“Proud flesh” is proud only by virtue of being swollen, as if by pride.
In the same sense, we speak of grain which, by luxurious growth, is unseasonably proud, swollen beyond the normal stage of advancement.

Related Posts
-
Where does the phrase “proud as Punch” come from and What does it mean? "Punch" is the chief character, the hump-backed clown, in the comic puppet show, Punch and Judy. The dialog differs, probably, with every showman, but invariably "Punch" is a pompous vainglorious character who in…
-
Where does the expression “to be neither fish nor flesh” come from and What does it mean? No evidence has been found, either in proof or denial, yet the fact that the earliest record of the phrase "to be neither fish nor flesh" coincided almost exactly with the break between…
-
Who Discovered X-Rays and How does the high frequency radiation penetrate through human flesh? If you have ever had an X-ray as part of a medical checkup, you owe thanks to Wilhelm Roentgen. Medical X-rays have been one of the most powerful, useful, and life-saving diagnostic tools…
-
What Does the Term “A1 Condition” Mean and Where Did the Term Come From? In their early days, Lloyd's of London used an "A list" to classify sailing ships for insurance purposes. Only vessels meeting strict specifications would go to the top of that list, where they…
-
What Does the Term “Alma Mater” Mean and Where Did the Term Come From? It all starts in kindergarten, a German concept meaning "children's garden," where the atmosphere for learning should be as pleasant for a child as being in a garden. School follows the same philosophy…