† massagen.1
Obsolete. rare.
The action of saying Mass.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > sacrament > communion > mass > [noun] > celebration of
mass-songeOE
massingOE
mass-saying1389
mass-singinga1400
massagec1450
confection1564
missification1641
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 58 (MED) He sente þurgh all his bisshoppryke, & garte do message & oders prayers & suffrage of halie kurk for hym.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
massagen.2
/ˈmasɑː(d)ʒ/, U.S. /məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/ 1. The rubbing, kneading, or percussion of the muscles and joints of the body with the hands, usually performed by one person on another, esp. to relieve tension or pain; an instance of this. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > physiotherapy > [noun] > massage
champing1698
shampooing1762
massing1825
shampoo1838
massage1866
rub1879
massotherapy1890
massage therapy1972
1866 D. Maguire (title) The art of massage.
1879 R. Bartholow Pract. Treat. Materia Med. (ed. 3) 73 Massage by friction consists in rubbing, rolling under the fingers, and gently pinching the skin, and rubbing, tapping, kneading, and exercising the muscles and joints.
1887 D. Maguire Art of Massage (ed. 4) i. 14 She could not bear it longer, especially if she attempted several massages per day.
1929 H. Walpole Hans Frost ii. iii. 143 Then with that by now practised and customary spiritual massage she set to work on herself.
1958 Health & Strength 19 June 4/1 (advt.) Thorough massage—with Elliman Athletic rub.
1983 B. Inglis & R. West Alternative Health Guide 95 Massage..is primarily concerned with the soft tissues, the chief aim being to promote relaxation.
1990 D. Ackerman Nat. Hist. Senses i. 57 A massage of aromatic oils to soothe the muscles and calm the nerves.
2. euphemistic (originally U.S.). Sexual services, esp. as advertised by prostitutes; a sexual act, esp. one performed by a prostitute for a client. Originally and chiefly in massage parlour n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > [noun]
playOE
loveOE
toucha1400
chamber workc1450
venery1497
bed-glee1582
bed-game1596
fiddling1622
twatting1893
sexual relations1897
fun time1905
massage1906
sex play1922
actionc1930
hanky-panky1939
making-out1957
lumber1966
1906 W. G. McAdoo Guarding Great City vi. 92 The most despicable form of vice of late has been the massage parlor.
1972 Screw 12 June 33/3 (advt.) A totally dominant English massage by a lovely female, in your home or office.
1973 Publishers Weekly 8 Jan. 66/2 There is a difference between what a massage used to be, and what it has come to be a euphemism for lately.
1991 Pink Paper 30 Mar. 16/5 (advt.) Kevin and Sean. Handsome, straight-looking, sexy, tanned..offer complete massage.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
massage oil n.
ΚΠ
1966 J. Stevens Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 97/1 Massage oil, an oil which is applied to the scalp to aid the process of massage and increase its beneficial effect.
1990 Essentials Sept. 152/3 I don't think that lovemaking should be a deadly serious affair—it doesn't matter whether it's a vibrator, a bottle of massage oil or a gorilla suit that makes you feel good.
massage pad n.
ΚΠ
1963 E. H. Edwards Saddlery xxii. 168 A convenient and efficient massage pad..can be made from leather stuffed with hay.
1999 Mirror (Nexis) 12 Mar. 8 Marie Rose Atkins preyed on the sick and elderly, selling second-hand arthritic relief massage pads, claiming they were new.
massage roller n.
ΚΠ
1888 Ann. Universal Med. Sci. 1 354 The other electrode, a flat plate or massage roller, is applied to the abdomen.
1907 Yesterday's Shopping (1969) 538/3 Massage Rollers, for the face..13/0.
1994 Vegetarian Times Dec. 12/2 The set contains a massage roller, reflexology foot chart and Wintermint foot balm.
C2.
massage establishment n. now rare = massage parlour n. (a).
