Poop-downhaul, subs. phr. (nautical).—An imaginary rope, a seaman's jest: cf. 'clapping the keel athwart-ships,' &c.—Clark Russell.
Poop-ornament (old nautical).—An
apprentice.
c.1855. [Athenæum (1902), 8 Feb., 177, 1, 'Rev. of School and Sea Days']. [For the rest, he was and is emphatically the ship's loblolly-boy and "rouse-about," miscalled "a blarsted poop ornament," the drudge even of ordinary seamen.]
Poopster (or pooper), subs.
(venery).—A fornicator; a mutton-monger
(q.v.).
Poor. To serve the poor, with
a thump on the back with a
stone, phr. (colloquial).—To
shark the needy.—Ray (1670).
Poor-man, subs. (Scots').—1. A
heap of corn-sheaves: four set
upright and one above.
2. (Scots').—See quot.
1819. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor, xix. I should like well would my wife and family permit me to return to my sowens and my poor-man-of-mutton. [Scott: 'The blade-bone of a shoulder of mutton is called in Scotland "a poor man," as in some parts of England it is termed a "poor knight of Windsor," in contrast, it must be presumed, to the baronial' Sir Loin. A Scotch laird was once asked by an English landlord what he would have for dinner. He replied, "I think I could relish a morsel of a poor man."]
Poor Man's Blessing, subs. phr.
(venery).—The female pudendum:
see Monosyllable.
Poor Man's Oyster, subs. phr.
(common).—See quot.
1891. Tit-Bits, 8 Aug., 277, 2. There are thousands of costers who earn a livelihood by the sale of . . . mussels, which are regarded as the poor man's oyster.
Poor-man's treacle, subs. phr.
(common).—An onion.—Century.
Poor mouth. To make a poor
mouth, verb. phr. (Scots').—To
whine; to make the worst of things.
1822. Blackwood, Sep., 307. It's no right o' you to be aye making a puir mouth.
Poor Robin, subs. phr. (old).—An
almanack. [Robert Herrick, in
the 17th century, issued a series
of almanacks so-called.]
b.1704. Darrell, Gentleman Instructed, 120. I was informed she discern'd by the beat of the pulse a Feast from a Feria without the help of Poor Robin.
Pop, subs. (American).—1. A
father; 'papa': also poppa and
popper.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. Jerry wants a new pop right bad.
1809. Sporting Times, 15 Ap., 2, 1. Say, Van, why should we fret? It was poppa's house.
1901. Free Lance, 16 Nov., 171, 2. The young lady has an independent fortune, and popper happened to be at the other end of a cable, three thousand miles away, at the moment she was getting married!
2. (common).—A popular concert: as 'The Saturday (or Monday) Pops.'
1869. Orchestra, 19 Nov. How beautiful is the behaviour of our eminent artists at the Monday Pops!
1891. Gilbert, Patience, ii. Who thinks suburban hops more fun than Monday Pops.
1898. D. Telegraph, 13 Dec., 7, 5. Probably never before did the experienced director of the Pops. give a special concert on account of a particular artist.
3. (Eton College).—A club chiefly confined to Oppidans though Collegers are sometimes elected: otherwise "The Eton
