subs. (common).—1. A bankrupt. For analogous terms, see QUIZBY.
2. (Scotch).—The general name in Glasgow and neighbourhood for the head of an establishment, e.g., of a factory, or the like.
TO DRAW A CORK, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To draw blood. A variant is TO TAP ONE’S CLARET.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 136. Several blows exchanged, but no CORKS were DRAWN.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 25.
| And this being the first Royal Claret let flow, | |
| Since Tom took the Holy Alliance in tow, | |
| The UNCORKING produced much sensation about, | |
| As bets had been flush on the first painted snout. |
1830. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xii. Tap his claret cask—DRAW HIS CORK!
