prostitution, thieving, or the like, and (2) in the swing of pleasure, dissipation, etc., London (see subs. 1) being regarded as the centre of national life; TO GO (or TAKE A TURN) ROUND THE TOWN = to seek amusement, spec, at night and by a round of 'the halls'; a man (or woman) of the town = a person whose living, occupation, or taste is more or less connected with the shady or 'fast' side of life (Grose); to paint the town red (see Red); in town (Bee)
in funds; out of town
hard up, penniless.
1593. Nash, Works (Grosart), ii. 283. [Nash] I knew a man about town.
1600. MS., ' The Newe Metamorphosis.' This first was court-like, no we 'tis come to towne; 'Tis common growne with every country clowne.
1640-50. Howell, Letters, ii. 89. [Howell calls himself] a youth about the Town.
1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, ii. 1. A man may . . . bring his bashful wench, and not have her put out of countenance by the impudent honest women OF THE TOWN.
1686-7. Aubrey, Gentilisme (1881), 163. The towne is full of wanton wenches, and . . . (they say) scarce three honest women in the town.
d. 1704. Brown, Dial, of Dead [Works, ii. 313]. I have been a man of the town . . . and admitted into the family of the Rakehellonians.
1766. Goldsmith, Wakefield, xx. The lady was only a woman of the town, and the fellow her bully and a sharper.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. Highflyers—women of the town, in keeping.
1823. Byron, Don Juan, xi. 17. Poor Tom was once a kiddy upon town, A thorough varmint and a real swell.
1842. Egan, Capt. Macheath, 'Jack Flashman.' Jack long was on the town, a teazer; Could turn his fives to anything, Nap a reader, or filch a ring.
1900. Griffiths, Fast and Loose, xxii. He . . . aspired more and more to be thought a tip-top swell, a fashionable MAN ABOUT TOWN.
Town-bull (rake, or stallion),
subs. phr. (old).—A common
whoremaster, wencher, mutton-monger
(q.v.) (B.E. and Grose).
[Nares : it was formerly the
custom to keep a bull for common
town use.] Hence, 'as lawless
as a town-bull' (RAY) = 'one
that rides all the women he
meets' (B.E.); and town-husband
= a parish officer whose
duty it was to collect bastardy
fees.
1611. Chapman, May-day, iii. 1. Ho. Town-bull government; do you not mean so, sir? Lod. Do you imagine he went about stealing of city venison?
1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. This piece of officer, this nasty patch, (Whose understanding sleepes out many a watch), Ran like a towne bull, roaring up and downe, Saying that we had meant to fire the towne.
1636. Davenant, Platonic Lovers, iv. 1. My son hath turned . . . from a tame soldier to a town bull.
1664. Butler, Hudibras, n. i. This made the beauteous queen of Crete To take a town-bull for her sweet.
1681. Radcliffe, Ovid Travestie, 116. What think you, lady, of your Father Jove? Shew me a Town-Bull h'as been more in Love.
1689. Princess of Cleve. Believe me, sir, in a little time you'll be nick'd the TOWN-BULL.
1711. Swift, Examiner, 29. Lewdness and intemperance are not of so bad consequences in the town-rake as in a divine.
TO ROAR LIKE A TOWN-BULL, verb. phr. (old).—' To cry, or bellow aloud' (Grose).
Tow-pow, subs. phr. (military).—In
pl. = The Grenadier Guards
(Hotten).
