E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Tuck.
A long narrow sword. (Gaelic, tuca, Welsh twca, Italian stocco, German stock, French estoc.) In Hamlet the word is erroneously printed “stuck,” in Malone’s edition.
1
“If he by chance escape your venomous tuck,
Our purpose may hold there.”
Act iv. 7.
A good tuck in or tuck out. A good feed. To tuck is to full, a tucker is a fuller. Hence, to cram. The fold of a dress to allow for growth is called a tuck, and a little frill on the top thereof is called a tucker. (Anglo-Saxon, tuc-ian.)
2
I’ll tuck him up. Stab him, do for him. Tuck is a small dirk used by artillerymen. (See above.)
