ST. THOMAS À WATERINGS (old).—A place of execution (for Surrey as TYBURN (q.v.) for Middlesex) situated at the second milestone on the road from London to Canterbury. Like BEGGAR’S-BUSH, WEEPING-CROSS, CLAPHAM, etc., the place-name was the basis of many a quibbling allusion and much conventional wit. [At this point is a brook, probably a place for WATERING horses, whence its name; dedicated, of course, to St. Thomas à Becket, being the first place of any note in the pilgrimage to his shrine.]

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  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, The Prologue, v. 827.

        And forth we riden a litel more than pas [a foot-pace].
Unto the WATERING OF SEINT THOMAS,
And ther our hoste began his hors arest.

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  c. 1520.  Hickscorner [HAWKINS, The Origin of the English Drama, i. 105].

        For at SAYNT THOMAS OF WATRYNGE and they stryke a sayle,
Than must they ryde in the haven of hepe [hempe] without fayle.

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  1607.  W. S., The Puritaine, i. 1. Alas! a small matter bucks a handkerchief! and sometimes the ’spital stands too nigh ST. THOMAS À WATERINGS. [That is, ‘A little matter will serve to wet a handkerchief; and sometimes shedding too many tears will bring a person to the hospital’; that is, ‘will produce sickness.’]

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  1618.  The Owle’s Almanacke, 55. A Faire paire of Gallowes is kept at Tiburne from yeares end to yeares end: And the like Faire (but not so much resort of Chapmen, and Crack-ropes to it) is at St THOMAS A WATRINGS.

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  1630.  JONSON, The New Inn, i. 3.

                  To which, if he apply him,
He may perhaps take a degree at Tyburn,
A year the earlier, come to read a lecture
Upon Aquinas, at ST. THOMAS À WATERING’S,
And so go forth a laureat in hemp circle!

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  1786.  [CAREY, Map of 15 miles round London. We have at the two mile-stone on the Kent road, WATERING’S Bridge, a remnant of the old name.]

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