MEAL
ADJECTIVES
► CENATICAL pertaining to dinner or supper → 1725
► CENATORY pertaining to dinner or supper → 1650 obs.
► LARGE of a meal: heavy, abundant → 1748
► MEAT-RIFE ready for meals → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NERVOUS of a dessert or salad: having a jelly-like consistency → 1936 Amer. dial. jocular usage
► PICKED-UP of a meal: consisting of leftovers → 1771 Amer. dial.
► PICK-UP of a meal: consisting of leftovers → 1848 Amer. dial.
► SLAP-UP of a meal: excellent, generously provisioned, superior → 1889 UK sl.
► SPREADY of a meal: large and impressive on the table, lavish → 1960 Brit. colloq.
ADVERBS
► AL DESKO of a meal: consumed at your desk at work → 1981 US sl.
NOUNS
► ABA-DABA dessert → 1961 Amer. sl.
► ABDABS ‘afters’; the second course, if any → WWII sl.
► AFTER-COURSE a later course in a meal; the final course; a dessert → 1580
► AFTERS the course of a meal that comes after the main course → 1909 Brit. sl.
► AFTER-SUPPER 1. a late supper, the final meal of the day; a lavish meal taken late at night in addition to the usual evening meal → 1600 obs.
2. dessert → 1972 Amer. dial.
► ANDERS-MEAT luncheon → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► ANTRUM afternoon or early evening meal → 1887 Sc. obs.
► ANZAC DAY DINNER a meal, usually lunch, that is mainly composed of alcohol → 1930s NZ sl.
► BACK-UP a second helping of food → 20C Aust. sl.
► BAG a meal, a ‘feed’, a drinking session → 1910s Aust. sl.
► BAGGING food eaten between regular meals; an afternoon meal → 1750 Eng. dial.
► BAIT 1. food, refreshment; a feed for horses, or slight repast for travellers, upon a journey; light refreshment taken between meals → 1570
2. a hasty meal like a traveller’s; a snack → 1662 obs.
► BAIT-TIME the time for taking food → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BAKE a meal or food usually prepared by baking → 1939 Amer. dial.
► BANQUET 1. a slight repast between meals → 1509 obs.
2. a course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine, served either as a separate entertainment, or as a continuation of the principal meal; in the latter case usually in a different room; a dessert → 1523 obs.
3. a sweetmeat; a dainty dish; collectively, sweetmeats, dessert → 1534 obs.
► BAVER slight refreshment taken between meals either at 11 a.m. or 4 p.m.; occasionally applied also to a regular meal → 1691 Eng. dial.
► BEANFEAST n. a festive meal or other entertainment; in modern use, usually with the implication of indulgence at others’ expense → 1897 Brit. sl.
► BEANO a festive entertainment frequently terminating in a noisy frolic or spree; a large meal → 1888 sl.
► BEAN TIME mealtime, lunch break → 1970 US railroad sl. (Bk.)
► BEAVER ► BEVER a small repast between meals; a snack, nuncheon, or lunch, esp. one in the afternoon between midday dinner and supper → 1500 chiefly Eng. dial.
► BEVERAGE a small repast between meals; a snack, nuncheon, or lunch, esp. one in the afternoon between midday dinner and supper → 1577
► BIGGIN an afternoon meal → 1898 Eng. dial. obs. (Bk.)
► BINDER a solid meal; a feed → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► BITE a small meal or snack → 1899 sl.
► BITE AND SUP food and drink → 1819 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► BITING-ON light refreshment taken between meals, lunch → 1868 Eng. dial.
► BLAW-OUT a good meal; a great display or feast → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BLOW-OUT a feast, entertainment; a large meal → 1821 sl.
► BREAD AND SKIP a scanty meal → 1976 Amer. dial.
► BREAD AND WITH IT a meal of more than just bread → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BRING-AND-SHARE a potluck dinner → 1970 Amer. dial.
► BUN RUSH tea (the meal)→ 20C Royal Navy sl.
► BURNT OFFERING burned food; a badly cooked meal → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BURST a large meal; a big feed, a ‘blow-out’ → 1881 colloq.
► CAFFRE’S LIGHTENER a full meal → c1860 S. Afr. sl.
► CAKE a meal provided as compensation in addition to wages → 1973 US sl.
► CAKES a performer’s daily meals → 1906 US theatre sl.
► CARRY-IN a potluck meal → 1965 Amer. dial.
► CENATION meal-taking; dining, supping → 1599 obs.
► CHANGE dessert → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► CHECK a snack or light meal → 1775 Amer. dial.
► CHOW food; a meal → US Civil War usage
► CHUCK a meal; ‘grub’ → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► CHUCKAWAY food, a meal → 1873 Amer. dial.
► CHUCK WAGON an informal buffet-style meal → 1954 Amer. dial.