ΚΠ
1921 E. Weekley Etymol. Dict. Mod. Eng. 1416 Stew1..Brothel... The public hot-air baths acquired a reputation like that of our massage establishments some time ago.
massage parlour n. (a) euphemistic (originally U.S.), a brothel operating under the guise of providing massage; (b) an establishment offering therapeutic massage.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > brothel
houseOE
bordelc1300
whorehousec1330
stew1362
bordel housec1384
stewc1384
stivec1386
stew-house1436
bordelryc1450
brothel house1486
shop?1515
bains1541
common house1545
bawdy-house1552
hothouse1556
bordello1581
brothela1591
trugging house1591
trugging place1591
nunnery1593
vaulting-house1596
leaping house1598
Pickt-hatch1598
garden house1606
vaulting-school1606
flesh-shambles1608
whore-sty1621
bagnioa1640
public house1640
harlot-house1641
warrena1649
academy1650
call house1680
coney burrow1691
case1699
nanny-house1699
house of ill reputea1726
smuggling-ken1725
kip1766
Corinth1785
disorderly house1809
flash-house1816
dress house1823
nanny-shop1825
house of tolerance1842
whore shop1843
drum1846
introducing house1846
khazi1846
fast house1848
harlotry1849
maison de tolérance1852
knocking-shop1860
lupanar1864
assignation house1870
parlour house1871
hook shop1889
sporting house1894
meat house1896
massage parlour1906
case house1912
massage establishment1921
moll-shop1923
camp1925
notch house1926
creep joint1928
slaughterhouse1928
maison de convenance1930
cat-house1931
Bovril1936
maison close1939
joy-house1940
rib joint1940
gaff1947
maison de passe1960
rap parlour1973
1906Massage parlor [see sense 2].
1973 Times 8 Aug. 7/1 At present £52m is spent annually on pills and low calorie foods, then there are health hydros, sauna baths, massage parlours, [etc.].
1997 Big Issue 9 June 44/2 (advt.) Are you male, under 26 & selling sex..in a massage parlour?
massage roulette n. = roulette n. 6.
ΚΠ
1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 17 The massage roulette..is English, of mahogany, and was advertised for sale between 1880 and 1890. The three rollers revolve independently.
massage therapist n. a practitioner of massage therapy.
ΚΠ
1977 Washington Post 18 Nov. (Weekend section) 13/4 Lotte Lenya as the unconventional massage therapist who ‘pelfs’ Billy Clyde, and other comic hulks.
1991 San Francisco Focus May 24/1 They don't like being called masseuses. (They prefer ‘massage therapist’, ‘massage practitioner’, or ‘body worker’.)
massage therapy n. the treatment of ailments or relief of pain by means of massage.
ΚΠ
1972 N.Y. Times 23 July i. 45/4 He also said that the society would study not only acupuncture, but also herb medicines, pulse diagnosis, moxibustion and..massage therapy.
1994 Denver Post 17 Jan. e2/1 The whole genre of massage therapy and body work in general has had quite the explosion lately.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
massagev.
/ˈmasɑː(d)ʒ/, U.S. /məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/ 1.
a. transitive. To apply massage to (a person or a part of the body); to treat by means of or in the manner of massage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > physiotherapy > practise physiotherapy [verb (transitive)] > massage
to rub down1682
shampoo1762
mass1788
mull1828
massage1887
massé1887
1887 H. Tibbits Massage 14 In Massaging joints.
1889 Lancet 2 Mar. 423/1 Although abdominal massage will effect a great deal of good, it will not be productive of lasting benefit if we omit to massage the spine.
1921 Amer. Woman Jan. 16/2 To keep the mouth young, massage with the little fingers the lines of petulance from nostril to lips.
1955 J. D. Salinger in New Yorker 29 Jan. 27/1 He began to massage the side of his face.., removing..a bit of sleep from one eye.
1981 I. McEwan Comfort of Strangers viii. 95 As he spoke Mary massaged his back.., working the small, firm muscles with convergent movements of her thumbs.
