1602. Shaks., Twel. N., ii., 4, 122. But di'de thy sister of her loue my boy? [m.]
1740. Richardson, Pamela, III., 380. Never fear, old boy, said Sir Charles, we'll bear our Parts in Conversation. [m.]
2. The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper.
1835-40. Haliburton, Clockmaker, (1862), 140. As we invigorate the form of government (as we must do, or go to the old boy).
Yellow boy, subs. (common).—A guinea; also, one pound sterling. [From the colour.] As will be seen the term is an old one. For synonyms, see Canary.
1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act i. How now, yellow boys, by this good light! Sirrah, varlet, how came I by this gold?
1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. I., ch. vi. There wanted not yellow boys to fee counsel, hire witnesses, and bribe juries.
1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. xlii. 'The delight of picking up the money—the bright, shining yellow boys—and sweeping 'em into one's pocket!'
Boys, subs. (popular).—This word is very generally in use in the plural. Thus, bookmakers speak of their fellows, in the aggregate, as the boys; and it must be noted as a curious fact that on race-courses the whole army of the swindling and thieving fraternity are so designated.
Angry or roaring boys, subs. (old).—A set of young bucks, bloods or blades (qv.), of noisy manners and 'fire-eating' tastes. Nares says 'like the Mohawks' (q.v.) described by the Spectator, they delighted to commit outrages and get into quarrels. Early mention is made of such characters. Wilson, in his Life of James I. [1653], gives an account of their origin :—The king minding his sports, many riotous demeanours crept into the kingdom; divers sects of vicious persons, going under the title of roaring boys, bravadoes, roysterers, etc., commit many insolencies; the streets swarm, night and day, with bloody quarrels, private duels fomented, etc.
1599. Greene, Tu. Quoque, Old Plays, vii., 25. This is no angry, nor no roaring boy, but a blustering boy.
1609. Ben Jonson, Epicœne, i., 4. The doubtfulness of your phrase, believe it, sir, would breed you a quarrel once an hour with the terrible boys, if you should but keep 'em fellowship a day.
1610. Ben Jonson, Alchemist, iii., 4. Sir, not so young, but I have heard some speech Of the angry boys, and seen 'em take tobacco.
1616. Beaumont and Fletcher, Scornful Lady, iv., 1. Get thee another nose, that will be pull'd Off, by the angry boys, for thy conversion.
Boys of the Holy Ground, subs. phr. (old).—Formerly [1800-25] bands of roughs infesting a well-known region in St. Giles.—See Holy Land.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, p. 7. For we are the boys of the holy ground, And we'll dance upon nothing and turn us round.
Brace, verb (American thieves').—To get credit by swagger.
Brace it through, phr. (American).—To succeed by dint of sheer impudence. Cf., Brace up, 'to gird oneself up,' 'to buckle to.'
Bracelets, subs. (familiar).—Handcuffs; fetters for the wrist. [Derivation obvious.]
