[flesh] n [ME, fr. OE flaesc; akin to OHG fleisk flesh and perh. to ON fla to flay--more at flay] (bef. 12c) 1 a: the soft parts of the body of an animal and esp. of a vertebrate; esp: the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from visceral structures, bone, and integuments b: sleek well-fatted condition of body c: skin
2. a: edible parts of an animal b: flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food 3 a: the physical nature of human beings "the spirit indeed is willing, but the ~ is weak --Mt 26:41 (AV)" b: human nature
4. a: human beings: mankind b: living beings c: stock, kindred
5: a fleshy plant part used as food; also: the fleshy part of a fruit
6. Christian Science: an illusion that matter has sensation 7: substance "insights buried in the ~ of the narrative --Jan Carew" -- in the flesh : in person and alive
[2]flesh vt (1530) 1: to initiate or habituate esp. by giving a foretaste
2. archaic: gratify
3: to clothe or cover with or as if with flesh; broadly: to give substance to--usu. used with out
4: to free from flesh ~ vi: to become fleshy--often used with up or out