The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

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The transference of terms expressive of delightful and poignant savor
to female beauty, is common with poets. "Death, that hath sucked the
honey of thy breath."--SHAKESPEARE. "Charley loves a pretty girl, AS
SWEET AS SUGAR CANDY."--ANON.
4. "Nutty," proper--in the old English sense of "comely," "handsome."
"Six PROPER youths, and tall."--OLD SONG.
5. "Nob," a person of consequence; a word very likely to be patronized,
from its combined brevity and significancy.
6. "Spicy," very smart and pretty; it has the same recommendation, and
will probably supplant the old favorite "bonny." "Busk ye, busk ye, my
bonny, bonny bride."--HAMILTON.
7. "Young'un," youth, young man. "A YOUTH to fortune and to fame
unknown."--GRAY.
8. "Gov'nor," or "guv'nor," a contraction of "governor," a father. It
will, no doubt, soon supersede sire, which is at present the poetical
equivalent for the name of the author of one's existence. See all the
poets, passim.
9. "Said as how he'd never fight," the thing was out of the question;
a metaphorical phrase, though certainly, at present, a vulgar one.
10. "Snooze," slumber personified, like "Morpheus," or "Somnus."
11. "Daddle."--Q. from daktulos, a finger--pars pro toto!--Hand, the
only synonym for it that we have, except "Paw," "Mawley," &c., which
are decidedly generis ejusdem.12. "His'n," his own; corresponding to
the Latin suus, his own and
nobody else's, so frequently met with in OVID and others.
13. "Crack," a twinkling, an extremely short interval of time, which
was formerly expressed, in general, by a periphrasis; as, "Ere the
leviathan can swim a league!"--SHAKESPEARE.
14. "Cut," sped. A synonym.
15. "Squatted," sat. Id.
16. "Davy," affidavit, solemn oath. Significant and euphonious,
therefore alluring to the versifier.
17. "Don't I, just?" A question for a strong affirmation, as, "Oh,
yes, indeed I do;" a piece of popular rhetoric, pithy and forcible and
consequently almost sure to be adopted--especially by the pathetic
writers.
18. "Bolt," ran away. Syn.
19. "Bumptious," fearless, bold, and spirited; a very energetic
expression such as those rejoice in who would fair "DENHAM'S strength
with Waller's sweetness join."
20. "That won't pay," that plan will never answer. Metaph.