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 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, iii. xii. The phlegmatic peagoose Asopus.

Peak, subs. (old).—1. Lace.—B. E. (c.1696); Grose (1785).

2. (common).—The nose: see Conk.

Peak-goose. See Pea-goose.

Peaking, subs. (trade).—Remnants of cloth: cf. makings and cabbage.

Peal, subs. (Winchester: obsolete).—(1) A custom in Commoners of singing out comments on Præfects at Cloister-time (g.v.); (2) cheers given on the last three Sundays of the Half for articles of dress, &c, connected with going home, such as "Gomer Hats" (q.v.), Party Rolls (q.v.), &c.; and (3) Chapel bells which were divided into Peals. [Halliwell = a noise or uproar: cf. M. E. apel = an old term in hunting music consisting of three long moots.]

c.1840. Mansfield, School Life, 62. The Junior in chamber had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, 'first peal!' 'second peal!' 'bells down!'

Verb. (old).—To scold.—Grose (1785).

Pealer, subs. (American).—A very energetic person; a rustler (q.v.); a hummer (q.v.).

1869. Stowe, Old Town Folks, 117. She was spoken of with applause under such titles as 'a staver,' a pealer, 'a roarer to work.'

See Peeler.

Peanut-politics, subs. phr. (American).—Secret tactics. [The pea-nut buries its pods after flowering, a process by which the nuts are ripened.]

1887. New York Mail, 27 May. Governor Hill to-day said what he thought of Quarantine Commissioner T. C. Platt's letter, offering to resign his post, if the Governor would consent not to play peanut politics, and would appoint Colonel Fred Grant in his stead.

Pear, verb. (thieves').—To draw supplies from both sides: as from the police for information, and from thieves for a warning: cf. pear-making = bounty jumping.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pear-making. The Cove was fined in the steel for pear making; the fellow was imprisoned in the house of correction for taking bounties from different regiments.

Pea-rigger (or Pea-man). See Thimble-rigger.

Pearl. To make a pearl on the nail, verb. phr. (old).—To drink.—Ray (1767).

Pearlies, subs. (costers').—In pl. = pearl buttons: sewn down the sides of the trousers.

1886-06. Marshall, 'Pomes' from the Pink 'Un ('Bleary Bill'), 60. Oh! why are your pearlies so bright, bleary Bill?

1892. National Observer, 27 Feb., p. 378. Look at my pearlies, Kool my 'ed of 'air.

1894. Chevalier, The Coster's Serenade [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 196]. Me in my pearlies felt a toff that day.

1900. Daily Mail, 23 Mar., 4, 5. Had the soldier had as many buttons to his tunic as the average London coster has pearlies on his holiday inexpressibles, he could speedily have realised a small fortune.

1901. Henley, Hawthorn and Lavender, 78. With pearlies and a barrer and a Jack.

Peas. As like as two peas, phr. (common).—As like as may be.