From the American Slang dictionary

[valis2]

From Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang Vol I.

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dandy-trap n. a loose paving stone. 1842 Spirit of the times (Feb. 19): The immense number of "dandy traps" (loose flag stones) which, on the slightest pressure, will cover you with mud and water.
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ear-biter n. [ref. to a story that one had chewed the ear off an opponent in a fight, ca1845] Post Office, a special agent of the U.S. Post Office Department. 1845 in DAE: How much the result of this first investigation, after the restoration of the "ear-biters" (as they were then sometimes facetiously called,) had to do with the radical change in opinion and action,...it may not be advisable to inquire.
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dido n. [orig. unkn.] an antic; often in phr. cut [up] didoes to engage in mischievous or uncontrolled behavior. 1807 in OEDS: A jolly Irishman, who cut as many didos as I could for the life of me.
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Odd definition for this one. fakus n. [FAK(E) + (DING)US] Und. a thingamabob, esp. if used for cheating

Comments

[snapesforte.livejournal.com]

dido

I'll never look at that singer the same way again.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Exactly why I picked it...so odd. I always think of Dido from mythology.

[trickofthedark.livejournal.com]

Hey, *I* know know the phrase 'cutting a dido'. That's the meaning I'm using ala my username. The 'cutting' bit is in fact from the Dido of the Aeneas story, her trick with the cutting up of a bull's hide.
Dido di kali = trick ofthe dark. ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*laughs* That's really fascinating! All this time the "answer" was in plain sight. :)

[chrysantza.livejournal.com]

Dirty-minded me, I keep reading "dido" as something else! And I'm going to have to find a way to use "ear-biter," which amuses me.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Isn't ear-biter the strangest little bit of slang? Heh...I wonder what my gals at the Post Office would think if I started referring to them as ear-biters...*giggle*