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 1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 14. The Porpus kept guard O'er bis beautiful mug, as if fearing to hazard One damaging touch in so dandy a mazzard.

1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Mazzard—the face, or perhaps the whole head. 'Tis Irish, and mostly confined to Dublin. 'Toss up the coppers now Thady,' 'head or harp?' 'Harp!' cried Paddy, 'and down came three black mazzards.' 'Chop his mazzard,' a cut in the face.

1833. Cruikshank, Sunday in London, p. 63. Knocking each other over the mazzard for a qvort'n of gin!

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 312 [ed. 1864). 'Here is that shall put fresh marrow into your old bones,' returned Jem, handing him a tumbler of brandy; 'never stint it. I'll be sworn you'll be the better on't, for you look desperate queer, man, about the mazzard.'

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (old).—To knock on the head.

M.B.coat (or waistcoat), subs. (clerical).—A long coat worn by some clergymen. [M.B. = Mark of the Beast]. See Capella.

1853. Dean Conybeare, in Edin. Rev., Oct., p. 315. Who does not recognise the stiff and tie-less neckcloth, the M.B.coat and cassock waistcoat, the cropped hair and un-whiskered cheek?

1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., p. 307/2. He has begun to affect the strictest clerical garb—M.B.waistcoat, hard felt hat with band and tassels.

Meacock, subs. (old colloquial).—1. See quots. 1581, 1584-7, 1590, and 1610; and (2), a hen-pecked husband. (Coles: 'uxorius, uxori nimium deditus et obnoxius').

1563. Appius & Virginius [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), iv. 118]. As stout as a stockfish, as meek as a meacock.

1581. Lyly, Euphues, 109. I shall be compted a mecocke, a milksop.

1584-7. Greene, Carde of Fancie [Grosart (1881-6), iv. 47]. Shall I then proue such a meacocke, or a milkesoppe.

1590. Newes out of Purgatorie (Halliwell). She found fault with him because he was a meacocke and milksoppe.

1593. Nashe, Strange Neues [Grosart (1885), ii. 245]. Meere meacocks and ciphars in comparison of thy excellent out-cast selfe.

1593. Harvey, Pierce's Supererogation [Grosart (1884), ii. 49]. Martin himselfe but a meacocke; and Papphatchet himself but a milkesop.

1603. Dekker, The Batchelars Banquet [Grosart (1886), i. 274]. The poore meacock hauing his courage thus quailed, wil neuer afterwards fal at ods with her.

1610. Mir. for Magistrates, 418. A meacock is he who dreadth to see bloud shed.

1619. Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, v. 2. Fools and meacocks, To endure what you think fit to put upon 'em.

1635. Glapthorne, Hollander [Pearson (1874), i. 98]. They are like my husband, meere meacocks, verily: and cannot lawfully beget a childe once in seaven yeares.

Adj. (old colloquial).—Cowardly.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, ii. 1. 315. 'Tis a world to see How tame, when men and women are alone, A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

1593. Harvey, Pierces Supererog. [Grosart (1885), ii. 17]. The meacock Verse that dares not sing.

Meal. See Square-meal.

Mealer, subs. (teetotallers').—1. A partial abstainer: pledged to take intoxicants only at meals.

2. (colloquial).—One who lodges at one place and boards elsewhere.

1887. Christian Union, 11 Aug. One of those cheap boarding-houses where humanity is resolved into two classes only roomers, and mealers.