Our Sam would have been particularly interested in discoveries and theories re the practical concerns of naval men: weather and how to forecast it, winds and why they blow and change, tides and the moon, etc.
OED has:
‘physics, n. < Latin physica < Greek τὰ ϕυσικά , lit. ‘natural things’ . . 1. a. Natural science in general; esp. the Aristotelian system of natural science. Also: a treatise on natural science. Now hist. The scope of the term has varied from including the whole of the physical world (Locke also included God, angels, etc.) to being restricted to inorganic bodies, until finally being further restricted to sense 1b. . . 1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. iv. xxv. 290, I have given to this Part, the title of Physiques or Phænomena of Nature. . . 1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Physicks, or Natural Philosophy, is the Speculative Knowledge of all Natural Bodies (and Mr. Lock thinks, That God, Angels, Spirits &c. which usually are accounted as the Subject of Metaphysicks, should come into this Science), and of their proper Natures, Constitutions, Powers, and Operations . . ‘
Re: ' . . at a gossiping . . ' 'gossiping, n. . . 1. A christening or christening-feast. Now dial. a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) ii. 18 You'le to the Gossiping of Mr Allwits Child? 1728 Brice's Weekly Jrnl. (Exeter) 30 Aug. Last Sunday Afternoon was celebrated here a Gossipping, or held a jovial Meeting of Good Wives and Sweethearts, to solemnize the Baptism of a Child. ........… Re: ' . . a very well-bred woman . . ' 'well-bred, adj. . . . . 2. b. Of speech, behaviour, character, etc.: demonstrating good breeding or upbringing; courteous, refined, decorous. Also in extended use. 1614 E. Grimeston in tr. P. Matthieu Hist. Lewis XI i. 20 (margin) Natures wel bred are easily bound by fauors, they would haue corrupted Lewis. 1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 251 I'll give him leave to tell me again in his well-bred way, That my head has no Brains in't. ........… Re: ' . . she to carve, drink, and show me great respect. . . ' 'carve, v. < Common Germanic . . . . 9. fig. a. intr. To help or serve (oneself or others) at one's own discretion, to do at one's pleasure, indulge oneself. . . 1604 Shakespeare Hamlet i. iii. 20 He may not as unvalued persons doe, Carve for himselfe. . . 1691 J. Locke Money in Wks. (1727) II. 35 When some common and great Distress..emboldens them to carve to their wants with armed Force.
. . 13. fig. (with reference to speech) Schmidt suggests ‘To show great courtesy and affability’.Obs. 1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 323 A can carue to, and lispe: Why this is hee That kist a way his hand, in courtisie. 1602 Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 40 She carues, she discourses. She giues the lyre of inuitation.
‘forbear v. . . 4. a. . . do without, spare (a person or thing). Obs. . .1667 Milton Paradise Lost ix. 747 Fruits..Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay Gave elocution to the mute . . ‘
‘conjure, v. < Old French . . . . 4. a. To entreat (a person) by something for which he has a strong regard; to appeal solemnly or earnestly to; to beseech, implore. . . 1604 F. T. Case is Altered sig. C2v, Shewing..all her wealth, which she coniured [him] to keepe secret. 1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 290 He concluded with conjuring all his good Subjects..to joyn with him for the recovery of the Peace of That Kingdom . . ‘ ………….. Re: ' . . (we) sat close to our business . . '
‘close, adj. and adv. < French clos . . . . B. adv. (No strict dividing line can be drawn between predicative uses of the adjective, and the adverbial use into which these gradually pass; but where the latter is fully developed, closely is now preferred in ordinary prose.) 1. . . in immediate contact or proximity; as near as can be, very near. Esp. with stand, sit . .
a. Of the mutual proximity of two or more things. (Often with the addition of together.) . . 1633 G. Herbert Providence in Temple xxxiv, Where all the guests sit close . . ‘ …………..
Re: ‘ . . a most ready, learned, and good sermon . .’
‘ready, adj., adv., int., and n. < Old English . . 4.c. Of speech, discourse, or writing: expressed promptly, easily, or fluently. . . 1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage To Rdr. sig. B3, [He] tipled so much Malmsie that hee had neuer a ready word in his mouth. . . 1697 Dryden Ded. Georgics in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ¶1v, A clearness of Notion, express'd in ready and unstudied words. . . ‘ ……………. Re: ‘ . . to read my vows . . ’
‘vow, n.< Anglo-Norman . . . . 4. An earnest wish or desire; a prayer, a supplication . . Not always clearly distinct from sense 1.
