Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/94

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1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxviii. Two or three 'hallos!' and 'now thens!' accompanied by a strong recommendation to cheese it (i.e., act of cessation), causes these trifling annoyances to cease.

1864. Times, 7 December. He shouted 'Murder!' as well as he could, and the cries he made bringing assistance, he heard one of the men just before they let go of him call out 'Cheese it, cheese it,' which a policeman said meant make off.

1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 3, col. 3. 'Cheese that,' cried Bill. 'The genelman's agoin' to read, and I am agoin' to listen.'

Cheese-Boxes, subs. (American).—A Confederate nickname for vessels of the 'Monitor' type; first applied during the Civil War [1860-65]. Cf., tinclads (q,v.).

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 335. The great inventor has not made it known what induced him to choose the name ['Monitor']: hence etymologists have evolved it out of their inner consciousness that he must have borrowed it from Gray's Monitor Dracæna, a large lizard covered with impenetrable armour. Irreverent Confederates called the hideous-looking vessels cheese-boxes, and apparently one designation is, etymologically, though not æsthetically, as good as the other.

Cheesecutter, subs. (common).—1. A prominent, aquiline nose. For synonyms, see Conk.

2. (common).—A large, square peak to a cap; the abat-jour of the Zouaves.

3. (in plural).—Bandy-legs. For synonyms, see Drumsticks.

Cheese-Knife, subs. (military).—A sword. For synonyms, see Cheese-toaster.

Cheesemongers.—A popular name for the First Lifeguards until the Peninsular War. The term then fell into desuetude; but at Waterloo the commanding officer of the regiment had not forgotten it, and when leading to the charge, he called out, 'Come on, you damned Cheesemongers!' an invitation accepted so heartily that the title was restored, with the difference that it was no longer a word of reproach. [Some say that the nickname came from their exclusive home service until the time of the Peninsular War; others that it was bestowed on account of the old gentlemen in the corps declining to serve when it was remodelled in 1788, on the ground that the ranks were no longer composed of gentlemen, but of cheesemongers.] Also called The cheeses.

Cheeser, subs. (old).—An eructation. The Spanish has una pluma (f; literally 'a feather'); zullenco (a common colloquialism); soltar el preso (soltar = 'to unloose,' or 'to untie'; preso = 'a prisoner').

Cheeses.—See Cheesemongers.

Cheese-Toaster, subs. (military).—A sword.

English Synonyms. Toasting-fork; toasting iron; sharp; knitting-needle; iron; cheese-knife; toll; poker.

French Synonyms. Un astic (thieves': from the German Stich); l'aiguille à tricoter les côtes (military: l'aiguille à tricoter = knitting-needle, côtes = ribs); l'entrecôte (popular); un charlemagne (military; a bayonet-sabre); un Bon-Dieu (military); une curette