► CRIB food, provisions; a light meal, a snack; a piece of bread, cake, etc. → 1652 Eng. dial., Aust. & NZ
► CRUST a meal → 1940 Amer. dial.
► DAB a slight meal, a snack → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DEADENER an enormous meal eaten after having been deprived of food for some time → 1927 Amer. dial.
► DIENEN a meal, dinner; sufficient for a meal → 1900 Sc. (Bk.)
► DIET-TIME meal-time → 1787 Sc.
► DIN-DIN dinner; a meal → 1905 UK children’s vocabulary
► DIN-DINS dinner; a meal → 1920 UK children’s vocabulary
► DISJUNE the first meal of the day, breakfast → 1491 chiefly Sc. arch.
► DUCK’S DINNER a drink of water, but no food to accompany it → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► DUTCH TREAT an outing, meal, or other special occasion at which each participant pays for their share of the expenses → 1887 orig. US
► E’ENSHANKS an afternoon or early evening meal → 1824 Sc. obs.
► EAT the act of eating; a meal → c1000 obs.
► EATING an act of taking food; a meal; also, a way or manner of feeding → 1483 arch.
► EATS food, a meal → 1782 UK
► EAT-UP a meal → 1910s Aust. sl.
► ELEVENSES light refreshment taken at about 11 am → 1887 sl.
► FEAST-BED a couch for reclining at meals, a triclinium → a1661 obs.
► FEAST IN THE WILDERNESS a box-lunch supper → 1950 Amer. dial.
► FEED BAG a meal → 1929 Amer. dial.
► FEED a meal; a sumptuous meal; a feast; a full meal → 1808
► FEEDING a meal, esp. an abundant or elaborate one → 1966 Amer. dial.
► FRILLS entrees to a meal → 1897 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► GASH a second helping of food → 1943 Aust. sl.
► GORGE a large amount of food, a surfeit; a heavy meal → 1894 Amer. dial.
► GREASE a meal, dinner → 1975 Amer. students’ sl.
► GRUB a meal, a feed → c1855 sl.
► GRUBBERY food; also, a meal → 1823 sl.
► GRUBBINS food, provisions; a meal → 1847 Amer. sl.
► GRUB-PILE a meal → 1871 Amer. West sl.
► GRUNT a meal, dinner → 1972 African-American sl.
► GUT SAUSAGE a poor man’s meal; cornmeal suet and in an intestine → 1958 Can. sl.
► GUZZLE the eating of a meal → M19 sl.
► HASH-UP a hastily cooked meal → 1902 sl.
► HOT a hot meal → 1926 US sl.
► HOT MESS a warm meal, esp. one served to a group → 1818
► INSIDE-LINING food; a dinner → 1851 Eng. dial.
► JIMMY SKINNER a dinner → 1896 rhyming sl. (Bk.)
► KAFFIR’S TIGHTENER a large, heavy meal → M19 S. Afr. sl.
► KAIL a main meal, dinner → 1807 Sc.
► KENTUCKY BREAKFAST a ‘meal’ which includes or consists of liquor, usually bourbon; ‘a three-pound steak, a bottle of whisky, and a dog – the dog is to eat the beefsteak’ → 1882 Amer. dial.
► LAY-ON a good meal, a surfeit → 1825 Sc.
► LILLEY AND SKINNER dinner → 1920s rhyming sl.
► LIQUID LUNCH a midday meal at which more alcoholic drink than food is consumed → 1963 sl.
► LOBLOLLY food in general, esp. an unappetizing meal → 1916 Amer. dial.
► MANGE a meal → a1605 obs.
► MANGER a sumptuous meal; a banquet → c1420 obs.
► MEALERY a place that provides meals to those living elsewhere → 1880 Amer. dial.
► MEAL-OF-MEAT food enough for one meal; the food taken at a meal; a meal → 1898 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MEAL OF VICTUALS a meal; food enough for a meal → 1895 Amer. dial.
► MEAL’S MEAT food enough for one meal; the food taken at a meal; a meal → 1880 Eng. dial.
► MEAL’S VICTUALS food enough for one meal; the food taken at a meal; a meal → 1830 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► MEAL’S VITTLES a meal; food enough for a meal → 1878 Amer. dial.
► MEALTIDE meal-time; the hour for a meal; the customary time of taking food; also, a meal, food → c1200 obs. exc. Sc.
► MEAT food in general, victuals, board; a meal → 1802 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MELTITH a meal → 1768 Sc.
► MENTITH a meal; a dish → 1897 Sc.
► MESS 1. a dish of food; a quantity of food sufficient for a dish or a meal → 1697 Eng. & Amer. dial.
2. a meal, a dinner; an allowance of food → 1813 Sc.
► MICHAEL WINNER dinner → 1990s rhyming sl.
► MIDRATS a meal served between midnight and one am; ‘midnight rations’ → 1973 US sl.
