• MAJA
n. 1832 – a Spanish woman who dresses gaily
• MAJE
n. 1847 Amer. army sl. – a major
• MAJELLA
n. 1850 Amer. dial. – an American Indian woman or wife
• MAJESTATE
n. 1533 obs. rare – majesty
• MAJESTATIVE
adj. 1656 obs. – majestic
• MAJESTICAL
adj. 1589 now chiefly poetic usage – majestic
• MAJESTIFY
vb. 1616 obs. rare – to make majestic
• MAJESTUOUS
adj. 1685 rare – majestic
• MAJESTY
n. 1. 1831 Eng. dial. – a corruption of ‘magistrate’
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a rage, passion
• MAJIG
n. 1867 Amer. dial. – a thingamajig; a gadget
• MAJIGGER
n. 1942 Amer. dial. – a thingamajig; a gadget
• MAJIGGIE
n. 1931 Amer. dial. – a thingamajig; a gadget
• MAJIRK
n. 1879 Sc. – an odd, unwieldy object
• MAJO
n. 1832 – a Spanish dandy of the lower classes
• MAJOR
vb. 1. 1816 Sc. obs. – to walk with an important or military air, to swagger; to strut
vb. 2. 1829 Eng. dial. – to bully, to domineer over
• MAJOR ABOUT
vb. 1814 Eng. dial. – to walk with an important air; to strut
• MAJORATE
vb. 1656 obs. rare – to make greater; to cause to increase or develop
• MAJORATION
n. 1626 obs. – the act of increasing or intensifying
• MAJORDOMO
n. 1834 Amer. dial. – the overseer of a ranch or mission; a person in charge of a group or project
• MAJORITY
n. 1646 obs. – ancestry
• MAJORIZE
vb. 1. 1896 – to attain one’s majority; to come of age
vb. 2. 20C – in rugby football: to convert a try into a goal, i.e. to increase the points from three to five
• MAJOR-LEAGUE
adj. 1941 Amer. sl. – impressive; formidable; significant; hence, a notable degree or amount of
adv. 1990 Amer. sl. – very, extremely; to a great extent
• MAJOR MALFUNCTION
n. 1987 US military sl. – a ludicrous or irritating source of difficulty, esp. a problem attributable to stupidity or incompetence
• MAJOR-MINDIT
adj. 1825 Sc. – haughty in demeanour, high-minded, having a commanding disposition
• MAJOR MUFF
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a bad blunder
• MAJOR UP AND DOWN
vb. 1814 Eng. dial. – to walk with an important air; to strut
• MAKANDE
n. a1400 obs. – comfort, ease
• MAKE
n. 1. c1000 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an equal, a fellow; a friend; a companion, a consort, a ‘mate’
n. 2. c1000 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – of animals, esp. birds: a mate, male or female
n. 3. a1175 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a fellow; a friend; a companion, a consort, a ‘mate’
n. 4. c1205 obs. rare – an image
n. 5. a1240 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – of humans: a husband or wife; a lover or mistress
n. 6. a1547 sl. & Eng. dial. – a halfpenny
n. 7. 1856 Eng. dial. – race, family, lineage, species, kind
n. 8. 1860 sl. – a successful theft or swindle
n. 9. 1918 US criminals’ sl. – the proceeds of theft; loot
n. 10. 1942 sl., orig. US – a sexual conquest; an easily seduced woman
n. 11. 1950 sl., orig. US – an identification of, or information about, a person or thing from police records, fingerprints, etc.
