Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/357

 Dutch-Gleek, subs. (old). Drinks.

1654. Gayton, Fest. Notes, p. 96. Nor could be partaker of any of the good cheer, except it were the liquid part of it, which they call dutch gleek, where he plaied his cards so well, and vied and revled so often, that he had scarce an eye to see withall.

Dutchman. I'm a Dutchman if I do, phr. (common).—A strong refusal. [During the wars between England and Holland, Dutch was synonymous with all that was false and hateful; therefore, 'I would rather be a Dutchman' = the strongest term of refusal that words could express.]

1855. Earl Russell, Memoirs of Thomas Moore. Cope mentioned a good specimen of English-French, and the astonishment of the French people who heard it, not conceiving what it could mean—'Si je fais, je fais; mais si je fais, je suis un Hollandais.' 'If I do, I do; but if I do, I'm a dutchman.'

Dutchman's-Breeches, subs. (nautical).—Two streaks of blue in a cloudy sky.

Dutchman's-Drink, subs. (common).—A draught that empties the pot.

Dutch-treat, subs. (common).—An entertainment where everyone pays his shot.

1887. Lippincott's Mag., Aug., p. 191. 'You'll come along too, won't you?' Lancelot demanded of Ormizon! Dutch treat, vous savez!

Dutch Uncle. I will talk to you like a Dutch uncle, phr. (common).—I will reprove you smartly. [The Dutch were renowned for the brutality of their discipline. Uncle is the Latin notion of pat'ruus, 'an uncle,' 'severe guardian,' or 'stern castigator.' Hence Horace, 3 Od. xii. 3, Metuentes patruæ verbera linguæ (dreading the castigations of an uncle's tongue); and 2 Sat. iii. 88, Ne sis patruus mihi (Don't come the uncle over me). A Dutch uncle = therefore, an uncle of peculiar fierceness.]

1853. Notes and Queries, 1 S., vii., 65. In some parts of America, when a person has determined to give another a regular lecture, he will often be heard to say, I will talk to him like a dutch uncle; that is, he shall not escape this time.

1869. East Anglian, vol. III., p. 350. [In list of Suffolk sea words]: 'There were the squires on the bench, but I took heart, and talked to 'em like a dutch uncle.'

Dutch-widow, subs. (old).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and cf., Grass-widow.

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, III., iii. Dra. Yes, a dutch widow. Hoa. How? Dra. That's an English drab, sir.

Dutch-wife, subs. (common).—A bolster.

Dying in a Horse's Nightcap. Dying by the rope; cf., Horse's Nightcap.