1848. Forster, Oliver Goldsmith, bk. I., ch. vi., p. 55 (5th Ed.). 'Oh, that is all a holiday at Peckham,' said an old friend very innocently one day.
To take a holiday, verb. phr. (common).—To be dismissed; to get the BAG (q.v.) or sack (q.v.)
Gone for a holiday, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Said of a flaw, lapse, or imperfection of any kind (as dropped stitches, lost buttons, slurred painting, and so forth). See also quots.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Holiday . . . a holiday is any part of a ship's bottom, left uncovered in painting it.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailors' Language, p. 69, s.v. Holidays. Places left untarred on shrouds, backstays, etc., during the operation of tarring them.
Holler, verb. (American).—To
cry enough; to give in; to cave
in (q.v.).
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, etc., p. 89. The truth must come, he warped me nice, So jist to save his time I hollered.
Hollis, subs. (Winchester College).—A
small pebble. [Said to be
derived from a boy.—Notions.]
Hollow, adj. (colloquial).—Complete;
certain; decided. As
adv. completely; utterly. E.g.,
to beat or lick hollow. See
Beat and Creation.
1759. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, i., 2. Crab was beat hollow.
1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, V., in Wks. (1777), i., 134. So, my lord, you and I are both distanced: a hollow thing, damme.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Hollow. It was quite a hollow thing, i.e., a certainty, or decided business.
1814. Edgworth, Patronage, ch. iii. Squire Burton won the match hollow.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. 'Bloudie Jack.' His lines to Apollo Beat all the rest hollow And gained him the Newdegate Prize.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lxiv., p. 529. I have therefore taken a 'ouse in that locality, which, in the opinion of my friends, is a hollow bargain (taxes ridiculous, and use of fixtures included in the rent).
1871. Durham County Advertiser, 10 Nov. 'It licks me hollow, sir, as I may say,' put in the silent member.
1892. Punch, 9 July, p. 3. Booby-traps were beaten hollow.
Holloway, subs, (venery).—The
female pudendum. For synonyms,
see Monosyllable.
Holloway, Middlesex (common).—The lower bowel; the arse-gut (q.v.).
Holt, verb. (American).—To take;
to take hold of.
Holus-bolus, subs. (nautical).—The
head. Also the neck.
Adv. (colloquial).—Helter skelter; altogether; first come, first served.
1868. Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone, 1st Period, ch. xv. And, making a sudden snatch at the heap of silver, put it back, holus-bolus, in her pocket.
Holy. More holy than
righteous, adv. phr. (common).—Said
of a person in rags, or of a
tattered garment.
Holy-boys, subs. (military).—The
Ninth Foot. [From a trick of
selling bibles for drink in the
Peninsula.] Also, Fighting
Ninth.
1886. Tinsley's Magazine, Apr., 322. The 9th having bartered their Bibles in Spain for wine, and having there gained a reputation for sacking monasteries, were long known as the Holy Boys.
