FAMBLES, or FAMMS, the hands.—Ancient cant. German, FAUGEN.
FAMILY MEN, or PEOPLE, thieves, or burglars.
FAN, a waistcoat.
FANCY, the favourite sports, pets, or pastime of a person, the tan of low life. Pugilists are sometimes termed THE FANCY. Shakespere uses the word in the sense of a favourite, or pet; and the paramour of a prostitute is still called her FANCY-MAN.
FANCY-BLOAK, a fancy or sporting man.
FAN-TAIL, a dustman’s hat.
FAST, gay, spreeish, unsteady, thoughtless,—an Americanism that has of late ascended from the streets to the drawing-room. The word has certainly now a distinct meaning, which it had not thirty years ago. Quick is the synonyme for FAST, but a QUICK MAN would not convey the meaning of a FAST MAN,—a person who by late hours, gaiety, and continual rounds of pleasure, lives too fast and wears himself out. In polite society a FAST young lady is one who affects mannish habits, or makes herself conspicuous by some unfeminine accomplishment,—talks slang, drives about in London, smokes cigarettes, is knowing in dogs, horses, &c. An amusing anecdote is told of a FAST young lady, the daughter of a right reverend prelate, who was an adept in horseflesh. Being desirous of ascertaining the opinion of a candidate for ordination, who had the look of a bird of the same feather, as to the merits of some cattle just brought to her father’s palace for her to select from, she was assured by him they were utterly unfit for a lady’s use. With a knowing look at the horses’ points, she gave her decision in these choice words, “Well, I agree with you; they are a rum lot, as the Devil said of the ten commandments.”
FAST, embarrassed, wanting money. Synonymous with HARD UP.—Yorkshire.
FAT, a printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as full or unbroken pages. This work afforded much FAT for the printers.
FAT, rich, abundant, &c.; “a FAT lot;” “to cut it FAT,” to exaggerate, to show off in an extensive or grand manner, to assume undue importance;