1653. Urquhart, Rabelais. 1. xlvii. Pinchpenny said to him . . . we are here very ill provided of victuals.
1690. Crowne, Eng. Friar, ii. 1. 'We are my Lady Pinch-gut's men Sir.' . . . 'Her men? no, her mice. We live on crumbs.'
1821. Scott, Pirate, vi. If this house be strewed in ruins before morning where would be the world's want in the . . . niggardly pinchcommons by which it is inhabited.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailor's Language, s.v. Pinchgut. A mean purser.
Pinch-board, subs. phr. (American).—A
swindling roulette table:
see Pinch, verb.
Pinch-bottom (-buttock, or
-cunt), subs. phr. (venery).—A
whoremaster: see Mutton-monger.
Pincher, subs. phr. (political
American).—A legislative measure
calculated to secure a pecuniary
reward to those interested in its
rejection.
See Pinch, verb., and Pinch-*belly.
Pinch-gut-money, subs. phr. (old).—See
quot.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Pinch-gut-money, allowed by the King to the Seamen, that Serve on Bord the Navy Royal, when their Provision falls Short; also in long Voyages when they are forced to Drink Water instead of Beer.
Pinch-prick, subs. phr. (venery).—1. A whore; and (2) a wife that insists on her dues.
Pinch-wife, subs. phr. (venery).—A
vigilant and churlish husband.
Pincushion. See Pin-case.
Pineapple, verb. (American).—To
close-shave; to 'county-crop';
to shingle (q.v.).
Pine-top, subs. phr. (American).—Common
whiskey: see Old
Man's Milk.
Pine-tree money, subs. (old
American).—Money coined in
Massachusetts in 17th century: as
bearing a figure resembling a pine-tree.—Bartlett.
Pine-tree State, subs. phr.
(American).—Maine. [From its
extensive pine forests.]
1888. Boston Transcript. The good old Pine-tree State is pretty well represented . . . scarcely a town of any size . . . but what contains one or more Maine men.
Pink, subs. (old).—1. A beauty:
hence (2) a pattern or model: as
a woman of fashion, a well-groomed
man, the pick of the
litter, a champion at sport, &c.—Grose
(1785).
1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4, 4. I am the very pink of courtesy.
1602. Breton, Wonders, 7. He had a pretty pincke to his own wedded wife.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, 1, 2. This is the prettiest pilgrim, The pink of pilgrims.
1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, ii. 1. I am happy to have obliged the Mirrour of Knighthood and Pink of Courtesie in the age.
1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Miss. Oh! Mr. Neverout; every body knows that you are the Pink of Courtesy.
1821. Egan, Life in London, ii. i. The lady and her scullion—the pink of the ton and his "rain-bow"— . . . they are "all there."
1827. Lytton, Pelham, xl. Now, reely, Mr. Ritson, you, who are the pink of feeshion, ought to know better than I can.
3. (American cadet).—A bad report, e.g., 'There are several pinks against you.' Also as verb.
