subs. (common).—1. A halfpenny: see RHINO and cf. quot. 1812. TO FLUTTER A BROWN = to spin a coin.
1819. J. H. VAUX, A Vocabulary of the Flash Language. BROWNS and whistlers, bad halfpence and farthings.
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii., 3. Bob. Now then for the stumpy. (Searching about in his pockets for the money.) My tanners are like young colts; I’m obliged to hunt ’em into a corner, afore I can get hold on ’em—there!—hand us over three BROWNS out of that ’ere tizzy; and tip us the heavy. (Landlord receives money, and delivers porter.)
1836. H. M. MILNER, Turpin’s Ride to York, ii. 5. Sam. Peel my skin and dub up the BROWNS! What do you mean? Bal. Just this—that if you do not hand over your money I shall blow out your brains!
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Black Mousquetaire).
| The magic effect of a handful of crowns | |
| Upon people whose pockets boast nothing but BROWNS. |
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. 57. If I takes a hat round, they has a plate, and they gets sovereigns where we has only BROWNS. Ibid. We keeps it up for half an hour or an hour … if the BROWNS tumble in well.
1853. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Digby Grand, iv. A shower of BROWNS, the coppers mingled with silver, from our private box, rewards their exertions.
c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, ‘Jimmy Johnson’s Holiday.’
| But Violet, the Margate pet, | |
| Who always call’d him Teaser, | |
| Said ‘She would stick like mortar’d brick, | |
| While Johnson had a BROWN.’ |
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xi. At your elbow to cadge a BROWN.
2. (old).—Porter. [Qy. an abbreviation of ‘Brown Stout.’]
1820. REYNOLDS (‘Peter Corcoran’). Glossary at end of The Fancy. BROWN, porter; HEAVY BROWN, stout.
Verb. (common).—1. To get the better of; to outwit; to ROAST (q.v.): also TO DO BROWN.
c. 1551. L. SHEPHERD, John Bon and Mast Person [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, IV. 16]. Ha! BROWNE DONE!
1828. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Living Picture of London, 5. ‘Those who consider themselves BROWN to every move upon the board’ of actual life.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Execution).
| ‘Why, they’d laugh at and quiz us all over the town, | |
| We are all of us done so uncommonly BROWN!’ |
1854. Harper’s Monthly, Jan.
| While those who succeeded | |
| In reaching the town, | |
| Confessed they were ‘DONE,’ | |
| Most exceedingly ‘BROWN.’ |
1861. Times (on American affairs).
| Let us wallop great Doodle now when he is down; | |
| If we wallops him well, we will do him up BROWN. |
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 267. I was once done myself with some pigs—I! and DONE BROWN too, and at a time when I ought to have known better.
2. (common).—To understand; comprehend.
18[?]. I. K. SYMNS, The Age of Betting. And when they ask me if I BROWN such language, I ne’er hear or read as to BROWNING; I’m done done BROWN instead.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 38. You will easily BROWN that the case was dismissed by the beak, with a frown. Ibid., 74. You’ll BROWN to the hint—she’d red hair and a squint.
TO DO UP (or IT) BROWN, verb. phr. (common).—To do to perfection; to prolong a drinking bout; TO GO THE WHOLE HOG (q.v.).
1850. Southern and South-western Sketches, 57. ‘Well, I think Ellen’s A-DOIN’ IT UP BROWN!’ … ‘There’ll be another weddin’ soon, guess.’
1861. Vanity Fair, ‘Parody Jefferson Davis’s Proclamation.’
| To pay his best in duty bound each faithful rebel knave is, | |
| So let the thing be DONE UP BROWN, for things look black. |
1887. G. D. ATKIN, House Scraps, 73.
| To send the market either up or down; | |
| In aërated ‘Breads,’ | |
| Or ‘Shores,’ or ‘Yanks,’ or ‘Reds,’ | |
| In slang we really DO IT rather BROWN. |
TO ROAST BROWN, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To watch closely.
1888. G. R. SIMS, A Plank Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.]. A reeler was ROASTING ME BROWN.
AS BROWN AS A BERRY, phr. (old).—As brown as may be (CHAUCER).
