1888. Notes and Queries, 7 S. vii. 225. A year or two ago I bought a merino vest. On the bill I noticed P.S. after it, and by enquiry elicited that P.S. stood for pope's size, and that pope's size meant short and stout.
Pop-gun. See Pot-gun.
Popinjay, subs., (old).—A general
term of contempt: specifically (1)
a chatterer; and (2) a fop.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Hen. IV., i. 3. "I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold, To be so pestered with a popinjay, Answered neglectingly I know not what."
1599. Jonson, Every Man Out of His Humour, ii. 2. A number of these popinjays there are.
1620. Massinger and Field, Fatal Dowry, iii. 1. Nov. jun. What have I done, sir, To draw this harsh unsavoury language from you? Rom. Done, popinjay! why, dost thou think.
Poplars (Poppelars, Popler,
or Paplar), subs. (Old Cant).—Porridge:
spec. milk-porridge.—Harman
(1576); Head (1665);
B. E. (c.1696); Coles (1724);
Grose (1785).
1608. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 3]. The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harmanbeck, If we maund . . . poplars of yarum, he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans.
1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v. i. A gage of ben Rombouse . . . Is benar than . . . Peck, pennam, lap, or popler.
1641. Brome, Jovial Crew, ii. Here's Pannam and Lap, and good Poplars of Yarrum.
1707. Shirley, Triumph of Wit [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896), 36]. With lap and poplars held I tack.
Poplet (popelet or poppet),
subs. (old).—See quot. 1694: also
as an endearment.
1694. Dunton, Ladies Dict., s.v. Popelet. A puppet, or young wench.
1843. Selby, Antony and Cleopatra Married and Settled. There, there's a poppet; hush, hushaby—hush! it's very like me—very, just the same interesting twist of the eyes, and insinuating turn of the nose.
2. (old).—A corpulent person.—Chaucer (d.1400).
Pop-lolly, subs. phr. (cheap-jacks').—A
sweetmeat: i.e.,
lollipop.
1860. Hindley, Cheap-Jack, 100. Ever and anon bawling out in a Billinsgate voice, 'Two ounces a penny again—lollipop and pop-lolly.
Popped, adj. (tailors').—Annoyed.
Popped as a hatter = very
angry.
Popper. See Pop, subs. 1.
Poppy-cock, subs. phr. (American).—Nonsense;
bosh (q.v.). Also
poppy-cock racket.
Pop-shop. See Pop, verb. 5.
Pop-squirt, subs. phr. (American).—A
jackanapes.
Popsy-wopsy, subs. phr. (common).—A
foolish endearment.
1892. Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday, 19 Mar., 90, 3. Bless me if the little popsy-wopsy hasn't been collecting all the old circus hoops and covering them with her old muslin skirts.
Popular, adj. (colloquial American).—Conceited.
1862. Lowell, Biglow Papers, 2 S. Int. Pop'lar as a hen with one chicken.
P.P. See Play or Pay.
Pork, subs. (old).—1. A pig-headed
one: cf. Pig, subs. 1.
1645. Milton, Colasterion . . . I mean not to dispute philosophy with this pork.
