DICTIONARY OF THE VULGAR TONGUE.

Abbess, or lady abbess, A bawd, the mistress of a
  brothel.

Abel-wackets.  Blows given on the palm of the hand
  with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular
  punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards
  for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has
  lost games.

Abigail.  A lady’s waiting-maid.

Abram.  Naked.  Cant.

Abram cove.  A cant word among thieves, signifying a
  naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue.

Abram men.  Pretended mad men.

To sham abram.  To pretend sickness.

Academy, or pushing school.  A brothel.  The Floating
  Academy; the lighters on board of which those persons
  are confined, who by a late regulation are condemned to
  hard labour, instead of transportation.—­Campbell’s
  Academy; the same, from a gentleman of that name, who had
  the contract for victualling the hulks or lighters.

Ace of Spades.  A widow.

Accounts.  To cast up one’s accounts; to vomit.

Acorn.  You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the
  gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. 
  You will be hanged.—­See three-legged mare.

Act of parliament.  A military term for small beer, five
  pints of which, by an act of parliament, a landlord was
  formerly obliged to give to each soldier gratis.

Acteon.  A cuckold, from the horns planted on the head
  of Acteon by Diana.

Active citizen.  A louse.

Adam’s ale.  Water.

Adam tiler.  A pickpocket’s associate, who receives the
  stolen goods, and runs off with them.  Cant.

Addle pate.  An inconsiderate foolish fellow.

Addle plot.  A spoil-sport, a mar-all.

Admiral of the blue, who carries his flag on the main-mast. 
  A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as
  was formerly the custom among gentlemen of that vocation.

Admiral of the narrow seas.  One who from drunkenness
  vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite to
  him.  Sea phrase.

Adrift.  Loose, turned adrift, discharged.  Sea phrase.

Aegrotat, (Cambridge), A certificate from the apothecary
  that you are indisposed, (i. e.) to go to chapel.  He
  sports an Aegrotat, he is sick, and unable to attend Chapel.
  or Hall.  It does not follow, however, but that he can strum
  A piece, or sport a pair of oars.