1883. Braddon, Golden Calf, II, ch. iv, p. 140. Brian is a tremendous botanist, and Mr. Jardine is not an ignoramus in that line.
Ignoramus-Jury, subs. phr. (old).—A
Grand Jury.
1690. B.E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. Ignoramus. . . . also, We are Ignorant, written by the Grand Jury on Bills, when the Evidence is not Home, and the Party (thereupon) Discharged.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s. v.
Ikey, subs. (thieves').—A Jew:
specifically a Jew fence (q.v.). [A
corruption of Isaac]. For synonyms
see Yid. Also Ikey Mo.
Adj. (common).—Smart; fly (q.v.); knowing (q.v.).
1870. Leybourne, Song. My name it is ikey Bill, A Whitechapel Covey am I.
1892. Chevalier, 'The Little Nipper'. But artful little ikey little ways, As makes the people sit up where we stays.
Ile. See Oil.
Ill, adv. (American).—Vicious;
unpleasant; ill-tempered. Cf. Religious.
Also ill for = having
a vicious propensity for anything
(jamieson). Cf., 'Neither is it ill
air only that makes an ill seat,
but ill ways, ill markets, and ill
neighbours' (Bacon).
1887. Trans. Am. Philol. Ass., xvii. 39. I heard a man in the Smoky Mountains say, 'Some rattlesnakes are iller'n others;' and another that 'black rattlesnakes are the illest'.
1887. Scribner's Mag. In course the baby mus' come in the thick er it! An't make me mad, seein' him so ill with her.
To do ill to, verb. phr. (Scots' colloquial).—To have sexual commerce with: generally in negative, and of women alone.
Illegitimate, subs. (old).—1. A
counterfeit sovereign: young illegitimate
= a half sovereign.—Bee
(1823).
2. (common).—A low grade costermonger.
Adj. (racing).—Applied to steeple-chasing or hurdle-racing, as distinguished from work on the flat.
1888. Daily Chronicle, 31 October. A much smarter performer at the illegitimate game than she was on the flat.
Ill-fortune, subs. (Old Cant.).—Ninepence:
also the picture of
ill-luck.—B.E. (1690); Grose
(1785).
Illuminate, verb. (American).—To
interline with a translation.
1856. Hall, College Words, p. 261. s.v. Illuminated books are preferred by good judges to ponies or hobbies, as the text and translation in them are brought nearer to one another.
Illustrated Clothes. See Historical
shirt.
I'm-Afloat, subs. phr. (rhyming).—1.
A boat.
2. (rhyming).—A coat. For synonyms see Capella.
Image, subs. (colloquial).—An affectionate
reproof: e.g. 'Come out,
you little image!' See Little
Devil.
Immense, adj. (colloquial).—A general
superlative: cf. Awful,
Bloody &c.
1771. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic & Satyrical, p. 216. Dear Bragg, Hazard, Loo, and Quadrille, Delightful! extatic! immense!
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xxv. 'What do you think of this, Florence darling?' I whispered. 'Is it not immense?'
1888. Florida Times Union, 8 Feb. The afterpiece is said to be immense.
