| 释义 |
assn.1 Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin asinus. Etymology: Ultimately < classical Latin asinus (apparently via a Celtic language: see note), itself apparently a loanword < a non-Indo-European language (probably eastern; compare Sumerian anše); compare Mycenaean Greek o-no, ancient Greek ὄνος, which probably show parallel borrowings from the same non-Indo-European language. Compare also Old Icelandic asni (masculine) and asna (feminine), which appear to be independent late borrowings, respectively < classical Latin asinus and its corresponding feminine asina.Immediate origin of the English word. The immediate origin of the English word is uncertain, but most scholars agree on a borrowing < a Celtic language, although it is unclear where and when this borrowing took place. Any attempts to explain the phonology of Old English assa on the assumption of direct borrowing < classical Latin asinus pose formal problems, even if the possibility of borrowing at an early stage and subsequent alteration after the classical Latin etymon is taken into account. A borrowing < classical Latin asinus is attested in all medieval Celtic languages (compare Early Irish asan , assan , Welsh asen (14th cent.), Old Cornish asen , Middle Breton asen (Breton azen )). One possible source would be a borrowing from Early Irish in the course of the 7th-cent. Irish mission to Northumbria (see discussion of historical circumstances below); however, much of the Old English evidence is southern, and the only attested word for a donkey in Northumbrian use is different (though related: see note below). Words for the female donkey. Old English assa inflects as a weak masculine. Old English also had a strong feminine noun assen , specifically denoting the female of the animal (compare -en suffix2), which very occasionally survives into early Middle English; compare: OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxi. 2 Sona finde gyt ane assene [c1200 Hatton assene; L. asinam] getiggede & hyre folan mid hyre. This was superseded by she-ass n. at she pron.1, n., and adj. Compounds 1a(b). (Compare also jenny-ass at jenny n. 2a and ass mare n. at Compounds 1a(b).) However, already in Old English assa is also attested in use for the female animal (unambiguously so in the works of Ælfric). An otherwise unattested Old English weak feminine nominative singular *asse was formerly inferred by some scholars from uses of weak inflected assan to denote the female animal, as in the genitive phrase assan fola donkey's foal (attested three times in the West Saxon Gospels; compare later ass foal n. at Compounds 1a(b)). It is possible that Old English assen was borrowed from an antecedent of Welsh asen , with the ss reflecting the voicelessness of the sound in the donor language. Related synonym. Compare Old English eosol , West Frisian ezel , Middle Dutch ēsel (Dutch ezel ), Old Saxon esil (Middle Low German ēsel ), Old High German esil (Middle High German esel , German Esel ), Gothic asilus , which all show an early borrowing < classical Latin asellus , variant (with suffix substitution: see -ellus suffix) of classical Latin asinus (compare aselline adj.). Compare (also < classical Latin asellus ) Early Irish asal , assal (Irish asal ). (The name of the animal in the Slavonic languages (compare Old Church Slavonic osĭlŭ ) is an early borrowing < a Germanic language (perhaps Gothic), and was probably itself borrowed into the Baltic languages: compare Old Prussian asilis , Lithuanian asilas .) Compare also Old English (Northumbrian) asal , asald (also as assal , assald , etc.). It has been suggested that this is an alteration of Old English eosol after assa (compare the isolated form easald in the Rushworth Gospels (Luke 13: 15)), but it could alternatively show a separate borrowing from the Early Irish word cited above. Neither eosol nor assa is otherwise attested in Northumbrian. N.E.D. (1888) tentatively suggested that Old English assa might have been a diminutive formation < assal , comparing personal names like Ceadda , Ælla , Offa , etc. With this theory perhaps compare the group of weak masculine animal names with a velar geminate discussed at dog n.1, for which hypocoristic origin has also been suggested. However, see the alternative explanation offered below. Historical considerations. In the early Middle Ages, donkeys were apparently rare in Britain and absent from Ireland (for a summary of archaeological evidence compare Environmental Archaeol. 7 (2002) 91–4). It is therefore likely that the word was a learned borrowing in Early Irish and perhaps also in Old English. This view is supported by the presence of formally distinct synonyms, which probably indicate multiple separate borrowings. In this learned context, it seems conceivable that the masculine nominative singular assa could have arisen by back-formation < a form in -an- or -en- (reflecting its Celtic etymon), with reinterpretation of that syllable either as a weak inflectional ending or perhaps as the feminine suffix -en suffix2 (e.g. in the context of the female donkey referred to in the gospels; compare quot. above). Specific forms. The β. forms show metanalysis (see N n.); the form has shows prothetic h (see H n.). Early inflection. Reflexes of weak inflected forms survive into the Middle English period. The plural in -n is well attested in early Middle English and occasionally survives in later Middle English. Furthermore, some early Middle English compounds that appear to be attributive may in fact be the reflexes of collocations of the Old English noun in the genitive singular (assan ); compare e.g. ass colt n., ass foal n., ass stall n. at Compounds 1a(b). Specific senses. In early pejorative use sometimes rendering comparable use in Latin (already found in classical Latin); compare quots. eOE at sense 2, ?c1400 at Phrases 1. In use with reference to a particular pair of stars (see sense 3) after the corresponding specific use of classical Latin asellus (Pliny; compare aselline adj.) and asinus (2nd cent. a.d. in this sense), in turn after the corresponding specific use in Hellenistic Greek of ancient Greek ὄνος. 1. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) OE Ælfric (St. John's Oxf.) 309 Onager, wilde assa. OE Ælfric (Claud.) xxii. 23 Se assa [L. asina] geseah ðone encgel standende. OE (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 15 Nu þin cing cymþ uppan assan folan sittende. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 3 Heo nomen þe asse and here colt. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 8337 Hii ete Hor hors..& assen [c1425 Harl. hassen] ar hii lete. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xlv. 23 Tenn hee asses..& as feele sche asseȝ [a1425 L.V. Ten male assis..and so many femal assis]. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 1073 A ded has. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 3152 Þe child he kest a-pon a nass. