subs. (vulgar).—1.  A heavy meal; a TUCK-IN (q.v.); a BLOW-OUT (q.v.).

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  1553.  T. WILSON, The Arte of Rhetorique, p. 112. The counseler heareth causes with lesse pain being emptie, then he shalbe able after a full GORGE.

2

  1883.  Daily News, March 24, p. 3, c. 4. The keeper tries these brutes once a week to see whether they are ready for a GORGE, and the python has been known to devour eight ducks at one meal, feathers and all, before signifying enough.

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  2.  (theatrical).—A manager; an abbreviation of GORGER (q.v.).

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  Verb (vulgar).—To eat voraciously; also to gulp as a fish does when it swallows (or gorges) a bait. For synonyms, see WOLF.

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  1572.  Satirical Poems of the Time of the Reformation [S.T.S.], 1889–91, ii., 255, ‘Aganis Sklanderous Tungis.’ And GORGIT waters ever gritter growis.

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  1633.  MASSINGER, A New Way to Pay Old Debts, iii., 2.

          Mar.  Come, have patience.
If you will dispense a little with your worship,
And sit with the waiting-women, you’ll have dumpling,
Woodcock, and butter’d toasts too.
  Greedy.  This revives me:
I will GORGE there sufficiently.

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  1654.  CHAPMAN, Revenge for Honour, Act i., Sc. 1.

        Here men o’ th’ shop can GORGE their musty maws
With the delicious capon, and fat limbs
Of mutton.

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  1748.  T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). GORGE (v.), to eat over-much, to cram, glut, or fill unreasonably.

9

  1843.  DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxxiv., p. 336. No man had spoken a word; every one had been intent, as usual, on his own private GORGING; and the greater part of the company were decidedly dirty feeders.

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  1853.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, Digby Grand, ch. iii. Who might be such a fine race, if they would only not GORGE their food so rapidly.

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