1870. Huxley, Lay Sermons, 30. It would be unprofitable to spend more time. . . in shewing up the knots in the ravelled skeins of our neighbours.
1883. Black, Yolande, i. Don't you think it prudent of me to show up as often as I can in the House. . . so that my good friends in Slagpool mayn't begin to grumble about my being away so frequently?
1886. Times, 29 Mar. Certain persons in high stations of life would be shown up.
1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 287. Both got upon their knees to her; and the upshot of the matter was that she showed both of them the door.
1899. Whiteing, John St., vi. She wants yer to show up at a sort o' bun struggle in 'er room.
1899. Delannoy, £19,000, xxx. I didn't want to give the show away.
1900. Savage, Brought to Bay, i. I'm all right, if I show up at eleven. Ibid., Looks as if he could show up well in. . . Le Sport.
Shower, subs, (colloquial).—A
shower-bath.
1889. Answers, 9 Feb. After lunch comes the heavy work of the day. The crew assemble at the boathouse, and after going through exercise in a pair-oared boat, they carry out the eight. Returning to dinner after the refreshing 'shower,' they have a good, plain repast.
Showing. A front showing,
subs. phr. (military).—Parade at
short notice: i.e. without time to
properly prepare accoutrements
and kit.
Showman, subs, (theatrical).—See
quot.
1885. G. Dolby, Dickens as I knew Him, 125. The showmen, as the managers of the theatres and caterers for public amusements are popularly termed.
Show-Sunday, subs. phr.
(various).—Among the commonalty
= Easter Sunday, when if you
don't wear something new, 'the
rooks will shit on you'; at Oxford,
the Sunday in Commemoration
Week (a kind of University Parade
took place in the Broad Walk of
Christ's, but the invasion of Town
has stopped it); amongst artists,
&c., the Sunday before sending-in
day, when the studios are open to
visitors and friends.
Shreds (or Shreds and Patches),
subs. (old).—A tailor: see
Snip (B.E. and Grose).
Shrieking (or Whining) Sisterhood,
subs. phr. (journalistic).—The
world of women reformers:
hence, busybodies.
1809. Malkin, Gil Bias [Routledge], 208. Yesterday Ambrose stumbled upon one of our whining sisterhood.
1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 20. This yere shrieking sisterhood lay ain't 'arf bad.
Shrimp, subs. (old).—1. A
drawf; a pigmy: in contempt
(Grose).
1383. Chaucer, Monk's Tale, Prol., 67. We borel men been shrympes; of fielde trees ther comen wrecched ympes.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis [Arber], 89. A windbeaten hard shrimp, With lanck wan visadge, with rags iags patcherye clowted.
1623. Shakspeare, i Henry VI., ii. 3, 23. It cannot be, this weake and writhled shrimpe Should strike such terror to his enemies.
1772. Garrick, Irish Widow, i. i. Whit. Why, your wife is five feet ten! Kec. Without her shoes. I hate your little shrimps.
1786. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Despise that shrimp, that wither'd imp.
1840. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. (Aunt Fanny). And all for a shrimp not as high as my hat—A little contemptible shaver like that!!
1888. Referee, ii Nov. Other nippers—little shrimps of boys.
2. (old).—A prostitute : see Tart.
1638. Whiting, Albino and Bellama, 52. Vat tough me vil not lye vit pimpes, And pend me's coyne on light-teale SHRIMPES.
