Colour

subs. (sporting).—1.  The handkerchief worn as a badge by prize-fighters and other professional athletes. Each man chooses his own, and it was once a practice to sell them to backers to be worn at the ring-side. The present rules of the Ring provide as follows:—‘That every man shall be provided with a handkerchief of a colour suitable to his own fancy, and that the seconds proceed to entwine these handkerchiefs at the upper end of one of the centre stakes of the ring; that these handkerchiefs shall be called the COLOURS, and that the winner of the battle at its conclusion shall be entitled to their possession as the trophy of victory. ‘For a description of various ‘fancies,’ see BILLY. In racing circles the COLOURS are the owner’s and are shown in the jockeys’ caps and jackets.

  1818.  P. EGAN, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 170. The Chicken now sported the blue-spotted silk handkerchief, as the champion’s COLOUR.

  1858.  A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, bk. II., ch. xii., p. 189. Each of the men had, previous to the fight, done a little profitable business by selling pocket-handkerchiefs, which they called their COLOURS.

  2.  (popular).—Used of money; e.g., ‘I have not seen the COLOUR of his money’ = I have not received payment.—See quots.

  1736.  FIELDING, Don Quixote, I., iii. If I have seen the COLOUR of gold this fortnight, may I never see Teresa Pancha again.

  1836.  MARRYAT, Mr. Midshipman Easy, xix. 112. The padrone informed them that he should like to see the COLOUR of their money before they went on board.

  COLOURED ON THE CARD, phr. (racing).—Having the colours in which a jockey is to ride inserted on the card of the race.

  OFF COLOUR, adv. phr. (common).—Exhausted; run down; ‘seedy.’

  c. 1876.  Broadside Ballad, ‘That’s Where The Money Goes.’