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 1846-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxv. So he altered these words, bowing to the superior knowledge of his little missis.

1857. Trollope, Barchester Towers, xxxii. Mr. Harding and Mr. Arabin had all quarrelled with missus for having received a letter from Mr. Slope.

1864. Glasgow Herald, 11 Nov. 'Bankruptcy Examinations.' I did not buy the property in Crown Street. The Mrs. bought a property in Rosehall Street.

Mist. Scotch mist, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Rain.

Mistake. And no mistake, phr. (colloquial).—Unquestionably; without fail.

Mistress, subs. (old).—The mark in the game of bowls; the jack (q.v., sense 2).

1580. Sidney, Arcadia, p. 281. Zelmane using her own byas, to bowl near the mistresse of her own thoughts.

1600. Weakest goes to the Wall, 4to. G. 3. I hope to be as near the mistresse as any of you all.

1602. Shakspeare, Troilus & Cressida, iii. 2. So, so, rub on, and kiss the mistress.

1632. W. Rowley, Woman Never Vext, ii. 1. Everyone strives to lie nearest the mistress. Ibid. iv. 1. This city bowler has kissed the mistress at first cast.

1653. Brome, Queen and Concubine, ii. 3. Rather than to have my head bowl'd at her, though I were sure it should kiss the mistresse.

1655. Fanshaw, Lusiad, ix. 71. Like one That rubs the mistress when his bowl is gone.

1657. Middleton, No Wit like a Woman's, ii. 3. There's three rubs gone, I've a clear way to the mistress.

Mistress Roper, subs. phr. (nautical).—A marine. [Because he handles the ropes awkwardly].

Mite (or Mitey), subs, (common).—A cheesemonger; cf. Burncrust, Corks, etc.

1765. Foote, Commissary, iii. 1. There liv'd Miss Cicely Mite, the only daughter of old Mite the cheesemonger.

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

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mitre, subs. (University).—A hat. See Tufts. For synonyms see Golgotha.

Mitten, subs. (common).—1. A hand. For synonyms see Bunch of Fives.—Grose (1823).

1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.

2. (pugilistic).—A boxing glove; a muffler (q.v.). Also mitts.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

1887. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 2 Dec., 359/2. I'll get him to put the mittens on vid your friend, and have three rounds.

1888. Greenwood, Odd People in Odd Places, p. 56. You see them two there, sitting on t'other end of the table and eating fried fish and bread. That's their mittens they've got tied up in that hankercher. They're fighting coves.

Verb. (common).—To jilt. Also to give the mitten. In Devonshire to give one turnips.

1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches [Bartlett]. Young gentlemen that have got the mitten, or young gentlemen who think they are going to get the mitten, always sigh. It makes them feel bad.

1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 43. Here comes Dana, abstractedly loitering along Involved in a paulo-post-future of song Who'll be going to write what'll never be written Till the Muse, ere he thinks of it, gives him the mitten.

1855. Haliburton ('Sam Slick'), Human Nature, p. 90. There is a young lady I have set my heart on; though whether she is a-goin' to give me hern, or give me the mitten, I ain't quite satisfied.

1868. O. W. Holmes, Guardian