Spunk-fencer, a lucifer-match seller.

Spunks, lucifer-matches.—Herefordshire; Scotland. Spunk, says Urry, in his MS. notes to Ray, “is the excrescency of some tree, of which they make a sort of tinder to light their pipes with.”

Spurt.—Old. See SPIRT.

Squabby, flat, short and thick. From SQUAB, a sofa.

Square, “to be SQUARE with a man,” to be even with him, or to be revenged; “to SQUARE up to a man,” to offer to fight him. Shakspeare uses SQUARE in the sense of to quarrel.

Square cove, an honest man, as distinguished from “cross cove.”

Square moll, an honest woman, one who does not “batter.”

Squaring his nibs, giving a policeman, or any official, money for an immoral or unlawful purpose. The term HIS NIBS has no reference to any functionary, as the words mean simply “him,” and may be applied to any one.

Square rigged, well dressed.—Sea.

Square up, to settle, to pay a debt.

Squarum, a cobbler’s lapstone.

Squash, to crush; “to go SQUASH,” to collapse.

Squeak, an escape. Generally used with regard to the avoidance of casualties. Among thieves, too, a prisoner acquitted after a hard trial is said to have had “a narrow SQUEAK for it.”

Squeak on a person, to inform against, to peach.

Squeal, to inform, to peach. A North country variation of squeak; SQUEALER, an informer, also an illegitimate baby.

Squeeze, silk; also, by a very significant figure, a thief’s term for the neck.

Squib, a jeu d’esprit, which, like the firework of that denomination, sparkles, bounces, stinks, and vanishes.—Grose. Generally used in reference to political and electioneering attacks of a smart kind, which sting for a moment and are then forgotten.

Squibs, paint-brushes.

Squiffy, slightly inebriated.

Squinny-eyed, said of one given to squinting.—Shakspeare.

Squirt, a doctor, or chemist.

Squish, common term among University men for marmalade.

Stab, “Stab yourself and pass the dagger,” help yourself and pass the bottle.—Theatrical Slang.

Stab, “on the STAB,” i.e., paid by regular weekly wages on the “establishment,” of which word STAB is an abridgment.—Printer’s term.

Stab-rag, a regimental tailor.—Military Slang.

Stag, a shilling.

Stag, a term applied during the railway mania to a speculator without capital, who took “scrip” in proposed lines, got the shares up to a premium, and then sold out. Caricaturists represented the house of Hudson, “the Railway King,” at Albert Gate, with a STAG on it, in allusion to this term.

Stag, to see, discover, or watch,—like a STAG at gaze; “STAG the push,” look at the crowd. Also, to dun, or demand payment; to beg.

Stage-whisper, one loud enough to be heard. From the stage “asides.”

Stagger, to surprise. “He quite STAGGERED me with the information.”

Stagger, one who looks out, or watches.

Staggering-bob, an animal to whom the knife only just anticipates death from natural disease or accident,—said of meat on that account unfit for human food. Also a newly-born calf.

Stale drunk, unevaporated fumes of liquor. A man is said to be STALE DRUNK when he has been drunk overnight, and has doctored himself with stimulants a little too much in the morning—when he has tried too many of the “hairs of the dog that bit him.” If this state of things is long continued, it is often called “same OLD DRUNK,” from a well-known nigger story. The nigger was cautioned by his master for being too often drunk within a given period, when the “cullud pusson” replied, “Same old drunk, massa—same old drunk.”

Stalking-horse, originally a horse covered with loose trappings, under which the mediæval sportsman concealed himself with his bow, so as to approach his game unobserved. Subsequently a canvas figure, made light, so as to be easily moved with one hand. Now used to represent any bugbear persistently paraded; any constant and unpleasant reference to the possible consequences of an act.

Stall, to lodge, or put up at a public-house. Also, to act a part.—Theatrical.

Stall, to frighten or discourage. In the days of dog-fighting and pugilism, a dog or man who had originally shown great pluck would, after a hard battle or two, show signs of cowardice. In such case he was said to have been STALLED by his previous encounters. A STALL is a spurious excuse or an imposition, a dodge, &c.

Stall-off, to put off by means of a device, to misdirect purposely.

Stall off, to blind, excuse, hide, to screen a robbery during the perpetration of it by an accomplice.

Stall your mug, go away; spoken sharply by any one who wishes to get rid of a troublesome or inconvenient person.

