subs. (old).—A prostitute: cf. ABBESS. Also COVENT GARDEN NUN. See BARRACK-HACK and TART. Hence NUN’S FLESH = a cold temperament.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Col. Faith, you’ll never lead Apes in Hell. Neverout. No, no, I’ll be sworn Miss has not an Inch of NUN’S Flesh about her.
1777. RANDALL, Excursion round London, 33. A couple of NUNS out of Hedge-lane, Bet Brazer and Charlotte Cheap.
1770. FOOTE, The Lame Lover, i. Last night … who should trip by but an abbess, well known about town with a smart little NUN in her suite.
1821. P. EGAN, Life in London, II. 1. Those three nymphs … are three NUNS; and the plump female is of great notoriety and generally designated the abbess.
