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 TO RIDE THE WILD MARE, verb. phr. (old).—To play at see-saw.

1580. Sidney, Arcadia, ii. With that, bestriding the mast, I gat by little and little towards him, after such manner as boys are wont, if ever you saw that sport, when they ride the wild mare.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., ii. 4. 268. And RIDES THE WILD MARE with the boys.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dict. To RIDE the wild-mare, as children who, sitting upon both ends of a long pole or timber-log (supported only in the middle), lift one another up and downe.

WlLD-OATS, subs. phr. (colloquial).—1. Youthful pranks or folly; hence (2) a rake or debauchee. To sow one's wild oats = to indulge in folly or dissipation, and (by implication) to grow steady.

d. 1570. Becon, Works (1843), 240. The tailors now-a-days are compelled to excogitate, invent, and imagine diversities of fashions for apparel, that they may satisfy the foolish desire of certain light brains and wild oats, which are altogether given to new fangleness.

1573. Tusser, Husbandries 17. Bridle wild otes fantasie.

1576. Touchstone of Complexions, 99. We meane that wilful and unruly age, which lacketh rypeness and discretion, and (as wee saye) hath not sowed all THEYR WYELD OATES.

1602. How a Man may Chuse a Good Wife [Nares]. Well, go to, wild oats! spendthrift, prodigal.

1616-25. Court and Times James I., ii. 85. [A youth is called] the wild oats of Ireland.

1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 178], s.v.

1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Oats. One that has sold his wild oats, or one having run out of all, begins to take up and be more staied.

b. 1707. Durfey, Pills to Purge, &c. (1707), ii. 276. Sow your wild Oats, And mind not her wild Notes.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Oats; he has sowed his wild oats, he is staid, or sober, having left off his wild tricks.

1858. Lytton, What Will He Do With It? viii. v. Poole had picked up some wild oats—he had sown them now.

1874. Siliad, 108. Assorted hosts Besiege the Hebes of the Old Blue Posts, Push in to patronise the Barnes called Ned—Barnes, where, alas! wild oats are garnered.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. Dad's very kind, and makes me a good allowance that I may sow my wild oats, but I seem only to buy more.

Wild-rogue, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—A thorough-paced thief; a rogue brought up to stealing from infancy.

Wild Train, subs. phr. (railway).—A train not on the time-tables of the road, and therefore irregular, and 'not entitled to the track,' as the railroad phrase is, as against a regular train.

William, subs. (commercial).—An acceptance. To meet sweet William = to meet a bill on presentation.

Willow, subs. (cricketers').—A bat.

1892. Cassell's Sat. Jour., 21 Sep., 13. 2. For nearly ten years I earned a living—and a good one—by 'wielding the willow' and hunting the leather.

2 (old).—Mourning. Hence TO WEAR THE WILLOW = to lament the dead.

1595. Shakspeare, 3 Henry VI., iii. 3. 228. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly, I'll wear the willow garment for his sake.

c. 1615. Fletcher, Night Walker, i. We see your willow and are sorry for't, And though it be a wedding we are half mourners.