EARNEST. A deposit in part of payment, to bind a bargain. EARTH BATH. A Grave. EASY. Make the cull easy or quiet; gag or kill him. As easy as pissing the bed. EASY VIRTUE. A lady of easy virtue: an impure or prostitute. EAT. To eat like a beggar man, and wag his under jaw; a jocular reproach to a proud man. To eat one's words; to retract what one has said. EIGHT EYES. I will knock out two of your eight eyes; a common Billingsgate threat from one fish nymph to another: every woman, according to the naturalists of that society, having eight eyes; viz. two seeing eyes, two bub-eyes, a bell-eye, two pope's eyes, and a ***-eye. He has fallen down and trod upon his eye; said of one who has a black eye. ELBOW GREASE. Labour. Elbow grease will make an oak table shine. ELBOW ROOM. Sufficient space to act in. Out at elbows; said of an estate that is mortgaged. ELBOW SHAKER. A gamester, one who rattles Saint Hugh's bones, i.e. the dice. ELF. A fairy or hobgoblin, a little man or woman.
Based on the Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit and Pickpocket Eloquence by Francis Grose published originally in 1811
