subs. (old).—1. A stupid person; a hard unsympathetic individual; one of mean, unattractive appearance.
1534. UDALL, Roister Doister, III., iii., 44 (Arber). Ye are such a calfe, such an asse, such a BLOCKE.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, ii. 5. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. Launce. What a BLOCK art thou, that thou canst not!
1599. JONSON, Every Man out of his Humour. Induct. Cor. Hang him, dull BLOCK!
1624. MASSINGER, The Bondman, II., ii.
| This will bring him on, | |
| Or he’s a BLOCK. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BLOCK, a silly Fellow.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). BLOCK (s.) … sometimes an ignorant, stupid fellow.
1881. BESANT and RICE, The Chaplain of the Fleet, II., iv. She said that her partner was delightful to dance with, partly because he was a lord—and a title, she said, gives an air of grace to any BLOCK—partly because he danced well and talked amiably.
2. (common).—The head: see CRUMPET.
1637. SHIRLEY, The Lady of Pleasure, II., i.
| Buy a beaver | |
| For thy own BLOCK. |
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, xxxv. ‘I cleaned a groom’s boots on Toosday, and he punched my BLOCK because I blacked the tops.’
CHIP OF THE SAME (or THE SAME OLD) BLOCK (sometimes abbreviated to CHIP) phr. (common).—1. A person reproducing certain familiar or striking characteristics.
1623. MABBE, The Spanish Rogue (1630), 229. [Certain lads are called] CHIPS OF one and THE SAME BLOCKE.
c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii., 60. Your father used to come home to my mother, and why may not I be A CHIP OF THE SAME BLOCKE, out of which you two were cutt?
1627. SANDERSON, Serm., I., 283. Am not I a child of the same Adam, a vessel of the same clay, A CHIP OF THE SAME BLOCK, with him.
1655. H. L’ESTRANGE, The Reign of King Charles, 126. Episcopacy (which they thought but a great CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK Popery).
1762. COLMAN, The Musical Lady, II., iii. You’ll find him his father’s own son, I believe; A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK, I promise you!
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 176. In vulgar phrase to prove myself A CHIP FROM THE OLD BLOCKS.
1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit xviii., 189. ‘Yes, yes, Chuffey, Jonas is A CHIP OF THE OLD BLOCK. It’s a very old block now, Chuffey,’ said the old man.
1860. Funny Fellow, May 7, 1. Hollo, my kiddy, stir your stumps. And chuck yourself about; Make haste, young CHIP, my boots to shine, Or your shine I’ll quick take out.
1865. M. E. BRADDON, Henry Dunbar, xxxviii. I was in love myself once, though I do seem such a dry old CHIP.
