verb. (old thieves’).—To steal: also TO SPEAK WITH: see PRIG. TO MAKE A GOOD (or RUM) SPEAK = to make a good (or bad) haul; SPOKEN TO = robbed: also SPOKE TO ON THE SCREW, CRACK, SNEAK, HOIST, BIG, &c. (see the nouns).—GROSE and VAUX.

1

  PHRASES.—SPOKEN TO (thieves’) = dying (VAUX); TO SPEAK TO (colloquial) = to admonish; TO SPEAK AT THE MOUTH = to talk freely; to say one’s say; TO SPEAK DAGGERS (see DAGGER); ‘Ale that would make a cat SPEAK’ = strong ale; ‘SPEAKS the parrot’ = a taunting reply; cf. SKELTON, Speke Parrot; TO SPEAK (or TALK) BIG = to boast, to talk loudly; TO SPEAK FAIR = to use soft words.

2

  1581.  J. BELL, trans. Haddon’s Against Osorius, 360b. They … fashion theyr voyces BIGGE like olde men.

3

  1591.  J. LYLY, Endimion, v. 3. Cynth. SPEAKES THE PARRAT?… cut off her tongue, nay, her heade.

4

  1591.  SPENSER, Virgils Gnat, ii.

                    This Muse shall SPEAK to thee
IN BIGGER notes.

5

  1656.  W. DUGARD, The Gate of the Latine Tongue Unlocked, 701. The voice of striplings before they begin to SPEAK BIGG.

6

  1709.  Colonial Records, Penn., II. 501. It was necessary to TALK BIGG.

7

  1872.  INGELOW, Off the Skelligs, xix. ‘Papa … will you SPEAK TO Giles?… If this sort of thing is allowed to go on … it will perfectly ruin the independence of my character.’

8