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Angeliferous, adj. (American).--Angelic; also super-excellent; a factitious word. It is interesting to note that 'angelification,' 'angelify,' and 'angelified,' were in use in the seventeenth century, but never to any great extent. [From angel + iferous, a spurious form based on the model of 'auriferous.'] It is said to have been first used by Bird in his novel, entitled Nick of the Woods.

Angels Altogether, subs. phr. (West Indian).--A sobriquet applied to habitual drunkards. It originated about the year 1876, and was, in the first instance, a bon-mot of a well-known sugar planter on the East Coast Demerara. A negro hand, notorious for his hard drinking, applied for a holiday, and the manager having a suspicion that Quashie wanted it simply to go 'on the drink,' bantered him as follows:--'John! you were drunk on Sunday?' 'Yes, massa!' 'Monday too?' 'Yes, massa!' and on the question being repeated as regards Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, it elicited similar responses, whereupon the 'boss' quietly, but pointedly said, 'But John, you can't be an angel altogether, you know!' The story got abroad, caught on, and in a short time the whole colony rang with the expression.

Angel's Footstool, subs. phr. (nautical).--Yankee skippers, given to high falutin', aver that their craft carry far more canvas than any vessel afloat of 'foreign' origin (the term 'foreign' including British bottoms, as well as those of nations other than Anglo-Saxon). Imaginary sails are crowded on their craft, among these being one which they jokingly call an angel's footstool. It is pretended to be a square sail, and is supposed to top the skyscrapers, moon-sails, and cloud cleaners (q.v.).

Angel's Gear, subs. phr. (nautical).--It is thus that 'jolly tars' sometimes speak of female attire. Jack is notoriously most susceptible where a petticoat is concerned.

Angel's-Oil, subs. (old).--A seventeenth century colloquialism for money used for bribery; sometimes oil of angels. For synonyms, see Actual, and Boodle.

Angel's Suit, subs. phr. (tailors').--A 'combination' garment for males. The coat and waistcoat were made in one, and the 'unmentionables' buttoned on to it. Neither garment nor name was extensively adopted.

Angel's Whisper, subs. phr. (military).--A name given to the call to defaulter's drill. Needless to say it is, as Artemus Ward would express it, 'wrote sarcastic.'

Anglers, Hookers, or Starrers, subs. (old).--Pilferers or petty thieves, who, with a stick having a hook at the end, steal goods from shop windows, etc. So far Grose; but Duncombe adds that starrers are an order of thieves who break show glasses in jewellers' windows