dial. or colloq. [A dial. pronunciation of come hither, used as a coaxing invitation to cows, horses, etc.] In to put one’s (the) comether on: to exercise persuasion or coaxing on, to persuade over, coax, wheedle; to get under one’s influence.
1838. Lover, Handy Andy, ii. 22. He … looks pistols at any one that attempts putting his comether on the widow.
1883. Reade, in Harper’s Mag., July, 205/2. We must buy him, or put the comether on him.
1888. Berksh. Gloss., Comether, come hither. To put the ‘comether’ on a person is to restrain him.
1890. An Irishman (from correspt.). ‘Sure, he could put his comether on any woman!’
