Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. the vagina.

1607		Middleton Michaelmas Term I i: salewood: [She is] like a lute that has all the strings broke, nobody will meddle with her. rearage: Fie, there are doctors enow in town will string her again, and make her sound as sweet as e’er she did.
1616		Webster Duchess of Malfi II iv: ’Twas just like one That hath a little fingring on the Lute, Yet cannot tune it.
c.1620		‘Upon a Courtesan’s Lute’ in Wardroper (1969) 176: Pretty lute, when I am gone / Tell thy mistress here was one / That hither came with full intent / To play upon her instrument.
1641		J. Johnson Academy of Love 25: [A] ravenous Strumpet, . . . that any one might play upon their virgin string, that harmonious minikin string of her lute, that could but shew his silver pen.
c.1670		‘Catalogue of Contented Cuckolds’ Pepys Ballads (1987) IV 130: When I go to the Change, With a Master of Musick my Lady will range, To the Tavern, and thereon her Lute he must play, She may dance, but I’m sure I the Musick must pay.
c.1690		‘Musical Couple’ Pepys Ballads (1987) V 202: [She] laid her lute before me ... And bid me play with my own Pen [...] [I] handled her Lute and gave it a touch.
a.1695		‘The Old Fumbler’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 167: Smug, rich and fantastick old Fumbler was known, / That wedded a Juicy brisk Girl of the Town; / Her Face like an Angel, Fair, Plump, and a Maid, / Her Lute well in Tune too, cou’d he but have plaid.
1700		‘The Wanton Trick’ in Playford Pills to Purge Melancholy II 93: Her white belly’d Lute she set to his Flute, / Whoop, ’tis but a Wanton Trick.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy II 312: Her Lute well in Tune too, cou’d he have but play’d, / But lost was his Skill, let him do what he can.
1740		Amorous Miller’s Garland 5: By handling her Lute, / he got some content, / But she would not let him play / upon that Instrument.
1790		‘Bumper Allnight. Esquire’ Honest Fellow [as 1719].

2. the penis; thus play a lute solo, to masturbate.

c.1625		‘The Louse’s Pregrination’ in Wardroper (1969) 178: For she that is troubled cum gallico morbo / Shall never touch on your lute or theorboe.
1684		Tongue Combatants 17: What tho in Dancing I had Skill / And well could Touch the Lute, / Those things converted are to ill / And made of Disrepute.