> as lemmas

1653 C. Mauger True Advancem. of French Tongue 127 For he is gone for a Souldier, say not, il est party pour un soldat; but, il est allé á la guerre.

1657 True Relation Life J. Naylor 5 His Father being a Sow-gelder, brought up his Son James to the same Trade, who us'd it a long while, untill the late wars, at which time he went for a Souldier.

1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 11 He shall hear Reason; or, Wounds, I'll go for a Soldier.

1776 Gentleman's Mag. June 301/2 Was it for this I passed so many sleepless nights and miserable days when you were gone for a soldier?

1830 Polar Star 2 79/1 Dick Suds, who went for a sailor last Lammas-fair twelvemonth.

1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xxxi. 110 He walked along at a brisk pace, big with great thoughts of going for a soldier and dying in some foreign country.

1863 All Year Round 17 Oct. 172/1 I mean to go for a governess, and then I shall cost mamma nothing.

1919 C. F. Saunders With Flowers & Trees in Calif. ix. 185 Sturdy peasant stock who went for soldiers and sailors.

1987 S. Elkin Rabbi of Ludd iii. 43 He'd have been too old to go for a soldier.

2000 Times 27 Dec. 23/3 If the rules against discrimination on grounds of disability and age come in, I shall be off to the recruiting office to go for a soldier again.