Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und.) one who is welcome (at a tavern or inn).

1579

S. Gosson School of Abuse (1868) 36: Euery Vawter in one blinde Tauerne or other, is Tenant at will, to which shee tolleth resorte, and plays the stale to utter their victuals and help them to empty their musty casks [...] every back room in the house is at her commandment.

2. one whose wife arrives at the alehouse to make him come home.

1650		Eighth Liberal Science n.p.: He whose wife useth to fetch him home from the Library, is a Tenant at will.
1700		‘The Art of Drinking’ in Wit’s Cabinet 139: He whose Wife fetcheth him home, Tenant at Will.
c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions .
1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd edn).
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1873		Sl. Dict.

3. a male lover [also note apartment (to let) n.].

1809

B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Blas (1822) II 14: Have you not heard that at his age he has already been tenant at will to two actresses? [...] What shocking conduct!

a married man.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

1. one whose drunkenness promotes indiscriminate displays of affection; ‘He that will be stil kissing all commers in’ (Eighth Liberal Science).

1650		in Eighth Liberal Science.
1700		‘The Art of Drinking’ in Wit’s Cabinet 139: He that puzzles his Hostess, Tenant in tail special. He that kisses all Comers, Tenant in tail general.
c.1850		Peeping Tom (London) 11 42/2: A merry fellow going along the streets, espeied a maid [...] Sister, will you let me have a lease of your tail [...] Ay sir, says she, if your nose will turn tenant.

2. the penis; thus a male lover, e.g. cite 1707.

1692		C. Gildon Dialogue from Hell of Cuckoldom 20: Reflect on another very pertinent Precedent [...] John a Noaks is Tenant only for Life, and John Astiles Tenant in Tail.
1707		‘My Thing Is My Own’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) I 195: A Crafty young Bumpkin that was very rick [...] Did tender a Sum, but it would not avail, / That I should admit him my Tenant in tayl.
1840		‘My Thing Is My Own’ in Fake Away Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) III 284: [as 1707] .
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.