Mark of mouth, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The tale told by the teeth. (Originally horse-copers'). Cf. the proverb :—'You mustn't look a gift horse in the mouth.'
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, v111. From a distant corner two ancient virgins, long past mark of mouth.
Marker, subs. (Cambridge University).—A
person employed to walk
up and down chapel during a
part of the service, pricking off
the names of the students present.
1849. Blackwood's Mag., May. His name, pricked off upon the marker's roll, No twinge of conscience racks his easy soul.
Market, subs. (racing).—The betting
ring.
To drive pigs to market. See Pigs.
Market-dame, subs. (old).—A
strumpet. For synonyms see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
1705-7. E. Ward, Hudibras Rediv., II. ii. (1715), 25. Punks, Strolers, market dames, and Bunters.
Marketeer, subs. (racing).—A betting
man who devotes himself, by
means of special information, to
the study of favourites and their
diseases: the principal agent in all
milking (q.v.) and knocking-out
(q.v.) transactions.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, 116. The marketeer started a few rods with him.
Market-fever. See Pencil-fever.
Market-horse, subs. (racing).—A
horse kept on the lists for the
sake of the betting.
Market-place, subs. (provincial).—The
front teeth.
Marking, subs. (thieves').—1.
A watcher; a stall (q.v.).—Matsell.
2. (thieves').—See quot.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Marking. Observing; taking notice.
Marley-slopper, subs. (street).—See
quot.
1887. Walford's Antiquarian, 252. A marley-slopper is a splay-footed person. Marley is a corruption of marble. . . . In playing it is common for a boy to put his heels together, and turn out his toes . . . to stop an eccentric marble.
Marmalade. True marmalade,
subs. phr. (common).—A variant
of 'real jam' (q.v.).
Marmozet, subs. (old).—An endearment;
also in jocular contempt,
as monkey (q.v.).
1607. Puritan, i. 3. Why, do't now then, marmozet.
Marm-puss, subs. phr. (tailors').—A
wife.
Maroon, verb. (nautical).—See
quot. Hence, Maroon, subs. =
a man marooned.
1862. Mayne Reid, The Maroon [Title].
1892. Leisure Hour, Jan., p. 172. Stealing was punished with great severity, generally by marooning—i.e. abandonment on a desert isle, with a little powder and shot and a flask of water.
Marplot, subs. (old; now recognised).—An
officious bungler; a
spoil-sport (q.v.). [From a character
in The Busybody; see
quot. 1709].
