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 Hall, subs. (fishmongers').—1. Specifically the hall = Leadenhall Market. Cf., Garden, Lane, etc.

2. (Oxford Univ.).—Dinner. [Which is taken in College hall.] To hall = to dine.

Go and Hire a Hall. phr. (American).—A retort upon loquacious bores.

Hall by the Sea, subs. phr. (medical students').—The Examination Hall of the conjoined Board of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. [Situate on the Embankment at the foot of Waterloo Bridge.]

Hall of Delight, subs. phr. (Australian).—A music hall.

1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, p. 53. I thought you coons would find your way to this hall of delight.

Hallan-shaker (or Hallen-shaker), subs. (old).—A vagabond or sturdy beggar. For synonyms, see Cadger and Mumper.

c. 1503-4. Dunbar, A General Satyre wks. (ed. David Laing, 1834), ii., 26. Sic knavis and crakkeris to play at cartis and dyce. Sic halland-schakkaris.

c. 1600. Montgomerie, Poems (Scottish Text Soc., 1885-7), Polwart and Montgomerie's Flyting,' p. 85. halland-shaker, draught-raiker, bannock-baiker, ale-beshitten.

(?)1642. Old Ballad. 'Maggie Lauder. Right scornfully she answered him, Begone, you Hallan-shaker.

1724. Journal from London, p. 4. Had seen me than staakin about like a hallen-shaker, You wou'd hae taen me for a water-wraith.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. iv. I, and a wheen Hallenshakers like mysel'.

Halliballo.—See Hulliballo.

Hallion (or Hallyon), subs. (old).—1. A rogue; a clod; a gentleman's servant out of livery; also (2) a shrew. Cf., Hell-cat.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iv. This is a decentish hallion.

1847. Porter, Big Bear, etc., p. 69. The scoundrels! the oudacious little hellions!

Halloo. To halloo with the under dog, verb. phr. (American).—To take the losing side.

Halo. To work the halo racket, verb. phr. (common).—To grumble; to be dissatisfied. [From the story of the Saint in Heaven who got dissatisfied with his nimbus.]

Haltersack, subs. (old).—A gallows-bird; a general term of reproach and contempt.

1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Bazaro, a shifter, a conicatcher a haltersacke.

1619. Beaumont and Fletcher King and no King, ii., 2. Away, you haltersack, you.

Halves, subs. (Winchester College).—(pro. H[=a]ves.) Half-Wellington boots, which were strictly non licet (obs.).—Notions.

To go (or cry) halves, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To take (or claim) a half share or chance. In America, at the halves.

1831. Neal, Down Easters, ch. iv., p. 45. 'Lives by preachin' at the halves a sabba'-days.' 'Preaching at the halves—how's that?' 'Why don't you know? in partnership for what's taken arter the sarmon's over.'

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, III., 122. He'll then again ask if anybody will go him halves.

Ham, subs. (old).—1. (in. pl.) Trousers: also Ham-cases. For synonyms, see Kicks.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hams, Breeches.

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

1791. Bampfylde-Moore Carew, Life. Hams—breeches.