subs. (old).—1. A purse; a pocket-book; any receptacle for money. Thus A QUEER SKIN = an empty purse; FRISK THE SKIN = ‘clean him out’ (GROSE and VAUX).
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, 15. Young McGuire had taken some SKINS with a few shillings in each.
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, vii. The offisare ave frisk me; he ave not found ze SKIN or ze dummy, eh?
1856. H. MAYHEW, The Great World of London, iii. The London ‘buzman’ (swell mobsman) can keep his pony by abstracting ‘SKIN’ (purses) from gentlemen’s pockets.
2. (old).—A sovereign; 20/-: see RHINO.
3. (old).—In pl. = a tanner (GROSE).
4. (American).—See SKINNER.
5. (American).—A translation; a CRIB (q.v.); a BOHN (q.v.). Also as verb. = to copy a solution; and SKINNER = one using an irregular aid to study.
1851. BRISTED, Five Years in an English University, 394. Barefaced copying from books and reviews in their compositions is familiar to our students, as much so as SKINNING their mathematical examples. Ibid., 457. Classical men were continually tempted to SKIN the solution of these examples.
1855. Yale College Songs. ’T was plenty of SKIN with a good deal of Bohn.
1849. Yale Literary Magazine, Nov., xv. 81, ‘A Recipe for making College Reputations.’ Never SKIN a lesson which it requires any ability to learn.
1856. B. H. HALL, A Collection of College Words and Customs, 430. In examinations … many of the fellows cover the palms of their hands with dates, and when called upon for a given date, they read it off directly from their hands. Such persons SKIN.
18[?]. C. E. TRUMBULL, Story of the Sheepskin [BARTLETT].
| But now that last Biennial’s past; | |
| I ‘SKINNED’ and ‘fizzled’ through. |
6. (American).—Punch made in the glass: as a WHISKEY-SKIN, a RUM-SKIN, &c.
1871. JOHN HAY, The Mystery of Gilgal.
| Says he, ‘Young man, the tribe of Phinns | |
| Knows their own WHISKY-SKINS!’ |
7. (common).—See SKINFLINT.
Verb (old colloquial).—1. To rob; to strip; to CLEAN OUT (q.v.); spec. (racing) to win all one’s bets; (bookmakers’) SKIN THE LAMB (or HAVE A SKINNER) = to win with an unbacked horse; (2) = to swindle; and (3) = TO TAKE TOLL (q.v.). Hence SKIN-GAME (e.g., SKIN-FARO: see quot. 1882) = a swindle: SKIN-HOUSE = a gambling den; SKINNER = (1) a sharping cheat, a thief: spec. (American) a looter infesting both camps; (2) a pirate; and (3) a race, which being won by a rank outsider, SKINS the ring.
1821. COOPER, The Spy, i. This poor opinion of the SKINNERS was not confined to Mr. Cæsar Thompson.
1836. H. M. MILNER, Turpin’s Ride to York, ii. 5. Sam. PEEL MY SKIN and dub up the browns! What do you mean? Bal. Just this—that if you do not hand over your money I shall blow out your brains!
1855. IRVING, Wolfert’s Roost, 17. The SKINNERS and Cow-Boys, famous in revolutionary story…. When they wrung the neck of a rooster, did they trouble their heads whether he crowed for Congress or King George.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 81. Perhaps he gets ‘SKINNED’ … and sells them for what he can get.
1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O. V. H., xix. And a carefully roped and bottled animal, that dropped like a meteor upon the racing public for the Chester Cup, SKINNED THE LAMB for Mr. Bacon landed every bet standing in his book.
1882. J. D. MCCABE, New York by Sunlight and Gaslight, xxxix. 545. ‘SKIN-FARO,’ the only game played here, offers no chance whatever to the player. In ‘SKIN-FARO’ the dealer can take two cards from the box instead of one, whenever he chooses to do so.
1883. The Saturday Review, 28 April, 533, 2. His victory proved a gold mine to the professional bookmakers, many of whom did not bet against the horse at all, thus performing the profitable operation technically known in the betting-ring as ‘SKINNING THE LAMB.’
1883. Graphic, 21 April, 410, 2. The Ring are enormous winners on the race, the majority having SKINNED THE LAMB.
1883. GREENWOOD, In Strange Company (2nd ed.), 84. Amongst themselves they are ‘SKINNERS,’ ‘knock-outs,’ and ‘odd-trick men,’ and they work together in what the elegant language of the profession calls a ‘swim.’
1884. Referee, 10 Aug., 1, 1. The winner being found in Quilt, who had sufficient support to leave the result anything but a SKINNER for the bookmakers. Ibid. (1889), 2 June. They had made a little overtime at an inn near the station, and, by way of grace after meat, gone over the landlord, left him SKINNED, and the furniture smashed.
1890. JOHN FISKE, Benedict Arnold’s Treason, in The Atlantic Monthly, lxvi. 511. There were two sets of these scapegraces—the ‘Cowboys,’ or cattle thieves, and the ‘SKINNERS,’ who took everything they could find.
1891. Morning Advertiser, 21 March. The prisoner was entrusted with two tons of coal to deliver. Sergeant Hiscock, of the V division, watched his movements, and saw him SKINNING the sacks—that is, removing lumps from the tops and placing them in an empty sack.