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 285 Oxen, Asses [c1410 Cambr. Dd.4.24 Assen], hors, and houndes. a1450 (?a1300) (Caius) (1810) 6453 Fyftene hundryd asse Bar wyn and oyle. a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 700/33 Hic onager, a wyld has. 1560 Job vi. 5 Doeth the wilde asse braye when he hathe grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hathe foddre? a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 21 He shall but beare them, as the Asse beares Gold. View more context for this quotation 1617 F. Moryson iii. i. iii. 49 A Traveller to Rome must have the backe of an Asse, the belly of a Hogge, and a conscience as broad as the Kings highway. 1728 T. Sheridan tr. Persius i. 23 As the World goes, who has not Asses Ears [L. auriculas asini]? 1782 W. Cowper li While he spoke, a braying ass Did sing most loud and clear. 1843 F. E. I. Calderón de la Barca I. xxi. 313 Those who are not fortunate enough to possess any wheeled conveyance, come out on horse, ass or mule. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ lxi. 646 A sorrier lot of horses, camels and asses than those that came out of Noah's ark, after eleven months of seasickness and short rations. 1918 K. Kohler xxvii. 162 Saadia accepts all the Biblical miracles except the speaking serpent in Paradise and the speaking ass of Balaam, considering these to be parables rather than actual occurrences. 1976 J. D. Dolmetsch 30/2 A zebra had been presented to the queen [sc. Queen Charlotte, c1760] and was housed in St. James's Park. It was quickly nicknamed ‘the queen's ass’. 1999 P. Olivelle tr. iii. 112 The washerman, hoping to fatten up the ass, covered him in a leopard's skin and turned him loose at night in the cornfield. 2005 (U.K. ed.) Mar. 76/2 Asiatic wild asses organize themselves..with a dominant male controlling a territory near a critical resource. society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > [noun] > bringing under control > one who is under control of another 1614 W. Raleigh i. v. iii. §1. 422 Hee..makes himselfe..an Asse: and thereby teacheth others, either how to ride, or driue him. 1685 J. Crowne ii. 15 I am growing a Woman's Ass..and I must hoof it away with her load of Folly upon my back. 1799 W. Scott tr. J. W. von Goethe iv. 140 The ass of justice that carries the sacks to the mill, and the dung to the field. 1997 K. M. Bradt vii. 216 God asks you to be his ass, to bear the very burdens he cannot. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > [noun] eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius (Otho) (2009) I. xxvi. 504 Þone sænan þe bið swa slaw [þu s]cealt hatan assa ma þonne man. c1450 in (1924) 21 390 (MED) Elycona..ys go ffro me, dulle asse, and wol not abyde. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) l. 14118 (MED) For I [sc. Pride] holde ech man an Asse, Saue I, wych..Am worthy to haue the prys allone. c1500 in R. H. Robbins (1952) 85 Goodman, fool, ass, lovte–That tearest a Book..That dooth displease thee. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens 348 Landleapers, Roges, and ignorant Asses. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 157 I am not altogether an asse. 1621 R. Burton ii. iii. ii. 391 A nobleman..a proud foole, & an arrant asse. 1717 A. Pope 2 June (1956) I. 408 They think our Doctors Asses to them. 1769 T. Smollett I. 123 Those Bonzes are good for nothing but to kiss my a—se;—a parcel of ignorant asses!—Pox on their philosophy! 1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth iv, in 2nd Ser. I. 134 I am but an ass in the trick of bringing about such discourse. 1843 C. J. Lever (1878) iv. 25 Lord Dudley de Vere, the most confounded puppy, and the emptiest ass. 1895 5 Jan. 3/1 The more experience I have of the Fat Man and all his ilk the more I am convinced of his being an ass. 1923 Jan. 70/2 I was cursing myself for the blitheringest ass that ever was born. 1953 1 Aug. 98/2 It is well known that some egregious asses are knowledgeable in these fields. 2001 P. Anthony xi. 261 Recently I have received reports that people have met me at conventions and found me to be an arrogant, pompous ass. the world > the universe > constellation > zodiacal constellation > [noun] > Cancer > part of 1550 W. Salesbury tr. Proclus sig. D.iv. The two Starres that stande nyghe Presepe are called Asini [L. Aselli]. [Note] The Asses. 1556 R. Record 266 Other two starres are called the Asses whiche seeme to stande at the Crybbe. 1607 E. Topsell 21 The two Asses, placed there as some say, by Bacchus. 1701 J. Whalley tr. Ptolemy i. ix. 19 The two placed on each side the Præsepe, called the Asses [L. Asini; Gk. ὄνοι], are Martial and Solar. 1859 G. C. Stewart viii. 168 The phrase ‘Issachar is a strong ass,’ is explained by the fact that there are two stars in Cancer called the two asses. 1968 78 363 The Aselli (Asses) are two naked-eye stars, δ and γ Cancri, which guard the ‘Manger’ to the east. 2006 I. Ridpath & W. Tirion (ed. 7) 26 The cluster is flanked by two stars, known as the Asses, visualized as feeding at the Manger. society > occupation and work > equipment > paper-making equipment > [noun] > other paper-making equipment 1823 (1830) XVI. 282/1 In the bridge, opposite to this, is fastened a nearly upright piece of wood, called the ass. 1853 A. Ure (rev. ed.) II. 331 Here another workman called the coucher receives it, and places it at rest upon the ass, to drain off some of the water. a1875 E. H. Knight I. 170/2 Ass, a post in the bridge of a pulp-vat to lay the mold upon while the water drains from it. Used in the hand-made paper work. 1927 24 June 2002/2 Ass, the wooden strut against which the vatman places the mould for a moment to drain, shaped like a bow. 1949 (Brit. Paper & Board Makers' Assoc.) (1950) viii. 118 Along the length of the vat is a shelf or bridge, with a curved bracket at one end known as the ass (Fr. ‘arche’). 1994 Summer 26/1 The coucher's finger nails and the ass can damage ribs in the middle of the long edges. Phrasesthe mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [noun] > typical example of c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 3714 Mann kinn..skilllæs swa summ asse. c1300 St. Michael (Laud) 671 in C. Horstmann (1887) 318 Man hath of eorþe al is bodi..Ho-so hath of þe eorþe mest, he is slouȝ ase þe Asse. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. iii. l. 3471 Yif he be slowe and astoned and lache, he lyueþ as an asse [L. asinum vivit]. a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) vi. l. 52 (MED) Dulle as an asse. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 57 (MED) Wan an vndiscret is maad bischop in þe kirk, þan is an hornid asse born þer in. 1589 T. Nashe sig. Ev That which thou knowest not, peraduenture thy Asse can tell thee. 1599 F. Thynne (1875) 5 Wrangle for one asses shadowe, or to seke a knott in a rushe. 1607 E. Topsell 25 A dull scholler not apt to learne is bid to sell an asse to signifie his blockishnes. