Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/80

 *tial air, sets his arms akimbo, and strutting among the historical artists cries, 'how we apples swim.'

1860. Cornhill Mag. (D. Mallett, Tyburn), Dec., p. 737. While tumbling down the turbid stream, Lord, love us, how we apples swim.

Apples and Pears, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).--A pair of stairs.

Apple-Squire, subs. (old).--A harlot's attendant, or fancy man (q.v.); these gentry are now commonly called 'bullies' (q.v.). Nares gives 'squire of the body' as a synonymous term; also apron-squire.

1500. (circa) Way to Spyttel Hous, 832 in Hazl. E. P. P., iv., 60. [Here given as applesquyers.]

[1580-1654] Taylor, Discourse by Sea (works II., 21).

Are whoremasters decai'd, are bawds all dead, Are pandars, pimps, and apple-squires all fled? [n.]

1738. Poor Robin .... Little truth will be found amongst cut-purses, liars, bawds, whores, pimps, pandars, and apple-squires; only the pimp pretends to something more of truth than the other, for if he promise to help you to a whore, he will be sure that she shall not be an honest woman. [n.]

For synonyms, ancient and modern, and also foreign equivalents, see Fancy man.

Apron. Green apron, subs. (old).--A contemptuous term for a lay preacher.--See Bible-pounder.

1654. Warren, Unbelievers, 145. It more befits a green-apron preacher, than such a Gamaliel. [m.]

1705. Hickeringill, Priestcraft I. (1721). 21. Unbeneficed Noncons. (that live by Alms and no Paternoster, no Penny, say the green-aprons). [m.]

1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II., 451. The gifted priestess amongst the Quakers is known by her green apron. [m.]

Aproneer, subs. (old).--A shop-keeper; a tradesman. Murray states that the term was used contemptuously of the Parliamentary party during the Civil Wars.

1659. Gauden, Tears of Church,238. Some prating sequestrator, or some surly aproneer.

1690. D'urfey, Collin's Walk, c. iii., p. 107. But every sturdy aproneer, arm'd with battoon, did straight appear.

Apron-Rogue, subs. (old).--A labourer; a mechanic.

1663. Killegrew, Parson's Wedding in Dodsley's Old Plays (1780), XI., 382. Apron-rogues with horn hands. [m.]

Apron-Squire.--See Apple-squire.

Apron-String Hold or Tenure, subs. phr. (familiar).--An estate held by a man during his wife's life; or by virtue of her right.

1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 67. Apron-string tenure is very weak. [M.]

1753. Richardson, Grandison, iv., 23. He cursed the apron-string tenure, by which he said he held his peace. [d.]

1804. Mrs. Barbauld, Richardson I., 160. All her fortune in her own power--a very apron-string tenure.

Apron-Strings. To be tied to Or always at a woman's apron-strings, verb. phr. (common).--Under petticoat government; to dangle after a woman. Formerly said only of children; later of all who follow a woman subserviently.

1712. Spectator, No. 506. The fair sex are so conscious to themselves, that they have nothing in them which can deserve entirely to ingross the whole man, that they heartily despise one, who, to use their own expression, is always hanging at their apron-strings.