subs. (colloquial).—1. The skin of an unpared potato: generally in phrase ‘boiled in their jackets.’
1878. R. L. STEVENSON, An Inland Voyage, p. 58. Some potatoes in their JACKETS.
2. (American).—A pinafore; a ROUNDABOUT (q.v.).
3. (American).—A folded paper, or open envelope containing documents, endorsed without as to the contents; a docket.
Verb. (old).—1. To cheat; to swindle; to betray.
1819. J. H. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. JACKET. … This term is … properly applied to removing a man by underhand and vile means from any berth or situation he enjoys, commonly with a view to supplant him.
1823. GROSE (3rd ed.), A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
2. (common).—To thrash; to beat. Also TO TRIM (or DUST or LACE) ONE’S JACKET. For synonyms, see BASTE and TAN. See JACKETTING.
1692. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, Fables. She left her Husband immediately, and FELL UPON THE JACKET of the Parson, who stood gaping at her.
1845. BUCKSTONE, The Green Bushes, i., 1. I’ll DUST YOUR JACKET if you do that again.
3. (American).—To enclose (a document) after scheduling within it other papers relating to the same subject; to docket.
1888. The American, 16 May. Another record was made in the book of the office of letters received and JACKETTED.
4. (American thieves’).—To denote; to point out.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. JACKET. The fly cops pulled him, and allowed the flat cops to JACKET him.
TO GIVE A RED-LACED JACKET, verb. phr. (old military).—To flog.
1871. Temple Bar, XXXI., 311. When soldiers used to be flogged more commonly than now, their commanders used to facetiously call it, GIVING THEM A RED-LACED JACKET.
TO LINE ONE’S JACKET, verb. phr. (old).—To eat or drink; to fill one’s stomach. For synonyms, see GRUB.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie. Il s’accoustre bien. He stuffes himselfe soundly, hee LINES HIS JACKET throughly with liquor.
PULL DOWN YOUR JACKET (or VEST), phr. (American).—Keep cool! don’t get excited! HOLD YOUR HAIR ON! (q.v.).
TO SEND IN ONE’S JACKET, verb. phr. (jockies’).—To resign; to deliver up one’s badge of office.
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 222. ‘I presume you know the consequences of refusing?’ ‘I shall have to SEND IN MY JACKET, I suppose.’ The baronet nodded.
