1713. Addison, Spectator, 135. Some of our words . . . in familiar writings and conversations . . . often lose all but their first syllables, as in mob, rep, pos, incog, and the like.
3. (Harrow).—A repetition.
1892. Anstey, Voces Populi 'At the Regent Street Tuzsand's,' 65. It's not in Selections from British Poetry, which we have to get up for rep.
Repairs. No repairs, phr. (common).—Said
of a reckless contest;
neck or nought.
See Road.
Repartee, subs. (old: now recognised).—'A
sudden smart Reply.'—B.
E. (c. 1696).
Repeater, subs. (American political).—An
elector voting twice
on the same qualification.
Reporter, subs. (old Irish).—A
duelling pistol: see Meat-in-the-Pot.
1827. Jonah Barrington, Personal Sketches (1869), 1. 288. A tolerable chance of becoming acquainted with my friend's reporters (the pet name for hair-triggers). Idem, 288-9. I have this moment sent to the mail coach-office two bullet-moulds, not being certain which of them belongs to the reporters.
1865. Cornhill Mag., xi. 166. In those days Irish gentlemen always carried their reporters or pistols with them.
Reposer, subs. (common).—A final
drink; a nightcap (q.v.).
Reptile, subs. (American cadet).—1.
A new cadet: cf. Rabid-beast.
2. (colloquial).—A degraded wretch; a baseling. Hence Reptile press = the hireling press.
Republican, subs. (old colloquial:
now recognised).—'A Commonwealths-man.'—B.
E. (c. 1696).
Republic of letters, subs. phr.
(old).—The post-office.—Bee.
Requisition, verb. (American
military).—To take by force:
now recognised.
1864. Sala [Daily Telegraph, 2 Aug., ['America in the Midst of War']. Nothing too small to be annexed. From a hundred thousand dollar requisition on the Municipality of a Country Town to a basket of eggs and a housewife's fresh butter.
1871. Morning Advertiser, 1 Feb. We have all heard of General Butler, We know "how Providence plesht him mit teapots and shpoons" whilst he was requisitioning down south.
Re-raw, subs. (common).—A
drinking bout; drunk.
Reservoir. Au reservoir, phr.
(common).—'Au revoir.'
1897. Mitford, Romance of Cape Frontier, 1. v. "'Au resevoir,' for your way, I believe, lies past the dam."
Residential-club, subs. phr.
(common).—An habitual assemblage
of loafers: spec. a crew of
idlers, male and female, frequenting
the reading-room of the
British Museum for the sake of
shelter and warmth.
Respectable, adj. (colloquial).—Chaste;
decent.
1857. Dickens, Little Dorrit, 1. 35. Something must be done with Maggy . . . who . . . is—ha—barely respectable.
1899. Whiteing, John St., xxvii. Some . . . bear it in silence, feeling that it is the price of 'keeping respectable.'
Respond, verb. (venery).—To
share the sexual spasm; to
come (q.v.).
Responsions, subs. (Oxford).—The
first examination for candidates
for the B. A. degree.
1888. Lang, XXII. Ballades in Blue China, 'Ballad of the Midsummer Term.' When Lent and Responsions are ended.
