subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1662.
1662. EVELYN, Diary, 9 Jan. She being taken to be the Earle of Oxford’s MISSE, as at this time they began to call lewd women.
1675. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 268. It is mettle carries MISSES.
1675. The Character of a Town Miss, 3. ‘A MISS is a new name which the civility of this age bestows on one that our unmannerly ancestors called whore and strumpet.’
1678. BUTLER, Hudibras [JOHNSON].
| All Women would be of one piece, | |
| The virtuous Matron, and the MISS. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MISS, a Whore of quality.
1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Jan. p. 37. As subject to mistake an affected sorrow for a real grief, as our cullies, the fawnings of their MISSES for a true passion.
d. 1701. DRYDEN, in The Cock and the Fox, 55.
| This gentle Cock, for solace of his Life, | |
| Six Misses had besides his lawful Wife. |
1714. T. LUCAS, Memoirs of Gamesters, etc., 197. Not sufficient to support his Extravagancy in keeping several MISSES.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, i. 174. Then bring the MISS for Morning Bliss.
1729. GAY, Polly, i. 14. Abroad after MISSES most husbands will roam.
1775. ASH, Dictionary, s.v. MISS. … a strumpet, a prostitute, a concubine.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1786. BURNS, The Inventory.
| I hae na’e wife—and that my bliss is, | |
| An’ ye hae laid nae tax on MISSES. |
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
2. (old).—A very young girl.
1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, ii. 2. Tatt. Oh, madam! you are too severe upon MISS; you must not find fault with her pretty simplicity.
1712. SWIFT, Corinna [CHALMERS, English Poets (1810), XI. 386].
| She made a song how little MISS | |
| Was kiss’d and slobber’d by a lad. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. MONEY.
3. (dressmakers’).—A girl from about 10 to 15 years of age. Before and after, a ‘child’ and a ‘young lady,’ respectively.
A MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, phr. (colloquial).—A narrow escape is as good as an easy one.
TO MISS THE CUSHION, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Armeggiare … to raue or commit some foolish part, to MISSE THE CUSHION, or to be wide from the purpose.
TO MISS ONE’S TIP. See TIP.
TO MISS THE FIGURE. See COMBINATION and SLUMP.
