together . . . it happened, that the helms-*men had eaten so much sand, that at the end of nine days they had changed the day into night, and the night into day.
Sandbag, subs. (thieves').—1. A
long sausage-like bag of sand
dealing a heavy blow that leaves
no mark. Also as verb., and
sandbagger.
1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, II. vii. The other burglar, who looked like a mechanic, had now come up behind, and was brandishing a sand-bag.
2. (military).—In pl. = The Grenadier Guards. Also Old Eyes, Coalheavers, House-*maids' Pets, and Bermuda Exiles (q.v.).
Sandboy. As happy (jolly or
merry) as a sandboy, phr.
(old).—'All rags and all happiness
. . . a merry fellow who
has tasted a drop' (Bee).
1840 Dickens, Old Cur. Shop, xvii. I put up at the Jolly Sandboys, and nowhere else.
1900. Boothby, Maker of Nations, iv. He had had a fairly rough time of it, but the men seemed as jolly as sandboys.
Sandgate-rattle, subs. phr.
(provincial).—A quick and violent
stamping dance.
Sand-man (or Sandy-man), subs.
phr. (nursery).—When sleepy
children begin to rub their eyes
'the sand-man (or dustman)
is coming.'
Sandpaper, verb. (common).—See
quots.
1889. Answers, 9 Feb. "You will have to enact three parts in the 'Silent Foe' to-night." "Can't do it," said Lancaster, "and I hope to be sand-*papered if I try."
1901. D. Telegraph, 14 May, 10, 7. Let the American grass-widow with the broad and exasperating accent, which she takes no pains to sandpaper, be reduced to a minimum.
Sandwich, subs. (common).—1.
See quots.: also sandwich man:
see Toad-in-the-Hole.
1836. Dickens, Boz, 147. He stopped the unstamped advertisement—an animated sandwich, composed of a boy between two boards.
1880. Scribner's Mag., Aug., 607. The double sign-boards, or sandwiches [incorrectly used] which conceal his body. Ibid., 609. The sandwich-man carries in glass cases sample boots, sample shirts, &c.
2. (common).—A gentleman between two ladies: cf. Bodkin; Thorn between two roses, &c. Fr. âne à deux pannières.
1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, lviii. A pale young man . . . came walking down the lane en sandwich—having a lady, that is, on each arm.
Verb. (colloquial).—To insert between dissimilars.
1886. Referee, 18 April. These proceedings were sandwiched with vocal and instrumental selections.
Sandwich-boat. See Bumping-*race.
Sandy, subs. (Scots' colloquial).—A
Scot: short for Alexander.
1500. Dunbar, Works [Paterson], 251 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 362. Alexander appears as Sandy; Englishmen on the other hand, dock the last half of the Greek word, and make it Alick].
d. 1555. Lyndsay, Kitty's Confessioun [Laing], i. 136. Ane plack I will gar Sandy, Gie the agane with Handie-Dandie,
1885. Sportsman, 28 July, 2, 1. Scotland has been troubled by a great and mighty heat, which has scorched Sandy's brow and burnt the colour out of his kilt.
Sandy-pate, subs. (old).—'One
red-hair'd' (B. E., Grose).
