Window-bar, subs. phr. (old).—In pl. = Lattice-work on a woman's stomacher, or modesty-piece (q.v.)
1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, iv. 3. Those milk-paps That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes.
Window-blind, subs. phr. (common.—A
periodicity-cloth, 'sanitary
towel,' menstrual rag.
Window-dressing, subs. phr.
(commercial).—Manipulation of
figures and accounts to show fictitious
or exaggerated value:
brought into prominence during
the trial of Whitaker Wright for
fraud in connection with the
balance-sheets of the London
and Globe Corporation (1904).
Window-fishing, subs. phr.
(thieves').—Entering a house by
means of a window.
Wind-pudding, subs. phr. (common).—Air.
To live on wind-pudding
= to go hungry.
1900. Flynt, Tramps, 141. I have known them live on 'wind puddin'.'
Windstopper, subs. (thieves').—A
garotter.
Windsucker, subs. (old).—1. A
querulous fault-finder, grizzle-guts
(q.v.); one ready to catch
another tripping or to 'pick
holes'; one on the lookout for
a blemish or weak spot.
1603. Chapman, Iliad, Preface. But there is a certain envious windsucker that hovers up and down.
1880. Swinburne, Shakspeare, 55. It would be something too extravagant for the veriest windsucker amongst commentators to start a theory that a revision was made of his original work by Marlowe after additions had been made to it by Shakspeare.
Windward. To get to the
windward (or windward side)
of one, verb. phr. (common).—To
get an advantage, the better
of one, or the best position.
Windy, adj. (colloquial).—Talkative,
boastful, vain. Windy-wallets
= a noisy prater, vain
boaster, romancing yarnster.
Wine, subs. (University).—A wine-drinking
party.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, iv. A death's-head at the wine.
1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, xiii. He disappeared every day about four to 'hall'; after which he did not reappear till eight, the interval being taken up, he said, in 'wines' and an hour of billiards.
1887. Echo, 5 Sep. Surely such a wine was never given at Oxford in any gentleman's room.
Wine-bag, subs. phr. (common).—A
drunkard who makes wine his
special tipple (q.v.).
Winey, adj. (common).—Drunk:
see Screwed.
Wing, subs. (prison).—1. A quid
or thereabouts of tobacco.
1882. Greenwood, Gaol Birds. A piece as large as a horse-bean, called a 'chew,' is regarded as the equivalent for a twelve-ounce loaf and a meat ration, and even a morsel—a mere taste that can only be laid on the tongue and sucked like a small sweetmeat (it is called a wing, and is not larger or of more substance than a man's little finger-nail), is 'good' for a six-ounce loaf.
Verb (colloquial).—1. To wound slightly: orig. to shoot in the arm or shoulder.
2. (theatrical).—To undertake a part at short notice and study it in the 'wings.'
Wink. See Eye; Forty; Tip.
