1855. Leland, Meister Karl's Sketch-Book, 259. It has happened more than once to Meister Karl, during his tourifications, trapesings, tramps, trudges, and travels, . . . to be thrown into many a canny country corner of New England.
1862. Wood, Channings, 471. It's such a toil and a trapes up them two pair of stairs.
18[?]. Palmer, Devonshire Courtship, 14. It wasn't vor want o' a good will, the litter-legg'd trapes hadn't a' blowed a coal between you and me.
1885. D. Chron. 14 Oct. He would not be found trapesing about the constituency.
Trapper. See Trap, subs. 3.
Trapping, subs. (old).—Blackmail; Fr. chantage.
[?]. Countrey Gentleman's Vade Mecum. And last for their art of trapping. This is mystery that they commonly manage either by the assistance of a pregnant whore, or by the help of some letters, or papers, that they pick out of your pocket, that gives them an inlet into your affairs.
Trappy, adj. (colloquial).—Tricky, treacherous: also trappiness.
1882. D. Teleg., 13 Nov. The fences might have increased in size, however, without being made trappy.
1885. Field, 26 Dec. Once over this there were broad pastures and large banks and ditches, innocent of trappiness for the most part, before the riders.
Trapstick, subs. (old).—1. In pl. = the legs (Grose).
2. (venery).—The penis; MIDDLE-LEG (q.V.): see PRICK.
1673. Cotton, Burlesque on Burlesque, 283. Well, well! but he were best to take heed How he attacks my Maidenhead: His mighty Trapstick cannot scare us.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, v. xlv. Ere long, my friends, I shall be wedded, Sure as my trap-stick has a red head.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 188. With his trapstick on the cock . . . With such a force he drove it in It made the light-heel'd gipsy grin.
Trash, subs. (old colloquial).—1. Generic for trifles and worthlessness (now recognised): spec. a harlot: whence, trashery (or trashtrie) = rubbish, odds and ends; trashily (or trashy) = worthless, useless; trash-bag = a good-for-nothing; trashmire = a slattern; and (American) trash=a negro term of contempt: see White trash.
1602. Shakspeare, Othello, ii. 1. 312. This poor trash of Venice. Ibid.,v. 1. 85. I suspect this trash [a strumpet] To be a party in this injury.
c. 1622. Heywood, Fair Maid of the West (1631), 1. 35. I heare say there's a whore here that draws wine . . . And I would see the trash.
d. 1779. Armstrong, To a Young Critic. Who riots on Scotch collops scorns not any Insipid, fulsome, trashy miscellany.
1787. Burns, Twa Dogs. Wi'sauce, ragouts, and sic like trashtrie, That's little short o' downright wastrie.
1813. Scott, Bridal of Triermain, ii. Who comes in foreign trashery Of tinkling chain and spur.
2. (Old Cant).—Money: see Rhino.
c. 1590. Greene, James IV., iii. 1. Therefore must I bid him provide trash, for my master is no friend without money. Ibid., Alphonsus, iii. 1. Nor would Belinus for King Croesus' trash Wish Amurack to displease the gods.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, 93. Pelfe, trash, id est, mony.
1607. Shakspeare, Julius Ceesar, iv. 3. 74. I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hands of peasants, their vile trash By any indirection.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 17. Money! said he, . . . you have a poor opinion of Spanish charity, if you think that people of my stamp have any occasion for such trash upon their travels.
Trat, subs. (old).—An old woman; a witch (q.v.): in contempt: cf. Trot.
