subs. (cricketers’).—1. A determined stand; TO GET SET = to ‘collar’ the bowling.
2. (common).—A grudge; a sustained attack: in argument or conduct. Also DEAD-SET.
PHRASES. TO SET THE HARE’S HEAD TO THE GOOSE GIBLETS = to balance matters; to give tit for tat; TO SET JEWELS (see quot. 1874); ALL SET = ‘Desperate fellows, ready for any kind of mischief’ (DUNCOMBE).
1607. DEKKER and WEBSTER, Westward Ho! v. 3. They came to Brainford to be merry, you were caught in Birdlime, and therefore SET THE HARE’S HEAD AGAINST THE GOOSE GIBLETS.
1874. HOTTEN, The Slang Dictionary, s.v. SETTING JEWELS. The taking the best portions of a clever book not much known to the general public, and incorporating them quietly in a new work by a thoroughly original author. The credit of this term belongs to Mr. Charles Reade, who explained that the process is accountable for the presence of some writing by one Jonathan Swift, in a story published at Christmas, 1872, and called The Wandering Heir.
