1793. European Mag., 172. There was nothing which he [Oliver Goldsmith] enjoyed better than what he used facetiously to term a shoemaker's holiday. . . . Three or four of his intimate friends rendevoused at his chambers to breakfast about ten o'clock in the morning; at eleven they proceeded, by the City Road and through the fields, to Highbury Barn to dinner; about six o'clock in the evening they adjourned to White Conduit House to drink tea; and concluded the evening by supping at the Grecian or Temple Exchange coffee houses, or at the Globe in Fleet Street. . . . The whole expenses of this day's fête never exceeded a crown, and . . . oftener from three-and-sixpence to four shillings, for which the party obtained good air and exercise, good living, the example of simple manners, and good conversation.
Shoesmith, subs. (colloquial).—A
cobbler.
Shoestring, subs. (American).—A
small bet run up to a large
amount.
Shoful (Showfull or Schofel),
subs. and adj. (common).—Generic
for anybody or anything
questionable. Spec. shoful,
subs. = (1) base money (also shoful
money): whence shoful-pitcher
= a dealer in counterfeit;
shoful-pitching = shoving
the queer (q.v.); shoful-jewellery
= pinchbeck gauds.
Also (2) = a hansom cab (see quot.
1851), and shovel (q.v.).
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., i. 26. Showfulls, bad money. Ibid., i. 279. A racketty place, sir [of a beer-shop], one of the showfulls; a dicky one; a free-and-easy. Ibid., ii. 554. I don't think those shofuls (Hansoms) should be allowed—the fact is, if the driver is not a tall man he can't see his horse's head. Ibid., iii. 363. The Hansom's, which are always called showfulls by the cabmen. Showfull, in slang, means counterfeit, and the showfull cabs are an infringement on Hansom's patent. Ibid. (1856), Gt. World of London, 47. The shoful-men, or those who plunder by counterfeits, as coiners and forgers of checks and notes, and wills.
1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., 57. That . . . is old Finlaison the fence. . . . He used to be a shoful man once—dealt in bad money, you know.
1882. Smythe-Palmer, Folk-Etymology, s.v. Showfull or shoful. A cant term which originated amongst the Jews, and is the Heb. Shafal (or shaphal), low, base, vile, the word which David applied to himself when he danced before the ark.
1890. Tit-Bits, 15 Mar., 362. There wasn't a shoful on the stand; so I works the oracle, and drives him off easy.
1891. Carew, Auto. of a Gipsy, 417. Palmer got down and heaved the sackful o' shoful into the river . . . and shoful it were right enough hevery bloomin' hounce. Ibid., 17. Shoful-pitching, fawney-rigging and the thousand and one ingenious devices whereby the impecunious endeavour to augment balances at their bankers.
1897. D. Telegraph, 14 Sept, 9, 3. There is plenty of room for improvement in the accommodation which 'growlers' and shofuls offer to the bicycle.
1899. Pot and Swears, Scarlet City, 177. When I had despatched the telegram—I found Anthony ensconced in what he called a spicy showful.
1901. Binstead, More Gal's Gossip, 86. He stopped the shabby shoful.
Shog, subs. (old).—A jog: also as
verb. = to be off.
1599. Shakspeare, Hen. V., ii. 3, 47. Shall we shog? The King will be gone from Southampton.
Sholl, verb. (thieves').—To
bonnet (q.v.); to crush the hat
over the eyes.
Shoo! intj. (old).—Be off! Away!
As verb. = to scare away. 'Cannot
say Shooh to a goose' (Ray)
= a retort on timidity or bashfulness:
see Boh.
1611. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Scioare, to cry Shooe, shooe, as women do to their hens.
1623. Fletcher and Rowley, Maid in the Mill, v. 1. Shough, shough: up to your coop, pea-hen.
