What, rel. pro. (old).—1. That, or that which: still a vulgarism: e.g. I had a donkey what wouldn't go.
1570. Ascham, The Scholemaster, 142. The matter what other men wrote.
1593 Peele, Edward I. (Old Plays), II. 37. Offer them peace or aught what is beside.
1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., v. 1. 126. I fear nothing What can be said against me.
2. (colloquial).—How much.
1867. Trollope, Last Chronicle of Barsett, xxxvii. When a man bets he does not well know what money he uses.
Indef. pro. (old).—(a) A something, anything: e.g. I'll tell you what (it is). Also a bit, portion, a thing: e.g. It's a whangam (q.v.); It's WHAT?
1373. Chaucer, House of Fame, 1741. Al was us never broche ne rynge, Ne ellis what fro women sent. Ibid., Boethius, iv. prose 6. Thanne she a lytel what smylynge seyde.
d. 1513. Fabyan, Chronicle, clxxii. Then the kynge anone called his seruante that had but one lofe and a little whatte of wyne.
1596. Spenser, Faery Queene, vi. ix. 7. They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed Such homely what as serves the simple clowne.
1597. Shakspeare, Richard III., iii. 2. 92. Wot you what, my lord? To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.
1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr, iii. 3. I'll tell you what now of the devil.
1869. Stowe, Oldtown, 518. I tell you what—Ellery Davenport lays out to marry a real angel. He's to swear, and she's to pray.
What's-his-name, etc., phr. (old colloquial).—1. A locution in speaking of what one has either forgotten, thinks so trivial, or does not wish to mention. Also What-d'ye-call-it, What-d'ye-call-'em, Lord know's what, Washical, etc.: cf. Thingumy.
1600. Shakspeare, As You Like It, iii. 3. 74. Good even, good Master What-ye-call't; how do you, sir?
1664. Cotton, Virgil Travestie, 75. Where once your what shals' cal' ums—(rot um! It makes me mad I have forgot 'um).
1706- Ward, Wooden World, 31. The ship's crew . . . often call his Words to account, and too often count his Sunday labour a Sham, and himself a sacred What-ye-call-'em.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas (1812), 1. xv. Mr. What-d'ye-call-'um, I never exact too much.
1759-67. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, viii. 19. There is no part of the body, an' please your honour [with] . . . so many tendons and what-d'ye-call-ems all about it.
1801. Dibdin, Il Bondocani, ii. 2. I wouldn't keep signior what-d'ye-call-him waiting for the world.
1811. Hawkins, Countess and Gertrude, iii. 97. [An inferior is addressed as] Mrs. What's-your-name.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. 'Won't it be rather hard at first to give up all the pink suppers and kettledrums and afternoon what-do-you-call-'ems?' with a suspicion of a grin on his face.
2. (venery).—The penis: see Prick. What's-her-name = the female pudendum: see Monosyllable: also What's-its-name, The Lord knows what, etc.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 42. E'er since I saw that . . . Thetis stroking your knees, as on the ground you sat, And rubbing up, The Lord knows what. Ibid., 117. I wish I'd never touch'd her what-d'ye-callum, But gone where damsels in the Park Watch to earn sixpence in the dark.
