Scarboroughn.
/ˈskɑːbərə/ 1. † b. Hence in nonce-uses. Obsolete.
a. Scarborough warning n. very short notice, or no notice at all; a surprise.The statement of Fuller, that the phrase originated in an allusion to the surprise of Scarborough by Thomas Stafford in April 1557, is disproved by the earlier example below.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > suddenness > [noun] > short or no notice
Scarborough warning1546
short-notice1849
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [noun] > cause of surprise
marvelc1300
miracle1586
surprise1592
bricolea1631
surprisal1660
thunderbolt1787
startle1823
start1825
startler1829
eye-opener1833
a bolt from (or out of) the blue1837
shock1841
thunder-clap1852
startlement1867
staggerer1872
thunderstroke1880
Scarborough warning1890
surprise packet1900
bombshell1926
curveball1936
turn-up1942
a turn-up for the book(s)1948
conversation stopper1959
left turn1986
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. xi. sig. Eiii A daie er I was wedde, I badde you (quoth I) Scarbrough warnyng I had (quoth he) wherby, I kept me thens.
a1561 T. Mountain in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) III. 189 Your friendship, Mr. Charlys, is but hard and scarce, in giving me this Scarborow Warning [viz. the notice that he was to be hanged ‘even this Foornoon’].
1592 J. Lyly Speeches at Quarrendon i, in Wks. (1902) I. 455 The Knight wisheth it may be a watch (better than Scarborows warning) to the Noble Gentelmen of your Courte.
1603 Bp. T. Matthew Let. 19 Jan. in Cardwell Confer. (1840) 166 I received a message..that it was his Majesty's pleasure that I should preach before him upon Sunday next; which Scarborough warning did not only perplex me, but [etc.].
1697 A. de la Pryme Diary 1 Apr. (1870) i. 125 ‘Scarburg Warning’ is a proverb in many places of the north, signifying any sudden warning given upon any account.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet III. vi. 161 The true man for giving Scarborough warning, first knock you down, then bid you stand.
1890 P. H. Emerson Wild Life 8 Tha wind wos werry moderate, but that shifted an' come round strong from the norrawest, an' hove her ashore; 'twos a Scarboro' warnin'.
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1577 R. Stanyhurst Treat. Descr. Irelande iii. f. 12/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I And withall, as far as their scarborrough leasure coulde serue them, they ransacke the Prince his thesaure.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iv. 82 Al they the lyke poste haste dyd make, with scarboro scrabbling [L. rapiuntque ruuntque].
2. Scarborough lily n. Vallota purpurea.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > lily and allied flowers > allied flowers
dog's tooth1578
daylily1597
mountain saffron1597
phalangium1608
Savoy spiderwort1629
hemerocallis1648
tuberose1664
St Bruno's lily1706
superb lily1731
agapanthus1789
Spanish squill1790
erythronium1797
Tritoma1804
Spanish harebell1808
veltheimia1808
adder's tongue1817
bunch flower1818
Puschkinia1820
hedychium1822
eremurus1836
flame lily1841
lily pink1848
mountain spiderwort1849
lloydia1850
kniphofia1854
garland-flower1866
red-hot poker1870
swamp-lover1878
African lily1882
flame-flower1882
Scarborough lily1882
wood-lily1882
St. Bernard lily1883
torch-lily1884
rajanigandha1885
ginger lily1892
chinkerinchee1904
snow lily1907
sand lily1909
avalanche lily1912
Spanish bluebell1924
mountain lily1932
chink1949
poker1975
1882 Garden 9 Sept. 224/2 A correspondent sends us two blooms of the Scarborough Lily.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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