1771. Smollett, Clinker [Saintsbury (1900), i. 81]. You know, my dear friend, how natural it is for us Irishmen to blunder, and to take the wrong sow by THE EAR.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Laugh.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Laugh.
1826. Buckstone, Death Fetch, i. 4. Snapsch. (Aside.) And have a pretty family of them about my ears the first time I'm left alone in the dark, who would soon make me laugh on the OTHER SIDE OF MY MOUTH, I fancy.
1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, x. 'Take care your rights of man don't get you in the wrong box—there's no arguing on board of a man-of-war.'
1837. Carlyle, Diamond Necklace, iii. By and bye thou wilt laugh on the WRONG SIDE OF THY FACE.
Wrong-'un, subs. phr. (common).—Generic for anything bad: e.g. a spurious note, base coin, whore, welsher, a horse intended to be pulled (q.v.), and so forth.
1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Isabel and Maudie knew the Turf and all its arts—They had often blewed a dollar on a wrong 'un.
1896. Farjeon, Betray. John Fordham., iv. 299. 'All wery true, guv'nor, wus luck—but it don't make black white, 'cause I'm a wrong 'un.'
1898. Pomes from Pink 'Un [Advt. facing front inside cover]. Do not invest money . . . on Stiff 'uns, Wrong 'uns or Dead 'uns.
1902. D. Telegraph, 11 Feb., 10. 7. Do you consider that all possible precautions are taken against welshers?—Yes. A welsher can be had up for fraud, and anyone who is known as a wrong one is excluded from the racecourse.
Wrought-shirt. See Historical Shirt.
Wry-not. To shead wry-not, verb. phr. (provincial).—To out-do the devil.
WUGGINS, subs. (Oxford University).—Worcester College; Botany-bay (q.v.).
Wusser, subs. (bargees').—A canal boat.
Wuzzle, verb (American).—To jumble, muddle, mix.
1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 63. He wuzzled things up in the most singular way.
