subs. (old).—See quot.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MEASURE, the Distance of Duellers. TO BREAK MEASURE, to be out of the Adversaries reach.
TO MEASURE OUT, verb. phr. (common).—To knock down flat; to kill.
1891. Morning Advertiser, 3 April. The witness went to Martin’s assistance, and became engaged in a tussle with the prisoner Tounsel, who took an empty lemonade bottle from his pocket and said, ‘Look out, or I’ll MEASURE you OUT.’
TO TAKE (or GET) ONE’S MEASURE, verb. phr. (old).—1. To marry; and (2) to copulate.
1684. LACY, Sir Hercules Buffoon, v. 3. Gin I’d let him alane, he had TAKEN MEASURE o’ th’ inside of me as well as o’ th’ out.
1771. FOOTE, The Maid of Bath, i. She is a tight bit of stuff, and I am confident will turn out well in the wearing. I once had some thoughts myself of TAKING MEASURE of Miss.
2. (colloquial).—To appreciate; to SIZE UP.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. MEASURE. To examine closely.
1872. Derby Mercury, 1 May, ‘Freemasonry in New Zealand.’ He became thin and haggard, and afraid to meet any of his former companions for fear that they should say they would TAKE HIS MEASURE.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, 215. Fletcher did not venture into that ‘holy of holies’; there were too many men there had GOT HIS MEASURE.
TO BE MEASURED [for a part &c.] phr. (theatrical).—To get a part written to one’s liking or capacity; to be exactly suited.
1859. BLANCHARD JERROLD, Life of Douglas Jerrold, vi. p. 94. Even the pig was to be MEASURED FOR HIS PART.
TO HAVE BEEN MEASURED FOR A NEW UMBRELLA, verb. phr. (American).—(1) To appear in new but ill-fitting clothes; whence (2) to pursue a policy of doubtful wisdom.
TO BE MEASURED FOR A SUIT Of MOURNING, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—See quot.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, xix. No pugilist can be considered worth any thing, till he has had his peepers TAKEN MEASURE OF FOR A SUIT OF MOURNING, or, in common language, has received a pair of black eyes.
MEASURED FOR A FUNERAL SERMON, adv. phr. (American).—At death’s door.
