must never be forgotten that however well Turf speculations may look on paper, they are subject to the contingency of the bets being honourably paid on SETTLING-DAY. "The Druid" in Post and Paddock remarks: "The term HEDGING has been quite superseded by "LAYING OFF;" and we had, in fact, quite forgotten it till we saw it stated in the papers lately, by a clergyman, who did not answer a question on doctrine as the Bishop of Exeter exactly liked, that his lordship addressed him to this effect: 'You are HEDGING, sir; you are HEDGING!'" See BOOK and BOOKMAKING. HEDGE-POPPING, shooting small birds about the hedges, as boys do; unsportsmanlike kind of shooting. HEEL-TAP, the small quantity of wine or other beverage left in the bottom of a glass, considered as a sign that the liquor is not liked, and therefore unfriendly and unsocial to the host and the company. DAY-LIGHT. See HEIGH-HO! a Cant term for stolen yarn, from the expression used to apprise the dishonest manufacturer that the speaker had stolen yarn to sell.-Norwich Cant. HELL, a fashionable gambling-house. In printing-offices, the term is generally applied to the old tin box in which is thrown the broken or spoilt type, purchased by the founders for re-casting. Nearly obsolete. "HELL AND TOMMY," utter destruction. HEN-PECKED, said of one whose wife "wears the breeches.” HERRING-POND, the sea; to be sent across the HERRING-POND," to be transported. HIDING, a thrashing. Webster gives this word, but not its root, HIDE, to beat, flay by whipping. HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY, all together, -as hogs and pigs lie. HIGH CHURCH, in contradistinction to LOW CHURCH. See the following. "HIGH AND DRY," an epithet applied to the soi-disant " orthodox" clergy of the last century, for whom, while ill-paid curates did the work, the comforts of the establishment were its greatest charms. "Wherein are various ranks, and due degrees, Though often confounded with, they are utterly dissimilar to, the HIGH-FLY, "ON THE HIGH-FLY," on the begging or cadging system. "HEN AND CHICKENS," large and small pewter pots. HIGH-FLYER, a large swing, in frames, at fairs and races. 66 HIGH-LOWS, laced boats reaching a trifle higher than ankle-jacks. HIGHFALUTEN, showy, affected, tinselled, affecting certain pompous or fashionable airs, stuck up; come, none of yer HIGHFALUTEN games," i.e., you must not show off or imitate the swell here.-American Slang, now common in Liverpool and the East End of London, from the Dutch, VERLOOTEN. Used recently by the Times in the sense of fustian, highsounding, unmeaning eloquence, bombast. HIGH-STRIKES, corruption of Hysterics. HIP INSIDE, inside coat pocket. HIP OUTSIDE, outside coat pocket. HIPPED, piqued, offended, crossed, &c. HITTITE, a facetious Sporting term for a prize-fighter. HIVITE, a student of St Begh's College, Cumberland; pronounced ST BEE'S.-University. HOAX, to deceive, or ridicule, Grose says was originally a University Cant word. Corruption of HOCUS, to cheat. HOBBLED, committed for trial; properly said of animals fed by the wayside, with their forelegs fastened together. HOB COLLINGWOOD, according to Brockett, a North Country term for the four of hearts, considered an unlucky card. HOBSON'S CHOICE, "this or none." Hobson was a carrier at Cam bridge, and also a letter out of horses for hire, and is said to have always compelled his customers to take either the horse that stood in the stall next the stable door or none at all. He was a benefactor to the town, and Hobson's Conduit still stands as a memorial of him. "HOB AND NOB," to act in concert with another; to "lay heads together;" to touch glasses in drinking; to fraternise in a convivial meeting or merry-making. HOCKS, the feet; CURBY HOCKS, round or clumsy feet. HOCK-DOCKIES, shoes. HOCUS, to drug a person, and then rob him. The HOCUS generally con sists of snuff and beer. HOCUS POCUS, Gipsy words of magic, similar to the modern "presto fly." The Gipsies pronounce "Habeas Corpus," HAWCUS PACCUS, (see Crabb's Gipsies' Advocate, p. 18;) can this have anything to do with the origin of HOCUS POCUS? Turner gives OCHUS BOCHUS, an old demon. Pegge, however, states that it is a burlesque rendering of the words of the unreformed church service at the delivery of the host, HOC EST CORPUS, which the early Protestants considered as a species of conjuring, and ridiculed accordingly. HODGE, a countryman or provincial clown. I don't know that it has been elsewhere remarked, but most country districts in England have one or more families of the name of HODGE; indeed, GILES and HODGE appear to be the favourite hobnail nomenclature. HODGE is said to be simply an abbreviation of Roger. HOG, a shilling.