subs. phr. (common).—1. A hedge whore: see TART (GROSE); and (2) a penis in erection. TO GO STARGAZING ON ONE’S BACK = to copulate: see RIDE.
c. 1704. WARD, Works, ‘T[om] B[rown]’s Last Letter.’ If … the Label of Mortality … begins to turn STAR-GAZER, venture half a crown.
3. (old).—‘A horse holding its head well up while trotting’ (GROSE).
4. (nautical).—An imaginary sail, a SKYSCRAPER (q.v.).
5. (old).—An astrologer: also an astronomer: in contempt or jest. Also STAR-CLERK, STAR-CONNER, STAR-DIVINE, STAR-SHOOTER, and STAR-MONGER. Hence STAR-CRAFT = astrology.
c. 1572. GASCOIGNE [CHALMERS, English Poets], ‘The Fruites of Warre,’ 15. If Mars mooue warre, as STARCONNERS can tel.
1583. Bible, Isaiah xlvii. 13. Let now the astrologers, the STARREGASERS, and prognosticatours stand vp.
1599. JONSON, Every Man out of his Humour, iii. 2. Tut, these STARMONGER knaves, who would trust them.
1621. SYLVESTER, Du Bartas, III. i. 494.
| If, at the least, STAR-CLARKS be credit worth. | |
| Ibid., IV. i. 134. | |
| So many Stars whose greatness doth exceed | |
| So many times (if STAR-DIVINES say troth) | |
| The greatness of the Earth and Ocean both. |
1708. SWIFT, An Elegy on Partridge. A Cobler, STARMONGER, and Quack. Ibid. The Cobling and STAR-GAZING Part.
1742–4. R. NORTH, The Life of Lord Guildford, ii. 253. His lordship received him with much familiarity, and encouraged him to come and see him often…. The STAR-GAZER was not wanting to himself in that.
18[?]. TENNYSON, The Lover’s Tale, i.
| Under the selfsame aspect of the stars, | |
| (Oh falsehood of all STARCRAFT!) we were born. |
