Star

subs. (common).—1.  A white ‘blaze’ on a horse’s forehead.

  1845.  LONGFELLOW, The Spanish Student, iii. 6.

  2.  (printers’).—An asterisk: cf. DAGGER, SPEAR, &c. FRENCH-STARS = ∴: a mark of division between paragraphs, &c.

  3.  (auctioneers’).—An article introduced into a sale after the catalogue has been printed: marked in the official copy by a STAR, sense 2.

  4.  (theatrical).—A distinguished singer or player. Hence TO STAR THE PROVINCES (or THE HALLS) = to go on tour (or make the round of the music halls) as the chief attraction (or as an important TURN, q.v.); STAR-ENGAGEMENT = an important or chief part; STAR-QUELLER = a player whose bad business spoils the efforts of better players.

  1903.  Referee, 8 Feb., 2, 4. I would like once more to record my astonishment that only STARS have pantomime benefits.

  5.  (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE: also THE STAR OVER THE GARTER: cf. LADY-STAR.

  17[?].  LORD CORK, The Bumper Toast. Give me THE STAR that shines OVER THE GARTER. Ibid. A STAR … is the emblem of Cunt.

  Verb. (common).—To strike a window, mirror, &c., so that cracks radiate from a common centre. Also (thieves’) = to smash a window and rob its contents: spec. as in quot. 1856, or by striking a dab of putty with a life-preserver: also TO STAR THE GLAZE. Hence DONE FOR A STAR = convicted for window smashing; THE STAR-LAY = window robbery (GROSE).

  1838.  WILLIAM WATTS (‘Lucian Redivivus’), Paradise Lost, 16. To mill the glaze, and STAR the lamps.

  1856.  G. L. CHESTERTON, Revelations of Prison Life, I. ix. 136. Some crack a pane in a shop front, and, by passing the wet thumb along, they can direct the crack as they please…. This is named STARRING.

  1876.  DIPROSE, Laugh and Learn. So, in fractional arithmetic, it is considered highly improper to STAR THE GLAZE, in falling through the sashes of a grapery, when on the look-out for grapes.

  TO BLESS (or THANK) ONE’S STARS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To thank for one’s good fortune.

  1633.  MARMION, The Antiquary, i. I THANK MY STARS he has unproved his time.

  1706.  WARD, The Wooden World Dissected, 27. He has oft-times THANKED HIS good STARS for it.

  1845.  HOOD, Pauper’s Christmas Carol, iii. Ought not I to BLESS MY STARS?

  MY STARS! phr. (colloquial).—An exclamation of surprise: also ‘MY STAR AND GARTER!’

  1726.  VANBRUGH, The Provoked Husband, iii. MY STARS! and you would really live in London half the year, to be sober in it.