May162014

Drinks of the Past! Victorian Euphemisms Around Libations

It’s Friday, my dear Gentle Reader and among some that means booze. For others that means going truly crazy: Thai food and an dumb action movie with two charming gentlemen. OK, there may also be some booze involved. (And I might let it all hang out and have an extra cup of tea this afternoon. What can I say, I’m a risk taker.)

“While at table, if the proprietor or any other gentleman asks you to take wine with him, politely refuse.”
~ The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book
by Eliza Leslie (American 1864)

1811 Euphemisms Around Libations

  • He died of the barrel fever ~ He killed himself by drinking.
  • To stand bitch ~ To make tea, or do the honours of the tea-table, performing a female part.
  • Shoot the cat, Catting, or To cast up one’s accounts ~ to vomit.
  • Chirping merry ~ Exhilarated with liquor.
  • Corned or Cup-shot or Foxed ~ Drunk.
  • Wibble ~ Bad drink.

~ 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue 
 
“It is not customary, in America, for a lady to empty her glass,—or indeed, at a hotel, or boarding-house, to take wine with the same gentleman after the first day.”
~ The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book
by Eliza Leslie (American 1864)

1811 Bartender, I’d Like to Order A…

  • Huckle my buff ~ Beer, egg, and brandy, made hot.
  • Calibogus ~ Rum and spruce beer, American beverage.
  • Bragget ~ Mead and ale sweetened with honey.
  • British champagne ~ Porter.
  • Lamb’s wool ~ Apples roasted and put into strong ale.
  • Parell ~ Whites of eggs, bay salt, milk, and pump water, beat together, and poured into a vessel of wine to prevent its fretting.
  • Pharaoh ~ Strong malt liquor.
  • Scandal broth or Slop or Cat lap ~ Tea.
  • Slipslop ~ Medicinally taken tea.
  • Cow juice ~ Milk.
  • Toddy ~ Originally the juice of the cocoa tree, and afterwards rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg.

~ 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue 

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Alexia Tarabotti attends what appears to be a very dull London party, until the new werewolf Alpha turns up, is unconscionably rude to her, and sits on a hedgehog.

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 “On no consideration let any lady be persuaded to take two glasses of champagne. It is more than the head of an American female can bear.”
~ The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book by Eliza Leslie (American 1864)

Your Writerly Tinctures . . .  

“Long manuscripts are frequently sent for the revisal “at leisure” of a person who has little or no leisure.”
~ The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book by Eliza Leslie (American 1864)

Book News:

A Foodie’s Review of Soulless on foodriot says, “One of the best things about this novel was that the food set such a tone for the rest of the book: decadent, exciting, and something a bit new fashioned from something old.”

Quote of the Day:
“Rice is born in water and must die in wine.”
~ Italian Proverb

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