subs. (old).—Ready money. [One Derby is supposed to have been a noted sixteenth century usurer.—See quots. under DARBIES, sense 1.] For synonyms, see ACTUAL and GILT.
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia (list of cant words), s.v.
c. 1712. R. ESTCOURT, Prunella, Act i., p. 4.
| Come nimbly lay down DARBY; | |
| Come, pray sir, don’t be tardy. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
