subs. (old cant).—A term of commendation: (1) a plucky fellow, a STICKER (q.v.); and (2) a familiar address, either to equals or inferiors. Hence TRUSTY TROJAN (B. E. and GROSE) = a sure friend or confidant: also TRUSTY TROUT.
1594. SHAKESPEARE, Love’s Labour’s Lost, v. 2. 639. Hector was but a TROJAN in respect of this. Ibid. v. 2. 681. Unless you play the honest TROJAN.
1600. W. KEMP, Nine Daies Wonder [ARBER, English Garner, vii. A good fellow is called a true TROJAN].
1614. FLETCHER, The Night-Walker, or the Little Thief, ii. 2. Sam the butler’s true, the cook a reverend TROJAN.
1628. FORD, The Lover’s Melancholy, iv. 2. By your leave, gallants, I come to speak with a young lady, as they say, the old TROJAN’S daughter of this house.
1837–8. THACKERAY, The Yellowplush Papers, vii. He bore [the amputation of his hand], in cors, like a TROJIN.
3. A boon companion, a LOOSE FISH (q.v.); occasionally (but loosely) a thief.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 1. 77. Tut! there are other TROJANS that thou dreamest not of, the which, for sport’s sake, are content to do the profession some grace.
| Ibid. (1599), Henry V., v. 1. | |
| Pist. Ha! art thou bedlam? dost thou thirst, base TROJAN, | |
| To have me fold up Parca’s fatal web? |
