subs. and verb. (old).—1. Vigorous or persistent action. Thus PEPPER, verb. = (1) to chastise desperately by word or deed; and (2) to pain or inconvenience or punish: as a pugilist by blows, cannon by shot, or a whore by infection. Whence (3) violent and ardent motion: e.g., pelting rain, heavy betting, or (in skipping) when the turn of the rope is increased from a slow pace to SALT (q.v.), and then to the quickest possible or PEPPER (Fr. du vinaigre). Derivatives are PEPPERER = (1) forcible or rigorous attack, and (2) a hot-tempered, active, or violent person; PEPPERING = a fierce attack. As adj. (PEPPERING or PEPPERY) = angry; and PEPPERED = badly hurt, or hurt to the death (see PIPPED): usually with a hint at pox or clap.
1589. NASHE, The Returne of Pasquill [Works, i. 97]. Mar. It is a common reporte that the faction of Martinisme hath mightie freends. Pas. Thats a bragge Marforius: yet if there be any such … I wyll picke out a time to PEPPER them.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, iii. 1. I am PEPPERED, I warrant, for this world. Ibid. (1598), 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. ‘Pray God you have not murdered some of them.’ ‘Nay, that’s past praying for: I have PEPPERED two of them.’
1607. DEKKER, Northward Hoe, ii. 1. Hor. Hold up, my fine girl—what ghosts haunt thy house? Doll. I have a clothier’s factor or two, a grocer that would fain PEPPER me … a Dutch merchant that would spend all … to take measure of my Holland sheets when I lie in ’em.
1615. JOHN STEPHENS, Essayes and Characters, 38.
| And then you snarle against our simple French | |
| As if you had beene PEPPERD with your wench. |
1622. MASSINGER, The Virgin Martyr, iv. 1.
| Theoph. Gone, gone; he’s PEPPER’D. It is thou | |
| Hast done this act infernal. |
1652. SHIRLEY, The Brothers, v. 3. Luys. I have made him sure too, I have PEPPER’D him…. I have cut his throat.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. PEPPERD OFF, Damnably Clapt or Poxt. Ibid. PEPPER proof, not Clapt or Poxt.
c. 1707. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707), ii. 211.
| Their Tails are PEPPER’D with the Pox, | |
| And that you’re welcome to. |
1711–2. SWIFT, The Journal to Stella, 20 Feb., xli. Sir Tho Hamner is … drawing up a Representation of the State of the Nation to the Qu—…. I believe it will be a PEPPERER.
1764. O’HARA, Midas, ii. 4. And I’ll warrant we PEPPER his jacket.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress. Showers of Randal’s shot … flew, PEPPERING hot!
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, i. The French,… are … sufficiently strong to PEPPER us very decently in the outgoing.
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III. 109. I felt it when the doctor dressed it, for it gave me PEPPER taking the plaster off.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. iv. What do they do with the pea-shooters? inquires Tom. Do wi’em! Why, PEPPERS every one’s faces as we comes near.
1856. C. READE, It Is Never Too Late to Mend, xxxiv. Now don’t you be so PEPPERY, father, said she. There is nothing to make a quarrel about.
1863. Literary Times, 14 March. There were several shops, where, under pretence of a small purchase, you could get PEPPER to a ‘pony’ on any pending race.
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, I. vi. It’s my way to make short cuts at things. I always was a PEPPERER.
1868. OUIDA, Under Two Flags, iii. Some PEPPERING one or other of the favorites, hotly.
1882. Athenæum, 28 Nov. The PEPPERY governor promptly refused to see such people.
1884. The Field, 6 Dec. The PEPPERING of the rain on the tent.
1885. Cassell’s Saturday Journal, 19 Sept. The vessel at which we were now PEPPERING away.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, 135. It seemed to be an understood thing that the horse was a ‘dead un,’ and they PEPPERED him accordingly. Ibid., 183. Messrs. Isaacs and Moss PEPPERED Caloola to their heart’s content.
1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Gower sent his man down twice, and, following up, administered PEPPER. Ibid., 6 Dec. Continued to PEPPER his canister with his left.
1891. W. C. RUSSELL, An Ocean Tragedy, 23. Will she be armed, I wonder. It would then make the oddest of all PEPPERING matches.
1892. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Voces Populi, ‘At the Military Exhibition,’ 72. Never mind. You PEPPERED ’im. I sor the feathers floy!
1897. B. MITFORD, A Romance of the Cape Frontier, II. xii. Twenty of the best shots are told off to PEPPER the retreating enemy.
2. Verb. (university).—To mark-in the accents of a Greek exercise.
3. Verb. (common).—To humbug; TO GAMMON (q.v.). Also TO THROW PEPPER IN THE EYES (or TO USE THE PEPPER-BOX).
TO HAVE (or TAKE) PEPPER IN THE NOSE, verb. phr. (old).—1. To be testy; to offend quickly; to get angry. Fr. la moutarde lui monte au nez.
1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, xv. 197.
| For þere ar ful proude-herted men · paciente of tonge, | |
| And boxome as of berynge · to burgeys and to lordes, | |
| And to pore peple · hav PEPER IN ÞE NOSE. |
d. 1529. SKELTON [DYCE, Works, ii. 38], ‘Why Come Ye Nat to Courte?’ 386.
| For drede of the red hat | |
| TAKE PEPER IN THE NOSE. |
1547. HEYWOOD, Dialogues, sig. G.
| Hee TAKETH PEPPER IN THE NOSE, that I complayne | |
| Vpon his faultes, myself being faultlesse. |
c. 1562. W. ELDERTON, Lenten Stuff [HALLIWELL].
| Pepper ys come to a marvelus pryce, | |
| Som say, thys Lenton season; | |
| And every body that ys wyse | |
| May soon perceve the reson. | |
| For every man takes PEPPER ITHE NOSE, | |
| For the waggynge of a strawe, God knowse, | |
| With every waverynge wynd that blowese. |
1578. T. NORTH, Plutarch, 173.
| Wherewith enragéd all (with PEPPER IN THE NOSE) | |
| The proud Megarians came to us, as to their mortal foes. |
1590. R. TARLETON, Newes out of Purgatorie [HALLIWELL]. Myles, hearing him name the baker, took straight PEPPER IN THE NOSE, and, starting up, threw of his cardinals roabes.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Montare su la Bica, to TAKE PEPPER IN THE NOSE, to be sore angrie.
1607. MARSTON, What You Will, Induction. He’s a chollerick Gentleman: he will TAKE PEPPER IN THE NOSE instantly.
1607. T. WALKINGTON, The Optick Glasse of Humors, 52. A man is teasty and anger wrinckles his nose such a man TAKES PEPPER IN THE NOSE.
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day, iii. Because I entertained this gentleman … he TAKES PEPPER I’ THE NOSE.
1653. MIDDLETON and ROWLEY, The Spanish Gipsy [Ancient Drama, iv. 190]. Take you PEPPER IN YOUR NOSE, you mar our sport.
c. 1662. Rump Songs, ‘Upon wearing the Kings Colours.’
| Alas, what take ye PEPPER IN THE NOSE | |
| To see King Charles his colours worne in pose? |
1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 174]. s.v.
