Ce sont les petites faveurs qu’accordent les femmes à leurs amants, comme petits baisers tendres, attouchements et autres badineries, qui conduisent insensiblement plus loin. La petite oie, c’est proprement les préludes de l’amour.—Le Roux, Dict. Comique.
Oignes, m. pl. (popular), aux petits ——, excellently, in first-rate style. For aux petits oignons.
Oignon, m. (popular), money, or “blunt.” For synonyms see [Quibus]. It has been said that the term “blunt” is from the French “blond,” sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in brown or browns, the slang for halfpence. This etymology, it has been said again, may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions; blanquillo, for instance, is a word used in Morocco and southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The “asper” (ασπρὸν) of Constantinople is called by the Turks akcheh, i.e., little white. It seems to me more probable, however, that the word is derived from blanc, an old French coin, or from the nature of the coin itself, which has a blunt circular edge. Arranger aux petits oignons, to scold vehemently, “to bully-rag.” Chaîne d’oignons, ten of cards. Champ d’oignons, see [Champ]. Il y a de l’——, there is much groaning and gnashing of teeth. An allusion to the tears brought to the eyes by the proximity of onions. Peler des oignons, to scold, “to give a wigging.” (Familiar and popular) Faire quelque chose aux petits oignons, to do something excellently, in first-rate style.
Vous savez, elle est cocasse votre chanson, et vous l’avez détaillée ... aux petits oignons!—E. Monteil.
Un ——, a large watch, “turnip.”
Oiseau, m. (popular), faire l’——, to play the fool. Aux oiseaux, very fine, or very good, excellent, perfect, “out-and-out, first-class.”
Ca m’ paroît bien tapé, “aux oiseaux,” mamzelle. Fourrez un peu la main sous l’empeigne pour voir tout l’fini d’l’ouvrage.—Saint-Firmin, Le Galant Savetier.
The origin of this expression comes, no doubt, from certain bindings in fashion in the eighteenth century, which bore birds in the corners. People would say then, une reliure aux oiseaux. Se donner des noms d’——, is said ironically of gushing lovers who give one another fond appellations. Oiseau de cage, prisoner, “canary;” —— fatal, crow. The expression reminds one of Virgil’s—
Sæpe sinistra cava prædixit ab ilice cornix,
and of La Fontaine’s—