1681. Radcliffe, Poems, 45. Ah London th'adst better have built new Burdellos, T'encourage She-Traders and lusty young Fellows.
d. 1796. Burns [Merry Muses (c. 1800), 52]. Our dame hauds up her wanton tail As due as she gaes lie, An' yet misca's a young thing, The trade if she but try.
Tradesman, subs. (old).—A thief
(Grose): see Thief. Hence a
regular tradesman = an expert
thief: also (common) = a
compliment applied to anyone
who thoroughly understands his
business whatever it may be.
Trades Union (The), subs. phr.
(military).—The First (The
King's) Dragoon Guards. [At
one time most of the officers were
sons of tradesmen, which is still an
offence in the Cavalry.]
Trading, subs. (American political).—A
veiled form of political
treachery: a State Governor is to
be elected, and at the same election,
say, Presidential electors; the
one party agree with their political
enemies that, in return for
votes for their own candidate for
Governor, they will vote and procure
votes for the others' candidate
for President. The practice
is susceptible of numerous combinations
and devices (Walsh).
Whence trading politician =
a corrupt, venal elector or candidate;
one who is regulated by
interest rather than principle.
1839-43. Brougham, Hist. Sketches, 'Canning.' The common herd of trading POLITICIANS.
Tragedy Jack, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A
heavy tragedian: in
contempt.
Trail, verb. (old).—To quiz, befool,
draw out, GET AT (q.v.): also as
subs.
1847. Bronte, Jane Eyre, xvii. I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs. Dent: that is, playing on her ignorance; her trail might be clever, but it was decidedly not good-natured.
1900. Kernahan, Scoundrels and Co., xxi. To see the Ishmaelites trail a sufferer from swelled head is to undergo inoculation against that fell malady.
To TRASH A TRAIL, verb. phr. (Western American).—To take to water in order to destroy scent: of human beings as well as animals. Trail-tongs (or -tripes), subs. phr. (common).—A slatternly servant; a dirty puzzle (q.v.). Hence traily = slovenly.
Train, verb, (colloquial).—1. To
travel by train, usually with it:
cf. bus it,' 'foot it,' 'tram it,'
etc. Whence to train up = to
hurry.
1889. Harpers Mag., lxxvii. 954. From Aberdeen to Edinburgh we trained it by easy stages.
2. (American).—To romp, 'carry on,' act wildly. [Bartlett: 'almost peculiar to the girls of New England,' but cf. sense 3.]
3. (colloquial).—To consort with on familiar terms: e.g., 'Training with such a crowd does not suit me.'
Trainer, subs. (American).—A
militia-man; spec. when called
out for periodical 'training.'
Traitor. There are traitors
at TABLE, phr. (old).—Of a loaf
turned the wrong side upwards.
Tram, subs. (colloquial).—A tramway-car: cf. 'bus,' 'rail' 'motor,' etc.
