subs. (old).—A roystering profligate: see ROARING BOY and DANDY.
1656. FORD, The Sun’s Darling, I. i.
| Swagger in my potmeals, | |
| Damn-me’s rank with; | |
| Do mad prank with | |
| Roaring-boys and OATMEALS. |
ALL THE WORLD IS NOT OATMEAL, phr. (old colloquial).—See quots. Cf. BEER AND SKITTLES.
1542. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus [ROBERTS, 1877], 329. When Leosthenes had perswaded the citee of Athenes to make warre beeyng set agog to thinke ALL THE WORLDE OTEMELE, and to imagin the recouering of an high name of freedome and of principalitee or soueraintee.
1615. J. SWETNAM, The Araignment of Lewde, Idle, Froward and Unconstant Wowen, cap. iii. par. 1. THE WORLDE IS NOT ALL MADE OF OTEMEALE, nor all is not golde that glisters.
1673. JOHN WADE, Vinegar and Mustard, ‘Wednesday’s Lecture.’ Now you are come ashore, you think the world runs on wheels, and that ALL THE WORLD IS OATMEAL; but you’ll find it to the contrary.
