SPLIT CAUSE. A lawyer.
SPLIT FIG. A grocer.
SPLIT IRON. The nick-name for a smith.
SPOONEY. (WHIP) Thin, haggard, like the shank of a spoon; also delicate, craving for something, longing for sweets. Avaricious. That tit is damned spooney. She's a spooney piece of goods. He's a spooney old fellow.
SPOIL PUDDING. A parson who preaches long sermons, keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are overdone.
TO SPORT. To exhibit: as, Jack Jehu sported a new gig
yesterday: I shall sport a new suit next week. To sport
or flash one's ivory; to shew one's teeth. To sport timber;
to keep one's outside door shut; this term is used in the
inns of court to signify denying one's self. N.B. The
word SPORT was in great vogue ann. 1783 and 1784.
SPUNGE. A thirsty fellow, a great drinker. To spunge; to
eat and drink at another's cost. Spunging-house: a bailiff's
lock-up-house, or repository, to which persons arrested are
taken, till they find bail, or have spent all their money: a
house where every species of fraud and extortion is practised
under the protection of the law.
SPUNK. Rotten touchwood, or a kind of fungus prepared
for tinder; figuratively, spirit, courage.
SPOON HAND. The right hand.
TO SPOUT. To rehearse theatrically.