subs. (pugilistic).—Blood. Variants are BADMINTON, BORDEAUX, and COCHINEAL-DYE. French le vermeil or le vermois.

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  1604.  DEKKER, The Honest Whore, II., 45, wks. [1873]. This should be a Coronation day: for my head runs CLARET lustily.

2

  1819.  T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 25.

        And this being the first Royal CLARET let flow,
Since Tom took the Holy Alliance in tow,
The uncorking produced much sensation about,
As bets had been flush on the first painted snout.

3

  1878.  BESANT and RICE, By Celia’s Arbour, ch. xxxix. The lieutenant picked him up, and placed him—because he declined to stand; and, indeed, the CLARET was flowing freely—in the President’s arm chair.

4

  TO TAP ONE’S CLARET, phr.—To draw blood.

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