perhaps of all cities in the Union, enjoyed, for a time, an unenviable reputation on account of the rowdyism of a section of its inhabitants. More or less, however, these turbulent gangs infest all the more important centres of population, and answer in many respects to the English 'roughs.' They are recruited largely from the labouring and commercial population; they drink, and swear, but commit no crime, save an occasional deed of violence in times when excitement runs unusually high, and are for the most part affiliated with one or other of the two political parties, the Republicans or Democrats. They are known as Dead Rabbits in New York, Moyamensing Hounds in Philadelphia, Blood-tubs in Baltimore, where at other times they have also been designated Babes, Plug-uglies, and Ashlanders. The Blood-tubs are reported to have been mostly butchers, and to have got their epithet from having, on an election day, dipped an obnoxious German's head in a tub of warm blood, and then driven him running through the town,
18(?). Song of the Irish Legion. Blood-tubs and plug-uglies, and others galore, Are sick for a thrashing in sweet Baltimore; Be jabers! that same I'd be proud to inform Of the terrible force of an Irishman's arm.
Bloody, adj. (low).—An epithet difficult to define, and used in a multitude of vague and varying senses. Most frequently, however, as it falls with wearisome reiteration every two or three seconds from the mouths of London roughs of the lowest type, no special meaning, much less a sanguinary one, can be attached to its use. In such a case it forms a convenient intensitive, sufficiently important as regards sound to satisfy those whose lack of language causes them to fall back upon a frequent use of words of this type. Bloody occasionally carries with it a suspicion of anger, resentment, or detestation. [For suggested derivations, and some incidental illustrative examples, see adverbial usage, which follows.]
1840. R. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii., 2. You'll find me a bloody rascal. Ibid, xx., 61. They've got a man for a mate of that ship, and not a bloody sheep about decks. [m.]
1880. Ruskin, Fiction, Fair and F., § 29. The use of the word bloody in modern low English is a deeper corruption, not altering the form of the word, but defiling the thought in it. [m.]
Adv. (low).—Among the vulgar at the present day bloody, used adverbially, says G. A. Sala [Notes and Queries, 4 S., i., Feb. 8, 1868], simply qualifies the superlative and excessive. Admiral Gambier, who is said to have introduced 'tea and piety' into the navy, very properly discountenanced the practice so long common to naval officers of dg the sailors' eyes while they were reefing topsails. His tars, scarcely grateful, nicknamed the admiral 'Old Bloody Politeful.' The lower classes use bloody indifferently as a term of depreciation or appreciation. Thus, it's a bloody shame; and per contra in a flash song, the poet (supposed to be languishing in prison) recounts that the chaplain discoursed to the inmates—
