Stile. To help a lame dog over a stile, verb. phr. (common).—To give a hand; to assist in a difficulty; to bunk up. Fr. sauver la mise à quelqu'un.
1546. Heywood, Proverbs. To help a dogge over a stile.
1605. Marston, Insatiate Countess, ii. 2. Here's a stile so high as a man cannot help a dog over it.
1670. Ray, Proverbs (1893), 168. Help the lame dog over the stile.
1710. Swift, Pol. Conv., i. Madam, I know I shall always have your good word; you love to help a lame dog over the stile.
d. 1721. Prior, Viceroy. But for this horrid murder vile None did him prosecute. His old friend helped him o'er the stile; With Satan who'd dispute?
1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, xxv. I can show my money, pay my way, eat my dinner, kill my trout, hunt my hounds, help a lame dog over a stile (which was Mark's phrase for doing a generous thing), and thank God for all.
Let the best dog leap the stile first, phr. (old).—'Let the best take lead' (Ray).
Still, subs. (undertakers').—A still-born
infant. Also (American
firemen's) = a still alarm: i.e.,
an alarm given other than by the
regular signal service.
Still-sow, subs. phr. (old).—See
quots.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, 9. A close, slie lurking knave, a Stil sow, as we say.
1598. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, iv. 2. Still swine eat all the draff.
Stilting, subs. (thieves').—See
quot.
1884. Greenwood, Little Ragamuffins. You are a nice sort of chap to try your hand at stilting!" (first-class pocket-picking).
Stilton (The), subs. phr. (common).—The
correct thing: a
variant of the cheese (q.v.).
Stimble, verb. (provincial).—To
urinate; to piss (q.v.).—Halliwell.
Sting, verb. (old).—To rob; to
trick (Grose and Vaux). 'That
cove is fly; he has already been
stung' = 'The man is on his
guard; he has been robbed
before.'
Sting-bum, subs. phr. (old).—A
niggard (B. E. and Grose).
Stinger, subs. (common).—Generic
for anything exceptional: e.g.,
a heavy blow, a sharp rebuke, a
vexatious occurrence, &c., &c.
Hence stinging = keen, sharp,
telling.
1613. Webster, Devil's Law Case, iv. 2. That's a stinger: be a good wench, be not daunted.
1657. Middleton, More Dissemblers Besides Women, iii. 2. That malice Wears no dead flesh about it, 'tis a stinger.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, xliii. Rooke . . . received a stinger that staggered him, and nearly closed his right eye.
1873. O. W. Holmes, Address on opening Fifth Av. Theatre. The stinging lash of wit.
1888. Sporting Life, 21 Nov. Planted a couple of well-delivered stingers on Harris's nasal.
Stingo, subs. (old).—Strong liquor:
spec. humming ale (q.v.).—B.
E. and Grose.
1638. Randolph, Hey for Honesty, ii. 6. Come, let's in, and drink a cup of stingo.
1661. Merry Drolleries [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 98. Among the substantives are . . . stingo, brimmer, Jew's harp].
c.1650. Brathwayte, Barnaby's Jl. (1723), 125. I drank stingo With a Butcher and Domingo.
1697. Praise of YORKSHIRE STINGO, 29. Such stingoe, nappy, pure ale they have found.
