Hold hard! (or on)! intj. (colloquial).—Wait a moment! don’t be in a hurry!
1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, V., in Wks. (1777), i., 130. Hold hard! hold hard! you are all on a wrong scent.
1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 280. ‘Hold hard!’ said the conductor; ‘I’m blowed if we ha’n’t forgot the gen’lm’n as vas to be set down at Doory-lane.’
1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. iv., p. 38 (1873). I told Meaburn to hold on, and we’d get a rise out of Punch.
Hold-stitch.—See Stitch.
Hold-water.—See Water.
Hold-out, subs. (gambling).—An old-fashioned apparatus, in poker, for ‘holding out’ desirable cards.
Hole (venery).—1. The female pudendum. Also, Hole of Content, and Hole (or Queen) of Holes. For synonyms, see Monosyllable. To give a hole to hide it in = to grant the favour (q.v.). [Hence, by a play upon words, Holy of Holies.]
1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii., 4. This drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble (q.v.) in a hole.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Carnafau, the brat-getting place, or hole of content.