subs. (waiters’).—1. A sea-side visitor who carries his own victuals with him.
2. (common).—A veil.
3. (old: now recognised).—A bag of provender fastened to a horse’s head.—GROSE (1788).—Whence (colloquial) a hand-bag.
1887. Cornhill Magazine, April, 370. So I yesterday packed up my NOSEBAG, and away I posted down to Aldgate.
TO HAVE THE NOSE-BAG IN ONE’S FACE. See quot.
1788. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. NOSE-BAG. I see the NOSE-BAG IN HIS FACE; i.e., he has been a private man, or rode private.
TO PUT ON THE NOSE-BAG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To eat hurriedly, or whilst at work.
