subs. (old).—A worthless woman.
Verb. (old).—See quots.
1759–60. REV. ANDREW BARNABLY, Travels, 144. [Travelling in New England he notices this custom of BUNDLING which then prevailed. He thinks that though it may at first] appear to be the effects of grossness of character, it will, upon deeper research, be found to proceed from simplicity and innocence.
1781. S. PETERS, A General History of Connecticut. Notwithstanding the great modesty of the females is such that it would be accounted the greatest rudeness for a gentleman to speak before a lady of a garter, knee, or leg, yet it is thought but a piece of civility to ask her TO BUNDLE.
18[?]. REV. DR. EMMONS, Works, I, 81. Is not this custom, which has no name in the dictionary, but which is commonly called BUNDLING, a sinful custom?
1809. IRVING, Knickerbocker History of New-York. Among other hideous customs, they [the Yankees] attempted to introduce among them that of BUNDLING, which the Dutch lasses of the Nederlandts, with their eager passion for novelty and foreign fashions natural to their sex, seemed very well inclined to follow, but that their mothers, being more experienced in the world, and better acquainted with men and things, strenuously discountenanced all such outlandish innovations. Ibid. [Van Corlear] stopping occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin-pies, dance at country frolics, and BUNDLE with the Yankee lasses.
1814. The Quarterly Review, X., 517. [The custom spoken of].
18[?]. C. MASSON, Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, and the Panjab, III., 287. Many of the Afghan tribes have a custom in wooing similar to what in Wales is known as BUNDLING-UP, and which they term namzat bazé. The lover presents himself at the house of his betrothed with a suitable gift, and, in return, is allowed to pass the night with her, on the understanding that innocent endearments are not to be exceeded.
1868. W. H. DIXON, Spiritual Wives, II., 31. An old custom, which exists (I believe) in Wales as well as in parts of Pennsylvania and New England, permits under the name of BUNDLING, certain free, but still innocent, endearments to pass between lovers who are engaged.
1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, 448. TO BUNDLE, a custom still prevalent in Wales, and not unfrequently practised in the West, of men and women sleeping with all their clothes on, when there is not house-room to provide better accommodation.
1871. H. R. STYLES, BUNDLING; its Origin, Progress, and Decline in America [Title]. [Contains also its history in England, Wales, Holland, curious songs, etc.]
1878. C. S. WAKE, The Evolution of Morality, I., 401. The custom of BUNDLING … among Celtic peoples.
1888. PROCTOR, Americanisms [in ‘Knowledge’]. One young woman who, so the story goes, had been properly BUNDLED UP overnight by having her nether limbs securely tied in a bolster-case, on being asked by her mother next morning whether the fastenings had remained intact, replied that ‘only one leg had slipped out!’
TO BUNDLE OFF, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To set off in a hurry; to decamp with alacrity.
BUNDLE (or RACK) OF BONES, subs. phr. (common).—A sorry looking man or animal; a WALKING-SKELETON (q.v.); SHAPES (q.v.). Hence, OLD BUNDLE OF BONES = a jeering address.
1836. R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, xxviii. ‘What’s that?’ said one of the crew; ‘has the bloody agent slipped off the hooks? Has the old BUNDLE OF BONES got him at last?’
1862. New York Tribune, 13 June. He is a little afraid that this mettlesome charger cannot be trusted going down hill; otherwise he would let go of the old RACKABONES that hobbles behind.
