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M. B. coat . (_i.e._, Mark of the Beast,) a name given to the long surtout worn by some of the clergy,—a modern Puritan form of abuse, said to have been accidentally disclosed to a High Church customer by a tailor’s orders to his foreman.
M.P. . member of the police, one of the slang titles of the Force.
M.T. . railway slang used by porters and pointsmen for empties, or empty carriages. _See_ MOLL THOMSON’S MARK.
Mab . a cab, or hackney-coach.
Mace . to sponge, swindle, or beg, in a polite way: “give it him (a shopkeeper) on the MACE,” _i.e._, obtain goods on credit and never pay for them; also termed “striking the MACE.”
Mace . to welsh, to obtain money without any expectation of being able to pay or intention of paying.
Maceman . or MACER, a welcher, magsman, or general swindler; a “street-mugger.”
Madza . half. _Italian_, MEZZA. This word enters into combination with various cant phrases, mainly taken from the _Lingua Franca_, as MADZA CAROON, half-a-crown, two-and-sixpence; MADZA SALTEE, a halfpenny [_see_ SALTEE]; MADZA POONA, half-a-sovereign; MADZA ROUND THE BULL, half a pound of steak, &c. This word is, in street phraseology, invariably pronounced MEDZER.
Mag . a halfpenny.—_Ancient Cant_, MAKE. MEGS were formerly guineas.—_B. M. Carew._ MAKE, the old form, is still used by schoolboys in Scotland. “Not a blessed MAG!” would be the phrase of a cadger down on his luck to express his penniless state.
Mag . literary and printers’ slang for magazine.
Mag . to talk; hence MAGPIE. To MAG in thieves’ slang is to talk well and persuasively.
Maggoty . fanciful, fidgety. Whims and fancies were formerly termed MAGGOTS, from the popular belief that a maggot in the brain was the cause of any odd notion or caprice a person might exhibit. Deer are sometimes found to have maggots in their brains, which, perhaps, accounts for the origin of the term.
Magsman . a street swindler, who watches for countrymen and “gullible” persons, and persuades them out of their possessions. MAGSMEN are wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage accessories; and often a wink, a look, or a slip of the tongue would betray their confederacy. Their ability and perseverance are truly worthy of a better cause. MAGSMEN are very often men of superior education. Those who “work” the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomplished.
Mahcheen . a merchant. Chinese pronunciation of the English word.—_Anglo-Chinese._
Mahogany . “to have one’s feet under another man’s MAHOGANY,” to sit at his table, be supported on other than one’s own resources; “amputate your MAHOGANY,” _i.e._, go away, elaboration of “cut your stick.”
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