a. [See -SOME1.]
1. Pleasant to the taste, savory, palatable: cf. TOOTH sb. 2 a.
c. 1565. Sparke, Sir J. Hawkins’ 2nd Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 46. We … found water, which although it were neither so toothsome as running water … yet did we not refuse it.
1584. Cogan, Haven Health, cc. (1636), 189. Vineger, that is not onely toothsome, but wholesome also.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xviii. 260. The Patattoes, which they eate as a delicate and toothsome meate.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, III. iv. (1734), 340. I began to find a Craving … for more solid and Toothsome Food.
1899. E. Callow, Old Lond. Tav., II. 286. Hard to please if they cannot select something toothsome from the menu.
b. fig. or in fig. context: Pleasant, ‘palatable.’
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 83. Speaking thinges nothing tothsome.
c. 1568. Coverdale, Carrying Christ’s Cross, iv. 59. Seeing our phisician … (Iesus Chryst I meane) telleth vs that it is veri wholsome, how so euer it be toothsome.
1648. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., IV. (1701), II. 1047. Your only News is not very Toothsom but it may prove wholesom.
1805. J. Ramsay, Scot. & Scotsm. in 18th C. (1888), I. 287. Elegant and toothsome sermons were most in request.
2. Having a ‘dainty tooth’; fond of savory food.
1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1842), 95. She kent na, douse woman! how toothsome was he.
1848. Lytton, Harold, VII. i. The Earl is a toothsome man.
† 3. Resembling a tooth; ‘biting,’ sharp. Obs.
1601. T. Morley, Madrigales, etc. Ded. Whose malice (being as toothsome as the Adders sting).
Hence Toothsomely adv.; Toothsomeness.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 1 (1619), 336. Others stand so much vpon toothsomnes of their meate.
1880. Ellen H. Rollins (‘E. H. Arr’), New Eng. Bygones, i. 12. Here night-dews lingered, and apples mellowed toothsomely, under the matted grass.
1887. Besant, The World went, xxxvii. I live sufficiently, and … with toothsomeness.
