Sirrah vs. Sir — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Sirrah and Sir
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Compare with Definitions
Sirrah
Mister; fellow. Used as a contemptuous form of address.
Sir
Sir is a formal English honourific address for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Traditionally, as governed by law and custom, "Sir" is used for men titled as knights, i.e., of orders of chivalry, and later also applied to baronets and other offices.
Sirrah
(obsolete) A term of address to an inferior male or more commonly a child. A modern-day equivalent would be "little man".
Sir
Sir Used as an honorific before the given name or the full name of baronets and knights.
Sirrah
A term of address implying inferiority and used in anger, contempt, reproach, or disrespectful familiarity, addressed to a man or boy, but sometimes to a woman. In sililoquies often preceded by ah. Not used in the plural.
Go, sirrah, to my cell.
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Sir
Used as a form of polite address for a man
Don't forget your hat, sir.
Sirrah
Formerly a contemptuous term of address to an inferior man or boy; often used in anger
Sir
Used as a salutation in a letter
Dear Sir or Madam.
Sir
A man of a higher rank or position.
Sir
A respectful term of address to a man of higher rank or position, particularly:
Sir
To a knight or other low member of the peerage.
Just be careful. He gets whingy now if you don't address him as Sir John.
Sir
To a superior military officer.
Sir, yes sir.
Sir
To a teacher.
Here's my report, sir.
Sir
A respectful term of address to an adult male (often older), especially if his name or proper title is unknown.
Excuse me, sir, do you know the way to the art museum?
Sir
To address (someone) using "sir".
Sir, yes, sir!
Don't you sir me, private! I work for a living!
Don't you sir me, private! I work for a living!
Sir
A man of social authority and dignity; a lord; a master; a gentleman; - in this sense usually spelled sire.
He was crowned lord and sire.
In the election of a sir so rare.
Sir
A title prefixed to the Christian name of a knight or a baronet.
Sir Horace Vere, his brother, was the principal in the active part.
Sir
An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; - formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy.
Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in God's word.
Sir
A respectful title, used in addressing a man, without being prefixed to his name; - used especially in speaking to elders or superiors; sometimes, also, used in the way of emphatic formality.
Sir
Term of address for a man
Sir
A title used before the name of knight or baronet
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