Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also nest in the bush) the vagina [20C+ usage US].

1600		Shakespeare As You Like It IV i: [to Rosalind] You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate: we must have your doublet and hose plucked over your head, and show the world what the bird hath done to her own nest.
1615		R. Brathwait Strappado 151: A cage of vncleane birds, which is possest Of none saue such as will defile their nest.
1637		N. Breton Packet of Letters in Grosart II (1879) 47/2: If thou art not afraid of sparrow-blasting, come home and take a Birds nest.
1694		Comforts of Whoreing 47: [Pox] in Pleasures Nest ... Keeps many Virtuous, who would fain be Lewd.
1768		Gentleman’s Bottle-Companion 14: Here’s the nest in the bush, and the bush’s best friend, / And the bird who his life in that nest loves to spend.
1772		G. Stevens ‘The Sentiment Song’ Songs Comic and Satyrical 125: Here’s the Nest in that Bush, and the Bird-nesting Lover; / Here’s Middlesex Bush-fighting, ---rest and recover.
1785		W. Forbes Dominie Deposed 8: O Dominie you’re dispossest, You have beshit your holy nest.
a.1796		‘The Court of Equity’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 284: Ye never herried Maggy’s nest; / Tho’ it’s weel-kenn’d that at her gyvel / Ye’ve done what Time will soon unravel.
1840		‘A Song of Sentiments’ in Fake Away Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) III 280: [as 1772].
1880		‘My Grandmother’s Tale’ in Pearl 11 May 17: Look at this poor fellow, May, he [...] only asks to hide his blushing head for a moment in this sweet nest.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues IV 339: The female pudendum [...] needle-case; nest (American); nest in the bush.
1904		Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 15: Lizzie caught hold of one of her feet and helped him get her legs separated so that he got his hand on her nest.
1949		in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) II 709: At last the key was fitted within her little nest, / He gently pushed the button, and Nature done the rest.
1969		C. Himes Blind Man with a Pistol (1971) 85: The sheet flew from the rest of her, revealing her big hairy nest.
1987		R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 97: Jenny’s mother, Marilyn, had a nest like a mousetrap.

2. (Aus.) sexual intercourse.

1968

(con. 1940s) G. Dutton Andy 96: What a glorious place for a drop of nest! Think of the privacy! [Ibid.] 236: Boozing and nesting? Passion? I thought you Americans were a more sophisticated people.

3. (US) the women who make up a pimp’s collection of prostitutes.

1983

R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Sl. [unpub. ms.].

4. (US Und.) a criminal hang-out.

1566		W. Adlington (trans) Golden Asse 26: [T]he truth must be tried out by ye racke, and so we shall learne, what other compaignions he hath, and coote [sic] out the nest of these mischeuous murderers.
1903		N.Y. Times 27 Jan. Sun. Mag. 4: The ‘yegg’ men and mendicants lack organization [...] but they have ‘nests’ and resorts where they gathered last week to exchange the news and enjoy the favor of their influential ‘friends.’.