“Tom and his Coz, had scarcely reached the place for refreshments, when the buz began, and they were surrounded by numbers of the gay Cyprians who nightly visit this place. Some of these delicate heroines, soon began to jeer the Corinthian on the cause of his absence; while others of these Lady Birds were offering their congratulations to him on his restoration to Society. Jerry being in company with so distinguished a hero as Tom was of itself a sufficient source of attraction to these Fancy Pieces to pay their court to Hawthorn; and, accordingly, their cards were presented to Jerry, in order to grace their lists with the addition of a new and rich Friend. These cards rather puzzled Jerry, who appeared astonished that such dashing females should keep Shops!!!?”
My Uncle.—The cant term for a pawnbroker:—
Who lives where hang those golden balls,
Where Dick’s poor mother often calls,
And leaves her dickey, gown, and shawls?—My Uncle.
Who, when you’re short of the short stuff,
Nose-Starving for an ounce of snuff,
Will “raise the wind” without a puff?—My Uncle.
A poor Punster, who was hurrying through the streets one evening, was met by a friend, who asked him where he was going in such great haste? The humourist being rather shy in stating his errand, as well as anxious to conceal the poverty of his circumstances, and having only a few minutes left before his ticket or Mortgage-deed! expired as to date, which not being renewed, his property must have been forfeited, turned off the question, with a smile, observing, “To a place of amusement.” “What part of the house?” “To the private boxes.” “Is it a good piece?” “Excellent! It abounds with incidents; and you cannot depart without feeling an interest in it.” “What’s the name of it?”—“Just in Time!” “So I’m off at once,” replied the Punster.
N.
Nab.—To catch or seize. Nabbed, caught.
Nabob.—Corruption of the Hindoo word Nawâb. An administrator, commander, and other high officers under the Mogul empire. These men acquired great wealth and lived in Eastern splendour, so that they gave rise to the phrase, “Rich as a Nawâb,” corrupted into Rich as a Nabob. In England we apply the phrase to a merchant who has obtained great wealth in the Indies, and has returned to live—and die in his native country.
Nail.—To prig, or to capture. I nailed him on the spot. To pay down on the Nail, to pay ready money on the counter—which was often studded over with nails.
Naked Truth.—The fable says that Truth and Falsehood went bathing: Falsehood came first out of the water, and dressed herself in Truth’s garments, Truth, unwilling to take those of Falsehood, went naked.