Trot-cosy, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.
1814. Scott, Waverley, i. 318. The upper part of his form . . . was shrouded in a large great-coat belted over his under habiliments, and crested with a huge cowl of the same stuff, which, when drawn over the head and hat, completely overshadowed both, and being buttoned beneath the chin was called a trot-cozy.
Trotter, subs. (old).—1. In pl. =
the feet: orig. of sheep (B. E. and
Grose): whence shake (box
or move) your trotters! =
'Begone! troop off!' To shake
one's trotters at Bilby's ball
(where the sheriff pays the fiddlers)
= to be put in the stocks (Grose:
'perhaps the Bilboes ball').
Trotter-cases (or boxes) =
boots or shoes.
1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xviii. He applied himself to a process which Mr. Dawkins designated as 'japanning his trotter-cases.'
1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, ii. All's bowman, my covey! Fear nothing! We'll be upon the ban-dogs before they can shake their trotters.
1892. Watson, Wops the Waif, iv. Teddy, look out, yer-ve got yer hoof on my trotters.
1899. Wyndham, Queen's Service, 52. That particular cut known as 'bell-bottoms' . . . technically known as 'having one's strides cut a bit saucy-like over the trotters.'
2. (University).—A tailor's assistant: he goes on round for orders; also (dressmakers' and milliners') = a messenger: Fr. trottin.
1898. Gissing, Town Traveller, iv. Did she not well remember the day when the poverty of home sent her, a little girl, to be trotter in a workroom?
Trouble, subs. (various).—1. Imprisonment
(thieves'); (2) = childbed,
pregnancy (conventional);
(3) = a to-do (q.v.): e.g. 'What's
trouble?' = 'What's going
on?' Hence in trouble = (1)
arrested, quodded (q.v.); (2)
pregnant, lumpy (q.v.): spec. got
with a bastard; to get into
trouble = 'to be found out and
punished' (Grose).
1555. Cavendish, Cardinal Wolsey [Singer], 382. [The phrase] be in trouble [is used of a man imprisoned].
1871. D. Teleg., 4 Dec. A friendly lead for the benefit of Bill, who is just out of his trouble. Ibid. (1885), 16 Nov. He would have got into trouble if the old people hadn't helped him out of it.
1899. Johnston, Old Dominion, vii. My friend has been in trouble. . . . He will not make the worse conspirator for that.
1900. Griffiths Fast and Loose, xxxi. 'It would be worse for everyone if I got into trouble.' 'What are you talking about trouble for?. . . While we are hustling the screws you . . . lead him off.'
Also in combination: trouble-gusset (-giblets or -guts) = the penis: see Prick; trouble-house = a disturber of family concord; trouble-mirth = a wet-blanket, spoil-sport, mar-all; trouble-rest = an element of discord, sickness, anything tending to unhappiness or discomfort; trouble-state (or town) = a rebel, an agitator, a 'drunk and disorderly.' Also proverbial sayings, 'That horse is troubled with corns' (i.e. foundered); 'Troubles never come singly' (see quot. 1509).
[1509. Barclay, Ship of Fools (Jamieson, 1874), ii. 251. One myshap fortuneth never alone.]
1595-1609. Daniel, Civil Wars [Ency. Dict.]. Those fair baits those trouble-states still use.
1614. I Would and Would not, s.v. [Trouble-town].
d. 1618. Sylvester, Furies, 328. Foul trouble-rest, fantnstik greedy-gut.
1635. Quarles, Emblems, v. 14. Soul-boiling rage and trouble-state sedition.
