adj. (old).—Neither one thing nor the other.

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  1592.  GREENE, Greenes Vision [GROSART (1881–6), xii. 235]. Thou hast writ no booke well but thy Nunquam fera est and that is indifferent LINSEY WOOLSEY.

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  1593.  G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [GROSART (1885), ii. 317]. A LINSEY-WOOLSIE wit.

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  1594.  NASHE, The Terrors of the Night [GROSART (1883), iii. 229]. A man must not … have his affections LINSEY WOLSEY, intermingled with lust, and things worthy of liking.

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  1609.  DEKKER, Worke for Armourours [GROSART (1886), iv. 158]. Iackes on both sides … a LINSEY-WOLSEY people, that tooke no part, but stood indifferent between Money and Pouerty.

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  1613.  PURCHAS, Pilgrimage, 38. And Baalams wages doe moue many still to make such LINSEY-WOOLSEY marriages.

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  1647–80.  ROCHESTER, A Satyr against Marriage.

        But if he must pay Nature’s Debt in kind,
To check his eager Passion, let him find
Some willing Female out; what tho’ she be
The very Dregs and Scum of Infamy?
Tho’ she be LINSEY-WOOLSEY Bawd and Whore.

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  1653.  R. BROME, The City Wit, i. 1. Venerable Mr. LINSIE-WOOLSIE; to weare satin sleeves, and whip beggars.

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  1662.  Rump Songs, ‘A Letany for the New-year,’ ii. 94.

        From LINSY WOOLSY Lords, from Town betrayers,
From Apron Preachers, and extempore Prayers,…
        Good Lord deliver you.

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  1664.  BUTLER, Hudibras, i. c. 3. A lawless LINSEY-WOOLSEY brother.

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