to house = to eat

[Grant Barrett]

A listener to the radio show came across “to house” meaning “to eat.”

I see “house” v. in HDAS has “to take for oneself; steal,” which is a possible connection, but it seems a more straightforward “house” ‘to cover, shelter, or contain’ is more likely the source.

Has anybody done any digging on it?

Here are a few uses I came across (in poor citation form, I’m afraid).

The tortilla strips are such a wonderful invention.  So much easier when you are at a party and don't want to house a whole chip in front of other people. Yelp 4/13/2009

I am about to house an entire Guinness Pie at our holiday lunch at O'Connor's, one of my favorite restaurant. 12/16/2009

About to house a whole Alfredo pizza to my self. 4/11/2010

I am about to house a whole pizza. i got goals! 1/29/2011

I was starving so I wanted to house a burger and fries. Yelp review, 3/18/2013

to eat quickly, or to do
Man, I just housed so much Burger King.
Urban Dictionary, 4/17 2013

I am going to house a burger at Smith and Wollenskys. 6/9/2013

Grant Barrett
grantbarrett at gmail.com

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