oldadj.

Brit.

/əʊld/, U.S.

/oʊld/

Forms:

α. Old English haald (Northumbrian, rare), Old English (Anglian) Middle English– ald, Middle English alde, Middle English ale (northern, rare), Middle English alld (northern), Middle English auld (northern), Middle English awlde (northern), Middle English hald, Middle English halde; English regional 1600s– aad (chiefly northern and midlands), 1600s– aud (chiefly northern and midlands), 1600s– awd (chiefly northern and midlands), 1700s– auld (chiefly northern), 1800s– aald (northern), 1800s– ald (northern), 1800s– awld; Scottish pre-1700 aild, pre-1700 alde, pre-1700 aulde, pre-1700 awld, pre-1700 awlde, pre-1700 hauld, pre-1700 1700s– ald, pre-1700 1700s– auld, 1800s– aald, 1900s– aal; Irish English (northern) 1700s– auld, 1900s– ald; N.E.D.(1902) also records a form Middle English hauld; see also ole adj.eOE Leiden Gloss. (1906) 44/2 Quotus, hu ald; totus, suæ ald.eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 871 Þær wearþ Sidroc eorl ofslægen se alda [lOE Laud se ealda] & Sidroc eorl se gioncga.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 18 Ego enim sum senex : ic forðon am ald.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 126 Till þatt teȝȝ wærenn alde.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 43 An ald mon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2959 Þe alde king.c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1183 For þine alde niþe.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 104 He [sc. God] ys ald.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 9224 Four hundret winter ald [a1400 Fairf. halde, a1400 Trin. Cambr. old].a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12578 Ar he was tuelue yeir alld.a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 219 A guod ald wyf.a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 794 Ald men.?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 12 In ane alde castell.c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 279 As awlde men telles.c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 413 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 308 I ame auld & febil bathe.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 17 Aulde storys that men redys.c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) 1 Oure ald enemeis.1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. sig. Hij Ye awld kallendar.c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 33 The ald enemies of Ingland.c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. iii. §4 An ald man sould be wyse.1638 in 9th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1883) App. 194/2 Ane ald cushoun.a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. 6 In auld Neptunus' source.1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 557 Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses.1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. v. 130 I am an auld fellow.1924 Hawick Express 22 Aug. 3/7 Aw've yince or twice risked ma auld banes in a motor-car.1990 B. Roche Poor Beast in Rain i. i. 8 But of course the auld one that was workin' here at the time eventually twigged it.

β. Old English æald (rare), Old English ealdd (rare), Old English ealld (rare), Old English–early Middle English æld, Old English–early Middle English eald, Old English–Middle English aeld, late Old English eæld, late Old English ealð (probably transmission error), late Old English–Middle English eld, early Middle English eold, early Middle English ȝelde (south-western), early Middle English heald, early Middle English healde, Middle English eeld, Middle English eelde, Middle English eild (northern), Middle English eilde (northern), Middle English elde, Middle English elle, Middle English held, Middle English helde, Middle English yalde (Kent), Middle English yeald (Kent), late Middle English yold (south-western); Irish English (Wexford) 1700s yolaw, 1700s–1800s yola, 1800s yole. eOE (Kentish) Charter: Ealhburg to Christ Church, Canterbury (Sawyer 1195) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 8 i wege speces, i eald hriðer, iiii weðras.OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) i. 18 Ic eom nu eald.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxxix. 126 [Hi] wenað þæt þæt [ne] sie eald gesceaft, ac sæ weas geworden niwane.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 9 On þa ealde laȝe [v.r. on þan alde laȝe].c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 3305 Þe ȝunge wifmen & þe ælde.c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 1457 In þan eolde [c1275 Calig. holde] daiȝe hit was a borh riche.c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 195 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 112 Are it were seue ȝer eld.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 7 Ine þe yalde laȝe.1420 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 32 Symon Lode..is febel and yold.a1425 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) 2 Kings iv. 14 Hir hosebonde is eeld [a1425 E.V. olde]. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 137 Elde, or olde.1788 in T. P. Dolan & D. Ó Muirithe Dial. Forth & Bargy (1996) 72 Yolaw, old.a1827 J. Poole Gloss. in T. P. Dolan & D. Ó Muirithe Dial. Forth & Bargy (1996) 72 ‘Yola zong’, an old song; ‘Yole Teoun’, old town.

γ. Middle English hold, Middle English howllde, Middle English nold, Middle English nolde, Middle English ole (rare), Middle English olle (rare), Middle English oold, Middle English oolde, Middle English wold, Middle English–1500s holde, Middle English–1500s owlde, Middle English–1500s wolde, Middle English–1600s oulde, Middle English– old, Middle English– olde (now archaic), 1500s ovlld, 1500s nowld, 1500s–1600s ovld, 1500s–1700s ould, 1500s–1700s owld; English regional 1700s– oud (northern and midlands), 1700s– owd, 1700s– wold (south-western), 1800s– oad (northern and midlands), 1800s– oald (northern), 1800s– o'd (northern and midlands), 1800s– ode (midlands), 1800s– ohd (midlands), 1800s– ould, 1800s– owld, 1800s– woald (southern), 1800s– wuld (southern), 1900s– hoad (Nottinghamshire); Scottish pre-1700 oild, pre-1700 olde, pre-1700 oled, pre-1700 olld, pre-1700 olod, pre-1700 oulde, pre-1700 owlld, pre-1700 1700s– old, pre-1700 1800s– ould, pre-1700 1900s– owld; also Irish English (chiefly southern) 1600s– ould; also Manx English 1800s– ould; N.E.D.(1902) also records a form Middle English owd; see also ole adj.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 199 Þenne hie beð old.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1499 Þe olde [c1300 Otho holde] kinge.a1425 (a1382) Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Corpus Oxf.) Gen. xliii. 27 Ȝoure oold fader. ▸ c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 71 Weder þat he were wold or ȝong. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 363 Ole, for-weryd, as clothys.1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 1535 The wolde law.c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 327 Whan we holde waxen.c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 23 Þe wold testament.1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xx. 452 There nys noo man so oolde.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 250/1 Oulde house that is in ruyne.c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 62 The owld judgment of this realme.c1675 Purgatorium Hibernicum (MS. 470, Nat. Libr. Ireland) 100 Singing ‘Ould Rose’ and ‘Tory Rory’.?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 24 There's on owd Gentlemon ot wooans ot yon Heawse.1803 G. Colman John Bull ii. ii. 22 I'm as aisy as an ould glove.1829 G. Griffin Collegians I. vii. 153 O, wirra, Eily! this is the black day to your ould father.1864 Ld. Tennyson Northern Farmer: Old Style xvii, in Enoch Arden, etc. 136 A's hallus i' the owd taäle.1884 D. Boucicault Shaughraun i. ii. 8 This cabin where the remains of the ould family, two lonely girls, live.1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. i. 7 I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home.1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 8 The ould counthry.1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death iii. 46 She's a bit of an ould stick, but there's no harm in her.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian ald , Middle Dutch out , oud , regional olt , alt (Dutch oud ), Old Saxon ald , old (Middle Low German ōlt , olt , German regional (Low German) oll , old , olt , oold ), Old High German alt (Middle High German alt , German alt ), Crimean Gothic alt , and further ( < the same base with j -suffixation) with Gothic alþeis < a derivative (apparently originally a participial formation corresponding to ancient Greek forms in -τός , classical Latin -tus : compare cold adj.) of the Germanic base of Old English alan to nourish, Old Icelandic ala to nourish, bring up, Gothic alan to feed oneself, to grow up < the same Indo-European base as classical Latin alere to nourish (see aliment n.: the Germanic word thus apparently originally meant ‘grown up, adult’, corresponding in form to classical Latin altus high, deep (see alti- comb. form); compare classical Latin adultus adult adj., also a participial formation on the same Indo-European base). In Scandinavian this adjective was replaced by a different word in the positive degree (compare Old Icelandic gamall ), with forms < the same Germanic base retained for the comparative and superlative (compare Old Icelandic ellri older and ellztr oldest: see elder adj., eldest adj.).α. forms and γ. forms represent regular developments from Old English (Anglian) ald (with lengthened ā ) in the north and south respectively. For spellings with loss of -d see further ole adj.; for variants in w- , see discussion s.v. oat n. The forms in n- show metanalysis (see N n.). β. forms represent Old English (West Saxon and Kentish) eald (with breaking) and its reflexes. Compare later eld adj. (probably an independent conversion of eld n.²). The original comparative and superlative forms, still retained in particular uses, are elder adj., eldest adj.; in the general sense these have been superseded by older adj., oldest adj. With Compounds 5, compare similar use of alt in German (18th cent. or earlier). In Compounds 7, part of a system of nomenclature (opposed to Middle and Modern (or New)), after use of German alt- in the nomenclature developed by Jacob Grimm; compare e.g. althochdeutsch, adjective (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. xxiv).

I. Having lived or existed a long time; not young or new.

1. Of a human or other living thing.

a. Having lived a relatively long time; at an advanced stage of life; not young. Of an animal or plant: mature, fully grown.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [adjective]

oldeOE

old-yeared?c1425

of age1526

aged1543

aetat?1616

aet1654

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > old (of beings, etc.)

oldeOE

winteredeOE

oldlyOE

over-oldOE

eldernc1175

at-oldc1200

stricken on, in age, in eldec1380

oldlya1382

(well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into yearsc1386

ancientc1400

aged1420

well-agedc1450

ripec1480

passing oldc1485

(well) shot in years1530

old aged1535

agey1547

Ogygian1567

strucken1576

oldish1580

stricken in yearsa1586

declined1591

far1591

struck1597

Nestorian1605

overripe1605

elderly1611

eld1619

antiquated1631

enaged1631

thorough-old1639

emerita1643

grandevous1647

magnaevous1727

badgerly1753

(as) old as the hills1819

olden days1823

crusted1833

long in the tooth1841

oldened1854

mature1867

over the hill1950

eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 108/1 Senex, ald.

eOE (Kentish) Will of Abba (Sawyer 1482) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 5 Fiftig hwitehlafa, an weg spices & ceses, an ald hriðer, feower weðras, an suin.

OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 18 Ego enim sum senex : ic forðon am ald.

OE Beowulf 357 Þær Hroðgar sæt eald ond anhar.

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 12 Swa byð se ealda man ceald and snoflig.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1499 Þe olde [c1300 Otho holde] kinge.

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4570 Of Gormoise icham cleped Tirri, Þeld erls sone Aubri.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 4 (MED) In þat forest..þer woned a wel old cherl þat was a couherde.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 213 Almound trees bereþ more fruyte whan þey beþ olde þan whanne þey beþ ȝonge.

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 723 Of myddil age, and rather yonge then olde.

1564 Edinb. Burgh Deeds (MS) 120 Dame margaret levingstoun aluld ladie ȝester.

1597 T. Middleton Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xii. sig. O3^v Balld, because old, old because liuing long.

1644 T. Rugge Jrnl. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 176 Old Mr Woods came to town.

1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 172 Under an old oak's domestic shade.

1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 947 Old trees are frequently affected with a kind of ulcer.

1864 Ld. Tennyson Grandmother 18 All my children have gone before me, I am so old.

1934 D. Thomas Let. 2 May (1987) 121 A little, very old, bald don, of the sort who always stops..to read the writing on public lavatory walls.

1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 32 An old woman passed by.

2000 Daily Tel. 31 Mar. 17/1 Satellite-based devices to monitor old people..are to undergo large-scale trials in Japan.

b. Belonging to or characteristic of old persons; relating to advanced life. Now only in old age n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > relating to or characteristic of

oldOE

aged1561

grey-headed1581

frosty1592

grey1602

veneral1631

senile1661

venerable1726

gerontic1885

post-reproductive1900

OE St. Mary of Egypt (Julius) (2002) 72 Sona swa hi Zosimus geseah, þa witodlice, his ealdan ylde ofergetiligende..mid hrædestan ryne þenigende arn.

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 12 Cildhad and cnihtiugoð and geþungen yld and swyðe eald yld.

a1325 St. Alphege (Corpus Cambr.) 130 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 152 (MED) Ich ssel here al one be in min olde lyf forlore.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 13 Ik am oold... This white top writeth myne olde yerys.

a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 365 (MED) It was miracle þat so oold folk brouȝten forþ þis child in her olde daies.

a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 154 (MED) Than shall men off his howsold..haue honeste sustenance in þer olde dayis when thai mey no longer serue.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 119 Eftir him cummis ȝoung airis, That his auld thrift settis on ane ais.

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear i. 177 Heele shape his old course in a countrie new.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 371 Ile racke thee with old Crampes.

1707 London Gaz. No. 4354/4 176l. per Ann. in Lease (most of which are very old Lives).

c. Of a person, or his or her physical or mental attributes: having the characteristics of maturity or age.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > having characteristics of old age

agedlike1530

grey-bearded1593

old1832

c1390 G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale 3886 Oure olde lymes mowe wel been vnweelde.

1420 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 32 (MED) Symon Lode..is febel and yold.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 6335 Som tyme am I hor and old; Now am I yong, stout, and bold.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 2232 (MED) Who so eteth þe fruit of þat tree Syke ne oolde shal he neuere be.

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. vii Now when I am bycome old and feble.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 48 Weil couth I..bler his ald e.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. iii. 2 My old bones akes.

1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton Eugene Aram I. i. vi. 99 We grow old before our time.

1842 F. Marryat Percival Keene II. i. 98 You appear to have an old head upon very young shoulders.

1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. i. 4 It is not a pleasant thing for a young man..to have an old voice.

1908 Daily Chron. 31 Mar. 4/6 To become old is not necessarily to grow old.

1991 Sassy Aug. 92/2 It rots to be a female..it rots even worse to be old.

†d. Scottish. Of a child: oldest, older. Obsolete.Esp. in the language of ballads.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > first-born

eldestc1000

first-begottenc1350

first-gottena1382

firstbornc1384

first-gendereda1398

first-kinneda1400

oldest1478

ayne1483

first-conceived1574

eigne1586

eldest-born1608

primogenit1619

first-begot1671

primogenitala1706

old1706

primogenitary1827

primogenitive1842

1706 in J. Maidment Bk. Sc. Pasquils (1868) 370 This her old sone, and treu born heir.

1795 R. Burns in Scots Musical Museum V. 437 Our young lady's a huntin gane, Sheets nor blankets has she taen, But shes born her auld son or she cam hame.

1825 Babylon in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1882) I. xiv. 175 She's to the wood gane, To seek her old sister, and to bring her hame.

1861 D. Murdoch Dutch Dominie of Catskills iii. iii. 318 When in my grave, I have sworn my auld son Oscar to come every Sunday morning, when he must lay this medal aboon my heart.

1889 A. C. Swinburne Witch-mother in Poems & Ballads 3rd Ser. 157 She's set her young son to her breast, Her auld son to her knee.

2. That dates far back into the past; of ancient origin; made or formed long ago. Also: poetic having always existed; primeval. (In Old English and early Middle English applied to God.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective]

oldeOE

eldeda1400

antique1490

invetered1490

prisk1533

grey-headed1578

ancient1579

hoar1590

inveterated1597

antiquated1598

inveterate1598

long-dated1602

avital1611

vetust1623

old-standinga1627

grey-haired1637

superannuateda1644

avitous1731

old-established1776

venerable1792

timeworn1840

inworn1864

avitic1865

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin

oldeOE

olden daysa1400

for-oldc1400

ancient1475

(as) old as Adama1599

antiquary1599

high1601

primal1604

hoary1609

grandeval1650

Noachal1661

patriarchal1806

(as) old as the hills1819

world-old1837

eld1854

age-old1860

far-back1869

Noachian1874

pornial1883

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > having lasted long > having lasted in some capacity

oldeOE

ancient1413

eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) i. xxxiii. 90 Ealde Romanisce weorce.

OE Beowulf 945 Þæt hyre Ealdmetod este wære bearngebyrdo.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xiv. 31 Se ealda cwide is swiðe soð þe mon gefyrn cwæð.

c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 198 Þenne arisæþ of þam ealde buriȝnes alle þa lichame and þa ban.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12419 Ane huse þe wes biclused faste, an ald stanene weorc.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4790 (MED) Þat was þe verste chirche þat in engelond com & þe eldost [v.rr. aldest, vldest] hous al so as in lawe of cristendom; Þeruore me it aþ euere ycluped þe olde chirche.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 104 He [sc. God] ys ald and yknawe and ydred and yworþssiped and yloued.

c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 77 Axeth of olde pathes, that is to seyn, of olde sentences, which is the goode wey.

?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 12 (MED) Scho lies in ane alde castell.

c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 798 Ȝoure docturus sain in sawus ful olde.

a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 115 (MED) The yere of incarnacion of Crist is innotyd in the taper, for Crist is an olde ȝere, a gret yere, and fulle of dayes.

1543 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Royal Burgh of Lanark (1893) 19 The ald akis made of before.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. i. 78 Old fashions please me best.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 543 A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night.

1743 A. Pope Ess. Man (new ed.) i. 158 Who knows but he, whose hand the light'ning forms, Who heaves old Ocean, and who wings the storms?

1870 Appletons' Jrnl. 12 Mar. 297/2 It was an old custom in Northumberland to have a syllabub for the May Feast.

1913 W. Wilson New Freedom vi. 119 There are those, of course, who are wedded to the old ways.

2000 Guardian 1 Apr. (Travel section) 9/5 The Company of Marblers..keeps up its old traditions, including the entry fee for new members of six shillings and eight pence, a quart of beer and a penny loaf.

a. Of a material thing: that has been relatively long in existence or use (opposed to new); worn with age or use; decayed, deteriorated, shabby.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > decayed > decayed as result of age

oldOE

timeworn1599

OE Beowulf 2763 Þær wæs helm monig eald ond omig.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xiii. 52 Niwe þing & ealde.

OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 16 Ne deþ witodlice nan man niwes claðes scyp on eald reaf.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 963 Syððon com se biscop Aðelwold to þære mynstre..ne fand þær nan þing buton ealde weallas & wilde wuda.

a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 163 (MED) Ðe chire cloðes ben to brokene and ealde.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 25 On old stoc.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 546 In an eld cloth wnden.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. ix. 17 Nether men senden newe wijne in to olde botelis.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke v. 39 No man drynkinge old [a1425 L.V. the elde; L. vetus Tyndale olde wine] wole anon newe; sothli he seith, ‘The olde is the betere.’

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 220 She was clad ful porely Al in an old, torn courtepy.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 278 Sir Launcelot rode over that brydge that was olde and feble.

a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) 455 (MED) Of olde hors-shoys..I was Ire; Now am I siluere as good as ye desire.

1542 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) Rec. for ij olde bee fattis iiijd.

1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) i. iii, in Wks. I. 13 Drakes old ship, at Detford, may sooner circle the world againe.

1670 J. Dryden Almanzor Prol. 27 They bring old iron and glass upon the stage.

1747 G. G. Beekman Let. 26 Sept. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 26 Most of the Last goods you have Sent me are old Shop goods not Salable with your merchants which you git at a Low price.

1788 J. May Jrnl. 17 Apr. (1873) (modernized text) 18 After breakfast met numbers of people going to meeting, in their old clothes, it being fast-day.

a1800 W. Cowper Needless Alarm 53 They [sc. sheep] gathered close around the old pit's brink.

1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) Thick there cask zmellth old like.

1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence i. xvii. 156 One was a shaggy yellow ulster of ‘reach-me-down’ cut, the other a very old and rusty cloak with a cape.

1954 C. Beaton Glass of Fashion ii. 26 They were old and out of fashion by then, those shoes—a relic of the past.

2000 Daily Tel. 18 Sept. 9/7 Binliners full of old clothes from the Salvation Army and charity shops.

b. Of food or drink: ripe, mature, aged; (also) stale.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > stale, decaying, or infested

oldeOE

fustya1492

stale1530

overkept1837

overhung1895

skippery1899

off1913

eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. viii. 52 Briw wiþ blæce on andwlitan gemelte eald spic.

OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Vitell.) (1984) xxiii. 70 Cnuca hy mid ealdum smerwe butan sealte, do þærto anne scænc ealdes [?a1200 Harl. 6258B ældes] wines.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxv. 22 Ȝe shal sowe þe eyȝþe ȝeer, & ȝe shole ete oolde [a1425 L.V. elde] fruytys vnto þe nynþe ȝeer.

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 94b (MED) Pacientz of emoroidez oweþ to eschewe..heuedez of bestez, olde chise, [etc.].

?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh.) (1950) 152 (MED) Þe lewys wronggen in old ale and put in-to mannys mowth lesyth þe sor in mannys mowth.

c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 152b^v (MED) Þe breed schal be..neiþir old ne freisch.

1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke iii. lxvi. 165 You must sprinckle the grieued place with olde vinegre, and oyle of roses mixed.

1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 22 His Host set before him..olde ranke oile in steed of greene, sweet, & fresh.

1614 S. Latham Falconry i. xi. 41 At that time of the yeere, old food is more drie and hard of digesture.

1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Rancidness, strong scent, as of old oil.

1772 T. Nugent tr. J. F. de Isla Hist. Friar Gerund I. 106 Old ewe-mutton, hung-meat, and household bread.

1828 N. Hawthorne Fanshawe iv. 45 The basis of the potation contained in this vessel, was harsh old cider.

1898 E. N. Westcott David Harum vii. 61 It's the old ‘Mouton’, and pretty nearly the last of it; it's very old and wants drinking.

1916 E. H. S. Bailey Source, Chem. & Use Food Products iv. 127 The characteristic flavor of old rum is..developed..by storing for some time in oaken casks.

1997 M. Groening et al. Simpsons: Compl. Guide 66/2 The next time there's a canned food drive I'll give the poor something they'd actually like instead of old lima beans and pumpkin mix.

2000 Z. Smith White Teeth (2001) xii. 313 Life's pleasures: old cheese, good wine, winters in Florence.

†c. Wearing old clothes, shabby. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > shabbily dressed

scoury?a1513

olda1616

shabby1669

dowdy1676

duddy1718

seedy1725

schleppy1966

schlubby1968

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 123 There were none fine, but Adam, Rafe, and Gregory, The rest were ragged, old, and beggerly.

4. With a premodifying noun phrase consisting of a noun denoting a period of time premodified by a numeral or quantifier.

a. Of a specified age or length of time, e.g. one year old, two days old, several months old. Also with adverbs, e.g. old enough, how old.The numeral or quantifier in the noun phrase premodifying eald was in the accusative (or occasionally genitive) in Old English, e.g. tyn nihta eald, þritiges geara eald (cf. Old High German drizzig iar alt, iares alter). See also note at sense 4c.

ΚΠ

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xlix. 385 Ær he wæs ðritiges geara eald.

OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xlvii. 8 [Pharao] axode hyne, hu eald he wære.

OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) iii. i. 124 Þonne se mona beo tyn nihta eald.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1110 He [sc. se mona] wæs þæs ylcan dæges feowertyne nihta eald.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7675 Ȝho wass sextiȝ winnterr [MS wint] ald.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 153 He was fiftene ȝer ald.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 192 (MED) He sholde yemen hire wel..Til þat she were tuelf winter hold.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 441 (MED) Penda..bygan to regne whanne he was fifty ȝere olde.

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 919 A she asse oon yer olde.

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 72 Ȝe answere and ȝe were twenty ȝere olde.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. xvii. B Euery manchilde whan it is eight dayes olde, shalbe circumcyded [circūcyded in text].

1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor iii. iii. sig. G4 Your sonne is old inough, to gouerne himselfe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 151 In Ephesus I am but two houres old .

1647 S. Danforth Almanack 1 You must count how old the moon is, or how many days are past since the day of the change.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 11. ⁋4 The Story you have given us is not quite two thousand Years Old.

1872 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera II. xxi. 7 A wall which was just eighteen hundred years old.

1955 D. Eden Darling Clementine (1959) 78 She at least was old enough to know better.

1994 Runner's World Feb. 31/1 I am 39 years old and hope to compete in some masters track meets after I turn 40.

2002 Glamour July 64/2 Two days before the Miss Spain competition..the organisers discovered how old she really was.

b. Usually hyphenated, with the premodifying noun in the singular or plural.

(a) attributive. Designating a person or thing of the specified age, e.g. a two-year-old sheep, a six-months-old child.The attributive use is well attested in Old English but seems to have been entirely absent from Middle English. It is attested again from the 16th cent., originally in northern and Scottish sources, and at first exclusively with reference to livestock and horses. In view of the discontinuity and the initial exclusion of human referends, this was possibly a new formation, independent of that found in Old English, and conceivably linked to sense 4c. It appears to have been uncommon in the standard language until the 18th cent., when it is attested in the absol. use (see sense 4b(b)) chiefly with reference to horses. The attributive use referring to human beings became common only in the early 19th cent. See also two-year-old adj. and n., year-old adj. and n.

ΚΠ

eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxxii. 146 Nan man on þon fif nihta ealdne monan..ne læte blod.

OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 285 Sexagenarius syxtigfeald getel oðþe syxtig geara eald man.

?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1140 Uuard þe sunne suilc als it uuare threniht ald mone.

1594 in Black Bk. Taymouth (Bannatyne Club) 298 Off greit meirris xlvi; off twa yeir auld hors, v... Off greit mearis xxxviii..off yeir auld meiris, iiii.

a1625 T. Pont Topogr. Acct. Cunningham (1858) 180 Item, ane twa ȝeir auld bull.

1630 M. Godwin tr. F. Godwin Ann. Eng. ii. 220 The six yeare old Queene.

1789 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 1 141 I turned in my Tegs (or one year old sheep).

1822 C. Lamb in London Mag. Mar. 284/1 A two days old newspaper..you resent the stale thing as an affront.

1825 J. Bentham Observ. Mr. Peel's Speech 10 Exclusion of all Barristers but three-year old ones.

1899 Westm. Gaz. 25 Nov. 6/2 Under the century-old trees.

1977 Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 17 July 2 f/4 Zookeepers caring for a two-week-old orphaned hippopotamus.

2002 N.Y. Times 6 Jan. ix. 4/1 On Sept. 11, LaChanze, mother of 19-month-old Celia and eight months pregnant..lost her husband.

(b) absol. A person or thing of the specified age, e.g. a two-year-old. Used esp. in referring to children, livestock, and racehorses.In Horse Racing, the absol. use can itself be used attributively to designate a race open to horses of a specified age.

ΚΠ

1539 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 114 xj ky & iiij quyes iiij yer olds iiij iij yere olds.

1677 in C. Innes Bk. Thanes Cawdor (1859) 334 My 3 yeir old cowes, my 2 yeir olds and my year olds.

1761 S. Johnson Idler No.62 ⁋10 A bay Filly, who carried off the five years old plate.

1769 St. James's Chron. 10–11 Aug. 3/4 (Horse-race) Five-year-olds, 9 st.

1852 Jockey Club Rules 39 in Blaine's Encycl. Rural Sports (new ed.) §1336 In all minor handicaps and in two-year-old handicaps..the highest weight..is to be raised to 8st. 7lb.

1975 Lang. for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xxv. 407 Mixed ability teaching in the sample was evidently very common for 12 year old classes, but less so for 14 year olds.

1992 Morgan Horse Nov. 34/3 At Orcland farm, he had been used very lightly at stud as a three-year-old.

c. Following a preposition or prepositional phrase, equivalent to ‘x years of age’, e.g. a child of ten years old, from two years old, under six months old.The origin of this construction is uncertain. It appears first with of, which may possibly represent the Old English genitive phrase (see sense 4a), so that ‘a child of x years old’ might originally be equivalent to ‘a child old (in respect) of x years’. But there is a chronological gap between the Old English use and this one. Moreover, a similar phrase containing the noun elde (see eld n.²), where the sense is clearly ‘of x years' age’, is recorded earlier in Ormulum (more than once) and the Trinity College, Cambridge, MS of Seinte Marherete, and the MS readings of some later texts vary between old and elde in this construction (see quots. a1400¹ and c1450). The explanation may therefore lie in the substitution of the adjective old for the noun elde, facilitated by the fact that the form eld(e) was also a dialectal variant of the adjective. From late Middle English onwards the expression was treated as a noun phrase which might be preceded by any preposition: see, e.g., quots. ?1440 and 1582.A similar usage is found with high, long, broad, deep, etc. (which in Old English were also preceded by a genitive or accusative phrase of dimension); but there the construction with of appears to be later, and that with other prepositions less usual: see of prep. 49b.

ΚΠ

c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 18 (MED) He was fayr and eke bold And of fiftene winter hold.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4979 (MED) Seint oswald..was..of eiȝte & þriȝti ȝer old þo him biuel þis cas.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 11566 (MED) Wit-in þe land left he noght an O tua yeir eild [a1400 Gött. eilde, a1400 Trin. Cambr. olde] þat he ne was slan.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10587 (MED) Þis maiden bot o thre yeir old [a1400 Trin. Cambr. olde] Was on þis grece.

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 734 Caluyng from iij yeer olde Til x is best.

c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Digby) (1878) 78 Yong was this Quene, of xxti yeere olde [c1450 Robinson ed. of elde; v.r. eld].

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 273 Hyr dochtir, had of xii wokkis ald a knayff.

1547 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1852) V. 311 Four stots of three ȝeir auld.

1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. ii. 16 From two yere old & vnder [c1384 Wycliffite, E.V. fro two ȝeer age and with ynne; 1526 (Tyndale), 1560 (Geneva) as many as were two yere old and vnder].

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III ii. iv. 28 He could gnaw a crust at two houres olde .

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. viii. 4 I was made a King, at nine months olde .

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §754 At foure yeares old there commeth the Mark-Tooth.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 135 A Steer of two Years old .

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. vi. 106 Those intended for Apprentices are dismissed at nine Years old.

1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals iii. i This is my return..for putting him, at twelve years old, into a marching regiment.

1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna ii. xxv. 44 This child of twelve years old.

1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 275 At two years old, the colt..may be put to plough.

1883 Standard 30 Nov. 2/4 A child entered the mill as a half-timer at ten years old.

1970 Daily Tel. 8 May 17 The tendency is for children to experiment with cigarettes from as early as eight years old.

1989 Wine Spectator 31 Aug. 32/2 It showed no oxidation at 20 years old.

d. colloquial. With premodifying nouns not usually considered as marking the passage of time.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > having had specific length of existence > measured in number of uses, etc.

old1967

1967 N. Lucas C.I.D. vi. 70 Their getaway was only two hundred yards old when their luck changed.

1984 Nutshell (Gainesville, Florida) Spring 33 (advt.) Even after a Maxell recording is 500 plays old, you'll swear it's not a play over five.

1988 Los Angeles Times 15 Oct. iii. 12/1 Parker made an error before the game was an inning old.

5. Of long practice or experience; veteran; experienced or skilled (in a subject or art); (slang) clever, knowing.See also compounds at Compounds 6.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > skilled or experienced

oldOE

well-usedc1300

experientc1420

way-wisea1460

pertly1466

practica1522

perite1530

well-practised1539

well-experienced1541

practised1548

experienced1576

veteran1624

practical1632

well-seasoned1640

seasoneda1643

callent1656

versant1766

used1786

salted1864

roteda1901

shell-backed1930

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > astute

oldOE

witterc1100

pratc1175

smeighc1200

fellc1300

yap13..

far-castinga1387

parlousc1390

advisee?a1400

politic?a1439

astucec1550

political1577

astute1611

knowing1664

shrewda1684

sharp1697

leery1718

peery1721

fly1811

canny1816

flash1818

astucious1823

varmint1829

chickaleary1839

wide1879

snide1883

varminty1907

crazy like (or as) a fox1935

OE Ælfric Let. to Wulfsige (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 11 Presbiter is..ealdwita. Na þæt ælc eald sy, ac þæt he eald sy on wisdome.

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 64 Old in hise sinnes dern.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 439 (MED) Macedonia schulde be þe strengere ȝif ȝonge kniȝtes come after elde fadres [L. veteranis patribus].

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. 1821 (MED) By his prudence he eskaped is a-geyn, For he was boþe expert, wys, & olde.

a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 44^v (MED) Þe olde [L. Veteres] lerned kniȝtes..were..ocupied in þe same wise.

?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 477 (MED) Symon..flowrede moche in this tyme..yonge in age, but olde in connynge and intellect of divine scripture.

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Olde souldier, veteranus.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. 9 Growne old In cunning sleightes.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost ii. i. 254 Thou art an old Loue-monger, & speakest skilfully.

1638 J. Ford Fancies ii. 29 My stars, I thank yee, for being ignorant, Of what this old in mischiefe can intend.

1662 J. Milton To Sir H. Vane in G. Sykes Life & Death Sir H. Vane 93 Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old.

1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 274 The Germans were too old for us there.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Let. to — in Posthumous Poems (1824) 63 I, an old diviner, who know well Every false verse of that sweet oracle.

1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel II. viii. ii. 306 Old in vices, and mean of soul!

1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 152 The Athenians were old sailors and they were only beginners.

1929 Travel Jan. 18/1 ‘Treasure Island’ tells how the old sea-dog at the ‘Admiral Benbow’..used to prate of..the Spanish Main.

1974 J. Wainwright Evidence I shall Give xxxii. 166 They are old in wisdom and experience.

1997 London Rev. Bks. 23 Jan. 8/4 Harold Macmillan, with all the skill of the old actor manager, succeeded in false-footing Rab.

6. Designating a period of time which is almost at an end, esp. used predicatively of a day or night which is nearly over (now literary), and (chiefly attributive) of the moon in wane.

ΚΠ

OE Ælfric De Temporibus Anni (Cambr. Gg.3.28) iv. §35. 36 Gif se ealda mona geendað twam dagum oððe ðrim binnon hlydan monðe, þonne bið he geteald to ðam monðe.

a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 27 (MED) Oðer newe mone betere ðan æld-mone in to newe huse te wænden.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 298 Apes..ben mery and glad in þe newe of þe moone and elenge in þe myddil and in þe olde moone.

a1425 in Stud. Philol. (1923) 20 82 (MED) Whan ȝe seen..What tyme of þe mone hyt ys, Wher he be olde oþer newe, Go to þys story agayn.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 130 As the ta lufe vaxis auld, The tothir dois incres moir kene.

1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether sig. Ciiii Olde moones be leake they can holde no water.

1638 J. Ford Fancies v. 72 Night drawes on, And quickly will grow old.

1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 319 I saw the Old Moon go out on the Hills at Lhor, and the Night following, the Horns reversed.

a1727 I. Newton Observ. Prophecies Daniel (1733) i. xi. 160 The Jews referred all the time of the silent moon, as they phrased it, that is, of the moon's disappearing, to the old moon.

1750 T. Wright Orig. Theory Universe 25 You..told me that that kind of phænomenon the country people called a Stork, or the old moon in the new one's arms.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Triumph of Life in Posthumous Poems (1824) 95 Long before the day Was old.

1850 ‘S. Yendys’ Roman vii. 107 The old moon began to sink, (Long, like her, upon the wane).

1985 R. Bly Loving Woman in Two Worlds (1987) i. 21 Shark's teeth glitter in the light of the old moon.

1995 Sky & Telescope May 105/2 I saw the horns of the old Moon poke above the flat lining of some deep blue clouds.

7. colloquial (chiefly U.S.). Tiresome, esp. through repetition or familiarity. Frequently in to get old.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious

dreicha1300

alangec1330

joylessa1400

tedious1412

wearifulc1454

weary1465

laboriousa1475

tiresome?a1513

irksome1513

wearisome1530

woodena1566

irkful1570

flat1573

leaden1593

barren1600

soaked1600

unlively1608

dulla1616

irking1629

drearisome1633

drear1645

plumbous1651

fatigable1656

dreary1667

uncurious1685

unenlivened1692

blank1726

disinteresting1737

stupid1748

stagnant1749

trist?1756

vegetable1757

borish1766

uninteresting1769

unenlivening1774

oorie1787

wearying1796

subjectless1803

yawny1805

wearing1811

stuffy1813

sloomy1820

tediousome1823

arid1827

lacklustrous1834

boring1839

featureless1839

slow1840

sodden1853

ennuying1858

dusty1860

cabbagy1861

old1864

mouldy1876

yawnful1878

drab1880

dehydrated1884

interestless1886

jay1889

boresome1895

stodgy1895

stuffy1895

yawnsome1900

sludgy1901

draggy1922

blah1937

nowhere1940

drack1945

stupefactive1970

schleppy1978

wack1986

1864 C. W. Wills Diary 6 June in Army Life Illinois Soldier (1906) 255 [Campaigning] occasionally gets a little old, but so does everything in this life.

1866 W. Hilleary Jrnl. 10 July in Webfoot Volunteer (1965) 210 Our Commander has invented another ailing. ‘Scurvy’ is getting old and now he is much afflicted with a ‘Stricture’.

1951 in Harper's Mag. (1952) Feb. 43 That old straw boss keep..givin' me that old hurry-up, hurry-up, that gets old.

1973 H. S. Thompson Let. 14 Sept. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 537 The haggling is getting pretty goddamn old.

2000 N.Y. Times 20 Sept. d7/1 [He] still found it exciting to come up with the game-winning hit. ‘That never gets old.’

II. Former; not current; relating to past times, bygone.

a. No longer in existence; of the distant past. Now opposed to modern.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > long-past or old

oldOE

ancient1366

yorec1400

antique1532

of yore1598

long-ago1603

far gone1829

way back1885

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective]

ererc888

fernOE

oldOE

formerc1160

ratherc1330

before-goingc1384

formerc1384

forenexta1400

formea1400

while1399

antecedentc1400

precedentc1400

anteceding?a1425

late1446

whilom1452

preceding?a1475

forne1485

fore1490

heretofore1491

foregoing1530

toforegoing1532

further1557

firster1571

then1584

elder1594

quondam1598

forehand1600

previant1601

preallable1603

prior1607

anterior1608

previal1613

once1620

previous1621

predecessivea1627

antecedaneous?1631

preventive1641

prior1641

precedaneous1645

preventional1649

antegredient1652

senior1655

prevenient1656

precedential1661

antecedental1763

past-gone1784

antevenient1800

aforetime1835

one-time1850

onewhile1882

foretime1894

erstwhile1903

antecedane-

ere-

OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 8 Sume sædon eald witega aras.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13724 Þatt alde follc. Off godess hallȝhe lede.

?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 49 Þa ealde læces sædan, þæt þeos þrowung ys ȝeset of feofer þingum.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 124 An old filosofe, þet hette platoun.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 21 Ȝee han herde that it is said to olde men [L. antiquis].

c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 294 Olde poetys sey she bereth the heruest horne.

a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Sloane 1873) (1975) 2831 (MED) Olde men ymagynede for this arte A speciall fornace for euery parte.

1590 L. Lloyd First Pt. Diall of Daies 8 The old antient Romanes had..certaine ceremonies.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. iii. 35 The nine Sibyls of old Rome.

1643 J. Swan Speculum Mundi (ed. 2) ii. §3. 32 The old ancient order of the yeare.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 178 The Prophets old, who sung thy endless raign.

1728 A. Pope Dunciad ii. 124 A cov'ring, worthy to be spread On Codrus' old, or **'s modern bed.

1846 Ld. Tennyson Golden Year in Poems (ed. 4) II. 91 Old writers push'd the happy season back.

1948 G. D. H. Bell Cultivated Plants Farm i. 5 They demonstrate how dependent were the old civilisations on particular crops.

1977 Time 14 Feb. 33/2 To re-establish old wisdom and simple certitudes.

b. Of a story or account: relating to or on the subject of past times.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > relating to past times

oldOE

old world1712

historical1739

old-time1795

old-worldly1878

OE Crist III 1396 Nu ic ða ealdan race anforlæte, hu þu æt ærestan yfle gehogdes, firenweorcum forlure þæt ic ðe to fremum sealde.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 1 (MED) In Saynt Bede bokes writen er stories olde.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10441 (MED) It was neuere noon oolde man, As men sein in oolde ȝedding, But þat he was strong in his ȝing.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 17 Aulde storys that men redys.

c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 85 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 79 The cronikis old from Kynge Arthur he could reherse.

1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. ii. xxiii. §4. 574 In filling vp the blankes of old Histories, we neede not be so scrupulous.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 386 Wherever stood City of old or modern Fame.

1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xvii. 88 We are always running over old Stories, when we are alone.

1820 P. B. Shelley Œdipus Tyrannus i. 10 Grass-hoppers that live on noon-day dew, And sung, old annals tell, as sweetly too.

1969 W. Berry Recoll. Ess. (1980) 21 I am not oppressed by it as I would be by an ancient and venerated family seat, full of old records and traditions and memories.

2001 Hist. Scotl. Winter 64/2 There is always room for revisiting old stories and retelling them.

c. Associated with ancient times; renowned in history or legend; esp. (poetic) as an epithet with proper names.Old Adam: see Adam n.¹ 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > associated with ancient times

olda1325

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [adjective] > historically famous

olda1325

classical1546

classic1787

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3479 Of olde abraham and of sarra bi-geten Dede ysaac of olde teten.

c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 429 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius..Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 5474 (MED) Þar he demed him self to lij Bi ysaac and be abraham In ebron biside ald adam.

c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 65 The olde Creon gan espye How that the blood roial was broght a-doun.

a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) v. 4844 That lauche of awlde Moyses.

1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 195 Y^e cursednesse of old Adam, from which we are exempted by Christ.

1645 J. Milton Arcades in Poems 56 On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar.

1682 Satyr to Muse 190 So by old Plato man was once defined.

1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 14 From old Belerium to the German Main.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas lvii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 48 To glide adown old Nilus, when he threads Egypt and Æthiopia.

1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 72 It is the old historical lands of Europe that the lover of history longs to explore.

1990 M. Martin Keys of this Blood v. xix. 372 A more developed form of the old Greek cosmopolitanism.

d. Antiquated or ancient in character, style or appearance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > long-past or old > proper to ancient times

oldc1330

c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 591 (MED) Þe knyȝt in þe mede hadde o maner..Of chaumbres and of hegȝe halle Of old werk, forcrased alle.

c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls 19 It happede me for to beholde Upon a bok, was write with lettres olde.

c1475 Guy of Warwick (Caius) 8109 (MED) He had an helme of oold werke.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 70 Men curious in vsing old & auncient woordes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 42 O fellow come, the song we had last night: Marke it Cesario, it is old and plaine.

1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 20 Some by Old Words to Fame have made Pretence; Ancients in Phrase.

1899 Westm. Gaz. 11 May 4/2 What they call the old blue, the shade seen in old enamelling.

1990 Musician Feb. 100/3 When market research made it clear that FM was getting a bit old for the public, Yamaha pulled the V80 and sat down for a major rethink.

a. Designating a past time or period, esp. in old days, old times, and variants. Also in good (also bad) old days, good (also bad) old times. Cf. olden days at olden adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > [noun] > time long past or long ago

fern-daysOE

yesterdayOE

antiquityc1375

ancienty1489

eldc1540

father-age1633

auld lang syne1666

(the) year one1754

ancientry1755

aforetime1803

good (also bad) old days1828

long-ago1831

eld-time1845

the year dot1857

old times1898

eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxix. 364 Forðon ða sylfan stowe..wæs ðær io on ealdum tidum ge biscop mid his geferum, ge eac abbod wunode mid munecum.

OE Ælfric Homily: Sermo de Die Iudicii (Corpus Cambr. 178) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 602 Iu on ealdum dagum, ær ðam þe Cristendom wære, menn worhton deofolgyld wide geond þas woruld.

OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxvi. 5 Þa ic ealde dagas eft geþohte hæfde me ece gear ealle on mode.

lOE Writ of Edward the Confessor (Sawyer 1121) in F. E. Harmer Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) 344 Se is gemæne swa he onn ældum timum gelegd wæs.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5196 Helyas wass..an wurrþfull prophete. Onn alde daȝhess.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5913 Þiss waȝȝn wass þurrh an kingess waȝȝn. Inn alde daȝhess tacnedd.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1457 Ȝeare a þan holde [Otho eolde] dawen heo wes swiðe aðel burh.

c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 408 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 65 (MED) Moyses opon synay was bi olde dawe Fourti daiȝes in priuete.

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ruth iv. 7 Þis..was þe maner in old tyme in Israel betwen neeȝ kyn.

?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 87^v (MED) Boþe surgenes þat weren in olde tyme & also surgenes þat ben now stauncheden blode alle in one manere.

c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 13 Elders of alde tym.

c1471 in J. B. Sheppard Let. Bks. Monastery Christ Church Canterbury (1889) 251 (MED) They to observe all such covenauntes be twyxe your predecessors and thers of olde tyme made.

a1500 in A. Zettersten Middle Eng. Lapidary (1968) 30 (MED) In olde tyme þe enchaunteres wolde put quykke brennyng coles in the foure partes of the howse.

?1555 Image of Idlenesse sig. Ciii A myracle whiche in the olde dayes she wrought.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Argent In good old times when men were loath to publish their owne goodnesse.

1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iii. 28 Ay, ay, in old days People married where they lov'd; but that fashion is chang'd.

1727 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman II. ii. Introd. 7 In the good old days of Trade..there were no Bubbles, no Stock-jobbing.

1785 W. Cowper Task v. 217 Tubal..the Vulcan of old times.

1828 Oscotian (ed. 2) I. 1 However glorious those ‘good old times’ may have been, they still were destitute of one very important advantage.

1856 ‘G. Eliot’ in Westm. Rev. 10 55 The aristocratic dilettantism which attempts to restore the ‘good old times’ by a sort of idyllic masquerading.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. i. 6 If knighthood were hereditary, like a baronetcy, as it practically was in old times, when men were knighted from father to son, you would be Sir John now.

1898 G. B. Shaw Mrs. Warren's Profession ii. 197 Suppose we were both as poor as you were in those wretched old days.

1906 Nature 3 May (Suppl.) p. vii/2 In writing of times that are past and gone, while still within our recollection, we have all to be on our guard against a popular illusion as to the ‘good old days’.

1911 G. B. Shaw Getting Married in Doctor's Dilemma 261 I felt that I had left the follies and puerilities of the old days behind me for ever.

1958 A. Huxley Brave New World Revisited (1959) 27 In the bad old days children with considerable, or even with slight, hereditary defects rarely survived.

1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 25 Feb. a15/3 For a visitor returning after many years, it's like old times.

b. for old times' sake: for nostalgic reasons; for the sake of long-standing or former friendship. Cf. for old sake's sake at sake n.¹ 10(c).

ΚΠ

1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes (1855) II. vi. 55 It was partly for the sake of the Ridleys and the tick he owes 'em: partly for old times' sake.

1895 T. Hardy Jude vi. vi. 468 O, but can't you have the kindness to take me in? I cannot endure going to a public-house to lodge; and I am so lonely. Please, Jude, for old times' sake!

1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After i. ii. 42 She had never cared for jazz music, though she occasionally permitted herself a little ragtime for old time's sake.

1994 E. L. Doctorow Waterworks 85 Perhaps 'Tace comes around for old times' sake.

10. Belonging to an earlier period, esp. of a person's life; belonging to an earlier state or condition; possessed, occupied, practised, etc., in an earlier period. Also: disused, finished, superseded.See also old light n., old school n., old tenor at tenor n.¹ 1c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective]

ererc888

fernOE

oldOE

formerc1160

ratherc1330

before-goingc1384

formerc1384

forenexta1400

formea1400

while1399

antecedentc1400

precedentc1400

anteceding?a1425

late1446

whilom1452

preceding?a1475

forne1485

fore1490

heretofore1491

foregoing1530

toforegoing1532

further1557

firster1571

then1584

elder1594

quondam1598

forehand1600

previant1601

preallable1603

prior1607

anterior1608

previal1613

once1620

previous1621

predecessivea1627

antecedaneous?1631

preventive1641

prior1641

precedaneous1645

preventional1649

antegredient1652

senior1655

prevenient1656

precedential1661

antecedental1763

past-gone1784

antevenient1800

aforetime1835

one-time1850

onewhile1882

foretime1894

erstwhile1903

antecedane-

ere-

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > formerly possessed, occupied, etc.

oldOE

formera1425

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > [adjective] > fallen out of use or obsolete

oldOE

outworna1522

stale1550

obsolete1579

overgone1581

overworn1603

disused1611

exolete1611

absoletea1613

worn-out1612

outdated1616

lapsed1667

exploded1709

supersededa1831

rinky-dink1913

OE Cynewulf Elene 1265 Geogoð is gecyrred, ald onmedla.

