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 1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Aug., 4, 2. Signs of the so-called silly season, which has been somewhat delayed this year owing to the political crisis, are now beginning to appear.

Silver, subs. (Stock Exchange).—In pl. = India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Telegraph Co. shares. [The works are at Silvertown.]

See Penny.

Silver-beggar (or -lurker), subs. phr. (common).—A tramp with briefs (q.v.) or fakements (q.v.) concerning bogus losses by fire, shipwreck, accident, and the like; guaranteed by forged signatures or shams (q.v.) of clergymen, magistrates, &c, the false subscription-books being known as delicates (q.v.). Also sil = (1) a forged document, and (2) a note on 'The Bank of Elegance' or 'The Bank of Engraving.'

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, xiii. Did you never hear of cadgers, silver-beggars, shallow-coves?

Silver-cooper, subs. phr. (Scots').—See quot.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. You rob and you murder, and you want me to rob and murder, and play the silver-cooper, or kidnapper, as you call it, a dozen times over, and then, Hagel and Sturm! You speak to me of conscience!

Silver-fork, subs. phr. (Winchester: obsolete).—A wooden skewer: used as a chop-stick when forks were scarce (Mansfield, c. 1840).

The Silver Fork School, subs. phr. (obsolete literary).—A school of novelists which laid especial stress on the etiquette of the drawing room: as Theodore Hook, Lady Blessington, Mrs. Trollope, and Lord Lytton. [It is only within the last forty years that the old two-pronged steel fork has been ousted by cheap four-prongs in imitation of silver ware.]

Silver-grays, subs. phr. (American).—At a convention of New York State certain measures being unacceptable, 'many withdrew whose locks were silvered by age,' drawing forth the remark, 'There go the silver grays!' 'The term remains and is the only one now (1859) used to distinguish one branch of the Whig party' (Bartlett).

Silver-hell, subs. phr. (common).—A low-class gambling den: where silver is the usual stake.

1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 1. He's the principal partner in all the silver hells at the West End.

Silver-hook. To catch fish with a silver-hook, verb. phr. (anglers').—To purchase a catch in order to conceal unskilful angling: It. pescar col hamo d'argenta (Ray).

Silver-laced, adj. phr. (old).—Lousy: e.g., 'The cove's kicksies are silver-laced' = 'The fellow's breeches are covered with lice' (Grose).

Silver-spoon. Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth, adj. phr. (colloquial).—Born rich: It. aver la pera monda (= to have his pear ready pared, Ray).

1830. Buckstone, Wreck Ashore, i. 2. Mag. A branch of the aristocracy, and to be one of that order means a man born to a good place; or, as we say in the vulgar tongue, with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Silver State (The), subs. phr. (American).—Nevada.