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais xi. 55 He..would act the Asses part to get some bran [Fr. faisoit de l'asne pour auoir dubré]. 1711 J. Addison No. 13. ¶4 The ill-natured World might call him, The Ass in the Lion's Skin. 1838 C. Dickens III. xlix. 279 ‘If the law supposes that,’ said Mr. Bumble,..‘the law is a ass—a idiot.’ 1868 E. A. Freeman II. viii. 277 An unlettered king is a crowned ass. 1911 M. Goldman tr. 181 Even if an ass is laden with gold, he will seek his food among thorns. 1920 J. A. Fisher I. ix. 136 We really are a very peculiar people. Lions led by Asses! 2007 D. Nirenberg in M. R. Greer et al. iv. 78 The son of an ass must bray. P2. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > befool, dupe [phrase] the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] 1548 A. Scoloker tr. H. Sachs (new ed.) sig. Cv If I had not bene so depely learned, he shuld haue made me an asse [Ger. er het mich auff den esel gesetzt]. 1598 G. Chapman sig. E2v You make a Count asse of me indeede, as if I were too little for you. 1680 iii. 34 An you make an Ass of me, I'll make an Ox of you, I tell ye that. 1709 T. D'Urfey ii. i. 21 These bewitching Women will make riming Asses of us all, sooner or later. 1827 1 321 I don't choose to be made an ass of, sir, and I won't have it, sir. 1912 W. Boyle i. 27 Lord! you've not been deceiving us, Robert? Making fools and asses of all of us? 1992 E. Shookman tr. C. M. Wieland in 84 He would sooner pluck out his gray beard hair by hair than let anyone make an ass of him in his old age. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > make foolish or a fool of [verb (transitive)] > oneself ?1548 sig. B.i By thyn vnthankefulnes wilt make thy self an asse. 1578 J. Lyly Ep. Ded. sig. A.ijv If the Horselech would aduenture to minister a Potion to a sick patient,..he would make himself an Asse. 1671 J. V. Canes iii. 328 He that shall preach Christ to be as man..makes but an ass of himself. 1737 R. Dodsley Sir John Cockle at Court i, in 35 Don't tell me of fashion. Must a man make an ass of himself, because it's the fashion? 1889 J. K. Jerome 206 Montmorency made an awful ass of himself. 1987 M. Roberts xxv. 179 You're too hysterical. Why not give up now, gracefully, before you make a complete ass of yourself? 2013 (Nexis) 7 Sept. 6 I think it's fair to say I have, as ever, made an ass of myself. 1607 J. Cleland ii. x. 89 Logick..should be taught plainlie and breiflie to be imploied in other Sciences..not in consuming the time idlelie in a curious search of Notion, of Notions, of the diuers subtilities of vniuersale: and in staying vpon the Asses bridge. 1648 J. d'Espagne iv. x. 216 To make a treatise, of controversie, or commentary (which is at this day as a bridge for asses) he had upon the table five or sixe divers authors, tooke one line from one, and another from an other. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais xxviii. 184 For this is the Logical bridge of asses: here is the pitfall, here is the difficultie. 1718 S. Keimer 64 He squar'd the Circle before 'em, Thro' Pons Asinorum made way. [Note] i.e. Asses bridge; a Proposition in Euclid. c1780 Epigram in H. S. Kaltenborn (1951) 160 If this be rightly called the bridge of asses, He's not the fool that fails, but he that passes. 1860 22 Sept. 560 He never crossed the ass's bridge. 1998 J. L. Heilbron iii. 84 We come to the Bridge of Asses. That is the nickname—the pons asinorum—that medieval students of geometry..gave the fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid's Elements. Compounds C1. a. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 3711 Iesu crist. Wass leȝȝd inn asse cribbe. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xviii. l. 11 (MED) Þe samaritan..Barfote on an asse bakke..cam pryke. c1410 tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 133 Þis pope Benet after his deth appered to a man..wiþ an asse tayle and a beres heved. c1500 Stations of Jerusalem l. 823 in C. Horstmann (1881) 2nd Ser. 366/1 (MED) There be þe stepys of þe asse fete, There Jhesu onne hys asse lepe. 1560 tr. sig. F.iiii An Asse skyn whan it is hanged vpon chyldren, it letteth them to be afrayde. 1662 tr. F. Plater et al. (new ed.) 23/1 Many Remedies that do drive away an Epilepsie by a certain Propriety, as..the Skulls of a Man, an Asse hoof, a Swallow, and many other such like helps. 1895 28 Sept. 345/1 Laid in an ass-manger on a little hay. 1952 U. T. Holmes vi. 154 Untanned horse or ass hide..was made to adhere to the wood by means of this [sc. casein] glue. (b) a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 14963 Þar sal yee find an ass beist. 1839 Act 2 & 3 Victoria c. xlviii §11 in W. Pagan (1845) 53 Every horse, mule, or ass beast, whereon any person shall ride. 1985 W. L. Lorimer & R. L. C. Lorimer (rev. ed.) John xii. 184 Behaud, thy King comes, sittin on the cowt o an ass-beast. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. viii. 1121 Asse bones ypouned and ybrused and ysode helpeþ aȝeins venym. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 7171 He fand an assban. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 331 We likewise have already taken two asse-bones for the making of our pipes. 1869 Feb. 136/1 Flutes made of ass-bones were valued, of old, for their sonorous quality. 2006 (Nexis) 17 Oct. c1 Marshall looks for subtle things to distinguish donkey and ass bones. 1607 E. Topsell 327 This beast..is of a mouse or Asse colour. 1904 15 Mar. 431 The more stable fawn of the rump (the typical ass-colour) retained its original tint. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) > young c1300 (Laud) (1873) l. 795 An Asse colt..þare ȝe schulle iseo, Ope ȝwam no man ne hath ȝeot iride. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 65 (MED) Oure lord..þe assecolt by-strod. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay xxx. 560 Tying his Assecolt [ Coverdale, asses colte] to the vyne, and the foale of his sheeasse to the hedge. a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in (1620) II. 166 In his birth he is but like a wild Asse-colt. 1854 J. D. Hooker II. xx. 75 Like ass-colts in their antics. 2004 D. Marsh tr. L. B. Alberti in tr. L. B. Alberti et al. 79 Every day that he grew, an ass colt became more stubborn and headstrong. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) > young OE (Corpus Cambr.) xii. 15 Nu þin cing cymþ uppan assan folan sittende.] a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris (1868) 1st Ser. 3 (MED) Heo duden heore claþes huppon þe asse fole and ure drihten seodþan rad þer-on uppen toward ierusalem. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 66 (MED) Þi kyng comeþ to þee, homely, sittynge upon asse and upon þe asse fole. 1560 Gen. xlix. 11 He shal binde his asse fole vnto the vine. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. viii. xliii. 223 A daintie dish of young Asse foles. 