1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Measure. To examine closely.
1872. Derby Mercury, 1 May, ‘Freemasonry in New Zealand.’ He became
thin and haggard, and afraid to meet any of his former companions
for fear that they should say they would take his measure.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, 215. Fletcher did not venture into
that ‘holy of holies’; there were too many men there had got his
measure.
To be measured [for a part &c.] phr. (theatrical).—To get a part
written to one’s liking or capacity; to be exactly suited.
1859. Blanchard Jerrold, Life of Douglas Jerrold, vi. p. 94. Even
the pig was to be measured for his part.
To have been measured for a new umbrella, verb. phr. (American).—(1) To
appear in new but ill-fitting clothes; whence (2) to pursue a policy of
doubtful wisdom.
To be measured for a suit of mourning, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—See
quot.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, xix. No pugilist can be considered worth
anything, till he has had his peepers taken measure of for a suit
of mourning, or in common language, has received a pair of black
eyes.
Measured for a funeral sermon, adv. phr. (American).—At death’s door.
Meat, subs. (venery).—Generic for (1) the female pudendum, and (2) the
penis: cf., beef, fish, flesh, game, greens, mutton, &c. Hence, a bit
of meat = the sexual favour; fond of meat = amorous; meaty = enjoyable;
fresh meat = a new piece (q.v.); raw meat = a nude performer (q.v.);
meat-house = a brothel; meat-market = (1) the female pudendum, (2) any
rendezvous of public women, and (3) the paps; meat-merchant = a bawd;
meat-monger = a whoremaster; the price of meat = the cost of an
embrace; meat-and-drink = an amorous carouse; to flash meat = to expose
the person. Fr. la viande.
1595. Gosson, Quippes, etc. [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poetry (1866), iv.
259]. That you should coutch your meat in dish, And others feel it
is no fish.
1597–8. Haughton, A Woman will have her Will [Dodsley, Old Plays
(1874), x. 496]. I am no meat for his mowing.
1611. Ram Alley [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), x. 369]. Faith, take a
maid, and leave the widow, master: Of all meats I love not a gaping
oyster.
1664. Falkland, Marriage Night, i. 1. But is she man’s meat? I have
a tender appetite, and can scarcely digest one in her teens.
1668. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedding, v. 2. Your bed is big enough for
two, and my meat will not cost you much.
1684. Lacy, Sir Hercules Buffoon, iii. 3. I am so plagued with
citizens that I cannot have a deer that’s man’s meat, but they
steal it out of my park, my Lord.
1760. Foote, Minor, ii. Did I not tell you old Moll was your mark?
Here she has brought a pretty piece of man’s meat already; as sweet
as a nosegay, and as ripe as a cherry.
1856. Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Children of Adam (1891–2, ix. 87).
The naked meat of the body.
To chew one’s own meat, verb. phr. (American).—To do a thing oneself;
hence, to chew meat for one = to do another’s work for him.
Meat-and-drink, subs. (common).—1. Strong drink; also liquor thickened
with yolk of eggs, etc.