splice n.
1. (also splicing) the act or institution of marriage.
Post Captain (1813) 30: What an infernal splice! What a damnable sacrifice! | ||
Memoirs of a Griffin II 31: ‘It’s all up with him,’ said the caustic old bachelor captain [...] ‘as dead a case of splice as I ever saw’. | ||
Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Jan. 3/1: [H]e acted the part of a fond Papa, / When the splice came off. | ||
Cornhill Mag. Jan. 54: But till the splice is made she’s a right to please herself . | ||
Sevenoaks 303: I’m a little interested in her myself and I’m going to pay for the splice . | ||
Marvel 6 June 15: It’s Blinker’s silver splicin’. | ||
Guardian Weekend 3 July 53: Five couples who have toppled like twentysomething dominoes to the old Splicing Machine. |
2. one’s wife.
Lawrie Todd I Pt II 91: That ’ere young woman, my niece – she ben’t five-and-twenty – she’ll make a heavenly splice! | ||
Clockmaker III 101: And there sets his young wife [...] a-watchin’ of him. Ain’t she a heavenly splice, that? | ||
, , | Sl. Dict. |
In phrases
to get married.
‘’Arry on Marriage’ Punch 29 Sept. 156/1: Lor’ bless yer, if I did a splice / D’yer think I should be so much sought for, or found arf as jolly and nice? |