FACE
ADJECTIVES
► AIKER of the face: sharp, keen, pointed → 1912 Sc.
► ALL IN A HATTER of the face: entirely covered with any eruption, as smallpox → 1883 Sc.
► ASPECTABUND expressive in face; exhibiting one’s feelings through the eyes or face → 1708 obs.
► BABOON-FACED having a face like that of a baboon; very ugly → 1942 US sl.
► BACON-FACE having a fat sleek face → 1684
► BACON-FACED having a fat sleek face; heavy jowled → c1600
► BALD-FACED said jokingly of a person’s face → 1969 Amer. dial.
► BANNOCK-FACED having a flat face and a short nose → Bk1898 Eng. dial.
► BAUSON-FACED fat-faced → Bk1898 Eng. dial.
► BAWF-FACED fat-faced, ruddy → Bk1898 Eng. dial.
► BLACK-FACED having a dark or gloomy face or aspect → 1581
► BLOISENT of the face: red, swollen, whether by weather or intemperance → Bk1911 Sc.
► BLOWZY having a red or flushed face → 1778
► BLUFF broad and fat, esp. with respect to the face; red-faced → 1790 Eng. dial.
► BOOT-FACED grim-faced, sad-faced; with an expressionless face → 1942 colloq.
► BRANDY-FACED red-faced: generally said of one who is in the habit of drinking spirits in excess → 1861
► BRAN-FACED freckle-faced → 1890 Eng. dial.
► BROSY-FACED having a fat, flaccid face → 1823 Sc.
► CHITTY of the face: lean and pinched → 1616
– of the face: puny, childish, baby-like → 1755
► CHUB-FACED having chubby cheeks; having a plump, round face → 1602 obs.
► CHUFFY fat; swollen or puffed out with fat, especially of the cheeks; plump-cheeked, round-faced; chubby → 1611 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► CRAB-FACED having an ugly, ill-tempered looking face → 1563
► DEAD of the face: deadly pale, wan → c1386 obs.
► DISH-FACED having a slightly concave face → 1883 Amer. dial.
► DOUGH-FACED having a pale, plump, or bloated face or complexion → 1773
► DOUGHY of the face, complexion or part of the body: pallid, pasty; pale and somewhat flabby or bloated → 1763
► FARTHING-FACED having pinched features → L19 sl.
► FAT-JOWLED fat-faced → Bk1900 Eng. dial.
► FULL-FACED having a full or plump face → E17
► HACKSEY-LOOKED having a coarse visage, gruff → Bk1905 Sc.
► HALF-FACED having a thin, pinched face → 1595
► HATCHET-FACED having a narrow, sharp face → a1700
► HATCHETY of the face: thin and sharp → 1851
► HEATHER-FACED ► HEDDER-FACED rough-faced, stubbly → Bk1902 Eng. dial.
► HOT-LIVERED having a red face, attributed to drunkenness → 1594 obs.
► ILL-FACED having an unpleasing face or aspect; ugly → 1590
► LANTERN-JAWED having a long, thin face, giving a hollow appearance to the cheeks → 1707
► LUMP-JAWED having a swollen face or jaw; having a prominent jaw → 1967 Amer. dial.
► LUMPY-JAWED having a swollen face or jaw; having a prominent jaw → 1967 Amer. dial.
► MAPLE-FACED having a spotted face → 1607 obs.
► MOON-FACED Japanese-faced → L19 Brit. sl.
► MOTLEY of someone’s face: dirty, smeared → 1899 Amer. dial.
► MUFFIN-FACED having a fat face, or a face with protruding muscles → M18 sl.
– having a foolish or expressionless face → M18 sl.
► MUTTON-FACED fat-faced → 1823 sl. (Bk.)
► NARROW-CHINED thin-faced → 1889 Eng. dial.
► PAEWAE of a person: pallid, white-faced, sickly; drooping, spiritless → 1898 Sc.
► PAPER-FACED having a thin or pale face → 1597
► PEW-WEW of a person: pallid, white-faced, sickly; drooping, spiritless → 1894 Sc.
► POKER-FACED without expression; showing a neutral mask → 1923 Amer. sl.
► POW-WOW of a person: pallid, white-faced, sickly; drooping, spiritless → 1739 Sc. obs.
► PUGGY resembling the face or nose of a monkey or pug-dog; having such a face or nose → 1722
► PUTTY-FACED having a colourless and expressionless face; white-faced: used contemptuously → 1826
► RADDLED of a face: much made-up → c1920 colloq.
► REEDENT red-faced → Bk1904 Eng. dial.
