Obs. in polite use. Forms: 1 ærs, ears, 1–7 ars, 4–5 ers(e, eeres, arce, 4–9 arse. [common Teut.: cf. OHG., ON., Da., Sw. ars, OFris. ers, G. arsch, OTeut. *ars-oz, cogn. w. Gr. ὄρρος, *ὄρσος.]
1. The fundament, buttocks, posteriors or rump of an animal.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wright, 44/2. Nates, ears-lyre.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 175. Baleised on þe bare ers [v.r. ars], and no breche bitwene.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. liv. (1495), 267. Emoroides ben fuyue veynes whyche stretche out atte the eeres.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxvi. 233. They lete hange fox tailles … to hele and hyde her arses.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, xxv. 15 b. The 25th chapitre dothe shewe of a mannes ars.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 964. Then mounted both upon their Horses, But with their Faces to the Arses.
1704. Swift, Batt. Books (1711), 235. Do you think I have nothing else to do but to mend and repair after your Arse? [i.e., behind you, in your rear.]
b. in phr. Heavy arse: a lazy fellow, a lie-a-bed. To hang the arse: to hold back, be reluctant or tardy. Arse upwards: in good luck.
1530. Palsgr., 436/2. What up, heavy arse, cannest thou nat aryse.
c. 1600. Timon, I. v. (1842), 20. This man this daye rose with his arse upwards; To daye a fidler, and at night a noble.
1611. Cotgr., Fesse-cul, A Pedanticall whip-arse.
1633. Massinger, Guardian, V. iv. Nay, No hanging an arse.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 456. Could he stir To active trot one side of’s Horse The other would not hang an arse.
2. transf. or fig. The bottom; the lower or hinder end; the fag end, tail.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7580. Thou shalt for this sinne dwelle Right in the divels arse of helle.
1556. Chron. Grey Friars (1852), 73. Whyppyd … at the carttes arse … for vacobondes.
1622. Massinger & Dekker, Virg. Mart., II. i. Wks. IV. 37. The arse, as it were, or fag end of the world.
1750. W. Ellis, Mod. Husb., V. i. 11. [Lay the sheaves] in a sloping posture, close together, with their arses outward.
1880. R. Holland, in O. Farming Words, 2. In Cheshire the stalk-end of a potato [is called] the ‘arse-end of a ’tater.’
3. Comb. and Attrib., as arse-hole, -tharme, -therl, -winning, -wisp; arse-board (still dial.), the tail board of a cart; arse-gut, the rectum, also fig.; arse-long (cf. side-long); arse-push, a heavy backward fall; arse-ropes, intestines. Also ARSEFOOT, ARSELING, ARSESMART, ARSEWARD, q.v.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physic, 139/2. For the comminge out of the Arsegutte.
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quevedo (1708), 55. The very Arse-Gut, the Drain and Sink of Monarchies.
a. 1400. in Wright, Voc., 183. Arce-hoole, podex.
1540. Raynald, Byrth Man. (1564), 54. When it [the fœtus] proceedeth … sidelong, arselong, or backlong.
1611. Cotgr., Culant, giuing an arse-posse vnto.
1660. Howell, Arse-push.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Sam. v. 9. The arsroppis of hem goynge out stonken.
c. 1450. in Wright, Voc., 186/2. Cirbus, harstharme.
c. 1000. Ælfric, ibid., 44/2. Anus vel verpus, ears þerl.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 306. An hore of hure erswynninge · may hardiloker tythe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Arswyspe, Maniperium, anitergium.