1563 tr. Musculus' Common-pl. 499 A vowe is oftentymes taken for a desyre, and prayer. So whan those thynges whyche we haue desyred, do fall oute accordinge vnto oure mynde, wee saye we haue oure wishe or vowe. . . 1742 D. Hume Stoic in Ess. (1777) I. i. xvi. 159 Even their own vows, though granted, cannot give them happiness . . ‘ …………….
Re: ‘ . .sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat"“
‘packet-boat, n. A boat or ship travelling at regular intervals between two ports, originally for the conveyance of mail, later also of goods and passengers; a mailboat. Originally used of the boat which carried ‘the packet’ of state letters and dispatches, chiefly between England and Ireland. Cf. packet n. 1a. 1642 H. Peters True Rel. Voy. Ireland 14 The Evening our packet-boat came in called the Rafe, by whom we had newes from Limrick and other parts from my Lords Castell Steward, who writ for supply, which accodingly was sent him. 1668 London Gaz. No. 267/4 The passage is re-establist between Harwich and Helvoet-sluyce, with able and sufficient Pacquet-boats of 60 Tuns . . ‘ ……………... Re: ‘ . . it was strange for me to refuse, . . ’ (the sense requires ‘would have been’):
‘strange, adj. < Old French . . . .11. b. Distant or cold in demeanour; reserved; not affable, familiar, or encouraging; uncomplying, unwilling to accede to a request or desire. Obs. . . 1597 Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 144, I should have bin strange I must confesse. 1633 W. Rowley Match at Mid-night iii. i. F 4 b, I was strange, in the nice timerous temper of a Maid. 1700 W. Congreve Way of World iv. i. 57 Let us never Visit together, nor go to a Play together, But let us be very strange and well bred . .’ (OED) ……………...
Re: ’ . . his little daughter Betty, that was in hanging sleeves . . ‘
‘hanging, adj. . . 1. b. hanging sleeve: a loose open sleeve hanging down from the arm; formerly worn by children and young persons . . 1659 J. Gauden Ἱερα Δακρυα 580 The Popes..being then in their bibs and hanging-sleeves. . . 1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xlix. 301 When I was a Girl, or, when I was in Hanging-sleeves . . ' (OED)
Re: ‘ . . the most that is fit for us to condescend to . . ’
‘condescend, v. < French . . 5. To give one's consent, to accede or agree to (a proposal, request, measure, etc.); to acquiesce. , , b. intr. Const. to a thing. Obs. . . 1649 Milton Εικονοκλαστης iv. 28 The King..having both call'd this Parlament unwillingly, and as unwillingly..condescended to thir several acts. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. i. xxi. §4, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. To which desire he condescended . . ‘
‘pleasant, adj. and adv. < Anglo-Norman . . . . 5. Amusing, comical; ridiculous. Now arch. and rare. . . 1688 S. Penton Guardian's Instr. 48 It was pleasant to see how my Son trembled to see the Proctour come in . . ‘ ………….. Re: ’ . . everybody turns up his tail, . . ’
‘turn, v. < Old English . . . . turn up . . . . 11. To turn the stomach of (see 12*); to nauseate; also fig. 1892 Chambers's Jrnl. 11 June 375/2 Men who have never known what sea-sickness is..get thoroughly ‘turned up’ with the awful motion and vibration . .
*turn . . 12. a. To cause (the stomach) to reject or revolt against the food . . ; to turn the stomach of, to nauseate, to disgust extremely. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 355, I may not giue it a worse word, for feare of turning thy stomake. 1738 Pope Epil. to Satires ii. 12 This filthy Simile..Quite turns my Stomach . . ‘ …………. (OED)
‘course, n. < French cours . . . . 37. of course: a. adjectival. Belonging to the ordinary procedure, custom, or way of the world; customary; natural, to be expected. Now esp. in a matter of course. . . 1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 31v, The friendshippe betweene man and man as it is common so is it of course. . . 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 109. ⁋3 Their Congratulations and Condoleances are equally Words of Course . . ‘ ………... Re: ‘ . . up and down in the closes . . ’
‘close, n.1 < French clos . . ’ . . 4. c. A short street closed at one end, a cul-de-sac. Often in proper names of such streets. . . 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 70, I..cut into Little-Britain, so into Bartholomew-Close, then cross Aldersgate-street . . ‘ ………… Re: ‘ . . one goodman Arthur, whom we met on the way . . ’
‘goodman, n. . . . . 1. Used as a respectful form of address, typically between equals. Chiefly Sc. after Middle English . . . . 2. a. The male head of a household; the master, the householder. . . 3. A man of wealth or social standing who is not a member of the gentry or aristocracy, as a master in a craft or guild, a burgess, a yeoman, etc. Chiefly hist. after 17th cent. . . . . 4. As a title of courtesy or respect . . . . b. Prefixed to the name of a person below the rank of gentleman, as a yeoman, a farmer, or (more widely) any householder. Cf. senses 2a, 3. arch. or hist. after 18th cent. . . ‘ ………… Re: ‘ . . a brave dish of cream . . ’
The OED gives no meanings for ‘cream’ beyond cream itself so this must be what they supped on, fresh from the cow no doubt - a rare treat in summer for townsfolk - it couldn’t be brought to them as out in the sun it would start to spoil immediately on warm days.
