Sentinel, subs. (Irish).—A wake candle; a glim (q.v.). Fr. une flambarde.
Sentry. On sentry, adv. phr. (common).—Drunk: see Screwed.
Sentry-box. Chelsea Hospital to a Sentry-box, phr. (old).—A fanciful bet.
1891. Lic. Vict. Mirror, 30 Jan., 7, 2. Tom's hit of the opening round, and led Aaron's friends to call out in their jubilation: "It's all your own, my boy; Chelsea Hospital to a sentry-box."
Sep, subs. (American cadet).—A cadet joining in September.
Separate, subs. (prison).—See quot. 1877.
1862. Cornhill Mag., vi. 640. [Criminals] count by many thousands . . . In prison and out of it . . . doing their separates at Pentonville and among the rocks of Gibraltar wherever they are they develop and increase criminal tendencies, and spread criminal knowledge.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, v. 333. A new large prison at Dartmoor, in which convicts could be confined in cells to do their separates, as the first eleven or twelve months' probationary imprisonment is termed.
Seraglietto, subs. (B. E., c. 1696).—"A lowly, sorry Bawdy-house, a meer Dog-hole."
Seraglio, subs. (B. E., c. 1696, and Grose, 1785).—"A Bawdy-house; also the Great Turk's Palace."
Serene. See All Serene.
Sergeant. See Come.
Sergeant-major, subs. phr. (butchers').—A fat loin of mutton.
Sergeant-major's brandy and soda, subs. phr. (military).—A gold-laced stable jacket.
Sergeant-major's wash cat, subs. phr. (cavalry).—(1) A new kit; and (2) the troop store-man.
Serpent. Stung by a serpent, phr. (old).—With child (Ray).
TO HOLD A SERPENT BY THE TAIL, verb. phr. (old).—To act foolishly.
Servant, subs. (venery).—1. A lover en parade; and (2) a STALLION (q.V.): cf. MISTRESS. Hence, service = copulation; TO serve = subagitare.
1369. Chaucer, Troilus, v. 1345. If any servaunt durst or oghte aryght Upon his lady pitously compleyne. Ibid. (c. 1387), Queen Annelida, 293. He was servaunt unto her ladyship . . . she had him at her oune will.
1595. Shakspeare, Two Gent. Verona, ii. 4. Too low a mistress for so high a servant. Ibid. (1605), Lear, iii. 4, 87. A serving man . . . that . . . served the lust of my mistress's heart, and did the act of darkness with her.
1609. Beaumont and Fletcher, Scornful Lady, v. 1 Was I not once your mistress, and you my servant?
1609. Jonson, Epicœne, ii. 2. Where the first question is—if her present servant love her? next, if she shall have a new servant? and how many.
1611. Chapman, May-Day, v. 2. A woman of good parts . . . helps maids to services, restores maidenheads, brings women to bed, and men to their bedsides. Ibid. (1612), Widow's Tears, ii. 4. Madam, I am still the same . . . not pressing to your bed but your pleasure shall be first known, if you will command me any service.
c. 1619. Field and Massinger, Fatal Dowry, ii. 2. The only distinction betwixt a husband and a servant is, the first will lie with you when he pleases, the last shall lie with you when you please.
1635. Davenant, News from Plymouth, ii. 1. He loves and honours ladies; for whose service He's still a ready champion.
