Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/268

 Postillion of the Gospel, subs. phr. (old).—A gabbling parson.—Grose (1785).

Postman, subs. (obsolete legal).—See quot. [The old Court of Exchequer is now merged in the High Court of Justice.]

1765-9. Blackstone, Com., iii. iii. Note. In the courts of exchequer, two of the most experienced barristers, called the post-man and the tub-man (from the places in which they sit), have also a precedence in motions.

Postmaster, subs. (University).—An exhibitioner of Merton College: also portionist.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, vii. I remember Mr. Larkyns telling us that the son of one of his old friends had been a postmaster of Merton.

1886. Oxford Guide [S. J. & C]. The postmasters anciently performed the duties of Choristers, and their payment for this duty was six shillings and fourpence per annum.

Postmaster General, subs. phr. (old).—The prime minister: 'who has the patronage of all posts and places.'—Grose (1785).

Post-mortem, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—The examination after failure.

1844. Puck, 13. I've passed the Post-mortem at last.

Post-anointer, subs. phr. (old).—A house painter.—Grose (1785).

Post-office. A letter in the post-office, subs. phr. (American).—A flying shirt-tail.

Post-office Bible, subs. phr. (Post-office).—The London Delivery Book.

Post-office Prayer-book, subs. phr. (Post-office).—The Post-office Guide.

Pot, subs. (old colloquial).—A quart: the quantity contained in a pot. Whence as verb. = to drink: also (American) to potate; potting = boozing (q.v.); potations (recognised) = a drinking-bout; pot-house (or shop) = a beer-shop, a lush-crib (q.v.); pot-house (or coffee-house) politician = an ignorant, irresponsible spouter of politics; pot-companion = (1) a cup-comrade, and (2) an habitual drunkard: as also = Pot-fury (also = drunkenness), -knight, -head, -leach, -man, -polisher, -sucker, -walloper, potator, potster, toss-pot, and rob-pot; pot-punishment = compulsory tippling; pot-quarrel = a drunken squabble; pot-sick (or -shot) = drunk; pot-sure (-hardy, or -valiant) = emboldened by liquor: cf. Dutch courage (B. E., c.1696, and Grose, 1785); pot-bellied = fat, bloated in stomach as from guzzling: also pot-belly (or guts) = a big-bellied one; pot-revel = a drunken frolic; pot-mania (or potomania) = dipsomania; Sir (or Madam) Pint-pot = a host (or hostess); pot-boy (or -man) = a bar-scullion: whence pot-boy-dom.

1560. Becon, Works [Parker Soc.], 276. Good wife Pint-pot.

1584. [? Monday], Weakest to Wall, iii. 4. Now, mine host rob-pot, empty-can, beer-barrel.

1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, iii. 2. Dro. How sped'st thee after thy potting? Ris. Nay, my master rung all in the taverne, and thrust all out.

1597. Hall, Satires, 1. iii. With some pot-fury they sit and muse.

1598. Lomatius on Painting [Nares]. But these base fellowes I leave in their ale-houses, to take pot-punishment of each other once a day, till, &c.