Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. sexual intercourse with the woman taking the superior position; thus ride (a) rantipole, to have intercourse in this position; also as adj., sexually ardent.

1655		Mercurius Fumigosus 43 21–28 Mar. 339: The Women are ever since so rantipoll, that their Husbands cannot sleep in quiet for them; they being so lusty.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Rantipole. [...] To Ride Rantipole, the same as Riding St George.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: To ride rantipole; the same as riding St. George.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1788].
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1896		Omaha Dly Bee (NE) 26 Aug. 4/6: Rantipole - Now see here! If I can persuade you that your tooth doesn’t ache at all, you ought to feel relieved, oughtn’ you? Jolterhead - I suppose so.
1980		Maledicta IV:2 (Winter) 198: If she assumes the superior position, they are said to be riding rantipole, with the dragon on Saint George – a position which is said to favour the begetting of bishops.

2. a ‘rude, romping boy or girl’ (Grose, 1785); also as adj.; thus rantipolish adj.

1653		Mercurius Democritus 2-9 Feb. 338: Are ye so Rantipole with a P— P— P— P— to ye? [...] Democritus will teach you what ’tis to rise up in rebellion against your Husbands, your Supream Heads and Governor.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Rantipole, a rude Wild Boy or Girl.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1730		J. Miller Humours of Oxford V i: Couldst thou not learn [...] who it is that the Rantipole is going to marry.
1764		K. O’Hara Midas I iii: Ye rantipoles – is’t thus you mind your spinning?
1771		Foote Maid of Bath in Works (1799) II 205: Where is this rakehelly rantipole?
1773		‘Geoffrey Wildgoose’ Spiritual Quixote II Bk viii 240: ‘Gad-zookers!’ says he, ‘these Welsh people are all mad, I think; I never heard such rantipole doings since I was born.’.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Rantipole, a rude romping boy or girl; also a gadabout dissipated woman.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Rantipole. Riotous. Irregular.
1800		G. Colman Yngr Heir at Law I i: Dick be a little rantipolish, but as generous a lad—.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
1822		C. Dibdin Yngr Larks of Logic, Tom and Jerry III Viii: I and my husband, and da’ter, Sir, are quite agreeable to look over your rantipole doings, for it was plain to see you vas a little rum-ti-tum or so.
1830		W.H. Williams Wreck II ii: Have you seen anything of my rantipole husband, Mr. Amos, this afternoon?
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn) 198: RANTIPOLE, a wild noisy fellow.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. 211: RANTIPOLL, a noisy, rude girl, a ‘mad-cap.’.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 65: Rantipoll, a noisy, rude girl.

3. a prostitute.

1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy I 6: Good b’ye to the Change, / Where Rantipoles range.
1728		Vanbrugh & Cibber Provoked Husband V i: In comes my Lady Townly here [...] with another rantipol Dame of Quality.
1733		Cibber Harlot’s Progress 9: I’ll make such a Rout, / And top all the Rantipole Girls of the Town.
1787		R. Tyler Contrast III i: There was a poor, good-natured curse of a husband, and a sad rantipole of a wife.
1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn).
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.