▪ I. sir, n.
(sɜː(r))
[Reduced form of sire sire n., the shortening being due to the absence of stress before the following name or appellation. The forms sore, sur(e may represent OF. sor or sieur, the oblique case of sire.]
A. Illustration of forms.
(α) 4– sir (6 sirr, 6–7 S{supr}), 5–7 syr.
| 1297– (see examples in B). |
(β) 3–6 ser, 4–5 sere.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27450 Sere biscop, ta god kepe. c 1386 Chaucer Sir Thopas 6 (Cambr.), His name was sere Thopas. a 1400–50 Alexander 182 Seses, seris, of ȝour syte. c 1444 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. iv. v. 441 This grete noyse, seres, what may it bee? 1451 ― Life St. Gilbert 112 The fayre tour..whech þou say, Ser Pope, is þe grete excellens of þi dignite. 1509 in Scott. Jrnl. Topogr. (1848) II. 120/2 Ser Wilȝeam Synclair of Wairseytt, Kny[ch]t. |
(γ) 5 sur, sure, sore.
| ? a 1400 Arthur 285 Hys worthynesse, sur Emperour, Passeþ Muche alle ȝowre. a 1400 Sir Degrev. 289 The doughty knyght sure Degrevaunt. c 1410 Sir Cleges 443 Sore, for thy corteci, Smyghte me no more! c 1425 Abraham's Sacr. 435 in Non-Cycle Myst. Plays, Lo! sovereyns and sorys, now haue we schowyd [etc.]. |
(δ) Sc. 4–5 scher(e, 5 schyr, 5–6 schir (5 shir).
In later Sc. also stir (cf. stirrah).
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xvii. 494 Till schir Robert the douchty king. 1396 in Scott. Antiq. XIV. 217 Scher Henry Synclar, Erle of Orkynnay. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xviii. 125 Schirris, I thank God and al ȝow. c 1459 Regist. de Aberbrothoc (Bann.) II. 105 Honorabile and wirschypful schyris. 1473 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scotl. I. 43 A lettre to Schire James Ogilvy of Erly. 1550 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 84 Schir George Douglas of Pettindreicht Knycht. 1574 Satir. Poems Reform. xlii. 6 Schirs, is thair ony heir Quhais lornay lyes unto Dundie? |
B. Signification. I. 1. a. The distinctive title of honour of a knight or a baronet, placed before the Christian name († rarely the surname).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10822 Sir hubert de boru & oþere þat in prison were ido. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 387 Sir Gawan, so mot I þryue,..Þis dint þat þou schal dryue. c 1386 Chaucer Sir Thopas 6 (Lansd.), A knyht was faire and gent.., His name was sir Thopas. c 1440 Contin. Brut (1908) 437 Sir Henry Beauford, Cardynall, and Bisshop of Winchestre. 1488–94 Ld. Fitzwalter in Paston Lett. III. 343 Zowir lofyng cosyn, J. Sir Fytz Wauter. 1556 Chron. Grey Friars (Camden) 41 The lady Margarete Bowmer wyffe unto sir John Bowmer,..but she was the wyffe of one Cheyny, for he solde hare unto sir Bowmer. 1596 Spenser State Irel. (Globe) 667/2 [A grant] of New-castell to Sir Henry Harrington, and of..Fearnes to Sir Thomas Masterson. 1627 Hakewill Apol. (1630) 272 Sir Drake whom well the worlds end knew. 1645 Symonds Diary (Camden) 217 Sir Nich. Kemys was governour when Gerard came. 1711 Addison Spect. No 112 ¶2 My Friend Sir Roger, being a good Churchman [etc.]. 1819 Shelley Peter Bell 3rd vi. xv, He never read them;—with amaze I found Sir William Drummond had. 1899 Fitzpatrick Transvaal fr. within (1900) 286 Sir Alfred Milner..commanded the entire confidence of the Uitlanders. |
b. In transf. uses, as Sir Harry, Sir John, Sir Sydney, Sir Timothy (see quots.); Sir Berkeley coarse slang [after Berkeley Hunt: see berk], the female genital organs; hence transf., sexual intercourse, ‘sex’; Sir Garnet: see Garnet5.
