Dictionary of Americanisms, by John Russell Bartlett. (NY: Bartlett and Welford, 1848)
[Transcriber's note: A Greek word appears in the definition of "Squash"; because HTML supports the letters in the word, no image of that passage has been included.]
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APPENDIX.
A.
AMBIA. Used in Virginia and the Carolinas for tobacco juice. It is a euphemism for the spittle produced by this voluntary ptyalism.
AVAILABILITY. Quality of being available.--Worcester. That qualification in a candidate which implies or supposes a strong probability of his success, apart from substantial merit--a probability resulting from mere personal or accidental popularity. The thing has long existed in the Papal Government, where the advanced age of a candidate for the triple crown has often been the motive of his election; the idea being that he would soon die out of the way and leave the chair vacant for a new trial of strength under more favorable auspices, perhaps, for some of the electing cardinals.
Inoffensiveness--exemption from strong hostility in any quarter--is a frequent element of availability. [J. Inman.]
As this word is not noticed by any lexicographer except Dr. Worcester, and is now much used, it is thought advisable to give several examples of its use.
For some months past, a regular system of crying down Mr. Clay as unavailable, has been prosecuted with indefatigable energy and adroitness throughout the Union. ..... Mr. Clay is a great man--able statesman--all of us prefer him to anybody else if he could be elected, but I'm afraid he isn't available.--Letter in N. Y. Tribune, May, 1848.
The only possible motive for the choice of Mr. Cass that we can imagine, is his presumed "availability," the elements of this being his known predilection, real or assumed, for territorial acquisition in all quarters, by
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These political Conventions are certainly becoming more odious and objectionable from year to year, and availability, not merit or qualifications, is the only requisite to secure a nomination.--Baltimore Cor. of the N. Y. Herald, May, 1848.
At a Democratic meeting held in New York to ratify the nomination of Gen. Cass, Mr. McAllister, of Georgia, said that
Henry Clay, about whom the Whig party had professed such ardent attachment, had been carried upon the altar of availability, and there sacrificed by the hands of his pretended friends, and inquired what kind of a spectacle it presented to the young men of our country with ardent spirits--young men who have attached themselves for a time to the car of Whigism.--N. Y. Herald, June, 1848.
At the same meeting the Hon. James Bowlin, of Missouri, thus expressed himself, in relation to General Taylor:
The Whigs within the last few days have presented candidates for the highest office in the gift of the people, who are without any principles. ... What do they mean by this in thus presenting candidates who have no principles? They proceed on the principle of mere availability, and nothing else. They are again going to insult your judgments, and tarnish the character of the nation by their exhibitions of coon-skins and hard cider, and their midnight debaucheries, as they did in 1840.--Report in N. Y. Herald, June 12, 1848.
B.
BAY STATE. The State of Massachusetts. The original name of the Colony was Massachusetts Bay. Hence, among the New England people it was usually called the Bay State.
BEAR STATE. A name by which the State of Arkansas is known at the West. I once asked a Western man if Arkansas abounded in bears, that it should be designated as the 'Bear State?' "Yes," said he, "it does; for I never knew a man from that State but he was a bar, and in fact the people are all barish to a degree."
BELIKED. Liked; beloved. A Western term.
I do believe me and Nancy was beliked by the Indians, and many's the venison and turkey they fotch'd us as a sort of present, and may be a kind
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BOLIVAR HAT. A Leghorn bonnet, with a broad brim, worn a few years since.
BUCK. A frame or stand of peculiar construction on which wood is sawn for fuel. In New England it is called a saw-horse.
BULLION STATE. The State of Missouri; so called in consequence of the exertions made by its Senator, Mr. Benton, in favor of a gold and silver currency, in opposition to banks and a paper currency. The honorable Senator was often nicknamed old Bullion, and the State he represented, the Bullion State.
At the Democratic meeting in New York, June 12, 1848, to ratify the nomination of Gen. Cass, the Hon. James Bowlin, of Missouri, in denouncing the Whig party, said:
I deny that the election of 1840 was carried by the people. It was carried by duplicity. It was carried by the unfortunate state of the times, which was not the result of Democratic rule, and by false charges against the American Democracy; and, thank God, in my own State, in the Bullion State, they did not succeed in depreciating our majority.--N. Y. Herald, June 13, 1848.
BUNGO. A kind of boat used at the South.
The most urgent steps were being taken to press every bungo and canoe to the immediate relief of the people along the coast, in order to embark them without delay.--N. O. Picayune.
