Slang and cant in Jerome K. Jerome's works

by Olof E. Bosson

sort of

»This seemed to sort of lighten the boat.» (Three Men In A Boat 108. 30.)

= seemed to lighten the boat, as it were.

Often spelt and pronounced »sorter.» Compare kind of (»kinder»). Both especially common in American vulgar language and probably imitated from America.