Phrases. A hard (or long) row to hoe = a difficult task; to hoe one's own row = to mind one's own business; to row in the same boat = to share.
1840. Crockett, Tour Down East, 69. Gentlemen, I never opposed Andrew Jackson for the sake of popularity. I knew it was a hard row to hoe.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 122. God help that poor creatur, she's got a hard row to hoe.
1871. Mulford in San Francisco Chronicle. Now that I have hoed my own row and rumor gives me a false condition, they deluge me with congratulations.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends, iv. I am afraid Harry Lawrence has a hard row to hoe.
Rowdy, subs. (common).—1. A
blackguard; and (2) a political
brawler (American). Hence
rowdy (rowdy-dowdy, or
rowdy-dow) = blackguardly,
turbulent, vulgar; rowdyism
(rowdy-dow, or rowdiness) =
blackguardism.
1842. Dickens, American Notes, xiii. Two . . . demi-johns, were consigned to the least rowdy of the party for safe-keeping
1852. Bristed, Upper Ten Thousand, 33. Whose team is that? Some rowdy's, I perceive. Ibid., 69. My red wheels . . . are rather rowdy, I must own; not exactly the thing for a gentleman.
1852. Cadger's Ball [Labern, Comic Song Book]. Jane of the Hatchet-face divine Just did the Rowdy-dowdy poker.
1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, x. A drunken, gambling, cut-throat rowdy.
1857. Baltimore Clipper, 8 Sept. 'Convention of Baltimore Rowdies.' [Title.]
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Americanisms, s.v. Rowdy. The rowdy nomenclature of the principal cities may now be classified as follows:—New York.—Dead Rabbits; Bowery Boys; Forty Thieves; Skinners; Robin Hood Club; Huge Paws; Short Boys; Swill Boys; Shoulder-*hitters; Killers. Philadelphia.—Killers; Schuylkill Annihilators; Moyamensing Hounds; Northern Liberty Skivers; and Peep of Day Boys. Baltimore.—Plug-Uglies; Rough Skins; Double Pumps; Tigers; Black Snakes; Stay Lates; Hard Times; Little Fellows; Blood Tubs; Dips; Ranters; Rip-Raps; and Gladiators.
1866. Howells, Venetian Life, xx. The lasagnone is a loafer . . . but he cannot be a rowdy,—that pleasing blossom on the nose of our fast, high-fed, thick-blooded civilisation.
1871. Observer, 24 Dec. Everything seems to be rowdy, and to have about it a flavour of brandy-and-water; yet the people are industrious and well-ordered.
1882. Anstey, Vice-Versa, v. "I was strolling down Petty Cury with two other men, smoking (Bosher of 'Pothouse,' and Peebles of 'Cats,' both pretty well known up there for general rowdiness, you know—dear old friends of mine)."
1884. D. Telegraph, 11 Feb., 5, 2. His methods of controversy have been coarse; his Republicanism has been pushed to rowdyism.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 12 Mar., 6, 2. I have never heard him use any bad language, or behave in any rowdy kind of way.
3. (common).—Money: see Rhino: cf. ruddy.
1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen String Jack, i. 4. Theo. (aside.) What's rowdy, I wonder?
1842. Egan, Bould Yeoman [Capt. Macheath]. I will not down you, if you will but disburse your rowdy with me.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxv. From your account of him he seems a muff and not a beauty. But he has got the rowdy, which is the thing.
1856. Punch, xxxi. 79. The Queen of Oude, May spend her rowd, Y, careless and sans souci.
Rowl, verb. (American University).—To
recite well: cf. Rush.
2. (old).—Money: see Rhino.
