1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue Part 83

TURF. On the turf; persons who keep running horses, or attend and bet at horse-races, are said to be on the turf.

TURK. A cruel, hard-hearted man. Turkish treatment; barbarous usage. Turkish sh.o.r.e; Lambeth, Southwark, and Rotherhithe side of the Thames.

TURKEY MERCHANT. A poulterer.

TURNCOAT. One who has changed his party from interested motives.

TURNED UP. Acquitted; discharged.

TURNIP-PATED. White or fair-haired.

TURNPIKE MAN. A parson; because the clergy collect their tolls at our entrance into and exit from the world.

TUZZY-MUZZY. The monosyllable.

TWADDLE. Perplexity, confusion, or any thing else: a fashionable term that for a while succeeded that of BORE. See BORE.

Tw.a.n.gEY, or STANGEY. A north country name for a taylor.

TWEAGUE. In a great tweague: in a great pa.s.sion. Tweaguey; peevish, pa.s.sionate.

TO TWEAK. To pull: to tweak any one's nose.

TWELVER. A shilling.

TWIDDLE-DIDDLES. t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es.

TWIDDLE p.o.o.p. An effeminate looking fellow.

IN TWIG. Handsome; stilish. The cove is togged in twig; the fellow is dressed in the fashion.

TO TWIG. To observe. Twig the cull, he is peery; observe the fellow, he is watching us. Also to disengage, snap asunder, or break off. To twig the darbies; to knock off the irons.

TWISS. (IRISH) A Jordan, or pot de chambre. A Mr. Richard Twiss having in his "Travels" given a very unfavourable description of the Irish character, the inhabitants of Dublin, byway of revenge, thought proper to christen this utensil by his name--suffice it to say that the baptismal rites were not wanting at the ceremony. On a nephew of this gentleman the following epigram was made by a friend of ouis:

Perish the country, yet my name Shall ne'er in STORY be forgot, But still the more increase in fame, The more the country GOES TO POT.

TWIST. A mixture of half tea and half coffee; likewise brandy, beer, and eggs. A good twist; a good appet.i.te.

To twist it down apace; to eat heartily.

TWISTED. Executed, hanged.

TO TWIT. To reproach a person, or remind him of favours conferred.

TWITTER. All in a twitter; in a fright. Twittering is also the note of some small birds, such as the robin, &c.

TWITTOC. Two. CANT.

TWO HANDED PUT. The amorous congress.

TWO THIEVES BEATING A ROGUE. A man beating his hands against his sides to warm himself in cold weather; called also beating the b.o.o.by, and cuffing Jonas.

TWO TO ONE SHOP. A p.a.w.nbroker's: alluding to the three blue b.a.l.l.s, the sign of that trade: or perhaps to its being two to one that the goods pledged are never redeemed.

TWO-HANDED. Great. A two-handed fellow or wench; a great strapping man orwoman,

TYE. A neckcloth.

TYBURN BLOSSOM. A young thief or pickpocket, who in time will ripen into fruit borne by the deadly never-green.

TYBURN TIPPET. A halter; see Latimer's sermon before.

Edward VI. A. D. 1549.

TYBURN TOP, or FORETOP. A wig with the foretop combed over the eyes in a knowing style; such being much worn by the gentlemen pads, scamps, divers, and other knowing hands.

TYKE. A dog, also a clown; a Yorkshire tyke.

TYNEY. See TINEY.

VAGARIES. Frolics, wild rambles.

VAIN-GLORIOUS, or OSTENTATIOUS MAN. One who boasts without reason, or, as the canters say, p.i.s.ses more than he drinks.

VALENTINE. The first woman seen by a man, or man seen by a woman, on St. Valentine's day, the 14th of February, when it is said every bird chuses his mate for the ensuing year.

TO VAMP. To p.a.w.n any thing. I'll vamp it, and tip you the cole: I'll p.a.w.n it, and give you the money. Also to refit, new dress, or rub up old hats, shoes or other wearing apparel; likewise to put new feet to old boots. Applied more particularly to a quack bookseller.

VAMPER. Stockings.

VAN. Madam Van; see MADAM.

VAN-NECK. Miss or Mrs. Van-Neck; a woman with large b.r.e.a.s.t.s; a bushel bubby.

VARDY. To give one's vardy; i.e. verdict or opinion.

VARLETS. Now rogues and rascals, formerly yeoman's servants.

VARMENT. (Whip and Cambridge.) Natty, dashing. He is quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment hat, coat, &c.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu.

VAULTING SCHOOL. A bawdy-house; also an academy where vaulting and other manly exercises are taught.

VELVET. To tip the velvet; to put one's tongue into a woman's mouth. To be upon velvet; to have the best of a bet or match. To the little gentleman in velvet, i. e.

the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King William's horse) to stumble; a toast frequently drank by the tories and catholics in Ireland.

VENERABLE MONOSYLLABLE. Pudendum muliebre.

VENUS'S CURSE. The venereal disease.