1824 R. W. Dickson II. 273/1 While rearing, the ass foal should be constantly provided with better keep than that which is commonly given it. 1917 L. Cobbett xxi. 478 Johne..injected with culture of tubercle bacilli an ass foal six months old. 2012 (Nexis) 4 Apr. Johnny's goat..is feeding her own two week old kid plus a motherless ass foal. the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [noun] > equus asinus (ass) > female OE (Claud.) xxxii.15 He asyndrode ða lac of þam ðe he hæfde Esauwe hys breðer.., twentig asmyrena mid hyra tyn coltum. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 58 (MED) Sittyng vp-on an asse-mere. 1598 R. Barckley ii. 87 Who rode..vpon a silly asse-mare. 1807 Nov. 368 The best English bred stallion Ass..with liberty to cover fifty ass mares. 1999 4 Oct. 3/3 The ass mare and her orange foal. c1200 Serm. in (1961) 7 65 (MED) Ȝe sculen finden þet child..liggen in an asse stalle. a1500 in C. Brown (1939) 124 Lyyng in a nasse stall Invenerunt puerum. 1875 1 Oct. 482 The tombs are used as ass-stalls. 1564 T. Palfreyman (new ed.) i. f. 48v Til they perceiued captaines of armies to be assedriuers. 1629 R. Cooke 20 The Cumeans placed the Adulteresse..vpon an asse, to ride through the streetes, and shee was ever after called in mockage..an asse-rider. 1797 Mar. 348/2 The sexton..with his doughty threat to the ass-keeper went. 1842 July 15 The ass-milkers..carry a bladder of lukewarm water. 1999 J. Z. Abrams 19/2 The ass-driver stops at a tavern and orders some wine. 1614 W. Camden (rev. ed.) 196 The wise wife of the foolish asse-eared Midas. 1795 tr. C. Vial de Sainbel Ess. Proportions Eclipse 51 in If the column of which we have just spoken..is bent outwards, we say that he [sc. a horse] is ass-backed. 1840 16 Apr. The most pumpkin-headed, childish,—ass-brained fool. 1880 J. Blackie in tr. J. W. von Goethe p. lx Empusa the foul ass-footed blood-sucking hag. 1933 M. Anderson ii. i. 78 Those web-footed, ass-faced, water-drinking ossified descendants of a bad smell. 2013 K. Pask i. 22 The Christmas Fool with his ass-eared cap. C2. a. With the first element in the singular. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 345 (MED) Þanne mai we telle scorne by sich asse argumentis. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xviii. l. 11 Barfote on an asse bakke. a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk (Gough) (1905) 251 (MED) Þe kyng of Heuen..mekely rod on a sympyll asse-backe. 1766 T. Smollett I. v. 74 The way of riding most used in this place is on assback. 1800 R. Southey in C. C. Southey (1850) II. 109 Edith and myself on ass-back. 1941 3 Mar. 18/3 It was 350 miles, mostly by assback. 2000 H. Turtledove ii. 38 The gray-robed contingent of scholarly-looking men on assback. society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > cart or wagon for conveying goods > [noun] > types of > cart (usually two-wheeled) > drawn by an ass 1801 Sept. 180/2 Emulative propensity has certainly been the parent of the whole species, beginning with the ass cart. 1922 Feb. 178/1 Jack gets the lend av an ass-cart. 2001 J. McGowan (2006) viii. 246 As each turkey was probed, tied and weighed, it was deposited in the ass-cart. the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > flesh of other animals > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. lxxii. 1226 Mule fleissh is worse to norisschynge and to diffyynge þan asse fleisshe. 1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault vii. xxii. 840 The best flesh meate that can be giuen them [sc. hunting dogs]..is horse flesh, asse flesh and mules flesh. 1788 E. Gibbon IV. xli. 186 The famous Bologna sausages are said to be made of ass flesh. 1822 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes II. 190 (note) Ass-flesh, as food, is far preferable to beef and even to veal. 1999 51 126 Horse and ass flesh was eaten in the dreadful Winter of 1848–49. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [noun] > keeping or driving mules > keeper of mules or asses a1425 (Stonyhurst) f. 2v Agaso, an asse herde. a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 687/22 Hic asinarius, a nashard. 1652 J. Gaule 351 (Quoth the Asse-herd) the lot means another, and not me. 1836 Mar. 362/2 Many an assherd also rides a nobler creature than himself. 1916 32 253 We find the shepherd, the goatherd, the cattle-herd, and the assherd as regular officials. 2001 A. D. Stewart 181 His original name, Khar-Banda, Persian for ‘Ass-herd’, was also changed to the more suitable Khudā-Banda, ‘Slave of God’. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [noun] > keeping or driving mules > keeper of mules or asses c1470 (?1458) W. Wey (1857) 7 And ye most yeve yowre asman curtesy a grot other a grosset of Venyse. 1859 1 Jan. 17/1 Of..this assman, as he was called, I have an anciently engraved copper-plate card. 1788 15 Sept. 362 The knowing ones..attribute much blame to the losing rider, whose want of skill in assmanship was very apparent. 1882 24 June 294/1 They ‘witch the world with noble assmanship’? 2004 R. Drews iii. 36 Horsemanship in the Near East ca. 2000 BC was essentially assmanship. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xix. lxviii. 1329 Asse mylk is temperat and norisching. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach iii. f. 147v There is Cheese also made of Cammels Milke, and of Asse Milke. 1762 J. Wesley (ed. 10) 41 A total Ass-Milk Diet..will cure a confirmed Cancer. 1831 J. Scott 49 Refined..as the Europeans are.., the most delicate ladies find Ass-milk a most pleasant and salubrious beverage. 2008 (Nexis) 21 June 16 Cleopatra's reputation for bathing in ass milk. 1550 tr. A. Corvinus sig. O.ii It were expedient for him, that an asse mylle stone were hanged at his necke. 1655 D. Pierson Anagram The upper part of an Asse-mill. 1867 Sept. 229/1 The hand-mill and ass-mill were not driven faster to make finer flour, but..slower. 1984 J. P. Oleson ii. 43 An ass-mill would have required larger, more carefully shaped stones, two beams and the attendant supports required to fix them to the upper stone. 2000 S. Sharma tr. N. Khusraw in ii. 51 Don't you see, in the hands of riff-raff, like an ass-mill, how much Khurasan has gone through? the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Umbelliferae (umbellifers) > [noun] > other umbellifers 1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung 3rd Index sig. Ppp3/1 Myrrhus, Cicutaria, Kex, Cax, asse Parsly, mock Cheruill. 1611 R. Cotgrave Cicutaire, mock Chervill, wild Chervill, great Chervill, Asse Perseley. 1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in (rev. ed.) 1003 They are commonly found in Kexes, or Asse Parsly [L. Cicutaria herba] in the summer time. 1863 R. C. A. Prior 13 Ass-parsley, in old works given as the translation of Fr. cicutaire, the same probably as Fool's-parsley. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [noun] > keeping or driving mules > keeper of mules or asses 1728 5 Oct. This famous Stoke Newington Ass-Woman dares me to fight her for the Ten Pounds. 