1866. Sat. Review, 6 Jan. Here the ingenious and industrious explorer constantly strikes ile, and of the very best quality.
1894. Sketch, 28 March, 462, 1. You were speaking just now of 'Babil and Bijou' having been a financial failure, but I suppose you have struck ile sometimes?
To oil the wig, verb. phr. (provincial).—To make tipsy: see Drinks and Screwed.
To oil the knocker, verb. phr. (common).—To fee the porter. Fr. graisser le marteau.
Oiner, subs. (University).—A cad.
Ointment, subs. (medical students').—1.
Butter; cart-grease (q.v.).
2. (old).—Money. [From the 13th Century Fabliau, 'De la Vieille qui Oint la Palme au Chevalier'].
3. (venery).—The semen: see Spendings.
O.K., phr. (originally American:
now universal).—See quot. 1871.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 72. His express reported himself after his night ride, assured Allen that all was o.k., and received his dollar.
1852. Judson, Mysteries of New York, iv. 'Tis one of us; it's o.k.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms. General Jackson, better known . . . as Old Hickory, was not much at home in the art of spelling, and his friend and admirer, Major Jack Downing, found therefore no difficulty in convincing the readers of his 'Letters,' that the President employed the letters o.k. as an endorsement of applications for office, and other papers. They were intended to stand for 'All Correct,' which the old gentleman preferred writing Oll Korrect.
1883. Graphic, 17 March, 287, 1. It was voted o.k., or all correct, whereas the other was pronounced only a one-horse affair.
1889. Answers. 56, 1. John Jenkins . . . was o.k. with Matilda Ann at Williams Street.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 Nov., 3, 1. If a stock has been falling and a sudden rise of 1 comes over there is an immediate inquiry, to make sure that there is no mistake. The reply o.k. no doubt comes back, and the price goes out.
1891. Sporting Times, 11 Ap. There can be no doubt that it was all o.k., for your insistence upon strict veracity is well known to all readers of the Pink 'Un.
Verb. (American).—To signify that all is right.
1888. Missouri Republican, 25 Jan. Please o.k., and hurry the return of my account.
Old, subs. (common).—Money: see
Rhino.
1900. Sims, In London's Heart, 10. "Perhaps its somebody you owe a bit of the old to, Jack" . . . "No, I don't think so," he replied. "Most of the people I owed money to turned up, my dear, when I married you."
Adj. (old colloquial).—1. Crafty; cunning; experienced.
2. (old literary: now colloquial).—Great; famous; grand; once a common intensitive; now only in combination with 'high,' 'good,' 'gay,' etc.
1590. Tarlton, Newes out of Purgatorie. On Sunday, at masse, there was an olde ringing of bells.
1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, i. 4. There will be an old abusing of God's patience, and the king's English.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, v. 2, 98. Madam, you must come to your uncle. Yonder's old coil at home.
1603. Tomkis, Lingua, ii. 6. Imagine there is old moving amongst them.
1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girl (Century). Here's old cheating.
1612. Dekker, If it be not Good, etc. We shall have old breaking of neckes.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, iii. 7. Strange work at sea; I fear me there's old tumbling.
