subs. (old sporting: now recognised).—A time allowance: hence a preliminary notice; a chance of escape.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1847. C. W. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Wigwam, i. Min. Ow—ow—don’t—don’t,—give us ten yards LAW—ow— [He runs off.]
1855. Transactions of the Philological Society p. 279. In making a running match one boy is said to GIVE as many yards’ LAW as he allows his competitor to be in advance.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. LAW. ‘GIVE the cove LAW,’ give the fellow a chance to escape.
1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Times, xxii. ‘Calvert’s very late; but I suppose we must GIVE him a few minutes’ more LAW!’
TO STAB THE LAW, verb. phr. (American).—To rail against authority.
1888. Nevada City Journal, Feb. These speakers were as violent as ever, and gave no evidence of having relinquished their favorite plan of STABBING THE LAW.
