subs. (common).—A sovereign; 20s. (GROSE).
2. (American political).—See quot. 1890. Whence STRIKER = a blackmailer.
1883. The Nation, 6 Sept., 200. If he can elect such a ticket, even in Virginia alone, he will take the field after election as a ‘STRIKER,’ and will offer his electoral votes to whichever candidate will give the highest ‘terms.’
1890. Century Dictionary, s.v. STRIKE, n. 13. Any unscrupulous attempt to extort money or to obtain other personal advantage by initiating an attack with the intention of being bought off, as by introducing a bill into a legislature, hostile to some moneyed interest, with the hope of being paid to let the matter drop.
Verb. (old).—Generic for getting money: to steal (HARMAN, B. E.); to beg, to borrow (e.g., ‘to STRIKE [or SPRING, q.v.] a man for a quid’); to get into debt (cf. TO STRIKE A LIGHT = to run up an alehouse score): see quot. c. 1696. Hence STRIKING = a robbery, swindle, or imposition; and STRIKER = a robber with violence.
1591. GREENE, Art of Cony Catching [NARES]. The cutting a pocket, or picking a purse, is called STRIKING.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 1. 82. I am joined with no foot-land rakers, no long-staff sixpenny STRIKERS.
1628. EARLE, Microcosmographie, Appendex, 254. Now we haue well bousd, let vs STRIKE some chete.
1655. SHIRLEY, The Gentleman of Venice [NARES].
| Mal. I must borrow money, | |
| And that some call a STRIKING. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. STRIKE … STRIKE all the Cheats, c. Rob all you meet. STRIKE the Cull, c. Beg of that Gentleman. STRIKE the Cly, c. get that Fellow’s Money from him. He has STRUCK the Quidds, c. he has got the Cole from him. He STRIKES every Body, c. he borrows Money every where, he runs in every one’s Debt.
2. (venery).—To copulate: see RIDE. Hence STRIKER = a wencher.
1620. BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III. III. iv. 1. Gave her a familiar touch with his wand, which she mistaking for her lover, said Ah, Landre, a good Knight should STRIKE before, and not behind.
1639. MASSINGER, The Unnatural Combat, iv. 2.
| That, if the sign deceive me not, in time | |
| ’Twill prove a notable STRIKER, like his father. |
STRIKE ME BLIND! intj. (common).—An oath.
STRIKE ME LUCK (or LUCKY), phr. (old).—Originally used in clenching a bargain: the hands were struck together, and the buyer left a luck-penny in the hands of the seller. Hence an oath or ejaculation (BEE).
1616. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Scornful Lady, ii. Come STRIKE ME LUCK with earnest and draw the writings. There’s a God’s-penny for thee.
1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, II. i. 540.
| But if that’s all you stand upon, | |
| Here, STRIKE ME, LUCK, it shall be done. |
TO MAKE A STRIKE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To achieve, succeed, or be lucky: at ninepins: to knock all the pins down with one ball.
