Part 69 (1/2)
SHAPES. To shew one's shapes; to be stript, or made peel, at the whipping-post.
SHAPPO, or SHAP. A hat: corruption of CHAPEAU. CANT.
SHARK. A sharper: perhaps from his preying upon any one he can lay hold of. Also a custom-house officer, or tide-waiter. Sharks; the first order of pickpockets.
BOW-STREET TERM, A.D. 1785.
SHARP. Subtle, acute, quick-witted; also a sharper or cheat, in opposition to a flat, dupe, or gull. Sharp's the word and quick's the motion with him; said of any one very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all advantages. Sharp set; hungry.
SHARPER. A cheat, one that lives by his wits. Sharpers tools; a fool and false dice.
SHAVER. A cunning shaver; a subtle fellow, one who trims close, an acute cheat. A young shaver; a boy.
SEA TERM.
SHAVINGS. The clippings of money.
SHE HOUSE. A house where the wife rules, or, as the term is, wears the breeches.
SHE LION. A s.h.i.+lling.
SHE NAPPER. A woman thief-catcher; also a bawd or pimp.
SHEEP'S HEAD. Like a sheep's head, all jaw; saying of a talkative man or woman.
SHEEPISH. Bashful. A sheepish fellow; a bashful or shamefaced fellow. To cast a sheep's eye at any thing; to look wishfully at it.
SHEEPSKIN FIDDLER. A drummer.
SHELF. On the shelf, i.e. p.a.w.ned.
SHERIFF'S JOURNEYMAN. The hangman.
SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution. To dance at the sheriff's ball, and loll out one's tongue at the company; to be hanged, or go to rest in a horse's night-cap, i.e. a halter.
SHERIFF'S BRACELETS. Handcuffs.
SHERIFF'S HOTEL. A prison.
SHERIFF'S PICTURE FRAME. The gallows.
TO SHERK. To evade or disappoint: to sherk one's duty.
TO SHERRY. To run away: sherry off.
s.h.i.+FTING. Shuffling. Tricking. s.h.i.+fting cove; i.e. a person who lives by tricking.
s.h.i.+FTING BALLAST. A term used by sailors, to signify soldiers, pa.s.sengers, or any landsmen on board.
s.h.i.+LLALEY. An oaken sapling, or cudgel: from a wood of that name famous for its oaks. IRISH.
s.h.i.+LLY-SHALLY. Irresolute. To stand s.h.i.+lly-shally; to hesitate, or stand in doubt.