Soft-horn, subs. phr. (common).—An ass, whether quadruped or biped.
Soft-horse, subs. phr. (racing).—A
horse lacking stamina.
Softling, subs. (old).—A voluptuary.
1576. Woolton, Christ. Manual. Effeminate and softlings cause the stoute man to waxe tender.
Soft-soap. See Soap.
Soft-shell, subs. phr. (obsolete
American political).—See quots.
and Hard-shell. Also softs
and Soft-shell Democrats.
1858. Report of Meeting Co. of Orleans, Sept., Resolved. That the terms Hunker, Barnburner, Soft-shell, and Hardshell have become obsolete, and hereafter we will be known only by the term Democrat.
1899. Century Dict., s.v. Soft. II. 2. In U.S. Politics: (a) A member or an adherent of that one of the two factions into which in 1852 and succeeding years the Democratic party in the State of New York was divided which was less favourable to the extension of slavery. (b) A member of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party in Missouri about 1850.
Soft-tack (or -tommy), subs. phr.
(nautical).—Bread: as distinguished
from biscuit, which is
'Ship's bread.'
1878. Gilbert, H.M.S. Pinafore. I've treacle and toffee, and excellent coffee, Soft tommy, and succulent chops.
1883. Greenwood, Odd People. The soft-tack and the green vegetables the bumboat people bring alongside ships that have been long absent on sea service.
Sog, subs. (school).—1. A sovereign;
20/-.
2. (American).—A swoon; lethargy.
1865. S. O. Jewett [Scribner's Mag., II. 738. Old Ezra Barnet . . . waved a limp hand warningly toward the bedroom door, 'She's layin' in a sog,' he said, hopelessly.
Soger (Sojer, or Sodger), subs.
(colloquial).—1. A soldier. [Cf.
sawgeoure (miles) Townley Myst.
(c. 1401), p. 310].
[?]. Chronicon, Mirab., 109. A soger of the armé.
d. 1796. Burns, Jolly Beggars, 'Soldier Laddie,' iii. He ventur'd the soul, and I risked the body, 'Twas then I prov'd false to my sodger laddie.
1864. Browne, Works (1870), 257. We certainly don't lack brave sojers—but there's one thing I wish we did lack, and that is, our present Congress.
d. 1868. Lover, The Bould Soger Boy [Title].
1899. Whiteing, John St., 217. Won't it be fine to see the sojers on 'orse-*back? I hope its the Reds.
2. (nautical).—See quots.
1835. Dana, Before the Mast, 25. All hands are engaged upon it [reefing], and after the halyards are let go, there is no time to be lost—no sogering, or hanging back. Ibid., 117, Note. Soger (soldier) is the worst term of reproach that can be applied to a sailor. It signifies a skulk, a sherk—one who is always trying to get clear of work, and is out of the way, or hanging back, when duty is to be done. "Marine" is applied more particularly to a man ignorant and clumsy about seaman's work—a green-horn—a land-lubber. To make a sailor shoulder a handspike, and walk fore and aft the deck, like a sentry, is the most ignominious punishment that could be put on him; inflicted upon an able seaman in a vessel of war, would break his spirit down more than a flogging.
1881. Warner, Winter on the Nile, 248. The two long lines of men attached to the ropes . . . stretch out . . . so far that it needs an opera-glass to discover whether the leaders are pulling or only soldiering.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailors Language, xiii. Many an old prejudice survives in sea-language . . . soger . . . is as strong a term of contempt as one sailor can fling at another, whilst sogering means to loaf, to skulk . . . as if . . . characteristic of a soldier.
3. (Winchester).—See quot. and Percher.