‘good neighbourhood - Behaviour characteristic of a good neighbour or good neighbours; good neighbourly feeling or conduct; friendly relations between neighbours. . . 1636 J. Rogers Godly Expos. First Epist. Peter (1650) ii. 232 There is..now such Pride, Covetousness, Craft, &c. whereas before there was Love, Good-neighborhood, Plain Dealing. . . 1711 G. Granville Let. 22 Sept. in Genuine Wks. (1732) II. 230 Let it be your Business..to restore..Harmony, and Good-Neighbourhood amongst them . . ‘ ……... Re: ‘ . . a short, ugly, red-haired slut . . ’
‘slut, n. < Of doubtful origin: compare German (now dialect) schlutt . . . . 2. b. In playful use, or without serious imputation of bad qualities. . . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 21 Feb. (1971) V. 55 Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut and pleases us mightily . . ‘ ……… (OED)
‘passing, adj., prep., and adv. . . . . passing, adj., prep., and adv. . . 1633 J. Ford Loves Sacrifice i. i, The French are passing courtly. 1671 Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 155 Many are in each Region passing fair As the noon Skie. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. x. 266 He swore 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange . . ‘ ……………………… Re: ‘ . . he being a more ayery man . . ’
‘airy . . 8.d. Light, delicate, graceful in style or execution. Also, of a person or work of art: ingenious, witty.
1664 Duchess of Newcastle CCXI Sociable Lett. xliii. 89 Salt Wit is Heavy and Searching,..whereas Fresh Spring Wit is Light and Airy, Running with a Smooth and Quick Motion. 1674 J. Playford Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 7) i. 59 The Æolick Mood, was that which was of a more Airy and soft pleasing sound. 1711 J. Addison Spectator (1712) I. No. 9. 51 The Learned and Illiterate, the Dull and the Airy, the Philosopher and the Buffoon, can all of them bear a part. ……………………… (OED)
‘Travel the Thames in style and always arrive on time with Thames Water Taxis . . All bookings based on a charter rate of £435 per hour plus pier fees.’
‘person n. < Latin . . II. A human being, and related senses. . . 2. b. A man or woman of high rank, distinction, or importance; a personage. Usually (and now only) with modifying word or phrase. . . 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies v. viii. 348 If it were a person of QUALITIE, they gave apparrell to all such as came to the interrement. 1673 Dryden Assignation i. i. 1 A man of my parts and tallents, though he be but a Valet de Chambre, is a person. . . 1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V II. vi. 417 Immediately the chief persons IN THE STATE assembled. 1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title II. 26 Their ultimatum was obtained, and they were considered as persons OF CONSEQUENCE. 1882 Harper's Mag. Mar. 550/1 The administrator..has..various lands and casitas of his own—a person OF SUBSTANCE, in fact. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt iii. 28 Babbit felt himself a person OF IMPORTANCE, one whose name even busy garagemen remembered. . . 2004 Boston Herald (Nexis) 8 Jan. 1 The prosecutor called Connelly's actions as a person OF RANK in a police department ‘offensive.’
but NOT ‘person of honour’; the word ‘honour’ is not to be found in the 8,000 word+ entry for ‘person’. As for ‘honour’ itself:
‘honour < Latin . . . . 2. a. Quality of character entitling a person to great respect; nobility of mind or spirit; honourableness, uprightness; a fine sense of, and strict adherence to, what is considered to be morally right or just. . . 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxiiiv, The king of England had so great trust..in the honor & promise of the French kyng. 1649 R. Lovelace Poems (1864) 27, I could not love thee, dear, so much, Lov'd I not Honour more. . . 1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 94 What is Honour, but a greatness of mind which scorns to descend to an ill and base thing? 1755 Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Honour, nobleness of mind; scorn of meanness; magnanimity . . ‘
so it is surprising not to find it in the ‘person’ list, in both its literal sense and the pejorative as used byPepys: ‘ . . which is, I find, as much as to say a coxcomb . . ’ = ‘3. a. A fool, simpleton (obs.); now, a foolish, conceited, showy person, vain of his accomplishments, appearance, or dress; a fop; ‘a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments’ (Johnson)’.
