Arse

subs. (old literary: now vulgar).—1.  The posteriors; the BUM (q.v.): see HOLE. Hence (2) the fag-end; the TAIL (q.v.). As verb.—to JUT THE BUM (GROSE). Whence numerous COMBINATIONS and COLLOQUIALISMS: ARSE-BOARD = (1) the tail-board of a cart (whence TO FOLLOW A CART’S ARSE = to be whipped through the town), and (2) the back flap of a girl’s breeches (cf. TAIL-BOARD); ARSE-CASE (or -RUG) = breeches; ARSE-COOLER = a bustle (or dress-improver); ARSE-FIRKER = a flogging pedagogue; ARSE-FOOT (see quots. 1598 and 1774); ARSE-GUT = the rectum; ARSE-HOLE = the sphincter ani; ARSE-HOLE CREEPER = a parasite; ARSE-HOLE PERISHER, a pea-jacket; ARS-MUSICA = crepitation; ARSE-OPENER (-WEDGE, SPLIT-ARSE, or ARSEOMETER) = the penis: see PRICK; SPLIT-ARSED MECHANIC = a whore; ARSE-WINNINGS (or EARNINGS) = SOCKET-MONEY (q.v. 3); ARSE-PIPES = the bowels; ARSE-PUSH (or [Scots] ARSLINS COUP) = a back fall; ARSE-GUTS = the guts; ARSE SMART (see quot. 1617); ARSE-WISP = BUMFODDER (q.v.); ARSE-WORM = a term of contempt, ‘a little diminutive Fellow’ (B. E.); THE GUSSET OF THE ARSE = the inside edge of the buttocks; HEAVY-ARSE = a sluggard: as adj. = lumpish; OPEN-ARSE = (1) a medlar, and (2) a girl; THE BROAD ARSE-HOLE = sodomy; WHIP-ARSE = (1) a schoolmaster, and (2) a flogging bawd; TOTTER-ARSE = a see-saw: as adj.—unsteady; ARSED (DOUBLE-ARSED, LARGE-ARSED, BROAD-ARSED, or TRIPLE-ARSED) = big-bottomed; TO ARSLE = (1) to move backwards, and (2) to fidget; TO HANG AN ARSE = to hold back, to hesitate; TO GO ARSE OVER HEAD (or TIP) = to fall sprawling; TO GREASE A FAT SOW ON THE ARSE = to be insensible of a kindness (RAY); TO DANCE WITH ONE’S ARSE TO THE CEILING = to copulate: also (of women only) TO RUB ONE’S ARSE ON; ARSLINGS = backwards; ARSE-LONG (cf. side-long); ARSE-UPWARDS = in good luck; ARSEWARDS (adj. and adv.) = (1) backwards, (2) contrariwise, and (3) perverse; ARSY-VARSY = topsy-turvy, vice-versâ; MERRY-ARSED = wanton, SHORT-HEELED (q.v.); HOT-ARSED = salacious; COLD-ARSED = (1) frigid, and (2) chaste: also TIGHT-ARSED; HARD-ARSED = niggardly: also HARD-ARSE = third-class as opposed to SOFT-ARSE = first-class; SHITTEN-ARSE = a contemptible fellow; ARSE AND ARSE = side by side; ARSE TO ARSE = back to back; ARSE-FIRST (or FOREMOST) = backwards; UP TO THE ARSE = deeply engaged; OVER THE ARSE IN (love, work, debt, etc.) = hopelessly entangled; ARSE IN AIR = on her knees; ARSE ABOUT = face round; ARSE BY ARSE = one by one; BEES (or WORMS) IN THE ARSE = uneasy; ‘AX (KISS, or SUCK) MY ARSE’! = the most derisive of retorts: also ARSE-HOLE AND SUCK IT; ‘ANCHOR YOUR ARSE’! = sit down! (GROSE); ‘MY ARSE IN A BANDBOX’! = an expression of extreme disgust (GROSE). Also various PROVERBIAL AND OTHER SAYINGS; ‘Such a hop-o’-my-thumb that a pigeon sitting on her shoulder might pick a pea out of her ARSE’ (GROSE); ‘Afraid of the hatchet lest the helve stick in his ARSE’ (RAY); ‘The kettle calls the pot BLACK-ARSE’ (q.v.); ‘A short horse is soon wisp’d, and a bare ARSE soon kissed’ (RAY) = ‘He that knows little soon repeats it’; ‘You would KISS MY ARSE before my breeches were down’; ‘Kit Careless, your ARSE hangs by trumps’; ‘Like a Waterford merchant, up to the ARSE in business’; ‘He would lend his A—SE and sh—te through his ribs’ (GROSE: ‘a saying of anyone who lends his money inconsiderately’); ‘She would lose her A—SE if it was loose,’ or were not tied to her) (GROSE: ‘said of a careless person’); ‘Not a sixpence to scratch his ARSE with’ = utterly poor; ‘He doesn’t know his ARSE from his elbow’ = (1) He is utterly stupid, and (2) absolutely ignorant; ‘My ARSE hangs heavy’ = I’ve no pluck left; ‘She has a heavy ARSE to drive home a lazy prick’ (said of a solid woman); ‘My ARSE to yours’ = ‘I’m as good as you are’; ‘His eyes are in his ARSE’ = (1) to miss the obvious; and (2) to be keen of observation with eyes everywhere; etc.

