-
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
-
Hard
·adv Close or near.
II. Hard ·adv So as to raise difficulties.
III. Hard ·adv Uneasily; vexatiousl...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
hard
Stale beer, nearly sour, is said to be hard. Hard also means severe: as, hard fate, a hard master.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hard
A road-path made through mud for landing at. (See ard.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard-a-lee
The situation of the tiller when it brings the rudder hard over to windward. Strictly speaking, it o...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard-a-port!
The order so to place the tiller as to bring the rudder over to the starboard-side of the stern-post...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard-a-starboard
The order so to place the tiller as to bring the rudder over to the port-side of the stern-post, whi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Weather
·noun Storm; tempest.
II. Weather ·noun A light rain; a shower.
III. Weather ·vt To place (a hawk)...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
weather
[from the Anglo-Saxon wæder, the temperature of the air]. The state of the atmosphere with regard to...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Hard grass
·- A name given to several different grasses, especially to the Roltbollia incurvata, and to the spe...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard steel
·add. ·- Steel hardened by the addition of other elements, as manganese, phosphorus, or (usually) ca...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-favored
·adj Hard-featured; ill-looking; as, Vulcan was hard-favored.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-featured
·adj Having coarse, unattractive or stern features.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-fisted
·adj Close-fisted; covetous; niggardly.
II. Hard-fisted ·adj Having hard or strong hands; as, a har...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-fought
(·adv Vigorously) contested; as, a hard-fought battle.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-handed
·adj Having hard hands, as a manual laborer.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-headed
·adj Having sound judgment; sagacious; shrewd.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-hearted
·adj Unsympathetic; inexorable; cruel; pitiless.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-labored
·adj Wrought with severe labor; elaborate; studied.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-mouthed
·adj Not sensible to the bit; not easily governed; as, a hard-mouthed horse.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-shell
·adj Unyielding; insensible to argument; uncompromising; strict.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-tack
·noun A name given by soldiers and sailors to a kind of hard biscuit or sea bread.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hard-visaged
·adj Of a harsh or stern countenance; hard-featured.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
die hard
To die hard, is to shew no signs of fear or contrition at the gallows; not to whiddle or squeak. Thi...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hard cash
Silver or gold coin.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hard drinker
One who drinks to excess; a drunkard.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hard money
A common term for silver and gold, in contradistinction from paper money.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hard pushed
To be bard pressed; to be in a difficulty; and especially, as a mercantile phrase, to be hard presse...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
hard run
To be hard pressed; and especially to be in want of money. The same as hard pushed.
We knew the Tam...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blowing hard
Said of the wind when it is strong and steady.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard bargain
A useless fellow; a skulker.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard fish
A term indiscriminately applied to cod, ling, haddock, torsk, &c., salted and dried.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard gale
When the violence of the wind reduces a ship to be under her storm staysails, No. 10 force.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard-head
The Clupea menhaden, or Alosa tyrannus, an oily fish taken in immense quantities on the American coa...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard-horse
A tyrannical officer.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard up
The tiller so placed as to carry the rudder close over to leeward of the stern-post. Also, used figu...
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
-
Fair-weather
·adj Appearing only when times or circumstances are prosperous; as, a fair-weather friend.
