subs. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK (ROCHESTER).
Verb. (old colloquial).—To get by stratagem; TO FISH (q.v.); and (in an absolute sense, see ANGLER) to cheat, to steal. As subs. = (1) a lure or wile; (2) a victim: hence a simpleton, one easily imposed on; and (3) a cunning or specious fellow, an adventurer. TO ANGLE ONE ON = to lure.
1535. COVERDALE, Bible, Eccles. vii. 26. A woman is bytterer than death … for she is a very ANGLE, hir hert is a nett.
1531. TYNDALE, The Exposition of the First Epistle of St. John, 45. Hee can not disguise him selfe and hide the ANGLE of his poysoned heresie vnder a bayte of true doctrine.
1586. SIDNEY [JAMIESON]. If he shake courteously, he ANGLED the people’s hearts.
1589. Pappe with an Hatchet, Pref. 3. I doo but yet ANGLE with a silken flye, to see whether Martins will nibble.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iv. 3.
| By this face, | |
| This seeming brow of justice did he win | |
| The hearts of all that he did ANGLE for. | |
| Ibid. (1601), All’s Well that Ends Well, v. 3. 212. | |
| She … did ANGLE for me, | |
| Madding my eagerness with my restraint. |
1601. JONSON, The Poetaster, ii. 1. I’ll go presently and ENGHLE some broker for a poet’s gown.
1653. WALTON, The Compleat Angler, i. You have ANGLED me on with much pleasure to the thatched house.
c. 1683. OLDHAM, Works and Remains (1686), 85. Shooes which … ANGLED their Charity.
1750. CHESTERFIELD, Letters, 255. Modesty is the only sure bait when you ANGLE for praise.
1799. SOUTHEY, Love Elegys, iii. II. 125.
| The subtile line | |
| Wherewith the urchin ANGLED for my heart. |
1867. DISRAELI [Morning Star, 12 Feb.]. We are not ANGLING for a policy.
TO ANGLE FOR FARTHINGS, verb. phr. (old).—See quot. 1785.
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, iii. 6. I hope to see him lodge in Ludgate first, and ANGLE into Blackfriars FOR brass FARTHINGS with an old mitten.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. ANGLERS … ANGLING FOR FARTHINGS. Begging out of a prison window with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long string.
TO ANGLE WITH A SILVER HOOK, verb. phr. (common).—1. To bribe; and (2) to buy one’s catch in the market.
