Flesh Flesh noun [ Middle English
flesch ,
flesc , Anglo-Saxon
fl...sc ; akin to OFries.
flāsk , Dutch
vleesch , Old Saxon
fl...sk , Old High German
fleisc , German
fleisch , Icelandic & Danish
flesk lard, bacon, pork, Swedish
fläsk .]
1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which cover the framework of bones in man and other animals; especially, the muscles. » In composition it is mainly albuminous, but contains in adition a large number of crystalline bodies, such as creatin, xanthin, hypoxanthin, carnin, etc. It is also rich in phosphate of potash.
2. Animal food, in distinction from vegetable; meat; especially, the body of beasts and birds used as food, as distinguished from fish . With roasted flesh , or milk, and wastel bread.
Chaucer. 3. The human body, as distinguished from the soul; the corporeal person. As if this flesh , which walls about our life,
Were brass impregnable.
Shak. 4. The human eace; mankind; humanity. All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Gen. vi. 12. 5. Human nature :
(a) In a good sense, tenderness of feeling; gentleness. There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.
Cowper. (b) In a bad sense, tendency to transient or physical pleasure; desire for sensual gratification; carnality. (c) (Theol.) The character under the influence of animal propensities or selfish passions; the soul unmoved by spiritual influences. 6. Kindred; stock; race. He is our brother and our flesh .
Gen. xxxvii. 27. 7. The soft, pulpy substance of fruit; also, that part of a root, fruit, and the like, which is fit to be eaten. »
Flesh is often used adjectively or self-explaining compounds; as,
flesh broth or
flesh -broth;
flesh brush or
fleshbrush ;
flesh tint or
flesh -tint;
flesh wound.
After the flesh ,
after the manner of man; in a gross or earthly manner. "Ye judge
after the flesh ."
John viii. 15. --
An arm of flesh ,
human strength or aid. --
Flesh and blood .
See under Blood . --
Flesh broth ,
broth made by boiling flesh in water. --
Flesh fly (Zoology) ,
one of several species of flies whose larvæ or maggots feed upon flesh, as the bluebottle fly; -- called also meat fly , carrion fly , and blowfly . See Blowly . --
Flesh meat ,
animal food. Swift. --
Flesh side ,
the side of a skin or hide which was next to the flesh; -- opposed to grain side . --
Flesh tint (Painting) ,
a color used in painting to imitate the hue of the living body. --
Flesh worm (Zoology) ,
any insect larva of a flesh fly. See Flesh fly (above). --
Proud flesh .
See under Proud . --
To be one flesh ,
to be closely united as in marriage; to become as one person. Gen. ii. 24.