Stallsman, sometimes STALL, an accomplice.

Stampers, shoes.—Ancient Cant.

Stand, “to STAND treat,” to pay for a friend’s entertainment; to bear expense; to put up with treatment, good or ill, as, “Will you STAND that?” a question often asked when a man has been struck or insulted. Also in the sense of aggregate cost, as, “This house STOOD me in £1000;” i.e., cost that sum; “to STAND pad,” to beg on the kerb with a small piece of paper pinned on the breast, inscribed, “I am starving.”

Stand in, to make one of a party in a bet or other speculation; to take a side in a dispute.

Standing, the position at a street corner, or on the kerb of a market street, regularly occupied by a costermonger, or street seller.

Standing patterers, men who take a stand on the kerb of a public thoroughfare, and deliver prepared speeches to effect a sale of any articles they have to vend. See PATTERER.

Star, a common abbreviation of the name of the well-known Star and Garter Inn at Richmond. Clever people, who delight in altering names, call this hostelry the “Gar and Starter.”

Star it, to perform as the centre of attraction, with inferior subordinates to set off one’s abilities.—Theatrical.

Star the glaze, to break a window. Among thieves it means to break the window or show-glass of a jeweller or other tradesman, take any valuable articles, and run away. Sometimes the glass is cut with a diamond, and a strip of leather fastened to the piece of glass cut out to keep it from falling in and making a noise. Another plan is to cut the sash.

Starchy, stuck-up, high-notioned, showily dressed, stiff and unbending in demeanour.

Stark-naked, originally STRIP-ME-NAKED, vide Randall’s Diary, 1820, raw gin.

Start, “the START,” London,—the great starting-point for beggars and tramps. This is a term also used by many of superior station to those mentioned.

Start, a proceeding of any kind; “a rum START,” an odd circumstance; “to get the START of a person,” to anticipate or overreach him.

Starvation, though now a recognised word, was originally slang. Its derivation is composite, and it was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a debate in the House of Commons on American affairs, in 1775. “I shall not,” he said, “wait for the advent of STARVATION from Edinburgh to settle my judgment.” From this he was always afterwards called Starvation Dundas.—Horace Walpole’s Letters.

Starve’em, Rob’em, and Cheat’em, the adjoining towns of Stroud, Rochester, and Chatham are so designated by soldiers and sailors; from some fancied peculiarities of the inhabitants.

Stash, to cease doing anything, to refrain, be quiet, leave off; “STASH it, there, you sir!” i.e., be quiet, sir; to give over a lewd or intemperate course of life is to STASH it.

Stay, to exhibit powers of endurance at walking, running, rowing, &c.

Stayer, one likely to persevere, one not easily discouraged. It is usual for laudatores temporis acti connected with the turf to deplore the want of staying power which, according to their statements, characterizes the modern British racehorse; while others, connected and disconnected with sport, make similar remarks with reference to the modern British man. So far, however, both descriptions of old gentlemen have failed signally in endeavouring to make out a good case.

Steam-engine, potato-pie at Manchester is so termed.

Steel, the House of Correction in London, formerly named the Bastile, but since shortened to STEEL. See BASTILE.

Steel-bar drivers, or FLINGERS, journeymen tailors.

Stems, the legs.

Step it, to run away, or make off.

Stepper, the treadmill; the “everlasting staircase.”

Stick, a derogatory expression for a person; “a rum, or odd, STICK,” a curious man. More generally a “poor STICK.”—Provincial.

Stick, “cut your STICK,” be off, or go away; either simply equivalent to a recommendation to prepare a walking staff in readiness for a journey—in allusion to the Eastern custom of cutting a STICK before setting out—or from the ancient mode of reckoning by notches or tallies on a STICK. In Cornwall the peasantry tally sheaves of corn by cuts in a STICK, reckoning by the score. “Cut your STICK” in this sense may mean to make your mark and pass on—and so realize the meaning of the phrase, “in the nick (or notch) of time.” Sir J. Emerson Tennent considers the phrase equivalent to “cutting the connexion,” and suggests a possible origin in the prophet’s breaking the staves of “Beauty” and “Bands,”—vide Zech. xi. 10, 14.

