Page:Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant (1889) by Barrere & Leland.djvu/93

 Bad man — Baggage.

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bullies in their boasting often describe themselves as " hard bad men from Bitter Creek."

In vain he begged for mercy. Milton was obdurate, and refused to be moved by the would-be bad man's prayers. He led him into the post tied up like a broncho steer, and the jeers of the citizens as poor Dosy shambled past them on his way to the jail were the death-knell of his bad- ness. He made no " John Branch plays " after this, but attended faithfully to his herd, and the bare mention of the name of Mad Milton was sufficient to keep him quiet whenever he forgot his defeat and essayed the rdle of bad man. — Detroit Free Press.

" Bad man " for a cruel mur- derer is indeed a very mild way of putting it. If the euphemism were carried on, a murderer pure and simple would probably be styled a naughty man.

Bad match twist (barbers), red hair and black whiskers.

Badminton (prize ring), blood ; properly a kind of claret cup. To " tap the badminton, or claret," is to draw blood.

Bag (common), any kind of purse when empty ; to give the bag, i.e., to dismiss, run away.

When of oof they had bereft him, his own tart had promptly left him, And gone off with some one else upon a drag. It was cruel to forsake him ; but, as settling day would break him, She had given him, quite cheerfully, the bag.

— Sporting Times.

(Printers and sailors), a vulgar term for a pint or pot of beer ;

" Come and have a bag " would be a form of invitation given.

Bag, to (familiar), to steal or seize.

The shameful way in which our ships are being bagged without the slightest scruple to suit private ends becomes our wretched system of naval government in- comparably. The public, who have to pay the piper pretty sweetly for the Spithead pageant, can hardly be expected to look without wonder or disgust at the barefaced partiality displayed by the Admiralty in appropriating vessels. — Modern Society.

Also a phrase in common use signifying the expansion of gar- ments by frequent wear.

" You men are so lucky," a fair maiden said, Discussing the question of dress, " You're ne'er burdened with petticoats, corsets, nor shawls, Which to us are a source of distress." " Yes, I know," said a youth who'd been waiting for this, An argument ready to seize — ' ' What you've said is all true, but there's one point you miss, Your pants never bag at the knees."

Baggage smasher (American), a word with two meanings. The first applies to men who hang about the railway stations to steal luggage, the second to the railway porters and others who in America handle trunks and boxes, &c, with extraordinary carelessness.

" I feel depressed to-night," remarked a large, down-town trunk manufacturer to his wife. " I think I have a touch of malaria." " I fancy it will soon pass away," replied the lady, without much concern. " Why don't you go around to the Grand Central Station, and watch them smash baggage for an hour. That will revive you 1 " — New York Sun. £