subs. (venery).—Generic for sexuality: thus, VENUS’S-CURSE = syphilis: see LADIES’-FEVER; VENUS’S-CELL (or -MARK) = the female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE; also VENUS’S SECRET CELL (HIGHWAY or HONYPOT), VENUS’S-GAME (or RITES OF VENUS) = copulation: see GREENS and RIDE.

1

  c. 1508.  Colyn Blowbol’s Testament [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, I. 94].

        He gaf me many a good certacion,
With right and holsom predicacion,
That he had laboured in VENUS SECRETE CELLE.

2

  1719.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, i. 16.

        I’ve no SCARS OF VENUS there,
  Twiddle come Tweedle twee.
    Ibid., iii. 342 [HOTTEN].
For when you have possession got
  Of VENUS’S MARK, or HONYPOT.

3

  1772.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 256.

        You whoring rascal, leave this job,
And come along and bear a bob:
Why can’t you run the risk of SCARS
In Mars’ as well as VENUS’ wars?

4

  1809.  MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 147. He could not stomach these beauties who call a spade a spade. Such were not for his market; the RITES OF VENUS must be consummated in the temple of Vesta.

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