Heading
a bed, but in vain. There was no place for Mr. Ferguson. He was accordingly driven to London by his companions, who kept calling out, Ferguson, you can't lodge here. This was caught up by the crowd, repeated, and in a week was all over London, and in a month all over the kingdom. Mr. Dixon states he was introduced to Mr. Ferguson, and that two of his companions were intimate friends.]—See Street-cries.
Ferm, subs. (Old Cant).—A hole;
with Spencer = a prison.
1632. Dekker, English Villanies. He [an angler for duds] carries a short staff in his hand which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it a ferme (that is to say a hole).
Ferret, subs. (thieves').—1. A
barge-thief.
2. (old).—A dunning tradesman.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (common).—A pawnbroker. For synonyms, see My Uncle.
1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.
Ferreting, subs. (venery).—The
act of connection.
Ferret Out, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To
be at pains to penetrate
a mystery of any kind by
working underground.
Ferricadouzer, subs. (pugilist).—A
knock-down blow; a
thrashing. [From the Italian
fare cadere, to cause to fall +
dosso, back.] For synonyms, see
Dig.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 244. Then there wasn't no risk with Haynan . . . no fear of a ferricadouzer for the butcher. . . . What does it mean? It means a denskitch (a good thrashing).
Fess, verb (colloquial).—To confess;
to own up. Fr., norguer.
Adj. (school).—Proud.
Festive, adj. (colloquial).—Loud;
fast; a kind of general utility
word. Gay and festive cuss
(Artemus Ward) = a rollicking
companion.
Fetch, subs. (old).—1. A stratagem;
indirectly bringing something
to pass.
1576. J. Skelton, Merie Tales, xiii. Yea sayde Skelton, if thou have such pretie fetchis, you can dooe more then thys; and therefore if thou dooeste not one thynge that I shel tell thee, I wil folowe the lawe on thee. What is that sayde the Myller. If that thou dooeste not stele my cuppe of the table when I am sette atte meate thou shalt not eskape my handes.
1727. John Gay, Beggar's Opera, Act II., Scene 2. Mac. Be pacified, my dear Lucy; this is all a fetch of Polly's, to make me desperate with you, in case I get off. If I am hanged, she would fain have the credit of being thought my widow. Really, Polly, this is no time for a dispute of this sort; for whenever you are talking of marriage, I am thinking of hanging.
1780. Mrs. Cowley, Belle's Stratagem, v. 1. Why, my illness was only a fetch, man, to make you marry Letty.
1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 19. But as Cicero says he won't say this or that (a fetch, I must say, most transparent and flat), After saying whate'er he could possibly think of.
2. (colloquial).—A success.
3. (old).—A likeness: e.g., the very fetch of him = his very image or spit (q.v.). Also an apparition.
Verb (colloquial).—1. To please; to excite admiration; to arouse attention or interest.
