Heading
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, x 288. Which in his CUPS the bowsy poet sings.
1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. II., ch. iv. She used to come home in her cups, and break the china and the locking-glasses.
1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington). Gets tipsy whenever he dines or he sups, And is wont to come quarrelsome home in his cups.
1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 185 [of one remarkable at once for Bacchanalian devotion and large and startling eyes]. 'I always know when he has been in his cups by the state of his saucers.'
Cup-Shot, adj. (old).—Drunk.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, bk. III., ch. xvi. The spring-tide of their mirth so drowned their souls that the Turks coming in upon them cut every one of their throats, to the number of twenty thousand, and quickly they were stabbed with the sword that were cup-shot before.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Cup-Tosser, subs, (common).—See
quot.
1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Cup Tosser: a juggler (French joueur de gobelet). The old symbol for a juggler was a goblet. The phrase and symbol are derived from the practice of jugglers who toss in the air, twist on a stick, and play all sorts of tricks with goblets or cups.
Curate, subs, (common).—A small
poker, or tickler (q.v.), used to
save a better one; also a pocket-handkerchief
in actual use as
against one worn for show. The
better article is called a rector.
Similarly when a tea-cake is split
and buttered, the bottom half,
which gets the more butter, is
called the rector, and the other,
the curate.
Curb, verb (old).—To steal. For
synonyms, see Prig.
1615. Greene, Thieves Falling Out (Harl. Misc., VIII., 389). Though you can foyst, nip, prig, lift, curbe, and use the black art, yet you cannot crossbite without the helpe of a woman.
Curbstone-Broker, subs.—See
Gutter-snipe.
Curbstone-Sailor, subs, (popular).—A
prostitute. For synonyms,
see Barrack-hack and
Tart, and cf., Cruiser, sense 2.
Cure, subs. (common).—An eccentric;
a fool; also a funny fellow.
Originally applied in many connections,
see quot.
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 201.
What's a Cure.
Punch has no mission to repeat The Slang he hears along the street, But when a curious phrase he seizes, Punch does—as always—what he pleases. He finds then in the following word No merit save that it's absurd, But as it's likely to endure He asks a question, 'What's a cure'? He heard upon a river boat The steersman told to move his coat, The fellow grunted like a boor, The captain said, 'Well you're a cure,' The mud was thick, the crossing clean— A well-dressed man, genteel of mien— Walked through the first (he might be poor)— The sweeper muttered 'He's a cure.' Two youths talked 'chaff' (in phrase polite), Each asked where 'tother slept last night,' 'Me? Up a spout.' 'Me? Down a sewer.' The first: 'Ain't you a precious cure.' A child more apt to eat than spell Espied his little sweetheart Nell: Embraced her with affection pure, And cried, 'You darling little cure.' Before a shop stood maidens two Where fine mock diamonds mocked their view: 'Oh, Julia! That's the Koh-i-noor.' 'That!' Julia said, 'You silly cure.' Lastly, he heard the word applied To Lord Mayor Finnis in his pride; A female shouted, 'Well I'm sure! Call him a mayor—he looks a cure.' Thus having heard the word he mentions Spoken with seven distinctions, Punch doth the slangy world adjure To state whence derivation 'cure.'
