*This has become almost a vulgarism, but has been employed by some of our best writers.

The secret man heareth many confessions; for who will open himself to a blab or babbler?-Bacon.

Sorrow nor joy can be disguised by art;

Our foreheads blab the secrets of our heart.-Dryden.

When my tongue blabs, then let my eyes not see.-Shakspere.

An obsolete form of nab, to gnaw, seize with the teeth.

I had much rather lie knabbing crusts, without fear, than be mistress of

the world with cares.-L'Estrange.

* A vulgarism, contracted from hap-ne-hap, let it happen or not; at all risks; at the mercy of chance.

Cursed be they that build their hopes on haps.-Sidney.

A bitch hound-still current in the Eastern counties.

Truth's a dog that must to kennel; he must be whipped out, while Lady, the brach, may stand by the fire and stink.-Shakspere.

Obsolete. A flaw, a crack.

A brack in the stuff.-Beaumont and Fletcher.

§ In addition to the many ordinary meanings of this word, it is used vulgarly for wreck, in the phrase rack and ruin; and is also cognate with reek, vapour, mist.

The clouds above which we call the rack.-Bacon.

Leave not a rack behind.--Shakspere.

|| A colloquialism from snatch,— ‚—a slight hasty meal; a share; to go shares, to go snacks.

A vulgarism.

With many a stiff thwack, many a bang,
Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.-Hudibras.
We'll thwack him hence with distaffs.-Shakspere.
** Then gladly turning sought his ancient place,
And passed a life of piety and peace.-Parnell.
By a stream side, on the grass:-

On her shining hair and face.-E. B. Browning.
All its allotted length of days,

The flower ripens in its place.-Tennyson.

From belt to belt of crimson seas

A hundred spirits whisper, "Peace."--Tennyson.

*

Antiquated favour, kindness.-Used by Spenser.

This word has no exact rhyme.

Now uncommon, but frequently employed in Feudal times; a species of armour used to defend the breast or whole body; a horseman in complete armour; one armed cap-à-pie.

Archers and slingers, cataphracts and spears.-Milton.

§ From cadet, a younger son, a minor; hence a dependent, a mean fellow. A pet name for father, like mam for mother; both words no doubt representing the earliest articulate sounds of an infant-ma-ma, da-da.

The metal spaces used by compositors are called quads. The word is used by Gower in the sense of evil, bad: as a slang term it stands for prison.

* In genial spring beneath the quivering shade,
Where curling vapours breathe along the mead.

Pope.

Since when a boy, he plied his trade,
Till on his life the sickness weigh'd.

R. Browning.

Then to the still small voice I said;
Let me not cast to endless shade,
What is so wonderfully made.

Tennyson.

† Obsolete. To lead, as a child just learning to walk; to walk slowly or unsteadily, as a child just beginning to go alone.

No sooner taught to dade, than from their mother trip.-Drayton. Obsolete. The descent of a hill.

§ Obsolete.

by Drayton.

On the lower lees, as on the higher hades,

The dainty clover grows.-Drayton.

A flat low piece of ground; a dale; a valley.

Employed

Obsolete. To vanish; to pass away; to go hastily or rapidly. Employed by Spenser.

Obsolete. To arouse; to awake. Employed by Spenser.

** Obsolete. From gambado, a leather case attached to a stirrup; a cover for the leg worn over other clothing; a gaiter.

tt Obsolete. To be suitable; to suit; to fit.

Clothes I must get; this fashion will not fadge with me.

To live in concord or amity; to agree.

Beaumont and Fletcher.

They shall be made, spite of antipathy, to fadge together.-Milton.

In Scotland it is still sometimes used, and is applied to a bundle of sticks;

a covering of rough leather; a bannock.