Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/145

 Billiard slum, the (Australian convicts' slang), false pretences. Probably introduced into Australia by the convicts transported thither. To "give on the billiard slum," to "mace" or "give upon the mace," i.e., to obtain goods on credit which you never mean to pay for, to run up a score with the same intention, or to sponge upon your acquaintance by continually begging or borrowing from them (Vaux's Memoirs). To parallel the pun between "mace" and billiard slum, cf. "bolt-in-tun," "cobbler," &c. Slang, and especially thieves' slang, is very addicted to these puns.

Billingsgate pheasant (common), a red herring or bloater, otherwise known under the appellation of "Yarmouth capon" or "two-eyed steak."

Bill of sale (old slang), widows' weeds.

Billy (Scotch), a silk handerchief, also used by thieves; (common), a policeman's staff; (thieves), stolen metal; (New Zealand and Australia), a saucepan. In the Bush, everything—tea, soup, or anything else—is boiled in the billy, a tin saucepan with a wire poop-handle to carry it by. The sundowner or swagman, tramping the country in search of work, invariably carries this billy and a blanket. In the latter all his worldly goods are usually strapped up; sometimes he goes so far as having a bit of mackintosh sheeting outside the blanket to keep it dry. He will be seen "humping" (carrying) these on the hottest day.

Billy boy (nautical), a Yorkshire vessel, with one mast.

Billy-button (thieves' slang), rhyming slang for mutton; also a contemptuous term for a young journeyman tailor.

Billy buzman (thieves), a pickpocket who confines his attention exclusively to silk handkerchiefs.

Billycock (Australian), a kind of hat. The billycock is a low, round, hard-felt hat with a turned-up brim. Hotten describes it as a soft felt hat of the Jim Crow or "wide-awake" description.

Billy-fencer (popular), a marine-store dealer.

Billy-hunting (popular), buying old metal; one of the occupations of a "billy-fencer" or marine-store dealer. (Thieves),