Heading
they are down to Bosting, inspecting the Athenian white elephant.
1889. Puck's Library Ap., p. 25. Forepaugh says that elephants have a natural liking for whiskey. We have often wondered, when a man went out to see the elephant, why he always brought back such a strange odour with him. This seems to explain it.
2. (common).—To be seduced; Fr., avoir vu le loup. For synonyms, see Leg.
Elephant-dance.—See Cellar-flap
and Double-Shuffle.
Elephant's-trunk, subs. (rhyming
slang).—Drunk. For synonyms,
see Drinks and Screwed.
Elevate, verb (colloquial).—To
make or become slightly drunk.—See
Elevated.
Elevated, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Slightly
drunk. For synonyms,
see Drinks and Screwed.
1664. Etherege, Comical Revenge, IV., iii. in wks. (1704), 51. The wine makes the rogue witty. . . . I will keep him thus elevated 'till he has married Grace.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xvii. The liquor mounted up to our heads, and made us all extremely frolicsome. I, in particular, was much elevated.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Elevated (a.). . . . sometime spoke of a person that has drank a little too freely.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. 1., p. 434. Except when he's elevated, Bob's the quietest creature breathing.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, p. 274.
Elevation, subs. (colloquial).—1.
A phase of drunkenness.—See
Elevated.
1823. Scott, Peveril, ch. iii. The unwonted agitation of her voice attracted the attention of the refractory steward, notwithstanding his present state of elevation.
2. (common).—Opium.
1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, 'What's elevation?' 'Opium, bor alive.'
Elfen, verb (American thieves').—To
walk lightly; to go on tiptoe.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
Ellenborough Lodge, or Spike,
or Park, subs. phr. (old).—The
King's Bench. [From Lord
Chief-Justice Ellenborough.] For
synonyms, see Cage. Ellenborough's
Teeth = the chevaux
de frize round the prison wall.
Elrig, subs. (back slang).—A girl.
Elycampane or Elecampane.—See
Allacompain and quot.
1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii., 4. Go and get a pennyworth of elycampane. Jerry. There's a pair of men-milliners.
Emag, subs. (back slang).—Game:
e.g., 'I know your little emag.'
Embroider, verb (common).—To
exaggerate; to add to the truth.
1877. S. L. Clemens ('Mark Twain'), The Mississippi Pilot. Tom tried to make himself appear to be a hero too, and succeeded to some extent, but then he always had a way of embroidering.
Embroidery, subs. (common).—Exaggeration;
the American sass
and trimmin's (q.v.).—[See
Embroider.]
1890. Standard, 5 April, p. 2, col. 1. Fanny Burney had many good qualities, no doubt, but we fancy that when she tells us with such evident unction how great folks loved and admired her she puts a good deal of embroidery into her narrations.
Emma.—See Whoa Emma and
Street-cries.
