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 A key. I have never met with this word in print, but have heard it frequently in conversation.

Black-Spice Racket, subs. (old).—The practice of robbing chimney sweepers of their tools, bag, and soot.—Lexicon Balatronicum.

Black Spy, subs. (old).—A cant name for the devil. The French equivalent is le dache. For synonyms, see Skipper.

Black-Strap, subs. (common).—1. Thick, sweet port. A contemptuous term, in allusion to its dark colour, strap being an old name for wine.—(See quot.).

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 131. Sometimes likewise this Card-cheating, goes not vnder the name of Bernard's Lawe, but is called Batt fowling, and then ye Setter is the Beater, the foole that is caught in the net, the bird, the Tauerne to which they repaire to worke the Feate, is the Bush; the wine the Strap, and the cardes the Limetwigs.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 3. Tom (taking his seat): Gentlemen, beg pardon for being scarce so long; but having to start early, I thought it best to see that the toggery was all right and fly—I never shirk the black strap intentionally, you know. Jerry: Don't mention it, my dear Tom.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. x. The orator gets deeper into his subject, till an extremely abrupt conclusion empties every bumper of 'black strap' like a shot.

2. (American.)—Properly speaking, gin mixed with molasses, but frequently applied to a compound of any alcoholic liquor with molasses. Beverages of this description were at one time the commonest of drinks among agricultural labourers.

1882. Pinkerton, Molly Maguires and Detectives, p. 84. From the great iron kettle a savory incense arose; it came from an admixture of high-wines and common molasses, in about the proportion of one gallon of the latter to four of the spirit. The seething blackstrap was pronounced ready for use. It rapidly disappeared, and, as it diminished and was imbibed, the fun and hilarity proportionately increased.

3. (old.)—A task of labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar as a punishment for small offences.—Grose.

Black's Your Eye. To say black's your eye, phr. (old).—To accuse; to find fault with. The phrase was varied by black's your eyebrow, nail, etc. A more modern rendering is black is the white of your eye.

1528. Roy, Sat. (1845). They eate their belies full And none sayth blacke is his eye. [m.]

1583. Stubbs, Anatomic of Abuses, p. 65. And then no man say blacke is their eye, but all is well, and they as good Christians, as those that suffer them unpunished.

1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Love's Cure, iii., 1. I can say black's your eye, though it be grey; I have conniv'd at this your friend, and you.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX., iv. The house is well known to be a house of as good reputation as any on the road, and, though I say it, is frequented by gentry of the best quality, both Irish and English. I defy anybody, to say black is my eye, for that matter.

Black-Teapot, subs. (popular).—A negro footman.

Blackwork, subs. (common).—Undertaking. The waiters met with at public dinners are often employed during the day as mutes, etc. Omnibus and cab drivers regard blackwork as un dernier ressort.—See Black-job.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxvi. A florid man who officiates as a waiter at the London Tavern o'nights, and sometimes takes a spell in the black work, or undertaking line of business.