fleshpot

Noun

fleshpot (plural fleshpots)

1. (slang) A place offering entertainment of a sensual or luxurious nature.
   • "This was absurd for a person who... had never before had such unrestricted access to the fleshpots. The fleshpots were full, under Donald Mesh's roof, and his wife could easily believe that the poor girl would not be in a hurry to return to her boarding-house in Brooklyn."1884, Henry James, "A New England Winter" in The Century Magazine 28 (4–5) (August–September 1884).
   • The frizzle-headed man-eaters were loath to leave their fleshpots so long as the harvest of human carcases was plentiful. Sometimes, when the harvest was too plentiful, they imposed on the missionaries by letting the word slip out that on such a day there would be a killing and a barbecue.1909 December 29, Jack London, “The Whale Tooth”, in South Sea Tales, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, published October 1911, →OCLC, page 61
2. (US, derogatory, slang) A very attractive woman considered a sex object.
   • "Mere slip. Serpent of old Nile. Doesn't matter in the least," says Mr. Browne airily; "because she couldn't hear me as it happens. My dear girl, follow out the argument. Cleopatra, metaphorically speaking, was a fleshpot, because the world hankered after her. And—you're another."1891, Mrs. Hungerford [i.e., Margaret Wolfe Hungerford], April's Lady, London: F. V. White & Co., page 58
   • Sue Ellen, Pam, Jenna--the mistresses and wives--come and go; in a male-dominated society every woman is a fleshpot unless she has the virtues of Miss Ellie and assumes the role of benevolent matriarch.1987, Narain Dass Batra, “Dramatical Serial: Prime Time and Daytime” (chapter 5), in The Hour of Television: Critical Approaches, Scarecrow Press, "Dallas" to "Dynasty", page 92
3. (literally) A pot or vessel of flesh.
   • We would be againe in Egypt, and ſit by the greaſy fleſhpots, to eate againe our Garlike, Onions, and Leeks.1574, Thomas Sampson, “To the Chriſtian Reader Tho. Sampſon wiſheth the felicity of ſpædy and full conuerſion to the Lord”, in Two notable Sermons made by that woꝛthy Martyr of Chriſt Maiſter Iohn...
   • Some theorists, again, would have us live solely on animal food, and assert, that the human viscera bear vegetables " only in a grumbling way ;" while others would reduce us to the diet of Nebuchadnezzar, and not leave a fleshpot in our kitchens.1835, John Mason Good, The Study of Medicine, volume I, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 107, column 2