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 1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse, syngle-woman, a harlot, putayn.

1657. Howell, Londinopolis, 337. No Stew-holder, or his wife, should let or stay any single woman to go and come freely at all times. No single woman to take money to lye with any man except she lie with him all night till the morrow.

Sing-song (various).—1. (old) = a poem; 2. (common) = a convivial meeting at a public house at which each person is expected to contribute a song; a free-and-easy (q.v.); 3. (nautical) = a Chinese theatre; and 4. (colloquial) = 'crooning.' As adj. = musical.

1656-61. Choyce Drolleries [Ebsworth] [Oliphant, New Eng. ii. 97. The new substantives are blobber-lips, a sing-song (poem)].

d.1704. Brown, Works, iii. 39. From huffing Dryden to sing-song Durfey.

1857. Ritchie, Night Side of London, 192. The gay have their theatres—the philanthropic their Exeter Hall—the wealthy their "ancient concerts"—the costermongers what they term their sing-song.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses, 19. She has her 'young man' and accompanies him of evenings to sing-songs and raffles.

1877. Tennyson, Queen Mary, ii. 1. You sit sing-songing here.

1891. Stevenson, Kidnapped, 197. I was amazed at the clipping tones and the odd sing-song in which he spoke.

1893. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, 3. A sand-parlour'd shanty devoted to sing-song.

1896. Kipling, Only a Subaltern. The illustrated programme of the sing-song, whereof he was not a little proud.

1899. Whiteing, John St., x. There's a little bit of a kick-up to-night with a few of us—sort of sing-song.

Sink, subs. (colloquial).—1. A slum; a rookery: also sink-*hole. Also (2) a centre of anything disreputable.

1565. Calfhill, Aus. Martialls Treatise of the Cross (Parker Soc.), 176. [The Palace] a sink of sectaries.

1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, 621. The sinke of Fez, where every one may be a Vintner and a Bawde.

d.1842. Channing, Perfect Life, 70. The sinks of intemperance shops reeking with vapours of intoxicating drink.

3. (common).—A confirmed tippler; and (4) the throat: see Sewer. Hence to fall down the sink = to take to drink.

5. (The Leys School).—A heavy feed; a stodge (q.v.); and (6) = a glutton.

Phrases.—To sink the nobleman (lover, &c.) = to suppress, to keep in the background: cf. shop; sink me! = a mild imprecation.

1772. Bridges, Homer Burlesqued, 13. But sink me if I understand.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 100. I am the idol of my wife, and I have not sunk the lover in the husband. Ibid., 283. I sunk the secretary till I should ascertain what solid profit might accrue from all my bows and scrapes.

1822. Scott, Nigel, xvii. You shall sink a nobleman in the Temple Gardens, and rise an Alsatian at Whitefriars.

Sinker, subs. (old).—1. In pl. = base money (Snowden, 1857).

2. (American), see quot.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 129. When he returned with a "poke out" (food given at the door) and a sinker (dollar).

Sinner, subs. (common), 1. A publican: cf. Luke xviii.; 2. (old), a harlot: see Tart. Old sinner = a jesting reproach.

1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iii. 1. Tuc. I would fain come with my cockatrice and see a play if I knew when there were a good bawdy one. Hist. We have as much ribaldry in our plays as you would wish, Captain: all the sinners in the suburbs come and applaud.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas [Routledge], 106. Seasoned exactly to the taste of these old sinners.