sirrah Now arch.
(ˈsɪrə)
Forms: α. 6 syra, syrra (syrria?), 6–7 sirra. β. 6 syrha, syrrha, 6–7 sirha, sirrha. γ. 6 sirah, 7 syrrah, 7– sirrah. δ. 6 serea, serray, serrha, 9 dial. serrah. See also stirrah.
[f. sir n. The additional syllable had probably no definite origin, though explained by Minsheu as the interj. ah or ha.]
1. A term of address used to men or boys, expressing contempt, reprimand, or assumption of authority on the part of the speaker; sometimes employed less seriously in addressing children.
| α 1526 100 Merry Tales (Rastell) xlii, Sirra I vnderstand that thou dost ly euery night with my wyfe when I am from home. 1548 Crowley Confut. N. Shaxton G j b, A, syra, there said you wel! 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. ii. 30 Sirra, your Fathers dead, And what will you do now? 1641 W. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I 289 The Bishop saying ‘Sir’, was mistaken to have said Sirra, and called to the bar. |
| β 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. 2 Sirha, when our..graundsires were alive thei spake plainly in their mothers tongue. 1579 G. Harvey Two Lett. ii. 64 Ah Syrrha, and Iesu Lord, thought I, haue we at last gotten one, of whom his olde..Companions may iustly glory. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. ii. v. 61 Syrha, sirha, Ile know the trueth of all. 1601 Holland Pliny xxxv. x. II. 538 Sirrha, (quoth he) remember you are but a shoemaker. |
| γ 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. i, But, heare you, sirah. 1631 High Commission Cases (Camden) 194 Nay, sirrah,..I knowe not what will become of you. 1656 S. Holland Don Zara 171 Syrrah, Though I cannot prove how, or where thou attainedst those glorious Arms, yet [etc.]. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 105 ¶3, I assure you Sirrah, I wont go to the Devil for you. 1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. 169 Sirrah, I'll break your bones! 1821–2 Shelley Chas. I, ii. 106 Go, sirrah, and repent of your offence Ten minutes in the rain. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! vii, ‘You mean Captain Drake, your worship?’ ‘I do, sirrah’. |
| δ 1547 Hooper Answ. Bp. Winchester T j, See thy God, knele downe serea and hold upp thy handes. 1566 Drant Horace Sat. i. iii. B iij b, What serray what I say? (Quod he) doste thou not know thy selfe? 1570 Levins Manip. 1 Serrha, heus, io. 1833 Close Satirist 164 I'll fetch the, thau idle serrah! |
b. Used attributively with appellations or proper names.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iii. 121 Sirra Costard, I will infranchise thee. 1591 Greene Conny Catch. i. Wks. (Grosart) X. 59 Sirrha collier, know that we are here all assembled as a grand Iurie. 1603 Dekker & Chettle Grissil ii. i, But, Sirha Rice, when's the day? 1663 Cowley Cutter of Coleman Str. i. ii, I, Sirra Jack-an-apes, if you start when your father speaks to you. 1860 Ainsworth Ovingdean Grange ix. ii. 341 Give me a glass of brandy, sirrah host. |
† 2. Applied to women (seriously or in jest).
Obs.| 1604 Dekker Honest Wh. ii. i, Sirrah Bellafront,..thou shalt sit at the upper end, punk. 1617 Fletcher Valentinian ii. iv, Ah Sirrah; And have we got you here? faith Noble Lady, We'l keep you one month Courtier. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. i, Adod, sirrah, I like thy wit well. 1710 Swift Jrnl. Stella vii, You lose all your money at cards, sirrah Stella. 1711 Ibid. 11 July, Stella, hussy, don't you remember, sirrah [etc.]. |