Underground - railway, subs. phr. (American).—An organization for assisting fugitive slaves to the free states and Canada. Many expedients and devices for the purpose were in vogue during the agitation for the abolition of slavery in the United States.
1856. Stowe Dred, ii. 302. It is probable that nothing has awakened more bitterly the animosity of the slave-holding community than the existence, in the Northern States, of an indefinite yet very energetic institution, known as the underground RAILROAD.
1857. Albany Ev. Jo., Dec. And now, if we may believe the promises made by the Democrats for two years past, we are on the eve of a political millennium. . . . There is to be no more 'agitation' of ther slavery question. The underground railroad is to suspend running, and rejoicing hosts of Negroes are to return from the bleak wilds of Canada to the luxurious delights of life on the plantation.
1858. New York Tribune, June. He [Connelly] regarded the underground railroad as a peculiarly Southern institution, taking away from the South every year thousands of the most intelligent, restless, and desperate Negroes, who would do infinitely more mischief if kept there.
Undergrounder, subs. (cricket).—A ball bowled without pitch, a DAISY-CUTTER (or -TRIMMER), SNEAK (q.V.).
Under-petticoating (To go), verb. phr. (venery).—To whore, to quest for women, to copulate: see Greens and Ride.
Underpinner, subs. (common).—In pl. = the legs: cf. Pins.
Under-SHELL, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—A waistcoat: cf. Upper-shell and Upper-stocks.
Under-spur-leather, subs. phr. (old).—An underling, a subservient person.
d. 1725. J. Johnson, Unbl. Sacr., Pref. xxx. A design was publickly set on foot, to dissolve the Catholic church into numberless clans and clubs; and to degrade priests into meer tenders, or under-spur-leathers to those clans and clubs.
UNDER-STAIR, adj. phr. (old).—Subordinate, low, mean: cf. Back-door.
d. 1655. Adams, Works, i. 500. Living in some under-stair office, when he would visit the country, he borrows some gallant's cast suit of his servant, and therein, player-like, acts that part among his besotted neighbours.
Understanding, subs. (common).—(1) In pl. = the legs: cf Under-pinners. Also (2) = boots or shoes.
1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, iii. 1. 80. Sir To. Taste your legs, sir; put them to motion. Vio. My legs do better understand me, sir, than I understand what you mean by bidding me taste my legs.
1886. Field, 20 Mar. Economy's understandings having given way soon after, he knew the silk no more.
Understumble, verb. (old).—To understand: also undercome-*STUMBLE.
c. 1710. Swift, Pol. Conv., i. Miss. I understumble you, gentlemen, Nev. Madam, your humblecumdumble.
Undisgruntled. See Disgruntled.
Unfortunate, subs. (conventional).—A prostitute: spec. a homeless street-walker (Grose). [Probably, in the first place, the popular usage arose from a misreading of Hood's lines.]
[1827. Hood, Bridge of Sighs. One more unfortunate, Weary of breath, Rashly importunate, Gone to her death.]
1877. Mallock, New Republic, III. ii. Hoping I might see some unfortunate cast herself from the Bridge of Sighs.
