of HUMBUG, a Satire, 8vo., 1836, the author thus apologises for the use of the word "I have used the term HUMBUG to designate this principle, [wretched sophistry of life generally,] considering that it is now adopted into our language as much as the words dunce, jockey, cheat, swindler, &c., which were formerly only colloquial terms." A correspondent, who in a late number of Adersaria ingeniously traced bombast to the inflated Doctor Paracelsus Bombast, considers that HUMBUG may, in like manner, be derived from Homberg, the distinguished chemist of the court of the Duke of Orleans, who, according to the following passage from Bishop Berkeley's Siris, was an ardent and successful seeker after the philosopher's stone! "§ 194. Of this there cannot be a better proof than the experiment of Monsieur Homberg, WHO MADE GOLD OF MERCURY BY INTRODUCING LIGHT INTO ITS PORES, but at such trouble and expense, that, I suppose, nobody will try the experiment for profit. By this injunction of light and mercury, both bodies became fixed, and produced a third different to either, to wit, real gold. For the truth of which FACT I refer to the memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences."-Berkeley's Works, vol. ii., p. 366, (Wright's edition.) Another derivation suggested (see The Bookseller for May 26, 1860) is AMBAGE, a Latin word adopted into the English language temp. Charles I., (see May's translation of Lucan's Pharsalia,) and meaning conduct the reverse of straightforwardness. Again, in the (burlesque) Loves of Hero and Leander, (date 1642,) we find "MUM-BUG, quoth he, 'twas known of yore," a Cant expression, no doubt, commanding a person to "shut up," or hold his tongue, and evidently derived from the game of mum-budget or silence, upon which Halliwell (Dict. Arch.) has descanted. "Without any long AMBAGE is also used in the sense of "circumlocution." With the shrill sound thereof, in most dark strains." De Quincey thus discourses upon the word : -Vicar's Virgil, 1632. "The word HUMBUG, for instance, rests upon a rich and comprehensive basis; it cannot be rendered adequately either by German or by Greek, the two richest of human languages; and without this expressive word we should all be disarmed for one great case, continually recurrent, of social enormity. A vast mass of villany, that cannot otherwise be reached by legal penalties, or brought within the rhetoric of scorn, would go at large with absolute impunity were it not through the stern Rhadamanthean aid of this virtuous and inexorable word."-Article on " Language." Since these notes were penned, I purchased the collection of essays known as the Connoisseur, from the late Mr Thackeray's library. At the end of vol. i. I found a memorandum in the great humorist's handwriting—“ p. 108, 'HUMBUG,' a new-coined expression." On referring to that page, I note this paragraph :— "The same conduct of keeping close to their ranks was observed at table, where the ladies seated themselves together. Their conversation was here also confined wholly to themselves, and seemed like the mysteries of the Bona Dea, in which men were forbidden to have any share. It was a con tinued laugh and whisper from the beginning to the end of dinner. A whole sentence was scarce ever spoken aloud. Single words, indeed, now and then broke forth; such as odious, horrible, detestable, shocking, HUMBUG. This last new-coined expression, which is only to be found in the nonsensical vocabulary, sounds absurd and disagreeable whenever it is pronounced; but from the mouth of a lady it is 'shocking,' 'detestable,' 'horrible,' and 'odious." "-From the third edition, 1757. The universal use of this term is remarkable; in California there is a town called Humbug Flat-a name which gives a significant hint of the acuteness of the first settler. HUM-DRUM, tedious, tiresome, boring; "a society of gentlemen who used to meet near the Charter House, and at the King's Head, St John's Street, Clerkenwell. They were characterised by less mystery and more pleasantry than the Freemasons."