► RUBICUND of the face: reddish, flushed, especially as the result of good living; having a highly coloured complexion; red-faced → 1696
► SANGUINE red in the face → 1684
► SMOCK-FACED having a pale smooth face; effeminate-looking → 1693
► SMUG of the face: smooth, sleek → 1582
► SNOUT-FAIR having a fair countenance; fair-faced, comely, pretty, handsome, good-looking; in frequent use in the 16th and early 17th century, usually with some disparaging suggestion → 1530 obs.
► SUETY pale-faced → 1801
► SWINE-FACED having a face likened to that of a pig → 1595
► TALLOW-FACED having a pale, yellowish-white face → 1592
► THIN-CHOPPED small-faced → 1874 Eng. dial.
► THRAWN-FACED having distorted features; surly-faced → 1793 Sc.
NOUNS
► AIRS AND GRACES faces → L19 Brit. rhyming sl.
► ANLETH a person’s face or countenance; also, a person’s appearance or looks → 1000 obs.
► ANSINE a person’s face → a1200 obs.
► BACON-BONCE the face → 1950s UK juvenile sl.
► BACON-FACE a fat face; a person having a fat face → 1990 US sl.
► BEAK the nose; the face → Bk1911 Sc.
► BEEZER the nose; the face → 1990 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► BOAT (RACE) the face → 1958 UK rhyming sl.
► CADGING-FACE an expression designed to elicit sympathy → E19 sl.
► CHAMBER a person’s face → 1969 Amer. dial.
► CHART the face → 1900s US sl.
► CHEER the face → 1350 obs.
► CHERRY a blush; a red face → 2001 UK sl.
► CHITTY-FACE a term of reproach or contempt; a thin, pinched, or childish face; one who has a thin, pinched face; a puny child with a little face; a pitiful, wretched, sneaking fellow → 1601 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► CHUMP the head, the face → 1859 sl.
► CLOCK the face → 1918 sl.
► COUPON a person’s face or facial expression → 1962 Sc. colloq.
► CRAB FACE an ugly ill-tempered looking face → 1706 obs.
► DIAL the face → 1842 sl.
► DISHED FACE a face which appears slightly concave → 1878 Amer. dial.
► DISH FACE a face which appears slightly concave → 1898 Amer. dial.
► DOUGH FACE a face resembling dough in colour or appearance; a pale, plump, or bloated face → 1755
► DRUM (N’ BASS) the face → 2001 UK rhyming sl.
► EEK ► EKE the face → 1966 UK back slang (Ecaf)
► ESAFF the face → L19 back-slang
► FACE LIKE A BAGFUL OF SPANNERS, A a face hard and rough; applied mostly to women → 1975 sl.
► FACE LIKE A BAG OF ARSES, A an ugly face → 2003 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A BAG OF SPANNERS, A a hard and rough face; mostly used when describing a woman → 1975 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A BULLDOG, A an ugly face; chiefly applied to a girl or woman → 2003 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A BULLDOG CHEWING A WASP, A an ugly face; chiefly applied to a girl or woman → 2003 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A BULLDOG LICKING PISS OFF A NETTLE, A an ugly face; chiefly applied to a girl or woman → 2003 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A BULL’S BUM, A a very ugly face → 2000s NZ sl.
► FACE LIKE A FESTERING PICKLE, A a face that is covered in severe acne → 2000s NZ sl.
► FACE LIKE A LEPER LICKING PISS OFF A THISTLE, A an ugly face; chiefly applied to a girl or woman → 2003 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A MILKMAN’S ROUND, A a long face → c1950 sl.
► FACE LIKE AN ABANDONED QUARRY, A a very ugly face → 2000s NZ sl.
► FACE LIKE A SCRUBBED HAMMOCK, A a pale, sour-looking face → c1920 Royal Navy usage
► FACE LIKE A SEA-BOOT, A a long-drawn ‘fathom of misery’; a miserable or glum face → c1930 sl.
► FACE LIKE A SLAPPED ARSE, A a very miserable-looking countenance → 1999 UK sl.
► FACE LIKE A YARD OF PUMP-WATER, A a ‘long’ face; a miserable or glum face → 20C colloq.
► FACE OF CLAY, THE a solid, immovable countenance → 1895 Eng. dial.
► FACE THAT WOULD STOP A CLOCK, A a very ugly face → 1891 Amer. sl.
► FACIES the face, countenance → 1611 humorous usage, obs.
► FARDRY the act of painting the face, the effect produced by this → c1430 obs.
► FARE the countenance, the face → Bk1900 Eng. dial..
► FASHION face, features → c1300 obs.
► FATCHA the human face → 1996 sl.
► FAVOUR the face, countenance → 1525 arch.
► FAX the face → 1522 obs., derisive usage
► FIGURE-HEAD the face → 1826 nautical sl.
