LETHE. Death, from the Lat. Lethum,

Jul. Cæs. iii. r. In this sense, Lethe seems to have been used and sounded as a monosyllable by our old writers. LEVEL. To stand in the level," meant to stand within range or gun-shot, Win. T. iii. 2.

LEWD. Wicked, Much Ado v. 1, Rich. II. i. 1. Idle, obnoxious, Rich. III. i. 3.

TIBBARD. The leopard, Love's L. L.

V. 2.

LIBERAL. Coarse-spoken, free-spoken, Much Ado iv. I, Ham. iv. 7, Oth.

ii. 1.

LIBERTY. Used to express the licence of employing the actors' own words, in extempore performance, in opposition to the "law of writ,"-the written words set down for them by an author in a regularly composed play, Ham. ii. 2.

LIEFEST. Most dear, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 1.
LIEGE. Lord, or sovereign, Rich. II. i. 3.
LIEGEMAN. One bound to do feudal
service, Win. T. ii. 3, Ham. i. 1.
LIFTER. A thief, Tr. Cr. i. 2.
LIGHT O' LOVE. A dance-tune, Two
Gen. V. i. 2, Much Ado iii. 4.
LIGHTLY. In common course, usually,
Rich. III. iii. 1.

LIKE. For liken. "Like me to;" that is, make me like, reduce me to the likeness of, 1 Hen. VI. iv. 6. "Liking," 2 Hen. IV. ii. 1.

I

LIKED. Pleased, As You L. (Epil.) LIKES NOT. Pleases not, is not approved, Hen. V. iii. (Chorus.)

LIKING. To be "in liking," is to be in good case, or condition, 1 Hen. IV. 111. 3. LIMB-MEAL. ii. 4. LIMBECK. An alembic, or distilling vessel, Macb. i. 7.

Limb from limb, Cymb.

LIMBO. The boundary of hell: used for hell itself, All 's W. v. 3, Tit. A. iii. 1. Also, for a prison, Com. E. iv. 2. LIMBO PATRUM. The name of the place where the Fathers of the Church awaited their resurrection; used jocosely for a prison, Hen. VIII. v. 3. LIME. Put into wine for adulteration, Mer. W. i. 3, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4. LIMIT. "Strength of limit," i.e., strength for even a limited distance, Win. T. ill. 2.

LINE. Statement of lineage, Hen. V.

ii. 4LINE OF LIFE. The lines in the palm of the hand expounded by gipsies, and other cheats in palmistry, Mer. Ven. ii. 2.

LINED. Drawn, delineated, As You L. iii. 2, (verses.) LINK. A torch of pitch. Incredible as it may appear, the smoke of a link was used to blacken rusty hats, Tam. S. iv. 1. LINSTOCK, or LINTSTOCK. The stock to hold the lint, or match, for firing ordnance. Hen. V. iii. (Chorus.) LIST. Limit, or boundary. A term derived from the lists at a tournament, Tw. N. iii. 1, Ham. iv. 5, Oth. iv. 1. 1 Hen. IV. iv. 1. Also, desire, inclination, Oth. ii. 1.

LIST. To listen, Mer. W. v. 5, Oth. ii. 1. Also, to like, to prefer, 3 Hen. VI. i. 5, Tit. A. iv. 1, Oth. ii. 3. LITHER. The comparative of lithe. Soft, pliable, 1 Hen. VI. iv. 7. LIVELIHOOD. Living appearance, liveliness, All's W. i. 1, Rich. III. iii. 4. LIVERY. A law term, for delivery, or grant of possession. "To sue one's livery," was the technical expression for the process to be pursued, Rich. II. ii. 1 & 3, 1 Hen. IV. iv. 3.

LIVING. Possessions, means to live upon, Mer. V. v. 1, Rom. J. iv. 5. LIZARD. Fanatically pronounced venomous, but harmless as a frog, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 2, 3 Hen. VI. ii. 2. LOACH. A small river-fish; called also a groundling; believed by the common people to be infested with fleas, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 1.

LOB. A lubber, a clown. Puck was the jester (or "clown") to King Oberon, Mids. N. ii. 1.

LOB. To hang down helplessly, Hen. V.

iv. 2.

LOCK, or LOVE-LOCK. A long lock of hair, worn at the side of the head; often plaited with ribband, Much Ado iii. 3.

LOCKRAM. A coarse linen, made into handkerchiefs, caps, &c., Corio. ii. 1. LODE-STAR. The pole-star, and guide to mariners, Mids. N. i. 1, Lucrece 26. LODGED. Layed by the wind, Macb. iv. 1, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 2.

LOFFE. An old form of laugh, Mids. N. ii. I.

LOGGATS. The diminutive of logs. A game formerly played by rustics, somewhat resembling nine-pins, Ham.

V. I.

'LONGS. Abbreviation of belongs, Mea. M. ii. 2, Corio. v. 3. "Longing," All's W. iv. 2, Hen. VIII. i. 2. LONGLY. For longingly, Tam. S. i. 1. LOOFED. Now spelt luffed. A ship brought close to the wind, Ant.

iii. 8.

LOOK UPON. Used for look on, or play the looker-on, 3 Hen. VI. ii. 3. LOON. A stupid fellow, a clown, Macb.

V. 3.

LOP. A cutting from a tree, Hen. VIII. i. 2.

LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US. The mscription written on the doors of plague-infected houses, Love's L. L. v. 2. LORD'S SAKE. Prisoners confined for

debt, begged of passers-by for 'the Lord's sake,' Mea. M. iv. 3.

LOTS TO BLANKS. Prizes to blanks; equivalent to All to nothing;' or, 'Ten to one,' Corio. v. 2.

LOUTED. Befooled. Derived from lout, a stupid boor, 1 Hen. VI. iv. 3. LOVE-DAY. A current expression for a day of reconciliation, Tit. A. i. 2. LOVER. Formerly meant any one who was beloved of another, male or female, Mea. M. i. 5. Between men, it signified a bosom-friend, Corio. v. 2, Mer. Ven. iii. 4.

LOWN. Another form of Loon, Peric. iv.
6, Oth. ii. 3, (Song.)
LOZEL. An idle, worthless, abandoned
fellow, Win. T. ii. 3.

LUBBAR. A corruption of Libbard, or
Leopard, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 1.
LUCE. A pike fish, or jack, Mer. W. i. 1.
LUGGED. From lug, the ear. Pulled

by the ears, 1 Hen. IV. i. 2. LUNES. Lunacy, frenzy, Mer. W. iv. 2,

Win. T. ii. 2, Tr. Cr. ii. 3, Ham. iii. 3. LURCH. To win from, to gain by distancing, Mer. W. ii. 2. "Lurched," Corio. ii. 2.

LURE. The bait for a hawk, Tam. S.

iv. 1. To entice, to tempt, Rom. J. ii. 2. LUSH. Of rich or luxuriant vegetation; hence, probably, luscious," Temp. ii. 1.

LUST. Pleasure, inclination, "To my lust" is equivalent to the modern phrase, as I list, or like, Tr. Cr. iv. 4. LUSTICK. Pleasant, cheerful, hearty, All's W. ii. 3.

LUXURIOUS. Wanton, unchaste, Much Ado iv. 1, Tit. A. v. 1.

LYM. A sporting-hound led by a thong, called a Leam or Leash, Lear iii. 6.

M

MACULATE. Blotted, defiled, impure;
Lat. Macula, a blot or stain, Love's
L. L. i. 2. 66
Maculation," Tr. Cr.

iv. 4.

MAD. This is the word printed in all modern editions, as altered by Rowe from the word "made" in the First Folio. But neither affords a clear sense. "Afraid," or "fraid," is near in sound to the original word; and gives what seems to us the right reading, when we consider Prince Henry's reply to this speech ("And thou a natural coward, without instinct"); taken in conjunction with a previous passage of the same scene:-" Art thou not horribly afraid? &c. P. Hen. Not

a whit, i' faith; I lack some of thy instinct," Hen. IV. ii. 4. MAGGOT-PIES. Now called Magpies; Fr. Magot, a chatterer, Macb. iii. 4. MAGNIFICO. The title of the Venetian nobles, Oth. i. 2, Mer. Ven. iii. 2. MAILED. Armed, covered with armour, 1 Hen. IV. iv. 1, Corio. i. 3. "Mailed up," wrapped, or covered up; a term in falconry, for enveloping a hawk's wings, 2 Hen. VI. ii. 4. MAINED. Lamed, 2 Hen. VI. iv. 2. [In most editions altered to "maimed," to the injury of the pun.] МАКЕ. "What make you here?" for, what are you doing here? As You L. i. 1 & 3, Ham. ii. "Make the doors," to fasten, or shut them close, As You L. iv. I.

2.

MAKE NICE. To be fastidious, or scrupulous, John iii. 4.

MAKELESS. Mateless. Make and Mate were used indiscriminately by old writers, Sonnet 9. MALKIN. Mall, or Moll, and kin, the German diminutive. Used subsequently as a contemptuous term. The scarecrow in a field or garden is still called a Malkin, Corio. ii. 1, Peric. iv. 4. MALT-HORSE. A heavy cart-horse, like a brewer's horse, Tam. S. iv. 1, Com. E. iii. 1. MALT-WORM.

Applied to an ale-toper, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 1, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4MAMMERING. Stammering, hesitating,

Oth. iii. 3.

MAMMETS. Dolls, or puppets, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 3, Rom. J. iii. 5.

MAMMOCK. To tear in pieces, Corio. i. 3.

MANAGE. A term originating in the tilt-yard. A career, or course run; an encounter, a shock, a contest, Love's L. L. v. 2, John i. 1. Also used for management, contrivance, provision, Rich. II. i. 4. Likewise for horsetraining; Fr. Manège, As You L. i. 1, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 3.

MANDRAGORA, or MANDRAKE. A root possessing strong soporific qualities; superstitiously believed to utter groans when torn up; and that the uprooter died mad, Ant. Cl. i. 5, Oth. iii. 3, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 2, Rom. J. iv. 3. MANKIND. Mannish, masculine, manlike, Win. T. ii. 3. Asked in this sense, answered in the usual sense of the word,-human-kind, Corio. iv. 2. MANNER. To be "taken with the manner,' meant to be taken in the fact, Love's L. L. i. 1, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4. MANNINGTREE OX. Manningtree, in Essex, was famous for its statute fair, its breed of cattle, and for its roasted ox (whole) at fair-time, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4.