Stick, to cheat; “he got STUCK,” he was taken in; “I’m STUCK,” a common phrase to express that the speaker has spent or lost all his money, and can neither play nor pay any longer. Stick, to forget one’s part in a performance.—Theatrical. Stick up, to place in an account; “STICK it up to me,” i.e., give me credit for it; STICK on, to overcharge or defraud; STICK up for, to defend a person, especially when slandered in his absence; STICK up to, to persevere in courting or attacking, whether in fisticuffs or argument; “to STICK in one’s gizzard,” to rankle in one’s heart; “to STICK to a person,” to adhere to one, to be his friend through adverse circumstances,—to “cotton” to him; “to STICK one’s spoon in the wall,” to die.

Stick-up, to keep any one waiting at an appointed place or time. To leave a friend or acquaintance to pay the whole or an undue share of a tavern bill.

Stick-ups, or GILLS, shirt collars.

Sticker, one not likely to be easily shaken off, a stayer.

Stickings, coarse, bruised, or damaged meat sold to sausage-makers and penny pie-shops.

Sticks, furniture, or household chattels; “pick up your STICKS and cut!” summary advice to a person to take himself and furniture away.

Sticky, wax.

Stiff, paper, a bill of acceptance, &c.; “how did you get it, STIFF or hard?” i.e., did he pay you cash or give a bill? “To do a bit of STIFF,” to accept a bill. See KITE.

Stiff-fencer, a street-seller of writing paper.

Stiff un, a corpse. Term used by undertakers.

Stills, undertakers’ slang term for STILL-BORN children. The fee paid by nurses and others for their disposal is usually 2s. 6d. A separate coffin is never given; the STILLS are quietly introduced into one containing an adult about to be buried. Stills are allowed to accumulate at an undertaker’s until they sometimes number as many as a dozen. Some little time back a very bulky coffin was opened, and found to contain a large quantity of small corpses packed carefully round a large corpse. This caused a little excitement, but nothing was done in the matter.

Stilton, “that’s the STILTON,” or “it’s not the STILTON,” i.e., that is quite the thing, or that is not quite the thing;—affected rendering of “that is not the CHEESE,” which see.

Stingo, strong liquor.—Yorkshire.

Stink, a disagreeable exposure. “To stir up a STINK” is to make a disclosure which is generally unpleasant in its effect.

Stinkomalee, a name given to the then New London University by Theodore Hook. Probably because some cow-houses and dunghills stood on the original site. Some question about Trincomalee was agitated at the same time. It is still applied by the students of the old Universities, who regard it with disfavour from its admitting all denominations.

Stipe, a stipendiary magistrate.—Provincial.

Stir, a prison, a lock-up; “in STIR,” in gaol. Anglo-Saxon, STYR, correction, punishment.

Stir-up Sunday, the Sunday next before Advent, the collect for that day commencing with the words, “Stir up.” Schoolboys, growing excited at the prospect of the vacation, irreverently commemorate it by stirring up—pushing and poking each other. “Crib-crust Monday” and “tug-button Tuesday” are distinguished by similar tricks; while on “pay-off Wednesday” they retaliate small grudges in a playful facetious way. Forby says good housewives in Norfolk consider themselves reminded by the name to mix the ingredients for their Christmas mince-pies.

Stock. “To STOCK cards” is to arrange cards in a certain manner for cheating purposes.

Stock, “to take STOCK of one,” to scrutinize narrowly one whom you have reason to suspect, or one with whom you are likely to have business transactions; taken from the tradesmen’s term for the annual examination and valuation of their stock of goods.

Stockdollager, a heavy blow, a “finisher.” Italian, STOCCADO, a fencing term. Also (in a general sense), a disastrous event.—Americanism.

Stodge, to surfeit, gorge, or clog with food. Stodge is in some places bread and milk.

Stoll, to understand.—North Country Cant.

Stomach, to bear with, to be partial to. Mostly used in a negative character,—as, “I can’t STOMACH that.”

Stook, a pocket-handkerchief. A STOOK-HAULER, or “buzzer,” is a thief who takes pocket-handkerchiefs.

Story, a falsehood,—the soft synonym for a lie, allowed in family circles and boarding-schools. A Puritanism that came into fashion with the tirade against romances, all novels and stories being considered as dangerous and false.

Stot, a young bullock. In Northumberland the term STOT means to rebound.

Stotor, a heavy blow, a settler.—Old Cant.

Stow, to leave off, or have done; “STOW it, the gorger’s leary.” Leave off, the person is looking. See STASH, with which it is synonymous.—Ancient Cant.

