1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Long-winded Paymaster, one that very slowly, heavily, or late Paies.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. Long-winded, A long-winded parson, one who preached long, tedious sermons. A long-winded paymaster, one who takes long credit.
1871. Clark Russell, Book of Authors. Sir Walter Scott said Lord Clarendon's style was a little longwinded.
Lonsdale's Ninepins, subs. phr.
(old Parliamentary).—The nine
boroughs for which Lord Lonsdale
used to send up members to St.
Stephens. A repartee connected
with them is attributed to Burke.—H.
J. Byron (M.S.S. note in
Hotten).
Loo, subs. (old).—1. See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Loo, for the good of the loo, for the benefit of the Company or Community.
2. (old).—See quot.
1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. Blueskin . . . turning . . . beheld a young female, whose features were partially concealed by a loo, or half mask, standing beside him.
Verb. (common).—To vanquish. [From the game of loo].
Looby, subs. (old: now recognised).—A
fool; an idle dullard. For
synonyms see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1362. Piers Ploughman, A. i. 6. Great loubies and long, that loth were to swinke.
1399. Richard the Redeless, ii. 170. This lorell that ladde this loby awey.
1529. S. Fish, A Supplicacyon for the Beggers, p. 13 (Arber's ed.). Set those sturdy lobies abrode in the world to get . . . theire liuing with their laboure in the swete of theire faces.
1609. Dekker, Gul's Horne-Booke [Grosart (1886), ii. 207]. And how to munch so like loobies, that the wisest Solon in the world, shall not be able to take them for any other.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Looby, a lazy dull Fellow.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
d.1731. Ned Ward, Works, ii. 20. 'Reflections on a country corporation.' Honest men precious as Rubies; Their May'rs successively are Boobies; And Aldermen great brawny loobies.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 22. The country squire seldom fails of seeing his son as dull and awkward a looby as himself.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, ii. 1. I must leave you—I own I am somewhat flurried—and that confounded looby has perceived it.
1776. Foote, Bankrupt, ii. How the loobies must look.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ii. Now, you looby, said the lawyer.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil, Bk. IV. xi. 'I went once and stayed a week at Lady Jenny Spinner's to gain her looby of a son and his eighty thousand a year.'
Look. To look a gift-horse in
the mouth, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To
criticize a present or favour.
[From ascertaining the age of
horses by looking at their teeth].
1663. S. Butler, Hudibras, I. i. 490. He ne'er consider'd it, as loth to look a gift-horse in the mouth.
To look alive, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To bestir oneself; to be on the alert. Also, to look slimy.
To look as if butter would not melt in one's mouth.—See Butter.
To look at the maker's name, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To drain (a glass) to the bottom; 'to bite one's name in the pot' (q.v.)
To look babies (or for cupids) in the eyes, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To look closely and amorously into the eyes for the reflected figures.
