Heading
1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxviii. Two or three 'hallos!' and 'now thens!' accompanied by a strong recommendation to cheese it (i.e., act of cessation), causes these trifling annoyances to cease.
1864. Times, 7 December. He shouted 'Murder!' as well as he could, and the cries he made bringing assistance, he heard one of the men just before they let go of him call out 'Cheese it, cheese it,' which a policeman said meant make off.
1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 3, col. 3. 'Cheese that,' cried Bill. 'The genelman's agoin' to read, and I am agoin' to listen.'
Cheese-Boxes, subs. (American).—A
Confederate nickname for
vessels of the 'Monitor' type;
first applied during the Civil
War [1860-65]. Cf., tinclads
(q,v.).
1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 335. The great inventor has not made it known what induced him to choose the name ['Monitor']: hence etymologists have evolved it out of their inner consciousness that he must have borrowed it from Gray's Monitor Dracæna, a large lizard covered with impenetrable armour. Irreverent Confederates called the hideous-looking vessels cheese-boxes, and apparently one designation is, etymologically, though not æsthetically, as good as the other.
Cheesecutter, subs. (common).—1.
A prominent, aquiline nose.
For synonyms, see Conk.
2. (common).—A large, square peak to a cap; the abat-jour of the Zouaves.
3. (in plural).—Bandy-legs. For synonyms, see Drumsticks.
Cheese-Knife, subs. (military).—A
sword. For synonyms, see
Cheese-toaster.
Cheesemongers.—A popular
name for the First Lifeguards
until the Peninsular War. The
term then fell into desuetude;
but at Waterloo the commanding
officer of the regiment had
not forgotten it, and when leading
to the charge, he called
out, 'Come on, you damned
Cheesemongers!' an invitation
accepted so heartily that the
title was restored, with the
difference that it was no longer
a word of reproach. [Some say
that the nickname came from
their exclusive home service
until the time of the Peninsular
War; others that it was bestowed
on account of the old gentlemen
in the corps declining to
serve when it was remodelled
in 1788, on the ground that
the ranks were no longer
composed of gentlemen, but of
cheesemongers.] Also called
The cheeses.
Cheeser, subs. (old).—An eructation.
The Spanish has una
pluma (f; literally 'a feather');
zullenco (a common colloquialism);
soltar el preso (soltar = 'to unloose,'
or 'to untie'; preso =
'a prisoner').
Cheeses.—See Cheesemongers.
Cheese-Toaster, subs. (military).—A
sword.
English Synonyms. Toasting-fork; toasting iron; sharp; knitting-needle; iron; cheese-knife; toll; poker.
French Synonyms. Un astic (thieves': from the German Stich); l'aiguille à tricoter les côtes (military: l'aiguille à tricoter = knitting-needle, côtes = ribs); l'entrecôte (popular); un charlemagne (military; a bayonet-sabre); un Bon-Dieu (military); une curette