Stow, to put away, to hide. A hungry man is said to STOW his food rapidly. He is also said to hide it.

Stow faking! leave off there, be quiet! FAKING means anything that may be going on.

Straight, an American phrase peculiar to dram-drinkers; similar to our word NEAT, which see.

Strap, a barber. From Roderick Random.

Straw. Married ladies are said to be “in the STRAW” at their accouchements. The phrase is a coarse metaphor, and has reference to farmyard animals in a similar condition. It may have originally been suggested to the inquiring mind by the Nativity.

Strawing, “selling” straws in the streets (generally for a penny), and “giving” the purchaser a paper (indecent or political) or a gold (!) ring,—neither of which, the patterer states, he is allowed by Act of Parliament to sell.

Streak, to decamp, run away.—Saxon. In America the phrase is “to make STREAKS,” or “make TRACKS.”

Streaky, irritated, ill-tempered. Said of a short-tempered man who has his good and bad times in STREAK.

Street-pitchers, negro minstrels, ballad-singers, long-song men, men “working a board” on which have been painted various exciting scenes in some terrible drama, the details of which the STREET PITCHER is bawling out, and selling in a little book or broadsheet (price one penny); or any persons who make a stand—i.e., a pitch—in the streets, and sell articles or contribute entertainments for a living.

Stretch, a walk.—University.

Stretch, abbreviation of “STRETCH one’s neck,” to hang, to be executed as a malefactor. As, “The night before Larry was STRETCHED.”

Stretch, twelve months,—generally used to intimate the time any one has been sentenced by the judge or magistrate. One STRETCH is twelve months’ imprisonment, two STRETCH is two years, three STRETCH is three years, and so on.

Stretcher, a falsehood; one that requires a STRETCH of imagination or comprehension.

Stretcher, a contrivance with handles, used by the police to carry off persons who are violent or drunk.

Stretcher-fencer, one who sells braces.

Stretching match, an execution. Often called a “hanging match.”

Strike a jigger, to pick a lock, or break open a door.

Strills, cheating lies.—North Country Cant.

String, to hoax, to “get in a line.”

Stroke, the captain of a crew, the man who sets the pace, and is generally the leading spirit in the boat. The coxswain usually looks after University men when they are in training, so that they may not fall into excesses, the STROKE having quite enough to do to attend to his own training. Of late years University crews have placed themselves under the guidance and tuition of “coaches,” generally ex-University men of great ability and experience.

Strommel, straw.—Ancient Cant. Halliwell says that in Norfolk STRUMMEL is a name for hair.

Strong, “to come it STRONG.” See COME.

Stuck, moneyless. See STICK.

Stuck-up, purse-proud—a form of snobbishness very common in those who have risen in the world, especially among those who have risen rather suddenly. Albert Smith wrote some amusing papers on the Natural History of STUCK-UP People.

Stuff, money.

Stuff, to make false but plausible statements, to praise ironically, to make game of a person,—literally, to STUFF or cram him with gammon or falsehood.

Stump, to go on foot.

Stump, to go about speechmaking on politics or other subjects. Originally an Americanism applied to the lowest class of candidates for legislatorial honours, probably because they stood on a STUMP to address their audiences. Maybe, also, because their utterances were short and pithy. This latter reason would, however, hardly apply to our representatives of the STUMP class, “the Leaguers,” who are, as a rule, as long-winded as they are illogical.

Stump up, to give one’s share, to pay the reckoning, to bring forth the money reluctantly.

Stumped, bowled out, done for, bankrupt, poverty-stricken. From the cricketing term.

Stumps, legs, or feet.

Stumpy, money.

Stun, to astonish.

Stunner, a first-rate person or article.

Stunners, feelings of great astonishment; “it put the STUNNERS on me,” i.e., it confounded me.

