18(?). Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, p. 282. ‘I’ll bear you company. What d’ye say to that?’ ‘Just as you like,’ responded his two companions, ‘that is provided you won’t attempt the grab game on us.’
1892. R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, The Wrecker, p. 219. ‘Now, boss!’ he cried, not unkindly, ‘is this to be run shipshape; or is it a Dutch grab-racket?’
Grace-card, subs. (Irish).—The Six of Hearts. [For origin see N. and Q., 5th Series, iv., 137].
Gracemans, subs. (old).—Grace-church Street Market.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (W. Club’s Rept., 1874). Gracemans, Gratious Streete market.
Graduate, subs. (turf).—1. A horse that has been run.
2. (colloquial).—An adept; an artful member (q.v.).
3. (venery).—An unmarried woman who has taken her degree in carnal lore.
Verb. (colloquial).—To seek and acquire experience: in life, love, society, or trade; and so on.
Gradus, subs. (gamesters’).—A mode of cheating: a particular card is so placed by the shuffler that when he hands the pack to be cut, it projects a little beyond the rest; the chance being that it is the turn-up. Also the step (q.v.). [From the Latin.]