FAVOURITE
ADJECTIVES
► CRACK favourite; also, celebrated, famous → 1835 Amer. sl.
► FAV ► FAVE favourite → 1938 sl., orig. US
► WHITE of a person: precious; dear, beloved, favourite → c1460
► WHITE-HAIRED favourite; darling → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WHITE-HEADED favourite; darling → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
NOUNS
► AGATE, THE the favourite, the most admired → 20C Aust. sl.
► BEST-GOODEST a favourite → 1948 Amer. dial.
► DART one’s fancy or favourite → L19 Aust. sl.
► EVERGREEN a perennial favourite, esp. a song → 1940s Amer. sl.
► FAV ► FAVE a favourite → 1938 orig. US
► FAVE RAVE a favourite piece of music, film, musician, etc. → 1967 sl., orig. US
► GLASSY, THE the favourite, the most admired → 20C Aust. sl.
► GLASSY AGATE, THE the favourite, the most admired → 20C Aust. sl.
► GLASSY ALLEY, THE the favourite, the most admired → 20C Aust. sl.
► PEA the favourite, one’s choice → 1888 sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► A1 a first-class person; the best; the favourite → M19 sl.
► ALIE a pet, a favourite → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► BENJAMIN the youngest, and consequently, favourite, son of a family → 1913
► BLUE-EYED BOY a favoured or favourite man or boy → 1924 Amer. sl.
► CANDY a showy, stylish person; a dandy; a fine fellow; a favourite → 1935 Amer. dial.
► CHUCKABOO a favourite chum → 1909 (Bk.)
► COSSET a spoiled child or pet; a favourite, a darling → 1816 Amer. dial.
► DAUTIE ► DAWTIE ► DAWTY a person caressed or indulged; a darling, a pet, a favourite; a term of affection → 1676 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► DEARLING a darling, a pet, a favourite → 1715 obs.
► DILLING a child born when the parents are old; a darling or favourite child, a pet; the youngest of the family, the last born; a term of endearment → 1584 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► DOTE a dear or loved one; a darling, a pet, a favourite; often used as a term of endearment or form of address, esp. for a child → 1809 Ireland
► DOTEY a dear or loved one; a darling, a pet, a favourite; often used as a term of endearment or form of address, esp. for a child → 1663
► EYE-APPLE a favourite or cherished person → 1549
► EYEBALL ► EYEBALLS someone precious or dear; one’s favourite person → 1952 Amer. dial.
► FAIR-HAIRED BOY a favoured or favourite man or boy; one who can, in supportive eyes, do no wrong → 1909 Amer. sl.
► FANCY-MAN a favourite or favoured fellow; a best friend → 1821 Amer. sl., esp. nautical usage
► FAVOUR the object of favour; a favourite → 1387 obs.
► FEDDLE ► FEDILL one who is made much of; a pet, a favourite, a darling → a1400 obs.
► LITTLE SOCK a favourite child or young pet → 1869
► MAIN MELLOW one’s most favoured person, usually a lover or most intimate same-sex friend → 1920s sl., orig. US
► MAIN PIECE one’s most favoured person, usually a lover or most intimate same-sex friend → 1920s sl., orig. US
► MAIN SQUEEZE one’s most favoured person, usually a lover or most intimate same-sex friend; a close friend; a sweetheart; a favourite sexual partner → 1920s sl., orig. US
► MAM’S FOUT the mother’s favourite child; a spoiled, petted child → 1905 Sc. & Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MAM’S PET the mother’s favourite child; a spoiled, petted child → 1721 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MINNIE’S-BAIRN the mother’s favourite → 1903 Sc. (Bk.)
► MINNIE’S-DAWTIE the mother’s favourite → 1903 Sc. (Bk.)
► MINNOCK a favourite, or darling → 1848 (Bk.)
► MOPPET a baby; a young child, esp. a girl; a darling, a favourite, a pet; often as a term of endearment → 1601
► MOTHER’S DARLING a favoured or favourite child; also one who is excessively influenced by, or attached to, his mother → 1592
► NESTLE-BIRD n. the youngest child of a family; a pet, a favourite; one who is fond of staying at home → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NESTLE-BUB the youngest child of a family; a pet, a favourite; one who is fond of staying at home → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NESTLE-COCK the youngest child of a family; a pet, a favourite; one who is fond of staying at home → 1691 Eng. dial.
► NINGLE a close male friend or favourite; a confidant; also (derogatory), a subservient lover, especially a homosexual one → 1602 obs.
► NUMBER-ONE SQUEEZE one’s most favoured person, usually a lover or most intimate same-sex friend → 1920s sl., orig. US
► POSSUM BABY a favourite child → 1991 Amer. dial.
► SAMMY a term of endearment; a favourite → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SOCK a favourite child or young pet → 1840
► SON OF A WHITE HEN a fortunate person or thing; a favourite child → 1540
► WHITE HEN’S CHICKEN a mother’s favourite → 1974
► WHITE SON a beloved or favourite son; a boy or man who is specially favoured or indulged → 1539 obs.
► WHITE-HAIRED BOY a favoured or favourite man or boy; a pet → 1869 Amer. dial.
PHRASES
► THE SUN SHINES OUT OF HIS ARSE he is wonderful, perfect, or the favourite → 2007 UK sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
► BE A PERSON’S MUTTONS to be a person’s preferred or favourite thing; to be a person’s strong point → 1940 NZ colloq.
► BE FIRST OARS WITH to be a favourite with → 1774 colloq.
► FAVOURITIZE to practice favouritism → 1861
Lexicophilia 