1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue eBook

Francis Grose
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 343 pages of information about 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue eBook

Francis Grose
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 343 pages of information about 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

UNRIGGED. Undressed, or stripped.  Unrig the drab; strip
  the wench.

Untruss.  To untruss a point; to let down one’s breeches
  in order to ease one’s self.  Breeches were formerly tied
  with points, which till lately were distributed to the boys
  every Whit Monday by the churchwardens of most of the
  parishes in London, under the denomination of tags:  these
  tags were worsteds of different colours twisted up to a size
  somewhat thicker than packthread, and tagged at both
  ends with tin.  Laces were at the same given to the
  girls.

Untwisted. Undone, ruined, done up.

Unwashed bawdry.  Rank bawdry.

Up to their gossip.  To be a match for one who attempts
  to cheat or deceive; to be on a footing, or in the secret. 
  I’ll be up with him; I will repay him in kind.

UPHILLS.  False dice that run high.

Upper Benjamin.  A great coat.  Cant.

Upper story, or garret.  Figuratively used to signify the
  head.  His upper story or garrets are unfurnished; i.e.
  he is an empty or foolish fellow.

Upping block. [Called in some counties a leaping stock,
  in others a jossing block.] Steps for mounting a horse. 
  He sits like a toad on a jossing block; said of one who
  sits ungracefully on horseback.

Uppish.  Testy, apt to take offence.

Upright.  Go upright; a word used by shoemakers, taylors
  and their servants, when any money is given to
  make them drink, and signifies, Bring it all out in liquor,
  though the donor intended less, and expects change, or
  some of his money, to be returned.  Three-penny upright. 
  See threepenny upright,

Upright man.  An upright man signifies the chief or
  principal of a crew.  The vilest, stoutest rogue in the
  pack is generally chosen to this post, and has the sole
  right to the first night’s lodging with the dells, who
afterwards
  are used in common among the whole fraternity. 
  He carries a short truncheon in his hand, which he calls
  his filchman, and has a larger share than ordinary in
  whatsoever is gotten in the society.  He often travels in
  company with thirty or forty males and females, abram
  men, and others, over whom he presides arbitrarily.  Sometimes
  the women and children who are unable to travel,
  or fatigued, are by turns carried in panniers by an ass, or
  two, or by some poor jades procured for that purpose.

UPSTARTS.  Persons lately raised to honours and riches
  from mean stations.

Urchin.  A child, a little fellow; also a hedgehog.

Urinal of the planets.  Ireland:  so called from the
  frequent rains in that island.

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Project Gutenberg
1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.