sharp-set, a.
[f. sharp a. (as compl.) + set ppl. a.
See set ppl. a. 75 b. The hawking use (1 b) may be the original: cf. to set sharp, sharp a. 4 f (quot. 1575).]
1. a. Eager or keen for food, very hungry. Also said of the stomach.
| 1540 Palsgr. Acolastus ii. iii. M ij, My mynd is al redy in the platters or dishes .i. I am sharpe set. 1586 Stanyhurst Descr. Irel. ii. 19/2 in Holinshed, If anie were so sharpe set..as to eat fried flies, butterd bees, stued snailes. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables clxxv. 146 A Fox that was Sharp-set, Surpriz'd a Crab,..and carry'd him away. 1725 Lady Hervey in C'tess Suffolk's Lett. (1824) I. 192 My stomach is so much sharper set than my wit, that I fancy it will be as well for us both to conclude. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas vii. v, I asked..if there was any eating-house in the neighbourhood.., and went thither sharp set. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped iii. 17 ‘Are ye sharp-set?’ he asked... ‘Ye can eat that drop parritch’. |
b. Of a hawk, hound, etc.
| 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 116 If shee bee very sharpe set and do plume eagerly. 1781 Beckford Hunting 48 Hounds, I think, should be sharp-set before hunting: they run the better for it. 1852 Burton Falconry Valley Indus iii. 31 Unfortunately..for the hawk..she had not been ‘sharp set’ that morning. 1883 Salvin & Brodrick Falconry Brit. Isles Gloss. 152 Sharp set, very hungry. 1918 V. Woolf Diary 5 Feb. (1977) I. 119 She [sc. a dog]..wags her tail as hard as she can, & snatches at any scrap of talk as if she were sharp set. |
2. transf. Keen, eager; having desire fixed upon, craving after.
| 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 388 Euphues seeing such speedye retourne of an other aunswere, thought Philautus to be very sharp set. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. xvi. (Sommer) 175 b, She being sharp-set vpon the fulfilling of a shrewde office, in ouer-looking Philoclea. 1667 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 222 Although the House be sharpe set upon finding out..things..yet neither are other publick matters neglected. 1711 Cromwell Let. to Pope 7 Dec., The town is sharp-set on new plays. 1860 Times 5 Oct., The public comes back from glacier and moor and breezy sea-coast perfectly sharpset for more oratory. 1889 Rider Haggard Allan's Wife 54, I did not feel particularly sharp set on elephants at the moment. |
† b. Having a craving for sexual indulgence.
| 1597–1626 Deloney Jack of Newbery Wks. (1912) 14 Sir (said shee) because you are so sharpe set, I would wish you as soon as you can to wed. 1633 Ford 'Tis Pity v. iv. 1691 Comedy, Win Her & Take Her i. iii. 8. 1695 Congreve Love for L. iii. ix. 1794 Har'st Rig liv, Some lown as sharp set as a knife Wi' her they fand. |
† c. Eager to attack. Const. on. Obs. rare—1.
| a 1633 Austin Medit. (1635) 98 The Pharisees..who were too sharpe set on his Disciples, for not Fasting with them, at that present time. |
† 3. Set with sharp thorns. (Cf. quick-set.) Obs.
| 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. A 5, Within the sharp-set thickets. |
4. Of eyes: ? Having a set eager look.
| 1865 Swinburne Chastelard i. ii. 34 Do you know that lord With sharp-set eyes? |
Hence sharpˈsetness. rare.
| 1673 S. Parker Reproof Reh. Transp. 261 Lest this race [sc. capons] be totally extinguish'd by the sharpsetness of the Presbyterians. |