Siree
/səˈriː/noun
An emphatic form of “sir,” used especially in expressions such as “no siree.”
Did you know?Siree is generally treated as an emphatic, colloquial extension of “sir,” whose deeper ancestor is Latin senior, meaning “older” or “more senior.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sen-
“Old or aged; the root associated with being older”
Classical Latin
Latin
senior
“Older; more senior”
Medieval Latin
Latin
seior
“A comparative form meaning “older” or “superior,” influencing Romance forms of address”
11th–12th Century
Old French
sire
“Lord, master, or respected male person”
Middle English
English
sire
“A respectful form of address; also a father or male ancestor”
19th Century
American English
sirree / siree
“An emphatic colloquial form of “sir,” especially in “no sirree””
Modern English
English
siree
“An emphatic form of “sir,” usually signaling strong agreement or refusal”