► MINNING-ON a temporary meal or snack; a forenoon luncheon → 1790 Eng. dial.
► MONOPHAGY a meal made with one kind of food → 1625 obs.
► MUG-UP a snack; a meal, a drink → 1933 sl., chiefly Can. & nautical
► MUNCH something to eat; a meal, a snack → 1819 colloq.
► MUNCHIE a snack or small meal; food → 1959 sl., orig. US
► MUNCHIN a lunch; a light meal → 1657 obs.
► MUNCH-OUT a large meal → 1970s US students’ sl.
► MUNCHY a snack or small meal → 1950s sl., orig. US
► MUNGA tucker, food, a meal → 1907 Aust. & NZ sl., orig. services’ usage
► MUSGO a meal of leftovers → 1978 Amer. dial.
► NACKET a snack or lunch, a slight repast; a piece of bread eaten at noon → 1789 Sc.
► NAMMET a luncheon; esp. one eaten in the field by farm-labourers either in the middle of the morning or of the afternoon; a plain meal without meat; food generally → 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► ‘NER dinner → 1969 US sl.
► NIGGER-IN-A-BLANKET (derogatory) a dessert usually made of raisins in dough → 1944 Amer. West. sl.
► NIGGERITIS the urge to lie down and take a nap after a heavy meal → 1979 W. Indies sl., offensive
► NOSEBAG a bag of food, a lunch box, a meal, a take-away meal → 1879 sl.
► NOSH food, a meal; orig. food which may nibbled as a snack or delicacy → 1873 colloq.
► NOSH-UP a feast; a meal → 1958 sl.
► NUKE AND PUKE a microwave meal → 1990 US students’ sl.
► NUMBER a meal → Aust. sl.
► NUMMY food or a meal, esp. lunch → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► OFF-PUT a makeshift; a hasty meal → 1882
► OGGINS a light meal, a snack, frequently of some delicacy or sweetmeat → a1838 Sc.
► ORDINARY customary fare; a regular daily meal or allowance of food; by extension, a fixed portion, an allowance of anything → 1481 obs.
► PACKING dinner → 1889 Eng. dial.
► PARNELL SHOUT shared payment for food or drinks → 1910s NZ sl.
► PARRITCH-HOUR a mealtime (parritch = porridge) → 1821 Sc.
► PERPENDICULAR a party or gathering at which the participants remain standing; a meal eaten standing → 1863 chiefly university sl., obs.
► PIECE MEAL a snack or light meal ..1946 Amer. dial.
► PITCH-IN DINNER a potluck meal → 1965 Amer. dial.
► POTATO TIME dinner time → 1982 Amer. dial.
► PRANDICLE a breakfast, a little dinner, a small meal → 1656 obs.
► PUDS pudding (rhymes with ‘goods’) → sl.
► REMISSALS that which is left over; remains; especially, the remains of a meal → c1460 obs.
► ROOSTER SUPPER a supper with only men at the table → 1941 Amer. dial.
► RUM-PECK good eating, an excellent meal → L17 sl.
► RUNNING BANQUET a slight repast between meals; a snack → 1613 obs.
► RUNNING COLLATION a meal light enough to be consumed quickly → a1661
► SAINT AND SINNER dinner → 1992 UK rhyming sl.
► SAND a serving of food, a course → a700 obs.
► SAULEE satisfaction of appetite; a satisfying meal or quantity of food → 1377 obs.
► SCAMBLING an irregular meal → 1873 Eng. dial.
► SCRANNY food, esp. various bits of food, leftovers, broken victuals, etc. thrown together for an impromptu meal, or a meal taken onto their job by a labourer → E18 sl.
► SCRAN-TIME meal-time → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SHACKLE-UP a midday meal cooked at the roadside → 1930s tramps’ sl.
► SIT-DOWN a free sit-down meal → 1919 Amer. tramps’ sl.
► SLAP-UP a large and splendid meal → 1889 Brit. sl.
► SLOBBER food; a meal → 1988 Sc. sl.
► SLOP AND FLOP meals and lodging → 1953 US sl.
► SLUMP a dessert consisting of stewed fruit with a biscuit or dough topping → M19 US, chiefly local
► SOUPIE ► SOUPY a meal or a summons to a meal → 1899 US military sl.
► SPREAD a large meal → 1822 sl.
► SPREADATION a banquet. a feast, a lavish meal → 1780 obs.
► SUBCHARGE a second dish or course → c1480 obs.
► TABLE the company at dinner or at a meal → 1602
► TABLE-BOARD board. i.e. meals, without lodging → 1884 US
► TEA-BAGGING the afternoon meal or tea → 19C Eng. dial.
► TIFFIN in India and neighbouring eastern countries: a light midday meal; luncheon → 1800 Anglo-Indian
► TIGHTENER a hearty meal → 1945 US Western sl. (Bk.)
