Polony, Cockney shortening and vulgar pronunciation of Bologna (sausage). The sausages which are sold under the name of POLONIES have, however, no nearer connexion with Bologna sausages than that of the word's derivation.

Pompadours, the Fifty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British army. Ponce, a degraded man who lives upon a woman's prostitution. Lowclass East-end thieves even will "draw the line" at PONCES, and object to their presence in the boozing-kens.

Pond, or HERRING-POND, the sea; so called by those who were sent across it at the national expense.

Ponge, or PONGELOW, beer, half-and-half; the term is also used as a verb, as in the Cockney phrase, "let's PONGELOw, shall we?" Pony, twenty-five pounds.-Sporting.

Poona, a sovereign. Corruption of "pound;" or from the Lingua Franca.

Pop, to pawn or pledge; "to POP up the spout," to pledge at the pawnbroker's,-an allusion to the spout up which the brokers send the ticketed articles until such times as they shall be redeemed. The spout runs from the ground-floor to the wareroom at the top of the house. Ginger-beer is also known as POP.

Pop the question, to make an offer of marriage.

Pope's-eye, a peculiar little part in a leg of mutton, much esteemed by lovers of that joint.

Pope's nose, the extremity of the rump of a roast fowl, sometimes devilled as a dainty for epicures. Also known as "the parson's NOSE,' Pops,pocket-pistols.

Porterhouse steak, an American term for a steak which contains a small bone. In the States, tender-loin steaks are much eaten. are from what we call the undercut of the sirloin.

Portrait, a sovereign. Modification of "Queen's picture."

These

Posa, a treasurer. A corruption of "purser," the name given to the treasurer in the large Anglo-Chinese mercantile establishments.Anglo-Chinese.

Posh, a halfpenny, or trifling coin. Also a generic term for money.

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Post, to pay down; POST the pony" signifies to place the stakes played for on the table.

Post-horn, the nose. See PASTE-HORN.

Post-mortem, at Cambridge, the second examination which men who have been "plucked" have to undergo. - University.

Posted up, well acquainted with the subject in question, "up to the mark,"metaphor drawn from the counting-house.

Pot, a favourite in the betting for a race. Probably so called because it is usual to say that a heavily-backed horse carries "a POT of money." When a favourite is beaten the POT is said to be upset.

Pot, a sixpence, i.e., the price of a POT or quart of half-and-half. A halfcrown, in medical student slang, is a FIVE-POT picce.

Pot, TO GO TO POT, to die; from the classic custom of putting the ashes of the dead in an urn; also, to be ruined or broken up,-often applied to tradesmen who fail in business. "Go to POT!" i.e., go and hang yourself, shut up and be quiet.--L'Estrange. "To put the POT on, to overcharge or exaggerate. "To go to POT" most probably

means to go out of all shape, as metal in the melting-pot. Pot, to finish; "don't POT me," term used at billiards, when a player holes his adversary's ball-generally considered shabby play. This word was much used by our soldiers in the Crimea in reference to shots from a hole or ambush. These were called POT-SHOTS. The term is still used to denote a shot taken sitting or at ease.

Pot-boiler, a picture hurriedly painted for the purpose of "keeping the POT BOILING."-Artistic slang.

Pot-faker, a hawker of crockery and general earthenware.

Pot-hat, a low-crowned hat, as distinguished from the soft wideawake and the stove-pipe.

Pot-hunter, a sportsman who shoots anything he comes across, having more regard to filling his bag than to the rules which regulate the sport. A man who fires at anything, regardless of the rules which govern true sportsmen. Pot-hunter, a man who gives his time up to rowing or punting, or any sort of match in order to win the "pewters" which are given as prizes. -University. The term is now much used in aquatic and athletic circles; and is applied, in a derogatory sense, to men of good quality who enter themselves in small races they are almost sure to win, and thus deprive the juniors of small trophies which should be above the attention of champions, though valuable to beginners. Also an unwelcome guest, who manages to be just in time for dinner.

Pot-luck, just as it comes; to take POT-LUCK, i.e., one's chance of a dinner, or of what there is for dinner. A hearty term, used to signify that whatever the pot contains the visitor is welcome to.

Pot-valiant, courageous through application to the bottle. Possessed of Dutch courage.

Pot-walloper, an elector in certain boroughs before the passing of the first Reform Bill, whose qualification consisted in being a housekeeper, -to establish which it was only necessary to boil a pot within the limits of the borough, by the aid of any temporary erection. This implied that he was able to provide for himself, and not necessitated to apply for parochial relief. Honiton, Tregoney, Ilchester, Old Sarum, &c., had this privilege before the passing of the first Reform Bill. Also, a scullion.

Potato-trap, the mouth.--Originally a Hibernicism.

Potheen, whisky made in an illicit still, once a favourite drink in Ireland, now almost unattainable. People resident in England who read of the charms of POTHEEN would be rather astonished if they were to taste it. It is real "fire-water" flavoured with peat-smoke.

