'dining out,' i.e., doing without a meal at all.
Box Hat, subs. (common).—A silk hat. For synonyms, see Cady.
Box-Irons, subs. (old).—Shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-*cases.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 173. Shoes. Hockey-dockies, or Box-irons.
Box of Dominoes, subs. phr. (popular).—The mouth. [From box + dominoes (q.v.), a slang term for the teeth.] For synonyms, see Potato-trap.
Box the Compass, verbal phr. (nautical).—To repeat in succession, or irregularly, the thirty-two points of the compass; beginners on accomplishing this feat are said to be able to box the compass.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. vi. 'A light, good-humoured, sensible wench, who knows very well how to box her compass.'
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp. Boxing, among sailors, is used to denote the rehearsing the several points of the compass in their proper order. [m.]
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xviii. I can raise a perpendicular . . . and box the compass.
1867. Smyth, Sailors' Word Book. To box the compass. Not only to repeat the names of the thirty-two points in order and backwards, but also to be able to answer any and all questions respecting its division.
Box the Jesuit, verbal phr. (old).—See Cockroaches.
Boy, subs. (popular).—1. Champagne. [A story, ben trovato, is told by the Sporting Times of June 30, 1882, as regards the origin of the phrase:—At a shooting party in Norfolk once, a youth was told off to supply the company with champagne. The day being hot and the sportsmen thirsty, cries of 'Boy! Boy! Boy!' were heard all day long. This tickling the fancy of the royal and noble party, the term 'boy' became applied to champagne.] Also called fiz and cham (q.v.). The latter form is nearly reproduced in the French slang, le champ; they also brutally speak of this wine as coco épileptique, another epithet being cidre élégant.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 2. 'The fine young London Gentleman.' He will say that port and sherry his nice palate always cloy; He'll nothing drink but 'B. and S.' and big magnums of the boy; He's the darling of the Barmaid, and the honest waiter's joy, As he quaffs his Pommery 'Extra Sec,' his 'Giesler' or 'Ivroy,' Like a fine young London Gentleman, Quite of the present style.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 155, col. 1. Dined with Tom and Corky at a new place they had discovered, and raved of. Of course, beastly dinner, but very good boy. Had two magnums of it.
1883. Punch, August 18, p. 84, col. 1. Shall it be B.-and-S., or bumpers of the boy?
2. (common.)—A hump on a man's back. In low circles it is usual to speak of a humpbacked man as two persons—'him and his boy,' and from this much coarse fun and personality are at times evolved.
3. (Anglo-Indian and colonial.)—A servant of whatever age.
Old boy, subs. (popular).—1. A familiar term of address. The old boy is one's father; the 'guv'nor,' or 'boss.' Sometimes my boy.
