/ · 1894 Brewer’s · N · Nose-bag (A)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A visitor to a house of refreshment who brings his own victuals and calls for a glass of water or lemonade. The reference is to carrying the feed of a horse in a nose-bag to save expense.
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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.