Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/140

 unusually or abnormally large.

Big-bird (theatrical), to "get the big-bird," to be hissed. The bird is supposed to be, and is very often, a goose. French actors call hissing "appeler Azor," this being the usual name for a dog.

Big bugs (American), an expression for great people, people of consequence, aristocrats. Bartlett thinks that this word suggests some anecdote which would be "worth finding out." There is no lack in American newspapers of anecdotes explaining the origin of popular phrases, but unfortunately about ninety-nine in a hundred of them are what Germans call Nachwerk, manufactured afterwards by some ingenious humourist to suit the case. The following, which is of recent origin, might easily pass for one of these valuable originals. Those which have already appeared on Chestnut, sworn to by as many authorities as those cited by Autolycus, would fill a chapter.

In the Australian lingo big bugs has also the meaning of man of importance.

Big country (sport), the open country.

Big dog with a brass collar, the, the principal or head of a concern, or the biggest "wig" of a place.

Big fellow (Australian Blackfellow's lingo), large, a quantity; a specimen of the pidgin English stuffed with Blackfellow's words used by the whites on stations in their intercourse with the aborigines.