more than your merits. And now are you all bobbish, and how's sixpennorth of halfpence?' meaning me.
1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen's Practice, ch. vii. 'I didn't know that I mustn't look downcast. I didn't suppose it would be very polite, under the circumstances, to go round looking as bobbish as I feel.'
Bobbles, subs. (common).—The
testicles—a corrupted form of
bawbells. For synonyms, see
Cods.
Bobby, subs. (popular).—A policeman.
This nickname, though
possibly not derived from, was
certainly popularised by the fact
that the Metropolitan Police
Act of 1828 was mainly the
work of Mr., afterwards Sir
Robert Peel. Long before that
statesman remodelled the police,
however, the term 'bobby the
beadle' was in use to signify a
guardian of a public square or
other open space. There seems,
however, a lack of evidence,
and examples of its literary use
prior to 1851 have not been discovered.
For synonyms, see
Beak, sense I.
At the Universities the Proctors are or used to be called bobbies.
1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 16. It is often said in admiration of such a man that he could muzzle half a dozen bobbies before breakfast!
1880. Punch, No. 2038. Going round a corner and crying, Bobby! bobby! bobby! when he saw a Proctor.
1884. Punch, July 26, p. 41, col. 2. But oh, for the grip of the 'Bobby's' hand Upon his neck that day.
1889. The Mirror, Aug. 26, p. 7, col. 2. On the back seat was perched the perfidious Amelia Ann, the lust of conquest clearly written upon her sinful and perspiring face. She had put her cat in the birdcage, its former occupant being, I presume, inside the cat. . . . In this order the ghastly procession moved off, to the evident amusement of a 'bobby,' whose beat seems to include nothing beyond the area-railings of the opposite house.
Bobby-Twister, subs. (thieves').—A
burglar or thief, who, when
resisting pursuit or capture,
uses violence. Of obvious derivation.—See
Thieves.
Bob-Cull, subs. (thieves').—A good
fellow; a pleasant companion.
[From bob (adj.) = nice, lively +
cull, old cant for a man.]
Bob My Pal, subs. (rhyming slang).—A
girl, i.e., 'gal.'
Bobstick, subs. (old).—A shilling's
worth. Cf., Bob, sense I.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 162. Bobstick of rum slim. That is, a shilling's worth of punch.
1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Tom. Allons donc—Waiter, bring some wine. Log. Hang cards! bring me a bobstick of rum slim, or a glass of Barsac—stay, on second thoughts, I'll have a sniker of green tea punch.
Bob Tail, subs. (old).—I. A lewd
woman. For synonyms, see
Barrack-hack.
2. An impotent man or eunuch.
Tag, rag, and bobtail; a mob of all sorts of low people; the common herd; the rabble.
1659-60. Pepys, Diary, Mar. 6. The dining-room . . . was full of tag, rag, and bobtail, dancing, singing, and drinking, [m.]
1785. Wolcot ('P. Pindar'), Ode to R. A.'s, ii., wks. (1812) I., 80. Tag-rags and Bobtails of the sacred Brush. [m.]
1820. Byron, Blues, ii., 23. The rag, tag, and bobtail of those they call 'Blues.' [m.]
