subs. (common).—The human skin. Once literary; now colloquial and vulgar.
1568. Bannatyne, MSS., ‘When Flora, etc.’ (Hunterian Club, 1879–88).
| Scho is so brycht of HYD and hew, | |
| I luse bot hir allone I wene. |
1607. MARSTON, What You Will, ii., 1.
| A skrubbing railer whose course harden’d fortune | |
| Grating his HIDE, gauling his starued ribs | |
| Sittes houling at Deserts more battle fate. |
1731. COFFEY, The Devil to Pay, Sc. 5. Come and spin, you Drab, or I’ll tan your HIDE for you.
1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘Gunga Din.’
| An’ for all ’is dirty ’IDE | |
| ’E was white, clear white, inside. |
Verb (common).—To flog. For synonyms, see TAN.
1868. Cassell’s Magazine, May, p. 80. This was carried across the yard to Jacky as a regular challenge, and some said that Kavanagh and his friends were coming over to HIDE Jacky after dinner.
1885. Punch, 29 Aug., p. 98. And the silver-topped rattan with which the boys I used to HIDE.
