1790. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Rowland for an Oliver, in Wks. [Dublin, 1795] Vol. ii. p. 154.
| I’ve heard, that breeches, petticoats, and smock, | |
| Give to thy modest mind a grievous shock, | |
| And that thy brain (so lucky its device) | |
| Christ’neth them INEXPRESSIBLES, so nice! |
1820. REYNOLDS (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy ‘King Tims the First’, i. 1.
| That single-breasted coat—that sweet snub nose— | |
| Those INEXPRESSIBLES:—I know the clothes. |
1830. BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford, vi. While thus musing, he was suddenly accosted by a gentleman in boots and spurs, having a riding whip in one hand, and the other hand stuck in the pocket of his INEXPRESSIBLES.
1835. BUCKSTONE, The Dream at Sea, ii. 2. Tom. Body & breeches. Biddy. Hush! you should say INEXPRESSIBLES—that’s the way genteel people talk.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, ch. lv., p. 483. Symmetrical INEXPRESSIBLES, and scented pocket-handkerchiefs.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, xii. Whenever I get my INEXPRESSIBLES on, I will come to you there.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Spectre of Tappington,’ i. 39. Condescend to don at the same time an Elizabethan doublet and Bond Street INEXPRESSIBLES.
1842. DICKENS, American Notes, ch. xxi., p. 100. He … had grown recently, for it had been found necessary to make an addition to the legs of his INEXPRESSIBLES.
1871. City Press, 21 Jan. ‘Curiosities of Street Literature.’ The sale of a wife, and full particulars of ‘Taking off Prince Albert’s INEXPRESSIBLES,’ done by a scamp.
