Spatch-cock, subs. phr. (Grose).—1. 'A fowl killed, dressed, and broiled at short notice'; sudden death (West Indies).
2. (military).—To insert hurriedly; to sandwich (q.v.).
1901. Sir R. Buller, Speech [Times, 11 Oct., 10, 2]. I therefore spatchcocked into the middle of that telegram a sentence in which I suggested it would be necessary to surrender.
Speak, verb. (old thieves').—To
steal: also to speak with: see
Prig. To make a good (or
rum) speak = to make a good (or
bad) haul; spoken to = robbed:
also spoke to on the screw,
crack, sneak, hoist, big, &c.
(see the nouns).—Grose and
Vaux.
Phrases.—Spoken to (thieves') = dying (Vaux); to speak to (colloquial) = to admonish; to speak at the mouth = to talk freely; to say one's say; to speak daggers (see Dagger); 'Ale that would make a cat speak' = strong ale; 'speaks the parrot' = a taunting reply: cf. Skelton, Speke Parrot; to speak (or talk) big = to boast, to talk loudly; to speak fair = to use soft words.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon's Answ. Osor., 360b. They . . . fashion theyr voyces bigge like olde men.
1591. Lyly, Endimion, v. 3. Cynth. Speakes the parrot? . . . cut off her tongue, nay, her head.
1591. Spenser, Virgil's Gnat., ii. This Muse shall speak in bigger notes.
1656. Dugard, Gate Lat. Unl., 701. The voice of striplings before they begin to speak bigg.
1709. Colonial Records, Penn., 11. 501. It was necessary to talk bigg.
1872. Ingelow, Off the Skelligs, xix. 'Papa . . . will you speak to Giles?. . . If this sort of thing is allowed to go on . . . it will perfectly ruin the independance of my character.'
Spearmen. The Delhi Spearmen,
subs. phr. (military).—The
9th Lancers.
Spec, subs. (common).—1. Speculation
(Bee). Hence on spec =
on chance; on the hazard of the
die.
1834. Southey, Doctor, clxxiii. He had engaged in this adventure (by which better word our forefathers designated what the Americans call a spec) with the hope of increasing his fortune.
1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xxxiv. They said what a wery gen'rous thing it was o' them to have taken up the case on spec, and to charge nothing at all for costs unless they got 'em out of Mr. Pickwick.
1837. Kingsley, Two Years Ago xxv. If tradesmen will run up houses on spec in a water meadow who can stop them.
1873. Greenwood. Strange Company. Hundreds . . . had heard [it was] the best spec out.
2. (common).—In pl. = spectacles.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., 'Knight and Lady.' He wore green specs with a tortoise-shell rim.
1838. Neal, Charcoal Sketches. My ma' was used to put on her specs.
3. (racing).—See quot.
1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses. Throughout lower London, and the shady portion of its suburbs, the window of almost every public-house and beershop was spotted with some notice of these specs . . . They all meant . . . a lottery, conducted on principles more or less honest, the prize to be awarded according to the performances of certain horses.
4. (Winchester College).—Anything enjoyable or pleasant; a good thing. On spec = in consequence.
1891. Wrench, Winchester Word Book, s.v. Spec. What a spec! My pitch-up have turned up, and I've got leave out on spec.
5. (Edinburgh Advocates').—The Speculative Society.
