1605. Shakspeare, Lear, ii. 4, 56. O, how this mother swells up
toward my heart.
1662. Middleton, Mayor of Queensborough [Dyce (1840), I. 186]. I’m
so troubled with the mother too.
1662. Rump Songs, i. 161. From Damnable Members, and fits of the
mother, Good Lord, deliver us.
Does your mother know you’re out? phr. (common).—A derisive street
catch-phrase. See Does.
1836. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, Misadventures at Margate. He
smiled and said, ‘Sir, does your mother know, that you are out?’
1840. Sporting Review, iii. 2. Has he no friends to look after him?
‘Does his mother know he’s out?’
1841. Punch, i. p. 6, col. 2. In this darkling hour of doubt—Does
your mother know you’re out?
1844. Puck, 134. Tailors or cobblers, both, I trow, From board or
stall ye roam, And do your anxious mothers know That ye are out? Go
home!
1895. Chatham & Rochester News, ‘Political News’.... A Voice. Does
your mother know you’re out? Ald. Davies. Yes! and next week she’ll
know that I’m in as well.
Has your mother sold her mangle? phr. (streets’).—A catch phrase: see
Does.
Teach your mother (or grandmother) to roast (or suck) eggs, verb. phr.
(common).—A derisive retort upon a piece of information or an offer of
help. Fr. les oisons veulent mener les oies paître = the goslings want
to drive the geese to pasture.
1670. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 7]. Teach your father to get
children.
He’ll be a man before his mother, phr. (common).—A derisive retort.
Mother-and-daughter, subs. (rhyming).—Water.
Mother-Carey’s Chickens, subs. phr. (nautical).—1. Snow; goose-fluff
(q.v.). Fr. les mouches d’hiver.