Marine (or Dead marine), subs. (common).—1. See quot. 1864; a camp-candlestick (q.v.). Also (Grose) marine officer.
1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 161. William IV seemed in a momentary dilemma one day, when, at table with several officers, he ordered one of the waiters to 'take away that marine there,' pointing to an empty bottle. 'Your majesty!' inquired a colonel of marines, 'do you compare an empty bottle to a member of our branch of the service?' 'Yes,' replied the monarch, as if a sudden thought had struck him; 'I mean to say it has done its duty once, and is ready to do it again.'
1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life etc., 11. 302. It was just as he said; our host did wake, but seeing a bottle with wine in it, closed his eyes, and Loraine soon made another marine.
2. (nautical).—See quot.
1840. R. H. Dana, Two Years before the Mast, ch. xvii. Marine is the term applied more particularly to a man who is ignorant and clumsy about seaman's work—a green-horn—a land-lubber.
Tell that to the marines. See Horse marines, and add following quots.
1830. W. T. Moncrieff, 'Old Booty,' A Sailors Tale, p. 31. 'So luff there with your death-bed scenes And tell that tale to the marines; Those lubbers may perhaps receive it, But sailors never will believe it.'
1836. M. Scott, Cringle's Log, ch. vii. I told them who I was, and that curiosity alone brought me there. 'Gammon, tell that to the marines; you're a spy.'
1846. Punch, v. p. 3. A New National Drama. Admiral. But I've bad news for you, my boy. The Admiralty has forbidden smoking on board . . . except in the galley. Tom. Tell that to the marines. What! your Honour, forbid a sailor his pipe!
Mark, subs. (colloquial).—1. A preference; a fancy.
1760. Foote, Minor, ii. Did I not tell you old Moll was your mark? Here she has brought a pretty piece of man's meat already.
1887. Henley, Culture In The Slums. My mark's a tidy little feed, And 'Enery Irving's gallery.
1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. xxv. Vernon was what Rogers the butler called a mark on strawberries and cream.
2. (thieves').—A person; a pig (q.v.); a raw (q.v.). Old mark = a lady.
3. (common).—See quot.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Mark—(ring). The pit of the stomach is termed the mark, and 'Broughton's mark.' It was Bill Warr's favourite hit; also, had been Dick Humphries's.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
4. See Mark of the beast.
5. (thieves').—A victim.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 July. The girl, a likely mark, was a simple country lass.
6. (American).—A street-walker.
Verb. (thieves').—To watch; to pick out a victim. See Marking, sense 2.
To toe the mark. See Toe.
The mark of the beast, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also Mark. For synonyms see Monosyllable.
1719. Durfey, Pills etc., iv. 116. Now all my Friends are laid in grave, And nothing they have left me But a mark a Year my mother gave, By which for to protect me. Yet I live . . . As brave as any Lady, And all is with a mark a year, The which my mother gave me.
To mark up, verb. phr. (tailors').—To know all about (cf. verb.) persons.
