THE DUCHESS (or COUNTESS) OF PUDDLEDOCK, subs. phr. (old).—1. An imaginary dignitary. [PUDDLEDOCK = an ancient pool in Thames Street, not of the cleanest description.]
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Neverout. … I’ll go to the Opera to-night,… for I promised to squire the Countess to her Box. Miss. The COUNTESS OF PUDDLEDOCK, I suppose.
