subs. (old).—A favorite mistress: Fr. une particulière: see TART. Also (generally) a special choice: e.g., to ‘ride one’s own PARTICULAR,’ to ‘a glass of one’s PARTICULAR,’ &c: see SPECIAL.
PARTICULAR JESSE. See JESSE.
LONDON PARTICULAR (or LONDON IVY), subs. phr. (common).—A thick yellow or black fog, the product of certain atmospheric conditions and carbon: formerly peculiar to London, now common in most large manufacturing cities situated near water and lying low.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, iii. ‘Was a great fire any-where?’ ‘O dear no, miss,’ he said. ‘This is a LONDON PARTICULAR.’
1889. Sporting Life, 4 Jan. A cold caught by contact with LONDON IVY.
1890. The Sportsman, 13 Dec. From the question of cost … a clean sweep should be made of LONDON PARTICULAR.
1891. Belfort’s Magazine, Sept., 29. But the crowning masterpiece of the climate is a London fog, locally known as a LONDON PARTICULAR.
1896. G. A. SALA, London up to Date, 86. It happens to be a LONDON PARTICULAR foggy morning.
1897. Daily Chronicle, 20 Dec., 6, 4. The real LONDON PARTICULAR … played sad havoc with the traffic arrangements.
