subs. (American).—1. The United States’ flag; the STARS AND STRIPES. Also STARS AND BARS; BLOOD AND ENTRAILS; GRIDIRON AND DOUGHBOYS; and, in speaking of the Eagle in conjunction with the flag, the GOOSE AND GRIDIRON.
2. (common).—A County Court Summons. [Originally applied to Writs of the Westminster Court, the arms of which resemble a gridiron.]
1859. G. A. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxi. He collects debts for anybody in the neighbourhood, takes out the abhorred GRIDIRONS, or County Court summonses.
3. (thieves’).—The bars on a cell window. Fr., les gaules de Schtard.
THE GRIDIRON, subs. phr. (common).—The Grafton Club. [Where the grill is a speciality.]
ON THE GRIDIRON, adv. phr. (common).—Troubled; harassed; in a bad way; ON TOAST (q.v.).
THE WHOLE GRIDIRON, subs. phr. (common).—See WHOLE ANIMAL.
