Row

subs. (originally university: now general).—1.  A disturbance; a SHINDY (q.v.); boisterous talk: also ROWING: hence (2) a mob (university). Whence ROWING-MAN (ow as ough in ‘bough’) = a SPREESTER (q.v.). Also as verb. = (1) to abuse; to create a disturbance (see quot. 1825); TO GET INTO A ROW = to get into trouble; [GROSE: s.v. ROUT, ‘shortened into ROW, Cambridge slang.’]

  1794.  Gentleman’s Magazine, 1085. And was very near rustication [at Cambridge], merely for kicking up a ROW after a beakering party.

  1820.  BYRON [to Mr. Murray, 20 May]. Tell [Campbell] all this, and let him take it in good part; for I might have rammed it into a review and ROWED him.

  1823.  JOHN CAMPBELL, Hints for Oxford, 6. Faultless and frowning beings, who must needs be ever ROWING you at lecture.

  1825.  C. M. WESTMACOTT, The English Spy, I. 158 [Note, ‘Oxford’]. ROWING A FELLOW—going with a party in the dead of night to a man’s room, nailing or screwing his oak up, so as it cannot be opened on the inside, knocking at his door, calling out fire, and when he comes to the door, burning a quantity of shavings … to impress him with the idea that the staircase … is on fire. And when he is frightened almost out of his senses, setting up a most hideous horse-laugh and running away.

  1826.  CROKER [Croker Papers, i. 331]. Where there was a smart young waiter, whom, however, these two Englishmen used to ROW exceedingly.

  1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Memoir,’ i. 35. Next morning there was a great ‘ROW’ about it.

  1852.  BRISTED, Five Years in an English University, I. 46. More disposed to ROWING than reading.

  1864.  B. HEMYNG, Eton School Days, II. Chudleigh was going to speak … when Chorley cried, ‘Hold your ROW, will you?’

  1883.  MILLIKEN, Childe Chappie’s Pilgrimage, in Punch, 11 Aug., 72, 2.

  1889.  Time, Aug., 149. I have a reminiscence of ROWING her for growing as tall as myself. Ibid., 151. He ROWS her so fearful that Kitty thinks he’ll be sure to desert her now.

  THE ROW, subs. phr. (common).—1.  Rotten Row, Hyde Park; and (2) Paternoster Row (booksellers’).

  1812.  COMBE, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, c. xxiii. ’Tis not confined, we all must know,  To vulgar tradesmen in THE ROW.

  1879.  DICKENS, Jr., Dictionary of London, s.v. BOND STREET. Those who would see the lounger of the present day must look for him in THE ROW.

  PHRASES.  A HARD (or LONG) ROW TO HOE = a difficult task; TO HOE ONE’S OWN ROW = to mind one’s own business; TO ROW IN THE SAME BOAT = to share.

  1835.  CROCKETT, Tour to the North and Down East, 69. Gentlemen, I never opposed Andrew Jackson for the sake of popularity. I knew it was a HARD ROW TO HOE.

  1847.  ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 122. God help that poor creatur, she’s GOT A HARD ROW TO HOE.

  1871.  MULFORD in San Francisco Chronicle. Now that I have HOED MY OWN ROW and rumor gives me a false condition, they deluge me with congratulations.

  1892.  A. C. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, iv. I am afraid Harry Lawrence has A HARD ROW TO HOE.