Star-pitch, subs. (tramps').—Sleeping in the open; a 'doss in Hedge Square' (q.v.).
Starps, subs. (back slang).—In pl.
= sprats.
Stars-and-Stripes, subs. phr.
(American).—The United States
flag: the Gridiron; the Star-spangled
banner. Stars-and-Bars
= the flag of the Southern
Confederacy, 1861-5.
1777. Act of Congress. "Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United Colonies be thirteen stripes alternately red and white; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
1812. F. S. Key, 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
c.1861. Confederate Song [Bartlett]. Our Southern boys are brave and true, and are joining heart and hand, And are flocking to the Stars and Bars, as they are floating o'er our land.
Start (The), subs. phr. (tramps'
and thieves').—1. London; and
(2) The Old Bailey (also The
Old Start).—Grose.
1851-61. Mayhew, London Lab. I got fullied. I was tried at the Start.
1891. Carew, Auto. of a Gipsy, 413. When I come out of steel I padded the hoof to Start. Ibid., 434. It ain't no manner of use goin' to the hexpense of bringin' a fust-class cracksman all the way from Start.
3. (old).—See quot.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant Crew, s.v. Start, (Drink) Brewers emptying several Barrels into a great Tub, and thence conveying it through a Leather-pipe down the Cellar into the Butts.
4. (colloquial).—A happening: e.g., a rum start = an odd occurrence.
Phrases. To start in (or up) = to begin; to start a vessel from the stump = to outfit completely; to start on = to beat, bully, quiz, or take in hand.
Starter, subs. (B. E.).—1. A
question.
2. (old).—A milksop, a poltroon, a white-liver (q.v.): 'I'm no starter' = 'I shan't flinch' (B. E. and Grose).
c.1604. Heywood, If You Know not Me [Pearson, Works, i. 213]. Nay, nay, you need not bolt and lock so fast; she is no starter.
Startler, subs. (colloquial).—1.
Generic for intensive surprise: see
Whopper.
1864. Artemus Ward, Among the Mormons (Works, 1899), 204. To a young person fresh from the land of greenbacks this careless manner of carting off solid silver is rather of a startler.
Start-up, subs. phr. (old).—1. An
upstart; 'no-one-knows-who':
also as adj. = obscure; mushroom.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, i. 3. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow.
1653. R. Brome, Queen and Concubine, ii. 1. Upon my life, his marriage with that start-up, That snake this good queen cocker'd in her bosom.
1704. Swift, Tale of a Tub, 1. Two junior start-up societies.
1764. Walpole, Castle of Otranto, iv. Father Falconara's startup son.
2. (old).—In pl., see quots. 1575 and 1611.
1575. Thynne, Debate, 33. A payre of startuppes had he on his feete, That lased were up to the small of the legge; Homelie they were, and easier then meete, And in their soles full many a wooden pegge.
1586-1606. Warner, Albion's Eng., iv. xx. 95. And of the bacon's fat to make his startopes black and soft.
1592. Greene, Quip, &c. [Harl. Misc., v. 329]. But Hob and John of the country, they slept in churlishly in their high startups.