See also barleycorn 1 b and Roger de Coverley.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Sir Timothy, one that Treats every Body, and Pays the Reckonings every where. 1808 Jamieson, Sir John, a close stool. 1812 J. H. Vaux Flash Dict., Sir Sydney, a clasp knife. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Sir Harry, a close-stool. 1937 J. Curtis There ain't no Justice xvii. 175 She gives me plenty of the old Sir Berkeley, but she knows how to look after herself, I guess. |
2. Applied retrospectively to notable personages of ancient, esp. sacred or classical, history. Now only arch.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4249 Sir putifar wel vndirstod þat ioseph was o gentil blod. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace 24 Sen þe tyme of sir Noe. c 1400 Sc. Trojan War (Horstm.) i. 215 Jasone, the gentile, With hys falow, schyr Hercules. c 1440 York Myst. xxx. 208 We will prese to Sir Pilate. c 1475 Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 116 At þe last schir orpheus couth heir. 1513 Douglas æneid vii. v. 110 Schir Dardanus, born of this cuntre eik. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 71 Woorthye syr æneas, why..teare you A caytiefe forlorne?.. I am named syr Polydor. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. iii. 83 Shall I Sir Pandarus of Troy become? Ibid. ii. i. 122 Goe thou like Sir Acteon. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxxii, The valiant Sir Pandarus of Troy. 1881 R. F. Burton tr. Camoens' Lusiad iv. 23 The Oriental hordes..Wherewith Sir Xerxes crost the Hellespont. |
3. a. Used fancifully, or as a mock title.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 82 Þe Deede was a-selet, Be siht of sir Symoni. a 1500 Bernard. de cura rei fam. (E.E.T.S.) 13 Schir drunkyiness þat syre doys no thing rycht. 1567 Jewel Def. Apol. v. 561 Here, yee saie, ‘Sir Defender is pretily seene in humanitie’. 1581 T. Howell Deuises (1879) 185 Tyll syr Phebus beames shall lose their light. 1592 Greene Disput. Wks. (Grosart) X. 254 Though the other youth beare the charges and was made sir pay for all. 1600 Shakes. Merch. V. i. i. 93 (Qq.), I am sir Oracle, And when I ope my lips, let no dog barke. 1610 ― Temp. ii. i. 286 This Sir Prudence, who Should not vpbraid our course. 1781 Cowper Hope 416 Lowest at the board..sat Sir Smug. 1822 Shelley Faust ii. 114 Does not Sir Mammon gloriously illuminate His palace for this festival? Ibid. 150 Sir Urian is sitting aloft in the air. 1879 Farrar in Expositor IX. 214 He suddenly confounds the highly self-satisfied Sir-oracle. |
b. Sir Rag (see quots.).
| 1764 in N. & Q. 7th Ser. XII. 29/1 Thomas Hunt, from Leicester (a Sir-Rag to a Waggoner), died at y⊇ George. 1891 Ibid. 132/2 A dusty set of tatterdemalions..constantly attended fairs and race-courses, and these poor scarecrows used to be called in my young days ‘Sir-Rags’. Ibid., In the Midland Counties..the chief of a band of servants or workers, a foreman or overseer,..is the ‘sir-rag’. Ibid. 133/1 Sometimes he or she is the ‘head sir-rag’, or, as some put it, ‘head sir-rag, chief cork and bottle-washer’. 1901 J. Prior Forest Folk ii. 18 He looks at a body as if he were head Sir Rag. |
† 4. Placed before the Christian name of ordinary priests (also that of a pope). Obs. (Cf. sire n. 1 b, and Dan1 a.)
