subs. (common).—Word of honour; asseveration: e.g., ‘’PON MY SIVVY’ = ‘It’s true, Honour bright!’ Cf. DAVY.
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, & Co., ‘From London to York.’ ’PON MY SIVEY, if you was to see her pecking, you’d think she was laying on pounds’ weight in a day instead of losing it.
1884. Daily Telegraph, 2 Feb., 3, 1. “You’ll ’scuse the cheek I gave you just now, mister,” the scowling young gentleman remarked, “but, ’PON MY SIVVY, we took you for the police.”
1892. SYDNEY WATSON, Wops the Waif, II. Now I’ll be as quiet as a dummy; I will, ’PON MY SIVY!