1997 B. Rowlands Which? Guide Complementary Med. 234 Back rolls, for example, stretch the lower back and massage the spine.
b. transitive. To apply (oil, lotion, etc.) by means of massage; to restore (warmth or sensation) by rubbing. Usually with into.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > to restore warmth or sensation
chafec1440
massage1966
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the skin or complexion > beautify (the skin or complexion) [verb (transitive)] > apply lotion
massage1966
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > physiotherapy > practise physiotherapy [verb (transitive)] > massage > apply (lotion, etc.) as means of
massage1966
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > preparations used on the hair > apply preparations to the hair [verb (transitive)] > shampoo
massage1966
1966 J. Stevens Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 49/2 Dry shampoo,..a shampoo in powder form which is applied to the head as a powder, massaged in and then brushed out.
1979 J. Raban Arabia through Looking Glass iv. 144 German businessmen and their wives were massaging suntan lotion into each other's brown backs.
1982 ‘L. Cody’ Bad Company xiii. 96 She massaged some warmth into her cramped fingers.
1996 D. W. Brown Aromatherapy (Teach Yourself Ser.) xii. 175 The oils may be massaged into the back with the mother in a side-lying position.
2. In extended use.
a. transitive. To manipulate so as to achieve a desired effect (literal and figurative); to flatter, gratify, indulge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > beating or repeated striking > beat [verb (transitive)]
abeatOE
beatc1000
dingc1300
dintc1300
bulka1400
batc1440
hampera1529
pommel1530
lump1546
pummel1548
bebatter1567
filch1567
peal-pelt1582
reverberate1599
vapulate1603
over-labour1632
polt1652
bepat1676
flog1801
quilt1822
meller1862
tund1885
massage1924
1924 R. Hichens After Verdict iii. §1. 314 Arabs were washing sacks below the dam and massaging them with persistently stamping bare brown feet.
1936 F. Clune Roaming round Darling viii. 68 In the outer courtyard were several straw-hatted inmates in cover-alls massaging the lawns.
1979 Atlantic Monthly June 38/1 I'll go to a clothing store where I know the owner, where they massage me, instead of saving a hundred dollars a suit by shopping the manufacturers' factories.
1986 T. McGuane To skin Cat (1989) 123 I see you massaging the fellow's ego, forming a bond. It's shitwork.
1993 Money Apr. 71/1 (advt.) Our Passat GLX is built to massage roads, not egos.
b. transitive. To manipulate (data, figures, etc., or their presentation), esp. in order to give a more acceptable result. Cf. doctor v. 2.
ΚΠ
1969 Business Week 10 May 142/2 Buying..a record of the day's trading activity and having it massaged through their computer programs at night.
1974 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 23 Sept. 7/5 The Japanese government's efforts to massage the press coverage of the visit have been substantial.
1990 Business Apr. 59/1 Numbers can be massaged by putting them in different places in the accounts..but it is difficult to manipulate them over several years.
3. transitive. U.S. slang. To assault (a person) with repeated blows; to kill.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > treat violently [verb (transitive)] > in specific manner
Mohock1712
whitecap1889
massage1927
1927 J. W. Thomason Red Pants iv. 111 One guy was all set to massage your dome wit' a table leg.
1937 in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1997) II. 521/2 The thugs have been caught and massaged with rubber hoses in the back room of some station house.
1971 D. Pendleton Executioner: Vegas Vendetta (1972) 60 These two imaginary torpedoes cruise around wearing brass knuckles and massaging heads with blackjacks.
1983 Maledicta 1982 6 258 The Vietnam War seems to have spawned a large number of euphemisms for death and killing. Among these were..to light up, massage, [etc.].
Derivatives
ˈmassaging adj. and n.
ΚΠ
1924 G. J. Nathan in Amer. Mercury Nov. 377/2 How many yokel-massaging final curtains have descended upon that banality!
1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 30 Apr. 340/2 ‘Shellacking’, ‘massaging’.., euphemisms which cover the long ordeal of beating, pounding..by which the detective learns the truth.
1973 N.Y. Times 22 Sept. 39/6 The massaging device for which he was granted a patent..is the answer to the chubby woman's prayer.
1996 R. Drewe Drowner (1998) 68 She likes to add musk drops to her massaging oil.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1c1450
n.21866v.1887