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.

Cupboard love.  Pretended love to the cook, or any other
  person, for the sake of a meal.  My guts cry cupboard;
  i.e.  I am hungry

Cupid, blind Cupid.  A jeering name for an ugly blind
  man:  Cupid, the god of love, being frequently painted
  blind.  See blind Cupid.

Cur.  A cut or curtailed dog.  According to the forest laws,
  a man who had no right to the privilege of the chase, was
  obliged to cut or law his dog:  among other modes of
  disabling him from disturbing the game, one was by depriving
  him of his tail:  a dog so cut was called a cut or
  curtailed dog, and by contraction a cur.  A cur is figuratively
  used to signify a surly fellow.

Curbing law.  The act of hooking goods out of windows: 
  the curber is the thief, the curb the hook.  Cant.

Cure A-se.  A dyachilon plaister, applied to the parts galled
  by riding.

Curle.  Clippings of money, which curls up in the operation.  Cant.

Curmudgeon.  A covetous old fellow, derived, according
  to some, from the French term coeur mechant.

Curry.  To curry favour; to obtain the favour of a person
  be coaxing or servility.  To curry any one’s hide; to beat
  him.

Curse of Scotland.  The nine of diamonds; diamonds, it
  is said, imply royalty, being ornaments to the imperial
  crown; and every ninth king of Scotland has been observed
  for many ages, to be a tyrant and a curse to that country. 
  Others say it is from its similarity to the arms of Argyle;
  the Duke of Argyle having been very instrumental in
  bringing about the union, which, by some Scotch patriots,
  has been considered as detrimental to their country.

Curse of god.  A cockade.

CURSITORS.  Broken petty-fogging attornies, or Newgate
  solicitors.  Cant.

Curtails.  Thieves who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out
  of shop windows, the tails of women’s gowns, &c.; also,
  thieves wearing short jackets.

Curtain lecture.  A woman who scolds her husband
  when in bed, is said to read him a curtain lecture.

CURTEZAN.  A prostitute.

Cushion.  He has deserved the cushion; a saying of one
  whose wife is brought to bed of a boy:  implying, that
  having done his business effectually, he may now indulge or
  repose himself.

Cushion thumper, or Duster.  A parson; many of whom
  in the fury of their eloquence, heartily belabour their cushions.

Custard cap.  The cap worn by the sword-bearer of the
  city of London, made hollow at the top like a custard.

Custom-house goods.  The stock in trade of a prostitute,
  because fairly entered.

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