To make a leg; to bow. To give leg-bail and land security; to run away. To fight at the leg; to take unfair advantages: it being held unfair by back-sword players to strike at the leg. To break a leg; a woman who has had a bastard, is said to have broken a leg.
–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
Gives a whole new meaning to telling someone to “break a leg!”…
To play least in sight; to hide, keep out of the way, or make one’s self scarce.
–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
An ancient ceremonial said to constitute a military marriage. A sword being laid down on the ground, the parties to be married joined hands, when the corporal or serjeant of the, company repeated these words:
Leap rogue, and jump whore,
And then you are married for evermore.
Whereupon the happy couple jumped hand in hand over the sword, the drum beating a ruffle; and the parties were ever after considered as man and wife.
–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
Apt to blab; one who cannot keep a secret is said to be leaky.
Apt to disclose secrets; tattling; not close. [Colloq.]