-Bacchus and Venus, 1737. In the West the term applies to a low cart. HUMP, to botch, or spoil. HUMP UP, "to have one's HUMP UP," to be cross or ill-tempered-like a cat with its back set up.-See MONKEY. HUMPTY-DUMPTY, short and thick. HUNCH, to shove, or jostle. HURKARU, a messenger.-Anglo-Indian. HUNTER PITCHING, the game of cockshies-three throws a penny.See COCKSHY. "HUNT THE SQUIRREL," when hackney and stage coachmen try to upset each other's vehicles on the public roads.-Nearly obsolete. HURDY-GURDY, a droning musical instrument shaped like a large fiddle, and turned by a crank, used by Savoyards and itinerant foreign musicians in England, now nearly superseded by the hand-organ. A correspondent suggests that the name is derived from being girded on the HURDIES, loins, or buttocks.-Scotch; Tam o'Shanter. In Italy the instrument is called VIOLA. 66 HUSH-MONEY, a sum given to quash a prosecution or evidence. HUSH-SHOP, or CRIB, a shop where beer or spirits is sold on the quiet" -no licence being paid. HYPS, or HYPO, the blue devils. From Hypochondriasis.—SWIFT. HY-YAW! an interjectional exclamation of astonishment.-Anglo-Chinese. INFANTRY, children; LIGHT INFANTRY, fleas. IN, "to be IN with a person," to be even with, or UP to him; also, to be on intimate terms with him. "IN FOR IT," in trouble or difficulty of any kind. INEXPRESSIBLES, UNUTTERABLES, UNWHISPERABLES, or trousers, the nether garments. SIT-UPONS, IKEY, a Jew "fence." Corruption of Isaac, a common Hebrew name. "IN FOR PATTER," waiting for trial, referring to the speeches of counsel, the statements of witnesses, the summing up of the judge, &c. The fuss of all which the prisoner sets down as so much PATTER." INNINGS, earnings, money coming in; "he's had long INNINGS," i.e., a good run of luck, plenty of cash flowing in. INSIDE LINING, dinner, &c. INTERESTING, "to be in an INTERESTING situation," applied to females when enceinte. INTO, "hold my hat, Jim, I'll be INTO him," i.e., I will fight him. In this sense equivalent to PITCH INTO, or SLIP INTO. INVITE, an invitation—a corruption used by stuck-up people of mushroom origin. IPSAL DIXAL, Cockney corruption of ipse dixit-said of one's simple uncorroborated assertion. IRISH APRICOTS, potatoes. IRISH THEATRE, the temporary prison, guard-room, or lock-up in a barracks. The fond fancy of the soldier supplies it with other figurative appellations, as "the MILL," "the JIGGER," "the HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. In Edinburgh Castle it is termed "the DRYROOM." "ISTHMUS OF SUEZ," the covered bridge at St John's College, Cambridge, which connects the college with its grounds on the other side of the river. See CRACKLE. IVORIES, teeth; "a box" or cage of IVORIES," a set of teeth, the mouth; "wash your IVORIES," i.e., "drink." The word is also used to denote DICE. JABBER, to talk, or chatter. A Cant word in Swift's time. JACKED-UP, ruined, done for. JACK KETCH, the public hangman.-See KETCH. JACK NASTY-FACE, a sailor.-Sea. JACK SPRAT, a diminutive boy or man. JACK TAR, a sailor. JACK-AT-A-PINCH, one whose assistance is only sought on an emergency; JACK IN-THE-WATER, an attendant at the waterman's stairs on the river and sea-port towns, who does not mind wetting his feet for a customer's convenience, in consideration of a douceur. JACK, HALF JACK, a card counter, resembling in size and appearance a sovereign and a half-sovereign, for which it is occasionally passed to simple persons. In large gambling establishments the "heaps of gold" are frequently composed of JACKS. JACK, the knaye of trumps, at the game of all-fours. JACKETING, a thrashing. Similar term to LEATHERING, COWHIDING, &c. JACKEY, gin.-Seven Dials originally. JACOB, a ladder. Grose says from Jacob's dream.-Old Cant. "IT'S GOOD ON THE STAR," it's easy to open. JACK-IN-A-BOX, a small but powerful kind of screw, used by burglars to break open safes. JAGGER, a gentleman. German, JAGER, a sportsman. JARK, a "safe-conduct" pass.