to wink (as a sign of caution, understanding, etc.); to tip the red rag = to scold; to tip the rags (or the legs) a gallop (or the double) = to decamp (Grose); to tip all nine = to knock all the skittles down at once (Grose); to tip the velvet = to tongue a woman (Grose); to tip a stave = to sing; to tip the little finger (Australian) = to drink; to tip the grampus = to duck a man: a penalty for sleeping on watch (nautical); to tip one's boom off = to hurry away (nautical); to tip the long-'un = to foraminate a woman; to tip a stave = to sing a song; to tip a nod = to recognise; to tip a moral = to give the straight; to tip a rise = to befool, etc.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, 37. Cheates, which word is vsed generally for things, as Tip me that Cheate, Give me that thing.
1676. Warning for Housekeepers, 'Life and Death of the Darkman Budge.' For when that he hath nubbed us, And our friends tip him no cole, He takes his chive and cuts us down, And tips us into the hole.
1692. Dryden, Juvenal, vi. She writes love letters to the youth in grace; Nay, tips the wink before the cuckold's face.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, iv. vi. The quarrel being hushed, Panurge tipped the wink upon Epistemon and Friar John . . . taking them aside.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Tip. Tip your Lour, or Cole or I'll Mill ye, c. give me your Money or I'll kill ye. Tip the Culls a Sock, for they are sawcy, c. Knock down the Men for resisting. Tip the Cole to Adam Tiler, c. give your Pickpocket Money presently to your running Comrade. Tip the Mish, c. give me the Shirt. Tip me a Hog, c. lend me a Shilling.
d.1704. Brown, Works, i. 251. I now tipp'd the wink, at her, and she as kindly returned it.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 86. The pert jackanapes, Nick Doubt tipped me the wink, and put out his tongue at his grandfather.
1731-5. Pope, Moral Essays, ii. 33. Sudden, she storms! she raves! You tip the wink; But spare your censure: Silia does not drink.
174[?]. Cibber, Flora, ii. 2. She tipt the wink upon me, with as much as to say, desire him not to go till he hears from me.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, xii. I began to smell his character, and, tipping Strap the wink, told the company, etc. Ibid. (1760-2), Sir L. Greaves, vi. Then, my lad, there would be some picking; aha! dost thou tip me the traveller, my boy?
1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesque, 288. Nestor their meaning understood, And tipt 'em all the wink it should.
1778. Burney, Evelina, lxxviii. 'Egad,' said Mr Coverley, 'the baronet has a mind to tip us a touch of the heroics this morning.'
c.1780. Ireland Sixty Years Ago, 86. 'The Kilmainham Minit.' When to see Luke's last jig we agreed, We tipped him our gripes in a tangle. Ibid., 87. We'd tip him the fives fore his det.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 309. Prowling about in masquerade, and tipping the wink to every blackguard who parades the street.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 15. He tipp'd him a settler.
1821. Egan, Anec. of Turf, 183. She tipped the party such a dish of red rag as almost to create a riot in the street.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 3. Hand us over three browns out of that 'ere tizzy; and tip us the heavy. (Landlord receives money and delivers porter.)
1824. Sonnets for the Fancy [Boxiana, iii. 622]. The knowing bench had tipped her buzzer queer.
1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxxiii. Tip him the degan, Fib, fake him through and through. Ibid., xlix. I shall give you a cooling in the watchhouse if you tips us any of your jaw.
1832. Wilson, Noctes Ambrosianæ, Sept. Tip the captain one of your broadsides.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, 1. xiv. Tip me the clank like a dimber mort.
