The name of the letter S; anything in the shape of an S. Pl. esses; also 6 esces. Collar of Esses: see COLLAR. Also in Comb., es-hook, es-link, dial. (see quots.)
1540. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., III. 364 (1846), III. 283. The reste of the players whiche represented the three esces.
1579. in T. Thompson, Inventories (1815), 293. A chayn … with essis of gold emaillit reid.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1299/2. The bow with two esses, all cleane wrought.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. v. (1611), 199. He beareth Gules, three text Esses or … by the name of Kekir-more.
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., IV. i. Sir Jol. O here are the Esses; let me consider now—Sapho? Cour. No, Sir. Sir Jol. Selinda? Cour. Neither.
1865. Le Fanu, Guy Dev., II. xvii. 179. There’s an ornament of scrowl-work … shaped like letter esses.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Wood-bk., Es-hook,… a hook at the extremity of a waggon-horse’s traces, in the form of the letter S.
1884. Chesh. Gloss., Es-link, a small piece of iron shaped like a letter S, used for mending a broken chain.
Ess, obs. and dial. form of ASH sb.1 ashes.