-Oxford. Old Cant for a seal. JARVEY, the driver of a hackney-coach; JARVEY'S UPPER BENJAMIN, a coachman's over-coat. JAW, speech, or talk; "hold your JAW," don't speak any more; what "We have a few persons whose pockets are to let-men who have more complaints than dollars-individuals who, in digger's parlance, live on JAWBONE, (credit,) and are always to be found at saloons; a class of men who, when they are here, wish themselves yonder, and when yonder, wish themselves back "-Times' Correspondent, San Francisco, Oct. 21, 1862. JAW-BREAKER, a hard or many-syllabled word. JAZEY, a wig. A corruption of JERSEY, the name for flax prepared in a peculiar manner, and of which common wigs were formerly made; "the cove with the JAZEY," i.e., the judge. JEAMES, (a generic for "flunkeys,") the Morning Post newspaper-the organ of Belgravia and the "Haristocracy." JEHU, old Slang term for a coachman, or one fond of driving. JEMINY-O! a vulgar expression of surprise. JEMMY, a sheep's-head.-See SANGUINARY JAMES. JEMMY-DUCKS, the man whose business it is to look after the poultry on board a ship.-Sea. JEMMY JESSAMY, a dandy. JEMMY-JOHN, a jar for holding liquor; probably a corruption of demigallon. JEREMIAD, a lament; derived, of course, from the Book of Lamentations, written by the prophet Jeremiah. JEREMY DIDDLER, an adept at raising the wind. JERRY, a beer-house. JERRY, a chamber utensil; abbreviation of JEROBOAM.-Swift. JERRY, a fog. JERRY-GO-NIMBLE, the diarrhoea. JERRY SNEAK, a hen-pecked husband,-a character in the Mayor of Garret. JERUSALEM PONY, a donkey. JESSIE, "to give a person JESSIE," to beat him soundly.-See GAS. JEMMY, a crowbar.-Prison term. JARK, a seal, or watch ornament.-Ancient Cant. L Probably a corrup jewel. In ancient JEW'S EYE, a popular simile for anything valuable. tion of the Italian, GIOJE; French, JOAILLE, a times, when a king was short of cash, he generally issued orders for so many Jew's eyes, or equivalent sums of money. The Jews preferred paying the ransom, although often very heavy. This explanation has been given of the origin of JEW'S EYE. Used by Shakspeare. JEW-FENCER, a Jew street salesman. JEZEBEL, a showily-dressed woman of suspected respectability; derived, of course, from 2 Kings ix. 30, but applied in this sense from the time of the Puritans. JIB, a first-year man.-Dublin University. JIB, the face, or a person's expression; "the cut of his JIB," i.e., his peculiar appearance. The sail of a ship, which in position and shape corresponds to the nose on a person's face.-Sea. A vessel is known by the cut of the JIB sail; hence the popular phrase, "to know a man by THE CUT OF HIS JIB. JIB, or JIBBER, a horse that starts or shrinks. Shakspeare uses it in the sense of a worn-out horse. JIBB, the tongue.—Gipsy and Hindoo. (Tramps' term.) JIFFY, "in a JIFFY," in a moment. JIGGER, a secret still, illicit spirits.-Scotch. JIGGER, a door; "dub the JIGGER," shut the door. Ancient Cant, GYGER. In billiards, the bridge on the table is often termed the JIGGER. Also, the curtain of a theatre. JIGGER, "I'm JIGGERED if you will," a common form of mild swearing.— See SNIGGER. JINGO, "by JINGO," a common form of oath, said to be a corruption of St Gingoulph.-Vide Halliwell. JOB, a short piece of work, a prospect of employment. Johnson describes JOB as a low word, without etymology. It is, and was, however, a Cant word, and a JOB, two centuries ago, was an arranged robbery. Even at the present day it is mainly confined to the streets, in the sense of employment for a short time. Amongst undertakers a JOB signifies a funeral; "to do a JOB," conduct any one's funeral; "by the JOB," ie., piece-work, as opposed to time-work. A JOB in political phraseology is a Government office or contract, obtained by secret influence or favouritism. JOB," a JOB lot," otherwise called a “sporting lot,” any miscellaneous goods purchased at a cheap rate, or to be sold a bargain. Frequently used to conceal the fact of their being stolen, or otherwise dishonestly obtained. JOB'S COMFORT, reproof instead of consolation. JOB'S COMFORTER, one who brings news of additional misfortunes. |