subs. (old).—1.  A rascal; a wretch deserving the rope.

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  1594.  SHAKESPEARE, Love’s Labour’s Lost, v. 2. A shrewd unhappy GALLOWS too.

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  1754.  B. MARTIN, English Dictionary (2nd ed.). s.v. = a wicked rascal.

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  1837.  DICKENS, Oliver Twist. (To Oliver). Now, young GALLOWS.

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  1838.  JAS. GRANT, Sketches in London, ch. ii., p. 58. Blow me tight, young GALLOWS, if I don’t pound your ribs to powder!

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  2.  (common: generally in pl. = GALLOWSES).—A pair of braces.

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  1835.  HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xv. Chock-full of spring, like the wire end of a bran new pair of trouser GALLUSES.

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  1848.  DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, p. 168. If I wouldn’t spile his picter, bust my boots and GALLOWSES!

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  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 431. The braces, which in some parts of the country are called ‘GALLOWSES.’

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  1851.  How Mike Hooter Came Very Near ‘Wolloping’ Arch Coony, in Polly Peablossom’s Wedding and Other Tales, p. 152. Hole on, dod drot you! wait till I unbutton my GALLOWSES.

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  1864.  JAMES, etc., Italian-English Dictionary. GALLOWSES, batilla.

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  1883.  G. A. S[ALA], in Illustrated London News, 22 Sept., p. 275, c. 1. Braces (which, when I was young, used, in the north of England, to be known by the expressive name of GALLOWSES).

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  Adv. (old).—Excessively; same as BLOODY, BLEEDING, (q.v.), etc. (As adj.) great; uncommon; real.

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  c. 1551.  L. SHEPHERD, John Bon and Mast Person, in Arber’s Garner, Vol. IV., p. 109. Ye, are much bound to God for such a spittle holiness. A GALLOWS gift!

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  1789.  G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 120. Some they pattered flash with GALLOWS fun and joking.

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  1827.  P. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, etc., p. 44. Then your blowen will wax GALLOWS haughty! [Also quoted in notes to Don Juan.]

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  1830.  BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 293 (ed. 1854). Ah, Dame Lobkin, if so be as our little Paul vas a vith you, it would be a GALLOWS comfort to you in your latter hend!

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  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, III., 90. I’ll be smothered if I’m going to look down that GALLOWS long chimney.

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  1861.  H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch. xii. And the pleece come in, and got GALLUS well kicked about the head.

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  1869.  GREENWOOD, The Seven Curses of London, p. 244. Put it on your face so GALLUS thick that the devil himself won’t see through it.

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