Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/71

 and, in the consequent confusion steal the goods. The term is a very ancient one. Dekker in English Villanies [1632], thus describes an 'angler for duds':--'He carries a short staff in his hand, which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it a ferme (that is to say a hole) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth a hooke of iron, with which hook he angles at a window in the dead of night for shirts, smockes, or any other linen or woollen.' It would appear from this that modern thieves are both much more daring and expert. It is not an uncommon thing for a crack thief, in the broad daylight, in the most crowded streets of London, to break a jeweller's window, snatch some valuables, and make off with them. An iron instrument is used for the purpose which is concealed by the coat sleeve.--See Area sneak.

Angling Cove, subs. (thieves').--A receiver of stolen goods.--See Fence.

Angling for Farthings, verb. phr. (old thieves').--Begging out of a prison window with a cap or box, let down at the end of a long string--Grose. Such a practice, it is needless to say, would be impossible nowadays.--See Hooker.

Anglomaniacs, subs. phr. (American).--A club in Boston is thus self-styled. Its members are opposed to anything British in every shape and form. The term is of course a contradiction, and should, to express the policy of its members, be Anglophobists.

Angry Boys.--See Bloods.

Angular Party, subs. phr. (common).--A term given to any gathering of people of which the number is odd; say three, seven, thirteen, etc.

Animal, subs. (American).--Anew arrival at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Cf., Snooker.

To go the whole animal (American).--A variant of 'to go the whole hog.' In the West Indies it is varied by 'to go the whole dog.'--See Hog.

1838. C. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, p. ... Opposing all half measures, and preferring to go the extreme animal.

1859. G. A. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, p. 62 ... that they had much better pay first-class, and go the entire animal.

Animules, subs. (American).--This expression is very generally used in the South-western territories, and in California, as a substitute for 'mules.' A witty play upon 'animals' and 'mules.'

1834(?) Centre-Pole Bill, in Overland Monthly. 'Ten miles to town! Waal, stranger, I guess I'll stake out here to-night. Them animules is too beat to do that. Where's yer water?' 'It's all around you to-night; but you can turn your mules into the corral.'

Ankle. To spraing one's ankle, verb. phr. (old).--When a girl has been seduced she is said to have sprained her ankle. Both French and German slang have analogous expressions; in the former, elle a mal aux genoux is said of a woman who is pregnant, i.e., 'she has a bad knee.'