--Old Cant. HOG, "to go the whole HOG;" ;" "the whole HоG or none," to do anything with a person's entire strength, not " by halves;" realised by the phrase "in for a penny in for a pound." Bartlett claims this to be a pure American phrase; whilst Ker, of course, gives it a Dutch origin.-Old. THE WHOLE HOG" is frequently altered into going the ENTIRE ANIMAL, or THE COMPLETE SWINE! "TO GO HOGA, do. "That won't HOGA," i.e., that won't do, is one of the very commonest of the Anglo-Indian Slang phrases.--Anglo-Indian. HOLLOW, "to beat HOLLOW," to excel. HOLY LAND, Seven Dials,-where the St Giles's Greek is spoken. HOMO, a man. Lingua Franca; but see OMEE, the more usual Cockney pronunciation. HONDEY, a Manchester name for an omnibus, and the abbreviation of HONDEYBUSH, the Lancashire pronunciation of the word. HOOK, an expression at Oxford, implying doubt, either connected with Hookey Walker or with a note of interrogation (?) "Yes, with a HOOK at the end of it!" i.e., with some reservation. HOOK, to steal or rob.-See the following. "HOOK OR BY CROOK," by fair means or foul-in allusion to the hook which footpads used to carry to steal from open windows, &c., and from which HOOK, to take or steal, has been derived. Mentioned in Hudibras as a Cant term. HOOK IT, "get out of the way," or "be off about 99 66 your business;" ΤΟ HOOK IT," to run away, to decamp; "on one's own нOOK," dependant upon one's own exertions.-See the preceding for derivation. HOOKS, "dropped off the HOOKS," said of a deceased person-derived from the ancient practice of suspending on hooks the quarters of a traitor or felon sentenced by the old law to be hung, drawn, and quartered, and which dropped off the hooks as they decayed. HOOKEY WALKER! ejaculation of incredulity, usually shortened to WALKER !-which see. A correspondent thinks HOOKEY WALKER may have been a certain Hugh K. Walker. "HOOK UM SNIVEY," (formerly "hook and snivey,") a low expression, meaning to cheat by feigning sickness or other means. Also a piece of thick iron wire crooked at one end, and fastened into a wooden handle, for the purpose of undoing from the outside the wooden bolt of a door. HOP, a dance.-Fashionable Slang. "HOP THE TWIG," to run away; also a flippant expression for to die. Many similar phrases are used by the thoughtless and jocose, as to 66 LAY DOWN ONE'S KNIFE AND FORK," 'PIGGING OUT," SNUFFING IT." -Old. HOP-MERCHANT, a dancing-master. HOISTING, Shoplifting. HOPPING GILES, a cripple. St Egidius or Giles, himself similarly afflicted, was their patron saint. The ancient lazar houses were dedicated to him. HOPPO, custom-house officer, or custom-house. Almost anything connected with custom-house business.-Anglo-Chinese. HORRID HORN, term of reproach amongst the street Irish, meaning a fool, or half-witted fellow. From the Erse, OMADHAUN, a brainless fellow. A correspondent suggests HERRIDAN, a miserable old woman. HORNSWOGGLE, nonsense, humbug. Believed to be of American origin. HORRORS, the low spirits, or "blue devils," which follow intoxication. HORSE, contraction of Horsemonger-Lane Gaol. HORSE, a Slang term for a five-pound note. HORSE-CHAUNTER, a dealer who takes worthless horses to country fairs and disposes of them by artifice. He is generally an unprincipled fellow, and will put in a glass eye, or perform other tricks.--See COPER. HORSE-NAILS, money.