Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 4.pdf/22

 Ironmonger's-shop. To keep an ironmonger's shop by the side of a common, where the sheriff sets one up, verb. phr. (old).—To be hanged in chains. For synonyms see Ladder.—Grose (1785).

Iron-rations, subs. (nautical).—Tinned meat: specifically boiled salt-beef. See Bully-beef.

Iron-toothpick, subs. (military).—A sword. For synonyms see Poker.

Irrigate, verb. (common).—To take a drink; to liquor up. For synonyms see Drinks. Also to irrigate one's canal.

1708. Philips, Cyder, ii. Their frying blood compels to irrigate their dry-furred tongues.

1892. John Hill, Treason Felony, ii. 106. They went into the Hotel de Florence in Rupert Street and ate a seconda collazione or déjeuner à la fourchette, irrigated with Barolo.

Isabella, subs. (rhyming).—An umbrella. For synonyms see Mushroom.

Island. To drink out of the island, subs. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Island. He drank out of the bottle till he saw the island: the island is the rising bottom of a wine bottle, which appears like an island in the centre, before the bottle is quite empty.

Island of Bermuda.—See Bermudas.

Isle-of-Fling, subs. (East End). A coat. For synonyms see Capella.

Issues. To pool one's issues, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To work in unison; to come to an understanding for mutual advantage.

Isthmus-of-Suez, subs. (Cambridge university).—The bridge at St. John's College Cambridge, leading from the grounds to one of the Courts, familiarly known as the 'Bridge of Sighs'. Also the bridge of grunts. [From its slight similiarity to the Venetian example Sues = swine, in punning reference to the Johnian Hogs (q.v.). See Crackle and Hog.

1857. Punch, June 20. A resident Fellowe he was, I wis, He had no cure of Soules; And across ye bridge of sues he'd come From playinge ye game of bowles.

1885. Cuthbert Bede, in N. & Q., 6, S. xi. 414. Another word is Sues, for swine. This is applied to the bridge leading from the old courts to the new, familiarly known as the bridge of sighs from its slight similiarity to the Venetian example, but also known as the isthmus of suez. This word Suez was then transformed to Suez, swine, to adapt it to its Johnian frequenters.

I subscribe, phr. (common).—A response to an invitation to drink. For synonyms see Drinks.

I suppose, subs. (rhyming).—The nose.

1859. Du Cange Anglicus, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. I gave him a blow with this neddy on the i-suppose.

It, subs. (common).—1. A chamber-*pot.

English synonyms. Bishop; chantie (Scots'); jerry; jordan; jerker; jockum-gage; lagging-gage; looking-glass; member-mug; mingo; piss-pot; po; smoker; smokeshell; tea-voider; thunder-mug; twiss.

French synonyms. Un Thomas (popular: also la mère or la veuve Thomas = night-stool); la cassolette (popular = perfuming-pan); un dépotoir