sparkin

George for the king, of course; and this open avowal caused a sufficiently pungent scene in Miss Sally Parsons's keeping-room the very next Sunday night, when the aforesaid George, in company with several of his peers, visited the farm-house for the laudable purpose of "sparkin '" Miss Sally.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 01, November, 1857 A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics Various

The first time he cam 'sparkin', he tauld me he wes jist fufty-sax, an 'then ah catchet him up aboot hoo auld he wes the time he cam' to these pairts, an 'anither time ah got it oot o' him hoo lang yon wes afore the railroad wes pit in to Cheemaun, an 'a rin it up in ma mind, an' ah calcalate he was saxty-siven.

'Lizbeth of the Dale Mary Esther Miller MacGregor 1918

"Goin 'sparkin'?" inquired Si, overflowing with natural curiosity and tobacco.

The Gay Rebellion Edmund Frederick 1899

For one young man to get the advantage of another in "sparkin '" was considered quite lawful and shrewd, and it was called "cuttin 'out."

Fisher's River (North Carolina) Scenes and Characters 1859

For a whole week they would dance from house to house day and night, "sparkin '" going

Fisher's River (North Carolina) Scenes and Characters 1859

They say, to the village, how 't John Young talks o 'sparkin' her. "

Reels and Spindles A Story of Mill Life Evelyn Raymond 1876

  They'd laugh at the old-fashioned words he used like “chivaree” and “sparkin ',” but I notice once he'd introduced them to an expression, they kept it.

The Imbecile 2010

Lastly, most of all, I would like to ask your indulgence, I would like to ask your forgiveness, for using the expression "the whole sparkin 'thing."

Jane Condon: Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) Makes Full Apology 2009

With one twitching eye and sparkin 'a fatty I think it's time you sought counseling, sock puppet.

Webb: "Under No Circumstances Will I Be A Candidate For Vice President" 2009

There's a song in the movie called "Goin' Courtin'" in which Milly, the woman who married the oldest brother, is teaching the other six guys how to treat women properly, and she uses this phrase in the song: "goin' sparkin'."

Archive 2008-05-01 Happy 2008