  c. 1000.  ÆLFRIC, Glossary [T. WRIGHT, A Volume of Vocabularies, 44. 2]. Nates, EARS-LYRE. Ibid., 44. 2. Anus vel verpus, EARS ÞERL. Ibid., 45. 2. Tergosus, EARSODE.

  c. 1000.  Ags. Psalm xxxiv. 5. Syn hi ȝecyrde on EARSLING.

  1377.  LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, B. v. 175. Baleised on þe bare ARS. Ibid., C. vii. 306. An hore of hure ERSWYNNINGE may hardiloker tythe. Ibid. (WRIGHT), 5857. I wolde his eighe were in his ERS.

  1382.  WYCLIF, 1 Kings, v. 9. The ARSROPPIS of hem goynge out stonken.

  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, s.v.

  1398.  TREVISA [Transl. BARTHOLOMÆUS ANGLICUS], De Proprietatibus Rerum, vii. liv. (1495), 267. Emoroides ben fuyue veynes whyche stretche out atte the EERES.

  c. 1400.  [T. WRIGHT, A Volume of Vocabularies, 183.] ARCEHOOLE, podex. Ibid. (c. 1450), 186, 2. Cirbus, HARS-THARME.

  c. 1400.  The Romaunt of the Rose, 7580.

  1401.  Political Poems, II. 64. If ȝe taken as ȝe usen ARSEWORDE this gospel.

  1440.  Promptorium Parvulorum, s.v. ARSWYSPE, Maniperium, anitergium.

  1480.  CAXTON, Chronicles of England, ccxxvi. 233. They lete hange fox tailles … to hele and hyde her ARSES.

  c. 1500.  Almanack for 1386 (1812), 12. A crab es an ARSWORD best.

  15[?].  How the Plowman Lerned his Pater Noster, 120. To cover their ARSES they had not a hole ragge.

  15[?].  Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), ii. 121]. His ARSE maketh buttons now. Ibid., 137. Thou wouldest LESE THINE ARSE, IF IT WERE LOOSE.

  15[?].  A Treatise of a Galaunt [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, III. 157]. With longe taters downe to the ARS behynde.

  15[?].  The Turnament of Totenham, xv.

  c. 1520.  Wyf of Auchtermuchty, 88. The fyre burnt aw the pat ARSS out.

  1530.  PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse, 436. 2. What up, HEAVY-ARSE, cannest thou nat aryse? Ibid., 829, 2. All ARSEWARDLY, all frowardly, tout a rebours.

  1539.  TAVERNER, Proverbs of Erasmus (1552), 62. Ye set the cart before the horse … cleane contrarily, and ARSY-VERSY as they say.

  1540.  RAYNALD, Byrth Man (1564), 54. [The fœtus] proceedeth … sidelong, ARSELONG, or backlong.

  c. 1541.  The Schole-house of Women, 220 [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, IV. 113].

  1542.  UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 489. Vice versa appears as ARSIE VERSEE, and this phrase may still be heard].

  1547.  BOORDE, The Brevyary of Health, xxv. 156. The 25th chapitre dothe shewe of a mannes ARS.

  1551.  STILL, Gammer Gurton’s Needle, i. 2.

  1553.  BALE [GARDENER, True Obedience), Pref. Hij. Whence he can neuer escape except he com out ARSEWARDE.

  1556.  Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London (1852), 73. Whyppyd … at the CARTTES ARSE … for vacobondes.

  1569.  PRESTON, Cambyses [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), iv. 179]. Let us run his ARSE against the post.

  1562.  HEYWOOD, Proverbs and Epigrams (1867), 16. To beg a breeche of a bare ARST man.

  1565.  GOLDING, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, vii. (1593), 164. Cerberus … dragging ARSWARD still.

  1577.  HOLINSHED, Chronicles, II. 26. 2. The estate of that flourishing towne was turned ARSIE VERSIE, topside the other waie.

  1579.  TOMSON, Calvin’s Sermons, Timothy, 127. 1. How ARSEWARD a thing it is for euery man to be giuen to his owne profiter. Ibid., 8. 2. Behold how ARSEWARDLY we goe alwayts when we pray to God.

