HOOK AND SNIVEY, WITH NIX THE BUFFER. This rig consists in feeding a man and a dog for nothing, and is carried on thus: Three men, one of who pretends to be sick and unable to eat, go to a public house: the two well men make a bargain with the landlord for their dinner, and when he is out of sight, feed their pretended sick companion and dog gratis.
HOOKEE WALKER. An expression signifying that the story
is not true, or that the thing will not occour.
HOOKED. Over-reached, tricked, caught: a simile taken
from fishing. **** hooks; fingers.
HOOKERS. See ANGLERS.
HOOP. To run the hoop; an ancient marine custom. Four or more boys having their left hands tied fast to an iron hoop, and each of them a rope, called a nettle, in their right, being naked to the waist, wait the signal to begin: this being made by a stroke with a cat of nine tails, given by the boatswain to one of the boys, he strikes the boy before him, and every one does the same: at first the blows are but gently administered; but each irritated by the strokes from the boy behind him, at length lays it on in earnest. This was anciently practised when a ship was wind-bound.
TO HOOP. To beat. I'll well hoop his or her barrel, I'll beat him or her soundly.
TO HOP THE TWIG. To run away. CANT.
HOP MERCHANT. A dancing master. See CAPER MERCHANT.
HOP-O-MY-THUMB. A diminutive person, man or woman. She was such a-hop-o-my thumb, that a pigeon, sitting on her shoulder, might pick a pea out of her a-se.
HOPKINS. Mr. Hopkins; a ludicrous address to a lame or limping man, being a pun on the word hop.