Knuckleboy

snack commented on the list knuckleboy-aofkCVJBm-1U

stick in one's throat:

‘Oh no,’ said Ralph; ‘come when you like, in a hackney coach—I’ll pay for it. Good-night—a—a—God bless you.’

The blessing seemed to stick in Mr. Ralph Nickleby’s throat, as if it were not used to the thoroughfare, and didn’t know the way out. But it got out somehow, though awkwardly enough; and having disposed of it, he shook hands with his two relatives, and abruptly left them.

August 13, 2021

snack commented on the list knuckleboy-aofkCVJBm-1U

waxwork

‘Then my ears did not deceive me, and it’s not wa-a-x work,’ said his lordship. ‘How de do? I’m very happy.’ And then his lordship turned to another superlative gentleman, something older, something stouter, something redder in the face, and something longer upon town, and said in a loud whisper that the girl was ‘deyvlish pitty.’

makeweight

‘Mr. Pluck,’ said Ralph. Then wheeling about again, towards a gentleman with the neck of a stork and the legs of no animal in particular, Ralph introduced him as the Honourable Mr. Snobb; and a white-headed person at the table as Colonel Chowser. The colonel was in conversation with somebody, who appeared to be a make-weight, and was not introduced at all.

1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xix, The colonel was in conversation with somebody, who appeared to be a make-weight, and was not introduced at all. 

August 13, 2021

snack commented on the list knuckleboy-aofkCVJBm-1U

cabalistic word

But Newman

merely uttering the monosyllable 'Noggs,' as if it were some cabalistic

word, at sound of which bolts would fly back and doors open, pushed

briskly past and gained the door of Miss La Creevy's sitting-room,

before the astonished servant could offer any opposition.

August 15, 2021

snack commented on the list knuckleboy-aofkCVJBm-1U

hunks / hunx

hunks, n.

(hʌŋks)

Also hunx.

Known soon after 1600; but not in Dicts. before Kersey's ed. of Phillips, 1706. Origin unknown: it has the appearance of a quasi proper name of nickname, like Old Grumbles, Bags, Boots, and the like. (An Icel. hunskur cited by Lye is imaginary.)

A term of obloquy for a surly, crusty, cross-grained old person, a ‘bear’; now, usually, a close-fisted, stingy man; a miser. (Generally with close, covetous, niggardly, or other uncomplimentary epithet.)

 1681 Dryden Sp. Friar i. ii, A jealous. covetous, old hunks

 1821 Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers I.T., C. was a close hunks—a hoarder rather than a miser.  

August 15, 2021