MAN-QUELLER. A murderer; more anciently, an executioner, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 1.

MANY. The many meant the populace, or a multitude; in modern phrase, the million, 2 Hen. IV. i. 3. MARCHES. The lands on each side of a country's boundary, Hen. V. i. 2. MARCH-PANE A confectionary compounded of sugar and pounded almonds, Rom. J. i. 5.

"

MARE. To ride the wild mare,' meant to play at see-saw, 2 Hen. IV. 1. 4. MARGENT, or MARGIN. Alluding to the margins of old books, which contained a commentary on the subject-matter of the page, Rom. J. i. 3, Ham. v. 2. MARIAN. Maid Marian was Robin Hood's mistress. In after years, introduced into the Morris-dances; when the character was generally performed by a man, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 3. MARRY TRAP. A cant exclamation,

when likely to be caught, Mer. W. i. 1. MART. To traffic, or deal; from the substantive, mart, a market, Jul. Cæs. iv. 3. "Marted," Win. T. iv. 3. MARTLEMAS. A corruption of Martinmas; a feast occurring on the 11th of November; facetiously applied to Falstaff, as on the decline, like the year, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 2.

MARY-BUDS. Flowers of the Mary-gold; which open in the morning and close

at sunset, Cymb. ii. 3. Marigold," Win. T. iv. 3.

MATCH. To set a match," was a technical expression among thieves for making an appointment to rob, 1 Hen. IV. i. 2. MATED. To bewilder, stupefy, confound, or overpower, Com. E. iii. 2. & v. 1, Macb. v. 1.

MATES. The various editors contend that this word means either to confound, destroy; or an allusion to chessplaying. But we feel it to comprise both senses,-Shakespeare often using words thus comprehensively, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 1.

MAUGRE. In spite of; Fr. Malgré, Tw.
N. iii. 1, Tit. A. iv. 2, Lear v. 3.
MAUND. A basket, Lover's Comp. 6.
MAW. The stomach, Mea. M. iii. 2,
Macb. iv. 1.

MAZZARD. A familiar word for the head,
Ham. v. 1, Oth. ii. 3.
MEACOCK. A sneak and a coward, Tam.
S. ii. 1.
MEALED.

Mingled, mixed, Mea. M.

iv. 2. MEANS AND BASSES. Singers with tenor voices and bass voices. The middle, or mean part, is called Tenor; the lowest, Bass, Win. T. iv. 3. MEASURE. A grave and stately dance,

Much Ado ii. I, Love's L. L. v. 2, As
You L. v. 4.

MEAZEL. Measle, or Mesell, is the old term for a leper; Fr Meselle, Corio. iii. I.

ME.

Shakespeare frequently joins this word on to a verb, in the same way with the Fr. idiom, as used in Moliere's "Tartuffe," "Prenez-moi ce mouchoir." It gives a spirited effect to the dialogue; and sometimes affords occasion for a play upon the form of expression. "Knock me here," Tam. S. i. 2. "Bear me a bang," Jul. C. iii. 3. "Imagine me," Win. T. iv. (Chorus.) Comes me cranking in, and cuts me, ,"&c., 1 Hen. IV. iii 1. "Ascends me into the brain; dries me there," &c., 2 Hen. IV. iv. 3. "Foals me,' &c. "Raise me this beggar," Tim. A. ii. 1 & iv. 3.

MEED. Reward, Two Gen. V. v. 4. Desert, 3 Hen. VI. ii. 1 & iv. 8, Tim. A. i. 1, Ham. v. 2.

or counteract, Temp. iv. 1. meet with," was equivalent to, be even with," Much Ado i. I. MEINY. A lord's household retinue, or train of menials, Lear ii. 4. MELL. To meddle with; Fr. Mêler, All's W. iv. 3, (Letter.) MEMORY. For memorial, Corio. iv. 5. MEPHOSTOPHILUS. The name of the familiar spirit, or the Devil, in Marlowe's play of "Faustus," Mer. W. i. 1. MERCATANTE. A merchant, Tam S. iv. 2.

MERCHANT. Sometimes employed as a term of familiarity, also of contempt, 1 Hen. VI. ii. 3, Rom. J. ii. 4. MERE. Mere the truth" means quite the truth, the exact truth, All's W iii. 5. Used for utter, entire, Oth. ii. 2, Cymb. iv. 2. For absolute, M. for M. v. 1, Tr. & Cr. i. 3. "Merely;" completely, utterly, Ant. Cl. iii. 7, Ham. i. 2.

MERED. Bounded, limited, defined, Ant. Cl. iii. 11.

MERIT. Used for reward, guerdon, meed; as the latter word is sometimes used for merit, desert, John iii. 1, Rich. II. i. 3.

MESS. A large dinner-company was formerly divided into sets of fours, called messes; hence "mess" came to mean a party of four people, Love's L. L. iv. 3 & v. 2, 3 Hen. VI. i. 4. MESSES. Lower messes were those who occupied the lower end of the table; afterwards applied to lower orders generally, Win. T. i. 2. METAL. Used in its legitimate sense as a mineral, and sometimes blendedly with the sense which it has obtained, from its oral resemblance with the word mettle, which means temper, temperament, courage, Mea. M. i. 1, Jul. Cæs. i. 1, Much Ado ii. 1. METAPHYSICAL. Formerly used in the sense of supernatural, Macb. i. 5. METE-YARD. A yard-measure, Tam. S. iv. 3.

