zest: cf. jam; in spite of the pie = obstinately (pie = the Book of the Offices of the Church); not to cook any of the pie (American) = to abandon an enterprise, to take no farther interest (Mark Twain).
1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., i. 1. No man's pie is preed from his ambitious finger.
1603-15. Court Jas. I. (1848), i. 37. If this earl should be found hereafter anyways privy thereto, it cannot be but that Beaumont's hand was in the pie.
1608. Withal, Dictionarie, 390. Pertinax in rem aliquam, that is fully bent to doe a thing, that will doe it, yea marie will he, maugre or in spight of the pie.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 169. It was but fair I should have a finger in the earnings. Ibid., 297. I was entitled to have a finger in the dissipation.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn], 159. He had a finger in the pie when he burnt his nail off.
1842. Egan, By-blow of the Jug, ii. She taught him soon to swear and lie, And to have a finger in every pie.
1887. Henley, Culture in Slums, 'Ballade' 3. I goes for 'Olman 'Unt like pie.
Piece, subs. (old).—1. A person,
male or female: often in contempt.
Also (of women) piece
(or bit) of mutton, muslin,
or goods.
1290. Cursor Mundi, 634. A wel godd pece [of St. John].
1574. R[ichard] B[ower], Appius and Virginia [Dodsley, Old Plays (Hazlitt), iv. 125]. O passing piece.
1604. Shakspeare, Winter's Tale, v. 1. 'His princess say you?' . . . 'Ay, the most peerless piece.' Ibid., v. 3. O royal piece.
1606. Chapman, Monsieur D'Olive. v. 1. She's but a sallow, freckle-faced piece when she is at the best.
1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe, iv. 1. 'S blood, I was never cozened with a more rascal piece of mutton, Since I came out a' the Lower Countries.
1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, i. 1. He is another manner of piece than you think for.
1629. Massinger, Picture, iii. 6. Ubald. This ring was Julietta's, a fine piece, But very good at the sport.
1633. Nabbes, Totenham-Court, ii. 2. She seems a handsome piece. That opportunity Would play the Bawd a little!
1635. Glapthorne, The Lady Mother, i. 3. She is . . . a corrupted peice, A most lascivious prostitute.
1655. Strode, Floating Island, E 1. This lewde crack'd abominable peice.
1673. Wycherley, Gentleman Dancing Master, v. 1. I am thinking . . . what those ladies who are never precise but at a play would say of me now:—that I were a confident coming piece, I warrant, and they would damn the poor poet for libelling the sex.
1678. Cotton, Scoffer Scoft [Works (1725), 227]. But each one must not think to bear So fine a piece as Mulciber.
1688. Crowns, City Politics, i. 1. Since she is so weak a piece I'll fortify her.
1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge (1866), 4]. She seemed a pretty piece of goods enough, and such a stirring body. Ibid., 80. Keeping open house . . . for the votaries of pleasure . . . She had always two or three other pieces of damaged goods in the house.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Piece . . . A damned good or bad piece; a girl who is more or less active and skilful in the amorous congress. Hence the (Cambridge) toast, May we never have a piece (peace) that will injure the Constitution.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. Piece—a soldier calls his musket his piece, and so he calls his trull; but highflyers are so termed—behind their backs.
2. in pl. (common).—Money; rhino (q.v.). [From the old Spanish 'pieces of eight.']
1558. Foxe, Martyrs [Catley (1843), 473]. The maid . . . having a piece of money lying by her, given unto her by the death of a kinsman of hers . . . brought unto him thirty pounds.
