1629. Gaule, Holy Madn.,94. What an Alderman's pace he comes.
To show one's paces, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To exhibit one's capability; to show what one can do.
Pacer, subs. (colloquial).—Primarily
a fast horse; hence anything of
great speed or activity.
Pack, subs. (old).—A prostitute:
see Tart. Also a general term
of reproach with no reference to
sex. See Naughty.
Adj. (Scots': colloquial).—Intimate; familiar.
d.1795. Burns, iii. 3. Nae doubt but they were fain o' ither; An' unco' pack an thick the gither.
1805. Nicol, Poems, ii. 89. They war auld comrades, frank an' free, An' pack an' thick as tods cou'd be.
1808. Jamieson, Dict., s.v. Pack. Probably a cant word from English pack, a number of people confederated.
Verb. (also pack off, send packing, give a packing-penny to, etc.) (old colloquial).—1. To dismiss without ceremony; to send about one's business; to discharge summarily: also, to depart hurriedly.—B. E. (c. 1696).
1540. Lyndsay, Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis [E. E. T. S. (1869) line 975] Suyith! hursun Carle: gang, pak the hence.
1580. Baret, Alvearie [Halliwell]. Make speede to flee, be packing awaie.
1593. Skakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, ii. 1. If she do bid me pack, I'll give her thanks, As though she bid me stay by her a week. Ibid. Richard III. (1597) i. 1. He . . . must not die, Till George be pack'd with post horse up to Heav'n.
1603. Tomkis, Lingua [Brewer]. Roses and bays, pack hence! This crown and robe . . . How gallantly it fits me!
1608. Day, Law Trickes, iii. Win, prethee give the Fidler a testar and send him packing.
1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, iii. 3. Will you give a packing-penny to virginity?
1629. Descr. of Love [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896) 15]. Without delay, poore wretches they will set their Duds a packing.
1641. Baker, Chronicles, 106. So once again is Gaveston sent packing out of the Kingdom.
1659. Day, Blind Beggar, i. 2. Tudy. Do you but send away Sir Walter Playnsey, Let me alone to pack the Cardinal.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 59. And so we'll banish Popery, And send it packing hence.
1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie, 78. And if that he shall still be lacking, Then back again we'll straight be packing.
1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Markall, iv. One word more of this gibberish, and I'll set you packing from your new service.
1656. Muses Recr. [Hotten], 31. We must all pack into the North.
1728. Bailey, Eng. Dict., s.v. Pack. To pack up his awls . . . to march off, to go away in haste.
1730. Miller, Humours of Oxford, iv. 2. I have sent him a packing as conjurors do a ghost.
1766. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, xxi. Gentle or Simple out she shall pack.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. I believe he would have packed him back here, but his nephew told him it would do up the free trade for many a day, if the youngster got back to Scotland.
1846. Planche, Court Favour, i. Lucy. It would be so charming to send all the Dutch packing . . . and for you to be made generalissimo!
1884. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1st S. No. vi. 94. I'll send you back to school: you shall both pack off this very hour.
2. (American).—To drink: see Drinks and Screwed.
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, &c., 103. The captain used to boast that he could pack a gallon without its setting him back any.
