Old Scratch, subs.phr. (common).—The devil: see Skipper.
1762. Smollett, L. Greaves, ii. x. He must have sold himself to Old Scratch; and, being a servant of the devil, how could he be a good subject to his Majesty.
1780. Lee, Chapter of Accidents, v. 2. I be sick enough of passing for a lady; but if old scratch ever puts such a trick again in my head, I hope—your lordship will catch me, that's all.
1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks. xx. He don't mean anything, and I said he didn't all along. He'd have pitched me to Old Scratch, while I was sitting there on his knee, if he'd have had his own way.
Old Seven and Sixpennies, subs, phr. (military).—The 76th Foot, now the 2nd Batt. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment): from its former number and the amount of a lieutenant's pay. Also "The Immortals" and "The Pigs."
Old shell, subs. phr. (nautical).—A sailor.
Old shoe, subs. phr. (common).—A portent (or augury) of good fortune.
d. 1892. Tennyson, Will Waterproof. And whereso'er thou movs't good luck Shall fling her old shoe after.
TO wear (or ride in) another man's old shoes (or boots), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To marry or keep another man's woman.
Old soldier, subs. phr. (common).—A cigar end or old quid.
1901. People, 7 Ap., 18, 2. An old soldier—both in the literal and metaphorical sense—down to every move on the board, suspicious and even touchy, he forms a genuine friend, ever ready to do his comrade a good turn.
To Come the Old Soldier. See Come.
Old song, subs, (common).—A trifle; a nominal sum or price.
Old Split-foot, subs. phr. (common).—The devil: see Skipper.
1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers,. . . They go it like an Ericsson's ten-hoss-power coleric ingine, An' make ole split-foot-winch an' squirm, for all he's used to singein'.
Old stager, subs. phr. (common). A person of experience; an old dog (q.v.).
Old stick, subs. phr. (common).—1. A disparagement: cf. old, adj., sense 5.
2. (old).—A complimentary mode of address to an old man, signifying he is a capital fellow [Halliwell].
Old stubborns, subs. phr. (military).—The Forty-fifth Foot, now The Sherwood Foresters.
Old Strawboots (or Straws), subs. phr. (military).—The 7th (The Queen's Own) Hussars: for substituting at Warbourg (1760) strawbands for worn-out boots. Also "The Old Saucy Seventh" and "The Lily-White Seventh."
Old timer, subs. phr. (colloquial).—1. A laudator temporis acti; and (2) one who has grown old in a place or profession.
1860. Music and Drama, xiii. ix. 14. Old timers unanimously declared that in the new-comer had indeed arisen another Tausig.
1866. New Princetown Rev., v. 122. Most of us old timers . . . are poor now.
Old Toast, subs. phr. (common).—1. The devil: see Skipper. Also old toaster.—Matsell (1859).
