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 frowns of their grieving marrows, they determined, like desperate men, to stay where they were. Great was the consternation and mourning at Hylton, and, bent on knowing the worst, the forsaken wives set forth on a voyage in search of the lost husbands.

2. (venery).—The semen. For synonyms see Spendings, and cf. Marrowbone, subs. sense 2.

1598. All's Well etc., ii. 3, 298. Spending his manly marrow in her arms.

Marrowbone, subs. (old).—1. In pl. = the knees. Ital. devoti = worshippers.

a.1553. N. Udall, Roister Doister, I. iv. p. 29 (Arber). Couche on your marrybones whooresons, down to the ground.

1567. Thos. Drant, Horace his Epistles, fo E iiij. Ep. 12. 'To Iccius' Phraates tooke his mace Kneeling upon his marribones, to Cesar's aufull grace.

1594. Nashe, Unf. Traveller [Grosart, v. 23]. My welbeloued Baron of double beere got him humbly on his marybones to the King.

1603. Dekker, Wonderful Yeare [Grosart, i. 141]. At these speeches my tender-hearted hoste, fell downe on his maribones, meaning indeede to entreate his audience to bee good to him.

1665. Homer à la Mode [Nares]. Some more devout clownes, partly guessing When he's almost come to the blessing, Prepare their staves, and rise at once, Say'ng Amen, off their mary-*bones.

1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Markall, ii. Down on your marrow-bones, and confess the truth.

1672. C. Cotton, Scarronides, Bk. i. p. 36 (ed. 1725). Upon a Stool set for the nonce, She went to rest her marrow-bones.

1700. Dryden, Wife of Bath Her Tale, l. 192. On her majestic mary-bones she kneeled.

1714. Spectator, 5 Nov. The mob drank the kings health on their marrow-*bones.

1721. N. Amherst, Terræ Filius, p. 33. The [Oxford] scholars, in most of their disputes and quarrels with the towns-*men or aliens, usually came off the best at last, and brought their adversaries down upon their marrowbones to them.

1760. George Colman, Polly Honey-*combe, i. 3. I'll carry her off to-day, if possible, clap up a marriage at once, and then down upon our marrow-bones, and ask pardon and blessing of papa and mama.

1777. Isaac Jackman, All the World's a Stage, i. 2. When I come down, you are all to fall upon your marrow-bones.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1840. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Merchant of Venice). So down on your marrowbones, Jew, and ask mercy! Defendant and Plaintiff are now wisy wersy.

1869. Thackeray, The White Squall. And they call in their emergence Upon countless saints and virgins; And their marrowbones are bended And they think the world is ended.

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see Creamstick and Prick. Also marrowbone-and-cleaver.

Marquess of marrowbones, subs. phr. (old).—A lackey.

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart, ii. 33]. Poor scullians, that, from turning spit in the chimney corner, are on the sodaine hoisted vp from the Kitchin into the waiting chamber, or made Barons of the beanes, and marquesses of the mary-boanes.

Marrowbones and cleavers, subs. phr. (common).—Butcher's music to new-married couples: formerly there was a regular peal in every parish.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1789. G. Parker, Life's Painter, 'The Happy Pair.' Ye butchers bring your cleavers too, Likewise your marrow-bones.

1844. J. B. Buckstone, The Maid with the Milking Pail. Of course; all in honour, church, parson, marrow-*bones and cleavers, and all that! Now, as I'm a man o' my word, I ask your hand in mattermony.