verb (American).—To pack fruit, vegetables, etc., the finest on the top. [Either derived by inversion, or in allusion to the Yankee proverb—‘All deacons are good, but there is odds in deacons.’]
1868. L. M. ALCOTT, Little Women, ch. xi. The blanc-mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully DEACONED.
TO DEACON A CALF, verbal phr. (American).—To kill.
TO DEACON LAND, verbal phr. (American).—To filch land by removing one’s fences into the highway or other common property.
TO DEACON OFF, verbal phr. (American).—To give the cue; to lead in debate. [From a custom, once universal but now almost extinct, in the New England Congregational churches. An important function of the deacon’s office was to read aloud the hymns given out by the minister one line at a time, the congregation singing each line as soon as read. This was called DEACONING OFF.]
1848. J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers.
| To funk right out o’ p’lit’cal strife ain’t thought to be the thing, | |
| Without you DEACON OFF the toon you want your folks should sing. |
1890. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, p. 7.
| We grieve, too, that of all men you, | |
| Your own great Union’s stout defender | |
| Should DEACON OFF the craven crew, | |
| Who here are clamoring for surrender. |
