Gone for a holiday, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Said of a flaw, lapse, or imperfection of any kind (as dropped stitches, lost buttons, slurred painting, and so forth). See also quots.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Holiday … a holiday is any part of a ship’s bottom, left uncovered in painting it.
1883. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 69, s.v. Holidays. Places left untarred on shrouds, backstays, etc., during the operation of tarring them.
Holler, verb. (American).—To cry enough; to give in; to cave in (q.v.).
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, etc., p. 89. The truth must come, he warped me nice, So jist to save his time I hollered.
Hollis, subs. (Winchester College).—A small pebble. [Said to be derived from a boy.—Notions.]
Hollow, adj. (colloquial).—Complete; certain; decided. As adv. completely; utterly. E.g., to beat or lick hollow. See Beat and Creation.
1759. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, i., 2. Crab was beat hollow.
1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, V., in Wks. (1777), i., 134. So, my lord, you and I are both distanced: a hollow thing, damme.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Hollow. It was quite a hollow thing, i.e., a certainty, or decided business.