1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue: Section V

1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose is part of HackerNoon’s Book Blog Post series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here: [LINK TO TABLE OF LINK]. Section V

Section V

VAGARIES. Frolics, wild rambles.

VAIN-GLORIOUS, or OSTENTATIOUS MAN. One who boasts without reason, or, as the canters say, pisses more than he drinks.

VALENTINE. The first woman seen by a man, or man seen by a woman, on St. Valentine's day, the 14th of February, when it is said every bird chuses his mate for the ensuing year.

TO VAMP. To pawn any thing. I'll vamp it, and tip you the cole: I'll pawn it, and give you the money. Also to refit, new dress, or rub up old hats, shoes or other wearing apparel; likewise to put new feet to old boots. Applied more particularly to a quack bookseller.

VAMPER. Stockings.

VAN. Madam Van; see MADAM.

VAN-NECK. Miss or Mrs. Van-Neck; a woman with large breasts; a bushel bubby.

VARDY. To give one's vardy; i.e. verdict or opinion.

VARLETS. Now rogues and rascals, formerly yeoman's servants.

VARMENT. (Whip and Cambridge.) Natty, dashing. He is quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment hat, coat, &c.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu.

VAULTING SCHOOL. A bawdy-house; also an academy where vaulting and other manly exercises are taught.

VELVET. To tip the velvet; to put one's tongue into a woman's mouth. To be upon velvet; to have the best of a bet or match. To the little gentleman in velvet, i. e. the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King William's horse) to stumble; a toast frequently drank by the tories and catholics in Ireland.

VENERABLE MONOSYLLABLE. Pudendum muliebre.

VENUS'S CURSE. The venereal disease.

VESSELS OF PAPER. Half a quarter of a sheet.

VICAR OF BRAY. See BRAY.

VICE ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS. A drunken man that pisses under the table into his companions' shoes.

VICTUALLING OFFICE. The stomach.

VINCENT'S LAW. The art of cheating at cards, composed of
  the following associates: bankers, those who play booty;
  the gripe, he that betteth; and the person cheated, who
  is styled the vincent; the gains acquired, termage.

VINEGAR. A name given to the person who with a whip
  in his hand, and a hat held before his eye, keeps the
  ring clear, at boxing-matches and cudgel-playing; also,
  in cant terms, a cloak.

VIXEN. A termagant; also a she fox, who, when she has
  cubs, is remarkably fierce.

TO VOWEL. A gamester who does not immediately pay his losings, is said to vowel the winner, by repeating the vowels I. O. U. or perhaps from giving his note for the money according to the Irish form, where the acknowledgment of the debt is expressed by the letters I. O. U. which, the sum and name of the debtor being added, is deemed a sufficient security among gentlemen.

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Grose, Francis. 2004. 1881 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved April 2022 from https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/5402/pg5402.html

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