subs. (common).—1. A swindling gamester.
1838. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xlii. 365. ‘He was a horse-chaunter: he’s a LEG now.’
1840. THACKERAY, Character Sketches (Capt. Rook and Mr. Pigeon). As for Tom, he is a regular LEG now—leading the life already described. When I met him last it was at Baden, where he was on a professional tour, with a carriage, a courier, a valet, a confederate, and a case of pistols.
1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. He’s your brother, Mr. Frank; but there isn’t a bigger LEG on the whole pavement.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 501. Now and then a regular LEG, when he’s travelling to Chester, York, or Doncaster, to the races, may draw other passengers into play, and make a trifle, or not a trifle, by it; or he will play with other LEGS; but it’s generally for amusement, I’ve reason to believe.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. LEG. A gambler.
1866. The London Miscellany, 5 May, p. 201, 2, ‘London Revelations.’ The two who were not of their race were of the genus ‘LEG.’
1882. ‘THORMANBY,’ Famous Racing Men, p. 75. He [John Gully] worked on gradually as a layer of odds—a ‘bettor round,’ or LEG, as he was called in those days. [c. 1820.]
1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 172. The world regards me as a compound of LEG and money-lender.
2. (cards’).—A ‘chalk’ or point scored in a game.
3. In pl. (common).—A lanky-built man or woman; a LAMP-POST (q.v.).
4. (old).—A bow: see MAKE A LEG.
1596. NASHE, Have with You to Saffron-Walden [GROSART (1885), iii. 146]. Whither … haue you brought mee? To Newgate, good Master Doctour, with a LOWE LEG they made answer.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. P. Henry. Well, here’s my LEG.
1602. J. COOKE, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife from a Bad, i. 3 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix. 18]. With LEGS, with curtsies, congees, and such like.
1603. DEKKER, The Wonderful Yeare 1603 [GROSART (1886), i. 83]. Janus … made a very mannerly LOWE LEGGE.
1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding, ii., 7 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 443]. Then a stranger … beats about with three graceful LEGS.
Verb. (common).—1. To trip up.
1882. The Saturday Review, 22 April. Presently they LEGGED the copper, and he fell to the ground.
2. (common).—See LEG IT.
TO MAKE (or SCRAPE) A LEG, verb. phr. (old and colloquial).—To bow; to curtsey. Also TO LEG IT.
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, His Supplication to the Divell [GROSART (1885), ii. 63]. How much better is it then to haue an eligant Lawier to plead ones cause, than a stutting Townsman, that loseth himselfe in his tale, and dooth nothing but MAKE LEGS.
1603. DEKKER, The Wonderful Yeare 1603 [GROSART (1886), i. 91].
| He calls forth one by one, to note their graces, | |
| Whilst they MAKE LEGS he copies out their faces. |
1606. CHAPMAN, Monsieur D’Olive, i. p. 117 (Plays, 1874). Pages and parasites [live] by MAKING LEGS.
1616. JONSON, The Devil is an Ass, ii. 3.
| I learned in it myself, | |
| To MAKE MY LEGS, and do my postures. |
1633. SHIRLEY, The Bird in a Cage, v. 1. He’ll kiss his hand and LEG IT.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. p. 192.
| Shall’s ask him, what he means to do? | |
| ——’Good faith, with all my heart; | |
| Thou MAK’ST THE better LEG o’th’ Two. |
1670. EACHARD, The Ground and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion, in ARBER’S Garner, vol. vii., p. 264. He comes to the end of the table … having MADE A submissive LEG.
1673. DAVENANT, The Play House to be Let, Epilogue. Female fishes never MAKE A LEG.
1714. T. LUCAS, Memoirs of Gamesters, etc., 25. The Prentice MAKES A handsome LEG and Bow.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LEG.
c. 1796. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Rights of Kings, Ode xii. To Thrones, with due decorum, MAKE A LEG.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, liii. p. 443. ‘Mr. Bucket, my Lady.’ Mr. Bucket MAKES A LEG, and comes forward.