  1592.  MARSTON, Scourge of Villanie, ‘Ad Rythmum.’

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 1. Oh, Romeo! that she were, oh, that she were an OPEN ARSE, thou a poperin pear!

  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Giuero … a bird called a diuer, a didapper, or ARSEFOOTE.

  1599.  GABELKOVER, The Boock of Physicke, 139. 2. For the comminge out of the ARSEGUTTE.

  c. 1600.  Timon, i. 5 (DYCE, 1842), 20.

  1601.  JONSON, The Poetaster, iv. 4. Valiant? so is mine ARSE. Ibid., 1609, Epicœne, or the Silent Woman, ii. 1. Go out of the world like a … fly, as one said, with a straw in your ARSE.

  1607.  DEKKER, Northward Hoe, ii. 1. They shall traw you very lustily, as if the devil were in their ARSES. Ibid., iv. 1. Jesu, are [w]imen so ARSY VARSY.

  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Cul: m. An ARSE, bumme, tayle, NOCKANDROE, fundament. Ibid., Fesse-cul. A Pedanticall WHIP-ARSE. Ibid., Culant. Setting on his taile, giuing an ARSE-POSSE unto. Ibid., Cul-pelé, bauld-ARST, bare-taild, pild-breecht.

  1612.  The Passenger: Of Benvenuto, 19. Oh, but there’s great difference betwixt in deed and being so reputed. Dost thou not know that from the beginning the world goes ARSIE-VERSIE?

  1613.  WEBSTER, The Devil’s Law-case, iv. 2. I am but a young thing, And was drawn ARSY VARSY into the business. Ibid., v. 4. The Welshman in’s play … Hung still AN ARSE.

  1616.  FLETCHER, The Knight of Malta, iv. 2. Hang ARSE-WARD.

  1617.  MINSHEU, Ductor, 544. ARSMART … because if it [water pepper] touch the taile or other bare skinne, it maketh it smart, as often it doth, being laid into the bed greene to kill fleas.

  1622.  MASSINGER, The Virgin Martyr, ii. 1. The ARSE, as it were, or fag-end of the world. Ibid. (1633), The Guardian, v. v. Nay, no HANGING AN ARSE.

  1632.  CHAPMAN, The Ball, v. 5. Kiss my hand! KISS MY ARSE, noble ladies.

  1639–61.  Rump Songs, ii. 86.

  1647–8.  HERRICK, Hesperides, ‘Upon Skoles.’ Cloy’d they are up with ARSE.

  1653.  URQUHART, Rabelais, I. vi. Her … ARSE-PIPES and conduits were … obstructed and contracted. Ibid., xi. This little lecher was always groping his nurses and governesses, upside down, ARSIVERSY, topsiturvy. Ibid. He would sit down betwixt two stools, and his ARSE to the ground. Ibid., xiii. Of all … ARSEWISPS … none … comparable to the neck of a goose.

  1659.  R. BROME, The English Moor, iii. 2. It is the ARSIVARSIEST Aufe that ever crept into the world.

  1660.  J. HOWELL, Lexicon Tetraglotton, s.v. ARSE-PUSH.

  1663.  BUTLER, Hudibras, I. i. 456.

  1664.  COTTON, Scarronides (1770), 9.

  1668.  SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, The Visions of Quevedo (1678), 32. Methought the old sluttish Proverb that says, There is a great distance between the Pulse and the ARSE, was much to blame for making such a difference in their Dignities. Ibid., 66. ’Tis the very ARSE-GUT, the Drain and Sink of Monarchies.

  1672.  J. PHILLIPS, Maronides, 120.

  1672.  RAY, Proverbs, ‘Joculatory Proverbs.’ He rose with his ARSE UPWARDS. A sign of good luck. Ibid., ‘Proverbial Phrases.’ ARSY-VERSY … a pretended spell written upon the door of a house to keep it from burning.

  1681.  A. RADCLIFFE, Ovid Travestie, 96.

  1683.  E. HOOKER, Pordage’s Mystic Divinitie, ‘Pref.,’ 24. As if everi man went the wrong waie to work; All ARSI-VARSI.

  1686.  EARL OF DORSET, A Faithful Catalogue of our Most Eminent Ninnies [ROCHESTER, Works (1718), II. 32].

  1686.  G. STUART, Joco-Serious Discourse, 30.

  d. 1691.  BAXTER, Shove to HEAVY-ARSED Christians [Title].

  1692.  DUNTON, The Post-boy Robb’d of His Mail (1706), 173. Go to, let us not enter Rome, that is, not into a Discourse of ARSEY-VERSEY Love.

