or save-reverence, subs. verb, and intj. (old colloquial).—1. An apology: the commonest of expressions, for nearly six centuries, on mentioning anything likely to offend, or for which an excuse was thought necessary. Whence (2) = excrement, a TURD (q.v.); and as verb. = (1) TO SHIT (q.v.), and (2) to excuse oneself. [Lat. salvâ reverentiâ, whence SA’REVERENCE, SUR-REVERENCE, and SIR-REVERENCE.]
1356. MANDEVILLE, Travels, 185. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, SAVYNGE HERE REVERENCE, that it is more.
1586. WARNER, Albion’s England, ii. 10. And all for love (SURREVERENCE love!) did make her chew the cudde.
1592. GREENE, The Blacke Bookes Messenger [Works, xi. 33]. His head, and his necke, were all besmeared with the soft SIRREUERENCE, so as he stunke worse than a Iakes Farmer.
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Comedy of Errors, iii. 2. A very reverend body: ay, such a one as a man may not speak of, without he say, SIR-REVERENCE.
| Ibid. (1595), Romeo and Juliet, i. 4. | |
| We’el draw you from the mire | |
| Of this SIR-REVERENCE, love, wherein thou stickest | |
| Up to the ears. |
1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, i. 2. SAVING A REVERENCE, that’s a lie!
1596. HARINGTON, The Metamorphosis of Ajax [Letter prefixed to]. The third I cannot name wel without SAVE-REVERENCE, and yet it sounds not unlike the shooting place.
1605. JONSON, CHAPMAN, &c., Eastward Hoe, iv. 1. We shall as soon get a fart from a dead man … Sister, SIR-REVERENCE!
1607. W. S., The Puritaine, iii. 1. A man that would … go ungartered, unbuttoned, nay (SIR-REVERENCE!) untrussed, to morning prayer.
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, iv. 1. His wife, SIR REVERENCE, cannot get him make his water, or shift his shirt, without his warrant.
1626. FLETCHER, The Fair Maid of the Inn, iii. 1.
| The mess | |
| And half of suitors, that attend to usher | |
| Their love’s SIR-REVERENCE to your daughter. |
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Epigram, 40.
| If to a foule discourse thou hast pretence. | |
| Before thy foule words, name SIR REUERENCE. |
1650[?]. R. FLETCHER, De Manneia, Epigram 84.
| A puppie licks Manneia’s lipps, the sense | |
| I grant, a dog may kis. ——SIR REVERENCE. |
1655. MASSINGER, A Very Woman, or The Prince of Tarent, ii. 3.
| The beastliest man,—why what a grief must this be! | |
| (SIR-REVERENCE of the company!)—a rank whoremaster. |
1665. R. HEAD, The English Rogue (1874), I. iii. 30. Another time SIRREVERENCING in a paper, and running to the window with it.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. First with a SIRREVERENCE ushers the Rump.
1703. WARD, The London Spy, II. 38. A narrow Lane, as dark as a Burying Vault, which Stunk of stale Sprats, Piss, and SIRREVERENCE.
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, ii. 180. Knocking a shiting porter down, when you were drunk, back in his own SIR-REVERENCE.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 15. The Lower-Ward [of Newgate], where the tight-slovenly Dogs lye upon ragged Blankets, spread near SIR-REVERENCE.
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (1900), i. 66. Asked if he did not think such an unreserved mixture would improve the whole mass?—‘Yes (said he), as a plate of marmalade would improve a pan of SIR-REVERENCE.’
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. REVERENCE. An ancient custom which obliges any person easing himself near the highway … on the word REVERENCE being given him by a passenger to take off his hat with his teeth, and without moving … to throw it over his head, by which it frequently falls into the excrement…. A person refusing to obey might be pushed backwards. Ibid., s.v. TARTADDLIN, TART.
1847. HALLIWELL, A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, etc., s.v. REVERENCE. A woman of Devon describing something not peculiarly delicate, apologised with “SAVING YOUR REVERENCE.” This is not uncommon in the country.
