1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, v. ch. 30. If you hearken to those who will tell you the contrary, you'll find yourselves damnably mistaken, for that's a lie with a latchet; though 'twas Ælian, that long-bow man, that told you so, never believe him, for he lies as fast as a dog can trot.
1672. Ray, Proverbial Phrases, 200. That's a lie with a latchet, All the dogs in the town cannot match it.
A lie nailed to the counter, subs. phr. (common).—A detected falsehood or slander.
1888. Texas Siftings, 20 Oct. 'That lie was nailed a good while ago.' 'I know it,' chuckled the C. L., 'but it is easy enough to pull out the nail.'
1888. Denver Republican, 6 May. The La Junta Tribune has scooped all the papers in the State by nailing the first campaign lie this season.
Lie-abed, subs. (colloquial).—A
sluggard.
1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, i. If you had got up time enough, you might have secured the stage, but you are a lazy lie-a-bed.
1859. Reade, Love Me Little &c., x. David was none of your lie-a-beds. He rose at five in summer, six in winter.
Life. See Bet and Death.
Life-preserver, subs. (American
thieves').—1. A slung shot.— Matsell
(1859).
2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see Creamstick and Prick.
Lifer, subs. (thieves').—1. See quot.
1838. Also, a lag (q.v.) for
life. Fr. un fagot à perte de
vue; un bonnet vert à perpète,
1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xliii. 'If they don't get any fresh evidence, it'll only be a summary conviction, and we shall have him back again after six weeks or so; but, if they do, it's a case of lagging. They know what a clever lad he is; he'll be a lifer. They'll make the Artful nothing less than a lifer.' 'What do yer mean by lagging and a lifer?' demanded Mr. Bolter. . . . Being interpreted, Mr. Bolter would have been informed that they represented that combination of words, 'transportation for life.'
1885. Ency. Brit., xix. 756. Lifers cannot claim any remission, but their cases are brought forward at the end of twenty years.
1892. Hume Nisbet, p. 266. 'He has money enough, I am sure, raking in the thousands as he does.' 'So he has, and so have many old lifers.'
2. (thieves').—Penal servitude for life.
Lift, subs. (old).—1. A thief. Also
lifter.
1592. Greene, Quip, in Works, xi. 243. A receiver for lifts, and a dishonorable supporter of cut purses.
1600. Sir John Oldcastle, ii. 2. I'se poor Irishman; I'se a leafter.
1602. Shakspeare, Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. Is he so young a man and so old a lifter.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in Works (Grosart), iii. 146. He that first stealeth the parcell is called the lift.
1608. Penniless Parliament, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), i. 182. To the great impoverishing of all nimmers, lifters, and cut-purses.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (Park), ii. 108, s.v.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, ii. 138, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (thieves').—A theft; plunder; swag (q.v.). Also lifting.
1592. Greene, A Disputation [Grosart (1881-6), x. 227]. We practise . . . among merchaunt taylors . . . getting much gains by lifting.
1852. Judson, Mysteries etc. of New York, ch. iv. When I hear of the boys making a large lift, I always envy them.
