Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 7.pdf/173

 1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S. x. 286. Under the heading Topsy-Turvydom, the author says the Japanese do many things in a way that runs directly counter to European ideas.

Top-yob, subs. phr. (back slang).—A pot-boy.

Torch-cul, subs. phr. (old).—Bumfodder (q.v.)—B. E. and Grose.

Torch-race, subs. phr. (Winchester: obsolete).—Formerly, part of the breaking-up ceremony of the winter half-year. On the last morning the boys, after early chapel, rushed out of gates, each bearing a burning birch broom, up College Street and along the wall of the close up to the old White Hart Inn, where breakfast was prepared before the chaises started. This subsequently gave way to a race of Seniors in sedan chairs.

Tormentor, subs. (nautical).—1. A long iron fork: used by cooks at sea.

2. (theatrical).—A first groove wing.

3. (common).—A back-scratcher (q.v.), sense 1.

Tormentor-of-catgut, subs. phr. (old).—A fiddler; a catgut-scraper (Grose).

Tormentor-of-sheepskin, Subs. phr. (old).—A drummer (Grose).

Torn-down, subs. (prov. and American).—An unruly, unmanageable person: as adj. = (1) rebellious; (2) overpowering.

1870. Baker, New Timothy, xxxii. You know I was a girl onst; led the General a dance of it, I tell you. Yes, a real torn-down piece I was.

Torpid (or togger), subs. (Oxford).—(1) A second-class racing eight: corresponding to the Cambridge slogger (q.v.); (2) one of the crew; and (3) in pl. the Lent races: also as adj.

1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, ii. xii. The Misses Green [saw] their brother pulling in one of the fifteen torpids immediately in the wake of the other boats.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxvii. The torpids being filled with the refuse of the rowing men—generally awkward or very young oarsmen—find some difficulty in the act of tossing.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Feb. Twenty-six torpid eights were out at Oxford in training for the races. Ibid., 26 Feb. An undergraduate who is one of their best torpids.

1889. Felstedian, Feb., 11. After the Torpids will come the Clinker Forms—an institution hitherto unknown in Oxford.

1890. Dickens, Dict. Oxford, 18. The Torpid Races last six days.

1900. Westminster Gazette, 21 Feb., 8. 3. Oxford University Torpids. These races were concluded to-day.

1900. St. James's Gaz., 19 Feb. 6. 2. The Torpid races were continued at Oxford on Saturday in fine and pleasant weather, the attendance being large.

4. (Harrow).—A boy who has not been two years in the school.

Torrac, subs. (back slang).—A carrot. 'Ekat a torrac' = an obscene retort.

Torril, subs. (Halliwell).—A worthless woman, or horse.

Torturer of Anthems, subs. phr. (old).—A chorister; a hallelujah howler (q.v.).

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 170. 'I am perfectly well acquainted with that city,' said the brazen-lunged torturer of anthems.

Tortle, verb. (American: Philadelphia).—To shamble away.