Heading
(military: a cavalry sword, as also is un bancal); une côte de bœuf (thieves'); un grand couteau (military: a cavalry sword. Literally 'a large knife'); un fauchon (popular); un fauchon de satou (a wooden sword); une gaudille or gandille; Joyeuse (the name of the sword of Charlemagne); une flambe or flamberge (the sword of Roland); une paille de fer (= cold steel); une latte (a cavalry sword); une lardoire (popular).
German Synonym. Michel (from the Hebrew michael, an executioner's sword; also Lang-*michel).
Italian Synonym. Martina.
Spanish Synonyms. Fisberta; centella (literally 'spark,' 'thunder,' 'lightning'); respeto (properly 'respect'); garrancha; durindana.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Cheese-toaster: a sword.
1857-59. Thackeray, Virginians, x. I'll drive my cheese-toaster through his body.
Cheesy, adj. (common).—Fine or
showy. The opposite of 'dusty.'
[From cheese (q.v.) + y.] For
synonyms, see Up to Dick.
1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, xlviii., 211. To see him at Tattersall's sucking his cane, his cheesy hat well down on his nose. [m.]
Chemiloon, subs.—Chemise and
drawers in one; a combination
(q.v.).
Chepemens, subs. (old).—See
quot.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club's Repr., 1874). Chepemans: Cheape-side Market.
Cheque. To have seen the
cheque, phr. (common).—To
know positively; to be possessed
of exact knowledge concerning
a matter. For synonyms, see
Knowing.
Cherrilets, subs. (old).—The
nipples.
1599. Sylvester, Miracle of the Peace. Then those twins, thy strawberry teates, Curled, purled cherrilets?
1654. Witt's Recreations. Then nature for a sweet allurement sets Two smelling, swelling, bashful cherrylets.
Cherry, subs. (thieves').—A young
girl. Cf., Cherry-ripe and
Rosebud.
Cherry-Breeches.—See Cherubims.
Cherry-Coloured, adj. (common).—Either
red or black; a
term used in a cheating trick at
cards. When the cards are
being dealt, a 'knowing' one offers
to bet that he will tell the colour
of the turn-up card. 'Done,'
says Mr. Green. The sum being
named, Mr. Sharp affirms that
it will be cherry-colour; and
as cherries are either black or
red, he wins. Grose [1785] has
cherry-coloured cat for one
either black or white in colour.
1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood. And forth to the heath is the scamps-man gone, His matchless cherry black prancer riding.
1886. Ill. London News, Jan. 23, p. 78, col. 2. A favourite hoax is the great exhibition, wherein a cherry-coloured cat and a rose-coloured pigeon (the meeting between Wellington and Blucher), etc., are to be shown. The former consists of a black cat and a white pigeon.
Cherry-Merry, adj. (old).—1.
Convivial; slightly inebriated.
