sivvy
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"’pon my SIVVY," i.e., upon my soul or honour. Corruption of "asseveration," like DAVY, which is an abridgment of "affidavit."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “sivvy” mean?
"’pon my SIVVY," i.e., upon my soul or honour. Corruption of "asseveration," like DAVY, which is an abridgment of "affidavit."
Is “sivvy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.