Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See sirloin.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A loin of beef, or the upper part of the loin. See sirloin, the more usual, but not etymologically preferable, orthography.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative form of sirloin.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

See sirloin.

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Examples

  • ” “Very likely, sir, ” answered Partridge; “and if my eyes were fixed on a good surloin of roast beef, the devil might take the moon and her horns into the bargain.

    IX. Containing Several Dialogues Between Jones and Partridge. Book VIII 1917

  • The reader himself, dropping on his knee when he performed the servile office, proffered the towel with which the king prepared himself for the repast; and barristers of ancient lineage and professional eminence contended for the honor of serving His Majesty with surloin and cheesecake upon the knee, and hastened with the alacrity of well-trained lacqueys to do the bidding of "the lords att their table."

    A Book About Lawyers John Cordy Jeaffreson 1866

  • It is, perhaps, a pity to spoil so noble a story; but the interests of truth demand that we declare that sirloin is probably a corruption of surloin, which signifies the upper part of a loin, the prefix sur being equivalent to over or above.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

  • It is, perhaps, a pity to spoil so noble a story; but the interests of truth demand that we declare that sirloin is probably a corruption of surloin, which signifies the upper part of a loin, the prefix sur being equivalent to over or above.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

  • The cow is sacrificed to her bag, the ox to his surloin.

    English Traits (1856) 1856

  • To speak the truth Mr. Mason had himself gone to the neighbouring butcher, and ordered the surloin of beef, knowing that it would be useless to trust to orders conveyed through his wife.

    Orley Farm Anthony Trollope 1848

  • A whole surloin of beef formed the chief ornament of one end of the table.

    The Knights of the Horse-Shoe; A Traditionary Tale of the Cocked Hat Gentry in the Old Dominion. 1845

  • "Bring hither that _surloin_, sirrah, for 'tis worthy of a more honourable post, being, as I may say, not _surloin_ but _sirloin_, the noblest joint of all;" which ridiculous and desperate pun raised the wisdom and reputation of England's Solomon to the highest.

    Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) John Roby 1821

  • The occasion, as far as we have been able to gather, was thus: -- Whilst he sat at meat, casting his eyes upon a noble _surloin_ at the lower end of the table, he cried out --

    Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) John Roby 1821

  • Without allowing his visiter leisure for much further reflection, the old mariner made a motion to him to take the only vacant chair in the room, while he continued his employment on the surloin with as much assiduity as though no interruption had taken place.

    The Red Rover James Fenimore Cooper 1820

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