subs. (old).—1. A mistress: see TART.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, ii. [Works (1720), iv., 47]. But where’s your Lady, Captain, and the Blowing, that is to be my NATURAL, my Convenient, my Pure? Ibid., i., 22. Sham. Thou art i’th’ right: But, Captain, where’s the Convenient, the NATURAL?
2. (colloquial).—An idiot; a simpleton.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4. This drivelling love is like a great NATURAL, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. Ibid., Tempest (1609), iii. 2, 37. That a monster should be such a NATURAL.
1609. DEKKER, The Guls Horne-booke, ii. [GROSART, Works (1886), ii., 216]. They which want sleepe … become either mere NATURALS or else fall into the Doctor’s hands.
1614. ROWLANDS, A Fooles Bolt is Soone Shott, I. p. 22 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874].
| The Duke of Brunswicke had a NATURALL, | |
| Whom all the Court did, sotton Joris call. |
1722. STEELE, The Conscious Lovers, ii., 1. Myrt. I own the man is not a NATURAL; he has a very quick sense, tho’ a very slow understanding.
1766. COLMAN, The Clandestine Marriage, i. [Works (1777), i., 177]. This ridiculous love! we must put a stop to it. It makes a perfect NATURAL of the girl.
1825. NEAL, Brother Jonathan, ii., 15. He’s your brother, I guess?—ain’t he?—sort of a NATTERAL, too, I guess?
1874. E. WOOD, Johnny Ludlow, 1st S., No. xvi., p. 287. The man opened his mouth and closed it again; like, as Molly put it, a born NATURAL.
3. (old).—A bastard.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
4. (American thieves’).—A clever, quick-witted, generous man.—MATSELL (1859).
5. (obsolete).—See quot.
1888. Encyclopædia Britannica, XXIV., 560, s.v. WIG. In 1724 the peruke-makers advertised ‘full-bottom tyes, full bobs, minister’s bobs, NATURALS, half naturals’ … among the variety of artificial head-gear which they supplied.
Adj. (American).—Not squeamish.—MATSELL (1859).
