Naughty ABC's Of 1811

Fun facts from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue contains a wealth of information, including, the following definitions/explanations:


ACE OF SPADES. A widow.

BLOODY BACK. A jeering appellation for a soldier, alluding to his scarlet coat.

CAT'S PAW. To be made a cat's paw of; to be made a tool or instrument to accomplish the purpose of another: an allusion to the story of a monkey, who made use of a cat's paw to scratch a roasted chesnut out of the fire.