The distinction between the honourable title ’Man of Honour’ (bestowed on someone by his peers) and ’Person of Honour’ (claimed by coxcombs, scrubs and scoundrels) is well explained starting at p 79 of ‘An Essay on Honour’ by John Hildrop in ‘The Miscellaneous Works . . ’ (London, 1754). http://tinyurl.com/hjzssw5 This is the 11th item listed by TF’s google search.
Re: ‘ . . she had been with all the artists in town’ . . ‘
OED has:
‘artist n. < Latin . . . . II. A person skilled in a learned art. . . 4. A person skilled in magic arts or occult sciences; an astrologer, an alchemist. Obs. . . a1626 W. Rowley Birth of Merlin (1662), The Artists..that seeks the secrets of futurity . . ‘
‘high day . . . 2. The time of full daylight, when the sun is high in the sky. . . 1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 Nov. (1974) VIII. 552 Thus we lay till the clock struck 8, and high day. 1737 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) at Hour, In the Jewish Account, the Day was divided into 4 Parts, Morning, High-day or Noon, the first Evening, and the last Evening . . ‘ [OED]
‘She . . had a yellow plume in her hat (which all took notice of), and . . very melancholy’
The meaning here is clearly:
‘ . . 2. fig. a. Affected with jealousy, jealous . . Also in allusive phrases, as to wear yellow hose = to be jealous. Obs. . . 1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine iv. ii. sig. I1v, If I were The Duke..I should weare yellow breeches. . . c1680 Man's Felicity xiii, My Wife will wear no yellow hose . . ‘
-- when did the term "night soil men" come into use?
OED has:
‘night soil, n. Human excrement removed (esp. at night) from cesspools, outdoor privies, etc. . . 1756 in J. Fielding Extr. Penal Laws (1762) xliii. 187 If any Person shall put or cast any Night Soil out of any Cart,..he shall be committed for any Time not exceeding one Month . . ‘ 1994 R. Davies Cunning Man 89 Surely the collection of garbage, or even of night-soil, would be the fate of one who did not pass his university entrance.
. . night-soil man n. 1844 Mechanics' Mag. 5 Oct. 235/2 This information ought not to be lost upon the night-soil men of London and other large cities, but still more should it engage the attention of the Commissioners of Sewers.’ …………. ‘what will become of the corn this year . . ’
OED has:
‘corn, n.1 < Common Germanic . . . . II. spec. The fruit of the cereals. 3. a. collective sing. The seed of the cereal or farinaceous plants as a produce of agriculture; grain. As a general term the word includes all the cereals, wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, etc., and, with qualification (as black corn, pulse corn), is extended to leguminous plants, as pease, beans, etc., cultivated for food. Locally, the word, when not otherwise qualified, is often understood to denote that kind of cereal which is the leading crop of the district; hence in the greater part of England ‘corn’ is = wheat n., in North Britain and Ireland = oats; in the U.S. the word, as short for Indian corn n., is restricted to maize. . . 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique v. vii. 668 Grounds that are to be sowen with corne, that is to say with rie corne, maslin, some kind of barlie, Turkie corne & such others whereof bread is made, and especially..wheate corne. 1767 Jrnl. Voy. H.M.S. Dolphin 143 Rice is the only corn that grows in the island. 1774 T. Percival Ess. Med. & Exper. (1776) III. 62 Wheat..so lately has it been cultivated in Lancashire, that it has scarcely yet acquired the name of corn, which in general is applied only to barley, oats, and rye . .
4. a. Applied collectively to the cereal plants while growing, or, while still containing the grain. 1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iv. 31 Her Foes shake like a Field of beaten Corne . . . 1861 Times 4 Oct. 7/4 The corn is all cut, with the exception of a few late pieces.’
Comments
Second Reading
About Saturday 8 August 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Our Sam would have been particularly interested in discoveries and theories re the practical concerns of naval men: weather and how to forecast it, winds and why they blow and change, tides and the moon, etc.
OED has:
‘physics, n. < Latin physica < Greek τὰ ϕυσικά , lit. ‘natural things’ . .
1. a. Natural science in general; esp. the Aristotelian system of natural science. Also: a treatise on natural science. Now hist. The scope of the term has varied from including the whole of the physical world (Locke also included God, angels, etc.) to being restricted to inorganic bodies, until finally being further restricted to sense 1b.
. . 1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. iv. xxv. 290, I have given to this Part, the title of Physiques or Phænomena of Nature.
