Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. flattery.

1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 10: It is done by a knowledge of soft sawder and human natur.
1841		A.M. Maxwell Run Through the United States II 219: A certain portion of soft sawder [...] administered in the most delicate way imaginable, did the business.
1848		Bell’s Life in Sydney 22 Jan. 2/6: Mr Johnson in reply, commenced with a little bit of ‘soft- sawder’.
1848		Sam Sly 30 Dec. 2/2: Sam does not approve of so much flirting and flaunting with every young blade who chatters ‘soft sawder’ to her in front of the bar.
1848		J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers (1880) 45: Each honnable doughface gits jest wut he axes, / An’ the people – their annooal soft sodder an’ taxes.
1850		F.E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh (1878) 132: No soft sawder, Master Frank, if you please.
1852		in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 296: I speak a little of their brogue ... and can by a little soft sodda get them to make the dust fly.
1854		Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Jan. 7/1: He is also like unyo a tinker , for he [...] maketh great use of soft sawder.
1857		Huddersfield Chron. 25 Apr. 5/3: He was aware of the value of ‘soft sawder’. and knew how to apply it dextrously.
1863		T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act III: How the old boy swallowed my soft sawder and Brummagem notes.
1872		Schele De Vere Americanisms 635: Soft sawder, a corruption of solder, which is generally pronounced sodder, the Scots especially always absorbing the l, and soft corn, are the two American terms for that kind of flattery which in English slang appears as soft-soap.
1873		Siliad 24: Both factions praised my prowess, funked my might; / And with soft sawder strove my aid to gain.
1874		‘Eng. Sl.’ in Eve. Telegram (N.Y.) 9 Dec. 1/5: Let us present a few specimens:– [...] ‘Soft soap’ or ‘Sawder’ (Sam Slick’s favorite expression).
1877		Diprose Laugh and Learn 132: Flattery is the confectionery of the world. In polite society it goes by the name of ‘soap,’ and in general is designated ‘soft sawder’.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 13 Mar. 4/1: According to Archbishop Vaughan, those members of his flock who are not ‘out-and-and-outers’ [sic] are ‘japanned Catholics’. This isn’t ‘soft sawder’.
1883		Entr’acte 7 Apr. in Ware (1909) 229/1: There is a fine opportunity for any bishop who will fearlessly get in the pulpit, and tell a few truths to those eminent personages whose preachers supply them regularly with soft-sawder to order.
1891		in Punch CI:31 Oct. 216: There’s no bigger humbug in Christendom with all his soft sawder and gas.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 78: Soft Sawder, flattery.
1903		Truth (Sydney) 22 Feb. 7/5: Put ‘em off with lots of sawder, / Axing them to sit and wait.
1905		Marvel III:61 2: ‘Soft sawder!’ Karn yelled.
1918		Coventry Eve. Teleg. 3 Jan. 2/3: The Russian negotiators [...] are clearly in no mood to yield to the ‘soft-sawder’ of the wily gentleman.
1948		Dundee Courier (Angus, Scot.) 29 Nov. 2/5: [headline] Beware Socialist Soft Sawder.
1969		P. Boyle All Looks Yellow to the Jaundiced Eye 56: Then calming the enraged populace with a few words of soft sawder.

2. in attrib. use of sense 1.

1848

Bell’s Life in Sydney 8 Apr. 1/1: Having come the ‘soft-sawder suit’ over a ‘nice young maiden’ of colonial parentage.