subs. (theatrical).—1. Free passes of admission to a place of entertainment; also (collectively) recipients of such passes; also OXFORD CLINK and STATIONERY. Hence, PAPERY = occupied by persons admitted with free tickets; and, as verb = to issue free passes. Fr. une salle de papier = a house filled with PAPER.
1870. MRS. JOHN WOOD [Figaro, 15 July]. I have abolished the free order system from a firm belief that the best sort of PAPER for a theatre is Bank of England notes.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Zeph and Other Stories, 84. The house was only half full and there were whispers that a good deal of PAPER was about.
1885. Referee, 8 Nov. The stalls were partly PAPERY, and partly empty.
1890. Figaro, 1 June. A box now and then, or carte-blanche in the way of PAPERING a theatre, will go far to wring from them profuse admiration of everything and everybody.
2. (commercial).—Negotiable instruments: as promissory notes, bills of exchange, &c.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xl. ‘Ah,’ said Mr. Smangle, ‘PAPER has been my ruin.’ ‘A stationer, I presume, Sir?’ said Mr. Pickwick, innocently. … ‘No, no…. When I say PAPER, I mean bills.’
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, lxiv. It was whispered … that the Captain’s PAPER was henceforth of no value.
1891. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, 185. For I’ll have to PAPER your friend from the lowlands too.
3. (old).—Broadsides and similar literature: hence PAPER WORKER = a vendor of street literature: a RUNNING STATIONER (q.v.).
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I., 234. The best known publisher of the PAPER in demand for street sale, was the late ‘Jemmy Catnach,’ who is said to have amassed upwards of 10,000l. in the business.
TO EAT PAPER, verb. phr. (American).—See quot.
c. 1852. American Humour, I., 200. He … took a very long sight—fired, and didn’t even EAT PAPER.
TO READ THE PAPER, verb. phr. (common).—To excuse oneself for taking a nap: see DOSS.
See SHAVE and SPOT.
