1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pimp . . . also a small faggot used about London for making fires, named from introducing the fire to the coals.
3. (University).—To act meanly; to curry favour. Whence pimping (adj.) = small, feeble; perhaps well-meaning, but in every way inconsiderable.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 32. They only care for pimping sycophants.
d.1832. Crabbe [quoted in Century]. He had no paltry arts, no pimping ways.
1890. S. Judd, Margaret, i. 4. 'Was I so little?' asked Margaret. 'Yes, and pimping enough.'
Pimple, subs. (old).—1. A boon companion.
1700. Congreve, Way of the World, iv. 10. The Sun's a good pimple, an honest Soaker, he has a Cellar at your Antipodes.
2. (common).—The head: see Tibby.—Grose (1785); Bee (1823). Hence, pimple-cover = a hat: see Golgotha.
Pimple in a bent, subs. phr. (old).—Something very minute: cf. Knot in a rush.
1582. Stanyhurst, Ænid., Dedic. I could lay down heere sundrye examples, were yt not I should bee thoght ouer curious by prying owt a pimple in a bent.
Pin, subs. (common).—In pl. = the legs. Hence, on one's pins = (1) alive; (2) faring well; and (3) in good form.—Grose (1785); Vaux (1819).
1520. Hick Scorner [Hawkins, Eng. Drama, i. 102]. Than wolde I renne thyder on my pynnes As fast as I might goe.
1628. Earle, Microcos. [Downe-*right scholler]. His body is not set upon nice pinnes . . . but his scrape is homely and his nod worse.
1783. Burgoyne, Lord of the Manor, iii. 3. I never saw a fellow better set upon his pins.
1821. Egan, Life in London, Intro. Therefore he must get upon his pins how he can.
1842. Song, 'By-blow of the Jug' [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896], 144]. Scarcely had Jack got on his young pins, When his mammy . . . taught him soon to swear and lie, And to have a finger in every pie.
1889. Harper's Mag., lxxx. 269. Glad to hear that he is on his pins yet; he might have pegged out in ten years, you know.
2. (venery).—The penis: see Prick: cf. pincushion = female pudendum; and push-pin = copulation.
1635. Glapthorne, The Lady Mother, i. 1. Lovell. Her Belly a soft Cushion where no sinner But her true love must dare stick a pin in her. Grimes. That line has got the prick and prayse from all the rest.
3. (common).—A trifle: the lowest standard of value: also pin-head. See Button, Cent, Fig, Point, Rap, Rush, Straw, &c—B. E. (c.1696). [In quots. 1470 and 1592 prein = pin, but is derived [Jamieson] from Su- G. Dan, pren = a graving tool or any sharp instrument.]
1433. Babees Book [E. E. T. S.], 93. But when he is to highest power, Yet he is not worth a pin.
1470. Wallace, vii. 910, MS. Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne; Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a preyne.
c.1540. Doctour Doubble Ale [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet, iii. 306]. He careth not a pyn, How much ther be wythin, So he the pot may wyn.
1550. Bansley, Abuse of Women [Hazlitt, E. Pop. Poet, iv. 233]. And therefore your fonde blynd skuses wyl not serve; They are not worth a pyn.
d.1555. Lyndsay, S. P. K., ii. 29. Thocht I ane servand long hes bene, My purchess is nocht worth ane prene.
c.1555. A Pore Helpe [quoted in Dyce, Skelton, i. cxiv.]. If she were supprest, A pyn for all the rest.
