(various).—1. (old) = a poem; 2. (common) = a convivial meeting at a public house at which each person is expected to contribute a song; A FREE-AND-EASY (q.v.); 3. (nautical) = a Chinese theatre; and 4. (colloquial) = ‘crooning.’ As adj. = musical.
1656–61. Choyce Drolleries [EBSWORTH] [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 97. The new substantives are blobber-lips, a SING-SONG (poem)].
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, iii. 39. From huffing Dryden to SING-SONG D’Urfey.
1857. J. E. RITCHIE, The Night Side of London, 192. The gay have their theatres—the philanthropic their Exeter Hall—the wealthy their “ancient concerts”—the costermongers what they term their SING-SONG.
1869. GREENWOOD, The Seven Curses of London, 19. She has her ‘young man,’ and accompanies him of evenings to ‘SING-SONGS’ and raffles.
1877. TENNYSON, Queen Mary, ii. 1. You sit SING-SONGING here.
1891. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, xx. 197. I was amazed at the clipping tones and the odd SING-SONG in which he spoke.
1893. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 3, ‘On the ’Oliday Season.’ No pub but a sand-parlour’d shanty devoted to SING-SONG and swipes.
1896. KIPLING, Only a Subaltern. The illustrated programme of the forthcoming SING-SONG whereof he was not a little proud.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, x. There ’s a little bit of a kick-up to-night with a few of us—sort of SING-SONG.
