soft sawder

Phonetic spelling of soft solder; that is, solder that melts at a lower temperature. Coined by Thomas Haliburton in the short story "The Trotting Horse" (1836). Popular in the 19th century, but out of common use by 1950.

• "1836, Thomas Haliburton, "The Trotting Horse" (1836) — first usage If she goes to act ugly, I'll give her a dose of "soft sawder"; that will take the frown out of her frontispiece...!"
• "A sorrowful spectacle to men of reflection, during the time he lasted, that poor M. de Lamartine; with nothing in him but melodious wind and soft sawder, which he and others took for something divine and not diabolic!"
• "How the old boy swallowed my soft sawder and Brummagem notes!"

• soft soap
• butter up
• sweet-talk