Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/131

 for dealing in the marvellous—a kind of prototype of Baron Munchausen. Of this, deponent knowing nothing, says the same.

Banagher, verb (old).—To bang.

Bananaland, Bananalander, subs. (Australian).—Queensland, and a native of Queensland respectively. Apparently from a large portion of that section of the fifth continent lying within the tropics, thus allowing of the cultivation of the banana tree (Musa sapientum).

1886. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 20, p. 124. Booted and spurred 'Cornstalks' and Banana-men (natives of New South Wales and Queensland respectively).

1887. Melbourne (Victoria) Sportsman, 23 March, p. 7, col. 2. Paddy Slavin came from Queensland with the reputation of having beaten all the Bananalanders.

1887. Sydney (N.S.W.) Bulletin, 26 Feb., p. 6. His friends rallied up to congratulate him, and see him through, after the custom of the simple Bananalander.

It may be interesting to note that a native of New South Wales is nicknamed a 'corn-stalk' because built somewhat tall and thin. Those whose stature is shorter, with circumference of wider dimensions in proportion to their height are said to be 'nuggety.' The gum trees of Tasmania give the elegant nickname 'gumsucker' to its inhabitants. In this practice antipodean colonists follow suit with their cousins across the Atlantic.—See Nicknames.

Banco, subs. (Charterhouse School).—Evening preparation down at 'house' each day, superintended by a monitor. It answers to the Winchester toy-time.

Banco-Steerer.—See Bunco-steerer.

Bandanna, subs. (common).—Formerly a silk handkerchief with white, yellow, or other coloured spots on a dark ground. Now applied to handkerchiefs of all kinds. The name is thought to come from the Spanish bandano, a neckerchief.

1752. J. Long, Bengal (1870), 31. Plain taffaties, ordinary bandannoes, and chappas.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. The Colonel was striding about the room in his loose garments, puffing his cigar fiercely anon, and then waving his yellow bandanna.

Banded, ppl. adj. (old).—Hungry. To mitigate the pangs of hunger, starving men tighten the belt round the 'middle.' Bamfylde Moore Carew, the king of the beggars, mentions the practice. Cf., Caffre's tightener and bands.

Bandero, subs. (American).—Widows' weeds; a corruption of the now obsolete 'bandore,' a widow's head-dress. Bandore was itself a corruption of the French bandeau, given by Littré as anciennement, coiffure des veuves. The term was current about the beginning of the last century, but in 1785 we find it quoted as slang. It appears, however, to have survived in America whilst dropping entirely out of use in the Mother Country. In the English drapery trade mourning goods are sometimes called afflictions (q.v.).

Ban-Dog, subs. (old).—A bailiff, or his assistant. Originally, says