hedge, n.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hedge n.²

1. the pubic hair.

1867		Rosa Fielding 96: ‘So, now dearest Rosa,’ he continued directing his charger towards the gap in her pretty hedge.
2003		www.thepantsman.com 🌐 What is the go with sluts with hairy snatches?? I mean seriously, how hard is it to at least just trim the hedge once in a while?

2. (US, also lip hedge) a moustache.

1908		B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 28: That hedge was always a jinx to me.
1910		B. Fisher Mutt & Jeff 16 Nov. [synd. strip] I’ll shave off the hedge and see how it would look.
1917		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 1 June [synd. col.] All that stood between them and perfect health was their germ carrying lip hedge.
1920		T.A. Dorgan Indoor Sports 12 Aug. [synd. cartoon] The old boys combed six pounds of rice out of his hedge already.

3. (UK Und.) the crowd that gathers round illicit street traders or gamblers.

1943		W. Buchanan-Taylor Shake it Again in DSUE (8th edn).
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 187: Hedge Crowd around a street card sharp or street trader.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak.

hedge (off) (v.)

to run off, to escape.

1830		W.T. Moncrieff Heart of London III iii: How have you managed to hedge off from Old Stone’s! – finished your term?
1846		Swell’s Night Guide 121/2: Hedge off, slink off.
1873		Sl. Dict. 190: Hedge to get away from any dangerous spot. ‘We saw the slop coming, and hedged at once.’.
1890		Rogers & Durandeau [perf. Charles Coburn] ‘Come Where the Booze is Cheaper’ 🎵 Jenkins said we’d better ‘hedge’ this is the wrong shop for us.

hedge on the dyke (n.) [dyke is SE; there is no ref. to lesbianism]

the female pubic hair.

1890–1904

on the wrong side of the hedge [one lands off the road and in a field]

to be thrown from a coach, thus in any unfortunate situation.

1838		Leeds Times 5 May 4/2: Our neighbour B. keepsparticularly quiet whenever his worthy parent thus happens to get on the wrong side of the hedge.
1850		Morn. Post (London) 2 Jan. 2/2: I’m afraid the poor farmers are just now on the wrong side of the hedge.
1888		Stamford Mercury 3 Feb. 3/7: If any of the 85 were present who landed him on the wrong side of the hedge he should not blame them.
1894		G.F. Northall Folk-Phrases of Four Counties 26: To be on the wrong side of the hedge = To be badly situated in any circumstances.
1905		Tamworth Herald 10 June 8/3: John Bull and Mrs Bull [...] would not tolerate this state of things much longer, and any government which did not take some action would find itself on the wrong side of the hedge.
1912		Western Times 8 Nov. 9/2: Yes, the Opposition is [...] decidedly on the wrong side of the hedge.
1934		Hull Dly Mail 8 Mar. 11/3: People who were putting their pigs in the prok market [...] might think they are very astute, but in 18 months’ time they might be on the wrong side of the ehdge.