| 释义 |
▪ I. varment, varmint, n.1 dial. and U.S.|ˈvɑːmənt|
Also varmant, -munt, verment, warment, -mint, -mit, etc.
[var. of varmin vermin, with excrescent -t. Rare before c 1825.]
1. a. collect. Vermin. b. An animal of a noxious or objectionable kind.
A large collection of American examples is given by Thornton Amer. Gloss. (1912) s.v.
a1539in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 148 Let me not be utterly caste away here in prysson, remayening fwll of varment which cawsythe me to hawe no lyste of meytte nor dryncke. 1689Husnance Monitor Ep. Ded., For many who smell like a Kirkish Verment, Can now, Sir, put on a Lamb⁓like garment. 1823E. Moor Suffolk Wds., Varment, vermin, not always confined to the verminous class of animals, but extended to any annoying or troublesome ones. 1828J. Hall Lett. fr. West 297 He gave his foe [a bear-cub] a mortal shot, or to use his own language, ‘I burst the varment’. 1835W. Irving Tour Prairies xxiii, ‘These beavers,’ said he, ‘..are the knowingest varment as I know’. 1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Varment, vermin.
β1829Sporting Mag. (N.S.) XXIII. 242 Some of the followers of the gallant varmint. 1846T. B. Thorpe Backwoods 166 The idea of a ‘man's keeping two varmints in a grass, when he might shoot a dozen by going a little way into the woods’. These ‘varmints’ were two beautiful deer. 1856Porter's Spirit of Times 20 Sept. 38/2 Why, massa, dat 'tarnal varmit hab fooled me bad. 1883E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leicestersh. 154 Meanwhile the varmint had stolen on in his struggle for Tilton Wood and life. 1889Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 25 Oct. 2/3 The granger came out with his rifle and shot the varmint [a panther]. 1974Evening Herald (Rock Hill, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 13/3 She didn't care if my face was black. She didn't treat me like no varmit or nothing.
2. An objectionable or troublesome person or persons; a mischievous boy or child.
1773Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. v. 92 The poor beasts have smoaked for it: Rabbet me, but I'd rather ride forty miles after a fox, than ten with such varment. 1825Brockett N.C. Gloss., Varment, Verment,..also a term of reproach, particularly to a child. 1845C. H. J. Anderson Swedish Brothers 8 That little varmint Nettop has tickled his heels for him. 1857Hughes Tom Brown ii. iv, ‘I've got the young varmint at last, have I,’ pants the farmer. 1859Slang Dict. 114 ‘You young varment, you!’ you bad or naughty boy.
Hence ˈvarminty a. colloq., suggestive of or resembling a varmint; sharp, cunning.
1907A. Conan Doyle Thr. Magic Door ii. 34 Louis, thin, ascetic, varminty. 1922R. Leighton Compl. Bk. Dog xvii. 261 The General Appearance of the West Highland White Terrier is that of a small, game, hardy-looking terrier..with a ‘varminty’ appearance. 1962R. H. Smythe Anat. Dog Breeding 52 The ‘varminty’ eye of a Fox Terrier.
▪ II. varment, varmint, n.2 and a. slang (now dial.).
[Of obscure origin; there is no obvious connexion with prec.]
A. n. A sporting amateur with the knowledge or skill of a professional.
1812Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 9 Every professional amateur..is denominated a Varment. 1823Byron Juan xi. xvii, Poor Tom was once a kiddy upon town, A thorough varmint, and a real swell, Full flash, all fancy.
B. adj.
1. (See quot. 1823.) Also Comb.
1823Egan Grose's Dict. Vulg. T., Varment, natty, dashing. He is quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment hat, coat, etc., he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu. 1828Lytton Pelham II. xiv. 135 We sat down..and looked round inquiringly at the smug and varment citizens with which the room was filled. 1859Warburton Hunting Songs 92 A varment looking gemman on a woiry tit.
2. Knowing, clever, cunning.
1829Brockett N.C. Gloss. 317 Varment..is also a sort of cant word for knowing; as a varment chap, a knowing one. 1831E. J. Trelawny Adv. Younger Son I. 179 Nevertheless there is a varment and knowing look about her [a ship] which I like. 1834Medwin Angler in Wales II. 162 None but a very varmint dog..will face one of these water-weazels a second time. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 340 He..ran into the stockyard and caught the varmint, ambling black mare. 1891P. H. Emerson East Coast Yarns 92, I met old Jimmy Lodes, the varmintest horse-dealer about these parts.
Hence ˈvarmentcy; ˈvarmentish a.
1812Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 9 This polite art is designated Varmentcy. Ibid. 10 The origin of Varmentcy, as of almost all the noble Sciences, is obscure. 1819Ibid. (N.S.) V. 54 Nothing under four horses would look ‘varmentish’. |