. . 1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Physicks, or Natural Philosophy, is the Speculative Knowledge of all Natural Bodies (and Mr. Lock thinks, That God, Angels, Spirits &c. which usually are accounted as the Subject of Metaphysicks, should come into this Science), and of their proper Natures, Constitutions, Powers, and Operations . . ‘
About Thursday 6 August 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ' . . at a gossiping . . '
'gossiping, n. . .
1. A christening or christening-feast. Now dial.
a1627 T. Middleton Chast Mayd in Cheape-side (1630) ii. 18 You'le to the Gossiping of Mr Allwits Child?
1728 Brice's Weekly Jrnl. (Exeter) 30 Aug. Last Sunday Afternoon was celebrated here a Gossipping, or held a jovial Meeting of Good Wives and Sweethearts, to solemnize the Baptism of a Child.
........…
Re: ' . . a very well-bred woman . . '
'well-bred, adj. . .
. . 2. b. Of speech, behaviour, character, etc.: demonstrating good breeding or upbringing; courteous, refined, decorous. Also in extended use.
1614 E. Grimeston in tr. P. Matthieu Hist. Lewis XI i. 20 (margin) Natures wel bred are easily bound by fauors, they would haue corrupted Lewis.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 251 I'll give him leave to tell me again in his well-bred way, That my head has no Brains in't.
........…
Re: ' . . she to carve, drink, and show me great respect. . . '
'carve, v. < Common Germanic . .
. . 9. fig. a. intr. To help or serve (oneself or others) at one's own discretion, to do at one's pleasure, indulge oneself.
. . 1604 Shakespeare Hamlet i. iii. 20 He may not as unvalued persons doe, Carve for himselfe.
. . 1691 J. Locke Money in Wks. (1727) II. 35 When some common and great Distress..emboldens them to carve to their wants with armed Force.
. . 13. fig. (with reference to speech) Schmidt suggests ‘To show great courtesy and affability’.Obs.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 323 A can carue to, and lispe: Why this is hee That kist a way his hand, in courtisie.
1602 Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor i. iii. 40 She carues, she discourses. She giues the lyre of inuitation.
...........
(OED)
About Tuesday 4 August 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ' . . it being late I forbore Mrs. Lane . . '
‘forbear v. . . 4. a. . . do without, spare (a person or thing). Obs.
. .1667 Milton Paradise Lost ix. 747 Fruits..Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay Gave elocution to the mute . . ‘
About Monday 3 August 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: “we conjured him to look after the yard”
‘conjure, v. < Old French . .
. . 4. a. To entreat (a person) by something for which he has a strong regard; to appeal solemnly or earnestly to; to beseech, implore.
. . 1604 F. T. Case is Altered sig. C2v, Shewing..all her wealth, which she coniured [him] to keepe secret.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 290 He concluded with conjuring all his good Subjects..to joyn with him for the recovery of the Peace of That Kingdom . . ‘
…………..
Re: ' . . (we) sat close to our business . . '
‘close, adj. and adv. < French clos . .
. . B. adv. (No strict dividing line can be drawn between predicative uses of the adjective, and the adverbial use into which these gradually pass; but where the latter is fully developed, closely is now preferred in ordinary prose.)
1. . . in immediate contact or proximity; as near as can be, very near. Esp. with stand, sit . .
a. Of the mutual proximity of two or more things. (Often with the addition of together.)
. . 1633 G. Herbert Providence in Temple xxxiv, Where all the guests sit close . . ‘
…………..
(OED)
About Sunday 2 August 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . a most ready, learned, and good sermon . .’
‘ready, adj., adv., int., and n. < Old English
. . 4.c. Of speech, discourse, or writing: expressed promptly, easily, or fluently.
. . 1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage To Rdr. sig. B3, [He] tipled so much Malmsie that hee had neuer a ready word in his mouth.
. . 1697 Dryden Ded. Georgics in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ¶1v, A clearness of Notion, express'd in ready and unstudied words. . . ‘
…………….
Re: ‘ . . to read my vows . . ’
‘vow, n.< Anglo-Norman . .
. . 4. An earnest wish or desire; a prayer, a supplication . . Not always clearly distinct from sense 1.
1563 tr. Musculus' Common-pl. 499 A vowe is oftentymes taken for a desyre, and prayer. So whan those thynges whyche we haue desyred, do fall oute accordinge vnto oure mynde, wee saye we haue oure wishe or vowe.
. . 1742 D. Hume Stoic in Ess. (1777) I. i. xvi. 159 Even their own vows, though granted, cannot give them happiness . . ‘
…………….
About Friday 31 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . .sailing between Dublin and Holyhead with the pacquett-boat"“
‘packet-boat, n.
