Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/38

 Of all our trades, the tapster is the best, He has more men at work than all the rest.

Admiral of the Narrow Seas, subs. phr. (nautical).--A man who, under drink, vomits into the lap of his neighbour or vis-à-vis.

Admiral of the Red, subs. phr. (popular).--A wine-bibber; one whose face by its redness bears evidence of a fondness for the bottle. Formerly the highest rank of naval officers was divided into three grades or classes denominated from the colours hoisted by them, Admirals of the Red, White, or Blue squadron. Now there are four grades; Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-*admiral, and Rear-admiral. The French call the bottle or copper-nose possessed by ADMIRALS OF THE RED betterave (lit. a beetroot); also un piton passé à l'encaustique; and un piffard. Cf., Admiral of the blue.

Admiral of the White, subs. phr. (familiar).--Quoted as 'a white-faced person; a coward; a woman in a faint.' Rarely heard, and at best but an extremely weak imitation of kindred phrases, to wit, ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, and ADMIRAL OF THE RED.

Admirals of the Red, White, and Blue, subs. phr. (familiar).--Beadles; hall-porters; and such-like functionaries when sporting their gorgeous liveries of office.

Adonize, verb. (rare). [French adoniser; from ADONIS + IZE].--To make beautiful or attractive; to adorn oneself with a view of attracting admiration; said only of men.

1818. S. E. Ferrier, Marriage, ch. ix. 'Venus and the Graces, by Jove!' exclaimed Sir Sampson, bowing with an air of gallantry; 'and now I must go and ADONIZE a little myself.' The company then separated to perform the important offices of the toilette.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xl. 'He positively refused to face the ladies till he had changed his shooting costume, so I left him up at the hall to ADONIZE.'

Adsum, verb. (Charterhouse).--The response made in answering to names-calling.

1855. Thackeray, The Newcomes, p. 774. 'At the usual evening hour the chapel bell began to toll, and Thomas Newcome's hands outside the bed feebly beat time. And just as the last bell struck, a peculiar sweet smile shone over his face and he lifted up his head a little, and quickly said, 'ADSUM,' and fell back. It was the word we used at school when names were called; and lo, he whose heart was as that of a little child had answered to his name, and stood in the presence of the Master.'

Adullamites, subs. (parliamentary).--A nickname, in the first instance, for a party of seceding Liberals, namely, Messrs. Horsman, Lowe, Earl Grosvenor, Lord Elcho, etc., who in 1866 voted with the Tories, when Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone introduced a measure for the extension of the Franchise,[**. ?] In the debate on the 30th March John Bright said they had agreed to draw back into a political cave of ADULLAM. The reference is to those who, with King David, took refuge in the cave of ADULLAM (1 Sam. xxii., 1). The political party in question were also known collectively as 'The Cave.'