subs. (colloquial).—A narrow escape; a close SHAVE (q.v.).—GROSE.
1889. H. O’REILLY, Fifty Years on the Trail, 187. It was a NARROW SQUEAK for me, as the bullet cut off a lock of my hair and passed clean through my hat.
1898. N. GOULD, Landed at Last, vii. “We’ve had some NARROW SQUEAKS of missing him in old England.” … “The next narrow shave was at York.”
Verb. (old).—1. To talk; and (2) to betray confidence; TO SQUEAL, TO PEACH (q.v.). Hence SQUEAKER = (1) a BLAB (q.v.), and (2) an informer; TO SQUEAK BEEF = to cry ‘Stop thief’: see BEEF (B. E. and GROSE).
1690. DRYDEN, Don Sebastian, iv. 3. If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he SQUEAKS I warrant him.
c. 1725. Retoure my dear Dell [A New Canting Dictionary], iv. I never will whiddle, I never will SQUEEK.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. That’s another breaker ahead, Captain! Will she not SQUEAK, think ye?
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. v., ‘Oath of the Canting Crew.’ Never blow the gab, or SQUEAK.
3. (old).—To shirk: an obligation, debt, &c.
