subs. (common).1. Furniture; moveables. MONEY AND MARBLES = cash and effects. [From Fr. meubles.] Hence, any substantial quid pro quó.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Belongings; household gods; lares and penates; moveables; sticks; sprats; slows; traps.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le bahut (popular = large dresser); le bazar (prostitutes); du fourbi (popular).
1867. A. TROLLOPE, Claverings, ch. xxx. And you may be sure of this, she wont get any money from me, unless I get the MARBLES for it.
2. (old).Syphilis; FRENCH GOUT (q.v.).
1592. GREENE, Theeves Falling Out [Harleian Miscellany, viii. 392]. Look into the spittle and hospitalls, there you shall see men diseased of the French MARBLES, giving instruction to others. Ibid. (1592), A Quip for an Upstart Courtier [Harleian Miscellany, vi. 406]. Neither do I frequent whore-houses to catch the MARBLES, and so grow your patient.
3. (venery).The testes. For synonyms, see CODS.