twosome, n. and a. Orig. Sc.
(ˈtuːsəm)
(4–6 twasum, 9 twasome).
[f. two + -some. Cf. WFris. twaresom, -sum.]
A. n.
1. Two persons together; two in company; a pair of lovers.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints l. (Katerine) 691 Full Ioyfull þane þire twasum war. 1489 Barbour's Bruce x. 19 Twasum samyn mycht nocht rid. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 276 Thair was nane left onslaine bot himsellff his brother and twasum with thame. a 1802 Auld Maitland liii. in Scott Minstr. Scott. Bord. (1869) 157 The twa-some they hae slayne the ane. 1816 Scott Bl. Dwarf viii, The rest disperse by twasome and threesome. c 1870 Jethart Worthies (ed. 3) 58 The twosome kept the secret for a season or two. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister x. 120 When the twasome had been haein' denner thegither. 1926 [see foursome B. n. 2]. 1945 L. Shelly Jive Talk Dict. 19/2 Twosome,..lovers. 1959 Manch. Guardian 12 Aug. 6/2 For the leaders of the nations..the rule is two by two. What is one to think of these twosomes? 1972 Guardian 4 Dec. 12/1 Government in Australia and New Zealand has become a socialist twosome. 1973 L. Snelling Heresy i. i. 8 Shockley and..Rosamund became a definite twosome in Rome. 1978 J. Irving World according to Garp xii. 232 Along came another Land Rover, as if they were a separated twosome from a column of an army on the move. 1982 H. Engel Ransom Game xvii. 101 Eddie Milano..used to spend a lot on her. They didn't keep house..—there's a Mrs. Milano out in Fort Erie, I think—but they were known as a twosome in the joints. |
2. A game, dance, etc. for two persons.
| 1911 in Conc. Oxf. Dict. 1977 Washington Post 3 Sept. d7/4 Irwin and Weiskopf..had to roll in 25-foot birdie putts at the 18th in the last twosome of the day. 1983 Ibid. 6 Nov. c2/1 The [golf] competition..also includes two some matches. |
B. adj. Performed by two together.
| 1825 Jamieson, Twasum is still used to denote a dance, in which two persons are engaged; a twasome dance, i.e., a strathspey. 1830 Galt Lawrie T. vi. i, Whisking round and round the room to a two-some reel. |