Billingsgate Pheasant

a red herring or bloater. This is also called a “two-eyed steak.” Billy , a silk pocket-handkerchief.— Scotch. — See WIPE . ⁂ A list of slang terms descriptive of the various patterns of handkerchiefs, pocket and neck, is here subjoined:— Belcher , darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot in the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his “colours,” and soon became popular amongst “the fancy.” Bird’s-eye wipe , a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird’s-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the centre. Sometimes a BIRD’S-EYE WIPE has a white ground and blue spots. Blood-red fancy , red. Blue Billy , blue ground, generally with white figures. Cream fancy , any pattern on a white ground. King’s man , yellow pattern on a green ground. Randal’s man , green, with white spots; named after the favourite colours of Jack Randal, pugilist. Water’s man , sky coloured. Yellow fancy , yellow, with white spots. Yellow man , all yellow.