1896. LILLARD, Poker Stories, 51. Southern planters used to lose money just like fun, and were SKINNED right and left.
1902. Daily Mail, 17 Nov., 6, 1. What they shudderingly designate a SKINNER was enjoyed by a majority of the layers when old Fairyfield credited Mr. George Edwardes with the Belper Selling Plate.
3. (common).—To strip, TO PEEL (q.v.); and (venery), to retire the prepuce, TO SKIN THE LIVE RABBIT. Whence SKINNER (see quot. 1856).
1856. H. MAYHEW, The Great World of London, 46. ‘SKINNERS,’ or women and boys who strip children of their clothes.
1861. DICKENS, Great Expectations, xxxi. SKIN the stockings off … or you’ll bust ’em.
1896. LILLARD, Poker Stories, 59. I have seen a game player just SKIN OFF his watch and ring and studs and play them in.
4. (gaming).—To PLANT A DECK (q.v.): see CONCAVE, BROADS, and REFLECTOR.
5. (common).—To abate a price; to lower a value: cf. SHAVING THE LADIES (s.v. SHAVE).
6. (common).—To thrash: also TO SKIN ALIVE.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. ‘If yer don’t stop your guzzum I’ll SKIN YER ALIVE.’… She flourished a skillet at him.
1895. Idler, Aug., 63, ‘She and Her Parents.’
| I fear that I never shall win her, | |
| My passion is hopeless and mute, | |
| I’m sure that her parents would SKIN her | |
| If they thought that she smiled on my suit. |
1900. F. E. GRAINGER (‘Headon Hill’), Caged! xxxiv. I’d have SKINNED the ’ussy if I’d caught her prying into my grounds.
OTHER COLLOQUIALISMS AND PHRASES.—BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH = a narrow escape, the closest of close shaves; TO SKIN OUT = to decamp; TO SKIN THE CAT (gymnasts’) = to grasp the bar with both hands, raise the feet, and so draw the body, between the arms, over the bar; LIKE EELS, USED TO SKINNING = of good heart; TO SKIN THE EYES (see KEEP); ALL SKIN AND WHIPCORD = well-trussed; in good condition; IN (or WITH) A WHOLE SKIN = uninjured, with impunity; TO SAVE ONE’S SKIN = to escape unhurt: see BACON; TO SKIN A FLINT (see SKINFLINT); honest as the SKIN BETWEEN HIS BROWS (or HORNS): see BROW; TO SKIN A RAZOR = to drive a hard-and-fast bargain; TO SKIN ONE’S SKUNK = to do one’s own dirty work; IN A BAD SKIN = angry (GROSE); CLEAN-SKIN (Australian) = an unbranded beast; cf. MAVERICK; TO LEAP (or JUMP) OUT OF ONE’S SKIN = to be startled or pleased; IN HER (or HIS) SKIN = evasive as to a person’s whereabouts.
16[?]. The Marquis of Huntley’s Retreat [CHILD, Ballads, vii. 271].
| But that he had resolv’d that day | |
| To sleep IN A WHOLE SKIN. |
1605. MARSTON, The Dutch Courtezan, iii. 1. Blesse me, I was never so OUT OF MY SKINNE in my life.
1611. Bible, ‘Authorised Version,’ Job xix. 20. I am escaped WITH THE SKIN OF MY TEETH.
1616–25. The Court and Times of James the First [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 71. Amongst Romance words are SAVE HIS SKIN, refreshed with money …].
1664. COTTON, Scarronides, or Virgile Travestie (1st ed.), 72.
| Æneas was so glad on’s kin, | |
| He ready was T’LEAP OUT ON’S SKIN. |
1694. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, Æsop, 54. We meet with many of These Dangerous Civilities in the World, wherein ’tis a Hard Matter for a Man to SAVE, both HIS SKIN, and his Credit.
1708. CENTLIVRE, The Busy Body, v. 1. Confirm it! Make me LEAP OUT OF MY SKIN.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Col. Pray, Miss, where is your old Acquaintance, Mrs. Wayward. Miss. Why, where should she be? You must needs know; she’s IN HER SKIN.
1798. COLMAN (the younger), Blue Devils, i. 1. Made me JUMP OUT OF MY SKIN with joy.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 26. At these words I was ready to JUMP OUT OF MY SKIN for joy.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, i. Who says that EELS CAN not BE MADE USED TO SKINNING? The poor girls continued their preparations with an alacrity and presence of mind that truly surprised me. There was neither screaming nor fainting.
1841. THACKERAY, The Book of Snobs, xii. I should be ready to JUMP OUT OF MY SKIN if two Dukes would walk down Pall Mall with me.
1877. BESANT and RICE, The Golden Butterfly, xxxiii. You jest gather up your traps and SKIN OUT of this.
1881. A. C. GRANT, Bush-Life in Queensland, I. 206. These CLEAN-SKINS … are supposed to belong to the cattle-owner on whose run they emerge from their shelter.
1888. Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, 23 Feb. Another Presidential candidate who is abroad, it will be remembered, utilized a pole daily for SKINNING THE CAT.
1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, xx. Brought out a horse—the same I’d ridden from Gippsland, saddled and bridled, and ready to JUMP OUT OF HIS SKIN.
1891. N. GOULD, The Double Event, 101. The horse was regularly worked, and he looked in splendid health and condition, FIT TO JUMP OUT OF HIS SKIN, to use a racing term.
1896. G. A. SALA, London up to Date, 66. At the election I had no less than seventeen black balls; but … I got in by the SKIN OF MY TEETH.
