Paddy, Pat, or Paddy Whack, an Irishman. A nickname of Patrick.
“I’m Paddy Whack, from Ballyhack,
Not long ago turn’d soldier;
In storm and sack, in front attack,
None other can be boulder.”—Irish Song.
Paddy’s goose, the sign of the White Swan, a noted flash public-house in the east of London, supposed to be Paddy’s idea of a GOOSE.
Paddy’s land, “ould Ireland.”
Padre, a clergyman. From the Portuguese.
Pal, a partner, acquaintance, friend, an accomplice. Gipsy, a brother.
Palampo, a quilt or bed-cover. Probably from Palanpore, a town in India, renowned for its manufacture of chintz counterpanes.—Anglo-Indian.
Palaver, to ask, or talk—deceitfully or otherwise, as occasion requires; “PALAVER to his nibs for a shant of bivvy,” ask the master for a pot of beer. Nantee palaver (pronounced PERLARVER), cease talking. In this sense used by tramps. Derived from the Portuguese.
Pall, to stop; “PALL that,” spoken authoritatively, means, cease what you are doing. From PALL, a small instrument which is used to stop the windlass or capstan at sea. When a man says, “I am PALLED,” he means he cannot or dare not say any more. A sailor, on receiving any extraordinary intelligence, will say, “You PALL me,” i.e., you confound me. Most likely from the order frequently given on board ship, “Ease and PALL.”
Palm, to impose upon. “You can’t PALM that off upon me,” is said when an intending purchaser is suspicious of the quality of the article offered.