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toper

[toh-per]
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noun
  1. a hard drinker or chronic drunkard.
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Origin of toper

First recorded in 1665–75; tope1 + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for toper

Historical Examples

  • The din of the drinkers subsided at length, and toper after toper was helped to his bed.

    The Shadow of a Crime

    Hall Caine

  • She burst open his door while he was still dressing: 'Well, Toper!'

  • Ben the toper loved his bottle,—Charley only loved the lasses!

    Paul Clifford, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • "He ain't no boy o' mine," said the toper, with no little indignation in his tones.

    Little Bobtail

    Oliver Optic

  • Squire Simonton renewed his efforts to secure the reform of the toper.

    Little Bobtail

    Oliver Optic

Word Origin and History for toper

n.

1670s, from tope!, exclamation used in drinking (1650s), from French or Italian, originally a word of acceptance in a wager, etc. Cf. tope (v.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper