Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/371

 (Ray) 'more apt to pull in and scrape up, than to give out and communicate: also vice versa'; lean as a rake = as lean as may be.

1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, Prol., 289. As lene was his hors as is a rake.

d.1529. Skelton, Phyllyp Sparowe, 913. His bones crake, Leane as a rake.

1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis [Arber], 89. A meigre leane rake with a long berd.

1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. Maigre. Maigre comme pies, as leane as Rakes (we say).

1614. Terence in English [Nares]. C. Woe is me for you, carrie you such heavie rakes, I pray you? M. Such is my desert.

c.1732. Gay, Works (1784), 11. 115. Lean as a rake with sighs and care.

Raker (or Rake-kennel), subs. (old).—A scavenger: also Jack Raker.

1611. Tarleton, Jests. When the cart came, he asked the raker why he did his businesse so slacklye.

c.1704. Gentleman Instructed, 445. A club of rake-kennels.

To go a raker, verb phr. (racing).—To bet recklessly; to plunge (q.v.). Hence, raker = a heavy bet.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, i. If Bill Greyson takes the Leger it will be with Caterham. I am standing him a raker, and I mean standing him out.

1891. Sportsman, 25 Mar. Jennings, whose usual betting limit is very moderate, indeed, stood to win a raker this time over Lord George.

Rally, subs. (theatrical).—The rough-and-tumble work after the transformation scene in a pantomime.

1880. Sims, Left, 168. Then, when the company found out the trick, the waiters, who were all supers, started a rally, and threw the things at each other.

1885. D. Telegraph, 16 Nov. Provide comic actors, pantomimes, rallies, and breakdowns.

Ralph, subs. (American).—1. A fool: also Ralph Spooner.—B. E. (c.1696); Grose (1785).

2. (printers').—A mischief-mongering deus ex machinâ: the supposed author of the tricks played on a recalcitrant member of a chapel (q.v.).

Ram, subs. (American University).—1. A practical joke; a hoax.

2. (venery).—An act of coition: hence, as verb. = to possess a woman: cf. Ramrod and see Ride.

The rams, subs. phr. (American).—Delirium tremens: see Gallon-distemper.

To ram one's face in, verb. phr. (American).—To intrude; to meddle.

Ramagious, adj. (old).—'Untamed, wild.'—Coles (1717).

Ram-booze (or -buze). See Rum.

Rambounge, subs. (Scots').—'A severe brush of labour most probably a cant term.'—Jamieson.

Rambustious, Rambunctious, Rambumptious, Ramgumption, Ramfeezled, Ramshackle, Ramstrugenous, and similar words. See Rumgumption.

Ramcat (or ran-cat cove), subs. phr. (thieves').—A man wearing furs.