3. _Colliers._ The preceding note explains how _colliers_ came to be a term of abuse. The _New Eng. Dict._ adds that it may have been due to "the evil repute of the collier for cheating." Steevens compares _T.N._ iii. 4. 130: "hang him, foul collier!"
4. _Choler._ For the play upon the word, cf. Jonson, _Every Man in his Humour_, iii. 2:--
"_Cash._ Why, how now, Cob? what moves thee to this cholar, ha?
_Cob._ Collar, master Thomas? I scorn your collar, I sir; I am none of your cart-horse, though I carry and draw water."
15. _Take the wall._ Claim the right of passing next the wall when meeting a person on the street; a right valued in old-fashioned streets with narrow sidewalks or none at all. To _give the wall_ was an act of courtesy; to _take the wall_ might be an insult.
17. _The weakest goes to the wall._ A familiar proverb.
28. _Here comes two_, etc. Halliwell-Phillipps remarks that the partisans of the Montagues wore a token in their hats to distinguish them from the Capulets; hence throughout the play they are known at a distance. Cf. Gascoigne, _Devise of a Masque, written for Viscount Montacute_, 1575:--
"And for a further proofe, he shewed in hys hat Thys token which the _Mountacutes_ did beare alwaies, for that They covet to be knowne from _Capels_, where they pass, For ancient grutch whych long ago 'tweene these two houses was."
39. _I will bite my thumb at them._ An insult explained by Cotgrave, _Fr. Dict._ (ed. 1632): "_Nique, faire la nique_, to threaten or defie, by putting the thumbe naile into the mouth, and with a ierke (from th' upper teeth) make it to knocke."
44. _Of our side._ On our side (_on = of_, as often).
55. _Here comes one_, etc. "Gregory may mean Tybalt, who enters directly after Benvolio, but on a different part of the stage. The eyes of the servant may be directed the way he sees Tybalt coming, and in the mean time Benvolio enters on the opposite side" (Steevens).
60. _Swashing blow._ A dashing or smashing blow (Schmidt). Cf. Jonson, _Staple of News_, v. 1: "I do confess a swashing blow." Cf. also _swash_ = bully, bluster; as in _A.Y.L._ i. 3. 122: "I'll have a martial and a swashing outside."
63. _Art thou drawn?_ Cf. _Temp._ ii. 1. 308: "Why are you drawn?" _Heartless_ = cowardly, spiritless; as in _R. of L._ 471, 1392.