thirteen adj.
SE in slang uses
In compounds
In phrases
(US navy) sexual intercourse.
 | Military Terms in http://www.combat.ws 🌐 thirteen-button salute: euphemism for when a sailor pulls down sharply on the upper corners of the fall front on his uniform breeches so as to quickly and fully expose his genitals, often to accommodate a powerful urge to urinate copiously, or to immediately satisfy a lustful desire. | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Shore Leave 24: [P]retending they were real sailors, lying through their teeth as they angled for a thirteen-button salute with a local girl. |
(UK prison) a three-month sentence.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | N. Devon Jrnl 8 Feb. 7/2: To get three months hard labour is more pleasantly described as getting thirteen clean shirts. | |
| Ithaca Jrnl (NY) 14 Oct. 10/1: In the 19th century, slang expressions such as [...] ‘thirteen clean shirts’ (three months in jail at the rate of a clean shirt per week) reinforced the belief that the number lacks charm or luck. | |
| Sl. and Its Analogues. | |
| Oakleigh Leader (Nth Brighton, Vic.) 3 Sept. 45/5: Thirteen clean shirts [...] three months hard labour. | |
| Manchester Eve. News 4 Aug. 5/4: ‘Thirteen clean shirts,’ was the answer given, sotto voce. | |
| Hull Dly Mail 7 Aug. 3/1: ‘It will mean thirteen clean shirts for me,’ said a man remanded at Marlborough-street Police Court [...] The police explained that this was the ‘technical’ term for three months or thirteen weeks imprisonment. | |
| Blefast News Letter 1 July 14/2: ‘Got thirteen clean shirts for a bit of finger smithing’. | |
| London Mercury 33 494: Slim Ben wiff thirteen clean shirts — three months in quod — and all ’acause ’e — Sweeny — called hot beef, set the cops on ’im for snatchin’. | |
| Coventry Eve. Teleg. 23 July 4/2: ‘Thirteen clean shirts’ [...] three months’ hard labour. |