1803 R. Southey (1856) I. 119 Edith has made a great proficiency in asswomanship. b. With the first element in the plural or genitive. 1509 H. Watson tr. S. Brant (de Worde) lvii. sig. O.ii Enoynted with asses mylke. 1593 T. Nashe f. 72 She was wont, in Asses mylke to bathe her, to engraine her skyn more gentle, plyant, delicate and supple. 1620 T. Venner v. 87 Asses milke appertaineth rather vnto physicke then vnto meat. 1734 M. Delany (1861) I. 453 Your cough not gone yet?..I beg you will drink asses milk and ground ivy tea. 1867 14 Nov. 406/1 Asses' milk was once a cosmetic. 1906 July 274/2 The low percentage of fat in ass's milk..was known to agree best with nurslings. 2013 M. Beard xii. 121 The inventive traditions of modern drama..have indelibly fixed a languorous and decadent queen bathing in ass's milk in the popular imagination. the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Umbelliferae (umbellifers) > [noun] > other umbellifers 1879 R. C. A. Prior (ed. 3) 263 Æthusa Cynapium, L. Fool's Parsley. Asses' Parsley. Dog's Parsley. 1905 A. Bernhard-Smith 44 Æthusa cynapium (British). Fool's parsley.—Ass's parsley.—Dog's parsley.—Lesser hemlock.—False parsley.—Fool's cicely. 1918 C. J. Davies viii. 91 Wild Chervil, Beaked Parsley, Sheep's or Asses' Parsley (Chœrophyllum or Anthriscus sylvestris). Grows in very similar situations to Hedge Parsley (Torilis) and in hayfields. 2008 D. J. Wagstaff 10/1 Aethusa cynapium L... Common Name: ass's parsley; dog parsley; [etc.]. Derivatives the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adjective] the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > [adjective] > relating to or like an ass a1425 (Stonyhurst) f. 46 Onocentarius, an asse lyke man, or alfe asse alfe man. a1586 Sir P. Sidney (1595) sig. I1v They would make an Asse-like braying against Poesie. 1687 A. Shields 17 The shamfull security & Ass-like stupidity of this generation. 1770 G. White Let. Mar. in (1789) 79 The head was about twenty inches long, and ass-like. 1808 8 Oct. 547 The men..who, if they serve us but for a few years, are saddled upon our devoted ass-like backs for life. 1920 Nov. 534/1 The zebra should be divided into horse-like and ass-like varieties. 2014 K. A. Schreyer iii. 96 The distinguishing features of this theatrical figure [sc. the buffoon]..were his drooping, ass-like ears. 1610 J. Healey tr. St. Augustine xviii. xviii. 694 Yet had he his humane reason still,..as Apuleus had in his asse-ship. 1729 T. Cooke 87 Ended thus his Assship's Reign. 1838 J. H. Ingraham II. x. 162 How found your ass-ship the way here to-day? 1910 F. L. May ii. 17 His failings are conceit and concerted ass-ship. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). assn.2Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: arse n. Etymology: Representing a regional and colloquial pronunciation of arse n. (with assimilatory loss of /r/; compare e.g. bust v.2, cuss v.).With use in sense 5 compare asshole n. 3, and also earlier ass n.1 Earlier currency is perhaps shown by the late Middle English form nestarm (with metanalysis) in quot. ?a1500 for arse-tharm n. at arse n. and int. Compounds. The form yess shows development of a palatal on-glide (compare discussion at earth n.1). regional and slang. Generally regarded as coarse.In later use the usual North American equivalent of arse n. 1. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > back > buttock(s) > [noun] a1672 F. Willughby (2003) 198 A wishes hee had as manie dogs as there are starres. B asks what hee would doe with them. A replys, Hold up their Teales while you Kisse their Asses. 1768 J. Cremer Jrnl. 27 Jan. in R. R. Bellamy (1936) 78 The dutch-man Stuck his Nife in the french-man's As. 1853 Let. in N. E. Eliason (1956) 140 I will burn his damd ass off with tar and his Boys to. 1888 F. T. Elworthy Ass, the seat, the buttocks, the back part of the person... Occasionally the anus is so called, but in such cases either the context or some qualifying word points the meaning. 1925 E. Hemingway c22 Apr. (2013) II. 326 He is so tight you couldnt shove a piece of bird seed up his ass with a cold chizel. 1967 8 Oct. 31/2 All our trousers are designed to fit round the ass and not sag at the crutch. 2012 D. Rossi in L. Barcella vi. 230 He stumbled back, dumbstruck, and fell flat on his ass. the world > space > relative position > position at the back > [noun] > back part or rear the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > lowest position > bottom or lowest part 1700 C. Leslie ii. 28 Henry Sutton..told the People, he was one of the Wickedest of Men, that he was a Limb of the Devil, and Deserv'd to be Whipt at the Carts Ass. 1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 37 The ass of the block is known by the scoring being deeper in that part to receive the splice. 1891 W. Winn 92 The scores do not meet at the head, but at the bottom they continue round the block forming a continuous groove called the ass. 1967 N. Mailer v. 82 A recoil guaranteed to knock a grand piano on its ass. 2005 C. Pelletier i. 9 John's station wagon was dozing in the drive, its ass pointed toward the street. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > parts of > seat 1888 F. T. Elworthy at Put out Vor all a lookth jis old beastly ragged-ass old fuller. 1945 St. C. Drake & H. R. Cayton 191 I could grab one by the ass of the pants and throw him out on the street. 1978 E. Rossi i. 112 A large German Shepherd dog..proceeded to tear the ass out of his snowmobile suit. 2014 B. Skyhorse 110 I sat on the curb outside the bar for an hour, blackening my palms and the ass of my jeans. the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual partner > [noun] > woman considered in sexual terms or as a sexual partner the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun] > sexual gratification a1916 in N. I. White (MS, Harvard Houghton Library) I. 46 White folks on the sofa Niggers on the grass White man is talking low Nigger is getting ass. 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark §362/1 Copulation, ass. 1960 J. Updike (1961) 163 Then he comes back from the Army and all he cares about is chasing ass. 1986 P. Booth iii. 77 Word is there's more ass up in the North End on the weekends than Heinz has varieties. 2006 J. Walter 33 Trying to get a little sympathy ass? 3. With possessive adjective or genitive. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [noun] > individuality or selfhood > self > one's, etc., self 1916 T. S. Eliot 10 Jan. (1988) I. 125 As for anything obscene She said it made her ass sick. 1930 S. J. Perelman Let. 31 Oct. in (1987) 6 I have been so busy birching my ass trying to squeeze out my monthly stint—I said stint—for College Humor. 1958 G. Lea xxi. 180 If I knew it'd kill my ass, I'd follow. 