Violet (or Garden-violet), subs. (common).—1. An onion: spec. in pl.= spring onions used as a salad. Also (2), in pl. = sage-and-onion stuffing.
Violento, subs. (old).—A violent man: cf. Furioso, Glorioso, etc.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, 'Cumberland,' i. 236. In the Raign of Queen Mary he fled beyond the Seas, and was no Violento in the Troubles of Francford, but, with all meekness, to his might, endeavoured a pacification.
Virago, subs. (B. E., c. 1696).—'A masculine woman, or a great two-handed female.'
Virgin, subs. (Stock Exchange).—In pl.= Virginia New Funded Stock.
Virginhead, subs. (old).—Virginity, the maidenhead.
1605. Sylvester, Eden, 662. Unlike it is Such blessed state the noble flowr should miss Of Virgin-head.
1607. Beaumont, Woman Hater, i. 3. Thither must I To see my love's face, the chaste virgin-head Of a dear fish, yet pure and undeflower'd, Not known of man.
1611. Davies, Scourge of Folly, 23. Two foes of honord name in Honor's bed (The field) desirde (like virgins newly wiues) To lose their valour's lusty virgin-*head.
Virginia-fence, subs. phr. (American).—A zig-zag rail fence; a worm-fence (q.v.). To walk a Virginia fence = to reel: of drunken men.
Virgin-knot, subs. phr. (venery).—The maiden-head, virginity, chastity. [In allusion to the girdle worn by Greek and Roman maidens when of marriageable age.]
1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, iv. 1. Take my daughter: but If thou dost break her virgin-knot before All sanctimonious ceremonies may With full and holy rite be minister'd.
Virgin Mary's Body-guard, subs. phr. (military).—The 7th Dragoon Guards. [They served under Maria Theresa of Austria, temp. George II.]
Virgin-treasure, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum; see Monosyllable.
d. 1638. Carew, 'A Rapture.' There my enfranchised hand on every side Shall o'er thy naked polish'd ivory slide. No curtain there, though of transparent lawn, Shall be before thy virgin-treasure drawn.
Virtue, subs. (common).—Smoking, drinking, whoring. When a man confesses to abstention from tobacco and intoxicating liquors he is perversely said to have no virtues.
VISH, adj. (Christ's Hospital).—Cross, 'vicious': formerly passy (q.v.).
Visor-mask, subs. phr. (old).—A harlot: see Tart.
1682. J. Banks, Virtue Betrayed. Epilogue The visor-mask that ventured her half-crown.
Vixen (or Fixen), subs. (colloquial).—An ill-natured, snarling man or woman, a termagant, a scold. Also vixenish (or vixenly) = ill-tempered, snappish, snarling, turbulent.
1563. Appius and Virginia [Dodsley, Old Plays (Hazlitt), iv. 120]. By the gods, how ungraciously the vixen she chatteth.
1590. Peele, Old Wives' Tale. I think this be the curstest quean in the world; you see what she is, a little fair, but as proud as the devil, and the veriest vixen that lives upon God's earth.
