subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE. Also THE TOKEN (GROSE) = venereal disease: e.g., ‘She tipped him THE TOKEN’ (= ‘She gave him a clap or pox’).
d. 1529. SKELTON, The Tunnynge of Elynoure Rummynge, 492.
| An old rybybe … | |
| At the threshold comying in, | |
| And fell so wyde open | |
| That one myght see her TOKEN … | |
| Said Elynour Rummyng … | |
| Fy, couer thy shap. |
2. (old).—The plague (B. E. and GROSE): also the characteristic spots of the disease on the body.
3. (old).—A farthing: hence a small standard of value (B. E.). [Properly a tradesman’s ‘small change,’ of the nominal values of 1d., 1/2d., and 1/4d.] Also TOM-FOOL’S TOKEN = money (B. E.).
