Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 4.pdf/352

 given to the captain or senior scholar, and helped to defray his expenses at the University.

Month, subs. (old conventional).—In pl. = menses. For synonyms see Flag. Also monthlies.

1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie, s.v. Moneth Woemens moneths, Menstruæ, les mois des femmes.

1617. Minsheu, Guide into Tongues, s.v. A Woman's monthes, or Monthlie Termes. Vide Flowers.

1664. Pepys, Diary (1894), 27 Sept. So home, where my wife having her months upon her is gone to bed.

A bad attack of the end of the month, phr. (common).—Impecuniosity.

Month-of-Sundays, subs. (common).—An indefinitely long time: cf. Greek Kalends.

1850. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, xxvii. I haven't heard more fluent or passionate English this month of sundays.

1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xl. 'I ain't been out of this blessed hole,' he says, 'for a month of sundays.'

1892. Henley and Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, Sc. 2. p. 7. A month of sundays.

Month's mind, subs. phr. (old colloquial).—Longing. [From the cravings of pregnant women].

1596. Hall, Satires, B. 4. s. 4. And sets a month's mind upon smiling May.

1598. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen, i. 2. I see you have a month's mind to them.

1605. London Prodigal, i. 2. He hath a month's mind here to Mistress Frances.

1636. Davenant, Platonic Lovers, ii. 1. Belike then, you have a month's mind to her.

1655. Fuller, Church Hist., B. 4. § 23. The king had more than a month's mind to procure the pope to canonize Henry VI for a saint.

1663-78. Butler, Hudibras [quoted by Johnson]. For if a trumpet sound, or drum beat, Who has not a month's mind to combat?

1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 171]. To have a month's mind to a thing.

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, iii. 1. She has a month's mind; but I know Mr. Mirabell can't abide her.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. Month's-mind a strong inclination. A common phrase in our early dramatists, and still in use.

Mooch. See Mike.

Moocher. See Miker.

Mooching. See Miking.

Mooer, subs. (common).—A cow; a wet-un. Also moo-cow.

1810. Combe, Dr. Syntax, i. 14. The moo-cow low'd, and Grizzle neigh'd.

Moon, subs. (common).—1. A month: specifically (thieves') a term of imprisonment, e.g., one, two, or three moons; long moon = a calendar month or callingder. See Drag.

1823. J. F. Cooper, Pilot, iv. If you wait, sir, till the land-breeze fills your sails, you will wait another moon, I believe.

1830. W. T. Moncrieff, The Heart of London, ii. 1. Mr. S.—Excuse my freedom but his modesty wouldn't permit him to tell you himself—he's been working on the mace—doing it up very blue, and so they've lumbered him for a few moons, that's all.

1848. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, 22. They would return to their village, and spend a moon relating their achievements.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Moon. One month; thirty days' imprisonment.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl. 501. I went on all straight the first few moons (months) at costering.