subs. phr. (Australian).—1. A measure of liquor.
1859. FRANK FOWLER, Southern Lights and Shadows, 53. To pay for liquor for another is to ‘stand,’ or to ‘shout,’ or to ‘sacrifice.’ The measure is called a ‘nobbler,’ or a BREAK-DOWN.
2. (common).—A noisy dance; a convivial gathering; spec. a negro dance. Also as verb = to dance riotously; to be boisterous; to be ‘spreeish.’
1850. Southern and South-western Sketches, 60. Take up the carpet—move the bed—call the fiddler, and let’s have a regular BREAK-DOWN.
18[?]. New England Tales [BARTLETT]. Come, hold on, boys, don’t clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a BREAK-DOWN to wind up with.
1864. YATES, Broken to Harness, II., 54. And Mr. Pringle retired into the next room, where he indulged in the steps of a comic dance popular with burlesque-actors, and known as a ‘nigger BREAK-DOWN.’
1873. The Saturday Review, May, 676. We shall not be surprised to learn that they have serious thoughts of engaging a few comic singers and BREAK-DOWN dancers for their next campaign.
1883. Daily News, March 26, 2, 4. A patter song … was twice redemanded, chiefly, it appeared, for the sake of a comical ‘BREAK-DOWN’ danced by the demented king.
1885. Daily Telegraph, 16 Nov. Provide comic actors, pantomimes, rallies, and BREAKDOWNS.
3. See BREAK.