OE Phoenix 321 Þonne he gewiteð wongas secan his ealdne eard, of þisse eþeltyrf.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 207 (MED) Nis he vor þe noȝt afoled Þat he for þine olde luue Me adun legge and þe buue.

a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) v. 558 He tolde His newe sorwe and ek his joies olde.

c1480 (a1400) St. Bartholomew 140 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 184 Mychtyly he put hym owte of his ald seinȝnery.

1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 210 Thow..geris me..thair ald sin wyth new schame certify.

1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 93 He projects the recovery of his old Eparchy of Brampore.

1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xvii. 291 His Companions in sin not finding him in his old wayes begin to laugh at him.

1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 321 Where there is an old lease in being, no concurrent lease shall be made, unless where the old one will expire within three years.

1807 W. Wordsworth Resolution & Independence in Poems I. 90 The pleasant season did my heart employ: My old remembrances went from me wholly.

1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. vii. 58/1 The Eagle..to attain his new beak, must harshly dash off the old one upon rocks.

1893 F. M. Müller Theosophy (1899) xii. 401 In order to bring his old Jewish belief into harmony with his new philosophical convictions.

1929 E. Blunden Near & Far Pref. There is no great gulf between the old experiences and the new.

1949 Sci. Amer. July 36 A ‘breeder’ reactor that would produce new fissionable atoms as fast as it used the old ones up.

1991 Utne Reader July 142/1 I hunted down the old haunts of Allen Ginsberg.

11.

a. Distinguishing the noun modified from something of the same kind belonging to a later period; prior in time or occurrence, former, previous. Cf. old year n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > of two persons or things

oldeOE

ratherc1325

eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 885 Se Hloþwig was Carles broþur..& hie wæron Hloþwiges suna—se Hloþwig was þæs aldan Carles sunu.

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 354 Þes dæig wæs on þære ealdan æ geset.

OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) Pref. 80 Is eac to witene ðæt sume gedwolmen wæron ðe woldon awurpan ða ealdan æ, & sume woldon habban ða ealdan & awurpan ða niwan.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 407 Al holy writt, þe elde [v.r. olde] testament and þe newe.

1455 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 203 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 3218) LXIV. 1 He submytted hym..to do and fulfyll all constytucions and ordynances as his olde predecessores hath done afore hym.

1523 M. Coverdale (title) A worke entytled of ye olde God and the newe, of the old faythe and the newe, of the olde doctryne and ye newe.

1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. sig. ⁋1 The making of a new Law for the abrogating of an old.

a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) iv. sig. H3^v Be assur'd first Of a new maintainer e're you cashire the old one.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 275 All the schools Of Academics old and new.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sacrifice Divines divide Sacrifices into Bloody, such as those of the Old Law; and Bloodless, such as those of the New Law.

1850 G. Grote Hist. Greece VIII. ii. lxvii. 450 The gradual transition of what is called the Old Comedy into the Middle and New Comedy.

1923 G. Buchanan My Mission to Russia I. viii. 101 Though it is now the custom to depreciate the services of the Old Diplomacy, I doubt whether the vaunted New Diplomacy would have been equally successful.

1998 Rec. Collector Apr. 82/2 He's been..belting out a mixture of the band's old hits and newer material to an audience of nostalgists and younger converts.

b. With names or epithets of countries: known or inhabited at an earlier period, as Old England (hence Old Englander), Old France, Old Spain. (In historical use, these names are frequently used to distinguish European countries from the American colonies New England, New France, New Spain named after them.) Cf. Old Commonwealth n., Old South n. at Compounds 4.the Old Dominion: see dominion n. 2b.In quot. eOE¹ as part of an ethnonym (cf. Old Saxon n. and adj.), which (as is usual in early use) also denotes the place inhabited by the people.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > known or inhabited at an earlier period

oldeOE

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 12 Be norþan him sindon Ealdseaxan, & be norþanwestan him sindon Frisan. Be westan Ealdseaxum is Ælfe muþa þære ie.]

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 12 Þæt lond mon hætt þa ealdan Sciþþian & Ircaniam.

1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum 554 The best Margarites come out of Inde, and out of the olde Britaine, as it is said.

1631 T. Dudley Let. Mar. in New Hampsh. Hist. Soc. Coll. (1834) 4 243 Wee were free enough in Old England, to turne our in sides outwards.

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 40 He that prizes not Old England Graces, as much as New England Ordinances.

1702 Addr. from Lancaster in London Gaz. No. 3804/5 A Princess born in Old England.

1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 389 To see what prodigious Consignments they had from their Correspondents in Old-Spain.

1764 Ann. Reg. 1763 121 Bills of exchange drawn by the government of Canada on that of Old France.

1812 Examiner 28 Dec. 826/1 General Miranda had sailed..for Old Spain.

1884 Boston Jrnl. 30 Dec. 2/4 Our goods are crossing the water to keep alive old England.

1932 ‘B. Ross’ Trag. of Y i. i. 31 Yet there it was, with its sprawling cultivated gardens,..and above all the buttressed stone immensity of the castle itself. It was..a chunk of old England, something out of Shakespeare.

1975 Canad. Mag. 1 Feb. 11/4 The annual draft..[by] the World Hockey Association..finally arrived with all the speculation of a bride ship from Old France.

1994 W. Maples & M. Browning Dead Men do tell Tales vi. 78 In old Japan, most cases of suicide committed by courtiers, called seppuku, involved slitting the stomach open.

2002 T. Nairn Pariah x. 121 The ‘Old England’ of Christmas cards: squirely Georgian or Regency cavortings, that country for which elegies are today composed.

c. Designating the oldest district or historic centre of a city, region, etc. Cf. old city n., old town n., and vieux port n. at vieux adj. c.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [adjective] > older part

olda1657

a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) ii. 177 He means old Croydon; for that neer there is shewed a place, which is called The old Town..farther off London than new Croydon.

1752 G. Elliot Proposals Public Wks. Edinb. 32 In these cities, what is called the new town, consists of spacious streets and large buildings..while the old town..is more crouded than before these late additions were made.

1842 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. X. lxxv. 440 The streets in the old part of the town are narrow,..but their straitness only renders them the more imposing.

1885 Weekly New Mexican Rev. 9 Apr. 3/3 Albuquerque..has an old town like nearly all of the New Mexico cities.

1952 ‘W. Cooper’ Struggles of Albert Woods ii. v. 115 Albert met Margaret Dibdin..at about ten o'clock in the old port.

1970 N. Marsh When in Rome (1972) ii. 24 He stayed at a small hotel..in Old Rome.

2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Travel section) 8/8 The bending cypresses of the pretty but neglected old quarter of Antalya.

d. Designating a specified time or day of the year calculated according to the unreformed Julian calendar, called Old Style after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (1752 in Britain): see new style n., old style n. Frequently in Old Christmas Day, Old Christmas Eve, Old Lady Day, Old May-day, Old Michaelmas (day), Old Midsummer, etc. (between a.d. 1900 and 2100, these are 13 days after the equivalent days in the Gregorian calendar).

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > reckoning of time > calendar > [adjective] > of styles (old or new)

old1752

new style1898

1752 Kentish Post 29 Aug. f. 1/1 The Fair at Canterbury (commonly call'd Jack and Joan's Fair)..will be kept this Year on the 10th Day of October, Old Michaemas [sic] Day.

1783 W. Owen New Bk. of Fairs 65 Monday before Old Midsummer July 5, for sheep and horned cattle.

1799 A. Young Agric. Lincs. vii. 150 Begin to weed about old May-day.

1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 1324 September 26..Old Holyrood.

1861 Times 16 Feb. The old style is still retained in the accounts of Her Majesty's Treasury... The first day of the financial year is the 5th of April, being old Lady Day.

1878 T. Hardy Return of Native III. vi. iv. 303 I haven't turned my tongue in my head to the shape of a real good song since Old Midsummer night.

1935 Evening Sun (Baltimore) 5 Jan. 18/3 On Old Christmas Eve, tomorrow night, daffodils, hops and elders are supposed to shoot mysterious sprouts through snow and frozen ground.

1953 R. Macaulay Let. 8 Oct. (1962) 114 Did you know that old St James's Day, August 5th, used to be Oyster Day?

1989 C. R. Wilson & W. Ferris Encycl. Southern Culture 680/2 A few southern families make some effort to celebrate..6 January, a day sometimes called ‘Old Christmas’.

e. Designating ice or snow in polar regions that was formed before the most recent winter.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > snow > [adjective] > specific types of snow or formation

featheryc1595

encrusted1663

old1856

wind-slab1936

1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xii. 128 Fissures..were beginning to break in every direction through the young ice... I therefore made for the old ice to seaward.

1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 328/1 Old ice is believed to become thicker in a second winter, and even to attain a thickness of 10 feet.

1935 Handbk. Weather, Currents & Ice (Meteorol. Office) vii. 102 The Arctic peak consists of old ice, which due to rafting and hummocking forms massive fields.

1952 Jrnl. Glaciol. 2 150 The definition of firn, adopted by the Eidg. Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung..is as follows: ‘old snow which has outlasted one summer at least (transformed into a dense heavy material as a result of frequent melting and freezing)’.

1987 D. Lewis & M. Lewis Icebound in Antarctica 11 in B. Hince Antarctic Dict. (2000) 246/2 Although pack is frozen salt water, the salt leaches out in..a year or two, leaving old pack ice drinkable.

f. Designating a former monetary unit that has been replaced by a new one with the same name (see new adj. 4).The French franc was replaced in 1960 by the new franc, when the superseded franc became the ‘old franc’; in Britain decimal currency was introduced in 1971, when the superseded penny became the ‘old penny’, replaced by the ‘new penny’.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > money > standards and values of currencies > [adjective] > former monetary unit

old1958

1958 Times 29 Dec. 6/4 For a time next year both the old franc and the new..will probably be in circulation.

1969 Times 21 July (Decimal Currency Suppl.) 1/5 Below 5p the only old coin which will be an exact equivalent of the new will be sixpence (2½p).

1972 D. Lees Zodiac 46 That's over four thousand dollars..more than two million old francs.

1990 New Dimensions May 8/2 Your old pennies would still be legal tender, you would just have to spend them five at a time.

12.

a. Designating a person formerly holding some position or having a specified relation to a person.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > former (of persons)

umquhile1431

old1435

quondam1547

ancient1681

ci-devant1790

ex1823

former1905

past1915

1435 in J. F. South & D. Power Memorials Craft of Surg. (1886) App. 309 (MED) Othir wise also if the felowschip like the olde maistris or summe of hem for her good gouernaunce to stonde a ȝeer lenger, thei to chese those of hem newe.

a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 128 (MED) Thai shulde than be vndir a prince double so myghty as was thair old prince.

1521 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Stirling (1887) I. 21 The aild provest and ballies:..The new provest and ballies.

1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxvii. 54 Ald feyis ar sindle faythfull freindis fund.

1647 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 496 Sherriffes and ould Sheriffes to goe in their blacke gownes.

1753 W. Maitland Hist. Edinb. 237 Officers of the same Denomination who served those Offices in the preceding Year..the Old Provost, Old Bailiffs [etc.].

1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. i. 2 Ellesmere, the great lawyer, also an old pupil of mine.

1894 H. Caine Manxman iii. xix. 189 His old master, the college friend of his father.

1955 P. Larkin Let. 26 July in Sel. Lett. (1992) 246 The garden party at Oxford was really quite awful: I drank too much, met my old room-mate, insulted his religion.

1982 N. Sedaka Laughter in Rain (1983) i. vi. 57 My old girlfriend Carole King came back into my life.

b. Denoting a former member of an institution or society, esp. a British public school. Cf. old boy n. 5, old girl n. See also Old Etonian n. and adj.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > learning > learner > one attending school > [adjective] > former pupil

old1758

old boyish1844

1758 Brit. Phœnix 79 Your First Essay on the Advantages of Learning was..filched, as you term it, from the closet of an old Oxonian.

1848 C. H. Newmarch Recoll. Rugby i. 1 ‘Oh! mihi præteritos referat si Jupiter annos,’ is an exclamation, in which, remembering..a duck hunt at Swift's, every old Rugbæan will, I hope, most heartily concur.

1857 Manx Sun 4 July The writer is a gentleman of our own acquaintance, an old Cantab.

1892 (title) Eton of old..by an Old Colleger.

1914 ‘I. Hay’ Knight on Wheels (ed. 2) xviii. 172 Each happened to be wearing an Old Studleian tie, so common ground was established at once.

1964 C. Mackenzie My Life & Times III. 126 Cyril Bailey..was an Old Pauline who had left before I went to St Paul's in 1894.

1989 C. Harman S. Townsend Warner: Biogr. ii. 57 Sylvia..drew a more select circle of Old Harrovians than previously.

III. Familiar, customary.

13.

a. That has been borne or sustained for a long time, as old debt, old grudge. Cf. old score n. at Compounds 4.

ΚΠ

eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) ii. v. 47 Se Themestocles gemyndgade Ionas þære ealdan fæhþe þe Xersis him to geworht hæfde.

OE Cynewulf Juliana 623 Lætað hy laþra leana hleotan þurh wæpnes spor, wrecað ealdne nið, synne gesohte.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1183 Hit is for þine alde [a1300 Jesus Oxf. olde] niȝe þat þu me akursedest oðer siðe.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 163 (MED) Þe way was opened forto take wreche of al olde wreþþe.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 3067 (MED) Commaundeth þat Parys..parforme vp þe peyne of talioun For wrongis old.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 840 Or we departe we shall redresse all our olde sorys.

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. ix. sig. Riij The people called Dores..wolde aduenge their olde grudges agayne the Atheniensis.

1706 Wooden World Diss. (1708) 19 Not purely for their presumptuous Assumption of his proper Title, but out of an old Grutch.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 505 In satisfaction of an old debt due to him from the crown.

1882 Ballou's Monthly Mag. July 63/1 I do think it's really mean in you to oppose our marriage just because of that silly old grudge.

1995 M. Lewis Singapore: Rough Guide 165/2 Essentially, Chinese New Year is a family affair—old debts are settled, friends and relatives visited.

b. In personal or particular reference: having long stood in some relation to one; designating a friend, acquaintance, or enemy of long standing. Cf. old pal n. at Compounds 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing

longOE

oldOE

veterate?1541

long-rooted1562

of long standinga1568

old-standinga1627

veteran1648

long-running1651

long-standing1655

old-established1776

long-breathed1816

long-time1851

OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 52 Cwæð to eubole his ealdan lareowe.

lOE Distichs of Cato (Trin. Cambr.) lxxii, in Anglia (1972) 90 13 Þeah þe þin eald gefera abelge, ne forgit þu gif he þe æfre ær gecwemde.

a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 521 If hire make were ded..Ðanne flegeð ge [sc. the turtledove] one..& hire olde luue abit.

a1450 York Plays (1885) 180 (MED) I wolde now som mete wer sene For olde acqueyntaunce vs by-twene.

1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 7 Our ald Ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 68 To thy auld serwandis haff e, That lang hes lipinit into the.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 53 Corriandir that is gude for ane ald hoste.

1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxvii. 54 Thi enemys auld trou neuir in.

a1685 Poems of Sempills (1849) lxxvii Should old acquaintance be forgot..On old langsyne.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋16 An old friend, who professed himself unsusceptible of any impressions from prosperity or misfortune.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 79 I have a claim upon you as an old friend of your father.

1985 R. Davies What's bred in Bone (1986) ii. 98 He was left with his old enemy, tonsillitis.

2000 Independent 10 June i. 13/8 Members of the extended gypsy family who are no longer travellers pitch up. They're all looking for old acquaintances.

c. Familiar, customary, persistent, recurrent. Cf. old trick n. at Compounds 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > accustomed, used, or wont > familiar or usual

oldOE

familiara1398

well-known1568

well-accustomed1800

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin > and known or familiar

oldOE

OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) liv. 287 Swa eald folccwide cwyð, of anum wylle hig ne drincon.

lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1003 He teah forð þa his ealdan wrenceas.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxxix. 135 Healdað þa tunglu þa ealdan sibbe þe hi on gesceapne wæron.

c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 8 Haldunge of þe alde ten heastes, Schrift & penitence: þeos & þulliche oþre..beoþ godes heastes.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 10992 Þe sæ falleð in..and heo bið al inne in alden hire denne.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 166 (MED) Ych ne may þolye þis lyf, ne mine ealde wones lete.

c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 367 O Sathan..Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 4739 (MED) Wher is now hid þin olde assuraunce?

c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) 956 (MED) Thi olde mercy let me remene.

1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor iv. ii. 16 Your husband is in his old vaine againe.

1708 A. Pope Let. to H. Cromwell 1 Nov. You are return'd by this time to the old Diversions of a losing Game at Picquet.

1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 737 Following her old plan.

1865 J. B. Lightfoot Comm. Gal. (1874) 22 The Apostle had been travelling over old ground.

1930 W. Faulkner As I lay Dying 132 All the old terror and old foreboding.

1994 Daily Mail 29 Sept. 75/1 The old routine, from changing into the silks to riding a finish, I performed instinctively.

d. the (same) old story and variants: a familiar tale or excuse (usually with a connotation of implausibility); a problem which recurs frequently.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > familiar reason

the (same) old story1898

1700 N. Rous in Jrnl. Friends' Hist. Soc. (1912) 9 184 I find Brother Dykes continues in his old story.

1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iv. 75 ‘What! father's forgot the coffin?’ ‘Ay, lad, th' old tale; but I shall get it done.’

1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 28 ‘What brought 'em to that?’ Oh, the old story—liftin' their little finger.

1919 Outing Mar. 340/2 It was the old story of a life of hard knocks.

1938 E. Ambler Cause for Alarm xi. 184 Too much or too little—empty stomachs or overfed ones—the old, old story.

1994 T. C. Boyle Without Hero (1995) 127 It's the same old story, species fascism at its worst.

14. In (sometimes euphemistic) names for the Devil, as old serpent, old dragon, old adversary, etc. Also humorously, as old Billy, the old smoker, etc.Originally with reference to the Devil's primeval character.See also old enemy n. at Compounds 4, Auld Hornie at horny n. 1, old boy n. 3, old gentleman n. 2, Old Harry n. at Harry n.² 4, Old Ned n. 2, Old Nick n., old one n. 2, Old Roger at Roger n.² 2b, Old Scratch at scratch n.² [The old serpent alludes to Revelation 12: 9, 20: 2 (Vulgate antiquus serpens , New Testament ὁ ὄϕις ὁ ἀρχαῖος ; compare quot. c1384¹ at sense 3a). With old adversary compare post-classical Latin adversarius vetus (3rd cent.), antiquus adversarius (6th cent.).]

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [adjective] > old or primeval

oldOE

OE Panther 59 Swa is dryhten god..eallum eaðmede oþrum gesceaftum,..butan dracan anum... Þæt is se ealda feond, þone he gesælde in susla grund.

OE Blickling Homilies 7 He þurh his þrowunga þone ealdan gedwolan oforswiþde.

a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 287 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 228 Belzebub se ealde.

a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 185 (MED) Pugnate cum antiquo serpente..fihteð wið þe ealde neddre.

c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 189 (MED) Nu bihalt te alde feond.

a1300 Passion our Lord 28 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 38 (MED) Þe holy gost hyne ledde vp in-to þe wolde For to beon yuonded of sathanas þen olde.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) Apoc. xx. 2 The olde serpent, that is, the deuel.

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 181 To saue-vs, And salue the wounds th' old Serpent firstly gaue-vs.

1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 10 Soyling their hellish carkasses with juyce..or what the old imposter infatuates them with.

1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn xviii, in Poems 9 Th' old Dragon under ground.

1646 in J. Stuart Extracts Presbytery Bk. Strathbogie (1843) 71 Being accused of sorcerie in alloting and giuing over some land to the old goodman (as they call it).

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. Pref. sig. b2 In the spiritual Warfar, where our Adversary is the old Serpent, Stratagems are as Lawful as Expedient.

1688 M. Waite Epist. from Womens Yearly Meeting sig. B2^v This is that old adversary and enemy of mankind, who..never wants specious pretences to..separate from God and one another.

1707 I. Watts How Sad our State (hymn) v The old Dragon..With all his hellish crew.

1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers 31 Some Men have the Nature of the Serpent (that old Adversary) to sting, envenom and poison.

1822 J. Hogg Three Perils of Man III. 38 Cuffed about by the ‘auld thief’, as they styled him.

1834 S. Smith Sel. Lett. Major Jack Downing 66 They carry on so like the old smoker.

1894 J. D. Astley Fifty Years of my Life I. 213 The balls did whistle round like ‘old Billy’.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 170/1 As the old serpent deceived man of old, so shall it be again.

2001 Pine Rivers Press (Nexis) 21 Nov. It was first dreamed up by our old adversary Satan.

15. colloquial. Frequently with reference to a customary pleasure indulged in fully: plentiful, great, enjoyable, memorable. Now merely reinforcing an appreciative adjective, as good old, grand old, high old, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adjective]

goodeOE

broadOE

fullOE

large?c1225

rifec1225

fulsomea1325

abundanta1382

plenteousa1382

copiousc1384

plentifula1400

ranka1400

aboundc1425

affluentc1425

aboundable?1440

seedy1440

manyfulc1450

ample1472

olda1500

richa1500

flowing1526

fertilent1535

wallingc1540

copy1546

abounding1560

fat1563

numbrous1566

good, great store1569

round1592

redundant1594

fruitful1604

cornucopian1609

much1609

plenty?a1610

pukka1619

redundant1621

uberant1622

swelling1628

uberous1633

numerousa1635

superfluent1648

full tide1649

lucky1649

redounding1667

numerose1692

bumper1836

prolific1890

proliferous1915

a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) 681 (MED) Gode olde fyghtyng was there.

1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 34 Sunday at masse there was old ringing of Bels.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. ii. 87 Yonders old coile at home.

a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 62 (margin) in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) If they [sc. certain monks] were as fat in those daies, as most of them proved after, there would have beene old frying.

1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot ii. iv. 50 When fifteen joines to Seventy, there's old doings (as they say), the Man and Wife fitting together like January and May day.

1664 C. Cotton Scarronides 104 There was old drinking, and old singing, And all the while, the Bells were ringing.

?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. i. 3 There was old Bandying, and Cursing, and Fighting, and Railing in abundance.

1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xviii. 279 So there was old to do about ransoming the bridegroom.

1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Old-doings, great sport, great feasting—an uncommon display of hospitality.

1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire 285 ‘A pratty owd tap’ means a great speed.

1898 Westm. Gaz. 1 July 2/2 The lawyers in the House have had what..we may be allowed to call a high old time.

1946 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh iii. 199 We'll go on a grand old souse together.

1970 R. Davies Fifth Business iii. i. 126 There were rumours of high old times with jolly girls.

1990 S. Johnson Flying Lessons xxxiii. 242 She popped the cork and drank a toast to the bride and groom before having a good old cry.

16. Expressing affection or mild disparagement towards a familiar person or thing.

a. Used with names of places to which one feels fondness or with which one is familiar, esp. one's native town or country.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective] > used of one's native country

olda1616

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 48 What happie gale Blowes you to Padua heere, from old Verona?

1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 140 I may take upon mee to tell old England.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. vii. 85 Hath not old England subsisted for many ages without the help of your notions?

1786 R. Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xix, in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 151 From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs.

1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. Introd. 302 Nor failed old Scotland to produce, At such high-tide, her savoury goose.

1843 A. Smith Adventures Mr. Ledbury x, in Bentley's Misc. Jan. 2 There's old Gravesend!

1956 S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 121 They have enough money go to Montego Bay in winter and come back to the old Brit'n when they know the weather would be nice.

1993 Spy (N.Y.) Apr. 26/2 Back in old London, this guy is cutting whores.

b. Expressing familiarity, affection, or admiration for the person or thing indicated; used in popular names for national heroes or leaders, or ironically, with the connotation ‘notorious’. Frequently as an expression of commendation or appreciation, in good old. Cf. compounds at Compounds 5b, and Old Sparky n. at Compounds 4.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective]

sweeta1225

ownc1300

deara1325

littlec1405

whitec1460

bonny1540

honeya1556

nitty1598

honey-sweeta1616

old1644

dearie1691

ou1838

diddy1963

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adjective]

couthOE

known1340

familiara1398

unstrangec1400

learnedc1420

conversant1430

beknown?c1475

well-beknown1480

quentc1540

well-kent1554

quainted1560

well-known1568

obversant1579

conversed1607

tame1609

familiarized1633

intimatea1680

household1761

homely1782

ole1835

old1898

1644 T. Rugge Jrnl. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 172 In westminster a very great fiere made and on top of the fier they put old oliuer Cromwell and his wife in Sables.

1653 Right of Tithes Asserted 6 That good old Puritan that loved so dearly, and walked so perfectly in the good old way, was no enemy to this ministerial maintenance.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 17. ⁋3 I never hear him so lavish of his fine things, as upon old Nell Trott.

1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. Introd. 303 England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again.

1862 ‘E. Kirke’ Among Pines i. 12 Old Abe he'se gwine to come down Souf.

1898 A. Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko ix. 280 There they go giving the alarm! Good old Camel Corps!

1944 W. T. Williams & G. H. Savage 2nd Penguin Probl. Bk. 160 Shouting ‘Good old Pompey’, Portsmouth supporters went home.

1945 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 5 38 Getting the ‘general impression’..to register in the old brain-box.

1971 Venerabile 25 iii. 191 It is surprising what difficulties the good old English quid can cause.

1993 Newsweek 25 Jan. 66/1 Seeing the use to which his name is being put, the ghost of Andrew Jackson cannot be amused. But, then, Old Hickory..rarely was of a mind to be amused.

2002 D. Aitkenhead Promised Land ix. 97 Got him on the old Viagra, didn't we? Can't get enough.

c. colloquial and humorous. Expressing mild disparagement towards the person or thing indicated. Cf. compounds at Compounds 5a.any old: see any adj., pron., n., and adv. Phrases 6.

ΚΠ

1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claimant 36 The same old scheming, generous, goodhearted, moonshiny, hopeful, no-account failure he always was.

1905 Smart Set Sept. 117/2 No one else is going to run off with your old car.

1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling i. 3 ‘There'll come a little old drizzly rain before nightfall,’ he thought.

1971 D. Francis Bonecrack viii. 101 ‘They didn't take my advice.’ ‘Silly old them.’

1989 A. Taylor Acquainted with Night ii. 34 My rickety old car just made it up a rutted muddy track.

2002 B July 78/3 To shape up a client for a new role, I recommend squat raises rather than plain old squats.

Phrases

P1. Proverbs and proverbial uses, as old sin makes new shame, a man is as old as one feels, etc.

ΚΠ

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 638 (MED) Auorbisne is of olde iwrne, Þat node makeþ old wif urne.

c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2461 (MED) Old sinne makes newe shame.

a1500 (a1471) G. Ashby Active Policy Prince 615 in Poems (1899) 32 (MED) Aftur the oolde dogge the yonge whelpe barkes.

1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 213 (MED) Thus synnes olde make shames come full newe.

1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard To Rdr. sig. A iv The wise Old Man..seemes to glance at our English Proverb: No foole to the old foole.

1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies viii. 60 There is none so desperately old, but he hopes to live one yeere longer.

1668 W. Davenant Man's the Master i. i As the proverb says, put an old cat to an old rat.

1691 R. Cromwell Let. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1898) 13 109 There is an old proverb ‘old yong, yong old’.

1871 V. Lush Thames Jrnls. 27 Aug. (1975) 114 She is always making me out so much older than I am and that's not fair, for a man is only as old as he feels, and a woman is only as old as she looks.

1905 Westm. Gaz. 10 Oct. 3/2 What is the popular saying?—‘A man is as old as he feels’.

1984 A. Brookner Hotel du Lac (1985) viii. 111 Age is relative... You're as old as you feel.

P2. In similes, as as old as the world, etc. See also (as) old as Adam at Adam n.¹ Phrases 2, as old as Methuselah at Methuselah n. 1a.

ΚΠ

1509 H. Watson tr. S. Brant Shyppe of Fooles (de Worde) sig. Hii Also olde as euer was matheusale.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 69 As old as Sibell, and as curst and shrow'd As Socrates Zentippe.

a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1690) Pref. sig. a 3 b That many are naturally querulous and envious, is an Evil as old as the World.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iv. vi. 208 Is he not more worthy of Affection than a dirty Country Clown, tho' he's born of a Family as old as the Flood?

1865 J. G. Bertram Harvest of Sea iii. 69 The art of pisciculture is almost as old as civilisation itself.

1914 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 4 Apr. 10/1 They were alike save for the interval of a step. That marked a difference. It was a difference as old as the world.

1992 Economist 26 Dec. 35 (caption) The attempts to suppress video-nasties, lewd pictures and violent pop songs are nothing new. Censorship of the arts is as old as civilisation itself.

P3. (as) old as the hills [perhaps in allusion to Job 15:7 ‘Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?’] , exceedingly or immeasurably old.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > old (of beings, etc.)

oldeOE

winteredeOE

oldlyOE

over-oldOE

eldernc1175

at-oldc1200

stricken on, in age, in eldec1380

oldlya1382

(well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into yearsc1386

ancientc1400

aged1420

well-agedc1450

ripec1480

passing oldc1485

(well) shot in years1530

old aged1535

agey1547

Ogygian1567

strucken1576

oldish1580

stricken in yearsa1586

declined1591

far1591

struck1597

Nestorian1605

overripe1605

elderly1611

eld1619

antiquated1631

enaged1631

thorough-old1639

emerita1643

grandevous1647

magnaevous1727

badgerly1753

(as) old as the hills1819

olden days1823

crusted1833

long in the tooth1841

oldened1854

mature1867

over the hill1950

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin

oldeOE

olden daysa1400

for-oldc1400

ancient1475

(as) old as Adama1599

antiquary1599

high1601

primal1604

hoary1609

grandeval1650

Noachal1661

patriarchal1806

(as) old as the hills1819

world-old1837

eld1854

age-old1860

far-back1869

Noachian1874

pornial1883

1819 Metropolis (ed. 2) I. iii. 58 I thought he was going to make a die of it! Why he's as old as the Hills.

1898 Tit-Bits 23 Apr. 73/3 The superstition..is almost as old as the hills.

1937 A. Huxley Ends & Means iv. 25 A violent revolution cannot achieve anything except the inevitable results of violence, which are as old as the hills.

1995 Empire Nov. 113/2 He's as old as the hills, he must be 70 if he's a day!

Compounds

C1. With an adjective or participle.

a. With another adjective in antithetic or consequential relation.

† old cool adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. i. sig. B O what it is to haue an old-coole Duke.

1874 M. Twain Gilded Age 276 This sort of thing..wants an old cool head, you know, that knows men.

† old-excellent adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 5 In the knowledge of Plants they are old excellent.

1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xii. 1) 100 Abraham was old-excellent at it [sc. self-denial].

old-young adj.

ΚΠ

1597 T. Middleton Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xv As truth-beginning grace, doth end in truth, Now patience takes the moderators place, Yong-olde in suffering, olde-yong in ruth.

1631 J. Shirley Schoole of Complement i. i. 10 Well, my old young Rufaldo, if you marry Selina, I shall haue a paire of gloues, I hope, and youle let mee dance at your wedding.

1774 W. Mason Heroic Postscript to Public 10 Frown on the page, and with fastidious eye, Like old young Fannius, call it blasphemy.

1834 ‘Nimrod’ in New Sporting Mag. Dec. 82 There stood before me, a round-shouldered, decrepid, tottering old-young man.

1907 Daily Chron. 8 July 3/3 Liverpool..the old-young city.

1990 J. C. Oates Because it is Bitter i. vii. 63 She's an old-young child with sallow skin, dents beneath her eyes, tension in her jaw.

b. With a present participle.

† old growing adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. x. sig. F7^v According to the nature of the old growing world.

old-looking adj.

ΚΠ

1759 Pennsylvania Gaz. 21 June 4/2 Patrick Sleaven (alias James Allen) 37 years of age, old looking, lived nigh the half way house, Chester county.

1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 44 Apart from his old-looking younger brother.

1862 G. W. Thornbury Life J. M. W. Turner I. 70 He was the bright-eyed genius, always old looking.

1975 Oxf. Compan. Decorative Arts 571/1 The term ‘Vauxhall glass’ has for long been used to describe any old-looking mirror.

1996 R. Doyle Woman who walked into Doors xvii. 98 I didn't like Mike Nesmith. He was too old-looking; he'd have wanted his feel.

c. With a past participle, in adverbial sense ‘for a long time previously’, ‘of old’.

old-accustomed adj.

ΚΠ

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. v. cxv. f. liii His olde Condicions began in hym to reuyue and quycken, soo that at length he retournyd to his olde accustomed vycys.

1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 59 They dyd tolerate their young men a litle of their hard & old accustomed life.

1662 R. Codrington tr. G. Ruggle Ignoramus i. v. sig. E^v Fy, Fy, my tongue repeats my old accustomed words; I think I am pleading with her now.

1753 J. Warton in tr. Virgil Georgics iii. in J. Warton et al. tr. Virgil Wks. I. 302 (note) That fine circumstance of the vanquish'd bull looking back on his old accustomed stall and pastures when he is forced to retreat.

1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. vii. 115 She next endeavoured to lift the little body, and carry it to its old-accustomed bed in its parent's room.

1994 Chapman No. 77. 18 She finds her old accustomed place.

† old acquainted adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

c1535 T. Cranmer Let. 9 July in Remains (1833) I. 125 My old acquainted friend, master Shaxton.

1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 28 The meeting of us, twoe old acquainted friends.

a1628 F. Greville Treat. Monarchy vii, in Remains (1670) 75 Their old acquainted traffick makes them see, Wrong hath more Clyents then Sincerity.

† old-cut adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 29 Those carued old-cut stonie Images.

1775 G. Crabbe Inebriety 7 So drops from either power, with vengeance big, A remnant night-cap and an old cut wig.

1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 90 Old-cut type, founts similar to the Caslon old-faced type.

old-established adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing

longOE

oldOE

veterate?1541

long-rooted1562

of long standinga1568

old-standinga1627

veteran1648

long-running1651

long-standing1655

old-established1776

long-breathed1816

long-time1851

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective]

oldeOE

eldeda1400

antique1490

invetered1490

prisk1533

grey-headed1578

ancient1579

hoar1590

inveterated1597

antiquated1598

inveterate1598

long-dated1602

avital1611

vetust1623

old-standinga1627

grey-haired1637

superannuateda1644

avitous1731

old-established1776

venerable1792

timeworn1840

inworn1864

avitic1865

1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 141 Manufactures for which the demand arises..from fashion and fancy..seldom last long enough to be considered as old established manufactures.

1785 Daily Universal Reg. 1 Jan. 3/2 The following articles, in Silver, at the Old established Wholesale Prices.

1787 J. Bentham Def. Usury xiii. 141 Old-established trades.

1988 I. Colegate Deceits of Time (1990) 23 He had a firm in Yeovil, very old-established and reputable.

† old gathered adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 36 Good quickset bie, old gatherd will die.

† old landed adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1880 B. Disraeli Endymion I. i. 7 There are other interests old landed besides the landed interests now.

† old-licensed adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. vii Who..coaxed many of the old-licensed matrons..to open their faculties afresh.

old said adj.

ΚΠ

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 1084 Hit ys an olde-seyde sawe.

1570 Mariage Witte & Sci. v. i. sig. Ei^v An olde sayd sawe it is..Soone hot, soon [reads sono] cold.

a1652 R. Brome Love-sick Court iii. i. 120 in Five New Playes (1659) Forbear your Whiloms, and your old said saws.

1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) (at cited word) It's an oud said say, and a true yan.

1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. V. xix. 156 Yet is, of mortal wights, an old said saw; Is worth no weal, who may no woe endure.

C2. Parasynthetic compounds.

a. General, denoting an attribute which is or appears old, or is characteristic of an old person. See also old-faced adj. 1.

† old-branched adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1596 M. Drayton Mortimeriados sig. D2 A Forrest of old-branched Oakes.

old-hearted adj.

ΚΠ

1833 M. Shelley Mortal Immortal in F. M. Reynolds Keepsake for MDCCCXXXIV 81 We sat by our lone fireside—the old-hearted youth and his antiquated wife.

2000 CNBC News Transcripts (Nexis) 5 Sept. Niederhoffer says some of the old-hearted men are missing the boat in the current market environment, and..[he] is trying to learn some new lessons from those who are shaping the new economy.

old-phrased adj.

ΚΠ

1886 J. S. Corbett Fall of Asgard II. 178 He listened to him telling of..his old-phrased oaths.

b. Formed on a compound noun. See also derivatives of old boy n., old fogey n., old gentleman n., old lady n., old maid n., old woman n., etc.

† old-cattish adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1780 F. Burney Jrnl. 7 Apr. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 26 Don't I begin to talk in a good old Cattish manner of Cards?

† old-lorist n. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1880 Academy 14 Aug. 123 So solid and careful an old-lorist.

C3. With a noun (or adjective used as a noun), forming compounds used attributively.See also old country adj., old master adj., old school adj., old-time adj., old town n., old year n. Compounds, old world adj.

old-book adj.

ΚΠ

1862 J. H. Burton Book-hunter i. 25 In the old-book trade there are opportunities for the exercise of ingenuity.

1986 M. Howard Expensive Habits 171 An old-book dealer rounded these up for Miss Flood.

old-day adj.

ΚΠ

1890 Tablet 21 June 981 Grooms in old-day livery.

1941 Sci. Monthly Aug. 126 Some of the old-day domination of princes lingers on in company with the growing support of city and public zoological collections.

old-home adj.

ΚΠ

1838 H. W. Herbert Cromwell I. i. ii. 31 They conversed of old home scenes and sweet familiar recollections.

1928 E. Blunden Undertones of War xvii. 177 Flinging old-home repartee at your pal passing by.

1990 S. King Stand (new ed.) xlviii. 585 Old women that sang old-home Jesus-jumping songs like ‘In That Great Getting-Up Morning’.

old-ivory adj.

ΚΠ

1898 Daily News 2 Dec. 5/1 There is one book exhibited, which..has put on a true old-ivory tone.

1932 D. Gascoyne Rom. Balcony 58 A nymph with clear, old-ivory flesh.

1976 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 63 66/1 White to off-white, aging to old ivory and finally light straw color in old cultures.

2001 Times (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Features section) What about a marabou-trimmed and embroidered jacket..or a fabulous old-ivory coloured chamois gilet?

old-Roman adj.

ΚΠ

1833 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. vii, in Fraser's Mag. Dec. 676/1 Old-Roman contempt of the superfluous.

† old-service adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1894 Westm. Gaz. 19 Apr. 6/2 One of the few remaining old-service gaolers.

† old standard adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1838 J. F. Cooper Home as Found I. x. 163 That is the First Presbyterian, or the old standard [church]; a very good house.

C4.

old ale n. a type of strong, dark ale, similar to barley wine, which has been aged at least six months (traditionally over a summer).

ΚΠ

1615 G. Markham Eng. Hus-wife in Countrey Contentments ii. i. 32 For a Canker or any sore mouth: take Cheruile and beat it to a salue with old ale and Allum water.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 78 Mrs. Bickerton..drank some sound old ale, and a glass of stiff negus.

1913 Badminton Mag. Jan. 88 A dope proper may be administered [to a horse]..as a drink—usually given in old ale.

1994 Ale St. News Apr.–May 10/5 There will be summer beers and barley wines, old ales and strong bitters.

old bach n. [ < old adj. + bach n.¹, as shortening of old bachelor n.] now rare = old bachelor n.

ΚΠ

1855 Knickerbocker 45 158 The President was an ‘old bach.’ of some sixty-five summers.

1904 W. N. Harben Georgians 188 I..thought now was the time fer me, old bach' that I am, to..show them ladies I'd been about.

1922 S. Kerr in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1921 206 If I hadn't met you I'd been an old bach all my life.

old bachelor n. an elderly or confirmed bachelor; spec. one having the fastidious habits considered to be typical of such a person; (occasionally) an animal of this sort.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > unmarried man > [noun] > by choice

old bachelor1630

celibataire1817

old bach1855

1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. N And old batchelor, as I am,..is not troublde With these fine fagaries.

1770 G. White Let. 12 May in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 82 Small coveys of partridges, consisting of cock-birds alone; these he pleasantly used to call old bachelors.

1882 Cent. Mag. May 25/1 Old bachelor, you could see; speaks with a panting manner, difficult to find the word.

1993 R. Connolly Sunday Morning (BNC) 175 I can imagine he takes some getting used to. You know the sort: an old bachelor, gruff as an old bull elephant, always counting the pennies.

old-bachelorish adj. exhibiting the characteristics of order and neatness which old bachelors are considered to have.

ΚΠ

1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 186 Every thing was..so provokingly in order, so full of naked nicety, so thoroughly old-bachelorish.

old-bachelorship n. the condition of being an old bachelor.

ΚΠ

a1832 W. Scott Pref. to Surgeon's Daughter in Waverley Novels (1855) 454 Old bachelorship so decided as mine has its privileges in such a tête-à-tête.

1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 346 Every female present..prophesied old-bachelorship and all its evils, to the contrivers and performers.

Old Baptist adj. and n. U.S. (a) adj. designating a traditional Baptist church; (b) n. a member of such a church.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > Baptists > sects and groups > [noun] > old

Old Baptist1845

1845 A. Wiley in Indiana Mag. Hist. (1927) 23 18 I see nothing awaiting the ‘old Baptist’ churches but utter annihilation.

1889 P. Butler Personal Recoll. 252 ‘Hardshell’ Baptists..wish to be known as Old Baptists, or United Baptists.

1968 Amer. Hist. Rev. 73 1397 The new tax exemption law of 1754 that was designed specifically to exclude the ‘new Baptists’ from the tax exemption privileges of the old Baptists.

1985 Washington Post 27 July d4 He was a..volunteer custodian of the Old Baptist Cemetery in Rockville.

Old Bay n. [after Old Bay State n.] U.S. a type of spicy seasoning (a proprietary name in the United States).

ΚΠ

1949 N.Y. Times 10 May 30/4 Old Bay seasoning mixture for shrimps, crabs and lobster should be authentic for it's the product of the Baltimore Spice Company of Baltimore.

1967 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 2 May tm45/1 Old Bay... For seasonings for Meat, Sea Food, and Other Food Products.

1985 B. Neal Southern Cooking (1989) vi. 77 The steamed crabs set afire by Old Bay, the traditional Maryland seasoning, were succulent.

1990 J. Shields Chesapeake Bay Cookbk. (1991) i. 15 In a second dish, mix the cornmeal and flour together. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay.

Old Bay State n. U.S. = Bay State n. at bay n.² Compounds 2.

ΚΠ

1836 N. Amer. Rev. July 289 The ancient town, the oldest in the Old Bay State.

1914 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 8 216 In the old Bay state there exists a most effective..system for the speedy removal of judges.

1966 New Eng. Q. 39 183 Both were sons of the Old Bay State.

old beer n. (a) beer that is old or stale; (b) = old ale n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > beer > [noun] > other kinds of beer

spruce beerc1500

March beer1535

Lubecks beer1608

zythum1608

household beer1616

bottle1622

mumc1623

old beer1626

six1631

four1633

maize beer1663

mum beer1667

vinegar beer1677

wrest-beer1689

nog1693

October1705

October beer1707

ship-beer1707

butt beer1730

starting beer1735

butt1743

peterman1767

seamen's beer1795

chang1800

treacle beer1806

stock beer1826

Iceland beer1828

East India pale ale1835

India pale ale1837

faro1847

she-oak1848

Bass1849

bitter beer1850

bock1856

treble X1856

Burton1861

nettle beer1864

honey beer1867

pivo1873

Lambic1889

steam beer1898

barley-beer1901

gueuze1926

Kriek1936

best1938

rough1946

keg1949

IPA1953

busaa1967

mbege1972

microbrew1985

microbeer1986

yeast-beer-

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §314 A Brewing of New Beere, set by Old Beere, maketh it worke againe.

1789 Suffolk Inventory in Notes & Queries (1947) 18 Oct. 450/1 2 butts old beer, 3 half hogsheads common ale.

1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 65 A stock of old beer can thus be increased expeditiously: start half of one full vat, when it is getting a little age, into another, and fill up both with new beer.

1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xliii. 489 A pint of the best old beer here.

1972 J. O'Grady It's your Shout, Mate! 90 The bottom fermentation product, a relatively new process, they called ‘old’... Old beer I found to be dark in colour, caused by a darker malt used in its making. This also gave it a distinctive malty flavour.

old-blooded adj. now rare having old aristocratic ancestry.

ΚΠ

1859 W. B. Bernard Tide of Time i. 6 Has proved his devotion in every possible form—loved her from childhood—kept single for her sake—wealthy—old-blooded.

1871 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1872) I. vi. 98 The fine old-blooded idiocy of young Lord Tapir.

1894 H. Nisbet Bush Girl's Romance 218 The hauteur..that woke in his proud, old-blooded breast.

† old-boned adj. Obsolete manured with old bones.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [adjective] > other natural fertilizers

boned1799

old-boned1849

unboned1849

1849 J. F. W. Johnston Exper. Agric. 57 On the old-boned field, the crop was four times as bulky as on the unboned field.

† old-boning n. Obsolete the action of manuring with old bones.

ΚΠ

1849 J. F. W. Johnston Exper. Agric. 57 This old-boning caused a large increase both in the turnip and in the corn crops.

old-built adj. built a long time previously, (also) built in an old style.

ΚΠ

1457–8 Plea & Mem. Rolls London Guildhall No. A81.8 (MED) We..haue taken down to þe grounde þe said tenementes with Shoppes, Celers, & Solars which stode þer olde bilded.

1616 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses ii. 26 And (for ships) enow Sea-circl'd Ithaca containes, both new And old built.

1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 16 Aug. (1965) I. 253 It is a very large Town, but most part of it old built.

a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. viii. 150 For an old built sloop, you would not see her equal.

1902 Daily Chron. 18 Oct. 5/2 Strype describes it as ‘a large but old-built house’.

old chestnut n. colloquial a joke, story, etc., that is often repeated; something trite, stale, or clichéd.

ΚΠ

1883 La Porte City (Iowa) Rev. 5 Apr. The brightest and best of the after-dinner stories with which Oscar Wilde is regaling his Parisian friends is that old ‘chestnut’ about the sign ‘Please don't shoot the pianist, he is doing his best’.

1978 Language 54 401 Most of the arguments discussed..are old chestnuts.

1994 i-D Oct. 32/2 The whole idea..is that I'm taking the oldest stories, the old chestnuts you've seen before.

old clothes man n. a dealer in old or second-hand clothes.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > trader > traders or dealers in specific articles > [noun] > in old clothes

fripperer1584

fripler1589

fripper1598

old clothes man1767

wardrobe dealer1824

fripier1826

clothes-man1842

1767 I. Bickerstaff Love in City 16 I should like to see it swinging under an old-cloaths man's penthouse.

1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 141/1 I feel convinced that these old-clothes-men only address persons of gentlemanly appearance.

