Sauce

or sarse, sass, sauciness, subs. (colloquial).—1.  Impudence; assurance (see quot. 1555). Hence SAUCY (adj.) = (1) impudent, bold, presuming; and (2) SMART (q.v.); as verb. (or TO EAT SAUCE) = to abuse, TO LIP (q.v.); SAUCE-BOX (SAUCE-PATE, SAUCELING, or SAUCE-JACK) = an impertinent: see JACK-SAUCE (B. E., GROSE).

  d. 1529.  SKELTON, The Bowge of Courte, 71.

  d. 1555.  LATIMER, Sermons, 182. When we see a fellow sturdy, loftie, and proud, men say, this is a SAUCY fellow … whiche taketh more upon him than he ought to doe. Ibid. He that will be a Christian man … must be a SAUSIE fellow: he must be well powdered with the SAUSE of affliction.

  1587.  STANYHURST, Description of Ireland, I. 13. Ineptus is as much in English, in my phantasie, as SAUCIE or malapert.

  1588.  Marprelate’s Epistle, 6 (ARBER). This is a pretie matter yat Standers by must be so busie in other men’s games: why SAWCEBONES must you be pratling?

  1594.  Locrine, iii. 3. Mar. You, master SAUCEBOX, lobcock, cockscomb.

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4. 153. What SAUCY merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? Ibid. (1600), As You Like It, iii. 5. I’ll SAUCE her with bitter words. Ibid. (1596), Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 3. I’ll make them pay: I’ll SAUCE them. Ibid. (1605), King Lear , i. 1. This knave came somewhat SAUCILY into the world before he was sent for.

  1598.  R. HAYDOCK, trans. A Tracte Containing the Artes of Curious Paintinge, etc., The Translator to the Reader. Nothing can deterre these SAUCIE doultes, from this their dizardly inhumanite.

  1614.  JONSON, Bartholomew Fair. The reckonings, for them are so SAUCY, that a man had as good lick his fingers in a baudy house.

  1620.  FLETCHER, Philaster, ii. 1. They were grown too SAUCY for himself.

  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, i. 113. ‘Jack a Lent.’ JACK SAUCE (the worst knave amongst the pack).

  1638.  H. PEACHAM, The Truth of Our Times, 66. In Queene Elizabeths time were the great bellied doublets, wide SAWCY sleeves, that would be in every dish before their master.

  1663.  KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding, iii. 5 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), 4th ed., 1875, xiv. 470]. Faith. Why, goodman SAUCE-BOX, you will not make my lady pay for their reckoning, will you?

  1689.  J. PHILLIPS, A Satyr against Hypocrites. Then full of SAWCE and zeale up steps Elnathan.

  1705.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I. i. 28. No SAUCEBOX, sure, by way of Farce, Will bid his Pastor Kiss his Arse.

  1732.  FIELDING, The Mock Doctor, 1. Dorc. What’s that to you, SAUCEBOX? Is it any Business of yours.

  1839.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard, II. xii. ‘How do you like your quarters, SAUCEBOX?’ asked Sharpies, in a jeering tone.

  c. 1838.  East End Tailor’s Broadside Advt. Kicksies made very SAUCY.

  1843.  W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, iii. 1. I’ve got a SARCY pair.

  1856–7.  G. ELIOT, Amos Barton, vii. Nanny … secretly chuckled over her outburst of SAUCE as the best morning’s work she had ever done.

  1862.  J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers.

  1874.  BEETON, The Siliad, 17. Yankee impudence and SASS.

  1890.  Morning Advertiser, 4 Nov. The witness denied that she SAUCED him or that she was drunk.

  1897.  W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM, Liza of Lambeth, xi. I won’t kill yer, but if I ’ave any more of your SAUCE, I’ll do the next thing to it.

  2.  (old: now American).—Vegetables: whence GARDEN-SAUCE = a salad; LONG-SAUCE = carrots, parsnips, beet, &c.; SHORT-SAUCE = potatoes, turnips, onions, &c. Whence any accessory or sequel.

  1705.  R. BEVERLEY, The History of Virginia, IV. xvii. Roots, herbs, vine fruits, and sallad flowers … very delicious SAUCE to their meats.

  1833.  NEAL, The Down-Easters, vii. 91. That aint the kind o’ SARSE I wanted, puddin’-gravy to corn-fish!… I wanted cabbage or potaters, or most any sort o’ garden SARSE.

  1856.  WHITCHER, The Widow Bedott Papers, 88. If I should stay there to tea don’t … be a lettin’ into the plum SASS and cake, as you did t’ other day.

  3.  (venery).—POX (q.v.) or CLAP (q.v.).

  1697.  VANBRUGH, The Provoked Wife, iv. 3. I hope your Punks will give you SAUCE to your Mutton.

  3.  (old).—Money: see RHINO.

  1749.  SMOLLETT, Gil Blas (1812), I. ii. Having paid SAUCE for a supper which I had so ill digested. Ibid., II. vii. Having breakfasted, and paid SAUCE for my good cheer, I made but one stage to Segovia.

  PHRASES.—TO SERVE WITH THE SAME SAUCE = to minister or retaliate in kind; ‘WHAT’S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER’ = TIT-FOR-TAT (q.v.); CARRIER’S- (or POOR MAN’S-) SAUCE = hunger: cf. ‘Hunger is the best SAUCE’; ‘MORE SAUCE THAN PIG’ = ‘exceeding bold’ (B. E.).

  1609.  The Man in the Moone. After him another came unto her, and SERVED HER WITH THE SAME SAWCE; then a third: at last she began to wax warie.

  1700.  COLLIER, A Second Defence of the Short View, etc., 37. THAT’S SAWCE FOR A GOOSE IS SAWCE FOR A GANDER.

  1703.  WARD, The London Spy, xvii. 405. If he had been strong enough I dare Swear he would have SERV’D him THE SAME SAUCE.

  1708–10.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation, ii. Neverout [giving Miss a pinch (in return)]. Take that, Miss; WHAT’S SAUCE FOR A GOOSE IS FOR A GANDER.

  1749.  SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 367, s.v. SAUCE FOR GOOSE, SAUCE FOR GANDER.

  1896.  COTSFORD DICK, The Ways of the World: Vers de Sociéte, 44. ‘The Sisters of the Cigarette.’