subs. (common).—1. A wife: whence CROOKED RIB = a cross-grained wife.—GROSE (1785). See DUTCH.
1609. JOSEPH HALL, Soloman’s Divine Arts. How many have we known whose heads have been broken by their own RIB.
1632. JONSON, The Magnetic Lady, ii. 6.
| An ample portion for a younger brother, | |
| With a soft, tender, delicate RIB of man’s flesh. |
1707. FARQUHAR, The Beaux Stratagem, v. Mrs. Sullen. Spouse! Squire Sul. RIB.
1732. FIELDING, The Mock Doctor, i. 2. Go thrash your own RIB, Sir, at Home.
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 133.
| Your dunder-pate | |
| Sha’n’t use your RIB at such a rate. |
1857. A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, xlvi. Half a dozen married couples all separating, getting rid of their RIBS and buckling again, helter-skelter, every man to somebody else’s wife.
2. (common).—In pl. = a stout person.
See DEVIL’S BONES.
