Also 6 quaft, quaf, 6–7 quaffe. [Of obscure origin; prob. onomatopœic (cf. QUAFER and QUASS v.).
The date and history of the word are against any connection with quaff, var. of QUAICH, which has been suggested as the source. (Vigfusson’s ON. kveyfa ‘to quaff’ is an error, the correct form being kneyfa). The precise relationship of the earliest form quaft to Palsgrave’s QUAUGHT and Sc. WAUGHT is obscure.
1. intr. To drink deeply; to take a long draught; also, to drink repeatedly in this manner. Const. of († in).
1529. More, Suppl. Soulys, Wks. 331/2. The dregges of olde poysoned heresies in whiche they fell a quafting with the deuill.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., ix. (1870), 149. In Holand … many of the men … wyll quaf tyl they ben dronk.
1577. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk., 77. Eate softly, and drinke manerly, take heede you doe not quaffe.
1628. Prynne, Cens. Cozens, 47. Poyson must alwayes be administred in golden Challices, else none wille quaffe.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., iii. 35. To day we feast, and quaffe in frolique Bowles; To morrow fast.
1757. Smollett, Reprisal, II. xv. We laugh, and we quaff, and we banter.
1830. Lytton, P. Clifford, iv. She had that day quaffed more copiously of the bowl than usual.
1876. Browning, Epilogue to Pacchiarotto. Have faith, give thanks, but—quaff.
2. trans. To drink (liquor) copiously or in a large draught.
1555–8. Phaër, Æneid, III. G iv. Wyne in plenty great they quaff.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Lyrick to Mirth. Let us sit and quaffe our wine.
1768. Beattie, Minstr., I. xliv. Merry swains, who quaff the nut-brown ale.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 74. They quaffed the liquor in profound silence.
1878. Masque Poets, 31. Now with back-flung head she quaffs The odorous white Mareotic wine.
fig. 1613. Heywood, Braz. Age, Wks. 1874, III. 216. I’le rather at some banquet poyson him, And quaffe to him his death.
1674. Milton, P. L., V. 638 (ed. 2). They drink, and in communion sweet Quaff immortalitie and joy.
1820. Landor, Heroic Idylls, Thrasymedes & Eunoe, 38. Let my lips quaff purity From thy fair open brow.
b. With advbs. as down, off, out, round, up. (Cf. DRINK v.)
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 174. Hee calls for wine … quaft off the Muscadell.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., I. xxvii. Oh let them in their gold quaffe dropsies down.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, II. 593. In helmets they quaff round the welcome flood.
3. To drain (a cup, etc.) in a copious draught or draughts. Also with off, out, up.
1523. [Coverdale], Old God & New (1534), O iij. To quaft of two cannes or tankardes of wine.
1607. Dekker, Wh. Babylon, Wks. 1873, II. 198. I quaffe full bowles of strong enchanting wines.
1633. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit. (1851), 152. Why do not I … quaff up that bitter cup of affliction.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., viii. As one who quaffs Some potent wine-cup.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., vii. Your cup, filled with right good wine, I have just now quaffed off.
1868. FitzGerald, trans. Omar, xliii. (1899), 98. And proffering his Cup, invites your Soul Forth to your Lips to quaff it.
4. To drive away, to bring down to or into (a certain state), by copious drinking. rare.
1714. Love’s Relief, in Steele’s Poet. Misc., 42. Be brisk and gay, And quaff this sneaking Form away.
1821. Byron, Sardan., I. ii. 442. When … I have quaff’d me down to their abasement.
1847. J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 147. The room in which he quaffs, guzzles, and smokes himself into stupidity.
Quaff, obs. var. QUAICH; see also QUAYF(E.
