SIMON. Sixpence. Simple Simon: a natural, a silly fellow;
Simon Suck-egg, sold his wife for an addle duck-egg.
TO SIMPER. To smile: to simper like a firmity kettle.
SIMPLETON. Abbreviation of simple Tony or Anthony, a foolish fellow.
SIMPLES. Physical herbs; also follies. He must go to Battersea, to be cut for the simples—Battersea is a place famous for its garden grounds, some of which were formerly appropriated to the growing of simples for apothecaries, who at a certain season used to go down to select their stock for the ensuing year, at which time the gardeners were said to cut their simples; whence it became a popular joke to advise young people to go to Battersea, at that time, to have their simples cut, or to be cut for the simples.
TO SING. To call out; the coves sing out beef; they call
out stop thief.
TO SING SMALL. To be humbled, confounded, or abashed,
to have little or nothing to say for one's-self.
SINGLE PEEPER. A person having but one eye.
SINGLETON. A very foolish fellow; also a particular kind of nails.
SINGLETON. A corkscrew, made by a famous cutler of that name, who lived in a place called Hell, in Dublin; his screws are remarkable for their excellent temper.
SIR JOHN. The old title for a country parson: as Sir John of Wrotham, mentioned by Shakespeare.