Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/42

 Accumulator (racing), a person who backs one horse, and then if it wins results (sometimes in cluding original stakes) goes on to some other horse.

Ace of spades (old slang), a widow, alluding to the hue of the card. This slang word is given in the " Lexicon Bala tronicum," London 1811.

Ack (Christ's Hospital). In the slang of Blue Coat boys this word is expressive of denial or refusal.

Ack men or ack pirates (nautical), fresh water thieves. Probably from a corruption of "ark," meaning boat, as the term "ark ruffs" has a like significa tion. Ack, however, seems to have some connection with the old term aker (apparently from the Anglo-Saxon egor, the flow ing of the sea), which is still applied on the Trent to a kind of eddying twirl which occurs on the river when it is flooded. In the dialect of Craven, ac cording to Mr. Thomas Wright (Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English), a ripple on the surface of the water is termed an acker. Acknowledge the corn, to (Ame- rican). To admit that one has been got the better of, or is outdone.

A-cock (popular), knocked over, defeated; suddenly surprised, astounded.

Also, cocked up.

Acorn (old cant), the gallows tree.

Acquisitive (American), booty, plunder.

An acquisitive cove, a man given to picking and stealing.

Acreocracy (American), a coined word to signify the landlord interest.

Acres (theatrical), a coward, from the pusillanimous Bob Acres in Sheridan's play.