subs. (American thieves’).—1. A collar: cf. ALL-ROUNDER.
TO GIVE BUCKLERS, verb. phr. (old).—To yield; to give way; to submit. Hence TO TAKE (BANG, SNATCH, or HOLD) UP THE BUCKLERS = to contend; to fight; TO CARRY BUCKLERS FROM = to conquer.
1600. SHAKESPEARE, Much Ado about Nothing, v. 2. A most manly wit, Margaret, it will not hurt a woman; and so, I pray thee, call Beatrice: I GIVE THEE THE BUCKLERS.
1602. DEKKER, Satiromastix [NARES].
| Charge one of them to TAKE UP THE BUCKLERS | |
| Against that hair-monger Horace. |
1609. JONSON, The Case is Altered. Play an honest part, and BEAR AWAY THE BUCKLERS.
1609. Every Woman in her Humour [NARES]. If you LAY DOWN THE BUCKLERS, you lose the victory.
1609. Old Meg of Herefordshire, 3. Age is nobodie—when youth is in place, it GIVES THE OTHER THE BUCKLERS.
1644. HEYLYN, Life of Laud, 64. They found the king to be well affected [to Bp. Andrewes] for TAKING UP THE BUCKLERS for him against Cardinal Bellarmine.
1648–53. FULLER, The Church History of Britain, x., iii., 20. Were it not for God’s marvellous blessing on our studies, and the infinite odds of truth on our side, it were impossible, in human probability, that we should HOLD UP THE BUCKLERS against [the Papists].
d. 1663. SANDERSON, Works, i., 289. These great undertakers have SNATCHED UP THE BUCKLERS, as if they would make it good against all comers.
1696. AUBREY, Miscellanies, 214. Their servants at market, or where they met (in that slashing age) did commonly BANG ONE ANOTHER’S BUCKLERS.
