Gentleman, subs. (thieves’).—A crowbar. For synonyms, see jemmy.
To put a churl (or beggar) upon a gentleman, verb. phr. (old).—To drink malt liquor immediately after wine.—Grose.
Gentleman of the (Three, or Four, or Five) Outs (or Ins), subs. phr. (old).—A [[131]]varying and ancient wheeze, of which the following are representative:—
Out of money, and out of clothes; Out at the heels, and out at the toes; Out of credit, and in debt.
A man in debt, in danger, and in poverty; or in gaol, indicted, and in danger of being hanged.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. iv. Paul became a gentleman of three outs—out of pocket, out of elbows, and out of credit.
1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, Bk. III., ch. v. Jerry Juniper was what the classical Captain Grose would designate a gentleman with three outs, and, although he was not entirely without wit, nor his associates avouched, without money, nor certainly, in his own opinion, had that been asked, without manners.
Gentleman of the Back (or Backdoor), subs. (old).—A sodomist. For synonyms, see Usher.
Gentleman of fortune, subs. phr. (common).—An adventurer.