verb. (streets’).—See quot.
1884. Cornhill Magazine, June, 620. So far as Slinger has any business, it is that of RUSTING, i.e., collecting—on the chiffonier system—old metal and disposing of it to the marine-store dealers … though RUST is the primary object of his explorations of rubbish heaps, all is fish that comes to his net.
TO NAB THE RUST, verb. phr. (old).—1. To take offence; to get restive: cf. RUSTY.—GROSE (1785).
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.—To chew oneself; to comb one’s hair; to cut up rusty; to get dandered (or one’s dander up); huffed or huffy; in a pelter; in a scot; in a wax; one’s mad up; on the high ropes; the needle; the monkey up; the monkey on one’s back; popped; shirty; the spur; waxy; to have one’s bristles raised; one’s shirt or one’s tail out; to lose one’s vest; to be miffed; to pucker up; to squall; to stand on one’s hind leg; to throw up buckets.
FRENCH SYNONYMS.—Avoir mangé de l’oseille; avoir son cran; avoir son arnaud (also être arnaud); en rester tout bleu; avoir son bœuf; gober sa chèvre; entrer en tempête; monter à l’arbre or l’eschelle.
SPANISH SYNONYMS.—Amontanar; atocinar; barba; desbantizarse despampanar; embersencharse; escamonearse; mosquear.
2. (old).—To receive punishment unexpectedly.
3. (old).—See quot.
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, III. v. There’s no chance of NABBING ANY RUST (taking any money).
