tipple

WOTD - 29 June 2010    

English

Etymology

Origin unknown but possibly from Scandinavian source (see Norwegian tipla).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˈtɪpəl/
• Rhymes: -ɪpəl

Noun

tipple (plural tipples)

1. An area near the entrance of mines which is used to load and unload coal
2. (rail transport) An apparatus for unloading railroad freight cars by tipping them; the place where this is done
3. (slang) Any alcoholic drink

Synonyms

• (alcoholic drink): see Wikisaurus:alcoholic beverage

Translations

slang: any alcoholic drink

Finnish: paukku (fi) French: verre (fr), coup (fr), chopine (fr), canon (fr), goutte (fr), pinte (fr), bibine (colloquial) (fr), jaja (colloquial) (fr)

Russian: (алкогольный (ru)) напиток (ru) m. Spanish: copa (es), trago (es), botella (es), chiquito (es), chato (es), bebistrajo (es)

apparatus for unloading railroad freight cars by tipping them

Finnish: vaununkaatolaite (fi) French: benne basculante (fr)

German: Kippvorrichtung (de) f. Spanish: volquete (es)

area near the entrance of mines used to load and unload coal

French: carreau (fr) German: Kipphalde (de) f., Kippstelle (de) f., Abladestelle (de) f.

Spanish: era (es)

Verb

tipple (third-person singular simple present tipples, present participle tippling, simple past and past participle tippled)

1. To sell alcoholic liquor by retail. [from earlier 16th c.]
2. To drink too much alcohol. [from mid-16th c.]
3. To drink alcohol regularly or habitually, but not to excess.

Synonyms

• (to drink regularly but not in excess): bibble

Derived terms

• tippler

Translations

To sell alcoholic liquor by retail

Finnish: anniskella (fi)

To drink too much alcohol

Finnish: juopotella (fi) French: boire comme un Polonais (fr), boire comme un trou (fr)

Russian: пьянствовать (ru), нажираться (ru) Spanish: beber como un cosaco (es)

to drink alcohol regularly, but not to excess

Finnish: tissutella (fi) French: picoler (colloquial) (fr), lever le coude (fr), s'humecter la luette (fr), boire (fr), biberonner (fr) German: picheln (de)

Russian: выпивать (ru) Spanish: pimplar  (es), copear (es), empinar el codo (es), mojar la canal maestra (es), tomar (es), trincar (es), soplar (es)