Sulky, subs. (old).—'A one-horse chaise or carriage, capable of holding but one person: called by the French a désobligeante' (Grose).
d. 1892. Whittier, Countess. The country doctor's ancient sulky.
Sullen, subs. (colloquial).—In pl. = the sulks. Sick of the sullens (or sullen-sick)=very gloomy.
1580. Lily, Euphues, 258. [A lady is] sick of the solens.
1597. Shakspeare, Rich. II., ii. 1. 139. Let them die that age and sullens have.
1632. Massinger, Emp. of East, iii. 4. If she be not sick of the sullens, I see not the least infirmity in her.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah Sights ii. vii. 7. On the denyall Ahab falls sullen-sick.
d. 1655. Adams, Works, i. 330. If the state . . . lie sullen-sick of Naboth's vineyard, the lawyer is perchance not sent for, but gone to.
1692. Hacket, Williams, i. 84. If his Majesty were moody, and not inclin'd to his propositions, he would fetch him out of that sullen with a pleasant jest.
1833. Lamb, Pop. Fallacies, xvi. A long and desperate fit of the sullens.
Sultry, adj. (colloquial).—Lively,
exciting, perhaps unpleasant: cf.
Hot, Warm, etc.
1901. Walker, In the Blood, 156. Anyway, the possession of it will make it more sultry for you.
Summer-complaint, subs. phr.
(colloquial).—Diarrhœa.
Summer-bird, subs. phr. (old).—A
cuckold [Cuckoo, q.v.] Also
summer-cabbage = a woman [cf.
supra and cabbage (or greens)
= copulation].
1560. Scholehouse of Women, 317. Some other knave Shall dub her husband a summer-bird.
1673. Sackful of News. So the poor man was cruelly beaten, and made a summer's bird.
Summer-game, subs. phr. (American
gaming).—A game for amusement
only, or with another's
money.
Summer's-day. As nice (proper,
goodly, etc.) as one can
see in a summer's-day, phr.
(old).—As nice (proper, etc.) as
may be: cf. Day's-march.
1592. Shakspeare, Mid. Night's Dream, i. 2. A proper man as one shall see in a summer's day. ibid. (1599), Henry V., iii. 6. As prave words as you shall see in a summer's day.
1594. Lily, Mother Bombie (1632), § x. They say hee is as goodly a youth at the pridge as one shall see in a summers day.
1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, iv. xv. As fine a fat thriving child as you shall see in a summer's day.
Sumph, subs. (Scots).—A simpleton:
see Buffle. Hence sumphish
= stupid.
1821. Scott, Pirate, i. 104. 'And you, ye silly sumph,' she said to poor Yellowley, 'what do ye stand glowering there for?'
1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., 'Lord of Thoulouse.' Put your conjuring cap on, consider and see, If you can't beat that stupid old sumph with his tea.
1844. Naylor, Reynard the Fox, 37. A very sumph art thou, I wis.
1849-50. Thackeray, Pendennis, Captain Sumph (one of the characters in this novel].
Sumpsimus. See Mumpsimus.)
Sumpsy, subs. (legal).—An action
of assumpsit.
Sun. Been in the sun (or sunshine,
or got the sun in one's
eyes), phr. (common).—Drunk:
see Screwed (Ray, Grose).
