Tick

or ticket, subs. (old).—A word regarded as slang to-day (or verging thereon) that can boast of considerable (and, indeed, honourable) antiquity: an abbreviation of TICKET = a tradesman’s bill, formerly written on slips of paper or cards. Hence TICK (or TICKET) = credit, a debt; as verb = to buy or take on trust, to run a score; TO TICK UP (or TO HAVE THE RUN OF THE TICKET) = to put to account, to run in debt (Fr. avoir l’ardoise = to slate); WHAT’S THE TICKET? = What’s the price (Fr. quelle est le marché du bœuf gras?)—(B. E. and GROSE).

  1609.  DEKKER, The Guls Horne-booke, vi. 145. No matter whether in landing you have money or no; you may swim in twentie of their boates over the river UPON TICKET.

  1615.  SHIRLEY, Works, iii. 56 [STEPHENS, Characters, 239]. [He] plaies UPON TICKET.

  1633.  MARMION, A Fine Companion, v. 2.

  1638.  RANDOLPH, Hey for Honesty, ii. 6. I am resolved to build no more sconces, but to pay my old TICKETS.

  1648.  FULLER, The Holy State and the Prophane State, 114. Though much indebted to his own back and belly, and unable to pay them, yet he hath credit himself, and confidently runs ON TICKET with himself.

  1661.  PRIDEAUX [Dean of Norwich], Letter, May. The Mermaid Tavern is lately broke, and our Christ Church men bear the blame of it, our TICKS, as the noise of the town will have, amounting to 1500l.

  1663.  BUTLER, Hudibras, I. iii.

  1668.  SEDLEY, The Mulberry Garden, ii. 2.

  1668.  DRYDEN, An Evening’s Love, iii. Wild. Play on TICK, and lose the Indies, I’ll discharge it all to-morrow.

  1683.  OLDHAM, Poems, 174.

  1696.  The Diary of Abraham de la Pryme [Surtees Society], 13 Aug., 110. Every one runs UPON TICK, and those that had no credit a year ago has credit enough now.

  d. 1704.  T. BROWN, Works, ii. 266. Some pretty nymphs … but are sometimes forced TO TICK half a sice a-piece for their watering.

  1713.  ARBUTHNOT, The History of John Bull, iii. viii. Paying ready money that the maids might not run TICK at the market. Ibid. The money went to the lawyers; counsel won’t TICK.

  d. 1729.  STEELE, Epistolary Correspondence, ii. 477, ‘To Lady Steele.’ I shall contrive to have a quarter before-hand, and never let family TICK more for victuals, cloaths, or rent.

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. RIVER TICK. Standing debts, which only discharge themselves at the end of three years by leaving the Lake of Credit, and meandering through the haunts of 100 creditors. Oxf. Univ. Cant.

  1809.  MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 169. Scarcely a day passed but he sinned ON TICK, and suffered by attorney.

  1862.  THACKERAY, The Adventures of Philip, xxxviii. Then the bills came down upon me. I tell you there are some of my college TICKS ain’t paid now.

  1879.  Punch’s Almanack, 12 Dec., 3. Quarter-day, too, no more chance of TICK.

  1899.  R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xviii. They’re extremely nice people, and give one no end of TICK.

  1901.  The Sporting Times, 17 Aug., i. 5. During my late Oxford days, I got put up to at least twenty different ways of getting TICK.

  TO TICK AND TOY, verb. phr. (old).—To dally, to wanton.

  1550.  LATIMER, Sermons before Edward VI. Stand not TICKING AND TOYING at the branches … but strike at the root.

  1579.  GOSSON, The Schoole of Abuse [HALLIWELL]. SUCH TICKING, SUCH TOYING, such smiling, such winking, and such manning them home when the sports are ended.

  1614.  England’s Helicon [NARES].