Lone-duck (or -dove), subs. (common).—A woman out of keeping; also a prostitute, who works away from home by means of houses of accommodation. Also Quiet mouse (q.v.).
Lone-star State, subs. phr.
(American).—Texas. [From the
flag with a single star in the
centre].
Long, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1.
A bull (q.v); cf. short.
1888. Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov. The ramket continued somewhat depressed on longs selling.
2. (Fenian).—A rifle: cf. short = a revolver.
3. See John Long.
Adj. (once literary: now colloquial or humorous).—Tall.
c.1189. Destruction of Troy [E. E. T. S.], 1. 3805. Off Duke Nestor to deme, doughty in werre, He was long and large, with lemys full grete.
c.1440. Isumbras, line 258. For he es bothe lange and heghe, The faireste mane that ever I seghe.
1888-9. Broadside Ballad. 'If only I were long enough.'
The long (University).—The summer vacation.
1852. Bristed, Five Years in an English University, p. 37. For a month or six weeks in the long they rambled off to see the sights of Paris.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, i. 17. 'I hope I shall not be ['ploughed for smalls'] to vex you and puss.' . . . '. . . Puss? that is me [sister Julia] How dare he? Did I not forbid all these nicknames and all this Oxfordish, by proclamation, last long.' 'Last long?' [remonstrates mamma]. 'Hem! last protracted vacation.'
The longs, subs. (Oxford University).—The latrines at Brasenose. [Built by Lady Long].
Adj. (colloquial).—Heavy; great: as a 'long price', 'long odds' etc. etc.
1850. Aytoun, Dreepdaily Burghs, 10. If we look sharp after it, I bet the long odds you will carry it in a canter.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, xiii. Now for good information, long odds, a safe man, and a shot at the favourite!
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 63. Too long in the purse to let slip.
The long and the short of it, phr. (common).—The sum of a matter; the whole. See Long Attachment.
d.1845. Hood, Paired not Matched. For I am small, My wife is tall, And that's the short and the long of it.
Long in the mouth, adj. phr. (common).—Tough.
Long in the tooth, adj. phr. (common).—Elderly.
Long acre, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A
baker; a burn-crust (q.v.).
Long-attachment, subs. (common).—A
tall man and short woman
walking together, or vice versâ:
also the long and the short
of it.
Long-bill, subs. (thieves').—A long
term of imprisonment. Short-bill
= a short term.
Long-bit, subs. (old American).—A
defaced 20 cent piece (Matsell);
also 15 cents in Western U.
S. (Century). Short-bit = 10
cents (Century).
Long-bow. To draw (or pull) the
long-bow, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To
tell improbable stories.
Hence, long-bow man = a liar.