BURGALL. (Ctenolabrus ceruleus.) A small fish very common in New York; also found on the coast of New England, and as far South as Delaware Bay. The usual length is about six inches, though they are sometimes found twelve inches. Other names for the same fish are Nibbler, from its nibbling off the bait when thrown for other fishes, Chogset, the Indian name, and in New England, those of Blue Perch and Conner.
C.
CABOODLE. The whole caboodle is a common expression, meaning the whole. I know not the origin of the word. It
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is used in all the Northern States and New England. The word boodle is used in the same manner.
They may recommend, to the electors of Hamilton county, to disregard so much of the law as constitutes two election districts of Hamilton county. Having done this, Medary will be looking out for a job--Olds will be often in Fairfield, cozening for a nomination to Congress--and the whole caboodle will act upon the recommendation of the Ohio Sun, and endeavor to secure a triumph in the old-fashion way.--Ohio State Journal.
CARLACUE. A caper; a boyish trick. 'To cut up carlacues,' is a common expression, equivalent to cutting up didoes.' Used in New York.
CASTOR. (Latin.) A beaver; hence, a hat.
"I trembled, I own, where the bravest would shrink,
Each moment expecting some horrid disaster;
Then my head gave a spin, and I lost--what d'ye think?"
Said St. Peter, "Most likely your castor."--New York Sunday Courier.
CATCH. A term used among fishermen to denote a quantity of fish taken at one time.
It is said that the catch of blue fish in the inlet and river is greater than ever known so early in the season, and that they are served up secundem artem at Mr. Willistons.--N. Y. Courier and Enquirer, June 24.
CHAISE. A light two-wheeled pleasure carriage drawn by one horse. In New England it is called a chaise, in New York, a gig.
CHOGSET. The Indian name of a small fish known in New York as the Burgall, which see.
CHUNK or CHUNKEE YARD. A name given by the white traders to the oblong four-square yards adjoining the high mounts and rotundas of the modern Indians of Florida. In the centre of these stands the obelisk, and at each corner of the farther end stands a slave post, or strong stake, where the captives that are burnt alive are bound.--Bartram.
The pyramidal hills or artificial mounts, and highways or avenues, leading from them to artificial lakes or ponds, vast tetragon terraces, chunk-yards, and obelisks or pillars of wood, are the only monuments of labor, ingenuity, and magnificence, that I have seen worthy of notice.--Bartram, Travels in Florida (1773), p.518.
This is doubtless an Indian term, and the enclosure a place
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where the natives played a game called chunkee, as will appear by the following extract from Du Pratz:
"The warriors practise a diversion which they call the game of the pole, at which only two play at a time. Each pole is about eight feet long, resembling a Roman f, and the game consists in rolling a flat round stone, about three inches in diameter and one inch thick, and throwing the pole in such a manner, that when the stone rests the pole may be at or near it. Both the antagonists throw their poles at the same time, and he whose pole is nearest the stone counts one, and has the right of rolling the stone."--Hist. of Louisiana, 1720.
Adair speaks of the same game, which is by the Indians called chungke.--History American Indians, p. 402. Catlin notices the same among the Mandans and Creeks, called by them Tchungkee.--Catlin's Indians, Vol. I. p. 132.
TO CIRCULATE. To travel. Used in this sense many times in a pamphlet on the "Frauds, Extortions, and Oppressions of the Railroad Monopoly in New Jersey." In comparing the rates of travel in various States, by which it is shown that the rates in New Jersey are the highest in the world, the author says:
Arriving in Maryland, a slave State, he circulates at a cost of from three to five cents per mile.
COME-OUTERS. This name has been applied to a considerable number of persons in various parts of the Northern States, principally in New England, who have recently come out of the various religious denominations with which they have been connected; hence the name. They have not themselves assumed any distinctive organization. They have no creed, believing that every one should be left free to hold such opinions on religious subjects as he pleases, without being held accountable for the same to any human authority.
They hold a diversity of opinions on many points--some believing in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and others that they are but human compositions. They believe Jesus Christ to have been a divinely inspired teacher, and his religion, a revelation of eternal truth; that according to his teachings, true religion consists in purity of heart, holiness
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of life, and not in opinions; that Christianity, as it existed in Christ, is a life rather than a belief.--Evans's History of Religions, with Additions by an American Editor.
CONIACKER. A counterfeiter of coin.
CONNIPTION FIT. This term is exclusively used by the fair sex, who can best explain its meaning. As near as I can judge, conniption fits are tantrums.
TO COUNT. To reckon; suppose; think.
Newman. You'll pass muster! a proper fine fellow.
Doolittle. I calculate I be.
Newman. Ready to enter on duty?
Doolittle. I should be glad to know what kind of way you count to improve me.--D.
