subs. (venery).—Generic for sexual union. Hence as verb (or TO GO TO BED WITH) = to take a woman to bed; to copulate: see GREENS, RIDE and cf. (proverbial) ‘to wed and to bed’; BED-COMPANY (-GAME, -WORK, -RITE) = the act of kind, copulation; BED-FELLOW (-MATE, or -BROTHER) = (1) the penis: see PRICK; and (2) = a whore: also BED-SISTER, BED-PRESSER, BED-PIECE AND BED-FAGOT: see TART; BED-HOUSE = (1) a brothel, and (2) a HOUSE OF ACCOMMODATION (q.v.): see NANNY-SHOP; BED-VOW = a promise of chastity to marriage-vow; BED-MINION = a bardash; SISTER (or BED-SUSTER) = one who shares the bed of a husband, the concubine of a married man in relation to the legitimate wife; BEDSWERVER = an adulteress; BED-ALE = groaning ale, brewed for a christening; BEDBROKER = a pander, a pimp.
1297. Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle, 27. Astrilde hire BEDSUSTER (hire lorde’s concubine).
fl. 1320. WILLIAM OF SHOREHAM, 74.
| Ne ȝef þon þoþer profreþ | |
| Wyþ any oþer to beddy. |
c. 1555. LATIMER, Sermons and Remains (1845), 101. The lawful BED-COMPANY that is between married folks.
1583. STANYHURST, Æneis, iii. [ARBER], 79. Andromachee dooth BED with a countrye man husband.
1592. S. DANIEL, The Complaint of Rosamund (1717), 58. And fly (O fly!) these BED-BROKERS unclean.
1602. WARNER, Albion’s England, XI. lxi. (1612), 268. But deified swore he him her BED-GAME sweets might taste.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 4. 268.
| This sanguine coward, this BED-PRESSER. | |
| Ibid. (1610), Tempest, iv. 1. 96. | |
| No BED-RITE shall be paid | |
| Till Hymen’s torch be lighted. | |
| Ibid. (1611), Winter’s Tale, ii. 1. 93. | |
| She’s | |
| A BED-SWERVER. | |
| Ibid. (1600), Sonnets, 152. | |
| Thy BED-VOW broke and new faith torn. |
1668. EVELYN, Diary (1857), II. 37, 2 July. Sir Samuel Tuke Bart., and the lady he had married this day, came and BEDDED at night at my house.
1740. CAREY, Sally in our Alley, VII.
| And then we’ll wed, and then we’ll BED, | |
| But not in our Alley. |
1763. C. JOHNSTON, Reverie, ii. 6. No man can bear TO BED WITH such an ugly filthy brute.
TO PUT TO BED WITH A PICKAXE AND SHOVEL verb. phr. (common).—To bury: see LADDER.
c. 1881. Broadside Ballad, ‘Hands off.’
| Kitty Crea, some fine day, when I’m laid in the clay. | |
| PUT TO BED WITH A SPADE in the usual way. |
TO HAVE GOT OUT ON THE RIGHT (or WRONG) SIDE OF THE BED, verb. phr. (common).—To be good-tempered (or peevish).
1551. STILL, Gammer Gurton’s Needle, ii. 1. Thou ROSE not ON THY RIGHT SIDE, or else blessed thee not well.
1607. MARSTON, What You Will, v., 1 [Works (1633), sig. Rb]. You RISE ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE to-day, marry.
1614. Terence in English [NARES]. C. What doth shee keepe house alreadie? D. Alreadie. C. O good God: WE ROSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE to-day.
c. 1620. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Women Pleased, i., 3. Clau. You RISS OF YOUR RIGHT SIDE.
1633. L. MACHIN, The Dumb Knight, iv. 1.
| Sure I said my prayers, RIS’D ON MY RIGHT SIDE … | |
| No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, | |
| Nor other ominous sign. |
TO GO TO BED IN ONE’S BOOTS, verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk: see SCREWED.
