subs. (sporting).—A horse in the betting for market purposes alone; otherwise A STIFF’UN.—See COCK, subs., sense 4.
Verb (theatrical).—1. To confuse; ‘to queer’; to blunder and so ‘put out’ one’s fellows: to spoil a scene.—See REGULAR CORPSER.
1864. HOTTEN, The Slang Dictionary, s.v.
1886. Graphic, April 10, p. 399. An actor who forgets his words is said to ‘stick,’ or be ‘CORPSED.’
1886. Cornhill Magazine, Oct., p. 436. He expressed a hope that Miss Tudor ‘wouldn’t CORPSE his business’ over the forge-door again that evening.
2. (common).—To kill (literally to make a corpse of one). A Fr. equivalent is parler sur quelqu’un. For synonyms, see COOK ONE’S GOOSE.
1884. EDITOR of Notes and Queries [in ‘Answers to Correspondents’ (6 S., ix., 120), says that]. ‘To CORPSE … is one of many customary and coarse ways of menacing the infliction of death. It is horribly familiar in London.’
1887. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Act 4. MOORE. And is he thundering well CORPSED?… Then damme, I don’t mind swinging.
