subs. (old).—1. A mistress: see TART (B. E. and GROSE).
2. (old).—‘Good clothes’ (B. E. and GROSE).
4. (thieves’).—A watch chain: a RED TACKLE = a gold chain.
1887. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail, i. One day I went to Croydon and touched for a red toy (gold watch) and RED TACKLE (gold chain) with a large locket.
1888. G. R. SIMS, A Plank Bed Ballad [Referee, 12 Feb.]. A toy and a TACKLE—both red-’uns.
Verb. (colloquial).—To do with energy; to set to work; to cope with; to attack: generic. Thus TO TACKLE (= to attempt the solution of) A PROBLEM; TO TACKLE (= to attempt) A WOMAN: TO TACKLE (= to close with) A BURGLAR, etc.
1842. S. LOVER, Handy Andy, xxx. The old woman … TACKLED TO for a fight in right earnest.
1844. W. T. THOMPSON, Major Jones’s Courtship, 53. It tuck a feller mighty wide between the eyes to TACKLE that tree, for it was a whopper. Ibid. (1848), Major Jones’s Sketches of Travels 31. I shuck the two fellers off my trunks monstrous quick, and was jest gwine to TACKLE the chaps what had my carpet bag.
1858. New York Times, 9 Aug. The people are no ways backward about discussing the subject of Mormonism…. One of the gentry TACKLED Governor Powell the other day, determined to make a convert.
1862. THACKERAY, The Adventures of Philip, xxi. TACKLE the lady, and speak your mind to her as best you can.
1871. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown Fireside Stories, 168. They was resolute, strong, hard-workin’ wimmen. They could all TACKLE a hoss, or load and fire a gun.
1885. The Field, 4 April. A paid collector would be infinitely more successful than any number of printed appeals signed by gentlemen who could not TACKLE people personally.
1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. 111. ‘’Arry at the Sea-side.’
| You’ll see if a feller would TACKLE | |
| A feminine fair up to dick, he ’as got to be dabs at the cackle. |