Humphreys, The Yankee in England.
Count St. Luc. Read the superscription. You can read?
Doolittle. I count I can--and spell, too.--Ibid.
D.
DARN. An expletive in very general use among the vulgar, instead of damn.
To count things on my finger-ends, but something seems to ail 'em.
There's my left hand? O, darn it, yes, I recollect what's come on 't,
I haint no left arm but my right, and that's got jest a thumb on 't.--Poetical Epistle from a Volunteer.
DASSENT, for dares not. It is vulgarly used in all persons and numbers.
DEAD HEADS. Persons who drink at a bar, ride in an omnibus, or railroad car, travel in steamboats, or visit the theatre without charge, are called dead heads. These consist of the engineers, conductors, and laborers on railroads; the keepers of hotels; the editors of newspapers, &c.
DEAD HORSE. Work for which one has been paid before it is performed. When a workman, on Saturday night, includes in his bill work not yet finished, he is said the following week to 'work off a dead horse.'
DIPSY. A term applied in some parts of Pennsylvania to the float of a fishing-line.
DOBBER. A float to a fishing-line. So called in New York.
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DOUGH-FACES. This term may be regarded as nearly or quite synonymous with another not very much unlike it in form--the English "nose of wax." Generally it means a pliable politician--one who is accessible to personal influences and considerations. It was first applied, however, by John Randolph, of Roanoke, to such Northern members of Congress as manifested especial willingness to fall in with the views and demands of the South on questions involving the "peculiar institution," alias slavery. "These Northern doughfaces," he said, with an intensity of contempt, which may be imagined only by those who have seen and heard him in his sarcastic mood. [J. Inman.]
Thanks to a kind Providence, and the manly straight-forwardness of John C. Calhoun, the great question of extension or non-extension of human slavery under the flag of this Republic is to be pressed to a decision now. Desperate, idolatrous, and blind as is his devotion to slavery, we would sooner see him President to-morrow than any dough-face in the Union. He is no smooth-tongued parasite--no oily wriggler between resorts which he pronounces more and most detestable. He always strikes directly for what he wants, and boldly for all he wants, and in this boldness finds the elements of success.--N. Y. Tribune, June 29, 1848.
This term has very recently been taken up by the Southerners themselves, to denote men who are false to the principles of slavery, as Northern dough-faces are to the principles of freedom.
There was a disposition in the Senate to evade the question--to slip a bill for the establishment of the Oregon territory through the Senate, without calling attention to the Slavery question, and under the immediate pressure of the demand made for the military defence of the territory from the Indians. The Whigs of the North and of the South were silent. The Democratic Cass men of the North and of the South were mum. Two-thirds of the Senate were dough-faced. There are Southern as well as Northern dough-faces; men looking to the spoils care not for principles, whether they be of the North or of the South.--Washington Cor. N. Y. Com. Adv., June 4, 1848.
I say to our Southern friends, deliver to us the dough-faces; deliver them to our tender mercies. We Democrats of the West and of the North-west will take care of our interests and of yours also. We keep our eyes on the old land-marks--on the letter of the Constitution. You have rights guaranteed to you in the South, and we in the West. You have one species of property, and we another. We have been charged with being dough-faces; and gentlemen who make this charge not only go
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E.
EAST. About east, is about right; in the proper manner. A common slang expression in New England. See walk into, for an example.
EMPIRE STATE. The State of New York; so called from the enterprise of its people, its wealth, population, extent of canals, railroads, etc. In fact everything done by New York is on a grand scale. Hence the name.
F.
FARZINO. As far as I know. See Farziner.
Gen. And what kind of characters are the Count and Countess?
Doolittle. Why, I ha'nt been here such a despud while, as to have larnt myself much about the matter. But by hearsay, they are a topping sort of people, and pretty much like the Boston folks, full of notions. At times, he is obstropulous. He may be a straight-going critter, farzino, manwards; but in his dealings with t'other sex, he is a little twistical.--D. Humphreys, Yankee in England.
FENCE-RIDING. Sitting on the fence, i. e. keeping neutral in politics.
The South will not vote for a Northern candidate, who is nominated as such, nor the North for a Southern man, who is nominated on exclusive Southern principles. In this matter there can be no neutral ground. The dividing line is narrow, but distinct; it admits of no fence-riding; the candidate must be on one side or the other; and when the time shall come, that either the North or the South adopts a candidate on sectional grounds. it will not be difficult to foretell the issue.--N. Y. Mirror.
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FRESH. Forward; as, 'don't make yourself too fresh here;' that is to say, not quite so much at home.