1968 N.Y. City (Michelin Tire Corp.) 82 The dark smoke-filled bars which alternate with old-clothes dealers along the street..shopkeepers..tailors and old-clothes men.

1993 Irish Times (Nexis) 24 Sept. (Sound & Vision section) 11 Individuals start to appear; a sneering old clothes man who is to be the chorus of the story, a fair-ground barker [etc.].

old clothes shop n. a shop which sells old clothes.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > shops selling clothes, cloth, or accessories > second-hand

frippery1598

flipperya1625

rag shop1674

old clothes shop1729

rag store1849

tagarene shop1855

1729 R. Dodsley Servitude 28 Their Ladies cast Cloaths..would be sold to the old Cloath-Shops.

1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 252 The actor went to dress at his usual wardrobe, an old-clothes shop.

1987 A. MacLean Santorini (BNC) 38 They looked rather as if they had just raided an old clothes shop, few of the items of their clothing being a match.

Old Colony n. U.S. (chiefly north-eastern) Massachusetts, esp. Plymouth and the surrounding area.

ΚΠ

1767 Boston Gaz. 16 Nov. 3/2 (heading) Old-Colony, November 10, 1767.

1824 Casket June 76 I'd a lot of cousins, that ‘com'd all the way down from Varmount to larn the fashions, and to hear and see all the cute and curious thingumajigs of the Old Colony’.

1903 K. M. Abbott Old Paths & Legends New Eng. 357 At the very beginning of your pilgrimage through the Old Colony.

1989 D. H. Fischer Albion's Seed 785 Even today this small sub-region still calls itself the ‘Old Colony.’

Old Comedy n. [compare classical Latin vetus comoedia, antiqua comoedia, prisca comoedia, ancient Greek κωμῳδίαι παλαιαί (plural), Hellenistic Greek κωμῳδία ἀρχαία] the earliest of the three phases into which ancient Greek comedy is customarily divided, largely consisting of topical political satire with a festive, farcical tone and a prominent chorus; (also) comedies belonging to this phase. Cf. Middle Comedy n. at middle adj. and n. Compounds 1a, New Comedy n. at new adj. and n. Compounds 2a.Aristophanes is the principal author of Old Comedy, and his plays are its only surviving examples.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun] > a comedy > other types of comedy

Old Comedy1529

New Comedy1542

comedy of errors?1595

romantic comedy1748

musical comedy1765

comédie larmoyante1773

sketch1789

serio-comedy1808

vaudeville1827

teacup-and-saucer comedy1842

satyr play1845

Restoration comedy1866

zarzuela1888

situation comedy1893

sex comedy1915

sitcom1956

1529 tr. Erasmus Exhort. Studye Script. (following title page) The old comedye vnto pericles whiche maye..leve perpetuall prickes and instigacyons in the mindes of the hearers.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie i. xiv. 25 This bitter poeme called the old Comedy, being disused and taken away, the new Comedy came in place, more ciuill and pleasant a great deale.

a1637 B. Jonson Explorata 130 in Wks. (1640) II. Perverse, and sinister Sayings (and the rather unexpected) in the old Comedy did move laughter.

1756 T. Sheridan Brit. Educ. iii. i. 282 Under Cratinus, Aristophanes, and Eupolis, did another æra finish the old comedy.

a1846 T. R. Dew Digest Laws Anc. & Mod. Nations (1853) vii. viii. 129 Old comedy..was to Athens what the liberty of the press is to modern republics.

1944 P. W. Harsh Handbk. Classical Drama ii. v. 257 Informality and fantasy rule Old Comedy.

1975 J. Henderson Maculate Muse i. 12 The basic nature of Old Comedy was negative, critical, and aggressive; the object was to expose its victims to ridicule and abuse.

2006 Classical Q. 56 94 Old Comedy was renowned for its exceptional liberty of expression.

Old Commonwealth n. Canada, Australia, New Zealand (and South Africa before 1961); cf. New Commonwealth n. and commonwealth n. 6.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > [noun] > aggregate of sovereign states under one rule > Commonwealth or former British Empire > part of

Oceana1886

New Commonwealth1958

Old Commonwealth1965

1965 New Society 26 Aug. 18/1 The ‘old’ Commonwealth consists of Canada, Australia and New Zealand; the ‘new’ Commonwealth includes all remaining Commonwealth countries.

1991 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 9 Mar. 561/1 Similarly, immigrants from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have been aggregated as old Commonwealth.

Old Contemptibles n. [in ironical allusion to the German Emperor's alleged exhortation to his soldiers to ‘walk over General French's contemptible little army’ (published in an annexe to B.E.F. Routine Orders of 24 Sept. 1914)] British History (a popular name for) the British army of regulars and special reserves which made up the expeditionary force, under the command of General French, which was sent to France in the autumn of 1914; also in extended use; cf. contemptible n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > named companies, regiments, etc. > [noun] > British

Ulsters1649

Scots Guardsa1675

fusilier1680

guards1682

Scots Dragoons1689

Scots Fusiliers1689

Inniskilling1715

Scots Greys1728

blue1737

Black Watch1739

Oxford blues1766

green linnets1793

Grenadiers1800

slashers1802

the Buffs1806

tartan1817

Gay Gordons1823

cheesemongers1824

Green Jacket1824

The Bays1837

RHA1837

dirty half-hundred1841

die-hard1844

lifeguard1849

cherry-picker1865

lancer-regiment1868

cheeses1877

Territorial Regiment1877

the Sweeps1879

dirty shirts1887

Scottish Rifles1888

shiner1891

Yorkshire1898

imperials1899

Irish guards1902

Hampshires1904

BEF1914

Old Contemptibles1915

contemptibles1917

Tank Corps1917

the Tins1918

skins1928

pioneer corps1939

red devils1943

Blues and Royals1968

U.D.R.1969

1915 ‘B. Cable’ in Sunday Times (Sydney) 19 Dec. (Pictorial Suppl.) 23/2 There were some of these ‘Old Contemptibles’, as they proudly style themselves now, who said..that this attack did not compare favorably with the German attacks of the Mons-Marne days.

1917 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 140/1 The Royal Flying Corps..sent whatever machines it could lay hands on to join the old contemptibles in France.

1964 Shakespeare Q. 15 387 It was an essentially democratic Henry, almost as tattered and mud-bespattered as the ‘Old Contemptibles’ with whom he marched.

1992 Daily Mail 17 Aug. 45/1 The theory is that once the old contemptibles have given England a 3-0 lead, Ted Dexter and his selectors can afford to..bring in younger men for the two remaining games.

old crock n. [ < old adj. + crock n.³ (see sense 4 s.v.] a worn-out vehicle, ship, etc.

ΚΠ

1895 Daily News 17 Dec. 6/7 The pneumatic-tire folk are apt to despise the poor cyclist on his wretched ‘old crock’ and to regard him as a nuisance.

1914 A. Bennett Price of Love xii. 242 I'm going to buy you a bike. I've had enough of that old crock I borrowed for you.

1997 Sight & Sound Jan. 43/2 A car salesman selling smartened-up old crocks.

old enemy n. (a) the Devil; (b) Scottish (usually in form auld enemy; frequently with capital initials) England (spec. as viewed from Scotland, originally with reference to the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France; cf. auld alliance n.); (with plural agreement) the English. [With sense (a) compare post-classical Latin hostis vetus, hostis antiquus (3rd cent.).]

ΘΚΠ

the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [noun]

devileOE

Beelzebubc950

the foul ghosteOE

SatanOE

warlockOE

SatanasOE

worsea1200

unwinea1225

wondc1250

quedea1275

pucka1300

serpenta1300

dragon1340

shrew1362

Apollyon1382

the god of this worldc1384

Mahoundc1400

leviathan1412

worsta1425

old enemyc1449

Ruffin1567

dismal1570

Plotcocka1578

the Wicked One1582

goodman1603

Mahu1603

foul thief1609

somebody1609

legiona1616

Lord of Flies1622

walliman1629

shaitan1638

Old Nicka1643

Nick1647

unsel?1675

old gentleman1681

old boy1692

the gentleman in black1693

deuce1694

Black Spy1699

the vicious one1713

worricow1719

Old Roger1725

Lord of the Flies1727

Simmie1728

Old Scratch1734

Old Harry1777

Old Poker1784

Auld Hornie1786

old (auld), ill thief1789

old one1790

little-good1821

Tom Walker1833

bogy1840

diabolarch1845

Old Ned1859

iniquity1899

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 356 (MED) The oold enemy pronouncid openli in the eir thus, [etc.].

a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 115 (MED) Þe olde enemy [L. antiquus hostis], aduersarie to all good, cessiþ not fro temptacion.

1702 J. Tomkins Piety Promoted, 2nd Pt. 134 The Old Enemy would have had me let go my hold; but I said, I have an Interest in thee, and I will hold thee, Lord.

1820 W. Scott Abbot II. i. 10 I defy the Old Enemy to unmask me when I chuse to keep my vizard on.

1851 A. Strickland Lives Queens of Scotl. II. 254 The Lords of the Congregation had concluded a treaty of alliance..with Queen Elizabeth, and had delivered hostages for the fulfilment of their pact with ‘the old enemy’ against their native Sovereign.

1896 M. Oliphant Hist. Scotl. 148 The ‘French Party’..the ‘auld ally’, as England was the ‘auld enemy’ of Scotland.

1921 W. de la Mare Veil & Other Poems 91 Rouse the Old Enemy from his death-still swoon.

1976 Daily Record (Glasgow) 22 Nov. 25/6 Tonight's clash with the ‘Auld Enemy’ will be over seven bouts.

2004 J. Bradbury Routledge Compan. Medieval Warfare ii. ix. 210 In the later Middle Ages the Scots often allied with France against England, causing acute difficulties for the old enemy.

2004 L. B. Hall Mary, Mother & Warrior 56 This snake or dragon..represented the devil, the old enemy.

old firm n. [compare firm n.² 3a] a group of friends or associates; (spec. in Scotland, a name for) Celtic and Rangers Football Clubs, either singly or collectively.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > types of association, society, or organization > [noun] > of friends or associates

old firm1930

old boy network1959

1930 A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies vii. 72 Five shillings each way... Don't desert the Old Firm!

1935 D. L. Sayers Gaudy Night iv. 64 If you ever want me, you will find the Old Firm at the usual stand.

1989 R. Holt Sport & British (BNC) Only Rangers and Celtic made much money—hence the original meaning of the term ‘The Old Firm’.

1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 92 We've no chance, I thought, you never do at Hampden against one of the Old Firm, with the crowd and the referees firmly behind the establishment clubs.

old flame n. colloquial a former lover or sweetheart; an ex-boyfriend or -girlfriend.

ΚΠ

1651 T. Stanley Acanthus Complaint 180 If no Art could win thy love, she counsel'd me to seek another:..and in a new, my old flame smother.

1678 S. Pordage Siege of Babylon V. 52 Time, only can, his Rebel Heart subdue, Extinguish his old Flame, and kindle new.

1741 H. Walpole Corr. 3 Jan. 204 Your old flame, the Queen, was exceedingly kind to me.

1839 Crockett Almanac 1840 14 I wonst had an old flame I took sumthin of a shine to.

1992 News of World 15 Nov. 6/6 Unhappily married, devoted to his kids but hopelessly in love with an old flame. Torn over what to do with his life.

old gang n. colloquial a group or clique of friends or colleagues; spec. a clique of powerful or establishment politicians who control a party or monopolize important positions.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > a party > [noun] > political clique

junto1641

old gang1664

junta1714

camarilla1839

Family Compact1988

1664 J. Wilson Cheats i. i. 2 Who should I meet with but our old Gang, some of St. Nicholas's Clerks.

1714 D. Manley Adventures of Rivella 78 Miserable Cleander kept him Company, for fear he should get some of his old Gang, who were Spies gain'd by Lord Crafty.

1885 J. Chamberlain in J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era (1909) 187/1 In deference to his [sc. Lord Randolph Churchill's] opinion, there will no doubt be a clearance out of some of those whom the Fourth Party is in the habit of politely designating as the ‘Old Gang’.

1901 Punch 3 Apr. 250/2 There is so much favoritism that only the Old Gang and Rank Outsiders get chosen.

1964 C. Barber Ling. Change Present-day Eng. ii. 26 A rejection of Old Gang politics,..general resentment at the Establishment.

1987 J. Selwyn Hitler's Englishman (BNC) 19 The fatuous and feeble administrators, the ‘old gang’ by whom England and her dependent territories were governed.

Old Glory n. U.S. the ‘Stars and Stripes’ flag.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > U.S. flag

Old Thirteen1792

Stars and Stripes1809

gridiron1812

star-spangled banner1814

Old Glory1862

1862 W. Driver in Salem (Mass.) Reg. 10 Mar. 2 I carried my flag, ‘Old Glory’, as we have been used to call it, to the Capitol, presented it to the Ohio 6th.

1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel ii. 153 They wrapped me in the Stars and Stripes and brought me home on a frigate to be buried... I was wrapped in Old Glory.

1992 Economist 31 Oct. 13/2 It was Ronald Reagan who ran up the debt as if it were Old Glory on the Fourth of July.

† oldgrey n. Obsolete old man, greybeard; = grey adj. 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [noun] > grey, hoary > person having

hoarOE

hoarhead1382

grizzle1390

greya1413

hasard1513

greyhead1535

oldgrey1582

grizzle-pate1797

iron-grey1822

grisard1880

1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 40 Hee rested wylful lyk a wayward obstinat oldgrey.

Old Hag n. chiefly Newfoundland (now usually with the) a spirit or supernatural being believed to produce a feeling of suffocation in a sleeping person or animal; (also) a feeling of suffocation or paralysis experienced during sleep, often accompanied by nightmares; cf. old higue n.In early use (with indefinite article and lower case initials) probably not a fixed collocation, but simply hag n.¹ 5 modified by old.

ΚΠ

1836 Amer. Jrnl. Med. Sci. 18 395 The condition of the individual is rapidly rendered more distressing by the delusion that takes possession of his dream, that a giant, a great dog, a bear, an old hag, &c. is mounted upon his breast.

1896 Jrnl. Amer. Folk-lore 9 222 A man at Change Islands..told me he had been ridden to death by an old hag, until a knowledgeable old man advised him to drive nails through a shingle, and lash it to his breast when he went to bed.

1984 Med. Anthropol. Q. 15 50/2 A person who experiences the Old Hag awakes to a frightening sensation of being pressed down upon the bed or strangled.

2005 St John's (Newfoundland) Telegram (Nexis) 28 Mar. a7 ‘Guaranteed, every Friday,’ Stephanie said, ‘I'd get the Old Hag.’.. ‘I was frozen. I couldn't move.’

Old Hickory n. a nickname for Andrew Jackson, United States President (1829–37). The nickname was originally given to Jackson by volunteer soldiers under his command during the War of 1812, due to the determination and tenacity he showed as their leader.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > head of government > [noun] > in a republic > in U.S. > specific U.S. presidents

favorite son1788

Old Hickory1815

O.K.1840

tycoon1861

1815 Providence (Rhode Island) Patriot 11 Mar. Laurent himself..would write an epic poem on the victories of Old Hickory and his Back-woods men!

1860 J. Parton Life A. Jackson I. xxxiv. 381 It was on this homeward march that the nickname of ‘Old Hickory’ was bestowed on the General.

1907 Springfield (Mass.) Republ. 24 Oct. 8 I should not say that Old Hickory was faultless, but Andrew Jackson was as upright a patriot as ever any nation had.

1949 B. A. Botkin Treasury Southern Folklore p. xx In this land..men put daring above discipline and etiquette to give us heroes like the ‘Swamp Fox’, ‘Old Hickory’, [etc.].

2012 Kenly (N. Carolina) News (Nexis) 21 Nov. Democrats insisted that it be named Jackson County, in part because ‘Old Hickory’ had been born in nearby Waxhaw.

† old-holder n. Obsolete a tenant holding several estates through a single copyhold lease.

ΚΠ

1810 Sporting Mag. 36 21 The defendants who have designated themselves as old-holders—copyholders..who pay one heriot only, though they hold several messuages.

old home n. = old country n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > named regions of earth > Europe > British Isles > [noun] > Britain

AlbionOE

Britannia1605

Brittanies1610

old country1751

home1755

homeland1862

Old Dart1863

old home1869

Pommyland1916

cool Britannia1967

mainland1980

1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxvi His wife and child were there..to remind him of the old home he should see again if he conquered.

1886 J. R. Lewell Wks. (1890) VI. 156 The more conservative universities of the Old Home.

1985 W. Sheed Frank & Maisie ix. 205 The intellectuals who had dreamed of Europe right through the war had..found their old home missing.

old home week n. North American a week in which a community organizes a reunion for former residents; also in extended use.

ΚΠ

1899 New Eng. Mag. May 379/1 To have a week in summer set apart to be called Old Home Week, and make it an annual affair.

1949 T. Rattigan Harlequinade 63 What with Mums in front and babies in the wings it's not so much a dress rehearsal as old home week.

1994 Geist: Canad. Mag. Ideas & Culture Oct.–Nov. 7/3 For literary types, the Milton Acorn Poetry Festival marks the end of summer on P.E.I., as surely as Old Home Week does for all other types.

old house borer n. chiefly North American the house longhorn beetle, Hylotrupes bajulus.

ΚΠ

1925 Jrnl. Amer. Inst. Architects Aug. 319/1 Even if the wood is seasoned, the ‘old house borer’ (Hylotrupes) will lay eggs under the bark on edges.

2005 S. Bliss Troubleshooting Guide Resid. Constr. ix. 245/3 One type of long-horned beetle common in the mid-Atlantic states, the misnamed ‘old house borer’, primarily infests wood that has been in service ten years or less.

old issue adj. U.S. History freed from slavery before the American Civil War (1861–5).

ΚΠ

1879 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand xvii. 87 Robert..was..an ‘old-issue free nigger’ (freed before the war).

1899 C. W. Chesnutt Wife of his Youth 214 Wright came of an ‘old issue’ free colored family, in which though negro blood was present in an attenuated strain, a line of free ancestry could be traced beyond the Revolutionary War.

Old Kingdom n. a name given collectively: (a) to the period of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Dynasties in Egypt, from the 27th to the 22nd cent. b.c.; (b) to a period of Hittite history from the 18th to the 16th cent. b.c.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > dynasty > [noun] > specific Egyptian

shepherd kings1587

the Shepherds1759

shepherd1813

Old Kingdom1889

New Kingdom1902

the world > time > relative time > the past > historical period > [noun] > other historical periods > one who lived in

post-diluvian1684

Old Kingdom1889

Villanovan1924

Warring States1929

Eblaite1976

1889 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 18 232 The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom are represented to us in the most surprising statuary yet brought to light.

1905 J. H. Breasted Egypt through Stereoscope 22 With the accession of the 3rd Dynasty..we see Egypt rising into her first great period of power and prosperity, which we call the Old Kingdom.

1938 E. M. Sanford Mediterranean World in Anc. Times i. 55 The foundation of the united Old Kingdom of the Hittites was delayed by the rivalry of individual states.

1952 O. R. Gurney Hittites i. 25 Telipinus is usually regarded as the last king of the Old Kingdom.

1990 Brit. Mus. Mag. Sept. 23/1 Most basic types were in general established in form as early as the end of the Old Kingdom, about 2200 bc.

old-law tenement n. U.S. a tenement house having inadequate fire escapes, sanitary facilities, ventilation, etc., built before the Tenement House Act of 1901.

ΚΠ

1903 N.Y. Times 7 Oct. 8/1 The alteration of ‘old law’ tenement houses so as to bring them up to the standard of the new law.

1914 Housing Reform in N.Y.C. 2 There is apparently no lack of money for investment in this profitable type of building; they are even..replacing the oldest of the ‘old law’ tenements.

1995 N.Y. Times 5 Mar. i. 31/2 Immigrants..found living quarters in old-law tenements with minimal plumbing, maybe a toilet down the hall at most.

old-life adj. (a) belonging to the Palaeozoic era; (b) characteristic of or belonging to an old-fashioned style of life.

ΚΠ

1863 A. C. Ramsay Physical Geol. & Geogr. Great Brit. 51 That Palaeozoic or old-life period.

1897 Outing 30 354/2 The return to the old-life routine.

1962 E. Wilson Jrnl. Aug. in Sixties: Last Jrnl. (1993) 110 This all has something to do with the self-dependence and strength of character of the old-life women up here.

old-line adj. originally and chiefly U.S. (a) relating to or adhering to traditional beliefs or policies; conservative (cf. line n.² 13c); (b) long-established, venerable.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > [adjective] > opposed to change

Tory1651

unprogressive1722

conservative1802

old-line1803

improgressive1809

old school1816

conservatory1822

conservatist1835

unmarching1837

mossbacked1876

mossy1904

passéist1914

pastist1921

Luddite1957

1803 J. Allingham Marriage Promise 1 I hope it will..be the means of waking up old-line Homœopaths to the value of remedies they have so long discarded.

1856 Congress. Globe 9 Jan. 180/3 Have they offered us one of my colleagues, an old-line Whig?

1908 R. W. Chambers Firing Line xxi. 353 I'm in an old-line institution.

1928 F. S. Fitzgerald Let. 1 Feb. (1964) 383 I rode..with the president of a very prominent club, not my own, a Princetonian of the rather old-line, conservative, very gentlemanly type.

1962 R. Tyre Douglas in Sask. v. 78 The Socialists had high hopes of winning the 1934 election but the farmers were not quite ready yet to abandon their traditional support of the old line parties.

1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 28 Nov. a9/4 Quality was..an old-line company owned by Manor Care, a pennywise, ultraconservative nursing-home chain based in Silver Spring.

old liner n. originally and chiefly U.S. a traditionalist; a conservative.

ΚΠ

1851 N.-Y. Daily Times 15 Oct. 2/4 The Convention was nearly equally divided between the Old Liners and the Coalitionists.

1884 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 25 Sept. 2/2 The old-liners appear to be out of the fight.

1908 R. W. Chambers Firing Line xxix. 493 I didn't expect any cordiality..but..they classed us with the old-liners.

1994 Asian Surv. 34 272 It is easier to foresee a power struggle between the old liners and more liberal-minded, pragmatic groups than a stable future for the Jong Il regime.

Old Line State n. U.S. Maryland.

ΚΠ

1871 M. S. De Vere Americanisms xii. 660 Maryland bears the proud title of Old-line State from the Old-Line regiments which she contributed to the Continental Army in the War of the Revolution—the only State that had regular troops of ‘the line’.

1948 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. Suppl. II. 604 Maryland Free State..has overshadowed all the old nicknames..including Old Line State and Terrapin State.

1992 Jrnl. Southern Hist. 58 543 They hardly shunned Hetty Cary, the Maryland Guard, or the rest of the fifteen thousand troops from the Old Line State.

old mistress n. a slave's former mistress; cf. old master n. 2, and see also ole adj.

ΚΠ

1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron 124 Old mistress used to say there wan't such a waluable as that this side of Ingland.

1860 D. D. Emmett I wish I was in Dixie's Land (sheet music) Old Missus marry ‘Will-de-weaber’... Here's a health to the next old Missus.

1941 in G. P. Rawick Amer. Slave (1972) VII. 281 A house nigger come out from Old Mistress on a hoss.

old news n. a person or thing considered to be no longer of interest, relevance, or importance, esp. through over-familarity.

ΚΠ

1968 Sun (Baltimore) 7 July 5/2 Charlie is old news. We broke up.

1987 Restaurant Business Mag. (Nexis) 1 July 177 Bopping to the hop in saddle shoes in a diner-like setting is old news.

1996 Q Jan. 77/1 America is fickle, they love you one minute and then you're old news, as the grunge bands are finding.

† old Nob n. Obsolete [perhaps < old adj. + nob n.³] the game of prick-the-garter (see prick v. Phrases 2).

ΚΠ

1753 Discov. J. Poulter (ed. 2) 9 We defrauded a young Man of..four Guineas..at the old Nobb, or Pricking in the Belt.

1762 O. Goldsmith Life R. Nash 133 Countrymen are deceived by gamblers, at a game called Pricking in the Belt, or the Old Nob.

1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 126/2 Nob, old, a favourite game used by sharpers, called pricking in the hat.

Old North State n. U.S. North Carolina.

ΚΠ

1839 Spirit of Times 27 July 247/3 On dits from the Old North State.

1994 D. S. Cecelski Along Freedom Road 164 While the Old North State's total population boomed by more than 12 percent that decade [sc. the 1980s], the growth concentrated in urban and tourism centers.

old offender n. a person who has been convicted repeatedly of crimes; a habitual criminal; also figurative and in figurative contexts.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > habitual criminal

old offender1817

hard case1842

recidive1853

recidivist1867

repeater1873

rounder1891

1698 T. Dilke Pretenders v. 47 However most of us—May branded seem, for being old offenders, In feats of Love let none be bare pretenders.

1716 London Gaz. No. 5412/3 Frances Green,..an old Offender.

1817 2nd Rep. Comm. State of Police of Metrop. 329 in Parl. Papers VII. 321 The greater part of these Juvenile Offenders,..are mixed indiscriminately with old offenders of all ages.

1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 185/1 These young felons are what prison language describes as ‘repeaters’, young ‘old offenders’, who have previously, almost continuously, served prison sentences.

2001 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 19 May 13 Time and again the old offenders within the financial services industry are up to well-worn tricks.

† old orchard n. U.S. Obsolete (also with capital initials) cider.

ΚΠ

1809 R. B. Thomas Farmer's Almanac 1810 Sept. 22 Come, ye lovers of Old Orchard, let us take a walk into the fields... O, this is a pleasant month not only to cider drinkers, but to all.

1851 Knickerbocker Mag. 37 557 One of them..was quite importunate in his demands for ‘old orchard’.

old pal n. an old friend, frequently with reference to association or collusion in business.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > types of association, society, or organization > [noun] > of friends or associates > member

old pal1884

1884 Daily News 20 Sept. 2/2 I told the prisoner that I was not going to ruck on an old pal.

1893 Chicago Rec. 14 July 11/3 An' den w'en ye meets one uv yer own kind ye feels like old pals.

2000 A. Bourdain Kitchen Confid. (2001) 94 I was rail-thin, shaky, and the first thing I did was ask my old pal Bigfoot if he could lend me 25 bucks.

old pals act n. (also old pal's act, old pals' act; similarly old pals network) a system of cooperation or favours based on prior acquaintance.

ΚΠ

1943 R. Llewellyn None but Lonely Heart xvi. 89 Old Ted never give credit, not even on the Old Pal's Act.

1949 M. Allingham More Work for Undertaker (1952) iii. 32 Cups of tea, gossip, old pals act generally almost any evening.

1972 E. Grierson Confessions of Country Magistrate i. 7 What is this mysterious process by which the man in the street is suddenly transformed into the magistrate on the bench? How, if not by the Old Pals' Act or the Signs of the Zodiac, is the miracle accomplished?

1973 Times 23 May 2/3 All these favours given by the Post Office on the old pals network.

1993 R. Murphy Smash & Grab x. 130/1 Sonny the Yank..protested that he was only at Hyde Park Mansions under the Old Pals Act.

† Old Peg n. English regional (northern) Obsolete a kind of hard cheese made from skimmed milk.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > cheese > [noun] > varieties of cheese

goat cheeseOE

green cheesec1390

rowen cheesea1425

bred-cheesec1440

hard cheesec1470

ruen cheese1510

parmesan1538

spermyse1542

angelot1573

cow-cheese1583

goat's cheese1588

Cheshire Cheese1597

eddish-cheese1615

nettle cheese1615

aftermath cheese1631

marsolini1636

Suffolk cheese1636

Cheddar cheesea1661

rowen1673

parmigianoa1684

raw-milk cheesea1687

fleet cheese1688

sage-cheese1714

Rhode Island cheese1733

Stilton cheese1736

Roquefort cheese1762

American cheese1763

fodder cheese1784

Old Peg1785

blue cheese1787

Dunlop cheese1793

Wiltshire1794

Gloucester1802

Gruyère1802

Neufchâtel1814

Limburger cheese1817

Dunlop1818

fog cheese1822

Swiss cheese1822

Suffolk thumpa1825

Stilton1826

skim dick1827

stracchino cheese1832

Blue Vinney1836

Edam1836

Schabzieger1837

sapsago1846

Munster1858

mysost1861

napkin cheese1865

provolone1865

Roquefort1867

Suffolk bang1867

Leicester1874

Brie1876

Camembert1878

Gorgonzola1878

Leicester cheese1880

Port Salut1881

Wensleydale1881

Gouda1885

primost1889

Cantal1890

Suisse1891

bondon1894

Petit Suisse1895

Gervais1896

Lancashire1896

Pont l'Évêque1896

reggiano1896

Romano1897

fontina1898

Caerphilly cheese1901

Derby cheese1902

Emmental1902

Liptauer1902

farmer cheese1904

robiola1907

gjetost1908

reblochon1908

scamorza1908

Cabrales1910

Jack1910

pimento cheese1910

mozzarella1911

pimiento cheese1911

Monterey cheese1912

processed cheese1918

Tillamook1918

tvorog1918

anari1919

process cheese1923

Bel Paese1926

pecorino1931

Oka1936

Parmigiano–Reggiano1936

vacherin1936

Monterey Jack1940

Red Leicester1940

demi-sel1946

tomme1946

Danish blue1948

Tilsit1950

St.-Maure1951

Samsoe1953

Havarti1954

paneer1954

taleggio1954

feta1956

St. Paulin1956

bleu cheese1957

Manchego1957

Ilchester1963

Dolcelatte1964

chèvre1965

Chaource1966

Windsor Red1969

halloumi1970

Montrachet1973

Chaumes1976

Lymeswold1981

cambozola1984

yarg1984

1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Old Pegg, poor Yorkshire cheese.

1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3) at Peg Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese.

1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Old-peg, Aud-peg, an inferior sort of cheese made of skimmed milk. It is also called, not inaptly, leather hungry.

Old People n. Australian Aboriginal people who live in a traditional manner; Aboriginal people of an earlier generation, regarded as repositories of traditional knowledge; cf. sense 1a.

ΚΠ

1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (ed. 6) 324 Let's consider the Old People for a jiffy... They're starved and sickened and kicked and stupefied and generally jiggered out of all recognition.

1996 J. T. Hospital Oyster (1997) 369 Everyone is aware that the Old People have mysterious ways of knowing such things.

old people's home n. an institution providing accommodation, nursing, etc., for the elderly, esp. for those too infirm to live alone.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > hospital or infirmary > nursing home

maison de santé1843

old people's home1873

nursing home1880

rest home1889

1873 Harper's Mag. Jan. 310/1 The spot selected for a newly organized children's and old people's home.

1880 Langley's San Francisco Directory 704/2 Old peoples' Home, Mrs. Charles Nelson president.

1940 M. McCarthy in Partisan Rev. Mar. 136 There are three principal characters, a poet and his son, and a fugitive from the Old People's Home, an ancient Shakespearean actor who plays the bugle.

1972 Listener 17 Aug. 211/2 I may end up in an old people's home. I don't know, very likely I will.

2001 C. Glazebrook Madolescents 55 This ancient couple..have been married for seventy years and they're ‘celebrating’ the anniversary in an old people's home.

Old Pretender n. James Stuart (1688–1766), the son of James II, who asserted his claim to the British throne against the house of Hanover, esp. in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715; cf. pretender n. 3a, Young Pretender n. at young adj. and n.¹ Compounds 6.

ΚΠ

1746 A. Arbuthnot Mem. Miss Jenny Cameron 277 Mister Sheridan..attended the old Pretender at Rome.

1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. ii. 58 An honest man could not call himself a Tory, which it was, in fact, as impossible to be now as to fight for the old Pretender.

1909 Westm. Gaz. 4 Sept. 13/2 He is so full of admiration for James III.—the ‘Old Pretender’, in common language—that he casts an out-of-time vote for him.

1997 Daily Tel. 29 May 13/1 The ‘Amen glass’ bears the cipher of James Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender, and two verses of the Jacobite anthem.

old pro n. colloquial a seasoned professional, an experienced person; (also) an old prostitute (rare).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skilful person > skilled and experienced person

old hand1764

old head1838

old pro1950

1950 Penguin New Writing 40 45 ‘It's just like you, you dreary old bag,’ he would say to a blowsy old pro.

1962 Washington Daily News 26 July 20/3 The task of guarding the Agriculture Department against another Billie Sol Estes case has been handed to a youngish ‘old pro’ at tackling Government scandals.

1992 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 11 May c3/1 Old pro Larry Nance scored 32 points, including six..in overtime.

Old Probabilities n. U.S. (a humorous name for) the chief signal-officer of the U.S. Signal Service Bureau, in charge of weather forecasting; also in extended use.

ΚΠ

1872 Scribner's Monthly July 365/2 I shouldn't wonder if there were times when Old Probabilities himself forgets his umbrella.

1875 O. W. Holmes Crime in Pages from Old Vol. (1891) 327 No priest or soothsayer that ever lived could hold his own against Old Probabilities.

1928 N.Y. Times 26 Mar. 20/3 Fondly we salute the quadrennial reappearance of Political Old Probabilities.

old quantum theory n. the early form of quantum theory, based on classical mechanics, prior to the development of wave mechanics and matrix mechanics in the mid 1920s.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [noun] > early form of

old quantum theory1927

1927 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 114 181 This equation..was obtained originally by Sommerfeld from relativistic considerations with the old quantum theory.

1986 A. Pais Inward Bound xii. 251 The era of the old quantum theory, the years from 1900 to 1925, constitute the most protracted revolutionary period in modern science.

old religion n. a religion or belief which is replaced or ousted by another, spec. (a) a pre-Christian religion; (b) witchcraft or paganism; (c) Roman Catholicism.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > paganism > [noun]

heathenessec900

heathenshipa1000

heathendomc1000

idolatrya1325

mammetryc1330

spiritual fornicationa1340

whoredomc1350

prepucya1382

miscreancea1393

imagery1395

gentility?a1425

paganismc1425

paganityc1450

prepucec1475

Mahometry1481

superstitiousness1526

uncircumcision1526

whoring1530

idolry1535

paynimhood1543

image-worshipping1544

paganrya1550

idololatry1550

gentilism1561

old religion1567

heathenishness1571

image worship1572

heathenry1577

irreligiousness?1577

idolatrousness1583

uncircumcisedness1583

irreligion1598

ethnicism1600

infidelity1603

superstition1603

heathenism1605

idolism1608

miscreancy1611

misreligion1623

Baalisma1625

iconolatry1624

idolomania1624

idolomany1624

idolizing1637

idol-worship1667

ethnicity1772

symbololatry1828

Baal-worship1834

irreligionism1843

gentiledom1844

triology1894

society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > [noun]

RomeeOE

Babylon1530

popishness1531

popery?1536

popistry?1542

papistry1543

mass-monging1552

antichristianity1555

antichristianism1588

Babel1599

papacy1599

Romanism1603

poping1608

Babylonism1610

Catholicism1613

Romanality1637

catholicship1653

Romishness1653

Roman Catholicism1662

Roman Catholicity1806

catholicity1830

popism1841

old religion1934

the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun]

wielingeOE

wielOE

craftOE

witchcraftOE

witchdomOE

telingc1230

demerlaykc1275

dweomercraeftc1275

sorcerya1300

magicc1387

maleficec1390

jugglerya1400

precination1503

witchery1546

maleficiousness1547

prestigiation?c1550

wizardry1583

magie1592

dark art1613

prestigion1635

conjurement1645

magomancy1652

wizardism1682

thaumaturgy1727

warlockry1818

witchwork1827

brujería1838

wizardship1882

trolldom1891

mojo1923

pixie dust1951

witchering1956

old religion1964

1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) x. f. 134^v A den With pommye vawlted naturally, long consecrate ere then For old religion.

1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia 7 Jason began To force the people to renounce the true And old Religion, to embrace a new.

a1764 R. Lloyd Cobler of Tissington's Let. in Poet. Wks. (1774) II. 94 Here comes folks a-preaching to us A saving doctrine to undo us, Whose notions fanciful and scurvy, Turn old religion topsy-turvy.

1848 W. D. Cooley tr. A. Erman Trav. in Siberia II. xii. 306 The Bugoi of the Buraets of the old religion, maintain that they know..how to deal with certain mischievous spirits.

1934 A. Huxley Beyond Mexique Bay 159 The old religion came..boldly out into the open in 1745.

1964 Listener 12 Mar. 445/3 I am glad to see that the witch-religion is becoming so respectable... Jean Morris..now proposes..that the Templars were of the ‘old religion’.

1972 P. Dennison in N. Tiptaft Relig. in Birmingham 140 Wherever a local squire remained Catholic there was a good chance for the survival of a small pocket of the old religion in his territory.

1991 Daughters of Sarah Jan. 2/2 I first discovered the honoring of older women in Wicca, the Old Religion.

2002 Guardian (Nexis) 1 June (Review section) 11 Stolid, stubborn, and without the nous to disguise his devotion to the old religion, James plodded through his disastrous reign.

† old rest n. Scottish Obsolete (chiefly with the) an outstanding sum of money to be paid (see rest n.³ 2a); the balance, the arrears.

ΚΠ

1473–4 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 12 xxxiiij li. resauit..of the ald rest of his faderis compt and his awin.

1549 in W. Cramond Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 99 The saidis personis findand souerte for the auld rist and malis in tyme coming.

1676 Cullen Kirk Session Rec. 15 Oct. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Rest Fiue merks which compleets his fie till hallowmass except a mark of old rest.

1697 in Orkney & Shetland Misc. (1920) 8 i. 5 I charge noe geise in this count book, because ther is a list made of the old rest.

old-rich adj. and n. (a) adj. possessing old-established wealth (opposed to new rich adj.); (b) n. (without hyphen) old-rich people as a class.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > rich or wealthy person > people of established wealth

old-rich1927

old money1971

1927 Public Opinion 18 Feb. 149/1 These mistakes..seem folly to an old-rich man.

1976 T. Allbeury Only Good German xiv. 101 The kind of places that the old rich go to rather than the new rich.

1996 Independent 13 Aug. ii. 2/2 The usual crowds—old rich, new rich, and not rich at all, who reclaim their territory after the annual film festival.

Old Ritualist n. [after Russian staroobrjadec] a member of the Russian Orthodox Church who rejects the liturgical reforms of the patriarch Nikon (1605–81); = Old Believer n.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > sect > Christianity > Greek Orthodoxy > [noun] > person > Russian > following Nikon > dissenter from

Raskolnik1723

Old Believer1762

starover1762

Bezpopovtsy1868

Raskol1870

Old Ritualist1872

Popovtsy1875

1872 W. R. S. Ralston Songs Russ. People i. 65 Wherever Old-Ritualists—the Puritans of Russia—abound, there those memorials only of poetry and art are cared for..which help to support the Old-Ritual.

1872 W. R. S. Ralston Songs Russ. People i. 65 The Old-Ritualists feel for secular poetry what was felt in olden days.

1974 R. Pipes Russia under Old Regime ix. 236 Russian dissenters are customarily divided in two basic groups: the Old Believers, known to themselves as ‘Old Ritualists’ (Staroobriadtsy) and to the official church as ‘Splitters’ (Raskol'niki), and the Sectarians.

1995 Slavic Rev. 54 252 He went over to the Old Ritualists and was consecrated a bishop; but in the early 1920s..he committed suicide.

old rope n. slang (originally Navy) strong tobacco, esp. Perique.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > [noun] > bad-smelling or rank

mundungus1640

mundung1712

old rope1943

1849 H. Melville Redburn liv. 340 Ropes were unstranded, and the yarns picked apart; and, cut up into small bits, were used as a substitute for the weed. Old ropes were preferred.]

1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 48 Old rope, any tobacco which offends the nostrils of those present, and especially the finer varieties such as Egyptian.

1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 127 Old Rope, any offensive smelling tobacco.

old saw n. a sententious saying, a homily; a traditional proverb or maxim; a homespun aphorism; cf. old said saw at said adj. 3.

ΚΠ

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 1899 An old sawe is, ‘who that is slyh [etc.]’.

c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 660 I sette noght an hawe Of his prouerbes nof his olde sawe.

1595 R. Parry Moderatus xiv. 140 sig. R3 Modesta..seemed very vnwilling..least her champion in perfourming so many exploytes should at last miscarrie, and so verifie the old saw: So often goeth the pot to the water, that at last it commeth broken home.

c1705 A. Pope Jan. & May 219 We, Sirs, are fools; and must resign the cause To heath'nish authors, proverbs, and old saws.

1857 N. Amer. Rev. July 169 To clinch the argument with an old saw, is to come off with flying colors, in his own undisguised estimation.

1992 Harper's Mag. Oct. 5/1 Please spare me that old saw about a person ‘making his or her own opportunities’.

old score n. [ < old adj. + score n. 11b] a long-standing grudge, esp. as a motive for revenge.

ΚΠ

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxvi. 86 Many a good ducking in the surf, did he get to pay up old scores.

1902 E. Banks Autobiogr. Newspaper Girl 299 I suppose in this book you..are going to pay off old scores.

1992 Time 17 Feb. 80/2 He is rather obviously settling old personal scores.

old settler n. [ < old adj. + settler n. 2a] one of the earliest settlers in a community; (more generally) a person who has lived in a colonial community for a long time.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > colonist or settler > [noun] > other specific colonists or settlers

pilgrim1630

originals1703

old settler1744

Big Knife1750

out-settler1755

provincial1756

Boer1776

freeman1791

Pilgrim Fathers1799

back-settler1809

undertaker1819

oecist1846

Argonaut1848

Canterbury pilgrim1850

poblador1850

shagroon1851

forty-niner1853

planter1858

inside squatter1881

local white1888

Minyan1928

1744 Colonial Rec. Georgia (1906) VI. 117 Thomas Ellis has been an old Settler in the Colony.

1854 R. B. Paul Some Acct. Canterbury Settlemt. 5 Having now resided more than two years in the Canterbury Settlement..[I] may almost call [myself] an ‘old settler’.

1979 S. W. Duthie Fiddlers Creek 129 I suppose that there's lots of old settler families around the place.

1996 Independent on Sunday 3 Mar. (Review Suppl.) 50/2 The old settlers had planted plots of their farms with Shiraz..in the Barossa's very hot, dry climate.

old ship n. Navy slang an old shipmate (also as an informal form of address).

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > (old) shipmate

old ship1848

1848 G. Cupples Green Hand i, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 743/1 ‘Come, old ship, give us a yarn!’ said the younger forecastle-men to an old one.

1927 Daily Express 11 Oct. 3/4 He gave a vivid description of waiting for the train at Charing Cross, then he met an ‘old ship’, and they went to have a drink.

1989 R. Jolly Jackspeak 202 Old ships, abbreviation for old shipmate, ie. someone you have served with before: ‘'Ere, Charlie, come an' meet my oppa Timber Woods—we're old ships from the Ark in '79.’

old-sighted adj. presbyopic.

ΚΠ

1789 G. Adams Ess. on Vision 88 (heading) Of long or old-sighted Eyes.

1855 Times 14 Feb. 10/6 He is so old-sighted as to be unable to read a single line without ‘spectacle on nose’.

2001 Independent (Nexis) 15 May 7 ‘No, no, no’, said the eye doctor. ‘It just means “old-sighted”. It means you have difficulty in changing the focus of your eyes from far to near.’

old-sightedness n. presbyopia.

ΚΠ

1871 E. S. Snell Olmsted's Introd. Nat. Philos. (rev. ed.) 412 As the term long-sightedness is now applied to this abnormal condition of the eye, the effect of age upon the sight is more properly called old-sightedness.

1918 Science 7 June 555/1 It is mental rigidity without spiritual growth which, like old-sightedness in the young, is so much to be regretted.

1996 Nat. Way for Better Health (Nexis) May–June 24 If the focusing of the eye is imperfect, it can cause nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), ‘old-sightedness’ (presbyopia) or uneven focusing.

old sir n. now archaic an old man; frequently as a form of address.

ΚΠ

1902 N.E.D. at Old a. Old-sir.

a1910 in Amer. Speech (1979) 54 99 Old sir... Common way of referring to an old man.

1958 H. Nemerov Mirrors & Windows in Coll. Poems (1977) 198 Old sir, I think of you in this tardy spring, Think of you for, maybe, no better reason Than that the apple branches in the orchard Bear snow, not blossoms.

† old sire n. Obsolete = old sir n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > old person > old man > [noun]

old maneOE

bevara1275

beauperec1300

vieillard1475

Nestor?c1510

old gentleman1526

haga1529

velyarda1529

old fellow?1555

old sire1557

granfer1564

vecchioc1570

ageman1571

grave-porer1582

grandsire1595

huddle-duddle1599

elder1600

pantaloon1602

cuffc1616

crone1630

old boya1637

codger?1738

dry-beard1749

eld1796

patriarch1819

oubaas1824

old chap1840

pap1844

pop1844

tad1877

old baas1882

senex1898

finger1904

AK1911

alte kacker1911

poppa stoppa1944

madala1960

Ntate1975

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. O.i Yong bloods be strong: old sires in double honour dwell.

1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades ii. 20 How this last night the dreame diuine did set my thought on fire Heare now my friends, when as he came resembling this old sire.

1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 84 Of a crooked old-sire, we say that his spirit waxeth old with him.

old sledge n. a card game; = all fours n. 3.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > all fours

all fours1674

seven-up1830

old sledge1834

pitch1860

California jack1865

Pedro Sancho1875

cinch1889

high five1889

Californian jack1893

sell-out-

1834 H. J. Nott Novellettes of Traveller I. 40 They could indulge in three up, old sledge, whist, or loo.

1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. 181 [This] threw a temporary stigma upon the game of ‘old-sledge’.

1950 R. P. Warren World Enough & Time iii. 101 The groups of men who played ‘Old Sledge’ and ‘Brag’ on the sidewalk.

1995 Smithsonian (Nexis) July 44 Maxwell and Kit Carson..would play a six-card game called ‘seven-up’, or ‘old sledge’, for hours.

Old Sol n. colloquial (chiefly U.S.) the sun; = sol n.¹ 1 (in early use probably not a fixed compound).

ΚΠ

1801 L. Hunt Juvenilia 41 Madam Luna, for a light, Drinks up old Sol himself at night!

1850 C. M. Kirkland Fountain & Bottle 285 The bright morning greeting of gay, generous Old Sol, to our fair Mother Earth.

1993 Fortune (Electronic ed.) 13 Dec. The wind and wood get to do their thing only because the sun is there to help them, so why not give Old Sol the credit up front?

Old South n. the Southern states of the U.S. before the Civil War (1861–5).

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > southern states

south1779

Sunny South1833

Negroland1836

Old South1847

Dixie1859

Cousin Sally1861

sunbelt1918

down home1920

Deep South1936

1847 H. Ruffner Addr. Citizens W. Virginia 23 The old South, as might be expected, exhibits no movement, except the customary one of emigration.

1873 Harper's Mag. July 271/1 Never in her most boastful days did the old South, under her cherished system of slave labor, produce better crops.

1966 B. H. Deal Fancy's Knell (1967) ii. 26 Bill was Old South and Mildred wasn't.

1975 A. Price Our Man in Camelot i. 25 There was much more of the Old South in Shirley's voice.

1992 Esquire Feb. 130/1 They brought with them so much of the Old South that, by 1922, the Ku Klux Klan was virtually running the state.

old sow n. rare †(a) sweet trefoil, Trigonella coerulea, used as a culinary herb, esp. for flavouring the Swiss cheese Schabzieger (obsolete); (b) English regional the plant pearly everlasting, Anaphalis margaritacea.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil

salad clover1562

old sow1855

sweet trefoil1859

sweet clover1867

1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 421 Melilotus azureus, a Swiss plant..with blue blossoms, has a singular porcine odour, whence it is vulgarly called ‘Old Sow’; and is the plant which gives the peculiar flavour to Schapziger cheese.

