Sweet Sixteen

[Jonathan Lighter]

ca1765 _The Syren, A Choice Collection of the Most Esteemed and Favourite Songs Performed at the Theatres & Other Public Places_ (London: S. Bladon & F. Blyth) 32  Since the age of sweet sixteen, / (When the men do most adore)/ I to love a slave have been, / Kiss'd and courted o'er and o'er.

JL

bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Sweet Sixteen
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(Early American Newspapers)
..
December 26, 1792 December 26, 1792 The Diary, or Loudon's Register, pg. 3: DiaryPoetry
December 26, 1792 DiaryPoetry The blooming maid of sweet sixteen,
And clap'd by all fair Beauty's queen,
She left her parent's home.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mullins, Bill
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Sent: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:13:46 -0500
Subject: Re: Sweet Sixteen


under "sixteen"

4. A girl of sixteen.

c1840 O. W. HOLMES The Dilemma 2 Now, by the bless'd Paphian queen,
Who heaves the breast of sweet sixteen.

under "sweet"

sweet seventeen: see SEVENTEEN a. 2; now more usually, sweet sixteen
(cf. SIXTEEN n. 4);

1826 Blackw. Edin. Mag. XX. 138/1 A bright-eyed, round-limbed virgin of
*sweet sixteen. 1898 J. THORNTON (song-title) When you were sweet
sixteen. 1977 Grimsby Even. Tel. 5 May 12/3 Unfortunately everybody
can't be sweet 16 and there are many shops catering for the older woman.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael McKernan
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 11:10 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Sweet Sixteen
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Michael McKernan
> Subject: Sweet Sixteen
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> Again I turn to ADS-L to remedy my lack of access to OED and
> other standard references. If anyone would do me the great
> favor of posting data on 'Sweet Sixteen' (particularly as a
> young women's coming-of-age rite-of-passage, as in 'sweet
> sixteen' birthday parties, etc.), I would be very grateful.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Michael McKernan
>

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