Pen-and-ink, subs.phr. (rhyming).—A stink. Also as verb.
1892. Sporting Times, 29 Oct, 'Rhyme of Rusher,' 6. The air began . . . to pen-and-ink.
PENANG-LAWYER, subs. phr. (common).—See
quot. [Probably a
corruption of Penang liyar, the
wild areca.]
1865. Chambers's Encyclopedia, vii. 371. Penang lawyers, the commercial name for the stems of a species of palm imported from Penang for walking sticks. They are small and hard, and have a portion of the root-stock attached, which is left to form the handle.
Penbank, subs. (Old Cant).—A
beggar's can.—Bailey (1728).
Pencil-fever, subs. phr. (racing).—A
'disease' amongst racehorses,
generally preceded by milking
(q.v.). When a horse has been
milked to the utmost, and can
no longer, in spite of marketeers
(q.v.), be kept at a short
price, his true condition gets
known, pencil-fever sets in,
and every layer is anxious to
pencil his name in his betting-book,
i.e. lay against him as a
safe or stiff-'un (q.v.). Also
milk-fever and market-fever.
Whence penciller = a bookmaker:
also Knight of the
pencil; and pencilling fraternity
= the world of bookmakers.
1885. Punch, 7 March, 109. The knights of the pencil, Sir, hold that backers, like pike, are more ravenous in keen weather, and consequently easier to land.
1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' from the Pink 'Un ('The Merry Stumer'), 8. The knight of the pencil was wide awake.
1887. Field, 31 Dec. The race proved a busy one for the pencillers, the greater part of the runners being backed.
1888. Sporting Life, 13 Dec. The defeat of the favourite could not have brought much grist to the mill of the pencillers.
1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 20 Mar. Last year some of the shrewdest of the pencilling fraternity were had over Theodolite when he won the Champion Hurdle-race at Sandown.
Pen-driver, subs. phr. (common).—A
clerk or writer: cf. quill-*driver.
1888. Century, xxxvii. 580. She . . . looked round on the circle of fresh-faced pen-drivers for explanation.
Pendulum, subs. (venery).—The
penis: see Prick.
Pen-gun (or Penguin), subs.
(Scots').—A talkative person:
esp. of small stature. To crack
like a pen-gun = to chatter.
Peninsular, subs. (old colloquial).—A
veteran of the Peninsular
war.
1845. Quarterly Review, clxvi. He speaks of the ruffling captain, who was, no doubt, an old Peninsular.
Pennif, subs. (back-slang).—A five
pound note; a finnup (q.v.).
1862. Cornhill Mag., vi. 648. It is all in single pennifs on the England jug.
Penniless Bench, subs. phr. (Old
Cant).—Poverty. On the penniless
bench = poverty stricken;
Pierce Penniless = an embodiment
of impecuniosity: cf.
Poverty Corner.
1579. Lyly, Euphues, D. 3. That everie stoole he sate on was pennilesse bench, that his robes were rags.
1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. I entred like Pierce Pennilesse, altogether monyles.
d.1640. Massinger, City Madam, iv. 1. Bid him bear up, he shall not Sit long on penniless bench.