It has been supposed that this use arose out of sense 5, but there appears to be no evidence for this, although the title (at least in later times) was clearly used in contrast to Master, and denoted that the priest had not graduated in a university. For the generalized use of Sir John see John 3.
| c 1386 [see John 3]. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. vii. 207 Kynge Henry..wrat richt reuerendly Til þe pape Schir Adryane. 1450 Paston Lett. I. 170 Sir John Bukk, Parson of Stratford, physshed my stankys at Dedham. 1511–2 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 277 To sir Robert for Candell to sey his matens in the mornynges. 1550 Bale Image Both Ch. ii. f vj, The most ragged ronnagate, and idle idiote among theym, is no lesse then a syr, whiche is a Lord in the Latin, as syr John, syr Thomas, syr Wylliam. 1554 Hilarie Resurr. Masse A viij, My smered Chaplens..I make them to be called Syrs euery one. 1573 Tyrie (title), The Refutation of ane Ansver made be schir Johne Knox. 1595 ? Greene George a Greene 1191 Well preacht sir Iacke, downe with your staffe. 1635 [see John 3]. |
† 5. Used (as a rendering of L. dominus), with the surname of the person, to designate a Bachelor of Arts in some Universities. Obs.
| 1557 in Lamb Collect. Hist. Univ. Camb. (1838) 229 M{supr} Turner, Father, Syr Whytgyfte the bachelor, Syr Bryges the eldest son. 1575 in Fowler Hist. C.C.C. (O.H.S.) 150 Too S{supr} huker of Corpus christie college in Oxforde. 1614 Selden Titles Honor 54 How Dominus..is now familiar for Sir to euery Batchelor of Art in the Schools, all men know. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. 71 Hall and his Popish faction (whereof M{supr}. Potto, M{supr}. Binnion, and S{supr}. Appleby the Leaders) opposed his admission. 1690 S. Sewall Diary 2 July, Sir Mather in England yet had a Degree conferred on him. 1714 in Aubrey Lett. (1814) I. 294 Pray, Sir, will you do so much as send to Sir Wilkinson of Queen's? 1763 in Pierce Hist. Harvard Univ. 234 (Cent. Dict.), That Sir Sewall, B.A., be the Instructor in the Hebrew and other learned languages for three years. 1822 Nares s.v. Sir, At the Universities..a bachelor, who in the books stood Dominus Brown, was in conversation called Sir Brown. This was in use in some colleges even in my memory. |
II. 6. a. Placed before a common noun, and forming with it a term of address, as Sir clerk, Sir king, Sir knight, etc. Now arch.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10282 Sir king,..we beþ icome fram verre londe iwis. Ibid. 10309 Nou sir clerc, quaþ þe king, ȝe mowe þretni ynou. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 757 Sir knight,..Whi seystow euer nay? c 1400 Rom. Rose 6390 Sir Preest, in shrift I telle it thee, That he..Hath me assoiled. 14.. Chaucer's Doctor's Prol. 10 Sir Doctour of Phisyke.., Telle us a tale. c 1440 York Myst. xxx. 211 Sir Knyghtis [sc. Roman soldiers], þat are curtayse and kynde. 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 589 Ah! sir Mule, now blessed be the day [etc.]. Ibid. 1033 Nay (said the Foxe) Sir Ape, you are astray. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 298, I am one, that had rather go with sir Priest, then sir knight. 1611 ― Wint. T. i. ii. 135 Come (Sir Page) Looke on me with your Welkin eye. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xliv, ‘Sir knight,’ replied the baron, ‘how is it possible that’ [etc.] ? 1820 Scott Monast. xxxiii, Saint Mary! what call you yon, Sir Monk? 1842 Tennyson Morte d'Arthur 152 Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems Should blind my purpose. 1865 Kingsley Herew. iv, Now, then, sir priest,..go on with your story. 1939 Sun (Baltimore) 30 Sept. 7/8 We stand here today to watch you, sir knights, just in friendly tournament. 1977 Belfast Tel. 19 Jan. 2/4 The Officers and Sir Knights of the United Sons of Ulster R.B.P. 1041, regret the death of the Sister of their esteemed Sir Knight Robert Scott, P.M. |
| transf. 1826 Scott Jrnl. 14 May, Look where you will, Sir Sun, you look upon sorrow and suffering. |
b. With contemptuous, ironic, or irate force.
