MAG, subs. (old).—1. Talk; chatter; jaw (q.v.). Also a jabberer. Fr. un caquet-bon-bec.
1778. Darblay, Diary, i. 100. If you have any mag in you, we'll draw it out.
1874. E. Lynn Linton, Patricia Kemball, xviii. 'Don't be a fool, woman, and hold your mag on things you don't understand,' said Mr. Simpson coarsely.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 20. Tipped the mag with as much bellows-blowing as though he'd two tongues in his cheeks.
2. (thieves').—See quots. Also MAKE and magpie. In pl. (in Scotland) = a gratuity expected by servants. Cf. Meg = a guinea.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A make, a halfepenny.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club's Repr. 1874). Make, an halfpenny.
1676 Warning for Housekeepers, 'Song.' But if the cully nap us . . . it is hardly worth a make.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Make.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Make (S.) a cant name for a half-penny.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Make.
1789. Geo Parker, Life's Painter, p. 124. Bless you eyes and limbs, lay out a mag with poor chirruping Joe.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, 6. If any body offers you less nor a mag, or a duce, vy, you may say with the poet, Who vou'd his farthings bear? ven he himself might his quivetus make vith a bare bodkin.
1830. W. T. Moncrieff, The Heart Of London, ii. 1. I haven't a mag.
1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist viii. 'But come,' said the young gentleman, you want grub, and you shall have it. I'm at low-water-mark myself—only a bob and a magpie, but as it goes Ile fork out and stump.'
1840. Lytton, Paul Clifford, xvi. You care not a mag if our party should fall.
1842. Comic Almanack, 29 Aug. 'La Fontaine's Homeric Exhibition.' It's a science; methinks—tho' La Fontaine may brag That in language of slang, sir, is not worth a mag.
1843. W. T. Moncrieff, The Scamps Of London, ii. 3. I'll play you three times round the board for a mag a turn, and a pint to come in—the first five out of nine.
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. liv. p. 451. If he don't keep such a business as the present as close as possible it can't be worth a mag to him.
1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. xliv. 'I've kept this safe for many a long day. I've held on to it when I hadn't a mag in my pocket, nor a crust in my wallet.'
1864. Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find the word make (a halfpenny) used by boys in Ireland and extensively among the Irish labouring people settled in London.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 64. We should not have taken a mag, as we left the place in the morning.
3. (American).—A half-cent.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
4. (shooting).—The same Magpie.
5. (common).—A magazine.
1796. Wolcot, Peter Pindar, p. 309 [ed. 1830]. And now of Hawkesbury they talked, who wrote in mags for hire.
1837. Comic Almanack, 92. At least 'twas so Some years ago, Ere wisdom oped our eyes; And farthing folks, with penny mags, Made people penny wise.
1869. Chamb. Journal, 8 May, p. 303. 'Why don't you fellows write something for the mags?' said Tom.
1882. Mrs. E. R. Alexander, The Freres, 45. He . . . is on the staff of I don't know how many papers and mags.
Verb. (old).—1. To talk.
1836. Comic Almanack, October. Just stow your magging, for you've piped enough.
1843. W. T. Moncrieff, The Scamps of London, i. 2. Stow magging—here's more coves coming.