n. 12. 1968 Amer. sl. – a session of romantic kissing or petting; necking; hence, an attempted seduction; sexual aggression
n. 13. 1970 Amer. drug culture sl. – a dose of a drug
vb. 1. c1290 now arch. & Eng. dial. – to fasten, to secure, to make fast; to shut or close a door
vb. 2. 1362 obs. – of a mother: to give birth to young; of a father: to beget
vb. 3. 14C colloq. – to urinate
vb. 4. 1463 obs. – to mate, pair, match
vb. 5. 1542 – to eat a meal
vb. 6. 1555 obs. – to prepare fish for the market by curing or packing
vb. 7. a1700 sl. & Eng. dial. – to steal
vb. 8. 1815 Sc. – to meddle, to interfere
vb. 9. 1832 – to put on weight
vb. 10. 1848 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to act, to pretend, to feign
vb. 11. 1876 – to shuffle cards
vb. 12. 1876 Sc. – to compose poetry
vb. 13. Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial. – of the tide, sea, etc.: to rise, surge, advance
vb. 14. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to acquire by fraud or artifice; to decoy
vb. 15. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to attempt; to try; to offer
vb. 16. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to ooze, to flow
vb. 17. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to put the soles on boots or shoes
vb. 18. 1926 sl., orig. US – to have sex
• MAKE A BAD FALL
vb. L19 sl. – to have a piece of bad luck
• MAKE A BAGS OF
vb. 1998 Ireland sl. – to make a mess of something
• MAKE A BALK
vb. c1430 obs. – to blunder, to go wrong
• MAKE A BALK OF GOOD GROUND
vb. 1605 – to waste or throw away a good chance
• MAKE A BALLS OF
vb. 20C sl. – to make a thorough mess of (a job)
• MAKE A BID FOR
vb. 1885 – to try to secure
• MAKE A BIG FELLER OF ONESELF
vb. c1945 Aust. sl. – to give the impression that one is generous or forgiving
• MAKE A BLACK COCK OF ONE
vb. 1814 Sc. – to shoot one
• MAKE A BLIND STAB
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to make a wild guess
• MAKE A BLOB
vb. 1903 – to accomplish nothing
• MAKE A BLUE WITH A RAT
vb. c1920 Aust. gamblers’ sl. – to cause a die to hit an obstruction
• MAKE A BOLT OF IT
vb. c1850 Brit. colloq. – to run away; to decamp
• MAKE A BOMB
vb. c1945 Brit. sl. – to become rich; to ‘make a packet’
• MAKE A BONFIRE OF
vb. 1709 – to destroy
• MAKE A BOX OF
vb. 20C Aust. sl. – to muddle
• MAKE A BREAK
vb. 1932 Aust. & NZ sl. – to run away from the police
• MAKE A BUDGE
vb. 1892 Eng. dial. – to make a move, to start off, to move
• MAKE A BUST
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to make an error in judgement; to be wrong or mistaken
• MAKE A CHIMNEY OF ONE’S MOUTH
vb. 19C Sc. & Ireland – to smoke
• MAKE A CHUMP OUT OF
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to humiliate
• MAKE A COME-BACK
vb. c1920 colloq, orig. sporting usage – to succeed again after a (long) retirement
• MAKE A DAB
vb. 1900 US sl. – to make an attempt at a thing
• MAKE A DIE
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to die after a long illness
• MAKE-ADO
n. 1. 1589 obs. – one who is fond of making a to-do
n. 2. 1897 Sc. – something to do to pass the time
n. 3. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – an uproar, disturbance; a fuss, a bother
• MAKE A FANCY
vb. 1936 Amer. dial. – to make a good impression
• MAKE A FATHOM
vb. 1519 obs. – to stretch the arms to their full extent
• MAKE A FILL
vb. 1914 Amer. criminals’ sl. – to join in association
• MAKE A GIRL GRUNT
vb. 20C sl. – to copulate with her
• MAKE A GOOD FALL
vb. L19 sl. – to have a piece of good luck
• MAKE A GUT PLUNGE ON BUTCH
vb. 1929 Amer. tramps’ sl. – among tramps: to attempt to beg meat of any kind, as from a butcher shop
• MAKE A HANDLE OF ANYTHING
vb. B1900 Sc. – to endeavour to turn a thing to one’s own advantage, or to another’s discredit
• MAKE A HARE OF
vb. 17C – to make ridiculous
• MAKE A HARE OF A MAN
vb. 1843 Ireland – to get the better of; to overcome in argument, etc.
