subs. (thieves’).—1. A pre-arranged swindle. In its special sporting signification a CROSS is an arrangement to lose on the part of one of the principals in a fight, or any kind of match. When both principals conspire that one shall win, it is called a DOUBLE CROSS (q.v.). [Obviously a shortened form of CROSS-BITE (q.v., verbal sense).]
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood.
| Two milling coves, each vide avake, | |
| Vere backed to fight for heavy stake; | |
| But in the meantime, so it vos, | |
| Both kids agreed to play a CROSS. |
1864. Derby Day, p. 39. ‘As sure as the sun shines, Askpart ’ll lick ’em; if so be,’ he added significantly, ‘as there ain’t no CROSS.’
1867. A. TROLLOPE, Claverings, ch. xxx. I always suppose every horse will run to win; and though there may be a CROSS now and again, that’s the surest line to go upon.
2. (thieves’).—A thief; also CROSS-MAN, CROSS-COVE, CROSS-CHAP, SQUIRE, KNIGHT, or LAD, OF THE CROSS, etc. [Literally a man ON THE CROSS (q.v.).] For synonyms, see THIEVES.
1830. BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 71, ed. 1854. There is an excellent fellow near here, who keeps a public-house, and is a firm ally and generous patron of the LADS OF THE CROSS. Ibid., p. 140. Gentlemen of the Road, the Street, the Theatre and the Shop! Prigs, Toby-men, and SQUIRES OF THE CROSS!
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. ii. Never a CROSS COVE of us all can throw off so prime a chant as yourself.
1864. Cornhill Magazine, II., 336, In the following verse, taken from a pet flash song, you have a comic specimen of this sort of guilty chivalry:—
| ‘A CROSS COVE is in the street for me, | |
| And I a poor girl of low degree; | |
| If I was as rich as I am poor, | |
| Ye never should go on the cross no more.’ |
Verb.—1. To play false in a match of any kind.
1887. W. E. HENLEY and R. L. STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Act iv., Sc. 3. What made you CROSS the fight and play booty with your own man?
2. (venery).—To possess or ‘cover’ a woman.
CROSS IN THE AIR, subs. phr. (volunteers’).—A rifle carried butt-end upwards.
3. (colloquial).—To thwart; to baffle; to spoil.
1709. MATTHEW PRIOR, The Thief and the Cordelier.
| There the ’squire of the pad, and the knight of the post, | |
| Find their pains no more balk’d, and their hopes no more CROST. |
TO PLAY A CROSS, verbal phr.—See CROSS, subs., sense 1; and verb, sense 1.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 257 (ed. 1864), Zoroaster was just the man to lose a fight; or, in the language of the Fancy, to PLAY A CROSS.
TO SHAKE THE CROSS, Verbal phr. (American thieves’).—To quit the CROSS and GO ON THE SQUARE (q.v.).
1877. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, ch. lii., p. 450. The day my time was up, you told me if i would SHAKE THE CROSS and live on the square for three months, it would be the best job i ever done in my life.
TO BE CROSSED, verbal phr. (university).—Thus explained in a University Guide:—For not paying term bills to the bursar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels, or lectures, or other offences, an undergrad can be CROSSED at the buttery, or kitchen, or both, i.e., a CROSS is put against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or to punish him.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, pt. II., ch. x. Sir!—You will translate all your lectures; have your name CROSSED on the buttery and kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and college.
See also CROSS, verb, sense 1.
ON THE CROSS, phr.—The opposite of ON THE SQUARE (q.v.). Cf., ON THE CROOK.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch. xxxv. [Chas. Ravenshoe to Shoeblack] ‘Have you any brothers?’ ‘Five altogether. Jim was gone for a sojer, it appeared; and Nipper was sent over the water, Harry was gone ON THE CROSS.’ ‘ON THE CROSS?’ said Charles. ‘Ah,’ the boy said, ‘he goes out cly-faking and such. He’s a prig, and a smart one, too. He’s fly, is Harry.’
1868. OUIDA, Under Two Flags, ch. v. Rake had seen a good deal of men and manners, and, in his own opinion at least, was ‘up to every dodge ON THE CROSS’ that this iniquitous world could unfold.
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 244. We went down to a bloke I knew up in one of the streets leading off the Euston Road who did a little ON THE ‘CROSS’ now and again, to see what he’d stand for the 300l.
1884. Echo, 1 March, p. 3, col. 6. Prisoner knew they were stolen, and said he could get rid of any quantity of similar articles that were got ON THE CROSS, a slang expression for stolen goods.
1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 25. One of them then came a little nearer, and produced a good gold scarf pin, worth, perhaps, £2 or £3, and asked if I would buy it, adding it was ON THE CROSS (stolen), and I could have it for 2s., as they wanted a shilling to get a bed.
