subs. (common).—1. A watch (GROSE): also TICK. Fr. tocante.
1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter. You know you’ll buy a dozen or two of wipes, dobbin cants, or a farm, or a TICK with any rascal.
1829. MAGINN, Vidocq’s Slang Song [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 104].
| Then his TICKER I set a-going, | |
| Tol lol, etc. | |
| And his onions, chain, and key. |
1830. P. EGAN, Finish to Life in London, 217. I have lost my TICKER; and all my toggery has been boned.
1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xviii. ‘And always put this in your pipe, Nolly,’ said the Dodger. ‘If you don’t take fogies and TICKERS … some other cove will.’
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iv. 270. He listened to the tempter, ‘filched the TICKER,’ and was nailed almost immediately.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves.
| It’s up the spout and Charley Wag | |
| With wipes and TICKERS and what not. |
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 71. He fished the TICKER out From her giddy little satchel right away.
1900. KIPLING, Stalky & Co., 268. He’d … pledged the Government to all sorts of action. ‘Pledged the States’ TICKER, eh?’ said M‘Turk, with a nod to me.
2. (stock exchange and post office).—An automatic tape-machine.
3. (American university).—An ignoramus who talks for talking’s sake.
4. (veterinary).—A crib-biting horse (LAWRENCE, Horses [1802], 218).
