Sim, subs. (Cambridge University).—A Simeonite, or member of the Evangelical section of the Church of England; a Low Churchman. The modern equivalent is Pi-man. [The Rev. Charles Simeon (1759-1836) was 54 years Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge]: Grose (1785).
1826. W. W. Todd, The Sizar's Table [Whibley, Cap and Gown, 109]. Some carnally given to women and wine, Some apostles of Simeon all pure and divine.
1851. Bristed, Eng. Univ., 39. While passing for a terribly hard-reading man, and a Sim of the straightest kind with the 'empty bottles.'
Simkin. See Simpkin and Simple.
'Simmon, See Persimmon.
Simon, subs. (Old Cant).—1. Sixpence:
see Rhino (B. E.; Hall,
1714; Grose).
1885. Household Words, 20 June, 155. The old joke . . . about St. Peter's banking transaction, when he "lodged with one Simon a tanner." And this reminds us that simon is also a slang term for sixpence, and may possibly owe its origin to this play upon the other word.
2. (circus).—A trained horse.
3. (King Edward's School, B'gham).—A cane: obsolete. [See Acts ix. 43.]
Simon Pure, subs. phr. (old).—The
genuine article: also as adj.
1717. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for a Wife. Dram. Pers. Simon Pure. [See Act v. 1.]
1785. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Lyric Odes, x. [Wks. (Dublin, 1795), i. 90]. Flattery's a mountebank so spruce—gets riches; Truth, a plain Simon Pure, a Quaker Preacher.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, lvi. A young seafaring man came forward.—"Here," proceeded the counsellor, "is the real Simon Pure"
1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, xvii. Fearing every moment the arrival of the real Simon Pure should cover me with shame and disgrace.
1871. Spectator, 2 Dec, 'George Cruikshank.' Nagler, the author of the Kunstlerlexicon, studying the controversy about the Cruikshanks, read that 'George Cruikshank was the true Simon Pure' with the utmost gravity, therefore catalogued him as 'Pure (Simon),' calling himself George Cruikshank.
1879. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, xxv. I should like to see what you call the simon-pure American.
1883. Century, xxxvii., 337. The home of the Simon-pure wild horse is on the southern plains.
Simkpin (or Simkin), subs. (Anglo-Indian).—1.
Champagne. [A
native pronunciation.]
1885. J. W. Palmer, New and Old. A basket of simkin . . . behind the chariot.
1886. Sala [Ill. Lon. News, 24 July, 90]. There is a good deal of simpkin or champagne consumed in the three Presidencies.
2. (theatrical).—The fool in comic ballets.
See Simple.
Simple, subs. (old).—In pl. = folly
(B. E.), hence, as in proverb,
'To go to Battersea to be cut for
the simples' = to take means to
cure of foolishness (Battersea was
famous for its herb gardens.).
Also Simpleton (Simkin or
Simple Simon) = a credulous
person (B. E. and Grose):
'Simple Simon Suck-egg Sold
his wife for an addled duck-egg'
(Ray).
c.1710. Swift, Polite Conversation, i. Indeed, Mr. Neverout, you should be cut for the simples this morning.
1834. Southey, Doctor, cxxxvi. What evils might be averted . . . in the Lords and Commons by clearing away bile . . . and occasionally by cutting for the simples.
