beef trust

English

Etymology

Originally the name of a conglomerate of beef producers; later adopted ironically by US carnival showman WB ‘Billy’ Watson, who used it as the name for his sideshow of overweight women.

Pronunciation

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Noun

beef trust (plural beef trusts)

1. (US slang) A group of overweight or obese people.
   • 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Tea Don’t Do You that Way”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 2 (1923–1928: Chicago, Chicago), page 91:

     The beef trust was out in full force – these landladies were all shaped up like barrels, wherever there wasn't a crease in their meat there was a dimple.