E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Plates or Plates of Meat.
Slang for feet. One of the chief sources of slang is rhyme. Thus meat rhymes with feet, and “warming my plates” is slang for warming my feet. Similarly, “Rory O’More” is slang for door, and “there came a knock at the Rory O’More” means there was a knock at the door. A prescott is slang for waistcoat. (See CHIVY.)
