Obs. [Of unknown etymology; the forms eiress, eress, eriss, in Dicts. appear to represent the same word.]

1

  1.  A canary-bird two years old.

2

c. 1690.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew.

3

1727.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Canary Bird, Those that exceed two, are named Erisses.

4

1736.  Bailey, Erisses, eresses.

5

  2.  ‘A rogue just initiated.’ (New Cant. Dict., 1725.)

6


  Eriff, dial. form of HARIFF.

7

1796.  Agric. Surv. Staffordsh., 95. Eriff, Galium Aparine.

8