| c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 242 (Harl.), Sir [v.r. Sire] olde lecchour, let thi japes be. a 1529 Skelton Against Scottes 101 Syr skyrgalyard, ye were so skyt [etc.]. 1591 Troublesome Raigne of King John (1611) 27 Lim. Good words sir sauce, your betters are in place. Phil. Not you sir doughtie, with your Lyons case. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 83 Come sir boy, come follow me Sir boy, ile whip you from your foyning fence. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy ii. ii, So, Sir Critic, I could have replied; but I scorn it. 1825 Scott Betrothed xxix, ‘How, sir knave!’ said the King, angrily, ‘is it for such as thou to dictate to our judgment?’ |
7. a. Used as a respectful term of address to a superior or, in later use, an equal (sometimes with additions as dear, † fair, † gentle, good); also by schoolchildren in addressing a master, and formally in addressing the Speaker of a legislative assembly.
| 1320–30 Horn Ch. 721 Sir, miȝtestow hold him to þi nede,..Batayle miȝt þou bide. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xli. (Agnes) 102 Certis, gud sir, maryt ame I. c 1460 Towneley Myst. iv. 228 Hir answere bese belife—‘nay, sir!’ 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 307 But ye wyll say vnto me, Syr yf we were sure of this we wolde not be sory. 1535 Coverdale Ruth ii. 13 She sayde: let me fynde fauoure (syr) before thyne eyes. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. i. ii. 57 The Sadler had it Sir, I kept it not. 1638 Chillingw. Relig. Prot. i. ii. 97 For Gods sake, S{supr}, tell me plainly. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ Ded. 11 You see, Sir, to what an unexpected length my desire to vindicate [etc.]. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 45 ¶1, I heard a Voice cry, Sir, Sir!—This raised my Curiosity. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xliv, ‘Dear Sir!’ said Henri, ‘here is an armchair..massy with gilding’. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. (1839) viii. 69 ‘Third boy, what's a horse?’ ‘A beast, Sir,’ replied the boy. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis x, ‘Sir to you,’ said Mr. Foker politely. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 627 ‘Aye, aye, sir,’ is the well⁓known answer from seamen. 1873 in Hansard Parl. Deb. 31 July 1389/1, I rise, Sir,..to make the Indian Financial Statement. 1899 Kipling Stalky 108 Please, sir, what am I to do about prep.? a 1930 D. H. Lawrence Phoenix II (1968) 25 Please Sir, do tortoises bite? 1955 E. Blishen Roaring Boys i. 31 ‘The cane,’ said Sims vaguely. ‘Sir can't,’ said Pottell... ‘Is it because you're too young, sir?’ 1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xiv. 118 ‘Sir, please sir, I think he's to do with the church, sir,’ said Cole Slaw. ‘I saw him, talking to Wells Fargo, sir, after the service.’ |
b. In pl., used in addressing two or more persons. In Scottish use passing into a mere exclamation (see the later quots.).
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 4907 Þerfore, sirs,..Let make vs a message. 1459 Rolls Parlt. V. 369/2 Sirres, be mery, for yet we have moo frendis. c 1500 Adam Bel cxiv. in Child Ballads III. 27/2 Good syrs, of whens be ye? 1615 Ruggle Ignoramus iv. (1736) 50 Goodly, Sirs,..I shou'd have sworn it had been my Master Antonio. 1766 Fordyce Serm. Young Wom. (1767) I. vii. 304 Have you forgotten, Sirs, that what they see you admire,..they will be induced to think..worthy of admiration? 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxxix, ‘But eh, sirs,’ she continued,..‘Eh, sirs! ye're sair altered, hinny’. 1825 Jamieson Suppl., Sirs, Sirse, Serse, interj., a common mode of address to a number of persons, although of both sexes; often pron. q. Sirce. 1894 Crockett Raiders (ed. 3) 96 Eh, sirce, but there's mony wonderfu' things in the warld. |
c. Used in commencing or subscribing letters.
