A DICTIONARY
OF
SLANG, JARGON, AND CANT.
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1 (popular), a form used to indicate a high degree of excellence.
The magistrates all praise my zeal,
And put me down A1,
And burglars when they hear my step
Instantly cut and run.
They sometimes drop things in their flight,
Those things of course I take;
To leave them there to tempt the poor
Would be a great mistake.
—Music Hall Song.
The expression is also used adverbially.
My friends remark, "Oh, what a lark
To see the money fly!"
They say we're two young sillies, and
We don't know what to buy.
But you just leave my Fred alone,
He's such a knowing sort,
He lays the money out A1,
And this is what he's bought.
—Music Hall Song.
She is A1; in fact the aye-wunnest girl I ever saw.— Shirley Brooks: The Gordian Knot.
I am A1, I am all right, comfortable.
It originated from A1, Lloyd's, an abbreviation commonly used in mercantile circles to indicate the character of a ship and its appointments. To be classed A1 at Lloyd's means that the vessel, its anchors, sails, tackle, and stores have been examined by official surveyors, and found to be in good trim, entitling it to be ranked as first class. When a vessel fails to reach the highest standard, other marks are bestowed.
A. 1 or No. 1 (fenian). The latter is often incorrectly used. It should be A1, a title for the commander of 900 men.
Aaron (thieves). The Aaron is the chief or captain of a gang or school of thieves. This cognomen is invariably accompanied with the prefix The—par excellence the first—simi-
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