Tipple

or tip, subs. (old).—1.  Drink; (2) a drinking bout (B. E. and GROSE): also TIPLAGE and as verb. Whence not a few colloquial usages: e.g., ON THE TIPPLE = on the BOOZE (q.v.); TO SPOIL A TIP = to interrupt while drinking; TIPPLER = (1) a toper; a fuddlecap, ‘sots who are continually sipping’ (B. E. and GROSE); and (2) a publican (the original meaning); TIPSY = fuddled, drunk, BOOSY (q.v.): also TIPPLED or TIPT (B. E.: ‘a’most Drunk’). Also derivatives such as TIPPLING, TIPPLING-HOUSE, TIPSIFY, TIPSINESS, TIPSY-CAKE, etc.

  1450.  Chester Myst. [Shakespeare Society]. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 288. The Scandinavian words are filly and the verb TIPPLE.] [Encyclopædic and Century: Norw. tipla, ‘to drink little and often.’]

  c. 1520.  The Wyf of Auchtirmwchty, 32.

  d. 1555.  LATIMER, Works (1854–5), i. 133. They were but TIPPLERS, such as keep ale-houses.

  1583.  GRINDAL, Remains (1843), 138. No inn-keeper, ale-house keeper, victualler, or TIPLER shall admit or suffer any person or persons in his house or backside to eat, drink, or play at cards, tables, bowls, or other games, in time of Common Prayer.

  1587.  J. HARMAR, trans. Beza’s Sermons, 313. Gamesters, TIPPLERS, tavern-haunters … and other dissolute characters.

  1592.  SHAKESPEARE, Midsummers Night’s Dream, v. 1. 48.

  1601.  [CAMDEN, The History of … Princess Elizabeth (1685), iv. 612]. Such kind of men, who lurked in TIPPLING-HOUSES.

  1611.  COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Piailleur … a TIPLER, bowser. Ibid., Berlan, a common TIPPLING house, a house of gaming, or of any other disorder.

  1615.  FLETCHER, The Night-Walker, or the Little Thief, i. 3.

  1633.  MARMION, The Antiquary, iv. Why, they are as jovial as twenty beggars, drink their whole cups six glasses at a health, your master’s almost TIPT already.

  1653.  URQUHART, Rabelais, II. i. Deific liquor which they call piot, or TIPLAGE.

  d. 1655.  T. ADAMS, Works, ii. 48. If the head be well TIPPLED [Satan] gets in and makes the eyes wanton, the tongue blasphemous and the hands ready to stab.

  1672.  COTTON, Scarronides, or, Virgil Travestie (1700), 128. Whil’st thou ly’st TIPPLED, or TIPPLING. Ibid., Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft, 193. Wait her and fill me out my TIPPLE.

  1693.  DRYDEN, Persius’s Satires, iv. 73. A peel’d slic’d onion eats, and TIPPLES verjuice.

  1694.  MOTTEUX, Rabelais, IV. 1. Having often renewed their TIPPLINGS, each mother’s son retired on board his own ship.

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. Tip. Dont spoil his TIP, don’t baulk his Draught, A Tub of good TIP (FOR TIPPLE) a Cask of strong Drink.

  c. 1709.  WARD, Terræ Filius, ii. 10. This inordinate TIPPLE-PITCHER (notwithstanding his own Gluttony and Ebriety) so very busy on Sunday in persecuting all TIPPLERS. Ibid., Satyr against Wine (Works, 1718, iii. 185). Both kind and TIPSIE lull’d themselves to Rest.

  1710.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation, ii. Miss. [With a glass in her hand.] Hold your tongue, Mr. Neverout; don’t speak in my TIP.

  1770.  CHATTERTON, The Revenge, ii. 4. I heard a voice within, or else I’m TIPSY.

  d. 1790.  FRANKLIN, Autobiography, 161. Walking the rounds was often neglected, and most of the nights spent in TIPPLING.

  1820.  KEATS, Lines on the Mermaid Tavern.

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, i. ix. Famous wine this—beautiful TIPPLE—better than all your red fustian.

  1847–8.  THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, i. She was in such a passion of tears that they were obliged to send for Dr. Floss, and half TIPSIFY her with sal volatile.

  1857.  CARLYLE, Mirabeau. The man was but TIPSIFIED when he went; happily, when he returned, which was very late, he was drunk.

  1886.  Daily Telegraph, 12 Jan. That apparently innocuous beverage which has hitherto passed itself off as the teetotaller’s TIPPLE.

  1888.  W. DENTON, England in the Fifteenth Century, 202. Still adulteration went on, and at almost every manor court the TIPPLERS … those who sold the ale, not those who drank it … were fined.