1978 J. Carroll i. ii. 19 ‘Collins'll be off in America,’ he bellowed, ‘giving speeches while kids at football get their asses shot!’ 2002 Apr. 92/1 Now get your ass out of here before I call the police. the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > as possession the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > [noun] > one's reputation 1948 N. Mailer 49 I'm tired of taking the men out and risking their ass. 1979 H. Crews 98 One-handing it through a ninety-degree turn..where you were in danger of losing your ass as well as the car. 1996 (Nexis) 23 Apr. i. 54 Their software designers have their asses on the line for short-term results. 2012 E. Young 42 If they let something bad happen to my nephew, I will have their ass. 1930 T. Fredenburgh vii. 50 The Raggedy Ass Cadets are out today. 1951 J. Jones iv. 45 You took a bust from First-Fourth to transfer to a rifle company as a buckass private, just because you like to hike? 1957 T. T. Chamales 186 Something to brag to your snobby-ass society friends about. 1987 A. Maupin xxii. 154 You think I need some sorry-ass little drill sergeant tellin' me how to talk? 2005 N. Hornby 149 And all that is a long-ass way of explaining why I freaked out at Jess. 2015 (Nexis) 29 Apr. 1 Honestly, I will never live down the day I dragged myself onto that plane and returned to this lame ass excuse for a continent. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person 1970 T. V. LoCicero xxviii. 237 He became sort of immune to the psychiatrists and he might say, ‘This guy's an ass’, or ‘This guy's incompetent.’ 1992 R. Cook xi. 297 Jordan might be an ass, but he's one hell of a surgeon. 2005 I. Noble 314 She had thought she was in love once, but the young man proved a total ass and the relationship ended. Phrases P1. Phrases expressing contemptuous rejection, dismissal, or hostility, often as a retort. Frequently in imperative. 1861 A. G. Frick Let. 14 Feb. in (1993) 341 Mr. Abe Lincoln..buss my Ass suck my prick and call my Bolics your uncle Dick. 1865 National Archives RG 153 GCMO #327 21 June in T. P. Lowry (1994) iv. 41 Lieutenant, you are a damned son of a bitch; you can suck my ass. 1966 F. C. Elkins (1973) 73 How'd You Like to Bite My Ass? 1985 J. Shirley in B. Sterling (1986) 143 So he'd said, ‘Suck my ass, bigshot!’ 2001 (Nexis) 11 Apr. a65 If it isn't good enough for Ottawa, they can take a big bite of my ass. b. With up and possessive adjective. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > exclamations of contempt [interjection] > exclamations of contemptuous rejection the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > obscene oaths 1895 20 999/1 I received the answer from him that I must take the bill, and stick it up my God-damn ass. a1916 T. S. Eliot in C. Ricks (1996) 307 Ladies, who find my intentions ridiculous..For Christ's sake stick it up your ass. 1934 H. Roth iv. xxi. 418 Heazuh flowuh fer yea, yeller-belly, shove it up yer ass! 1964 39 117 The phrase cram..it up your ass will result by another abbreviatory process in cram it or in up yours. 1971 A. Hailey ii. 28 You can stuff a surrender flag up your ass and wave goodbye to any discipline around this place from this day on. 1983 D. Blomquist 63 I know..about China all right. You can shove China up your ass! 2013 W. Strieber xiii. 111 If you don't want a complaint in your file, I'd advise you to stuff your ego up your ass and do what you're told. 1961 48 35 A jerk which clearly conveys something translatable in words as, ‘Up your ass, you stuffed shirt!’ 1977 Sept. 19/1 I'll never rest until I can say, ‘Up your ass, Mr. Strasberg.’ 2000 D. Chase Commendatori (HBO TV shooting script) 44 in 2nd Ser. (O.E.D. Archive) Tony. I want you to talk to your husband about this. Annalisa. My husband? Fuck you. You have to fucking deal with me. Tony. Up your ass. 1970 R. D. Abrahams ii. 26 I'd 'a told that white motherfucker to fly up his own ass! 1998 R. L. Fleming (film script, revised) (O.E.D. Archive) 78 Zack. Hello, Taylor. Quite a dance your boy just did. Taylor. Jump up my ass. 1923 J. O'Hara Let. 20 Apr. in (1978) 41/2 Oh my ass, a singular lack of enthusiasm. 1969 C. Himes xiii. 145 ‘One was a man; a good-looking man at that.’ ‘Man my ass, they were lesbos.’ 1996 D. Brand (1997) 13 They tell me she is for the revo, that she is for taking all the land and giving it to people who work it all their life. Revolution, my ass. 2015 (Nexis) 11 July c4 Woman after purchasing an ice-cream bar from a sullen-faced vendor in a white suit: ‘Good Humor Man, my ass.’ 1944 K. H. Huebner Diary in (1987) 24 Blow it out your homesick ass! 1975 J. Wambaugh v. 47 ‘Blow it out your ass, pizza face!’ Roscoe shouted to a sputtering acned man. 2008 (Nexis) 20 June Hypocrisy? Blow it out your ass. 1862 T. Jones Let. 14 Dec. in G. W. Sunderland (1970) 69 Colonels and captains so drunk that they..did not know their ass from a musket. 1935 E. Hemingway Let. 19 Aug. in (1981) 417 The bourgeois critics do not know their ass from a hole in the ground. 1941 F. Swados xiv. 171 Oh, Bonnie, you don't know your ass from your elbow. 1962 J. Jones ii. 55 He's a jerkoff... He don't know his ass from third base. 1996 42 No. 1. 77 I announced..during a lecture that Homer was an old fart who didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. 2016 (Nexis) 28 Feb. b11 The Hollywood studios wouldn't know their ass from their elbow where diversity is concerned. P3. up to one's (also the) ass. 1864 R. Patrick Diary 10 Oct. in F. J. Taylor (1959) ix. 234 Where was Gen Jackson at the battle of Waterloo? Up to his --- in blood and hair.] 1946 N. Anthony ii. 32 For God's sake, get me out of here! I'm up to my ass in midgets! 1972 J. Wambaugh xvi. 305 ‘When should I cite him back in?’ ‘Make it Tuesday. We're pretty well up to the ass in cite-ins.’ 1987 A. Maupin vii. 62 The tourist season is upon us at Easley, and we're up to our ass in Texas millionaires. 2014 J. L. Daniels ix. 260 It's been a tough day, I'm busy now, I'm up to my ass. 1864 in T. P. Lowry (1994) iii. 36 Mud up to a mans ass.] 1974 G. V. Higgins i. 10 You're gonna be flying and you're gonna go in stoned up to your ass. 1982 M. M. Thomas vii. 161 You own a hundred-thousand-dollar house. It's mortgaged up to the ass. 2011 A. E. Tonks ciii. 362 We figure that Crutchen is involved up to his ass. 1888 F. T. Elworthy (at cited word) I baint gwain up pon thick there till-trap vor to tread pon nothin, and vall down ass over head. 1923 E. Hemingway 18 Nov. (2013) II. 77 Have been ass over apple cart in work up to my neck. 1939 J. Steinbeck xvi. 248 You jus' scrabblin' ass over tit, fear somebody gonna pin some blame on you. 1956 N. Algren ii. 264 The King..pitched himself ass over appetite, beaned himself beautifully on the table's edge and crushed flat. 1989 B. Anderson (1993) 18 Mrs Kent remarked that the landing stage looked a bit ass over tip. 2008 (National ed.) 24 Oct. a17/3 I fell ass over tin cup in love. ?1917 in T. O'Canainn (1978) 61 They puts us in the family way And leaves us on our ass. 1935 E. Hemingway Let. 4 June in (1981) 413 He is on his ass in Havana having won a gigantic competition which the last revolution buggared [sic] up..so never paid. 1961 J. A. Williams i. 18 Look, man. You're on your ass. What, you too proud to work for me? 2013 K. Martin xvi. 168 Now half his properties are in foreclosure and the construction business is on its ass. P6. In phrases with the sense ‘to get going, get a move on; to move swiftly, hurry up; to leave’. the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and violently > rush around 1918 L. G. Noyes (MS) To haul ass, meaning ‘to leave’ or ‘to get out’. 