Grabby, subs. (military).—An infantry-man. [Used in contempt by the mounted arm.] Fr., marionnette.
1868. Whyte Melville, White Rose, ch. x 'Is it a good regiment? How jolly to dine at mess every day!' 'I shouldn't like to be a grabby though' (this from the Dandy); 'and after all, I'd rather be a private in the cavalry than an officer in the regiment of feet!'
Grab-gains, subs. (thieves').—The
trick of snatching a purse, etc.,
and making off.
Grab-game (or -coup, or -racket),
subs. (old).—A mode of swindling:
the sharpers start by betting among
themselves; then the by-standers
are induced to join; then stakes
are deposited; lastly, there is a
row, when one of the gang grabs
the stakes, and decamps. But see
quot., 1823.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Grab-coup, modern practice of gambling, adopted by the losers, thus the person cheated, or done, takes his opportunity, makes a dash at the depository of money, or such as may be down for the play, and grabs as much as possible, pockets the proceeds, and fights his way out of the house.
18(?). Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, p. 282. 'I'll bear you company. What d'ye say to that?' 'Just as you like,' responded his two companions, 'that is provided you won't attempt the grab game on us.'
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 219. 'Now, boss!' he cried, not unkindly, 'is this to be run shipshape; or is it a Dutch grab-racket?
Grace-card, subs. (Irish).—The
Six of Hearts. [For origin see
N. and Q., 5th Series, iv., 137].
Gracemans, subs. (old).—Grace-*church
Street Market.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (W. Club's Rept., 1874). Gracemans, Gratious Streete market.
Graduate, subs. (turf).—1. A
horse that has been run.
2. (colloquial).—An adept; an artful member (q.v.).
3. (venery).—An unmarried woman who has taken her degree in carnal lore.
Verb. (colloquial).—To seek and acquire experience: in life, love, society, or trade; and so on.
Gradus, subs. (gamesters').—A
mode of cheating: a particular
card is so placed by the shuffler
that when he hands the pack to
be cut, it projects a little beyond
the rest; the chance being that it
is the turn-up. Also the step
(q.v.). [From the Latin.]
Gradus-ad-parnassum, subs.
(old literary).—The treadmill.
For synonyms, see Wheel-of-life.
Graft, subs. (common).—Work;
employment; lay (q.v).: e.g.
What graft are you on now?
Great-graft = profitable
labour; good biz (q.v.). Also
Grafting and Elbow-grease.
French Synonyms.—Le bastimage (thieves'); le goupinage (thieves'); la laine (tailors'); le maquillage (thieves'); le massage (popular); la masse; le mèche (printers').
1878. Graphic, 6 July, p. 2. According to the well-known maxim in the building trade, 'Scotch masons, Welsh black-*smiths, English bricklayers, Irish labourers'. . . . Perhaps in a generation or two Paddy will fail us. He will have become too refined for hard grafting.
1887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip. The merry little dibbs you bag At my graft, no matter what.