A boat or ship travelling at regular intervals between two ports, originally for the conveyance of mail, later also of goods and passengers; a mailboat. Originally used of the boat which carried ‘the packet’ of state letters and dispatches, chiefly between England and Ireland. Cf. packet n. 1a.
1642 H. Peters True Rel. Voy. Ireland 14 The Evening our packet-boat came in called the Rafe, by whom we had newes from Limrick and other parts from my Lords Castell Steward, who writ for supply, which accodingly was sent him.
1668 London Gaz. No. 267/4 The passage is re-establist between Harwich and Helvoet-sluyce, with able and sufficient Pacquet-boats of 60 Tuns . . ‘
……………...
Re: ‘ . . it was strange for me to refuse, . . ’ (the sense requires ‘would have been’):
‘strange, adj. < Old French . .
. .11. b. Distant or cold in demeanour; reserved; not affable, familiar, or encouraging; uncomplying, unwilling to accede to a request or desire. Obs.
. . 1597 Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 144, I should have bin strange I must confesse.
1633 W. Rowley Match at Mid-night iii. i. F 4 b, I was strange, in the nice timerous temper of a Maid.
1700 W. Congreve Way of World iv. i. 57 Let us never Visit together, nor go to a Play together, But let us be very strange and well bred . .’
(OED)
……………...
About Thursday 30 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ’ . . his little daughter Betty, that was in hanging sleeves . . ‘
‘hanging, adj.
. . 1. b. hanging sleeve: a loose open sleeve hanging down from the arm; formerly worn by children and young persons . .
1659 J. Gauden Ἱερα Δακρυα 580 The Popes..being then in their bibs and hanging-sleeves.
. . 1741 S. Richardson Pamela IV. xlix. 301 When I was a Girl, or, when I was in Hanging-sleeves . . '
(OED)
About Wednesday 29 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . the most that is fit for us to condescend to . . ’
‘condescend, v. < French
. . 5. To give one's consent, to accede or agree to (a proposal, request, measure, etc.); to acquiesce.
, , b. intr. Const. to a thing. Obs.
. . 1649 Milton Εικονοκλαστης iv. 28 The King..having both call'd this Parlament unwillingly, and as unwillingly..condescended to thir several acts.
1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. i. xxi. §4, in tr. Josephus Genuine Wks. To which desire he condescended . . ‘
(OED)
About Sunday 26 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . it being very pleasant . . ‘
‘pleasant, adj. and adv. < Anglo-Norman . .
. . 5. Amusing, comical; ridiculous. Now arch. and rare.
. . 1688 S. Penton Guardian's Instr. 48 It was pleasant to see how my Son trembled to see the Proctour come in . . ‘
…………..
Re: ’ . . everybody turns up his tail, . . ’
‘turn, v. < Old English . .
. . turn up . .
. . 11. To turn the stomach of (see 12*); to nauseate; also fig.
1892 Chambers's Jrnl. 11 June 375/2 Men who have never known what sea-sickness is..get thoroughly ‘turned up’ with the awful motion and vibration . .
*turn . . 12. a. To cause (the stomach) to reject or revolt against the food . . ; to turn the stomach of, to nauseate, to disgust extremely.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 355, I may not giue it a worse word, for feare of turning thy stomake.
1738 Pope Epil. to Satires ii. 12 This filthy Simile..Quite turns my Stomach . . ‘
………….
(OED)
About Saturday 25 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . did a little of course . . ’
‘course, n. < French cours . .
. . 37. of course:
a. adjectival. Belonging to the ordinary procedure, custom, or way of the world; customary; natural, to be expected. Now esp. in a matter of course.
. . 1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 31v, The friendshippe betweene man and man as it is common so is it of course.
. . 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 109. ⁋3 Their Congratulations and Condoleances are equally Words of Course . . ‘
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Re: ‘ . . up and down in the closes . . ’
‘close, n.1 < French clos . . ’
. . 4. c. A short street closed at one end, a cul-de-sac. Often in proper names of such streets.
. . 1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 70, I..cut into Little-Britain, so into Bartholomew-Close, then cross Aldersgate-street . . ‘
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Re: ‘ . . one goodman Arthur, whom we met on the way . . ’
‘goodman, n. . .
. . 1. Used as a respectful form of address, typically between equals. Chiefly Sc. after Middle English . .
. . 2. a. The male head of a household; the master, the householder.
. . 3. A man of wealth or social standing who is not a member of the gentry or aristocracy, as a master in a craft or guild, a burgess, a yeoman, etc. Chiefly hist. after 17th cent. . .
. . 4. As a title of courtesy or respect . .
