1859. Kingsley, Geoffry Hamlyn, xiii. "Good night, old mole," said Hawker; "good night, old bat, old parchment skin, old sixty per cent. Ha, ha!"
1889. Marsh, Crime and Criminal, xii. Was he going to develop into a sixty per cent, and offer me a loan?
Six-upon-four, phr. (nautical).—See
quot.
1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, ii. 193. It was wicked work with them when it came to be six upon four, in other words, when long cruizes produced short commons.
1885. Household Words, 25 July, 260. In his time 'there were often six upon four aboard ship, and two banyan days in a week,' which being translated is, the rations of four men were served out amongst six, in addition to which, on two days in the week no rations were served out at all.
Six-water grog, subs. phr. (nautical).—Six
of water to one of spirit.
1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, xxxv. "Take care I don't send for another helmsman, that's all, and give the reason why. You'll make a wry face upon six-water grog to-morrow, at seven bells."
Size [subs. and verb, and Sizar],
subs. (Cambridge Univ. and Trin.
Coll., Dublin).—1. See quots.:
the grade no longer exists; practically
speaking, it has ceased to
exist for a century.
1592. Nashe, Piers Pennilesse, 45. [Oliphant, New Eng., 2, 11. A Cambridge butler sets up a size (allowance of bread); hence come sizars].
1594. Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Friar Bacon's sub-sizer is the greatest blakhead in all Oxford.
1605. Shakspear, Lear, ii. 4, 178. 'Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures . . . to scant my sizes.
1606. Ret. from Parnassus [Nares]. So ho, maister recorder, you that are one of the divel's fellow commoners, one that sizeth the devil's butteries.
1617. Minshen, Guide unto Tongues, s.v. A size is a portion of bread or drinke, i. is a farthing, which Schollers in Cambridge haue at the butterie; it is noted with the letter S., as in Oxeford with the letter Q. for halfe a farthing and q/u. for a farthing; and whereas they say in Oxford to Battle in the butterie booke, i. to set downe on their names what they take in Bread, Drinke, Butter, Cheese, &c, so in Cambridge they say to size, i. to set downe their quantum, i. how much they take on their names in the Butterie booke.
1626. Fletcher and Rowley, Wit at Sev. Weapons, ii. To be so strict A niggard to your Commons, that you're fain To size your belly out with shoulder fees.
1630. Randolph, Aristippus [Hazlitt, Works (1875), 14]. Drinking College tap-lash . . . will let them have no more learning than they size.
1633. Shirley, Witty Fair One, iv. 2. I know what belongs to sizing, and have answered to my cue in my days; I am free of the whole university.
d.1635. Corbet, Answ. to a Certain Poem. How lackeys and sub-sizers press And scramble for degrees.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Size. To sup at one's own expense. If a man asks you to sup, he treats you: if to size, you pay for what you eat, liquor only being provided by the inviter. Ibid. Sizing-party's. A number of students who contribute each his part towards a supper.
1787. Gentleman's Mag., 1147. The term sub-sizar became forgotten, and the sizar was supposed to be the same as the servitor. Ibid. (1795), 21. In general, a size is a small plateful of any eatable; and at dinner to size is to order for yourself any little luxury that may chance to tempt you . . . for which you are expected to pay the cook at the end of the term.
1798. Laws of Harvard College [Hall, College Words and Customs, 428]. When they come into town after commons, they may be allowed to size a meal at the kitchen.
18. . . . Hawkins, Orig. of Drama, iii. 271. You are still at Cambridge with your size cue
1811. Laws of Yale College [Hall, College Words and Customs, 428]. At the close of each quarter the Butler shall make up his bill against each student, in which every article sized, or taken up by him at the Buttery shall be particularly charged.
