certain persons in Ireland, who circulated it to the injury of the king's sterling money, and to his no little loss and prejudice. Proclamation had, therefore, been ordered to be made to prohibit the circulation of it, on pain of forfeiture of money and goods. But the king having been informed that great inconvenience had arisen from this prohibition on account of the scarcity of sterling money, it was, therefore, commanded that, provided it should be found on due inquiry more advantageous to the public to allow the currency of the said black money, proclamation should be made to authorise it until a sufficient quantity of other money was provided.
1706. Luttrell, in Ashton's Reign Queen Anne, II., p. 225. The Art of making black dogs, which are shillings, or other pieces of money made only of Pewter, double wash'd. [m.]
1724. Swift, Drapier's Lett., wks., 1755, V., ii., 44. Butcher's half-pence, black-dogs, and others the like. [m.]
2. (common.)—Delirium tremens; the horrors; 'jim jams.' Black dog is a frequent figurative expression dialectically for depression of spirits, and melancholy. Among the ancients a black dog and its pups were considered an evil omen. For synonyms, see Gallon distemper.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxxiii. 'Yes, sir,' said the butler, nodding, 'D.T., sir. After one of his rages the black dog comes, and it's hawful work; so I hope you'll go, sir.'
To blush like a black dog, phr. (old).—Not to blush at all; to be shameless.—See also Blush.
1634. Withal, Dictionary, p. 557 [ed. 1634]. Faciem perfricuit. He blusheth like a black dogge, hee hath a brazen face.
Black Doll.—See Dolly shop.
1835. Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 174. [Speaking of a marine-store shop]: imagine, in addition to this incongruous mass, a black doll in a white frock, with two faces—one looking up the street, the other looking down, swinging over the door.
1838. Douglas Jerrold, Men of Character, II., p. 100. Five hundred articles, among which might be found knockers, scrapers, barbers' poles, black dolls.
1861. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., p. 609. The best price given for old rags—inquire at the sign of the black doll.
Black-Eye. To give a bottle
a black eye, phr. (old).—To
empty it. Cf., Dead man.
Black-Eyed Susan, subs. (American).—Texan
for a revolver.
Among other slang equivalents
for this weapon current in the
Lone Star State may be mentioned
meat in the pot, blue
lightning, the peace-maker,
mr. speaker , a one-eyed
scribe, pill box and my unconverted
friend. For synonyms,
see Meat in the pot.
Black-Fly, subs. (old).—A contemptuous
name for a clergyman.
For synonyms, see Devil-*dodger.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. The greatest drawback on the farmer is the black fly, i.e., the parson who takes tithe of the harvest.
Blackfriars! intj. (thieves').—An
exclamation of warning; look
out! beware!—See Thieves.
Blackguard, subs. (common).—A
man coarse in speech, and
offensive in manner; a scamp;
a scoundrel; a disreputable
fellow. The term, as now used,
is one of the utmost opprobrium,
and although a good
