Heading
1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, i., 1. Kath . . . doubt not her cares should be to comb your noddle with a three-legg'd stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool.
1769. John Wallis, Antiquities of Northumberland. [Speaking of Wark Castle.] On the west side are the outworks, now called the Kemb, i.e., the camp of the militia designed to kemb or fight an enemy; kemb being a word often used by the borderers when they threaten in a passionate tone to beat an assailant,—they will kemb him, i.e., drub him heartily.
1836. W. Kidd, London and all its Dangers. 'Magistrates,' p. 12. The Magistrate of Hatton Garden has lately had his 'hair combed' by the Home Secretary for his brutal conduct.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxvii., p. 236. 'If you had only settled down, and married Joe Pouch's widow when he died in North America, she'd have combed your hair for you.'
1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, ch. xliii. But you see, these riots—it's been a nasty business. I shall have my hair combed at the sessions for a year to come.'
1869. . . . Ino (played at Strand Theatre). 'Since Ino's combed my wool it's ceased to grow.'
Comb the Cat, verbal phr. (nautical).—See
quot.
1867. Smyth, Sailors' Word Book. Combing the Cat: the boatswain, or other operator, running his fingers through the cat-o'-nine tails to separate them.
Come, verb (venery).—1. To
experience the sexual spasm; to
achieve emission; to Spend
(q.v.). The expression (which
applies to the agents only: never
to the proof, or effect, of their
activity) is common to both
the sexes. Cf., Cream (q.v.);
Spendings; q.v,; and Letch-*water
(q.v.).
2. (general).—To practice; to understand; to act the part of. Cf., Come over and Come tricks.
1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. We ain't two by ourselves as comes that dodge.
3. (old).—To lend.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Has he come it? i.e., has he lent it?
To make drunk come, phr. (American).—To become intoxicated. For synonyms, see Screwed.
Come about [One], verbal phr.
(old).—1. To circumvent. Cf.,
Come over and Come round.
1755. Johnson, Dict. Eng. Lang. (11 ed., 1816), s.v. 'About' in common language they say to come about a man, 'to circumvent him.'
2. (venery).—To copulate. (Said only of men by women).
Come a Buster.—See Buster
(subs., sense 3).
Come a Cropper.—See Cropper.
Come and See your Pa, phr.
(common).—An invitation to
drink. For synonyms, see
Drinks.
Come Captain Armstrong.—See
Captain Armstrong.
Come-Down, subs. (popular).—A
fall, whether of pride or worldly
prospects; an abandonment of
something for something else of
less value or moment.
Verb.—[Used either independently or in combination: e.g., To come down; to come down handsome, or to come down with the dust, dues, dibs, ready, oof, shiners, blunt, needful, etc.] (common).—1. To pay, i.e., to 'part'; or
