1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 246. Anything she once put her grapples on she slipped inside.
Grapple-the-rails, subs. (Irish).—Whiskey. For synonyms, see Drinks and Old Man’s Milk.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. Grapple-the-rails, a cant name used in Ireland for whiskey.
Grappling-irons (or -hooks), subs. (old).—1. Handcuffs. For synonyms, see Darbies.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1830. Buckstone, Wreck Ashore, i., 4. I hope the bailiffs have not laid their grappling irons on young Miles.
2. (nautical).—The fingers. For synonyms, see Fork. Also Grapplers and Grappling-Hooks.
Grass, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—1. Vegetables. Cf., bunny-grub. Fr., gargousses de la canonnière.
2. (American).—Fresh mint.
3. (common).—Short for sparrow-grass (q.v.) = asparagus.