1889. Time, Aug., 151. The proper thing for men, with their powerfuller brains, is not to set on to a woman as though they despise her, but just to pot away at her, unless she carries it too far, when it is necessary to go for her.
1891. Murray's Mag., Aug., 211. I came here about a week ago to pot at the pigeons, and I've done very well, so far.
1900. Nisbet, Sheep's Clothing, 26. 'He'll carry the trade mark of Elola . . . for the rest of his life.' 'Serve him jolly well right for not shooting straight. However, he is in with us now since he has potted the girl.
2. See subs., senses 1 and 2.
3. (billiards).—To pocket a ball.
1885. Ev. Standard, 18 Dec. After making three he potted his opponent's ball.
1891. Sportsman, 26 Mar. Roberts, opening with a fluke by potting the red, ran up in his best style a capital 132.
4. (common).—To 'take a rise out of'; to do (q.v.); to be revenged; to land (q.v.).
1855. Taylor, Still Waters, ii. A greater flat was never potted.
1880. Millikin, Punch's Almanack, St. Valentine's Day. Crab your enemies,—I've got a many, You can pot 'em proper for a penny.
5. (old).—To excel: as to pot verses = to cap them.
1599. Stowe, Survey, 53. The boies of different schooles did cap or potte verses.
To go to pot, verb. phr. (common).—To perish; to be done for: as by death, bad seasons, pecuniary difficulties, and so forth.—Ray (1670). [Smyth-Palmer, Folk Etymology, thinks pot = a pit (i.e., of destruction): An alternative suggestion, apparently supported by most of the (especially the earlier) quotations, is that pot = a cooking, or a refiner's melting pot]. Whence go to pot! = 'Go to the devil'; 'Go hang yourself': Fr. Sucré! and Va-te-faire-suer! Potted-out = buried. See Hop the Twig and Quisby.
1394. Langland, Piers Ploughman, 627. Vnder a pot he schal be put in a pryvie chambre.
1512-3. Douglas, Eucados (1710), 108, 16. And vthir sum thare with gan schete ful hot Deip in the soroufull grisle hellis pot.
1525. Tyndale, Ans. to Sir T. More [Parker Soc. (1850), 110]. Then goeth a part of little flock to pot, and the rest scatter.
1552. Latimer, Sermons, 183. The more wicked, the more lucky: but they that pertaine to God . . . must go to the pot, they must suffer here according to the Scriptures.
1563. Hakluyt, Voyages, 'Ballad of R. Baker.' If Cannibals they be In kind we doe not know; And if they be, then welcome we, To pot straightway we goe.
1573. New Custom, ii. 3. Crew. Thou wouldest not sticke to bringe thine owne brother to payne. Avar. No, nor father and mother, if there were ought to be got, . . . if I could I would bring them to the pot.
1601. Jack Drum's Ent. (1616), i. 218. Flawn. Why, the weakest goe to the pot still. Mam. That jest shall saue him.
1610. Shakspeare, Coriolanus, i. 4. First sold. See they have shut him in. All. To the pot, I warrant him.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict., s.v. Aussi-*tost meurt vache comme veau. As soon the young, as old, goes to the pot.
1612. Webster, White Devil, iv. 4. Pigeons though they destroy never so much corn, the farmer dare not present the fowling-piece to them . . . because they belong to the lord of the manor; whilst your poor sparrows, that belong to the lord of heaven, they go to the pot for't.
1648. Life of A. a Wood [Bliss], 39. He was conniv'd at and kept in his place, otherwise he had infallibly gon to the pot.
