Old Kent Road. The South London portion of the Roman highway to Dover.
Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. The popular name of the Bank of England. There is a tradition that towards the end of the eighteenth century a demented old lady wandered up and down Threadneedle Street day by day for a long period until she suddenly disappeared. It was generally assumed that this old lady of Threadneedle Street must have been waiting for someone who had passed into the Bank, and, according to her idea, never came out again. When, therefore, in 1797 the Bank threatened a temporary stoppage of payment, and one-pound notes were issued, John Gilray, the artist, published a caricature entitled “The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street in Danger.” Since that time the Bank has been colloquially referred to by this title.
Old Line State. Maryland, whose famous regiment, the Old Maryland Line, saved the prestige of the army when Lord Cornwallis’s Grenadiers broke the American lines at Loughland.
Old North State. North Carolina, from its relative position to South Carolina.
Old Paulines. Old scholars of St Paul’s School.
Old Pye Street. See “[New Way].”
Old Quebec Street. Laid out and built upon soon after the capture of Quebec by General Wolfe in 1759.
Old Rep. Short for “Old Reprobate.”
Old Rowley. A sobriquet of Charles II., from the name of his favourite race-horse.
Old Rye. A United States term for old whisky distilled from rye.