► FIZ ► FIZZ the face → Bk1942 Amer. sl.
► FIZZOG the face; the expression on the face → 1811 UK sl.
► FRIDAY-FACE a grave, dismal, or gloomy expression of the countenance; a gloomy, dejected-looking or miserable-looking man or woman → 1592 obs.
► FUCATION a painting the face; hence, a giving a false semblance or appearance → 1612 obs.
► GAME FACE one’s public face → 1980s US Black sl.
► GIGGLEMUG an habitually smiling face → Bk1909 sl.
► GLASS CASE a face → M19 rhyming sl.
► GLOSSINS flushings in the face → 1825 Sc.
► GRILL the face; the front teeth → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► GROIN a face → 1460 obs.
► GRUNTLE the face of a man → 1508 Sc.
► HAFFET the temple; the side of the face; generally used in plural → 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► HALE (AND PACE) the face → 2002 UK rhyming sl.
► HALF-CHEEK a face in profile, a side-face → 1588 obs.
► HALF-FACE a thin face → 1595
► HATCHET-FACE a narrow and very sharp face → 1650-66
► INDEX the face → 1818 sl.
► INDOOR FACE the face of one not exposed to the weather → 1895 Eng. dial.
► JACK-KNIFE FACE a thin, pointed face → M19 US sl.
► JIB the face → Bk1896 sl.
► KABEEZER the face → 1960s US sl.
► KIP the face → 1990s Sc.
► KISSER the face → 1892 sl.
► KNOCKER-FACE an ugly face, like an old-fashioned knocker; an ugly-faced person → c1870 sl.
► LEER the face, countenance; hence, look or appearance of the face and skin, hue, complexion → a700 obs.
► LUSH MUSH a pretty face → Bk1942 US sl.
► MAG a face → 1899 sl.
► MALMSEY-FACE a face inflamed by drink → 1611
► MAP the face → 1908 sl.
► MAPLE FACE a spotted face → 1633 obs.
► MARRIAGE FACE a miserable face → L19 UK middle class usage
► MASARD ► MAZARD ► MAZZARD the face; hence, the nose → 1602
► MASK the face, without any kind of disguise → Bk1905 Eng. dial.
► MEASLE-FACE a face covered with red pimples → 1806 Eng. dial.
► MOEY ► MOOE ► MOOEY the face → 1859 sl.
► MOOSH ► MOUSH the human face → 1859 US criminals’ sl.
► MOP a person’s face → 1966 Amer. dial.
► MUD-FACE one whose facial features are always cloudy in expression; a person’s face → 1966 Amer. dial.
► MUFFIN-COUNTENANCE an expressionless face → 1777 Brit. sl.
– a hairless face → 1823 Brit. sl.
► MUFFIN-FACE a foolish or childish face; an expressionless face → 1777 Brit. sl.
– a hairless face → 1823 Brit. sl.
► MUG a face, esp. an unattractive one → 1708 sl.
► MUNS the jaws, the jowls, the face → 1667 chiefly Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MUSEAU a person’s face → 1816 chiefly literary usage
► MUSH the face or mouth → 1790 colloq., orig. Aust. & US
► MUZZLE the nose, mouth, and chin of the human face → 1450 chiefly offensive or humorous usage
► NAPPER a face → 1901 sl.
► NEB the face → c897 obs.
– a woman’s face → 1698 sl.
► NEBSHAFT countenance, face → a1225 obs.
► NIB the mouth; the face → 1889 sl. (Bk.)
► NOVICES CHASE the face → Brit. rhyming sl.
► PAN a person’s face → c1886 US sl.
► PHIZ the face → 1688 arch. sl.
► PHIZIOG the face → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PHIZOG ► PHYSOG the face; the expression on the face → 1811 UK sl.
► PHIZOGOMY the face → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PHYSCOGNAMY the face → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PHYSIOGNOMY the face or countenance → 17C colloq.
► PHYSMAHOGANY the face → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PLAQUE the human face → 1940s Irish sl.
► POKER FACE an expressionless face; neutral mask → 1885 Amer. sl.
► PONUM the face or head → L19 Aust. sl.
► PUMPKIN-FACE a round face with no expression on it → 1881
► PUNIM the face → 1965 Jewish usage
► PUSS a person’s face or mouth → 1844 sl.
► RACK FACE lines on your face left from a blanket, sheet, or pillow → 1996 US sl.
► REWARD an aspect, a look; the face → 1790 Eng. dial. obs.
► RICH-FACE a red face → c1696 sl.
► ROACH-AND-DACE the face → Bk1903 rhyming sl.
► RUM PHIZ ► RUM PHYZ an odd face or countenance → c1780 sl.
