Heading
3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
Verb (stable).—To ginger a horse. [For origin, see subs. sense.]
To FIG OUT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To show off; to dress; to don one's war paint (q.v.). [From the verb.]
1825. The English Spy, vol. 1, p. 177. Eglantine (to the ostler). Well, Dick, what sort of a stud, hey? Come, fig out two lively ones.
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack's Courtship, ch. vi. He began to inveigh against the waiter's costume, as he styled the dress I had figged myself out in.
To fig up, verb. phr. (colloquial.—To restore; to reanimate (as a gingered horse).
1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial, p. 24. In vain did they try to fig up the old lad, 'Twas like using persuaders upon a dead prad.
Figaro, subs. (common).—A barber.
[From Le Nozze di Figaro.]
1886. Globe, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Referring to recent order of French War Minister permitting soldiers to wear their beards.] There is wailing and weeping among a certain section of that army, the Figaros, which has been despoiled at one fell swoop.
Figdean, verb (old).—To kill.
For synonyms, see Cook one's
goose.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue's Lexicon, s.v.
Figged.—See Jigged.
Figger or Figure.—See Fagger.
Figging- or Fagging-lay, subs.
phr. (old).—Pocket-picking: cf.,
Fagger.
Fight, subs. (common).—A party;
e.g., Tea fight, Wedding-fight,
etc. Cf., Scramble, and
Worry: also Row (q.v.).
TO FIGHT or PLAY COCUM.—See Cocum.
TO FIGHT or BUCK THE TIGER.—See Buck and quots., infra.
1870. London Figaro, 20 July. The other day a gentleman of San Francisco, hitherto only noted for deeds of daring in fighting the tiger, was seated asleep in the smoking-car of the evening train from Sacramento on the Vallejo route.
1886. Daily Telegraph, 18 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. If they subsequently fight the tiger at the games of faro or roulette.
One that can fight his WEIGHT IN WILD CATS, subs. phr. (American).—A brilliant desperado.
1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, John Halkett, as I learned afterwards, could fight his weight IN WILD CATS.
Fighting-Cove, subs. phr.
(tramps').—A professional pugilist:
specifically one who 'boxes' for
a livelihood at fairs, race-meetings,
etc.
1880. Greenwood, Odd People in Odd Places, p. 56. You see them two there, sitting on t'other end of the table and eating fried fish and bread. That's their mittens they've got tied up in that hankercher. They're fighting coves.
Fighting Fifth, subs. phr.
(military)—The Fifth Foot. [So
distinguished in the Peninsular.]
Other nicknames were the shiners
(in 1764 from its clean and
smart appearance); the old
bold FIFTH (also Peninsular);
and Lord Wellington's body
guard (it was at head-quarters
in 1811). Cf., Fighting Ninth.
