-
cock and a bull story
A roundabout story, without head or tail, i.e. beginning or ending.
...
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
-
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
-
Cock-a-hoop
·adj Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
cock-a-whoop
Elevated, in high-spirits, transported with joy.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
cock-a-hoop
In full confidence, and high spirits.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Story
·noun A euphemism or child's word for "a lie;" a fib; as, to tell a story.
II. Story ·vt To tell in...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
story
A floor; a flight of rooms.--Johnson. In the United
States, the floor next the ground is the first ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
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
-
heave and a-wash
An encouraging call when the ring of the anchor rises to the surface, and the stock stirs the water....
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heave and a-weigh
Signifies that the next effort will start the anchor from its bed, and make it a-trip. "Heave and a-...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
A. F. of L.
·add. ·- American Federation of Labor.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
birds of a feather
Rogues of the same gang.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
son of a gun
This phrase is heard in low language with us as in England.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
boll of a tree
the stem, trunk, or body. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
newst of a newstness
i. e. much of a muchness. Glouc.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
abandonment of a vessel
Deserting and abandoning her by reason of unseaworthiness or danger of remaining in her, also when g...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
antecedent of a ratio
The first of the two terms.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
back, of a ship
The keel and kelson are figuratively thus termed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bar of a harbour
See bar of a port
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bar of a port
or bar of a harbour
An accumulated shoal or bank of sand, shingle, gravel, or other uliginous subs...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
barrel of a capstan
The cylinder between the whelps and the paul rim, constituting the main-piece.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
barrel of a pump
The wooden tube which forms the body of the engine.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bed of a mortar
The solid frame on which a mortar is mounted for firing. For sea-service it is generally made of woo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
body, of a place
In fortification, the space inclosed by the enceinte, or line of bastions and curtains.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
breaking of a gale
Indications of a return of fine weather; short gusts at intervals; moaning or whistling of the wind ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
breech of a cannon
The after-end, next the vent or touch-hole. It is the most massive part of a gun; strictly speaking,...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
broth of a boy
An excellent, though roystering fellow.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bulk of a ship
Implies the whole cargo when stowed in the hold.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
bunt of a sail
The middle part of it, formed designedly into a bag or cavity, that the sail may gather more wind. I...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
capital of a work
In fortification, an imaginary line bisecting its most prominent salient angle.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
carcass of a ship
The ribs, with keel, stem, and stern-post, after the planks are stripped off.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
carriage of a gun
The frame on which it is mounted for firing, constructed either exclusively for this purpose, or als...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
caulking of a ship
Forcing a quantity of oakum, or old ropes untwisted and drawn asunder, into the seams of the planks,...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
chamber of a mine
The seat or receptacle prepared for the powder-charge, usually at the end of the gallery, and out of...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
chase of a gun
That part of the conical external surface extending from the moulding in front of the trunnions to t...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
clue of a hammock
The combination of small lines by which it is suspended, being formed of knittles, grommets, and lan...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
cogs of a wheel
; applies to all wheel machinery now used at sea or on shore: thus windlass-cogs, capstan-cogs, &c.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
coom of a wave
The comb or crest. The white summit when it breaks.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
crater of a mine
Synonymous with funnel (which see).
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
depth of a sail
The extent of the square sails from the head-rope to the foot-rope, or the length of the after-leech...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
detention of a vessel
: on just ground, as supposed war, suspicious papers, undue number of men, found hovering, or cargo ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
ears of a boat
The knee-pieces at the fore-part on the outside at the height of the gunwale.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
ears of a pump
The support of the bolt for the handle or break.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
end of a trench
The place where the trenches are opened.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
eye of a stay
That part of a stay which is formed into a sort of collar to go round the mast-head; the eye and mou...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
eyes of a messenger
Eyes spliced in its ends to lash together.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
eyes of a ship
(See eyes of her.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
face of a gun
The surface of the metal at the extremity of the muzzle.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
faces of a work
In fortification, are the two lines forming its most prominent salient angle.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fetch of a gulf
The whole stretch from head to head, or point to point.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fetch of a bay or gulf
The whole stretch from head to head, or point to point.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
flight of a shot
The trajectory formed between the muzzle of the gun and the first graze.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fly of a flag
The breadth from the staff to the extreme end that flutters loose in the wind. If an ensign, the par...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
freight of a ship
The hire, or part thereof, usually paid for the carriage and conveyance of goods by sea; or the sum ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
gallery of a mine
The passage of horizontal communication, as distinguished from the shaft or vertical descent, made u...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
handles of a gun
The dolphins.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
head of a comet
The brighter part of a comet, from which the tail proceeds.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
head of a mast
, or mast-head.
