long ghost

English

Noun

long ghost (plural long ghosts)

1. (slang, archaic) A tall, thin person.

   Synonyms: beanpole, lamppost

   • 1833, anonymous author, Frank Orby, page 11:

     “Pray,” said Doctor Waldron, addressing Mrs. Green, “who is that little fubsy lady, with scarce a morsel of neck, and all covered with ribbands, pursued by that long ghost of a man in the Spanish dress?”

   • 1903, William Craig (of Invercargill, N.Z.), My Adventures on the Australian Goldfields (page 11)

     “Now, you long ghost with the bell-topper, what did you pay for that coat? It's a Houndsditcher!” The sally was greeted with laughter from all who heard it.

References

• John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary