subs. phr. (common).—A mode of tossing for drinks by three or more. Each spins a coin, and if two come up ‘head’ and one ‘tail,’ the ‘tail,’ or ‘odd-man’ is out, i.e., has not to pay. Should all three coins be alike, they are ‘skied’ again.
1840. DICKENS, The Old Curiosity Shop, xxxvi. He imparted to her the mystery of going THE ODD MAN, or plain Newmarket for fruit, ginger-beer, baked potatoes, or even a modest quencher.
1861. ALBERT SMITH, The London Medical Student, 22. He purposes at lunch-time every day that he and his companions should ‘go THE ODD MAN for a pot.’
