Flat-head, subs. (American).—A greenhorn; a sammy-soft (q.v.).
Flat-iron, subs. (common).—A corner public house. [From the triangular shape.]
Flattie or Flatty, subs. (common).—A gull. [A diminutive of flat, sense 1.] Formerly ‘cheap-jacks’ = one in a new ‘pitch.’
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. They betray to the flatties (natives) all their profits and proceedings.
Flat-move, subs. (old).—An attempt or project that miscarries; folly and mismanagement generally.—Grose.
Flats, subs. (old). 1. Playing cards. For synonyms, see King’s Books.
1821. Haggart, Life, p. 56. We played at flats in a budging-crib.
2. (old).—False dice. For synonyms, see Fulhams. [[17]]
3. (old).—Base money.
Mahogany flats, subs. phr. (common).—Bed-bugs. For synonyms, see Norfolk Howards.