subs. (printers’).—‘Establishment’: e.g., ON THE ’STAB = in regular work at fixed wages: as opposed to piece-work.
TO STAB THE DICE, verb. phr. (old gaming).—See quot.
1674. COTTON, The Compleat Gamester (1680), 13. STABBING, that is, having a smooth box, and small in the bottom, you drop in both your dice in such manner as you would have them sticking therein … the dice lying one upon another; so that turning up the box, the dice never tumble … by which means you have bottom according to the tops you put in: for example, if you put in your dice so that two fives or two fours lie a-top, you have in the bottom turn’d up two two’s, or two treys; so if six and an ace a-top, a six and an ace at bottom.
TO STAB ONESELF AND PASS THE DAGGER, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To help oneself and send the bottle round.
