bed-postn.
/ˈbɛdˌpəʊst/ A post of a bed, one of the upright supports of the framework of a bed. Also in the twinkling of a bedpost: cf. bedstaff n.; between you and me and the bed-post: in all confidence or secrecy.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > parts of bed > [noun] > bedstead > post
bed-post1598
headpost1730
footpost1731
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adverb] > in confidence
under the rose1546
under (the) thumb1577
sub sigillo1623
sub rosa1654
between you and me and the bed-post1830
between (or betwixt) you (and) me and the gatepost1871
under one's hat1885
between you and me and the lamp-post1919
off the record1920
cagily1926
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > shortness in time [phrase] > instantaneously
as thou turnest thine handc1225
at a brusha1400
at one (also a) bruntc1450
with a whisk1487
with a whip Sir John1550
in the turn (also turning) of a hand1564
with or at a wink1585
at a blowa1616
in a wink1693
at a stroke1709
in or wi' a whid1719
in the trip of a minute1728
with a thrash1870
the twinkling of a bedpost1871
in a whisk1900
in jig-time1916
1598 J. Marston Certaine Satyres in Metamorph. Pigmalions Image 55 The antique Bed-post.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. v. 89 One of the bed-posts of a sort of tent bed.
1830 A. Royall Lett. from Alabama 136 Between you and I and the bed post, I begin to think it all a plot of the priests.
1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton Eugene Aram II. iv. i. 205 Between you and me and the bed-post—young master's quarrelled with old master.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. iii. 78 In the twinkling of a bed-post Is each savoury platter clear.
1882 R. D. Blackmore Christowell xiii Between you and me and the bed-post, Short—as the old ladies say—I don't want Jack to have her.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.1598