Unmentionable, subs. (common).—In pl. = trousers, breeches. Variants, mostly introduced by Dickens, are—Ineffables; Inexpressibles; Indescribables; Inexplicables; Unhintables; Unutterables; Unwhisperables, etc.
1837. Dickens, Sketches by Boz (Shabby-Genteel People). The knees of the unmentionables, and the elbows of the coat, and the seams generally, soon began to get alarmingly white.
1885. Field, 19 Dec. Fishing stockings full of water, unmentionables ditto.
[1903. Globe, 24 Oct., 1. 3. Bifurcated unwhisperables offer no resistance to the wind. To the woman, the skirt is not only a hampering garment; it is a sail against which the wind blows.]
Unpalled, adj. (old).—A thief
whose associates are all apprehended,
or taken from him by
other means, is said to be unpalled,
and he is then obliged
to work single-handed.
Unparliamentary, adj. (colloquial).—Abusive,
obscene, unfit
for ordinary conversation.
Unpaved, adj. (venery).—1. Castrated;
stoned {see Stones).
1605. Shakspeare, Cymbeline, ii. 3. 34. The voice of unpaved eunuch.
2. (common).—Rough; inflamed: spec. from excessive drinking.
Unready, verb, (old colloquial).—To
undress: as adj. = undressed,
naked.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, 379. Hee remayned with his daughter, to give his wife time of unreadying herself.
1589. Puttenham, Art Eng. Poesie, B. iii. 18. A young gentlewoman, who was in her chamber, making herself unready.
1592. Shakspeare, 1 Henry VI., ii. 1. [Enter, several ways, Bastard, Alencon, Reignier, half-ready, and half-unready.] . . . How now, my lords, what all unready so?
1606. Chapman, Mons. d'Olive, v. Why I hope you are not going to bed; I see you are not yet unready. Ibid. (1607), Bussy D'Ambois [Anc. Dr., iii. 277]. Mont. Good day, my love: what, up, and ready too? Tam. Both, my dear lord, not all this night made I Myself unready, or could sleep a wink.
1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch, iii. Take this warm napkin about your neck, sir, while I help to make you unready.
1609. Armin, Two Maids, etc. 'Stage Direction.' [Enter James, unready, in his night-cap, garterless.]
1621. Fletcher, Island Princess, iii. Come, where have you been, wench? make me unready, I slept but ill last night.
Unregenerate Chicken-lifter,
subs. phr. (American).—A petty
thief: see Thief.
Unrig, verb. (old colloquial).—To
strip: e.g. 'Unrig the drab' =
pull the whore's clothes off (B. E.
and Grose); whence unrigged
= naked. Also (2) to plunder;
and (3) 'of ships that are laid
up' (B. E.).
1692. Dryden, Juvenal, xiv. Lest he should be stolen, or unrigg'd as Mars was.
1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, v. 1. Bell (in fanatic habit). I would unrig. Set. I attend you, sir.
Unrove. Unrove his life line,
phr. (nautical).—Said of a man
who has died (Clark Russell).
Unslour, verb. (old).—To unlock,
unfasten, or unbutton: see
Slour. [Speaking of a person
whose coat is buttoned, so as to
obstruct the access to his pockets,
