Stopper, subs. (common).—A finisher (q.v.); a settler (q.v.): see Whopper.
1836. Dana, Before the Mast, 304. The last resort, that of speculating upon the future, seemed now to fail us, for our discouraging situation, and the danger we were really in (as we expected every day to find ourselves drifted back among the ice) "clapped a stopper" upon all that.
1887. Field, 19 Feb. Here we come immediately upon a stopper, unless it can be happily shunted.
Stopping Oyster. See Oyster.
Storrac, subs. pl. (rhyming).—Carrots.
Storekeeper, subs. (American).—An
unsaleable article: a shop-*keeper
(English), which see.
Story, subs. (colloquial).—1. A
falsehood: euphemistic. Whence
story-teller = a liar.
1840. Barham, Ingolds. Leg. I wrote the lines . . . owned them; he told stories.
1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xliv. Becky gave her brother-in-law a bottle of white wine, some that Rawdon had brought with him from France . . . the little story-teller said.
1887. Referee, 17 April. As they can't all be true some of them must be stories.
Blind story, subs. phr. (old).—A pointless narrative.
1699. Bentley, Phal., Pref., 64. He insinuates a blind Story about somebody and something.
1762-71. Walpole, Vertue's Anec. Paint. (1786), II. 75. This story which in truth is but a blind one.
See Upper Story.
Stoter (or Stotor), subs. (Old
Cant).—A violent blow: e.g.,
'Tip him a stoter in the haltering
place' = 'Give it him under
the left ear' (B. E. and Grose).
Hence a settler (q.v.).
Stoupe, verb. (old).—To give up
[Halliwell: 'A cant term'].
Stout, subs. (B. E.).—1. 'Very
strong Malt-drink' [Latham:
Note to quot. 1720 in Swift,
Works (1744): 'a cant word for
strong beer'].
2. (Stock Exchange).—In pl. = Guinness's shares.
Stout across the narrow, phr. (common).—Full bellied; corpulent.
1901. Troddles, xix. Troddles really is rather stout across the narrow, you know.
Stove-pipe (or Stove-pipe-hat),
subs. phr. (common).—A tall hat;
a chimney-pot (q.v.). Fr. tuyan
de poële.
1867. Galaxy, 632. Pickpockets rejoice in neatly fitting suits, spotless linen, sparkling pins and ornaments, and stove-pipe hats, tall and glossy . . . worn jauntily on one side.
Stow, verb. (Old Cant).—1. To
hold one's tongue; to keep quiet;
to leave off: e.g., 'Stow it!'
= 'Be quiet'; 'Stow your
Whidds and Plant 'em; for
the Cove of the Ken can
cant 'em' = 'Take care what
you say, for the Master of the
House understands you' (Harman,
B. E., Grose, and Vaux).
Also Stowmarket (Bee).
1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist. 'Stow that gammon,' interposed the robber.
1887. Gilbert, Ruddigore. But 'tain't for a British seaman to brag, so I'll just stow my jawin' tackle, and belay.
Stozzle, verb. (American).—To
drink. Hence stozzled = drunk;
see Screwed.
End of Vol. VI.
