Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/89

 1678. Butler, Hud., iii. ii. 1241. To pass for deep and learned scholars, Although but paltry ob-and-sollers: As if th' unseasonable fools Had been a coursing in the schools.

O-be-easy. To sing 'O be easy,' verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. O be joyful. To sing O be easy: to appear contented when one has cause to complain.

O-be-joyful, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. Whence O-be-joyful works = a drinking shop.

1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. O be joyful, good liquor; brandy.

To make one sing 'O be joyful' on (or with) the other side of the mouth, verb. phr. (old).—To make one cry: see Mouth.—Grose (1785).

Obeum, The, subs. phr. (University).—The name for a water-closet building at Cambridge. [Attributed by the Undergraduates to the energy of O(scar) B(rowning)].

Obfuscated, adj. (common).—Drunk: see Drinks and Screwed. Also obfuscation.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xxi. In a general state of obfuscation, in consequence of being plied with strange liquors by their patrons.

1869. Bradwood, The O. V. H. xxviii. Whose ignorance or temporarily obfuscated brain caused him to mistake his employer for Mr. Blake.

1872. Standard, 30 Dec. He then missed three shillings from his pockets, and a knife. Witness added that he was very much obfusticated at the time, but he was sure there was no other man in the room.

Obit, subs. (journalists').—An obituary notice.

1874. W. Black, in Athenæum, 12 Sept., 353. Some little time ago, the sub-editor of a New York daily newspaper wrote to me begging me to send him the proper materials for the construction of an obit. He said it was the custom of his journal to keep obits in readiness.

Object, subs. (colloquial).—1. A laughing-(or gazing-) stock. Little object (of children) = a half-playful half-angry endearment. Also (2) a sweetheart (i.e. the object of one's affections).

1824. Lockhart, Reginald Dalton, iii. 119. What, roars Macdonald—You puir shanglin' in-kneed scray of a thing! Would ony Christian body even you bit object to a bonny sonsie weel-faured young woman like miss Catline?

Obiquitous, adj. and adv. (American).—Innocence of right and wrong. [From oblivious and obliquity],

Obscute, adj. (American).—Under-handed; 'crooked.'

Observationist, subs. (thieves').—See quot.

1889. Barrere and Leland, Slang, Jargon, and Cant, s.v. Observationist, one who looks out tempting objects for the skilful thief to steal, etc. Generally pedlars, hawkers, etc.

Obstropulous, adj. (vulgar).—A corruption of 'obstreperous.'

1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, viii. I heard him very obstropolous in his sleep.

1762. Smollett, Sir L. Graves, ii. iv. He has been mortally obstropulous, and out of his senses all this blessed day.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. 1. I'm sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropolous manner.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Oil.

1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words and Phrases, s.v. Obstropolous. I was going my rounds and found this here gemman very obstropolous Genuine London dialect.