1626. Fletcher, Fair Maid of the Inn, iii. 1. The . . . suitors that attend to usher Their loves, sir-reverence, to your daughter.
1630. Taylor, Epig., 40. If to a foule discourse thou hast pretence, Before thy foule words name sir-reverence.
d.1650. Fletcher, Poems, 10. A puppy licks Manneia's lipps, the sense I grant, a dog may kiss sir-reverence.
1655. Massinger, Very Woman, ii. 3. The beastliest man . . . (Sir-reverence of the company!)—a rank whoremaster.
1665. Head, English Rogue (1874), 1. iii. 30. Another time sirreverencing in a paper, and running to the window with it.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. First with a sirreverence ushers the Rump.
1703. Ward, London Spy, ii. 38. A narrow Lane, as dark as a Burying Vault, which Stunk of stale Sprats . . . and sirreverence.
d.1704. Brown, Works, ii. 180. Knocking a shiting porter down, when you were drunk, back in his own sir-reverence.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 Ed.), 15. The Lower-Ward [of Newgate], where the tight-slovenly Dogs lye upon ragged Blankets, spread near sir-reverence.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Clinker (1900), i. 66. Asked if he did not think such a . . . mixture would improve the whole mass, 'Yes . . . as a plate of marmalade would improve a pan of sir-*reverence.
1785. Grose, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Reverence. An ancient custom which obliges any person easing himself near the highway . . . on the word reverence being given him by a passenger to take off his hat with his teeth, and without moving . . . to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls into the excrement . . . A person refusing to obey might be pushed backwards. Ibid., s.v. Tartaddlin Tart.
1847. Halliwell, Arch. and Prov. Words, s.v. Reverence. A woman of Devon describing something not peculiarly delicate, apologised with "saving your reverence." This is not uncommon in the country.
Sir Sauce. See Jack Sauce and
Sauce.
Sir Sydney, subs. phr. (old).—A
clasp knife (Grose and Vaux).
Sir Thomas Gresham. To sup
with Sir Thomas Gresham,
verb. phr. (old).—To go hungry:
see Duke Humphrey.
1628. Hayman, Quidlibet [Epigram on a Loafer]. For often with duke Humphrey thou dost dine, And often with sir Thomas Gresham sup.
See Perthshire Greybreeks.
Sir Timothy, subs. phr. (B. E.
and Grose.—'One that Treats
every Body, and Pays the Reckonings
every where.'
Sir Tristam's Knot, subs. phr.
(old).—The hangman's noose: see
Ladder and Horsecollar.
[?]. Wilyam Bullein. Light fellows merrily will call . . . neckweede, or Sir Tristam's knot.
Sir Walter Scott, subs. phr.
(rhyming).—A pot of beer.
Siserara (Sarsara, Siserara,
Sasarara, &c,, subs. (old).—1.
A writ of removal from a lower to
a higher Court. Hence (2) = a
blow, a scolding, an outburst;
with a sarsara = with a vengeance,
suddenly.
1607. Tourneur, Revenger's Mag. [Dodsley, Old Plays [Reed), iv. 379]. Pray . . . that their sins may be removed by a writ of error, and their souls fetched up to heaven with a sasarara.
1607. Puritan, iii. 3. If it be lost or stole . . . a cunning kinsman of mine . . . would fetch it again with a sesarara.
1758. Sterne, Tristam Shandy, vi. 47. I fell in love all at once with a sisserara.
1766. Goldsmith, Vicar, xxi. Gentle or simple, out she shall pack with a sussarara.
1771. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, i. 80. I have gi'en the dirty slut a siserary.