Considering that this man is so new a recruit in the party, it is not exactly modest for him to make himself quite so fresh in its counsels.--Newspaper.
G.
GAL. A Vulgar pronunciation of girl, common alike in England and America.
GALLS. A kind of low lands in Florida. They consist of a matted soil of vegetable fibres, spongy and treacherous to the foot, unpleasant as well as dangerous to cross.--Vignoles, Florida, p. 91.
TO GOOSE BOOTS. To repair them by putting on a new front half way up, and a new bottom.
GOPHER. In Georgia a species of land turtle, burrowing in the ground in the low country. It is able to walk with a heavy man on its back.--Sherwood's Georgia.
GOPHER. A little animal found in the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. See Prairie Dog.
GRANITE STATE. The State of New Hampshire, so called from the abundance of this material found in it.
GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE. The State of Vermont.
H.
HAMMOCK. In Florida, a term given to a particular kind of land. The low hammocks are the richest in the country, and are capable of producing, for many successive years, rich crops of sugar, corn, hemp, or other equally exhausting productions. In their primitive state they are clothed with so heavy a growth of timber and underwood, that the task of clearing them is appalling. The low hammocks are, if possible, more dense in their growth than the others, but the coat of vegetable matter is thin, and the white sand lies within
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a foot or eighteen inches of the surface. They are also very productive.--Vignoles, Florida, p. 87.
"HEAD QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SOUTH,}
"FORT BROOKE, July 29th, 1838.}
"SIR:--I have the honor to inclose you a communication this moment received, on the subject of procuring bloodhounds from the Island of Cuba, to aid the army in its operations against the hostiles in Florida.
"I am decidedly in favor of the measure, and beg leave to urge it as the only means of ridding the country of the Indians who are now broken up into small parties, and take shelter in swamps and hammocks as the army approaches, making it impossible for us to follow or overtake them without the aid of such auxiliaries.
"I wish it distinctly understood that my object in employing dogs, is only to ascertain where the Indians can be found, not to worry them.
"I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.,
"Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen.
U. S. A. Commanding."
HAT. Our American women have almost discarded the word bonnet, except in "sun-bonnet," and use the term hat instead. A like fate has befallen the word gown, for which they commonly use frock or dress.
HAW-BUCK. A term used by the farmers in driving their oxen; and hence often applied to a rough and unpolished man from the country.
"Mr. Jones," says a sleek, cunning, demure expectant of something nice in case of a Whig triumph, to a bluff, haw-buck sort of a fellow whom he drops in upon on one of his circuits, "who do you think we ought to run for President this time?" "Run who?" retorts Mr. Jones, "Harry Clay, to be sure--I haven't heard anybody else talked of up our way."--N. Y. Mirror.
HELP. The common term in New England for a domestic servant--also for the operatives in a cotton or woolen factory.
Newman. I speak; I command; all budge; all jump. I don't often stand to hear servants argue.
Doolittle. Servants argue! Do you mean me, Mister?
Newman. I say, all that wear the Countess's livery, serve her. You are a footman; you have not the honor of being her body servant.
Doolittle. Body servant! Hah! no; I hope I ben't her body servant, nor anybody's servant, nor your servant. I don't choose to be a servant of servants, and a slave to the devil.
(High words follow, Doolittle gets into a passion--Newman becomes alarmed, and thus explains himself:)
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Newman. You are our principal help. That is all. I told you at first I wanted you to help the Countess. You know that is a descriptive term in New England. Help is not a discreditable name--not at all derogatory. There is nothing degrading in helping, is there?
Doolittle. Why--no--I believe there an't. You now begin to seem rational, and I'll make up with you.--D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England, Act I.
HOUSE-HUNTING. In the city of New York all houses are let from the 1st day of May, and the landlords have assumed to themselves the right of requiring from their tenants a decision, as to whether they will keep their houses or not, three months before the period for which they hired them expires. On those houses which are not hired for another term (usually a year) "bills" are put up by the landlords, signifying that they are to let. Persons who intend to "move," traverse that section of the city in which they desire to establish themselves, in search of a suitable house, in which search they are guided by the landlord's "bills." This is called house-hunting, and is practised by thousands every year in the city of New York.
Polly began to grow uneasy now, because we hadn't got no house, and said I ought to go a house-hunting as everybody else did, or else we should be turn'd out of doors.--Maj. Downing, May-day in New York.
HOW FARE YOU? This is a common expression in those parts of New England for 'How do you do?.' It is pronounced short, as, How fa' ye?
Newman. What, come back so soon? How fare you, Doolittle?
Doolittle. Cleverly. Steady, pretty steady, and quite chirk again; I thank you.--D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England.
