science n.
1. constr. with the.
(a) (UK Und.) stealing, pickpocketing.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Street Robberies Considered 12: I was full fourteen before I attempted any thing noble in the Science, as they Term it. |
(b) boxing or fencing, esp. the former.
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | N.-Y. Eve. Post 17 Aug. 2/1: The writer of a communication signed ‘Mendoza,’ giving an account of a boxing-match yesterday, on board of a ship, while on her way down the bay, must excuse us. Our readers take no interest in the science of boxing. | |
| Jack Randall’s Diary 63: If not science, I at least am bottom. | |
| N.-Y. Eve. Post 4 June 2/4: He happened to be a stout two-fisted captain of a ship, with a little knowledge of the science, and so placed his blows upon their knobs, that in almost a twinkling of an eye, two or three of them found themselves sprawling in the gutter. | |
| ‘The Randy Mot of Oxford Street’ in New Cockalorum Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) II 12: If other mots get on her beat / Good science she can show. | |
| Sthn Pioneer (Carrolton, MS) 20 Feb. 1/5: After having been ‘laid out’ ten or a dozen times by the superior ‘science’ and size of O’Whack, the major [...] put spurs to his nag. |
2. (W.I. Rasta) obeah, witchcraft; thus science v., to cast a malign spell on someone.
| Catch a Fire 50: Somebody science ’im [...] put duppy on ’im bwai. | |
| Yardie 61: It seemed like the old science that had saved him many times in the past was still working. | |
 | ‘Patois Dict.’ www.dancehallareaz.com 🌐. |
3. information, knowledge.
| Black Talk. | |
| Source Oct. 83: What’s the science behind the title of the new album. | |
| ? (Pronounced Que) [ebook] ‘Where are you?’ [...] ‘In VA beach. What’s the science?’. |
In derivatives
pertaining to boxing.
| [ | | Kentish Gaz. 9 May 4/1: The mode of their fighting was scientific: the former stood boldly up, and stopped the blows of his adversary]. |
| Dublin Eve Post 11 Feb. 3/3: A Peep at the Amusements of the Lyceum London, or the Scientific Art of defence, by D. Mendoz\. | |
| Commercial Advertiser (N.Y.) 19 May 2/5: Our readers are not used to such scientific expressions as — ‘close-enough-in’ — ‘giving a rattler on the chest’ — ‘hit well left and right, and one of his peepers queered’ — ‘giving a hit which crimsoned well,’ &c. &c. |
in a manner pertaining to boxing.
| Morning Courier and N.-Y. Enquirer 25 Feb. 2/2: The Fancy. — Yesterday two ragamuffin colored ‘gemmen of the ring’ [staged a fight in the street] [...] the principals, seconds, and stakeholder (a white man) were lodged in quod, or less scientifically speaking, in Bridewell. |
In phrases
(US black) to demonstrate wisdom or skill.
| ‘My Melody’ 🎵 I drop science like a scientist, My melody’s in a code. [...] Just turn it on and start rockin, mind no introduction. / Til I finish droppin science, no interruption. | |
| Love Is a Racket 101: It was heavy science Nellis was dropping. | |
| Guardian Guide 15–21 Jan. 28: Largin’ his oneness and droppin’ his sick science over the last fortnight. [Ibid.] 18–24 Mar. 28: All we need to do is drop some science on some fat corporate skeeze, bag the money and then drop out on the way to Heathrow. | |
| ‘Fuck Your Ethnicity’ 🎵 Dropping that science like an alchemist, and I be kicking that ass. |