1888. Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov. The ramket continued somewhat depressed on LONGS selling.
2. (Fenian).—A rifle: cf. SHORT = a revolver.
3. See JOHN LONG.
Adj. (once literary: now colloquial or humorous).—Tall.
c. 1189. Destruction of Troy [E.E.T.S.], 1. 3805.
| Off Duke Nestor to deme, doughty in werre, | |
| He was LONG & large, with lemys full grete. |
c. 1440. Sir Isumbras, line 258.
| For he es bothe LANGE and heghe, | |
| The faireste mane that ever I seghe. |
1888–9. Broadside Ballad. ‘If only I were LONG enough.’
THE LONG (university).—The summer vacation.
1852. BRISTED, Five Years in an English University, p. 37. For a month or six weeks in THE LONG they rambled off to see the sights of Paris.
1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, i. 17. ‘I hope I shall not be [‘ploughed for smalls’] to vex you and puss.’… ‘Puss? that is me [sister Julia]. How dare he? Did I not forbid all these nicknames and all this Oxfordish, by proclamation, last LONG.’ ‘Last LONG?’ [remonstrates mamma]. ‘Hem! last protracted vacation.’
THE LONGS, subs. (Oxford University).—The latrines at Brasenose. [Built by Lady Long.]
Adj. (colloquial).—Heavy; great: as a ‘LONG price,’ ‘LONG odds,’ etc., etc.
1847. AYTOUN, How I Stood for the Dreepdaily Burghs, 10. If we look sharp after it, I bet THE LONG ODDS you will carry it in a canter.
1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, xiii. Now for good information, LONG ODDS, a safe man, and a shot at the favourite!
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 63. Too LONG in the purse to let slip.
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, phr. (common).—The sum of a matter; the whole. See LONG ATTACHMENT.
d. 1845. HOOD, Pair’d not Match’d.
| For I am small, | |
| My wife is tall, | |
| And that’s THE SHORT AND LONG OF IT! |
LONG IN THE MOUTH, adj. phr. (common).—Tough.
LONG IN THE TOOTH, adj. phr. (common).—Elderly.
