1812. Combe (Dr. Syntax). Pictur, xvii., 62. The Doctor then .., pronounced the grace ... The fierce attack was soon begun.
1849. Thackeray. Pendennis, ch, i. It was a double letter, and the Major commenced perusing the envelope before he attacked the inner epistle.
At That, adv, phr. (American and Australian).—An intensitive phrase tacked on to the end of an assertion or statement already made. 'He's a slick 'cute rascal, and a pretty demon AT THAT,' i.e., he is a rascal of rascals, an adept at villainy. It is a purely cant phrase, and has achieved a degree of popularity quite out of proportion to its merits—if any. Proctor suggests that the expression is an abbreviation of 'added to that,' but others regard it as the German dazu, a theory which is not improbable, in view of the large German element in the States.
1882. Pinkerton's Mollie Maguires and Detectives. A miner from Wadesville, was spoken of as an ancient Mollie—Cooney being actually what the detective assumed to be, and a sharp one at that.
1888. Forest and Stream. March 15. Worth a year's subscription, and cheap at that.
1888. New York Herald. July 22. Who would have supposed that the self-contained Mr. French, the icily regular T. Henry French, with a disposition as undemonstrative as the Alpine edelweiss, would suffer his temper to go away because of the loss of a hat—aye, and of an old hat at that.
Attic or Attic-Storey, subs, (common).—The head, from its being the highest or crowning member, the body being figuratively regarded as a house. Sometimes upper-storey. For synonyms, see Crumpet.
1870. Alford, in Life (1873), 467.
Tolerably well all day, but the noise in the ATTIC unremoved[** .?]
Queer in the attic, etc. Drunk; also weak-minded, or 'cracked.'
Attic-Salt, subs, (literary).—Well-turned phrases spiced with wit and humour. A reference to the peculiar style and idiom of the Greek language as used by the Athenians, and, says Hotten, 'partly a sly hit at the well-known poverty of many writers.' Whether so, or not, the phrase is one of long standing.
1748. T. Dyche. Dictionary (5 ed.) In Philology, we say attic-salt, for a delicate, poignant kind of wit and humour after the Athenian manner, who were particular in this way.
1779. Sheridan. The Critic. Act i.. Sc. 2. I have the plot from the author, and only add—characters strongly drawn—highly coloured—hand of a master—fund of genuine humour—mine of invention—neat dialogue—attic-salt.
1848. Jas. Hannay. King Dobbs, ch, ix., p. 129 (1856). 'If you joke in that style, we'll lose the day,' said Dobbs.[**P2 "," instead of "."?] who had some quiet homely superstitions. 'What? is it unlucky to spill attic-salt, as well as the ordinary kind?'
Attleborough, subs. (American).—Sham jewelry; used in precisely the same manner as 'Brummagem,' and as widely applied to men and things. It has passed from the classics of thiefdom into general use, and is applied to anything of a sham, pinchbeck, insincere, or doubtful character. Attleborough is a town celebrated for its manufacture of trashy jewelry.
Attorney, subs. (popular).—A drumstick of goose, or turkey, grilled and devilled. [From
