1678. Butler, Hud., iii. ii. 1241. To pass for deep and learned scholars, Although but paltry ob-and-sollers: As if th' unseasonable fools Had been a coursing in the schools.
O-be-easy. To sing 'O be easy,'
verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. O be joyful. To sing O be easy: to appear contented when one has cause to complain.
O-be-joyful, subs. phr. (old).—See
quot. Whence O-be-joyful
works = a drinking shop.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan], s.v. O be joyful, good liquor; brandy.
To make one sing 'O be joyful' on (or with) the other side of the mouth, verb. phr. (old).—To make one cry: see Mouth.—Grose (1785).
Obeum, The, subs. phr. (University).—The
name for a water-closet
building at Cambridge.
[Attributed by the Undergraduates
to the energy of O(scar) B(rowning)].
Obfuscated, adj. (common).—Drunk:
see Drinks and Screwed.
Also obfuscation.
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xxi. In a general state of obfuscation, in consequence of being plied with strange liquors by their patrons.
1869. Bradwood, The O. V. H. xxviii. Whose ignorance or temporarily obfuscated brain caused him to mistake his employer for Mr. Blake.
1872. Standard, 30 Dec. He then missed three shillings from his pockets, and a knife. Witness added that he was very much obfusticated at the time, but he was sure there was no other man in the room.
Obit, subs. (journalists').—An obituary
notice.
1874. W. Black, in Athenæum, 12 Sept., 353. Some little time ago, the sub-editor of a New York daily newspaper wrote to me begging me to send him the proper materials for the construction of an obit. He said it was the custom of his journal to keep obits in readiness.
Object, subs. (colloquial).—1. A
laughing-(or gazing-) stock. Little
object (of children) = a half-playful
half-angry endearment.
Also (2) a sweetheart (i.e. the
object of one's affections).
1824. Lockhart, Reginald Dalton, iii. 119. What, roars Macdonald—You puir shanglin' in-kneed scray of a thing! Would ony Christian body even you bit object to a bonny sonsie weel-faured young woman like miss Catline?
Obiquitous, adj. and adv. (American).—Innocence
of right and
wrong. [From oblivious and
obliquity],
Obscute, adj. (American).—Under-handed;
'crooked.'
Observationist, subs. (thieves').—See
quot.
1889. Barrere and Leland, Slang, Jargon, and Cant, s.v. Observationist, one who looks out tempting objects for the skilful thief to steal, etc. Generally pedlars, hawkers, etc.
Obstropulous, adj. (vulgar).—A
corruption of 'obstreperous.'
1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, viii. I heard him very obstropolous in his sleep.
1762. Smollett, Sir L. Graves, ii. iv. He has been mortally obstropulous, and out of his senses all this blessed day.
1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. 1. I'm sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that was here awhile ago, in this obstropolous manner.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Oil.
1847. Halliwell, Archaic Words and Phrases, s.v. Obstropolous. I was going my rounds and found this here gemman very obstropolous . . . Genuine London dialect.