METHEGLIN. Mead; a beverage made of honey, Mer. W. v. 5, Love's L. L.

V. 2.

METTLE. (See METAL.)
MEWED. Confined, shut up, Mids. N. i.
1, Tam. S. i. 1, Rich. III. i. 1 & 3,
Rom. J. iii. 4

MICHER. A sneaking fellow, a truant,
1 Hen. IV. ii. 4.
MICHING MALLECHO. Lurking malice,
or mischief. To mich,' means to
skulk, to act stealthily: and 'malhe-
co' is a Spanish word, signifying mis-
deed, or evil-doing, Ham. iii. 2.
MICKLE. Still the Scotch term for much,
or great, Rom. J. ii. 3, Com. E. iii. 1,
Hen. V. ii. 1, 1 Hen. VI. iv. 6.
MIDDLE EARTH. Formerly a term in
frequent use for our globe, Mer. W. v.

5.

MIDDLE SUMMER'S SPRING. The season when vegetation puts forth its second shoot, Mids. N. ii. 1. MIEN. Countenance. "The revolt of mien," is the change of countenance' which Nym hopes Page will betray when made jealous; and which will make him dangerously vengeful, Mer. W. i. 3. "Mien," represents beauty of countenance, Two Gen. V. ii. 4. MILL-SIXPENCES. Queen Elizabeth first introduced the coining by the mill into England about 1562, Mer. W. i. 1. MILLSTONES. Το " weep millstones" was an old saying of those not given to the melting mood, Rich. III. i. 3 & 4. Used for tears of laughter, with doubt of their being shed, Tr. Cr. i. 2. MINCE. To make affectedly small steps, to trip along, Mer. W. v. 1.

Remembering. Still the Scotch use of the word, Hen. V. iv. (Chorus.) Caring, regarding, Peric. ii. 4 & 5.

MINIKIN. Very diminutive, Lear iii. 6, (Song.)

MINNOW. One of the smallest of freshwater fish, Love's L. L. i. 1, Corio. iii. 1.

MISER. A wretched person. Used in its strict original sense, without reference to the wretched vice of avarice, I Hen. VI. v. 4.

MISERY. Avarice, covetousness, Corio.

ii. 2.

MISPRISED. Mistaken, Mids. N. iii. 2.
Undervalued, As You L. i. 1 & 2.
MISPRISING. Underrating, not estimat-
ing, Much Ado iii. 1, All's W. iii. 2,
Tr. Cr. iv. 5.

MISSIVES. Messengers, Macb. i. 5, (let.)
Ant. Cl. ii. 2.
MISTAKEN.

Misinterpreted, misconstrued, Hen. VIII. i. 1.

MISTEMPERED. Wrathful, ill-conditioned, John v. 1, Rom. J. i. 1. MISTRESS. Now called the Jack; the small ball, in the game of bowls, at which the players aim. "Rub," is the progress of the ball; and "Kiss," a slight touching together, Tr. Cr. iii. 2. MISTRESS. A title often appended to a woman's name formerly, whether she were a maiden or a wife. "Mistress Anne Page," Mer W. i. 1. We find Mistress Quickly is unmarried, Mer. W. ii. 2. "Mistress Silvia," Two Gen. V. iv. 4.

Mo.

More; for rhyme's sake, Lucrece 212, Much Ado ii. 3, (Song.) MOBLED. Muffled, or negligently covered on the head. Mob-cap is a modern term for an undress cap, Ham. ii. 2.

MODERN. Common, trite, ordinary, All's W. ii. 3, John iii. 4, Ant. Cl. v. 2, Rom. J. iii. 2, As You L. ii. 7 & iv. 1.

MOE. To ridicule by making mouths,
Temp. ii. 2.

MOIETY. A part, not merely a half,
Hen. IV. iii. 1, Lear i. 1.
MOLDWARP. The mole, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 1
MOME. A stupid fellow, also a buffoon,
Com. E. iii. 1.

MOMENTANY. Used by others as well as Shakespeare for momentary, Mids. N. i. 1.

MONARCH and MONARCHO. Titles given to pompous, pretentious fellows, Love's L. L. iv. 1, All's W. i. 1. MONTANT. Abbreviation of Montanto, a term in fencing, Mer. W. ii. 3. Beatrice gives the latter as a mocking title to Benedick, Much Ado i. 1. MOOD. Capricious humour, sounded like mud, All's W. v. 2.

MOON-CALF. A lumpish and shapeless mass; a monster, Temp. ii, 2 & iii. 2. MOONISH. Changeable, As You L

ill. 2.

MOONSHINE. "A sop o' the moonshine' was a sippet in a dish of eggs, dressed after a peculiar fashion, called 'Eggs in moonshine,' Lear ii. 2. MORAL. Formerly meant the sense or signification of a thing, Much Ado iii. 4, Tam. S. iv. 4, Tr. Cr. iv. 4. MORALIZE. To expound, to deduce a meaning from, Rich. III. iii. 1, Lu

crece 15. MORISCO. A dancer in the Morris-dance, which, being originally an imitation of a Moorish dance, was thus named, 2 Hen. VI. iii. 1.

