A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words / Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James.

by John Camden Hotten

DEAD MEN, the term for wine bottles after they are emptied of their contents.—Old.—See [MARINES].

DEAD-SET, a pointed attack on a person.

DEANER, a shilling. Provincial Gipsey, DEANEE, a pound.

DEATH, “to dress to DEATH,” i.e., to the very extreme of fashion, perhaps so as to be KILLING.

DEATH-HUNTERS, running patterers, who vend last dying speeches and confessions.

DECK, a pack of cards.—Old. Used by Bulwer as a cant term. General in the United States.

DEE, a pocket book, term used by tramps.—Gipsey.

DEMIREP (or RIP), a courtesan. Contraction of DEMI-REPUTATION—Grose.

DESPATCHES, false “dice with two sides, double four, double five, and double six.”—Times, 27th November, 1856.

DEUCE, the devil.—Old. Stated by Junius and others to be from DEUS.