subs. (venery).—Generic for (1) the female pudendum, and (2) the penis: cf., BEEF, FISH, FLESH, GAME, GREENS, MUTTON, &c. Hence, A BIT OF MEAT = the sexual favour; FOND OF MEAT = amorous; MEATY = enjoyable; FRESH MEAT = a new PIECE (q.v.); RAW MEAT = a nude PERFORMER (q.v.); MEAT-HOUSE = a brothel; MEAT-MARKET = (1) the female pudendum, (2) any rendezvous of public women, and (3) the paps; MEAT-MERCHANT = a bawd; MEAT-MONGER = a whoremaster; the PRICE OF MEAT = the cost of an embrace; MEAT-AND-DRINK = an amorous carouse; TO FLASH MEAT = to expose the person. Fr. la viande.
1595. GOSSON, Pleasant Quippes for Upstart Newfangled Gentlewomen [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England (1866), IV. 259].
| That you should coutch your MEAT in dish, | |
| And others feele it is no fish? |
1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will, ii. 1 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, x. 493]. I am no MEAT for his mowing.
1611. L. BARRY, Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, x. 369].
| Faith, take a maid, and leave the widow, master: | |
| Of all MEATS I love not a gaping oyster. |
1664. FALKLAND, The Marriage Night, i. 1.
| But is she man’s MEAT? | |
| I have a tender appetite, and can scarcely digest | |
| One in her teens. |
1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding, v., 2 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), 4th ed., 1875, xiv., p. 513]. Your bed is big enough for two, and my MEAT will not cost you much.
1684. LACY, Sir Hercules Buffoon, iii. 3. I am so plagued with citizens that I cannot have a deer that’s man’s MEAT, but they steal it out of my park, my Lord.
1760. FOOTE, The Minor, ii. Did I not tell you old Moll was your mark? Here she has brought a pretty piece of man’s MEAT already; as sweet as a nosegay, and as ripe as a cherry.
1856. WALT WHITMAN, Leaves of Grass, ‘Children of Adam’ (1891–2, ix. 87). The naked MEAT of the body.
TO CHEW ONE’S OWN MEAT, verb. phr. (American).—To do a thing oneself; hence, to CHEW MEAT FOR ONE = to do another’s work for him.
