Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/408

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1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. xv. A soldier, who was one of the most brilliant fire-eaters of his regiment.

Fire-escape, subs. (common).—A clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Fire-prigger, subs. (old).—A thief whose venue is a conflagration.—Grose [1785].

Fireship, subs. (old).—A tainted whore. For general synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Fire-spaniel, subs. (military).—A soldier who 'nurses' the barrack-room fire. Some English synonyms are, fire-dog; fire-worshipper; chimney-ornament; fender-guard; and cuddle-chimney.

Firewater, subs. (American).—Ardent spirits.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xiv. Yes. And awful firewater we used to get. The governor supplied me, like a wise man.

Fireworks, subs. (common).—A state of disturbance; mental excitement: e.g., fireworks on the brain = to be in a fluster.

Firk, verb (old).—To beat.

1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iv., 6. Pistol. I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.

Firkytoodle, verb (common).—To indulge in sexual endearments. Also Firkytoodling = preliminary caresses.

English Synonyms.—To canoodle; to fiddle; to mess (or pull) about; to slewther (Irish); to spoon; to crooky; to fam; to dildo; to caterwaul; to feel; to finger; to fumble; to grope; to clitorize; to touch up; to tip the long (or middle) finger; to guddle (Scots.)

French Synonyms. Mignoter (popular); jouer de la harpe (familiar: Leroux, in Dict. Comique, says: 'Jouer de la harpe signifie jouer des mains auprès d'une femme, la patiner, lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller, la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec les doigts); la petite oie (= preliminary favours); faire des horreurs (popular: des horreurs = broad or 'blue' talk; dire des horreurs = to talk bawd); bécoter (popular: = to make hot love); chouchouter (familiar: chouchou = darling).

Spanish Synonyms. Garatusa (= an act of endearment); caroca (generally used in plural, carocas = endearments); amoricones (vulgar).

Firmed.—See Well-firmed.

First-chop, adj. (common).—First rate. [From Hind., chaap, a stamp, an official mark on weights and measures; hence used to signify quality.] Also second-chop (q.v.).

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. 'As for poetry, I hate poetry.' 'Pens is not first-chop,' says Warrington.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke's Children, ch. lxviii. Old Beeswax thinks that if he can get me up to swear that he and his crew are real first-chop hands, that will hit the governor hard.

First Flight. In the first flight, subs. phr. (sporting).—Those first in at the finish; in fox-hunting those in at the death.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxix. Then you promise you will dine with me at Lovegrove's, on Thursday,