subs. (old).—1. Any disagreeable exposure: spec. (thieves’) see quot. 1785. TO STIR UP A STINK = to expose; and as verb. = to have a bad reputation.
1647. FLETCHER, The Humourous Lieutenant, iii. 7.
| Sel. Fall Fate upon us, | |
| Our memories shall never STINK behind us. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. STINK. When any robbery of moment has been committed, which causes much alarm, or of which much is said in the daily papers, the family people will say there is a great STINK about it.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 250. The newspapers of the district … had raised … what the patterers of his class proverbially call a STINK … had opened the eyes of the unwary to the movements of Chelsea George.
2. (scholastic).—In pl. = (a) chemistry: hence STINK-CUPBOARD = a close chamber for evil-smelling or obnoxious chemical experiments; and (b) a lecturer on chemistry. TO GO OUT IN STINKS = to take a degree in natural science (Cambridge).
1903. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Feb., 7, 1. The branch of learning facetiously denominated “STINKS,” at Oxford, is by now beginning to boast the sanctifying prestige of time.
TO TAKE A STINK FOR A NOSEGAY, verb. phr. (old).—To be extremely gullible; to mistake egregiously.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 173. We had our hands to play against a novice at the game. Simple and cullible, so far from smelling out the rat, HE TOOK HIS STINK FOR A NOSEGAY.