. . b. Prefixed to the name of a person below the rank of gentleman, as a yeoman, a farmer, or (more widely) any householder. Cf. senses 2a, 3. arch. or hist. after 18th cent. . . ‘
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Re: ‘ . . a brave dish of cream . . ’
The OED gives no meanings for ‘cream’ beyond cream itself so this must be what they supped on, fresh from the cow no doubt - a rare treat in summer for townsfolk - it couldn’t be brought to them as out in the sun it would start to spoil immediately on warm days.
About Friday 24 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . After this good neighbourhood . . ’
‘good neighbourhood - Behaviour characteristic of a good neighbour or good neighbours; good neighbourly feeling or conduct; friendly relations between neighbours.
. . 1636 J. Rogers Godly Expos. First Epist. Peter (1650) ii. 232 There is..now such Pride, Covetousness, Craft, &c. whereas before there was Love, Good-neighborhood, Plain Dealing.
. . 1711 G. Granville Let. 22 Sept. in Genuine Wks. (1732) II. 230 Let it be your Business..to restore..Harmony, and Good-Neighbourhood amongst them . . ‘
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Re: ‘ . . a short, ugly, red-haired slut . . ’
‘slut, n. < Of doubtful origin: compare German (now dialect) schlutt . .
. . 2. b. In playful use, or without serious imputation of bad qualities.
. . 1664 S. Pepys Diary 21 Feb. (1971) V. 55 Our little girl Susan is a most admirable slut and pleases us mightily . . ‘
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(OED)
About Wednesday 22 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘she looks passing well.’:
‘passing, adj., prep., and adv. . .
. . passing, adj., prep., and adv.
. . 1633 J. Ford Loves Sacrifice i. i, The French are passing courtly.
1671 Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 155 Many are in each Region passing fair As the noon Skie.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. x. 266 He swore 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange . . ‘
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Re: ‘ . . he being a more ayery man . . ’
‘airy . . 8.d. Light, delicate, graceful in style or execution. Also, of a person or work of art: ingenious, witty.
1664 Duchess of Newcastle CCXI Sociable Lett. xliii. 89 Salt Wit is Heavy and Searching,..whereas Fresh Spring Wit is Light and Airy, Running with a Smooth and Quick Motion.
1674 J. Playford Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 7) i. 59 The Æolick Mood, was that which was of a more Airy and soft pleasing sound.
1711 J. Addison Spectator (1712) I. No. 9. 51 The Learned and Illiterate, the Dull and the Airy, the Philosopher and the Buffoon, can all of them bear a part.
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(OED)
About Tuesday 21 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘Travel the Thames in style and always arrive on time with Thames Water Taxis
. . All bookings based on a charter rate of £435 per hour plus pier fees.’
http://www.thameswatertaxi.com/
About Sunday 19 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
The 3 words person of honour return 191 hits: http://www.pepysdiary.com/search/… ; the phrase "person of honour" returns just 12: http://www.pepysdiary.com/search/…
About Sunday 19 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
………………..
OED has (my emphases):
‘person n. < Latin . .
II. A human being, and related senses.
. . 2. b. A man or woman of high rank, distinction, or importance; a personage. Usually (and now only) with modifying word or phrase.
. . 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies v. viii. 348 If it were a person of QUALITIE, they gave apparrell to all such as came to the interrement.
1673 Dryden Assignation i. i. 1 A man of my parts and tallents, though he be but a Valet de Chambre, is a person.
. . 1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V II. vi. 417 Immediately the chief persons IN THE STATE assembled.
1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title II. 26 Their ultimatum was obtained, and they were considered as persons OF CONSEQUENCE.
1882 Harper's Mag. Mar. 550/1 The administrator..has..various lands and casitas of his own—a person OF SUBSTANCE, in fact.
1922 S. Lewis Babbitt iii. 28 Babbit felt himself a person OF IMPORTANCE, one whose name even busy garagemen remembered.
. . 2004 Boston Herald (Nexis) 8 Jan. 1 The prosecutor called Connelly's actions as a person OF RANK in a police department ‘offensive.’
but NOT ‘person of honour’; the word ‘honour’ is not to be found in the 8,000 word+ entry for ‘person’. As for ‘honour’ itself:
‘honour < Latin . .
. . 2. a. Quality of character entitling a person to great respect; nobility of mind or spirit; honourableness, uprightness; a fine sense of, and strict adherence to, what is considered to be morally right or just.
. . 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxiiiv, The king of England had so great trust..in the honor & promise of the French kyng.
1649 R. Lovelace Poems (1864) 27, I could not love thee, dear, so much, Lov'd I not Honour more.
. . 1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 94 What is Honour, but a greatness of mind which scorns to descend to an ill and base thing?
