A Collection of Insults, Care of Captain Mirvan

Our favorite century was, by no means, well behaved.  Yet the language and culture of the time put a certain panache on describing things of a bawdy or crass nature.  Take for example this small except from Rambler's Magazine, 1823 about discovering two people in compromising positions: "What he did behind the lady, we do not pretend to know; but this we know, that he had not any business there with his friend's wife."  Dare I proclaim that curses and insults were more works of art than they are now? Perhaps that is simply due to their exotic nature.

Those who are reading or have read Fanny Burney's Evelina know that the character of Captain Mirvan is not short of insults for the high-strung Frenchwoman Madame Duval.  Being a member of the British Navy one might expect the Captain to have a mouth on him, although the saying back then was He/She "swears like Lady Lade" rather than a sailor.  I've been quite enjoying his insults and name-calling so I thought I would arrange a collection here for everyone's enjoyment and use.

Frog- French. A term derived from impoverished people's habit of eating frogs. Letter 14
Spark- a boyfriend or suitor. Letter 16
Beldame- When used in condensation, an old witch. Letter 16
Trumpery- "Showy but unsubstantial apparel; worthless finery." (OED) Letter 16
Draggle-tailed- "A woman whose skirts are wet, and draggled, or whose dress hangs about her untidily and dirty; a slut." (OED) Letter 19
Mrs. Turkey-Cock Letter 21
Canaille- The mob, commoners. Letter 23
Dish-clout- dish cloth. Vol 2 Letter 2
Dangler- "One who hangs or hovers about a woman,; a dallying follower." (OED) Vol 3, Letter 15
Bantling- "A young or small child, a brat." (OED) Vol 3, Letter 18
Old Tabby- Old lady. Vol 3, Letter 21