subs. (old).—A fat man.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iv. 2, 53. How now, Bloun Jack? How now, QUILT.
THE QUILT, subs. phr. (American).—The Union Jack: cf. RAG.
Verb. (common).—To beat; TO TAN (q.v.): hence QUILTING = a rope’s-ending.—GROSE (1785).
1821. P. EGAN, Real Life in London, I. 351. They were a set of cowardly rascals, and deserved QUILTING.
1822. Randall’s Scrap-Book, ‘Song, Addressed to Martin.’ And turn to, and QUILT the Nonpareil.
1840. H. COCKTON, Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist, xii. “Bless his little soul, he shall have a QUILTING yet.”
