subs. (old).—quot. 1819. Fr. donner un tuyau.
1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, II. 436. Reynolds observed to his seconds that if he could but see his man he certainly must win. The OFFICE was immediately given, when a farmer jumped into the ring, and lanced his eyes.
1819. J. H. VAUX, Memoirs, ii. 193. OFFICE, a hint, signal, or private intimation, from one person to another; this is termed OFFICEING him, or GIVING HIM THE OFFICE; TO TAKE THE OFFICE, is to understand and profit by the hint given.
1830. BUCKSTONE, The Dead Shot. I, understanding the game, soon discovered a crack player—went up to him—GAVE THE OFFICE—he was on his mettle.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, xlii. Mivins! said Mr. Smangle, with a passionate air. What’s THE OFFICE; replied that gentleman from his couch. Who the devil is this fellow?
1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, iii. 1. GIVE THE OFFICE to the waiter.
1864. M. E. BRADDON, Henry Dunbar, xxxix. I GAVE YOU THE OFFICE just now, he said, because I thought if you spoke to me, that old chap would leave off talking, and I might miss something that was on the tip of his tongue.
1876. GREENWOOD, Low-life Deeps, 161. And then, in a word or two that none of the outsiders can understand, the conductor ‘GIVES THE OFFICE’ to his driver, who sits the picter of good behaviour, you may depend, till the point of danger is passed.
1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, xxxii. How the deuce did you GET THE OFFICE.
1891. J. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 70. I GAVE THE OFFICE.
Verb. (old).—To give notice or information.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 19.
| To OFFICE, with all due dispatch, through the air, | |
| To the Bulls of the Alley the fate of the Bear. |
COOK’S OFFICE, subs. phr. (nautical).—The galley.