1923 J. O'Hara Let. 26 May in M. Bruccoli 10 I'd better haul ass and get into a tub. 1979 21 Oct. a12/2 The guy just backed up, pulled out onto the street, and hauled ass. 1994 A. Heckerling (film script, first shooting draft) (O.E.D. Archive) Green Revised Pages 21 Mr. Hall, I was surfing the crimson wave so I had to haul ass to the ladies. 1940 H. O. Storm i. 169 Hey you! Get out of here you little bastard. Flop along. Drag ass. 1984 L. Erdrich (1989) x. 164 Well, all I can say is he better drag ass to get here, that Gerry. 2005 Mar. 106/3 I dragged ass up..to Sierra Madre, California. 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark §53/8 Tear-ass around,..to hasten or rush around. 1954 29 103 Tear ass, to drive fast or recklessly. 1970 R. D. Abrahams iii. 67 So John packed up his bags and tore ass the next day. 2014 K. O'Brien iii. 48 The smart thing to do would be to turn around and tear ass back home. 1961 B. Boyce vii. 99 Shift your ass, Knox, and trim ship. 1978 C. Durang i. ii. 38 Move your ass, kid. Everybody's workin'. Let's see you work. 2002 (Nexis) 5 June 41 The car can shift ass just as well on road as off. the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] 1924 E. Hemingway 9 Nov. (2013) II. 176 I've been working my ass off. 1958 J. Barth xi. 196 I've run my ass off today getting it set up. 1984 6 Oct. 13/2 You want to..retire to your bedroom and practise your ass off for a year till you become competent enough to try it. 1998 (Nexis) 15 Sept. a4 Backstage, they're probably laughing their asses off at the suckers who are going to be wearing that crap. 2003 A. Notaro xxx. 274 I'm prepared to work my ass off for the next few weeks or months or whatever. 1928 J. B. Wharton iv. 130 It's gonna be a big drive an' we're gonna be sold front row seats—you c'n bet yer ass on that. 1951 J. Jones xiv. 203 ‘You hit me, you little Wop!’ ‘You bet your ass,’ Maggio said. 1984 W. Gibson (1989) ii. iii. 50 Paid him mega, you bet your ass. 2004 L. Barnes (2005) vii. 51 ‘You special or something?’ ‘Bet your ass I am.’ 1940 K. Frings i. 17 He..remembered his days as a boxer. When the bell rings, get up off your ass, you bastard. 1976 (Univ. of Texas at El Paso) 2 Nov. 8/2 (advt.) Vote! Get off your ass and boogie down to the polls and do it! 1990 Apr. 77/1 It was time to get off my ass, stop being a capitalist pig, and start doing some good things for people. 2015 (Nexis) 26 Apr. (Life section) 2 Most..who have achieved success in this country have done so because they got off their asses and decided to do something with their lives. P10. a. to bust (also break, whip, etc.) (a person's) ass. Cf. sense 3a. 1941 H. Steig iii. 28 ‘For that I'll break your ass,’ Frank muttered. 1969 R. L. Keiser vi. 66 They catch us with a quarter, they going to whup our asses up. 1976 R. Telander (1995) 135 You're just a nothing 5′8″ dude and I can whip your ass on the court. 1990 F. Dannen (1991) iii. 55 ‘Go out to that place, take over the kid's business,’ he proposed. ‘I'm ready to go over there and break his ass,’ Vastola said. 2005 S. Lowe & A. McArthur (2006) 271 What are we gonna do—get down there and bust his ass? 1965 S. Linakis ii. 32 Disciplinarians would bust your ass from sunup to sundown. 1989 J. Tyman (1995) ii. 106 I thought jail was a place where they busted your ass, or trained you for something. 2006 H. D. Guthre v. 265 He's been busting my ass about fucking off. 1943 M. D. Elevitch Let. 14 Nov. in (2003) 18 The mess sergeant really kept ‘on our ass’ (army lingo)... We scrubbed, cleaned, wiped and piled. 1970 H. S. Thompson Let. 20 Jan. in (2000) 272 Random House is on my ass very seriously for not sending them a book ms., and I have to get at it. 1987 B. Parcells & M. Lupica i. 9 I've been on your ass all week about goal-line plays and short-yardage stuff. 2005 Nov. 63/1 You never can tell..when the women are gonna get on your ass, and the only thing to do is fish an' forget about 'em. 1944 Summer 146 You guys burn my ass, he [sc. a sergeant] yells. Put that goddam drum back. 1968 D. Westheimer viii. 140 Because you're so damn fatheaded it chaps my ass. 1989 (Nexis) 15 Nov. What burns my ass is they can..say what a terrible operation this is and give a totally distorted picture. 2011 D. A. Bell viii. 42 Her nervous display in front of an employee chapped his ass. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (intransitive)] 1946 21 198 Chew ass, reprimand severely. 1973 17 Nov. 7/4 Maybe if he saw it, some pig might..get his ass chewed. 1989 D. Hackworth & J. Sherman (1990) ix. 260 He stopped a Fighter Company jeep driver..to chew his ass for speeding. 2006 D. Trussoni (2007) xiv. 269 They had lost their ride, and if they didn't find another one soon they would get their asses chewed by Pops, that was for sure. 1947 J. Steinbeck vii. 97 In less than a week he'd be out on his ass. 1969 24 Aug. 21/3 Any girl could come in there alone..and if some guy bothers her, he gets thrown right out on his ass. 1974 21 Feb. 40 Everything would be going great with a girl until the girl's father found out I was a jazz musician. Then, bam, out on my ass. 1980 J. O'Faolain i. 15 If you can't do it you'll be out on your ass. 2008 (Nexis) 4 Feb. 24 They had had eleven criminals in their parliament, all of whom were promptly kicked out on their asses. 1960 35 262 Your ass is grass and I'm the lawnmower. 1969 Oct. 123 If an inspector spots him, his ass is grass. 1984 M. A. Jarman 109 The numbers better be kosher my man, or your ass is grass. 2004 J. Meno 11 She held her finger up to the girl's face... ‘The next time, your ass is grass.’ 1963 J. Rechy ii. 149 He shows me this collection..—all kindsa weird costumes. An boots!—boots an costumes up the ass. 1973 E. Bunker 46 Got book learnin' up the ass, but doesn't know a fuckin' thing about life or people. 1990 J. Welch 275 The guy probably had insurance up the ass, not to mention a fat bank account. 2005 C. Buzzell 17 There were computer-industry jobs up the ass in the Bay Area and companies were hiring like crazy. P17. to have a stick up one's ass and variants. 1967 42 229 Have a stick up (one's) ass, an expression indicating that the individual thus described is so boring that the speaker did not enjoy his company. 1980 M. Gordon iv. 76 ‘He's got a stick up his ass...’ ‘No, he's a man of great firmness.’ 1997 R. A. Siegel vii. 126 ‘Got a real stick up his ass,’ Glasser said. ‘That's true, he's a real square.’ 2004 R. Ferrigno (2005) xxxviii. 213 Nice-looking woman, but a real stick up her ass. Give him ten minutes, and she'd loosen up. 1990 S. King (new ed.) xliii. 