3. (common).—A tap-room loafer; a spouter: esp. (theatrical) a prosser (q.v.).
Pouch (or pouch up), verb. (colloquial).—1.
To pocket.
1567. Edwards, Damon and Pythias [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), iv. 40]. [Oliphant, New English, i. 565. In p. 40 stands to pouch up money (for his own use); in our time a liberal friend pouches schoolboys.]
1635. Quarles, Emblems, i. 9. Come, bring your saint pouch'd in his leathern shrine.
1821. Scott, Pirate, vi. And for the value of the gowden piece, it shall never be said I pouched her siller.
1881. Set. Amer, 55. They [the letters] have next to be pouched.
1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' from the Pink 'Un ['Parkey'], 90. He pouched the change.
1889. Licensed Victuallers' Gaz., 4 Jan. Two hundred solid quids he pouched, And then he slid.
2. (common).—To eat.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 49. Fancy pouching your prog on a terrace.
3. (common).—To tip; to provide with money.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, i. ii. He had been loaded with kindness, . . . and, finally, had been pouched in a manner worthy of a Marquess and of a grandfather.
1864. Eton School Days, i. 4. "Did your governor pouch you," asked Purefoy, as they were going towards the Station. "Yes," replied Butler Burke, "and so did the mater."
Pouchet, subs. (old).—A pocket.
1682. Radcliffe, Rambler, &c., 44. 'Upon a Bowl of Punch.' Did out of his Pouchet three nutmegs produce.
Pouch-mouth, subs. phr. (old).—A
ranter. Also as adj. = ranting.
1600. Dekker, Satiro-Mastix [Hawkins, Eng. Dr., iii. 172]. Players, I mean, theaterians, pouch-mouth stage-walkers.
Poudering- (or powdering-)
tub, subs. phr. (old).—The salivating
cradle or pit formerly used
in cases of lues venerea; the
pickling tub.—Grose (1785), and
Halliwell (1847). Also 'The
Pocky Hospital at Kingsland,
near London.'—B. E. (c. 1696).
1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., ii. 1. "From the powd'ring-tub of infamy Fetch forth the lazar kite Doll Tearsheet."
1611. Chapman, May-day, ii. 5. How mean you that? d'ye think I came lately ath' powdering tub.
c. 1697. T. Brown, Comical View [Works (1715), 1. 182]. As fair as a sinner newly Come out of the powdering tub.
Pouf, subs. (theatrical).—A would-be
actor.
Poulain, subs. (venery).—A bubo;
a Winchester-goose (q.v.).—Grose
(1785). Fr. poulaiu.
Poulderling, subs. (obs. University).—See
quot.
1607. Christmas Prince (1816), 1. The whole companye, or most parte of the students of the same house mette toogeher to beginne their Christmas, of wch some came to see sports, to witte the seniors as well graduates as vnder-graduates. Others to make sports, viz., studentes of the seconde yeare, whom they call Poulderlings.
Poulterer, subs. (old).—A thief
who stole and gutted letters.—Grose
(1785); Matsell (1859).
Poultice Wallah, subs. phr.
(military).—A surgeon's assistant.
Poultice-walloppers, subs. phr.
(military).—The Royal Army
Medical Corps. Also "The
Licensed (or Linseed) Lancers";
"The Pills."
Poultry, subs. (old).—Womenkind:
generic: cf. Hen, Plover,
Pheasant, Partridge, &c.
Celestial poultry = angels.
