1856 Wash. Sentinel (DC) 12 July 2/6: Six half-horse, half-alligator men from Kentucky [...] will put to flight all the loud-talking, spread-eagle Free-soilers and Abolitionists.at half-horse, half-alligator, adj.
1856 Wash. Sentinel (DC) 17 May 1/3: A formidable instrument used by thieves in New York, and termed a ‘knuckleduster’.at knuckleduster, n.
1856 Wash. Sentinel (DC) 12 July 2/6: Six half-horse, half-alligator men from Kentucky [...] will put to flight all the loud-talking, spread-eagle Free-soilers and Abolitionists.at spreadeagle, adj.