MORRIS-PIKE. A Moorish pike, used in war both by soldiers and seamen. Com. E. iv. 3

MORT OF THE DEER. A phrase of notes

blown on his horn by the huntsman at the death of the deer, Win. T. i. 2. MORTIFIED. Ascetic, devoted to selfdenial, Love's L. L. i. 1, Macb. v. 2. MORTISE. A joint in timber-work, Oth.

ii. I. MOSE. "To,mose in the chine," is a disease in horses, somewhat varying from the glanders; which consists of a discharge from the nose, Tam. S. iii. 2. MOST. Was frequently used by the old writers with adjectives already in the superlative degree, in order to add emphasis to the meaning. "Most poorest," Lear ii. 3. "Most best," Ham. ii. 2. "Most unkindest," Jul. Cæs. iii. 2. The comparative," More," was applied in the same way. "More corrupter," Lear ii. 2. "More better," Temp. i. 2.

MOT. Motto, word, or sentence, Lu

crece 119 MOTHER.

There seems to have been some expression, almost proverbial, in allusion to the "mother" of one who sets up for a beauty on slight grounds; as the two passages (with their context) cited in illustration of each other serve to show. "Who might be your mother," &c., As You L. iii. 5. "Whose mother was her painting," Cymb. iii. 4. MOTHER. There was a disease known

by this name, and by that of hysterica passio, Lear ii. 4. MOTION. A name for a puppet, and puppet-show, Two Gen. V. ii. 1, Mea. Miii. 2, Win. T. iv. 2, Peric. v. 1. Also used to signify wishes, or desires, Tw. N. ii. 4. And indignation, Hen. VIII. i. 1. Likewise for divinatory agitation, Ant. Cl. ii. 3. MOTIVE. Used for active means, or agent, All's W. iv. 4. For limb, or member, that has motion or motive power, Tr. Cr. iv. 5.

MOTLEY. The Fool or Jester's particoloured dress, As You L. ii. 7, Hen. VIII. (Prol.)

MOUSE. A term of endearment, Love's
L. L. v. 2, Ham. iii. 4.
MOUSED. Mammocked, torn in pieces,

Mids. N. v. i. Mousing," John ii. 2. MOUTH. "A sweet mouth," formerly meant what is now called 'A sweet tooth,'-a fondness for sweets, Two Gen. V. iii. 1.

Mow. Used in the same way as MOE, Temp. iv. 1, Cymb. i. 7, Ham. ii. 2. Mor. A piece of money; probably a contraction of moidore, a Portuguese coin. The word is used in this sense, and in its French signification of Moi anciently spelt Moy) 'Me,' Hen. V. iv. 4.

MUCH. An exclamation of disdain and denial, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. Used adjectively in the same sense; "Here much Orlando," As You L. iv. 3. MUFFLER. A sort of veil to cover the lower part of the face and throat, Mer. W. iv. 2, Hen. V. iii. 6. MUM BUDGET. A cant signal, or nayword, implying silence, Mer. W. v. 2. MUMMY. A liquor, or balsam, prepared from the embalmed Egyptian bodies, Oth. iii. 4.

MURDERING-PIECE. A small piece of artillery so called, Ham. iv. 5. MURE. A wall, 2 Hen. IV. iv. 4. MURKY. Dark, Macb. v. 1. MURRAIN. A plague in cattle, Temp. iii. 2, Mids. N. ii. 2, Tr. Cr. ii. 1, Corio. i. 5. MUSCADEL. A rich French wine; so named from its possessing a musk flavour, Tam. S. iií. 2. MUSCLE-SHELL. Falstaff's name for Simple, as a hint that he stands with his mouth open, Mer. W. iv. 5.

MUSE. To admire or wonder, Temp. iii. 3, Two Gen. V. i. 3. Also to consider, to reflect upon, Two Gen. V. ii. 1, Mer. W. v. 5.

MUSET. The track made through a hedge by a hare, Venus & Ad. 114 Muss. Á scramble for things thrown down to be snatched up, Ant. Cl. iii. 11. MUTINES. Mutineers, Ham. v. 2. MYSTERY. An art, or trade. Old Fr. Mestier. Played upon, in this sense, and its usual one, Mea. M. iv. 2.

N

NAPKIN. An old word for handkerchief, As You L. iv. 3, Ham. v. 2, Oth. iii. 3.

NAPLESS. Threadbare, Corio. ii. 1. NAUGHT. "Be naught a while." A phrase formerly in use, tantamount to Be hanged to you,' As You L. i. 1. NAUGHTY. Formerly, this word had a much stronger signification than at present. It held its primitive force; and meant worthless, worth naught or nothing, Much Ado v. 1, Mer. Ven. iii. 3, 2 Hen. VI. ii. 1, Lear iii. 7. NAYWARD. Inclining to denial; tending to a negative, Win. T. ii. 1. NAY-WORD. A watch-word, Mer. W. i. 2 & v. 2. Also, a bye-word, Tw. N. ii. 3.

NEAT. Oxen, horned cattle. Also trim,

precise, finical. Used in both senses,
Win. T. i. 2. In its former sense, 3
Hen. VI. ii. 1, Lear ii. 2.

NEB. The bill of a bird; used for the
mouth, Win. T. i. 2.
NEEDLY. Needfully, necessarily, Rom.
J. iii. 2.

