Heading
2. (pugilistic).—A knock-down blow. Cf., Bender, Doubler, and Dig, for synonyms.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Mem. Cong., p. 25. In the twelfth and last round Sandy fetch'd him a downer.
Down-hills, subs. (old).—Dice
cogged to run on the low numbers.
[1785, Grose.]
Downs, subs. (thieves').—Tothill
Fields Prison. For analagous
terms, see Cage.
1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 82, note, s.v.
Downstairs, subs. (old).—Hell.
1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington.) Now if here such affairs Get wind unawares, They are bruited about, doubtless much more downstairs, Where Old Nick has a register-office they say, With commissioners quite of such matters au fait.
Down the Road, abj. and adv. phr.
(common).—Vulgarly showy;
'flash.'
1859. Sala, Tw. Round the Clock, 4 p.m., par. 9. A knot of medical students, who should properly, I take it, in this sporting locality, have a racing and down-the-road look, but who, on the contrary, have the garb and demeanour of ordinary gentlemen.
Down to Dandy.—See Up to
Dick.
Down to the Ground, adv. phr.
(old).—Entirely; thoroughly;
to the last degree. Formerly, up
AND DOWN. Cf., UP TO THE
KNOCKER or THE NINES, UP TO
THE HANDLE, UP TO DICK, etc.
[Literally, from top to bottom.]
1542. Udal's, Erasmus's Apophth., p. 324 [ed. 1877]. He [Phocion] was euen Socrates vp and downe in this pointe and behalfe, that no man euer sawe hym either laughe or weepe.
1606. John Day, Ile of Guls, Act v., p. 98. For, saies my mother, a thinge once wel done is twice done: and I am in her mind for that, vp and downe.
1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xlv. Some sea coast city in South America would suit me down to the GROUND.
1883. Echo, 6 Aug., p. 4, col. 1. A post which would suit the noble lord . . . down to the ground.
1889. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 3. A name that suited him well—down to the ground, the officers of the Royal Horse said.
Down upon the nail.—See Nail.
Downy, subs. (common). A bed.
Cf., Downy flea pasture.
1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. ix. I've a deal to do before I get to my downy. . . . Good night, Mr. Scott.
Adj. (common).—Artful; knowing (q.v., for synonyms). [Cf., down, adv., sense 2, of which downy is a derivative.]
1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. You're a downey von—you'll not give a chance avay if you knows it.
1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 217, c. 2.
1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. xxii., p. 198. Up to mischief, I'll be bound. Oh, you're a downy fellow.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. x. I'm not clever, p'r'aps, but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I know what's o'clock tolerably well.
1860. Punch, vol. XXXVIII., p. 230. You never come across A cove more downier, I'll be bound, But you knows that 'ere 'oss.
1869. H. J. Byron, Not Such a Fool as He Looks [French's acting ed.], p. 12. . . . Sharp old skinflint, downy old robber as he is, he's under Jane Mould's thumb.
TO DO THE DOWNY.—See DO.
