ˈbean-feast
[f. bean n. + feast n.]
a. An annual dinner given by employers to their work-people. Also, (colloq.) any festive occasion. Hence bean-feaster.
| 1805 Sporting Mag. XXVI. 304/2 At a late bean feast, a Gentleman Taylor, celebrated for his liberality, gave a rich treat to his men, at his occasional country residence. It was called a Bean Feast; but, exclusive of the beans, the table literally groaned with bacon [etc.]. 1875 W. T. Vincent Warlike Woolwich 49 The holiday on the second Saturday in July, which is a special and extra holiday, known as ‘Bean⁓feast day’, and is usually spent in excursions to some country place and a dinner, at which beans form an indispensable dish. 1882 Printing Times 15 Feb. 26/2 A beanfeast dinner served up at a country inn. 1884 Bath Jrnl. 26 July 6/1 The annual grant of {pstlg}20 for their bean feast. 1884 Cornh. Mag. Jan. 621 For the delectation of the bold beanfeasters. 1897 Daily News 23 Sept. 8/5 A beanfeast party from Woolwich. 1897 [see wayzgoose b]. |
b. fig.
| 1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. xxv. 250 The day was for the Empire-makers... To-night is the bean-feast of the ‘hands’, of the myriads in collar. 1906 W. J. Locke Beloved Vagabond iii, He..alluded to ‘the regular beanfeast’ they would have when they were married. 1922 Mrs. A. Sidgwick Victorian xxix, ‘Won't life be a beanfeast?’ she said. ‘We shall enjoy ourselves.’ |