ppl. a. [f. LOAD v. + -ED1.]

1

  1.  Charged, burdened, laden, etc. (see the verb).

2

1661.  Feltham, Resolves, II. lxxxv. 375. When ’tis ripe … it downward turns its loaded head.

3

1682.  Otway, Venice Preserv’d, I. 10. If thou art alter’d, where shall I have harbour? Where ease my loaded Heart?

4

1693.  G. Stepny, in Dryden’s Juvenal (1697), 195. To turn a Mill, or drag a Loaded Life Beneath two Panniers.

5

1735.  Somerville, Chase, II. 218. As now in louder Peals the loaded Winds Bring on the gath’ring Storm.

6

1766.  Smollett, Hist. Eng. (1804), V. 262. Many loaded guns went off while the houses were burning.

7

1785.  Mad. D’Arblay, Lett., 25 Aug. Whenever we are quite alone, she now unburthens her loaded heart.

8

1821.  Syd. Smith, Wks. (1867), I. 325. He who sets a loaded gun means it should go off if it is touched.

9

1830.  Examiner, 107/1. A loaded cart.

10

1889.  Ruskin, Præterita, III. 107. The loaded apple trees in the orchard.

11

  b.  Weighted, esp. with lead, as a loaded stick, whip. Loaded dice: dice in which lead is inserted in order to make them fall with a particular face upwards.

12

1771.  Wesley, Jrnl., 7 June. With his loaded whip, [he] struck Nancy A—— on the temple.

13

1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 302. He says but little, and that little said Owes all its weight, like loaded dice, to lead.

14

1787.  Winter, Syst. Husb., 27. The surface should be well worked with loaded harrows.

15

1839.  R. S. Robinson, Naut. Steam Eng., 111. The water still driven by the plunger … goes on to the loaded valve.

16

1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Loaded Cushion, a lady’s table pincushion for fastening work to, and which is loaded with lead.

17

1889.  J. M. Robertson, Christ & Krishna, xv. 86. One is flogged to death with loaded whips.

18

  ¶ c.  Charged with magnetism, magnetized. [After LOADSTONE.]

19

1717.  Prior, Alma, II. 225. Great Kings to Wars are pointed forth, Like loaded Needles to the North.

20

  2.  In technical use. Of wine: Adulterated so as to appear full-bodied. Of the tongue: Thickly furred. Of the liver: Charged with excess of bile. of the urine: Surcharged with salts, etc. of a muscle: Subjected to a ‘load’ (see LOAD sb. 3 e).

21

1860–1.  Thackeray, Lovel, iii. 193. Loaded claret, and sweet port.

22

1875.  B. Meadows, Clin. Observ., 12. Tongue is now somewhat loaded in a morning.

23

1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 17. The stimulation of the intestinal glands … relieves the ‘loaded’ liver.

24

1898.  P. Manson, Trop. Diseases, xxi. 339. Furred tongue, scanty, high-coloured, loaded urine.

25

1898.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 925. A loaded does more work than an unloaded muscle.

26

  3.  U.S. slang. Drunk.

27

1890.  in Century Dict.

28

1892.  Voice (N.Y.), 28 July. A Democrat who stood on the sidewalk made this uncharitable exclamation as S. stepped into a carriage: ‘He’s loaded.’

29

1897.  in Barrère & Leland, Slang.

30