E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Anat’omy.
He was like an anatomy—i.e. a mere skeleton, very thin, like one whose flesh had been anatomised or cut off. Shakespeare uses atomy as a synonym. Thus the hostess Quickly says to the Beadle: “Thou atomy, thou !” and Doll Tearsheet caps the phrase with, “Come, you thin thing; come, you rascal.”—2 Henry IV., v. 4.
