Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 7.pdf/322

 1897. Marshall, Pomes, 76. For no hot summer sun ever dried up the wet Like the lads did—why, some of 'em ain't sober yet.

Adj. (venery).—Spec. of women when secreting letch-water (q.v.). Also to have (do or perform) a bottom-wetter (wet-'un or get a wet bottom) = to copulate: of women only: see Greens and Ride.

1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 123. There's ne'er a rake in all the town Would tip you half of half a crown, Then you'll with aldermen be willing To earn a sixpence or a shilling, Or else in midnight cellars ply For twopence wet and twopence dry.

Wet-blanket. See Blanket.

Wet Boat, subs. phr. (nautical).—A boat that is crank and ships water readily.

1859. Reade, Love me Little, xvii. 'Why don't you go forward, sir? She is sure to wet us abaft.' Thank you, but (with an heroic attempt at sea slang) I like a wet boat.

Wet-bob. See Bob.

Wet-finger. With a wet finger, phr. (old).—Easily, readily: as easy as turning over the leaf of a book, or rubbing out writing on a slate.

1561. Burnynge of Paules Church. There is to manye suche, though ye laugh, and beleve it not, and not hard to shewe them with a wet finger.

1593. Harvey, Pierces Superog., 21. I hate brawls with my heart, and can turn over a volume of wrongs with a wet finger.

1602. Dekker, Honest Whore [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), iii. 255]. If ever I stand in need of a wench that will come with a wet finger, porter thou shalt earn my money. Ibid. (1609), Guls Hornebook [Nott], 160. What gentlewomen or citizen's wives you can with a wet finger have at any time to sup with you.

1615. Beaumont and Fletcher, Cupids Revenge, iv. Take a good heart, man; all the low ward is ours With a wet-finger.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. As bookes are leafe by leafe oft turn'd and tost, So are the garments of a whore (almost): For both of them, with a wet finger may Be folded or unfolded, night or day.

Also in proverbial wheeze (amongst children), 'See my finger wet (licking the finger), see my finger dry (wiping it dry), I'll cut my throat (drawing finger across throat) before I tell a lie' (a strong assurance of veracity).

Wet-goose, subs. phr. (provincial).—A poor simple fellow.

Wetherall. General Wetherall's in command, phr. (military).—Used when a parade is abandoned through inclement weather.

Wether-headed, adj. phr. (old).—Silly, superstitious, a bit off: also Weather-headed. As subs. = a dolt, simpleton, fool: cf. Mutton-head.

1695. Congreve, Love for Love, 11. 7. Sir, is this usage for your son?—for that old weather-headed fool, I know how to laugh at him; but you, Sir—.

Wet-nursed, adj. phr.—1. Coddled, shepherded (q.v.), backed (q.v.); see nurse.

1874. Siliad, 109. Who, ere his whiskers had completely grown, Possessed a comic paper of his own; But though wet-nursed by someone in Debrett, It died quite young.

18[?]. Elec. Rev. (Century). The system of wet-nursing adopted by the Post-office authorities in the case of the telegraph service has not been one of uniform success.