1602. Dekker, Satiro-Mastix, in Wks. (1873), i., 201. Blun. Nay prethee deare Tucca, come you shall shake—Tuc. Not hands with great Hunkes there, not hands, but Ile shake the gull-groper out of his tan'd skinne.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Works, Bullen, 1889, p. 247). But it drinks up all: that hunks detestable.
1647-80. Rochester, Wks.; p. 11. There was an old coveteous hunks in the neighbourhood, who had notwithstanding his age, got a very pretty young wife.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, v., 2. Make a very pretty show in the world, let me tell you; nay, a better than your close hunks.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hunks, a covetous Creature, a miserable Wretch.
1712. Spectator, No. 264. Irus has . . . given all the intimations he skilfully could of being a close hunks with money.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1837. Marryatt, Snarley-yow, ch. 12. So while they cut their raw salt junks, With dainties you'll be cramm'd. Here's once for all my mind, old hunks, Port Admiral, you be dammed!
1839. Buckstone, Brother Tom (Dick's ed., p. 15). One calls him an old hunks, another a selfish brute.
1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. vii., p. 35. That you become the sole inheritor of the wealth of this rich old hunks.
1846. Melville, Moby Dick, 75 (ed. 1892). Bildad, I am sorry to say, had the reputation of being an incorrigible old hunks.
1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. iii. I am sure he is a cross old hunks, though Mamma says he's not.
1893. Theodore Martin, Roman Elegies, ii. (Goethe Society Trans., 1891-2, p. 72). Joys that he stints not his gold like the close hunxes of Rome.
Hunky, adj. (American).—Good; jolly; a general superlative. Also hunkidorum.
d. 1867. Browne, 'Artemus Ward,' The Shakers (Railway ed.), p. 43. 'Hunky boy! Go it my gay and festive cuss!'
1873. Justin McCarthy. Fair Saxon, ch. xxxviii. The guard dies, but never surrenders! Fine, isn't it? But the hunky-boy that said that surrendered all the same.
1888. Texas Siftings, 20 Oct. Robert is all hunky, but he had a mighty close call the week before last.
Hunt, verb. (old).—To decoy a
pigeon (q.v.) to the tables.
Hence hunting = card-sharping.
Flat-catching (q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v Hunting (c.), decoying or drawing others into Play.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To hunt for soft spots, verb. phr. (American).—To make oneself comfortable; to seek one's ease.
1888. San Francisco Weekly Examiner, 22 Mar. It was demnition hot, and I commenced to hunt for soft spots in my saddle.
To hunt grass, verb. phr. (pugilists').—To be knocked down; to be grassed (q.v.). Also, to be puzzled; to be dumfoundered.
1869. Clemens [Mark Twain], Innocents at Home, ch. ii. I hunt grass every time.
To hunt leather, verb. phr. (cricketers').—To field at cricket.
1892. Cassell's Sat. Jour., 21 Sep. p. 13, c. 2. For nearly ten years I earned a living—and a good one—by 'wielding the willow' and hunting the leather.
To hunt the dummy, verb. phr. (thieves').—To steal pocket books.
1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach, p. 171. (Chorus)—Speak to the tattler, bag the swag, And finely hunt the dummy.
To hunt the squirrel, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
