1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 July, i., 2. The ‘great Trek,’ in that expressive transatlantic phrase, has toddled out of the little end of the horn.
Horn-colic, subs. (venery).—See Horn, subs., sense 3.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Hornet, subs. (common).—A disagreeable, cantankerous person.
Hornie (or Horness), subs. (old).—1. A constable or watchman; a sheriff.
1819. Vaux, Life, s.v. Horney, a Constable.
1821. Haggart, Life, 51. The woman missing it immediately, she sent for the hornies.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Horness.
2. (Scots’).—The devil; generally Auld Hornie (q.v.).
1785. Burns, Address to the Deil. O thou! whatever title suits thee, Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or Clootie.