Some of these appear to have affected Philadelphia in the early part of the nineteenth century; and a few, which became more generally popular, are traceable, about 1840–60, to the influence of Charles Dickens.
1799. Do you think I am going to stay here to have my throat cut, to be whipped to death, or skivvered [skewered] like a lark—No, no!—The Aurora, May 20.
1800. [In Philadelphia, Noah Webster] will find the London Cockneyisms flourish in perfection—veal—here converted into weal,—and wine into vine,—the hot-water-war he will find described as a hot vater var, &c.—Id., June 20.
1830. The similarity of language and manners is so great that it is almost impossible to distinguish Americans from English, especially Philadelphians, who like Cockneys talk about wery good weal and winegar.—N. Ames, ‘A Mariner’s Sketches,’ p. 16 (Providence). (Italics in the original.)
1848. See CRAB.
1853. See SHOAT.
