Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/162

 Blazes (common). " Go to blazes," i.e., "go to hell," is a common expression both in Great Britain and the United States, among those who are too fastidious to say the word that they mean, and are willing to go ninety-nine per cent. in the expression of profanity, making use of "by Gad," instead of "by God," "great Scott," instead of "great God," and " darned" instead of "damned."

Bleach, to (Harvard University, Massachusetts), to absent oneself from morning prayers. To prefer being present in the spirit rather than in the body.

Bleached mot (popular), a fair-complexioned wench.

Bleak (thieves' slang), handsome (New York Slang Dictionary).

Bleating cheat (old cant), a sheep. "Cheat," meaning a thing (gypsy), was added to a word describing the cry of the animal, thus cackling cheat, grunting cheat, &c.

Bleating cull (old cant), a sheep-stealer.

Bleating prig, sheep-stealing.

Bleating rig (old cant), sheep-stealing.

Bleed, to (English and American), to be obliged to pay money against one's will, or to oblige one to pay.

This is in reference to the extravagant demands made upon political candidates by "heelers" and "strikers."

(Printers), a book or pamphlet that is cut down so much as to touch the printed portion is said to bleed.

Bleeder (sporting), a sovereign; (university), a "regular bleeder" signifies a superlative duffer.

Bleeders (old), spurs, from their causing blood to flow by frequent use.

Bleeding the monkey (nautical). The monkey is a tall pyramidal rod or bucket which conveys the grog from the grog-tub to the men. Stealing from this in transitu is so called.—Admiral Smyth.