  1694.  MOTTEUX, Rabelais, IV. vi. Your Leominster superfine wool is MINE ARSE to it; mere flock in comparison. Ibid., ix. A little SHITTEN-ARSED girl.

  d. 1704.  T. BROWN, Works, ii. 11. That’s MINE A—— IN A BANDBOX. Ibid., 187. Luscious words … so intelligibly express’d that a girl of ten … may understand the meaning…; my lord Rochester’s songs are MINE ARSE to it. Ibid., 204. The pious scoundrels of England rose with their ARSES UPPERMOST. Ibid., i. 68. May … Fistulas thy ARSE-HOLE seize by Dozens.

  1704.  SWIFT, A Tale of a Tub, XI. Honest friend, pray favour me with a handsome kick on the ARSE. Ibid. (1704), The Battle of the Books (1711), 235. Do you think I have nothing else to do but to mend and repair after your ARSE. Ibid. (c. 1733), Ans. New Simile for the Ladies. Who makes, you think, the clouds he pierces? He pierce the clouds! he KISS THEIR A—ES. Ibid., The Problem. Once on a time there was an A— GUT.

  1705.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I. i. 19. His Stings that issue from his ARSE and Mouth. Ibid., 28. No Saucebox, sure, by way of farce Will bid his Pastor KISS HIS ARSE. Ibid. (1706), The Wooden World Dissected, 73. While he has a Rag to his ARSE, he scorns to make use of a Napkin. Ibid., 63. So … ill-bred a Pimp, as constantly to TURN HIS ARSE upon that glorious Benefactor [the sun]. Ibid. (c. 1709), Terræ Filius, IV. 34. If any … Foolish Wench [has] stumbled ARSE foremost to the cracking of her Pipkin,… Ibid. (17[?]), Humours of a Coffee-house. Rightly taken by the Horse Whose Farrier sticks the Pipe into his A——. Ibid., Lampoon on two Famous Strumpets. Why should their ARSES be idle? Ibid., Vulcan and Venus. I’ll run a hot bar in your Goddeship’s ARSE.

  d. 1721.  PRIOR, The Ladle.

  1725.  N. BAILEY, trans. Erasmus, i. 112 [Letters]. … are good to wipe your ARSE with. Ibid. (1728), Dictionary. ARSY-VERSEY, topsy-turvy, preposterously, perversely, without order.

  1726.  VANBRUGH, The Provoked Husband, ii. Your mayster may KISS MY ——.

  1747.  CHARLES JOHNSON, Highwaymen and Pyrates, 254. He came off with crying carrots and turnips; a term which rogues use for whipping AT THE CART’S ARSE.

  1748.  SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, vii. A canting scoundrel, who has crept into business by his hypocrisy, and KISSING THE A—SE of everybody. Ibid., xxxiii. If I durst use such a vulgar idiom … the nation did HANG AN ARSE at its disappointment. Ibid. (1748), Roderick Random, lxv. My lads, I’m told you HANG AN ARSE. Ibid. (1751), Peregrine Pickle, lxxxvii. She … applied her hand to THAT PART which was the last of her that disappeared, inviting the company TO KISS it, by one of its coarsest denominations. Ibid., lii. That celebrated English ditty, the burden of which begins with, The pigs they lie with their A——ES bare.

  1750.  W. ELLIS, The Modern Husbandman, V. i. 11. [Lay the sheaves] … close together, with their ARSES outwards.

  1768.  A. ROSS, Helenore, 43.

  1774.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 4. And kick your —— till kicking’s good. Ibid., 6. For if you hang an A—— the least. Ibid., 14. My resolution still is, To bid you KISS MY ——, Achilles.

  1774.  GOLDSMITH, An History of the Earth and Animated Nature, II. VII. vii. 217. Our sailors … give these birds [penguins] the very homely, but expressive name of ARSE-FEET.

  1780.  R. TOMLINSON, A Slang Pastoral, 2. My ARSE HANGS behind me as heavy as lead.

  d. 1796.  [BURNS, Merry Muses (c. 1800), 15. ‘Old Song revised.’] I loe my Donald’s tartans weel His naked ARSE and a’ that. Ibid., 6. Gif you wad be strang, and wish to live lang Dance less wi’ your ARSE to the kipples, young man. Ibid., 99–100. An’ he grippit her fast by THE GUSSET OF HER ARSE.

  1838.  WILLIAM WATTS (‘Lucian Redivivus’), Paradise Lost, 25.

  1877.  PEACOCK, Manly (Lincolnshire) Glossary, s.v. ARSERD … ‘Go ARSERDS, cousin Edward, go ARSERDS.’

  1880.  R. HOLLAND (Old Farming Words, 2]. In Cheshire the stalk-end of a potato [is called] the ARSE-END of a tater.