d. 1658. Cleveland, Works, xxi. Sir, I expected to hear from you in the language of the lost groat, and the prodigal son, and not in such a tantivy of language.
1690. Pagan Prince [Nares]. How the palatine was restor'd to his palatinate in Albion, and how he rode tantivy to Palpimania.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, v. 'Pant. Prognos.' Braggadocios, tory-rory rakes and tantivy boys; peppered, clapped, and poxed dabblers.
c. 1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Tantivy-boies, high-Flyers, or High-*flown Church-men, in opposition to the moderate Church-men; or Latitudinarians, a lower sort of Flyers, like Batts, between Church-men and Dissenters.
1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, ii. 1. Æsop. To boot and saddle again they sound. Rog. Ta ra! tan tan ta ra!. . . Tantive! Tantive! Tantive!
172[?]. Swift, Stella, xxxii. An ambitious tantivy, missing of his towering hopes of preferment in Ireland is come over to vent his spleen on the late ministry.
d. 1735. Arbuthnot [Mason, Johnson, 'Suppt.']. This sort . . . is not in esteem with the high tantivee scaramouches.
1740. North, Examen, 1. ii. 130. About half a dozen of the tantivies were mounted on the Church of England, booted and spurred, riding it, like an old hack, tantivy to Rome. This . . . led to a common use of slighting and opprobrious words, such as Yorkist. . . . Then they came to tantivy, which implied riding post to Rome.
1796. Darblay, Camilla, 111. viii. Pray, where are they gone tantivying?
1843. Macaulay, Essays, 'Comic Dramatists of the Restoration.' Collier . . . was a Tory of the highest sort, such as in the cant of his age was called a tantivy.
1854. Thoreau, Walden, 125. The tantivy of wild pigeons, flying by twos and threes athwart my view.
1876. Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xxxi. Being Lady Certainly—and Lady Perhaps—and grand here—and tantivy there.
1893. Milliken, 'Arry ballades, 33. Oh, scissors! jest didn't we give 'em TANTIVY.
Tantoblin, subs. (old).—Excrement; shit (q.v.). Also (Grose) TANTADLIN and TANTADLIN TART.
1768. Gayton, Festivious Notes, 73. I'll stick, my dear, to thee,and cling witnall, As fast as e'er tantoblin to a wall.
Tantony (or Tantony Pig) subs. phr. (old).—1. The smallest pig in a litter: hence a favorite. To FOLLOW LIKE A TANTONY PIG = to follow closely. Hence tantony (2)=a servile follower; a petted retainer; tantony-pouch (see quot. 1892).
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, ii. 1. At the dudgen dagger, by which hangs his TANTONIE POUCH.
1598. Stowe, Surv. London (1633), 190. The Officers . . . of the Markets [London] . . . did take from the Market people Pigs starved, or otherwise unwholesome for Man's sustenance. One of the Proctors for St Anthonies tyed a Bell about the neck, and let it feed on the Dunghills; no man would hurt or take it up; but it anyone gave to them bread, or other feeding, such would they know, watch for and daily follow. . . . Whereupon was raised a Proverbe, Such an one will follow such an one, and whine as it were an Anthonie Pig.
1659. Gauden, Tears of the Church, 595. Some are such Cossets and Tantanies that they congratulate their oppressors and flatter their destroyers.
1700. Congreve, Way of World, iv. xi. I'll follow thee, my Anthony, my Tantony. Sirrah, thou shalt be my Tantony, and I'll be thy PIG.
1710. Swift, Polite Conv., i. Lord! she made me follow her last week through all the shops like a tantony pig.
I753. Chambers' Cyclo., Suppt., s.v. Anthony. In several places, they [Romanists] keep at common charges a hog denominated St Anthony's hog.
1867. Standard, 24 May. 'What is an Anthony?' 'The littlest pig, your honour. The little pig is always "Anthony."'
