Quotable quotes

Thought-provoking snippets from the OED quotation files:

anyone for cudgels?...

1700 J. Puckle England's Path to Wealth & Honour, No Country but Great Brittain can boast, that after twelve Hours hard Work, its Natives will (in the Evening) go to Foot ball, Stool-ball, Cricket, Prison-base, Wrestling, Cudgel-playing, or some such vehement Exercise for their Recreations.

essential supplies?...

1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York, Powderings made of bogy leggs.

an unusual choice of footwear...

c1945 J. Cranko in J. Percival Theatre in my Blood, [She] is making an excellent Scarlet Woman, but her ankles are too weak for point shoes, so she's doing it in high heels.

...and the wisdom of college authorities...

1762 W. Dodd Poems, 'Tis..a point of great prudence in the governors of colleges, that the she bed-makers should be bothe aged and uninviting.