bachelor's fare

alternative batchelor's fare

1. dateduncountableA simple meal that requires no cooking, such as bread and cheese.

   "We'll buy a nice bit o' fish," he said, "and a goose, to add to my bachelor's fare, and be happy as the day is long.[…]"

   1864, Mrs. Gordon Smythies, chapter XV, in Guilty; or, Not Guilty. A Novel. … In Three Volumes, volume III, London: Hurst and Blackett, publishers, successors to Henry Colburn, 13, Great Marlborough Street, →OCLC, page 188

   5 more examples

   Lady Anſw[erall]. Colonel, ſome Ladies of your Acquaintance have promis'd to breakfast with you, and I am to wait on them; what will you give us? / Col[onel Atwit]. Why, faith, Madam, Batchelors Fare; Bread and Cheeſe, and Kiſſes. / Lady Anſw. Poh! what have you Batchelors to do with your Money, but to treat the Ladies? you have nothing to keep but your own Four Quarters.

   1738, Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, According to the Most Polite Mode and Method Now Used at Court, and in the Best Companies of England. In Three Dialogues, London: Printed by B[enjamin] Motte, and C. Bathurst, at the Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-street, →OCLC, page 61

   Tho' his house ben't so nice, he is sure to be neat, / And the ladies are always well pleas'd with his treat. / By the ſmack of their lips they at parting declare, / How delicious a feaſt they think bachelor's fare.

   1738 January, “The Bachelor’s Life. To the Tune in The King and the Miller.”, in The London Magazine: And Monthly Chronologer, London: Printed for T[homas] Astley, at the Rose over-against the North-Door of St. Paul's, →OCLC, stanza 2, page 40, column 1

   The villain of a pedlar saw his discourse was attentively heard, and flattered himself with the hopes of a supper and night's lodging; he was not deceived, for the parson was so well pleased with his conversation, that he insisted on his staying and partaking of batchelor's fare, bread and cheese, and mild ale; the latter he supplied his guest with so immoderately that he was obliged to convey him to his apartment.

   1825, James Heney, chapter XX, in Agnes, or The Sailor’s Orphan; with Memoirs of the Dudley Family, Oxford: Published by Bartlett and Hinton; and sold at their warehouse, 17, Warwick-Square, and by G[eorge] Virtue, 26, Ivy Lane, London, →OCLC, pages 198–199

   Stacy, my housekeeper, is in great fear that she is not up to the entertainment of so grand a party as I purpose to have at Midsummer; but I tell her that bachelor's fare is bread and cheese, and all beyond is more than you have any right to expect. It is very likely you may have a bit of bacon into the bargain; but I know you do not mind eating, my dear.

   1836, [Anne T.] Woodrooffe, chapter XVI, in Shades of Character; or, The Infant Pilgrim, 3rd edition, volume I, London: Hatchard & Son, Piccadilly; Hamilton, Adams, and Co., Paternoster Row, →OCLC, page 380

   Neither batchelor's fare, nor lodging-house dinners have any attraction in his esteem; nor is he a convert to the cold-meat and pic-nic school;—no, no!—to please his palate, there must be a regularly-built, smoking, well-sustaining table.

   1840, John Patterson, chapter III, in Camp and Quarters: Or Scenes and Impressions of Military Life. Interspersed with Anecdotes of Various Well-known Characters who Flourished in the War. … In Two Volumes, volume II, London: Saunders and Otley, Conduit Street, →OCLC, page 78