Heading
resort, to discuss matters incidental to pugilism.
1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs' ch. xiv. Mr. William Ramm, known to the Fancy as the Tutbury Pet.
1860. Chambers' Journal, vol. XIII., p. 153.
Fancy-bloke, subs. (common).—1.
A sporting man. [From
Fancy (q.v.) + Bloke, a man.]
2. (venery).—See Fancy-man.
Fancy-house, subs. (venery).—A
brothel; also a house of
accommodation (q.v.). For
synonyms, see Nanny-Shop.
Fancy-Joseph, subs. (venery).—A
prostitute's boy, or apple-squire, or
cupid (q.v.). For synonyms, see
Bully and Fancy-man.
Fancy-lay, subs. (old).—Pugilism.
[From Fancy (q.v.) + Lay (q.v.)
= an undertaking or pursuit.]
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, p. 36. We, who're of the fancy-lay, As dead hands at a mill as they, And quite as ready, after it, To share the spoil and grab the bit.
Fancy-man or Bloke, subs
(venery).—A prostitute's lover,
husband, or pensioner. [There
are two suggested derivations;
(1) that fancy here bears its face
value; (2) that it is a corruption
of the Fr. fiancé.] Fancy-w0man
= a mistress or keep
(q.v.). For synonyms, see Bully
and infra.
1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 20. Although 'one of the fancy,' he was not a fancy man.
1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 70. 'And me,' insinuated Mrs. Maggot. 'My little fancy man's quite as fond of me as of you, Bess. Ain't you, Jacky darling?'
1851-61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 186. The women of the town buy of me, when it gets late, for themselves and their fancy men.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant. (3rd ed.), p. 446, s.v.
1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 38. The most degraded are the men who subsist by fastening upon street harlots and sharing their wretched earnings. When their mistresses come to grief, and are placed under lock and key, which happens frequently, the fancy man generally manages to skulk out of the mischief and escape scot-*free.
English Synonyms. Apple-squire; faker; bully; ponce; pensioner; Sunday-man; fancy-Joseph; squire of the body; fucker; apron-squire; cunt-pensioner; petticoat pensioner; prosser; twat-faker; twat-master; stallion; mack; bouncer; bruiser; buck.
French Synonyms. Un Des Grieux (popular: the hero of Manon Lescaut); un aquarium (pop.: an assembly of fancy-men; cf., maquereau = a mackerel); un cousin de Möise (pop.: a 'fast' man who has married a demi-mondaine; Delvau says, 'dans l'argot du peuple, qui fait allusion aux deux lignes de feu dont sont ornées les tempes du législateur des Hébreux'); un caprice (pop.: un caprice sérieux = a man who keeps a mistress); un paillasson (pop.: = a mattress); un dos; un marlou.
German Synonyms. Balhoche (from Hebrew baal, a man + hocho, here, there. Literally, one in possession but removable); Strichler or Strichbube (Strich = a fast locality); Strawes; Straweszunder (Viennese: from strizeln = to run quickly).
Italian Synonym. Bramoso.
Spanish Synonyms. Comblezado (obsolete: applied to a
