God Pays! phr. (old).—An expression at one time much in the mouth of disbanded soldiers and sailors (who assumed a right to live on the public charity). The modern form is, 'If I don't pay you, God Almighty will.'
1605. London Prodical, ii., 3. But there be some that bear a soldier's form, That swear by him they never think upon; Go swaggering up and down, from house to house, Crying, God pays.
1630. Taylor, in wks. These feather'd fidlers sing, and leape, and play, The begger takes delight, and God doth pay.
1640. Ben Jonson, Epigr. XII. To every cause he meets, this voice he brays, His only answer is to all, God pays.
God (or Bramah) Knows: I don't, phr. (common).—An emphatic rejoinder.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Come Iddio vel dica., a phrase, as wee would say: God himselfe tell you, I cannot.
Goddess Diana, subs. phr. (rhyming).
A sixpence. For synonyms,
see Tanner.
1864. The Press, 12 Nov. Goddess Diana is the rhyming equivalent for a tanner which signifies sixpence.
God-dot! intj. (old).—An oath.
By God! [A contraction of 'God
wot!'] For synonyms, see
Oaths.
Godfather, subs. (old).—A juryman.
1598. Shakspeare, Merchant of Venice, iv. 1. In christ'ning thou shalt have two godfathers, Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
1616. Ben Jonson, Devil's An Ass, v., 5. Not I, If you be such a one, sir, I will leave you To your god-fathers in law. Let twelve men work.
1638. Randolph, Muses' Looking Glass, ix. 251. I had rather zee him remitted to the jail, and have his twelve godvathers, good men and true, condemn him to the gallows.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To stand Godfather, verb. phr. (common).—To pay the reckoning. [Godfathers being the objects of much solicitude and expectation.]
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Will you stand godfather, and we will take care of the brat? = repay you another time.
Go-down, subs. (old).—1. A
draught of liquor; a go (q.v.).
2. (American).—See quot.
1881. New York Times, 18 Dec., quoted in 'N and Q' 6, S. v. 65. Go Down.—A cutting in the bank of a stream for enabling animals to cross or to get to water.
God-permit, subs. (old).—A stage
coach. [Which was advertised
to start Deo volente.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. God-permit, a stage coach, from that affectation of piety, frequently to be met with in advertisements of stage coaches or waggons, where most of their undertakings are promised with if God permit, or God willing.
1825. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.
God's-mercy, subs. (old).—Ham
(or bacon) and eggs. ['There's
nothing in the house but God's
mercy': at one time a common
answer in country inns to travellers
in quest of provant.]
God's-penny, subs. (old).—An
earnest penny.
1690. B. E., Dict. of the Cant. Crew, s[. P2]v. God's Penny, Earnest Money, to Bind a Bargain.
1765. Percy, Reliques, 'The heir of Linne.' Then John he did him to record draw, And John he cast him a God's pennie.
Go-easter, subs. (American cowboys').—A
portmanteau; a
peter (q.v.). [Because seldom
used except in going city- or
east-wards.]
