Mare’s Nest
“He has found a mare’s nest, and is laughing at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any apparent cause.”
Category: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
Regency Word Wednesday
Goose
“A taylor’s goose; a smoothing iron used to press down the seams, for which purpose it must be heated: hence it is a jocular saying, that a taylor, be he ever so poor, is always sure to have a goose at his fire. He cannot say boh to a goose; a saying of a bashful or sheepish fellow.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Black Psalm
“To sing the black psalm; to cry: a saying used to children.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Eves Dropper
“One that lurks about to rob hen-roosts; also a listener at doors and windows, to hear private conversation.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Sly Boots
“A cunning fellow, under the mask of simplicity.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Turnip-Pated
“White or fair-haired.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Gnarler
“A little dog that by his barking alarms the family when any person is breaking into the house.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Whelp
“And impudent whelp; a saucy boy.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Pad
“The highway, or a robber thereon; also a bed. Footpads; foot robbers. To out upon the pad; to go out in order to commit a robbery.”
Regency Word Wednesday
Fiddle Faddle
“Trifling discourse, nonsense. A mere fiddle faddle fellow; a trifier.”
Cora Lee, Regency Romance Author 