savey
»When I comes into your shop to order refreshments, I’m boss. Savey?» (T. T. T. 126. 3.)
Uneducated Londoner.
»Me out of it—everything’s simple. Savey?» (T. T. T. 54. 13.)
The same.
»Upon my sivvy, blessed if I see ’ow to do it.» (P. Kelver II. 54. 13.)
Young London clerk.
Savey (savvy) is a common vulgarism for knowing, knowledge; as verb: to know, to understand.
Do you savey? = Do you know, do you understand? He had plenty of savey = of savoir faire, or savoir vivre.
»Upon my sivvy» stands probably for »upon my affy», a common vulgarized form of »upon my solemn affidavit» (upon my sworn testimony.)
The term is no doubt derived from some Romanic language, perhaps a corruption of the French vous savez or savez-vous.