quaff

American  

[kwof, kwaf, kwawf] / kwɒf, kwæf, kwɔf /

verb (used without object)

1. to drink a beverage, especially an intoxicating one, copiously and with hearty enjoyment.

   Synonyms:

   guzzle, swig, gulp, swallow

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verb (used with object)

1. to drink (a beverage) copiously and heartily.

   We spent the whole evening quaffing ale.

noun

1. an act or instance of quaffing.

2. a beverage quaffed.

quaff British  

/ kwɑːf, kwɒf /

verb

1. to drink heartily or in one draught

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Other Word Forms

• outquaff
  verb (used with object)
• quaffable
  adjective
• quaffer
  noun
• unquaffed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of quaff

First recorded in 1515–25; origin uncertain

Explanation

To quaff is to gulp. You’re in a desert; you haven’t had water in days; you’re wicked thirsty. Then you find an oasis! You lean over and quaff the water. If you’re in a room with your favorite foods, you might stuff the food into your mouth. Quaffing is the same fun, but with beverages instead of foods. But just like with stuffing food, quaffing means you drink a little too much. Often, quaffing refers to alcoholic drinks, but it can mean any beverage in general, like milkshakes. Quaff a milkshake and you’ll get a headache, but you’ll have fun doing it.

Example Sentences

Quaff coffee from Canada In my perfect day, my very, very small baby and my toddler would sleep until the blissful hour of 7:30 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2025

Fill fast, and fill full; 'gainst the goblet ne'er     sin; Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost     rim:—       Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim!

From John Marr and Other Poems by Melville, Herman

Quaff of this cup, my king and lord, breaker of rings, and blithe be thou, gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speak such words of mildness as man should use.

From Beowulf by Gummere, Francis Barton

The cry of our young warriors at the ships5 Grows louder; sitting here, the sable wine Quaff thou, while bright-hair'd Hecamede warms A bath, to cleanse thy crimson stains away.

From The Iliad of Homer Translated into English Blank Verse by William Cowper by Cowper, William

Quaff, and away again, so as to keep yourselves in a nice cool sweat.

From A Rill from the Town Pump by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

Related Words

• gulp
• guzzle
• imbibe
• sip
• swig
• swill