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black books

To be in someone’s black books means to be out of favor with him. For example, if a young man says he is in his father’s black books, he means his father disapproves of him.

yard of tin

The horn, generally a yard or so long, used by the guard of a mail coach or stage coach to warn of approach and departure.

The print shown is a detail from “Quicksilver Royal Mail,” painted by James Pollard, engraved by C. Hunt, published by Ackermann and Co., 1835. From the book The Regency Road by N. C. Selway. You can see the guard standing on he back of the coach, blowing his yard of tin.

Pink of the Ton

Also Pink of Fashion. The term is generally applied only to males and refers to a man at the height of fashion. A dandy. Per the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue: “the top of the mode.”