II. ii. 112. martlemas. Corrupted form of Mar¬

tinmas, or the Feast of St. Martin, November 11. This day was considered the last day of autumn, and was also the day for salting and hanging the winter’s supply of beef. The reference is obviously to Falstaff’s hearty old age (cf. All-hallown sum¬ mer, 1 Henry IV, I. ii. 177, note), or to Falstaff as a 'martlemas beef.’