whiting-mop

plural whiting-mops

1. UKobsoleteA young whiting.

   Chartley. Fear not, girl. Though I revel abroad o' days, I'll be with thee to bring o' nights, my little whiting mop.

   1996 [1638], Thomas Heywood, edited by Paul Merchant, Three Marriage Plays, Manchester University Press, The Wise Woman of Hogsdon, act I, scene II, page 48

   2 more examples

   ...his silence must be, that though he beare and understand himselfe wronged, yet he must be as dumbe as a Gudgeon or a Whiting mop: and though his mouth be shut...

   1869 [1620], John Taylor, Works of John Taylor the Water-Poet, The Spenser Society, "Taylors Travels to Prague in Bohemia", page 99

   Bustopha. [Reading.] The thund'ring seas whose wat'ry fire Washes the whiting-mops, The gentle whale, whose feet so fell Flies o'er the mountains' tops—

   1813 [1647], John Fletcher, The Works of Beaumont and Fletcher, volume Thirteen, Edinburgh: John Ballantyne and Co., Doig and Stirling, w:The Maid in the Mill, act II, scene I, page 199

2. UKobsoleteA pretty girl; a young or innocent woman.

   Camillo. If 'twere a fish-day, though you like it not, I could say I have a stomach, and would content myself With this pretty whiting-mop.

   1813 [1633], Philip Massinger, edited by W. Gifford, The Plays, 2nd edition, volume IV, London: G. & W. Nicol et al., The Guardian, act IV, scene II, page 207

   2 more examples

   Mistress Birdlime. I see bashful lovers, and young bullocks, are knocked down at a blow. Come, come, drink this draught of cinnamon-water, and pluck up your spirits; up with 'em, up with 'em. Do you hear? the whiting mop has nibbled.

   1830 [1604], Thomas Dekker, John Webster, The Works of John Webster, volume III, London: William Pickering, Westward Ho, act II, scene II, page 37

   The mightiest Whales are but his Play-fellows: Sharks are bis best Familiars, but (the more His grief) his pretty Whiting Mop's on shore...

   1641, Thomas Jordan, Pictures of Passions, Fancies, & Affectations, Poetically Deciphered in variety of Characters., London: Robert Wood, A Sea-man.