subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum: also ROAD TO HEAVEN (or PARADISE): see MONOSYLLABLE. Whence ROAD-MAKING (or ROAD UP FOR REPAIRS) = menstruation. Also (2) a harlot.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., ii. 2, 182. This Doll Tearsheet should be some ROAD.
c. 1796. BURNS, The Merry Muses, 112.
TO TAKE TO THE ROAD, verb. phr. (various).—To turn highwayman (THE ROAD also = highway robbery); footpad; beggar; tramp; or commercial. Whence ROAD-AGENT, GENTLEMAN (or KNIGHT) OF THE ROAD = (1) a highwayman, and (2) a commercial traveller.
1704. [J. ASHTON, Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, II. 242]. There is always some little Trifle given to Prisoners, they call Garnish; we OF THE ROAD are above it.
1730. SWIFT, Captain Creichton [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 162. Among the verbs are … GO UPON THE ROAD (as a highwayman) …].
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 13. I do not think you are fool enough to make any bones about consorting with GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD.
1883. R. L. STEVENSON, The Silverado Squatters, 15. The highway robber—ROAD-AGENT he is quaintly called—is still busy in these parts.
1893. Standard, 29 Jan., 2. Now suppose we are ON THE ROAD … and we meet a josser policeman.
1895. H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON, The King’s Treasure, in The New Review, July, 8. But if a GENTLEMAN OF THE ROAD must be hindered by the impudent accidents of the weather, he had best give up roaming and settle down with empty pockets afore a mercer’s counter.
