I have heard, master"; while the idlers of that neighborhood, who relished and repeated his incoherent pleasantries like the MOTS of some great diner-out, gathered near with expectant grins.
"A Fearful Responsibility and Other Stories"
William D. Howells
MarMOTS make interesting pets, and tame ones are not uncommon.
"Grand Teton [Wyoming] National Park"
United States Dept. of the Interior
Nothing ever makes a man so agreeable as the belief that he is so: and certainly my fair companions appeared to have the most excellent idea of my powers in that respect; and I fancy, that I made more bon MOTS, hit off more epigrams, and invented more choice incidents on that happy evening, than, if now remembered, would suffice to pay my tailor's bill, when collated for Bentley's Miscellany, and illustrated by Cruikshank-alas!
"The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, Complete"
Charles James Lever (1806-1872)