subs. (American).—Swagger; conceit; also accomplishments (as music, languages, etc.); and culture; cf., MAN WITH NO FRILLS.
1870. Sacramento Paper (quoted in DE VERE). ‘I can’t bear his talk, it’s all FRILLS.’
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, v. I never see such a son. I bet I’ll take some o’ these FRILLS out o’ you before I’m done with you.
TO PUT ON ONE’S FRILLS, verb. phr. (American).—To exaggerate; TO CHANT THE POKER; to swagger; to put on SIDE (q.v.); to SING IT (q.v.). Fr., se gonfler le jabot, and faire son lard.
1890. KIPLING, National Observer, March, p. 69. ‘The Oont.’ It’s the commissariat camel PUTTING ON HIS BLOOMING FRILLS.
2. (venery).—To get wanton or PRICK-PROUD (q.v.); in a state of MUST (q.v.).
TO HAVE BEEN AMONG ONE’S FRILLS, verb. phr. (venery).—To have enjoyed the sexual favour. For synonyms, see GREENS.