• MAKE A HAZARD
vb. 1850 – to make a guess or venture
• MAKE A KILLING
vb. M19 US sl. – be a great success
• MAKE A LAM
vb. 1928 US sl. – to escape from prison
• MAKE A LEG
vb. 1589 arch. – to bow in obeisance by drawing back one leg and bending the other
• MAKE A LOBSTER KETTLE OUT OF ONE’S CUNT
vb. L18 sl. – of a prostitute: to allow a man to have sex without paying
• MAKE A LONG ARM
vb. 1884 colloq. – to reach out the arm a long way after something
• MAKE A LONG NECK
vb. 1883 Eng. dial. – to stretch the neck or head in order to reach or see anything
• MAKE A LONG NOSE
vb. L19 sl. – to thumb one’s nose
• MAKE A LOOSE
vb. E18 sl. – to make one’s escape
• MAKE AMAIN
vb. 1593 obs. – to hasten
• MAKE A MAN’S BEARD
vb. 1. c1386 obs. – to dress his beard
vb. 2. 1525 obs. – to outwit or delude him
• MAKE A MARKET
vb. 1787 Sc. – to make a match, to become settled in matrimony
• MAKE A MASH
vb. 1. L19 US sl. – to seduce someone
vb. 2. 1900s US college sl. – to please a teacher
• MAKE A MAY-GAME OF
vb. L17 sl. – to play games with; to trick or deceive
• MAKE A MEAL OUT OF
vb. 1950s sl. – to make a great deal of fuss about; to go into over-elaborate descriptions, esp. of something distasteful
• MAKE A MESS
vb. c1972 Amer. dial. – to defecate
• MAKE A MILK RUN
vb. 1970s US homosexual sl. – to frequent a men’s lavatory looking for sex
• MAKE A MITTILAT OF A PERSON
vb. Bk1905 Sc. – to injure him to the extent of depriving him of the use of his limbs
• MAKE A MONKEY (OUT) OF
vb. 1895 Amer. sl. – to make a fool of; to deceive, to dupe; also, to hold up to ridicule
• MAKE A MONSTER OF
vb. L16 sl. – to cuckold
• MAKE A MOUTHFUL OF
vb. 1950s sl. – to make a great deal of fuss about; to go into over-elaborate descriptions, esp. of something distasteful
• MAKE A MOVE
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to begin, to commence
• MAKE A MUCK OF
vb. 1906 UK sl. – to ruin
• MAKE A MULLOCK
vb. 1873 Eng. dial. – to make a mess of some undertaking
• MAKE A NAPKIN OF ONE’S DISHCLOUT
vb. M18 sl. – to make a foolish, unsuitable marriage; to marry one’s cook or other servant
• MAKE AN ARSE OF
vb. 1996 Sc. sl. – to match a mess of something; to botch something
• MAKE AN EXAMPLE
vb. L17 sl. – to get drunk
• MAKE A NOISE
vb. Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to scold, to rate, to complain; to be angry with
• MAKE A PACK
vb. 1910s sl. – to make a large sum of money
• MAKE A PACKAGE
vb. 1910s sl. – to make a large sum of money
• MAKE A PACKET
vb. 1910 – to make a large sum of money → sl.
• MAKE A PERSON’S BEARD
vb. 1410 – to outwit or delude a person → obs.
• MAKE A PERSON’S BEARD WITHOUT A RAZOR
vb. 1525 – to behead a person → obs.
• MAKE A PERSON SCRATCH WHERE HE IS NOT ITCHY
vb. 1904 – to beat him → Ireland (Bk.)
• MAKE A PERSON’S NOSE SWELL
vb. 1743 – to make him jealous or envious
• MAKE A PIG OF ONESELF
vb. 1942 – to eat gluttonously → sl.
• MAKE A PIG’S EAR
vb. 20C – to make a mess of → colloq.
• MAKE A PLAY FOR
vb. 1905 – to try to get something → orig. US
• MAKE A POCKET
vb. M19 – to make money; e.g. as a street-seller → sl.
• MAKE A POOR MOUTH
vb. 1839 – to pretend poverty; to endeavour to excite compassion → Sc.
• MAKE A PROPER GALAH OF ONESELF
vb. 1999 Aust. sl. – to behave foolishly → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
• MAKE A PUNCH
vb. 1900 – to make a killing in the goldfields, stock market, etc. → Aust. sl.
• MAKE A RAISE
vb. 1. ..19C – to pick a pocket; to rob → US criminals’ sl.
vb. 2. .M19 – in gambling: to fund a peer who has lost all his money → US gambling sl.
vb. 3. .M19 – to obtain money in a non-criminal manner; to secure something → US sl.
• MAKE A RAVELLED HASP
vb. 1902 – to put a thing into confusion → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE A RENDEZVOUS WITH MRS. HAND
vb. 1980 – to masturbate → sl.
• MAKE A RISE
vb. M19 – to do moderately well; to make a small success → Aust. sl.
