Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/90

 1876. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (Miss Jarvis). But their minds is so awful perverted—they're such an obstropolous pack.

Occapot, subs. (back-slang).—Tobacco; tib fo occabot = bit of tobacco.

Occasion. To improve the occasion, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make the most of a chance.

1860. Dickens, Uncommercial Traveller; ii. 6. This serene avoidance of the least attempt to improve an occasion which might be supposed to have sunk of its own weight into my heart.

1865. G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, lxii. The faces of the congregation wore an expectant look, for they knew Mr. Turnbull would improve the occasion.

1867. A. Trollope, Claverings, xliv. He improved the occasion by telling those around him that they should so live as to be ever ready for the hand of death.

1869. Freeman, Norm. Cong. III., xii. 159. His next thought was how to improve the occasion.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illustr. London News, 27 Oct., 395, 2. I am obliged to 'Nominis Umbra' for his information; but I improve the occasion by observing that I am resolved for the future not to take the slightest notice of anonymous communications.

Occupant, subs. (old).—1. A prostitute; cf. occupy. See Barrack-hack and Tart.

1598. Marston, Satires [Nares]. He with his occupant Are cling'd so close, like dew-wormes in the morn, That he'll not stir.

2. (old).—A bawdy-house; a brothel. See Nanny-house.

Occupy, verb. (old).—1. To copulate: see Greens and Ride.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., ii. 4. These villains will make the word captain as odious as the word occupy.

1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Negotiare to occupie a woman. Ibid. a good wench, one that occupies freely.

1620-50. Percy Folio MS., 104. I bluntlye asket pro to occupye her; but first shee wold know wherfore that was good.

1640. Ben Jonson, Epigr., 117. Groyne, come of age, his state sold out of hand For's whore: Groyne still doth occupy his land.

1648. Ben Jonson, Discoveries, vii. 119. Many, out of their own obscene apprehensions, refuse proper and fit words, as occupy, nature, and the like.

1656. Fletcher, Martiall, xi. 98. I can swive four times in a night: but thee Once in four years I cannot occupie.

d.1680. Rochester, B's Answer. The only bawd that ever I, For want of whore, could occupy.

1719. Durfey, Pills to Purge, v. 139. For she will be occupied when others lay still.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Occupy. To occupy a woman, to have carnal knowledge of her. Ibid. Now all good men upon your lives, Turn round and occupy your wives, And when that you have done your best, Turn arse to arse and take your rest.

2. (American thieves').—To wear.—Matsell (1859).

Occupying-house, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. and Nanny-house.

1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Chiausterio, an occupying house, a bawdy house.

Ocean, subs. (colloquial).—In pl. = a very large quantity: e.g. oceans of drink, of coin, of 'notices,' and the like.

Ocean-greyhound, subs. phr. (common).—A swift steamer: specifically one running between England and America. Also Atlantic Greyhound. Mr. T. Dykes (Glasgow Mail, 28 May, 1900), says that in 1882 three great shipbuilding yards—Barrow, Dalmuir, and Fairfield—*