NEELD. A form of the word, "Needle," where the measure required a monosyllable, Mids. N. iii. 2, John v. 2, Peric. iv. & v. (Gower.) In Lucrece, 46, the word occurs under both forms. NEEZE. An old word for sneeze, Mids. N. ii. 1.

NEIF. Fist, or hand, Mids. N. iv. 1, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4.

NEPHEW. Used for cousin. "Depos'd his nephew, Richard," 1 Hen. VI. ii. 5. Nephews," used for grandchildren, Oth. i. 1. The word was formerly applied to a kinsman in various degrees of relationship; as was "cousin."

NETHER-STOCKS. Stockings; nether meaning lower. The upper-stocks were the breeches. (See HOSE.) 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4, Lear ii. 4.

NETTLE. There is allusion in books of Shakespeare's period to the "nettle of India" being peculiarly smarting; and this word far better suits the epithet Sir Toby applies to Maria than "metal," which some editors have printed instead of the "mettle" of the Folio edition. "Metal of India," as a mode of expression for gold, is far less characteristic of both Sir Toby's diction and Maria's stinging qualities than "nettle," Tw. N. ii. 5. NEW-FANGLED. Frivolously new fashioned, Love's L. L. i. 1, As You L. iv.

1.

NEXT. Nearest, readiest, Win. T. iii. 3, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 1.

NICE. Dainty, particular, precise, Two Gen. V. iii. 1, Much Ado v. 1, Love's L. L. iii. 1 & v. 2, Hen. V. v. 2. Trifling, foolish, Tam. S. iii. 1, Rom. J.

V. 2.

NICHOLAS ST. St Nicholas was the patron saint of children and scholars; but the name became applied to one now known by the abbreviated title of

d

'Old Nick; consequently, "St Nicholas' Clerks" was a cant name for thieves, 1 Hen. IV. ii. r. NICK. "Out of all nick," i.e., out of all reckoning.' The score was kept upon nicked, or notched sticks, or tallies, Two Gen. V. iv. 2. NICKED. To score, or set a mark of folly upon, Ant. Cl. iii. 11. Fools were nicked, notched, and shaved, after a particular fashion, Com. E. v. 1. NIECE. Used for grand-daughter, Rich. III. iv. 1.

NIGHT-RULE. Order of revelry, Mids. N. iii. 2.

NINEFOLD. A form of 'nine foals,' for the sake of rhyme, Lear iii. 4, (Song.) NINE-MEN'S MORRIS. An old game played with nine holes, cut upon a square in a turf. There were nine players on a side; one side using wooden pegs, the other stones. It is a rustic variation of an old French game, called Mérelles, which was played on a board, Mids. N. ii. 2.

NOBLE. A play on the words "noble" and "royal;" two coins of the respective value, six-and-eightpence and ten shillings, the difference between them being ten groats," Rich. II. v. 5, I Hen. IV. ii. 4

NODDY. A simple person. A 'Tom Noddy' is still used for a simpleton, Two Gen. V. i. 1.

NO HAD. An old form of expression as a retort, John iv. 2. NOISE. A band of street-music.

A felicitous term for some descriptions of music, so called. "Sneak's noise." Sneak may have been a known itine rant performer of that day, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. NONCE. Purpose, occasion, 1 Hen. IV. i. 2, 1 Hen. VI. ii. 3, Ham. iv. 7. NONNY, and NONINO. Burdens to old songs; as Fal-lal-la, As You L. v. 3, Ham. iv. 5, (Song,) Much Ado ii. 3, (Song.)

NO POINT.

A quibble on the French "Non point," not at all, Love's L. L. ii. 1 & v. 2. NOOK-SHOTTEN. That which shoots into recesses or nooks, Hen. V. iii. 5. NOR. The old writers considered that the doubling of the negative strengthened the affirmation. "Nor never, Tam. S. iv. 3. "Nor no," and "Nor to no," Jul. Cæs. iii. 1. NOTE. Knowledge, information, Lear iii. 1 & iv. 5.

NOTHING. A play on this word (some-
times formerly pronounced with the
ō long), and noting, Much Ado ii. 3,
Win. T. iv. 3.
NOTT-PATED. A head with the hair cut
close, or shorn, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 4.
NOURISH. Sometimes written for Nou
rice, or Nurse, 1 Hen. VI. i. 1.
NOVICE. A religious probationer, Mea.
M. i. 5. One fresh and inexperienced,
All's W. ii. 1, Tam. S. ii. 1, Rich. III.
i. 4, Ant. Cl. iv. 10.
NovUM. A game at dice, in which the
principal throws were five and nine,
Love's L. L. v. 2.

NowL. The head, Mids. N. iii. 2.
NUMBERED. Compounded of numbers,
Cymb. i. 7.
NURTURE Education, As You L. ii. 7.
NUTHOOK. A bailiff who hooks thieves,
Mer. W. i. 1, 2 Hen. IV. v. 4.
NUTMEG. "A gilt nutmeg"
Christmas gift, Love's L. L. v. 2.

was a

O. The single letter O was formerly employed to signify things circular. The

OBLIGATION. Requirement, duty, bond, Tr. Cr. iv. 5, Lear ii. 4, Ham, i. 2 & ii. 2. Motive, inducement, Hen. VIII. ii. 3. Bond, in a legal sense; a paper of contract, Mer. W. i. 1, 2 Hen. VI. iv. 2. OBSERVATION. For observance, Mid. N. iv. 1. "Observance" used for observation, All's W. iii. 2, Ant. Cl.

iii. 3OBSEQUIOUS. Appertaining to funeral obsequies, Ham. i. 2, Tit. A. v. 3, Sonnet 31. "Obsequiously," Rich. III.

i. 2.

