subs. (showmen’s and tramps’).—(1) A place: of sale or entertainment. Also (2) a performance or sale. Hence, TO PITCH (or DO A PITCH) = to do business; TO QUEER A PITCH = to spoil a performance or a sale; to mar one’s plans.
1851–6. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. xii. In consequence of a New Police regulation, ‘stands’ or ‘PITCHES’ have been forbidden.
c. 1864. VANCE, The Chickaleary Cove, 3. At Groves’s you’re safe to make a sure PITCH.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 255. When I had DONE MY ‘PITCH’ and got down from the stage.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night, 2.
| You swatchel coves that PITCH and slam. | |
| Ibid., A Book of Verses, ‘Hospital Outlines.’ | |
| A conjuror | |
| DOING HIS PITCH in the street. |
1899. Pall Mall Gazette, 21 April, 8, 1. Lord Rosebery and his sons had come out evidently to enjoy a brief spell of the bright sunshine. When they came to the crossing-sweeper’s PITCH there was a cheery word with a smile, and something bright and yellow changed hands.
1901. St. James’s Gazette, 10 April, 3, 1. The Russian Squadron, by a timely appearance at Villefranche, followed by a visit of its chiefs to President Loubet at Nice, has at once testified to the solidarity of the Franco-Russian alliance, and avoided QUEERING THE PITCH of the Italians at Toulon.
3. (common).—A short sleep; a nap.
PHRASES: TO PITCH THE HUNTERS = to set up the three-sticks-a-penny business; TO PITCH IT STRONG = to exaggerate, overdo, or EMBROIDER (q.v.): TO PITCH AND PAY = to pay on the nail (at Blackwell Hall it was enacted that a penny be PAID by the owner of every bale of cloth for PITCHING); TO PITCH IN = (1) take a hand; (2) to start; and (3) to work hard; TO PITCH INTO = to attack; TO PITCH A TALE (or FORK) = to tell a story, romantic, playful, or pitiful; TO PITCH ON = to select at random.
d. 1580. TUSSER, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie.
| Where strangers well may seem to dwell, | |
| That PITCH AND PAY, or keep their day. |
1584. W. ELDERTON, A New Yorkshyre Song, in R. H. EVANS, ed. Old Ballads, i. 23.
| And there was neither fault nor fray, | |
| Nor any disorder any way, | |
| But every man did PITCH AND PAY. |
1599. SHAKESPEARE, Henry V., ii. 3.
| Let senses rule; the word is ‘PITCH AND PAY’; | |
| Trust none. |
1610. Mirror for Magistrates, 374. No creditor did curse me day by day, I used plainnesse, ever PITCH AND PAY.
1651. T. BARLOW, Remains (1693), ‘To Rev. J. Goodwin.’ It is this argument of yours I shall PITCH ON, and the rather because it hath been cry’d up.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, i. 390. PITCHING THE HUNTERS is the three sticks a penny, with the snuff-boxes stuck upon sticks; if you throw your stick, and they fall out of the hole, you are entitled to what you knock off.
1863. The Singular Story of a Lancashire Thief, 8. Brummagem Joe (a cove as could patter and PITCH THE FORK with any one).
1867. London Herald, 23 March, 222, 2. If he had had the sense to appeal for help, and PITCH THEM A TALE, he might have got off.
1876. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 235. When Elias was at a pleasure fair,… he would ‘PITCH THE HUNTERS,’ that is, put up the ‘three sticks a penny’ business.
1901. Punch, 25 Dec., 461, 1. We were PITCHING INTO the umpire.
