tipple

Origin unknown but possibly from a Scandinavian source (see Norwegian tipla), or from tip +‎ -le.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈtɪpəl/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪpəl

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.

• (alcoholic drink): see Thesaurus:alcoholic beverage

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. (transitive, intransitive) To drink too much alcohol. [from mid-16th c.]
3. (intransitive) To drink alcohol regularly or habitually, but not to excess.
   • Macaulay

     Few of those who were summoned left their homes, and those few generally found it more agreeable to tipple in alehouses than to pace the streets.

4. (transitive) To put up (hay, etc.) in bundles in order to dry it.

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

• tippler