adj. (colloquial).—Very cheap; of little worth; foolish. [SKEAT: from Swed., dog, = very; LATHAM: the first syllable is god = good, transposed + CHEAP, from chapman, a merchant—hence, a good bargain (Fr., bon marché).]
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iii. 3. The sack … would have bought me lights as GOOD-CHEAP at the dearest chandler’s in Europe.
1606. DEKKER, Newes from Hell, in Works (GROSART), ii., 116. Three things there are DOG-CHEAP, learning, poore mens sweat, and othes.
1663. DRYDEN, The Wild Gallant, Act II. No fat overgrown virgin of forty ever offer’d her self so DOG-CHEAP, or was more despis’d.
1772. FOOTE, The Nabob, Act II. DOG-CHEAP; neck-beef; a penny-loaf for a halfpenny.
1830. MARRYAT, The King’s Own, ch. xxx. I’ll sell mine, DOG-CHEAP, if any one will buy it.
1851. CARLYLE, John Sterling, pt. I., ch. x. There lay in a certain neighbouring creek of the Irish coast, a worn-out royal gun-brig condemned to sale, to be had DOG-CHEAP.
