White-ash Breeze, subs. phr. (boating).—The breeze caused by rowing: oars are generally made of white ash.
Whiteboy, subs. (old).—1. A
generic endearment: also (of a
favourite son) white son: see
White, adj. 1.
1554-63. Foxe, Acts and Monuments, ii. 190. The Pope's own white son.
1588. Greene, Friar Bacon [Dyce, Works, i. 174]. He is great Prince of Wales. . . . Then ware what is done, For he is Henry's white son.
1611. Beaumont, Knight of Burning Pestle, ii. 2. What says my white boy?
1633. Ford, 'Tis Pity, i. 4. 'I know,' quoth I, 'I am his whiteboy and will not be gulled.'
1640. Two Lancashire Lovers, 19. Fie, young gentleman, will such a brave sparke as you, that is your mother's white-*boy, undoe your hopes?
1641. Milton, Apol. for Smectymnus. His first addresse was an humble remonstrance by a dutifull son of the Church, almost as if he had said her white-boy.
d 1688. Bunyan [Annandale]. One of God's whiteboys.
1774-81. Warton, Hist. Poet., iv. 65. [Nares: T. Warton adds, as an illustration, that Dr. Busby used to call his favorite scholars his white boys; and says that he could add a variety of other combinations.]
2. (Irish political).—A member of a secret political society, agrarian in character (c. 1759-60). [Lecky: 'Their object was to do justice to the poor by restoring the ancient commons and redressing other grievances.' This they sought to accomplish by throwing down fences, levelling enclosures, and generally destroying the property of anyone—landlords, agents, Protestant clergy, tax or tithe collectors—who had made themselves obnoxious to the association. They styled themselves Whiteboys 'because during their nocturnal excursions they covered their usual attire with white shirts. This disguise was used principally to enable them while scouring through the darkness to recognise each other' (Danim)].
3. (London).—London rioters.
1768. Walpole, Letters, iii. 250. Those black dogs, the whiteboys or coal-heavers, are dispersed or taken.
Whitechapel, subs. phr. (common).—1.
A light two-wheeled
cart, a coster's barrow, a shoful
(q.v.)i also Whitechapel-cart,
Whitechapel-brougham,
and Chapel-cart.
2. (streets').—Tossing 'two out of three': cf. Sudden death.
3. See Whitechapel-play.
Whitechapel-play (Whitechapel).
Anything mean,
paltry, or unsportsmanlike: cf.
Bungay-play.
Whitechapel-portion, subs.
phr. (old).—A clean apron and
an umbrella; also 'a clean gown
and a pair of pattens' (Hotten).
1891. Carew, Auto. of Gypsy, 416. Though she brought me nathink but a Whitechapel fortin' she were worth her weight in gold.
Whitechapel-shave, subs. phr. (common).—See quot.
1860. Dickens, Uncommercial Traveller, xxv. Blue-bearded though they were, and bereft of the youthful smoothness of cheek which is imparted by what is termed in Albion a 'Whitechapel Shave' (and which is, in fact, whitening judiciously applied to the jaws with the palm of the hand), I recognised them.
