1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack, 7. Many more are cut for the simples.
Simple Arithmetic. See Arithmetic.
Simple Infanticide, subs. phr.
(venery). Masturbation: see
Frig.
Simpson (or Simson), subs. (obsolete).—1.
Water: spec. when
used for diluting milk; hence,
Mrs. Simpson (or Simpson's
cow) = the pump; 'the cow with
the iron tail.' Whence (2) =
poor milk: see Sky-blue and
Chalkers.
1860. Holmes, Professor at the Breakfast Table. It is a common saying of a jockey that he is all horse, and I have often fancied that milkmen get a stiff upright carriage, and an angular movement, that reminds one of a pump and the working of a handle.
1871. Daily News, 17 Ap. He had, he stated on inquiry, a liquid called Simpson on his establishment.
1871. Standard, 11 May. Police Report. If they annoyed him again he would christen them with Simpson, which he did by throwing a can of milk over the police.
1872. Times, 24. Dec. Police Report. His master supplied wholesale dealers, who, he believed, watered it. That was called Simpson. Ibid. Witness generally milked the cows for himself, and then added Simpson at discretion.
1872. Standard, 25 Dec. Simpson is . . . universally accepted as the title for that combined product of the cow natural and the "cow with the iron tail."
1880. Punch, 31 Jan., 48. In the first rank of the Committee of Management of The Householders' Pure Milk Supply Assn. stands the name of our old friend Simpson—Simpson, who has so often milked the cow with the iron tail, that in the language of the milk walk he has become identified with the animal Simpson-Pump!
Sin, subs. (colloquial).—The Devil:
as the incarnation of evil.
1858. Pratt, Ten Nights in Bar-room, i. 1. I'll defy sin to say that I ever neglected my work.
Sinbad, subs. (nautical).—An old
sailor.
Sines, subs. (Winchester).—Bread:
a sines = a small loaf.
Sinews of war, subs. phr. (old).
Money: generic: see Rhino.
d.1626. Bacon, Works (Spedding), x. 324. The proverb . . . taken first from a speech of Mucianus, that moneys are the sinews of war.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, 1. xlvi. Coin is the sinews of war.
Sing, verb. (common).—To cry:
usually as a threat to a crying
child, 'I'll give you something to
sing for.'
Phrases.—To sing out = (1) to raise the voice; (2) to cry, or call out, from excess of emotion; and (3), see quot. 1815; to sing small = to lessen one's pretensions, to eat humble pie (Grose); to sing (or pipe) another song (or tune) = to modify one's conduct, manner, &c; to sing the same song = to repeat the weakness; to sing it = to exaggerate, to swagger, 'to chant the poker'; to sing out beef (thieves') = to call out 'stop thief!' (Grose). Also proverb, 'He could have sung well before he broke his left shoulder with whistling.' See Black Psalm; Placebo; Te Deum.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 'Friar's Tale.' Certes, lecchours, did he gretest wo; They sholde singen if that they were bent.
1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Franc. Synge out, chanter a playne voyx.
