Green’s Dictionary of Slang

anything essentially unpleasant, endured whether one likes it or not.

1823

‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 83: Force-meat balls — a rape, or any other compulsory measure; as going to prison, or going abroad, ‘as the act directs;’ also an order of affiliation, with a forced-meat marriage — going without gin, for want of the bustle — is forced-meat.