four and twenty

four and twenty

1. Alternative form of four-and-twenty.
   • 1622 August, Robert Callis, The Reading of That Famous and Learned Gentleman, Robert Callis Esq; Sergeant at Law, upon the Statute of 23 H. 8. Cap. 5. of Sewers: As It Was Delivered by Him at Grays-Inn, in August, 1622, London: […] William Leak, published 1647, page 97:

     And this courſe was uſed by the Four and twenty Jurators in Kent in Rumney Marſh, who always upon their Oaths ſet down every particular mans ground in certain, and their juſt quantities, and accordingly were the parties ſeverally taxed.

   • 1744, Sing a Song of Sixpence, in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book (earliest known written version)

     Sing a Song of Sixpence, / A bag full of Rye, / Four and twenty Naughty Boys, / Baked in a Pye.

   • 1791, William Roberts, The Fugitives: A Comedy, Warrington: […] W. Eyres, for John Stockdale, act II, page 40:

     Enter TOBIAS⸺in Petticoats. Tob. O dear, dear me, what a pickle am I in—bepetticoated—bewigged—bebearded—and belaughed at by the whole houſe⸺I ſhall die with the ſweating ſickneſs—in four and twenty hours I ſhall be dry as a ſqueezed ſpunge—And all this do I endure for the ſake of that dear hard-hearted creature—ſhe’ll break my heart (wiping his eyes)—if I could drive her out of my thoughts, this moment would I quit this unnatural houſe—Oh, hoh (blubbering).

   • 1814 July, [Jane Austen], chapter II, in Mansfield Park: […], volume II, London: […] T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 39:

     Four and twenty hours had never passed before, since August began, without bringing them together in some way or other.

   • 2005 June 20, “My Party This Way | Faustus”, in The Guardian‎:

     Jamba has removed from Marlowe's Doctor Faustus all but the barest of essentials - even half its title, leaving us with an 80-minute hurtle through Faustus's four and twenty borrowed years on earth.