1890. Coleman [Slang, Jargon, and Cant], s.v. Overflow and Plunder. The unsuspecting auditor has an order for the pit; he goes there, and finds the pit crammed to suffocation by people who have not paid. Upon payment of sixpence he goes to the upper boxes, they are also crowded; sixpence more takes him to the dress circle. Before he can obtain a seat he is bled of another sixpence for his greatcoat, another for his umbrella, and another for a programme. The performances in these places were as disreputable as the management, and, as a rule, would disgrace a show at a country fair.
Overlander, subs. (Australian).—A
tramp; a sundowner (q.v.).
Also Overland man and Overland-mailer.
Overland-trout, subs. phr.
(American).—Bacon.
Overrun. See Constable.
Overscutched (overswitched or
overwhippe) - Housewifed,
subs. phr. (old).—See quots., Barrack-hack
and Tart.
. . . Kennett MS. [Halliwell]. An overswitcht houswife, a loose wanton slut, a whore.
1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV, iii. 2. He came ever in the rear-ward of the fashion; and sung those tunes to overscutched huswifes that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware—they were his fancies, or his good-nights.
1675. Ray, North-Country Words. Overswitched housewife. A whore; a ludicrous word.
Overseen, adj. (old).—More or less
in liquor: see Drinks and
Screwed.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict. Well nigh whittled, almost drunke, somewhat overseene.
d.1654. L'Estrange [Thoms. (1838), Anecd. and Trad., p. 54.] He heard he tooke a Cuppe too much at Ipswich, and was sorry . . . he should be so much overseene.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, etc., s.v.
Overseer, subs. (old).—A man in
the pillory.—Grose (1785).
Overshot, adj. (common).—Drunk:
see Drinks and
Screwed.
Oversparred, adj. (nautical).—Top-heavy;
drunk: see Drinks
and Screwed.
1891. Clark Russell, Ocean Tragedy, 4. I believe he could have carried a whole bottle in his head without exhibiting himself as in the least degree oversparred.
Overtaken, adj. (common).—Drunk:
see Drinks and Screwed.
1655. Massinger, Very Woman, iii. 5. And take heed of being o'ertaken with too much drink.
1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, . . . He was temperate also in his drinking . . . but I never spake with the man that saw him overtaken.
1699. Congreve, Way of the World, iv. 10. My nephew's a little overtaken, cousin—but 'tis with drinking your health.
1712. Spectator, No. 450. I do not remember I was ever overtaken in drink.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. Words, &c., s.v.
1871. Mrs. S. C. Hall, in Chambers's Misc., No. 122, 11. I'm sure Murphy must have been overtaken, or he'd never dare to propose such a thing.
Overtoys box, subs. phr. (Winchester
College).—A box like a
cupboard to hold books: see
Toys.
Owl, subs. (common).—1. A prostitute:
see Barrack-hack and
Tart.
2. (University).—A member of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge: obsolete.
3. (general).—A person much about at night.
