Obs. [Alteration of FARCE v.1 by confusion with FORCE v.1]
1. = FARCE v.1 1.
In the 15th c. Cookery-bks. aforce is often used in the same contexts as this vb.; in some passages the sense may be ‘to strengthen’ (as by adding gravy), ‘to season, spice.’
a. 1400[?]. Tourn. Tott., Feast x.
| And dongesteks in doralle | |
| Was forsed wele with charcoll. |
c. 1420. Liber Cure Cocorum (1862), 27. Fors hit with spicys ryȝt gode with alle.
c. 1450. Two Cookery-bks., II. (1888), 117. Yiffe þou wilt haue it forced, hete milke scaldyng hoote, [etc.].
1747. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, 18. To Force a Leg of Lamb another Way.
fig. 1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 232. Nest. Force him with praises, poure in, poure in: his ambition is dry. Ibid., V. i. 64. To what forme but that he is, shold wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit, turne him too.
2. = FARCE v.1 3. Also, to fatten (animals).
a. 1571. Jewel, Serm. (1603), 227. Here wil I speak nothing of forcing and quaffinge, God keepe it farre from Christian tables, it is too too wilde & barbarous: the heathens hate it, nature abhorreth it, the horse and mule woulde not vse it.
1793. Residence in France (1797), I. 355. The Bourgeoise who has no pretensions to court favour or the disposal of wealthy heiresses, attaches her eléve by knitting him stockings, forcing him with bons morceaux till he has an indigestion, and frequent regales of coffee and liqueur.
1847. Halliwell, Force … to fatten animals. East.
Hence Forced ppl. a.; Forcing vbl. sb.
[c. 1390. in S. Pegge, Forme of Cury (1780), 12. For to make grewel forced.
14[?]. Noble Bk. Cookery (Napier, 1882), 88. Gruelle enforced.]
1538. Elyot, Pulmentarium, potage made with fleshe or fyshe, as forced gruell, or coleyse.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. iii. 82/2. Forced or Farced, a Forced Leg of Mutton, is to stuff or fill it (or any Fowl) with a minced Meat of Beef, Veal &c. with Herbs and Spices.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 148, 18 March, ¶ 3. When I have seen a young Lady swallow all the Instigations of high Soups, seasoned Sauces, and forced Meats, I have wondered at the Despair or tedious Sighing of her Lovers.
1790. Grose, Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2), Suppl., Forcing, Fattening. Norf.
