Most, verb. (American thieves').—See quot.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Most. Dining at an eating-house and leaving without making payment.
All there, but the most of you! phr. (venery).—Copulation.
Mot (Mott) or Mort, (q.v.) subs.
(old).—1. See quots. 1785, 1851,
and Mort.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mot. A girl, or wench.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v.
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., i. 266. The mot of the ken (nick-name for matron of the establishment).
2. (common).—See quot. 1819. For synonyms see Barrack-hack and Tart.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, 189. Mott, a blowen, or woman of the town.
1821. Egan, Life in London, i. 223. The Hon. Tom Dashall . . . was in close conversation with his mott.
1828. Maginn, Vidocq Versified. With the mots their ogles throwing.
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon's Good Night. A mot's good night to one and all.
Mot-cart, subs. (common).—1. A
brougham; a loose-box (q.v.).
(2) A mattress.—Barrère and
Leland.
Moth, subs. (common).—A prostitute;
a fly-by-night (q.v.). For
synonyms see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
Mother, subs. (old).—1. A bawd.
Also Mother-abbess, Mother
Midnight, and Mother Damnable.
See Abbess.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Mother, or The Mother, a bawd. Mother Abbess, the same.
2. (common).—A familiar mode of address.
1647. Fletcher, The Chances, i. 8. Good mother.
1847. C. Bronté, Jane Eyre, xix. But, mother, I did not come to hear Mr. Rochester's fortune, I came to hear my own.
3. (old colloquial).—Hysteria.
1605. Shakspeare, Lear, ii. 4, 56. O, how this mother swells up toward my heart.
1662. Middleton, Mayor of Queensborough [Dyce (1840), I. 186]. I'm so troubled with the mother too.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 161. From Damnable Members, and fits of the mother, Good Lord, deliver us.
Does your mother know you're out? phr. (common).—A derisive street catch-phrase. See Does.
1836. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, Misadventures at Margate. He smiled and said, 'Sir, does your mother know, that you are out?'
1840. Sporting Review, III. 2. Has he no friends to look after him? 'Does his mother know he's out?'
1841. Punch, i. p. 6, col. 2. In this darkling hour of doubt—Does your mother know you're out?
1844. Puck, 134. Tailors or cobblers, both, I trow, From board or stall ye roam, And do your anxious mothers know That ye are out? Go home!
1895. Chatham & Rochester News, 'Political News'. . . . A Voice. Does your mother know you're out? Ald. Davies. Yes! and next week she'll know that I'm in as well.
Has your mother sold her mangle? phr. (streets').—A catch phrase: see Does.
Teach your mother (or
