o per se o, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

o per se o n.

[Lat.; Nares, Glossary (1822), suggests link to SE a per se a, pre-eminent excellence; note Thomas Dekker [title] O per Se O, or a new crier of lanterne and candle-lights (1612)]

(UK Und.) a town crier; the phr. became used as a popular chorus.

1612		Dekker [title] O per se O, or a new crier of lanterne and candle-lights.
1612		Dekker O per se O L4: I will here teach you what O per se O is, being nothing else but the burden of a Song, set by the Diuell, and sung by his Quire.
1630		J. Taylor ‘A Whore’ in Works (1869) II 106: If shee hath learn’d great P, O Per se O, / She’d quickly know De morbo Gallico.
1684		W. Nevison in Newgate Calendar I (1926) 291: Wilt thou a-begging go. / O per se-o, O per se-o. / Then must thou God forsake, / And to the devil thee be take. / O per se-o, etc.