or bald-pate, subs. (old).—A term of contempt (cf. first section of quot. 1603): also BALDY. [Of Biblical origin.] Hence BALTITUDE = a state of baldness; HIS BALDITUDE = a mock title; and BALDHEADED-ROW = the first row of stalls at theatres, especially at LEG-SHOPS (q.v.).
1535. COVERDALE, Bible, 2 Kings ii. 23. Come vp here thou BALDE HEADE [WYCLIF = BALLARD].
1601. A. DENT, The Plaine Mans Path-way to Heaven, 131. Mocked Elishah the Prophet of God; calling him BALD-HEAD, BALD-PATE.
1603. SHAKESPEARE, Measure for Measure, v. 1. Come hither, good man BALDPATE. Ibid. You BALDPATED, lying rascal.
1821. BYRON, The Two Foscari, iii. 1. 244. Held in the bondage of ten BALD-HEADS.
1865. NOEL, Richter’s Flower Pieces (1871), I. v. 141. But had solicited the BALD-PATES in vain.
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, xix. Trouble has done it…; trouble has brung these gray hairs and this premature BALDITUDE.
1900. FLYNT, Tramping with Tramps, 384. The BALDY [old man] ’e comes himself, ’n’ asted what I wanted.