OBSTACLE. The Shepherd's blunder for obstinate, 1 Hen. VI. v. 4. OCCUPATION. Used for mechanics, operatives, Corio. iv. 6, Jul. Cæs. i. 2. ODDLY. Unequally; with disadvantageous odds, Tr. Cr. i. 3.

ODD WITH. Tantamount to at odds with, or to contend with, Tr Cr. iv. 5. O'ERCOUNT. To out-number, and to outdo by unfair means, Ant. Cl. ii. 6. O'ERLOOKED. Bewitched, enchanted, Mer. W. v. 5, Mer. Ven. iii. 2. O'ERPARTED. Having too good a part for his talents, Love's L. L. v. 2. O'ERRAUGHT. Over reached, Com. E. 1. 2. Caught up, or overtook, Ham. iii. 1.

O'ER WRESTED. (See WREST.) Tr. Cr. i. 3.

OF ALL LOVES. For love's sake; by all means, or, I entreat you, Mer. W. ii. 2, Mids. N. ii. 3. OFFICES. Those apartments in the house appropriated to the domestics, and to where refreshments are prepared and served out, Macb. ii. 1, Rich. II. i. 2, Tim. A. ii. 2, Oth. ii. 2. OLD. An ancient form of the word 'wold,' a wild open plain, Lear iii. 4. OLD. Frequently used in a humorous sense, signifying abundant, excessive, Mer. W. i. 4, Much Ado v. 2, Mer. Ven. iv. 2, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4. OLD LAD OF THE CASTLE. A term used

in great familiarity, good-fellowship, and conviviality, 1 Hen. IV. i. 2. O LORD SIR. An assish phrase, eternally used by coxcombs of the period; well ridiculed by the Clown, Ail's W.

ii. 2.

ONCE. Used in the sense of one time or other,' 'sometime,' Mer. W. iii. 4, Hen. VIII. i. 2, Jul. Cæs. iv. 3, Ant. Cl. v. 2. ONCE. The meaning of "once," as Shakespeare has used it in these passages, has been differently interpreted by different editors: one saying it means for the nonce, the occasion, the time being; others, once for all, or absolutely. We take it to be something tantamount to our present familiar phrase, It's just this,' Com. of E. iii. 1, Much Ado i. 1, Corio.

ii. 3. ONEYERS. Probably Gadshill's cant word for ones,' as the modern slang expression 'one-ers.' Most commentators argue as if this referred to those whom Gadshill means to rob; but the context shows that it relates to those with whom he is to rob, 1 Hen. IV. ii. 1.

OPAL. A precious stone, varying in colour in various lights, Tw. N. ii. 4

OPERANT. Operating, potent, Tim. A.
iv. 3, Ham. iii. 2.
OPINION. Conceit, Love's L. L. v. I.
Headstrongness, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 1. Re-
putation, 1 Hen. IV. v. 4.
OPPOSITE. Antagonist, opponent, Tw.
N. iii. 2 & 4, Corio. ií. 2.
ORB. For orbit; the path of a planet, 1
Hen. IV. v. I.

ORBS. Fairies' circles on the grass,
Mids. N. ii. 1.
ORDINANCE.

Ordination, appointment, decree, Hen. V. ii. 4, Rich. III. iv. 4 & v. 4, Jul. Cæs. i. 3, Lear iv. 1. Rank, degree, Corio. iii. 2. Fate, destiny, Cymb. iv. 2.

ORDINANT. Swaying, directing, Ham.

V. 2.

ORDINARY. A public dining-table, where each man pays his score, Ant. Cl. ii. 'Ordinaries," All's W. ii. 3. ORGULOUS. Proud, haughty; Fr. Orgueilleux, Tr. Cr. (Prol.)

2.

ORT. A scrap, a remnant, Tim. A. iv. -3, Tr. Cr. v. 2.

'ORT. Sir Hugh Evans's Welsh abbreviation of Word,' Mer. W. i. 1. OSPREY. The sea eagle, Corio. iv. 2. OSTENT. Show, appearance, display,

Mer. Ven. ii. 2, Hen. V. v. (Chor.) OTHERGATES. In another manner, Tw. N. v. I.

OTTOMITES. Turks, Ottomans, Oth. i. 3 & ii. 3.

OUPHES. Goblins, fairies, Mer. W. iv. 4 & v. 5.

OUSEL. The black-bird, Mids. N. iii. 1. OUT. Fully, completely. "Out three

years old," Temp. i. 2. OVERSCUTCHED. Whipped at the cart's tail, 2 Hen. IV. iii. 2. OWCHES. Bosses of gold, jewelled ornaments, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4

OwE. Frequently used for to own, have,
or possess, Temp. i. 2, Mea. M. ii. 4,
Com. E. iii. 1, Love's L. L. i. 2, Mids.
N. ii. 3, All's W. ii. 5.
OXLIP. The large cowslip, Mids. N.

ii. 2.

