or pipers, subs. (old).—1. Generic for the vocal organs; and (2) the voice: in pl. = the lungs. Hence as verb. = (1) to talk; and (2) to cry: also TO PIPE UP, TO TAKE A PIPE, TO TUNE ONE’S PIPES, and TO PIPE ONE’S EYE. Hence, TO SHUT (or PUT) UP THE PIPES = to be silent. Also, PIPER = a broken-winded horse: a ROARER (q.v.).
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘The Knightes Tale’ [SKEAT], l. 2752. The PYPES of his longes gonne to swelle.
c. 1400. Towneley Mysteries [Camden Society], 103. Who is that PYPYS so poore?
1560. PILKINGTON, Sermons [Parker Society], 601. If that were true, physicians might put up their PIPES.
1579–80. J. LYLY, Euphues, 278. Hee also strayned his olde PYPE, and thus beganne …
d. 1663. SANDERSON, Works, ii. 45. Neither John’s mourning nor Christ’s PIPING can pass the pikes.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas, I. v. I happened one day to scratch myself, upon which, SETTING UP MY PIPES, as if he had flayed me my mother … turned my master out of doors.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, IX. 392.
| His wife came last, and rubb’d her eye, | |
| Then TUN’D HER PIPE. |
1818. HOGG, The Brownie of Bodsbeck, ii. 155. Ah, he’s coming, poor fellow—he’s TAKIN A PIPE to himsel at the house-end … his heart can stand naething—it is as saft as a snaw-ba’.
1825. T. JONES, The True Bottom’d Boxer [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 93]. With ogles and smellers, no PIPING and chiming.
1829. The Prigging Lay [Vidocq’s Memoirs, iv.]. There’s a time to PIPE, and a time to snivel.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxii. He had got it into his head that his own peculiar mission was TO PIPE HIS EYE; which he did perpetually.
d. 1845. HOOD, Faithless Sally Brown.
| He heav’d a bitter sigh, | |
| And then began to eye his pipe, | |
| And then TO PIPE HIS EYE. |
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, ix. Nance is called upon to oblige with a song. She is shy…. But the Amazon, cruel to be kind, brings her forward with a stern ‘PIPE UP, yer blessid little fool.’
3. (Scots’).—In pl.—the bagpipes. Hence TO TUNE ONE’S PIPES = to talk or write.
4. (old).—A boot: see TROTTER-CASES.—VAUX (1819).
5. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.
Verb. (old).—See subs. 1 and 2.
3. (American).—To waylay; to intercept.
4. (thieves’).—To watch; to spy. Also TO PIPE OFF. Fr. allumer. See NARK. Whence PIPER = a spy.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un [‘Nobbled’], 115. I waited to PIPE OFF the fun.
1898. BINSTEAD, A Pink ’Un and a Pelican, 87. His mission up there on the roof was to exclude … any who sought to ‘PIPE OFF’ the contest through the skylight.
1888. G. R. SIMS, A Plank Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.]. If I PIPE a good chat, why, I touch for the wedge.
1899. Daily Telegraph, 7 April, 8, 3. Then, King Kid. You PIPED him. There’s a child o’ sin, now.
THE QUEEN’S PIPE, subs. phr. (common).—The kiln in the great East Vault of the Wine-Cellars of the London Docks, where useless and damaged goods that have paid no duty are burnt: as regards tobacco a thing of the past, stuff of this kind being distributed to workhouses, &c.
1871. Echo, 27 Jan. All that was not sold will be burnt, according to custom, in HER MAJESTY’S TOBACCO PIPE. We cannot think such waste justifiable.
1899. Daily Mail, 21 March, 3, 3. Tea for the QUEEN’S PIPE. Five hundred and eighty-two half-chests of tea were seized by the sanitary authorities of the Port of London.
TO PUT ONE’S PIPE OUT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To spoil sport or a chance; ‘to take the shine out’; and (2) to kill: see LIGHT. Fr. casser sa pipe.
PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT, phr. (common).—A straight rebuke; ‘digest that if you can.’ Fr. mets ça dans ta poche et ton mouchoir par dessus. See TAKE.
1824. R. B. PEAKE, Americans Abroad, i. 1. Don. (writes.) “No tobacco allowed in England.” There—(shuts book.) PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT. There’s another slap at ’em!
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers (1857), p. 6. Pull him up—PUT THAT IN HIS PIPE—like the flavour—dammed rascals! And with a lengthened string of similar broken sentences … the stranger led the way to the travellers’ waiting room.
1840. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Lay of St. Odille).
| For this you’ve my word, and I never yet broke it, | |
| So PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE, my Lord Otto, and SMOKE IT! |
1883. M. E. BRADDON, The Golden Calf, ch. xix. Ah, then he’ll have to PUT HIS LOVE IN HIS PIPE AND SMOKE IT! That kind of thing won’t do out of a French novel.
TO PIPE ANOTHER DANCE, verb. phr. (old).—To change one’s means, or one’s course of action or attack.
d. 1529. SKELTON, Colyn Clout [BREWER]. They would PYPE YOU ANOTHER DAUNCE.
1544. KNOX, Godly Letter [MAITLAND, The Reformation in England, 88]. Nowe they haue bene at the skoole of Placebo, and ther they haue lerned amongst ladyes TO DAUNSE AS THE DEUILL LYST TO PYPE.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 112. How do I know but my young mistress may caper to a TUNE OF MY PIPING.
TO PIPE IN (or WITH) AN IVY-LEAK, verb. phr. (old).—To busy oneself to no purpose: as a consolation for failure; ‘to go whistle,’ or ‘to blow the buck’s horn.’ [IVY-LEAF = a thing of small value, as FIG, RUSH, STRAW, &c.]
c. 1374. CHAUCER, Troilus and Criseyde, v. 1433.
| But Troilus, thou mayst now, est or west, | |
| PYPE IN AN IVY LEEF, if that thee lest. | |
| Ibid. (1383), The Canterbury Tales, ‘The Knightes Tale.’ | |
| That oon of yow, al be him looth or leef, | |
| He moot GO PYPEN IN AN IVY-LEEF. |
1387–8. [T. USK], Testament of Love, III. vii. [SKEAT], l. 50. Farwel the gairdiner, he may PIPE WITH AN YUE-LEAFE, his fruite is failed.
1390. GOWER, Confessio Amantis, II. 21. That all nis worth an YVY LEFE.
