NYMPH OF THE PAVE (French, PAVÉ
), a street-walker, a girl of the town.
OAK, the outer door of college rooms; to “sport one’s OAK,” to be “not at home” to visitors.—See [SPORT].—University.
OBFUSCATED, intoxicated.
OBSTROPOLOUS, Cockney corruption of obstreperous.
OCHRE, money, generally applied to gold, for a very obvious reason.
O’CLOCK, or A’CLOCK, “like ONE O’CLOCK,” a favourite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; “to know what O’CLOCK it is,” to be wide awake, sharp, and experienced.
ODD MAN, a street or public-house game at tossing. The number of players is three. Each tosses up a coin, and if two come down head, and one tail, or vice versâ, the last is ODD MAN, and loses or wins as may have been agreed upon. Frequently used to victimise a “flat.” If all three be alike, then the toss goes for nothing, and the coppers are again “skied.”
OD DRAT IT, OD RABBIT (Colman’s Broad Grins), OD’S BLOOD, and all other exclamations commencing with OD, are nothing but softened or suppressed oaths. Od is a corruption of GOD, and DRAT of ROT.—Shakespere.
OFF AND ON, vacillating; “an OFF AND ON kind of a chap,” one who is always undecided.