1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 809/1 Old sow, Melilotus cœruleus, or Trigonella cœrulea, which gives its peculiar flavour to chapziger cheese.

1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 359 Old sow, Antennaria margaritacea, Br.—Norf.

Old Sparky n. U.S. slang an electric chair.

ΚΠ

1971 J. Brown & A. Groff Monkey off my Back 84 I was next door to ‘Old Sparky’—the electric chair.

1994 N.Y. Times 27 Nov. i. 49/1 David Letterman gets a pretty good laugh with references to the expected return of ‘Old Sparky’, New York State's electric chair.

2001 K. Lette Nip 'n' Tuck 233 I was twenty-four hours from gettin' fried by Old Sparky, all for a crime I never done.

old spelling n. the unstandardized spelling of early (esp. early modern) English.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > writing > spelling > [noun] > unstandardized early spelling of English

old spelling1744

1744 Philos. Trans. 1742–3 (Royal Soc.) 42 420 I have pretty nearly observed the old Spelling, except in Numbers.

1890 in C. Mackay Gossamer & Snowdrift 190 (note) The two recurring lines, in quaint old spelling, of the following ballad are taken from a funeral dirge, or coronach, of the thirteenth century.

1927 R. B. McKerrow Introd. Bibliogr. iii. i. 246 The composition rates for old spelling texts are some 10 per cent above the normal rate.

1990 Stud. Eng. Lit.: Eng. Number (Tokyo) 129 Scholars..are really indebted to them for it and its companion volume, which have enabled them to consult the old-spelling edited texts of Chapman's plays.

oldsquaw n. North American the long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis; in full oldsquaw duck.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > clangula hyemalis (old squaw)

hound1623

old wife1634

swallow-tailed duck1678

swallow-tailed sheldrake1678

calloo1793

south-southerly1814

oldsquaw1834

long-tail1837

granny1888

sea pheasant1893

1834 T. Nuttall Man. Ornithol. U.S. & Canada: Water Birds 454 This elegant and noisy duck, known..in most other parts by the appellation of ‘Old Squaws’ or ‘Old Wives’, is an Arctic inhabitant of both continents.

1892 B. Torrey Foot-path Way 41 The cliffs..offer an excellent position from which to sweep the bay in search of loons, old-squaws, and other sea-fowl.

1963 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 8 Feb. 11/2 Large numbers of Old Squaw ducks were sighted during the survey.

1993 Outdoor Canada Mar. 22 In the right season,..large numbers of wintering oldsquaws ride the waves on the lake.

old-standing adj. that has stood or existed long; long-standing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing

longOE

oldOE

veterate?1541

long-rooted1562

of long standinga1568

old-standinga1627

veteran1648

long-running1651

long-standing1655

old-established1776

long-breathed1816

long-time1851

the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective]

oldeOE

eldeda1400

antique1490

invetered1490

prisk1533

grey-headed1578

ancient1579

hoar1590

inveterated1597

antiquated1598

inveterate1598

long-dated1602

avital1611

vetust1623

old-standinga1627

grey-haired1637

superannuateda1644

avitous1731

old-established1776

venerable1792

timeworn1840

inworn1864

avitic1865

a1627 T. Middleton et al. Widdow (1652) i. ii. 7 Your College for your old standing Scholer.

1692 C. Gildon Post-boy rob'd of his Mail I. lxvii. 199 Tho' this be a new sort of dealing, (said I) sprung up since our present wars, yet 'tis arriv'd to a perfection of cheating, as well as the old-standing Trades.

1804 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 12 139 His anti-venereal treacle, well-known for curing the venereal disease, rheumatism, scurvy, old-standing sores.

1861 E. E. Stuart Let. 24 Mar. in R. Stuart et al. Stuart Lett. (1961) II. 931 Also to Mr. Chase again, through his intimate and oldstanding friend, A. H. Adams.

1962 A. Sorsby in A. Pirie Lens Metabolism 298 The characteristic subepithelial opacities seen in this affection are an oldstanding observation.

1997 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 355 2112 The old-standing paradox about the nth primary mode of the N-link discrete model.

old-stock adj. designating a person or people whose ancestors have lived in a certain country or area for several generations.

ΚΠ

1896 N.Y. Times 18 Mar. i. 1/7 My subject..would be the view taken of the Irish by the old stock American race.

1925 L. Stoddard Racial Realities in Europe x. 239 The stream of immigration shifted its sources, ceasing to come from Northern and Western Europe (where the old-stock Americans had originated) and flowing instead from Southern and Eastern Europe, or even from Asia.

1995 Canad. Hist. Rev. Mar. 9 Some immigrants also settled in Lower Canada, with the result that a linguistic minority of British origin shared the province with the old-stock canadiens.

Old Stone Age n. Archaeology the Palaeolithic period.

ΚΠ

1869 Duke of Argyll Primeval Man iv. 59 They [sc. archaeologists] talk of an Old Stone Age (Palæolithic), and of a Newer Stone Age (Neolithic).

1988 H. Angula in B. Wood Namibia 1884–1984 109 In the Old Stone Age..the population of Ethiopia seems to have included groups of ‘Bushmanoid’ peoples.

old sweat n. slang an experienced soldier or military pilot.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > veteran soldier

veteran?1504

man of service1553

campaigner1771

old moustache1828

warhorse1836

vet1848

Old Bill1915

old sweat1919

retread1941

grognard1959

1919 Athenæum 8 Aug. 727/2 A ‘gasper’ is a cheap cigarette, an ‘old sweat’ an old soldier.

1955 J. Thomas No Banners ix. 80 These were followed by two lank British privates, old sweats of the Regular Army.

1989 Airforce July 17/1 Half the pilots on the squadron were 22–28 years old; the rest, old sweats like second-tour Willy.

Old Thirteen n. U.S. (now chiefly historical) the original thirteen American colonies (or occasionally the corresponding present-day states), which declared independence in 1776; the flag of these colonies, which bore thirteen stars and thirteen stripes.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > original colonies

United Colonies1643

Old Thirteen1792

society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > U.S. flag

Old Thirteen1792

Stars and Stripes1809

gridiron1812

star-spangled banner1814

Old Glory1862

1792 Pennsylvania Gaz. 18 July 3/1 The following toasts were drank on the occasion... The old thirteen: may the number be sacred in every American mind.

1834 H. M. Brackenridge Recoll. vii. 69 Fort Fayette, surmounted by the stripes and stars of the old thirteen.

1854 B. F. Taylor January & June 68 The ‘Old Thirteen’ were blazing bright—There were only thirteen then!

1904 Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 30 Aug. 10 We want to see the Old Thirteen draw closer and closer together.

1997 M. A. Morrison Slavery & Amer. West ii. 49 Unable to protect themselves singly, the old thirteen entered into a Union to defend the republic against foreign violence.

† old tiger n. U.S. Obsolete rare an alcoholic drink made from rum.

ΚΠ

1875 J. Miller First Fam'lies Sierras ix. 67 All of the following popular drinks, that is Old Tiger, Bad Eye..[etc.], were all [sic] made from the same decoction of bad rum, worse tobacco, and first-class cayenne pepper.

Old Tom n. a type of gin, typically less sweet than Dutch genever but sweeter than London gin.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > gin > [noun] > kinds of gin

genever1689

South Sea1725

Hollands1753

Old Tom1810

deady1819

schiedam1821

Plymouth gin1854

unsweetened1886

London gin1920

Plymouth1920

ogogoro1982

1810 Statesman 12 June Fortunately a glass of Old Tom, alias gin, soon restored the prostrate driver to the full exercise of his powers.

1868 Notes & Queries 28 Mar. 298/2 When a customer was asked what he would have, ‘A glass of Old Tom’ soon became such a regular reply, that the firm decided on manufacturing that especial good quality of gin for the trade.

1971 R. Dentry Encounter at Kharmel iv. 75 A bottle of Old Tom and two hot-glasses.

2014 M. Teacher Spirit of Gin 88 Old Tom is gin's middle child. It is the link between the juniper-based malty Dutch genever and the crisp London and American dry gin styles that are most popular today.

old Tory n. British Politics a supporter of an old-fashioned or backward-looking form of Toryism, esp. one adhering to the principles of the old Tory Party after the formation of the Conservative Party.In quot. 1827: a Jacobite Tory.

ΚΠ

1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xv. 472 (note) The thorough-paced royalists, or old tories [c1690].

1850 H. Martineau Introd. Hist. Peace I. iii. xi. 555 We have, what the old Tories have not and cannot conceive of.

1895 C. Oman Hist. Eng. xxxix. 646 When O'Connell's agitation grew formidable, and the old Tories urged him to repress it by force, he [sc. Wellington] refused.

1986 Eng. Hist. Rev. 101 1016 Mr Anthony argues that Ruskin was an Old Tory who aspired to the stable social order of ‘Old England’.

old trick n. a frequently used stratagem; (more generally) a habit or idiosyncrasy, frequently in up to one's old tricks.

ΚΠ

a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury lxxxvii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 324 While he conceived another piece of fun, One of his old tricks.

1990 N. Payne Grenadian Childhood 98 We kept her and in a few weeks she was up to her old tricks again, producing babies.

1998 R. Carr Brixton Bwoy v. 102 Soon Tee was back to his old tricks, pickpocketing down..the underground, or thieving from clothes shops.

old-wave adj. relating to or belonging to an old-fashioned style or methodology, spec. the realist style of filmmaking dominant before the ‘New Wave’ of the late 1950s (cf. New Wave n. and nouvelle vague n. and adj.).

ΚΠ

1899 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 5 335 With this theory, a result largely of the old wave doctrine of Smidt and others, is associated a complementary explanation of the increasing simplification of idioms.

1962 Listener 30 Aug. 315/1 This reaction has not come from Old Wave film makers.

1988 New Scientist 9 June 80/1 Many a rising young researcher today would discard the old-wave results with a cry of distaste, as though they were written in crayon.

Old West n. = Wild West n.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > [noun] > area or time characterized by disorder

Wild West1849

Old West1897

the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > western states

Western States1787

west1796

Wild West1849

Old West1897

1871 Amer. Naturalist 5 558 The commerce of the new far west..will just as naturally look to Indiana for its supply of iron and steel.., as the old west formerly looked to Pennsylvania.]

1897 N.Y. Times 8 Aug. 18/3 As they saw the old West gone forever,..they turned their hands to the ways of civilization and did as best they could.

1933 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 14 Nov. 3/2 The Lake Boren district near Newcastle is still the ‘Old West’ as far as cattle roaming where they will is concerned.

1994 Harper's Mag. May 46 Lives of crime are plentiful, as well as those of derring-dodaddies from the Old West.

old witch n. now historical any of various children's games in which one player (the ‘old witch’) attempts to catch the others.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > children's game > other children's games > [noun] > others

buckle-pit1532

marrowbone1533

put-pin?1577

primus secundus1584

fox in the hole1585

haltering of Hick's mare1585

muss1591

pushpin1598

Jack-in-the-box1600

a penny in the forehead1602

buckerels1649

bumdockdousse1653

peck-point1653

toro1660

wheelbarrow1740

thread-needle1751

thrush-a-thrush1766

runaway ring?1790

Gregory1801

pick-point1801

fighting cocks1807

runaway knock1813

tit-tat-toe1818

French and English1820

honeypots1821

roly-poly1821

tickle-tail1821

pottle1822

King of Cantland1825

tip-top-castle1834

tile1837

statue1839

chip stone1843

hen and chickens1843

king of the castle1843

King Caesar1849

rap-jacket1870

old witch1881

tick-tack-toe1884

twos and threes1896

last across (the road)1904

step1909

king of the hill1928

Pooh-sticks1928

trick or treat1928

stare-you-out1932

king of the mountain1933

dab cricket1938

Urkey1938

trick-or-treating1941

seven-up1950

squashed tomato1959

slot-racing1965

Pog1993

knights-

1881 Harper's Mag. Jan. 184/2 The young folks..played at ‘prisoner's base’ or ‘old witch by the wayside’.

1897 S. D. McGill Narr. Reminisc. Williamsburg County 34 The girls played ‘Old Witch’ by themselves. One of them, getting into a ditch or old clay hole, would act an old witch.

1906 Dial. Notes 3 148 Old witch,..an outdoor game. The players circle around one of their number, the old witch, to whom the following is addressed: ‘Chickamy, chickamy, crany-crow... What time is it, old witch?’

1969 I. Opie & P. Opie Children's Games xi. 326 Names in present day: ‘Mother, the Cake is Burning’ (Swansea and district); ‘Amy and Witchie’ (Scalloway); [etc.]... Names previously current:..‘Witch’ or ‘Old Witch’ (Cornwall, 1887, Dartmouth, 1894).

1981 L. A. Pederson et al. Ling. Atlas Gulf States 0035/130 [Tennessee] Old witch, a game they made up, with home base.

old-witch grass n. the witch grass Panicum capillare, found throughout the United States.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > panic grasses

panic?1440

summer grass1531

panicle1577

manna-grass1597

panic grass1597

panicum1739

crab-grass1743

witchgrass1790

old-witch grass1859

vine-bamboo1871

Vandyke1889

1859 W. Darlington & G. Thurber Amer. Weeds & Useful Plants 403 Old-witch Grass... Sandy pastures, cultivated grounds; throughout the United States.

1894 J. M. Coulter Bot. W. Texas III. 508 Old witch grass... Annual... In cultivated land everywhere.

1989 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 116 270/2 Panicum capillare L.—Old-Witch Grass.

C5. colloquial and slang.

a. In disparaging terms for persons, not necessarily with literal reference to age.

(a)

old bloke n.

ΚΠ

1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 387/1 If we met an ‘old bloke’..we ‘propped him’.

1905 E. Candler Unveiling of Lhasa xiii. 256 The old bloke's done a bunk.

1952 T. A. G. Hungerford Ridge & River 62 The old bloke's stung already, and the pubs aren't even open yet!

old bollocks n.

ΚΠ

1919 J. Joyce Ulysses xii. [Cyclops] in Little Rev. Nov. 38 Who is the old ballocks you were talking to?

old buffer n.

ΚΠ

1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful III. i. 14 As the old buffer her father, says.

1917 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 584/1 I was wet-nursed by an elderly old buffer of a General.

1982 P. Dickinson Last House-party ii. 22 You can make the correct noises while all the old buffers are woffling on.

† old churl n. Obsolete

ΚΠ

c1390 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 750 Nay, olde cherl, by god, thow shalt nat so!

?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 131 (MED) With þis damysel whan he dede dawns, þe olde charle had ryght gret corage.

old codger n.

ΚΠ

?1738 Moll King (engraving) (Yale Univ., Lewis Walpole Libr. 738.00.00.03+) (caption) I shall see my jolly old Codger by y^e Tinneyside, I suppose with his Day Light dim, & his Trotters shivering under him.

1775 D. Garrick Bon Ton 33 That for you, old Codger (snaps his fingers).

1807 Salmagundi 20 Mar. 109 A gouty old codger of an alderman.

1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 13/1 I'd tried to touch the old man—the boss—for an advance... The old codger almost had a stroke!

2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze xv. 165 The toothless old codgers nursing stout, Capstans sucking the last breath out of them.

† old crawler n. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms (Farmer) I used to laugh at him, and call him a regular old crawler.

old curmudgeon n.

ΚΠ

1716 T. Ward England's Reformation 129 Pray take it not, you old Cur-mudgeon, so much in snuff and evil dudgeon.

1860 G. J. Whyte-Melville Holmby House 377 A thankless old curmudgeon.

1909 Chatterbox 383/1 It's better than living with an old curmudgeon like Uncle Peter.

2001 J. O'Brien At Home in Heart of Appalachia xiii. 204 Grandpa Farmer used to say this, playacting the old curmudgeon.

old fool n.

ΚΠ

1563 2nd Tome Homelyes sig. Yy.iv^v Greate puppettes and maumentes for olde fooles in dotage.

a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iii. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr2^v/2 Peace ye old foole.

a1777 S. Foote Trip to Calais (1778) i. 6 A couple of fogrum old fools.

1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. xiv. 294 The knight's a punctilious old fool, but I promise you his daughter is above all nonsensical ceremony and prejudice.

1995 M. L. Settle Choices i. 9 She told herself she was a vain old fool to save something that didn't mean diddly-squat.

old geezer n.

ΚΠ

1885 ‘Corin’ Truth about Stage 16 If we wake up the old geezers we shall get notice to quit without compensation..The two geezers, as Sandy styled the landlord and his wife.

1915 Dial. Notes 4 201 The old geezer wouldn't let us play ball in his pasture.

old shrew n.

ΚΠ

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 665 The olde shrew sir Launcelot smote me downe.

?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 I dar nought keik to the knaip that the cop fillis, For eldnyng of that ald schrew.

1810 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iv. 69 A calmness calculated to provoke to madness the furious old shrew.

1932 ‘B. Ross’ Trag. of X ii. i. 146 The old shrew..lifted her bedraggled skirt delicately,..and waddled up a flight of thinly carpeted stairs.

2002 Express (Nexis) 9 Oct. 41 Jill..turned out to be a sharptongued old shrew and idiotic at that.

(b)

old bag n. = bag n. 17.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > old person > old woman > [noun]

old wifeeOE

old womanOE

trota1375

carlinec1375

cronec1386

vecke1390

monea1393

hagc1400

ribibec1405

aunt?a1425

crate14..

witchc1475

mauda1500

mackabroine1546

grandam?1550

grannam1565

old lady1575

beldam1580

lucky1629

granny1634

patriarchess1639

runta1652

harridan1699

grimalkin1798

mama1810

tante1815

wifie1823

maw1826

old dear1836

tante1845

Mother Bunch1847

douairière1869

dowager1870

veteraness1880

old trout1897

tab1909

bag1924

crow1925

ma1932

Skinny Liz1940

old bag1947

old boot1958

tannie1958

LOL1960

1947 N. Johnson Lett. (1981) 35 Around comes this old bag again,..and he..quavers,..‘I've seen that old broad somewhere before’.

1949 Cavalier Daily (Univ. Virginia) 22 Oct. 4/1 They got a campaign goin' around here to try to stick us students six rocks just to go..and listen to some old bag yell her fool head off.

1999 C. Grimshaw Provocation v. 72 Why didn't the old bag and her disgusting family leave them alone?

old boot n. a woman; a wife.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > old person > old woman > [noun]

old wifeeOE

old womanOE

trota1375

carlinec1375

cronec1386

vecke1390

monea1393

hagc1400

ribibec1405

aunt?a1425

crate14..

witchc1475

mauda1500

mackabroine1546

grandam?1550

grannam1565

old lady1575

beldam1580

lucky1629

granny1634

patriarchess1639

runta1652

harridan1699

grimalkin1798

mama1810

tante1815

wifie1823

maw1826

old dear1836

tante1845

Mother Bunch1847

douairière1869

dowager1870

veteraness1880

old trout1897

tab1909

bag1924

crow1925

ma1932

Skinny Liz1940

old bag1947

old boot1958

tannie1958

LOL1960

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married woman > [noun] > wife

wifeeOE

womanc1275

peerc1330

spousessc1384

ladyc1390

good lady1502

girl?a1513

spousage1513

little lady1523

the weaker vessel1526

companion1535

wedlock1566

Mrs1572

dame1574

rib?1590

feme1595

fathom1602

feme covert1602

shrew1606

wife of one's bosom1611

kickie-wickiea1616

heifer1616

sposa1624

bosom-partner1633

goodwife1654

little woman1715

squaw1767

the Mrs1821

missus1823

maw1826

lady wife1840

tart1864

mistress1873

mama1916

ball and chain1921

trouble and strife1929

old boot1958

1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights iii. 129 What about the ironing said Sopey? Well what about it said the old boot.

1974 Canad. Forces Sentinel (Ottawa) 10 ii. 9/2 Talk turns to ‘seeing the old boot and sprogs’ again. Especially among the younger crew.

1998 Daily Tel. 1 July 21/5 I particularly liked Jean Challis as the much abused old boot of a hostess.

† old cat n. Obsolete a spiteful woman.

ΚΠ

1763 F. Brooke Hist. Lady Julia Mandeville II. 72 An old cat..who is a famous proficient in scandal.

1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xii. 77 His mother called me an old cat.

old fart n. slang a contemptible or tiresome person, esp. one who is old-fashioned, stuffy, or close-minded.

ΚΠ

1943 J. G. Rothenberg in Amer. Speech 18 44 A Jewish person who would not hesitate to say arumfartzen (herumfartzen) or alte kacker.., far from himself employing the respective English equivalents, ‘to fart around’, or ‘old fart’.

1968 J. Sangster Touchfeather xi. 121 I'm supposed to be non-operational. What does the silly old fart want?

1995 Muzik July 118/2 Even though Simon Bates was a bit of an old fart, at least he was a laugh.

old hen n. a woman, spec. a wife (cf. hen n.¹ 3a); also in extended use.

ΚΠ

c1880 G. Meredith Old Chartist in Daily News (1897) 21 Sept. 6/1 But if I go and say to my old hen: I'll mend the gentry's boots, and keep discreet.

1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 90 The old hen with the languishing lamps was still on my trail.

1935 H. Nicolson Diary 21 Nov. (1966) 229 He says the rather dramatic circumstances of my election may arouse some jealousy in that old hen the H. of C. I must do the new-boy for six months at least.

1984 A. Smith in G. Ursell More Sask. Gold (1984) iii. vii. 371 Those two old hens in young bodies love their privacy... After supper, Rosalind will..rush back to her bachelor-girl apartment.

old pot n. [short for old pot and pan: see pot and pan n.] chiefly Australian one's father.

ΚΠ

1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 124 The old pot, the male parent (from ‘Rhyming Slang’, the ‘old pot and pan’—the ‘old man’).

1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime ix. 129 ‘What about Mr. Pilgrim?’ ‘Aw, he's different... I get on with him good-oh, even if his old pot is one of these lords. Him and me's cobbers.’

1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime ix. 128 Miss Troy thought I was good enough to come here, even if my old pot did keep a bottle store.

1972 N. Marsh Tied up in Tinsel xviii. 197 'Er old pot was killed saving the colonel's life.

old stick n. (with modifying adjective) a person (not necessarily an old one) of the kind specified.

ΚΠ

1886 J. R. Rees Pleasures of Book-worm v. 178 Some disagreeable old stick has probably eaten an enormous dinner.

1949 E. Goudge Gentian Hill (1992) ii. ii. 161 Was this the man whom the Torre Abbey community spoke of sometimes as a dry old stick?

1958 A. Wilson Middle Age of Mrs Eliot ii. 177 She's not a bad old stick but she does like things her own way.

2004 R. Finn Adept xi. 122 Should I button my lip when I'm with the gang or should I show them what a clever old stick I am?

old trot n. now rare an old woman or (occasionally) an old man; cf. trot n.²

ΚΠ

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 1370 Þan ful doun þat olde trate in-to þe salte see.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 642/1 Se yonder olde trot howe she mumbleth:..comment elle masche en belyn.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 78 An old trot with ne're a tooth in her head.

1830 T. Hood in Forget me Not 415 Some strange neglectful gossiping old Trot.

1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death vi. 104 He's quite a decent old trot, but definitely in the Beta class.

old trout n. [ < old adj. + trout n.¹] slang an old woman.

ΚΠ

1897 ‘S. Grand’ Beth Bk. xxxix. 395 They said..they were blessed if they'd go near the old trout again.

1932 S. Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm xvi. 224 ‘Serve her right, the old trout,’ muttered Flora.

1972 V. Canning Rainbird Pattern iii. 50 She wasn't such a bad old trout. For all her money and position, life hadn't been all good to her.

b. In familiar or affectionate forms of address, usually with no connotation of age, as old bean (cf. bean n. 6e), fruit (cf. fruit n. 2e), horse (cf. horse n. 4), hoss (cf. hoss n. 2), lad (cf. lad n.¹ 2a), son (cf. son n.¹ 4), sport (cf. sport n.¹), top (cf. top n.²).Most of these expressions are now generally considered old-fashioned or upper-class. Modern uses are frequently humorous or intended to characterize upper-class speech. Cf. cock n.¹ 14.See also old boy n., old chap n., old dear n., old fellow n., old girl n., old lady n., old man n., old thing n.

old bean n.

ΚΠ

1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 231 Chorus—‘Goodnight, old bean.’

1955 J. Thomas No Banners xxix. 286 I say, old bean, let's stick together.

2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) x. 235 Are you really telling me they settle down side by side and go ‘Pass the pot, old bean!’?

old fruit n.

ΚΠ

1928 Daily Mail 25 July 10/6 Then their politeness. No slapping a friend on the back with a ‘What cheer, old fruit?’

1951 T. Rattigan Who is Sylvia? i. 212 You don't mind me asking, did you, old fruit?

2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 143 I say old fruit, if you'd be so kind, I'd like seven guineas' worth of scag, don't ya know, pip, pip.

old horse n.

ΚΠ

1906 P. G. Wodehouse Love among Chickens (ed. 2) v. 63 Garney, old horse, you're a marvel.

1976 ‘A. Hall’ Kobra Manifesto ii. 24 I wish someone had told me, old horse.

old hoss n.

ΚΠ

1847 W. T. Porter Quarter Race Kentucky 39 Good mornin', old hoss.

1904 W. N. Harben Georgians 2 Ef I don't whack it to you this pop, old hoss, I'll eat my hat.

1994 R. Hendrickson Happy Trails 127 Hoss,..an affectionate nickname for a friend. ‘Git ready, old hoss, but hold fire till I give the sign.’

old lad n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address

mon amic1425

matec1500

boy1532

old lad1594

old boy1602

captaina1616

mon cher1673

old chap1823

old man1828

ou maat1838

boysie1846

old top1856

boetie1867

bra1869

cocker1888

mon vieux1888

face1891

yessir1892

George1903

old sport1905

old bean1917

segotia1917

babe1918

bro1918

tovarish1918

old egg1919

midear1921

old (tin of) fruit1923

sport1923

mush1936

cowboy1961

coz1961

wack1963

yaar1963

John1982

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. ii. 120 Looke how the blacke slaue smiles vpon the father, As who should say, olde Lad I am thine owne.

1977 ‘J. Herriot’ Vets might Fly (BNC) 69 Tristan lit a Woodbine, shook out his Daily Mirror and put his feet up. ‘Just prepared lunch, old lad.’

2002 Daily Mail (Nexis) 10 June 50 Look old lad, Peter didn't come back from a trip at first light today.

old son n.

ΚΠ

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. iii. 144 Come my olde sonne, I pray God make thee new.

1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. ii. ii. 183 Oh, you prodigal old son! Now you shall be starved.

1895 Worker (Sydney) 28 Sept. 4/1 Why old son..that's Billy McGee, ‘Big dog’ of the old Barcoo.

1990 B. Hockin Cue Bruce (BNC) 39 ‘You can't go direct to Fleet Street, old son,’ said an older journalist to whom I confided.

old sport n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address

mon amic1425

matec1500

boy1532

old lad1594

old boy1602

captaina1616

mon cher1673

old chap1823

old man1828

ou maat1838

boysie1846

old top1856

boetie1867

bra1869

cocker1888

mon vieux1888

face1891

yessir1892

George1903

old sport1905

old bean1917

segotia1917

babe1918

bro1918

tovarish1918

old egg1919

midear1921

old (tin of) fruit1923

sport1923

mush1936

cowboy1961

coz1961

wack1963

yaar1963

John1982

1905 Punch 22 Mar. 199 I shouldn't mind, Old Sport.

1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 64 Don't give it another thought, old sport.

1984 I. Banks Wasp Factory 134 Anyway, Frank, old sport.., I'll see you soon. Ta ta.

old top n.

ΚΠ

1856 E. G. P. Wilkins Young N.Y. i. i. 13 I say, old top, look here!

1912 Collier's 28 Sept. 19/1 ‘Tough luck, old top’, he muttered.

1998 Viz June–July 3/1 Dash it all, Raffles old top. I'm bored to tears don't y'know.

C6. colloquial. In terms for persons, connoting experience, wisdom, etc. (cf. sense 5).

old bird n. a person who has become knowing through experience, spec. an experienced thief.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun] > experienced

old bird1787

1787 W. Beckford Portuguese Jrnl. 8 Oct. (1954) 220 My old bird, conscious of having fibbed, seemed upon thorns.

1877 W. H. Thomson Five Years' Penal Servitude i. 32 In nine cases out of ten an ‘old bird’ would betray himself.

1890 ‘W. A. Wallace’ Only a Sister 263 Evidently the master was an old bird, he carefully retraced his steps and bolted the door at the foot of the stairs.

1948 J. Maresca My Flag is Down xxiii. 165 I really can't get mad at this old bird, he's a card.

1990 M. S. Peck Bed by Window xv. 267 I used to have a mentor, an old detective when I was back on the force in New York City, a wise old bird.

old coon n. chiefly U.S. (now historical) a shrewd person, esp. a politician.

ΚΠ

1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 216 To be sure I will, my old coon—take it—take it, and welcome.

1862 Punch 1 Feb. 42/2 I guess them saucy Britishers Won't easy get to leeward Of such an all-fired smart old 'coon As William H. Seward.

1877 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 4) 436 ‘He's an old coon,’ is said of one who is very shrewd; often applied to a political manager.

1903 N.Y. Times 1 Sept. 2/7 Perryman was a sly old coon.

† old dog n. Obsolete an experienced or adept person; cf. to be (a) dog at at dog n.¹ Phrases 9.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing

old stager1570

old dog?1589

old file1700

old soldier1722

old robin1784

?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. 5^v Oh he is olde dogge at expounding, and deade sure at a Catechisme.

1607 T. Tomkis Lingua ii. i Ah heres a youth starke naught at a trench, but old dog at a trencher.

1785 R. Cumberland Observer No. 107. ⁋6 Uncle Antony was an old dog at a dispute.

† old file n. [ < old adj. + file n.¹ (see sense 3 s.v.)] Obsolete an artful or cunning person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing

old stager1570

old dog?1589

old file1700

old soldier1722

old robin1784

1700 E. Ward Journey to Hell ii. i. 6 If an old File can such Instructions give, As teach you how to make the Dying Live, How far must we Excel, what Wonders do, Who gave at first those Recipes to you!

1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Gamon What rum gamon the old file pitched to the flat.

1852 C. W. Hoskyns Talpa 62 One word of advice from an ‘old file’.

old head n. chiefly U.S. an old or experienced person.

ΚΠ

1838 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Sept. 14 The proud and stout-hearted old heads of their party having been already seen to be prompt in repudiating the offensive term.

1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. vi. 76 The sagacious old heads who knew what was what in Casterbridge.

1991 Inside Sports Nov. 46/2 Just the presence of neophytes Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton and an old head such as Ricky Pierce puts them a step ahead of most teams.

† old robin n. Obsolete rare an experienced person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing

old stager1570

old dog?1589

old file1700

old soldier1722

old robin1784

1784 J. Potter Virtuous Villagers II. 9 Philip, who is an old Robin, as the saying is, demurred to the business.

old salt n. an experienced sailor, esp. one who is prone to talk loquaciously about the seafaring life; an old sea dog.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > types of sailor > [noun] > old or experienced sailor

hale bowline1627

sea-dog1823

stationer1826

old salt1828

salt1840

shell-back1853

sea-daddy1899

1828 Ariel (Philadelphia) 23 Aug. 72/1 Landsmen generally have very mistaken notions concerning sailors... ‘Tom Coffin’ is a caricature, and not a very good one of an ‘old salt’, but terribly strained and stiff.

1838 J. F. Cooper Homeward Bound I. viii. 129 ‘If we had a few guns, and were a little stronger-handed,’ growled an old salt to the second-mate.

1896 Argosy Feb. 465/1 Even the intelligent and dreary old salt, that saline epitome of useful information..is pleasantly absent.

1992 Yachts & Yachting 28 Aug. 71/3 Old salts in their dotage will bore their grandchildren with tales of the first day of Cowes Week '92.

Categories »

old stager n. see stager n. 1a.

C7. Prefixed to the name of a language: designating an early period in a language's history, or the earliest of several periods, preceding that usually called middle (see middle adj. 4b). Abbreviated O (see O n.¹ Initialisms 2).

a. General attributive.

ΚΠ

1773 D. Jones Jrnl. 25 Jan. (1865) 61 The (ch) is pronounced gutturally as Welsh or old Scotch.

1867 G. Rawlinson Five Great Monarchies IV. iv. 214 The ordinary sign of the locative..was in the old Persian -ya or -iya.

1912 F. W. O'Connell Gram. Old Irish 5 In old Irish a single consonant between two vowels was more loosely articulated.

1980 B. A. Rudes in J. Fisiak Hist. Morphol. 338 The above verb forms in Old Romanian have as their modern Romanian equivalents.

b. Old English, French, Icelandic, Norse, Prussian, Saxon: see as main entries.

Old Church Slavic n. (and adj.) [compare German altkirchenslavisch, Russian drevnecerkovnoslavjanskij, adjectives] now chiefly North American = Old Church Slavonic n.

ΚΠ

1898 Mod. Lang. Notes 13 69 The language used in these productions [sc. texts from the monasteries] was the Old Church Slavic influenced in forms and phonetics by the spoken dialects of Russia.

1996 J. Nicholls in M. Durie & M. Ross Compar. Method Reviewed ii. 57 Meillet goes through the nouns of canonical Old Church Slavic, grouped by root or stem type.

Old Church Slavonic n. (and adj.) [compare German altkirchenslavisch, Russian drevnecerkovnoslavjanskij, adjectives] the oldest recorded Slavonic language, having many South Slavonic features, which was codified by the Apostles Cyril and Methodius in the 9th cent. and survives in a limited number of texts (formerly also called Slavonic or Old Bulgarian: see Bulgarian n. 2a); (also, more generally) a modified form of this language as still used liturgically in certain Orthodox churches (also called Church Slavonic: see church n.¹ and adj. Compounds 2); also attributive or as adj.; abbreviated OCS.

ΚΠ

1895 R. S. Conway & W. H. D. Rouse tr. K. Brugmann (title) A comparative grammar of the Indo-Germanic languages: a concise exposition of the history of Sanskrit, Old Iranian (Avestic and Old Persian), Old Armenian, Greek, Latin, Umbrian-Samnitic, Old Irish, Gothic, Old High German, Lithuanian and Old Church Slavonic.

1993 F. Singleton Short Hist. Yugoslav Peoples 17 The Old Church Slavonic became ossified and bore a relationship to the vernacular tongue of the people similar to that which church Latin bore towards Spanish, Italian and French.

Old High German n. (and adj.) [after German Althochdeutsch (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. xxxvi)] High German in the period up to the 12th cent. (cf. High German n. and adj.); also attributive or as adj.; abbreviated OHG.

ΚΠ

1851 H. P. Tappan University Educ. App. 110 Elements of the old and middle High German grammar, five times a week, by Prof. Lachmann.

1859 H. Wedgewood Dict. Eng. Etymol. I. p. xxii OHG, Old High German.

1861 F. M. Müller tr. J. Grimm in Lect. Sci. Lang. v. 170 The Friesian language appears there in a much more ancient stage, which very nearly approaches the Old High-German.

1908 J. Wright & E. M. Wright Old Eng. Gram. iii. 28 a was the only vowel which underwent i-umlaut in OS. and Old High German.

1992 D. Gutch in C. Blank Lang. & Civilization I. 574 The Old High German r-preterites have proved even more controversial.

Old Low German n. [after German altniederdeutsch, adjective (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. lxv)] †(a) English, characterized as a Germanic language (obsolete rare); (b) = Old Saxon n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > German > Low German > Old Saxon

Old Saxon1833

Old Low German1871

1871 Good Words 12 493/2 English is, after all, but Old Low German.

1873 Trans. Amer. Philol. Soc. 4 95 The surd character of the ð is grounded in the depths of Old Low German.

1961 S. C. Easton & H. Wieruszowski Era of Charlemagne (1979) i. v. 97 This poem was written in Old Low German (Saxon) using old Anglo-Saxon metres.

Old Slavic n. (and adj.) [compare post-classical Latin palaeoslovenicus, German altslavisch, Russian staroslavjanskij, drevneslavjanskij, adjectives] now chiefly North American = Old Slavonic n.

ΚΠ

1850 ‘Talvi’ Hist. View Lang. & Lit. Slavic Nations i. 25 (heading) History of the Old or Church Slavic (commonly called Slavonic) language and literature.

1866 Chambers's Encycl. VIII. 389/2 The lines of distinction..between old Slavic and Russian.

1992 Internat. Encycl. Linguistics IV. 116 Wackernagel's..secondary evidence came from archaic Latin, and from the rather different systems of Old Slavic and Old Irish.

Old Slavonic n. (and adj.) [compare post-classical Latin palaeoslovenicus, German altslavisch, Russian staroslavjanskij, drevneslavjanskij, adjectives] (a) the common ancestor of the Slavonic languages, Common Slavonic; (b) = Old Church Slavonic n.; also attributive or as adj.

ΚΠ

1765 D. Fenning et al. New Syst. Geogr. (new ed.) II. 57/1 The Polish language is derived from the old Sclavonic; yet differs extremely from all other languages derived from the same source.

1876 W. D. Whitney Lang. & its Study vi. 214 Old Slavonic, or the Church Slavic, having been adopted by a large part of the Slavonian races as their sacred language.

