all the difficulties . . . by taking French leave, and setting off in disguise and under a feigned name.'
1885 Stevenson, Treasure Island, ch. xxii., p. 178 (1886). My only plan was to take French leave, and slip out when nobody was watching.
1892. Globe, 25 Mar., p. 5, col. 1. They finally resolved to go on French leave to the place.
French- (also American, Spanish, and Italian) Letter, subs.phr. (colloquial).—A sheath—of india-rubber, gold beater's skin, gutta-percha—worn by a man during coition to prevent infection or fruition. Usually described in print as specialities (q.v.). or CIRCULAR PROTECTORS and (in U.S.A.) as safes (q.v.). See Cundum. Fr., capote anglaise.
French Pigeon, subs. phr. (sportsman's).—A pheasant killed by mistake in the partridge season. Also moko and ORIENTAL (q.V.).
French Pig, subs.phr. (common).—A venereal bubo; a blue boar (q.v.), or Winchester goose (q.v.).
French Prints, subs, (colloquial).—Generic for indecent pictures.
1849-50. Thackeray, Pendennis II., ch. xxxi. Young de Boots of the Blues recognised you as the man who came to barracks, and did business, one-third in money, one-third in eau-de-Cologne, and one third in French prints, you confounded, demure, old sinner.
French Vice, verb. phr. (venery).—A euphemism for all sexual malpractices; Larks (q.v.). First used (in print) in the case of Crawford v. Crawford and Dilke.
FRENCHY, subs, (colloquial).—A Frenchman.
Fresh, adj. (University).—1. Said of an undergraduate in his first term.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.
1866. Trevelyan, Horace at Athens. When you and I were fresh.
2. (common).—Slightly intoxicated; elevated. For synonyms see Drinks and Screwed, (Scots' = sober).
1829. Marryat, Frank Mildmay, ch. xiii. Drinking was not among my vices. I could get fresh, as we call it, when in good company and excited by wit and mirth; but I never went to the length of being drunk.
3. (Old English and modern American).—Inexperienced, but conceited and presumptuous; hence, forward, impudent.
1596. Shakspeare, King John, iii., 4. How green you are and fresh in this old world.
1886. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. 'Has Peggy been too fresh?' Her sunburnt cheeks flushed.
4. (common).—Fasting; opposed to eating or drinking.
Fresh as paint, as a rose, as a daisy, as a new-born turd, etc.,phr. (common).—Full of health, strength, and activity; FIT (q.v.).
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xix. This is his third day's rest, and the cob will be about as fresh as paint when I get across him again.
1880. Punch's Almanack, p. 12.
Fresh on the graft, adj. phr. (common).—New to the work. Cf., Fresh bit.
Fresh Bit, subs. phr. (venery).—A beginner; also a new mistress. Cf., Bit of fresh = the sexual favour: meat, or mutton, or fish (q.v.), being understood.
