subs. (various).—1. (greengrocers’, fruiterers’, etc.) = Covent Garden Market; 2. (theatrical) = Covent Garden Theatre; 3. (diamond merchants’) = Hatton Garden. Cf., HOUSE, LANE, etc.
[THE GARDEN (= Covent Garden) was frequently used for the whole neighbourhood, which was notorious as a place of strumpets and stews. Thus, GARDEN-HOUSE = a brothel; GARDEN-GODDESS = a woman of pleasure; GARDEN-GOUT = the pox or clap; GARDEN-WHORE = a low prostitute, etc.]
1733. N. BAILEY, trans. The Colloquies of Erasmus. When young men by whoring, as it commonly falls out, get the pox, which, by the way of extenuation, they call the Common GARDEN-GOUT.
1782. G. PARKER, Humorous Sketches, p. 90. No more the GARDEN female orgies view.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 85. Not only is the GARDEN itself all bustle and activity, but the buyers and sellers stream to and from it in all directions, filling every street in the vicinity.
1884. PAYN, in Cornhill Magazine, March, p. 257. She [Miss O’Neill] talked of the GARDEN and ‘the Lane,’ and was very fond of recitation.
1890. Tit-Bits, 29 Mar, p. 389, c. 1. Let me describe the GARDEN. A long, straight street, stretching almost due north and south, from Holborn Circus to Clerkenwell Road. Ibid., c. 2. The cut stones are chiefly sold to the large dealers in the GARDEN.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. [The simile is common to all nations, ancient and modern. Shakespeare, in Sonnet 16, seems to play upon this double meaning; e.g., Now stand you on the top of happy hours; And many maiden-GARDENS, yet unset, With virtuous wish would bear you living flowers.] Also GARDEN OF EDEN. For synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