TO LEG IT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To run away. Cf. LEG-BAIL and TO GIVE LEGS.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
1878. BESANT and RICE, By Celia’s Arbour, xlviii. Whatever the werdict, you up and LEG IT, and then bring in an alibi.
2. See MAKE A LEG.
TO BREAK A LEG, verb. phr. (venery).—See quot. 1737.
1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 153. Though she hath BROKEN HER LEG, she is sound enough for a Drawer, newly out of his time, who, having credit for wine, his house is furnish’t with the money that did set his wife’s BROKEN LEG.
1737. RAY, Proverbs (3rd ed.), p. 200. She hath BROKEN HER LEG above the knee, i.e., had a bastard.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LEG.
1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 63], s.v.
TO LIFT (or LAY) a LEG ON (or OVER), verb. phr. (venery).—To possess a woman. Hence, TO LIFT ONE’S LEG or TO PLAY AT LIFT-LEG = to copulate (of both sexes); LEG-LIFTER = whoremaster; and LEG-LIFTING = fornication. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, v. No snarling rebel shall e’er LAY LEG o’er me.
17[?]. Old Song [quoted by BURNS], ‘Duncan Davidson.’ She fee’d a lad TO LIFT HER LEG.
c. 1787. BURNS, Holy Willie’s Prayer.
| An’ I’ll ne’er LIFT a lawless LEG | |
| Again UPON her. |
2. (old).—To piss.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, iv. 2. Launec. When didst thou see me HEAVE UP MY LEG and make water on a gentle woman’s farthingale?
1606. The Return from Parnassus, i., 2 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ix. 116]. Judicio. What, Monsieur Kinsayder, LIFTING UP YOUR LEG, and pissing against the world?
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night.
| At you I merely LIFT MY gam— | |
| I drink your health against the wall! |
3. (old).—To walk.
1791. BURNS, Tam o’ Shanter.
| Weel mounted on his grey mare, Meg, | |
| A better never LIFTED LEG. |
TO GET A LEG IN, verb. phr. (common).—To obtain one’s confidence.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, p. 207. He felt exceedingly comfortable now they had GOT A LEG IN.
A LEG (or LEG UP), subs. phr. (colloquial).—Help.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, ch. xvi. Your servant will GIVE YOU A LEG UP.
1871. Figaro, 9 Oct. There are authors who require a LEG-UP before starting, and who do well to explain, and argue, and appeal, and declare beforehand what very clever authors they are.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 171. All the … Cheap Johnny coves … promised to come … just to GIVE YOU A LEG UP.
TO HAVE A BONE IN ONE’S LEG (or ARM, or THROAT), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be incapable of action: a playful refusal.
1542. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus (1877, Reprint of ed. 1562), p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that HE HAD A BONE IN HIS THROTE, & could not speake.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation (Conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can’t go, for I HAVE A BONE IN MY LEG.
1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 50]. I have A BONE IN MY ARM. This is a pretended excuse, with which people amuse young children when they are importunate to have them do something, or reach something for them, that they are unwilling to do, or that is not good for them.
1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. GOT A BONE IN MY LEG felt rather indisposed.
TO SHAKE A FREE (or A LOOSE) LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To live as one likes; to go on tramp.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii., ch. 9. While luck lasts the highwayman SHAKES A LOOSE LEG.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 453. I longed for a roving life and to SHAKE A LOOSE LEG. Ibid. (1856), The Great World of London, p. 87. Those who love to ‘SHAKE A FREE LEG,’ and lead a roving life, as they term it, rather than settle down to any continuous employment.
TO GIVE (or SHOW) LEGS (or A CLEAN PAIR OF LEGS), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To decamp; to run away.
1888. Daily News, 15 May, p. 7, col. 2. ‘The best way is to make a snatch and GIVE LEGS for it; it’s better than loitering.’
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 30. We bunked off in the scurry, and SHOWED ’EM A CLEAN PAIR O’ LEGS.
