restricted sense for a sub-lessee of the government at a nominal rent. It was first used by Mr. Hackett, as Nimrod Wildfire, a Kentucky character, in a play called 'The Kentuckian,' by Bernard, produced in 1833. It is now less often heard than formerly, having been replaced in some degree by the word skedaddle (q.v.). For synonyms, see Amputate one's MAHOGANY.
1835-1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xiv. 'What's the use of legs but to absquotilate with ... when traps are sot[** set?] for you.'
1879. Punch, Jan. 18, p. 23, col. 1. The Reward of Merit. Mrs. Lyon Hunter, 'How do you do, Mr. Brown?' Let me present you to the Duchess of Stilton! Your Grace, permit me to present to you Mr. Brown, the distinguished scholar!' Her Grace (affably). 'Charmed to make your acquaintance--er--Mr. Brown!' Mr. Brown (with effusion). 'Your Grace is really too kind. This is the ninth time I've enjoyed the distinction of being presented to your Grace within the last twelve months; but it's a distinction I value so highly, that without trespassing too much on your Grace's indulgence, I hope I may be occasionally permitted to enjoy it again. [Bows, and ABSQUATULATES.
1884. Daily Telegraph, August 20, p. 6, col. 1. Yet who knows but that some day an accident may happen to the Aberdeenshire works of art ... the sense of the cartoons be totally subverted--in Rabelaisian phrase, 'absquashed and ABSQUATULATED.'
Academician, subs. (old).--The inmate of a brothel.
Academy, subs. (old).--1. A disorderly house; a brothel; a bagnio. Grose remarks that these establishments were also called pushing schools. The old brothels have of late years rapidly disappeared, their places being taken by what are known as bed houses (q.v.). These vary in character as regards style, equipment, and cost, but of whatever grade, rooms may be had for longer or shorter periods as required. The French call them maisons de societé; maisons de passe; foutoirs, and gros numéros, the last from the fact, that these semi-private brothels bear a number of large dimensions over the entrance. The French have also a somewhat analogous term for the mistress of an académie in l'institutrice, the teacher. In the FINISHING ACADEMY (q.v.) the inmates are young prostitutes, the next stage in whose downward career is taken on the streets.
2. According to the N.Y. Slang Dictionary, a penitentiary or prison for minor offences.
3. A thieves' school; also a band of thieves. There are establishments of similar character bearing more distinctive names, e.g.:
4. Buzzing AcADEMY (thieves').--A school for thieves, chiefly boys. Fagan, the old Jew in Oliver Twist, will occur to mind, as also the devices by which he taught his gang to pick pockets and pilfer adroitly.
5. Canting Academy (vagrants').--A house of call or common lodging house, frequented by the fraternity; a cadger's dossing ken. The term is also applied to any house where application for food or money is likely to be successful. At the regular 'beggar's house'--establishments which abound more or less in every town--information can be obtained so that the district can be thoroughly and systematically 'worked.'
