double-dealing or intrigue. Hanky-panky business = conjuring; hanky-panky work (or tricks) = double-dealing. A bit of hanky-panky = a trick; a piece of knavery.
1841. Punch, Vol. I., p. 88. Only a little hanky-panky.
1880. G. R. Sims, Zeph, ch. xiii. He knew that . . . any crime committed on his premises would tell against him on licensing day, and he kept a pretty sharp look out to see that what he was pleased to term hanky panky was not carried on under his nose.
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxxviii. If there was any hanky panky, any mystery I mean, he'd always swear he was out whenever he called, for fear it should be bullied out of him.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, ch. v., p. 323.There's some hanky panky business going on among the men of No. 2 prison; the Catholic side is ringing changes and it is done in this shop.
Hanky-panky-bloke, subs. phr.
(theatrical).—A conjuror; a pile
of mags (q.v.
Hanky-Spanky, adj. (common).—Dashing;
nobby (q.v.). Specifically
of well-cut clothes.
Hannah. That's the man as
married Hannah, phr. (streets').—'That's
the thing': used of a
thing well begun and well ended;
or as an expressive of certainty.
Varied sometimes by that's
what's the matter with
Hannah.
Hans Carvel's Ring, subs. phr.
(venery).—The female pudendum.
For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
[From Poggio (tit. Annulus);
Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles
(xi); Ariosto (Sat. v.); the
Nouvelle of Malespini (89, ii.);
Rabelais (Pantagruel, iii., 28);
and Matthew Prior.]
Hansel (or Handsel) subs. (common).—The
first money taken in
the morning; lucky money.
Hence, earnest money; first-fruits,
&c. Hansel-Monday = the
first Monday in the new year, when
presents were received by children
and servants. [A. S., handselen =
to deliver into the hand.]
1587. Greene, Menaphon (Arber), p. 71. He should like inough haue had first handsell of our new Shepheards sheepehooke.
1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, ii. Bring him a sixpenny bottle of ale: They say a fool's handsel is lucky.
1679. Holland, Ammianus Marcellinus. With which wofull tidings being sore astonied, as if it were the first hansell and beginning of evils comming toward him.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, etc. (1811), p. 121. It is a common practice among the lower class of hucksters, pedlars, or dealers in fruit or fish, on receiving the price of the first goods sold that day, which they call hansel, to spit on the money, as they term it, for good luck.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch iii. There was a whin bonnie lasses there, forbye mysel', and deil ane to gie them hansels. Ibid, ch. xxxii. Grizzy has naething frae me, by twa pair o' new shoon ilka year, and maybe a bit compliment at Hansel Monanday.
1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xix. 'How wears the Hollands you won of me? 'Why, well, as you may see, Master Gold-*thred,' answered Mike; 'I will bestow a pot on thee for the handsel.'
Verb (common).—1. To give handsel to; also (2), to use for the first time.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in Wks., v., 249. And gather about him as flocking to hansell him and strike him good luck.
1605. Chapman, etc., Eastward Hoe, ii. My lady . . . is so ravished with desire to hansell her new coach.
1639-61. Rump Songs, i. [1662], 137. Belike he meant to Hansell his New Satten.
