subs. (common).—1. Profit or advantage: because it has a beard.
2. (old).—See quot.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. OYSTER, a gob of thick phlegm, spit by a consumptive man, unum viridum gobbum (law Latin).
3. (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.
4. (common).—A gob of spittle.
A CHOKING OYSTER, subs. phr. (old).—A reply that leaves one nothing to say.
d. 1556. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus, 61. At an other season, to a feloe laiyng to his rebuke, that he was over deintie of his mouthe and diete, he did with this reason give a STOPPING OISTRE.
1547. HEYWOOD, Proverbs, xi.
| [She] therefore deviseth to cast in my teeth | |
| Checks and CHOKING OYSTERS. |
OLD OYSTER, subs. phr. (common).—A vulgar, playful endearment.
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 17. Life don’t want lifting, OLD OYSTER.
THE OYSTER, subs. (venery).—The semen. Whence OYSTER CATCHER = the female pudendum; and OYSTER-CATCHING = whoring.
