centipees, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

centipees n.

[synon. milit. use sancipees; ult. sank, to work as a menial servant in a dining room]

a tailor of soldiers’ clothing.

1785		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: sancipee’s, a taylor employed by clothiers in making soldiers clothing.
1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn) n.p.: Centipee’s, A taylor employed by clothiers in making soldiers clothing.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1796].
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1796].