DCHP-1 Online
muffin [< muffin small biscuit or cake] Slang, Hist. 
n. See 1865 quote.
- 1854 (1956) I had a charming muffin yesterday. She is engaged to be married, so don't be alarmed.
- 1865 The fair Canadians may have been too kind in accepting the name and position of "muffins" from the young Britishry; but the latter cannot say that they have suffered much in consequence. A muffin is simply a lady who sits beside the male occupant of the sleighÂ--sola cum solo.
- 1873 We were then told that the term "muffin" is not in good odour at the present day; that no lady will admit she ever was or ever could be a muffin. . . . No lady owned to ever having been a muffin, at least not until she knew her young man well enough to tell him so.
- 1965 . . . at the beginning of the winter season each young man chose "a muffin"--a "steady date" for the season--an arrangement terminated by mutual consent in the following spring. . . .
- 1854 (1956) I had a charming muffin yesterday. She is engaged to be married, so don't be alarmed.