Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 1.pdf/81

 1834. Miss Edgeworth, Helen, ch. viii. A homebred lordling, who, from the moment he slipped his mother's apron-strings, had fallen into folly.

1849. Macaulay, History of England, II., 649. He could not submit to be tied to the apron-strings even of the best of wives.

Aqua, subs. (American thieves').--Water. From the Latin.

Aqua Pompaginis, subs. phr. (old).--Pump water [Dog-Latin; from L., aqua, water + English, pump + simulated Latin termination, aginis].

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Aqua Pompaginis.... Apothecaries' Latin.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. 'Exactly my sentiments,' rejoined Blueskin. 'I wouldn't force him for the world; but if he don't tip the stivers, may I be cursed if he don't get a taste of the aqua pompaginis. Let's have a look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,' added he, snatching the child from Wood. 'My stars! here's a pretty lullaby-cheat to make a fuss about--ho ho!'

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 15. 'He shall go through the whole course,' replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, 'unless he comes down to the last grig. We'll lather him with mud, shave him with a rusty razor, and drench him with aqua pompaginis.'

For synonyms, see Adam's ale.

Aquatics, subs. (Eton college).--The particular game of cricket in which men in the boats play.

Aqua-Vitæ, subs. (old).--Formerly an alchemic term; but, after a while, popularly received as a generic name for ardent spirits, such as brandy, whiskey, etc. [From L. = water of life. Cf., French eau-de-vie, and Irish usquebaugh.]

Arabs, subs. (common).--Nicknames for young street vagrants are numerous. They are 'Bedouins,' 'Street Arabs,' and 'Juvenile Roughs' in London; they are 'Gamins' in Paris; 'Bowery Boys' in New York; 'Hoodlums' in San Francisco; and 'Larrikins' in Melbourne. This last phrase is an Irish constable's broad pronunciation of 'larking,' applied to the nightly street performances of these young scamps, there, as elsewhere, a real social pestilence.--See Street Arab.

1848. Guthrie, Plea for Ragged Schools. [In this work the homeless wanderers and children of the streets were spoken of as Arabs of the City, and City Arabs.]

Arbor Vitæ, subs. (old).--The penis. [Latin; = the Tree of Life]. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Arch.--See Ark.

Arch-Cove or Arch-Rogue, subs. (thieves').--The chief or leader of a gang of thieves. [From Greek, archo to be first, to command, to rule + cove, a slang term for a man.] Formerly also dimber damber, upright man.--See Cove and Area sneak.

Archdeacon, subs. (Oxford Univ.).--Merton strong ale.

Arch-Dell or Arch-Doxy, subs. (old).--The wife or female companion of an arch-cove.--See Dell.

Archduke, subs. (old slang).--A buffoon; an eccentric person.