2002 New Yorker 2 Dec. 116/1 He has set Latin, German, English, Spanish, and Old Slavonic texts, recalibrating his language to fit the demands of each.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	old
释义	oldn.¹ Brit. /əʊld/, U.S. /oʊld/ Forms: see old adj. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: old adj. Etymology: < old adj. 1. a. An old person. Now rare.In quot. eOE with allusion to 1 Timothy 5:1.In quot. 1942 as a form of address, probably after usage in a foreign language. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > old person > [noun] oldeOE morea1382 olderc1450 ancient1502 mouldy chopsa1640 antediluvian1648 prediluvian1690 emerit1710 pelt1757 old fogey1793 antique1801 relic1832 old head1838 oldster1846 elderling1863 the Ancient of Days1935 senior citizen1938 OAP1942 golden ager1948 coffin dodger1954 wrinkly1972 crumbly1976 geriatric1977 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Tiber.) (Junius transcript) (1871) xxv. 180 Ne ðreata ðu na ðone ealdan, ac healsa hiene swæ ðinne fæder. OE St. Mary of Egypt (Julius) (2002) 82 Se ealda mid tearum ofergoten ongan biterlice wepan. lOE Glosses to Distichs of Cato (Rawl. G.57) in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1906) 117 26 Quocunque sene : on þam gewilcum ealde. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 731 (MED) Þe king biheld þat old, Hou his wonges were wete. c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 110 (MED) This olde hath ouerthrowe me and slayn me with hire ax. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Vitell.) 13115 (MED) O, thow Olde, what hastow do, Vnwarly me to smyte so? c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew 155 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 67 Sa suld þat ald his penance mak. c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 326 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 305 & to þat auld þane sad scho rathe. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. ix. [x.] 34 Scho..Him towart hir hes brocht..And sete the auld doun in the haly sete. c1532 Court of Loue 280 What doth this olde Thus far ystope in yeres? 1942 S. J. Perelman in New Yorker 21 Nov. 17/2 Well, my old, you must think I am a fine pascudnick indeed. b. With plural agreement. In later use frequently with the: old people as a class. Frequently contrasted with young.In quot. a1398 referring to birds. ΚΠ eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) cxlviii. 12 Seniores cum iunioribus : alde mid gingrum. OE Prognostics (Tiber.) in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1908) 120 297 Si fuerit Kalendas Ianuarius die Saturni..homines egrotabunt, & ueterani moriuntur : gif bið dæg sæternes..ealle adliað & ealde sweltað. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4255 Uss birrþ clippenn all aweȝȝ. Þe flæshess fule wille..I weppmenn. & i wifmenn ec. Inn ȝunge. & ec inn alde. c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 31 Hit is uuel & ouer uuel to eauer euch ancre, nomeliche to þe ȝunge & to þe alde [a1250 Nero þen olde]. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 30 (MED) Hym louede yung, him louede holde. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 184 (MED) Alsuo tekþ þe writinge þet me ssel zeche red ate yealden and naȝt mid þe yonge, þe ne byeþ naȝt yproued ine nyedes. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 71^v In foules of rauenes kynde..þe ȝonge fediþ þe olde whenne þey mowe not for elde gete here owne mete. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 2779 Yong and ald, bath barn and man. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 9747 Oolde oghte to be wiser þan any ȝonge men to fer. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Oye The cart leads the horse; the young instruct the old. 1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 34 When..young and old com forth to play On a Sunshine Holyday. 1738 A. Pope One Thousand Seven Hundred & Thirty Eight 9 Our Youth, all liv'ry'd o'er with foreign Gold, Before her dance; behind her crawl the Old. 1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 20 The young contending as the old survey'd. 1841 R. W. Emerson Ess. 1st Ser. (Boston ed.) v. 140 This passion..though it begin with the young, yet forsakes not the old. 1880 Spectator 3 Jan. 11/2 In this country, popularity, no less than power, tends to accrete to the old. 1909 Nation (N.Y.) 16 Dec. 598 An excellent authority, for old as well as for the ‘mediumly’ young. 1958 Spectator 1 Aug. 165/1 Hamlet can be acted by young and old. 1982 Times 2 Aug. 9/1 ‘Agism’..seeks to express an old evil in a new way—in this case prejudice in thought and deed against the old. c. In plural. colloquial. Old persons; (Australian and New Zealand) spec. a person's parents. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > old person > [noun] > old people collectively morea1382 old folkc1385 aged1535 ancientry1548 olds1883 1883 W. Besant All in Garden Fair (1885) ii. vii. 167 Young clever people..are more difficult to catch than the olds. 1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 30 Aug. 2/2 Although the ‘Olds’ have been the pioneers..of the movement, the ‘Youngs’ show an impatience with them at every meeting. 1977 Ripped & Torn vi. 6/2 No Olds Allowed: Runaways. 1982 Sydney Morning Herald 18 Sept. 1/2 Teenagers..try to avoid hassles with the olds. 1990 A. Duff Once were Warriors vii. 92 Whassa madda anyway, your olds been at it again? 2. That which is old; the old version, variety, etc., of something. ΚΠ OE Rule St. Benet (Corpus Cambr.) 91 Swa oft, swa hy..ænig þing niwes underfon, betæce a þæt ealde. c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 495 Ac þilke day ne schal neure be..Þat ihc beo of luue vntrewe, Ne chaunge luue for no newe, Ne lete þe olde for no newe be. a1350 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 29 (MED) Þe alde is gan, ant þe newe is come. 1537 W. Turner tr. Urbanus Regius Compar. Olde Learnynge & Newe To Rdr. sig. A^v Some ther be that do defye All that is newe, and euer do crye The olde is better, awaye with the newe. 1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. A3^v Man's memorie, with new, forgets the old; One tale is good, untill anothers told. a1822 P. B. Shelley Peter Bell III v, in Poet. Wks. (?1840) 242/1 All things he seemed to understand, Of old or new. 1841 R. W. Emerson Ess. 1st Ser. (Boston ed.) xii. 290 The new in art is always formed out of the old. 1883 Harper's Mag. Dec. 4/1 The games, the generous hospitality, Hobby-Horse and the Lord of Misrule, Maid Marian and Santa Claus, are a curious medley of the old and the new. 1933 I. Gershwin Blue, Blue, Blue in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 213/3 It's off with the old, on with the new: That's why we're painting the White House blue. 1993 Spy (N.Y.) Apr. 18/1 They're a perfect synthesis of the old and the new. 2002 Belfast News Let. (Nexis) 15 Oct. 1 As the clock struck midnight, it was in with the new and out with the old as Northern Ireland returned to Direct Rule. 3. a. In full old of the moon. The time when the moon is waning. Now U.S. regional. ΘΚΠ the world > the universe > planet > primary planet > moon > phase > [noun] > waning moon > action of olda1225 wane1548 decrement1610 decrease1626 waddle1678 a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 27 Wið-uten ðe læche þe loceð after mannes ikynde, þe newe oðer elde, and ðe wrihte his timber to keruen after ðare mone, ðe is ikyndelich þing; elles hit is al ȝedwoll. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) ii. 439 In old ek of this mone is this moost good. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. viii Let them be sowen in the olde of the mone. 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xiii. 89 They must not be gelded..in the old of the moone. 1904 C. Johnson Highways & Byways of South (1913) 165 You boil meat killed in the old of the moon, and it will all shrivel up. 1959 L. W. Roberts Up Cutshin & down Greasy 35 We would kill our hogs all the time on the old of the moon. 1975 B. Dwyer Thangs Yankees don' Know 26 Set fence posts in the old of the moon to prevent loosening. †b. Old age; the advanced stage or period of life. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [noun] eld971 old agec1330 agec1380 last agea1382 oldc1385 aldereldea1400 winterc1425 vilessec1430 annosityc1450 senectute1481 the black ox1546 golden years1559 years1561 great1587 afterlife1589 setting sun1597 antiquity1600 chair-daysa1616 the vale of yearsa1616 grandevity1623 green old age1634 eldship1647 senioritya1688 the other side of the hill1691 the decline of life1711 senectude1756 senility1791 senectitude1796 post-climacteric1826 Anno Domini1885 senium1911 golden age1946 c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 2142 He hadde a beres skyn, colblak for old. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10969 I and mi wijf on ald tas. a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) 641 He wille brynge the a-down in olde. 1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. i. xxiii. f. lxix Fra the tyme of yair ȝouthede, to the tyme of thair auld. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 444 Vnsaturabill bayth in ald and ȝouth. a1616 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida (1623) ii. ii. 103 Virgins, and Boyes; mid-age & wrinkled old [1609 elders]. 4. a. = old ale n. at old adj. Compounds 4. old and mild n. a combination of old and mild ale in equal parts. old and bitter n. a combination of old and bitter ale. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > ale > [noun] > strong ale merry-go-downa1500 king's ale1574 nippitatum1576 angels' food1577 huff-cap1577 mad dog1577 lift-leg1587 barley-broth1593 huma1625 stitchback1671 bummocka1688 hum-cap1699 Burton1738 stitch1742 old boy1743 barley-bree1786 huff1790 Morocco1792 old1884 1884 Daily Tel. 3 July 5/4 Some are in favour of a long pull..at a beaker of foaming half-and-half; others incline towards ‘mother-in-law’, otherwise ‘old and bitter’. 1904 A. Makins Licensed Victuallers' Handbk. xiv. 224 The number of different kinds of malt liquors now produced are not numerous... ‘Bitter’, ‘Stout’, ‘Mild’, and ‘Old’ (usually called by the public ‘Burton’). 1923 Month July 37 A glass of ‘owd’ (old ale) is his only inspiration. 1933 A. G. Macdonell England, their England vii. 105 The row of gaffers on the rustic bench..called for more pints of old-and-mild. 1952 T. Armstrong Adam Brunskill v. 135 Adam..ordered a tankard of Old and Mild for himself and a pint of porter for Matt. 1989 A. Aird 1990 Good Pub Guide 578 Well kept Brakspears PA and SB on handpump, with Mild and Old tapped from the cask. †b. In plural. Hops more than two and less than four years old. Obsolete.† old olds n. Obsolete hops more than four years old. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > brewing > [noun] > hops hopc1440 old olds1892 olds1892 Bramling1899 Northdown1971 1892 Daily News 22 Mar. 7/4 Old olds are still selling. 1898 Daily News 25 June 7/7 Some few transactions are taking place in yearlings and olds. Phrases of old. a. As postmodifier: belonging to an earlier time or period. See also of eld at eld n.² 2. ΚΠ c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 637 (MED) Auorbisne is of olde, iwrne, Þat node makeþ old wif urne. c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 221 (MED) We wer ȝour faders of fold [sic for alliteration; = off old] þat fayre ȝoue haue fondon. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxxvi[i.]. 5 Then remembred I the tymes of olde, & the yeares that were past. c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 5034 And all giltes [beu] for-gyffen & greuans of old. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxvii. 28 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 103 I fell to thinck..Vppon the yeares of old. 1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 18 Being all in blacke after the manner of old. 1785 W. Cowper Epist. to J. Hill in Task 288 Some few that I have known in days of old Would run most dreadful risk of catching cold. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 72 Its [sc. France's] natural scenery..rich beyond all others in the traces of the men of old. 1895 A. J. Evans in Folk-Lore Mar. 21 A Tree-Goddess akin to the Dryads of old. 1985 National Westm. Bank Q. Rev. May 2 There is a natural tendency in the United Kingdom to regard unemployment as simply yet another political issue over which the main political parties and their supporters joust like knights of old. 1995 Times Lit. Suppl. 31 Mar. 32/3 You may care, in the manner of those quaint Biblists of old, to allow the pages to tumble open as they will. b. Adverbially: in an earlier time, formerly; (also) for a long time (preceding the present). ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] erea822 fernOE whileOE erera1000 whilereOE onceOE somewhile1154 whilomc1175 herebeforec1200 somewhilesa1250 yorea1250 orc1275 rather?a1300 erewhilec1305 sometimea1325 sometimec1330 at or in sometime1340 in arrear1340 heretoforea1375 fernyear1377 once upon a timec1380 behinds1382 beforetimea1393 of olda1393 erenow1393 umquhilea1400 erst14.. fornec1400 yore whilec1400 of before1402 late1423 abefore1431 beforetimes1449 whilesc1480 sometime1490 aforrow?a1513 behind1526 quondamc1540 in foretime(s?c1550 erstwhile1569 erstwhiles1569 aleare1581 erewhiles1584 sometimes1597 formerly1599 anciently1624 olim1645 somewhile since1652 quondamly1663 forepassed1664 sometimea1684 backward1691 historically1753 time back1812 had-been1835 when1962 the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > long ago yorec900 for longOE langer1303 long agoc1350 far1362 for yorea1375 of yore ago(ne)a1375 long time1376 of olda1393 anciently1502 langsyne?a1513 oldlya1513 in old season1582 old1609 antiquely1652 then-a-days1688 (the) year one1754 way back1870 in yore1876 way back when1921 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) Prol. 1003 (MED) Who so drawth into memoire What hath befalle of old and newe, He may that werre sore rewe, Which ferst began in Paradis. c1395 G. Chaucer Friar's Tale 1615 For dette which thow owest me of oold. 1432 Rolls of Parl. IV. 406/1 Ye verray and trewe makyng of old used and continued. 1478 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 613 I am aqueyntyd wyth your condycyons of old. a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 4 Intill ane place callit Ecolumkill,..Lang of the ald thair wes thair sepultuir. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 139 You alwayes end with a iades tricke, I knowe you of olde . View more context for this quotation 1673 J. Milton Sonnets xv, in Poems (new ed.) 58 Who kept thy truth so pure of old. 1727 D. Defoe Protestant Monastery 18 Babies, Play-Things, and other pretty Innocencies used of old. 1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. 97 It was the..sacred place, where of old the everlasting fire was preserved. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems i. 4 You of old did hold them Something worthy. 1923 R. Macaulay Told by Idiot i. i. 5 The second daughter, who knew of old that papa must always live near a place of worship. 1991 Independent 3 Dec. 36/1 For social progress we may not look to Sweden as of old. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † oldn.² Origin: Probably a borrowing from early Scandinavian. Etymology: Probably < early Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic ǫld (genitive singular aldar ) age, an age, Danish old time, age, antiquity (now usually in compound hedenold heathen period) < the Germanic base of old adj.). Compare earlier eld n.² Obsolete. †1. Age; duration of life or existence. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [noun] eldOE yearsOE oldc1175 statea1350 agea1387 springs1597 seniority1776 standing1789 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14426 Þiss middell ærdess ald iss all. O sexe daless dæledd. †2. An age of the world. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > [noun] > of the world or history eldOE timeOE worldOE oldc1175 timea1382 epoch1629 era1741 lapse1758 age1827 canon1833 olam1870 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 2375 Swa summ i þatt ald Wass laȝhe to ben fesstnedd. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2019). oldadj. Brit. /əʊld/, U.S. /oʊld/ Forms: α. Old English haald (Northumbrian, rare), Old English (Anglian) Middle English– ald, Middle English alde, Middle English ale (northern, rare), Middle English alld (northern), Middle English auld (northern), Middle English awlde (northern), Middle English hald, Middle English halde; English regional 1600s– aad (chiefly northern and midlands), 1600s– aud (chiefly northern and midlands), 1600s– awd (chiefly northern and midlands), 1700s– auld (chiefly northern), 1800s– aald (northern), 1800s– ald (northern), 1800s– awld; Scottish pre-1700 aild, pre-1700 alde, pre-1700 aulde, pre-1700 awld, pre-1700 awlde, pre-1700 hauld, pre-1700 1700s– ald, pre-1700 1700s– auld, 1800s– aald, 1900s– aal; Irish English (northern) 1700s– auld, 1900s– ald; N.E.D.(1902) also records a form Middle English hauld; see also ole adj.eOE Leiden Gloss. (1906) 44/2 Quotus, hu ald; totus, suæ ald.eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 871 Þær wearþ Sidroc eorl ofslægen se alda [lOE Laud se ealda] & Sidroc eorl se gioncga.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 18 Ego enim sum senex : ic forðon am ald.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 126 Till þatt teȝȝ wærenn alde.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 43 An ald mon.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 2959 Þe alde king.c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1183 For þine alde niþe.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 104 He [sc. God] ys ald.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 9224 Four hundret winter ald [a1400 Fairf. halde, a1400 Trin. Cambr. old].a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12578 Ar he was tuelue yeir alld.a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 219 A guod ald wyf.a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 794 Ald men.?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 12 In ane alde castell.c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 279 As awlde men telles.c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 413 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 308 I ame auld & febil bathe.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 17 Aulde storys that men redys.c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) 1 Oure ald enemeis.1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. sig. Hij Ye awld kallendar.c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 33 The ald enemies of Ingland.c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. iii. §4 An ald man sould be wyse.1638 in 9th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1883) App. 194/2 Ane ald cushoun.a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. 6 In auld Neptunus' source.1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 557 Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses.1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. v. 130 I am an auld fellow.1924 Hawick Express 22 Aug. 3/7 Aw've yince or twice risked ma auld banes in a motor-car.1990 B. Roche Poor Beast in Rain i. i. 8 But of course the auld one that was workin' here at the time eventually twigged it. β. Old English æald (rare), Old English ealdd (rare), Old English ealld (rare), Old English–early Middle English æld, Old English–early Middle English eald, Old English–Middle English aeld, late Old English eæld, late Old English ealð (probably transmission error), late Old English–Middle English eld, early Middle English eold, early Middle English ȝelde (south-western), early Middle English heald, early Middle English healde, Middle English eeld, Middle English eelde, Middle English eild (northern), Middle English eilde (northern), Middle English elde, Middle English elle, Middle English held, Middle English helde, Middle English yalde (Kent), Middle English yeald (Kent), late Middle English yold (south-western); Irish English (Wexford) 1700s yolaw, 1700s–1800s yola, 1800s yole. eOE (Kentish) Charter: Ealhburg to Christ Church, Canterbury (Sawyer 1195) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 8 i wege speces, i eald hriðer, iiii weðras.OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) i. 18 Ic eom nu eald.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxxix. 126 [Hi] wenað þæt þæt [ne] sie eald gesceaft, ac sæ weas geworden niwane.a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 9 On þa ealde laȝe [v.r. on þan alde laȝe].c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 3305 Þe ȝunge wifmen & þe ælde.c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 1457 In þan eolde [c1275 Calig. holde] daiȝe hit was a borh riche.c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 195 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 112 Are it were seue ȝer eld.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 7 Ine þe yalde laȝe.1420 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 32 Symon Lode..is febel and yold.a1425 Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) 2 Kings iv. 14 Hir hosebonde is eeld [a1425 E.V. olde]. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 137 Elde, or olde.1788 in T. P. Dolan & D. Ó Muirithe Dial. Forth & Bargy (1996) 72 Yolaw, old.a1827 J. Poole Gloss. in T. P. Dolan & D. Ó Muirithe Dial. Forth & Bargy (1996) 72 ‘Yola zong’, an old song; ‘Yole Teoun’, old town. γ. Middle English hold, Middle English howllde, Middle English nold, Middle English nolde, Middle English ole (rare), Middle English olle (rare), Middle English oold, Middle English oolde, Middle English wold, Middle English–1500s holde, Middle English–1500s owlde, Middle English–1500s wolde, Middle English–1600s oulde, Middle English– old, Middle English– olde (now archaic), 1500s ovlld, 1500s nowld, 1500s–1600s ovld, 1500s–1700s ould, 1500s–1700s owld; English regional 1700s– oud (northern and midlands), 1700s– owd, 1700s– wold (south-western), 1800s– oad (northern and midlands), 1800s– oald (northern), 1800s– o'd (northern and midlands), 1800s– ode (midlands), 1800s– ohd (midlands), 1800s– ould, 1800s– owld, 1800s– woald (southern), 1800s– wuld (southern), 1900s– hoad (Nottinghamshire); Scottish pre-1700 oild, pre-1700 olde, pre-1700 oled, pre-1700 olld, pre-1700 olod, pre-1700 oulde, pre-1700 owlld, pre-1700 1700s– old, pre-1700 1800s– ould, pre-1700 1900s– owld; also Irish English (chiefly southern) 1600s– ould; also Manx English 1800s– ould; N.E.D.(1902) also records a form Middle English owd; see also ole adj.a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 199 Þenne hie beð old.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1499 Þe olde [c1300 Otho holde] kinge.a1425 (a1382) Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Corpus Oxf.) Gen. xliii. 27 Ȝoure oold fader. ▸ c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 71 Weder þat he were wold or ȝong. ▸ 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 363 Ole, for-weryd, as clothys.1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 1535 The wolde law.c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 327 Whan we holde waxen.c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 23 Þe wold testament.1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xx. 452 There nys noo man so oolde.1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 250/1 Oulde house that is in ruyne.c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 62 The owld judgment of this realme.c1675 Purgatorium Hibernicum (MS. 470, Nat. Libr. Ireland) 100 Singing ‘Ould Rose’ and ‘Tory Rory’.?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 24 There's on owd Gentlemon ot wooans ot yon Heawse.1803 G. Colman John Bull ii. ii. 22 I'm as aisy as an ould glove.1829 G. Griffin Collegians I. vii. 153 O, wirra, Eily! this is the black day to your ould father.1864 Ld. Tennyson Northern Farmer: Old Style xvii, in Enoch Arden, etc. 136 A's hallus i' the owd taäle.1884 D. Boucicault Shaughraun i. ii. 8 This cabin where the remains of the ould family, two lonely girls, live.1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. i. 7 I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home.1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 8 The ould counthry.1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death iii. 46 She's a bit of an ould stick, but there's no harm in her. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian ald , Middle Dutch out , oud , regional olt , alt (Dutch oud ), Old Saxon ald , old (Middle Low German ōlt , olt , German regional (Low German) oll , old , olt , oold ), Old High German alt (Middle High German alt , German alt ), Crimean Gothic alt , and further ( < the same base with j -suffixation) with Gothic alþeis < a derivative (apparently originally a participial formation corresponding to ancient Greek forms in -τός , classical Latin -tus : compare cold adj.) of the Germanic base of Old English alan to nourish, Old Icelandic ala to nourish, bring up, Gothic alan to feed oneself, to grow up < the same Indo-European base as classical Latin alere to nourish (see aliment n.: the Germanic word thus apparently originally meant ‘grown up, adult’, corresponding in form to classical Latin altus high, deep (see alti- comb. form); compare classical Latin adultus adult adj., also a participial formation on the same Indo-European base). In Scandinavian this adjective was replaced by a different word in the positive degree (compare Old Icelandic gamall ), with forms < the same Germanic base retained for the comparative and superlative (compare Old Icelandic ellri older and ellztr oldest: see elder adj., eldest adj.).α. forms and γ. forms represent regular developments from Old English (Anglian) ald (with lengthened ā ) in the north and south respectively. For spellings with loss of -d see further ole adj.; for variants in w- , see discussion s.v. oat n. The forms in n- show metanalysis (see N n.). β. forms represent Old English (West Saxon and Kentish) eald (with breaking) and its reflexes. Compare later eld adj. (probably an independent conversion of eld n.²). The original comparative and superlative forms, still retained in particular uses, are elder adj., eldest adj.; in the general sense these have been superseded by older adj., oldest adj. With Compounds 5, compare similar use of alt in German (18th cent. or earlier). In Compounds 7, part of a system of nomenclature (opposed to Middle and Modern (or New)), after use of German alt- in the nomenclature developed by Jacob Grimm; compare e.g. althochdeutsch, adjective (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. xxiv). I. Having lived or existed a long time; not young or new. 1. Of a human or other living thing. a. Having lived a relatively long time; at an advanced stage of life; not young. Of an animal or plant: mature, fully grown. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [adjective] oldeOE old-yeared?c1425 of age1526 aged1543 aetat?1616 aet1654 the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > old (of beings, etc.) oldeOE winteredeOE oldlyOE over-oldOE eldernc1175 at-oldc1200 stricken on, in age, in eldec1380 oldlya1382 (well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into yearsc1386 ancientc1400 aged1420 well-agedc1450 ripec1480 passing oldc1485 (well) shot in years1530 old aged1535 agey1547 Ogygian1567 strucken1576 oldish1580 stricken in yearsa1586 declined1591 far1591 struck1597 Nestorian1605 overripe1605 elderly1611 eld1619 antiquated1631 enaged1631 thorough-old1639 emerita1643 grandevous1647 magnaevous1727 badgerly1753 (as) old as the hills1819 olden days1823 crusted1833 long in the tooth1841 oldened1854 mature1867 over the hill1950 eOE Corpus Gloss. (1890) 108/1 Senex, ald. eOE (Kentish) Will of Abba (Sawyer 1482) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 5 Fiftig hwitehlafa, an weg spices & ceses, an ald hriðer, feower weðras, an suin. OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke i. 18 Ego enim sum senex : ic forðon am ald. OE Beowulf 357 Þær Hroðgar sæt eald ond anhar. OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 12 Swa byð se ealda man ceald and snoflig. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1499 Þe olde [c1300 Otho holde] kinge. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4570 Of Gormoise icham cleped Tirri, Þeld erls sone Aubri. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 4 (MED) In þat forest..þer woned a wel old cherl þat was a couherde. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 213 Almound trees bereþ more fruyte whan þey beþ olde þan whanne þey beþ ȝonge. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 723 Of myddil age, and rather yonge then olde. 1564 Edinb. Burgh Deeds (MS) 120 Dame margaret levingstoun aluld ladie ȝester. 1597 T. Middleton Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xii. sig. O3^v Balld, because old, old because liuing long. 1644 T. Rugge Jrnl. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 176 Old Mr Woods came to town. 1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 172 Under an old oak's domestic shade. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 947 Old trees are frequently affected with a kind of ulcer. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Grandmother 18 All my children have gone before me, I am so old. 1934 D. Thomas Let. 2 May (1987) 121 A little, very old, bald don, of the sort who always stops..to read the writing on public lavatory walls. 1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 32 An old woman passed by. 2000 Daily Tel. 31 Mar. 17/1 Satellite-based devices to monitor old people..are to undergo large-scale trials in Japan. b. Belonging to or characteristic of old persons; relating to advanced life. Now only in old age n. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > relating to or characteristic of oldOE aged1561 grey-headed1581 frosty1592 grey1602 veneral1631 senile1661 venerable1726 gerontic1885 post-reproductive1900 OE St. Mary of Egypt (Julius) (2002) 72 Sona swa hi Zosimus geseah, þa witodlice, his ealdan ylde ofergetiligende..mid hrædestan ryne þenigende arn. OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) i. i. 12 Cildhad and cnihtiugoð and geþungen yld and swyðe eald yld. a1325 St. Alphege (Corpus Cambr.) 130 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 152 (MED) Ich ssel here al one be in min olde lyf forlore. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 13 Ik am oold... This white top writeth myne olde yerys. a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 365 (MED) It was miracle þat so oold folk brouȝten forþ þis child in her olde daies. a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 154 (MED) Than shall men off his howsold..haue honeste sustenance in þer olde dayis when thai mey no longer serue. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 119 Eftir him cummis ȝoung airis, That his auld thrift settis on ane ais. 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear i. 177 Heele shape his old course in a countrie new. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 371 Ile racke thee with old Crampes. View more context for this quotation 1707 London Gaz. No. 4354/4 176l. per Ann. in Lease (most of which are very old Lives). c. Of a person, or his or her physical or mental attributes: having the characteristics of maturity or age. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > having characteristics of old age agedlike1530 grey-bearded1593 old1832 c1390 G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale 3886 Oure olde lymes mowe wel been vnweelde. 1420 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 32 (MED) Symon Lode..is febel and yold. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 6335 Som tyme am I hor and old; Now am I yong, stout, and bold. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 2232 (MED) Who so eteth þe fruit of þat tree Syke ne oolde shal he neuere be. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. vii Now when I am bycome old and feble. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 48 Weil couth I..bler his ald e. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iii. iii. 2 My old bones akes. 1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton Eugene Aram I. i. vi. 99 We grow old before our time. 1842 F. Marryat Percival Keene II. i. 98 You appear to have an old head upon very young shoulders. 1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. i. 4 It is not a pleasant thing for a young man..to have an old voice. 1908 Daily Chron. 31 Mar. 4/6 To become old is not necessarily to grow old. 1991 Sassy Aug. 92/2 It rots to be a female..it rots even worse to be old. †d. Scottish. Of a child: oldest, older. Obsolete.Esp. in the language of ballads. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > child > relationship to parent > [adjective] > first-born eldestc1000 first-begottenc1350 first-gottena1382 firstbornc1384 first-gendereda1398 first-kinneda1400 oldest1478 ayne1483 first-conceived1574 eigne1586 eldest-born1608 primogenit1619 first-begot1671 primogenitala1706 old1706 primogenitary1827 primogenitive1842 1706 in J. Maidment Bk. Sc. Pasquils (1868) 370 This her old sone, and treu born heir. 1795 R. Burns in Scots Musical Museum V. 437 Our young lady's a huntin gane, Sheets nor blankets has she taen, But shes born her auld son or she cam hame. 1825 Babylon in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1882) I. xiv. 175 She's to the wood gane, To seek her old sister, and to bring her hame. 1861 D. Murdoch Dutch Dominie of Catskills iii. iii. 318 When in my grave, I have sworn my auld son Oscar to come every Sunday morning, when he must lay this medal aboon my heart. 1889 A. C. Swinburne Witch-mother in Poems & Ballads 3rd Ser. 157 She's set her young son to her breast, Her auld son to her knee. 2. That dates far back into the past; of ancient origin; made or formed long ago. Also: poetic having always existed; primeval. (In Old English and early Middle English applied to God.) ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] oldeOE eldeda1400 antique1490 invetered1490 prisk1533 grey-headed1578 ancient1579 hoar1590 inveterated1597 antiquated1598 inveterate1598 long-dated1602 avital1611 vetust1623 old-standinga1627 grey-haired1637 superannuateda1644 avitous1731 old-established1776 venerable1792 timeworn1840 inworn1864 avitic1865 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin oldeOE olden daysa1400 for-oldc1400 ancient1475 (as) old as Adama1599 antiquary1599 high1601 primal1604 hoary1609 grandeval1650 Noachal1661 patriarchal1806 (as) old as the hills1819 world-old1837 eld1854 age-old1860 far-back1869 Noachian1874 pornial1883 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > having lasted long > having lasted in some capacity oldeOE ancient1413 eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) i. xxxiii. 90 Ealde Romanisce weorce. OE Beowulf 945 Þæt hyre Ealdmetod este wære bearngebyrdo. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xiv. 31 Se ealda cwide is swiðe soð þe mon gefyrn cwæð. c1175 ( Homily (Bodl. 343) in S. Irvine Old Eng. Homilies (1993) 198 Þenne arisæþ of þam ealde buriȝnes alle þa lichame and þa ban. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 12419 Ane huse þe wes biclused faste, an ald stanene weorc. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4790 (MED) Þat was þe verste chirche þat in engelond com & þe eldost [v.rr. aldest, vldest] hous al so as in lawe of cristendom; Þeruore me it aþ euere ycluped þe olde chirche. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 104 He [sc. God] ys ald and yknawe and ydred and yworþssiped and yloued. c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 77 Axeth of olde pathes, that is to seyn, of olde sentences, which is the goode wey. ?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 12 (MED) Scho lies in ane alde castell. c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 798 Ȝoure docturus sain in sawus ful olde. a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 115 (MED) The yere of incarnacion of Crist is innotyd in the taper, for Crist is an olde ȝere, a gret yere, and fulle of dayes. 1543 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Royal Burgh of Lanark (1893) 19 The ald akis made of before. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iii. i. 78 Old fashions please me best. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 543 A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night. View more context for this quotation 1743 A. Pope Ess. Man (new ed.) i. 158 Who knows but he, whose hand the light'ning forms, Who heaves old Ocean, and who wings the storms? 1870 Appletons' Jrnl. 12 Mar. 297/2 It was an old custom in Northumberland to have a syllabub for the May Feast. 1913 W. Wilson New Freedom vi. 119 There are those, of course, who are wedded to the old ways. 2000 Guardian 1 Apr. (Travel section) 9/5 The Company of Marblers..keeps up its old traditions, including the entry fee for new members of six shillings and eight pence, a quart of beer and a penny loaf. 3. a. Of a material thing: that has been relatively long in existence or use (opposed to new); worn with age or use; decayed, deteriorated, shabby. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > decayed > decayed as result of age oldOE timeworn1599 OE Beowulf 2763 Þær wæs helm monig eald ond omig. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xiii. 52 Niwe þing & ealde. OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 16 Ne deþ witodlice nan man niwes claðes scyp on eald reaf. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 963 Syððon com se biscop Aðelwold to þære mynstre..ne fand þær nan þing buton ealde weallas & wilde wuda. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 163 (MED) Ðe chire cloðes ben to brokene and ealde. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 25 On old stoc. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 546 In an eld cloth wnden. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. ix. 17 Nether men senden newe wijne in to olde botelis. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke v. 39 No man drynkinge old [a1425 L.V. the elde; L. vetus Tyndale olde wine] wole anon newe; sothli he seith, ‘The olde is the betere.’ a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 220 She was clad ful porely Al in an old, torn courtepy. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 278 Sir Launcelot rode over that brydge that was olde and feble. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) 455 (MED) Of olde hors-shoys..I was Ire; Now am I siluere as good as ye desire. 1542 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) Rec. for ij olde bee fattis iiijd. 1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) i. iii, in Wks. I. 13 Drakes old ship, at Detford, may sooner circle the world againe. 1670 J. Dryden Almanzor Prol. 27 They bring old iron and glass upon the stage. 1747 G. G. Beekman Let. 26 Sept. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 26 Most of the Last goods you have Sent me are old Shop goods not Salable with your merchants which you git at a Low price. 1788 J. May Jrnl. 17 Apr. (1873) (modernized text) 18 After breakfast met numbers of people going to meeting, in their old clothes, it being fast-day. a1800 W. Cowper Needless Alarm 53 They [sc. sheep] gathered close around the old pit's brink. 1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) Thick there cask zmellth old like. 1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence i. xvii. 156 One was a shaggy yellow ulster of ‘reach-me-down’ cut, the other a very old and rusty cloak with a cape. 1954 C. Beaton Glass of Fashion ii. 26 They were old and out of fashion by then, those shoes—a relic of the past. 2000 Daily Tel. 18 Sept. 9/7 Binliners full of old clothes from the Salvation Army and charity shops. b. Of food or drink: ripe, mature, aged; (also) stale. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > stale, decaying, or infested oldeOE fustya1492 stale1530 overkept1837 overhung1895 skippery1899 off1913 eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. viii. 52 Briw wiþ blæce on andwlitan gemelte eald spic. OE tr. Pseudo-Apuleius Herbarium (Vitell.) (1984) xxiii. 70 Cnuca hy mid ealdum smerwe butan sealte, do þærto anne scænc ealdes [?a1200 Harl. 6258B ældes] wines. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxv. 22 Ȝe shal sowe þe eyȝþe ȝeer, & ȝe shole ete oolde [a1425 L.V. elde] fruytys vnto þe nynþe ȝeer. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 94b (MED) Pacientz of emoroidez oweþ to eschewe..heuedez of bestez, olde chise, [etc.]. ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh.) (1950) 152 (MED) Þe lewys wronggen in old ale and put in-to mannys mowth lesyth þe sor in mannys mowth. c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 152b^v (MED) Þe breed schal be..neiþir old ne freisch. 1583 P. Barrough Methode of Phisicke iii. lxvi. 165 You must sprinckle the grieued place with olde vinegre, and oyle of roses mixed. 1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 22 His Host set before him..olde ranke oile in steed of greene, sweet, & fresh. 1614 S. Latham Falconry i. xi. 41 At that time of the yeere, old food is more drie and hard of digesture. 1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Rancidness, strong scent, as of old oil. 1772 T. Nugent tr. J. F. de Isla Hist. Friar Gerund I. 106 Old ewe-mutton, hung-meat, and household bread. 1828 N. Hawthorne Fanshawe iv. 45 The basis of the potation contained in this vessel, was harsh old cider. 1898 E. N. Westcott David Harum vii. 61 It's the old ‘Mouton’, and pretty nearly the last of it; it's very old and wants drinking. 1916 E. H. S. Bailey Source, Chem. & Use Food Products iv. 127 The characteristic flavor of old rum is..developed..by storing for some time in oaken casks. 1997 M. Groening et al. Simpsons: Compl. Guide 66/2 The next time there's a canned food drive I'll give the poor something they'd actually like instead of old lima beans and pumpkin mix. 2000 Z. Smith White Teeth (2001) xii. 313 Life's pleasures: old cheese, good wine, winters in Florence. †c. Wearing old clothes, shabby. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > shabbily dressed scoury?a1513 olda1616 shabby1669 dowdy1676 duddy1718 seedy1725 schleppy1966 schlubby1968 a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. i. 123 There were none fine, but Adam, Rafe, and Gregory, The rest were ragged, old, and beggerly. View more context for this quotation 4. With a premodifying noun phrase consisting of a noun denoting a period of time premodified by a numeral or quantifier. a. Of a specified age or length of time, e.g. one year old, two days old, several months old. Also with adverbs, e.g. old enough, how old.The numeral or quantifier in the noun phrase premodifying eald was in the accusative (or occasionally genitive) in Old English, e.g. tyn nihta eald, þritiges geara eald (cf. Old High German drizzig iar alt, iares alter). See also note at sense 4c. ΚΠ eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xlix. 385 Ær he wæs ðritiges geara eald. OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xlvii. 8 [Pharao] axode hyne, hu eald he wære. OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) iii. i. 124 Þonne se mona beo tyn nihta eald. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1110 He [sc. se mona] wæs þæs ylcan dæges feowertyne nihta eald. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7675 Ȝho wass sextiȝ winnterr [MS wint] ald. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 153 He was fiftene ȝer ald. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 192 (MED) He sholde yemen hire wel..Til þat she were tuelf winter hold. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 441 (MED) Penda..bygan to regne whanne he was fifty ȝere olde. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 919 A she asse oon yer olde. ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 72 Ȝe answere and ȝe were twenty ȝere olde. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. xvii. B Euery manchilde whan it is eight dayes olde, shalbe circumcyded [circūcyded in text]. 1601 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor iii. iii. sig. G4 Your sonne is old inough, to gouerne himselfe. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 151 In Ephesus I am but two houres old . View more context for this quotation 1647 S. Danforth Almanack 1 You must count how old the moon is, or how many days are past since the day of the change. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 11. ⁋4 The Story you have given us is not quite two thousand Years Old. 1872 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera II. xxi. 7 A wall which was just eighteen hundred years old. 1955 D. Eden Darling Clementine (1959) 78 She at least was old enough to know better. 1994 Runner's World Feb. 31/1 I am 39 years old and hope to compete in some masters track meets after I turn 40. 2002 Glamour July 64/2 Two days before the Miss Spain competition..the organisers discovered how old she really was. b. Usually hyphenated, with the premodifying noun in the singular or plural. (a) attributive. Designating a person or thing of the specified age, e.g. a two-year-old sheep, a six-months-old child.The attributive use is well attested in Old English but seems to have been entirely absent from Middle English. It is attested again from the 16th cent., originally in northern and Scottish sources, and at first exclusively with reference to livestock and horses. In view of the discontinuity and the initial exclusion of human referends, this was possibly a new formation, independent of that found in Old English, and conceivably linked to sense 4c. It appears to have been uncommon in the standard language until the 18th cent., when it is attested in the absol. use (see sense 4b(b)) chiefly with reference to horses. The attributive use referring to human beings became common only in the early 19th cent. See also two-year-old adj. and n., year-old adj. and n. ΚΠ eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) i. lxxii. 146 Nan man on þon fif nihta ealdne monan..ne læte blod. OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 285 Sexagenarius syxtigfeald getel oðþe syxtig geara eald man. ?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1140 Uuard þe sunne suilc als it uuare threniht ald mone. 1594 in Black Bk. Taymouth (Bannatyne Club) 298 Off greit meirris xlvi; off twa yeir auld hors, v... Off greit mearis xxxviii..off yeir auld meiris, iiii. a1625 T. Pont Topogr. Acct. Cunningham (1858) 180 Item, ane twa ȝeir auld bull. 1630 M. Godwin tr. F. Godwin Ann. Eng. ii. 220 The six yeare old Queene. 1789 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 1 141 I turned in my Tegs (or one year old sheep). 1822 C. Lamb in London Mag. Mar. 284/1 A two days old newspaper..you resent the stale thing as an affront. 1825 J. Bentham Observ. Mr. Peel's Speech 10 Exclusion of all Barristers but three-year old ones. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 25 Nov. 6/2 Under the century-old trees. 1977 Monitor (McAllen, Texas) 17 July 2 f/4 Zookeepers caring for a two-week-old orphaned hippopotamus. 2002 N.Y. Times 6 Jan. ix. 4/1 On Sept. 11, LaChanze, mother of 19-month-old Celia and eight months pregnant..lost her husband. (b) absol. A person or thing of the specified age, e.g. a two-year-old. Used esp. in referring to children, livestock, and racehorses.In Horse Racing, the absol. use can itself be used attributively to designate a race open to horses of a specified age. ΚΠ 1539 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 114 xj ky & iiij quyes iiij yer olds iiij iij yere olds. 1677 in C. Innes Bk. Thanes Cawdor (1859) 334 My 3 yeir old cowes, my 2 yeir olds and my year olds. 1761 S. Johnson Idler No.62 ⁋10 A bay Filly, who carried off the five years old plate. 1769 St. James's Chron. 10–11 Aug. 3/4 (Horse-race) Five-year-olds, 9 st. 1852 Jockey Club Rules 39 in Blaine's Encycl. Rural Sports (new ed.) §1336 In all minor handicaps and in two-year-old handicaps..the highest weight..is to be raised to 8st. 7lb. 1975 Lang. for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xxv. 407 Mixed ability teaching in the sample was evidently very common for 12 year old classes, but less so for 14 year olds. 1992 Morgan Horse Nov. 34/3 At Orcland farm, he had been used very lightly at stud as a three-year-old. c. Following a preposition or prepositional phrase, equivalent to ‘x years of age’, e.g. a child of ten years old, from two years old, under six months old.The origin of this construction is uncertain. It appears first with of, which may possibly represent the Old English genitive phrase (see sense 4a), so that ‘a child of x years old’ might originally be equivalent to ‘a child old (in respect) of x years’. But there is a chronological gap between the Old English use and this one. Moreover, a similar phrase containing the noun elde (see eld n.²), where the sense is clearly ‘of x years' age’, is recorded earlier in Ormulum (more than once) and the Trinity College, Cambridge, MS of Seinte Marherete, and the MS readings of some later texts vary between old and elde in this construction (see quots. a1400¹ and c1450). The explanation may therefore lie in the substitution of the adjective old for the noun elde, facilitated by the fact that the form eld(e) was also a dialectal variant of the adjective. From late Middle English onwards the expression was treated as a noun phrase which might be preceded by any preposition: see, e.g., quots. ?1440 and 1582.A similar usage is found with high, long, broad, deep, etc. (which in Old English were also preceded by a genitive or accusative phrase of dimension); but there the construction with of appears to be later, and that with other prepositions less usual: see of prep. 49b. ΚΠ c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 18 (MED) He was fayr and eke bold And of fiftene winter hold. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4979 (MED) Seint oswald..was..of eiȝte & þriȝti ȝer old þo him biuel þis cas. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 11566 (MED) Wit-in þe land left he noght an O tua yeir eild [a1400 Gött. eilde, a1400 Trin. Cambr. olde] þat he ne was slan. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 10587 (MED) Þis maiden bot o thre yeir old [a1400 Trin. Cambr. olde] Was on þis grece. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. 734 Caluyng from iij yeer olde Til x is best. c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Digby) (1878) 78 Yong was this Quene, of xxti yeere olde [c1450 Robinson ed. of elde; v.r. eld]. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 273 Hyr dochtir, had of xii wokkis ald a knayff. 1547 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1852) V. 311 Four stots of three ȝeir auld. 1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. ii. 16 From two yere old & vnder [c1384 Wycliffite, E.V. fro two ȝeer age and with ynne; 1526 (Tyndale), 1560 (Geneva) as many as were two yere old and vnder]. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III ii. iv. 28 He could gnaw a crust at two houres olde . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iv. viii. 4 I was made a King, at nine months olde . View more context for this quotation 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §754 At foure yeares old there commeth the Mark-Tooth. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 135 A Steer of two Years old . View more context for this quotation 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. i. vi. 106 Those intended for Apprentices are dismissed at nine Years old. 1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals iii. i This is my return..for putting him, at twelve years old, into a marching regiment. 1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna ii. xxv. 44 This child of twelve years old. 1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 275 At two years old, the colt..may be put to plough. 1883 Standard 30 Nov. 2/4 A child entered the mill as a half-timer at ten years old. 1970 Daily Tel. 8 May 17 The tendency is for children to experiment with cigarettes from as early as eight years old. 1989 Wine Spectator 31 Aug. 32/2 It showed no oxidation at 20 years old. d. colloquial. With premodifying nouns not usually considered as marking the passage of time. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > having had specific length of existence > measured in number of uses, etc. old1967 1967 N. Lucas C.I.D. vi. 70 Their getaway was only two hundred yards old when their luck changed. 1984 Nutshell (Gainesville, Florida) Spring 33 (advt.) Even after a Maxell recording is 500 plays old, you'll swear it's not a play over five. 1988 Los Angeles Times 15 Oct. iii. 12/1 Parker made an error before the game was an inning old. 5. Of long practice or experience; veteran; experienced or skilled (in a subject or art); (slang) clever, knowing.See also compounds at Compounds 6. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > skilled or experienced oldOE well-usedc1300 experientc1420 way-wisea1460 pertly1466 practica1522 perite1530 well-practised1539 well-experienced1541 practised1548 experienced1576 veteran1624 practical1632 well-seasoned1640 seasoneda1643 callent1656 versant1766 used1786 salted1864 roteda1901 shell-backed1930 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > astute oldOE witterc1100 pratc1175 smeighc1200 fellc1300 yap13.. far-castinga1387 parlousc1390 advisee?a1400 politic?a1439 astucec1550 political1577 astute1611 knowing1664 shrewda1684 sharp1697 leery1718 peery1721 fly1811 canny1816 flash1818 astucious1823 varmint1829 chickaleary1839 wide1879 snide1883 varminty1907 crazy like (or as) a fox1935 OE Ælfric Let. to Wulfsige (Corpus Cambr.) in B. Fehr Die Hirtenbriefe Ælfrics (1914) 11 Presbiter is..ealdwita. Na þæt ælc eald sy, ac þæt he eald sy on wisdome. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 64 Old in hise sinnes dern. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 439 (MED) Macedonia schulde be þe strengere ȝif ȝonge kniȝtes come after elde fadres [L. veteranis patribus]. