subs. (common).—1. A pawnbroker’s shoot or lift from shop to store-room; whence (2) = a pawnbroker’s. As verb. = to pawn; UP THE SPOUT (or SPOUTED) = pawned: in America ‘gone where the WOODBINE (q.v.) twineth’ (GROSE and BEE). Also UP THE SPOUT = imprisoned, in hospital (BEE).
ENGLISH SYNONYMS.—To blue; to bullock’s-horn (rhyming = pawn); to flue (or put up the flue); to lay up in lavender; to lug; to lumber; TO MOSKENEER (q.v.); to put away; to send to uncle’s; to soak; to spout; to sweat; to vamp; to warehouse.
FRENCH SYNONYMS.—Accrocher chez sa tante (= UNCLE, q.v.); enclouer; guinaliser.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Black Mousquetaire), II. 16.
| His pockets, no doubt, | |
| Being turned inside out, | |
| That his mouchoir and gloves may be put ‘UP THE SPOUT.’ |
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, II. i. The dons are going to SPOUT the college plate.
1864. C. F. BROWNE (‘Artemus Ward’), Among the Mormons [Works, 257]. Even if she [the Goddess of Liberty] don’t have to SPOUT the gold stars in her head-band.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves. It’s UP THE SPOUT and Charley Wag.
1889. Notes and Queries, 7 S, vii. 56. Pawnbrokers … before SPOUTS were adopted, used a hook to lift the articles.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 71. He asked her if she’d seen his watch about; She said … ‘It may be half-way UP THE giddy SPOUT.’
Verb. (old).—To talk, speechify, or declaim for effect (GROSE, VAUX, and BEE). Hence SPOUTER = (1) a mouthing talker; whence (2) a fourth-rate speaker or actor. TO SPOUT BILLY = to earn a living by reciting Shakespeare in tap-rooms (BEE); SPOUTING-CLUB = ‘a rehearsal club’ (GROSE); IN GREAT SPOUT = noisy, in high spirits. Also TO SPOUT INK = to write: cf. SLING INK.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART, Works, v. 232]. Neuer since I SPOUTED incke, was I of woorse aptitude to goe thorow with such a mighty March brewage as you expect.
1610. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Coxcomb, iv. 4. Pray SPOUT some French, son.
1673. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft [1725], 198.
| His mouth will one day be a SPOUT | |
| Of eloquence, without all doubt. |
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, ‘To Sir Watkin Phillips, 30 April.’ Mr. Gwynn … do, pray, SPOUT a little the Ghost of Gimlet.
1781. V. KNOX, Liberal Education, xx. Introduce him to SPOUTING clubs, or disputing societies. Ibid. (1788), Winter Evenings, xxxii. The quoters imitate parrots or professed SPOUTERS in committing words only to memory purposely for the sake of ostentation.
1792. Advt. in Dupes of Fancy [HOGG]. The NEWSPOUTERS’ Companion [Title].
1796. F. REYNOLDS, Fortune’s Fool, v. 1. In the garret is a SPOUTING author.
1797. BURNEY, Diary, vi. 187. These and his SPOUT of satire are mere quizziness.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 246. Phenecia prevailed on me to repeat the lines I had already SPOUTED. Ibid., 372. The major-domo, a great SPOUTER, undertook to train me for the stage.
1814. AUSTEN, Mansfield Park, xiii. For anything of acting, SPOUTING, reciting kind, I think he has always a decided taste.
1827. BULWER-LYTTON, Pelham, l. He SPOUTS at the ‘Ciceronian’ for half a crown a night.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Patty Morgan the Milkmaid’s Story.’
| And with scorn on her lip, And a hand on each hip, | |
| ‘SPOUT’ herself till her nose grew red at the tip. |
1858. A. MURSELL, Lecture on Slang. When a man speaks, he ‘SPOUTS’; when he holds his peace, he ‘shuts up.’
1886. Daily Telegraph, 12 Jan. The women’s rights agitator, the platform SPOUTER in petticoats. Ibid., 9 Feb. Listening to the more forcible than polite SPOUTINGS of rabid ‘fair traders’ and Socialists. Ibid., 14 Oct. While SPOUTING the most intolerant rubbish that can be endured.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 87. She blewed it on a gent who SPOUTED in the Park.
1903. Morning Advertiser, 4 Feb. SPOUTING agitators who never did a honest day’s work in their lives.
