1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker [1900], i. 68. 'I bless God . . . that Mrs. Tabitha Bramble did not take the field to-day!' I would pit her . . . against the best shakebag of the whole main.
Shake, subs. (venery).—1. A
whore, and (2) an act of coition.
3. (common) a standard of value,
usually in the phrase no great
shakes = anything of small account.
4. (American) = a show.
Also fair shakes = a tolerable
bargain or chance.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 41. Though no great shakes at learned chat.
1820. Byron, Letter [to Murray], 28 Sep. I had my hands full, and my head too just then, so it can be no great shakes.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, 111. ii. I'll give you a chant composed upon Dick Turpin, the highwayman. It's no great shakes, to be sure, but it's the best I have.
1847. Chron. of Pineville, 34. Bill Sweeny a fair shake, and he can whoop blue blazes out of ye.
1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, 56. The Museum . . . he didn't consider any very great shakes.
1855. Kingsley, Westward Ho, xxx. No great shakes of a man to look to, nether.
c.1859. Newspaper Cutting ["S"], 200. "A shake. Hope no offence; none so meant, mum. A shake's a party as is married and as isn't, if you understand me, mum. 'In keeping,' some calls it."
1865. Gaskell, Wives and Daughters, xxi. After all, a senior wrangler was no great shakes. Any man might be one if he liked.
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxix. We didn't set up to be any great shakes ourselves, Jim and I.
1891. Newman, Scamping Tricks, 47. Here comes the shake.
1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 24. He was no great shakes as a scholar, but he understood racing and human nature.
2. (various).—In pl. = generic for unsteadiness: specifically delirium tremens.
b.1859. Western Gazetteer [Bartlett]. The springs fail once in a while since the shakes of 1812.
1884. Cornhill Mag., June, 616. Until she is pulled up by an attack of delirium tremens, or, as she and her neighbours style it, a fit of the shakes.
1898. Man of the World, 7 Dec., 5, 3. When John has a real attack of the shakes, we fasten the churn handle to him, and he brings the butter inside of fifteen minutes.
1900 Nisbet, Sheep's Clothing, iv. iv. All had experienced the shakes, and so were able to sympathise.
5. (common).—A fad. Also in combination: as the milk-shake, the vegetarian-shake, &c. Shook on = in love with.
1888. Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. He was awful shook on Madg; but she wouldn't look at him. Ibid., xxxvi. I'm regular shook on the polka. Ibid., xl. A steady-going he's a little—you understand—well, shook on me.
6. (colloquial).—Generic for quick action: e.g., A great shake = a quick pace; in a brace (or couple) of shakes (or in the shake of a lamb's tail) = instantly.
[?]. Huntlyng of the Hare, 96. Thei wente a nobull schakke.
1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. (Babes in the Wood). I'll be back in a couple of shakes.
1841. Punch, i. 135. A couple of agues Caught, to speak vulgarly, in a brace of shakes.
1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gaultier Ballads, 'Jupiter and the Indian Ale.' Quick! invent some other drink, Or, in a brace of shakes thou standest On Cocytus' sulph'ry brink.
1866. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, xciii. Now Dragon could kill a wolf in a brace of shakes.
