verb. (colloquial).—To provide sleeping accommodation: cf. ROOM.
1887. RIBTON-TURNER, A History of Vagrants and Vagrancy, 399. They were to have a double row of beds, ‘two tire’ high to admit of SLEEPING 100 men and 60 women.
TO SLEEP ON BONES, verb. phr. (old).—To sleep in a lap: e.g., ‘Let not the child sleep on bones, i.e., in the nurse’s lap’ (RAY).
TO SLEEP ON BOTH EARS, verb. phr. (old).—To sleep soundly, without a care.
1633. MASSINGER, The Guardian, ii. 2. SLEEP you secure ON EITHER EAR.
