P. D. Q., phr. (common).—'Pretty damned quick.'
1900. Free Lance., 6 Oct., 20, 1. It looked as if I'd be on my uppers if I didn't get something to do p. d. q.
Pea, subs. (common).—The favourite;
the choice. [From thimble-rigging:
e.g., 'This is the pea I
choose.']
1888. Sport. Life, 11 Dec. Sweeny forced the fighting, and was still the pea when 'Time!' was called.
1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 20 Mar. Well, Albert, now what is the pea? we asked, hurrying towards the paddock. How much do you want on? he queried. Oh, a fiver is quite enough,
To pick (or do) a sweet pea, verb. phr. (common).—To urinate; cf. to gather violets, and to pluck a rose.
Peacemaker, subs. (venery).—1.
The penis: also Matrimonial
Peacemaker: see Prick.
1796. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. Matrimonial Peacemaker. The sugar stick, or arbor vitæ.
2. in pl. (military).—The Bedfordshire regiment, formerly The Sixteenth Foot. [From Surinaam in 1804 to Chitral in 1895 the Bedfordshires missed all chances of active service.]
3. (American).—A revolver: see Meat in the Pot.
Peach, subs. (old).—1. A detective:
specifically one employed by
omnibus and (formerly) by stage-*coach
proprietors to check receipts.
[See verb.]
2. (common).—A girl or young woman of pleasing parts; cf. plum.
Verb. (once literary: now colloquial or slang).—To inform; to betray; to split (q.v.): to round on (q.v.). [From * 'impeach.'] Hence peacher = an informer.—Grose (1785).
English Synonyms. To bust; to blow the gaff; to cast up accounts; to cackle; to castell; to crab; to crack; to clipe; to chirp; to come it; to hedgehog; to dick; to inkle; to leak; to let on; to let out; to lip; to make a song; to nose; to give the office; to put away; to put up: to put a down on; to be rusty; to ruck on; to round on; to scream; to snap; to snitch; to stag; to squeal; to squeak; to split; to tip; to tip the wink; to whiddle; to whittle. [For other synonyms see Split.]
c.1362. York Play's, 429. For-thy as wightis that are will thus walke we in were, For pechyng als pilgrymes that putte are to pees.
1554. Fox, Martyrs. Accusers or peachers of others that were guiltless.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV., ii. 2. If I be ta'en, I'll peach for this. Ibid. Measure for M. (1603), iv. 3. Then is there here one master Caper, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar.
1607. Puritan, iv. 3. George, look to't; I'll peach at Tyburn else.
1607. Middleton, Phœnix, v. 1. Let me have pardon . . . and I'll peach 'em all.
1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, iv. 2. Go peach, and cry yourself a fool.
1639. Beaumont and Fletcher, The Bloody Brother, iii. 2. "You peaching rogue, that provided us These necklaces."
1641. Evelyn, Diary [Century]. i. I did not amidst all this peach my liberty.
1663. Butler, Hudibras, i. i. Make Mercury confesse and peach Those thieves which he himself did teach.
