1620. PERCY, Folio, MSS., 'Fryar and Boye.' Her tayle shall wind the HORNE.
TO CURE THE HORN, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. See HORN, subs., sense 3. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.
TO HAVE THE HORN, verb. phr. (venery). See HORN, subs., sense 3.
TO COME OUT OF THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN, verb. phr. (common).—To get the worst of a bargain; to be reduced in circumstances. Also, to make much ado about nothing. Said generally of vast endeavour ending in failure. [Through some unexpected SQUEEZE (q.v.)].
1605. JONSON, CHAPMAN, and MARSTON, Eastward Hoe, i., 1. I had the horne of suretiship ever before my eyes. You all know the devise of the HORNE, where the young fellow slippes in at the butte-end, and comes squesd out at the buckall.
1624. FLETCHER, Wife for a Month, iii., 3. Thou wilt look to-morrow else Worse than the prodigal fool the ballad speaks of, That was squeezed THROUGH A HORN.
1847. PORTER, Big Ben, etc., p. 37. How did you make it? You didn't come OUT AT THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN, did you?
1847. PORTER, Quarter Race, etc., p. 24. You never saw such a run of luck; everywhere I touched was pizen, and I CAME OUT OF THE LEETLE END OF THE HORN.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 July, i., 2. The 'great Trek,' in that expressive transatlantic phrase, has toddled OUT OF THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN.
HORN-COLIC, subs. (venery).—See
HORN, subs., sense 3.
1785. GROSE, Vulg Tongue, s.v
HORNET, subs. (common).—A disagreeable,
cantankerous person.
HORNIE (or HORNESS), subs. (old).—1.
A constable or watchman;
a sheriff.
1819. VAUX, Life, s.v. HORNEY, a Constable.
1821. HAGGART, Life, 51. The woman missing it immediately, she sent for the HORNIES.
1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. HORNESS.
2. (Scots').—The devil; generally AULD HORNIE (q.v.).
1785. BURNS, Address to the Deil. O thou! whatever title suits thee, AULD HORNIE, Satan, Nick, or Clootie.
HORNIFY, verb. (colloquial).—See
HORN, subs., sense 3 and verb.
2. (venery).—See HORN, subs., sense 3.
HORN-MAD adj. (old).—1. See
quot. 1690.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, ii., 1. Why, mistress, sure my master is HORN-MAD.
1599. HENRY PORTER, The Two Angry Women of Abingdon (DODSLEY, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, vii.). And then I wound my horn, and he's HORN-MAD.
1604. MARSTON, Malcontent, i., 7. I am HORN MAD.
1605. JONSON, The Fox, iii., 6. Yet I'm not mad, Not HORN-MAD, see you.
1639-61. Rump Songs, [1662], 293. The Country has grown sad, The City is HORN-MAD.
1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Woman's Prize, ii., 6. After my twelve strong labours to reclaim her, Which would have made Don Hercules HORN-MAD.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. HORN-MAD, stark staring Mad, because Cuckolded.
1693. CONGREVE, Old Bachelor, iv., 22. Ay, I feel it here; I sprout; I bud; I blossom; I am ripe HORN-MAD.
1694. CONGREVE, Double Dealer, iv., 20. She forks out cuckoldom with her fingers, and you are running HORN-MAD after your fortune.
1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, v., 8. She's mad for a husband, and he's HORN-MAD
