belly vengeance

English

Noun

belly vengeance (uncountable)

1. (obsolete, British slang) Poor-quality, sour beer likely to cause a stomachache.
   • 1833, Rev. Rowland Hill, “Dialogue XLIL: Alderman Greedy's Character”, in Village Dialogues, 29th edition, volume 2, London: T. T. & J. Tegg, page 266:

     Many of them were off almost as soon as they came; the taste of her small beer was quite sufficient to get them going throughout all the neighbourhood. It obtained the name of belly vengeance, and belly vengeance it truly is.

   • c. 1860, John Tabois Tregellas, “California”, in Cornish Tales, page 66:

     Aw, my dear! sich sour maggoty bread, and sich ratten stinking bickies, and sich sour belly-vengeance beer, when we cud git any.

   • c. 1890, John Hartley, “New Machinery &c.”, in Yorkshire Ditties, Second Series:

     Tea an' coffee are things 'at dooant mend wi' warmin up, an' yo connot allus wait woll fowk mak it, an' soa if yo want to sup yo mun awther goa an' beg a drop o' watter, or pay fourpence for a glass o' belly vengeance, or yo mun get a glass o'drink—but yo've noa need to get a dozzen.

Related terms

• pinch-belly vengeance, whip-belly vengeance, whistle-belly vengeance