Fleg, verb. (old).—To whip. Bailey.
Flemish Account, subs. phr.
(old).—A remittance less than
was expected; hence, an unsatisfactory
account. [Among the
Flemings (the merchants of
Western Europe when commerce
was young) accounts were kept
in livres, sols, and pence; but
the livre or pound only = 12s.,
so that what the Antwerp merchant
called one livre thirteen
and fourpence would in English
currency be only 20s.]
1668. T. Brown, The Accurate Accomptant, etc. Quoted in N. and Q. 1. S. I., 286. London, August 10th, 1668. To Roger Pace, Factor, etc., for 10 pieces cont. 746 Ells Fl. at 10s. Flem. per Ell is £373 Flem. Exchange at 35s. makes Sterling Money £213 2s. 10d.
1774-1826. Typ. Antiq., p. 1773. A person resident in London is said to have had most of Caxton's publications. He sent them to Amsterdam for inspection, and on writing for them was informed that they had been destroyed by accident. 'I am very much afraid,' says Herbert, 'my kind friend received but a flemish account of his Caxton's.
1785. Grose. Dict. Vulg. Tong. Flemish account, a losing or bad account.
Flesh, subs. (old).—Generic for the
organs of generation, male or female.
Also (of women) Fleshly-part.
1604. Shakspeare, Winter's Tale, iv., 3. She would not exchange flesh with one that loved her.
1605. Cymbeline, i., 5. If you buy ladies' flesh at a million a dram you cannot preserve it from tainting.
1620. Percy, Folio MSS. [Hales & Furnivall, 1867]. 'As I was ridinge by the way.' Sweet hart, shall I put my flesh in thine?
Flesh, verb., or, Flesh It; or, to
be fleshed in (venery).—To
have carnal knowledge of—to be
'one flesh with'—a woman.
[For synonyms, see Greens and
Ride.] An equivalent in the
passive sense is to feel his
flesh in one's body (said by
women only).
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes, Andar in Carnafau. To go a fleshing or a wenching: (Carnafau = the brat-getting place; the hole of content).
Flesh and Blood, subs. phr.
(common).—Brandy and port in
equal proportions. See Drinks.
Flesh-bag, subs. (common).—A
shirt or chemise.
English Synonyms.—Biled rag (American); camesa; carrion-case; commission; dickey (formerly a worn-out shirt); gad (gipsy); lully; mill tog; mish; narp (Scots'); shaker; shimmy (= a chemise, Marryat); smish.
French Synonyms.—Une liquette or limace (thieves': from the Gypsy. The form also occurs also in the Italian lima); un panais (popular).
German Synonyms.—Kamis, Kamsel, Kemsel, or Gemsel (from med. Lat., Camisiale; Fr. camisole); Kesones, Kusones, or Ksones (also = cotton and underclothing); Staude or Stauden; Hanfstandt (Liber Vagatorum: literally hempshrub).
Italian Synonym.—Lima (see Fr., limace).
1820. London Magazine; I., 29. They are often without a flesh-bag to their backs.
Flesh-broker, subs. (old).—1.
A match-maker.
1690. B. E., New Dict, of the Canting Crew. Flesh-broker, a match-maker; also a bawd; between whom but little difference, for they both (usually) take money.
2. A procuress [Grose]. Cf., Flesh-fly, Flesh-monger,
