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Earl of Cork . the ace of diamonds.—_Hibernicism._
Early . “to get up EARLY,” to prepare for a difficult task. “You’ll have to get up very EARLY in the morning to beat that.” Early rising and ability seem also closely connected by certain modifications of this expression. Possibly the belief is that a man who rises early for early rising’s sake deserves to be clever. Perhaps the greatest enjoyment a day labourer—whose work commences at six in the winter mornings, and who may have to rise at half-past four and trudge off—can have, is a “quiet snooze” after the usual time of rising. The early rising in “the steel” is the chief terror of that institution in the minds of habitual criminals.
Earwig . a clergyman, also one who prompts another maliciously and privately.
Earwigging . a private conversation; a rebuke in private; an attempt to defame another unfairly, and without chance of appeal; a WIGGING is more public.
Ease . to rob; “EASING a bloke,” robbing a man.
Eat his head off. A horse who is kept idle in the stable is said to . EAT HIS HEAD OFF. Of late the phrase has been applied to servants who have little to do but constantly “dip their noses in the manger.”
Eavesdropper . a listener. The name is derived from the punishment which, according to Oliver, was directed in the Lectures, at the revival of Masonry in 1717, to be inflicted on a detected Cowan [g. v.], and which was
Efter . a thief who frequents theatres.
Egg . or EGG ON, to excite, stimulate, or provoke one person to quarrel with another, &c. From the Anglo-Saxon _eggian_; or possibly a corruption of EDGE, or EDGE ON, or even from _agere_, to drive.—_Ancient._
Egg-flip . or EGG-HOT, a drink made after the manner of purl and bishop, with beer, eggs, and spirits made hot and sweetened.
Elbow . “to shake one’s ELBOW,” to play with dice; “to crook one’s ELBOW,” to drink.
Elbow grease . labour, or industry. Anything that is rusty, or in household work dirty or dingy, is said to require ELBOW GREASE.
Elegant extracts . a Cambridge University title for those students who having failed only slightly in some one subject, and being “plucked” accordingly, were allowed their degrees. This applied to the “Poll” list, as the “Gulf” did to the “Honours.”
Elephant . “to have seen the ELEPHANT,” to be “_up_ to the latest move,” or “_down_ to the last new trick;” to be knowing, and not “green,” &c. Possibly a metaphor taken from the travelling menageries, where the ELEPHANT is the finale of the exhibition.—Originally an Americanism. Bartlett gives conflicting examples. General now, however. A modification of this is “having seen the king.” When a man becomes aware that he has been cheated or imposed on, and does not mean to stand it any longer, he is said to have seen the king, _i.e._, to have seen his adversary’s best card, and to be prepared for it.
Elevated . intoxicated. ELEVATION is the name of a drug-mixture much used in the fen-counties for keeping up the spirits and preventing ague. It consists mainly of opium.
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