subs. (colloquial).—A high seat; a resting place.
TO DROP (HOP or FALL) OFF (or TIP OVER) THE PERCH, verb. phr. (common).—To die: see HOP THE TWIG. Also TO PERCH.
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller [GROSART, Works, v. 41]. It was inough [in the time of the ‘sweating sickness’] if a fat man did but trusse his points, to TURNE him OUER THE PEARCH.
1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, III. Prol. Through negligence, or want of ordinary sustenance, they both TIPT OVER THE PERCH.
1748. RICHARDSON, Clarissa, VI. 350. Her late husband … TIPT OFF THE PERCH in it, neither knowing how to yield, nor knowing how to conquer.
1821. SCOTT, The Pirate, xl. He … expired without a groan. I always thought him a d—d fool … but never such a consummate idiot as to HOP THE PERCH so sillily.
1886. The Sporting Times, 3 Aug., 1, 3. Well, s’pose I PERCHED first? Well, replied Pitcher, I should just come in where you were lying in the cold-meat box, and I should whisper in your ear, etc.
TO KNOCK OFF THE PERCH, verb. phr. (common).—To upset; to defeat: TO DO FOR (q.v.).