NOT A LEG (or A LEG TO STAND ON), subs. phr. (colloquial).—At the end of one’s resources.
IN HIGH LEG, subs. phr. (colloquial).—In high feather.
ON ONE’S LAST LEGS, subs. phr. (colloquial).—On the verge of ruin; at the end of one’s tether.
1763. FOOTE, The Mayor of Garratt, ii. Mrs. Sneak. … Don’t all the world cry … Miss Molly Jollup to be married to Sneak!… Sneak. Ay, and glad enough you could catch me: You know you was pretty near YOUR LAST LEGS.
1767. RAY, Proverbs (3rd ed.), p. 200. He’s ON HIS LAST LEGS.
1782. BURNEY, Cecilia, vii. ch. 5. She can’t possibly last long, for she’s quite ON HER LAST LEGS.
TO BE (or GET) ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To rise to speak; to be speaking.
TO STAND ON ONE’S OWN LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To depend on oneself.
TO SET ONE (or GET) ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To restore or attain to good circumstances.
1888. G. H. JESSOP, The Rise and Fall of ‘the Irish Aigle,’ in The Century Magazine, xxxvii. p. 303. When the paper GETS UPON ITS LEGS.
TO SHOW A LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get out of bed.
TO HAVE THE LEGS OF ONE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To outrun.
1861. Macmillan’s Magazine, March, p. 357. The beggar HAD THE LEGS OF ME.
TO FIGHT AT THE LEG, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LEG. To fight at the leg, to take unfair advantages, it being held unfair by backsword players to STRIKE AT THE LEG.
TO FALL ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To prosper.
1841. BULWER-LYTTON, Night and Morning, III. 3. A man who has plenty of brains generally FALLS ON HIS LEGS.
1861. JAMES CONWAY, Forays Among Salmon and Deer, p. 155. And this inborn self-possession tends greatly to the advantage of the people who are so constituted. Hence it is that a Scotchman put him where you will, almost invariably FALLS ON HIS LEGS.
TO HAVE LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be reputed fast (as a ship, a horse, a runner).
TO FEEL ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be sure of one’s ground.
1846. DICKENS, Cricket on the Hearth, i. Remarkably beautiful child…. May seem impossible to you, but FEELS HIS LEGS ALREADY.
TO PUT ONE’S BEST LEG FOREMOST, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To make haste; and (2) to exert oneself.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART (1885), v. 277]. Well, thither our Fisherman SET THE BEST LEGGE BEFORE, and vnfardled to the King his whole sachel of wonders.
AS RIGHT AS MY LEG, phr. (colloquial).—As right as may be. But see quot. 1767.
1662. J. WILSON, The Cheats, ii. 4. Fear nothing—All’s well, and AS RIGHT AS MY LEG.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, i. 93.
| Jolly Ralph was in with Peg, | |
| Tho’ frekl’d like a Turkey Egg, | |
| And she AS RIGHT AS IS MY LEG, | |
| Still gave him leave to towze her. |
1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 64]. A whore, she’s AS RIGHT AS MY LEG.
TO PUT THE BOOT ON THE OTHER LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ‘turn the tables.’
1850. New York Herald, 24 May. The Eternal City is in a very curious position. The Pope has returned to his ancestral home; but he has nothing in his pocket, and Rothschild refuses to let him have any more money. A thousand years ago, and the BOOT would have been ON T’OTHER LEG.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 22 Feb., p. 2, col. 2. The Times correspondent at Durban alludes to a rumour which at the first blush seems to PUT THE BOOT quite ON THE OTHER LEG.
TO STRETCH ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (common).—To take a walk. Hence, LEG-STRETCHER (q.v.) = a drink.
TO MAKE INDENTURES WITH ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (old).—To be drunk. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SCREWED.—RAY (1767).
MORE BELONGS TO MARRIAGE THAN FOUR BARE LEGS IN A BED, phr. (old).—Said of the engagement or wedding of a portionless couple. Ital. Inanzi il maritare, abbi l’habitare.—RAY (1670).
