sb. [app. f. CROSS prep. + BUTTOCK; in form an adj. used absolutely.] A peculiar throw over the hip made use of in wrestling and formerly in pugilism: see quot. 1808.
[1690. D’Urfey, Collin’s Walk, ii. 74 (Farmer).
| When th’ hardy Major, skill’d in Wars, | |
| To make quick end of fight prepares, | |
| By Strength or’e buttock cross to hawl him, | |
| And with a trip i’th’ Inturn maul him.] |
1714. [see BUTTOCK sb. 6].
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIII. v. All the various stops, blows, cross-buttocks, &c. incident to combatants.
1808. Sporting Mag., XXX. 247. A cross-buttock in pugilism is, when the party, advancing his right leg and thigh, closes with his antagonist, and catching him with his right arm, or giving a round blow, throws him over his right hip, upon his head.
1886. Times, 24 April, 5/5. Clark beat Roper. The former won easily,… throwing his man with a cross-buttock.
Hence Cross-buttock v. trans., to throw with a cross-buttock (also fig.); Cross-buttocker, one who cross-buttocks; a cross-buttock.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, VI. i. An unexpected cross-buttocker floored the incautious and unscientific Grafenberg.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, 107. Hardly that humbug Could thus cross-buttock thee.
1889. W. Armstrong, Wrestling (Badm. Libr.), 199. Should the stroke fail there is no help for the unfortunate cross-buttocker. Ibid. A much tighter hold is required for the purpose of cross-buttocking your man.
