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(22) In a crack.

A familiar expression derived from the cracking of

one's fingers.

JOHNSON.

(28) Why twist you thus your ugly mug at me?

Mug is an obsolete term for mouth. I have met with it in many scarce works. By twisting, we are therefore to understand, that the ghost is making ugly mouths at him.

(24) Has got a sup.

Meaning a sup too much.

MALONE.

THEOBALD.

(25) Hut tut.

I presume that these words are derived from hush! tush! and that their signification is-Hold your

tongue-For shame!

JOHNSON,

(26) A glass of grog.

Grog was a very fashionable drink at this time, in

Scotland.

THEOBALD.

(27) A bug-a-boo.

Or bug-bear--they are synoymous terms.

JOHNSON.

The bug-a-boo was thought to be some tremendous monster, and is a name frequently made use of by nurses to frighten children, and lull them to sleep.

STEEVENS.

(28) A fe-faw-fum, that's terrible to view.

Fe-far-fum. This must be the name of another

monster.

STEEVENS.

By the words-that's terrible to view, the author means a giant; and fe-faw-fum, are supposed to be the words which these giants frequently uttered. I

have been diligent in exploring their signification, and conceived them to be-feast, or feedme (for these giants were cannibals) fawn on me, for I came fumingly (angrily.)

MALONE.

(29) A very nincompoop.

Some derive nincompoop from non compos; but here it signifies more a coward than a lunatic. In my opinion it comes from ninny.

JOHNSON.

(30) Brush.

As a brush when used is always in motion, this word, thus used, implies-move !-vanish!

[blocks in formation]

Another imaginary apparition. Nurses are to this day very apt to alarm children with stories of Rawhead and Bloody-bones.

MALONE.

(33) Tantararas and tattoos.

The word tantarara comes from the sound of the trumpet, and the word tattoo, from the sound of the drum. They are therefore poetically substituted here for trumpets and drums.

POPE.

(34) What cater-wauling's that?

Cats, when courting, are remarkable for making a most hideous noise-ergo-what hideous noise is that?

THEOBALD.

(35) Pit-a-pat with dread.

Pit-a-pat signifies a beating-a palpitation. It is derived from a quick step, so called, as those flutterings come instantaneously,

JOHNSON.

(36) I trigged it.

That is, I slily observed it. To twig, I think comes from the twinkling of the eye, and is very poe. tically applied here to the trees of Birnam.

STEEVENS.

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