4. (old).—See quot.
1755. Johnson, Dict., s.v. Longtail, a canting term for, one or another.
Long-tailed, adj. (old).—Of gentle
birth; of good standing.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 195. She blushing said, that long-tailed men would tell, Quoth I, I'll be as silent as the night.
Long-tailed beggar, subs. phr.
(common).—A cat.
1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, ii. 'You must larn to chaw baccy, drink grog, and call the cat a beggar, and then you knows all a midshipman's expected to know nowadays.'
1874. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. Long-tailed beggar. 'A boy, during his first, and a very short voyage, to sea, had . . . entirely forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother what she called that 'ere long-tailed beggar?' Sailors when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing largely are apt to say, 'But how mate about that long-tailed beggar?'
English synonyms. Baudrons (Scots'); gib; grimalkin; masheen; nimshod; puss; Thomas; Tyb.
French synonyms. Un lapin de gouttière (familiar = rabbit of the tiles); un greffier, griffard or griffon (griffe = claw); un gaspard (popular).
Italian synonyms. Laffaro; gulfo.
Spanish synonyms. Estaffion, estaffin, or estaffier.
Long-tailed finnips (or long-tailed
'uns), subs. phr. (thieves').—Banknotes
for high amounts.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assist., 3rd ed., 144, s.v.
Long-tea, subs. (schoolboys').—1.
Tea poured from a pot held high;
and (2) lant (q.v.).
Long-tongue, subs. (old).—A tale-*bearer;
a chatterbox.
c.1550. Inglelend, Disobedient Child [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ii. 282]. What banging, what cursing. Long-tongue, is with thee.
1886. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, 'Grandmother's Clock.' Very short legs and a very long tongue.
Long-tongued, adj. (old).—Talkative.
1593. Shakspeare, T. Andron., iv. 2. 150. 'Tis a deed of policy: Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours, A long-tongued babbling gossip?
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [3rd ed.], s.v. Long-tongued. Loquacious, not able to keep a secret, He is as long-tongued as Granny; Granny was an idiot who could lick her own eye.
Long-togs, subs. (nautical).—Shore-going
clothes in general, and dress-clothes
in particular.
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, III. ii. May I be so bold as to ask, Captain O'Brien, whether I must wear one of them long-tog, swallow-tailed coats—because if so I prefer being a quarter-*master.
1834. Marryat, Jack Faithful, xxix. I had fitted on what are called at sea, and on the river, long togs; i.e., I was dressed as most people are on shore.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailor's Language, s.v.
Long-tot, subs. (common).—A long
set of figures for addition: as in
examinations.
Longwinded, adj. (old: now recognised).—Diffuse;
protracted; loquacious.
See quots. 1690 and
1796.
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart (1883-4), ii. 77]. It will make them iolly long-winded.
1635. Davenant, News from Plymouth, ii. 1. I never read of such a long-winded monster.