425 Her father ‘had a stick up his ass’ about Ronnie, her boyfriend. 1999 G. Phillips x. 129 With this cop having a big stick up his ass about you, he's going to make it his mission to fuck with your life until he can bust you for Davida's murder. 2003 D. Burke 92/2 Monica must have a stick up her ass today. She keeps yelling at me for no reason! 1972 J. W. Haldeman iv. 42 We got clerks out the ass in this company. 1980 26 Nov. i. 7/3 Have bills out the ass—doctors, hospital, VISA and car. 2015 (Nexis) 8 May We women pay out the ass for the privilege of lasering off our hair. P19. 1951 C. Willingham 86 A gub-gub bird..flies around and around in a circle so fast and so perpetually that eventually he flies up his own ass.] 1973 P. Schaeffer 146 My thoughts running in tight circles, so tight they disappeared up their own asses. 1992 Q. Tarentino L.A. Weekly 22 Oct. in Q. Tarentino & G. Peary (1998) 48 If all you can do is these little art films for 10 years.., you're going to climb up your own ass. 2008 (Nexis) 19 Aug. (Entertainment section) 4 Wouldn't it be great to arm our performers with the training they need to rescue the world from..its obsession with vanishing up its own ass? 1997 A. Kaufman 77 I'm Mother Goose, only, instead of a shoe I live up my own ass! 2014 A. M. Walters ix. 105 Even though she was on most days still firmly up her own ass, my roommate..read me better than anyone. 1979 L. K. Truscott xxviii. 360 They pulled names out of their asses and threw them around trying to describe the indescribable. 1996 13 Nov. 9/4 You..have an uncanny knack for pulling things out of your ass when it comes to crunch-time. 2014 (Nexis) 23 Nov. 3 Ball recalls how he told a cable executive that the show was about ‘the horrors of intimacy’, adding that this was something he ‘pulled out of his ass’. P21. like ass. 1985 R. Monar 33 Sugrim wife nervous like ass, and every time she watch baby she crying. 1998 S. Persaud in S. Brown & J. Wickham (1999) 424 Christmas. Just the three ah we in the apartment. Snow like ass outside. 2004 O. France ii. 54 As for Germans, dem be good people, but believe me Wofa, dem go make you work like ass. 1986 No. 22 127 It [sc. money] grows old with us, grows old and smells like ass. 2006 30 Mar. 91/3 This endearingly sloppy document of the Beastie Boys'..homecoming, largely shot on Hi8... That means technically, it looks like ass. 2011 K. Wuellner i. 35 This isn't a free pass to get drunk and treat Craig like ass. Compounds 1955 J. W. Ellison xvi. 182 Pooch stuck his head out the window. ‘Well, look at the lovers!’ Then Deacon leaned out of the back window... ‘Owen Harding..the old reliable ass bandit.’ 1971 J. D. Houston xvi. 47 Bass sees himself as an ass bandit of wide reputation. For him surfing is one of several ways to attract women. 1979 Winter 231 Ass-bandit [in the sense ‘homosexual man’] has a limited circulation. 1986 S. King ii. 22 As Mellon and Hagarty passed, each with his arm linked about the other's waist, Webby Garton yelled out: ‘I ought to make you eat that hat, you fucking ass-bandit!’ 2008 L. McLaughlin 95 Not that there's anything wrong with being an ass bandit... Gays are swell. 1951 N. Cassady 28 Nov. (2005) 309 My left hipbone and asscheek hit the wooden tie and both knees scraped gravel. 1993 O. Goldsmith (1994) xlii. 679 She wore a matching lace G-string..in the back was a silken cord that slid up between her perfect ass cheeks. 2012 (Nexis) 13 May 36 He appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards..in a costume that revealed both his ass cheeks. 1955 F. I. Gwaltney iv. ii. 226 Miles..told Grimes that no first sergeant of his was going to take that crap... Grimes..gave the new fukup an ass-chewing. 1995 29 Apr. 3/6 Nelson had said Sullivan received an ‘ass chewing’ from ethics commissioners. 2001 R. Vizi xiii. 61 He had never received an ass chewing like that in all of his time on the force. 1999 in M. Judge (Libr. of Congr.: Copyright Coll.) (transcribed from film) Reel 1 That no-talent ass-clown became famous and started winning Grammys. 2012 D. Cassidy ix. 148 I was, for lack of a better word, a real assclown as a kid. 2014 Mar. 48/3 This academy of assclowns doesn't even recognize some of the most important elements of a film. 1969 D. Pendleton 13 You're asking me to choose between earth crack and ass cracks. 1998 J. Ames viii. 211 Do you know in Florida they've made it illegal to expose the ass crack? 2015 (Nexis) 1 May 81 McQueen considered the lumbar region, right up to the apex of the ass crack, to be an erogenous zone heretofore neglected by fashion designers. 2002 RSP=ASSHAT in rec.sport.paintball (Usenet newsgroup) 4 Jan. You're an asshat too. 2015 (Nexis) 18 June a3 Your babies will always love you, but they can also be ungrateful little asshats. 1825 29 May 21 As the act of horse-whipping had been lately practised with such effect, he was of opinion that ass-whipping might be as effectually adopted—and that he had lately had occasion to leather a rascal or two. 1964 in R. D. Abrahams ii. iv. 158 Long time now you been pulling this shit. I'ma give you an ass-whipping you never will forget. 1983 (Nexis) 16 May The referendum vote..received the least support of any time in the last eight years. ‘That's what we call delivering an ass-whipping.’ 2010 C. Kennedy x. 53 Sometimes, it just takes a good ass whipping, and sometimes it takes a killing to put a stop to them. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022). assv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: ass n.1, ass n.2 Etymology: Originally < ass n.1 In later North American use in senses 2b and 3 < ass n.2 With sense 2b compare earlier arse v. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)] > call names > specific 1593 G. Harvey 57 He..bourdeth, girdeth, asseth the excellentest writers of whatsoeuer note, that tickle not his wanton sense. 2. 1605 J. Marston ii. i. sig. D2v He made mee an Asse last night, but ile asse him. 1647 N. Ward 48 To keep their Kings from Divelizing, and themselves from Assing. 1922 E. Hemingway 8 Nov. (2011) I. 364 I assed myself beautifully trying to save Steffen's feelings. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > be or become foolish [verb (intransitive)] > act foolishly 1899 R. Kipling vii. 196 Don't mind learnin' my drill, but I'm not goin' to ass about the country with a toy Snider. 1932 A. J. Worrall 1 Those boys are not working; they are just assing about. 1972 8 Dec. 65/1 He'd have the whole lunch table shaking with laughter, acting funny, assing around. a2004 L. Brown (2007) xxviii. 150 She hadn't moved quick enough. She'd assed around and waited too long. the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > be unskilled in [verb (transitive)] > bungle 1932 7 329 John Hopkins Jargon... Assed up—mixed up. 1988 J. Hunter & A. Keteyian ix. 100 If you happened to ‘ass up’—our expression for screwing up. 2011 E. J. Findorff xxvii. 259 I totally assed it up. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < |
