Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/250

 Blinko, subs. (thieves' and vagrants').—An amateur entertainment held, generally, at a public house; a free and easy (q.v.); a sing song (q.v.).

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. 'What is a blinko for instance?' 'Well, it's a kind of entertainment, singing, and that,' replied the old fellow, 'to which strangers are not invited—least of all the police.'

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 4, p. 2, col. 1. 'An Harmonic blinko, the proceeds of which will be given towards buying a barrow for Young Duckling, who has got married with no visible means of support.'

Blister, verb (common).—Employed euphemistically for 'to damn.' Cf., Blamed.

1840. H. Cockton, Valentine Vox, ch. xxvi. 'Where can they be hid?' he exclaimed, with great emphasis. 'Blister 'em! Where can the scoundrels be got to?'

Blizzard, subs. (popular).—A poser; a stunning blow; an unanswerable argument, etc., etc. This word, recently brought into prominent notice as the name by which sudden and exceptionally severe snowstorms are known in the Western States of America, is one the etymology of which is dubious. Some authorities derive it from the German blitz—lightning, but a correspondent of N. and Q. claims it as of English nationality, asserting that the word has been known in the Midland Counties in its present form, or nearly so, for over thirty years; further stating that 'may I be blizzered' is a common oath there. Assuming that the expression is a variation of the more generally familiar 'May God strike me blind' (that is, presumably by lightning), there is nothing antagonistic between the two theories of its genesis, and a further light is perhaps thrown upon the subject, tending to support its German origin, by the fact that, in Pennsylvania, it has been familiar, according to a correspondent of the New York Sun, for more than half-a-century, its use and meaning being akin to the instances above mentioned. It appears that in the central counties of the State in question, the word was always used to include the idea of the 'poser,' and even of force, violence, spitefulness, or vindictiveness. If one dealt another a hostile blow he 'gave him a blizzard on the nose,' 'on the jaw,' 'between the eyes,' etc. If a magistrate lectured a litigant severely he 'gave him a blizzard.' If in debate one dealt mercilessly in ridicule he 'gave his opponent a blizzard.' If one man swore at or cursed another he 'gave him a blizzard.' If a man's wife scolded him she 'gave him a blizzard.' When it is remembered that Pennsylvania is the State in which the Dutch or German element most largely predominates, it does not seem far fetched to attribute its origin to a Teutonic source, more especially as there is nothing in the English usage to preclude such a derivation. However this may be, the word invariably seems to imply suddenness combined with violence; and, at any rate, it apparently disposes of the supposition that the word is of Western origin, or a coinage of so recent a date as is frequently supposed. Like most words of its class, which have largely struck the popular taste,