HUM, for home, common in New England.
Well, well, I know it now--'hum is hum, be it ever so humbly.' I am desperd sick of being in strange parts. I wish I was at hum agin, under another's own ruff, I guess--I know I do.--D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England.
HURRYMENT. Hurry; confusion.
I always hate to kiss old women what hain't got no teeth, and I was monstrous glad old Miss Stallins had her handkerchief to her face, for in the hurryment I kissed it.--Maj. Jones's Travels
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I.
IN, for into. Mr. Colman, in remarking upon the prevalence of this inaccuracy in New York, says: "We get in the stage, and have the rheumatism into our knees."--N. Y. Evening Post, Jan. 6, 1814. An observing English friend at Philadelphia also speaks of its frequent use there in the following terms: "The preposition into is almost unknown here. They say, 'When did you come in town?' 'I met him riding in town.'"--Pickering.
INDIAN SUMMER. A period of warm weather late in autumn, when it is said, the Indians go hunting to supply themselves with the flesh of wild animals for provisions in the winter.--Webster.
J.
JOHNNY-CAKE. A cake made of Indian meal mixed with milk or water. A New England Johnny-cake is invariably spread upon the stave of a barrel-top, and baked before the fire. Sometimes stewed pumpkin is mixed with it.
Rich Johnny-cake this mouth has often tried.
Both please me well, their virtues much the same;
Alike their fabric, as allied their fame,
Except in dear New England, where the last
Receives a dash of pumpkin in the paste.--Joel Barlow, Poem on Hasty Pudding.
K.
KEYSTONE STATE. The State of Pennsylvania. So called from its being the central State of the Union at the time of the formation of the Constitution.
KILL. (Dutch kil.) A channel, or arm of the sea; a stream; river. This Dutch appellation is still preserved in several instances; thus the channel that separates Staten Island from
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Bergen Neck, is called the Kills; to which we may add the names Schuylkill and Catskill, applied to streams.
KILLIFISH. (Genus fundulus.) A small fish found in the salt water creeks and hays, from one to five inches in length. It is only used for bait for larger fish. The name is Dutch from kill, a channel or creek (which see), where the fish is only found. They are often called killies.
KISS-ME-QUICK. A homemade quilted bonnet which does not extend beyond the face. They are chiefly used to cover the head by ladies when going to parties or the theatre.
KIT. The whole kit. An expression common in various parts of the country.
Our Prudence had, that wouldn't pour (all she could do) to suit her
Fust place the leave would choke the spent, so's not a drop would dreen out,
Then Prude would tip, and tip, and tip till the whole kit bust clean out,
The kiver-hinge-pin bein lost, tea leaves, and tea, and kiver
Would all come down kerwosh! as though the dam broke in a river.--Poetical Epistle from a Volunteer.
L.
TO LINE. To fish with a line. So, to seine, i. e. to fish with a seine. I have never seen these words used except by Dr. J. V. C. Smith, in his history of the Fishes of Massachusetts; and for so interesting a book the Doctor is well entitled to the privilege of coining a phrase or two.
The squeteague is taken both by lining and seining, and because it makes such feeble exertion and resistance, in being drawn in by a hook, it has received the appellation of weak fish.--Fishes of Massachusetts.
LINES. The reins, or that part of the bridle which extends from the horse's head to the hands of the driver or coachman.
LITTLE END OF THE HORN. 'To come out at the little end of the horn,' is said when a ridiculously small effect has been produced after great effort and much boasting.
LOAFER. The origin of this word is altogether uncertain. Two etymologies have been suggested for it, viz. the German
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laufer, a runner; and the Spanish gallofo (whence the Ital. gagloffo,) a wandering mendicant; a vagabond.
TO LOGICIZE. To reason.
And I give the preliminary view of the reason; because, since this is the faculty which reasons or logicizes, &c.--Tappan's Elements of Logic, Preface, p. 5.
M.
TO MAKE ONESELF SCARCE, is to leave; to go away.
ME, for I. The objective case of pronouns is often used for the nominative by the illiterate. In New York it is very common to hear such choice expressions as 'Me and him went to the play last night.'
METAPHENOMENA. The primordial facts of our being, which, although known by necessity of reason to exist, are not the immediate objects of consciousness.--Tappan.
METAPHENOMENAL. Relating to metaphenomena.
The immediate objects of our consciousness are phenomena, and these only are phenomenal; while those objects which, by supposition, lie beyond immediate consciousness, are metaphenominal.--Tappan's Elements of Logic, p. 12.
MOOSE-YARD. In the State of Maine, an area in which moose tread down the deep snow in winter.
