subs. (old cant).—1. A barn (AWDELEY, HARMAN, ROWLANDS, HEAD, B. E., and GROSE). Whence as verb. (or TO SKIPPER IT) = to sleep in the straw or in HEDGE SQUARE (q.v.); SKIPPER-BIRD = a barn-rooster or hedge-tramp.
1652. R. BROME, A Joviall Crew, ii.
| Now let each tripper | |
| Make a retreat into the SKIPPER. |
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, ii. 83. When I get down I go to sleep for a couple of hours. I SKIPPER IT—turn in under a hedge or anywhere. Ibid., i. 336. Here is the best places in England for SKIPPER-BIRDS (parties that never go to lodging-houses, but to barns or outhouses, sometimes without a blanket)…. ‘Keyhole whistlers,’ the SKIPPER-BIRDS are sometimes called.
2. (common).—The Devil. For synonyms, see BLACK SPY.
3. (B. E. and GROSE: still colloquial).—‘A Dutch Master of a Ship or Vessell’; in modern use any ship’s captain; and (4) a leader or chief in any enterprise, adventure, or business. Hence 5. (general) a master, BOSS (q.v.), GOVERNOR (q.v.).
1485–1500. GARDNER, Letters of Richard III. and Henry VII. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 352. There is the SKIPPAR of a ship, and the Northern form raid]. Ibid., 341 (1509). [James IV. speaks of a crew as including] Master, 2 factours, SKIPPAR, sterisman.
1600. DEKKER, The Shoemaker’s Holiday [GROSART, Wks. (1873), i. 30]. Do you remember the shippe my fellow Hans told you of, the SKIPPER and he are both drinking at the Swan?
1636. SUCKLING, The Goblins, iv.
| With as much ease as a SKIPPER | |
| Would laver against the wind. |
1699. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, iii. 15. Mrs. Mar. No doubt you will return very much improv’d. Witw. Yes, refined like a Dutch SKIPPER from a whale fishing.
1710. GAY, Wine [Wks. (1811), 351]. Chase brutal feuds of Belgian SKIPPERS hence.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xxxiv. By the SKIPPER’S advice the servants [carried] wine and provision on board.
1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, iv. The young SKIPPER exultingly stamped his foot on a deck he could really call his own.
d. 1882. LONGFELLOW, The Wreck of the Hesperus.
| And the SKIPPER had taken his little daughter, | |
| To bear him company. |
6. (American).—The cheese-hopper: hence SKIPPERY = full of mites.
1841. E. G. PAIGE (‘Dow, Jr.’), Short Patent Sermons, II. 258 [BARTLETT]. The earth appear as animated as a plate of SKIPPERY cheese.
See SKIP and SKIPJACK.