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) v. 1821 (MED) By his prudence he eskaped is a-geyn, For he was boþe expert, wys, & olde. a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 44^v (MED) Þe olde [L. Veteres] lerned kniȝtes..were..ocupied in þe same wise. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 477 (MED) Symon..flowrede moche in this tyme..yonge in age, but olde in connynge and intellect of divine scripture. 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Olde souldier, veteranus. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. 9 Growne old In cunning sleightes. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost ii. i. 254 Thou art an old Loue-monger, & speakest skilfully. View more context for this quotation 1638 J. Ford Fancies ii. 29 My stars, I thank yee, for being ignorant, Of what this old in mischiefe can intend. 1662 J. Milton To Sir H. Vane in G. Sykes Life & Death Sir H. Vane 93 Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old. 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 274 The Germans were too old for us there. a1822 P. B. Shelley Let. to — in Posthumous Poems (1824) 63 I, an old diviner, who know well Every false verse of that sweet oracle. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel II. viii. ii. 306 Old in vices, and mean of soul! 1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 152 The Athenians were old sailors and they were only beginners. 1929 Travel Jan. 18/1 ‘Treasure Island’ tells how the old sea-dog at the ‘Admiral Benbow’..used to prate of..the Spanish Main. 1974 J. Wainwright Evidence I shall Give xxxii. 166 They are old in wisdom and experience. 1997 London Rev. Bks. 23 Jan. 8/4 Harold Macmillan, with all the skill of the old actor manager, succeeded in false-footing Rab. 6. Designating a period of time which is almost at an end, esp. used predicatively of a day or night which is nearly over (now literary), and (chiefly attributive) of the moon in wane. ΚΠ OE Ælfric De Temporibus Anni (Cambr. Gg.3.28) iv. §35. 36 Gif se ealda mona geendað twam dagum oððe ðrim binnon hlydan monðe, þonne bið he geteald to ðam monðe. a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 27 (MED) Oðer newe mone betere ðan æld-mone in to newe huse te wænden. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 298 Apes..ben mery and glad in þe newe of þe moone and elenge in þe myddil and in þe olde moone. a1425 in Stud. Philol. (1923) 20 82 (MED) Whan ȝe seen..What tyme of þe mone hyt ys, Wher he be olde oþer newe, Go to þys story agayn. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 130 As the ta lufe vaxis auld, The tothir dois incres moir kene. 1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether sig. Ciiii Olde moones be leake they can holde no water. 1638 J. Ford Fancies v. 72 Night drawes on, And quickly will grow old. 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 319 I saw the Old Moon go out on the Hills at Lhor, and the Night following, the Horns reversed. a1727 I. Newton Observ. Prophecies Daniel (1733) i. xi. 160 The Jews referred all the time of the silent moon, as they phrased it, that is, of the moon's disappearing, to the old moon. 1750 T. Wright Orig. Theory Universe 25 You..told me that that kind of phænomenon the country people called a Stork, or the old moon in the new one's arms. a1822 P. B. Shelley Triumph of Life in Posthumous Poems (1824) 95 Long before the day Was old. 1850 ‘S. Yendys’ Roman vii. 107 The old moon began to sink, (Long, like her, upon the wane). 1985 R. Bly Loving Woman in Two Worlds (1987) i. 21 Shark's teeth glitter in the light of the old moon. 1995 Sky & Telescope May 105/2 I saw the horns of the old Moon poke above the flat lining of some deep blue clouds. 7. colloquial (chiefly U.S.). Tiresome, esp. through repetition or familiarity. Frequently in to get old. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious dreicha1300 alangec1330 joylessa1400 tedious1412 wearifulc1454 weary1465 laboriousa1475 tiresome?a1513 irksome1513 wearisome1530 woodena1566 irkful1570 flat1573 leaden1593 barren1600 soaked1600 unlively1608 dulla1616 irking1629 drearisome1633 drear1645 plumbous1651 fatigable1656 dreary1667 uncurious1685 unenlivened1692 blank1726 disinteresting1737 stupid1748 stagnant1749 trist?1756 vegetable1757 borish1766 uninteresting1769 unenlivening1774 oorie1787 wearying1796 subjectless1803 yawny1805 wearing1811 stuffy1813 sloomy1820 tediousome1823 arid1827 lacklustrous1834 boring1839 featureless1839 slow1840 sodden1853 ennuying1858 dusty1860 cabbagy1861 old1864 mouldy1876 yawnful1878 drab1880 dehydrated1884 interestless1886 jay1889 boresome1895 stodgy1895 stuffy1895 yawnsome1900 sludgy1901 draggy1922 blah1937 nowhere1940 drack1945 stupefactive1970 schleppy1978 wack1986 1864 C. W. Wills Diary 6 June in Army Life Illinois Soldier (1906) 255 [Campaigning] occasionally gets a little old, but so does everything in this life. 1866 W. Hilleary Jrnl. 10 July in Webfoot Volunteer (1965) 210 Our Commander has invented another ailing. ‘Scurvy’ is getting old and now he is much afflicted with a ‘Stricture’. 1951 in Harper's Mag. (1952) Feb. 43 That old straw boss keep..givin' me that old hurry-up, hurry-up, that gets old. 1973 H. S. Thompson Let. 14 Sept. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 537 The haggling is getting pretty goddamn old. 2000 N.Y. Times 20 Sept. d7/1 [He] still found it exciting to come up with the game-winning hit. ‘That never gets old.’ II. Former; not current; relating to past times, bygone. 8. a. No longer in existence; of the distant past. Now opposed to modern. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > long-past or old oldOE ancient1366 yorec1400 antique1532 of yore1598 long-ago1603 far gone1829 way back1885 the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] ererc888 fernOE oldOE oldOE formerc1160 ratherc1330 before-goingc1384 formerc1384 forenexta1400 formea1400 while1399 antecedentc1400 precedentc1400 anteceding?a1425 late1446 whilom1452 preceding?a1475 forne1485 fore1490 heretofore1491 foregoing1530 toforegoing1532 further1557 firster1571 then1584 elder1594 quondam1598 forehand1600 previant1601 preallable1603 prior1607 anterior1608 previal1613 once1620 previous1621 predecessivea1627 antecedaneous?1631 preventive1641 prior1641 precedaneous1645 preventional1649 antegredient1652 senior1655 prevenient1656 precedential1661 antecedental1763 past-gone1784 antevenient1800 aforetime1835 one-time1850 onewhile1882 foretime1894 erstwhile1903 antecedane- ere- OE West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) ix. 8 Sume sædon eald witega aras. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13724 Þatt alde follc. Off godess hallȝhe lede. ?a1200 (?OE) Peri Didaxeon (1896) 49 Þa ealde læces sædan, þæt þeos þrowung ys ȝeset of feofer þingum. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 124 An old filosofe, þet hette platoun. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. v. 21 Ȝee han herde that it is said to olde men [L. antiquis]. c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) 294 Olde poetys sey she bereth the heruest horne. a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Sloane 1873) (1975) 2831 (MED) Olde men ymagynede for this arte A speciall fornace for euery parte. 1590 L. Lloyd First Pt. Diall of Daies 8 The old antient Romanes had..certaine ceremonies. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. iii. 35 The nine Sibyls of old Rome. View more context for this quotation 1643 J. Swan Speculum Mundi (ed. 2) ii. §3. 32 The old ancient order of the yeare. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 178 The Prophets old, who sung thy endless raign. View more context for this quotation 1728 A. Pope Dunciad ii. 124 A cov'ring, worthy to be spread On Codrus' old, or *'s modern bed. 1846 Ld. Tennyson Golden Year* in Poems (ed. 4) II. 91 Old writers push'd the happy season back. 1948 G. D. H. Bell Cultivated Plants Farm i. 5 They demonstrate how dependent were the old civilisations on particular crops. 1977 Time 14 Feb. 33/2 To re-establish old wisdom and simple certitudes. b. Of a story or account: relating to or on the subject of past times. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > relating to past times oldOE old world1712 historical1739 old-time1795 old-worldly1878 OE Crist III 1396 Nu ic ða ealdan race anforlæte, hu þu æt ærestan yfle gehogdes, firenweorcum forlure þæt ic ðe to fremum sealde. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 1 (MED) In Saynt Bede bokes writen er stories olde. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10441 (MED) It was neuere noon oolde man, As men sein in oolde ȝedding, But þat he was strong in his ȝing. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 17 Aulde storys that men redys. c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 85 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 79 The cronikis old from Kynge Arthur he could reherse. 1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. ii. xxiii. §4. 574 In filling vp the blankes of old Histories, we neede not be so scrupulous. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 386 Wherever stood City of old or modern Fame. View more context for this quotation 1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xvii. 88 We are always running over old Stories, when we are alone. 1820 P. B. Shelley Œdipus Tyrannus i. 10 Grass-hoppers that live on noon-day dew, And sung, old annals tell, as sweetly too. 1969 W. Berry Recoll. Ess. (1980) 21 I am not oppressed by it as I would be by an ancient and venerated family seat, full of old records and traditions and memories. 2001 Hist. Scotl. Winter 64/2 There is always room for revisiting old stories and retelling them. c. Associated with ancient times; renowned in history or legend; esp. (poetic) as an epithet with proper names.Old Adam: see Adam n.¹ 1. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > associated with ancient times olda1325 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > fame or renown > famous or eminent person > [adjective] > historically famous olda1325 classical1546 classic1787 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3479 Of olde abraham and of sarra bi-geten Dede ysaac of olde teten. c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 429 Wel knew he the olde Esculapius..Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galyen. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 5474 (MED) Þar he demed him self to lij Bi ysaac and be abraham In ebron biside ald adam. c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 65 The olde Creon gan espye How that the blood roial was broght a-doun. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) v. 4844 That lauche of awlde Moyses. 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. iii. f. 195 Y^e cursednesse of old Adam, from which we are exempted by Christ. 1645 J. Milton Arcades in Poems 56 On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar. 1682 Satyr to Muse 190 So by old Plato man was once defined. 1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 14 From old Belerium to the German Main. a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas lvii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 48 To glide adown old Nilus, when he threads Egypt and Æthiopia. 1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 72 It is the old historical lands of Europe that the lover of history longs to explore. 1990 M. Martin Keys of this Blood v. xix. 372 A more developed form of the old Greek cosmopolitanism. d. Antiquated or ancient in character, style or appearance. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adjective] > long-past or old > proper to ancient times oldc1330 c1330 Seven Sages (Auch.) (1933) 591 (MED) Þe knyȝt in þe mede hadde o maner..Of chaumbres and of hegȝe halle Of old werk, forcrased alle. c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls 19 It happede me for to beholde Upon a bok, was write with lettres olde. c1475 Guy of Warwick (Caius) 8109 (MED) He had an helme of oold werke. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie O 70 Men curious in vsing old & auncient woordes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 42 O fellow come, the song we had last night: Marke it Cesario, it is old and plaine. View more context for this quotation 1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 20 Some by Old Words to Fame have made Pretence; Ancients in Phrase. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 11 May 4/2 What they call the old blue, the shade seen in old enamelling. 1990 Musician Feb. 100/3 When market research made it clear that FM was getting a bit old for the public, Yamaha pulled the V80 and sat down for a major rethink. 9. a. Designating a past time or period, esp. in old days, old times, and variants. Also in good (also bad) old days, good (also bad) old times. Cf. olden days at olden adj. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [noun] > time long past or long ago fern-daysOE yesterdayOE antiquityc1375 ancienty1489 eldc1540 father-age1633 auld lang syne1666 (the) year one1754 ancientry1755 aforetime1803 good (also bad) old days1828 long-ago1831 eld-time1845 the year dot1857 old times1898 eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iv. xxix. 364 Forðon ða sylfan stowe..wæs ðær io on ealdum tidum ge biscop mid his geferum, ge eac abbod wunode mid munecum. OE Ælfric Homily: Sermo de Die Iudicii (Corpus Cambr. 178) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1968) II. 602 Iu on ealdum dagum, ær ðam þe Cristendom wære, menn worhton deofolgyld wide geond þas woruld. OE Paris Psalter (1932) lxxvi. 5 Þa ic ealde dagas eft geþohte hæfde me ece gear ealle on mode. lOE Writ of Edward the Confessor (Sawyer 1121) in F. E. Harmer Anglo-Saxon Writs (1952) 344 Se is gemæne swa he onn ældum timum gelegd wæs. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5196 Helyas wass..an wurrþfull prophete. Onn alde daȝhess. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5913 Þiss waȝȝn wass þurrh an kingess waȝȝn. Inn alde daȝhess tacnedd. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1457 Ȝeare a þan holde [Otho eolde] dawen heo wes swiðe aðel burh. c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 408 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 65 (MED) Moyses opon synay was bi olde dawe Fourti daiȝes in priuete. a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ruth iv. 7 Þis..was þe maner in old tyme in Israel betwen neeȝ kyn. ?a1425 MS Hunterian 95 f. 87^v (MED) Boþe surgenes þat weren in olde tyme & also surgenes þat ben now stauncheden blode alle in one manere. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 13 Elders of alde tym. c1471 in J. B. Sheppard Let. Bks. Monastery Christ Church Canterbury (1889) 251 (MED) They to observe all such covenauntes be twyxe your predecessors and thers of olde tyme made. a1500 in A. Zettersten Middle Eng. Lapidary (1968) 30 (MED) In olde tyme þe enchaunteres wolde put quykke brennyng coles in the foure partes of the howse. ?1555 Image of Idlenesse sig. Ciii A myracle whiche in the olde dayes she wrought. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Argent In good old times when men were loath to publish their owne goodnesse. 1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iii. 28 Ay, ay, in old days People married where they lov'd; but that fashion is chang'd. 1727 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman II. ii. Introd. 7 In the good old days of Trade..there were no Bubbles, no Stock-jobbing. 1785 W. Cowper Task v. 217 Tubal..the Vulcan of old times. 1828 Oscotian (ed. 2) I. 1 However glorious those ‘good old times’ may have been, they still were destitute of one very important advantage. 1856 ‘G. Eliot’ in Westm. Rev. 10 55 The aristocratic dilettantism which attempts to restore the ‘good old times’ by a sort of idyllic masquerading. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. i. 6 If knighthood were hereditary, like a baronetcy, as it practically was in old times, when men were knighted from father to son, you would be Sir John now. 1898 G. B. Shaw Mrs. Warren's Profession ii. 197 Suppose we were both as poor as you were in those wretched old days. 1906 Nature 3 May (Suppl.) p. vii/2 In writing of times that are past and gone, while still within our recollection, we have all to be on our guard against a popular illusion as to the ‘good old days’. 1911 G. B. Shaw Getting Married in Doctor's Dilemma 261 I felt that I had left the follies and puerilities of the old days behind me for ever. 1958 A. Huxley Brave New World Revisited (1959) 27 In the bad old days children with considerable, or even with slight, hereditary defects rarely survived. 1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 25 Feb. a15/3 For a visitor returning after many years, it's like old times. b. for old times' sake: for nostalgic reasons; for the sake of long-standing or former friendship. Cf. for old sake's sake at sake n.¹ 10(c). ΚΠ 1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes (1855) II. vi. 55 It was partly for the sake of the Ridleys and the tick he owes 'em: partly for old times' sake. 1895 T. Hardy Jude vi. vi. 468 O, but can't you have the kindness to take me in? I cannot endure going to a public-house to lodge; and I am so lonely. Please, Jude, for old times' sake! 1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After i. ii. 42 She had never cared for jazz music, though she occasionally permitted herself a little ragtime for old time's sake. 1994 E. L. Doctorow Waterworks 85 Perhaps 'Tace comes around for old times' sake. 10. Belonging to an earlier period, esp. of a person's life; belonging to an earlier state or condition; possessed, occupied, practised, etc., in an earlier period. Also: disused, finished, superseded.See also old light n., old school n., old tenor at tenor n.¹ 1c. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] ererc888 fernOE oldOE oldOE formerc1160 ratherc1330 before-goingc1384 formerc1384 forenexta1400 formea1400 while1399 antecedentc1400 precedentc1400 anteceding?a1425 late1446 whilom1452 preceding?a1475 forne1485 fore1490 heretofore1491 foregoing1530 toforegoing1532 further1557 firster1571 then1584 elder1594 quondam1598 forehand1600 previant1601 preallable1603 prior1607 anterior1608 previal1613 once1620 previous1621 predecessivea1627 antecedaneous?1631 preventive1641 prior1641 precedaneous1645 preventional1649 antegredient1652 senior1655 prevenient1656 precedential1661 antecedental1763 past-gone1784 antevenient1800 aforetime1835 one-time1850 onewhile1882 foretime1894 erstwhile1903 antecedane- ere- the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > formerly possessed, occupied, etc. oldOE formera1425 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > [adjective] > fallen out of use or obsolete oldOE outworna1522 stale1550 obsolete1579 overgone1581 overworn1603 disused1611 exolete1611 absoletea1613 worn-out1612 outdated1616 lapsed1667 exploded1709 supersededa1831 rinky-dink1913 OE Cynewulf Elene 1265 Geogoð is gecyrred, ald onmedla. OE Phoenix 321 Þonne he gewiteð wongas secan his ealdne eard, of þisse eþeltyrf. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 207 (MED) Nis he vor þe noȝt afoled Þat he for þine olde luue Me adun legge and þe buue. a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) v. 558 He tolde His newe sorwe and ek his joies olde. c1480 (a1400) St. Bartholomew 140 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 184 Mychtyly he put hym owte of his ald seinȝnery. 1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 210 Thow..geris me..thair ald sin wyth new schame certify. 1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 93 He projects the recovery of his old Eparchy of Brampore. 1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xvii. 291 His Companions in sin not finding him in his old wayes begin to laugh at him. 1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 321 Where there is an old lease in being, no concurrent lease shall be made, unless where the old one will expire within three years. 1807 W. Wordsworth Resolution & Independence in Poems I. 90 The pleasant season did my heart employ: My old remembrances went from me wholly. 1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. vii. 58/1 The Eagle..to attain his new beak, must harshly dash off the old one upon rocks. 1893 F. M. Müller Theosophy (1899) xii. 401 In order to bring his old Jewish belief into harmony with his new philosophical convictions. 1929 E. Blunden Near & Far Pref. There is no great gulf between the old experiences and the new. 1949 Sci. Amer. July 36 A ‘breeder’ reactor that would produce new fissionable atoms as fast as it used the old ones up. 1991 Utne Reader July 142/1 I hunted down the old haunts of Allen Ginsberg. 11. a. Distinguishing the noun modified from something of the same kind belonging to a later period; prior in time or occurrence, former, previous. Cf. old year n. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > of two persons or things oldeOE ratherc1325 eOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Parker) anno 885 Se Hloþwig was Carles broþur..& hie wæron Hloþwiges suna—se Hloþwig was þæs aldan Carles sunu. OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 354 Þes dæig wæs on þære ealdan æ geset. OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) Pref. 80 Is eac to witene ðæt sume gedwolmen wæron ðe woldon awurpan ða ealdan æ, & sume woldon habban ða ealdan & awurpan ða niwan. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 407 Al holy writt, þe elde [v.r. olde] testament and þe newe. 1455 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1907) IV. 203 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 3218) LXIV. 1 He submytted hym..to do and fulfyll all constytucions and ordynances as his olde predecessores hath done afore hym. 1523 M. Coverdale (title) A worke entytled of ye olde God and the newe, of the old faythe and the newe, of the olde doctryne and ye newe. 1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. sig. ⁋1 The making of a new Law for the abrogating of an old. a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) iv. sig. H3^v Be assur'd first Of a new maintainer e're you cashire the old one. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 275 All the schools Of Academics old and new. View more context for this quotation 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Sacrifice Divines divide Sacrifices into Bloody, such as those of the Old Law; and Bloodless, such as those of the New Law. 1850 G. Grote Hist. Greece VIII. ii. lxvii. 450 The gradual transition of what is called the Old Comedy into the Middle and New Comedy. 1923 G. Buchanan My Mission to Russia I. viii. 101 Though it is now the custom to depreciate the services of the Old Diplomacy, I doubt whether the vaunted New Diplomacy would have been equally successful. 1998 Rec. Collector Apr. 82/2 He's been..belting out a mixture of the band's old hits and newer material to an audience of nostalgists and younger converts. b. With names or epithets of countries: known or inhabited at an earlier period, as Old England (hence Old Englander), Old France, Old Spain. (In historical use, these names are frequently used to distinguish European countries from the American colonies New England, New France, New Spain named after them.) Cf. Old Commonwealth n., Old South n. at Compounds 4.the Old Dominion: see dominion n. 2b.In quot. eOE¹ as part of an ethnonym (cf. Old Saxon n. and adj.), which (as is usual in early use) also denotes the place inhabited by the people. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > known or inhabited at an earlier period oldeOE eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 12 Be norþan him sindon Ealdseaxan, & be norþanwestan him sindon Frisan. Be westan Ealdseaxum is Ælfe muþa þære ie.] eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) i. i. 12 Þæt lond mon hætt þa ealdan Sciþþian & Ircaniam. 1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum 554 The best Margarites come out of Inde, and out of the olde Britaine, as it is said. 1631 T. Dudley Let. Mar. in New Hampsh. Hist. Soc. Coll. (1834) 4 243 Wee were free enough in Old England, to turne our in sides outwards. 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 40 He that prizes not Old England Graces, as much as New England Ordinances. 1702 Addr. from Lancaster in London Gaz. No. 3804/5 A Princess born in Old England. 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 389 To see what prodigious Consignments they had from their Correspondents in Old-Spain. 1764 Ann. Reg. 1763 121 Bills of exchange drawn by the government of Canada on that of Old France. 1812 Examiner 28 Dec. 826/1 General Miranda had sailed..for Old Spain. 1884 Boston Jrnl. 30 Dec. 2/4 Our goods are crossing the water to keep alive old England. 1932 ‘B. Ross’ Trag. of Y i. i. 31 Yet there it was, with its sprawling cultivated gardens,..and above all the buttressed stone immensity of the castle itself. It was..a chunk of old England, something out of Shakespeare. 1975 Canad. Mag. 1 Feb. 11/4 The annual draft..[by] the World Hockey Association..finally arrived with all the speculation of a bride ship from Old France. 1994 W. Maples & M. Browning Dead Men do tell Tales vi. 78 In old Japan, most cases of suicide committed by courtiers, called seppuku, involved slitting the stomach open. 2002 T. Nairn Pariah x. 121 The ‘Old England’ of Christmas cards: squirely Georgian or Regency cavortings, that country for which elegies are today composed. c. Designating the oldest district or historic centre of a city, region, etc. Cf. old city n., old town n., and vieux port n. at vieux adj. c. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [adjective] > older part olda1657 a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) ii. 177 He means old Croydon; for that neer there is shewed a place, which is called The old Town..farther off London than new Croydon. 1752 G. Elliot Proposals Public Wks. Edinb. 32 In these cities, what is called the new town, consists of spacious streets and large buildings..while the old town..is more crouded than before these late additions were made. 1842 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. X. lxxv. 440 The streets in the old part of the town are narrow,..but their straitness only renders them the more imposing. 1885 Weekly New Mexican Rev. 9 Apr. 3/3 Albuquerque..has an old town like nearly all of the New Mexico cities. 1952 ‘W. Cooper’ Struggles of Albert Woods ii. v. 115 Albert met Margaret Dibdin..at about ten o'clock in the old port. 1970 N. Marsh When in Rome (1972) ii. 24 He stayed at a small hotel..in Old Rome. 2000 Sunday Times 23 July (Travel section) 8/8 The bending cypresses of the pretty but neglected old quarter of Antalya. d. Designating a specified time or day of the year calculated according to the unreformed Julian calendar, called Old Style after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (1752 in Britain): see new style n., old style n. Frequently in Old Christmas Day, Old Christmas Eve, Old Lady Day, Old May-day, Old Michaelmas (day), Old Midsummer, etc. (between a.d. 1900 and 2100, these are 13 days after the equivalent days in the Gregorian calendar). ΘΚΠ the world > time > reckoning of time > calendar > [adjective] > of styles (old or new) old1752 new style1898 1752 Kentish Post 29 Aug. f. 1/1 The Fair at Canterbury (commonly call'd Jack and Joan's Fair)..will be kept this Year on the 10th Day of October, Old Michaemas [sic] Day. 1783 W. Owen New Bk. of Fairs 65 Monday before Old Midsummer July 5, for sheep and horned cattle. 1799 A. Young Agric. Lincs. vii. 150 Begin to weed about old May-day. 1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 1324 September 26..Old Holyrood. 1861 Times 16 Feb. The old style is still retained in the accounts of Her Majesty's Treasury... The first day of the financial year is the 5th of April, being old Lady Day. 1878 T. Hardy Return of Native III. vi. iv. 303 I haven't turned my tongue in my head to the shape of a real good song since Old Midsummer night. 1935 Evening Sun (Baltimore) 5 Jan. 18/3 On Old Christmas Eve, tomorrow night, daffodils, hops and elders are supposed to shoot mysterious sprouts through snow and frozen ground. 1953 R. Macaulay Let. 8 Oct. (1962) 114 Did you know that old St James's Day, August 5th, used to be Oyster Day? 1989 C. R. Wilson & W. Ferris Encycl. Southern Culture 680/2 A few southern families make some effort to celebrate..6 January, a day sometimes called ‘Old Christmas’. e. Designating ice or snow in polar regions that was formed before the most recent winter. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > snow > [adjective] > specific types of snow or formation featheryc1595 encrusted1663 old1856 wind-slab1936 1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xii. 128 Fissures..were beginning to break in every direction through the young ice... I therefore made for the old ice to seaward. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 328/1 Old ice is believed to become thicker in a second winter, and even to attain a thickness of 10 feet. 1935 Handbk. Weather, Currents & Ice (Meteorol. Office) vii. 102 The Arctic peak consists of old ice, which due to rafting and hummocking forms massive fields. 1952 Jrnl. Glaciol. 2 150 The definition of firn, adopted by the Eidg. Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung..is as follows: ‘old snow which has outlasted one summer at least (transformed into a dense heavy material as a result of frequent melting and freezing)’. 1987 D. Lewis & M. Lewis Icebound in Antarctica 11 in B. Hince Antarctic Dict. (2000) 246/2 Although pack is frozen salt water, the salt leaches out in..a year or two, leaving old pack ice drinkable. f. Designating a former monetary unit that has been replaced by a new one with the same name (see new adj. 4).The French franc was replaced in 1960 by the new franc, when the superseded franc became the ‘old franc’; in Britain decimal currency was introduced in 1971, when the superseded penny became the ‘old penny’, replaced by the ‘new penny’. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > money > standards and values of currencies > [adjective] > former monetary unit old1958 1958 Times 29 Dec. 6/4 For a time next year both the old franc and the new..will probably be in circulation. 1969 Times 21 July (Decimal Currency Suppl.) 1/5 Below 5p the only old coin which will be an exact equivalent of the new will be sixpence (2½p). 1972 D. Lees Zodiac 46 That's over four thousand dollars..more than two million old francs. 1990 New Dimensions May 8/2 Your old pennies would still be legal tender, you would just have to spend them five at a time. 12. a. Designating a person formerly holding some position or having a specified relation to a person. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > [adjective] > former (of persons) umquhile1431 old1435 quondam1547 ancient1681 ci-devant1790 ex1823 former1905 past1915 1435 in J. F. South & D. Power Memorials Craft of Surg. (1886) App. 309 (MED) Othir wise also if the felowschip like the olde maistris or summe of hem for her good gouernaunce to stonde a ȝeer lenger, thei to chese those of hem newe. a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 128 (MED) Thai shulde than be vndir a prince double so myghty as was thair old prince. 1521 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Stirling (1887) I. 21 The aild provest and ballies:..The new provest and ballies. 1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxvii. 54 Ald feyis ar sindle faythfull freindis fund. 1647 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 496 Sherriffes and ould Sheriffes to goe in their blacke gownes. 1753 W. Maitland Hist. Edinb. 237 Officers of the same Denomination who served those Offices in the preceding Year..the Old Provost, Old Bailiffs [etc.]. 1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. i. 2 Ellesmere, the great lawyer, also an old pupil of mine. 1894 H. Caine Manxman iii. xix. 189 His old master, the college friend of his father. 1955 P. Larkin Let. 26 July in Sel. Lett. (1992) 246 The garden party at Oxford was really quite awful: I drank too much, met my old room-mate, insulted his religion. 1982 N. Sedaka Laughter in Rain (1983) i. vi. 57 My old girlfriend Carole King came back into my life. b. Denoting a former member of an institution or society, esp. a British public school. Cf. old boy n. 5, old girl n. See also Old Etonian n. and adj. ΘΚΠ society > education > learning > learner > one attending school > [adjective] > former pupil old1758 old boyish1844 1758 Brit. Phœnix 79 Your First Essay on the Advantages of Learning was..filched, as you term it, from the closet of an old Oxonian. 1848 C. H. Newmarch Recoll. Rugby i. 1 ‘Oh! mihi præteritos referat si Jupiter annos,’ is an exclamation, in which, remembering..a duck hunt at Swift's, every old Rugbæan will, I hope, most heartily concur. 1857 Manx Sun 4 July The writer is a gentleman of our own acquaintance, an old Cantab. 1892 (title) Eton of old..by an Old Colleger. 1914 ‘I. Hay’ Knight on Wheels (ed. 2) xviii. 172 Each happened to be wearing an Old Studleian tie, so common ground was established at once. 1964 C. Mackenzie My Life & Times III. 126 Cyril Bailey..was an Old Pauline who had left before I went to St Paul's in 1894. 1989 C. Harman S. Townsend Warner: Biogr. ii. 57 Sylvia..drew a more select circle of Old Harrovians than previously. III. Familiar, customary. 13. a. That has been borne or sustained for a long time, as old debt, old grudge. Cf. old score n. at Compounds 4. ΚΠ eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) ii. v. 47 Se Themestocles gemyndgade Ionas þære ealdan fæhþe þe Xersis him to geworht hæfde. OE Cynewulf Juliana 623 Lætað hy laþra leana hleotan þurh wæpnes spor, wrecað ealdne nið, synne gesohte. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1183 Hit is for þine alde [a1300 Jesus Oxf. olde] niȝe þat þu me akursedest oðer siðe. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 163 (MED) Þe way was opened forto take wreche of al olde wreþþe. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 3067 (MED) Commaundeth þat Parys..parforme vp þe peyne of talioun For wrongis old. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 840 Or we departe we shall redresse all our olde sorys. 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour ii. ix. sig. Riij The people called Dores..wolde aduenge their olde grudges agayne the Atheniensis. 1706 Wooden World Diss. (1708) 19 Not purely for their presumptuous Assumption of his proper Title, but out of an old Grutch. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 505 In satisfaction of an old debt due to him from the crown. 1882 Ballou's Monthly Mag. July 63/1 I do think it's really mean in you to oppose our marriage just because of that silly old grudge. 1995 M. Lewis Singapore: Rough Guide 165/2 Essentially, Chinese New Year is a family affair—old debts are settled, friends and relatives visited. b. In personal or particular reference: having long stood in some relation to one; designating a friend, acquaintance, or enemy of long standing. Cf. old pal n. at Compounds 4. ΘΚΠ the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing longOE oldOE veterate?1541 long-rooted1562 of long standinga1568 old-standinga1627 veteran1648 long-running1651 long-standing1655 old-established1776 long-breathed1816 long-time1851 OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 52 Cwæð to eubole his ealdan lareowe. lOE Distichs of Cato (Trin. Cambr.) lxxii, in Anglia (1972) 90 13 Þeah þe þin eald gefera abelge, ne forgit þu gif he þe æfre ær gecwemde. a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 521 If hire make were ded..Ðanne flegeð ge [sc. the turtledove] one..& hire olde luue abit. a1450 York Plays (1885) 180 (MED) I wolde now som mete wer sene For olde acqueyntaunce vs by-twene. 1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 7 Our ald Ennemys cummyn of Saxonys blud. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 68 To thy auld serwandis haff e, That lang hes lipinit into the. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 53 Corriandir that is gude for ane ald hoste. 1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxvii. 54 Thi enemys auld trou neuir in. a1685 Poems of Sempills (1849) lxxvii Should old acquaintance be forgot..On old langsyne. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 153. ⁋16 An old friend, who professed himself unsusceptible of any impressions from prosperity or misfortune. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 79 I have a claim upon you as an old friend of your father. 1985 R. Davies What's bred in Bone (1986) ii. 98 He was left with his old enemy, tonsillitis. 2000 Independent 10 June i. 13/8 Members of the extended gypsy family who are no longer travellers pitch up. They're all looking for old acquaintances. c. Familiar, customary, persistent, recurrent. Cf. old trick n. at Compounds 4. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > accustomed, used, or wont > familiar or usual oldOE familiara1398 well-known1568 well-accustomed1800 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin > and known or familiar oldOE OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) liv. 287 Swa eald folccwide cwyð, of anum wylle hig ne drincon. lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1003 He teah forð þa his ealdan wrenceas. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) xxxix. 135 Healdað þa tunglu þa ealdan sibbe þe hi on gesceapne wæron. c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 8 Haldunge of þe alde ten heastes, Schrift & penitence: þeos & þulliche oþre..beoþ godes heastes. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 10992 Þe sæ falleð in..and heo bið al inne in alden hire denne. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 166 (MED) Ych ne may þolye þis lyf, ne mine ealde wones lete. c1390 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 367 O Sathan..Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. 4739 (MED) Wher is now hid þin olde assuraunce? c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) 956 (MED) Thi olde mercy let me remene. 1602 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor iv. ii. 16 Your husband is in his old vaine againe. 1708 A. Pope Let. to H. Cromwell 1 Nov. You are return'd by this time to the old Diversions of a losing Game at Picquet. 1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 737 Following her old plan. View more context for this quotation 1865 J. B. Lightfoot Comm. Gal. (1874) 22 The Apostle had been travelling over old ground. 1930 W. Faulkner As I lay Dying 132 All the old terror and old foreboding. 1994 Daily Mail 29 Sept. 75/1 The old routine, from changing into the silks to riding a finish, I performed instinctively. d. the (same) old story and variants: a familiar tale or excuse (usually with a connotation of implausibility); a problem which recurs frequently. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > familiar reason the (same) old story1898 1700 N. Rous in Jrnl. Friends' Hist. Soc. (1912) 9 184 I find Brother Dykes continues in his old story. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. iv. 75 ‘What! father's forgot the coffin?’ ‘Ay, lad, th' old tale; but I shall get it done.’ 1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 28 ‘What brought 'em to that?’ Oh, the old story—liftin' their little finger. 1919 Outing Mar. 340/2 It was the old story of a life of hard knocks. 1938 E. Ambler Cause for Alarm xi. 184 Too much or too little—empty stomachs or overfed ones—the old, old story. 1994 T. C. Boyle Without Hero (1995) 127 It's the same old story, species fascism at its worst. 14. In (sometimes euphemistic) names for the Devil, as old serpent, old dragon, old adversary, etc. Also humorously, as old Billy, the old smoker, etc.Originally with reference to the Devil's primeval character.See also old enemy n. at Compounds 4, Auld Hornie at horny n. 1, old boy n. 3, old gentleman n. 2, Old Harry n. at Harry n.² 4, Old Ned n. 2, Old Nick n., old one n. 2, Old Roger at Roger n.² 2b, Old Scratch at scratch n.² [The old serpent alludes to Revelation 12: 9, 20: 2 (Vulgate antiquus serpens , New Testament ὁ ὄϕις ὁ ἀρχαῖος ; compare quot. c1384¹ at sense 3a). With old adversary compare post-classical Latin adversarius vetus (3rd cent.), antiquus adversarius (6th cent.).] ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [adjective] > old or primeval oldOE OE Panther 59 Swa is dryhten god..eallum eaðmede oþrum gesceaftum,..butan dracan anum... Þæt is se ealda feond, þone he gesælde in susla grund. OE Blickling Homilies 7 He þurh his þrowunga þone ealdan gedwolan oforswiþde. a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 287 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 228 Belzebub se ealde. a1200 (?OE) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 185 (MED) Pugnate cum antiquo serpente..fihteð wið þe ealde neddre. c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 189 (MED) Nu bihalt te alde feond. a1300 Passion our Lord 28 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 38 (MED) Þe holy gost hyne ledde vp in-to þe wolde For to beon yuonded of sathanas þen olde. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) Apoc. xx. 2 The olde serpent, that is, the deuel. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 181 To saue-vs, And salue the wounds th' old Serpent firstly gaue-vs. 1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 10 Soyling their hellish carkasses with juyce..or what the old imposter infatuates them with. 1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn xviii, in Poems 9 Th' old Dragon under ground. 1646 in J. Stuart Extracts Presbytery Bk. Strathbogie (1843) 71 Being accused of sorcerie in alloting and giuing over some land to the old goodman (as they call it). 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. Pref. sig. b2 In the spiritual Warfar, where our Adversary is the old Serpent, Stratagems are as Lawful as Expedient. 1688 M. Waite Epist. from Womens Yearly Meeting sig. B2^v This is that old adversary and enemy of mankind, who..never wants specious pretences to..separate from God and one another. 1707 I. Watts How Sad our State (hymn) v The old Dragon..With all his hellish crew. 1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers 31 Some Men have the Nature of the Serpent (that old Adversary) to sting, envenom and poison. 1822 J. Hogg Three Perils of Man III. 38 Cuffed about by the ‘auld thief’, as they styled him. 1834 S. Smith Sel. Lett. Major Jack Downing 66 They carry on so like the old smoker. 1894 J. D. Astley Fifty Years of my Life I. 213 The balls did whistle round like ‘old Billy’. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 170/1 As the old serpent deceived man of old, so shall it be again. 2001 Pine Rivers Press (Nexis) 21 Nov. It was first dreamed up by our old adversary Satan. 15. colloquial. Frequently with reference to a customary pleasure indulged in fully: plentiful, great, enjoyable, memorable. Now merely reinforcing an appreciative adjective, as good old, grand old, high old, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adjective] goodeOE broadOE fullOE large?c1225 rifec1225 fulsomea1325 abundanta1382 plenteousa1382 copiousc1384 plentifula1400 ranka1400 aboundc1425 affluentc1425 aboundable?1440 seedy1440 manyfulc1450 ample1472 olda1500 richa1500 flowing1526 fertilent1535 wallingc1540 copy1546 abounding1560 fat1563 numbrous1566 good, great store1569 round1592 redundant1594 fruitful1604 cornucopian1609 much1609 plenty?a1610 pukka1619 redundant1621 uberant1622 swelling1628 uberous1633 numerousa1635 superfluent1648 full tide1649 lucky1649 redounding1667 numerose1692 bumper1836 prolific1890 proliferous1915 a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) 681 (MED) Gode olde fyghtyng was there. 1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 34 Sunday at masse there was old ringing of Bels. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. ii. 87 Yonders old coile at home. View more context for this quotation a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 62 (margin) in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) If they [sc. certain monks] were as fat in those daies, as most of them proved after, there would have beene old frying. 1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot ii. iv. 50 When fifteen joines to Seventy, there's old doings (as they say), the Man and Wife fitting together like January and May day. 1664 C. Cotton Scarronides 104 There was old drinking, and old singing, And all the while, the Bells were ringing. ?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. i. 3 There was old Bandying, and Cursing, and Fighting, and Railing in abundance. 1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xviii. 279 So there was old to do about ransoming the bridegroom. View more context for this quotation 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Old-doings, great sport, great feasting—an uncommon display of hospitality. 1887 T. Darlington Folk-speech S. Cheshire 285 ‘A pratty owd tap’ means a great speed. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 1 July 2/2 The lawyers in the House have had what..we may be allowed to call a high old time. 1946 E. O'Neill Iceman Cometh iii. 199 We'll go on a grand old souse together. 1970 R. Davies Fifth Business iii. i. 126 There were rumours of high old times with jolly girls. 1990 S. Johnson Flying Lessons xxxiii. 242 She popped the cork and drank a toast to the bride and groom before having a good old cry. 16. Expressing affection or mild disparagement towards a familiar person or thing. a. Used with names of places to which one feels fondness or with which one is familiar, esp. one's native town or country. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective] > used of one's native country olda1616 a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 48 What happie gale Blowes you to Padua heere, from old Verona? View more context for this quotation 1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 140 I may take upon mee to tell old England. 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. vii. 85 Hath not old England subsisted for many ages without the help of your notions? 1786 R. Burns Cotter's Sat. Night xix, in Poems & Songs (1968) I. 151 From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs. 1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. Introd. 302 Nor failed old Scotland to produce, At such high-tide, her savoury goose. 1843 A. Smith Adventures Mr. Ledbury x, in Bentley's Misc. Jan. 2 There's old Gravesend! 1956 S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 121 They have enough money go to Montego Bay in winter and come back to the old Brit'n when they know the weather would be nice. 1993 Spy (N.Y.) Apr. 26/2 Back in old London, this guy is cutting whores. b. Expressing familiarity, affection, or admiration for the person or thing indicated; used in popular names for national heroes or leaders, or ironically, with the connotation ‘notorious’. Frequently as an expression of commendation or appreciation, in good old. Cf. compounds at Compounds 5b, and Old Sparky n. at Compounds 4. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective] sweeta1225 ownc1300 deara1325 littlec1405 whitec1460 bonny1540 honeya1556 nitty1598 honey-sweeta1616 old1644 dearie1691 ou1838 diddy1963 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adjective] couthOE known1340 familiara1398 unstrangec1400 learnedc1420 conversant1430 beknown?c1475 well-beknown1480 quentc1540 well-kent1554 quainted1560 well-known1568 obversant1579 conversed1607 tame1609 familiarized1633 intimatea1680 household1761 homely1782 ole1835 old1898 1644 T. Rugge Jrnl. in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 172 In westminster a very great fiere made and on top of the fier they put old oliuer Cromwell and his wife in Sables. 1653 Right of Tithes Asserted 6 That good old Puritan that loved so dearly, and walked so perfectly in the good old way, was no enemy to this ministerial maintenance. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 17. ⁋3 I never hear him so lavish of his fine things, as upon old Nell Trott. 1808 W. Scott Marmion vi. Introd. 303 England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again. 1862 ‘E. Kirke’ Among Pines i. 12 Old Abe he'se gwine to come down Souf. 1898 A. Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko ix. 280 There they go giving the alarm! Good old Camel Corps! 1944 W. T. Williams & G. H. Savage 2nd Penguin Probl. Bk. 160 Shouting ‘Good old Pompey’, Portsmouth supporters went home. 1945 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 5 38 Getting the ‘general impression’..to register in the old brain-box. 1971 Venerabile 25 iii. 191 It is surprising what difficulties the good old English quid can cause. 1993 Newsweek 25 Jan. 66/1 Seeing the use to which his name is being put, the ghost of Andrew Jackson cannot be amused. But, then, Old Hickory..rarely was of a mind to be amused. 2002 D. Aitkenhead Promised Land ix. 97 Got him on the old Viagra, didn't we? Can't get enough. c. colloquial and humorous. Expressing mild disparagement towards the person or thing indicated. Cf. compounds at Compounds 5a.any old: see any adj., pron., n., and adv. Phrases 6. ΚΠ 1892 ‘M. Twain’ Amer. Claimant 36 The same old scheming, generous, goodhearted, moonshiny, hopeful, no-account failure he always was. 1905 Smart Set Sept. 117/2 No one else is going to run off with your old car. 1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling i. 3 ‘There'll come a little old drizzly rain before nightfall,’ he thought. 1971 D. Francis Bonecrack viii. 101 ‘They didn't take my advice.’ ‘Silly old them.’ 1989 A. Taylor Acquainted with Night ii. 34 My rickety old car just made it up a rutted muddy track. 2002 B July 78/3 To shape up a client for a new role, I recommend squat raises rather than plain old squats. Phrases P1. Proverbs and proverbial uses, as old sin makes new shame, a man is as old as one feels, etc. ΚΠ c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 638 (MED) Auorbisne is of olde iwrne, Þat node makeþ old wif urne. c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 2461 (MED) Old sinne makes newe shame. a1500 (a1471) G. Ashby Active Policy Prince 615 in Poems (1899) 32 (MED) Aftur the oolde dogge the yonge whelpe barkes. 1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 213 (MED) Thus synnes olde make shames come full newe. 1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard To Rdr. sig. A iv The wise Old Man..seemes to glance at our English Proverb: No foole to the old foole. 1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies viii. 60 There is none so desperately old, but he hopes to live one yeere longer. 1668 W. Davenant Man's the Master i. i As the proverb says, put an old cat to an old rat. 1691 R. Cromwell Let. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1898) 13 109 There is an old proverb ‘old yong, yong old’. 1871 V. Lush Thames Jrnls. 27 Aug. (1975) 114 She is always making me out so much older than I am and that's not fair, for a man is only as old as he feels, and a woman is only as old as she looks. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 10 Oct. 3/2 What is the popular saying?—‘A man is as old as he feels’. 1984 A. Brookner Hotel du Lac (1985) viii. 111 Age is relative... You're as old as you feel. P2. In similes, as as old as the world, etc. See also (as) old as Adam at Adam n.¹ Phrases 2, as old as Methuselah at Methuselah n. 1a. ΚΠ 1509 H. Watson tr. S. Brant Shyppe of Fooles (de Worde) sig. Hii Also olde as euer was matheusale. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 69 As old as Sibell, and as curst and shrow'd As Socrates Zentippe. a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1690) Pref. sig. a 3 b That many are naturally querulous and envious, is an Evil as old as the World. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iv. vi. 208 Is he not more worthy of Affection than a dirty Country Clown, tho' he's born of a Family as old as the Flood? View more context for this quotation 1865 J. G. Bertram Harvest of Sea iii. 69 The art of pisciculture is almost as old as civilisation itself. 1914 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 4 Apr. 10/1 They were alike save for the interval of a step. That marked a difference. It was a difference as old as the world. 1992 Economist 26 Dec. 35 (caption) The attempts to suppress video-nasties, lewd pictures and violent pop songs are nothing new. Censorship of the arts is as old as civilisation itself. P3. (as) old as the hills [perhaps in allusion to Job 15:7 ‘Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?’] , exceedingly or immeasurably old. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > old (of beings, etc.) oldeOE winteredeOE oldlyOE over-oldOE eldernc1175 at-oldc1200 stricken on, in age, in eldec1380 oldlya1382 (well, far, etc.) stepped in age, in or into yearsc1386 ancientc1400 aged1420 well-agedc1450 ripec1480 passing oldc1485 (well) shot in years1530 old aged1535 agey1547 Ogygian1567 strucken1576 oldish1580 stricken in yearsa1586 declined1591 far1591 struck1597 Nestorian1605 overripe1605 elderly1611 eld1619 antiquated1631 enaged1631 thorough-old1639 emerita1643 grandevous1647 magnaevous1727 badgerly1753 (as) old as the hills1819 olden days1823 crusted1833 long in the tooth1841 oldened1854 mature1867 over the hill1950 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] > ancient or of early origin oldeOE olden daysa1400 for-oldc1400 ancient1475 (as) old as Adama1599 antiquary1599 high1601 primal1604 hoary1609 grandeval1650 Noachal1661 patriarchal1806 (as) old as the hills1819 world-old1837 eld1854 age-old1860 far-back1869 Noachian1874 pornial1883 1819 Metropolis (ed. 2) I. iii. 58 I thought he was going to make a die of it! Why he's as old as the Hills. 1898 Tit-Bits 23 Apr. 73/3 The superstition..is almost as old as the hills. 1937 A. Huxley Ends & Means iv. 25 A violent revolution cannot achieve anything except the inevitable results of violence, which are as old as the hills. 