E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bones.
The man who rattles or plays the bones in nigger troupes.
1
To make no bones about the matter, i.e. no difficulty, no scruple. Dice are called “bones,” and the French, flatter le dé (to mince the matter), is the opposite of our expression. To make no bones of a thing is not to flatter, or “make much of,” or humour the dice in order to show favour.
2
Napier’s bones. (See under NAPIER.)
3
Without more bones. Without further scruple or objection. (See above, “Make no bones,” etc.)
