subs. (once literary: now vulgar).—In pl. = the guts: whence the belly. Also in contempt both of persons and things; TRIPE-VISAGED = flabby, baggy, expressionless; MR. DOUBLE-TRIPE = a fat man: also TRIPES AND TRULLIBUBS (GROSE); TRIPE-CHEEK = a fat blowsy face.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., v. 4. 9. Thou … TRIPE-VISAGED rascal.
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, iv. 3. Alice. Thou sow of Smithfield, thou! Urs. Thou TRIPE of Turnbull.
c. 1630. HOWELL, Familiar Letters, ii. The Turk, when he hath his TRIPE full of Pelaw, or of Mutton and Rice, will go … either to the next Well or River to drink Water.
1834. HOOD, Tylney Hall, xxxv. I’m as marciful as any on ’em—and I’ll stick my knife in his TRIPES as says otherwise.
