Sometimes used in another sense, “having a TILE loose,” i.e., being slightly crazy. See [PANTILE].
Timber merchant, or SPUNK FENCER, a lucifer-match seller.
Timber-toes, a wooden-legged man. Also at the East-end one who wears clogs, i.e., wooden soled boots.
Time, cabman’s slang for money. If they wish to express 9s. 9d. they say that “it is a quarter to ten;” if 3s. 6d., half-past three; if 11s. 9d. a quarter to twelve. Cab-drivers can hardly have originated a system which has been in existence as long as the adage, “Time is money.” They have, however, the full use of the arrangement, which is perhaps the simplest on record.
Time, TO DO, to work out a sentence of imprisonment. Time is the generic term for all quantities of incarceration, whether short or long. Sometimes stir-time (imprisonment in the House of Correction) is distinguished from the more extended system of punishment which is called “pinnel (penal) time.”
Time o’ day, a dodge, the latest aspect of affairs; “that’s your TIME O’ DAY,” i.e., that’s well done; to put a person up to the TIME O’ DAY, or let him know “what’s o’clock,” is to instruct him in the knowledge needful for him.
Tin, money,—generally applied to silver.
Tinge, the per-centage allowed by drapers and clothiers to their assistants upon the sale of old-fashioned articles. See [SPIFFS].
Tinkler, a bell. “Jerk the TINKLER,” ring the bell. Refined or affected slangists sometimes say, “Agitate the communicator,” which, though it represents “ring the bell,” should more properly mean “pull the cord.”
Tin-pot, “he plays a TIN-POT game,” i.e., a low, mean, or shabby game. In the Contes d’Eutrapel, a French officer at the siege of Chatillon is ridiculously spoken of as Captain Tin-pot—Capitaine du Pot d’Etain. Tin-pot, as generally used, means worthless. As applied to billiards and kindred games, it means pretentious and inferior play.