1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, flints, journeyman taylors who, on a late occasion, refused to work for the wages settled by law. Those who submitted were by the mutineers stiled dungs, i.e., dunghills.
1832. P. Egan, Book of Sports, p. 34. Jack Reeve is without a rival; the throne of the flints is decidedly freehold property to him.
1834. Noctes Amb., xxxiv., vol. IV., p. 83. (The company is discussing the tailors’ strike). Tickler. The flints flash fire, and the day of the dungs is gone.
Old flint, subs. phr. (common). A miser: one who would ‘skin a flint,’ i.e., stoop to any meanness for a trifle.
1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. vii., p. 34. It’s equally plain that the money which the old flint—rot him—first taught me to expect that I should share with her at his death, will all be hers.
To fix one’s flint. See Fix.
To flint in, verb. phr. (American). To act with energy; not to stand on ceremony; to pitch into; to tackle. A verb of action well-nigh as common as fix (q.v.).
Flip, subs. (common).—1. Hot beer, brandy, and sugar; also, says Grose, called Sir Cloudesley after Sir Cloudesley Shovel. See Drinks.
1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Canting Crew. flip, Sea Drink, of small beer (chiefly) and brandy, sweetened and spiced upon occasion.
1690. Ward, London Spy, part II., p. 41. After the drinking a Kan of Phlip or a Bowl of Punch.