1755 Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Honour, nobleness of mind; scorn of meanness; magnanimity . . ‘
so it is surprising not to find it in the ‘person’ list, in both its literal sense and the pejorative as used byPepys: ‘ . . which is, I find, as much as to say a coxcomb . . ’ = ‘3. a. A fool, simpleton (obs.); now, a foolish, conceited, showy person, vain of his accomplishments, appearance, or dress; a fop; ‘a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments’ (Johnson)’.
The distinction between the honourable title ’Man of Honour’ (bestowed on someone by his peers) and ’Person of Honour’ (claimed by coxcombs, scrubs and scoundrels) is well explained starting at p 79 of ‘An Essay on Honour’ by John Hildrop in ‘The Miscellaneous Works . . ’ (London, 1754). http://tinyurl.com/hjzssw5 This is the 11th item listed by TF’s google search.
About Saturday 18 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: ‘ . . she had been with all the artists in town’ . . ‘
OED has:
‘artist n. < Latin . .
. . II. A person skilled in a learned art.
. . 4. A person skilled in magic arts or occult sciences; an astrologer, an alchemist. Obs.
. . a1626 W. Rowley Birth of Merlin (1662), The Artists..that seeks the secrets of futurity . . ‘
About Monday 13 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Re: So, it being high day . .
‘high day . . .
2. The time of full daylight, when the sun is high in the sky.
. . 1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 Nov. (1974) VIII. 552 Thus we lay till the clock struck 8, and high day.
1737 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) at Hour, In the Jewish Account, the Day was divided into 4 Parts, Morning, High-day or Noon, the first Evening, and the last Evening . . ‘ [OED]
About Monday 13 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
‘She . . had a yellow plume in her hat (which all took notice of), and . . very melancholy’
The meaning here is clearly:
‘ . . 2. fig. a. Affected with jealousy, jealous . . Also in allusive phrases, as to wear yellow hose = to be jealous. Obs.
. . 1623 P. Massinger Duke of Millaine iv. ii. sig. I1v, If I were The Duke..I should weare yellow breeches.
. . c1680 Man's Felicity xiii, My Wife will wear no yellow hose . . ‘
About Monday 13 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
Here is a cut-down version of the google search for “and so to bed” in the Diary, which returns 1,410 hits:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?h…
The ampersand ‘&’ indicates the end of each search term
Using the ‘domain’ field in Google Advanced Search returns 1610 hits.
About Wednesday 8 July 1663
Chris Squire UK • Link
-- when did the term "night soil men" come into use?
OED has:
‘night soil, n. Human excrement removed (esp. at night) from cesspools, outdoor privies, etc.
. . 1756 in J. Fielding Extr. Penal Laws (1762) xliii. 187 If any Person shall put or cast any Night Soil out of any Cart,..he shall be committed for any Time not exceeding one Month . . ‘
1994 R. Davies Cunning Man 89 Surely the collection of garbage, or even of night-soil, would be the fate of one who did not pass his university entrance.
. . night-soil man n.
1844 Mechanics' Mag. 5 Oct. 235/2 This information ought not to be lost upon the night-soil men of London and other large cities, but still more should it engage the attention of the Commissioners of Sewers.’
………….
‘what will become of the corn this year . . ’
OED has:
‘corn, n.1 < Common Germanic . .
. . II. spec. The fruit of the cereals.
3. a. collective sing. The seed of the cereal or farinaceous plants as a produce of agriculture; grain. As a general term the word includes all the cereals, wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, etc., and, with qualification (as black corn, pulse corn), is extended to leguminous plants, as pease, beans, etc., cultivated for food. Locally, the word, when not otherwise qualified, is often understood to denote that kind of cereal which is the leading crop of the district; hence in the greater part of England ‘corn’ is = wheat n., in North Britain and Ireland = oats; in the U.S. the word, as short for Indian corn n., is restricted to maize.
. . 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique v. vii. 668 Grounds that are to be sowen with corne, that is to say with rie corne, maslin, some kind of barlie, Turkie corne & such others whereof bread is made, and especially..wheate corne.
1767 Jrnl. Voy. H.M.S. Dolphin 143 Rice is the only corn that grows in the island.
1774 T. Percival Ess. Med. & Exper. (1776) III. 62 Wheat..so lately has it been cultivated in Lancashire, that it has scarcely yet acquired the name of corn, which in general is applied only to barley, oats, and rye . .
4. a. Applied collectively to the cereal plants while growing, or, while still containing the grain.
1623 Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. iv. 31 Her Foes shake like a Field of beaten Corne .
. . 1861 Times 4 Oct. 7/4 The corn is all cut, with the exception of a few late pieces.’