1774. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 79. He best can understand their linguo And tell 'em where to find good stingo.
1821. Egan, Real Life, vii. Let us fortify . . . with a horn or two of humming STINGO.
1840. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., 'St. Dunstan.' Thys Franklyn, syrs, he brewed goode ayle, And he called it rare goode STYNGO.
Stingy, adj. (B. E.).—'Covetous,
close-fisted, sneaking.'
Stink, subs. (old).—1. Any
disagreeable exposure: spec.
(thieves') see quot. 1785. To
stir up A stink = to expose;
and as verb. = to have a bad reputation.
1647. Fletcher, Humorous Lieut., iii. 7. Fall Fate upon us, Our memories shall never stink behind us.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Stink. When any robbery of moment has been committed, which causes much alarm, or of which much is said in the daily papers, the family people will say there is a great stink about it.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., 1. 250. The newspapers of the district . . . had raised . . . what the patterers of his class proverbially call a stink . . . had opened the eyes of the unwary to the movements of Chelsea George.
2. (scholastic).—In pl. = (a) chemistry: hence STINK-CUPBOARD = a close chamber for evil-smelling or obnoxious chemical experiments; and (b) a lecturer on chemistry. To go out in stinks = to take a degree in natural science (Cambridge).
1903. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Feb., 7, 1. The branch of learning facetiously denominated "Stinks," at Oxford, is by now beginning to boast the sanctifying prestige of time.
TO TAKE A STINK FOR A NOSEGAY, verb. phr. (old).—To be extremely gullible; to mistake egregiously.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 173. We had our hands to play against a novice at the game. Simple and cullible, so far from smelling out the rat, HE TOOK HIS STINK FOR A NOSEGAY.
Stink-A-puss, subs. phr. (provincial).—A
term of contempt
(Halliwell).
Stinkard, subs. (old).—A mean
wretch: also Stinker: a general
term of contempt. Hence stinkardly
= mean.
1598. Dekker, Works (Grosart), i. 77. And no more learning than the most errand Stinkard, that (except his owne name) could never find anything in the Horne-book.
1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. 1. You have Fortune and the good year on your side, you stinkard. Ibid. (1609), Epicœne, iv. 1. You notoriously stinkardly bearward.
1612. Chapman, Widow's Tears, i. 4. Only your block-headly tradesman . . . your unapprehending stinkard is blessed with the sole perogative of his wife's chamber.
1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 145. For now the stinkards in their irefull wraths, Repelted me with lome, with stones, and laths.
1633. Marmyon, Fine Companion. How slave, and stinkard, since you are so stout, I will see your commission ere I part.
1677. Coles, Eng.-Lat. Dict., s.v. A stinkard, homo fœtidus.
1700. Congreve, Way of the World, iv. 11. Your Mussulman is a dry stinkard. No offence, aunt.
1732. Morgan, Phœnix Brit., 28. No more learning than the most errand STINKARD.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xxxiv. He asked with great emotion if I thought him a monster and a stinkard.
Stinker, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A
black eye (Grose).
2. (various).—Anything offensive: e.g., a stinkpot, a filthy person, in pl., bad coal; spec. (modern) = a motor car: also stink-car. See Stinkard.
