A hotch-potch of all tongues, nations, and languages. We speak the Lingua Franca, keep open house, etc.
1675. Dryden, Kind Keeper, i. 1. English! away you fop! 'tis a kind of lingua franca, as I have heard the merchants call it.
1684. E. Everard, Tr. Tavernier's Japan, ii. 41. He spoke half Portuguese, half Italian, which being a kind of lingua franca.
1755. Lord Chesterfield, Letters (1777), Bk. ii. No. xcviii, Misc. Wks., Vol. ii. p. 431. How does my godson go on with his little lingua franca, or jumble of different languages?
1787. Beckford, Italy, ii. (1834), 246. Talking a strange lingua franca, composed of three or four different languages.
1825. Scott, Talisman, xiii. The lingua franca mutually understood by Christians and Saracens.
1860. W. H. Russell, Diary in India, i. 28. Men . . . talking in lingua franca.
1877. F. Burnaby, Through Asia Minor (1878), vi. 34. 'What do you want'—he asked in lingua franca, that undefined mixture of Italian, French, Greek and Spanish, which is spoken throughout the Mediterranean.
Lining. See Inside Lining.
1632. W. Rowley, Woman Never Vext, iv. 1. This lean gentleman looks as if he had no lining in's guts.
To get within the lining of one's smock, verb. phr. (venery). See quot.
1577. Stanihurst, Ireland, p. 26. The pretty poplet, his wife began to be a fresh occupieing giglot at home, and by report fell so farre acquainted with a religious cloisterer of the towne, as that he gat within the lining of hir smocke.
Link, verb. (old).—To turn out a
pocket.
1821. D. Haggart, Life Glossary, p. 172, s.v.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
Linsey-woolsey, adj. (old).—Neither
one thing nor the other.
1592. Greene, Greenes Vision [Grosart (1881-6), xii. 235]. Thou hast writ no booke well but thy Nunquam fera est and that is indifferent linsey woolsey.
1593. Harvey, Pierces Superer. [Grosart (1885), ii. 317]. A linsey-woolsie wit.
1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night [Grosart (1883), iii. 229]. A man must not . . . have his affections linsey wolsey, intermingled with lust, and things worthy of liking.
1609. Dekker, Work for Arm. [Grosart (1886), iv. 158]. Iackes on both sides . . . a linsey-woolsey people, that took no part, but stood indifferent between money and poverty.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 38. And Baalam's wages doe moue many still to make such linsey-woolsey marriages.
1647-80. Rochester, A Satire on Marriage. But if he must pay nature's debt in kind, To check his eager passion let him find Some willing female out. . . . Tho' she be linsey-woolsey, Bawd or Whore.
1653. Brome, City Wit, i. 1. Venerable Mr. Linsie-Woolsie; to weare satin sleeves, and whip beggars.
1662. Rump Songs, 'A Litany for the New-Year,' ii. 94. From linsy-woolsey Lords, from Town betrayers, From apron Preachers, and extempore Prayers, Good Lord deliver us!
1664. Butler, Hudibras, i. c. 3. A lawless linsey-woolsey brother.
Lint-scraper, subs. (common).—A
young surgeon. For synonyms see
Crocus and Squirt. Also lint.
1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, Dramatis Personæ, Lint, a surgeon.
1861. Thackeray, Lovel, vi. 'If Miss Prior,' thought I, 'prefers this lint-scraper to me, ought I to baulk her?. . . Take the vaccinator, girl, if thou preferrest him!'
Lion, subs. (old).—1. See quots.
