Sarsenet. A fine silk originally of Saracenic manufacture.
Saturday. This, the seventh day of the week, was dedicated by the Romans to Saturn. As, however, all the other week-days were named by the people of Northern Europe in accordance with Scandinavian mythology, one must incline to the opinion that this was named after Sæter, a water deity. Its Anglo-Saxon designation was Sæterdæg.
Saturnalia. The great winter festival of the Romans in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture.
Saunders Blue. An easy corruption of the French Cendres bleus, “blue ashes,” calcined bluestone being the substance from which this pigment is obtained.
Sauterne. A French wine produced at the place of the name, in the department of Gironde.
Saved my Bacon. This expression originated during the Civil War, when housewives took extraordinary measures to save the bacon stored up for winter consumption from the greedy appetites of soldiers on the march.
Savile Row. After Dorothy Savile, who, marrying into the Burlington family, received this portion of the estate as her separate property.
Savoy. A cabbage originally introduced from the French department of this name.
Savoy Street. From the Savoy Chapel, the original of which, prior to its destruction by fire, 7th July 1864, was the only remaining portion of the ancient Savoy Palace built by Peter of Savoy, uncle to the queen of[of] Henry III., in 1249.
Sawney. A variant of “Sandy.”