the curious nickname given to the 50th Foot. Two accounts are given of the origin of this. One asserts that it was from their red uniforms being faced with black and silver lace, and thus giving the regiment a dull and sombre appearance; whilst the other tells us that it was from the men wiping their perspiring faces with the black cuffs of their coats, and thus giving their countenances a somewhat swarthy tint. Whatever may be the origin of this sobriquet, they bear a second about which there can be no doubt. From the glorious charge, led by Colonel Walker, at Vimiera, this regiment is known as the 'Gallant Fiftieth.'
1886. Tinsley's Magazine, April, p. 322. Most people have heard of the 'Fighting Fiftieth.' But the 50th are rich in nicknames. They are, or at least they were, the Blind Half-Hundredth, having been but too literally blinded by the ravages of ophthalmia when in Egypt with Sir Ralph Abercromby. And when on one occasion the men dried the perspiration from their faces with their cuffs, they for a while became the Dirty Half-Hundredth.
Blind Harpers, subs. (old).—Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing on fiddles, etc.—Grose.
Blind-Man's Holiday, subs. (familiar).—Formerly this common colloquialism signified the night or darkness; it is now, however, usually applied to the time 'between lights' when it is too dark to see, but often not dark enough to light up, and a holiday or rest from work is taken. The blind from their infirmity are in general exempted from labour, and in this view keep holiday; when the twilight hour comes, when those that can work, or read, etc., can no longer see to do so, it is blind-man's holiday to them, and they of necessity rest accordingly. This derivation, one would think, is sufficiently obvious; but, on the other hand, there are those who think the expression a corruption of 'blind-man's all-day.' The meaning then would be that the gradual departure of light brings one to the state which the blind man endures all day, or which is all the day the blind man has. Whichever derivation be true, it is, however, interesting to note that this 'household word' of to-day has been in the mouths of the English people for more than three hundred years. It is the English equivalent of the Scotch IN THE GLOAMING, of an equally venerable lineage.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 263. And what will not blinde Cupid doe in the night which is his blindman's HOLIDAY?
1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Indeed, madam, it is blindman's holiday; we shall soon be all of a colour.
1824. T. Fielding, Proverbs, etc. (Familiar Phrases), p. 147. Blindman's holiday.
1866. Aunt Judy's Mag., Oct., 358. At meal times, or in blindman's holiday, when no work was to be done. [m.]
Blind Monkeys, subs. (common).—Hotten thus explains this expression:—An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the blind monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. 'How much a week? and what to do?' are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, 'Five bob a week at the doctor's—you're to stand behind the door and make the
