1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. Petrie . . . recommends, upon his own experience, as tutor in a family of distinction, this attitude to all led captains, tutors, dependents, and bottle-holders of every description.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. ii. Cold water, and a little vinegar, applied according to the scientific method practised by the bottle-holders in a modern ring.
1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xl. 'Do you remember his tremendous fight with Biggs?' 'Remember? who didn't? Marston was Berry's bottle-holder.'
Bottle-Holding, verbal subs. (common).—Backing;
supporting.
1878-80. Justin MacCarthy, History of Our Own Times, II., p. 115. The noble lord (Palmerston) told the deputation that the past crisis was one which required on the part of the British Government much generalship and judgment, and that a good deal of judicious bottle-holding was obliged to be brought into play.
Bottle of Brandy in a Glass,
phr. (common).—A glass of
beer; a recent and absurd slang
introduction.
Bottle of Spruce, subs. (rhyming
slang).—Twopence. The play of
words is upon 'deuce' = two.
Bottles, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Barrett's
Brewery and Bottling
Co. Shares.
Bottle-Sucker, subs. (nautical).—An
able-bodied seaman; the
abbreviation is A.B.S., and a
bottle-sucker is supposed to
be a humorous rendering.
Bottle-Up, verb (old).—To restrain
(temper, feelings, etc.); to keep
or hold back.
1622. T. Scott, Belg. Pismire, 53. Vapours . . . botteled up in cloudes.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xi. Austin played very bad, trumped his partner's . . . knave, led out strong suits of trumps without any suit to follow, bottled them when his partner led them first time round.
1871. Cincinnati Commercial, April, p. 637. He will bottle up his wrath, having had some experience in the line of bottling up during the war, and pour out his vials upon General Farnsworth's head, whenever the occasion offers.
Bottom, subs. (colloquial).—1.
The posteriors; not now in
literary use. For synonyms,
see Blind-cheeks and Bum.
1794-6. E. Darwin, Zoon. (1801), III., 253. So as to have his head and shoulders much lower than his bottom.
1822-36. J. Wilson, Nodes. Ambr., xxxix. (1864), iv., 79. The Dunghill cock . . . hides his head in a hole . . . unashamed of the exposure of his enormous bottom.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II., iv., i., 185. Patriot women take their hazel wands, and fustigate . . . broad bottom of priests.
2. (popular.)—Capital; resources; stamina; 'grit.'
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II., 451. Beginning on a good bottom left him by his father.
1747. Captn. Godfrey, Science of Defence, p. 34. I have mentioned strength and art as the two ingredients of a boxer. But there is another, which is vastly necessary; that is, what we call a bottom. . . . There are two things required to make this bottom, that is, wind and spirit, or heart, or wherever you can fix the residence of courage.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, pref., p. xv. The peculiarities of this boxer discussed—his power of standing with his arms extended for two whole days, without any rest, by which means he wore out his adversaries' bottom, and conquered without either giving or taking.
1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, vol. II., ch. xiv. He did not like to dine with Steyne now. They had run races of pleasure together in youth when Bareacres was the winner. But Steyne had more bottom than he, and had lasted him out.
3. (popular.)—Spirit placed in a glass prior to the addition