Stunning, first-rate, very good, really, astonishing. Costermongers call anything extra good, STUNNING. Sometimes amplified to stunning Joe Banks! when the expression is supposed to be in its most intense form. Joe Banks was a noted character in the last generation. He was the proprietor of a public-house in Dyott Street, Seven Dials, and afterwards, on the demolition of the Rookery, of another in Cranbourn Alley. His houses became well-known from their being the resort of the worst characters, while at the same time the strictest decorum was always maintained in them. Joe Banks also acquired a remarkable notoriety by acting as a medium betwixt thieves and their victims. Upon the proper payment to Joe, a watch or a snuff-box would at any time be restored to its lawful owner—“no questions in any case being asked.” The most daring depredators in London placed the fullest confidence in Joe, and it is believed (although the Biographie Universelle is quiet upon this point) that he never, in any instance, “sold” them. He was of the middle height, stout, and strongly made, and was always noted for a showy pin and a remarkably STUNNING neck-tie. It was this peculiarity in the costume of Mr. Banks, coupled with those true and tried qualities as a friend for which he was famous, that led his customers to proclaim him as stunningJoe Banks! The Marquis of Douro, Colonel Chatterley, and men of their stamp, were accustomed to resort to a private-room at his house, when too late (or too early) to gain admittance to the clubs or more aristocratic establishments.

Sub, a subaltern officer in the army.

Sub, all.—Anglo-Indian.

Sub, to draw money in advance; a term in use among workmen generally, and those with casual employment in particular. Most likely from subsidize.

Sublime rascal, a lawyer.

Suck, a parasite, a flatterer of the “nobs.”—University.

Suck, to pump, or draw information from a person.

Suck-casa, a public-house.—Lingua Franca.

Suck the mop, to be the victim of an omnibus nursing exploit. When an omnibus is being nursed, the driver of the hindmost vehicle keeps so close to his opponent that the horses get their heads almost into the doorway. The nursed omnibus is then said to SUCK THE MOP. Nursing is, thanks to tramways and the Metropolis Streets Act, almost a thing of the past. At the East-end, however, it still goes merrily on.

Suck the monkey, to rob a cask of liquor by inserting a straw through a gimlet-hole, and sucking a portion of the contents. Originally, as Captain Marryatt states, to SUCK THE MONKEY, was to suck rum from cocoa-nuts, which spirit had been inserted in place of the milk, for the private use of the sailors. See TAP THE ADMIRAL.

Suck up, “to SUCK UP to a person,” to insinuate oneself into his good graces.

Sudden death. In tossing, to be decided by the first call is to “GO SUDDEN DEATH,” as distinguished from the longer forms of “best two out of three,” and “first three.” At the Universities a crumpet, or Sally Lunn, is so called.

Sufferer, a tailor; the loser at any game.

Sugar, money.

Suicide, four horses driven in a line. See HARUM-SCARUM.

Sulky, a one-horse chaise, having only room for one person. Used nowadays only in trotting matches.

Sumsy, an action of assumpsit.—Legal Slang.

Sun in the eyes, too much drink. A person who is tipsy is said to have the SUN IN HIS EYES. He is also said to have been “standing too long in the SUN.”

Supe, or super, abbreviation of SUPERNUMERARY.—Theatrical.

Super, a watch; SUPER-SCREWING, stealing watches.

Surat, an adulterated article of inferior quality. This word affords a remarkable instance of the manner in which slang phrases are coined. In the report of an action for libel in the Times, some few years back, it was stated “that, since the American civil war, it has been not unusual for manufacturers to mix American cotton with surat, and, the latter being an inferior article, the people in Lancashire have begun to apply the term SURAT to any article of inferior or adulterated quality. The plaintiffs were brewers, and the action was brought to recover special damages resulting from the publication of an advertisement in these words:—‘All in want of beerhouses must beware of Beaumont and White, the SURAT brewers.’”

Surf, an actor who frequently pursues another calling.—Theatrical. Surf, or SERF, is also a term much in use among the lower orders to denote a crawling or sycophantic wretch.

Suspicion, a scarcely perceptible flavour; as, “There was just a SUSPICION of oil in the mixture.” French, SOUPÇON.

Swab, an epaulet.—Sea.

Swack-up, a falsehood.

Swaddler, a Wesleyan Methodist; a name originally given to members of that body by the Irish mob; said to have originated with an ignorant Romanist, to whom the words of the English Bible were a novelty, and who, hearing one of John Wesley’s preachers mention the swaddling clothes of the Holy Infant, in a sermon on Christmas-day at Dublin, shouted out in derision, “A SWADDLER! a SWADDLER!” as if the whole story were the preacher’s invention.—Southey’s Life of Wesley, vol. ii. p. 109. See introductory article.

Swaddler, see SOUPER.

