Christmas n
1 Something used in celebrating Christmas. chiefly Sth, S Midla A gift. 1857 in 1945 Easterby SC Rice Plantation 136, Joe and Will went to Waverly to see Christmas given out to the negroes there. 1895 DN 1.386 wFL, Christmas: . . a Christmas gift. 1905 DN 3.74 nwAR, Christmas. . . Christmas present. ‘Ask the express agent if my Christmas has come in yet.’ Not common. b Whiskey.1895 DN 1.386 wFL, Christmas . . anything used in celebrating Christmas; e.g. fireworks or potables. 1908 DN 3.298 eAL, wGA, Christmas. . . Whisky especially in the Christmas egg-nog. “Has it got enough Christmas in it?” 1915 DN 4.225 wTX, Christmas. . . Whiskey. “Has this pie got any Christmas in it?” 1952 Brown NC Folkl. 1.527, Christmas. . . Liquor—usually a supply supposedly for the Christmas holidays. c Fireworks. 1895 [see 1b above]. 1905 DN 3.74 nwAR, Christmas. . . Fireworks. ‘My brother buys his Christmas every year.’ Common.
2 Payday; the day on which one receives something.1927 AmSp 3.24 eTX [Sawmill talk], On payday “the ghost walks” or it is “Christmas.” 1968 Adams Western Words , Christmas—What the logger calls payday.
3 in var phrr indicating slowness or expressing impatience at having to wait: See quots. chiefly Sth, S Midl See Map1884 Harrison Negro Engl. 270 SE, Tell [=till] Cris’mus = indefinite time. 1903 DN 2.309 seMO, Christmas is coming. . . An expression of impatience at delay. 1907 DN 3.229 nwAR, seMO, . . “Git a wiggle on you, Christmas is coming.” 1942 McAtee Dial. Grant Co. IN 18 IN, MO (as of 1890s), “Christmas is coming”, expression of impatience at delay; “_____ and so are you”. 1951 PADS 15.65 cwNH (as of 1920–30), Christmas, so’s: phr. Slowness is implied in this retort to the expression, “I’m comin’.” 1952 Brown NC Folkl. 1.384, Christmas. . . As slow as Christmas. 1965–70 DARE (Qu. A18, . . A very slow person) 28 Infs, chiefly Sth, S Midl, Slow as Christmas; GA73, 80, As slow as Christmas; TX42, Just like Christmas; NC62, Slow as Christmas coming; FL51, NC11, Slower than Christmas.