Heading
minette, Madame guichet or Madame portière du petit guichet (17th century phrases). Cf., Carver and Gilder.
Finish, verb (common).—To kill.
For synonyms, see Cook one's
goose.
Finisher, subs. (colloquial).—Something
that gives the last, the
settling touch to anything. Cf.,
Corker, Clincher, etc.
1788-1841. Th. Hook [quoted in Annandale]. 'This was a finisher,' said Lackington.
Finjy! intj. (Winchester College).—An
exclamation excusing one
from participation in an unpleasant
or unacceptable task, which he
who says the word last has to
undertake.
Finnuf.—See Finnup.
Finnup, (also finnip, finnuf,
finnif, finnie, finn, or fin),
subs. (thieves').—A five-pound
note or flimsy (q.v.). [A Yiddish
pronunciation of German fünf =
five.] Also finnup-ready (ready
= money). In America finnup
= a five dollar bill. Double
finnup = a ten pound note.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 396. The notes were all finnies (£5 notes), and a good imitation.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444. Five-pound notes, Finnips, ten-pound notes, Double finnips.
1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. When we got into the rattler they showed me the pass. Yes, there it was, fifty quids in double finns.
Fippenny, subs. (Australian
thieves').—A clasp knife. For
synonyms, see Chive.
Fire, subs. (thieves').—Danger.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue's Lexicon. This place is all on fire; I must pad like a bull or the cops will nail me.
Like a house on fire, adv. phr. (common).—Easily and rapidly. Cf., house, winking, one o'clock, cake, brick, etc.
To fire a shot, verb. phr. (venery).—To emit. Fr., tirer un coup.
To fire a slug, verb. phr. (old).—To drink a dram. [Grose, 1785.]
To fire in the air, verb. phr. (venery).—To shoot in the bush (q.v.).
To fire a gun, verb. phr. (old).—To introduce a story by head and shoulders; to lead up to a subject.—[Grose, 1785.]
To pass through the fire, verb. phr. (venery).—To be clapped (q.v.), or poxed (q.v.).
To set the Thames on fire, verb. phr. (colloquial)—To be clever, or the reverse; used in sarcasm.
Fire and Light, subs. phr. (nautical).—A
master-at-arms.
Fired, adj. (American).—Arrested;
turned out; and (among artists)
rejected.
Fire-eater, subs. (common).—In
Old Cant a quick-worker; and
in modern English, a duellist or
bully. Also Fire-eating.
1841. Savage, Dict. Art. of Printing, s.v. A quick compositor.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xii. Sir Ascot was none of your sighing, despairing, fire-eating adorers.
