▪ I. serry, v.
(ˈsɛrɪ)
Also 6 sar(r)ie, serrey, serrie.
[As a military term in the 16th cent., app. f. F. serré, † sarré, pa. pple. of serrer (see serr), already adopted in ME. as sarray (see also sarraly). In recent use, a back-formation from serried.]
1. intr. To press close together in the ranks; to stand or move in close or serried order.
| 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. i. 71 First, to cause your pikes to sarie close together, then to traile their pikes with the sharpe ende toward the enimie. Ibid. ii. 102 They must sarrie close together, and not disseuer to followe or flie. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres i. i. 4 When men come to the..push of the Pike, they sarrie close together. Ibid. iii. i. 36 Being brought into a Ring, and serreying close shoulder to shoulder. |
| 1888 Henley Bk. Verses 18 High shoulders, low shoulders broad shoulders, narrow ones, Round, square and angular, serry and shove. |
2. trans. To cause to stand in close order, to close up (the ranks).
| 1635 W. Barriffe Milit. Discipl. vi. (1643) 25 Close order is onely usefull for your files of Pike-men, so they may..stand the stronger, by so much as they are the closer serried together. |
| 1821 Byron Sardan. iii. i. 259 Serry your ranks—stand firm. 1843 Prescott Mexico iii. ii. (1804) 143 The courageous band of warriors, serried together. 1887 Bowen Virg. æneid iv. 407 Others serry the ranks. |
▪ II. serry
obs. and dial. f. sorry.