Careful Words

shirt (n.)

shirt (v.)

shirt (adj.)

I would 't were bedtime, Hal, and all well.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part I. Act v. Sc. 1.

The loss of wealth is loss of dirt,

As sages in all times assert;

The happy man's without a shirt.

John Heywood (Circa 1565): Be Merry Friends.

Like a pale martyr in his shirt of fire.

Alexander Smith (1830-1867): A Life Drama. Sc. ii.

The shirt of Nessus is upon me.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Antony and Cleopatra. Act iv. Sc. 12.

Their feet through faithless leather met the dirt,

And oftener chang'd their principles than shirt.

Edward Young (1684-1765): To Mr. Pope. Epistle i. Line 277.

  To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his snuff-box, is like giving a pair of laced ruffles to a man that has never a shirt on his back.

Tom Brown (1663-1704): Laconics.

  To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, and fill his snuff-box, is like giving a pair of laced ruffles to a man that has never a shirt on his back.

Tom Brown (1663-1704): Laconics.

Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt;

It's like sending them ruffles when wanting a shirt.

Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774): The Haunch of Venison.

Sewing at once a double thread,

A shroud as well as a shirt.

Thomas Hood (1798-1845): The Song of the Shirt.