1883. Field, 27 Oct. . . . won the game by two sets to love.
1885. Times, 1 April, p. 6, col. 5. Both had an innings [at racquets], but did not score, and consequently the game was called 13 to love.
Cupboard-love, phr. (colloquial).—Interested love.
c.1688. Poor Robin. A cupboard love is seldom true, A love sincere is found in few.
Loveage, subs. (common).—Tap-*lashes;
alls (q.v.); ullage
(q.v.).
Love-apples, subs. (venery).—The
testes. For synonyms see Cods.
Love-child (or Love-brat), subs.
(common).—A bastard.
[?]. Old Chap book [Nares]. Now by this four we plainly see, Four love brats will be laid to thee: And she that draws the same shall wed Two rich husbands, and both well bred.
1849. Kingsley, Alton Locke, xxviii. Unless we all repent of . . . love-children.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, 1. xvi. 'A love-child,' returned Betty Higden, dropping her voice; 'parents never known; found in the street.'
Love-dart (or dart of love), subs.
(venery).—The penis. For synonyms
see Creamstick and Prick.
Love-flesh, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The
pudenda.—Whitman.
Love-juice, subs. (venery).—The
sexual secretion. For synonyms
see Cream.
Love-Ladder, subs. phr. (old).—A
laced petticoat.
1667. Head, Proteus Redivivus (1684), xii. They will make their husbands pawn their consciences, as well as their credits, . . . for another story of lace more upon their petty-coats; as if women thought men's fancies did not climb fast enough, without such a lecherous love-ladder.
Love-lane, (venery).—The female
pudendum. Hence a turn (or
an ejectment) in love-lane
= an act of coition. For synonyms
see Greens and Ride.
Love-liquor, subs. (venery).—The
semen. For synonyms see Cream.
Lovelock (or Lock), subs. (old).—A
falling curl by the ear: fashionable
more or less from the time
of Elizabeth to Charles I.; worn
on the left side, and hanging
by the shoulder, sometimes even
to the girdle. Also heart-*breakers
(q.v.).
1592. Lyly, Mydas, iii. 2. How, sir, will you be trimmed? will you have your beard like a spade or a bodkin? . . . your love-lockes wreathed with a silken twist, or shaggie to fall on your shoulders?
1592. Greene, Quip for an Upstart Courtier, D2, b. Will you be Frenchified, with a love-lock down to your shoulders, wherein you may hang your mistres' favour?
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart (1885), ii. 28]. Yet cannot his stabbing dagger, nor his nittie loue-locke, keep him out of the legend of fantastical cox-combs.
1594. Barnefield, Affectionate Shepherd [Nares]. Why should the sweet love-locke hang dangling downe, Kissing thy girdle-stead with falling pride?
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado About Nothing, iii. 3. And one Deformed is one of them: I know him, he wears a lock.
1615. Beaumont and Fletcher, Cupid's Revenge, ii. He lay in gloves all night, and this morning I Brought him a new periwig, with a lock at it.
1633. Prynne, Histriomastix, 209. And more especially in long, unshorne, womanish, frizled, love-provoking haire, and lovelockes, growne now too much in fashion with comly pages, youthes, and lewd, effeminate, ruffianly persons.
1640. Shirley, Coronation, i. And who knows but he May lose his ribband by it, in his lock Dear as his saint?
