feed bag

Also called nose bag. a bag for feeding horses, placed before the mouth and fastened around the head with straps.

put on the feed bag, Slang. to have a meal; eat: When his friends put on the feed bag, they finish everything in sight.

Origin of feed bag

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

This done, Mike drove to Mr. Pembroke's and hitched his horse at the gate, with its nose in a feed-bag.

The Mission of Poubalov |Frederick R. (Frederick Russell) Burton
"I wish it off," the villain laughed, and it joined the growing heap in the feed-bag.

Excuse Me! |Rupert Hughes
And her mother declared such sewing was hardly good enough for a feed-bag.

A Little Girl of Long Ago |Amanda Millie Douglas
He used to bring me candy from town, hidden in his feed-bag.

My Antonia |Willa Cather

The prince called the guardian, and said to him, "Fill the feed-bag of his mule."

Moorish Literature |Anonymous