subs. (old).—1. Cheek; impudence; BRASS (q.v.).
2. (old).—Anything inert: hence = (1) a fool, a BLOCKHEAD (q.v.), and (2) in contempt: spec. in compounds (mostly recognised) such as laughing-STOCK, jesting-STOCK, courting-STOCK, &c. Whence STOCKISH = silly, lumpish; STOCKISHNESS = stupidity.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, i. 1, 31. Let’s be no stoics, nor no STOCKS. Ibid. (1598), Merchant of Venice, v. 1, 81. Nought so STOCKISH, hard, and full of rage.
1607. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Woman-Hater, iii. 4. All accounted dull, and common JESTING-STOCKS for your gallants.
1624. FLETCHER, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife, iii. 5. Juan. Thou art the STOCK of men, and I admire thee.
1630. JONSON, The New Inn, i. 1.
| And therefore might indifferently be made | |
| The COURTING-STOCK for all to practise on. |
1766. H. BROOKE, The Fool of Quality, iii. Such a STOCK of a child, such a statue! Why he has no kind of feeling either of body or mind.
1778. SHERIDAN, The Rivals, iii. 1. What a phlegmatic sot it is! Why, sirrah, you’r an anchorite!—a vile insensible STOCK.
1837. BROWNING, Strafford, iii. 3.
| Friend, | |
| I ’ve seen you with St. John: O STOCKISHNESS! | |
| Wear such a ruff, and never call to mind | |
| St. John’s head in a charger? |
STOCK AND BLOCK, subs. and adv. phr. (colloquial).—The whole; completely (GROSE). Also LOCK-STOCK-AND-BARREL, and (American) STOCK-AND-FLUTE: cf. STICK-AND-STONE, ROOT-AND-BRANCH, &c.
1725. N. BAILEY, trans. The Colloquies of Erasmus, 181. Before I came home I lost all, STOCK AND BLOCK [orig. sors et usura = capital and interest].
1861. New York Tribune, 19 Oct., 4, 3. In other words, Tammany Hall is sold out STOCK AND FLUKE, to Fernando Wood, who will have its nomination and support for Mayor.
PHRASES.—TO TAKE STOCK IN = to have faith in; TO TAKE STOCK OF = to scrutinize, TO SIZE UP (q.v.); ON THE STOCKS = in hand, in preparation.
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, iv. 42. I am told Mr. Dryden has something of this nature new UPON THE STOCKS.
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, II. xii. In TAKING STOCK of his familiarity, worn rough-weather nautical clothes, piece by piece, she took STOCK of a formidable knife in a sheath at his waist ready to his hand.
1889. Harper’s Magazine, Oct., 4, ‘Literary Notes.’ Captain Polly gives the right hand of fellowship to two boys in whom nobody else is willing TO ‘TAKE STOCK,’ and her faith in them saves them.
