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1598. Shakspeare, Henry IV., Part I, Act i, Scene 4. O'horseback, ye cuckoo; but afoot he will not budge a foot.
2. (old).—A cuckold.
1594. Shakspeare, Love's Labour Lost, Act v, Scene 2. Cuckoo, Cuckoo, O word of fear Unpleasing to a married ear
3. (schoolboys').—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.
Cuckoos, subs. (old).—Money, For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.
1612. The Passenger of Benvenuto. These companions, who . . . carry the impression and marke of the pillerie galley, and of the halter, they call the purse a leafe, and a fleece; money, cuckoes, and aste, and crowns.
Cuckoo's Nest, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Cucumber-Time, subs. (tailors').—The dull season. [A correspondent of Notes and Queries (1 S., viii., 439) says it is of German origin, and remarks that many hundreds of London tailors are of German nationality. The German phrase is die saure Gurken Zeit (pickled gherkin-time). Hence, it is said, the expression 'Tailors are vegetarians,' because they live now on 'cucumber' and now on 'cabbage.' Quoted by Grose (1785).] Cf., quot., 1821.
1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 60. The chap in the corner . . . has been chaffing Spendall . . . about his being so cucumberish as to be compelled to 'gammon the draper' [which means when a man is without a shirt, and is buttoned up close to his neck, with merely a handkerchief round it to make an appearance of cleanliness, it is termed, 'gammoning the draper.']
Cud, subs. (popular).—A chew of tobacco; a quid. [An allusion to 'chewing the cud.']
Adj. (Winchester College).—1. Pretty; handsome. [Thought to be derived from kudos.]
2. (Christ's Hospital).—Severe.
Cuddie, subs. (Scots).—A donkey.
Cuddling, verbal subs. (athletic and pugilistic).—Wrestling.
Cuddy, adj. (Christ's Hospital).—Hard; difficult; said of a lesson. Also Hertfordicé for passy (q.v.). [There is a common hard biscuit called a 'cuddy-biscuit' which doubtless has this derivation.]
Cue, verb (thieves').—To swindle on credit.
Cuff, subs. (old).—1. A foolish old man. [Probably a contraction of cuffin (q.v.).
1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. I., p. 3 (ed. 1725). The lustiest Carles there-*abouts. Rich cuffs and very sturdy Louts.
1708. Centlivre, Busie Body, Act i. A very extraordinary Bargain I have made truly, if she should be really in Love with this old cuff now.
1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 38. They are just here! ten to one the old cuff may not stay with her: I'll pop into this closet.
2. (tailors').—A religious man, either real or sham.
To cuff Anthony, phr.—See Anthony.
To beat or cuff Jonas, phr. = To beat the Booby or goose (q.v. under Beat).
Cuffen.—See Cuffin.
