subs. (old).—Combinations are NIGHT-BIRD (q.v.); NIGHT-CAP (q.v.); NIGHT-FOSSICKER (Australian mining) = a nocturnal thief of quartz or dust: whence NIGHT-FOSSICKING; NIGHT-GEAR (or -PIECE) = a bedfellow, male or female; NIGHT-HAWK (-HUNTER, -SNAP, or -TRADER) = NIGHT-BIRD (q.v.); NIGHT-HOUSE = (1) a public-house licensed to open at night, and (2) a brothel; NIGHT-HUNTER = (1) a poacher, and (2) a NIGHT-BIRD (q.v.); NIGHT-JURY = a band of night brawlers: NIGHT-MAGISTRATE = (1) the head of a watch-house, whence (2) a constable; NIGHT-MAN = see quot., 1785, and GOLD-FINDER; NIGHT-PHYSIC (or -WORK) = copulation: NIGHT-RALE (or -RAIL) = (1) night apparel, and (2) a combing-cloth; NIGHT-SHADE = NIGHT-BIRD, 2 (q.v.); NIGHT-SNEAKER = see quot., 1598; NIGHT-WALKER = NIGHT-BIRD (q.v.), whence NIGHT-WALKING = prowling at night for robbery, prostitution, etc.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, p. 105. Wanton or effeminate lads, NIGHT SNEAKERS.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., iii. 2. Shallow. And is Jane NIGHTWORK alive?… She was a bona-roba … certain she’s old, and had Robin NIGHTWORK by old NIGHTWORK before I came to Clement’s Inn.
1600. Grim, the Collier of Croydon, v. [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, viii., 463]. Except my poor Joan here, and she is my own proper NIGHT-GEAR.
1632. MASSINGER, The Maid of Honour, ii., 2.
| Which of your grooms, | |
| Your coachman, fool, or footman, ministers | |
| NIGHT-PHYSIC to you? | |
| Ibid. (1637), The Guardian, iii., 5. | |
| Now I think on’t, | |
| I had ever a lucky hand in such smock NIGHT-WORK. |
1639. MAYNE, The Citye Match, v. 6.
| Panders, avoid my house! O devil! are you | |
| My wife’s NIGHT-PIECES? |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v., NIGHT-RALE. A woman’s combing cloth, to dress her head in. Ibid. NIGHT-MAGISTRATE.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v. NIGHT-MAGISTRATE.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. NIGHTMAN, one whose business it is to empty necessary houses in London, which is always done in the night, the operation is called a wedding. Ibid. NIGHT-MAGISTRATE.
1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, i. The NIGHT-HOUSES are closed.
TO MAKE A NIGHT OF IT, verb. phr. (common).—To spend the night in drinking, whoring, gaming, etc.
