Paget's Irregular Horse (military).—The Fourth Hussars. [From its loose drill after return from India].
Paid, adj. (old).—Intoxicated: see
Drinks and Screwed.
Paiker (Paikie or Calsay paiker).
subs. phr. (Old Scots').—A
prostitute: see Barrack-hack
and Tart.
Paint, subs. (common).—Money:
see Actual and Gill.
1866. Harris [Evidence before Totness Election Commission]. The voters ask for 'sub,' which is the term used here for money, as 'sugar' and paint are used elsewhere.
Verb. (common).—To drink. Painted = drunk. [Cf. Macbeth, ii. 3].
1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ii. Each hotel we passed . . . called forth the same observation, 'I guess I shall go in and paint.'
1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, xxiv. The muse is dry and fain would paint—imbibe the vulgar call.
See Red, and Fresh.
Painted-box, subs. phr. (American).—A
coffin.
1888. Point Pleasant Register. We give such creatures timely and due notice to have a painted box prepared.
Painted Mischief, subs. phr. (old).—Playing
cards; the history of
the four kings (q.v.).
1879. Daily News, 8 Mar. There are plenty of ways of gambling . . . without recourse to the "painted mischief."
Painter. To cut the painter,
verb. phr. (colloquial).—To send
away; to cut adrift; to interfere
to prevent mischief: also see Cut.
c.1696. B. E., Dict. Cant Crew, s.v. Painter. I'll cut your painter for ye, I'll prevent ye doing me any Mischief; the Tar-Cant when they quarrel one with another.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Painter. I'll cut your painter for you; I'll send you off; the painter being the rope that holds the boat fast to the ship.
Pair, subs. (colloquial).—A flight
of stairs; e.g., Two-pair back =
the room at the back of the
second flight of stairs.
Pair of shears. See Shears.
Pair of spectacles. See Spectacles.
Pair of Wings, subs. phr. (old).—Oars.—Grose
(1785).
Pal, subs. (common).—A chum;
a friend; a partner; an accomplice.
[Probably from the Gypsy.]
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Pall. A companion. One who generally accompanies another, or who commit robberies together.
1789. Parker, Life's Painter, 150. Pal. When highwaymen rob in pairs, they say such a one was his or my pal.
1821. Haggart, Life, 172, s.v.
1821. Egan, Life in London [Dick], p. 60. Jem is so cut up, that all his old pals have turned their backs upon him.
1830. Moncrieff, Heart of London, ii. 1. Your pals have been laid up in lavender.
1836. Milner, Turpin's Ride, i. 3. A further reward . . . for the apprehension of his pal, the gentleman highwayman.
1838. Reynolds, The Housebreaker's Song [Farmer, Musa Pedestris (1896) 123]. But if ever a pal in limbo fell, He'd sooner be scragg'd at once than tell.
1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, (1889), 15. It's all right, pals, cried Baptist.
1841. Comic Almanac, 260. I can't even svear; my pals u'd hardly know me.
1840-1845. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1862), 267. Highborn Hidalgos With whom e'en the King himself quite as a pal goes.
1843. Moncrieff, Scamps of London, i. 2. Our young pal.
