1694. Crowne, Married Beau, iv. 1. I don't know what I am now; a pickle-herring I think. I'd be loath to meet with a hungry Dutch seaman.
1711. Addison, Spectator, No. 47. There is a set of merry drolls . . . whom every nation calls by the name of that dish of meat which it loves best. In Holland they are termed pickled herrings, &c. [See Jack Pudding.]
Pickle-jar, subs. phr. (common).—A
coachman in yellow.
Pickle-me-tickle-me. To play
at pickle-me-tickle-me, verb.
phr. (venery).—To copulate.—Urquhart
(1653). See Greens
and Ride.
Picklock, subs. (venery).—The
penis; the key (q.v.): see
Prick.—Urquhart (1653);
Clelland.
Pick-me-up, subs. phr. (common).—A
stimulant.
1901. Free Lance, 11 May, 123, 2. The doctors are said to frown upon the new pick-me-up, and to threaten serious consequences from its use.
Pick-penny, subs. (old).—1. See
Pinchifist.
2. (old).—A sharper.
Pick-pie. To turn a pick-pie,
verb. phr. (old).—To make a
somersault.
Pick-purse, subs. (old).—A thief:
also as adj. = mercenary; fraudulent.
d.1529, Dunbar [Laing, Works, 161]. Be I ane lord, and not lord like, Than every pelour and purse-pike.
1555. [Mailland, Reformation (1849), 529]. Such pick-purse matters is all the whole rabble of your ceremonies; for all is but money matters that ye maintain.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, v. 3. This is your old trick, to pick one's purse, and then to picke quarrels.
15[?]. Reasoning betw. Crossraguell and J. Knox, B. iii. b. They affirmed—Purgatorie to be nothing but a pykepurs.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Hen. IV., ii. 1, 54. At hand, quoth pick-purse. Ibid. (1600), As You Like it, iii. 4. I think he is not a pick-purse nor a horse-stealer.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn], 69. A good bargain is a pick-purse.
Picksome, adj. (colloquial).—Fastidious;
particular; given to
'picking and choosing.'
1888. Besant, Fifty Years Ago, 136. We were not quite so picksome in the matter of company as we are now.
Pick-thank, subs. (old).—A toady:
also as adj. and verb.—Awdeley
(1567); B. E. (c.1696); Grose
(1785).
1412. Occleve, De Reg. Prin. [Roxburgh Club], 110. He never denyethe His lordes resons, but a thanke to pike.
1512-13. Douglas, Virgil, Prol. 238, b. 55. Sum prig penny, sum pyke thank with preuy promit.
1513-25. Skelton [Dyce, Works, ii. 60]. There be two tyther, rude and ranke, Symkyn Tytyuell and Pers Pykthanke.
1516. More, Utopia, i. He is ashamed to say that which is said already, or else to pick a thank with his prince,
d.1577. Gascoigne [Arber, English Garner, 1. 63]. A pack of pick-thanks were the rest, Which came false witness for to bear.
1580. Lyly, Euphues, A4, b. Fine heads will pick a quarrell with me, if all be not curious, and flatterers a thanke if anie thing be currant.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV., iii. 2. Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear, By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers.
1603. Knolles, His. Turks, 108. Whereunto were joined also the hard speeches of her pickthanke favourites, who to curry favell spared not, &c.