-Compare BRADS. HORSE-NAILS. At the game of cribbage, when a player finds it his policy to keep his antagonist back, rather than push himself forward, and plays accordingly, he is said "to feed his opponent on HORSE-NAILS." HORSE MARINE, an awkward person. In ancient times the "JOLLIES," or Royal Marines, were the butts of the sailors, from their ignorance of seamanship. "Tell that to the MARINES, the blue jackets won't believe it!" was a common rejoinder to a "stiff yarn." Now-adays they are deservedly appreciated as the finest regiment in the service. A HORSE MARINE (an impossibility) was used to denote one more awkward still. HOT COPPERS, the feverish sensations experienced next morning by those who have been drunk over night. HOT TIGER, an Oxford mixture of hot-spiced ale and sherry. "HOUSE OF COMMONS," a humorous term for the closet of decency. HOUSES; "safe as HOUSES," an expression to satisfy a doubting person; "Oh! it's as SAFE as HOUSES," i.e., perfectly safe, apparently in allu sion to the paying character of house property as an investment. HOW MUCH? A facetious way of asking for an explanation of any pedantic expression. Why don't you cook your potatoes in an anhydrohepsaterion?" A waggish listener might be excused for asking, An anhydro-HOW MUCH? "HOW CAME YOU SO?" intoxicated. HOXTER, an inside pocket.-Old English, OXTER. HUBBLE-BUBBLE, the Indian pipe termed a hookah is thus designated by sailors.-Sea. HUEY, a town or village.-Tramps' term. HORSE'S NIGHTCAP, a halter; "to die in a HORSE'S NIGHTCAP," to be hanged. HUFF, a dodge or trick; "don't try that HUFF on me," or "that HUFF won't do."-Norwich. HUFF, to vex, or offend; a poor temper. HUFFY, easily offended. HUGGER-MUGGER, underhand, sneaking. HULK, to hang about in hopes of an invitation.-See MOOCH. HULKY, extra-sized.-Shropshire. HUM-BOX, a pulpit. "HUM AND HAW," to hesitate, raise objections.-Old English. HUMBLE PIE, to "eat HUMBLE PIE," to knock under, be submissive. The UMBLES, or entrails of a deer, were anciently made into a dish for servants, while their masters feasted off the haunch. HUMBUG, an imposition, or a person who imposes upon others. A very expressive but Slang word, synonymous at one time with HUM AND HAW. Lexicographers have fought shy at adopting this term. Richardson uses it frequently to express the meaning of other words, but, strange to say, omits it in the alphabetical arrangement as unworthy of recognition! In the first edition of this work, 1785 was given as the earliest date at which the word could be found in a printed book. Since then I have traced HUMBUG half a century farther back, on the title-page of a singular old jest-book-"The Universal Jester; or a pocket companion for the Wits: being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and HUMBUGS," by Ferdinando Killigrew. London, about 1735-40. I have also ascertained that the famous Orator Henley was known to the mob as ORATOR HUMBUG. The fact may be learned from an illustration in that excedingly curious little collection of Caricatures, published in 1757, many of which were sketched by Lord Bolingbroke -Horace Walpole filling in the names and explanations. Halliwell describes HUMBUG as a person who hums," and cites Dean Milles's MS., which was written about 1760. In the last century, the game now known as double-dummy was termed HUMBUG. Lookup, a notorious gambler, was struck down by apoplexy when playing at this game. On the circumstance being reported to Foote, the wit said "Ah, I always thought he would be HUMBUGGED out of the world at last!" It has been stated that the word is a corruption of Hamburgh, from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century. "Oh, that is Hamburgh [or HUMBUG,"] was the answer to any fresh piece of news which smacked of improbability. Grose mentions it in his Dictionary, 1785; and in a little printed squib, published in 1808, entitled Bath Characters, by T. Goosequill, HUMBUG is thus mentioned in a comical couplet on the titlepage: "Wee Thre Bath Deities bee, Gradually from this time the word began to assume a place in periodical literature, and in novels not written by over-precise authors. In the preface to a fat, and, I fear, unprofitable poem, entitled, The Reign |