Wire-pullers, powerful political partisans, who do their work from “behind the scenes.”
With and without, words by themselves, supposed to denote the existence or non-existence of sugar in grog. Generally “warm WITH” and “cold WITHOUT.”
Wobble-shop, a shop where beer is sold without a licence.
Wobbler, a foot soldier, a term of contempt used by cavalrymen.
Wobbly, rickety, unsteady, ill-fitting.
Wolf, to eat greedily.
Wooden spoon, the last junior optime who takes a University degree; denoting one who is only fit to stay at home, and stir porridge.—Cambridge. The expression is also parliamentary slang, and is applied to the member of the ministry whose name appears in the division lists least frequently. At the ministerial dinner annually held at Greenwich, such member sometimes has a wooden spoon presented to him.
Wooden surtout, a coffin, generally spoken of as a WOODEN SURTOUT with nails for buttons.