1707. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, 11. vii. 10. When at push-a-pike we play With beauty, who shall win the day?
1750. Robertson of Struan, Poems, 96. Push on, push on, ye happy Pair.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 337. They star'd like honest Johnny Wade, When he one evening with the maid A game at pushpin had begun, And madam came before he'd done.
Colloquialisms.—To get (or give) the push (or the order of the push) = to be discharged (or to reject), to be sent (or send) about one's business; put to the push (or at a push) = subjected to trial, in a difficulty or dilemma (B. E., c.1696); to push one's barrow = to move on; at push of pike = at defiance (B. E., c.1696). See also Face.
c.1870. Music Hall Song, 'I'll say no More to Mary Ann.' The girl that stole my heart has given me the push.
1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' ['A Meeting on the "Met"'], 126. He felt like people do who gain The order of the push.
1890. Sims, Rondeau of the Knock [Referee, 20 Ap.]. No more with jaunty air He'll have the push.
1893. Emerson, Lippo, xx. She was always taking on new ones, for you got the push in a year or two, arter you got too big.
Pushed, adj. (common).—1.
Drunk: see Drinks and
Screwed.
2. (colloquial).—Hard up.
1827. London Mag., xix. 39. He was frequently pushed for money.
Pusher, subs. (old).—1. See quot.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Pushers, Canary-birds new Flown, that cannot Feed themselves,
2. (common).—A woman: see Petticoat. Hence square pusher = a girl of good reputation.
3. (shoemakers').—A blucher boot; a high-low.
4. (nursery).—A finger of bread: used by children with a fork when feeding.
Pushing-school, subs. phr. (old).—1.
A fencing-school.—B. E.
(c.1696); Grose (1785).
Pushing-tout, subs. phr. (old).—See
quot.
1718. C. Higgin, True Disc., 13. He is a pushing toute, alias thieves' watchman, that lies scouting in and about the City to get and bring intelligence to the thieves, when and where there is a Push, alias an Accidental Crowd of People.
Push-pin. See Push, verb.
Puss, subs. (old).—1. Sometimes
complacently used of a woman
suspected of loose morals (cf.
Cat): but usually a playful endearment:
e.g., 'little puss,'
'saucy puss,' 'you puss, you.'
1583. Stubbes, Anatomy of Abuses [New Shaks. Soc.], 97. [Oliphant, New English, i. 614. The word pussie is now used of a woman.]
1621. Burton, Anat. Melan., 111. 11. iii. 1. Pleasant names may be invented . . . puss . . . honey, love, dove.
1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie (1st ed.), 3. That cross-grained peevish scolding Quean, That scratching cater-wawling Puss.
1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, ii. 3. Gone! what a pox had I just run her down, and is the little puss stole away at last.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 101. The Rainbow-goddess flies to Helen: Most modern puss I ever knew.
