subs. phr. (colloquial).—A company, clique, display, or turn-out—any arrangement, state of things, or event.
1816. AUSTEN, Emma, xlii. ‘There shall be cold meat in the house.’ ‘Well—as you please; only don’t have a great SET OUT.’
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 46. The ‘whole SET OUT,’ I was informed, poney included, cost 50l. when new.
1837. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers (1857), 11. “P. C.” said the stranger,—“queer SET OUT—old fellow’s likeness, and ‘P. C.’—What does ‘P. C.’ stand for—Peculiar coat, eh?” Ibid. (1854), Hard Times, i. 8. She must just hate and detest the whole SET-OUT of us.
1856. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, iv. As we pulled up in front of the Castle Hotel…. “Ere’s a spicy SET-OUT, Bill!” said one.
