Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/46

 man as aldermen are generally represented. The French have an equivalent phrase, pas d'abbé.

Aldgate. A draught on the pump at Aldgate, subst.[**subs.?] phr. (commercial).--A bad bill of exchange. A play on the word 'draught.'

Alecampane.--See Allacompain.

Alecie, Alecy, subs. (old nonce words) [from ale + suffix cie or cy, as in 'lunacy'].--The state of being under the influence of ale; drunkenness; also balmyness.

1594. J. Lyly, Mother Bombie, cc. 9. If he had arrested a mare instead of a horse, it had beene a slight oversight, but to arrest a man, that hath no likenesse of a horse, is flat lunasie, or alecie.

Ale-draper, subs. (old) [from ale + draper as in linen-draper].--A humorous title for an alehouse keeper; probably from the ancient custom of measuring ale by the yard. It long survived dialectically, but is now obsolete. Synonyms were rum-*cull, and squirt-quester (q.v.)[**.]

1593. Henry Chettle, Kinde-Harts Dreame. Two milch maydens that had set up a shoppe of ale-drapery.

1747. In Parish Register of Scotter, Linc. [Buried], July 8th, Thomas Broughton, Farmer and Ale Draper.

Ale-Knight, subs. phr. (old) [from ale + knight, used derisively].--A tippler; a boon companion.

1575. Eccl. Proc., Chester. [The Vicar of Whalley, Lanc., is charged with being a common dronker and ale knight.]

1654. Witt's Recreations. Come all you brave wights, That are dubbed ale-knights Now set out youselves in fight: And let them that crack In the praises of sack, Know malt is of mickle might.

1863-64. Chambers' Bk. of Days, ii., 597. This man was a regularly dubbed ale-knight, loved barley wine to the full.

Ales, subs. (Stock Exchange).--The shares in the brewery business of S. Allsopp and Sons, Limited, are thus known.

Ale Spinner, subs. phr. (old) [from ale + spinner, a manufacturer or producer].--A brewer or publican.

Alexandra Limp, subs. (popular).--The name given to an erstwhile fit of semi-imbecility on the part of 'Society.' The Princess of Wales, through a slight infirmity, walks with a suspicion of lameness, and servile imitation of everything pertaining to royalty caused the sudden appearance (circa 1860-70) of a crowd of limping petticoated toadies. The craze passed away as suddenly as it came. Cf., Grecian bend.

1876. Chambers' Journal, No. 629. Your own advocacy of the Grecian bend and the Alexandra limp--both positive and practical imitations of physical affliction. [H.]

Alfred David, subs. (common).--An affidavit--obviously a humorous corruption in pronunciation; also affidavy; and, by an extended process of curtailment, davy. All are common colloquialisms among the uneducated classes. After-davy is likewise occasionally heard, generally in connection with a person in extremis.

Algerine, subs. (theat.)--A member of a company who, when 'the ghost' cannot be induced to walk, i.e., when the exchequer is low, and salaries are not paid,