. ·noun The prickly ash.
II. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·noun The grapple plant.
III. Wait-a-bit ·add. ·...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Wait-a-while
·add. ·noun = Wait-a-bit.
II. Wait-a-while ·add. ·noun One of the Australian wattle trees (Acacia c...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Adam, a type
The apostle Paul speaks of Adam as "the figure of him who was to come." On this account our Lord is ...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
black a-se
A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle black a-se. Cant.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to run a buck
To poll a bad vote at an election.--IRISH TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
chick-a-biddy
A chicken, so called to and by little children.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cock-a-whoop
Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to couch a hogshead
To lie down to sleep. CANT.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fight a crib
To make a sham fight. BEAR GARDEN TERM.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cure a-se
A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled by riding.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
dram-a-tick
A dram served upon credit.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
drop a cog
To let fall, with design, a piece of gold or silver, in order to draw in and cheat the person who se...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
firing a gun
Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man wanting to tell a particular story, said to the com...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to fire a slug
To drink a dram.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
foxing a boot
Mending the foot by capping it.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
mumble a sparrow
A cruel sport practised at wakes and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow whose wings are ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
pit-a-pat
The palpitation of the heart: as, my heart went pit-a-pat. Pintledy-pantledy; the same.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to ring a peal
To scold; chiefly applied to women. His wife rung him a fine peal!
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
slug-a-bed
A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
squint-a-pipes
A squinting man or woman; said to be born in the middle of the week, and looking both ways for Sunda...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
wear a--e
A one-horse chaise.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bull-a-bull
or Bullybul
n.
a child'scorruption of the Maori word Poroporo (q.v.), aflowering shrub of New Zeal...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
cock-a-bully
n. a popular name for the NewZealand fish Galaxias fasciatus, Gray, a corruption ofits Maori name Ko...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
make a light
expressive pigeon-English. An aboriginal'sphrase for to look for, to find. «You been make a lightyar...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
mark, a good
Australian slang.
1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 233:
«I wondered often what was the meaning of ...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
stay-a-while
n.
a tangled bush; sometimescalled Wait-a-while (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
wait-a-while
n.
also called Stay-a-while: a thicket tree.
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 306:
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
to bear a hand
A seaman's phrase. To be ready ; to go to work; to assist.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to catch a tartar
To attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from the story of an Irish s...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a caper
(Italian, tagliar le capriole.) The act of dancing in a frolicksome manner.--Todd. We use it also in...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a dash
In modern colloquial speech, to make a great show; to make a figure.--Johnson. A fashionable or gail...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a figure
To make an appearance, either good or bad.
We are not as much surprised at the poor figure cut by t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to cut a swathe
The same as to cut a dash.
The expression is generally applied to a person walking who is gaily dre...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
to deacon a calf
is to knock it in the head as soon as it is born.--Connecticut.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to drive a bargain
To make a bargain. A common colloquial expression, as old as the language.
This bargain is ful dr...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to girdle a tree
In America, to make a circular incision, like a belt, through the bark and alburnum of a tree to kil...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to have a say
To express an opinion. A phrase in vulgar use.
I picked out "Henry Clay" for my baby's name, but t...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to make a raise
A vulgar expression, meaning to raise; procure; obtain.
I made a raise of a horse and saw, after be...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to raise a bead
This expression is used at the West, and means to bring to a head, to make succeed. The figure is ta...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to sky a copper
To toss up a cent.
Didge said he was like skying a copper--head or tail.--Crockett, Tour.
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Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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to trig a wheel
To stop a wheel so as to prevent its going backwards or forwards.--Bailey. Still used in New England...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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jacket-a-wad
an ignis fatuus. Exm.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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scotch a wheel
to stop it from going backward. Lane.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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well-a-day!
alas! Various.
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A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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cutting a feather
It is common when a ship has too broad a bow to say, "She will not cut a feather," meaning that she ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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dick-a-dilver
A name for the periwinkle on our eastern coasts.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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disparting a gun
To bring the line of sight and line of metal to be parallel by setting up a mark on the muzzle-ring ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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docking a ship
The act of drawing her into dock, and placing her properly on blocks, in order to give her the requi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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driving a charge
Ramming home the loading of a piece of ordnance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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get-a-pull
The order to haul in more of a rope or tackle.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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give a spell
To intermit or relieve work. (See spell.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book