adj. and adv. (old).—Thick with liquor. [Apparently on the principle lucus a non lucendo.]
1688. SHADWELL, The Squire of Alsatia, I., iv. Yes, really I was CLEAR; for I do not remember what I did.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. CLEAR: very Drunk.
1699. VANBRUGH, The Relapse, IV., iii. I suppose you are CLEAR—you’d never play such a trick as this else.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. The cull is CLEAR, let’s bite him.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
Verb.—See CLEAR OUT.
