unwinder

English

Etymology

unwind +‎ -er

Noun

unwinder (plural unwinders)

1. A device that unwinds.
2. (colloquial) An alcoholic drink taken as a relaxant.
   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, chapter 5, in Constance‎^[1], New York: Viking, page 114:

     It seemed to them the ideal place for those confidential mid-morning potations and games of pool for which the Foreign Office had invented the phrase “elevenses”, after the hour of the morning when one feels one most needs a short swift drink, or a long “unwinder”, to use slang.

   • 2010, William Campbell, Apotheosis, Glyd-Evans Press, p. 137,

     In contrast to the overwhelming sweetness, the cool drink is bitter like coffee, but with a strong bite of alcohol. One sip and I hand it back. Not the time for that sort of unwinder.