Heading
of the figurative sense = remote from comprehension, hard to penetrate—usages frequent in Biblical language.' needed here or above]
1672-1726. Vanbrugh, The Mistake, Act I. When you take us for fools, we never take you for wise men. For my part, in this present case, I take myself to be mighty deep.
1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, III., in wks. (1720) iv., 63. Fools! nay, there I am sure you are out: they are all deep, they are very deep, and sharp.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 268. I can scarcely believe my eyes. Oh! he's a deep one.
1880. A. Trollope, The Duke's Children, ch. vi. He was, too, very deep, and some men, who could put up with his other failings, could not endure that.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., p. 2, col. 2. His Majesty the Sultan is 'a deep one,' it is clear.
Deerstalker, subs. (popular).—A
felt hat. For synonyms, see
Golgotha.
1870. London Figaro [letter dated Dec. 9]. Either the wind must be bottled up or the P. of W. must start the fashion of wearing deerstalkers . . . in the windy weather.
Deferred Stock, subs. (city).—Inferior
soup. [A play upon
words.] For synonyms, see Glue.
1871. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 May. A few years ago, at an economical Chancellor of Exchequer's dinner on the Queen's Birthday, the Chairman of one of the Revenue Boards, after tasting the soup, asked the Governor of the Bank of England, who happened to be sitting next to him at the table, 'What is this?' 'Deferred Stock, I suspect,' replied the Governor.
Degen, Degan, or Dagen, subs.
(old).—A sword. [From the
German.]
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Nun the degen, steal the sword.
1827. Bulwer Lytton, Pelham, p. 325. ed. 1864. Tip him the degen.
Delicate, subs. (vagrants').—A
lurker's (q.v.) false subscription
book.
Dell, subs. (old).—1. A young
girl; a virgin; a young wanton.
Later, a mistress: cf., doxy.
For synonyms, see Titter.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 75. A Dell is a yonge wenche, able for generation, and not yet knowen or broken by the vpright man.
1574-1637. Ben Jonson, Metam. Gipsies. Sweet doxies and dells My Roses and Nells.
1609. Thomas Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight. Docked the Dell, for a Coper meke His wach shall feng a Prounces Nab-chete.
1622. Head and Kirkman, English Rogue. I met a dell, I viewed her well.
1694. Dunton, Ladies' Dictionary. Dells are young bucksom wenches, ripe, and prone to venery, but have not yet been debauch'd.
1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Dell, Doxy, a wench.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. I., ch. ix. He was seized . . . by the bailiff of Westminster when dead drunk, his liquor having been drugged by his dells—and was shortly afterwards hanged at Tyburn.
Delog, subs. (back slang).—Gold.
For synonyms, see Redge.
Delo-Nammow, subs. (back slang).—An
old woman. For synonyms,
see Old Geezer.
Delve It, verb. phr. (tailors').—To
hurry with one's work, head
down and sewing fast. Cf., dig,
verb.
Demand the Box, verb. phr.
(nautical).—To call for a bottle.
Demaunder for Glymmar, subs.
phr. (old).—See quot.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 61. These Demaunders for Glymmar be for the moste parte wemen; for glymmar