1995 Empire Nov. 113/2 He's as old as the hills, he must be 70 if he's a day! Compounds C1. With an adjective or participle. a. With another adjective in antithetic or consequential relation. † old cool adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. i. sig. B O what it is to haue an old-coole Duke. 1874 M. Twain Gilded Age 276 This sort of thing..wants an old cool head, you know, that knows men. † old-excellent adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 5 In the knowledge of Plants they are old excellent. 1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xii. 1) 100 Abraham was old-excellent at it [sc. self-denial]. old-young adj. ΚΠ 1597 T. Middleton Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. xv As truth-beginning grace, doth end in truth, Now patience takes the moderators place, Yong-olde in suffering, olde-yong in ruth. 1631 J. Shirley Schoole of Complement i. i. 10 Well, my old young Rufaldo, if you marry Selina, I shall haue a paire of gloues, I hope, and youle let mee dance at your wedding. 1774 W. Mason Heroic Postscript to Public 10 Frown on the page, and with fastidious eye, Like old young Fannius, call it blasphemy. 1834 ‘Nimrod’ in New Sporting Mag. Dec. 82 There stood before me, a round-shouldered, decrepid, tottering old-young man. 1907 Daily Chron. 8 July 3/3 Liverpool..the old-young city. 1990 J. C. Oates Because it is Bitter i. vii. 63 She's an old-young child with sallow skin, dents beneath her eyes, tension in her jaw. b. With a present participle. † old growing adj. Obsolete ΚΠ a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. x. sig. F7^v According to the nature of the old growing world. old-looking adj. ΚΠ 1759 Pennsylvania Gaz. 21 June 4/2 Patrick Sleaven (alias James Allen) 37 years of age, old looking, lived nigh the half way house, Chester county. 1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 44 Apart from his old-looking younger brother. 1862 G. W. Thornbury Life J. M. W. Turner I. 70 He was the bright-eyed genius, always old looking. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Decorative Arts 571/1 The term ‘Vauxhall glass’ has for long been used to describe any old-looking mirror. 1996 R. Doyle Woman who walked into Doors xvii. 98 I didn't like Mike Nesmith. He was too old-looking; he'd have wanted his feel. c. With a past participle, in adverbial sense ‘for a long time previously’, ‘of old’. old-accustomed adj. ΚΠ a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. v. cxv. f. liii His olde Condicions began in hym to reuyue and quycken, soo that at length he retournyd to his olde accustomed vycys. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 59 They dyd tolerate their young men a litle of their hard & old accustomed life. 1662 R. Codrington tr. G. Ruggle Ignoramus i. v. sig. E^v Fy, Fy, my tongue repeats my old accustomed words; I think I am pleading with her now. 1753 J. Warton in tr. Virgil Georgics iii. in J. Warton et al. tr. Virgil Wks. I. 302 (note) That fine circumstance of the vanquish'd bull looking back on his old accustomed stall and pastures when he is forced to retreat. 1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. vii. 115 She next endeavoured to lift the little body, and carry it to its old-accustomed bed in its parent's room. 1994 Chapman No. 77. 18 She finds her old accustomed place. † old acquainted adj. Obsolete ΚΠ c1535 T. Cranmer Let. 9 July in Remains (1833) I. 125 My old acquainted friend, master Shaxton. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 28 The meeting of us, twoe old acquainted friends. a1628 F. Greville Treat. Monarchy vii, in Remains (1670) 75 Their old acquainted traffick makes them see, Wrong hath more Clyents then Sincerity. † old-cut adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 29 Those carued old-cut stonie Images. 1775 G. Crabbe Inebriety 7 So drops from either power, with vengeance big, A remnant night-cap and an old cut wig. 1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 90 Old-cut type, founts similar to the Caslon old-faced type. old-established adj. ΘΚΠ the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing longOE oldOE veterate?1541 long-rooted1562 of long standinga1568 old-standinga1627 veteran1648 long-running1651 long-standing1655 old-established1776 long-breathed1816 long-time1851 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] oldeOE eldeda1400 antique1490 invetered1490 prisk1533 grey-headed1578 ancient1579 hoar1590 inveterated1597 antiquated1598 inveterate1598 long-dated1602 avital1611 vetust1623 old-standinga1627 grey-haired1637 superannuateda1644 avitous1731 old-established1776 venerable1792 timeworn1840 inworn1864 avitic1865 1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 141 Manufactures for which the demand arises..from fashion and fancy..seldom last long enough to be considered as old established manufactures. View more context for this quotation 1785 Daily Universal Reg. 1 Jan. 3/2 The following articles, in Silver, at the Old established Wholesale Prices. 1787 J. Bentham Def. Usury xiii. 141 Old-established trades. 1988 I. Colegate Deceits of Time (1990) 23 He had a firm in Yeovil, very old-established and reputable. † old gathered adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1580 T. Tusser Fiue Hundred Pointes Good Husbandrie (new ed.) f. 36 Good quickset bie, old gatherd will die. † old landed adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1880 B. Disraeli Endymion I. i. 7 There are other interests old landed besides the landed interests now. † old-licensed adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. vii Who..coaxed many of the old-licensed matrons..to open their faculties afresh. old said adj. ΚΠ a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 1084 Hit ys an olde-seyde sawe. 1570 Mariage Witte & Sci. v. i. sig. Ei^v An olde sayd sawe it is..Soone hot, soon [reads sono] cold. a1652 R. Brome Love-sick Court iii. i. 120 in Five New Playes (1659) Forbear your Whiloms, and your old said saws. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) (at cited word) It's an oud said say, and a true yan. 1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. V. xix. 156 Yet is, of mortal wights, an old said saw; Is worth no weal, who may no woe endure. C2. Parasynthetic compounds. a. General, denoting an attribute which is or appears old, or is characteristic of an old person. See also old-faced adj. 1. † old-branched adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1596 M. Drayton Mortimeriados sig. D2 A Forrest of old-branched Oakes. old-hearted adj. ΚΠ 1833 M. Shelley Mortal Immortal in F. M. Reynolds Keepsake for MDCCCXXXIV 81 We sat by our lone fireside—the old-hearted youth and his antiquated wife. 2000 CNBC News Transcripts (Nexis) 5 Sept. Niederhoffer says some of the old-hearted men are missing the boat in the current market environment, and..[he] is trying to learn some new lessons from those who are shaping the new economy. old-phrased adj. ΚΠ 1886 J. S. Corbett Fall of Asgard II. 178 He listened to him telling of..his old-phrased oaths. b. Formed on a compound noun. See also derivatives of old boy n., old fogey n., old gentleman n., old lady n., old maid n., old woman n., etc. † old-cattish adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1780 F. Burney Jrnl. 7 Apr. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 26 Don't I begin to talk in a good old Cattish manner of Cards? † old-lorist n. Obsolete ΚΠ 1880 Academy 14 Aug. 123 So solid and careful an old-lorist. C3. With a noun (or adjective used as a noun), forming compounds used attributively.See also old country adj., old master adj., old school adj., old-time adj., old town n., old year n. Compounds, old world adj. old-book adj. ΚΠ 1862 J. H. Burton Book-hunter i. 25 In the old-book trade there are opportunities for the exercise of ingenuity. 1986 M. Howard Expensive Habits 171 An old-book dealer rounded these up for Miss Flood. old-day adj. ΚΠ 1890 Tablet 21 June 981 Grooms in old-day livery. 1941 Sci. Monthly Aug. 126 Some of the old-day domination of princes lingers on in company with the growing support of city and public zoological collections. old-home adj. ΚΠ 1838 H. W. Herbert Cromwell I. i. ii. 31 They conversed of old home scenes and sweet familiar recollections. 1928 E. Blunden Undertones of War xvii. 177 Flinging old-home repartee at your pal passing by. 1990 S. King Stand (new ed.) xlviii. 585 Old women that sang old-home Jesus-jumping songs like ‘In That Great Getting-Up Morning’. old-ivory adj. ΚΠ 1898 Daily News 2 Dec. 5/1 There is one book exhibited, which..has put on a true old-ivory tone. 1932 D. Gascoyne Rom. Balcony 58 A nymph with clear, old-ivory flesh. 1976 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 63 66/1 White to off-white, aging to old ivory and finally light straw color in old cultures. 2001 Times (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Features section) What about a marabou-trimmed and embroidered jacket..or a fabulous old-ivory coloured chamois gilet? old-Roman adj. ΚΠ 1833 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. vii, in Fraser's Mag. Dec. 676/1 Old-Roman contempt of the superfluous. † old-service adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1894 Westm. Gaz. 19 Apr. 6/2 One of the few remaining old-service gaolers. † old standard adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1838 J. F. Cooper Home as Found I. x. 163 That is the First Presbyterian, or the old standard [church]; a very good house. C4. old ale n. a type of strong, dark ale, similar to barley wine, which has been aged at least six months (traditionally over a summer). ΚΠ 1615 G. Markham Eng. Hus-wife in Countrey Contentments ii. i. 32 For a Canker or any sore mouth: take Cheruile and beat it to a salue with old ale and Allum water. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 78 Mrs. Bickerton..drank some sound old ale, and a glass of stiff negus. 1913 Badminton Mag. Jan. 88 A dope proper may be administered [to a horse]..as a drink—usually given in old ale. 1994 Ale St. News Apr.–May 10/5 There will be summer beers and barley wines, old ales and strong bitters. old bach n. [ < old adj. + bach n.¹, as shortening of old bachelor n.] now rare = old bachelor n. ΚΠ 1855 Knickerbocker 45 158 The President was an ‘old bach.’ of some sixty-five summers. 1904 W. N. Harben Georgians 188 I..thought now was the time fer me, old bach' that I am, to..show them ladies I'd been about. 1922 S. Kerr in B. C. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1921 206 If I hadn't met you I'd been an old bach all my life. old bachelor n. an elderly or confirmed bachelor; spec. one having the fastidious habits considered to be typical of such a person; (occasionally) an animal of this sort. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > unmarried man > [noun] > by choice old bachelor1630 celibataire1817 old bach1855 old bach1855 1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. N And old batchelor, as I am,..is not troublde With these fine fagaries. 1770 G. White Let. 12 May in Nat. Hist. Selborne (1789) 82 Small coveys of partridges, consisting of cock-birds alone; these he pleasantly used to call old bachelors. 1882 Cent. Mag. May 25/1 Old bachelor, you could see; speaks with a panting manner, difficult to find the word. 1993 R. Connolly Sunday Morning (BNC) 175 I can imagine he takes some getting used to. You know the sort: an old bachelor, gruff as an old bull elephant, always counting the pennies. old-bachelorish adj. exhibiting the characteristics of order and neatness which old bachelors are considered to have. ΚΠ 1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 186 Every thing was..so provokingly in order, so full of naked nicety, so thoroughly old-bachelorish. old-bachelorship n. the condition of being an old bachelor. ΚΠ a1832 W. Scott Pref. to Surgeon's Daughter in Waverley Novels (1855) 454 Old bachelorship so decided as mine has its privileges in such a tête-à-tête. 1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 346 Every female present..prophesied old-bachelorship and all its evils, to the contrivers and performers. Old Baptist adj. and n. U.S. (a) adj. designating a traditional Baptist church; (b) n. a member of such a church. ΘΚΠ society > faith > sect > Christianity > Protestantism > Baptists > sects and groups > [noun] > old Old Baptist1845 1845 A. Wiley in Indiana Mag. Hist. (1927) 23 18 I see nothing awaiting the ‘old Baptist’ churches but utter annihilation. 1889 P. Butler Personal Recoll. 252 ‘Hardshell’ Baptists..wish to be known as Old Baptists, or United Baptists. 1968 Amer. Hist. Rev. 73 1397 The new tax exemption law of 1754 that was designed specifically to exclude the ‘new Baptists’ from the tax exemption privileges of the old Baptists. 1985 Washington Post 27 July d4 He was a..volunteer custodian of the Old Baptist Cemetery in Rockville. Old Bay n. [after Old Bay State n.] U.S. a type of spicy seasoning (a proprietary name in the United States). ΚΠ 1949 N.Y. Times 10 May 30/4 Old Bay seasoning mixture for shrimps, crabs and lobster should be authentic for it's the product of the Baltimore Spice Company of Baltimore. 1967 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 2 May tm45/1 Old Bay... For seasonings for Meat, Sea Food, and Other Food Products. 1985 B. Neal Southern Cooking (1989) vi. 77 The steamed crabs set afire by Old Bay, the traditional Maryland seasoning, were succulent. 1990 J. Shields Chesapeake Bay Cookbk. (1991) i. 15 In a second dish, mix the cornmeal and flour together. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay. Old Bay State n. U.S. = Bay State n. at bay n.² Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1836 N. Amer. Rev. July 289 The ancient town, the oldest in the Old Bay State. 1914 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 8 216 In the old Bay state there exists a most effective..system for the speedy removal of judges. 1966 New Eng. Q. 39 183 Both were sons of the Old Bay State. old beer n. (a) beer that is old or stale; (b) = old ale n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > beer > [noun] > other kinds of beer spruce beerc1500 March beer1535 Lubecks beer1608 zythum1608 household beer1616 bottle1622 mumc1623 old beer1626 six1631 four1633 maize beer1663 mum beer1667 vinegar beer1677 wrest-beer1689 nog1693 October1705 October beer1707 ship-beer1707 butt beer1730 starting beer1735 butt1743 peterman1767 seamen's beer1795 chang1800 treacle beer1806 stock beer1826 Iceland beer1828 East India pale ale1835 India pale ale1837 faro1847 she-oak1848 Bass1849 bitter beer1850 bock1856 treble X1856 Burton1861 nettle beer1864 honey beer1867 pivo1873 Lambic1889 steam beer1898 barley-beer1901 gueuze1926 Kriek1936 best1938 rough1946 keg1949 IPA1953 busaa1967 mbege1972 microbrew1985 microbeer1986 yeast-beer- 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §314 A Brewing of New Beere, set by Old Beere, maketh it worke againe. 1789 Suffolk Inventory in Notes & Queries (1947) 18 Oct. 450/1 2 butts old beer, 3 half hogsheads common ale. 1826 D. Booth Art of Brewing (ed. 2) 65 A stock of old beer can thus be increased expeditiously: start half of one full vat, when it is getting a little age, into another, and fill up both with new beer. 1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit xliii. 489 A pint of the best old beer here. 1972 J. O'Grady It's your Shout, Mate! 90 The bottom fermentation product, a relatively new process, they called ‘old’... Old beer I found to be dark in colour, caused by a darker malt used in its making. This also gave it a distinctive malty flavour. old-blooded adj. now rare having old aristocratic ancestry. ΚΠ 1859 W. B. Bernard Tide of Time i. 6 Has proved his devotion in every possible form—loved her from childhood—kept single for her sake—wealthy—old-blooded. 1871 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch (1872) I. vi. 98 The fine old-blooded idiocy of young Lord Tapir. 1894 H. Nisbet Bush Girl's Romance 218 The hauteur..that woke in his proud, old-blooded breast. † old-boned adj. Obsolete manured with old bones. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [adjective] > other natural fertilizers boned1799 old-boned1849 unboned1849 1849 J. F. W. Johnston Exper. Agric. 57 On the old-boned field, the crop was four times as bulky as on the unboned field. † old-boning n. Obsolete the action of manuring with old bones. ΚΠ 1849 J. F. W. Johnston Exper. Agric. 57 This old-boning caused a large increase both in the turnip and in the corn crops. old-built adj. built a long time previously, (also) built in an old style. ΚΠ 1457–8 Plea & Mem. Rolls London Guildhall No. A81.8 (MED) We..haue taken down to þe grounde þe said tenementes with Shoppes, Celers, & Solars which stode þer olde bilded. 1616 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses ii. 26 And (for ships) enow Sea-circl'd Ithaca containes, both new And old built. 1716 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 16 Aug. (1965) I. 253 It is a very large Town, but most part of it old built. a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) III. viii. 150 For an old built sloop, you would not see her equal. View more context for this quotation 1902 Daily Chron. 18 Oct. 5/2 Strype describes it as ‘a large but old-built house’. old chestnut n. colloquial a joke, story, etc., that is often repeated; something trite, stale, or clichéd. ΚΠ 1883 La Porte City (Iowa) Rev. 5 Apr. The brightest and best of the after-dinner stories with which Oscar Wilde is regaling his Parisian friends is that old ‘chestnut’ about the sign ‘Please don't shoot the pianist, he is doing his best’. 1978 Language 54 401 Most of the arguments discussed..are old chestnuts. 1994 i-D Oct. 32/2 The whole idea..is that I'm taking the oldest stories, the old chestnuts you've seen before. old clothes man n. a dealer in old or second-hand clothes. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > trader > traders or dealers in specific articles > [noun] > in old clothes fripperer1584 fripler1589 fripper1598 old clothes man1767 wardrobe dealer1824 fripier1826 clothes-man1842 1767 I. Bickerstaff Love in City 16 I should like to see it swinging under an old-cloaths man's penthouse. 1834 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 3 141/1 I feel convinced that these old-clothes-men only address persons of gentlemanly appearance. 1968 N.Y. City (Michelin Tire Corp.) 82 The dark smoke-filled bars which alternate with old-clothes dealers along the street..shopkeepers..tailors and old-clothes men. 1993 Irish Times (Nexis) 24 Sept. (Sound & Vision section) 11 Individuals start to appear; a sneering old clothes man who is to be the chorus of the story, a fair-ground barker [etc.]. old clothes shop n. a shop which sells old clothes. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > shops selling clothes, cloth, or accessories > second-hand frippery1598 flipperya1625 rag shop1674 old clothes shop1729 rag store1849 tagarene shop1855 1729 R. Dodsley Servitude 28 Their Ladies cast Cloaths..would be sold to the old Cloath-Shops. 1781 C. Johnstone Hist. John Juniper II. 252 The actor went to dress at his usual wardrobe, an old-clothes shop. 1987 A. MacLean Santorini (BNC) 38 They looked rather as if they had just raided an old clothes shop, few of the items of their clothing being a match. Old Colony n. U.S. (chiefly north-eastern) Massachusetts, esp. Plymouth and the surrounding area. ΚΠ 1767 Boston Gaz. 16 Nov. 3/2 (heading) Old-Colony, November 10, 1767. 1824 Casket June 76 I'd a lot of cousins, that ‘com'd all the way down from Varmount to larn the fashions, and to hear and see all the cute and curious thingumajigs of the Old Colony’. 1903 K. M. Abbott Old Paths & Legends New Eng. 357 At the very beginning of your pilgrimage through the Old Colony. 1989 D. H. Fischer Albion's Seed 785 Even today this small sub-region still calls itself the ‘Old Colony.’ Old Comedy n. [compare classical Latin vetus comoedia, antiqua comoedia, prisca comoedia, ancient Greek κωμῳδίαι παλαιαί (plural), Hellenistic Greek κωμῳδία ἀρχαία] the earliest of the three phases into which ancient Greek comedy is customarily divided, largely consisting of topical political satire with a festive, farcical tone and a prominent chorus; (also) comedies belonging to this phase. Cf. Middle Comedy n. at middle adj. and n. Compounds 1a, New Comedy n. at new adj. and n. Compounds 2a.Aristophanes is the principal author of Old Comedy, and his plays are its only surviving examples. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun] > a comedy > other types of comedy Old Comedy1529 New Comedy1542 comedy of errors?1595 romantic comedy1748 musical comedy1765 comédie larmoyante1773 sketch1789 serio-comedy1808 vaudeville1827 teacup-and-saucer comedy1842 satyr play1845 Restoration comedy1866 zarzuela1888 situation comedy1893 sex comedy1915 sitcom1956 1529 tr. Erasmus Exhort. Studye Script. (following title page) The old comedye vnto pericles whiche maye..leve perpetuall prickes and instigacyons in the mindes of the hearers. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie i. xiv. 25 This bitter poeme called the old Comedy, being disused and taken away, the new Comedy came in place, more ciuill and pleasant a great deale. a1637 B. Jonson Explorata 130 in Wks. (1640) II. Perverse, and sinister Sayings (and the rather unexpected) in the old Comedy did move laughter. 1756 T. Sheridan Brit. Educ. iii. i. 282 Under Cratinus, Aristophanes, and Eupolis, did another æra finish the old comedy. a1846 T. R. Dew Digest Laws Anc. & Mod. Nations (1853) vii. viii. 129 Old comedy..was to Athens what the liberty of the press is to modern republics. 1944 P. W. Harsh Handbk. Classical Drama ii. v. 257 Informality and fantasy rule Old Comedy. 1975 J. Henderson Maculate Muse i. 12 The basic nature of Old Comedy was negative, critical, and aggressive; the object was to expose its victims to ridicule and abuse. 2006 Classical Q. 56 94 Old Comedy was renowned for its exceptional liberty of expression. Old Commonwealth n. Canada, Australia, New Zealand (and South Africa before 1961); cf. New Commonwealth n. and commonwealth n. 6. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > [noun] > aggregate of sovereign states under one rule > Commonwealth or former British Empire > part of Oceana1886 New Commonwealth1958 Old Commonwealth1965 1965 New Society 26 Aug. 18/1 The ‘old’ Commonwealth consists of Canada, Australia and New Zealand; the ‘new’ Commonwealth includes all remaining Commonwealth countries. 1991 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 9 Mar. 561/1 Similarly, immigrants from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have been aggregated as old Commonwealth. Old Contemptibles n. [in ironical allusion to the German Emperor's alleged exhortation to his soldiers to ‘walk over General French's contemptible little army’ (published in an annexe to B.E.F. Routine Orders of 24 Sept. 1914)] British History (a popular name for) the British army of regulars and special reserves which made up the expeditionary force, under the command of General French, which was sent to France in the autumn of 1914; also in extended use; cf. contemptible n. 2. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > named companies, regiments, etc. > [noun] > British Ulsters1649 Scots Guardsa1675 fusilier1680 guards1682 Scots Dragoons1689 Scots Fusiliers1689 Inniskilling1715 Scots Greys1728 blue1737 Black Watch1739 Oxford blues1766 green linnets1793 Grenadiers1800 slashers1802 the Buffs1806 tartan1817 Gay Gordons1823 cheesemongers1824 Green Jacket1824 The Bays1837 RHA1837 dirty half-hundred1841 die-hard1844 lifeguard1849 cherry-picker1865 lancer-regiment1868 cheeses1877 Territorial Regiment1877 the Sweeps1879 dirty shirts1887 Scottish Rifles1888 shiner1891 Yorkshire1898 imperials1899 Irish guards1902 Hampshires1904 BEF1914 Old Contemptibles1915 contemptibles1917 Tank Corps1917 the Tins1918 skins1928 pioneer corps1939 red devils1943 Blues and Royals1968 U.D.R.1969 1915 ‘B. Cable’ in Sunday Times (Sydney) 19 Dec. (Pictorial Suppl.) 23/2 There were some of these ‘Old Contemptibles’, as they proudly style themselves now, who said..that this attack did not compare favorably with the German attacks of the Mons-Marne days. 1917 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 140/1 The Royal Flying Corps..sent whatever machines it could lay hands on to join the old contemptibles in France. 1964 Shakespeare Q. 15 387 It was an essentially democratic Henry, almost as tattered and mud-bespattered as the ‘Old Contemptibles’ with whom he marched. 1992 Daily Mail 17 Aug. 45/1 The theory is that once the old contemptibles have given England a 3-0 lead, Ted Dexter and his selectors can afford to..bring in younger men for the two remaining games. old crock n. [ < old adj. + crock n.³ (see sense 4 s.v.] a worn-out vehicle, ship, etc. ΚΠ 1895 Daily News 17 Dec. 6/7 The pneumatic-tire folk are apt to despise the poor cyclist on his wretched ‘old crock’ and to regard him as a nuisance. 1914 A. Bennett Price of Love xii. 242 I'm going to buy you a bike. I've had enough of that old crock I borrowed for you. 1997 Sight & Sound Jan. 43/2 A car salesman selling smartened-up old crocks. old enemy n. (a) the Devil; (b) Scottish (usually in form auld enemy; frequently with capital initials) England (spec. as viewed from Scotland, originally with reference to the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France; cf. auld alliance n.); (with plural agreement) the English. [With sense (a) compare post-classical Latin hostis vetus, hostis antiquus (3rd cent.).] ΘΚΠ the world > the supernatural > deity > a devil > the Devil or Satan > [noun] devileOE Beelzebubc950 the foul ghosteOE SatanOE warlockOE SatanasOE worsea1200 unwinea1225 wondc1250 quedea1275 pucka1300 serpenta1300 dragon1340 shrew1362 Apollyon1382 the god of this worldc1384 Mahoundc1400 leviathan1412 worsta1425 old enemyc1449 Ruffin1567 dismal1570 Plotcocka1578 the Wicked One1582 goodman1603 Mahu1603 foul thief1609 somebody1609 legiona1616 Lord of Flies1622 walliman1629 shaitan1638 Old Nicka1643 Nick1647 unsel?1675 old gentleman1681 old boy1692 the gentleman in black1693 deuce1694 Black Spy1699 the vicious one1713 worricow1719 Old Roger1725 Lord of the Flies1727 Simmie1728 Old Scratch1734 Old Harry1777 Old Poker1784 Auld Hornie1786 old (auld), ill thief1789 old one1790 little-good1821 Tom Walker1833 bogy1840 diabolarch1845 Old Ned1859 iniquity1899 c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 356 (MED) The oold enemy pronouncid openli in the eir thus, [etc.]. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 115 (MED) Þe olde enemy [L. antiquus hostis], aduersarie to all good, cessiþ not fro temptacion. 1702 J. Tomkins Piety Promoted, 2nd Pt. 134 The Old Enemy would have had me let go my hold; but I said, I have an Interest in thee, and I will hold thee, Lord. 1820 W. Scott Abbot II. i. 10 I defy the Old Enemy to unmask me when I chuse to keep my vizard on. 1851 A. Strickland Lives Queens of Scotl. II. 254 The Lords of the Congregation had concluded a treaty of alliance..with Queen Elizabeth, and had delivered hostages for the fulfilment of their pact with ‘the old enemy’ against their native Sovereign. 1896 M. Oliphant Hist. Scotl. 148 The ‘French Party’..the ‘auld ally’, as England was the ‘auld enemy’ of Scotland. 1921 W. de la Mare Veil & Other Poems 91 Rouse the Old Enemy from his death-still swoon. 1976 Daily Record (Glasgow) 22 Nov. 25/6 Tonight's clash with the ‘Auld Enemy’ will be over seven bouts. 2004 J. Bradbury Routledge Compan. Medieval Warfare ii. ix. 210 In the later Middle Ages the Scots often allied with France against England, causing acute difficulties for the old enemy. 2004 L. B. Hall Mary, Mother & Warrior 56 This snake or dragon..represented the devil, the old enemy. old firm n. [compare firm n.² 3a] a group of friends or associates; (spec. in Scotland, a name for) Celtic and Rangers Football Clubs, either singly or collectively. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > types of association, society, or organization > [noun] > of friends or associates old firm1930 old boy network1959 1930 A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies vii. 72 Five shillings each way... Don't desert the Old Firm! 1935 D. L. Sayers Gaudy Night iv. 64 If you ever want me, you will find the Old Firm at the usual stand. 1989 R. Holt Sport & British (BNC) Only Rangers and Celtic made much money—hence the original meaning of the term ‘The Old Firm’. 1993 I. Welsh Trainspotting 92 We've no chance, I thought, you never do at Hampden against one of the Old Firm, with the crowd and the referees firmly behind the establishment clubs. old flame n. colloquial a former lover or sweetheart; an ex-boyfriend or -girlfriend. ΚΠ 1651 T. Stanley Acanthus Complaint 180 If no Art could win thy love, she counsel'd me to seek another:..and in a new, my old flame smother. 1678 S. Pordage Siege of Babylon V. 52 Time, only can, his Rebel Heart subdue, Extinguish his old Flame, and kindle new. 1741 H. Walpole Corr. 3 Jan. 204 Your old flame, the Queen, was exceedingly kind to me. 1839 Crockett Almanac 1840 14 I wonst had an old flame I took sumthin of a shine to. 1992 News of World 15 Nov. 6/6 Unhappily married, devoted to his kids but hopelessly in love with an old flame. Torn over what to do with his life. old gang n. colloquial a group or clique of friends or colleagues; spec. a clique of powerful or establishment politicians who control a party or monopolize important positions. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > a party > [noun] > political clique junto1641 old gang1664 junta1714 camarilla1839 Family Compact1988 1664 J. Wilson Cheats i. i. 2 Who should I meet with but our old Gang, some of St. Nicholas's Clerks. 1714 D. Manley Adventures of Rivella 78 Miserable Cleander kept him Company, for fear he should get some of his old Gang, who were Spies gain'd by Lord Crafty. 1885 J. Chamberlain in J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era (1909) 187/1 In deference to his [sc. Lord Randolph Churchill's] opinion, there will no doubt be a clearance out of some of those whom the Fourth Party is in the habit of politely designating as the ‘Old Gang’. 1901 Punch 3 Apr. 250/2 There is so much favoritism that only the Old Gang and Rank Outsiders get chosen. 1964 C. Barber Ling. Change Present-day Eng. ii. 26 A rejection of Old Gang politics,..general resentment at the Establishment. 1987 J. Selwyn Hitler's Englishman (BNC) 19 The fatuous and feeble administrators, the ‘old gang’ by whom England and her dependent territories were governed. Old Glory n. U.S. the ‘Stars and Stripes’ flag. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > U.S. flag Old Thirteen1792 Stars and Stripes1809 gridiron1812 star-spangled banner1814 Old Glory1862 1862 W. Driver in Salem (Mass.) Reg. 10 Mar. 2 I carried my flag, ‘Old Glory’, as we have been used to call it, to the Capitol, presented it to the Ohio 6th. 1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel ii. 153 They wrapped me in the Stars and Stripes and brought me home on a frigate to be buried... I was wrapped in Old Glory. 1992 Economist 31 Oct. 13/2 It was Ronald Reagan who ran up the debt as if it were Old Glory on the Fourth of July. † oldgrey n. Obsolete old man, greybeard; = grey adj. 4. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [noun] > grey, hoary > person having hoarOE hoarhead1382 grizzle1390 greya1413 hasard1513 greyhead1535 oldgrey1582 grizzle-pate1797 iron-grey1822 grisard1880 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 40 Hee rested wylful lyk a wayward obstinat oldgrey. Old Hag n. chiefly Newfoundland (now usually with the) a spirit or supernatural being believed to produce a feeling of suffocation in a sleeping person or animal; (also) a feeling of suffocation or paralysis experienced during sleep, often accompanied by nightmares; cf. old higue n.In early use (with indefinite article and lower case initials) probably not a fixed collocation, but simply hag n.¹ 5 modified by old. ΚΠ 1836 Amer. Jrnl. Med. Sci. 18 395 The condition of the individual is rapidly rendered more distressing by the delusion that takes possession of his dream, that a giant, a great dog, a bear, an old hag, &c. is mounted upon his breast. 1896 Jrnl. Amer. Folk-lore 9 222 A man at Change Islands..told me he had been ridden to death by an old hag, until a knowledgeable old man advised him to drive nails through a shingle, and lash it to his breast when he went to bed. 1984 Med. Anthropol. Q. 15 50/2 A person who experiences the Old Hag awakes to a frightening sensation of being pressed down upon the bed or strangled. 2005 St John's (Newfoundland) Telegram (Nexis) 28 Mar. a7 ‘Guaranteed, every Friday,’ Stephanie said, ‘I'd get the Old Hag.’.. ‘I was frozen. I couldn't move.’ Old Hickory n. a nickname for Andrew Jackson, United States President (1829–37). The nickname was originally given to Jackson by volunteer soldiers under his command during the War of 1812, due to the determination and tenacity he showed as their leader. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > a or the government > head of government > [noun] > in a republic > in U.S. > specific U.S. presidents favorite son1788 Old Hickory1815 O.K.1840 tycoon1861 1815 Providence (Rhode Island) Patriot 11 Mar. Laurent himself..would write an epic poem on the victories of Old Hickory and his Back-woods men! 1860 J. Parton Life A. Jackson I. xxxiv. 381 It was on this homeward march that the nickname of ‘Old Hickory’ was bestowed on the General. 1907 Springfield (Mass.) Republ. 24 Oct. 8 I should not say that Old Hickory was faultless, but Andrew Jackson was as upright a patriot as ever any nation had. 1949 B. A. Botkin Treasury Southern Folklore p. xx In this land..men put daring above discipline and etiquette to give us heroes like the ‘Swamp Fox’, ‘Old Hickory’, [etc.]. 2012 Kenly (N. Carolina) News (Nexis) 21 Nov. Democrats insisted that it be named Jackson County, in part because ‘Old Hickory’ had been born in nearby Waxhaw. † old-holder n. Obsolete a tenant holding several estates through a single copyhold lease. ΚΠ 1810 Sporting Mag. 36 21 The defendants who have designated themselves as old-holders—copyholders..who pay one heriot only, though they hold several messuages. old home n. = old country n. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > named regions of earth > Europe > British Isles > [noun] > Britain AlbionOE Britannia1605 Brittanies1610 old country1751 home1755 homeland1862 Old Dart1863 old home1869 Pommyland1916 cool Britannia1967 mainland1980 1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxvi His wife and child were there..to remind him of the old home he should see again if he conquered. 1886 J. R. Lewell Wks. (1890) VI. 156 The more conservative universities of the Old Home. 1985 W. Sheed Frank & Maisie ix. 205 The intellectuals who had dreamed of Europe right through the war had..found their old home missing. old home week n. North American a week in which a community organizes a reunion for former residents; also in extended use. ΚΠ 1899 New Eng. Mag. May 379/1 To have a week in summer set apart to be called Old Home Week, and make it an annual affair. 1949 T. Rattigan Harlequinade 63 What with Mums in front and babies in the wings it's not so much a dress rehearsal as old home week. 1994 Geist: Canad. Mag. Ideas & Culture Oct.–Nov. 7/3 For literary types, the Milton Acorn Poetry Festival marks the end of summer on P.E.I., as surely as Old Home Week does for all other types. old house borer n. chiefly North American the house longhorn beetle, Hylotrupes bajulus. ΚΠ 1925 Jrnl. Amer. Inst. Architects Aug. 319/1 Even if the wood is seasoned, the ‘old house borer’ (Hylotrupes) will lay eggs under the bark on edges. 2005 S. Bliss Troubleshooting Guide Resid. Constr. ix. 245/3 One type of long-horned beetle common in the mid-Atlantic states, the misnamed ‘old house borer’, primarily infests wood that has been in service ten years or less. old issue adj. U.S. History freed from slavery before the American Civil War (1861–5). ΚΠ 1879 A. W. Tourgée Fool's Errand xvii. 87 Robert..was..an ‘old-issue free nigger’ (freed before the war). 1899 C. W. Chesnutt Wife of his Youth 214 Wright came of an ‘old issue’ free colored family, in which though negro blood was present in an attenuated strain, a line of free ancestry could be traced beyond the Revolutionary War. Old Kingdom n. a name given collectively: (a) to the period of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Dynasties in Egypt, from the 27th to the 22nd cent. b.c.; (b) to a period of Hittite history from the 18th to the 16th cent. b.c. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > dynasty > [noun] > specific Egyptian shepherd kings1587 the Shepherds1759 shepherd1813 Old Kingdom1889 New Kingdom1902 the world > time > relative time > the past > historical period > [noun] > other historical periods > one who lived in post-diluvian1684 Old Kingdom1889 Villanovan1924 Warring States1929 Eblaite1976 1889 Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. 18 232 The Egyptians of the Old Kingdom are represented to us in the most surprising statuary yet brought to light. 1905 J. H. Breasted Egypt through Stereoscope 22 With the accession of the 3rd Dynasty..we see Egypt rising into her first great period of power and prosperity, which we call the Old Kingdom. 1938 E. M. Sanford Mediterranean World in Anc. Times i. 55 The foundation of the united Old Kingdom of the Hittites was delayed by the rivalry of individual states. 1952 O. R. Gurney Hittites i. 25 Telipinus is usually regarded as the last king of the Old Kingdom. 1990 Brit. Mus. Mag. Sept. 23/1 Most basic types were in general established in form as early as the end of the Old Kingdom, about 2200 bc. old-law tenement n. U.S. a tenement house having inadequate fire escapes, sanitary facilities, ventilation, etc., built before the Tenement House Act of 1901. ΚΠ 1903 N.Y. Times 7 Oct. 8/1 The alteration of ‘old law’ tenement houses so as to bring them up to the standard of the new law. 1914 Housing Reform in N.Y.C. 2 There is apparently no lack of money for investment in this profitable type of building; they are even..replacing the oldest of the ‘old law’ tenements. 1995 N.Y. Times 5 Mar. i. 31/2 Immigrants..found living quarters in old-law tenements with minimal plumbing, maybe a toilet down the hall at most. old-life adj. (a) belonging to the Palaeozoic era; (b) characteristic of or belonging to an old-fashioned style of life. ΚΠ 1863 A. C. Ramsay Physical Geol. & Geogr. Great Brit. 51 That Palaeozoic or old-life period. 1897 Outing 30 354/2 The return to the old-life routine. 1962 E. Wilson Jrnl. Aug. in Sixties: Last Jrnl. (1993) 110 This all has something to do with the self-dependence and strength of character of the old-life women up here. old-line adj. originally and chiefly U.S. (a) relating to or adhering to traditional beliefs or policies; conservative (cf. line n.² 13c); (b) long-established, venerable. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > maintaining state or condition > [adjective] > opposed to change Tory1651 unprogressive1722 conservative1802 old-line1803 improgressive1809 old school1816 conservatory1822 conservatist1835 unmarching1837 mossbacked1876 mossy1904 passéist1914 pastist1921 Luddite1957 1803 J. Allingham Marriage Promise 1 I hope it will..be the means of waking up old-line Homœopaths to the value of remedies they have so long discarded. 1856 Congress. Globe 9 Jan. 180/3 Have they offered us one of my colleagues, an old-line Whig? 1908 R. W. Chambers Firing Line xxi. 353 I'm in an old-line institution. 1928 F. S. Fitzgerald Let. 1 Feb. (1964) 383 I rode..with the president of a very prominent club, not my own, a Princetonian of the rather old-line, conservative, very gentlemanly type. 1962 R. Tyre Douglas in Sask. v. 78 The Socialists had high hopes of winning the 1934 election but the farmers were not quite ready yet to abandon their traditional support of the old line parties. 1994 Wall St. Jrnl. 28 Nov. a9/4 Quality was..an old-line company owned by Manor Care, a pennywise, ultraconservative nursing-home chain based in Silver Spring. old liner n. originally and chiefly U.S. a traditionalist; a conservative. ΚΠ 1851 N.-Y. Daily Times 15 Oct. 2/4 The Convention was nearly equally divided between the Old Liners and the Coalitionists. 1884 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 25 Sept. 2/2 The old-liners appear to be out of the fight. 1908 R. W. Chambers Firing Line xxix. 493 I didn't expect any cordiality..but..they classed us with the old-liners. 1994 Asian Surv. 34 272 It is easier to foresee a power struggle between the old liners and more liberal-minded, pragmatic groups than a stable future for the Jong Il regime. Old Line State n. U.S. Maryland. ΚΠ 1871 M. S. De Vere Americanisms xii. 660 Maryland bears the proud title of Old-line State from the Old-Line regiments which she contributed to the Continental Army in the War of the Revolution—the only State that had regular troops of ‘the line’. 1948 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. Suppl. II. 604 Maryland Free State..has overshadowed all the old nicknames..including Old Line State and Terrapin State. 1992 Jrnl. Southern Hist. 58 543 They hardly shunned Hetty Cary, the Maryland Guard, or the rest of the fifteen thousand troops from the Old Line State. old mistress n. a slave's former mistress; cf. old master n. 2, and see also ole adj. ΚΠ 1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron 124 Old mistress used to say there wan't such a waluable as that this side of Ingland. 1860 D. D. Emmett I wish I was in Dixie's Land (sheet music) Old Missus marry ‘Will-de-weaber’... Here's a health to the next old Missus. 1941 in G. P. Rawick Amer. Slave (1972) VII. 281 A house nigger come out from Old Mistress on a hoss. old news n. a person or thing considered to be no longer of interest, relevance, or importance, esp. through over-familarity. ΚΠ 1968 Sun (Baltimore) 7 July 5/2 Charlie is old news. We broke up. 1987 Restaurant Business Mag. (Nexis) 1 July 177 Bopping to the hop in saddle shoes in a diner-like setting is old news. 1996 Q Jan. 77/1 America is fickle, they love you one minute and then you're old news, as the grunge bands are finding. † old Nob n. Obsolete [perhaps < old adj. + nob n.³] the game of prick-the-garter (see prick v. Phrases 2). ΚΠ 1753 Discov. J. Poulter (ed. 2) 9 We defrauded a young Man of..four Guineas..at the old Nobb, or Pricking in the Belt. 1762 O. Goldsmith Life R. Nash 133 Countrymen are deceived by gamblers, at a game called Pricking in the Belt, or the Old Nob. 1846 ‘Lord Chief Baron’ Swell's Night Guide (new ed.) 126/2 Nob, old, a favourite game used by sharpers, called pricking in the hat. Old North State n. U.S. North Carolina. ΚΠ 1839 Spirit of Times 27 July 247/3 On dits from the Old North State. 1994 D. S. Cecelski Along Freedom Road 164 While the Old North State's total population boomed by more than 12 percent that decade [sc. the 1980s], the growth concentrated in urban and tourism centers. old offender n. a person who has been convicted repeatedly of crimes; a habitual criminal; also figurative and in figurative contexts. ΘΚΠ society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > habitual criminal old offender1817 hard case1842 recidive1853 recidivist1867 repeater1873 rounder1891 1698 T. Dilke Pretenders v. 47 However most of us—May branded seem, for being old offenders, In feats of Love let none be bare pretenders. 1716 London Gaz. No. 5412/3 Frances Green,..an old Offender. 1817 2nd Rep. Comm. State of Police of Metrop. 329 in Parl. Papers VII. 321 The greater part of these Juvenile Offenders,..are mixed indiscriminately with old offenders of all ages. 1938 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 185/1 These young felons are what prison language describes as ‘repeaters’, young ‘old offenders’, who have previously, almost continuously, served prison sentences. 2001 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 19 May 13 Time and again the old offenders within the financial services industry are up to well-worn tricks. † old orchard n. U.S. Obsolete (also with capital initials) cider. ΚΠ 1809 R. B. Thomas Farmer's Almanac 1810 Sept. 22 Come, ye lovers of Old Orchard, let us take a walk into the fields... O, this is a pleasant month not only to cider drinkers, but to all. 1851 Knickerbocker Mag. 37 557 One of them..was quite importunate in his demands for ‘old orchard’. old pal n. an old friend, frequently with reference to association or collusion in business. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > types of association, society, or organization > [noun] > of friends or associates > member old pal1884 1884 Daily News 20 Sept. 2/2 I told the prisoner that I was not going to ruck on an old pal. 1893 Chicago Rec. 14 July 11/3 An' den w'en ye meets one uv yer own kind ye feels like old pals. 2000 A. Bourdain Kitchen Confid. (2001) 94 I was rail-thin, shaky, and the first thing I did was ask my old pal Bigfoot if he could lend me 25 bucks. old pals act n. (also old pal's act, old pals' act; similarly old pals network) a system of cooperation or favours based on prior acquaintance. ΚΠ 1943 R. Llewellyn None but Lonely Heart xvi. 89 Old Ted never give credit, not even on the Old Pal's Act. 1949 M. Allingham More Work for Undertaker (1952) iii. 32 Cups of tea, gossip, old pals act generally almost any evening. 1972 E. Grierson Confessions of Country Magistrate i. 7 What is this mysterious process by which the man in the street is suddenly transformed into the magistrate on the bench? How, if not by the Old Pals' Act or the Signs of the Zodiac, is the miracle accomplished? 1973 Times 23 May 2/3 All these favours given by the Post Office on the old pals network. 1993 R. Murphy Smash & Grab x. 130/1 Sonny the Yank..protested that he was only at Hyde Park Mansions under the Old Pals Act. † Old Peg n. English regional (northern) Obsolete a kind of hard cheese made from skimmed milk. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > cheese > [noun] > varieties of cheese goat cheeseOE green cheesec1390 rowen cheesea1425 bred-cheesec1440 hard cheesec1470 ruen cheese1510 parmesan1538 spermyse1542 angelot1573 cow-cheese1583 goat's cheese1588 Cheshire Cheese1597 eddish-cheese1615 nettle cheese1615 aftermath cheese1631 marsolini1636 Suffolk cheese1636 Cheddar cheesea1661 rowen1673 parmigianoa1684 raw-milk cheesea1687 fleet cheese1688 sage-cheese1714 Rhode Island cheese1733 Stilton cheese1736 Roquefort cheese1762 American cheese1763 fodder cheese1784 Old Peg1785 blue cheese1787 Dunlop cheese1793 Wiltshire1794 Gloucester1802 Gruyère1802 Neufchâtel1814 Limburger cheese1817 Dunlop1818 fog cheese1822 Swiss cheese1822 Suffolk thumpa1825 Stilton1826 skim dick1827 stracchino cheese1832 Blue Vinney1836 Edam1836 Schabzieger1837 sapsago1846 Munster1858 mysost1861 napkin cheese1865 provolone1865 Roquefort1867 Suffolk bang1867 Leicester1874 Brie1876 Camembert1878 Gorgonzola1878 Leicester cheese1880 Port Salut1881 Wensleydale1881 Gouda1885 primost1889 Cantal1890 Suisse1891 bondon1894 Petit Suisse1895 Gervais1896 Lancashire1896 Pont l'Évêque1896 reggiano1896 Romano1897 fontina1898 Caerphilly cheese1901 Derby cheese1902 Emmental1902 Liptauer1902 farmer cheese1904 robiola1907 gjetost1908 reblochon1908 scamorza1908 Cabrales1910 Jack1910 pimento cheese1910 mozzarella1911 pimiento cheese1911 Monterey cheese1912 processed cheese1918 Tillamook1918 tvorog1918 anari1919 process cheese1923 Bel Paese1926 pecorino1931 Oka1936 Parmigiano–Reggiano1936 vacherin1936 Monterey Jack1940 Red Leicester1940 demi-sel1946 tomme1946 Danish blue1948 Tilsit1950 St.-Maure1951 Samsoe1953 Havarti1954 paneer1954 taleggio1954 feta1956 St. Paulin1956 bleu cheese1957 Manchego1957 Ilchester1963 Dolcelatte1964 chèvre1965 Chaource1966 Windsor Red1969 halloumi1970 Montrachet1973 Chaumes1976 Lymeswold1981 cambozola1984 yarg1984 1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Old Pegg, poor Yorkshire cheese. 1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3) at Peg Old Peg; poor hard Suffolk or Yorkshire cheese. 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Old-peg, Aud-peg, an inferior sort of cheese made of skimmed milk. It is also called, not inaptly, leather hungry. Old People n. Australian Aboriginal people who live in a traditional manner; Aboriginal people of an earlier generation, regarded as repositories of traditional knowledge; cf. sense 1a. ΚΠ 1938 X. Herbert Capricornia (ed. 6) 324 Let's consider the Old People for a jiffy... They're starved and sickened and kicked and stupefied and generally jiggered out of all recognition. 1996 J. T. Hospital Oyster (1997) 369 Everyone is aware that the Old People have mysterious ways of knowing such things. old people's home n. an institution providing accommodation, nursing, etc., for the elderly, esp. for those too infirm to live alone. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > places for the sick or injured > [noun] > hospital or infirmary > nursing home maison de santé1843 old people's home1873 nursing home1880 rest home1889 1873 Harper's Mag. Jan. 310/1 The spot selected for a newly organized children's and old people's home. 1880 Langley's San Francisco Directory 704/2 Old peoples' Home, Mrs. Charles Nelson president. 1940 M. McCarthy in Partisan Rev. Mar. 136 There are three principal characters, a poet and his son, and a fugitive from the Old People's Home, an ancient Shakespearean actor who plays the bugle. 1972 Listener 17 Aug. 211/2 I may end up in an old people's home. I don't know, very likely I will. 2001 C. Glazebrook Madolescents 55 This ancient couple..have been married for seventy years and they're ‘celebrating’ the anniversary in an old people's home. Old Pretender n. James Stuart (1688–1766), the son of James II, who asserted his claim to the British throne against the house of Hanover, esp. in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715; cf. pretender n. 3a, Young Pretender n. at young adj. and n.¹ Compounds 6. ΚΠ 1746 A. Arbuthnot Mem. Miss Jenny Cameron 277 Mister Sheridan..attended the old Pretender at Rome. 1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. ii. 58 An honest man could not call himself a Tory, which it was, in fact, as impossible to be now as to fight for the old Pretender. 1909 Westm. Gaz. 4 Sept. 13/2 He is so full of admiration for James III.—the ‘Old Pretender’, in common language—that he casts an out-of-time vote for him. 1997 Daily Tel. 29 May 13/1 The ‘Amen glass’ bears the cipher of James Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender, and two verses of the Jacobite anthem. old pro n. colloquial a seasoned professional, an experienced person; (also) an old prostitute (rare). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skilful person > skilled and experienced person old hand1764 old head1838 old pro1950 1950 Penguin New Writing 40 45 ‘It's just like you, you dreary old bag,’ he would say to a blowsy old pro. 1962 Washington Daily News 26 July 20/3 The task of guarding the Agriculture Department against another Billie Sol Estes case has been handed to a youngish ‘old pro’ at tackling Government scandals. 1992 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch 11 May c3/1 Old pro Larry Nance scored 32 points, including six..in overtime. Old Probabilities n. U.S. (a humorous name for) the chief signal-officer of the U.S. Signal Service Bureau, in charge of weather forecasting; also in extended use. ΚΠ 1872 Scribner's Monthly July 365/2 I shouldn't wonder if there were times when Old Probabilities himself forgets his umbrella. 1875 O. W. Holmes Crime in Pages from Old Vol. (1891) 327 No priest or soothsayer that ever lived could hold his own against Old Probabilities. 1928 N.Y. Times 26 Mar. 20/3 Fondly we salute the quadrennial reappearance of Political Old Probabilities. old quantum theory n. the early form of quantum theory, based on classical mechanics, prior to the development of wave mechanics and matrix mechanics in the mid 1920s. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > [noun] > early form of old quantum theory1927 1927 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 114 181 This equation..was obtained originally by Sommerfeld from relativistic considerations with the old quantum theory. 1986 A. Pais Inward Bound xii. 251 The era of the old quantum theory, the years from 1900 to 1925, constitute the most protracted revolutionary period in modern science. old religion n. a religion or belief which is replaced or ousted by another, spec. (a) a pre-Christian religion; (b) witchcraft or paganism; (c) Roman Catholicism. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > paganism > [noun] heathenessec900 heathenshipa1000 heathendomc1000 idolatrya1325 mammetryc1330 spiritual fornicationa1340 whoredomc1350 prepucya1382 miscreancea1393 imagery1395 gentility?a1425 paganismc1425 paganityc1450 prepucec1475 Mahometry1481 superstitiousness1526 uncircumcision1526 whoring1530 idolry1535 paynimhood1543 image-worshipping1544 paganrya1550 idololatry1550 gentilism1561 old religion1567 heathenishness1571 image worship1572 heathenry1577 irreligiousness?1577 idolatrousness1583 uncircumcisedness1583 irreligion1598 ethnicism1600 infidelity1603 superstition1603 heathenism1605 idolism1608 miscreancy1611 misreligion1623 Baalisma1625 iconolatry1624 idolomania1624 idolomany1624 idolizing1637 idol-worship1667 ethnicity1772 symbololatry1828 Baal-worship1834 irreligionism1843 gentiledom1844 triology1894 society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > [noun] RomeeOE Babylon1530 popishness1531 popery?1536 popistry?1542 papistry1543 mass-monging1552 antichristianity1555 antichristianism1588 Babel1599 papacy1599 Romanism1603 poping1608 Babylonism1610 Catholicism1613 Romanality1637 catholicship1653 Romishness1653 Roman Catholicism1662 Roman Catholicity1806 catholicity1830 popism1841 old religion1934 the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > [noun] wielingeOE wielOE craftOE witchcraftOE witchdomOE telingc1230 demerlaykc1275 dweomercraeftc1275 sorcerya1300 magicc1387 maleficec1390 jugglerya1400 precination1503 witchery1546 maleficiousness1547 prestigiation?c1550 wizardry1583 magie1592 dark art1613 prestigion1635 conjurement1645 magomancy1652 wizardism1682 thaumaturgy1727 warlockry1818 witchwork1827 brujería1838 wizardship1882 trolldom1891 mojo1923 pixie dust1951 witchering1956 old religion1964 1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) x. f. 134^v A den With pommye vawlted naturally, long consecrate ere then For old religion. 