Postillion of the Gospel, subs. phr. (old).—A gabbling parson.—Grose (1785).
Postman, subs. (obsolete legal).—See
quot. [The old Court of
Exchequer is now merged in the
High Court of Justice.]
1765-9. Blackstone, Com., iii. iii. Note. In the courts of exchequer, two of the most experienced barristers, called the post-man and the tub-man (from the places in which they sit), have also a precedence in motions.
Postmaster, subs. (University).—An
exhibitioner of Merton College:
also portionist.
1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, vii. I remember Mr. Larkyns . . . telling us that the son of one of his old friends had been a postmaster of Merton.
1886. Oxford Guide [S. J. & C]. The postmasters anciently performed the duties of Choristers, and their payment for this duty was six shillings and fourpence per annum.
Postmaster General, subs. phr.
(old).—The prime minister: 'who
has the patronage of all posts and
places.'—Grose (1785).
Post-mortem, subs. phr. (Cambridge).—The
examination after
failure.
1844. Puck, 13. I've passed the Post-mortem at last.
Post-anointer, subs. phr. (old).—A
house painter.—Grose
(1785).
Post-office. A letter in the
post-office, subs. phr. (American).—A
flying shirt-tail.
Post-office Bible, subs. phr.
(Post-office).—The London Delivery
Book.
Post-office Prayer-book, subs.
phr. (Post-office).—The Post-office
Guide.
Pot, subs. (old colloquial).—A
quart: the quantity contained in
a pot. Whence as verb. = to
drink: also (American) to
potate; potting = boozing
(q.v.); potations (recognised)
= a drinking-bout; pot-house
(or shop) = a beer-shop, a lush-crib
(q.v.); pot-house (or
coffee-house) politician =
an ignorant, irresponsible spouter
of politics; pot-companion =
(1) a cup-comrade, and (2) an
habitual drunkard: as also = Pot-fury
(also = drunkenness),
-knight, -head, -leach,
-man, -polisher, -sucker,
-walloper, potator, potster,
toss-pot, and rob-pot;
pot-punishment = compulsory
tippling; pot-quarrel = a drunken
squabble; pot-sick (or
-shot) = drunk; pot-sure
(-hardy, or -valiant) = emboldened
by liquor: cf. Dutch
courage (B. E., c.1696, and
Grose, 1785); pot-bellied =
fat, bloated in stomach as from
guzzling: also pot-belly (or
guts) = a big-bellied one; pot-revel
= a drunken frolic; pot-mania
(or potomania) = dipsomania;
Sir (or Madam) Pint-pot
= a host (or hostess); pot-boy
(or -man) = a bar-scullion:
whence pot-boy-dom.
1560. Becon, Works [Parker Soc.], 276. Good wife Pint-pot.
1584. [? Monday], Weakest to Wall, iii. 4. Now, mine host rob-pot, empty-can, beer-barrel.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, iii. 2. Dro. How sped'st thee after thy potting? Ris. Nay, my master rung all in the taverne, and thrust all out.
1597. Hall, Satires, 1. iii. With some pot-fury . . . they sit and muse.
1598. Lomatius on Painting [Nares]. But these base fellowes I leave in their ale-houses, to take pot-punishment of each other once a day, till, &c.
