Adj. (colloquial).—1. See subs. 1.
2. (common).—Undiluted; neat (q.v.); a raw recruit = a nip of unwatered spirits.
Raw-head (or Raw-flesh), subs.
phr. (old).—A spectre; 'a scare-*child'
(B. E., Grose): usually
Raw-head and Bloody-bones.
1550. Jyl of Brentford's Test. [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 524. The Devil's secretary bears the name of Blooddy-bone . . . whom we now couple with raw-head.]
. . . Wyll of the Devyll [Halliwell]. Written by our faithful secretaryes, hobgoblen, rawhed, and bloody-bone, in the spitefull audience of all the Court of hell.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Caccianemico, a bragging craking boaster, a bugbeare, a rawe-flesh and bloodie bone.
1622. Fletcher, Prophetess, iv. 4. I was told before My face was bad enough: but now I look Like Bloody-bones and Raw-head to fright children.
1693. Locke, Education, 138. Servants . . . awe children, and keep them in subjection, by telling them of rawhead and bloody bones.
1870. Figaro, 19 Oct. We have sometimes heard of a school of literature called "The Raw-Head and Bloody-Bones School."
Raw-lobster, subs. phr. (obsolete).—A
policeman: cf. lobster =
a soldier.
Raw-meat, subs. phr. (venery).—1.
The penis: see Prick; and
(2) a nude performer: see Meat.
1766. Old Song; 'The Butcher' [The Eattle, 13]. All women in love never like to be stinted, Take care that her mag with raw meat is well fed, Lest the horns of an ox should adorn your calves' head.
Raw-'uns (The), subs. phr. (pugilistic).—The
naked fists.
1887. Daily News, 15 Sept., 4, 8. This encounter was without gloves, or, in the elegant language of the ring, with the raw uns.
1891. Sporting Life, 26 Mar. I will stake £1000 to £800, and fight you with the raw-'uns. Ibid. Even Jem Carney . . . has been obliged to abandon the raw-un's for gloves pure and simple.
Ray, subs. (thieves').—See quot.
1862. Mayhew, Lon. Lab., IV. 319. "Joe said to him, 'There is Dick's first trial, and you must give him a ray for it,' i.e., 1/6.
Raymonder. See Ramrod, 2.
Razor, subs. (American University).—See
quot.
18[?]. Yale Univ. Mag. [S. J. & C.]. A pun in the elegant college dialect is called a razor, while an attempt at a pun is styled a sick razor. The sick ones are by far the most numerous; however, once in a while you meet with one in quite respectable health.
2. (common).—In pl. = aerated waters; sober-water (q.v.).
Parlour-full of Razors. See Parlour.
Razor-strop, subs. phr. (legal).—A
copy of a writ.
Razzle-dazzle, subs. phr. (American).—A
frolic.
1890. Gunter, Miss Nobody, xiv. I'm going to razzle-dazzle the boys . . . with my great lightning change act. Ibid., xv. 'Little Gussie's Razzle Dazzle [Title of chapter].
1901. Binstead, More Gal's Gossip, 54. Bank-holidayites on the razzle-dazzle.