1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia 7 Jason began To force the people to renounce the true And old Religion, to embrace a new. a1764 R. Lloyd Cobler of Tissington's Let. in Poet. Wks. (1774) II. 94 Here comes folks a-preaching to us A saving doctrine to undo us, Whose notions fanciful and scurvy, Turn old religion topsy-turvy. 1848 W. D. Cooley tr. A. Erman Trav. in Siberia II. xii. 306 The Bugoi of the Buraets of the old religion, maintain that they know..how to deal with certain mischievous spirits. 1934 A. Huxley Beyond Mexique Bay 159 The old religion came..boldly out into the open in 1745. 1964 Listener 12 Mar. 445/3 I am glad to see that the witch-religion is becoming so respectable... Jean Morris..now proposes..that the Templars were of the ‘old religion’. 1972 P. Dennison in N. Tiptaft Relig. in Birmingham 140 Wherever a local squire remained Catholic there was a good chance for the survival of a small pocket of the old religion in his territory. 1991 Daughters of Sarah Jan. 2/2 I first discovered the honoring of older women in Wicca, the Old Religion. 2002 Guardian (Nexis) 1 June (Review section) 11 Stolid, stubborn, and without the nous to disguise his devotion to the old religion, James plodded through his disastrous reign. † old rest n. Scottish Obsolete (chiefly with the) an outstanding sum of money to be paid (see rest n.³ 2a); the balance, the arrears. ΚΠ 1473–4 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) I. 12 xxxiiij li. resauit..of the ald rest of his faderis compt and his awin. 1549 in W. Cramond Rec. Elgin (1903) I. 99 The saidis personis findand souerte for the auld rist and malis in tyme coming. 1676 Cullen Kirk Session Rec. 15 Oct. in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Rest Fiue merks which compleets his fie till hallowmass except a mark of old rest. 1697 in Orkney & Shetland Misc. (1920) 8 i. 5 I charge noe geise in this count book, because ther is a list made of the old rest. old-rich adj. and n. (a) adj. possessing old-established wealth (opposed to new rich adj.); (b) n. (without hyphen) old-rich people as a class. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > rich or wealthy person > people of established wealth old-rich1927 old money1971 1927 Public Opinion 18 Feb. 149/1 These mistakes..seem folly to an old-rich man. 1976 T. Allbeury Only Good German xiv. 101 The kind of places that the old rich go to rather than the new rich. 1996 Independent 13 Aug. ii. 2/2 The usual crowds—old rich, new rich, and not rich at all, who reclaim their territory after the annual film festival. Old Ritualist n. [after Russian staroobrjadec] a member of the Russian Orthodox Church who rejects the liturgical reforms of the patriarch Nikon (1605–81); = Old Believer n. ΘΚΠ society > faith > sect > Christianity > Greek Orthodoxy > [noun] > person > Russian > following Nikon > dissenter from Raskolnik1723 Old Believer1762 starover1762 Bezpopovtsy1868 Raskol1870 Old Ritualist1872 Popovtsy1875 1872 W. R. S. Ralston Songs Russ. People i. 65 Wherever Old-Ritualists—the Puritans of Russia—abound, there those memorials only of poetry and art are cared for..which help to support the Old-Ritual. 1872 W. R. S. Ralston Songs Russ. People i. 65 The Old-Ritualists feel for secular poetry what was felt in olden days. 1974 R. Pipes Russia under Old Regime ix. 236 Russian dissenters are customarily divided in two basic groups: the Old Believers, known to themselves as ‘Old Ritualists’ (Staroobriadtsy) and to the official church as ‘Splitters’ (Raskol'niki), and the Sectarians. 1995 Slavic Rev. 54 252 He went over to the Old Ritualists and was consecrated a bishop; but in the early 1920s..he committed suicide. old rope n. slang (originally Navy) strong tobacco, esp. Perique. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > [noun] > bad-smelling or rank mundungus1640 mundung1712 old rope1943 1849 H. Melville Redburn liv. 340 Ropes were unstranded, and the yarns picked apart; and, cut up into small bits, were used as a substitute for the weed. Old ropes were preferred.] 1943 J. L. Hunt & A. G. Pringle Service Slang 48 Old rope, any tobacco which offends the nostrils of those present, and especially the finer varieties such as Egyptian. 1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 127 Old Rope, any offensive smelling tobacco. old saw n. a sententious saying, a homily; a traditional proverb or maxim; a homespun aphorism; cf. old said saw at said adj. 3. ΚΠ a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 1899 An old sawe is, ‘who that is slyh [etc.]’. c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 660 I sette noght an hawe Of his prouerbes nof his olde sawe. 1595 R. Parry Moderatus xiv. 140 sig. R3 Modesta..seemed very vnwilling..least her champion in perfourming so many exploytes should at last miscarrie, and so verifie the old saw: So often goeth the pot to the water, that at last it commeth broken home. c1705 A. Pope Jan. & May 219 We, Sirs, are fools; and must resign the cause To heath'nish authors, proverbs, and old saws. 1857 N. Amer. Rev. July 169 To clinch the argument with an old saw, is to come off with flying colors, in his own undisguised estimation. 1992 Harper's Mag. Oct. 5/1 Please spare me that old saw about a person ‘making his or her own opportunities’. old score n. [ < old adj. + score n. 11b] a long-standing grudge, esp. as a motive for revenge. ΚΠ 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxvi. 86 Many a good ducking in the surf, did he get to pay up old scores. 1902 E. Banks Autobiogr. Newspaper Girl 299 I suppose in this book you..are going to pay off old scores. 1992 Time 17 Feb. 80/2 He is rather obviously settling old personal scores. old settler n. [ < old adj. + settler n. 2a] one of the earliest settlers in a community; (more generally) a person who has lived in a colonial community for a long time. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > colonist or settler > [noun] > other specific colonists or settlers pilgrim1630 originals1703 old settler1744 Big Knife1750 out-settler1755 provincial1756 Boer1776 freeman1791 Pilgrim Fathers1799 back-settler1809 undertaker1819 oecist1846 Argonaut1848 Canterbury pilgrim1850 poblador1850 shagroon1851 forty-niner1853 planter1858 inside squatter1881 local white1888 Minyan1928 1744 Colonial Rec. Georgia (1906) VI. 117 Thomas Ellis has been an old Settler in the Colony. 1854 R. B. Paul Some Acct. Canterbury Settlemt. 5 Having now resided more than two years in the Canterbury Settlement..[I] may almost call [myself] an ‘old settler’. 1979 S. W. Duthie Fiddlers Creek 129 I suppose that there's lots of old settler families around the place. 1996 Independent on Sunday 3 Mar. (Review Suppl.) 50/2 The old settlers had planted plots of their farms with Shiraz..in the Barossa's very hot, dry climate. old ship n. Navy slang an old shipmate (also as an informal form of address). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > (old) shipmate old ship1848 1848 G. Cupples Green Hand i, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 743/1 ‘Come, old ship, give us a yarn!’ said the younger forecastle-men to an old one. 1927 Daily Express 11 Oct. 3/4 He gave a vivid description of waiting for the train at Charing Cross, then he met an ‘old ship’, and they went to have a drink. 1989 R. Jolly Jackspeak 202 Old ships, abbreviation for old shipmate, ie. someone you have served with before: ‘'Ere, Charlie, come an' meet my oppa Timber Woods—we're old ships from the Ark in '79.’ old-sighted adj. presbyopic. ΚΠ 1789 G. Adams Ess. on Vision 88 (heading) Of long or old-sighted Eyes. 1855 Times 14 Feb. 10/6 He is so old-sighted as to be unable to read a single line without ‘spectacle on nose’. 2001 Independent (Nexis) 15 May 7 ‘No, no, no’, said the eye doctor. ‘It just means “old-sighted”. It means you have difficulty in changing the focus of your eyes from far to near.’ old-sightedness n. presbyopia. ΚΠ 1871 E. S. Snell Olmsted's Introd. Nat. Philos. (rev. ed.) 412 As the term long-sightedness is now applied to this abnormal condition of the eye, the effect of age upon the sight is more properly called old-sightedness. 1918 Science 7 June 555/1 It is mental rigidity without spiritual growth which, like old-sightedness in the young, is so much to be regretted. 1996 Nat. Way for Better Health (Nexis) May–June 24 If the focusing of the eye is imperfect, it can cause nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), ‘old-sightedness’ (presbyopia) or uneven focusing. old sir n. now archaic an old man; frequently as a form of address. ΚΠ 1902 N.E.D. at Old a. Old-sir. a1910 in Amer. Speech (1979) 54 99 Old sir... Common way of referring to an old man. 1958 H. Nemerov Mirrors & Windows in Coll. Poems (1977) 198 Old sir, I think of you in this tardy spring, Think of you for, maybe, no better reason Than that the apple branches in the orchard Bear snow, not blossoms. † old sire n. Obsolete = old sir n. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > old person > old man > [noun] old maneOE bevara1275 beauperec1300 vieillard1475 Nestor?c1510 old gentleman1526 haga1529 velyarda1529 old fellow?1555 old sire1557 granfer1564 vecchioc1570 ageman1571 grave-porer1582 grandsire1595 huddle-duddle1599 elder1600 pantaloon1602 cuffc1616 crone1630 old boya1637 codger?1738 dry-beard1749 eld1796 patriarch1819 oubaas1824 old chap1840 pap1844 pop1844 tad1877 old baas1882 senex1898 finger1904 AK1911 alte kacker1911 poppa stoppa1944 madala1960 Ntate1975 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. O.i Yong bloods be strong: old sires in double honour dwell. 1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades ii. 20 How this last night the dreame diuine did set my thought on fire Heare now my friends, when as he came resembling this old sire. 1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 84 Of a crooked old-sire, we say that his spirit waxeth old with him. old sledge n. a card game; = all fours n. 3. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > all fours all fours1674 seven-up1830 old sledge1834 pitch1860 California jack1865 Pedro Sancho1875 cinch1889 high five1889 Californian jack1893 sell-out- 1834 H. J. Nott Novellettes of Traveller I. 40 They could indulge in three up, old sledge, whist, or loo. 1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. 181 [This] threw a temporary stigma upon the game of ‘old-sledge’. 1950 R. P. Warren World Enough & Time iii. 101 The groups of men who played ‘Old Sledge’ and ‘Brag’ on the sidewalk. 1995 Smithsonian (Nexis) July 44 Maxwell and Kit Carson..would play a six-card game called ‘seven-up’, or ‘old sledge’, for hours. Old Sol n. colloquial (chiefly U.S.) the sun; = sol n.¹ 1 (in early use probably not a fixed compound). ΚΠ 1801 L. Hunt Juvenilia 41 Madam Luna, for a light, Drinks up old Sol himself at night! 1850 C. M. Kirkland Fountain & Bottle 285 The bright morning greeting of gay, generous Old Sol, to our fair Mother Earth. 1993 Fortune (Electronic ed.) 13 Dec. The wind and wood get to do their thing only because the sun is there to help them, so why not give Old Sol the credit up front? Old South n. the Southern states of the U.S. before the Civil War (1861–5). ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > southern states south1779 Sunny South1833 Negroland1836 Old South1847 Dixie1859 Cousin Sally1861 sunbelt1918 down home1920 Deep South1936 1847 H. Ruffner Addr. Citizens W. Virginia 23 The old South, as might be expected, exhibits no movement, except the customary one of emigration. 1873 Harper's Mag. July 271/1 Never in her most boastful days did the old South, under her cherished system of slave labor, produce better crops. 1966 B. H. Deal Fancy's Knell (1967) ii. 26 Bill was Old South and Mildred wasn't. 1975 A. Price Our Man in Camelot i. 25 There was much more of the Old South in Shirley's voice. 1992 Esquire Feb. 130/1 They brought with them so much of the Old South that, by 1922, the Ku Klux Klan was virtually running the state. old sow n. rare †(a) sweet trefoil, Trigonella coerulea, used as a culinary herb, esp. for flavouring the Swiss cheese Schabzieger (obsolete); (b) English regional the plant pearly everlasting, Anaphalis margaritacea. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil salad clover1562 old sow1855 sweet trefoil1859 sweet clover1867 1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 421 Melilotus azureus, a Swiss plant..with blue blossoms, has a singular porcine odour, whence it is vulgarly called ‘Old Sow’; and is the plant which gives the peculiar flavour to Schapziger cheese. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 809/1 Old sow, Melilotus cœruleus, or Trigonella cœrulea, which gives its peculiar flavour to chapziger cheese. 1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 359 Old sow, Antennaria margaritacea, Br.—Norf. Old Sparky n. U.S. slang an electric chair. ΚΠ 1971 J. Brown & A. Groff Monkey off my Back 84 I was next door to ‘Old Sparky’—the electric chair. 1994 N.Y. Times 27 Nov. i. 49/1 David Letterman gets a pretty good laugh with references to the expected return of ‘Old Sparky’, New York State's electric chair. 2001 K. Lette Nip 'n' Tuck 233 I was twenty-four hours from gettin' fried by Old Sparky, all for a crime I never done. old spelling n. the unstandardized spelling of early (esp. early modern) English. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > spelling > [noun] > unstandardized early spelling of English old spelling1744 1744 Philos. Trans. 1742–3 (Royal Soc.) 42 420 I have pretty nearly observed the old Spelling, except in Numbers. 1890 in C. Mackay Gossamer & Snowdrift 190 (note) The two recurring lines, in quaint old spelling, of the following ballad are taken from a funeral dirge, or coronach, of the thirteenth century. 1927 R. B. McKerrow Introd. Bibliogr. iii. i. 246 The composition rates for old spelling texts are some 10 per cent above the normal rate. 1990 Stud. Eng. Lit.: Eng. Number (Tokyo) 129 Scholars..are really indebted to them for it and its companion volume, which have enabled them to consult the old-spelling edited texts of Chapman's plays. oldsquaw n. North American the long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis; in full oldsquaw duck. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > clangula hyemalis (old squaw) hound1623 old wife1634 swallow-tailed duck1678 swallow-tailed sheldrake1678 calloo1793 south-southerly1814 oldsquaw1834 long-tail1837 granny1888 sea pheasant1893 1834 T. Nuttall Man. Ornithol. U.S. & Canada: Water Birds 454 This elegant and noisy duck, known..in most other parts by the appellation of ‘Old Squaws’ or ‘Old Wives’, is an Arctic inhabitant of both continents. 1892 B. Torrey Foot-path Way 41 The cliffs..offer an excellent position from which to sweep the bay in search of loons, old-squaws, and other sea-fowl. 1963 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ont.) 8 Feb. 11/2 Large numbers of Old Squaw ducks were sighted during the survey. 1993 Outdoor Canada Mar. 22 In the right season,..large numbers of wintering oldsquaws ride the waves on the lake. old-standing adj. that has stood or existed long; long-standing. ΘΚΠ the world > time > duration > [adjective] > long-lasting or enduring > of long standing longOE oldOE veterate?1541 long-rooted1562 of long standinga1568 old-standinga1627 veteran1648 long-running1651 long-standing1655 old-established1776 long-breathed1816 long-time1851 the world > time > relative time > the past > oldness or ancientness > [adjective] oldeOE eldeda1400 antique1490 invetered1490 prisk1533 grey-headed1578 ancient1579 hoar1590 inveterated1597 antiquated1598 inveterate1598 long-dated1602 avital1611 vetust1623 old-standinga1627 grey-haired1637 superannuateda1644 avitous1731 old-established1776 venerable1792 timeworn1840 inworn1864 avitic1865 a1627 T. Middleton et al. Widdow (1652) i. ii. 7 Your College for your old standing Scholer. 1692 C. Gildon Post-boy rob'd of his Mail I. lxvii. 199 Tho' this be a new sort of dealing, (said I) sprung up since our present wars, yet 'tis arriv'd to a perfection of cheating, as well as the old-standing Trades. 1804 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 12 139 His anti-venereal treacle, well-known for curing the venereal disease, rheumatism, scurvy, old-standing sores. 1861 E. E. Stuart Let. 24 Mar. in R. Stuart et al. Stuart Lett. (1961) II. 931 Also to Mr. Chase again, through his intimate and oldstanding friend, A. H. Adams. 1962 A. Sorsby in A. Pirie Lens Metabolism 298 The characteristic subepithelial opacities seen in this affection are an oldstanding observation. 1997 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 355 2112 The old-standing paradox about the nth primary mode of the N-link discrete model. old-stock adj. designating a person or people whose ancestors have lived in a certain country or area for several generations. ΚΠ 1896 N.Y. Times 18 Mar. i. 1/7 My subject..would be the view taken of the Irish by the old stock American race. 1925 L. Stoddard Racial Realities in Europe x. 239 The stream of immigration shifted its sources, ceasing to come from Northern and Western Europe (where the old-stock Americans had originated) and flowing instead from Southern and Eastern Europe, or even from Asia. 1995 Canad. Hist. Rev. Mar. 9 Some immigrants also settled in Lower Canada, with the result that a linguistic minority of British origin shared the province with the old-stock canadiens. Old Stone Age n. Archaeology the Palaeolithic period. ΚΠ 1869 Duke of Argyll Primeval Man iv. 59 They [sc. archaeologists] talk of an Old Stone Age (Palæolithic), and of a Newer Stone Age (Neolithic). 1988 H. Angula in B. Wood Namibia 1884–1984 109 In the Old Stone Age..the population of Ethiopia seems to have included groups of ‘Bushmanoid’ peoples. old sweat n. slang an experienced soldier or military pilot. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > veteran soldier veteran?1504 man of service1553 campaigner1771 old moustache1828 warhorse1836 vet1848 Old Bill1915 old sweat1919 retread1941 grognard1959 1919 Athenæum 8 Aug. 727/2 A ‘gasper’ is a cheap cigarette, an ‘old sweat’ an old soldier. 1955 J. Thomas No Banners ix. 80 These were followed by two lank British privates, old sweats of the Regular Army. 1989 Airforce July 17/1 Half the pilots on the squadron were 22–28 years old; the rest, old sweats like second-tour Willy. Old Thirteen n. U.S. (now chiefly historical) the original thirteen American colonies (or occasionally the corresponding present-day states), which declared independence in 1776; the flag of these colonies, which bore thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > original colonies United Colonies1643 Old Thirteen1792 society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > U.S. flag Old Thirteen1792 Stars and Stripes1809 gridiron1812 star-spangled banner1814 Old Glory1862 1792 Pennsylvania Gaz. 18 July 3/1 The following toasts were drank on the occasion... The old thirteen: may the number be sacred in every American mind. 1834 H. M. Brackenridge Recoll. vii. 69 Fort Fayette, surmounted by the stripes and stars of the old thirteen. 1854 B. F. Taylor January & June 68 The ‘Old Thirteen’ were blazing bright—There were only thirteen then! 1904 Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 30 Aug. 10 We want to see the Old Thirteen draw closer and closer together. 1997 M. A. Morrison Slavery & Amer. West ii. 49 Unable to protect themselves singly, the old thirteen entered into a Union to defend the republic against foreign violence. † old tiger n. U.S. Obsolete rare an alcoholic drink made from rum. ΚΠ 1875 J. Miller First Fam'lies Sierras ix. 67 All of the following popular drinks, that is Old Tiger, Bad Eye..[etc.], were all [sic] made from the same decoction of bad rum, worse tobacco, and first-class cayenne pepper. Old Tom n. a type of gin, typically less sweet than Dutch genever but sweeter than London gin. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > gin > [noun] > kinds of gin genever1689 South Sea1725 Hollands1753 Old Tom1810 deady1819 schiedam1821 Plymouth gin1854 unsweetened1886 London gin1920 Plymouth1920 ogogoro1982 1810 Statesman 12 June Fortunately a glass of Old Tom, alias gin, soon restored the prostrate driver to the full exercise of his powers. 1868 Notes & Queries 28 Mar. 298/2 When a customer was asked what he would have, ‘A glass of Old Tom’ soon became such a regular reply, that the firm decided on manufacturing that especial good quality of gin for the trade. 1971 R. Dentry Encounter at Kharmel iv. 75 A bottle of Old Tom and two hot-glasses. 2014 M. Teacher Spirit of Gin 88 Old Tom is gin's middle child. It is the link between the juniper-based malty Dutch genever and the crisp London and American dry gin styles that are most popular today. old Tory n. British Politics a supporter of an old-fashioned or backward-looking form of Toryism, esp. one adhering to the principles of the old Tory Party after the formation of the Conservative Party.In quot. 1827: a Jacobite Tory. ΚΠ 1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xv. 472 (note) The thorough-paced royalists, or old tories [c1690]. 1850 H. Martineau Introd. Hist. Peace I. iii. xi. 555 We have, what the old Tories have not and cannot conceive of. 1895 C. Oman Hist. Eng. xxxix. 646 When O'Connell's agitation grew formidable, and the old Tories urged him to repress it by force, he [sc. Wellington] refused. 1986 Eng. Hist. Rev. 101 1016 Mr Anthony argues that Ruskin was an Old Tory who aspired to the stable social order of ‘Old England’. old trick n. a frequently used stratagem; (more generally) a habit or idiosyncrasy, frequently in up to one's old tricks. ΚΠ a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury lxxxvii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 324 While he conceived another piece of fun, One of his old tricks. 1990 N. Payne Grenadian Childhood 98 We kept her and in a few weeks she was up to her old tricks again, producing babies. 1998 R. Carr Brixton Bwoy v. 102 Soon Tee was back to his old tricks, pickpocketing down..the underground, or thieving from clothes shops. old-wave adj. relating to or belonging to an old-fashioned style or methodology, spec. the realist style of filmmaking dominant before the ‘New Wave’ of the late 1950s (cf. New Wave n. and nouvelle vague n. and adj.). ΚΠ 1899 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 5 335 With this theory, a result largely of the old wave doctrine of Smidt and others, is associated a complementary explanation of the increasing simplification of idioms. 1962 Listener 30 Aug. 315/1 This reaction has not come from Old Wave film makers. 1988 New Scientist 9 June 80/1 Many a rising young researcher today would discard the old-wave results with a cry of distaste, as though they were written in crayon. Old West n. = Wild West n. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > [noun] > area or time characterized by disorder Wild West1849 Old West1897 the world > the earth > named regions of earth > America > North America > [noun] > United States > western states Western States1787 west1796 Wild West1849 Old West1897 1871 Amer. Naturalist 5 558 The commerce of the new far west..will just as naturally look to Indiana for its supply of iron and steel.., as the old west formerly looked to Pennsylvania.] 1897 N.Y. Times 8 Aug. 18/3 As they saw the old West gone forever,..they turned their hands to the ways of civilization and did as best they could. 1933 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 14 Nov. 3/2 The Lake Boren district near Newcastle is still the ‘Old West’ as far as cattle roaming where they will is concerned. 1994 Harper's Mag. May 46 Lives of crime are plentiful, as well as those of derring-dodaddies from the Old West. old witch n. now historical any of various children's games in which one player (the ‘old witch’) attempts to catch the others. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > children's game > other children's games > [noun] > others buckle-pit1532 marrowbone1533 put-pin?1577 primus secundus1584 fox in the hole1585 haltering of Hick's mare1585 muss1591 pushpin1598 Jack-in-the-box1600 a penny in the forehead1602 buckerels1649 bumdockdousse1653 peck-point1653 toro1660 wheelbarrow1740 thread-needle1751 thrush-a-thrush1766 runaway ring?1790 Gregory1801 pick-point1801 fighting cocks1807 runaway knock1813 tit-tat-toe1818 French and English1820 honeypots1821 roly-poly1821 tickle-tail1821 pottle1822 King of Cantland1825 tip-top-castle1834 tile1837 statue1839 chip stone1843 hen and chickens1843 king of the castle1843 King Caesar1849 rap-jacket1870 old witch1881 tick-tack-toe1884 twos and threes1896 last across (the road)1904 step1909 king of the hill1928 Pooh-sticks1928 trick or treat1928 stare-you-out1932 king of the mountain1933 dab cricket1938 Urkey1938 trick-or-treating1941 seven-up1950 squashed tomato1959 slot-racing1965 Pog1993 knights- 1881 Harper's Mag. Jan. 184/2 The young folks..played at ‘prisoner's base’ or ‘old witch by the wayside’. 1897 S. D. McGill Narr. Reminisc. Williamsburg County 34 The girls played ‘Old Witch’ by themselves. One of them, getting into a ditch or old clay hole, would act an old witch. 1906 Dial. Notes 3 148 Old witch,..an outdoor game. The players circle around one of their number, the old witch, to whom the following is addressed: ‘Chickamy, chickamy, crany-crow... What time is it, old witch?’ 1969 I. Opie & P. Opie Children's Games xi. 326 Names in present day: ‘Mother, the Cake is Burning’ (Swansea and district); ‘Amy and Witchie’ (Scalloway); [etc.]... Names previously current:..‘Witch’ or ‘Old Witch’ (Cornwall, 1887, Dartmouth, 1894). 1981 L. A. Pederson et al. Ling. Atlas Gulf States 0035/130 [Tennessee] Old witch, a game they made up, with home base. old-witch grass n. the witch grass Panicum capillare, found throughout the United States. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > panic grasses panic?1440 summer grass1531 panicle1577 manna-grass1597 panic grass1597 panicum1739 crab-grass1743 witchgrass1790 old-witch grass1859 vine-bamboo1871 Vandyke1889 1859 W. Darlington & G. Thurber Amer. Weeds & Useful Plants 403 Old-witch Grass... Sandy pastures, cultivated grounds; throughout the United States. 1894 J. M. Coulter Bot. W. Texas III. 508 Old witch grass... Annual... In cultivated land everywhere. 1989 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 116 270/2 Panicum capillare L.—Old-Witch Grass. C5. colloquial and slang. a. In disparaging terms for persons, not necessarily with literal reference to age. (a) old bloke n. ΚΠ 1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 387/1 If we met an ‘old bloke’..we ‘propped him’. 1905 E. Candler Unveiling of Lhasa xiii. 256 The old bloke's done a bunk. 1952 T. A. G. Hungerford Ridge & River 62 The old bloke's stung already, and the pubs aren't even open yet! old bollocks n. ΚΠ 1919 J. Joyce Ulysses xii. [Cyclops] in Little Rev. Nov. 38 Who is the old ballocks you were talking to? old buffer n. ΚΠ 1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful III. i. 14 As the old buffer her father, says. 1917 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 584/1 I was wet-nursed by an elderly old buffer of a General. 1982 P. Dickinson Last House-party ii. 22 You can make the correct noises while all the old buffers are woffling on. † old churl n. Obsolete ΚΠ c1390 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 750 Nay, olde cherl, by god, thow shalt nat so! ?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 131 (MED) With þis damysel whan he dede dawns, þe olde charle had ryght gret corage. old codger n. ΚΠ ?1738 Moll King (engraving) (Yale Univ., Lewis Walpole Libr. 738.00.00.03+) (caption) I shall see my jolly old Codger by y^e Tinneyside, I suppose with his Day Light dim, & his Trotters shivering under him. 1775 D. Garrick Bon Ton 33 That for you, old Codger (snaps his fingers). 1807 Salmagundi 20 Mar. 109 A gouty old codger of an alderman. 1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 13/1 I'd tried to touch the old man—the boss—for an advance... The old codger almost had a stroke! 2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze xv. 165 The toothless old codgers nursing stout, Capstans sucking the last breath out of them. † old crawler n. Obsolete ΚΠ 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms (Farmer) I used to laugh at him, and call him a regular old crawler. old curmudgeon n. ΚΠ 1716 T. Ward England's Reformation 129 Pray take it not, you old Cur-mudgeon, so much in snuff and evil dudgeon. 1860 G. J. Whyte-Melville Holmby House 377 A thankless old curmudgeon. 1909 Chatterbox 383/1 It's better than living with an old curmudgeon like Uncle Peter. 2001 J. O'Brien At Home in Heart of Appalachia xiii. 204 Grandpa Farmer used to say this, playacting the old curmudgeon. old fool n. ΚΠ 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes sig. Yy.iv^v Greate puppettes and maumentes for olde fooles in dotage. a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. iii. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr2^v/2 Peace ye old foole. a1777 S. Foote Trip to Calais (1778) i. 6 A couple of fogrum old fools. 1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. xiv. 294 The knight's a punctilious old fool, but I promise you his daughter is above all nonsensical ceremony and prejudice. 1995 M. L. Settle Choices i. 9 She told herself she was a vain old fool to save something that didn't mean diddly-squat. old geezer n. ΚΠ 1885 ‘Corin’ Truth about Stage 16 If we wake up the old geezers we shall get notice to quit without compensation..The two geezers, as Sandy styled the landlord and his wife. 1915 Dial. Notes 4 201 The old geezer wouldn't let us play ball in his pasture. old shrew n. ΚΠ a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 665 The olde shrew sir Launcelot smote me downe. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 44 I dar nought keik to the knaip that the cop fillis, For eldnyng of that ald schrew. 1810 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iv. 69 A calmness calculated to provoke to madness the furious old shrew. 1932 ‘B. Ross’ Trag. of X ii. i. 146 The old shrew..lifted her bedraggled skirt delicately,..and waddled up a flight of thinly carpeted stairs. 2002 Express (Nexis) 9 Oct. 41 Jill..turned out to be a sharptongued old shrew and idiotic at that. (b) old bag n. = bag n. 17. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > old person > old woman > [noun] old wifeeOE old womanOE trota1375 carlinec1375 cronec1386 vecke1390 monea1393 hagc1400 ribibec1405 aunt?a1425 crate14.. witchc1475 mauda1500 mackabroine1546 grandam?1550 grannam1565 old lady1575 beldam1580 lucky1629 granny1634 patriarchess1639 runta1652 harridan1699 grimalkin1798 mama1810 tante1815 wifie1823 maw1826 old dear1836 tante1845 Mother Bunch1847 douairière1869 dowager1870 veteraness1880 old trout1897 tab1909 bag1924 crow1925 ma1932 Skinny Liz1940 old bag1947 old boot1958 tannie1958 LOL1960 1947 N. Johnson Lett. (1981) 35 Around comes this old bag again,..and he..quavers,..‘I've seen that old broad somewhere before’. 1949 Cavalier Daily (Univ. Virginia) 22 Oct. 4/1 They got a campaign goin' around here to try to stick us students six rocks just to go..and listen to some old bag yell her fool head off. 1999 C. Grimshaw Provocation v. 72 Why didn't the old bag and her disgusting family leave them alone? old boot n. a woman; a wife. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > old person > old woman > [noun] old wifeeOE old womanOE trota1375 carlinec1375 cronec1386 vecke1390 monea1393 hagc1400 ribibec1405 aunt?a1425 crate14.. witchc1475 mauda1500 mackabroine1546 grandam?1550 grannam1565 old lady1575 beldam1580 lucky1629 granny1634 patriarchess1639 runta1652 harridan1699 grimalkin1798 mama1810 tante1815 wifie1823 maw1826 old dear1836 tante1845 Mother Bunch1847 douairière1869 dowager1870 veteraness1880 old trout1897 tab1909 bag1924 crow1925 ma1932 Skinny Liz1940 old bag1947 old boot1958 tannie1958 LOL1960 society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > married woman > [noun] > wife wifeeOE womanc1275 peerc1330 spousessc1384 ladyc1390 good lady1502 girl?a1513 spousage1513 little lady1523 the weaker vessel1526 companion1535 wedlock1566 Mrs1572 dame1574 rib?1590 feme1595 fathom1602 feme covert1602 shrew1606 wife of one's bosom1611 kickie-wickiea1616 heifer1616 sposa1624 bosom-partner1633 goodwife1654 little woman1715 squaw1767 the Mrs1821 missus1823 maw1826 lady wife1840 tart1864 mistress1873 mama1916 ball and chain1921 trouble and strife1929 old boot1958 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights iii. 129 What about the ironing said Sopey? Well what about it said the old boot. 1974 Canad. Forces Sentinel (Ottawa) 10 ii. 9/2 Talk turns to ‘seeing the old boot and sprogs’ again. Especially among the younger crew. 1998 Daily Tel. 1 July 21/5 I particularly liked Jean Challis as the much abused old boot of a hostess. † old cat n. Obsolete a spiteful woman. ΚΠ 1763 F. Brooke Hist. Lady Julia Mandeville II. 72 An old cat..who is a famous proficient in scandal. 1840 F. Marryat Poor Jack xii. 77 His mother called me an old cat. old fart n. slang a contemptible or tiresome person, esp. one who is old-fashioned, stuffy, or close-minded. ΚΠ 1943 J. G. Rothenberg in Amer. Speech 18 44 A Jewish person who would not hesitate to say arumfartzen (herumfartzen) or alte kacker.., far from himself employing the respective English equivalents, ‘to fart around’, or ‘old fart’. 1968 J. Sangster Touchfeather xi. 121 I'm supposed to be non-operational. What does the silly old fart want? 1995 Muzik July 118/2 Even though Simon Bates was a bit of an old fart, at least he was a laugh. old hen n. a woman, spec. a wife (cf. hen n.¹ 3a); also in extended use. ΚΠ c1880 G. Meredith Old Chartist in Daily News (1897) 21 Sept. 6/1 But if I go and say to my old hen: I'll mend the gentry's boots, and keep discreet. 1901 ‘H. McHugh’ John Henry 90 The old hen with the languishing lamps was still on my trail. 1935 H. Nicolson Diary 21 Nov. (1966) 229 He says the rather dramatic circumstances of my election may arouse some jealousy in that old hen the H. of C. I must do the new-boy for six months at least. 1984 A. Smith in G. Ursell More Sask. Gold (1984) iii. vii. 371 Those two old hens in young bodies love their privacy... After supper, Rosalind will..rush back to her bachelor-girl apartment. old pot n. [short for old pot and pan: see pot and pan n.] chiefly Australian one's father. ΚΠ 1916 C. J. Dennis Songs Sentimental Bloke (new ed.) 124 The old pot, the male parent (from ‘Rhyming Slang’, the ‘old pot and pan’—the ‘old man’). 1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime ix. 129 ‘What about Mr. Pilgrim?’ ‘Aw, he's different... I get on with him good-oh, even if his old pot is one of these lords. Him and me's cobbers.’ 1938 N. Marsh Artists in Crime ix. 128 Miss Troy thought I was good enough to come here, even if my old pot did keep a bottle store. 1972 N. Marsh Tied up in Tinsel xviii. 197 'Er old pot was killed saving the colonel's life. old stick n. (with modifying adjective) a person (not necessarily an old one) of the kind specified. ΚΠ 1886 J. R. Rees Pleasures of Book-worm v. 178 Some disagreeable old stick has probably eaten an enormous dinner. 1949 E. Goudge Gentian Hill (1992) ii. ii. 161 Was this the man whom the Torre Abbey community spoke of sometimes as a dry old stick? 1958 A. Wilson Middle Age of Mrs Eliot ii. 177 She's not a bad old stick but she does like things her own way. 2004 R. Finn Adept xi. 122 Should I button my lip when I'm with the gang or should I show them what a clever old stick I am? old trot n. now rare an old woman or (occasionally) an old man; cf. trot n.² ΚΠ c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 1370 Þan ful doun þat olde trate in-to þe salte see. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 642/1 Se yonder olde trot howe she mumbleth:..comment elle masche en belyn. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. ii. 78 An old trot with ne're a tooth in her head. View more context for this quotation 1830 T. Hood in Forget me Not 415 Some strange neglectful gossiping old Trot. 1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death vi. 104 He's quite a decent old trot, but definitely in the Beta class. old trout n. [ < old adj. + trout n.¹] slang an old woman. ΚΠ 1897 ‘S. Grand’ Beth Bk. xxxix. 395 They said..they were blessed if they'd go near the old trout again. 1932 S. Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm xvi. 224 ‘Serve her right, the old trout,’ muttered Flora. 1972 V. Canning Rainbird Pattern iii. 50 She wasn't such a bad old trout. For all her money and position, life hadn't been all good to her. b. In familiar or affectionate forms of address, usually with no connotation of age, as old bean (cf. bean n. 6e), fruit (cf. fruit n. 2e), horse (cf. horse n. 4), hoss (cf. hoss n. 2), lad (cf. lad n.¹ 2a), son (cf. son n.¹ 4), sport (cf. sport n.¹), top (cf. top n.²).Most of these expressions are now generally considered old-fashioned or upper-class. Modern uses are frequently humorous or intended to characterize upper-class speech. Cf. cock n.¹ 14.See also old boy n., old chap n., old dear n., old fellow n., old girl n., old lady n., old man n., old thing n. old bean n. ΚΠ 1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 231 Chorus—‘Goodnight, old bean.’ 1955 J. Thomas No Banners xxix. 286 I say, old bean, let's stick together. 2000 D. Adebayo My Once upon Time (2001) x. 235 Are you really telling me they settle down side by side and go ‘Pass the pot, old bean!’? old fruit n. ΚΠ 1928 Daily Mail 25 July 10/6 Then their politeness. No slapping a friend on the back with a ‘What cheer, old fruit?’ 1951 T. Rattigan Who is Sylvia? i. 212 You don't mind me asking, did you, old fruit? 2000 A. Sayle Barcelona Plates 143 I say old fruit, if you'd be so kind, I'd like seven guineas' worth of scag, don't ya know, pip, pip. old horse n. ΚΠ 1906 P. G. Wodehouse Love among Chickens (ed. 2) v. 63 Garney, old horse, you're a marvel. 1976 ‘A. Hall’ Kobra Manifesto ii. 24 I wish someone had told me, old horse. old hoss n. ΚΠ 1847 W. T. Porter Quarter Race Kentucky 39 Good mornin', old hoss. 1904 W. N. Harben Georgians 2 Ef I don't whack it to you this pop, old hoss, I'll eat my hat. 1994 R. Hendrickson Happy Trails 127 Hoss,..an affectionate nickname for a friend. ‘Git ready, old hoss, but hold fire till I give the sign.’ old lad n. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address mon amic1425 matec1500 boy1532 old lad1594 old boy1602 captaina1616 mon cher1673 old chap1823 old man1828 ou maat1838 boysie1846 old top1856 boetie1867 bra1869 cocker1888 mon vieux1888 face1891 yessir1892 George1903 old sport1905 old bean1917 segotia1917 babe1918 bro1918 tovarish1918 old egg1919 midear1921 old (tin of) fruit1923 sport1923 mush1936 cowboy1961 coz1961 wack1963 yaar1963 John1982 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus iv. ii. 120 Looke how the blacke slaue smiles vpon the father, As who should say, olde Lad I am thine owne. View more context for this quotation 1977 ‘J. Herriot’ Vets might Fly (BNC) 69 Tristan lit a Woodbine, shook out his Daily Mirror and put his feet up. ‘Just prepared lunch, old lad.’ 2002 Daily Mail (Nexis) 10 June 50 Look old lad, Peter didn't come back from a trip at first light today. old son n. ΚΠ 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. iii. 144 Come my olde sonne, I pray God make thee new. View more context for this quotation 1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. ii. ii. 183 Oh, you prodigal old son! Now you shall be starved. 1895 Worker (Sydney) 28 Sept. 4/1 Why old son..that's Billy McGee, ‘Big dog’ of the old Barcoo. 1990 B. Hockin Cue Bruce (BNC) 39 ‘You can't go direct to Fleet Street, old son,’ said an older journalist to whom I confided. old sport n. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] > familiar form of address mon amic1425 matec1500 boy1532 old lad1594 old boy1602 captaina1616 mon cher1673 old chap1823 old man1828 ou maat1838 boysie1846 old top1856 boetie1867 bra1869 cocker1888 mon vieux1888 face1891 yessir1892 George1903 old sport1905 old bean1917 segotia1917 babe1918 bro1918 tovarish1918 old egg1919 midear1921 old (tin of) fruit1923 sport1923 mush1936 cowboy1961 coz1961 wack1963 yaar1963 John1982 1905 Punch 22 Mar. 199 I shouldn't mind, Old Sport. 1925 F. S. Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 64 Don't give it another thought, old sport. 1984 I. Banks Wasp Factory 134 Anyway, Frank, old sport.., I'll see you soon. Ta ta. old top n. ΚΠ 1856 E. G. P. Wilkins Young N.Y. i. i. 13 I say, old top, look here! 1912 Collier's 28 Sept. 19/1 ‘Tough luck, old top’, he muttered. 1998 Viz June–July 3/1 Dash it all, Raffles old top. I'm bored to tears don't y'know. C6. colloquial. In terms for persons, connoting experience, wisdom, etc. (cf. sense 5). old bird n. a person who has become knowing through experience, spec. an experienced thief. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun] > experienced old bird1787 1787 W. Beckford Portuguese Jrnl. 8 Oct. (1954) 220 My old bird, conscious of having fibbed, seemed upon thorns. 1877 W. H. Thomson Five Years' Penal Servitude i. 32 In nine cases out of ten an ‘old bird’ would betray himself. 1890 ‘W. A. Wallace’ Only a Sister 263 Evidently the master was an old bird, he carefully retraced his steps and bolted the door at the foot of the stairs. 1948 J. Maresca My Flag is Down xxiii. 165 I really can't get mad at this old bird, he's a card. 1990 M. S. Peck Bed by Window xv. 267 I used to have a mentor, an old detective when I was back on the force in New York City, a wise old bird. old coon n. chiefly U.S. (now historical) a shrewd person, esp. a politician. ΚΠ 1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 216 To be sure I will, my old coon—take it—take it, and welcome. 1862 Punch 1 Feb. 42/2 I guess them saucy Britishers Won't easy get to leeward Of such an all-fired smart old 'coon As William H. Seward. 1877 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 4) 436 ‘He's an old coon,’ is said of one who is very shrewd; often applied to a political manager. 1903 N.Y. Times 1 Sept. 2/7 Perryman was a sly old coon. † old dog n. Obsolete an experienced or adept person; cf. to be (a) dog at at dog n.¹ Phrases 9. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing old stager1570 old dog?1589 old file1700 old soldier1722 old robin1784 ?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. 5^v Oh he is olde dogge at expounding, and deade sure at a Catechisme. 1607 T. Tomkis Lingua ii. i Ah heres a youth starke naught at a trench, but old dog at a trencher. 1785 R. Cumberland Observer No. 107. ⁋6 Uncle Antony was an old dog at a dispute. † old file n. [ < old adj. + file n.¹ (see sense 3 s.v.)] Obsolete an artful or cunning person. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing old stager1570 old dog?1589 old file1700 old soldier1722 old robin1784 1700 E. Ward Journey to Hell ii. i. 6 If an old File can such Instructions give, As teach you how to make the Dying Live, How far must we Excel, what Wonders do, Who gave at first those Recipes to you! 1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Gamon What rum gamon the old file pitched to the flat. 1852 C. W. Hoskyns Talpa 62 One word of advice from an ‘old file’. old head n. chiefly U.S. an old or experienced person. ΚΠ 1838 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Sept. 14 The proud and stout-hearted old heads of their party having been already seen to be prompt in repudiating the offensive term. 1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbridge I. vi. 76 The sagacious old heads who knew what was what in Casterbridge. 1991 Inside Sports Nov. 46/2 Just the presence of neophytes Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton and an old head such as Ricky Pierce puts them a step ahead of most teams. † old robin n. Obsolete rare an experienced person. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun] > one who experiences > and becomes knowing old stager1570 old dog?1589 old file1700 old soldier1722 old robin1784 1784 J. Potter Virtuous Villagers II. 9 Philip, who is an old Robin, as the saying is, demurred to the business. old salt n. an experienced sailor, esp. one who is prone to talk loquaciously about the seafaring life; an old sea dog. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > types of sailor > [noun] > old or experienced sailor hale bowline1627 sea-dog1823 stationer1826 old salt1828 salt1840 shell-back1853 sea-daddy1899 1828 Ariel (Philadelphia) 23 Aug. 72/1 Landsmen generally have very mistaken notions concerning sailors... ‘Tom Coffin’ is a caricature, and not a very good one of an ‘old salt’, but terribly strained and stiff. 1838 J. F. Cooper Homeward Bound I. viii. 129 ‘If we had a few guns, and were a little stronger-handed,’ growled an old salt to the second-mate. 1896 Argosy Feb. 465/1 Even the intelligent and dreary old salt, that saline epitome of useful information..is pleasantly absent. 1992 Yachts & Yachting 28 Aug. 71/3 Old salts in their dotage will bore their grandchildren with tales of the first day of Cowes Week '92. Categories » old stager n. see stager n. 1a. C7. Prefixed to the name of a language: designating an early period in a language's history, or the earliest of several periods, preceding that usually called middle (see middle adj. 4b). Abbreviated O (see O n.¹ Initialisms 2). a. General attributive. ΚΠ 1773 D. Jones Jrnl. 25 Jan. (1865) 61 The (ch) is pronounced gutturally as Welsh or old Scotch. 1867 G. Rawlinson Five Great Monarchies IV. iv. 214 The ordinary sign of the locative..was in the old Persian -ya or -iya. 1912 F. W. O'Connell Gram. Old Irish 5 In old Irish a single consonant between two vowels was more loosely articulated. 1980 B. A. Rudes in J. Fisiak Hist. Morphol. 338 The above verb forms in Old Romanian have as their modern Romanian equivalents. b. Old English, French, Icelandic, Norse, Prussian, Saxon: see as main entries. Old Church Slavic n. (and adj.) [compare German altkirchenslavisch, Russian drevnecerkovnoslavjanskij, adjectives] now chiefly North American = Old Church Slavonic n. ΚΠ 1898 Mod. Lang. Notes 13 69 The language used in these productions [sc. texts from the monasteries] was the Old Church Slavic influenced in forms and phonetics by the spoken dialects of Russia. 1996 J. Nicholls in M. Durie & M. Ross Compar. Method Reviewed ii. 57 Meillet goes through the nouns of canonical Old Church Slavic, grouped by root or stem type. Old Church Slavonic n. (and adj.) [compare German altkirchenslavisch, Russian drevnecerkovnoslavjanskij, adjectives] the oldest recorded Slavonic language, having many South Slavonic features, which was codified by the Apostles Cyril and Methodius in the 9th cent. and survives in a limited number of texts (formerly also called Slavonic or Old Bulgarian: see Bulgarian n. 2a); (also, more generally) a modified form of this language as still used liturgically in certain Orthodox churches (also called Church Slavonic: see church n.¹ and adj. Compounds 2); also attributive or as adj.; abbreviated OCS. ΚΠ 1895 R. S. Conway & W. H. D. Rouse tr. K. Brugmann (title) A comparative grammar of the Indo-Germanic languages: a concise exposition of the history of Sanskrit, Old Iranian (Avestic and Old Persian), Old Armenian, Greek, Latin, Umbrian-Samnitic, Old Irish, Gothic, Old High German, Lithuanian and Old Church Slavonic. 1993 F. Singleton Short Hist. Yugoslav Peoples 17 The Old Church Slavonic became ossified and bore a relationship to the vernacular tongue of the people similar to that which church Latin bore towards Spanish, Italian and French. Old High German n. (and adj.) [after German Althochdeutsch (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. xxxvi)] High German in the period up to the 12th cent. (cf. High German n. and adj.); also attributive or as adj.; abbreviated OHG. ΚΠ 1851 H. P. Tappan University Educ. App. 110 Elements of the old and middle High German grammar, five times a week, by Prof. Lachmann. 1859 H. Wedgewood Dict. Eng. Etymol. I. p. xxii OHG, Old High German. 1861 F. M. Müller tr. J. Grimm in Lect. Sci. Lang. v. 170 The Friesian language appears there in a much more ancient stage, which very nearly approaches the Old High-German. 1908 J. Wright & E. M. Wright Old Eng. Gram. iii. 28 a was the only vowel which underwent i-umlaut in OS. and Old High German. 1992 D. Gutch in C. Blank Lang. & Civilization I. 574 The Old High German r-preterites have proved even more controversial. Old Low German n. [after German altniederdeutsch, adjective (J. Grimm Deutsche Grammatik (1819) I. p. lxv)] †(a) English, characterized as a Germanic language (obsolete rare); (b) = Old Saxon n. 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > German > Low German > Old Saxon Old Saxon1833 Old Low German1871 1871 Good Words 12 493/2 English is, after all, but Old Low German. 1873 Trans. Amer. Philol. Soc. 4 95 The surd character of the ð is grounded in the depths of Old Low German. 1961 S. C. Easton & H. Wieruszowski Era of Charlemagne (1979) i. v. 97 This poem was written in Old Low German (Saxon) using old Anglo-Saxon metres. Old Slavic n. (and adj.) [compare post-classical Latin palaeoslovenicus, German altslavisch, Russian staroslavjanskij, drevneslavjanskij, adjectives] now chiefly North American = Old Slavonic n. ΚΠ 1850 ‘Talvi’ Hist. View Lang. & Lit. Slavic Nations i. 25 (heading) History of the Old or Church Slavic (commonly called Slavonic) language and literature. 1866 Chambers's Encycl. VIII. 389/2 The lines of distinction..between old Slavic and Russian. 1992 Internat. Encycl. Linguistics IV. 116 Wackernagel's..secondary evidence came from archaic Latin, and from the rather different systems of Old Slavic and Old Irish. Old Slavonic n. (and adj.) [compare post-classical Latin palaeoslovenicus, German altslavisch, Russian staroslavjanskij, drevneslavjanskij, adjectives] (a) the common ancestor of the Slavonic languages, Common Slavonic; (b) = Old Church Slavonic n.; also attributive or as adj. ΚΠ 1765 D. Fenning et al. New Syst. Geogr. (new ed.) II. 57/1 The Polish language is derived from the old Sclavonic; yet differs extremely from all other languages derived from the same source. 1876 W. D. Whitney Lang. & its Study vi. 214 Old Slavonic, or the Church Slavic, having been adopted by a large part of the Slavonian races as their sacred language. 2002 New Yorker 2 Dec. 116/1 He has set Latin, German, English, Spanish, and Old Slavonic texts, recalibrating his language to fit the demands of each. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022). oldv. Brit. /əʊld/, U.S. /oʊld/ Forms: α. Old English aldian (Anglian), early Middle English holde, Middle English alde, Middle English olde, Middle English– old; also Scottish pre-1700 auld. β. Old English ealdian, late Old English eældian, early Middle English ealdie, early Middle English yealdy (south-eastern). Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: old adj. Etymology: < old adj. Compare Middle Dutch ouden , olden , alden (early modern Dutch ouwen ), Old High German altēn (Middle High German alten , German †alten , now only in veralten to become dated); also Old Icelandic (poetic) aldinn aged. Compare eld v.²In Old English the prefixed form geealdian is also attested. Now rare. intransitive. To grow old; to deteriorate through age. Also in past participle: grown old. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > be or seem old [verb (intransitive)] > grow old oldeOE eldc1175 to fall in (also to) agea1398 forlive1398 hoara1420 runa1425 age1440 veterate1623 senesce1656 olden1700 wane1821 to get on in years1822 senilize1841 α. eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) vi. 6 (8) Inueteraui inter omnes inimicos meos : ic aldade betwih alle feond mine. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 35 Vfel is þet mon aldeð. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 2937 Þo holdede [c1275 Calig. ældede] þe king, and failede his mihte. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) 1 Macc. xvi. 3 Nowe I haue oldid. a1460 Knyghthode & Bataile (Pembr. Cambr. 243) 96 (MED) The nayles are of bras wel better holde Then iron. Whi? For ruste thei wil & olde..there as bras..is as it was. 1496 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (de Worde) iv. xxvii. 195/1 As they olde so they fade. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xxxiv. 83 Auldit rubiatouris. 1741 J. Spence Let. 13 Jan. in Academy (1875) 20 Feb. 192/1 The Pretender looks sensibly olded since I was here last. 1999 Independent (Nexis) 20 Oct. 4 The idea that we will grow old as a generation of Stussy-wearing, entertainment-literate techno-heads with a spliff for a pipe..is indeed a palatable one. Not so much loaded, as olded. β. OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 18 Þonne þu ealdast [c1200 Hatton ealdest] þu strecst þine handa & oðer þe gyrt.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 75 (MED) Guo in-to þe londe of þe libbynde, þer non ne sterf ne yealdeþ, þet is, ine paradys.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 97 Hi ne may naȝt yealdy, ase dede þe yealde laȝe. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † oldadv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: old adj. Etymology: < old adj. Obsolete. rare. In ancient times, long ago. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > the past > [adverb] > long ago yorec900 for longOE langer1303 long agoc1350 far1362 for yorea1375 of yore ago(ne)a1375 long time1376 of olda1393 anciently1502 langsyne?a1513 oldlya1513 in old season1582 old1609 antiquely1652 then-a-days1688 (the) year one1754 way back1870 in yore1876 way back when1921 1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles i. 1 To sing a Song that old was sung, From ashes, auntient Gower is come. View more context for this quotation This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2021). < n.¹eOEn.²c1175adj.eOEv.eOEadv.1609
随便看	cloner cloners clones clonic cloniccer cloniccest clonicer clonicest clonicities clonicity clonidine clonidines cloning cloning vector cloning vehicle clonings clonk clonked clonking clonks clonus clonuses cloof cloom cloop

oldn.1

Phrases

† oldn.2

oldadj.

Phrases

Compounds

oldv.

† oldadv.

oldn.¹

† oldn.²