nosebagn.

1788 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 2) Nose Bag, a bag fastened to the horse's head, in which the soldiers of the cavalry put the oats given to their horses: whence the saying of, I see the nose bag in his face; i.e. he has been a private man, or rode private.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 178 Every man takes his pair of nose-bags, and supplies his own horses.

1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab vi. 112 The muleteers are not scrupulous about stealing from each other's nosebags.

1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 22 Jan. 6/2 It is often said that these public institutions are largely used as ‘nose-bags’—that they afford a comfortable corner for persons to lunch in or otherwise shelter themselves.

1974 P. Lovesey Invitation to Dynamite Party iii. 31 Some of the cab-men had resignedly attached nosebags to their horses' heads.

1983 V. Russell Heavy Horses of World 110 In contrast to most other heavy breeds, who would have a mid-morning nosebag, he would have no more food until he returned to the stable at about 2.30 p.m.

1999 A. Mallinson Close Run Thing xii. 210 Nosebags fixed to the off-ring of the saddle behind. Forage cords upon the baggage.

1874 Hotten's Slang Dict. (rev. ed.) 239 To ‘put on the nose-bag’ is to eat hurriedly, or to eat while continuing at work.

1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 155 Come in, we'll jist 'ave five minutes wiv the nose-bag.

1921 R. Lardner Big Town v. 201 We couldn't stop to put on the nose bag at the Graham.

1962 New Statesman 21 Dec. 897/3 The precise time the family get the nose-bag on.

1973 P. G. Wodehouse Bachelors Anonymous xiv. 185 I must rush. I'm putting on the nosebag with a popsy.

1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. (at cited word) Well! hon I zeed zo many o' they there whit-neckangkecher fullers comin', I thinks to mysul, there's a bit of a nose-bag a-gwain on in there.

1925 P. G. Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves vi. 145 Biffy's man came in with the nose-bags and we sat down to lunch.

1930 D. L. Sayers Strong Poison xi. 137 Thanks awfully, I've had my morning nosebag.

1993 Coloradoan (Fort Collins) 12 Dec. b3 Nose bag,..a logger's term for a lunch bucket.

1999 Daily Star 23 Apr. 26/2 The boys come back, have a bit of nosebag and sink one or two beers to honour our saint.

1834 New-Eng. Mag. Mar. 196 I had unluckily left behind my beaver cap and bear-skin nose-bag [sc. to protect against frostbite].

1846 W. M. Thackeray Notes Journey Cornhill to Cairo vi. 85 Women, with black nose-bags and shuffling yellow slippers, chattered and bargained at the doors of the little shops.

1915 D. O. Barnett Let. 11 May in In Happy Memory 135 Every one was ready and had their nose-bags on, and the gas had no effect whatever.

1940 Everybody's Weekly 2 Mar. 4/1 Londoners call their masks ‘Dicky-birds’, ‘Canaries’ and ‘Nose-bags’.

1839 W. Holloway Gen. Dict. Provincialisms (new ed.) at Nose-fly Nose-bags or nets are used to protect the horses' noses.