FLESH, n. [I know not the primary sense; it may be soft.]

1. A compound substance forming a large part of an animal, consisting of the softer solids, as distinguished from the bones and the fluids. Under the general appellation of flesh, we include the muscles, fat, glands, &c., which invest the bones and are covered with the skin. It is sometimes restricted to the muscles.
2. Animal food, in distinction from vegetable. Flesh without being qualitied with acids, is too alkalescent a diet. Arbuthnot.
3. The body of beasts and fowls used as food, distinct from fish. In Lent, the Papists abstain from flesh, but eat fish.
4. The body, as distinguished from the soul. As if this flesh, which walls about our life, / Were brass impregnable. – Shak.
5. Animal nature; animals of all kinds. The end of all flesh is come before me. – Gen. vi.
6. Men in general; mankind. My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh. – Gen. vi.
7. Human nature. The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. – John i.
8. Carnality; corporeal appetites. Fasting serves to mortify the flesh. – Smalridge. The flesh lusteth against the spirit. – Gal. v.
9. A carnal state; a state of unrenewed nature. They that are in the flesh can not please God. – Rom. viii.
10. The corruptible body of man, or corrupt nature. Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Cor. xv.
11. The present life; the state of existence in this world. To abide in the flesh is more needful for you. – Phil. i.
12. Legal righteousness, and ceremonial services. What shall we then say that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? – Rom. iv. Gal. iii.
13. Kindred; stock; family. He is our brother, and our flesh. – Gen. xxxvii.
14. In botany, the soft pulpy substance of fruit; also, that part of a root, fruit, &c., which is fit to be eaten. One flesh, denotes intimate relation. To be one flesh, is to be closely united, as in marriage. – Gen. ii. Eph. v. After the flesh, according to outward appearances, John viii: – Or according to the common powers of nature. Gal. iv: – Or according to sinful lusts and inclinations. Rom. viii. An arm of flesh, human strength or aid.

1. To initiate; a sportman's use of the word, from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding them with the first game they take, or other flesh.
2. To harden; to accustom; to establish in any practice, as dogs by often feeding on any thing. Men fleshed in cruelty; women fleshed in malice. – Sidney.
3. To glut; to satiate. The wild dog / Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent. – Shak.

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. To feed with flesh, as an incitement to further exertion] to initiate; -- from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding them with the first game they take, or other flesh. Hence, to use upon flesh (as a murderous weapon) so as to draw blood, especially for the first time.
   
   

   Full bravely hast thou fleshed
   Thy maiden sword. Shak.

   The wild dog
   Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent. Shak.

3. 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.

4. To glut; to satiate; hence, to harden, to accustom.
   
   
   "Fleshed in triumphs." Glanvill.

   Old soldiers
   Fleshed in the spoils of Germany and France. Beau. & Fl.

5. The human body, as distinguished from the soul; the corporeal person.
   
   

   As if this flesh, which walls about our life,
   Were brass impregnable. Shak.

6. To remove flesh, membrance, etc., from, as from hides.
   
   

7. The human eace; mankind; humanity.
   
   

   All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Gen. vi. 12.

8. Human nature
   
   
   : (a)
9. Kindred; stock; race.
   
   

   He is our brother and our flesh. Gen. xxxvii. 27.

10. 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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.