Heading
Cf., sense 4. [Hotten: originally tommy (from the Greek, [Greek: tomê], a section), a word once used in Trinity College, Dublin.] Also, by implication, any sham contrivance; see quots.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 82, note. Dickey: cant for a worn-out shirt.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. A sham shirt.
1835-40. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ix. She made frill, shirt-collar, and Dicky fly like snow.
1836. Willis Gayford Clarke, The Olla Podriana Papers. For a handkerchief I had flourished a common dickey, the strings whereof fell to my feet.
1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xx. Those wretched Beaux Tibbs's of society, who sport a lace dickey, and nothing besides.
1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, p. 206. Do not take off that article of apparel which Fanny Fern distinguishes by a name which, on this side the Atlantic, is the familiar for a youthful Richard. Spare it, we say . . . although it may be (and we guess, from the absence of cuffs and sleeves, it is) an imitation, a sham, a make-shift!
1872. Public Opinion, 24 Feb., p. 241. 'Inside Newgate.' What is she here for? I asked, pointing to a florid-looking girl who was taking a deep professional interest in ironing a dickey.
1876. Jas. Greenwood, Low Life Deeps. 'I saw a laden waggon bearing the name of one of the cheap advertising firms you speak of.' . . . 'Ah, bearing the name . . . you saw a waggon wearing a dicky, you mean—a false front-plate with a name on it which slips on and off like them on the wans that the pianoforte-makers borrow.'
1883. Jas. Greenwood, 'Veteran of Vauxhall,' in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 38. Besides these articles there was a pair of what had once been white linen cuffs, a dickey of the same dubious complexion, and a white tie.
4. (American: New England).—A shirt collar. De Vere. Cf., sense 3.
5. (nautical).—A ship's officer or mate; generally, second dickey, i.e., second mate.
6. (London).—A swell. For synonyms, see Dandy.
7. (schoolboys').—The penis.
Adj. (common).—1. Sorry; inferior; paltry and poor in quality. Dickey domus (theatrical) = a poor 'house.'
2. (London).—Smart. A corruption of up to dick (q.v.). Cf., subs., sense 6.
All dickey with [one], adv. phr. (common).—Queer; gone wrong; 'all up with.'
1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestied, III., vi. O, Hamlet! 'tis all dickey with us both You've done my business by a blow, 'tis true; But I—Oh! I—have done the same for you.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, p. 21. 'Twas all dicky with Georgy, his mug hung so dead.
1837. Thackeray, in Fraser's Magazine, 10 Oct. Sam, the stable boy [who from living chiefly among the hosses and things has got a sad low way of talking], said it was all dicky, and bid us drive on to the nex' page.
1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington). Here a monk, whose teeth funk and concern made to chatter, Sobs out as he points to the corpse on the floor, 'Tis all dickey with poor Father Dick—he's no more'
1882. Daily Telegraph, 3 Oct., p. 2, col. 2. I was coolly told that 'anyhow, all the actual meat there was in, say half a pound of cheap German sausage, couldn't do any one much harm if it was ever so dicky.'
Dickey-bird, subs. (common).—1.
A louse. For synonyms, see
Chates.
2. pl. (theatrical)—Professional singers of all grades.
3. (venery).—A prostitute; generally naughty dicky-bird. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and tart.
c. 1830. Broadside Ballad, George Barnwell. When he had put the shutters
