1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Lay of St. Gengulphus.’ And to every guest his card had express’d ‘Half past’ as the hour for a greasy chin.
Great Cry and Little Wool.—See Cry.
Great Go (or Greats), subs. (Cambridge University).—The final examination for the B.A. degree; cf., Little-go. At Oxford, greater.
1841. Prince of the New-made Baccalere, Oxford. Great-go is passed.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. x. Both small and great are sufficiently distant to be altogether ignored, if we are that way inclined. [[202]]
1856–7. Thackeray, King of Brentford’s Test., st. 7. At college, though not fast, Yet his little-go and great-go, He creditably pass’d.
1871. Morning Advertiser, 28 Apr. Yes, Mr. Lowe has been plucked for his great go.
1883. Echo, 3 May, p. 2, c. 4. But few, indeed, are the men who have been in for greats during the last twenty years, and who have not blessed Mr. Kitchin for his edition of the Novum Organum.
Great Gun, subs. phr. (common).—1. A person of distinction; a thing of importance.