Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/253

 épinards (cf. Greens); un releveur de fumeuse; un rétrousseur; un roi de la mer; un rouflaquette (in allusion to the kiss-curl); un roule-en-cul (= cunt-pensioner); un rufien (old); un sacristain (see Abbess); un serviteur; un soixante-six; un soute-*neur; un tête de patère; un trimbaleur de rouchies (or de carne pour la sêche); un valet de cœur; un visqueux.

1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., &c., iii. 364. They are a queer set we have to do with in the ranks. The 'pounceys' (the class I have alluded to as fancy-men, called 'pounceys' by my present informant) are far the worst.

1887. Henley, Villon's Good Night, i. You ponces good at talking tall.

Pond (The), subs. (common).—The sea: spec, the North Atlantic Ocean: also herring-pond (q.v.); the big (or great) pond (q.v.); and the puddle (q.v.).—Grose (1785); Bee (1823).

1722. England's Path to Wealth. A finer country, cheaper and better food easier rents and taxes, will tempt many to cross the herring-pond.

1729. Gay, Polly, i. 1. Bless us all! how little are our customs known on this side the herring-pond.

1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S. xviii. He is the best live one that ever cut dirt this side of the big pond, or t'other side either.

1863. Story of a Lancashire Thief, 8. A swell prig who had hooked it from London to escape being slowed, and maybe sent over the herring-pond.

1883. Sala, Living London, 204. Next time Miss Ward crosses the big pond, I hope that she will cross the Rockies.

1890. Tit-Bits, 29 Mar., 388, 3. I may tell you that I came over the big pond for poisoning from jealousy. It wasn't for petty thefts.

1901. D. Telegraph, 7 Oct, 3, 5. Two gentlemen who betrayed a strong American accent offered to buy the house as it stood in order "to lift it bodily across the pond."

Pong, subs, (common).—Beer: also pongelow or pongellorum: as verb. (1) = to drink: see Swipes.

Verb. (theatrical).—2. To vamp a part, or (circus) = to perform; and (3) to talk, to gas (q.v.).

Pongo, subs. (showmen's).—A monkey.

Poniard (or Ponyard), subs, (old: long recognised).—A dagger.—B. E. (c. 1696).

Ponte, subs, (showmen's).—Twenty shillings. [It. pondo = pound.]

Pontie, adv. (common).—On credit; 'on tick' (q.v.).

Pontius Pilate, subs. phr. (common).—A pawn-broker.—Grose (1785).

Pontius Pilate's Body-Guard, subs. phr. (military).—The late 1st Regiment of Foot, now The Royal Scots, the oldest regiment in the service. [When the Régiment de Douglas, and in the French service [1633-78], the officers disputed with the Picardy regiment about the antiquity of their corps. The Picardy men declared they were on duty on the night of the Crucifixion, when the colonel of the 1st Foot replied, "If we had been on guard, we should not have slept at our posts."—Brewer.]—Grose (1785).