Heading
Dout, verb (provincial).—Literally = to do out; as Dup (q.v.) = to do up, and don = to do on. Cf., Hamlet, iv. Then up he rose and donned his clothes, And dupped the chamber door.
1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. VIII., p. 131. The guard seemed not to hear it, so lost was he in astonishment at there being no light. Why, what can have douted it? he cried aloud.
Doxology-Works, subs. (common).—A
church or chapel. For
synonyms, see Gospel Mill.
Doxy, subs. (old).—A mistress;
a prostitute; occasionally, a jade,
a girl, even a wife. In West of
England, doxy = a baby. For
synonyms, see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 14. And thither repayre at accustomed tymes, their harlotes which they terme mortes and doxes.
1592. Greene, Quip, in wks., xi., 283. The Pedler as bad or rather worse, walketh the country with his docksey at the least.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark all, p. 14 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). You decypher and point out a poore Rogue, or a doxie that steale and rob hedges of a few ragged clothes.
1611. Chapman, May-Day, Act IV., p. 299 (Plays, 1874). He called me . . . pandar, and doxy, and the vilest nicknames.
1617. C. Shadwell, Fair Quaker of Deal, Act v. Thou couldst not have picked out a wife so fit for thee, out of a whole regiment of doxies.
1694. Dunton, Ladies' Dict. Prostitute doxies are neither wives, maids, nor widows; they will for good victuals, or for a very small piece of money, prostitute their bodies, and then protest they never did any such thing before, that it was pure necessity that now compell'd them to do what they have done, and the like; whereas the jades will prove common hacknies upon every slight occasion.
1727. John Gay, Beggar's Opera, Act III., Sc. 3. Finale. Thus I stand like the Turk, with his doxies around, From all sides their glances his passion confound.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Doxy (s.) a she-beggar . . . the female companion of a foot-soldier travelling tinker, etc.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of patterers' words. Doxy—a wife.
Dozing-crib, subs. (old).—A bed.
For synonyms, see Bug Walk
and Kip.
D.Q., On the D.Q., phr.
(American).—On the dead quiet.
Cf., Strict Q.T., etc.
Drab, subs. (common).—1. Poison;
also medicine. [From the
gypsey.] Also used as a verb.
1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lxxi., p. 226 (1888). At him, juggal [a dog], at him; he wished to poison, to drab you.
2. (colloquial).—A strumpet. Also drabbing = strumming.
Drabbut, verb (provincial).—A
vague and gentle form of imprecation.
Drabbut your back
= Confound you.
Draft on Aldgate Pump, subs.
(old).—A fictitious banknote or
fraudulent bill. See N. and Q.,
7 S., i., 387-493.
17(?). Fielding, Essay on Character of Men, in wks., p. 647, ed. 1840 (b. 1754). This is such another instance of generosity as his who relieves his friend in distress by a draught on Aldgate pump. [A footnote says] A mercantile phrase for a bad note.
1828. Jon Bee, Picture of London, p. 187. Why, he might as well have accosted Aldgate-pump with a bill for payment.
Drag, subs. (old: now recognised).—1.
A cart of any kind; now
usually applied to a four-horse
coach.