| 1425 Paston Lett. I. 19 Right worthy and worshepefull Sir. a 1448 Ibid. 71 Syr, I recummawnd me to zow. 1535 Starkey England (1878) p. xiii, Syr, I most hertely commend me vn to you. 1568 Peebles Burgh Rec. (1872) 73 His supplicatioun..:—Schirris, baillies, counsale, and communite of the burgh. 1628 Ussher in Lett. Emin. Lit. Men (Camden) 138 Deare Sir, I know not who should beginne first [etc.]. 1655 in Nicholas P. (Camden) 300 Which I shall desire you to keepe for y⊇ use of, Sir, Your..humble seruant, Robert Phelipps. 1745 J. Elton in Hanway Trav. (1762) I. v. lxvii. 304 Sirs, I have been acquainted with your resolutions of August last. 1789 Burns Let. to Cunningham 4 May, My dear Sir, Your duty-free favour..I received two days ago. 1822 Lamb To J. Taylor 7 Dec., Dear Sir, I should like the enclosed Dedication to be printed. 1861 Brewster in Mrs. Gordon Home Life xix. (1869) 345 Sir,—I have only this moment seen..an advertisement of your picture [etc.]. |
8. a. Used with scornful, contemptuous, indignant, or defiant force. (Cf. sirrah.)
| 1592 Greene Conny Catch. Wks. (Grosart) XI. 84, I..account thee no honest man: For sir know I haue learned your pettegree. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. i. i. 80 Well sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled with you. 1632 Massinger City Madam ii. ii, Lacy. By the city custom, madam? Lady. Yes, my young sir. 1675 Baxter Cath. Theol. ii. xiii. 283 Sir, the City ringeth of you as one that greatly wrongeth the cause of God. 1782 in Brit. Tourist (1809) IV. 119 Sir! in a surly tone, [signifies] a box on the ear at your service!—to a dog it means a good beating. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's xxx, Sir, this is either a very great mistake or wilful impertinence... I am Captain Jekyl, sir. 1855 J. D. Burn Autobiogr. Beggar Boy (1859) 44 His uniform manner of addressing me was, by the withering and degrading title of ‘sir!’ 1861 Geo. Eliot Silas M. ix, I've been too good a father to you all... But I shall pull up, sir. |
b. my dear sir, in remonstrance or expostulation.
| 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. I. 38 Figure to yourself, my dear Sir, that in giving you a chaise which would fall to pieces before you had got half way to Paris..how much I should suffer. 1776 Critical Rev. XLII. 89 It is usual, we are told, with the Scots..to address the person with whom they converse by the appellation My dear Sir. 1825 R. P. Ward Tremaine II. xxvi. 238 ‘And, indeed, my dear Sir—’ ‘I won't be Sir'd,’ cried the Doctor. 1893 G. B. Shaw Widowers' Houses ii. iii. 43 Sartorius: Will you excuse me for ten minutes? Cokane: My dear sir!—Trench: Certainly. 1983 A. Venters Blood on Rocks xiii. 122 ‘You must have something to eat, my dear sir,’ he cried. |
c. yes, sir: an emphatic assertion; no, sir: see nossir. Chiefly U.S. colloq.
| 1799 Aurora (Philadelphia) 8 Aug. (Th.), Yes Sir! and [France] has been successful beyond any former experience. 1889 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Despot of Broomsedge Cove 40 Yes, sir... None like 'em now. 1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris ii. v. 124 ‘Yes sir,’ he repeated, ‘he's sure some joker.’ 1942 J. B. Priestley in R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. 2, I could take it and I could dish it out. Yes, Sir! |
9. Applied to women. Now dial.
| 1578 Whetstone Promos & Cassandra i. iv. vii, [To Dalia.] Ah syr, you would, be like, let my Cocke Sparrow goe. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. King & No K. ii. i, Pan. [to waiting⁓women]. Sirs, leave me all. (Exeunt Women.) 1621 Fletcher Pilgr. ii. i, Juletta. Would you know o' me, Sir? Alphonso. O' thee, Sir? ay, o' thee, sir; What art thou, Sir? 1688 Crowne Darius ii. Dram. Wks. 1874 III. 411 Barzana [to her confidante, Oronte]. How ill you dress me, sir? 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage ii, ‘And ye tu bonny sir,’ addressing Lady Juliana. |
10. a. A person of rank or importance (more recently, also spec. a knight or baronet); a lord, a gentleman; one who might be addressed as ‘sir’.
