1884. Henley & Stevenson, Admiral Guinea ('Three Plays', p. 203). Now in my blind old age I'm to be sent packing from a measly public 'ouse.
Measure, subs. (old).—See quot.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Measure, the Distance of Duellers. To break measure, to be out of the Adversaries reach.
To measure out, verb. phr. (common).—To knock down flat; to kill.
1891. Morning Advertiser, 3 April. The witness went to Martin's assistance, and became engaged in a tussle with the prisoner Tounsel, who took an empty lemonade bottle from his pocket and said, 'Look out, or I'll measure you out.'
To take (or get) one's measure, verb. phr. (old).—1. To marry; and (2) to copulate.
1684. Lacy, Sir Hercules Buffoon, v. 3. Gin I'd let him alane, he had taken measure o' th' inside of me as well as o' th' out.
1771. Foote, Maid of Bath, i. She is a tight bit of stuff, and I am confident will turn out well in the wearing. I once had some thoughts myself of taking measure of Miss.
2. (colloquial).—To appreciate; to size up.
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
(g.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
