Stiff-fencer, a street-seller of writing paper.
Stiff un, a corpse. Term used by undertakers.
Stills, undertakers’ slang term for STILL-BORN children. The fee paid by nurses and others for their disposal is usually 2s. 6d. A separate coffin is never given; the STILLS are quietly introduced into one containing an adult about to be buried. Stills are allowed to accumulate at an undertaker’s until they sometimes number as many as a dozen. Some little time back a very bulky coffin was opened, and found to contain a large quantity of small corpses packed carefully round a large corpse. This caused a little excitement, but nothing was done in the matter.
Stilton, “that’s the STILTON,” or “it’s not the STILTON,” i.e., that is quite the thing, or that is not quite the thing;—affected rendering of “that is not the [CHEESE],” which see.
Stingo, strong liquor.—Yorkshire.
Stink, a disagreeable exposure. “To stir up a STINK” is to make a disclosure which is generally unpleasant in its effect.
Stinkomalee, a name given to the then New London University by Theodore Hook. Probably because some cow-houses and dunghills stood on the original site. Some question about Trincomalee was agitated at the same time. It is still applied by the students of the old Universities, who regard it with disfavour from its admitting all denominations.
Stipe, a stipendiary magistrate.—Provincial.
Stir, a prison, a lock-up; “in STIR,” in gaol. Anglo-Saxon, STYR, correction, punishment.
Stir-up Sunday, the Sunday next before Advent, the collect for that day commencing with the words, “Stir up.” Schoolboys, growing excited at the prospect of the vacation, irreverently commemorate it by stirring up—pushing and poking each other. “Crib-crust Monday” and “tug-button Tuesday” are distinguished by similar tricks; while on “pay-off Wednesday” they retaliate small grudges in a playful facetious way. Forby says good housewives in Norfolk consider themselves reminded by the name to mix the ingredients for their Christmas mince-pies.