Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 3.pdf/234

 2. (common).—A sixpence. In quot. 1785 = 1s. Cf., Hog and Pig.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue Grunter, s.v. A shilling.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 267. One of the men had only taken three 'twelvers' [shillings] and a grunter.

1885. Household Words, 20 June. p. 155. The sixpence is variously known as a 'pig,' a 'sow's baby,' a grunter, and 'half a hog.'

3. (common).—A policeman; a trap (q.v.); a pig (q.v. sense 2). For synonyms, see Beak.

1820. London Magazine, i., 26. As a bonnet against grunters.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. Grunter, s.v., a country constable.

4. (tailors').—An habitual grumbler; a grumble-guts (q.v.)

Grunter's-gig, subs. (old).—A smoked pig's chap.—Grose.

Grunting-cheat, subs. (old).—A pig. See Chete. For synonyms, see Sow's Baby.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 86. She has a cackling-chete, a grunting-chete, ruff pecke, cassan, and poplarr of yarum.

1622. Fletcher, Beggars Bush, v., 1. Or surprising a boor's ken for grunting-cheats? Or cackling-cheats?

Grunting-peck, subs. (old).—Pork or bacon.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew Grunting-peck, s.v., pork.

1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. Smith, Individual. 'The Thieves' Chaunt.' But dearer to me Sue's kisses far Than grunting peck or other grub are.

Gruts, subs. (common).—Tea; For synonyms, see Scandal-broth.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

G. T. T. Gone to Texas, phr. (American).—Absconded. [Moonshining gentry used to mark G. T. T. on the doors of their abandoned dwellings as a consolation for inquiring creditors.] Fr., aller en Belgique. For synonyms, see Swartwort.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 5 S., ch. viii. Before this misfortin' came I used to do a considerable smart chance of business; but now it's time for me to cut dirt, and leave the country. I believe I must hang out the G. T. T. sign.'—'Why, what the plague is that?' says I. 'Gone to Texas,' said he.'

Guage.—See Gage.

Gubbins, subs. (old).—Fish-offal.

1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, q.v.

Gudgeon, subs. (old).—1. A bait; an allurement. Hence, To gudgeon (or to swallow a gudgeon) = to be extremely credulous or gullible.

1598. Shakspeare, Merchant of Venice, i., 1. But fish not with this melancholy bait, For this fool's gudgeon, this opinion.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Bersela, s.v. To swallow a gudgeon to believe any tale.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, Gudgeon, s.v. To swallow the bait, or fall into a trap, from the fish of that name which is easily taken.

1892. National Observer, 23 July, vii., 235. It has educated Hodge into an increased readiness to gorge any gudgeon that may be offered him.

2. (colloquial).—An easy dupe; a buffle (q.v.).

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Guerrilla, subs. (American sharpers').—See quot.