bang straw

See also: bang-straw

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

bang +‎ straw

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

bang straw (plural bang straws)

  1. (idiomatic, archaic) A farmer's servant, especially a thresher.
    • 1938 December, James Norman Hall, “The Cheerful Tortoise (Doctor Dogbody's Leg)”, in The Windsor Magazine‎, volume 89, number 528, page 9:
      Strange fastened it to his cane, for he fancied his little stick even on shipboard. With this he sprung onto the bulwark and roared out to Williams: 'I've not struck, sir! Tell your bloody bang-straws to try and hit my stick!'

References
  • [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811) “Bang straw”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. […], London: […] C. Chappell, […], →OCLC.
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