information to certain persons . . . who bet their money with more certainty. Ibid., Touting. Publicans forestalling guests, or meeting them on the road, and begging their custom; to be met with at Brighton, Margate, etc.
1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxxii. Bess, my covess, strike me blind if my sees don't tout your bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.
1837. Disraeli, Venetia, 69. Come, old mort . . . tout the cobble-colter; are we to have darkmans upon us?
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1842), 256. I have not a doubt, I shall rout every tout.
1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxvii. Thimbleriggers, duffers, touters, or any of those bloodless sharpers, who are, perhaps, a little better known to the police.
1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, x. 'It suits my purpose to become the principal medical man in this neighbourhood' 'And I am to tout for introductions for you?'
1863. Law Mag. Rev., 22. Barristers' clerks touting among prisoners and prosecutors.
1869. Fraser's Mag., 'British Merchant Seamen.' The touter, whose business it is to attract the sailor to his master's lodgings by the judicious loan of money, the offer of grog or soft tack (bread); the runner, who volunteers to carry his box of clothes and bedding free of charge to the same destination.
1869. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. Tout. An agent in the training districts, on the look-out for information as to the condition and capabilities of those horses entering for a coming race. Touts often get into trouble through entering private training-grounds. They, however, are very highly paid, some making 40l. or 50l. a week during the season.
1885. Field, 3 Oct. There had been a good deal of before-breakfast touting on the Bury side of the town. Ibid. Everybody was industrious, the professional touts being outnumbered by the amateurs. Ibid. (1886), 4 Sep. The gallops . . . are less liable to be touted than any other training-ground.
1886. Athenæum, 3067. A species of racing tout enters the cottage of a female trainer.
Tow, subs. (Shrewsbury School).—1.
A long run in: at hare and
hounds.
1881. Pascoe, Everyday Life. After that last 'all up' there is a tow or continuous run of from one to three miles.
2. (common).—Generic for money: see Rhino.
To tow out, verb. phr. (old).—To decoy: spec. to distract attention and thus pave the way for robbery by a confederate: also Tow-street (Grose) and tow-line (Vaux).
In tow, phr. (colloquial).—In hand, at one's apron strings, under one's influence, or at command: of persons and things; spec. of a woman who is said to have such and such an admirer in tow.
Towards. I looks (sic) towards
you, phr. (common).—A
toast.
1857. Whitty, Bohemia, i. 166. Ladies, I looks toward you.
Towel, subs. (common).—1. A
cudgel: also oaken (or blackthorn)
towel; as verb (to
give a towelling or to rub
down with a towel) = to reprimand,
scold, and (spec.) thrash
(Grose).
1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, i. 83. Prankly, shaking his cane, bid him hold his tongue, otherwise he would dust his cassock for him. 'I have no pretensions to such a valet,' said Tom; 'but if you should do me that office, and over-*heat yourself, I have here a good oaken towel at your service.'
1851-61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., i. 469. I got a towelling, but it did not do me much good.
2. (old).—The anus; fundament: see Bum: also tewel.
