1888. Cincinnati Enquirer. Finally, Deacon Spalding broke out with: 'That goldasted St. Louis mugwump has made suckers of us again with his cracks about coming into the league. I move we adjourn.'
Gold-backed 'Un, subs. (common).—A
louse. Also Grey-backed
'un. For synonyms, see Chates.
Gold Bug, subs. phr. (American).—A
man of wealth and (inferentially)
distinction; a millionaire.
See Bug.
1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, Mar. 5. I do not think the feeling against silver is anything like as strong as it was. Of course, a few gold bugs might fight him.
GOLD-DROPPER, subs. (old).—A
sharper. An old-time worker of
the confidence trick. See quots.
Also Gold-finder.
1690. B. E., Cant. Crew, s.v. Gold-droppers, Sweetners, Cheats, Sharpers.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Gold-finder (s.) . . . also a cant name for a cheat, who under the pretence of finding a piece of money, and inviting a by-stander to partake of a treat, etc., out of it, endeavours to get him to play at cards, dice, etc., in order to win or cheat him of his money; they are sometimes also called guinea-droppers.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Sharpers who drop a piece of gold, which they pick up in the presence of some unexperienced person, for whom the trap is laid, this they pretend to have found, and, as he saw them pick it up, they invite him to a public house to partake of it: when there, two or three of their comrades drop in, as if by accident, and propose cards, or some other game, when they seldom fail of stripping their prey.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Golden-cream, subs, (thieves').—Rum.
1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, p. 321, s.v.
Gold-end Man, subs. phr. (old).—An
itinerant jeweller; a buyer
of old gold and silver. [Gold-end
= a broken piece of
jewellery.] Also Goldsmith's
Apprentice. See Eastward Hoe.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, ii., 1. I know him not, he looks like a gold-end MAN.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar's Bush, iii., 1. Hig. Have ye any ends of gold or silver?
Golden Grease, subs. phr. (old).—A
fee; also a bribe. For
synonyms, see Palm Oil.
Goldfinch, subs. (old).—1. A
well-to-do man; a warm 'un
(q.v.).
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Goldfinch, c. He that has alwaies a Purse or Cod of Gold in his Fob.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1852. Judson, Mysteries, etc., of New York, ch. iv. 'Was the swell a goldfinch?' 'He wasn't nothin' else. Got a clean ten times ten out of him.'
Ibid. 'It'll be a great lay, if the game's fat. Is it a goldfinch?' 'Fifty thousand, hard dust.'
2. (common).—A guinea; a sovereign. For synonyms, see Canary.
1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, ii., 2. Sir H. Don't you love singing-birds, madam? Angel (aside). That's an odd question for a lover; (aloud) Yes, sir. Sir H. Why, then, madam, here is a nest of the prettiest goldfinches that ever chirped in a cage.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. iv. Put your monies aside, my lord; it is not well to be seen with such goldfinches chirping about one in the lodgings of London.
1826. Buckstone, Luke the Labourer, iii., 4. Good-night, noble captain. Pipe all hands at five o'clock, for I've a day's work to do. We'll jig it to-morrow, to the piping of GOLD-FINCHES.
1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 101 (ed. 1864). Here's a handful of goldfinches ready to fly.
Goldfinch's Nest, subs. (venery).—The
female pudendum. For
synonyms, see Monosyllable.
1827. The Merry Muses, p. 70. And soon laid his hand on the goldfinch's nest.
