4. (theatrical).—A distinguished singer or player. Hence to star THE PROVINCES (or THE HALLS) = to go on tour (or make the round of the music halls) as the chief attraction (or as an important TURN, q.V.); STAR-ENGAGEMENT = an important or chief part; star-QUELLER = a player whose bad business spoils the efforts of better players.
1903. Referee, 8 Feb., 2, 4 I would like once more to record my astonishment that only stars have pantomime benefits.
5. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable: also THE STAR OVER THE GARTER: cf. Lady-star.
17[?]. Lord Cork, The Bumper Toast. Give me the star that shines OVER THE GARTER. Ibid. A STAR . . . is the emblem of Cunt.
Verb. (common).—To strike a window, mirror, &c., so that cracks radiate from a common centre. Also (thieves') = to smash a window and rob its contents: spec. as in quot. 1856, or by striking a dab of putty with a life-preserver: also TO STAR THE glaze. Hence done for a star = convicted for window smashing; the star-lay = window robbery (Grose).
1838. Beckett, Paradise Lost, 16. To mill the glaze, and star the lamps.
1856. G. L. Chesterton, Revelations of Prison Life. Some crack a pane in a shop-front and by passing the wet thumb along, they can direct the crack as they please; then removing the glass they can remove the goods.
1870. Diprose, Laugh and Learn. So, in fractional arithmetic, it is considered highly improper to star the glaze, in falling through the sashes of a grapery, when on the look-out for grapes.
TO BLESS (or THANK) ONE'S STARS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To thank for one's good fortune.
1633. Marmion, Antiquary, i. I thank my stars he has improved his time.
1706. Ward, Wooden World, 27. He has oft-times thanked his good stars for it.
c. 1845. Hood, Pauper's Christmas Carol. Ought not I to bless my stars?
My stars! phr. (colloquial).—An exclamation of surprise: also 'My star and garter!'
1726. Vanbrugh, Provoked Husband, iii. My stars! and you would really live in London half the year, to be sober in it.
Star-bason, subs. phr. (common).—An
impudent-looking fellow
(Halliwell).
Starch. To take the starch
OUT OF, verb. phr. (venery).—1.
To receive a man: see Greens
and Ride.
2. (colloquial).—To mortify; to humiliate; to abase another's honour or dignity.
1888. Cornhill Mag., 375. The freeborn Westerner thinks the blamed Yankee puts on a yard too much style—the Boys don't approve of style—and suavely proposes TO TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF HIM.
Starched, adj (B. E. and Grose).—Affected,
proud, stiff: also
starchy. Hence starch, subs.
= a stiff, formal manner.
1599. Jonson, Every Man Out of Humour, i. 1. Look with a good starched face, and ruffle your brow like a new boot.
1704. Swift, To Rev. Dr. Tisdall, 20 Ap. I might . . . talk starchly, and affect ignorance of what you would be at.
1711. Addison, Spectator, 305. This professor is to give the society their stiffening, and infuse into their manners that beautiful political starch which may qualify them for levees, conferences, visits.
1872. Eliot, Middlemarch, xxii. Nothing like these starchy doctors for vanity.
