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Duke Humphrey (Grose 1811 Dictionary)

Duke Humphrey

To dine with Duke Humphrey; to fast. In old St. Paul’s church was an aisle called Duke Humphrey’s walk (from a tomb vulgarly called his, but in reality belonging to John of Gaunt), and persons who walked there, while others were at dinner, were said to dine with Duke Humphrey.

Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.

Duke of Limbs * Dull Swift

Nearby

Nathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang

John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes

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About

Francis Grose was independently wealthy, having inherited money from his father, a jeweller. Finding himself overspending, he published a number of books; his Provincial Glossary seems to have been the starting-point for the Vulgar Tongue reproduced here.

Duck F-ck-r
Duck Legs
Dudders
Duddering Rake
Dudgeon
Duds
Duffers
Dugs
Duke
Duke of Limbs
Duke Humphrey
Dull Swift
Dumb Arm
Dumb-founded
Dumb Glutton
Dumb Watch
Dummee
Dumplin
Dumps
Dun
Dunaker