subs. (old).—1. See quots. For synonyms, see YELLOW-BOYS and CANARY. Cf. MAG, subs., sense 2.
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, i., in Works (1720), iv. 18. Sham. No, no; MEGGS are guineas, smelts are half guineas.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MEGGS. … We fork’d the Rum Culls MEGGS to the tune of Fifty, We pickt the Gentleman’s Pocket of full Fifty Guineas.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
2. in pl. (stock exchange).—Mexican Railway First Preference Stock.
3. (old Scots’).—A wench. MEG DORTS = a pert girl. MEG-HARRY (Lanc.) = a hoyden.
1538. LYNDSAY, Ane Supplicatioun Against Syde Taillis [CHALMERS, ii. 201].
| Ane muirland MEG, that milkes the yowis, | |
| Claggit with clay abone the howis. |
1725. RAMSAY, The Gentle Shepherd,
| She scour’d awa, an’ said, ‘What’s that to you?’ | |
| ‘Then fare ye weel, MEG DORTS, and e’en’s ye like.’ |
ROARING MEG, subs. phr. (old).—A monster piece of ordnance; hence, an unfailing antidote.
1621. BURTON, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Pt. II. ii. 6. 3. Musica est mentis medecina mæstæ, a ROARING MEG against melancholy.
