Vowel.—“To vowel a debt.” Where the acknowledgment of the debt is expressed by the vowels I.O.U.
Let old I.O.U.’s be forgot,
And never brought to mind,
Let Writs and Judgments be forgot
And the Bills that I have signed
W.
Waifs and Strays.—The juvenile homeless poor. Waifs are goods found but not claimed. Strays are animals that have wandered from their proper enclosures to the grounds of some one not their owner.
Walking Poulterer.—One who steals fowls, and hawks them from door to door.
Walking Stationer.—A hawker of books, prints and dying-speeches, &c.
Walking-up against the Wall.—To run up a score, which in alehouses is commonly recorded with chalk on the walls of the bar.
Wapping Great.—Means astonishingly great. Saxon, Wafian, to be astonished.
Ware Hawk.—An exclamation used by thieves to inform their confederates that some police officers are at hand.
Warming-pan.—A large old fashioned watch.