subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE. BUTTON-HOLE WORKER = (1) the penis: see PRICK; and (2) = a PERFORMER (q.v.). BUTTON-HOLE WORKING = copulation: see GREENS and RIDE. BUTTON-HOLE FACTORY = (1) a brothel: see NANNY-SHOP; and (2) = a bed.
Verb. (colloquial).—(1) To stop; to detain: with such mild coercion as putting a finger in the button-hole of a coat would imply. Hence (2) = to mildly coerce.
1902. Daily Mail, 13 Nov., 3, 4. The houses must also be places where the members would no more be BUTTONHOLED to join any particular religious sect or political organisation than a bishop was BUTTONHOLED at the Athenæum to join the Land League.
