Heading
Specifically, the last train at night per S.W.R., by which officers can reach Aldershot in time for their morning duties. It starts about 2 a.m. from Nine Elms, and is properly a goods train, but a carriage is attached which is known as the 'Larky Subaltern.' [It is an error to suppose that this particular train received its nickname for taking corpses to Woking Cemetery. It carries nothing more dreadful than a portion of the beef and mutton for the morning ration to the troops in camp; and, as before stated, a few belated officers.]
1876. R. M. Jephson, Girl He Left Behind Him, ch. xi. The train by which Dorrien journeyed to Aldershot was that one known as the cold-meat.
Cold Pig. To give cold pig,
verbal phr. (common).—To
waken a sleeper either by sluicing
him with cold water, or by
suddenly stripping him of his
bed-clothes.
1818. J. R. Planché, Amoroso, King of Little Britain. For if the Queen should come this way, As sure as fate and quarter day, cold pig will be your fare.
1837. Comic Almanack, June. I ve given him strap,—a thick rope's end,—cold pig! In vain!—There lies the stupid clown, As if the Night Mare held him down.
1846. Thackeray, Jeames's Diary (in Punch, vol. II., p. 72). 'What was it I red there? What was it that made me spring outabed as if sumbady had given me cold pig?—I red Rewin in that share list—the Pannick was in full hoporation.'
1869. W. Bradwood, The O. V. H., ch. xxxv. Then he came back rosy and hungry, and revenged himself by an administration of cold pig to the still slumbering Ralph.
Subs. (thieves').—1. A person robbed of his clothing. Cf., sense 2.
2. (thieves').—A corpse. For synonyms, see Dead meat.
3. (commercial travellers').—The 'empty returns' sent back by rail to wholesale houses.
Cold Shivers, subs. phr. (common).—A
figure of speech describing
the effect of illness,
intense fear or any violent
emotion. An American equivalent
is a 'cold shake,' which may
refer alike to a period of cold
weather, and an attack of fever
and ague.
1864. Derby Day, p. 50. 'There's our friend the Littl'un,' he resumed; 'he's all shivery shakey as if he got the staggers or the cold shivers, and was going wurra, wurra, wurra, between his teeth, as if he couldn't help himself.'
Cold Shoulder. To give, show,
or turn the cold shoulder,
verbal phr. (colloquial).—To
treat a person with studied coldness,
neglect, or contempt; to
'cut,' in a modified form. The
phrase appears to have been first
used by Scott in the Antiquary,
in the glossary to which it is
explained as 'to appear cold and
reserved.' Jamieson localizes it
in the South of Scotland.
1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxiii. The countess's dislike didna gang farther at first than just showing o' the cauld shouther.
1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. lxvi. He gives me the cold shoulder on this very matter, as if he had had nothing to do with it, instead of being the first to propose it.
1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge iii. They were not received everywhere with open arms. He was, of course, but the wife was occasionally cold shouldered.
c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, 'Where's the Cat?' She gave him the cold shoulder, and quickly told him to depart.
Cold Slaw.—See Cabbage, sense
1.
