| 释义 |
Punch, n.5|pʌnʃ|
[Short for Punchinello.]
1. a. The name of the principal character, a grotesque hump-backed figure, in the puppet-show called Punch and Judy. (The name Judy for ‘Punch's wife’ appears to be later.) Also attrib. in Punch and Judy show, etc.: see also 3; ellipt., = Punch and Judy show.
1709Steele Tatler No. 16 ⁋2 When we came to Noah's Flood in the Show, Punch and his Wife were introduced dancing in the Ark. Ibid. No. 44 ⁋5 He makes a prophane lewd Jester, whom he calls Punch, speak to the Dishonour of Isaac Bickerstaff. 1733Swift On Poetry Wks. 1755 IV. i. 193 Some fam'd for numbers soft and smooth, By lovers spoke in punch's booth. a1790in Hone Every Day Bk. II. 504 Can't you see by my hunch, sir,..I am master Punch, sir. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. i, Remaining behind the curtain unseen, like the ingenious manager of Punch and his wife Joan. 1825C. M. Westmacott English Spy II. 65 Old Punch with his Judy. 1828[J. P. Collier] (title) Punch and Judy... Accompanied by the Dialogue of the Puppet-show [etc.]. 1841C. Fox Jrnl. 18 Feb. (1972) 102 He..teaches us that Punch and Judy men, beggar children and daft old men are also of our species. 1857C. Kingsley Two Years Ago I. p. xviii, Those poor idolaters, and their Punch and Judy plays. 1864[see fair n.1 1 a]. 1871B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. i. 25 At the best a Punch and Judy play. 1876Besant & Rice Gold. Butterfly xi, There were picturesque beggars, Punch-and-Judy shows. 1886C. E. Pascoe London of To-day xix. (ed. 3) 192 Ramsgate ‘sands’..a rendezvous of Punch and Judy men, nigger minstrels, donkey-drivers, and the like.
b. In allusive phrases, e.g. as pleased, proud, etc. as Punch.
1813Moore Let. to Lady Donegal in Diary VIII. 137, I was (as the poet says) as pleased as Punch. 1818― Fudge Fam. Paris ii. 78 While Saxony's as pleased as Punch. Ibid. vi. 82 Give me the useful peaching Rat; Not things as mute as Punch, when bought. 1841C. Brontë Let. 4 May in C. K. Shorter C. Brontë & her Circle (1896) iii. 87 Mrs. White would be as proud as Punch to show it you. 1850Dickens Dav. Copp. li. 520, I am as proud as Punch to think that I once had the honor of being connected with your family. 1873Lowell Lett. (1894) II. 102, I am as pleased as Punch at the thought of having a kind of denizenship, if nothing more, at Oxford. 1888G. B. Shaw Let. 20 Sept. (1965) I. 200 Headlam read out about all the gold and silver in the palace,..and the Bishop looked as proud as Punch of owning it all. 1889Gretton Memory's Harkb. 287, I was proud as Punch, for then I was trusted..to ride a journey by my own little self.
c. Punch's voice [F. voix de Polichinelle]: see quot.
1894Gould Dict. Med. etc. Sci., Punch's Voice, a peculiar bell-like, or ringing tone of voice, like that assumed by Punch in the Punch and Judy shows. It is sometimes heard among the insane, and has [etc.].
2. The title of a well-known comic weekly journal, published in London, of which ‘Mr. Punch’ is the assumed editor. Also attrib.
1841(July 17) (title) Punch, or the London Charivari. 1856G. J. Whyte-Melville Kate Cov. viii, She with her knitting and I with the last Punch. 1856Men of the Time 543 One of his younger brothers..is on the ‘Punch’ staff.
3. Comb.: punch-man, the owner or operator of a punch-show, or Punch and Judy show.
1861Mayhew Lond. Labour III. 47 ‘How are you getting on?’ I might say to another Punchman. 1866Howells Venet. Life v, Little punch-shows on the Riva. |