► TOMMY TUCKER supper → 1930s rhyming sl.
► TOMMY TUPPER supper → 20C rhyming sl.
► TOM TUCKER supper → 1930s rhyming sl.
► TOPPING dessert; a dessert → 1926 Amer. dial.
► TOP TASTE dessert; a dessert → 1991 Amer. dial.
► TUCK-IN a large, hearty meal → 1886 sl.
► TUREEN DINNER a potluck meal → 1909 Amer. dial.
► UGGIN ► UGGINS a lunch, a light meal, a snack, frequently of some delicacy or sweetmeat → a1838 Sc.
► UNCH a nuncheon, a light meal, a snack → 1668 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► UNDERMEAL a slight afternoon meal → c1440 obs.
► UNDERN a light luncheon; a light meal partaken of in the middle of the morning or the afternoon; the time allotted to such a repast → 1691 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► VESPER an afternoon or evening meal or refreshment → 1882 Amer. dial.
► WALL-TEA a tea at which the guests sit round the room instead of at the table → 1896 Sc.
► WARAP a cheap meal made of fish or meat and ‘ground-provisions’, i.e. locally available starchy roots, all boiled up together → 20C W. Indies
► WITH-ITS the vegetables and other dishes served with the main course of a dinner → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
NOUNS – PERSON
► GRUB-LINER one who travels from ranch to ranch for meals → 1912 Amer. West sl.
► GRUB-RIDER one who travels from ranch to ranch for meals → 1920 Amer. West sl.
► NEAT ARTICLE a person who deliberately makes visits at mealtimes, so as to cadge a free meal → 1822 sl.
PHRASES
► ABOVE THE SALT seated at the upper half of the table, and there among the guests of distinction → 1895 (Bk.)
► COME AND HAVE A PICKLE – an invitation to a quick unceremonious meal → 1878 Eng.
► GRAB IT AND GROWL said when you’re having company for a meal, and you want them to take their places at the table → 1966 Amer. dial.
► ON THE GRUB LINE said of one who always stays for meals; looking for free meals → 1914 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► ST. ANTHONY’S MEAL no meal at all → 1728 US
VERBS
► BEGIN to say grace before a meal → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BOX HARRY to go without a meal; to have a poor meal so as to save expense → 1823 colloq.
► CLEAR DECKS to clear the table after a meal → M19 nautical sl.
► DINE WITH DUKE HUMPHREY to go without dinner or a meal → 1746
► DRUM UP to prepare a makeshift meal → 1923 sl.
► EAT to provide a meal or meals for → 1837 US jocular usage
► EAT A PECK OF SALT WITH ANYONE to share many meals with anyone → 1737 Sc.
ׇ► FLY LIGHT to miss a meal; to be hungry → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► GO TO PECKHAM to sit down to a meal → 1823 colloq., jocular usage
► GREASE ONE’S GILLS to make a good or luxurious meal; to have a good feed; to eat heartily → 1860 sl. (Bk.)
► HAVE A GOOD NOSE to arrive at a house in time for a meal → 1698 sl.
► HAVE A HOLIDAY AT PECKHAM to go without a meal → c1790 sl.
► HAVE TWINS to take dinner and tea at one meal → 19C Amer. sl.
► KISS THE HARE’S FOOT to be late for meals; to be late for anything → 1613-16 obs.
► MAKE UP ONE’S MOUTH to finish a meal with something very delicious → 1880 obs.
► MUG UP to make a plentiful mean; to eat heartily; also, to have a snack, meal, or hot drink → 1897 Can. & nautical sl.
► NOSH orig. to nibble a snack, delicacy, etc.; later, to eat, to have a meal → 1892 colloq.
► PUT ONE’S NAME IN THE DINNER POT ► PUT ONE’S NAME IN THE POT to expect someone to share a meal; to indicate that one expects to share a meal → 1883 Amer. dial.
► PUT THE BIG POT IN THE LITTLE POT to make emergency preparations to feed unexpected guests; to prepare a lavish meal, esp. for guests; hence, to do something thoroughly; to enjoy oneself thoroughly → 1892 Amer. dial.
► PUT THE LITTLE POT IN THE BIG POT AND STEW THE DISHRAG to provide a meal for unexpected company → 1946 Amer. dial.
► READ ONE’S PLATE to say grace before a meal → 20C US sl.
► SADDLE THE SPIT to host a dinner or supper → L18 sl.
► SHACKLE UP to cook a midday meal → 1930s tramps’ sl.
► UGG to eat a light meal; to give someone an extra meal; to feed someone well → 1866 Sc. obs.
► WAIT ON THE TABLE to say grace before a meal → 1911 Amer. dial.
► WHIP UP to speedily prepare a dish or meal → 1849 sl.
Lexicophilia 