which signifies properly to dig or break up ground.—See Tan.
Basher, subs. (pugilistic).—A
prize-fighter. For synonyms,
see Bruiser.
1882. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 16, p. 2, col. 6. According to the statement of the prosecuting solicitor, this was the man who undertook to point out to Leech, the professed basher, the woman whom he was to assault in Portland Street.
Bashi-Bazouk, subs. (popular).—A
ruffian; and used loosely as a
more or less mild term of opprobrium;
also applied to anything
bizarre in character or
composition. The expression
came into vogue during the
period when the Bulgarian
atrocities were electrifying the
world by their barbarous cruelty.
The Bashi-bazouks are properly
irregular Turkish soldiery.
They are collected hastily in
times of emergency; and are,
consequently, somewhat impatient
of discipline, assuming
that such a commodity in its
Western sense is known at all
to the Tartar-descended Turk—'the
unspeakable Turk' as he
was fitly called during the
period above alluded to. So
infamous have these levies become
at times, that more than
once they have been disbanded
in deference to pressure brought
to bear upon the Turkish authorities
by the Western powers.
Bashing, subs. (prison).—A flogging;
a taste of the cat-o'-nine-tails.
Prisoners condemned to
this punishment at the commencement
of their term are said
by their companions to receive
a bashing in; if they also
undergo a flogging just previous
to their release, it is called a
bashing out.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 157. There were the evidences of former floggings, or bashings, as the prisoners call them.
Basils, subs. (old cant).—Fetters
on one leg only.
Basin, subs. (American).—A
schooner (q.v.).
Basing.—See That's basing.
Basketed, ppl. adj. (old).—From
this cockpit expression used of
persons unable or unwilling to
pay their losses, and who in consequence
were relegated for the
rest of the day to a basket hung
over the cockpit, is derived the
figurative usage in the sense of
'to be left out in the cold';
not understood; non-plussed;
'floored.'
b. 1788, d. 1841. Hook, Gerv. Skinner, ch. iii. Skinner was quite enchanted with the brilliancy of his guests, although now and then a little puzzled at their allusions; there jokes were chiefly local or professional, and very frequently my excellent friend Gervase was, to use a modern phrase of general acceptation, basketed.
1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 79. The fight was soon over after this circumstance, and the sweaters and trainers were completely in the basket!
1866. E. Yates, Land at Last. . . . And find you in his den, lighting it up like—like—like—I'm regularly basketed, by jove!
To be brought or to go to the basket, phr. (familiar).—To be imprisoned; to be reduced to poverty. A basket is here the symbol of daily provision, or alms. Formerly prisoners were dependent on charity for daily sustenance, and it was customary for them to let down
