Billingsgate (when applied to speech), foul and coarse language. Many years since people used to visit Thames Street to hear the Billingsgate fishwomen abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr. Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known.
Billingsgate Pheasant, a red herring or bloater. This is also called a “two-eyed steak.”
Billy, a silk pocket-handkerchief.—Scotch.—See [WIPE].
⁂ A list of slang terms descriptive of the various patterns of handkerchiefs, pocket and neck, is here subjoined:—
Belcher, darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot in the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his “colours,” and soon became popular amongst “the fancy.”
Bird’s-eye wipe, a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird’s-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the centre. Sometimes a BIRD’S-EYE WIPE has a white ground and blue spots.
Blood-red fancy, red.
Blue Billy, blue ground, generally with white figures.
Cream fancy, any pattern on a white ground.
King’s man, yellow pattern on a green ground.