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Examples
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'If we had had what is vulgarly called a pi-jaw he'd have had hysterics.
A Diversity of Creatures Rudyard Kipling 1900
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When one lives in the wilds I am afraid that one often finds that this view is the right one, although it isn't very orthodox; but the pi-jaw which passes for religion seems deliberately calculated to disgust the natural man, who shows his contempt for the thing wholesomely as becomes him.
My War Experiences in Two Continents Betty Keays-Young [Editor] Salmon 1890
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Unusual or obsolete words: pi-jaw, foofaraw, anywhen
NPR Topics: News 2010
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Unusual or obsolete words: pi-jaw, foofaraw, anywhen
NPR Topics: News 2010
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Just because I mentioned his name to that policeman I had half an hour’s pi-jaw from the old lady.
Police at the Funeral Allingham, Margery, 1904-1966 1931
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Just because I mentioned his name to that policeman I had half an hour’s pi-jaw from the old lady.
Police at the Funeral Allingham, Margery, 1904-1966 1931
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"I can't talk pi-jaw -- on this subject or any other.
Charles Rex 1910
knitandpurl commented on the word pi-jaw
"The house was even darker then, with the shutters locked and shades made of cambric pulled down over the shelves of bottles and jars. I thought such pi-jaw hardly necessary. For most of my first week, the shop might just as well have been closed." (p 68)
September 26, 2007
reesetee commented on the word pi-jaw
Love it! Thanks, knitandpurl. I looked this up to see where it came from--not much info, but the definition is "moralizing or lecturing speech, esp. as addressed to a child by an adult." :-)
September 26, 2007
timboimbo commented on the word pi-jaw
From Ford Madox Ford's _Some Do Not..._, the first volume of _Parade's End_:
"I'll admit for the moment that you aren't give me pi-jaw."
"I'm glad," the priest said, "that ye remember eough of yer schooldays to use the old term." (35)
July 25, 2008
professorb commented on the word pi-jaw
From Maurice by E. M. Forster (said by a teacher to a student):
"Well, Hall, expecting a pi-jaw, eh?"
January 13, 2009