(B. E.) = 'a puny, sickly Creature.' Also (American) = lacking, in need of: as paint-sick, nail-sick: cf. home-sick, mother-sick, sleep-sick, &c. Likewise (venery) sitting up with a sick friend = an excuse for marital absence all night.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado, iii. 4, 44. Why, how now? Do you speak in the sick tune?
1626. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. 7. Such a sleep-sick Elf.
1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, ii. 3. I swear you'd make one sick to hear you.
1708-10. Swift, Polite Conv., i. Poor Miss, she's sick as a cushion, she wants nothing but stuffing.
1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vii. ii. I am sick as a horse, quoth I, already.
1870. Medbery, Men and Mysteries of Wall St. [Bartlett]. When brokers hesitate to buy there is said to be a sick market.
1888. D. News, 4 Dec. When the barrel came to his place from Burton it was in a very dull condition, and was what was known as sick.
1889. Rialto, 23 Mar. Even Kaffirs raised their sickly heads.
1867. Harper's Weekly, xxxiv. 554. My boats kinder giv' out. She ain't nothin' mor'n nail-sick, though.
1893. E. S. Sheppard, Counterparts, Intro. The Shelley [a boat], she lays down at it, sick of paint.
1895. Pocock, Rules of the Game, i. I've quit reading lest I should find myself in print. Makes me sick.
1897. Maugham, 'Liza of Lambeth, i. It gives me the sick.
1900. Kipling, Stalky and Co., 25. Keep your eye on King, and, if he gives us a chance, appeal to the Head. That always makes 'em sick.
1902. Headon Hill, Caged, xxxiv. You make me sick with your silly fears.
Sickener, subs. (common).—Too
much (even of a good thing); a
cause of disgust. Cf. Bellyful.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 180. Enough to have given a sickener to the inveterate stomachs of a regiment.
1818. Egan, Boxiana, I. 267. Ward's friends were now in high spirits, and the betting went forwards, as it was thought that Dan had received rather a sickener.
1827. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, i. 2. I took a favourable opportunity to insult him: this morning I gave him a sickener.
1884. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xxxii. But sometimes you will get a dreary sickener betwixt the Channel and the parallel where the steady breeze is picked up.
1889. Stevenson, Master of Ballantrae, ii. It was plain this lucky shot had given them a sickener of their trade.
Side, subs. (common).—Swagger
(q.v.); conceit: thus, to put on
side = to 'give oneself airs': Fr.
se hancher.
1878. Hatton, Cruel London, viii. ii. Cool, downy cove, who puts side on.
1880. Payn, Confid. Agent, xi. The captain sauntered up the mews, with a good deal of side on, which became a positive swagger as he emerged into the more fashionable street.
1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, xiii. He has proved a most apt pupil in the acquisition of what, in the slang of the day, is denominated side, which, translated into dictionary language, meaneth the conceit of the young.
1886-96. Marshall, Pomes [1897], 10. I'd no notion he be coming it with such a lot of side.
1895. Iota, Comedy in Spasms, i. Rugby boy, lately back from a seven years residence in England,—the possessor of unimpaired health, abounding side, but limited sentiment.
1901. Sp. Times, 27 April, 1, 4. Her belief that she moves in a 'classy' set, And the side . . . all are due to being badly bred.
Intj. (North Country).—Yes!
See Blanket; Best side; Blind side; Jack; Mouth; Pull; Right side; Seamy; Set; Shady; Shinny; Split; Wrong side.
