Definition of "meal"

He that will cast meal upon meal is not able to have (a) long life.

c1450, Secreta Secretorumː

I have been there and taken deal / And have had many (a) merry meal.

c1500, The King and the Hermitː

But above all things beware that thou eat not till thou feel thy stomach empty and that it hath made good digestion of the first meal.

1535?, Dyfference Astronː

Besides he was so fantastical and unruly in his appetites, that he used no common meats at his meals, but was fed with the combs of cocks, the tongues of peahens.

1569, Fenton, Wondersː

Sir, I was thrice at Lamhith, to have dined with the Archeb since your departure, and still he was to dine, at the Court or with some Bishop. But I must and will find him as soon as I may: and rather at a meal, then otherwise, because I would have means, to participate at large, about our Collation.

1606, Bodleyː

Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly.

c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

Give me but so many meals, and thou shalt find me one of the strongest Turkish males that ever English gennet bore.

1640, Richard Brathwait, Ar't asleep Husband? A BOULSTER LECTURE, Stored with all variety of witty Jests, merry Tales, and other pleasant passages; extracted from the choycest Flowers of Phi∣losophy, Poesy, ancient and moderne Historyː

This letter was written whilst my hostess of the George was preparing the last meal I ever was to eat.

1796, Robert Bage, Hermsprong: or, Man As He Is Notː

Puss, who seemed in a great measure recovered from her illness, now made a hearty meal of the dead bird, and then went to sleep with much apparent satisfaction.

1835, Edgar Allan Poe, The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaallː

Indeed, the worthy gentleman, stimulated perhaps by the immediate prospect of being in active service, was in great spirits and good humor; in proof whereof, it may be here remarked, that he humorously drank all the beer at a draught; and did not utter, on a rough calculation, more than fourscore oaths during the whole progress of the meal.

1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […]

After the meal, he rinsed the cans from which they had eaten (marveling again at his own water extravagance), and when he turned around, Jake was asleep again.

1982, Steven King, The Dark Tower: The Gunslingerː

Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.

2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4

In this recipe, I go even further, adding a robust salad to turn a lone cheese into a satisfying summer meal.

2016, Melissa Clark, Consider This Permission to Eat Burrata for Dinner in The New York Timesː

If thou wilt fare well at meat and meal, come and follow me.

a1450, The Macro Playsː

This is the meal pleasantly set ... this is the meat and drink for natural hunger. It is for the wicked just the same as the righteous.

1855, Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grassː

Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.

2012 March-April, Anna Lena Phillips, “Sneaky Silk Moths”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 172

They [tape recorders] can be turned off while officers are on meal or in the car to protect their private conversations […]

1994, Brooklyn Barrister, volume 46, page 13

“I was on meal when I heard the call on the radio and recognized the address. What the hell?”

2019, R. J. Noonan, In the Line of Fire

Ye wolde wepe at every mele; But for my sone wepe ye never a dele. You would weep at every meal, but for my son you never weep a deal.

The Lamentation of the Virgin Mary (MS. Cantab., Ff. ii., 38, fol. 47.), in: 1847, Thomas Wright (editor), The Chester Plays: A Collection of Mysteries founded upon scriptural Subjects, and formerly represented by the Trades of Chester at Whitsuntide, vol. II, p. 208f.

[…] by occasion whereoff thai woll than at every mele groche with the kinge […] […] by occasion whereof they will, then at every meal, grouch with the king […]

a1400?-a1470?, in: 1999/2006, The Governance of England: Otherwise called The Difference between an Absolute and a Limited Monarchy. By Sir John Fortescue. A Revised Text edited with Introduction, Notes, and Appendices by Charles Plummer, p. 132

Which was to them a sorry meal.

a1450, Henry Lovelich, The History of the Holy Grailː

Also soon as the dragons together feal, betwixt them shall begin a sorry meal.

a1450, Henry Lovelich, Merlinː

What mean ye.. to make mourning at ilk a meal?

a1450, The York Playsː

I shall do late you have so much that ten of you should not eat it at one meal.

1481, William Caxton, Reynard the Foxː

Of all the day throughout, keep I no better meal than on her to think.

a1500, Alexander-Cassamus Fragmentː

Thou couth well weep at every meal.

c1500, In A Chyrchː

Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.

2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4

Of course the yield of grain was small, but much greater than could have been expected; and, the ears being well filled, it mealed well. The pastures were burnt up, so that there was nothing left for the cattle to eat.

1876, Notes and Queries, page 73

Were he meal'd with that / Which he corrects, than were he tyrannous.

c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene ii]