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tipple1

[tip-uh l]
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verb (used without object), tip·pled, tip·pling.
  1. to drink intoxicating liquor, especially habitually or to some excess.
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verb (used with object), tip·pled, tip·pling.
  1. to drink (intoxicating liquor), especially repeatedly, in small quantities.
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noun
  1. intoxicating liquor.
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Origin of tipple1

1490–1500; back formation from Middle English tipeler tapster, equivalent to tipel- tap2 (cognate with Dutch tepel teat) + -er -er1; cf. tipsy
Related formsun·tip·pled, adjective

tipple2

[tip-uh l]
noun
  1. a device that tilts or overturns a freight car to dump its contents.
  2. a place where loaded cars are emptied by tipping.
  3. Mining. a structure where coal is cleaned and loaded in railroad cars or trucks.
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Origin of tipple2

1875–80, Americanism; noun use of dial. tipple to tumble, frequentative of tip2; see -le
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

imbibeboozeliquorgrog

Examples from the Web for tipple

Historical Examples

  • But Charley, my hearty, we are getting on slowly with the tipple; are they all empty?

    Charles O'Malley, The Irish Dragoon, Volume 1 (of 2)

    Charles Lever

  • And the beauty of our tipple now is,” said Bob, “that it never does a fellow the least harm.

    The Kopje Garrison

    George Manville Fenn

  • He cannot enjoy his own tipple unless he can deprive me of mine.

    Gryll Grange

    Thomas Love Peacock

  • The moment he has tossed off the tipple, he begins tinkling.

  • Sandeman's '48—the tipple you and I have tasted together for many a year.

    Afterwards

    Ian Maclaren

British Dictionary definitions for tipple

tipple1

verb
  1. to make a habit of taking (alcoholic drink), esp in small quantities
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noun
  1. alcoholic drink
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Derived Formstippler, noun

Word Origin

C15: back formation from obsolete tippler tapster, of unknown origin

tipple2

noun
  1. a device for overturning ore trucks, mine cars, etc, so that they discharge their load
  2. a place at which such trucks are tipped and unloaded
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verb
  1. Northern English dialect to fall or cause to fall
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Word Origin

C19: from tipple to overturn, from tip ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tipple

v.

1530s, "sell alcoholic liquor by retail," of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (e.g. Norwegian dialectal tipla "to drink slowly or in small quantities"). Meaning "drink (alcoholic beverage) too much" is first attested 1550s. Related: Tippled; tippling.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper