1539. Taverner. Erasm. Prov. (1552), 62. Ye set the cart before the horse .., cleane contrarily, and arsy-versy as they say.
1728. Bailey. Dictionary. Arsy-versey, topsy-turvy, preposterously, perversely, without order.
Still dialectical. See English Dialect Society's Glossaries, e[**.]g.. West Somerset Word Book.
Arter (vulgarism).—An incorrect pronunciation of 'after.'
Artesian, subs. (Australian).—In Gippsland. Victoria, a well-known and popular brew of beer is manufactured with water obtained from an artesian well at Sale—and hence artesian as a common nickname for all Colonial beer.—See also Cascade.
English synonyms for beer will be found under Swipes.
Artful Dodger, subs. (rhyming and thieves' slang).—1. A lodger.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Artful dodgers, fellows who dare not sleep twice in the same place for fear of arrest.
2. An expert thief. The artful dodger in Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' will occur to mind in this connection.
Arthur. King Arthur (old).—A sailor's game, thus described, in effect, by Grose. When near the line, or in a hot latitude, a man who is to represent King Arthur, is ridiculously dressed, having a large wig made out of oakum, or some old swabs. He is seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water, and every person in turn is ceremoniously introduced to him, and has to pour a bucket of water over him, crying out, 'Hail. King Arthur!' If during the ceremony the person introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours to excite him by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he changes places with, and then becomes King Arthur, till relieved by some brother tar who has as little command over his muscles as himself.—See also Ambassador.
Artichoke, subs. (American thieves').—An aged prostitute of the lowest type. For general synonyms, see Barrack hack.
Article, subs. (popular).—1. A term of contempt for a worthless or insignificant person or animal—'A pretty article he is.'
1843. Dickens. Martin Chuzzlewit, ch, xxvi., p. 268. You're a nice article, to turn sulky on first coming home!
2. A woman. In this sense generally current at the beginning of the century—'a prime article,' a handsome girl, or, as the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811] has it, 'a hell of a goer.'
1857. A. Trollope. Three Clerks, ch, xxxi. 'She'd never have done for you, you know; and she's the very article for such a man as Peppermint.'
See also Sappy for English and foreign synonyms.
Articles, subs. (thieves').—A suit of clothes. Formerly current in England [circa 1780-1825]; now surviving principally amongst American thieves.
Articles of Virtue, subs, phr. (popular).—Virgins. A play upon the word 'virtue,' in
