1834. Miss Edgeworth, Helen, ch. viii. A homebred lordling, who, from the moment he slipped his mother's apron-strings, had fallen into folly.
1849. Macaulay, History of England, II., 649. He could not submit to be tied to the apron-strings even of the best of wives.
Aqua, subs. (American thieves').--Water.
From the Latin.
Aqua Pompaginis, subs. phr. (old).--Pump
water [Dog-Latin;
from L., aqua, water + English,
pump + simulated Latin termination,
aginis].
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Aqua Pompaginis.... Apothecaries' Latin.
1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. 'Exactly my sentiments,' rejoined Blueskin. 'I wouldn't force him for the world; but if he don't tip the stivers, may I be cursed if he don't get a taste of the aqua pompaginis. Let's have a look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,' added he, snatching the child from Wood. 'My stars! here's a pretty lullaby-cheat to make a fuss about--ho ho!'
1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 15. 'He shall go through the whole course,' replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, 'unless he comes down to the last grig. We'll lather him with mud, shave him with a rusty razor, and drench him with aqua pompaginis.'
For synonyms, see Adam's ale.
Aquatics, subs. (Eton college).--The
particular game of cricket
in which men in the boats play.
Aqua-Vitæ, subs. (old).--Formerly
an alchemic term; but, after a
while, popularly received as a
generic name for ardent spirits,
such as brandy, whiskey, etc.
[From L. = water of life. Cf.,
French eau-de-vie, and Irish
usquebaugh.]
Arabs, subs. (common).--Nicknames
for young street vagrants
are numerous. They are 'Bedouins,'
'Street Arabs,' and 'Juvenile
Roughs' in London;
they are 'Gamins' in Paris;
'Bowery Boys' in New York;
'Hoodlums' in San Francisco;
and 'Larrikins' in Melbourne.
This last phrase is an Irish
constable's broad pronunciation
of 'larking,' applied to the
nightly street performances of
these young scamps, there, as
elsewhere, a real social pestilence.--See
Street Arab.
1848. Guthrie, Plea for Ragged Schools. [In this work the homeless wanderers and children of the streets were spoken of as Arabs of the City, and City Arabs.]
Arbor Vitæ, subs. (old).--The
penis. [Latin; = the Tree of
Life]. For synonyms, see
Creamstick.
Arch.--See Ark.
Arch-Cove or Arch-Rogue, subs.
(thieves').--The chief or leader
of a gang of thieves. [From
Greek, archo to be first, to command,
to rule + cove, a slang
term for a man.] Formerly
also dimber damber, upright
man.--See Cove and Area
sneak.
Archdeacon, subs. (Oxford Univ.).--Merton
strong ale.
Arch-Dell or Arch-Doxy, subs.
(old).--The wife or female companion
of an arch-cove.--See
Dell.
Archduke, subs. (old slang).--A
buffoon; an eccentric person.
