subs. (old colloquial: now recognised).—1. Originally, a lady pledged in drinking; subsequently (2) any person, cause, or thing to which success is drunk; (3) a call to drink, and (4) the act of drinking. Also (Scots’) TOSS, and as verb (B. E. and GROSE). Hence TOP-TOAST = a reigning belle: cf. TOP (= leading) LADY; TOASTER = the proposer of another’s health.
1663–4. BUTLER, Hudibras [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 104. One way of winning the love of ladies is said to be] swallowing TOASTS of bits of ribbon [TOAST was soon to stand for a lady].
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. TOST, to name or begin a new Health. Who TOSTS now? Who Christens the Health? An old TOST, a pert pleasant old Fellow.
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, iii. 10. More censorious than a decayed beauty, or a discarded TOAST. Ibid., iv. 5. To drink healths, or TOAST fellows.
1704. CIBBER, The Careless Husband. [A lady’s reputation is said to be the common TOAST of every public table.]
1707. FARQUHAR, The Beaux Stratagem, iii. 1. The gentleman has … TOASTED your health.
c. 1708. PRIOR, The Female Phaeton.
| What has she better, pray, than I, | |
| What hidden charms to boast, | |
| That all mankind for her should die, | |
| Whilst I am scarce a TOAST? | |
| Ibid., The Cameleon. | |
| Five deep he TOASTS the towering lasses. |
1709. The Tatler, No. 24, 4 June. A celebrated beauty was in the Cross-Bath, and one of her admirers took a glass of the water in which the fair one stood, and drank her health in the company. A gay fellow, half fuddled, offered to jump in, and swore, though he liked not the liquor, he would have the TOAST. This whim gave foundation to the present honour which is done to the lady we mention in our liquors, who has ever since been called a TOAST. [Abridged.]
1710. STEELE, The Tatler, No. 95, 17 Nov. Her eldest daughter was within half a year of being a TOAST.
1725. YOUNG, Love of Fame, vi.
| For Hervey the first wit she cannot be, | |
| Nor, cruel Richmond! the first TOAST for thee. |
1777. SHERIDAN, The School for Scandal, iii. 3.
| Let the TOAST pass,— | |
| Drink to the lass, | |
| I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass. |
1792. BURKE, On the Petition of the Unitarians, 11 May. These insect reptiles, whilst they go on only caballing and TOASTING, only fill us with disgust.
d. 1796. BURNS, Poems (Globe), 254, ‘The Lass of Ecclefechan.’
| A’ forbye my bonie sel’, | |
| The TOSS of Ecclefechan. |
1885. Daily Chronicle, 7 Sept. The TOAST of the Emperor, proposed by Dr. Stephan, was received with enthusiasm, all the guests standing.
2. (old).—A toper: see LUSHINGTON. Also TOAST AND BUTTER: in contempt.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., iv. 2. 22. None but such TOASTS-AND-BUTTER with hearts in their bellies no bigger than pins’ heads.
1614. FLETCHER, Wit without Money, iv. 2. They love young TOASTS AND BUTTER, Bow-bell suckers.
1668. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, The Visions of Quevedo (1678), 306. How often must I be put to the Blush too, when every OLD TOAST shall be calling me Old Acquaintance.
1673. COTTON, A Voyage to Ireland, iii.
| When having half-dined, there comes in my host, | |
| A Catholic good, and a rare drunken TOAST. | |
| Ibid. (1677), Burlesque upon Burlesque, 243. | |
| A Toss-pot and a drunken TOAST. |
ON TOAST, adv. phr. (common).—1. Cornered; swindled; DONE (q.v.).
1886. St. James’s Gazette, 6 Nov. The judges in the High Court are always learning some new thing. Yesterday it was entered on the record that the court took judicial cognizance of a quaint and pleasing modern phrase. They discovered what it was to be HAD ON TOAST.
1896. FARJEON, The Betrayal of John Fordham, III. 288. ‘It’s my night,’ I sed. ‘Didn’t I tell yer? I’ve got ’im ON TOAST.’
1900. KIPLING, Stalky & Co., 64. Mason turned white with joy. He thought he had us all ON TOAST.
2. (American).—Nicely served: of food, etc.
