1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Lightmans, (break of) day.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Lightness, subs. (old).—Wantonness:
see Light, adj.
1614. Cook, City Gallant [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), xi. 254]. Kindness is termed lightness in our sex.
Lightning, subs. (old).—Gin. Flash
of lightning (or clap of
thunder) = a glass of gin. For
synonyms see Drinks and Satin.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, 154. Noggin of lightning. A quartern of gin.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
1838. T. E. Wilks, John Smith, i. 2. Sometimes we have a little bet as well, but nothing to speak of—some heavy or a flash of lightning.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab.. 1. 160. He would . . . express his desire to add . . . the stimulant of a flash of lightning.
Light-O'-love, subs. (colloquial).—A
wanton.
1589. Nashe, Anat. of Absurditie, in Wks. (Grosart), 1. 14. As there was a loyall Lucretia, so there was a light a love Lais.
1592. Greene, Quip for Up. Courtiers, Bz. 6. Next them grew the dissembling daisie, to warn such light o' love wenches, not to trust every faire promise that such amorous bachelors make them.
1599. Porter, Two Angry Women [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), v11. 295]. Foul strumpet, light-a-love, short-heels.
1605. London Prodigal, ii. 1. I hate a light o' love, as I hate death.
1620. Beaumont and Fletcher, Chances, i. 4. Sure he has encountered Some light o' love or other, and there means To play at in and in for this night.
1652. Fletcher, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 1. One of your London light o' loves, a right one! Came over in these pumps, and half a petticoat.
1840. Mark Lemon, Lost And Won, i. 2. Now though Mistress Leyton never oversteps the bounds of modesty, yet it does look so much like what they would do were she a light of love.
1874. Ouida, Two Wooden Shoes, xxiii. You were spared a bad thing, lad; the child was that grand painter's light-o'-love, that is plain to see.
Light-skirts, subs.(old).—A strumpet.
For synonyms see Barrack-hack
and Tart. Also Light-heels.
1602. Cooke, How[to] Choose a Good Wife etc. [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 53]. I'll tell my mistress as soon as I come home That mistress light-heels comes to dinner tomorrow.
1606. Return from Parnassus [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), ix. 118]. Hath not Shore's wife, although a light-skirts she, Giv'n him a chaste, long-lasting memory? Ibid. 127. You light-skirt stars. . . . By gloomy light perk out your doubtful heads.
1612. Passenger of Benvenuto [quoted by Nares]. F. The purse serves for an art; but if I should briefly tell thee, what punkish art derived from her progenitors this light-skirts used towards me, thou wouldest laugh.
c.1633. Lady Alimony, ii. 6. That light-skirt, with impetuous heat, Sometimes pursu'd me.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 64]. A whore, a light-skirts.
1834. Taylor, Ph. van Art., pt. II. iii. 3. Oh, she's a light skirts! yea, and at this present A little, as you see, concern'd with liquor.
Light-troops, subs. (old).—Lice.
1823. Grose, Vulgar Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. The light-troops are in full march.
