Antedating of "Shiver Me Timbers"

[Fred Shapiro]

shiver me timbers (OED 1835)

1786 C. W. Briscoe _Clerimont_ 197 (Eighteenth Century Collections Online)
The Parson with much expedition united them together, and soon proclaimed them
man and wife --- The benediction was just pronounced, when the combatants
returned from the field of battle, and the victorious sailor, came to claim his
bride -- but, finding she was already disposed of, he very gravely said,
"Shiver my timbers! but I'm sorry I stopped up the Farmer's daylights tho'."

Fred Shapiro


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