subs. (common).—1. A simpleton: spec. an absurd whole-hearted lover: also SPOONEY; A RANK SPOON = ‘a prating shallow fellow’ (VAUX). Hence (2) = calf-love: e.g., a CASE OF SPOONS. As verb. (TO COME THE SPOON, or TO BE SPOONS ON) = to make love openly, innocently, and ridiculously. Also SPOONY = stupidly fond; SPOONINESS = foolish fondness (GROSE, VAUX, BEE).
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Witches’ Frolic.’
| But you’ll find very soon, if you aim at the Moon, | |
| In a carriage like that, you’re a bit of a ‘SPOON.’ |
1838. WILLIAM WATTS (‘Lucian Redivivus’), Paradise Lost, 67.
| And I, at this time not suspicious | |
| Of her, and her snake dressed-up crony, | |
| Sucked in her gammon like a SPOONY. |
d. 1845. HOOD, Morning Meditations.
| A man that’s fond precociously of stirring, | |
| Must be a SPOON. |
1847. C. BRONTË, Jane Eyre, xv. In short, I began the process of ruining myself in the received style; like any other SPOONIE.
1848. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xxxiv. What the deuce can she find in that SPOONEY of a Pitt Crawley?… The fellow has not pluck enough to say Bo to a goose.
1855. TOM TAYLOR, Still Waters Run Deep, iii. Mrs. S. … A coolness, a self-possession, an energy I never should have expected from—from— Mildmay. From such a SPOON—that’s what you mean, isn’t it?
1859. LEVER, Davenport Dunn lx. Not actually in love … but only SPOONY.
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, Prologue. What a good-natured SPOON that Dodd is!
1869. MARY ALLAN-OLNEY, Estelle Russell, in Macmillan’s Magazine, xxi. Nov., 65. Yes, Captain Waldron averred, he was a SPOONEY: that was the right name for a man who let himself be played with as she had played with him.
1885. HAWLEY SMART, Struck Down, xi. A girl would rather make her way out by herself than with a fellow she’s SPOONS on.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Culture in the Slums.
| Was it not prime—I leave you all to guess | |
| How prime! to have a jude in love’s distress | |
| Come SPOONING round. |
1889. R. H. DAVIS, Anne, in Harper’s Magazine, lxxviii. April, 749. I ought to remember, for I was SPOONS on you myself for a week or two.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 38. ’Twas an instance … Of the danger attending unlimited SPOONS.
Verb. (American).—1. To nestle; to lie close; and 2. (venery) = to copulate while lying SPOON-FASHION, i.e., the bowl of one spoon in the other’s.
1887. AMELIE RIVES, ‘Inja,’ in Harper’s Magazine, lxxvi. Dec., 49. ‘Now SPOON me.’ Sterling stretched himself out on the warm flag-stone, and the boy nestled up against him.
1887. LEE MERIWETHER, How Working-men Live in Europe and America, in Harper’s Magazine, lxxiv. April, 781. Two persons in each bunk, the sleepers ‘SPOONING’ together, packed like sardines.
3. (cricketers’).—To hit with a ‘slack and horizontal’ bat, causing the ball to rise in the air.
PHRASES.—TO STICK ONE’S SPOON IN THE WALL = to die; see HOP THE TWIG; TO FILL THE MOUTH WITH EMPTY SPOONS = to go hungry (RAY); TO TAKE WITH A BIG (or LITTLE) SPOON = to take in large (or small) quantities: see SILVER SPOON, and WOODEN SPOON.
