subs. phr. (Winchester).—A large stick or thick bough, of which there was one in each fagot: also any large piece of wood: cf. BARBER.
NOT FIT TO BE TOUCHED WITH THE END OF A BARGE-POLE (A PAIR OF TONGS, etc.), phr. (common).—Unapproachable through filth, disease, prejudice, or the like.
1663. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, The Visions of Quevedo (1678), 22. Your Beauties can never want Gallants to lay their Appetites … Whereas NO BODY WILL TOUCH the Ill-favour’d WITHOUT A PAIR OF TONGS.
1884. N. GOULD, The Dark Horse, XXIV. Such a respectable man as you are nowadays—WOULDN’T TOUCH ANYTHING PITCHY WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE, EH?
1903. HYNE, The Filibusters, XII. You AREN’T FIT for any decent man TO TOUCH EXCEPT WITH AN EXECUTION AXE.
