aye-aye, Sir

English

Phrase

aye-aye, Sir

  1. Alternative form of aye aye, sir.
    • 1875 February 4, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “Piloting on the Mississippi. Dodging an Island in a Shallow Channel After Dark.”, in J. T. Talbot, W. P. Harding, editors, The Cambridge City Tribune, volume X, number 40, Cambridge City, Ind., →OCLC, front page, column 5:
      Mr. B—— said warningly through his speaking tube to the engineer: “Stand by, now!” / “Aye-aye, Sir.”
      Reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly, wherein sir is uncapitalized.
    • 1878 July 18, A.H.M., “Round England in Ten Days.—III.”, in The Bath Chronicle. [], volume 122, number 6242, Bath, Somerset, →OCLC, page 7, column 5:
      Self: “Can you tell me what that building up there is?” / Native: “Aye-aye, Sir.”
    • 1913 January 24, “Wildcats Are Not Always Real Wild: Marine Reporter Gets Light on Subject at Cost of Drink”, in The Day, 32nd year, New London, Conn., →OCLC, page 4, column 6:
      “This ’ere,” says the captain producing a catalogue across which is printed, Hyde Windlass Co., Bath, Me., in bold type, “is a windlass. You know a windlass when you see him coming across the street? Well, this is one of them. Got that?” / “Aye-aye, Sir.”