1713. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, iii. i. Your Ptschirnsooker came off, as rogues usually do upon such occasions, by peaching his partner.
1731. Fielding, Letter Writers, ii. 11. It were good for you to resolve on being an evidence, and save your own neck at the expence of his. Risq. Well, sir, if I must peach, I must, I think.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xxxi. You will not peach, I suppose! I peach! devil a bit!
1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], 31. He . . . only escaped the gallows by impeaching his accomplices.
1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, x. Now . . . no peaching. If any man is scoundrel enough to carry tales, I'll
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 8. He . . . used to toady the bullies by offering to fag for them, and peaching against the rest of us.
1884. Sat. Review, 9 Feb. 178. Known to the police, as likely to peach.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Feb., i. If some fellow was to go and peach, how would he prove the case?
1901. Sporting Times, 27 Ap., 1, 4. A sea-green, incorruptible navvy was offered half a sovereign for his vote, which he accepted. At the same time, he felt that it was an outrage on his honour and integrity, so he peached, and became a valuable witness in the unseating of Mr. Barker.
Peacock, subs. (old).—1. A gull;
and (2) (racing) a horse with
action: cf. peacock-horse =
(undertakers') a horse with a showy
mane and tail. Hence peacocky
= showy; as verb = (1) to
display (as a peacock its tail), to
put on 'war-paint,' or 'side';
and (2—Anglo-Indian) = to make
a formal call (see quots. 1883 and
1893).
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, i. That love which in haughtie hearts proceeds of a desire onely to pleas, and as it were peacock themselves.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iii. 2. And now reigns here A very, very—pajock.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Zazzeare. To play the simple selfe-conceited gull, to go ietting or loytring vp and downe peacockising and courting of himself.
1869. Telegraph, 5 Ap. Speculators . . . were fairly disgusted with the flash peacock, with his bumble foot and 'threadleing' action.
1872. Tennyson, Gareth and Lynette. Peacocked up with Lancelot's noticing.
1883. Graphic, 17 Mar., 286, 3. Another curious custom of Indian hospitality which extended to a late period—not longer than thirty years ago—was that of inviting visitors, or 'callers,' to take beer at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. . . . The quantity of bottled ale which a gentleman of the period out peacocking, as it was called, could put inside him may be calculated when it is said that a visit never extended beyond ten minutes, and he had three hours in which to make the most of his time.
1884. Smart, Post to Finish, xvi. Bushranger was pronounced peacocky, a three-cornered brute, and was very generally disliked.
1893. Life of Sir R. Burton, 1. 136. Few preferred peacocking, which meant robing in white grass clothes and riding . . . to call upon regimental ladies.
1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 65. In peacocked the little man with the long chain.
Peacock-engine, subs. phr. (railway).—A
locomotive with a
separate tender for coals and
water.
Pea- (or peak-) goose, subs. phr.
(old).—A silly fellow: a general
term of reproach: see Buffle.—Cotgrave
(1611); B. E. (c.1696).
1570. Ascham, Scholemaster, 48. If thou be thrall to none of these, Away, good peakgoose, away, John Cheese.
1606. Chapman, Mons. d'Olive, iii. Respect's a clowne supple-jointed, courtesie's a very peagoose.
1622. Fletcher and Massinger, Prophetess, iv. 3. 'Tis a fine peak-goose.