Swaddy, or COOLIE, a soldier. The former was originally applied to a discharged soldier, and perhaps came from SHODDY, which is made from soldiers’ and policemen’s worn-out coats. The term was one of opprobrium, and was probably the result of a long peace, for it became obsolete as soon as the Crimean War commenced.

Swag, a lot or plenty of anything, a portion or division of property. In Australia the term is used for the luggage carried by diggers. Scotch, SWEG, or SWACK; German, SWEIG, a flock. Old cant for a shop.

Swag-shop, a warehouse where “Brummagem” and general wares, fancy trinkets, plated goods, &c., are sold. Jews are the general proprietors; and the goods are very low-priced, trashy, and showy. Swag-shops were formerly plunder depôts.—Old Cant.

Swagsman, one who carries the booty after a burglary.

Swank, to boast or “gas” unduly.

Swankey, cheap or small beer. Any weak fermented beverage.

Swap, to exchange. Grose says it is Irish cant, but the term is now included in most dictionaries as an allowed vulgarism.

Swarry, a boiled leg of mutton and trimmings. Sam Weller’s adventure with the Bath footmen originated the term. See TRIMMINGS.

Swatchel-cove, the master of a Punch-and-Judy exhibition who “fakes the slum,” and does the necessary squeak for the amusement of the bystanders. See Schwassle box. The orthography of many of these colloquial expressions differs. It was thought best to give the various renderings as collected.

Sweat, to extract money from a person, to “bleed.” Also, to squander riches.—Bulwer.

Sweat, to violently shake up a lot of guineas or sovereigns in a leathern bag for the purpose of benefiting by the perspiration.

Sweater, common term for a “cutting” or “grinding” employer,—one who SWEATS his workpeople. A cheap tailor, who pays starvation wages.

Sweep, a contemptuous term for a low or shabby man.

Sweet, loving or fond; “how SWEET he was upon the moll,” i.e., what marked attention he paid the girl.

Sweetener, a person who runs up the prices of articles at an auction. See JOLLYING, BONNET, &c.

Swell, a man of importance; a person with a showy, jaunty exterior, “a rank SWELL,” a very flashily dressed person, a man who by excessive dress apes a higher position than he actually occupies. Any one occupying a superior position in society is by the mob called a SWELL. Anything is said to be SWELL or SWELLISH that looks showy, or is many coloured, or is of a desirable quality. Dickens and Thackeray were termed great SWELLS in literature, and so are the first persons in the learned professions SWELLS in their way.

Swell hung in chains, said of a showy man in the habit of wearing much jewellery.

Swell street, the West-end of London.

Swig, a hearty drink.

Swig, to drink. Saxon, SWIGAN.

Swill, to drink inordinately. Swill, hog-wash. From which the verb has possibly been derived.—Norfolk.

Swim, “a good SWIM,” a good run of luck, a long time out of the policeman’s clutches.—Thieves’ term. Among anglers “a good SWIM” is a good pitch for a part where fish are plentiful—that is, because a lot of fish keeping together are called a SWIM. Thus one who is in luck, is well connected, or is doing a good business, is said to be in a good SWIM.

Swindler, although a recognised word in standard dictionaries, commenced service as a slang term. It was used as such by the poor Londoners against the German Jews who set up in London about the year 1762, also by our soldiers in the German war about that time. Schwindeln, in German, signifies to cheat.

Swing. To have one’s SWING is to have a full turn at anything.

Swing, to be hanged; “if you don’t do what’s right, I’ll SWING for you,” i.e., take your life,—a common threat in low neighbourhoods.

Swingeing, large, huge, powerful. As a SWINGEING blow, SWINGEING damages, &c.

Swipe, at cricket, to hit hard with a full swing of the bat. Most probably a condensation of “wipe swingeing” or “swinging wipe.”

Swipes, sour or small beer. Swipe, to drink.—Sea.

Swipey (from SWIPES), intoxicated.

Swish, to flog, derived perhaps from the sound. Maybe, a corruption of SWITCH.

Swished, or SWITCHED, married.

Swivel-eye, a squinting eye.

Swizzle, small beer, drink.

Swot, mathematics; also, a mathematician; as a verb, to work hard for an examination, to be diligent in one’s studies.—Army.

This word originated at the great slang manufactory for the army, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in the broad Scotch pronunciation by Dr. Wallace, one of the Professors, of the word sweat. It has since become fashionable at the Universities.

Syce, a groom.—Anglo-Indian.