I desire, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

I desire n.

[rhy. sl.]

a fire.

1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.
1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks.
1944		Maurer & Baker ‘“Aus.” Rhyming Argot’ in AS XIX:3.
1946		St. Vincent Troubridge ‘Some Notes on Rhyming Argot’ in AS XXI:1 Feb. 46: i desire. A fire. (English, 1900.) Anna Maria is ten times as usual. The best known poem in rhyming slang begins: As I sat in front of the Anna Maria, / Warming me plates of meat, / There came a knock at the Rory O’More / That made me old raspberry beat.