Sit-still-nest, subs. phr. (provincial).—A cow-turd; quaker (q.v.); pancake (q.v.).
Sitter, subs. (Harrow).—A sitting
room; cf. Brekker, Footer,
Saccer, &c.
Sitting-breeches. To wear
one's sitting breeches, verb.
phr. (old).—'To stay long in
company' (Grose): also to sit
longer than a hen: cf. to
sit eggs.
Situation, subs. (racing).—A
place.
1882. "Thormanby," Famous Racing Men, 105. The three worst horses, probably, that ever monopolized the Derby situations.
Sit-upons, subs. phr. (common).—Trousers:
see Kicks.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, 25. I put a piece of cobbler's wax on the seat of Mildman's chair, and ruined his best Sunday-going sit-upons.
1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, ii. x. I should advise you, old fellow, to get your sit-upons seated with wash-leather.
Sivvy, subs. (common).—Word of
honour; asseveration: e.g., pon
my sivvy' = 'It's true' Honour
bright!' Cf. davy.
1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. 'Pon my sivvy, if you were to see her pecking, you'd think she was laying on pounds weight in a day instead of losing.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 2 Feb., 3, 1. "You'll 'scuse the cheek I gave you just now, mister," the scowling young gentleman remarked, "but, 'pon my sivvy, we took you for the police."
1892. Watson, Wops the Waif, 11. Now I'll be as quiet as a dummy; I will, 'pon my sivy!
Six, subs. (old).—1. Beer sold at
6s. a barrel; small beer: cf.
four-half and (modern) six
ale.
1631. Clitus's Whimsies, 97. How this threede-bare philosopher shrugges, shiffs, and shuffles for a cuppe of six.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight, i. 1. Look if he be not drunk! The very sight of him makes one long for a cup of six.
2. (Oxford Univ.).—A privy.
At sixes and sevens, phr. (old).—In confusion; at loggerheads (Grose): also to set on seven = to confuse, to disarray.
c. 1340. Avowyne of King Arther, 64 [Camden Soc., Eng. Meln. Rom., 89]. Alle in sundur hit [a tun] brast In six or in seuyn.
1369. Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 622. Lat not this wreched wo thyne herte gnawe, But manly, set the worlde on six and sevene.
[?]. Morte Arthure [E. E. T. S.], 2131. Thus he settez on sevene with his sekyre knyghttes . . . And thus at the joyenyge the geauntez are dystroyede.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden (Works, iii. 38]. Caring for all other things else, sets his owne estate at sixe and seauen.
1597. Shakspeare, Richard II., ii. 2. All is uneven, And everything is left at six and seven.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Asbaraglio . . . at sixe and seauen, in vaine.
1678. Cotton, Virgil Travestie [Works (1725) 73]. But, like a Dame of Wits bereaven, Let all Things go at six and seven.
d. 1704. Brown, Works, i. 68. May thy Affairs . . . All the World o'er at sixes lie and sevens.
1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, i. Haven't I reason to be out of my senses, when I see things going at sixes and sevens?
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 481. Whilst things went on at six and seven, Jove smok'd a serious pipe in heaven.
1781. Gentleman's Mag., Ii. 367. At sixes and sevens, as the old woman left her house.
