1888. Philadelphia Times. (Scene up stairs.) Servant—Missus! missus! the beggar lady is down stairs, and I hare the ash gintleman knockin' at the gate.
6. in pl. (gaming).—Cards. For synonyms see Devils' Books.
1890. Standard, 15 March, p. 3, col. 5. At Stepney Fairman entered the compartment, and stated he had been to Croydon races, and had been playing with the ladies (cards), and offered to show them how it was done.
7. (American).—A sweetheart.
Old Lady, subs. phr. (common).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see Monosyllable.
Perfect Lady, subs. phr. (common).—A harlot. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and Tart.
Lady of the Lake, subs. phr. (old).—A kept mistress.
b.1660. Davenant, The Siege, v. Thou lady of the lake: a pox a whispering!
1678. Butler, Hudibras, iii. i. 868. All women would be of one piece But for the difference marriage makes 'Twixt wives and ladies of the lakes.
Lady of Easy Virtue, subs. phr. (common).—A harlot; a woman of accommodating morals or of more complaisance than virtue. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and Tart.—Grose (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811), and
1890. Standard, 21 March, p. 3, col. 7. Some lady of easy virtue, about whom they knew nothing, lived in another flat, and some one proved that she was an immoral woman.
Ladybird, subs. (common).—1. A
whore; and (2) a term of endearment.
For synonyms see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, i. 33. What lamb! what, ladybird! God forbid!
1600. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ii. 1. Is that your new ruff, sweet ladybird?
1653. Brome, Court Begger, i. 1. A very lime bush to catch lady-birds.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Ladybirds, Light or Lewd Women.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
1821. Egan, Life in London, p. 173. Others of these lady-birds were offering their congratulations to him.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom & Jerry, p. 5. Here, among the pinks in Rotten Row, the ladybirds in the Saloon etc.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Lady-chair, subs. (common).—See
King's cushion.
1869. Beecher-Stowe, Old Town Folks, 436. She insisted on being carried in a lady-chair over to our woodland study.
Lady Dacre's Wine, subs. phr.
(old).—Gin.—Lex. Bal. (1811).
For synonyms see Drinks and
White Satin.
Lady-feast, subs. (old).—A bout of
venery.
1653. Brome, Mad Couple, iii. Al. This kisse and name your time . . . Bel. To morrow night. Al. Shall you be ready so soone thinke you after your plentifull lady-feast.
Lady Fender, subs. (servants').—A
woman who spends her time
nursing the fire.
Lady-flower, subs. (venery).—The
female pudendum.—Whitman.
For synonyms see Monosyllable.
Lady Green, subs. (thieves').—A
clergyman; specifically the prison
chaplain. For synonyms see Devil-dodger.