The upper part of any mast, or that whereon the caps or trucks are fitted.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
head of a work
In fortification, the part most advanced towards the enemy. In progressive works, such as siege-appr...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heel of a mast
The lower end, which either fits into the step attached to the keel, or in top-masts is sustained by...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hood of a pump
A frame covering the upper wheel of a chain-pump.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hullock of a sail
A small part lowered in a gale.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
jaw of a block
The space in the shell where the sheave revolves.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
lay of a rope
The direction in which its strands are twisted; hawser is right-handed; cablet left-handed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
loading of a ship
See cargo and lading.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mate of a watch
The senior or passed midshipman is responsible to the officer of the watch. He heaves the log, inser...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
mouldings of a gun
The several rings and ornaments.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
neck of a gun
The narrow part where the chase meets the swell of the muzzle.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
nucleus of a comet
The condensed or star-like part of the head.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
profile of a fort
See orthographic projection.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
range of a gun
The horizontal distance which it will send a shot, at a stated elevation, to the point of its first ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
refusal of a pile
Its stoppage or obstruction, when it cannot be driven further in.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
ribs of a parrel
An old species of parrel having alternate ribs and bull's-eyes; the ribs were pieces of wood, each a...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
rig of a ship
The disposition of the masts, cut of sails, &c., whether square or fore-and-aft rigs. In fact, the r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
score of a block, or of a dead eye
The groove round which the rope passes.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shaft of a mine
The narrow perpendicular pit by which the gallery is entered, and from which the branches of the min...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shell of a block
The outer frame or case wherein the sheave or wheel is contained and traverses about its axis.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
shoulder of a bastion
The part of it adjacent to the junction of a face with a flank. The angle of the shoulder is that fo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
sill of a dock
The timber at the base against which the gates shut; and the depth of water which will float a vesse...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
skeleton of a regiment
Its principal officers and staff.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
skin of a sail
The outside part when a sail is furled. To furl in a clean skin, is the habit of a good seaman.
♦ ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
son of a gun
An epithet conveying contempt in a slight degree, and originally applied to boys born afloat, when w...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
tail of a gale
The latter part of a gale, when its violence is dying out.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
tongue of a bevel
The movable part of the instrument by which the angles or bevellings are taken.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
track of a ship
The line of a ship's course through the water. (See wake.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
tread of a keel
The length of her keel.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
tread of a ship or keel
The length of her keel.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
trees of a ship
The chess-trees, the cross-trees, the rough-trees, the trestle-trees, and the waste-trees.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Bull
·vi A seal. ·see <<Bulla>>.
II. Bull ·noun Taurus, the second of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
I...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
bull
1) An Exchange Alley term for one who buys stock on speculation for time, i.e. agrees with the selle...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
bull
A stock exchange term for one who buys stock on speculation for time, i. e. agrees with the seller, ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
bull
An old male whale. Also, a small keg; also the weak grog made by pouring water into a spirit-cask ne...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Bull
Bullock
terms used synonymously with ox, oxen, and properly a generic name for horned cattle when a...
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
Cock
·noun A small boat.
II. Cock ·noun A faucet or valve.
III. Cock ·noun The indicator of a balance.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
The Cock
1) On the north side of Fleet Street, facing Middle Temple Gate, behind the bouses in Fleet Street. ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
cock, or chief cock of the walk
The leading man in any society or body; the best boxer in a village or district.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
cock
That curved arm affixed to the lock of small arms, which, when released by the touch of the trigger,...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Cock
(Matthew 26:34; Mark 13:35; 14:30) etc. The domestic cock and hen were early known to the ancient Gr...
William Smith's Bible Dictionary
-
many a time and often
frequently. North.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
captain of a ship of war
Is the commanding officer; as well the post-captain (a title now disused) as those whose proper titl...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
chamber of a piece of ordnance
The end of the bore modified to receive the charge of powder. In mortars, howitzers, and shell-guns,...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
gunner, of a ship of war
A warrant-officer appointed to take charge of the ammunition and artillery on board; to keep the lat...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
master of a ship-of-war
An officer appointed by the commissioners of the navy to attend to the navigating a ship under the d...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
muzzle of a piece of ordnance
The forward extremity of the cylinder, and the metal which surrounds it, extending back to the neck,...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
Over-story
·noun The clearstory, or upper story, of a building.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Story-teller
·noun An historian;
— in contempt.
II. Story-teller ·noun A euphemism or child's word for.
III. S...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Story-telling
·adj Being accustomed to tell stories.
II. Story-telling ·noun The act or practice of telling stori...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Story-writer
·noun An historian; a chronicler.
II. Story-writer ·noun One who writes short stories, as for magaz...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
canterbury story
A long roundabout tale.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
upper story
or garret
Figuratively used to signify the head. His upper story or garrets are unfurnished; i.e. h...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
upper story
The brain; as, 'He's not right in his upper story.'--Carr's Craven Dialect. This same expression is ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
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
-
All-a-mort
·adj ·see <<Alamort>>.
...
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
-
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
-
all-a-mort
Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
to sky a copper
To toss up a cent.
Didge said he was like skying a copper--head or tail.--Crockett, Tour.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
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.