N.
NIGH UPON. Nearly; almost.
I got your letter and razor-strap. It's a complete strap as you ever see; and as soon as it was known about here that I had received it, nigh upon all our folks have been sendin' to borrow it.--Maj. Downing, Letter 27.
NOMOLOGY. That branch of philosophy which treats of law in general.
This at once introduces us to the Doctrine of Law or Nomology, which is the second grand division of philosophy.--Tappan's Elements.
NOMOLOGICAL. Relating to nomology.
The observations of the senses yield us only limited successions and recurrences of phenomena. These have antecedence in the order of time. But Law, eternal, absolute, and universal, has antecedence in the order of necessary existence, and is an idea of the Reason. It is the Idea of Ideas under the nomological conception.--Ibid.
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O.
OLD DOMINION. The State of Virginia.
OUTSIDER. A term of recent origin among politicians, applied to persons belonging to parties unconnected with the two great leading political divisions of the country, Loco-focos and Whigs. The term was first used in the Baltimore Convention in May, 1848, when a leading politician stigmatized that portion of the Democratic party known as the Barnburners, as outsiders, classing them among the Abolitionists, Agrarians, Native Americans, etc.
With the outsiders of all descriptions, Barnburners, and everybody else with a spark of independent patriotism, the nomination of General Taylor is equally a cause of delight. All the Whig papers give in readily, manfully, and sincerely.--N. Y. Mirror, June 10, 1848.
Why do we find the outsiders of all creation--Tylerites, nullifiers, Loco-focos, and no-party men--going in with such a rush for General Taylor? It looks odd that the Journal of Commerce, Herald, Sun, etc., should become so enamored all at once of a straight-forward Whig, as to urge his election to the Presidency!--N. Y. Tribune.
OUT AND OUT. Thorough.
Henry Clay is such a statesman as the country wanted. We want a long tried, well known, universally understood, undeniable, straight-forward, out and out Whig.--Mr. Fowler's Speech at the Clay meeting in New York, June 2, 1848.
P.
TO PARMATEER. To electioneer; evidently a corruption of parliamenteer, to electioneer for a seat in parliament. This term is very common in the State of Rhode Island, beyond which I think it does not extend.
TO PETTIFOG. To play the pettifogger.--Johnson. This old verb has just been revived by political writers.
On Saturday evening Gen. Cass reached this city from New York. Persons were sent about to drum up a crowd; but free white men could not be found or hired, to welcome the embodiment of slavery-propagaildism. The thing was a dead failure. When Mr. Peckham, who has pettifogged
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Senators Allen, Houson, and Bright pettifog for Cass to-night in Albany, this being the tenth or twelfth day since they did anything for the eight dollars per day that they are steadily drawing from the Nation's consumptive Treasury--or rather adding to its plethoric debt.--N. Y. Tribune.
PICK. In mercantile usage, and among manufacturers, a pick is a thread. The relative quality of cotton cloth is denoted by the number of picks it has to the inch.
PINKY. (Dutch, pink.) The little finger. A very common term in New York, especially among small children, who, when making a bargain with each other, are accustomed to confirm it by interlocking the little finger of each other's right hands and repeating the following doggerel:
Whoever tells a lie,
Will sink down to the bad place,
And never rise up again.
TO PLAY POSSUM. 'He's playing possum with you,' is a common expression at the South and West, and means that he is deceiving you. The opossum, it is said, when attacked by a dog, will pretend to be dead, and often deceives his pursuers; hence the expression.--Sherwood's Georgia.
POLT. A blow. 'He gave him a polt on the head.' Used in New England and New York.
PLAY-ACTOR. A theatrical performer. The expression is objectionable, because the term actor is itself a technical word, which expresses the full meaning conveyed by the compound. In England they always say simply actor or player.
POT-PIE. A pie made by spreading the crust over the bottom and sides of a pot, and filling up the inside with meat, i. e. beef, veal, mutton, or fowls.
An enormous pot-pie, and piping hot, graced our centre, overpowering, with its fragrance and steam, the odors and vapors of all other meats; and pot-pie was the wedding dish of the country, par excellence! The pie to-day was a doughy sepulchre of at least six hens, two chanticleers, and four pullets! What pot could have contained the pie is inconceivable. Why, among other unknown contributions, it must have received one half
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PROSPECTING. Hunting or searching for lead. The process is thus described in a sketch of Life on the Upper Mississippi:
"The chief mart of the lead trade is in the town of Galena, built upon a small, sluggish stream. In travelling through the upland prairie of this neighborhood, you will see many hillocks of earth, as far as the eye can reach, as if some huge animal had been burrowing beneath, and had thrown up the dirt in that manner; but you may, by chance, meet two or three men with a bucket, a rope, a pick-axe, and a portable windlass, and the difficulty is explained. This, in the language of the country, is a prospecting party; which, being interpreted, means that they are on the look-out for ore, if it is to be found within ten or fifteen feet of the ground; having come to the end of the rope at about that depth, and found nothing, they remove elsewhere, the prospect not being good. When ore is found, they either sell out their discovery, or mine the vein on a small scale themselves."--N. Y. Literary World, June 3, 1848.
