1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 17. Life don't want lifting, old oyster.
1895. H. B. Marriott-Watson, in New Review, 4 July. He was a comfortable old cock, of an affluent habit, and pretty well to do, as I suspected.
As old as Charing Cross (or as Paul's), phr. (old).—Of ripe age.—Ray (1676).
Old Adam, subs. phr. (venery).—The
penis: see Creamstick and
Prick.
Old Agamemnons, subs. phr.
(military).—The 69th Foot, now
the 2nd Batt. of the Welsh Regiment:
bestowed by Nelson at St.
Vincent in 1769, when the
regiment were serving as marines.
Also "The Ups and Downs."
Old and Bold, subs. phr. (military).—The
Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment),
formerly The 14th Foot. Also
"Calvert's Entire," "The Powos,"
and "The Fighting Brigade."
Old Bailey underwriter, subs,
phr. (old).—See quot.
1830. Moncrieff, Van Dieman's Land, i. 1. An old bailey underwriter—forgery on a small scale.
Old Bendy, subs. phr. (old).—The
devil: see Skipper.
Old Bird, subs. phr. (thieves').—1.
An experienced thief. Also
old hand.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, i. 32. In nine cases out of ten an old bird would betray himself.
1899. Star, 3 Jan. Only the cook was there; but a right good fellow was he, though an old hand of very questionable antecedents.
2. (common).—An expert. Also old hand and old dog. Hence old dog at it = expert.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Old hand, knowing, or expert in any business.
1889. Daily News, 9 Nov., 5, 2. Was the interest in Jane wearing off, or was Bysshe too old a bird to praise one lady in the hearing of another?
1892. Ally Sloper's Half Holiday, 19 Mar., 90, 3. I'm too old a bird to be had on toast like that.
Old Blazes (common).—The
devil: see Skipper.
1849. Southern Literary Messenger, June. He looked, upon my word, like Old Blazes himself, with his clothing all on fire, and rage and despair in his face.
Old Block. See Chip.
Old Bold, subs. phr. (military).—The
29th Foot, now the 1st
Batt. Worcestershire Regiment.
Also "The Ever-Sworded 29th."
Old Bold Fifth, subs. phr. (military).—The
Northumberland
Fusiliers: formerly The 5th Foot.
Also "The Shiners," "The
Fighting Fifth," and "Lord
Wellington's Bodyguard."
Old Boots. Like old boots, phr.
(common).—A general and irrelevant
comparison. See Like.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, xxv. He . . . drove his heels into 'Tom Trot'—that's the new grey horse, sir, if you please—and was out of sight like old boots.
1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. Old boots . . . 'As cheeky as old boots;' 'As quick as old boots,' seem a little more reasonable, new boots being somewhat unfavourable to speedy locomotion.
1868. Miss Braddon, Sir Jasper, xxvii. I'll stick to you like old boots.
1874. Saturday Review, Jan., 55. An Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man . . . introduced in the story a pleasing change by such a phrase as jawing away like old boots.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 33. I jest blew away like old boots.
