1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, i., p. 21. Or they will call to the orchestra, saying, ‘Now then you catgut-scrapers! Let’s have a ha’porth of liveliness.’
2. (common).—A loitering Lawrence; a slowcoach (q.v.).
Happify, verb. (American).—To please.
1612. Sylvester, Lach. Lach., 642. One short mishap for ever happifies.
1848. Burton, Waggeries, etc., p. 70. For eatin’ and drinkin’, it happifies me to say that we bang the bush.
Happy, adj. (common).—Slightly drunk; elevated (q.v.). For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed. [[267]]
Happy-despatch, subs. (common).—Death, specifically, a sudden or violent end.
Happy-dosser. See Dosser.
Happy Eliza, subs. (common).—A female Salvationist [As in the Broadside Ballad (1887–8), ‘They call me Happy Eliza, and I’m Converted Jane: We’ve been two hot’uns in our time.’]
Happy-family, subs. (colloquial).—See quot.