1883. Graphic, 17 March, p. 286, c. 3. Many a youngster has got on in his profession . . . by having the good fortune to make a friend of the old Indian who took him in as a griffin or a stranger.
2. (colloquial).—A woman of forbidding manners or appearance; a Gorgon. Also a caretaker, chaperon, or sheep-dog (q.v.) [A reflection of the several griffins of ornithology and of heraldry: the former a feeder on birds, small mammals, and even children; the latter (as in Milton) a perfection of vigilance.]
1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i., 2. It is always locked up by that she-griffin with a bunch of keys.
3. (thieves').—A signal: e.g., to tip the griffin = to warn; to give the office (q.v.), or tip (q.v.). The straight griffin = the straight tip.
1888. Cassell's Sat. Jour., 22 Dec., p. 305. Plank yourself at the corner to give the griffin if you hear or see owt.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 22. He's got the straight griff for something.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 95. When he wanted to give the chaps in the office the straight griffin, he used to say, 'Nelson's my guide.'
4. in. pl. (trade).—The scraps and leavings from a contract feast, which are removed by the purveyor.
Griff-metoll, subs. (old).—Sixpence.
For synonyms, see
Tanner.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, s.v.
Grig, subs. (old).—1. An active,
lively, and jocose person: as in
the phrase 'Merry as a Grig.'
[An allusion to the liveliness of
the grasshopper, sand-eel, or to
grig (= Greek: cf., Troilus and
Cressida i. 2; iv. 4).
1611. Cotgrave, Dictionarie. Galebon-temps. A merry grig.
1673. Wycherley, Gent. Danc. Master, i., 1., wks. (1713) 251. Hah, ah, ah, cousin, dou art a merry grigg—ma foy.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Grig s.v. A merry grig; a merry fellow.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 43. The statesman that talks on the Woolsack so big, Could hustle to the open as merry as a grig.
1765. Goldsmith, Essays VI. I grew as merry as a grig, and laughed at every word that was spoken.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xix, p. 159. The learned gentleman . . . is as merry as a grig at a French watering-place.
2. (thieves').—A farthing; a gigg (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fadge.
1680. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v Not a grig did he tip me, not a farthing would he give me.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 15. 'He shall go through the whole course,' replied Blueskin, with a ferocious grin, 'unless he comes down to the last grig.'
Verb. (American).—To vex; to worry.
1855. Haliburton [S. Slick], Human Nature, p. 83. That word 'superiors' grigged me. Thinks I, 'My boy, I'll just take that expression, roll it up in a ball, and shy it back at you.'
Grim, subs. (American thieves').—A
skeleton. Also Grin.
Old Mr. Grim, subs. phr. (common).—Death. For synonyms, see Old Floorer.
Grin, verb. (American University,
Virginia).—See quot.
1887. Lippincott, July, p. 99. If here are many 'old men' in the room they immediately begin to grin him; that is, they strike on their plates with their knives and forks, beat with their feet, and shout at the top of their voices, in the effort to make their victim grin. Woe to him if they succeed; for in that event the same thing will be repeated three times a day, until he ceases to notice it.
