walls in 'promising' neighbourhoods stands for 'bone,' a corruption of the French 'bon,' as a hint to succeeding vagabonds that they will find the happiest of hunting-grounds in the locality.
Verb (popular).—1. To filch; to steal; to make off with; to take into custody. [There are two suggested derivations :—(1) that the figure of speech is drawn from the manner in which a dog makes off with a bone; (2) that bone is a corruption of 'bonnet' (a gambling cheat who 'sharks' one's money slyly).] For synonyms in sense of to steal, see Prig; in sense of to apprehend, see Nab.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bone (v.), a cant word to seize or arrest; also to cheat or strip a person of his money or goods.
1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs, II., 157. Tell us how you was boned, signifies tell us the story of your apprehension, a common request among fellow-prisoners in a jail, which is readily complied with as a rule; and the various circumstances therein related afford present amusement, and also useful hints for regulating their future operations, so as to avoid the like misfortune.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. lvii., p. 467. 'And why you were living so quiet here, and what you had boned, and who you had boned it from, wasn't it?'
1861. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. II., ch. ii. 'I'm blest if he hasn't been and boned my mug. I hope it'll do him more good than it's done me.'
1871. Chambers' Journal, Dec. 9, A Double Event, p. 774. It would be a breach of confidence to tell you how it was arranged, but, after some haggling, it was arranged that, on the understanding that I gave up the securities, I was to bone the reward which the detectives had missed.
2. (American.)—To bribe; to 'grease the palm.'—See Bone, subs.
3.(American cadets'.)—To study hard. [From bohn (q.v.).]
To have a bone in the leg—arm—throat, etc., phr. (common).—A humorous reason for declining to use the member spoken of; a feigned obstacle.
1542. Nicholas Udall, Erasmus's Apophthegmes (1877, Reprint of ed. 1562). p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that he had a bone in his throte, and he could not speake.
1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can't go, for I have a bone in my leg.
Bone-Ache, subs. (old).—The lues venerea. [The allusion is obvious.]
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse. But cucullus non facit monachum—'tis not their newe bonnets will keepe them from the old boan-ack.
1606. Shakspeare, Tro. and C., ii., 3. After this the vengeance on the whole camp! or rather the bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curse dependent on those that war for a placket.
Bone-Box, subs. (common).—The mouth. [The teeth are here represented as the 'bones.' The latter are now more commonly called 'ivories.'] For synonyms, see Potato-trap, and compare with Bone-house.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Shut your bone-box; shut your mouth.
Bone-Crusher, subs. (sporting).—A heavy bore rifle used for killing big game. [Literally that which crushes or breaks bones by force. Cf., Bone-*shaker.]
1872. H. M. Stanley, How I Found Livingstone (2 ed.), p. 63. African game require bone-crushers; for any ordinary carbine possesses sufficient penetrative qualities, yet has not the disabling qualities which a gun must possess to be useful in the hands of an