TO PUT OUT. To remove; to be off. A Western expression. To put is used in the same sense.
As my wife's father had considerable land on Blue Fox river, and as we wanted a little more elbow-room, I says one day to Nancy, "Nancy," says I, "Idad, 'spose we put out and live there."--Carlton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 172.
ROLLING PRAIRIE. The following excellent definition of this term is from the pen of Judge Hall:
"The vast plains or prairies of the West, although preserving a general level in respect to the whole country, are yet in themselves not flat, but exhibit a gracefully waving surface, swelling and sinking with an easy slope, and a full rounded outline, equally avoiding the unmeaning horizontal surface, and the interruption of abrupt or angular elevations. It is that surface which, in the expressive language of the country, is called rolling, and which has been said to resemble the long, heavy swell of the ocean, when its waves are sub-
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siding to rest after the agitation of a storm. Such are rolling prairies."--Judge Hall, Notes on the Western States.
S.
SABBADAY. Sabbath day, Sunday; so called in the interior of New England.
Newman. You look better; I hope yon feel better, and are better.
Doolittle. Why, I expect I do, and I guess I be, all three. I know I be, as to the first particular, changing my old shabby duds, for these new Sabbaday clothes, for a to-to-meeting day, anywheres.--D. Humphreys, The Yankee in England, p. 29.
SARVES, for preserves. So pronounced in some parts of the West.
We had also [for dinner] custard pies, and maple molasses, (usually called 'them 'are molasses,') and preserved apples, preserved water-melon-rinds, and preserved red peppers and tomatoes--all termed, for brevity's sake, (like words in Webster's Dictionary,) sarves.--Carlton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 183.
SALAD. In the Northern States often used specifically for lettuce, of which salad is frequently made.
SAULT. (French.) The rapids of the St. Lawrence, and those connecting the Upper Lakes, retain the French name as, Sault St. Mary, etc. Pronounced soo.
TO SEE HOME. 'To see a lady home,' is to wait upon or attend her home from a party or elsewhere.
The eventful day was closing, and some had already taken French leave. But at the request of some young fellows, who offered to see the galls home, we left our helps to have some fun after the graver people should be gone away.--Carlton, The New Purchase.
SHANTY. A mean cabin or shed.--Worcester.
The best residences in the slave States are made disagreeable by the proximity of huts and shanties for negroes, which, in Charleston, offend the eye everywhere except in the streets devoted to trade.--Letter from Charleston, N. Y. Tribune, April, 1848.
SHINGLES. The name of an eruptive disease which takes the form of a belt (cinguluni) around the body.
SHORT GOWN. A short gown with hardly any skirt, worn by women when doing household work, as washing, &c.
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TO SIMILATE. To put on the appearance of that which does not really belong to the subject.
And this holds true both of actions which similate the intellect, and those which similate the moral sense, such as gratitude and shame in a dog.--Tappan's Psychology (not published).
SIMON PURE. Genuine; real.
A merchant in Boston paid $500 for a portrait of Washington by Winstanley, believing it to be by Stuart, which he presented to the town. It was put up in Faneuil Hall. .... The connoisseur was laughed at. He had been deceived; he thought it a real Simon Pure.--Dunlap, Arts of Design.
SISTERN, for sisters. A vulgar pronunciation sometimes heard from uneducated preachers at the West.
"Brethurn and sisturn, it's a powerful great work, this here preaching of the gospel, as the great apostle hisself allows in them words of hissin what's jest come into my mind; for I never knowed what to preach till I ris up."--Carlton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 203.
TO SKUNK. To utterly defeat. In games of chance, if one of the players fails to make a point, he is said to be skunked. A presidential candidate who fails to secure one electoral vote is also skunked.
SMACK SMOOTH. At the West, a term applied to land which is thoroughly cleared; i. e. smoothly cleared; level. It is also used in England in the sense of level.--Craven Glossary.
SOCIALISM. A social state in which there is a community of property among all the citizens--a new term for Agrarianism.--Webster.
SOCIALIST. An advocate of socialism.--Worcester.
