some grose f-words

i suppose that it was inevitable that i would eventually turn to cap’n grose’s dictionary of the vulgar tongue for some ribald f-words. i first came across this lexicon of “buckish slang, university wit, and pickpocket eloquence” back in the seventh grade when i found it on the top shelf (read: most private) of my uncle’s bookcase. needless to say, i spent the duration of my stay perfecting my footman’s mawnd, practising my figure dancing (are we human or are we figure dancer?) and flashing the hash when my fubsey aunt served me a field lane duck lasagna.

part one: facer to flash the hash

• facer: a glass filled so full as to leave no room for the lip.
• fagger: A little boy put in at a window to rob the house.
• fakement: A counterfeit signature. A forgery.
• fam lay: Going into a goldsmith’s shop, under pretence of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by daubing the hand with some viscous matter.
• fartleberries: Excrement hanging about the anus.
• field lane duck: A baked sheep’s head.
• figure dancer: One who alters figures on bank notes, converting tens to hundreds.
• fire priggers: Villains who rob at fires under pretence of assisting in removing the goods.
• to flash the hash: To vomit.

part two: footman’s mawnd to fussock

• footman’s mawnd: An artificial sore made with unslaked lime, soap, and the rust of old iron, on the back of a beggar’s hand, as if hurt by the bite or kick of a horse.
• free booters: soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege of plundering the enemy.
• french leave: To take French leave; to go off without taking leave of the company: a saying frequently applied to persons who have run away from their creditors.
• froglander: A Dutchman.
• frosty face: One pitted with the small pox.
• fubsey: Plump. A fubsey wench; a plump, healthy wench.
• fussock: A lazy fat woman. An old fussock; a frowsy old woman.

part three: fusty luggs

• fusty luggs: A beastly, sluttish woman.