Tear-

the stem of TEAR v.¹ in comb.

  1.  With adv., forming sbs. or adjs., as tear-away, adj., characterized by impetuous speed, tearing (cf. TEAR v.¹ 9); sb., one who or that which ‘tears’ or rushes away, or acts with great impetuosity; tear-off, adj., adapted to be torn off; sb., a sheet or slip of paper so attached as to be easily torn off; tear-up sb., an uprooting; a violent removal (Cent. Dict., 1891).

1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. vii. To mount a great *tear-away chestnut horse.

1891.  N. Gould, Double Event, 67. The tearaway [a horse] of that morning … had suddenly developed into a mild, affectionate creature.

1901.  S. F. Bullock, Irish Past., iv. 100. Now that lassie’s a tear-away.

1903.  Windsor Mag., Sept., 394/2. The substitutes also were tear-away bowlers, but they were not so fast as the first pair.

1889.  Pall Mall G., 21 Dec., 3/1. Blotting pads, with a *tear-off engagement-sheet at the side.

  2.  With sb. in objective relation, forming sbs. or adjs., as † tear-brain: see quot.; tear-brass a., rowdy, prodigal; tear-bridge a., that tears or destroys bridges: used as epithet of a river; tear-cat, adj., swaggering, ranting, bombastic (see TEAR v.¹ 1 d); sb., a bully, swaggerer, ‘fire-eater’; † tear-mouth, an epithet applied to a ranting actor; † tear-placket, ? a cutpurse; † tear-rogue, ? a roistering disreputable fellow; † tear-throat, adj., that ‘tears’ or irritates the throat; sb., a ranting actor; tear-thumb, two species of Polygonum native to North America (and Asia), the halberd-leaved tear-thumb, P. arifolium, and the arrow-leaved, P. sagittatum; so called from the hooked prickles on the petioles and angles of the stems.

1796.  G. M. Woodward, Eccentric Excurs., 80. Another curious liquor called *tear-brain, composed entirely of Rum and Brandy.

1880.  T. Hardy, Trumpet-Major, ix. To … provide goods for his breaking, and house-room and drink for his *tear-brass set.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. III. Colonies, 429. The di’pry verges Of *tear-bridge Tygris.

1606.  Day, Ile of Guls, Prol. (1881), 6. I had rather heare two good baudie iests then a whole play of such teare-cat thunderclaps.

1611.  Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl D.’s, Wks. 1873, III. 215. D. What’s thy name fellow souldier? T. I am cal’d by those who haue seen my valour, Tear-Cat.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xii. I do not, indeed, pretend to be what is called a man of mettle—one of those ruffling tear-cats, who maintain their master’s quarrel with sword and buckler.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. iv. You grow rich, doe you? and purchase, you two-penny *teare-mouth?

1819.  Scott, Lett. to Southey, 4 April, in Lockhart. A copper-laced, twopenny tearmouth.

c. 1600.  Day, Begg. Bedhall Gr., IV. i. I have spent many a gray groat of honest swaggerers and *tear-Plackets … that I never drunk for.

1685.  Depos. fr. Cast. York (Surtees), 275. He was a Monmouth *teare-rogue, and … had raysed men … for Monmouth’s service.

1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Praise Hempseed, Wks. III. 65. The *teare-throat cough and tisick, From which, to health men are restor’d by Physicke.

1654.  Gayton, Pleas. Notes, I. vii. 24. The Poets of the Fortune and red Bull, had alwayes a mouth-measure for their Actors (who were terrible teare throats).

1866.  Treas. Bot., *Tear-thumb.