Gradus-ad-parnassum, subs. (old literary).—The treadmill. For synonyms, see Wheel-of-life.
Graft, subs. (common).—Work; employment; lay (q.v.).: e.g. What graft are you on now? Great-graft = profitable labour; good biz (q.v.). Also Grafting and Elbow-grease.
French Synonyms.—Le bastimage (thieves’); le goupinage (thieves’); la laine (tailors’); le maquillage (thieves’); le massage (popular); la masse; le mèche (printers’).
1878. Graphic, 6 July, p. 2. According to the well-known maxim in the building trade, ‘Scotch masons, Welsh blacksmiths, English bricklayers, Irish labourers’.… Perhaps in a generation or two Paddy will fail us. He will have become too refined for hard grafting.
1887. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. The merry little dibbs you bag At my graft, no matter what. [[193]]
1892. Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 417, c. 1. Millbank for thick shins and graft at the pump.
Verb (common).—1. To work. Fr., bausser; membrer.
2. (American).—To steal.
3. (old).—To cuckold; to plant horns.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.