subs. (old).—1.  A well-to-do man; a WARM ’UN (q.v.).

1

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. GOLDFINCH, c. He that has alwaies a Purse or Cod of Gold in his Fob.

2

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

3

  1848.  E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, ch. iv. ‘Was the swell a GOLDFINCH?’ ‘He wasn’t nothin’ else. Got a clean ten times ten out of him.’ Ibid. ‘It’ll be a great lay, if the game’s fat. Is it a GOLDFINCH?’ ‘Fifty thousand, hard dust.’

4

  2.  (common).—A guinea; a sovereign. For synonyms, see CANARY.

5

  1700.  FARQUHAR, The Constant Couple, ii., 2. Sir H. Don’t you love singing-birds, madam? Angel (aside). That’s an odd question for a lover; (aloud) Yes, sir. Sir H. Why, then, madam, here is a nest of the prettiest GOLDFINCHES that ever chirped in a cage.

6

  1822.  SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. iv. Put your monies aside, my lord; it is not well to be seen with such GOLDFINCHES chirping about one in the lodgings of London.

7

  1826.  BUCKSTONE, Luke the Labourer, iii., 4. Good-night, noble captain. Pipe all hands at five o’clock, for I’ve a day’s work to do. We’ll jig it to-morrow, to the piping Of GOLD-FINCHES.

8

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 101 (ed. 1864). Here’s a handful of GOLDFINCHES ready to fly.

9