II. Fair...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather map
·add. ·- A map or chart showing the principal meteorological elements at a given hour and over an ex...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather signal
·add. ·- Any signal giving information about the weather. The system used by the United States Weath...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather station
·add. ·- A station for taking meteorological observations, making weather forecasts, or disseminatin...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-beaten
·adj Beaten or harassed by the weather; worn by exposure to the weather, especially to severe weathe...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-bit
·noun A turn of the cable about the end of the windlass, without the bits.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-bitten
·adj Eaten into, defaced, or worn, by exposure to the weather.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-board
·vt To nail boards upon so as to lap one over another, in order to exclude rain, snow, ·etc.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-bound
·adj Kept in port or at anchor by storms; delayed by bad weather; as, a weather-bound vessel.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-driven
·adj Driven by winds or storms; forced by stress of weather.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Weather-fend
·vt To defend from the weather; to <<Shelter>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
weather-breeder
A cloudless sky, after a succession of rainy weather, denotes rain, and is said to be a weatherbreed...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
clittery weather
changeable weather, inclinable to be stormy. Hamp.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
cluttery weather
changeable weather, inclinable to be stormy. Hamp.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
leasty weather
dull, wet, dirty. Norf. and Suff.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
rawky weather
raw, cold. North.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
-
blowing weather
A nautical term for a continuance of strong gales. (See gale.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
boldering weather
Cloudy and thundery.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
fair-weather
That to which a ship may carry the small sails.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
foul weather
That which reduces a ship to snug-sail.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
gage, weather
When one ship is to windward of another she is said to have the weather-gage of her; or if in the op...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
sprat weather
The dark days of November and December, so called from that being the most favourable season for cat...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-anchor
That lying to windward, by which a ship rides when moored.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-beam
A direction at right angles with the keel, on the weather side of the ship.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-bitt
Is that which holds the weather-cable when the ship is moored.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-board
That side of the ship which is to windward.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-boards
Pieces of plank placed in the ports of a ship when laid up in ordinary; they are in an inclined posi...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-borne
Pressed by wind and sea.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-bound
Detained by foul winds; our forefathers used the term wæder fæst.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-breeders
Certain appearances in the heavens which indicate a gale, as wind-galls, fog-dogs, &c.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-cloths
Coverings of painted canvas or tarpaulin, used to preserve the hammocks when stowed, from injury by ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-coil
When a ship has her head brought about, so as to lie that way which her stern did before, as by the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-coiling
A ship resuming her course after being taken aback; rounding off by a stern-board, and coming up to ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-eye
"Keep your weather-eye open," be on your guard; look out for squalls.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-gage
A vessel has the weather-gage of another when she is to windward of her. Metaphorically, to get the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-gall
"A weather-gall at morn,
Fine weather all gone."
(See wind-gall.)
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-glass
A familiar term for the barometer.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-gleam
A peculiar clear sky near the horizon, with great refraction.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-go
The end of a rainbow, as seen in the morning in showery weather.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-head
The secondary rainbow.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-helm
A ship is said to carry a weather-helm when she is inclined to gripe, or come too near the wind, and...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-lurch
A heavy roll to windward.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-rolls
Those inclinations, so inviting to coming waves, which a ship makes to windward in a heavy sea; the ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-ropes
An early term for those which were tarred.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-sheets
Those fast to the weather-clues of the sails.
"Haul over the weather-sheets forward," applies to t...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-shore
The shore which lies to windward of a ship.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-side
That side of a ship on which the wind blows; it is the promenade for superior officers. (See also it...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-tide
The reverse of lee-tide. That which, running contrary to the direction of the wind, by setting again...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-warning
The telegraphic cautionary warning given by hoisting the storm-drum on receiving the forecast.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather-wheel
The position of the man who steers a large ship, from his standing on the weather-side of the wheel....
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
winnold-weather
An eastern-county term for stormy March weather.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
hard at his a-se
Close after him.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
hard and fast
Said of a ship on shore.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
king's hard bargain
A useless fellow, who is not worth his hire.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
foul-weather breeder
A name given to the Gulf Stream from such a volume of warm water occasioning great perturbations in ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
foul-weather flag
Denotes danger for boats leaving the shore; watermen's fares increase with these signals.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
taut weather-helm
See taut helm
...
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-weigh
The anchor being a-trip, or after breaking out of the ground.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
a hard row to hoe
A metaphor derived from hoeing corn, meaning a difficult matter or job to accomplish.
Gentlemen, I ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
make bad weather, to
A ship rolling, pitching, or leaking violently in a gale.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather one's difficulties, to
A colloquial phrase meaning to contend with and surmount troubles.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
weather the cape, to
To become experienced; as it implies sailing round Cape Horn, or the Cape of Good Hope.
...
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
...
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.
...
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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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