“It is a custom used of course
Where the grey mare is the better horse.”
Star, a common abbreviation of the name of the well-known Star and Garter Inn at Richmond. Clever people, who delight in altering names, call this hostelry the “Gar and Starter.”
Star it, to perform as the centre of attraction, with inferior subordinates to set off one’s abilities.—Theatrical.
Star the glaze, to break a window. Among thieves it means to break the window or show-glass of a jeweller or other tradesman, take any valuable articles, and run away. Sometimes the glass is cut with a diamond, and a strip of leather fastened to the piece of glass cut out to keep it from falling in and making a noise. Another plan is to cut the sash.
Starchy, stuck-up, high-notioned, showily dressed, stiff and unbending in demeanour.
Stark-naked, originally STRIP-ME-NAKED, vide Randall’s Diary, 1820, raw gin.
Start, “the START,” London,—the great starting-point for beggars and tramps. This is a term also used by many of superior station to those mentioned.
Start, a proceeding of any kind; “a rum START,” an odd circumstance; “to get the START of a person,” to anticipate or overreach him.
Starvation, though now a recognised word, was originally slang. Its derivation is composite, and it was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a debate in the House of Commons on American affairs, in 1775. “I shall not,” he said, “wait for the advent of STARVATION from Edinburgh to settle my judgment.” From this he was always afterwards called Starvation Dundas.—Horace Walpole’s Letters.
Starve’em, Rob’em, and Cheat’em, the adjoining towns of Stroud, Rochester, and Chatham are so designated by soldiers and sailors; from some fancied peculiarities of the inhabitants.