SOCIALISTIC. Appertaining to the principles of socialism.
And now let us briefly assure the Courier that it is greatly, grievously wrong in supposing that we shrink, or falter, or despond with regard to the future of France, in view of the prominence and imminence given to social theories and ideas by the new Revolution. On the contrary, our columns will bear witness that we have, from the hour that the fall of Louis Philippe was known here, to this moment, profoundly rejoiced in the Revolution itself, and more especially in its socialistic aspects and tendencies.--N. Y. Tribune, April 25, 1848.
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SOME PUMPKINS. A term in use at the South and West in opposition to "small potatos." The former is applied to anything large or noble; the latter to anything small or mean.
Although the Mexican women are not distinguished for beauty, I never remember once to have seen an ugly woman. Their brilliant eyes make up for any deficiency of feature, and their figures are full and voluptuous. Now and then, moreover, one does meet with a perfectly beautiful creature; and when a Mexican woman does combine such perfection, she is "some pumpkins," as the Missourians say when they wish to express something superlative in the female line.--Ruxton's Adventures in Mexico, p. 57.
Cass is some punpkins, and will do the needful in the office line if he is elected, which I hope and trust will be his fate. I am no Democrat, as embraced on their whole platform, but I am, what I conceive to be, a least evil man.--Letter from New Orleans, N. Y. Herald, June 21, 1848.
SOUTHRON. A term borrowed from Scotland, and often applied to natives of the South; a Southerner.
SPLIT TICKET. When two or more important offices are to be filled at the same time, the wire-pullers of each party select the men they wish their party to support, and print their names on a ticket to be deposited in the ballot-box. It sometimes happens, however, that individuals choose to think for themselves, and consequently erase one or more of the names and substitute others more to their liking. This is called a split ticket.
Well, Jonathan, you intend voting for Gen. Cass and the regular Democratic nomination, don't you?
Jonathan. Not by a jug full, I can tell you. I am an out-and-out Democrat--dyed in the wool, and have stood up to the party through thick and thin. But I'll vote for no Northern men with Southern principles--no dough-faces for me. Vote for Cass?--why, he's the very boss of dough-faces. No, I'll vote a split ticket. I'll scratch out the dough-face and put in a Free Soil name. I'll go the regular nomination, only substituting the name of Van Buren for Cass.--Newspaper, June, 1848.
SPOILS, i. e., the spoils of office. The pay and emoluments of official station--specifically referred to as the leading induce-
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ments to partisan activity, and as distinct from political zeal generally. [J. Inman.]
It has been asserted that to the victors belong the spoils. Let us determine that we will be the victors, and if we must have the spoils they shall be appropriated to the good of the country.--Speech of the Hon. Mr. Morehead to the Whig National Convention in Philadelphia, June, 1848.
There is a slight misgiving in the minds of the Loco-focos, that Gen. Cass will not have it in his power to reward many partisans; and by filling the important offices just on the eve of departure from office, they hope to perpetuate their possession of the spoils for four years after they shall have sunk to that profound depth to which Senator Hannegan consigned them, in spite of the potency of the arm of political resurrection!--Cor. of the N. Y. Tribune.
Men looking to the spoils care not for princiles,--whether they be of the North or of the South.--Washington Cor. of N. Y. Com. Adv.
It is estimated that there are at least sixty thousand office-holders under the general administration, and that the amount of plunder annually distributed by government, is equal to forty millions of dollars, which is expended in a thousand and one ways. The party which has the command of these office-holders, and the scattering of this vast amount of spoils, is possessed of a potent weapon.--N. Y. Herald, June, 1848.
SQUASH. A culinary vegetable. (Genus, cucurbita.) It is not necessary to resort to the Greek sicuoz, as certain lexicographers do, for the etymology of this word. It is Indian, and is often mentioned by the early writers.
In summer, when their [the Indians'] corn is spent, squonter squashes is their best bread, a fruit like a young pumpkin.--Wood's New England, 1634, p. 67.
STORE PAY. Payment made for produce or other articles purchased, by goods from a store, instead of cash. This is a common way of buying produce in the country. Sometimes a merchant agrees to pay half in cash and half out of his store, i e. store pay.
SWASH. To shake water about from side to side, as in a tub or barrel.
T.
TAG. A slight touch. A boy touched by one who is in the first instance fixed upon to commence the game, is in his turn obliged to overtake and touch another of the party, when he
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cries tag, and so the game proceeds. According to Mr. Halliwell the same game is played in Warwickshire, where it is called tick.
W.
WHAT, for that or who. A vulgarism often heard amongst us, but probably still more common in England.