Woman, subs. (colloquial).—1. A term of abuse; spec, a harlot. Whence to woman (or womanize) = (1) to scold or abuse, and (2) to whore; to play the woman = to be addicted to the practice of men; to be as women wish who love their lords = to be pregnant; to make an honest woman (see Honest); woman of the town = a harlot; wise woman = a midwife; woman's broker = a bawd; to make one a woman = to deflower; to enjoy a woman = to possess her: see Enjoy.
1648-50. Brathwayte, Barnaby's Jo, 9. Where I drank and took my Common In a Tap-house with my Woman.
1705. Ward, Hud. Red., II. ii. 5. To starve, beg, steal, or play the woman [i.e. the whore].
1740. Richardson, Pamela, ii. 268. She called her another time fat-face, and womaned her most violently.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 392. Scipio and myself were . . . very soon to have the satisfaction of becoming fathers: our lasses were as women wish to be who love their lords.
2. See Tail.
Wonner. See One-er.
Woodcock, subs. (old).—1. A
simpleton: see Buffle.
1593. Shakspeare, Taming of Shrew, i. 2. O this woodcock! what an ass it is!
1614. Overbury, Characters, M. 2. He cheats young guls that are newly come to towne; and when the keeper of the ordinary blames him for it, he answers him in his owne profession, that a woodcocke must be plucked ere it be drest.
2. (common).—A tailor.
Woodcock's-cross, subs. phr.
(old).—Penitence for folly: cf.
Weeping-cross, etc.
1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. At Westminster, where such a coyle they keepe: Where man doth man within the law betosse, Till some go croslesse home by Woodcocks crosse.
Woodcock's-head, subs. phr.
(old colloquial).—A pipe. [Early
pipes were frequently so fashioned.]
1599. Jonson, Ev. Man Out of Humour, iii. 3. Sav. O peace, I pray you, I love not the breath of a woodcock's head. Fastid. Meaning my head, lady? [i.e., meaning to call me a fool?] Sav. Not altogether so, sir; but as it were fatal to their follies that think to grace themselves with taking tobacco, when they want better entertainment, you see your pipe bears the true form of a wood-cock's head.
Wooden-fit, subs. phr. (common).—A
swoon.
Wooden-legged mare, subs. phr.
(old).—The gallows: see Nubbing-cheat.
Wooden-nutmeg State (The),
subs. phr. (American).—Cincinnatti.
Wooden-overcoat (or -surtout),
subs. phr. (old).—A coffin.
Wooden-ruff, subs. phr. (old).—The
pillory.
Wooden-spoon, subs. (Cambridge).—The
student last on
the list of mathematical honours.
See Tripos, Gulf, Twelve
Apostles, Wrangler, etc.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue [Egan]. Optime. The senior and junior optimes are the second and last classes of Cambridge honours conferred on taking a degree. That of wranglers is the first. The last junior optime is called the Wooden Spoon.
