Thames
(tɛmz)
Forms: 1 Temes, 1–5 Temese, (4–5 Th-), 5 Temze, Temeze (Tamise), 6 Temys, Temmes(se, Themes, -ys, Themise, Thamyse, 6–7 Thamise, 6– Thames.
[OE. Tęmese:—*Tamisa, ad. L. Tamēsa, Tamēsis, ad. Brit. Tamēsa: cf. Welsh Tafwys, F. Tamise.]
a. The name of the river on which London is situated: also attrib. and Comb., as in Thames barge, Thames boat, Thames-side, Thames valley; Thames-built, Thames-derived adjs.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. v. xii. §2 Neah þære ie þe mon hæt Temes [v.r. Temese]. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 161 Take two stronge men and in themese caste hem. c 1450 Sloane MS. 73. lf. 214 (Halliw.) Put therto tweyne galones of clene Temese water that is taken at an ebbe. 1503 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 527/2 A Ryvere called the Thamyse, otherwyse called the Temmesse. 1649 Lovelace To Althea ii, When flowing cups run swiftly round With no allaying Thames [i.e. water]. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. xv. (Roxb.) 26/1 He beareth Azure, a Skuller, or a Thamise boate, Or. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 383 ¶5 With a good deal of the like Thames-Ribaldry. 1883 Boats of World 4 Who can mistake the world-renowned Thames Barge, with her long, flat side, picturesque rig, and bright-coloured sails? 1895 Daily News 28 Dec. 5/4 The Thames-derived waters show a marked improvement. 1902 Cornish Naturalist Thames 169 The crowning glory of the Thames-side flats. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVIII. 533/2 In the London district the country in the Thames valley..is as largely occupied by flower farms as it is by fruit farms. 1961 F. H. Burgess Dict. Sailing 207 Thames barge, a ketch or yawl-rigged sailing barge with a large spritsail, common on the Thames estuary. 1977 D. James Spy at Evening xiv. 113 He..let himself out into the early-morning Thames valley mist. 1979 D. May Revenger's Comedy viii. 105 Out on the estuary, a big, red-sailed Thames barge was moving. |
b. Phrase. to set the Thames on fire († set fire to the Thames, † burn the Thames), to do something marvellous, to work wonders. Usually with negative = to work no wonders, never to distinguish oneself.
A writer in N. & Q. of 25 Mar. 1865, p. 249, surmised that Thames here was orig. temse a sieve, which he supposed that an active fellow might set on fire by force of friction. This conjecture has no basis of fact. The phrase has also been used of the Rhine (a 1638) and other rivers. See N. & Q. 8th s. VI. 502, and Skeat Stud. Past. §205–6.
| 1778 Foote Trip Calais iii. iii, Matt Minnikin..an honest burgoise,..won't set fire to the Thames, though he lives near the Bridge. 1787 [see burn v. 9 c]. 1796 Grose's Dict. Vulg. Tongue s.v. Thames, He will not find out a way to set the Thames on fire; he will not make any wonderful discoveries, he is no conjurer. 18.. W. E. Norris (Dixon), I hardly expect him to set the Thames on fire; but I hope his mother will never have reason to be ashamed of him. |
Hence Thameser (ˈtɛmzə(r)), one who is connected with the Thames in some way; Thamesian (tɛˈmiːzɪən) a., of or pertaining to the Thames.
| 1614 T. Gentleman Way to Wealth 43 By..the yong men of the Sea-coast Townes, euen as..amongst the Theamsers. 1859 Sala Gaslight & D. ix. 105 Floating on the muddy bosom of the Thamesian stream. |