"Too much big fellow water, bait (ply) fly come up bait pind (find) him," answers the aboriginal, adding, however, the question, "You patter potchum?" (eat possum).—A. C. Grant.
Biggin (Winchester, &c.), a coffee-pot consisting of two parts—a strainer, and a coffee-pot.
"It is very odd," said Hatton to his companion Morley, "you can't get coffee anywhere." Morley, who had supposed that coffee was about the commonest article of consumption in Mowbray, looked a little surprised; but at this moment Hatton's servant entered with a mysterious yet somewhat triumphant air, and ushering in a travelling biggin of their own, fuming like one of the springs of Geyser. "Now try that," said Hatton to Morley, as the servant poured him out a cup.—Disraeli: Sybil.
Biggity (American), large, extra-vagant, grand, presumptuously.
Well, den, w'iles dey wuz all a-settin' dar, en de 'lasses wuz a bilin' en a blubberin', dey got ter runnin' on, talkin' mighty biggity.—Uncle Remus.
Big guns (common), men of importance, great people.
M. Coquelin has been fêted, feasted, and generally entertained during his stay in the metropolis. The other evening he was invited to meet the Prince of Wales, and had the honour of supping with Albert the Jolly, and a host of other big guns.—Modern Society.
Big head (American), a term of abuse, implying that a man is conceited, "bumptious;" to get the big head, to be in a state verging on intoxication, what the French call "être allumé."
All the Colonel's tact and diplomacy were necessary to preserve peace now. ... The "boys" got the big head, and displayed effervescence scarcely less remarkable than that of the champagne itself.—F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.
It signifies, further, the feeling of a swelled head, accompanied by headache experienced in the morning after a debauch, when one has "mal aux cheveux," as the French express it.
A big head laden with cocktails and gin,
Is all that I have to say,
To remind me of the whisky that has all gone in
To a hold that is not far away.
As I sit on a keg gazing over the beers,
That the bums are all scooping down,
I pray that the barkeeper may have no fears,
For in whisky I'll never be drowned.
Big house (costermongers), the workhouse.
As long as they kept out of the big house she would not complain. ... The men hate the thought of going to the big house.—London Labour and the London Poor.
Big Injun (American), a term applied at first by the red Indians to indicate some great chief.
"He big Injun—he heap big Injun—he dam heap big Injun—he mighty dam big heap dam big Injun—he Jones!"—Three Thousand Miles in a Railway Car. Philadelphia, 1869.
Big mouth (American), a very common expression applied to any man who talks too much, who is windy, "gassy," and given to bosh. During his trial for murder the wretched Guiteau often interrupted the judge by crying out "Shut up, big mouth."