In early use equivalent to sire; in later examples usually by direct transference from sense 7.
| 13.. Coer de L. 3567 Whos hed it was my seres aske? c 1500 Young Children's Bk. 88 in Babees Bk., Wer-euer þou commys, speke honestly To ser or dame. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 20 Taking with him to accompanie him the sir of S. Veran. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 81 A sad face, a reuerend carriage,..in the habite of some Sir of note. 1611 ― Cymb. i. vi. 160 A Lady to the worthiest Sir, that euer Country call'd his. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 45 In one of their open Pagods..stands a Venerable Sir at the upper end. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. ii. ii, A talking Sir that brawls for him in Taverns. 1740–1 Richardson Pamela II. 354 On Tuesday Morning, my dear Sir rode out, attended by Abraham. 1847 Tennyson Princ. Concl. 102 Why should not these great Sirs Give up their parks some dozen times a year? 1854 Emerson Lett. & Soc. Aims, Poet. & Imag., Our little sir, from his first tottering steps,..does not like to be practised upon. 1922 W. J. Locke Tale of Triona i. 9 A proud old Anglo-Indian family, all Generals and Colonels and Sirs and Ladies. 1952 ‘W. Cooper’ Struggles of Albert Woods iv. i. 202 Albert thought..there must be a connection between Jameson's appointments and his becoming a Sir. 1974 P. Gore-Booth With Great Truth & Respect 374, I argued hard and explicitly on behalf of my diplomatic colleagues because becoming a ‘Sir’ is one of the tools of the trade. |
b. spec. a schoolmaster. colloq. or humorous.
| 1955 [see sense 7 a above]. 1961 Guardian 1 Dec. 7/2 [The] users will be grateful to Sir for providing..a smashing set of answers. 1968, 1973 [see Miss n.2 3 f]. 1980 Daily Tel. 31 Mar. 10/3 Sir never repeated any part of a question. |
11. A parson or priest. Now dial. (Cf. 4.)
| 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 390 But this good Sir did follow the plaine word. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss. 74/2 ‘Here's t' sir cumman’ = Here's the clergyman coming. |
▪ II. sir, v.
(sɜː(r))
[f. prec.]
1. trans. To address (a person) as ‘sir’. Also with up.
| 1576 R. Peterson Galateo (1892) 47 He that is wont to be (Sird) and likewise (Sirreth) other. 1600 1st Pt. Sir J. Oldcastle ii. i, Sum. Sir, I brought it not my lord to eate. Harp. O, do you sir me now? 1722 De Foe Relig. Courtsh. i. ii. (1840) 68 Don't worship me and sir me now. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1768) I. viii. 43 My Brother and Sister..Sirr'd him up, at every word. 1806–7 Poet. Reg. 179 Learn..To frown importance while they cap and sir ye. 1861 P. Leys Mem. J. D. Maclaren v. 94 In his kind and sincere way he sirred some cabman, porter, or poor man. 1890 L. D'Oyle Notches 8 ‘I don't know, sir, I'm sure,’ said the stranger... ‘Don't sir me! don't you know my name?’ |
2. intr. To use the term ‘sir’ in addressing a person.
| 1798 Southey To M. Hill 7 Sir-ing and Madam-ing as civilly As if the road between the heart and lips Were..a weary and Laplandish way. |
Hence ˈsirring vbl. n.
| 1836 W. E. Forster in Reid Life (1888) I. 76 [He is] remarkably civil to me, and he gives me such quantities of sirrings—that is, he says sir so often. |
▪ III. sir
obs. f. sire n.