pole gets (or knocks) the most persimmons = the best man wins, the strongest party gains the day [the persimmon tree sometimes attains to 60 ft.]; the persimmon is above the huckleberry = a confession of inferiority; not a huckleberry to one's persimmon = not comparable; that's persimmon (or all persimmon) = 'That's fine.'
Perspire, verb. (colloquial).—To
melt away; to vanish.
1897. Maugham, 'Liza of Lambeth, iii. The money's perspired like . . . It got less.
Persuader, subs. (common).—A
pistol or revolver; a spur or
digger (q.v.); a jemmy (q.v.)
or other burglar's tool; the
tongue.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue; s.v. Persuaders . . . The kiddey clapped his persuaders to his prad, but the traps boned him.
1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen String Jack, ii. 4. Dra (showing pistols). I came in with my persuader.
1886-96. Marshall, Une Affaire d'Honneur ['Pomes,' 110]. With finger nails she soon was going strong; As persuaders they were nobby, for it seems it was her hobby To invariably wear them rather long.
Persuading-plate, subs. phr.
(thieves').—An iron disk used in
forcing safes: it revolves on a
pivot, and is fitted with a cutting
point.
Pert, adj. (colloquial).—Impudent.
Pert end up (American) = in
good spirits; cheerful.
Pertshire Greybreeks (The),
subs. phr. (military).—The 2nd
Batt. Cameronian (Scottish Rifles):
formerly the 90th (Perthshire
Volunteers) Regiment of Foot.
Per usual. See Usual.
Pesky, adj. (American colloquial).—Troublesome;
plaguy: also, as
adv. = excessively.
1843-4. Haliburton, Attache, viii. He might have known how to feel for other folks, and not funkify them so peskily. Ibid, xxviii. I'm peskily sorry about that mare.
1869. H. B. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, 66. I got caught in those pesky blackberry-bushes.
1881. Harper's Monthly, May, 872. I'm fishin' for pickerel, 'n I vaow they're pesky scarce.
Pester, subs. (American colloquial).—A
trouble; a bother.
1869. H. B. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, 119. The pester on't was they allers lost.
Pestle, subs. (venery).—1. The
penis: see Prick: cf. mortar
= female pudendum. Also, as
verb. = to copulate: see Ride.
2. (old).—A constable's staff.
3. (old).—A leg: cf. 'pestle of pork,' long and still in vogue.
d.1529. Skelton, Elynour Rummyng [Dyce, i. 108]. Her kyrtell she did vptucke An ynche aboue her kne, Her legges that ye might se . . . Myghty pestels . . . As fayre and as whyte As the fote of a kyte.
See Knight.
Pestle-head, subs. (old).—A
blockhead: see Buffle.
Pet, subs. (colloquial).—1. An
angry mood; a tantrum; a fling
of temper.—B. E. (c. 1696);
Bailey (1748); Grose (1785).
Hence, to be petted = to take
offence.
1548. Barclay, Eclogue, iv. Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable. . . . Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet.
