verb. (old).—1. See quots.; TO BLEW (q.v.).
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MELT … Will you MELT a Bord? Will you spend your Shilling? The Cull MELTED a couple of Decuses upon us, the Gentleman spent ten Shillings upon us.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 19. And if any of their Acquaintances gives them l’argent, then they jump into their Cellar to MELT it.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). MELT (VI) … also a cant word for extravagantly spending any considerable sum of money.
1765. FOOTE, The Commissary, i. 1. Give him the sixpence, then, there lay it out as you will. Coachm. It will be to your health, mistress; it shall MELT at the Mews, before I go home.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. What did you do with the tin? Bob. MELTED it, of course, in less than a month.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
1868. C. READE and BOUCICAULT, Foul Play, lii. I had him arrested before he had time to MELT the notes.
1880. JAMIESON, An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, s.v. MELT, to spend money on drink; a low term, but much used; as, ‘I’ve jist ae saxpence left, let’s MELT it.’
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves.
| How do you MELT the multy swag? | |
| Booze and the blowens cop the lot. |
2. (venery).—TO SPEND (q.v.). Fr. fondre.
1629. CAREW, Poems (1772), ‘The Second Rapture,’ p. 174.
| And in whose sweet embraces I | |
| May MELT myself to lust, and die. |
TO LOOK AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN THE MOUTH. See BUTTER.
’TWILL CUT BUTTER WHEN IT’S MELTED (or HOT). See BUTTER.
