Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/125

 inhabited by monkeys, that the ship's yards cannot be squared, on account of the monkey's tails getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace blocks.—Hotten.

Ballast, subs. (common).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual.

Well-ballasted, adj. (common).—A rich man is said to be Well-ballasted.

English Synonyms. 'To be flush'; also 'to have brass; brads,' etc. See synonyms for money generally under Actual.

Among French equivalents for the solidity arising from the possession of wealth may be mentioned:—Etre zingué (popular: literally 'to be covered with zinc'); avoir des monacos (popular: monaco is an ironical term for a sou); daim huppé (popular: daim, a slang term for a swell, is properly a 'buck,' and huppé also signifies high in station, well-off); homme au sac (familiar: 'a man with a bag,'—presumably of money); avoir des picaillons (popular: picaillons is thought to be a corruption of picarons, a Spanish coin); être de la fête (popular: i.e., 'to be in luck's way'); être sacqué (popular: meaning obvious); rupin (thieves' term); avoir de ce qui sonne (popular: 'to have that which chinks'); tailler en plein drap (popular).

In the Spanish Germania a rich or well-ballasted man is florido, i.e., 'flowery' or 'agreeable.'

Ball Face, subs. (American).—A contemptuous epithet applied by negroes to white persons. Salem, Mass., 1810-1820.

Ball-Keeper, subs. (Winchester College).—In 'Commoners' an 'Inferior' appointed to look after cricket and footballs. In return for this service he was exempted from 'kicking in' and 'watching out.' 'Junior in College' has to bring through balls every evening.—See Balls.

Ball of Fire, subs. phr. (popular).—A glass of fiery and pungent brandy. For all synonyms, see Drinks.

Ballooning, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Inflating the price of stocks by fictitious means, such as newspaper articles, bogus sales, etc.

Balloon it, verb. (American).—To indulge in rhodomontade; to draw the long bow; to talk big. Obviously from 'to puff or swell out' as a balloon.

1878. T. Sinclair, Mount, 33. Gas-brained, ballooning wandering men. [M.]

Ball O' Wax, subs. (common).—A snob, or shoe-maker.—See Snob.

Balls. To bring through balls, phr. (Winchester College).—'Junior in College' collects footballs from the lockers in school, and brings them through at six o'clock to be blown, or repaired, if necessary.

To make balls of, verb. phr. (popular).—To go wrong; to do what 'lands' one in trouble; generally, to make a mistake.

All balls, adv. (popular).—All rubbish; nonsense. For synonyms, see All my eye.

Ballum Rancum, subs. (old).—A hop or dance, where the women