Tom-and-Jerry Days, subs. phr. (obsolete).—The period of the Regency (1810-20): also 'when George IV. was king.' [An allusion to Pierce Egan's Life in London, published in 1821: in it Corinthian Tom and Jerry Hawthorn 'see life,' much of it of a 'low' or 'fast' order.
Tom-and-Jerry Shop, subs. phr.
(old).—A low drinking-shop:
see previous entry.
Tom Astoner, subs. phr. (nautical).—A
dashing fellow; a bold
blade; a devil-may-care.
Tom-a-Styles, subs. phr. (old).—Anybody;
Mr. Thingamy (q.v.):
cf. John-a-Noakes.
1772. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 246. From John-a-Nokes to Tom-a-Styles, What is it all but fooling?
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Nokes. John-a-Nokes and Tom-a-Styles, two honest peaceable gentlemen, repeatedly set together by the ears by lawyers . . . two fictitious names commonly used in law proceedings.
Tom-a-Thrums. See Wise.
Tomato Can Vag, subs. phr.
(American tramps').—See quot.
1900. Flynt, Tramping with Tramps, 398. The out-cast of Hoboeland; a tramp of the lowest order, who drains the dregs of an empty beer-barrel into a tomato-can, and drinks them; he generally lives on the refuse that he finds in scavengers' barrels.
Tomboy, subs. (old colloquial).—1.
A boisterous boy: see Tom; (2)
a romping girl, a hoyden; whence
(3) a strumpet: also tom-rig
(B. E.). As adj. = rough, boisterous,
wanton.
1550. Udall, Royster Doister, ii. 4. Is all your delite and joy In whyskyng and ramping abroade like a Tom boy.
1605. Shakspeare, Cymbeline, i. 6. 122. A lady, So fair . . . to be partner'd With tomboys hired . . . with diseased ventures That play with all infirmities for gold.
1605. Verstegan, Rest. Dec. Intelligence (1628), 234. Tumbe. To Dance . . . hereof we yet call a wench that skippeth or leapeth like a boy, a Tomboy.
c.1617. Fletcher, Kn. of Malta, ii. 1. This is thy work, woman . . . you filly, You tit, you tomboy.
1637. Davenant, Brit. Triumph., 'Mock Romanza.' Giant. I'll teach thee play the Tom-boy, her the Rig.
1657. Howell, Londonopolis, 399. Some at stool-ball, though that stradling kind of Tomboy sport be not so handsome for Mayds.
d.1734. Dennis, Pope's Rape of Lock, 16. The author represents Belinda a fine, modest, well-bred lady, and yet in the very next canto she appears an arrant ramp and tom-rig.
1885. Century Mag., xli. 562. Just think of me at that age—what a Tomboy I was.
Tom Bray's Bilk, subs. phr. (old
gaming).—'Laying out ace and
deuce at cribbage' (Vaux).
Tom Brown, subs. phr. (old gaming).—'Twelve
in hand, or crib'
(Vaux).
Tombs (The), subs. phr. (American).—The
New York city
prison: its style of architecture
is heavy Egyptian. Hence
tomb's lawyer = a thieves' advocate:
cf. Old Bailey practitioner.
Tombstone, subs. (common).—1.
A projecting tooth, a snaggle-tooth
(q.v.): see Grinders.
2. (common).—A pawn-ticket; a mortgage deed (q.v.).
c.1889. Sporting Times [S. J. and C.]. The collection for master amounted to 4-1/2d., and a tombstone for ninepence on a brown Melton overcoat.
