The parson's mousetrap, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. 1785.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mousetrap. The parson's mousetrap; the state of matrimony.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
Mousle, verb. (old).—1. To nibble.
Hence (2) to tongue a woman:
cf. Mouse, sense 5; to tip the
velvet (q.v.).
1672. Marvell, Rehearsal [Grosart (1873), iii. 152]. The poor word is sure to be mumpled and mousled to purpose.
1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, v. 1. He put the lip of his tongue between my lips, and so mousled me—and I said I'd bite it.
1695. Congreve, Love for Love, iii. 4. Ben's a brisk boy . . . he'll touzle her and mouzle her; . . . if he shou'd not stay for saying grace . . . but fall to without the help of a parson, ha?
1762. Wilson, The Cheats, ii. 4. I.I. Dear Mopus! [He hugs her]. Mr. Mop. Away, Captain! You do so mousle one.
Mouth, subs. (common).—1. See
quots. Also mouth-almighty.
For synonyms see Clack-box
and Furioso.
1596. Shakspeare, King John, ii. 1, line 397. Large mouth indeed!
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.) Mouth (S.). . . . also a cant word for a noisy, silly, ignorant, prating, scolding fellow.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mouth. A noisy fellow. Mouth half cocked; one gaping and staring at every thing he sees.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Mouth. A noisy fellow; a silly fellow.
2. (old).—See quot.
1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, 34. Another shall look out for a mouth that has a horse to sell or change.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Mouth. A silly fellow. A dupe. To stand mouth; i.e., to be duped.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v. Mouth, a foolish silly person; a man who does a very imprudent act, is said to be a rank mouth.
3. See Cheek.
4. (common).—The after-effects of a debauch; hot coppers (q.v.).
Verb. (colloquial).—To rant.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iii. 2. If you mouth it as many of your players do.
1759. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xxi. I hate to hear an actor mouthing trifles.
1871. Lowell, Study Windows, 180. In his pompous, mouthing way of saying it.
To give mouth, verb. phr. (common).—1. To put into words; and (2) to speak loudly and distinctly. Also mouth it. It. dar la bocca.
1840. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, lxv. 'What I say in respect to the speeches always is, Give it mouth. That's my maxim. Give it mouth.'
1850. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Mouth it. Speak loudly.
1861. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. ii. ch. vii. 'I have an opinion of you, sir, to which it is not easy to give mouth.'
1883. Daily Telegraph, 4 Sep., p. 2, col. 2. 'Black Bess,' they said, was nothing unless you gave it mouth, and the two remaining verses, with the chorus, were rendered with unabated vigour.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 42. Give it mouth!
Down in the mouth, verb. phr. (common).—Dejected.
1608-11. Bishop Hall, Epistles, i. 6. The Roman orator was down in the mouth; finding himself thus cheated by the money-changer.
1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, iv. 9. Sir. J. Witt. Now am I slapdash down in the mouth, and have not one word to say!
