subs. (old).—A juryman.

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  1598.  SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, iv. 1.

          Gra.  In christ’ning thou shalt have two GODFATHERS.
Had I been judge, thou should’st have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

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  1616.  JONSON, The Devil is an Ass, v., 5.

          Fit.  Not I,
If you be such a one, sir, I will leave you
To your GOD-FATHERS in law. Let twelve men work.

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  1638.  RANDOLPH, The Muse’s Looking-Glass, ix. 251. I had rather zee him remitted to the jail, and have his twelve GODVATHERS, good men and true, condemn him to the gallows.

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  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

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  TO STAND GODFATHER, verb. phr. (common).—To pay the reckoning. [Godfathers being the objects of much solicitude and expectation.]

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  1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Will you stand GODFATHER, and we will take care of the brat; i.e., repay you another time.

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