1705. Vanbrugh, The Confederacy, v., 1. If ever I see one glance of your hempen fortune again, I'm off your partnership for ever.
Hempen-squincy, subs. (old).—Hanging.
For synonyms, see
Ladder.
1646. Randolph's Jealous Lovers. Hear you, tutour, Shall not we be suspected for the murder, And choke with a hempen squincy.
Hempen-widow, subs. (old).—A
woman widowed by the gallows.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hempen Widow, One whose Husband was Hanged.
1725. New Cant Dict., s.v.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th Ed.). Hempen-Widow (s.), a woman whose husband was hanged.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 89. In a box of the stone-jug I was born, Of a hempen-widow the kid forlorn Fake away.
Hen, subs. (common).—1. A woman.
Specifically, a wife or mistress.
For synonyms, see Petticoat.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. Hen. In Black-boy Alley I've a ken, A tyke and fighting cock; A saucy tip-slang moon-eyed hen, Who is oft mill-doll at block.
2. (common).—Drink money. See Hen drinking.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 20. Whenever there's hens on the crow, 'Arry's good for a hinnings,—no fear!
Verb (Scots').—To funk; to turn tail; to hen on = to fear to attempt.
Cock and hen club, subs. phr. (common).—A club composed of men and women.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Hens and Chickens, subs. phr. (thieves').—Pewter measures; quarts and pints. Cf., Cat and Kittens.
1851. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, Vol. i., p. 276. The hens and chickens of the roguish low lodging-houses are the publicans' pewter measures; the bigger vessels are 'hens,' the smaller are 'chickens.'
Hen-drinking, subs. (provincial).—See
quot.
1859. Notes and Queries, 2 S. viii., 239. There is yet another [Yorkshire marriage-custom], viz., the hen-drinking. On the evening of the wedding day the young men of the village call upon the bridegroom for a hen—meaning money for refreshments . . . should the hen be refused, the inmates may expect some ugly trick to the house ere the festivities terminate.
Hen Frigate, subs. (nautical).—A
ship commanded by the captain's
wife. cf., Hen-pecked.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailors Language, s.v.
Hen-fruit, subs. (American).—Eggs.
Hen (or Chicken)-hearted, adj.
(old: now recognised).—Timorous;
cowardly.
d. 1529. Skelton, Why Come Ye not to Courte. They kepe them in their holdes Lyke hen-hearted cuckoldes.
1506-56. Udal, James I. He is reconed a lowte and a henne-hearted rascall.
1639-61. Rump Songs, i., [1662] 319. Let the hen-hearted Oit drink whey.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th Ed.). Hen-hearted, of a cowardly, fearful, or timorous disposition.
1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2nd Ed.), s.v. 'Poltron.' A coward, or hen-hearted fellow.
1762. Foote, Liar, iii., 2. Why, what a dastardly, hen-heartedBut come, Papillion, this shall be your last campaign.
