1697. Collier, Essays, 'Duelling.' If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.
1763. Foote, Mayor of Garratt, ii. Why lookye, Major Sturgeon, I don't much care for your poppers and sharps.
3. (American).—An expert.
c. 1889. Scientific Amer. [Century]. One entomological sharp, who is spoken of as good authority estimates the annual loss at 300,000,000 dols.
Adj. (B. E. c. 1696, and Grose). 'Subtil, ready, quick or nimble-witted, forward, of lively Apprehension; also Poor and Needy.'
Adv. (colloquial).—To the moment: e.g. 'I'll be there at five o'clock sharp.'
1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxvii. Captain Osborne . . . will bring him to the . . . mess at five o'clock sharp.
Mr. Sharp, phr. (traders').—A similar expression to 'two-pun-ten' (q.v.), to signify that a customer of suspected honesty is about. The shopman asks one of the assistants, in a voice loud enough to be generally heard, 'Has Mr. Sharp come in yet?' The signal is at once understood, and a general look-out kept (Hotten).
Sharp as the corner of a round table, phr. (common).—Stupid.
Sharp's the word! phr. (colloquial).—1. 'Of anyone very attentive to his own interest, and apt to take all advantage': sometimes with 'and quick's the motion' (Grose); also (2) a call to brisk movement, or ready obedience.
1706. Vanbrugh, Mistake [Old Dram., 448]. Sharp's the word [i.e., watchword].
1708-10. Swift, Polite Conversation, iii. Lady Answ. . . . They must rise early that would cheat her of her Money; Sharp's the Word with her; Diamonds cut Diamonds.
Sharp-and-Blunt, subs. phr.
(rhyming).—The female pudendum;
the cunt (g.v.): see
Monosyllable.
Sharp's Alley Bloodworms,
subs. phr. (old).—1. Beef
sausages; and (2) black puddings.
[A noted abattoir near Smithfield.]
Sharp-set, adj. phr. (B. E. and
Grose).—1. Hungry; (2) hard-driven.
1577. Stanihurst, Ireland, 19. So sharpe set as to eat fried flies, butterd bees, stued snailes.
1579-80. Lyly, Euphues [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 611. He has the following phrases that only just appeared in English . . . Clounish, sharp set . . .].
d. 1742. Somerville, Officious Messenger. The sharp-set squire resolves at last, Whate'er befall him, not to fast.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 58. My appetite was sharp-set for a comfortable meal.
Sharpshin, subs. (American).—The
smallest quantity.
1854. Kennedy, Swallow Barn [De Vere]. This inconsiderable claim—for it is not the value of a sharpshin.
Sharpshooter, subs. (American).—A
swift clipper-built schooner.
See Devil's Sharpshooters.
Sharp Stick, subs. phr. (American).—Persecution;
retribution.
1856. Western Scenes [De Vere]. If you stay much longer, the old man will be after you with a sharp stick, and I don't know what you'll do to keep him from killing you.
