subs. adj. and adv. (colloquial).—The best; first-rate; in the highest degree: hence TIP-TOPPER (GROSE).
ENGLISH SYNONYMS. A1; about East; about right; above par; all brandy; all there; all the way; as good as they make it; as good as wheat; at par; bang up; Bible; bobbish; boiler-plated; bona; bully; cheery; the cheese; cheesy; chic; clean potato; clean wheat; clinking; clipping; crack; creamy; crushing; a corker; a daisy; dossy; downy; down to the ground; doubled-distilled; first chop; first-rate-and-a-half; fizzing; fly; gamey; hunky; jammy; jonnick; lummy; nap; out-and-out; pink; plummy; proper; pure quill; real jam; right as ninepence; ripping; rooter; rum; screaming; scrumptious; ship-shape; slap-up; slick; splash up; splendacious; splendiferous; to the knocker; to the nines; to rights; true marmalade; tsing-tsing; up to Dick. See also WHOPPER.
FRENCH SYNONYMS. Abracadabrant; aux petits oignons; aux pommes; bath (or bate); du flan; hurf; un peu ça; bath aux pommes; chenâtre; chic (or chicque); chicard; chicancardo; chicandard; chocnoso; chocnosof; chocnosogue; koscnoff; chouette; chouettard; chouettaud; épatant; épatarouflant; farineux; flambant; frais (ironically); grand’largue (sailors’); mirobolant; muche; numero un; obéliscal; ruisselant d’inouisme; rup (or rupin); schpile; sgoff; snoboye; superlifico (or superlificoquentieux) = splendiferous; tapé.
d. 1720. VANBRUGH, A Journey to London, iii. 1. Everything that accomplishes a fine lady is practised … she herself is at the very TIP-TOP of it. Ibid., The Provoked Husband, iii. 1. Lady Grace. O! in TIP-TOP spirits.
1766. GOLDSMITH, The Vicar of Wakefield, ix. What appeared amiss was ascribed to TIP-TOP quality breeding.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 361. They’re of the very TIP-TOP breed.
1841. THACKERAY, The Great Hoggarty Diamond, iv. He was at the West End on Thursday, asked to dine, ma’am, with the TIP-TOP nobs.
1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, xvii. He has that kind of language; and I needn’t tell you, Mr. Transome, that it’s the apex, which, I take it, means the TIPTOP—and nobody can get higher than that, I think.
1866. The London Miscellany, 3 March, 57, 3, ‘London Revelations.’ No little let-down for a cove that’s been TIP-TOPPER in his time.
1874. BEETON, The Siliad, 92.
| While shop-boys, trying TIP-TOP swells to be, | |
| Have robbed the till, and call for S. and B. |
1885. The Field, 26 Dec. Several other TIP-TOPPERS being behind the pair. Ibid. (1886), 23 Jan. I promised to provide them with TIP-TOP shooting for one season.
1888. F. R. STOCKTON, The Dusantes, in The Century Magazine, xxxv. Feb., 621. ‘That suits us TIP-TOP, ma’am,’ said the coxswain.
1891. F. W. CAREW, No. 747. being the Autobiography of a Gipsy, 416. As fly a bewer, she were, as ever chucked a stall, a reg’lar TIP-TOP tamtart.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, v. You should see ’em goin’ out o’ Sat’d’y nights. TIPTOP! Won’t speak to nobody.
1900. LYNCH, High Stakes, xxxii. I’ve lost my bearings; used to know all the TIP-TOP fences—see!
