1880. N. Gould. Double Event, 105. He didn't think Caloola would win, but he took £50 to £5 on the off chance, 'just to have an interest in the brute,' he said.
Office, subs. (old).—See quot. 1819.
Fr. donner un tuyau.
1818. Egan, Boxiana, ii. 436. Reynolds observed to his seconds that if he could but see his man he certainly must win. The office was immediately given, when a farmer jumped into the ring, and lanced his eyes.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, ii. 193. Office, a hint, signal, or private intimation, from one person to another; this is termed officeing him, or giving him the office; to take the office, is to understand and profit by the hint given.
1830. Buckstone, A Dead Shot. I, understanding the game, soon discovered a crack player—went up to him—gave the office—he was on his mettle.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xlii. Mivins! said Mr. Smangle, with a passionate air. What's the office; replied that gentleman from his couch. Who the devil is this fellow?
1843. Moncrieff. The Scamps of London, iii. 1. Give the office to the waiter.
1864. Braddon, Henry Dunbar, xxxix. I gave you the office just now, he said, because I thought if you spoke to me, that old chap would leave off talking, and I might miss something that was on the tip of his tongue.
1875. Greenwood, Low Life Deeps [Slang, Jargon, and Cant.]. And then, in a word or two which none of the outsiders can understand, the conductor gives the office to his driver, who sits the picture of good behaviour . . . till the point of danger is passed.
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxxii. How the deuce did you get the office.
1891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 70. I gave the office.
Verb. (old).—To give notice or information.
1819. Moore, Tom Cribb's Memorial, 19. To office with all due dispatch through the air, To the Bulls of the Alley the fate of the Bear.
Cook's office, subs. phr. (nautical).—The galley.
Jack in office. See Jack.
Office-sneak, subs. phr. (common).—A
stealer of office over-coats
and umbrellas.
Offish, adv. (colloquial).—Distant.
1842. Betsy Bobbet, 289. I am naturally pretty offish and retirin' in my ways with strange men folks. I think it is becoming in a woman to be so, instead of bold.
1883. Century, xxxvi. 35. She was rather offish, but really would have been glad to make up.
1883. L. Oliphant, Altiora Pets, ii. xxxii. 202. You did not know that your husband . . . married my niece before he married his other wives, or you wouldn't ha' been so offish when we first met over in Paris.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividend, vi. You make me feel as if you were offish, says the youthful news-agent.
Off-ox, subs. phr. (American).—An
unmanageable, cross-grained fellow.
1862. Lowell, Biglow Papers, 2nd Series, s.v.
Ogging ot tekram, phr. (back-slang).—Going
to market.
Ogle, subs. (old).—1. In pl. the
eyes. Also Oglers. Hence,
queer-ogled = squinting; rum
ogles = bright or piercing eyes.
1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Ogles. The Gentry Mort has rum Ogles, that Lady has charming black eyes.
1706. Centlivre. Love at a Venture, iv. 1. [Works (1872), i. 295.] Flor. Why, what do you fear? Rob. Those pinking ogles of thine.
1706. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, i. pt. vi. 25. He rowl'd his ogles with a grace Becoming so a zealous face.
1748. Dyche, Dictionary. Ogles in the Cant. Language, are the eyes.
