JACOBITES. Sham or collar shirts. Also partizans for the Stuart family: from the name of the abdicated king, i.e. James or Jacobus. It is said by the whigs, that God changed Jacob's name to Israel, lest the descendants of that patriarch should be called Jacobites.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
DOVE-TAIL. A species of regular answer, which fits into the subject, like the contrivance whence it takes its name: Ex. Who owns this? The dovetail is, Not you by your asking.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
RIG. Fun, game, diversion, or trick. To run one's rig upon any particular person; to make him a butt. I am up to your rig; I am a match for your tricks.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
BERMUDAS. A cant name for certain places in London, privileged against arrests, like the Mint in Southwark, Ben. Jonson. These privileges are abolished.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
UNTRUSS. To untruss a point; to let down one's breeches in order to ease one's self. Breeches were formerly tied with points; these tags were worsteds of different colours twisted up to a size somewhat thicker than packthread, and tagged at both ends with tin.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
HEEL TAP. A peg in the heel of a shoe, taken out when it is finished. A person leaving any liquor in his glass, is frequently called upon by the toast-master to take off his heel-tap.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
TAG-RAG AND BOBTAIL. An expression meaning an assemblage of low people, the mobility of all sorts. To tag after one like a tantony pig: to follow one wherever one goes, just as St. Anthony is followed by his pig.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
FAT. The last landed, inned, or stowed, of any sort of merchandise: so called by the water-side porters, carmen, &c. All the fat is in the fire; that is, it is all over with us: a saying used in case of any miscarriage or disappointment in an undertaking.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
LAND. How lies the land? How stands the reckoning? Who has any land in Appleby? a question asked the man at whose door the glass stands long, or who does not circulate it in due time.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)