subs. (Cambridge University).—The bridge at St. John’s College Cambridge, leading from the grounds to one of the Courts, familiarly known as the ‘Bridge of Sighs.’ Also THE BRIDGE OF GRUNTS. [From its slight similarity to the Venetian example Sues = swine, in punning reference to the JOHNIAN HOGS (q.v.). See CRACKLE and HOG.
1857. Punch, June 20.
| A resident Fellowe he was, I wis, | |
| He had no cure of Soules; | |
| And across ye BRIDGE OF SUES he’d come | |
| From playinge ye game of bowles. |
1885. CUTHBERT BEDE, in Notes and Queries, 6, S. xi. 414. Another word is Sues, for swine. This is applied to the bridge leading from the old courts to the new, familiarly known as the BRIDGE OF SIGHS from its slight similarity to the Venetian example, but also known as the ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. This word Suez was then transformed to Suez, swine, to adapt it to its Johnian frequenters.
