Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 4.pdf/289

 Mark of mouth, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The tale told by the teeth. (Originally horse-copers'). Cf. the proverb :—'You mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth.'

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, v111. From a distant corner two ancient virgins, long past mark of mouth.

Marker, subs. (Cambridge University).—A person employed to walk up and down chapel during a part of the service, pricking off the names of the students present.

1849. Blackwood's Mag., May. His name, pricked off upon the marker's roll, No twinge of conscience racks his easy soul.

Market, subs. (racing).—The betting ring.

To drive pigs to market. See Pigs.

Market-dame, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1705-7. E. Ward, Hudibras Rediv., II. ii. (1715), 25. Punks, Strolers, market dames, and Bunters.

Marketeer, subs. (racing).—A betting man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites and their diseases: the principal agent in all milking (q.v.) and knocking-out (q.v.) transactions.

1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 116. The marketeer started a few rods with him.

Market-fever. See Pencil-fever.

Market-horse, subs. (racing).—A horse kept on the lists for the sake of the betting.

Market-place, subs. (provincial).—The front teeth.

Marking, subs. (thieves').—1. A watcher; a stall (q.v.).—Matsell.

2. (thieves').—See quot.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Marking. Observing; taking notice.

Marley-slopper, subs. (street).—See quot.

1887. Walford's Antiquarian, 252. A marley-slopper is a splay-footed person. Marley is a corruption of marble In playing it is common for a boy to put his heels together, and turn out his toes to stop an eccentric marble.

Marmalade. True marmalade, subs. phr. (common).—A variant of 'real jam' (q.v.).

Marmozet, subs. (old).—An endearment; also in jocular contempt, as monkey (q.v.).

1607. Puritan, i. 3. Why, do't now then, marmozet.

Marm-puss, subs. phr. (tailors').—A wife.

Maroon, verb. (nautical).—See quot. Hence, Maroon, subs. = a man marooned.

1862. Mayne Reid, The Maroon [Title].

1892. Leisure Hour, Jan., p. 172. Stealing was punished with great severity, generally by marooning—i.e. abandonment on a desert isle, with a little powder and shot and a flask of water.

Marplot, subs. (old; now recognised).—An officious bungler; a spoil-sport (q.v.). [From a character in The Busybody; see quot. 1709].