Potted, or POTTED OUT, cabined, confined, figurative of crammed into a garden-pot. Also applied to burial,--a horticultural allusion.

Potter, to meddle without much judgment. Application various. A gentleman may describe himself as "POTTERING about in his garden," and think the phrase pleasant. The gardener, who has to do the work all over again, may, however, use the word in quite a different sense. Power, a large quantity; a POWER of money."-Irish at first, but now general.

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Pow-wow, a conference. Originally an Indian term.

Prad, a horse. PRAD-NAPPING was horse-stealing. Both these terms

are old cant.

Prancer, a horse.-Ancient Cant. In modern slang an officer of cavalry.

Praties, potatoes.-Irish.

Precious, used, in a slang sense, like very or exceeding; "a PRECIOUS little of that," i.e., a very little indeed; a PRECIOUS humbug, rascal, &c., i.e., an eminent one.

Pretty horsebreakers, a phrase adopted some years back, in deference to common squeamishness, to denote the demi-monde, who dress so well and ride so daintily. Really, pretty heartbreakers.

Prial, a corruption of PAIR-ROYAL, a term at the game of cribbage, meaning three cards of a similar description. Often used metaphori cally for three persons or things of a kind. DOUBLE-PRIAL, a corruption of DOUBLE PAIR-ROYAL, means four cards, persons, or things of a similar description.

Prick the garter, or PITCH THE NOB, a gambling and cheating game common at fairs, and generally practised by thimble-riggers. It consists of a GARTER or a piece of list doubled, and then folded up tight. The bet is made upon your asserting that you can, with a pin, PRICK the point at which the garter is doubled. The garter is then unfolded, and nine times out of ten you will find that you have been deceived, and that one of the false folds has been pricked. The owner of the GARTER holds the ends tightly with one hand, and there is little doubt that he can make the 'flat" lose and the "bonnet" win at pleasure. This was, doubtless, originally a gipsy game, and we are informed by Brand that it was much practised by the gipsies in the time of Shakspeare. In those days it was termed PRICKING AT THE BELT, or FAST AND LOOSE.

Prig, a thief. Used by Addison in the sense of a coxcomb.-Ancient Cant, probably from the Saxon, PRICC-AN, to filch, &c.-Shakspeare. PRIG, to steal or rob. PRIGGING, thieving. In Scotland the term PRIG is used in a different sense from what it is in England. In Glasgow, or at Aberdeen, "to PRIG a salmon" would be to cheapen it, or seek for an abatement in the price. A story is told of two Scotchmen, visitors to London, who got into sad trouble a few years ago by announcing their intention of "PRIGGING a hat" which they had espied in a fashionable manufacturer's window, and which one of them thought he would like to possess.

Prig, a conceited, stuck-up, over-knowing person; one who appropriates cr adopts a manner or costume not suited to him.

Priggish, conceited.

Primed, said of a person in that state of incipient intoxication that if he took more drink it would become evident. Also, crammed for an examination.

Pro, a professional.—Theatrical.

Pro, the proproctor, or second in command in the proctorial police. The two proctors generally appoint a certain number of proproctors each.-Oxford University.

Proctorized, TO BE, to be stopped by the Proctor, and told to call on him.-University.

Prog, meat, food, &c.

66 prog," however.

Johnson calls it "a low word." He was fond of

Proof, the best ale at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Prop, a blow. As, "a PROP on the nose,"-more street slang than pugilistic.

Prop, a scarf pin.

Prop-nailer, a man who "sneaks," or rather snatches, pins from gentlemen's scarves.

Proper, very, exceedingly, sometimes used ironically; "you are a PROPER nice fellow," meaning a great scamp. A "PROPER man" generally means a perfect man, as far as can be known.

Props, crutches.

Props, stage properties.-Theatrical.

Pros, a water-closet. Abbreviated form of pòs riva róπov. Some say, πpòç TоV TOTоv.-Oxford University.

Pross, to break in or instruct a stage-infatuated youth. Also, to spunge upon a comrade or stranger for drink. In this latter capacity the word is in connexion with prostitute, a PROSSER being considered a most degraded being, and the word being supposed by many to represent a man who lives on a woman's prostitution.

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Psalm-smiter, a Ranter," one who sings at a conventicle. See

BRISKET-BEATER.

Pub, or PUBLIC, a public-house; "what PUB do you use?" i.e., which inn or public-house do you frequent ?

Public patterers, swell mobsmen who pretend to be Dissenting preachers, and harangue in the open air to attract a crowd for their confederates to rob.

Pucker, poor or bad temper, difficulty, déshabillé. PUCKER UP, to get in a bad temper.

Puckering, talking privately.

Puckerow, to seize, to take hold of. From the Hindostanee, PUCKERNA. -Anglo-Indian.

Pudding-snammer, one who robs a cook-shop.

Puff, to blow up, or swell with praise; declared by a writer in the Weekly Register, as far back as 1732, to be illegitimate.

"PUFF has become a cant word, signifying the applause set forth by writers, &c.,