Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 7.pdf/193

 1681. Radcliffe, Poems, 45. Ah London th'adst better have built new Burdellos, T'encourage She-Traders and lusty young Fellows.

d. 1796. Burns [Merry Muses (c. 1800), 52]. Our dame hauds up her wanton tail As due as she gaes lie, An' yet misca's a young thing, The trade if she but try.

Tradesman, subs. (old).—A thief (Grose): see Thief. Hence a regular tradesman = an expert thief: also (common) = a compliment applied to anyone who thoroughly understands his business whatever it may be.

Trades Union (The), subs. phr. (military).—The First (The King's) Dragoon Guards. [At one time most of the officers were sons of tradesmen, which is still an offence in the Cavalry.]

Trading, subs. (American political).—A veiled form of political treachery: a State Governor is to be elected, and at the same election, say, Presidential electors; the one party agree with their political enemies that, in return for votes for their own candidate for Governor, they will vote and procure votes for the others' candidate for President. The practice is susceptible of numerous combinations and devices (Walsh). Whence trading politician = a corrupt, venal elector or candidate; one who is regulated by interest rather than principle.

1839-43. Brougham, Hist. Sketches, 'Canning.' The common herd of trading POLITICIANS.

Tragedy Jack, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A heavy tragedian: in contempt.

Trail, verb. (old).—To quiz, befool, draw out, GET AT (q.v.): also as subs.

1847. Bronte, Jane Eyre, xvii. I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs. Dent: that is, playing on her ignorance; her trail might be clever, but it was decidedly not good-natured.

1900. Kernahan, Scoundrels and Co., xxi. To see the Ishmaelites trail a sufferer from swelled head is to undergo inoculation against that fell malady.

To TRASH A TRAIL, verb. phr. (Western American).—To take to water in order to destroy scent: of human beings as well as animals. Trail-tongs (or -tripes), subs. phr. (common).—A slatternly servant; a dirty puzzle (q.v.). Hence traily = slovenly.

Train, verb, (colloquial).—1. To travel by train, usually with it: cf. ''bus it,' 'foot it,' 'tram it,' etc. Whence to train up = to hurry.

1889. Harpers Mag., lxxvii. 954. From Aberdeen to Edinburgh we trained it by easy stages.

2. (American).—To romp, 'carry on,' act wildly. [Bartlett: 'almost peculiar to the girls of New England,' but cf. sense 3.]

3. (colloquial).—To consort with on familiar terms: e.g., 'Training with such a crowd does not suit me.'

Trainer, subs. (American).—A militia-man; spec. when called out for periodical 'training.'

Traitor. There are traitors at TABLE, phr. (old).—Of a loaf turned the wrong side upwards.

Tram, subs. (colloquial).—A tramway-car: cf. 'bus,' 'rail' 'motor,' etc.