O-YES. Old French, Oyez,-'Hear ye!' The exclamation of the town-cryer, even at the present day, in England, Mer. W. v. 5, Tr. Cr. iv. 5.

P

PACK. To contrive, or bargain, Lat. Pactus, Tit. A. iv. 2. "Packing," Cymb. iii. 5.

PACKED. Sorted, or shuffled cards unfairly, Ant. Cl. iv. 12.

PACKED. Made an accomplice or confederate, Com. E. v. 1, Much Ado v. I. PACKINGS. Contrivances, underhand dealings, Lear iii. 1.

PACTION. Contract, alliance, Hen. V.

V. 2.

PADDOCK. The name for a toad: and hence, for an evil spirit, Ham, iii. 4, Macb. i. 1.

PAINTED CLOTH. Chamber-hangings, similar to tapestry; representing devices, with mottoes, and moral sentences, As You L. iii. 2, Tr. Cr. v. 11, 1 Hen. IV. iv. 2. PALABRAS. The Spanish for words.

The B and the V being used in Spanish indiscriminately, the English word 'Palaver' is thence derived; a term of contempt for over-much speech, Much Ado iii. 4. Corrupted into "Pallabris," Tam. S. i. (Ind.)

PALE.

To encircle, to confine, as within a paling, Hen. V. v. (Chorus,) 3 Hen. VI. i. 4, Ant. Cl. ii. 7. PALL. To decline, wane, fall away, Ham. v. 2. To invest, as with a funereal pall, Macb. i. 5.

PALLED. Cloyed, waned, faded, dwindled, Ant. Cl. ii. 7. PALLIAMENT. A robe. The white vesture of a Roman candidate, Tit. A. i. 2. PALMY. Victorious, triumphant: the Palm being the symbol of victory, Ham. i. 1.

PANTLER. The servant of the pantry, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 4, Win. T. iv. 3. PAPERS. Used as a verb; for puts down in his paper, or "letter," Hen. VIII. i. 1.

PARCEL. A portion, part of, Mer. W. i. 1, Com. E. v. 1.

PARCEL-GILT. Partly gilt, 2 Hen. IV. ii. 1.

PARFECT. Costard's blunder for 'perfect,' Love's L. L. v. 2.

PARIS GARDEN. The celebrated beargarden in Southwark, London; near to the Globe Theatre. So named from Robert of Paris, who had a house there in the reign of Rich. II. Hen. VIII. v. 3. PARISH-TOP. A large whip-top was formerly kept in most towns and parishes for the amusement of the cominonalty in winter, Tw. N. i. 3. PARITOR. An officer of the Bishop's court, who carries out summonses, or citations, Love's L. L. iii. 1. PARLE. The same signification as "Parley." A discussion, or treaty, by word of mouth, Two Gen. V. i. 2, John ii. 1, Rich II. i. 1 & iii. 3, Hen. V. iii. 3, 3 Hen. VI. v. 1, Ham. i. I. PARLING. Speaking, Lucrece 15. PARLOUS. A common version of perilous, Mids. N. iii. 1, As You L. iii. 2, Rich III. ii. 4 & iii. 1, Rom. J. i. 3. PARMACETI. A corruption of spermaceti, 1 Hen. IV. i. 3.

PARTAKE. Participate, share with, Win. T. v. 3.

PARTAKER. Accomplice, partner in misdeed, 1 Hen. VI. ii. 4.

PARTED. Quitted, departed from, Peric. Endowed with good qualities,

V. 3.

or parts, Tr. Cr. iii. 3.

A

PARTISAN. (Spelt also Partizan.) pike, or halberd, Ant. Cl. ii. 7, Cymb. iv. 2, Rom. J. i. 1, Ham. i. 1. PARTLET. A ruff for the neck, worn by The name was given to a hen, because it frequently shows a ruff of feathers on its neck, Win. T. ii. 3, 1 Hen. IV. iii. 3.

women.

PASH. The head, or skin of the head in horned cattle, Win. T. i. 2. PASH. To dash, or beat furiously, Tr. Cr. ii. 3. "Pashed," Tr. Cr. v. 5. PASSADO. A thrust. An old fencing term, Love's L. L. i. 2, Rom. J. ii. 4 & iii. 1. PASSAGE. One passing, a passenger, Oth. v. I. Circumstance, point, incident, All's W. i. 1.

PASSED. "It passed." An expression implying, 'it passed belief,' Mer. W. i. 1, Tr. Cr. i. 2.

PASSES. "This passes," i. e., exceeds all bounds, Mer. W. iv. 2. PASSING. Extremely, Two Gen. V. iv. 4, Mids. N. ii. 1, Tam. S. ii. 1. PASSING. Surpassing belief, excessive, egregious, 3 Hen. VI. v. 1, Rich. III. i. I. "That it passed;" exceeded belief, Mer. W. i. 1, Tr. Cr. i. 2. "This passes!" Mer. W. iv. 2. "He passes,' Tim. A. i. 1. PASSION. To suffer, to feel passion, Temp. v. 1, Love's L. L. i. 1, (Letter.) "Passioning," Two Gen. V. iv. 4. PASSIONATE. To complain, or express passion, Tit. A. iii. 2.

PASS NOT. To care not for, to regard not, 2 Hen. VI. iv. 2. PASSY-MEASURE. A stately-stepping dance. Sir Toby in his drunken ire