subs. (common).—1. Drink; TIPPLE (q.v.). NOMINATE YOUR POISON = ‘What will you drink?’: cf. quot. 1362, where POYSON = a draught, a drink.
1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, C. xxi. 52.
| And with a pole POYSON · putten to hus lippes, | |
| And [beden] hym drynke. |
d. 1641. SUCKLING, The Tragedy of Brennoralt, ii. 1.
| Mar. Come, your liquor and your stanzas: | |
| Lines, lines!…. | |
| Vil. Since it must be, | |
| Give me the POISON then. [Drinks and spits.] |
1827. BULWER-LYTTON, Pelham, xlix. Champagne with the taste of a gooseberry, and hock with the properties of a pomegranate…. Young men … purchase POISON at a dearer rate than the most medicine-loving hypochondriac in England!
c. 1863. C. F. BROWNE [Works (1890) 160]. I found Dr Schwazey, a leadin citizen, in a state of mind which showed that he’d bin histin in more’n his share of PIZEN.
1867. A. F. PINKERTON, Jim Cummings; Or, The Great Adams Express Robbery, 41. Its a cold day when Barney O’Hara will let a bog-trotter go dry—name your POISON.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un [‘The Garret’], 20. ‘My favourite POISON,’ murmurs she, ‘Is good old gin.’
1888. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 50. Wot’s yer PISON, old pal?
2. (common).—Anything unpleasant. Whence TO HATE LIKE POISON = to detest.
1530. PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse, 259. HATE me LIKE POYSON.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Knight and the Lady.’ And both HATING brandy LIKE what some call ‘PISON.’
1847. ROBB, Streaks of Squatter Life, 60. It got to be parfect PIZEN to hear.
