Old man, subs. phr. (common).—An employer; a chief; the governor (q.v.); the father of a family. Also, a husband.
1847. Howitt, Journal, p. 187. To begin with the captain. He was a first-rate old man as far as good treatment and good living went.
The sick man, subs. phr. (literary).—Turkey.
Man about town, subs. phr. (colloquial).—See quot.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Man o' th' town, a Lew'd Spark, or very Debaushe.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Man of Kent, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. 1787.
1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary etc. (1811), p. 72. All the inhabitants of Kent, east of the river Medway, are called Men of Kent, from the story of their having retained their ancient privileges, particularly those of gavel-kind, by meeting William the Conqueror at Swanscomb-bottom; each man, besides his arms, carrying a green bough in his hand; by this contrivance concealing their number under the appearance of a moving wood. The rest of the inhabitants of the county are stiled Kentish-men.
1861. Cuthbert Bede, Our New Rector, ch. x. p. 104. 'And the Men of Kent, you know, were never conquered!—ar'n't we just proud of that!'
A man or a mouse, phr. (old).—Something or nothing (Florio); one on the other.
1541. Schole House of Women [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poetry (1866), iv. 111]. Fear not, she saith unto her spouse, A man or a mouse whether ye be.
Nine tailors make a man. See Ninth.
The little man in the boat, subs. phr. (venery).—The clitoris. See Button.
Manablins, subs. (old).—Broken
victuals. Fr. arlequin, and le bijou.
Also manavilins.
1888. Rolf Boldrewood, Robbery Under Arms, xxii. No end of manavilins either.
Manarvel, verb. (nautical).—To
pilfer small stores.
Man-box, subs. (old).—A coffin.
1820. Reynolds ('Peter Corcoran'), The Fancy, 'King Tims the First.' Mr. Munster Hatband, when shall I have a long man-box bespoke?
Manchester, subs. (common).—The
tongue. For synonyms see
Prating-cheat.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.
1820. London Magazine, i. 26. Bidding her hold her Manchester.
1823. Grose, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.
Manchester-silk, subs. (common).—Cotton.
Manchester sovereign, subs. phr.
(common).—A shilling. For synonyms
see Bob.
Manchet. See Brewer's-basket.
Man-chovey. See Chovey.
Mander, subs. (thieves').—See quot.
1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple, ch. xvi. A couple of manders (the slang phrase amongst this callow brood of young gaol-birds for 'remands').
Mandozy, subs. (old).—1. A telling
hit; and (2) term of endearment
among East-end Jews. [Both from
the fighter, Mendoza].
Mang, verb. (Scots').—To talk; to
brag; to boast.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.
