Heading
try in action and their irregularity in quarters during the Peninsular War, 1809-14.]
2. (volunteer)—The Inns of Court Volunteers [in allusion to the legal personnel].
1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 211. At a review of the volunteers, when the half-drowned heroes were defiling by all the best ways, the devil's own walked straight through. This being reported to Lord B, he remarked, 'that the lawyers always went through thick and thin.'
1872. Daily Telegraph, 28 Nov. In Richmond Park the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers, more familiarly known as the Devil's Own, were inspected by Colonel Daubeney.
Devil's-Paternoster. To say
the Devil's Paternoster,
verb. phr. (old).—To grumble.
1614. Terence, in English. D. What devills pater noster is this he is saying? what would he? what saist thou honest man?
Devil's Playthings, subs. phr.
(common).—Cards.—See Devil's
Books.
Devil's-Sharpshooters, subs.
(American).—Clerics who took
part in the Mexican War.
Devil's-Smiles, subs. (common).—April
weather with alternations
of sunshine and rain.
Devil's-Tattoo, subs. (common).
Drumming the fingers on any resonant
surface, or tapping the
floor with one's feet, acts of
vacancy or impatience.
1817. Scott, Search after Happiness, st. xv. His sugar-loaves and bales about he threw, And on his counter beat the devil's tattoo.
1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 181. Her tears had ceased; but her eyes were cast down, and mournfully fixed upon her delicate little foot, which was beating the devil's tattoo.
1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. III., ch. vi. Mr. Gawtrey remained by the fire beating the devil's tattoo upon the chimney-piece.
1855. Thackeray, The Newcomes, II., 130. Lady Kew (loq.): 'Have you been quarrelling as much as usual?' 'Pretty much as usual,' says Barnes, drumming on his hat. 'Don't beat that devil's tattoo.'
Devil's Teeth.—See Devil's
Bones.
[Also to note in this connexion are devil's own boy = a young blackguard; imp of the devil = idem; devil's own ship = a pirate; devil's own LUCK = uncommon, or inexplicable, good fortune; TO LEAD ONE THE DEVIL'S OWN DANCE = to baffle one in the pursuit of any object; THE DEVIL A BIT SAYS PUNCH = a jocular yet decided negative; and neat but not GAUDY, AS THE DEVIL SAID WHEN HE PAINTED HIS BOTTOM PINK AND TIED UP HIS TAIL WITH PEA GREEN, a locution employed of aged ladies dressed in flaming colours.]
Deviltry, subs. (low).—A vulgar
form of 'devilry.'
Devor, subs. (Charterhouse).—Plum
Cake. [From the Latin.]
Devotional-Habits, subs. (stable).—Said
of a horse that is apt to
'say his prayers,' i.e., to stumble
and go on his knees.
Dew-Beaters, -Dusters, or
-Treaders, subs. (old).—1.
Pedestrians out early in the morning,
i.e., before the dew is off
the ground.
1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, i., 57. It is not equity at lust and pleasure that is moved for, but equity according to decrees and precedents foregoing, as the dew-beaters have trod their way for those that come after them.
2. (common).—The feet. [An extension of sense 1.] For synonyms, see Creepers.
