Hookey Walker (or Walker), intj. (common).—1. An ironical expression of incredulity, Bender (q.v.), Gammon (q.v.); also (2) Be off! Clear out! (Grose, Vaux, Lex. Bal.).
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, 'Old Woman Clothed in Gray.' Her senses were wandering—she seem'd not to hear, Or, at least, understand—for mere unmeaning talk her Parch'd lips babbled now, such as 'Hookey,' and Walker!
1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol [1843], 169. 'Buy it,' said Scrooge. 'Walker!' said the boy.
1840. 'Characters of Freshmen' (Whibley, Cap and Gown, 183). The pestilent freshman . . . is very pugnacious, and walking in the streets suddenly turneth and asketh a huge snob 'what the deuce he meant by that?' Whereat the snob (having done nothing at all) coolly answereth (as the Pestilent Freshman intended he should) Hooky Walker, provocative of a combat.
Walking-mort, subs. phr. (Old
Cant).—A tramp or gypsy's
woman: see Mort.
Walking-papers (or -ticket),
subs. pl. (American).—Dismissal.
Thus, to get one's walking-papers
= to get the sack (q.v.),
to be sent about one's business,
'with (spec.) a flea in one's ear.'
1840. Crockett, Tour Down East, 30. Mr. Duane was ordered to remove the deposits. He answered that his duty did not require it. In a few hours, he got his walking ticket that his services were no longer wanted.
1843. Kingston Whig (Canada), Dec. We can announce with certainty that the Honourable Mr. D has received his walking ticket, accompanied with some correspondence with his Excellency that has given him offence.
18[?]. Widow Bedott Papers, 307. 'If you ever question me again,' said Mrs. Samsom Savage, 'you'll get your walking ticket in short order.'
c. 1859. New York Herald, Letter from Washington [Bartlett]. It is probable that walking papers will be forwarded to a large proportion of the corps diplomatique during the session of Congress. B and B are already admonished to return, and the invitation will be pretty general.
Wall, subs. (Eton).—Two football
games are played at Eton—one
at the wall, the other in
the field. The first is only
played by a very limited number
of boys, for there is but one wall;
the game is of an intricate nature,
and the uninitiated spectator
cannot, as a rule, even see how
a point, called a Shy, is obtained.
Indeed, were it not for
the time-honoured match between
Collegers and Oppidans on St.
Andrew's Day the game would
probably become obsolete. The
Eton field game has many
merits as a game for boys superior
to those of any other kind of football.
In it speed, and skilful
dribbling, and accurate kicking
have their due success, but
strength and dogged perseverance
are not left out in the cold (Great
Public Schools).
Verb. (Oxford).—To confine to College bounds: cf. Gate.
1860. Macmillan's Mag., ii. 222. To gate or wall a refractory student.
Go-by-the-wall, subs. phr. (old).—Strong ale.
Phrases. At (or to) the wall = in difficulties; to go to the wall = to be slighted, ousted, put on one side, to succumb to force of circumstances, to go under (q.v.); laid by the wall = dead, but unburied; to drive to the wall = to force to give way, to crush; to take the wall = to walk nearest the