► SATIN AND LACE the face → 1998 UK rhyming sl.
► SIDE-FACE the human face in profile → 1696
► SIGNBOARD the face → c1870 sl.
► SMOCKFACE a pale and smooth or effeminate face; a person having such a face → 1605
► SNOUT-PIECE the nose; the face → 1621
► SPLATTER-FACE a broad flat face → 1707 obs.
► SUET FACE a face of a pale complexionless appearance → 1897
► TALLOW-FACE a pale, yellowish-white face; hence a person having such a face; a term of contempt → 1592 obs.
► TANSY-FACE a freckled face → 1972 Sc.
► TODDY BLOSSOM a red face caused by the bursting of blood vessels through excessive long-term drinking → 19C sl.
► TORN FACE a sulky, peevish face; a person with a sulky, peevish face → 1968 Sc.
► UGLY PLUG an ugly face → 19C US sl.
► WRONG FOUNT an ugly human face → 1933 printers’ sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE a white-faced person → Bk1921 sl.
► BABY-FACE a person with a smooth rounded face like a baby’s → 1726
► BACON-FACE a fat face; a person having a fat face → 1990 US sl.
► BAMSEY a fat, red-faced woman → Bk1873 Eng. dial.
► BAWHEAD a person with a large round face; also, a stupid person; frequently used as a term of mild abuse → 1985 Sc. colloq.
► BEER BOTTLE a stout, red-faced man → Bk1909 UK sl.
► BROCKIE a person with a dirty face → Bk1908 Sc.
► BROOKIE a child having a dirty face → Bk1908 Sc.
► CALF’S HEAD a white-faced man with a large head → c1860 sl.
► CHITTY-FACE a term of reproach or contempt; a thin, pinched, or childish face; one who has a thin, pinched face; a puny child with a little face; a pitiful, wretched, sneaking fellow → 1601 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► CHUCKIE-CHEEKS a full-faced child → 1879 Sc.
► FACE-PAINTER one who applies paint to the face → 1847
► FURROW-FACE a person who has a wrinkled face → 1621 obs.
► HALF-FACED GROAT a contemptuous term for a thin-faced man → 1595
► HATCHET FACE a person having a long, narrow face with sharp features, and often with a severer or hostile expression → 1855
► LENTEN-CHAPS a term of contempt for a person with lean visage → 1622 obs.
► MONKEYFACE a person with a monkey-like face → 1936 Amer. sl.
► MOON-FACE a person with a very round face → Bk1988 Aust. sl.
► MUD-FACE one whose facial features are always cloudy in expression; a person’s face → 1966 Amer. dial.
► MUFFLE CHOPS a person with a swollen face or with a full lower face → 1904 Amer. dial.
► NUTCRACKER FACE one with a thin, sharp face → Bk1942 Amer. sl.
► PALEFACE a person whose face is pale as a result of fear, shock, cowardice, etc. → 1797 obs.
► POKER FACE a person whose face is usually expressionless → 1885 Amer. sl.
► PRETTY FACE a person with a pretty face; also, a term of endearment → 1675
► SCONEFACE a nickname for a person or thing with a flat, round face → 1933 Sc.
► SCRAPIT-FACE a person with a thin, haggard face → Bk1904 Sc.
► SMOCKFACE a pale and smooth or effeminate face; a person having such a face → 1605
► SNEAKBILL a term of contempt; a mean, paltry, or sneaking fellow; a starved or thin-faced person → 1562 obs.
► SPLATTER-FACE a broad-faced man or woman → B1900 obs.
► SWINE FACE ► SWINE’S FACE a person having a face likened to that of a pig; a term of abuse or contempt → 1567
► TALLOW-FACE a pale, yellowish-white face; hence a person having such a face; a term of contempt → 1592 obs.
PHRASES
► CHRISTENED WITH PUMP-WATER said of a red-faced girl or boy → 1891
VERBS
► CHANGE SOMEONE’S FACE to beat and disfigure someone’s face → 1896 Amer. sl.
► DARKLE of the face, etc.: to become dark with anger, scorn, etc. → 1800
► FAKE UP to paint one’s face → c1870 theatrical usage
► FALLOW of the face, etc.: to blanch, to grow pale → c1205 obs.
► FARCE to paint the face → c1400 obs.
► FARD to paint the face with ‘fard’; to hide defects and improve the complexion → a1450 obs.
► MAKE MAWMS to make faces → Bk1905 Eng. dial.
► MANTLE of the face: to be suffused with glowing colour; to flush → 1707
► MUZZLE to muffle, veil , or mask the face; to provide a person with a veil or mask → 1450 obs., chiefly Sc.
Lexicophilia 