• MAKE A ROD FOR ONESELF
vb. 1485 – to act in a way that will bring one trouble later
• MAKE A ROD FOR ONE’S OWN BACK
vb. 1677 – to act in a way that will bring one trouble later
• MAKE A RUN
vb. 1. 1950 – to go out to buy a commodity, esp. drugs, but also groceries, liquor, etc. → sl.
vb. 2. 1970 – to attempt to seduce; to approach with amorous intentions → sl.
• MAKE A SALE
vb. 1930 – to vomit → Aust. sl.
• MAKE A SANDWICH
vb. 1970 – to make a sexual position in which two men are having simultaneous vaginal and anal intercourse with one woman → sl.
• MAKE A SAP OUT OF
vb. 1942 – to humiliate → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• MAKE A SAVING GAME OF IT
vb. 1654 – to retrieve one’s losses in the end → obs.
• MAKE A SCRATCH
vb. 1930 – to improve one’s status → sl.
• MAKE A SET
vb. M17 – to have sexual intercourse → sl.
• MAKE A SIDATION
vb. 1905 – to clear or put away → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE A SIX-FIST
vb. 1990 – to masturbate → sl.
• MAKE A SONG AND DANCE (ABOUT)
vb. L19 – to make a fuss → sl.
• MAKE A SPOON OR SPOIL A HORN
vb. 1880 – to make a determined effort to achieve something, whether ending in success or failure; to succeed in an enterprise or fail deplorably
• MAKE A SPREAD
vb. 1930 – to lay out the equipment used for giving oneself an injection → drug culture sl.
• MAKE ASS
vb. 1987 – to get going → Amer. sl.
• MAKE A STAB AT
vb. 1895 – to make an attempt; to guess → sl., orig. US
• MAKE A STINK
vb. 1990 –to make a bit issue about → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• MAKE A STRIKE
vb. 1904 – to achieve, to succeed or be lucky → colloq. (Bk.)
• MAKE A TETHER OF ONLY A HAIR
vb. 1727 – to make much of a small matter → Sc.
• MAKE A TOUSE
vb. 1913 – to make a row, or fight → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE A VAUNT
vb. 1530 – to boast or brag
• MAKE A VIRGINIA FENCE
vb. 1737 – to walk unsteadily, as a drunkard; to stagger in a zigzag course; to be drunk → Amer.
• MAKE-AWAY
n. 1905 – wilful waste, destruction → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE AWAY WITH
vb. 1. 1892 – to kill, to destroy, to murder → Sc.
vb. 2. 1905 – to spend too freely; to squander → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 3. 1905 – to throw away or discard as useless → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE BABIES
vb. 1972 – to engage in copulation → Amer. sl.
• MAKE BACON
vb. 1887 – to make a derisive gesture; to put the thumb to the nose and spread out the fingers → Eng. dial.
• MAKE BAGS OF
vb. 1960 – to make a mess of → Irish sl.
• MAKEBATE
adj. 1582 – causing contention or strife → obs.
n. 1. 1529 – one who or something which creates contention or discord; a breeder of strife; a mischief-maker; a quarrelsome person → arch.
n. 2. 1626 – the breeding of quarrels, mischief-making → obs.
• MAKE-BELIEF
n. 1833 – pretense
• MAKE-BELIEVE
n. 1. 1905 – a mistress treated as a wife → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 2. 1905 – a substitute → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE BRAGS
vb. 1913 – to brag, to boast → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
• MAKE-BRASER
n. 1515 – ? one who domineers or blusters → obs.
• MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW
vb. 1658 – to attempt a task without provision of the necessary materials or means
• MAKE BUCKLE AND TONGUE MEET
vb. 1888 – to make both ends meet → US sl.
• MAKE BUZZARD TALK
vb. 1912 – to quarrel → Amer. sl.
• MAKE BY
vb. 1905 – to excel; to walk or run past → Sc. (Bk.)
• MAKE CACA
vb. 1980 – to defecate → sl.
• MAKE CALF-EYES
vb. 1949 – to show adoration or affection with the eyes → Amer. dial.
• MAKE CHEERS
vb. 1225 – to make faces, to grimace → obs.
• MAKE CHILDREN’S SHOES
vb. L17 – to be occupied absurdly or trivially; to look ridiculous; to be made to look ridiculous; to trifle with
• MAKE COLD MEAT OF
vb. 1848 – to kill → US sl.
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