subs. (old).—Formerly an alchemic term; but long popularly generic for ardent spirits: brandy, whiskey, etc. [L. = water of life. Cf. French eau-de-vie, and Irish usquebaugh.] Hence AQUA-VITÆ MAN = (1) a quack, and (2) a dram-seller; also in various combinations (see quots.).

1

  1542.  BOORDE, Dictionary, x. 258. [E.E.T.S.]. To speake of AQUA VITÆ, or of Ipocras.

2

  1552.  Chronicle of the Grey Friars of London (1852), 74. A woman … that made AQWAVYTE.

3

  1596.  SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, ii. 2. I will rather trust … an Irishman with my AQUA-VITÆ bottle. Ibid. (1602), Twelfth Night, ii. 5. Does it work upon him? Sir To. Like AQUA-VITÆ upon a midwife.

4

  1599.  CHAPMAN, An Humorous Day’s Mirth [SHEPHERD, (1874), 32. 2]. As if there were not ways enough to die by … surfeits, brave carouses, old AQUA-VITÆ, and too base wives. Ibid. (1611), May-Day, iii. 4. Le. Methinks ’tis sack. Gi. Let us taste, sir; ’tis claret, but it has been fetched again with AQUA-VITÆ.

5

  c. 1600.  The Merry Devil of Edmonton, Induct., 64. Some AQUA-VITÆ! The Devil’s very sick.

6

  1601.  SHERLEY, Travels in Persia (1863), 46. A crue of AQUA-VITÆ-BELLYED fellowes.

7

  1607.  DEKKER, Westward Ho! ii. 2. Will you have some of my AQUA?… Come, come, drink this draught of cinnamon water, and pluck up your spirits.

8

  1610.  JONSON, The Alchemist, i. 1. Sell the dole beer to AQUA-VITÆ MEN.

9

  d. 1639.  SAMUEL WARD, Sermons, 21. An ancient Hebrew … put himself into the habit of a mountebank or travelling AQUAVITÆ-MAN, and made proclamation of a sovereign cordial water of life he had to sell.

10

  1634.  HOWELL, Familiar Letters (1650), II. 76. Sacks and Canaries … us’d to be drunk in AQUA-VITÆ MEASURES.

11

  c. 1650.  BRATHWAITE, Barnaby’s Journal (1723), 77.

        Rivers streaming, Banks resounding …
Mightily did these delight me;
O, I wished them AQUA VITÆ.

12

  1678.  BUTLER, Hudibras, III. iii. 298.

        Restor’d the fainting High and Mighty
With Brandy-Wine and AQUA-VITÆ.

13

  1749.  WALPOLE, Letter to George Montagu, in Letters (1820), 26 Aug., i. 216. Was glad to hear the AQUA VITÆ; MAN crying a dram.

14

  1785.  BURNS, The Author’s Earnest Cry and Prayer, iii.

        That curst restriction
    On AQUA VITÆ.

15

  1818.  SCOTT, Rob Roy, xviii. A tass of brandy or AQUA VITÆ.

16

  1899.  M. JOHNSTON, The Old Dominion, ii. Much sack and AQUA VITÆ was drunk to king, church, and reigning beauties.

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