Forms: 1 Temes, 1–5 Temese, (4–5 Th-), 5 Temze, Temeze (Tamise), 6 Temys, Temmes(se, Themes, -ys, Themise, Thamyse, 6–7 Thamise, 6– Thames. [OE. Tęmese:—*Tamisa, ad. L. Tamēsa, Tamēsis, ad. Brit. Tamēsa: cf. Welsh Tafwys, F. Tamise.] The name of the river on which London is situated: also attrib. and Comb., as in Thames boat, Thames-side; Thames-built, -derived adjs.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., V. xii. § 2. Neah þære ie þe mon hæt Temes [v.r. Temese].
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 161. Take two stronge men and in themese caste hem.
c. 1450. Sloane MS., 73. lf. 214 (Halliw.). Put therto tweyne galones of clene Temese water that is taken at an ebbe.
1503. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 527/2. A Ryvere called the Thamyse, otherwyse called the Temmesse.
1649. Lovelace, To Althea, ii. When flowing cups run swiftly round with no allaying Thames [i.e., water].
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xv. (Roxb.), 26/1. He beareth Azure, a Skuller, or a Thamise boate, Or.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 383, ¶ 5. With a good deal of the like Thames-Ribaldry.
1895. Daily News, 28 Dec., 5/4. The Thames-derived waters show a marked improvement.
1902. Cornish, Naturalist Thames, 169. The crowning glory of the Thames-side flats.
b. Phrase. To set the Thames on fire († set fire to the Thames, † burn the Thames), to do something marvelous, to work wonders. Usually with negative = to work no wonders, never to distinguish oneself.
A writer in N. & Q. of 25 March 1865, p. 249, surmised that Thames here was orig. temse a sieve, which he supposed that an active fellow might set on fire by force of friction. This conjecture has no basis of fact. The phrase has also been used of the Rhine (a. 1638) and other rivers. See N. & Q., 8th s. VI. 502, and Skeat, Stud. Past., § 205–6.
1778. Foote, Trip Calais, III. ii. Matt Minnikin … on honest burgoise,… won’t set fire to the Thames, though he lives near the Bridge.
1787. [see BURN v. 9 c].
1796. Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Thames, He will not find out a way to set the Thames on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is no conjurer.
1886. W. E. Norris, My Friend Jim, I. i. 3 (Dixon). I hardly expect him to set the Thames on fire; but I hope his mother will never have reason to be ashamed of him.
Hence Thameser, one who is connected with the Thames in some way; Thamesian a., of or pertaining to the Thames.
1614. T. Gentleman, Way to Wealth, 43. By … the yong men of the Sea-coast Townes, euen as … amongst the Theamsers.
1858. Sporting Rev., XXXIX. June, 401. It [the train] safely drops me at the pretty, secluded, rural Thamesian village, Datchet.
1859. Sala, Gaslight & D., ix. 105. Floating on the muddy bosom of the Thamesian stream.
