1880. Sims, Zeph, 84. The house was only half full and there were whispers that a good deal of paper was about.
1885. Referee, 8 Nov. The stalls were partly papery, and partly empty.
1890. Figaro, 1 June. A box now and then, or carte-blanche in the way of papering a theatre, will go far to wring from them profuse admiration of everything and everybody.
2. (commercial).—Negotiable instruments: as promissory notes, bills of exchange, &c.
1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xl. Ah, said Mr. Smangle, paper has been my ruin. A stationer, I presume, sir? said Mr. Pickwick . . . No, no. When I say paper, I mean bills.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxiv. It was whispered . . . that the Captain's paper was henceforth of no value.
1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 185. For I'll have to paper your friend from the lowlands too.
3. (old).—Broadsides and similar literature: hence paper worker = a vendor of street literature: a running stationer (q.v.).
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. 1, 234. The best known publisher of the paper in demand for street sale, was the late 'Jemmy Catnach,' who is said to have amassed upwards of 10,000l in the business.
To eat paper, verb. phr. (American).—See quot.
c.1852. American Humour, i., 200. He . . . took a very long sight—fired, and didn't even eat paper.
To read the paper, verb. phr. (common).—To excuse oneself for taking a nap: see Doss.
See Shave and Spot.
Paper-building, subs. (old).—See quot. and cf. House of Cards.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Paper-buildings, Slight, Wooden, or old.
Paper-maker, subs. phr. (common).—A
rag-gatherer; a gutter-raker.
Fr. un chiffortin.
Paper-man, subs. phr. (military).
See quot.
1892. Standard, 24 Oct. The practice of retaining on the strength . . . paper men; that is to say, officers who, being employed on the staff, are not available for regimental duty.
Paper-marriage, subs. phr. (common).—A
Society wedding. [The
fees are paid in bank notes.]
Paper-mill, The, subs. phr. (old
legal).—The Record Office of the
Court of Queen's Bench.
Paper-scull, subs. (old).—A fool:
hence paper-sculled = foolish;
silly: see Buffle.—B. E.
(c.1696); Grose (1785).
Paper-stainer, subs. phr. (common).—An
author, or clerk: in
contempt.
Pap-feeder, subs. (old).—A spoon.
1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, iii. iii. 268. In the hopes of purloining a silver pap feeder.
Pap-head, subs. (old).—A woman's
nipple; the cherrylet (q.v.).—Palsgrave
(1530).
Paphian, subs, (literary).—A prostitute.
[Paphos a city in Cyprus
sacred to Venus]. See Tart.
Papler. See Poplar.
Pap-mouth, subs. phr. (old).—An
effeminate man.
Papoose, subs. (colloquial).—A
child; a kid (q.v.). [Of Indian
origin.]
1634. W. Wood, New England's Prosp., 96. This little pappouse travells about with his bare footed mother to paddle in the Icie Clammbankes.
