subs. (old).—1.  Gin. For synonyms, see DRINKS. In America, liquor generally.

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  1858.  A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, bk. iii., ch. i., p. 252. And there’s a first-rate ‘DIDDLE cove’ (publican) keeps a gin-shop there.

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  2.  (schoolboys’).—The penis. For synonyms, see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

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  3.  (common).—A swindle or ‘do.’—See verb, sense 1.

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  1885.  Punch, 5 Sept., p. 110. And something whispered me—in diction chaste—It’s all a DIDDLE!

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  Verb (common).—1.  To cheat. For synonyms, see STICK.

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  1811.  POOLE, Hamlet Travestie.

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  1819.  T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 1. DIDDLING your subjects, and gutting their fobs.

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  1824.  SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. v. And Jack is DIDDLED, said the Baronet.

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  1841.  The Comic Almanack, p. 266.

        Thus, while pig and tail the villagers DIDDLE,
My tale’s in the middle, my tale’s in the middle!

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  1880.  HAWLEY SMART, Social Sinners, ch. xv. He had me, and no mistake. Done, yes, DIDDLED; and I thought I had rather an easy-going lawyer to deal with.

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  1887.  Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 2 Dec., 362, 1. You have been done, regularly DIDDLED, by that fellow.

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  2.  (venery).—To copulate. Cf., DIDDLE, subs., sense 2. For synonyms, see RIDE.

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  3.  (Scots’ colloquial).—To shake.

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